#let’s just hope it was liz and her husbands going at it | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

becausegoodheroesdeservekidneys · 2 years

Note

Is there any chance we could have a round up of the Circus? I am so lost on how the dominoes fell over the last 40 days

Okay this is not comprehensive, because (a) my husband the politics nerd is currently on his way to a gig in west Wales somewhere and so cannot chime in and also (b) all our political journalist friends are understandably quite busy right now doing political journaling, but I seem to have an influx of new followers who are also very confused and don't understand what's going on, so I shall try.

Alright so what we're seeing here is the Second Clownfall of 2022, the hotly anticipated sequel to the Adventures of Big Dog the Clown. However it revolves around the character of Liz Truss, and will use some terminology, so

Previous Reading

Important Terminology - Required Reading

What is a Whip?

How do Whips work?

Shadow Cabinet

Front Benchers, Back Benchers and the Cabinet

What do we need to call an early General Election?

The Adventures of Big Dog the Clown - Suggested Reading

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Elanor's Guide to Liz Truss - Suggested Reading

Character-based prequel

...okay I think that's everything. On with the show!

The Premiership of Liz Truss (2022-2022)

Week One

We begin our tale on September 5th, 2022. Coincidentally, that was also the date that I personally started my new job. Let's see which of us does better!

The Daily Mail is delighted, and runs a headline proclaiming "Cometh the hour, cometh the woman". Tory rag in a frock coat the Financial Times runs an op-ed:

So the results ARE IN! She will definitely fuck us up! But that's a good thing for vague reasons! Blitz spirit everyone. Tally ho, pip pip, shoot a servant and have sex with a wall, hey what. Good old Blighty.

(That's my best impression of Tories I'm good at their accents I hope you like it)

Truss does an interview with Laura Kuenssberg, and fellow guest and comedian Joe Lycett wildly and effusively applauds her every word. Even Liz realises no one would sincerely applaud her. Bafflingly, the entire right wing press and every member of the Tory party freak out about this, because they don't understand the function of a satirist and don't know how to defend against it. It is extremely funny. Joe Lycett announces he's a right-wing comedian now, and begins a new extended career bit effusively and sarcastically praising right wing politicians. They all cry extensively and call him mean.

SO, it's been a long hard leadership campaign! But she made it. For years, Tories have been blighted by the curse of the PM/Chancellor relationship, backstabbing and cheating and lying about each other to try and get power. But not our Liz, oh no; her Chancellor is Maths Mate and BFF Kwasi Kwarteng, an insipid and poisonous gnome known for three (3) things:

He once wrote a stupid book with Liz Truss about his stupid opinions on how he thinks economics work and everyone laughed at him and stuffed him in a locker

On the night of the Brexit vote he was overheard by a journalist gleefully saying “Who cares if sterling crashes? It will come back up again“ which are of course the words of a man who knows all about economics and how they work

This fucking bullshit back in July:

But hey IT'S OKAY! Everything is fine! Because Liz and Kwasi are BFFs who certainly never had an affair and are marching in lockstep and have each other's backs and both love maths more than their own children if they had any! Maths Friends!

Multiple resignations immediately follow.

Among them is Ben Elliot, the Tory Party chair, which is a pretty big deal from a man who just lived through the Johnson years; also, shockingly, Priti Patel, the deportation-happy Home Secretary, decides that even as an animatronic goblin she cannot support this nonsense.

It's not a resignation per se, but at ten to seven in the evening it's announced that Andrew Bridgen, the Troy MP for Leicestershire North West, has been evicted from his home and ordered to pay £800,000 in legal costs, and a possible £244,000 in rent arrears. Also described as "dishonest" by a judge.

This is not directly relevant to Liz Truss but look, it was a staggeringly weird day and this was basically the topper.

Anyway.

Liz goes to the Palace and is duly sworn in by the Queen, who promptly keels over and dies the very next day. Parliament is instantly shut down for mandatory mourning. As omens go, this one was not subtle.

This triggers the circulation of some very awkward footage of Young Truss talking about how she thinks the Monarchy should be abolished for being a gross relic of horrifying social stratification. However you must understand that it's not awkward because anyone thinks she murdered the Queen. It's because Liz Truss's attempts at public speaking are like sitting through a children's Christmas play when you're the only person in the audience and they can all see your face so you have to look encouraging for four hours when inside you are shrivelling into something approximating an apricot pit travelling to the core of Jupiter.

Take a look at her acceptance speech and wither.

Anyway we're now several MPs and a queen down so she's got to get on replacing those so she can focus on her real love: the much-anticipated mini-budget that she is preparing with Kwasi to save the UK from the harrowing quagmire of crippling poverty that Big Dog managed to drive us into (all while pretending it wasn't Big Dog who did it.)

Fortunately, she does not need to replace the queen! Monarchies take care of themselves, which many people would argue is very much the problem, of course. They had a proper reunion with Meghan From Suits and Meghan From Suits' husband, both of whom were banned from visiting Balmoral, and also the Nonce flew in, who was allowed to visit Balmoral. Such heartwarming scenes.

But the Cabinet, that's another matter. That's something Liz DOES have to do, and it's important she gets it right, Tumblrs, because you see, every time a Cabinet minister is replaced it's expensive and a hassle and it weakens a government by making them look all crumbly, like a packet of biscuits that's been rammed against a wall and now someone is opening it and everyone is bracing for Crumbs.

So, step forward to the Cabinet soulless ghoul Suella Braverman, the new Home Secretary. She immediately distinguishes herself by trying to legalise torture.

And then, naturally,

YEAH THAT'S RIGHT IT'S TICK TOCK TERF O'CLOCK also FUCK the sovereignty of the Scottish Parliament amirite ladies lol Girl Power uwu

Not that she can actually do anything at this point, of course. As I say: Enforced Mourning is in process, which means Parliament is shut down for ten days. No work, no speeches, no appearances, no announcements, just taxpayer's money going on legal fees to see if she can interfere with another nation's elected government in order to strip away the human rights of queer people.

However, while we all weep over the corpse of Queen Lizzie Two and beat our breasts in grief, the already-beleaguered pound is slowly bleeding out through this inaction. And this, to the Maths Mates, is unacceptable.

Two things get quietly slid into the news cycle.

Thing the First:

BIG YIKES LADS

Thing the Second:

Fracking ban in England lifted in bid to boost UK gas supply - BBC News

For those who don't know, fracking is an energy extraction process. Water, gas and dust are pumped at high pressure into shale bedrock to crack it open, releasing pockets of natural gas that can then be harvested for fuel. It's environmentally disastrous for multiple reasons, both direct (earthquakes, groundwater pollution, social impacts) and indirect (IT'S STILL A FOSSIL FUEL YOU STUPID CUNTS ARE YOUR SKULLS FUCKING EMPTY). The Welsh and Scottish governments have both banned it outright, a straight-up "Foot down no, petal". England, though, is the Tory paradise, so the ban was less complete.

However, this is still a Huge Deal - the 2019 Tory manifesto was very clear that fracking would only be unbanned IF "the science shows categorically that it can be done safely". In fact, most Tories don't like it either. Their constituents REALLY don't. Also in March Kwasi Kwarteng literally went on record and said it wouldn't lower European gas prices anyway; but not anymore! Now he thinks it's a zippy idea. Just spiffing. Top hole, pip pip (I'm so good at their accents :))

Scientists who have been studying the environmental impacts of fracking produce their report -

And it is quietly buried, so as not to offend the corpse of Lizzie Two.

Here ends the first four days of the Reign of Liz Truss.

Second Week

Anyway, royalists have gone insane and started a REALLY BIG queue to see a box that supposedly contains the rotting cadaver of the old queen. Multiple people have to be hospitalised because they join the Queue and don't take food, water, warm clothes, or essential daily medications with them, even though the Queue is literally days long. Some die. Many take the ashes of their own loved ones so they can wave them at the box for the thirty seconds they get to be in front of it, like a sort of play date for ashes.

Prince Charles, now King Prince Charles, starts swanning about as King, demanding everyone be sad for him and clap him to cheer him up. Someone holds up a sign saying 'Not my King' and gets arrested. This triggers a whole wave of protests and arrests as free speech slides out the window, until the Met Police chief has to step in and explain to the police like they're five-year-olds that they can't do that, actually, and need to cut that shit out.

But we can't wholly blame the police, because the main pressure to clamp down on protestors actually came from...

The government.

Meanwhile the country goes bat shit fucking insane. In order not to offend the fragile sensibilities of royalists, now so brittle they need to be treated with the same delicate touch normally reserved for unstable nitroglycerin, the UK sees supermarkets lowering the volume of self-serve checkout desks, people's funerals cancelled, vital operations and other medical interventions postponed, Centre Parcs cancelling holidays, FOOD BANKS CLOSING, Nintendo Direct cancelling its live stream in Britain (but not cancelling the release of the recording onto You Tube an hour later because as we all know Queen Elizabeth II was a MASSIVE livestream fan and would have been DEVASTATED to miss it but she was very 'meh' about YouTube), cycle racks being closed, and this unhinged shrieking harridan:

Very normal, lads. Very normal.

Oh and also they cancelled Owain Glyndwr Day so as a Welsh person I am now legally allowed to forcibly ram a daffodil into the urethras of the landed English gentry.

However, the protests grow as the suppression wanes. By the time King Prince Charles comes to Wales, he is met with silent protests, this guy who learned a sentence in Welsh specially for the occasion, and a petition to abolish the Prince of Wales title.

Except government is still shut down, so the petitions are all suspended.

But not to worry! That gives the Maths Mates more time to work on their special mini-budget.

Week Three

More of the same at first, really, but she finally addresses the nation to announce that the Queen was the "rock" on which "modern Britain was built".

Also someone finally spots that the necklace she always wears is a day collar, so that was fun.

BUT THEN

The moment we have all been waiting for, with baited breath.

On the 23rd September, 2022, the mini-budget finally arrives. The golden egg of Kwasi and Liz, their beloved, beautiful child, the crowning glory, the culmination of their economic beliefs and values. They are so proud of it, so sure of it, that they do not even submit it for the approval of the Office for Budget Responsibility. Why should they? This is the moment Kwarteng can finally show the world that he was right; that this is the way to do economics after all; that he alone in his brilliance and genius has reinvented the field and will lead the country to a new era of riches and prosperity.

And the pound does this:

Yikes.

Truss goes into hiding for a day and a half, during which time her aids claim all her relatives have died so she won't have to speak to the press, which is obviously a simply fantastic quality in a Prime Minister. Finally, she resurfaces by doing a series of radio interviews for regional stations around the UK, hoping they'll be easier on her, starting with Radio Leeds. The good journalists of Yorkshire eviscerate her and strew her corpse through Adel Woods. It's downhill from there.

Week Four

One poll puts Labour 33 points ahead of the Tories.

It can be a little difficult to translate polls, because the electoral system is complex, so I asked my journalist friends. They cheerfully informed me that, if translated into a General Election, the Tories would have just 3 seats left.

Except! Of course, naturally, that is me reporting naught but the most extreme result, Tumblrs, dancing upon the bones of my enemies as I chant the rites to make the Tory party die faster. If I were to be fair about this - and I am, of course, a journalist of Integrity and Morals - I would actually give the average poll result. And I am wise and fair to all, ancient rites aside, so I shall.

The average poll result is still 19 points ahead.

Tony Blair's landslide Labour victory in 1999 was 12 points.

Rounding off the day, Labour declare that they are backing a change to a proportional representation voting system in place of the UK’s archaic first past the post system. Funny that.

Anyway, that mini-budget is going poorly. Realising unlimited borrowing rather than tax cuts for the rich is maybe Bad Actually, the Maths Mates decide to get the money for their bail-outs some other way. Can you guess, Tumblrs? Can you guess where they decide to get the money from?

Naturally.

Week Five

In a fascinating little twist, the papers claim Liz banned King Prince Charles from going to the Climate Summit in Egypt. This is interesting for about a billion reasons, not least of which is that the papers seem very angry about this and yet also that it's an unsubstantiated rumour - the phrase "it's understood that _" gets a hell of a workout.

She then does not go herself. Makes sense. They'll probably be mean to her about the fracking.

She then loses the support of the Daily Mail, a paper that five weeks before were ecstatic about her rise to power :( so sad. But why? What made them change their minds?

Well. What else from Truss, but a massive and catastrophic u-turn on the economy?

And she does! The absolute nutter!

Plans to cut the 45p tax rate for those earning upwards of £150,000 were abandoned, as were:

abolishing the planned rise in corporation tax

cutting the basic rate of income tax

the two-year energy bill support plan

scrapping the planned dividend tax hike

VAT-free shopping for international tourists

freezing alcohol duty

easing of IR25 rules for the self-employed

ALL GONE! All gone. The mini-budget is not working so lol jk we'll think of something else, that's how government works, right? The pound promptly implodes further. Of all people, Nadine Dorries is the one to criticise

WE ARE IN A TOPSY TURVEY UPSIDE DOWN WORLD

The Daily Mail still finds a way to say it's all Michael Gove's fault, though.

Anyway, the 5th October dawns bright and beautiful and YouGov polls rural voters:

THIS IS HUUUUUUUUUGE, because farmers just will not fucking stop voting Tory, AND YET. Wowsers. Not just popularity. Voting intention. She might as well have personally infected every farm in the South Downs with foot and mouth disease.

Truss realises her popularity is plummeting and she needs a new audience. She tries to appear down with the kids and declares that she's the only PM to have gone to a comprehensive school.

This is not true. Gordon Brown and Theresa May both did. However, it's certainly true that all three of them became PM by ousting a sitting PM, so there's that I guess.

Week Six

At this point I can start putting in PRECISE DATEs just call ME Robert Peston.

13th October

News reporters start speculating that she'll be done by the end of the month as the first rumoured letter of no confidence reaches us. People realise that her competition for shortest serving PM was a guy who died in office of TB at about the four month mark RIP king sorry about your lungs.

(A reminder - normally, if MPs want to oust a party leader, they must send in 54 letters of no confidence. This makes the 1922 Committee - a bunch of back benchers who preside over this shit - hold a vote of no confidence. A leader who loses gives way - this is very rare. A leader who wins is then immune to another such vote for 12 months, but they almost always crumble within a month or two anyway - this is much more common.)

This is extremely funny, because a newly-elected leader of the party has a 12 month immunity to votes of no confidence, same as people who've won such a vote. Likes charge reblogs cast apparently. MPs are getting desperate.

Pressure mounts. Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announces that he is "Not going anywhere."

14th October

Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng is sacked and blamed for the entire economic mess.

Incredibly, Liz does this without first planning a replacement, so it's several hours before Jeremy Cunt suddenly reappears like the spectre at the fucking feast.

Meanwhile here's Ed Milliband on Twitter

Seven and a half years he waited to retweet that. Seven and a half long years, look, to have the last laugh.

In the end, he still went too soon.

15th October

Deputy PM and also Health Minister Therese Coffey (side note - have they always doubled up in roles like that? Or are there just not enough of them anymore?) announces that she loves antibiotic resistance and dead kids and also breaking laws:

16th October

The Sunday Times calls for Extremely Corrupt Former Grand Vizier Rishi Sunak to take over, and then a General Election so that Labour can take the reins.

The SUNDAY TIMES

Calling for LABOUR

The Sunday Mail tries to stir up support for Ben Wallace taking over, because no one has heard of Ben Wallace so he needs the boost, but then accidentally publish their front page with a different man

In another YouGov poll for the Times, not a single political group, age group, area of the country, gender, or other demographic said that Liz Truss was the right choice for PM

This is the new predicted election graph:

Yikes

17th October

The projected election results are a Labour victory so complete the opposition would be the SNP. Legend suggests Nicola Sturgeon's cackle on finding out was so powerful she accidentally resurrected a witchfinder.

18th October

Meanwhile in the Senedd, Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies, a sort of humanoid boil dressed in ham, tries to accuse placid and gentle First Minister for Wales Mark Drakeford's Labour of being responsible for long ambulance waiting times.

T'was a mistake.

youtube

19th October

Oh boy.

Well, first of all, Suella Braverman sends an official email from her private email address, and then promptly leaves the Cabinet at cannonball speeds as though she's seen a brown child about to be given citizenship. Was she quietly fired by Jeremy Cunt? Did she do it deliberately to resign? On her way out, she blames the true source of our problems - the Guardian-reading, tofu-eating Wokerati.

Nigella Lawson spends the day tweeting tofu recipes.

Meanwhile, Graham Brady, the Chair of the 1922 Committee, comes to Liz Truss to inform her that he has in fact now received 54 letters of no confidence. Normally, of course, that would be considered enough to trigger a vote in her leadership; but not now.

However, these are unprecedented times. So he changes the threshold - if half of the Tories send him letters, her immunity will be revoked.

But the thing is, Tumblrs, the thing is...

It is all about to kick off in the most spectacular and catastrophic fireworks since Guy Fawkes had a dream.

Because Ed Milliband, once accused of leading the country to chaos and now riding high on the joy of his well-timed Twitter jab of Some Days Ago, wakes this morning and chooses violence.

He has spotted, of course, that no one likes fracking; even the Tories are against it.

He has also spotted that Liz Truss is very stupid.

So he goes into the House of Commons, and he digs a big pit and covers it over with twigs and leaves so it can't be seen, and he bakes a big cake and he places it in the middle of the twigs, and he sets up a net to fall as well and a big stick of ACME dynamite, and he hammers in little signs everywhere saying CAUTION - TRAP, by which I am of course being metaphorical because what he actually does is table a motion to extend the moratorium on fracking. The signs aren't necessary, really. This trap is easy to avoid.

All Liz Truss has to do, you see, is not use a three-line whip on this vote.

The three-line whip, as you'll all recall, is the highest level of coercion. MPs cannot defy a three-line whip. MPs cannot even abstain on a three-line whip. MPs have two choices on a three-line whip: to vote as they're told, or to be removed from the party. You obey or resign. That's all.

For this reason, it's sometimes called a 'confidence vote', as it is effectively a stand-in for one. The vote is not about the issue at hand - this is now a vote of confidence in your leader.

(He's also laid lesser traps. Years back when fracking was first being heavily discussed, Ed was Labour leader and one of the main figures in those discussions. During today, before it all Kicks The Fuck Off, a Tory stands and challenges him on previous statements about fracking, trying to accuse him of hypocrisy.

He was fucking ready for it.)

Graham Brady pops his head back around the door. He's changed his mind - a third of the party is all that's needed now to trigger a vote of no confidence in Liz Truss. And legend says he's only 17 off.

This is presumably the reason for what comes next.

Liz panics. Liz sees she's desperately unpopular. Liz sees that she has to do something to shore up support; and she sees that her important fracking rule, which her party hates her for, is now being challenged by a former Labour leader, and if he wins (which he will) she'll lose all credibility and maybe they'll take her nice office away and tell her she was a Bad Girl.

And so, with the inevitability of gravity on the now-leaden pound sterling, she makes it a three-line whip, and a confidence vote in her government.

INSTANT CHAOS.

There is uproar! There is rage! There is blinding fury! Tory MPs are standing up in the Commons and snarling and pissing and moaning! No one likes fracking except Jacob Rees Mogg! For TWO HOURS they shriek and scream and gnash their teeth, yelling at Liz Truss, demanding to know why this is happening.

(Legend has it chaos-deity Ed Milliband simply leaned back, put his feet up on the chair in front, and made Christian Wakeford hand-feed him grapes and fan him with a palm leaf, but this is unsubstantiated.)

And then, at 6.55, FIVE MINUTES before voting is ready to begin, the Tory Minister for Climate Graham Stewart stands up and declares that everyone should vote how they want because it's not a confidence vote.

Did I say there was chaos before?

Lol. Lmao, even. Rofl, in fact.

Now Tories leap to their feet and basically all scream one long, unending breath of WHAT-DO-YOU-MEAN-IT'S-NOT-A-CONFIDENCE-VOTE-WHAT-THE-FUCK-IS-HAPPENING-IS-IT-OR-IS-IT-NOT-A-CONFIDENCE-VOTE and so Stewart gets up again and says, right to everyone's faces, "It's not for me to say whether it's a confidence vote or not," which is an even faster and more spectacular u-turn than Truss herself could pull off given that he literally just said it wasn't and did so while being a minister.

And then the voting starts. MPs are now milling about like chickens who've sighted the hawk, clamouring to know if they're going to lose their jobs unless they vote for Satan. The Whips - specifically Chief Whip Wendy Morton and Deputy Chief Whip Craig Whittaker - descend upon them like fucking wargs on the hunt. They don't just spit vitriol and blackmail into MPs ears. They fucking bodily drag people into the right voting lobby. MPs are legitimately screaming. Grown men are crying literal tears. Labour's Chris Bryant reports holding multiple Tory MPs as they sob into his shoulder. Multiple MPs report similar scenes.

And Tories still don't know if this is even a damn confidence vote, or if they should just knock the Chief Whip's teeth out.

And then the Whips, filled with bloodlust and frenzy, suddenly realise that NO ONE IS LISTENING TO US, YOU'RE ALL SUPPOSED TO LISTEN TO US SO WE FEEL POWERFUL -

Cue sudden meeting in a locked room with Liz Truss. For over HALF AN HOUR.

So is it a confidence vote? No one is sure. Deputy PM Therese Coffey thinks so, so in the absence of the Whips she decides physical assault is her job now and is seen by David Linden MP (SNP) physically carrying someone into the voting lobby. Jacob Rees Mogg thinks not and starts yelling "It's not a confidence vote!", to which his colleagues reply, "Fuck off." Meanwhile the Whips have possibly resigned, no one is sure. It is still uncertain if this was a confidence vote.

And Ed Milliband basks in the chaos, playing the fiddle while it all burns around him.

Finally, voting concludes. The Whips reappear to lurk.

The votes are in - the government wins, and fracking will go ahead. But.

32 MPs abstained.

And one of those is Liz Truss.

Which is WILD??!? What possible benefit could she get from that??? No one knows. Everything is uproar again. Guess who else abstained? Well, riveted reader, here's a list with important names highlighted:

Nigel Adams, Gareth Bacon, Siobhan Baillie, Greg Clark, Sir Geoffrey Cox, Tracey Crouch, David Davis, Dame Caroline Dinenage, Nadine Dorries, Philip Dunne, Mark Fletcher, Vicky Ford, Paul Holmes, Alister Jack, Boris Johnson, Gillian Keegan, Kwasi Kwarteng, Robert Largan, Pauline Latham, Mark Logan, Theresa May, Priti Patel, Mark Pawsey, Angela Richardson, Andrew Rosindell, Bob Seely, Alok Sharma, Chris Skidmore, Henry Smith, Ben Wallace, Sir John Whittingdale, and William Wragg.

Kwasi still smarting about that p45, I see.

In any case it then turns out that Liz DID vote, but incompetently, because her voting card didn't read properly, which is actually fair given that she was being screamed at by angry Whips waving Graham Stewart's severed dick and balls around while they demanded power and authority. While she's clearing that up, the press are understandably waiting open-mouthed for comment, but don't worry Liz! Your old pal Jacob Rees Mogg is here to fill in for you!

And thus it is that JRM willingly chooses to go on the live news and calmly confirm to the nation that no one knows if it was a confidence vote or not.

Chaos. Chaos again. Unbridled chaos. The Whips are furious. Everyone is furious. The rebels are now in limbo, unsure if they're now out of a job. Tories are weeping, trying to work out if Rees Mogg WANTS to sink the party. Back bencher Charles Walker MP delivers a frank interview to the press absolutely SHIVERING with rage, like the drummer in a Fleetwood Mac concert. Ex-Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, a bland man known only for the time he himself willingly chose to go on the news and calmly explain that he's a homophobe without provocation, tweets that Liz Truss is a Lib Dem sleeper agent they sent in to destroy the Tories, sparking what is likely to be a whole slew of conspiracy theories by next week. No one knows what is going on. They all decide to sleep on it.

The good folks at Wikipedia ultimately decide to make three separate pages for the UK 2022 government crisis, and to label them with the month "to leave room for another by the end of the year."

Ed Milliband skips all the way home, and treats himself to a bacon sandwich.

20th October

Okay, Liz thinks, the morning after. Okay. Last night was bad. But today will be better.

So first... the vote.

Because there's bad news for Tories who like money and good news for people who like liveable planets - there are problems with the vote. For one, the vote counts are being called into question. Are the results reliable?

For another, the Speaker of the House of Commons calls for an investigation into the reports of, um, assault. So will the result stand?

It's so unclear! And so is that ongoing issue of whether or not the damn thing was a confidence vote. Angry whips say YES, JRM says NO, Downing Street refuses to pick up the phone to the BBC, but does send ITV's Robert Peston a text at 1am to say it was definitely a confidence vote and, unrelatedly, the Whips aren't resigning :)

I think we have found the price paid to keep the Whips.

Meanwhile. Let's see what this has done for Liz's leadership stability!

13 letters of no confidence are confirmed submitted by Sky, 5 of which came in overnight. The 1922 Committee reconvenes the coven to discuss matters. Simultaneously, the One Nation Conservatives reconvene their coven to discuss the same. Presumably there is much "Girl what are YOU doing at the Devil's Sacrament?"-ing and "Same cloak, how embarrassing"-ing. MPs are CLAMOURING for her head. It is VICIOUS. It's like cartoon piranhas in a supervillain's lair; which is highly appropriate, because that's exactly what Tory MPs are.

Graham Brady, head jester of the 1922 Committee, demands to see Liz Truss.

He walks into a room with her, and the doors are closed. Half an hour later, he walks back out of the room.

Ten minutes later, she calls a press conference.

45 days after being appointed, Liz Truss breaks the record, and becomes the shortest-serving British Prime Minister.

#politik #the second clownfall of 2022

2K notes · View notes

canonicallyobserving911 · 10 months

Text

Bad Parents vs. Bad Cop Parents

Fanonwriter2023 on AO3

Where CANON and FANON collide!

New Buddie Fanfic Available in the "Bad Cop vs. Good Cop Series"

Part 9 is now available on AO3: "Bad Parents vs. Bad Cop Parents" - Buck and Eddie have confrontations with their parents again but after they’re over, they will define the difference between bad parents and bad cop parents.

"Bad Parents vs. Bad Cop Parents"

17.3K Words; Rated: Teen and Up Audiences

_________

Here's a snippet from one of Eddie's and Buck's conversations about parenting.

_________

Buck lowers his head as he thinks about everything that’s happened. A few seconds later he meets his husband’s eyes and asks, “Do you think we’re good parents? I—I mean are we better to our children than they were to us?”

Without hesitation Eddie replies, “Absolutely because we’re not like them now and we never will be.” He laces their fingers together and continues. “We’re good parents, we’re not perfect but we’re better than our parents were to us while we were growing up. Before we got married, we talked about how we didn’t want to raise our kids like they raised us and we try to be the best parents we can be. I know we play the roles of bad cop and good cop parents when different situations deem it necessary but we do that to set boundaries for our children while we continue to show them how much we love them. Doing that doesn’t make us bad parents… actually it makes us good parents because we make sure we teach our children how to be morally responsible and how to have a moral compass. We take care of them; we sacrifice everything for them and most importantly we love them.”

Buck nods as he allows Eddie’s words to settle around them. If he’s honest, he’s always wondered if he would be a good dad and once he became one the day they got married, he’s always hoped he was. He just knew he didn’t want to end up like his own parents mainly because he remembers how bad it hurt to feel neglected and abandoned. He knows he’s not perfect and he still has a lot to learn but he believes they're doing their best with both of their children.

Eddie rubs his free hand through his hair and says, “Also, we’re not like our parents because we’re available and everything we do… we do it for Chris and Liz. The hair care products business we started is for them. We’re going to retire early because we want to be there for every one of their milestones. When Chris graduates high school next year, we’re going to be there cheering for him on the front row when he gets his diploma. When he goes to MIT next year, we’ve already planned to be off work for two weeks so we can help him move in and get settled. After we get back, when Liz starts Pre-K, we’re going to be there with her too. And when Chris gets married, we’re going to be right there by his side as his best men…” He pauses then says, “Well if he lets us. And when Liz goes to her senior prom and when she gets married, we’re going to be there for her.”

Buck gently squeezes Eddie’s hand and says, “Thanks babe.”

_________

Bad Cop vs. Good Cop Parents

Parts 1-9 are available on AO3 and Part 9 will be available soon.

This series follows Dad!Eddie and Dad!Buck as they parent their two children, Christopher Michael Buckley-Diaz and Daniella Elizabeth Buckley-Diaz.

91K Words; Currently 9 completed works.

A multi-part fanfic series about Eddie and Buck parenting their teenage son Chris and their daughter Daniella. Usually, Eddie's the bad cop parent and Buck's the good cop parent but occasionally, their roles reverse. Also, as different situations occur, they are both bad and/or good cops.

"Becoming the Bad Cop Parent" - 7.3K words; Rated General Audiences: Or Buck gets a call from Christopher's school and for the first time he has to be the bad cop parent.

“Growing as Good Cop Parents” - 8.8K Words; Rated: Teen and Up Audiences: When Chris makes it home after hanging out with his friends, Buck smells and unmistakable scent and everything that happens afterwards, helps him and Eddie realize they’re growing as good cop parents.

“Bad Words and Bad Cop Parents" - 6.0K Words; Rated: Mature: After Chris accidentally drops the “F” bomb in earshot of Eddie and Buck, they have a family meeting and hijinks ensue as they work on eliminating “bad words” from their vocabularies before they have an addition to their family.

"Grateful Good Cop Parents" - 9.2K Words; Rated: Teen and Up Audiences: Buck and Eddie are anxiously awaiting the birth of their daughter, Daniella Elizabeth Buckley-Diaz.

"Brokenhearted Bad Cop Parent" - 10.2K Words; Rated: Mature: As Eddie prepares to return to work, Daniella’s reaction to his adherence of the LAFD dress code makes him feel like he’s a bad cop parent but Buck’s there to comfort both of them.

"Guys, Girls, Curls and Good Cop Parents" - 5.7K Words; Rated: Teen and Up Audiences: Buck, Eddie, Chris and Daniella all have thick hair but Buck’s, Chris’ and Daniella’s is curly and it tangles easily. Since Daniella’s getting older, her hair is growing and Buck and Eddie have to find ways to not only comb and style it but they also need to find the best products to use.

"Both Being Bad Cop Parents" - 10.7K Words; Rated: Teen and Up Audiences: Buck and Eddie have to tell both Chris and Daniella “No” but neither child likes it.

"Guardianships and Good Cop Parents" - 15.0K Words; Rated: Teen and Up Audiences: Another work-related accident reveals Buck’s and Eddie’s parents’ true motives regarding their relationships with their grandchildren, Chris and Liz. But how will they react when they learn legal guardianships have already been established and they don’t include them?

Parts 1-9 are available on AO3.

#buddie #eddie diaz #evan buckley #christopher diaz #the buckley diaz family #buckley diaz family #buddie fanfic #ao3 fanfic #911 fanfic #Fanonwriter2023 on AO3 #Hiatus Reading #911 on abc #911 abc #Bad Cop vs. Good Cop Parents

32 notes · View notes

horseshoegirl · 8 months

Note

Lucky! You know what I’m going to ask for… I’m always in need of updates about Liz Jake and Sadie, my beloveds 🥰🥰🥰

Beth! This thing has been sitting in my drafts since I finished DTDT, and I'm so happy you sent this in cause it's literally brought me a new life. I've missed these three more than I can say, and I've been feeling a bit down about writing (I can't say why, but I NEEDED this).

I'm sharing more than a paragraph cause I've missed them so much, and I'm sure the DTDT crew who followed their journey would like a big update on these guys, too!

This is the beginning of The four times Sadie's Uncles ruined her dates and the one time they didn't!

“Will asked me to the prom.”

It's a Friday night, on the eve of all the Daggers returning from another deployment on a special assignment. It’s just you and Sadie standing together, washing dishes, discussing everything the two of you wanted to do and catch Jake up on when he returned.

“Oh, how did he do it?” You squealed, knocking her with your hip. Sadie ducked her head and blushed, reaching for more soap for her dish.

“He did the ten things I hate about you bleacher dance.”

“Shut up, he didn’t?” you gasped. You hoped your reply wasn’t too dramatic. You might have let it slip to Alyssa that movie nights now consisted of romantic comedies since your husband hadn't been a participant for the past few months, and Sadie had been impressed by Health Ledger dancing on the steps.

Alyssa was all too happy to relay the message to Will, who happily jumped on the chance, even getting a few of Sadie’s teachers involved. You might have gotten the video from Alyssa earlier today, and you weren’t going to let on, knowing Sadie would want it destroyed if she knew of its existence.

Lately, she hated seeing herself cry.

She nodded, slightly embarrassed at the memory, though you knew she had to be giddy he’d even be that thoughtful or grandiose in his ask.

“We are going to have to go dress shopping soon. Maybe get Nat and Penny involved. Make it a girl's trip.”

Sadie doesn’t offer you a reply. Instead, she hands her plate off to you to dry before pushing herself away to the other side of the kitchen.

“I’m scared, though, Aunt Liz. It’s so bad. I’m not ready for this to happen yet.”

The plate slipped from your hand, falling back into the water. As you turned to face her, Sadie closed her eyes and started to nod rapidly, wincing as you took in her words.

“Sweetheart,” you admonished, stepping away from the counter to stroke her hair away from her face. “Why is that a bad thing? I thought you would want to go to the prom with Will. Is something going on? Is he pressuring you?”

She opened her eyes, worry clearly etched into them. Even as a teenager, how she could puncture your soul with one look had not changed.

“Uncle Jake doesn’t know we’ve been dating. Either does Bradley.”

Ah, the penny drops.

She’s right. It’s been five months since the two of you saw either of them and in that time, Will and Sadie went on several dates. There might have been even a kiss or two shared. And to Sadie’s request, she didn’t want Jake to know in the letters you’ve been sending.

He was, you could say, a bit overprotective of his little girl. And she knew the trouble both he and Bradley could bring on to the both of them, should they wish to.

“Uncle Jake and Uncle Roo are going to kill him.”

“Sadie Seresin-Beck, they aren’t going to…”

She let out a grumbled sound and stepped away from you to the edge of the island so she could lay her upper body across the granite surface. She let out a frustrated cry, threading her fingers through her hair at the back of her head.

“What are we going to do?!”

Honestly?

You had no clue.

#horseshoegirlwrites #damnthosedogtags #jake seresin fanfiction #damn those dog tags #hangman x oc #jake seresin #hangman fanfiction #jake hangman seresin x reader #dtdt sneak peek #dtdt

27 notes · View notes

thescarleteagle · 7 months

Text

”Say hi to God.”

Those were the last words Veronica had uttered to her fated and psychotic boyfriend Jason Dean all of those years ago, but they still echo in her mind on repeat.

“Hey Ronnie, wake up.” Veronica’s husband was a very kind man, and more importantly, normal. He was an accountant at the local bank and volunteered at the animal shelter when needed, he was perfectly normal, and that’s what Veronica liked most about him, he was transparent and honest, no matter what. Hell, even his name is normal, Micheal Johnston.

“I am up.” Veronica shot him a glare from the other side of the bed. It was no secret that she doesn’t sleep at night, which led to Micheal dragging her to the doctor a few months after they got married, she got diagnosed with Insomnia, which on top of her nightmares, made it impossible for her to sleep at night.

Micheal gave her a sympathetic smile. “I know, and I’m sorry honey. But you have to go to work.” Veronica sighed and reluctantly got out of bed. His eyes trailed her figure as she went into the bathroom. Veronica closes the door to the bathroom and turns the shower on, as she does everyday as a desperate attempt to wake up. She quickly discards her pajama onto the floor and steps into the shower. She stands under the shower head, willing the water to wash away her dream. Then she scrubs her skin hard, hoping that the soap will clean her soul and conscious.

“Say hi to God…” Veronica shudders at those four words. The four words that she cannot ever get away from, no matter how many times she showers away the truth, no matter how many times she hides in her normal suburban home, and no matter how many times she kisses her husband and daughter good night, she can never escape her past, and she knows it.

Veronica steps out of the shower and begins to dry off, but not before looking into the mirror. There was a time in her high school career that she would spend hours in front of a mirror, making sure she was perfect for the Heathers, but now? Now she is lucky that she wakes up in time for work and wearing matching socks. When she comes down the stairs all dressed and ready for work, her heart practically stops at the sight in front of her. Micheal and Elizabeth playing dress up in the living room. She walks into the room and smiles at the sight.

“Momma!” Before Veronica knew what was happening, Elizabeth is barreling towards her and hugs her very tightly. “Hey Lizzie!” Veronica hugged her back just as hard and strokes the top of her head. Veronica never let her know what went on in the night, how she could never sleep from her nightmares, to Elizabeth, Veronica was just her hero, and that’s how Veronica wants it to stay.

“Did you have a good sleep honey?” Veronica asked Elizabeth, playing with her hair. “Yeah! I dreamed that I was a princess that could ride on a unicorn!” Veronica watches as the young girl tries to reenact the dream on the couch, trying to use her poor father as a substitute unicorn. “Giddy up Mr. Unicorn.” Veronica says laughing at him. Micheal sticks his tongue out at her playfully and begins to carry Lizzie around the room like a princess on a horse.

“Come on Mamma!” Suddenly, Veronica was part of the rodeo to because she found herself laying on the floor with Micheal and Lizzie on top of her. Lizzie was saying something about having to command her now because she is a princess, and Micheal was neighing in her ear like a horse.

Veronica slowly gets up. “Sorry Your Highness, and Mr. Unicorn, I have to get to work.” The pair on the floor look a little sad. “But Momma…” Lizzie began. Veronica bends down to her level. “I’ll be back before you know it, okay?” She sighs. “Okay Momma.” Veronica smiles at her and kisses Micheal on the cheek, resulting in Lizzie scrunching up her nose in disgust. “Now go get ready for school, kindergarten is waiting for you Liz.” She kisses Lizzie on the cheek as well then walks out the door that leads into her garage where her car is parked. But when Veronica climbs into the car, she could have sworn that she could see in her mirror, just for a split second, a figure in a red bathrobe and slightly blue lips…

#should i keep going?#heathers #heathers the musical #veronica sawyer #jason dean #heather chandler #say hi to god #fanfic

13 notes · View notes

phoebe-delia · 6 months

Text

Chicago's 6 Merry Murderesses as Taylor Swift's songs

I thought of this earlier today and thought maybe one or two people on here might find it amusing so here you go lol.

For context, you've got to know the lyrics to Cell Block Tango. (If you don't and you want to read on, here are the lyrics.) I will refer to each of the murderesses by both their character name AND the sound they make in the song: Pop (Liz), Six (Annie), Squish (June), Uh-uh (Hunyak), Cicero (Velma), and Lipschitz (Mona)

I am assigning the songs based on the vibe their story gives me. I am also challenging myself by excluding "No Body No Crime," since that would be a bit of a cop-out IMO.

I had fun putting this together! I hope someone else finds it interesting lol.

CW: discussion of murder, guns, blood, violence

POP/Liz: "Bejeweled" from Midnights

Liz says she kills her boyfriend because she came home from work in a bad mood and he was popping his gum too loud, which was a frequent habit of his. She was annoyed and told him to stop, but he didn't, so she shot him. This is, obviously, completely unhinged. It gives me "Bejeweled" vibes because of the lyrics "didn't notice you were walking all over my peace of mind" and "familiarity breeds contempt." Idk I just see a similar feeling of "you've gotten on my last nerve and I'm done with you" from both.

SIX/Annie: "Babe" from Red

Annie says she killed her boyfriend because he told her he was single, they got together and moved in, and then she found out he had multiple wives. So then she poisoned him. This gives me "Babe" vibes because it feels like she fell fast and hard and found out he wasn't the person she thought he was. This one is all about betrayal and feeling blindsided by infidelity and I think the song fits really well.

SQUISH/June: "Getaway Car" from reputation

June says she was making dinner when her husband burst through the door, screaming and accusing her of having an affair with the milkman. She then says he "ran into" her knife 10 times. We don't know for certain if his accusations against her are true; she doesn't let on either way. If he was screaming and raging, she could've thought she was in danger and acted in self-defense. My interpretation, though, is that she was cheating, and then killed him to keep him quiet. For this reason, I chose "Getaway Car," because the milkman was her own "Getaway Car" out of that relationship similar to how Taylor describes in the song.

Uh-Uh/The Hunyak: "Haunted" from Speak Now

Her story is SUPER sad. She's falsely accused of killing her husband, and then no one will listen to her because she can't speak English and properly advocate for herself. To me, this song captures some of the turmoil and grief she's feeling, both for herself and her husband. As the song says, "Come on, come on, don't leave me like this/I thought I had you figured out/Something's gone terribly wrong/You're all I wanted." And like, obviously, her husband didn't leave her here. But I think it portrays a similar feeling of dread and panic.

Cicero/Velma: "Better Than Revenge" from Speak Now

This was the first—and I'm pretty sure only—time Taylor addressed a woman with whom a boyfriend cheated or wronged her. I think it fits Velma's story very well. Velma and her sister did a traveling dance act, and Velma's husband traveled with them. One night, Velma caught them having sex, so she "blacked out" and killed them. Just look at the lyrics to "Better Than Revenge" and see what you think:

"She came along, got him alone, and let's hear the applause/She took him faster than you could say sabotage/I never saw it coming, nor would I have suspected it/I underestimated just who I was dealing with/She had to know the pain was beating on me like a drum/She underestimated just who she was stealing from."

Lipschitz/Mona: "I Knew You Were Trouble" from Red

Mona describes Al Lipschitz as being a sensitive artist. She says she fell deeply in love with him, but that he was trying to "find himself" and ended up cheating on her with multiple women. She's vague about how he died, but she does give us this pretty crazy line:

"I guess you can say we broke up because of artistic differences. He saw himself as alive... and I saw him dead"

Anyway, to be honest, part of what made me pick this song was picturing the music video: this suave, charming artist flirting with this girl and then leaving her because he's a "loner" and a "drifter." I think the story she tells goes well with the vibe of the song.

If you made it this far—thanks for reading!! 💛

#CW: discussion of murder #discussion of guns #mention of blood #mention of violence #chicago musical #roxie hart #velma kelly #cell block tango #taylor swift #musicals #broadway #musical theatre

9 notes · View notes

libellule-ao3 · 10 months

Text

Life Links

15. Merula Snyde/The most powerful

Summary:

A quick reminder of the situation of the characters in the Circle of Khanna for those who have been waiting for the chapter since...

Beatrice Haywood and Liz Tuttle are in the Fidgi Islands. The latter is haunted by one of her predictions.

Chiara and Diego fled the country months ago and have found refuge in Deauville. After months of servitude, Penny Haywood joins them just before the Battle, along with Jae Kim, who is very worried about his long-time partner, Annie.

Attacked in Hogsmeade by a patrol of Death Eaters, Tulip has taken advantage of an opportunity to flee, leaving Charlie Weasley to his fate.

Badeea is dealing with the loss of her husband, Auror Talbott Winger.

After a final farewell to their respective loved ones, Aurors Tonks and Thorn are on their way to Hogwarts.

Barnaby Lee, a proven Death Eater, his actions proves that he has not yet severed the links that bind him to his former classmates As for Ben, he has joined Fenrir Greyback's pack and is attacking the Castle.

Today, we meet Merula and her mother, Luscinia Snyde, after Jacob and Penny's release.

Chapter index - previous chapter (Ben Copper) - next chapter (Rosmerta)

"Would you like biscuits with your tea, Madam...?"

Yes, Mother...

Merula accepts in a tone devoid of the worldly politeness that befits their circle and slumps inelegantly into one of the living room armchairs, exhausted from a too recent Cruciatus Curse. This is in stark contrast to her mother, who holds herself together with a righteousness so ingrained in her that even a decade of imprisonment has failed to hunch her.

“Oh, I forgot to buy biscuits,” the woman exclaims, tucking a thin strand of salt-and-pepper hair that has escaped back from her tight bun.

Merula waves her wand with exasperation. Cupboard doors open, a cascade of biscuit packets tumbles out. Luscinia Snyde* stares at the boxes on the floor without understanding.

She does not remember. She doesn’t remember buying biscuits this morning, yesterday, every day this week, and every day the week before.

“We can never have enough biscuits anyway!” decrees the former Death Eater with a sheepish smile.

"Isn’t that right Madame, er...?"

“Merula.”

Luscinia’s expression changes abruptly, as if the secret of her existence has just been revealed to her. Suspended from this look suddenly filled with unknown knowledge, a glimmer of hope threatens to melt Merula’s icy heart. Because Luscinia sometimes manages to recover a whole memory, following the mention of one tiny detail, like a thread of wool that is pulled out of a knitted fabric until the whole ball of yarn is reformed. Provided that this detail finds an echo in her bruised psyche, provided that the magic works.

“If I’d had a daughter, I would have given her the same name!”

A dagger in the heart... Again! Magic never works when it comes to the surly faced Curse-Breaker who inherited Luscinia’s formidable vocal abilities. The Dementors tore away every happy memory, whole swathes of happiness. They have plundered her memory so much that it is screwed up. Her mother is broken.

Today, Luscinia knows her head is sick, but she can’t use a wand or remember what she did this morning, or, most horribly, that she has a daughter. Nor does she remember Voldemort’s visits, the tortures in the cellars or her husband going to Hogwarts for the Final Battle. The good thing is that she won’t ask about the sleeping guards or the two missing prisoners.

Nevertheless, Merula is enraged. She grew up in this manor, alone, between the monthly visits of her aunt, who preferred to let a child face alone the threats of reprisals on her person rather than assume the education of a Death Eater’s daughter. Driven by vengeful ambition, the heiress has been striving to reach the heights of magical skill to deter the avengers, prove her worth, regain the respect she is due and surpass her entire lineage!

The escape of Death Eaters and Voldemort’s rise to power has turned everything upside down. However, although she denied it, Merula had hoped for a hint of parental recognition, but all she got from her mother was the distance reserved for strangers, and from her father, the indifference of a miserable Voldemort puppet.

Voldemort... It’s all his fault! He’s the gangrene! And Merula harbours a deep grudge against this deceitful half-blood hypocrite who stole her life! But to oppose him directly is to oppose the last remaining members of her family... The Curse-Breaker has never been able to bring herself to do that.Footsteps sound in the parqueted corridor. On the lookout, Merula stands up, wand in hand, while her mother collects the boxes of biscuits, oblivious to the looming threat. The hinges of the heavy oak door creak. A cold sweat runs down her spine and Jacob Thorn appears, waving a white scarf in peace.

The young woman slips away without a word. Out of sight, Luscinia Snyde will not remember her presence. Once the door closes behind her, the mask of civility falls off. Merula grabs Jacob by the collar, slams him against the wall and thrusts her wand into his jugular.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she spits fiercely.

“I came to get you,” he replies with the aplomb of a man used to her mood swings. “I got it all figured out.”

“Fuck! What took you so long?” she grumbles, her amethyst eyes blazing with anger and resentment.

In his eyes, Merula finds all the pleas for forgiveness he doesn’t make. He is far too proud of that. Fortunately! Jacob is not like his sister, who flattens herself at the slightest frown. Merula could never have fallen in love with a wimp!

“Come with me,”

Her snarl wavers, jostled by the surges of her heart torn between her insecurities and her convictions. The man takes the opportunity to brush aside the threat of her wand.

“Get out of your cage, Little Bird... I need you. To weaken Voldemort, Nagini must be shot.”

That last sentence shakes her. Jacob, the most secretive, independent guy in the whole of the UK, needs her. A certainty intoxicates her: if someone like Jacob believes in you, needs you, he gives you value and everything becomes possible! The whole world can be yours! With this thought alone, an incredible feeling of power secretly awakens in her.

“Of course! You’d never make it without me!” scoffs the Curse-Breaker. “Besides, without me, you’d still be naked in my basement!”

“I might never have gone there if you hadn’t sent me!”

“You would have preferred ‘death or insanity’ maybe?”

Jacob takes a few seconds to absorb what he has escaped, thanks to Merula. Then he scans her unblinkingly, waiting for her decision. He knows her well. He knows that she will use the slightest superfluous word to delay the inevitable. There is a tense silence between the most powerful former witch at Hogwarts and the only man she tolerates as her equal. Then a provocative smile emerges.

“Damn, Merula! The most powerful witch at Hogwarts is not going to hole up like a rat at such a crucial time! It’s a disgrace!”

A/N: *I named her mother Luscinia because that is the Latin name for birds of the nightingale family. Both blackbirds and nightingales are birds of melodious song, and Merula’s mother is known to be talented enough to be a member of the Frog Choir. Incidentally, I liked the little alliteration in Luscinia Snyde.

#hphm #hogwarts mystery #merula snyde #ll fic #jacob thorn #hphm jacob

15 notes · View notes

blackroseguzzi · 2 years

Text

FATE PART 4 💙

Summery: With Mare of the case, someone has to help her get some information to help her out- and that someone has to be you.

Ps I wrote this in the wrong POV because it’s been a while since I wrote for this series but I will fix it next chapter!!

@lili-tate 💙

You pushed around the peas on your plate, trying your very hardest to drown out the sound of your family arguing over something so ridiculous as what brand makes the best crackers for a cheese board.

“Y/n, are you going to converse with us this evening or stare at your plate and not take a bite!,” your mothers shrill voice bounced you back into reality.

“I’m sorry, just thinking about work.” It wasn’t a lie, Erin’s case was fresh on your mind. It felt so silly to be sharing dinner with your family knowing that someone that had killed a teenage mother was out there.

Then there was also the fact that you had ran into Colin. Colin, as in your ex fiancé who you now had to work with for the next week.

Your mother scoffs, not realizing the severity of the case you’re covering. She had always assumed you write sex columns like Carrie Bradshaw in Sex in the City. “You and your job, are you ever going to find more?”

“I like to refer to my work as a career mom, but yes I plan…” you bit the inside of your cheek, holding back anger for brief moment “ to find more.”

“Good and Gather!” Janice’s husband suddenly called out from the other end of the table “they have those amazing cheddar and red pepper crisps that are to die for.”

You let out a small laugh, your eyes reverted back to your plate and you found yourself about to fork a load of mash potatoes into your mouth when a knock rang out through the home.

“My goodness, I hope it’s not Liz from next door needing help finding her damn mutt again,” Your mother rose from the table and slammed her napkin down on the chair before sprinting to the door. Your father sat silently across the table and everything inside of you wanted so bad to have him say anything, but he just sat there watching the kids and quietly eat his food. Your mother appeared in the dining room again a few moments later.

“Someone is here to see you, Y/n. She says it’s urgent..”

You looked around the table, all eyes on you. Excusing yourself, you exited the cold room to seek out whoever had showed up at your family’s door- it’s not like many people knew that you were here.

As you rounded the corner, you couldn’t help but be taken a back by Detective Sheehan’s figure in the doorway.

“How did you?”

“I’m a cop, I looked up your parents address. Now put on your coat I need to speak with you.” Mare clearly wasn’t in the mood to waste time. She was tapping her foot on the pavement as she watched you grab your coat and sling it over your body. You exited the home and Mare took a deep breath.

“I mean I’m genuinely surprised to see you here Detective, is everything okay is someone in custody?” You dug your hands into your coat pocket to protect them from the harsh air around you. Mare looked like she hadn’t slept much, and she shook her head angrily like everything you spoke hit her in the nerves.

“I need you to do me a favor,” her voice was low and she refused to look anywhere but her feet.

Narrowing your eyes at her request you pondered a moment, wondering what on earth this woman would need from you.

“It depends, what’s in it for me?” You decided to play your cards in favor of your story for work, knowing Mare was going to do the same thing if given the chance.

“I was forced to take a leave. I can’t get access to anything pertaining to Erin’s case….and I..”

“Wait why, what happened?”

“Let me finish!” Mare’s eyes suddenly shot up to look at you. she was anxious, and scared and you could tell that something had happened in the last 24 hours since you had seen her that had changed something important in her life.

“I got kicked off the case. I need you to help me get confidential information so I can do my own investigating in the time being.”

You let out a laugh, making Mare’s anger rise.

“You’re nuts. That’s extremely illegal.”

“You realize I’m basically giving you access to every bit of info you want for your stupid article, right?” Mare watched you as your mind started to wonder. Was she seriously asking you to investigate for her?

“So how exactly am I going to get information for you?” Questioning her, you were surprised when she actually gave you a slight smile.

“Zabel. I need you to work alongside Zabel to get every piece of evidence he knows back to me.”

Shaking your head you squeezed your eyes shut, because the thought of being around Colin gave your stomach a jump, but now the thought of being alone with him made your insides feel like you were on a roller coaster.

“You know, Zabel told me about you. I know that you still care about him or you wouldn’t be still be interested in taking on this work just for your article.”

As the heat rose to your cheeks, you knew that Mare had a lot of truth to her words.

“Well if you know who I am, why the hell do you think Colin would even want to give me any information or talk to me at all?” “Because I think he still cares about you too.”

The next day you decided to pick up two coffee’s at the spot that you and Colin used to frequent when visiting your parents. You wondered if he took his coffee the same or if he would refuse to drink it out of spite.

You parked your car at the station, slowly walking to the bench outside as you waited for Colin. Around 5 minutes of pure anxiety coursing through your veins you reached into your pocket- A message from Mare scrolled onto the screen.

‘Don’t fuck this up.’

You rolled your eyes and shoved your phone back into your coat pocket. Beside you the door swung open to the station and Colin strode out, dressed in the sexiest long coat that had you basically drooling. His eyes landed on you and his expression twisted in surprise.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to you popping up at my work,” He sighed and looked between your smile to the coffee in your hands.

“I got you a coffee, same as you always take it. It’s from Joe’s near my parents house. That one where we..”

“Yeah I know the place,” He forced a smile as you held out the warm cup of piping hot liquid. “Thank you, I uh I appreciate it.”

You couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear as you two stood awkwardly outside the station. You knew he had work to do, but Mare had specific instructions you knew you had to follow through with.

“Look, I know you hate me being here-” Colin put up one of his hands to stop you, shaking his head slowly.

“I don’t hate you being here, I’m just surprised okay? Can you blame me?” Colin’s voice was soft and his brown eyes were like looking into a time capsule of your youth spent with him. You missed his familiar face, his warmth, his everything.

“I just want to maybe make things less awkward, maybe we could grab dinner tomorrow and catch up or something?” You sucked in a breath, waiting for him to think over your proposal.

“You’re asking me to dinner?” Colin’s eyebrows raised at your words, and taking another sip of coffee he just watched you nod quickly, eager for him to answer.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, y/n.” Colin watched your face fall. You stared at your coffee, realizing you were going to have to pull out your plan B.

“Well, I guess I’ll see you around Detective Zabel.” You gave him a small smile before turning back to your vehicle.

“You know who I ran into the other day?” Judy Zabel called out from the kitchen. “Sharen Foster. We hadn’t seen each other in a few months. She said she read the article about you!” Judy brought Colin and herself a plate of food and sat down at the dinner table.

“Oh yeah?” Colin replied as he put a glass of water down next to his mothers plate for her. He knew where this conversation was going.

“Her oldest daughter lives over in Easttown now. I told her that you had just been sent in to work on that case with the poor girl. She’s a beautiful woman, Colin. Sharon said she’s been looking for Mr. Right and I bet you two would-”

“Y/n, is back in town Ma,” Colin didn’t dare look at his mothers face as he spoke those words.

“Colin its the holidays, you need to stop letting it bother you. It’s been nearly two years.” Judy sighed, looking into her sons eyes as she spoke.

“No, no. She’s working on an article about the case I’m working on.” Colin took a sip of beer, “I saw her, I mean I have to see her until she gets all the information she needs.” Colin felt relief to tell someone who understood how much that shook his world seeing her.

“Oh Colin, I’m sure that’s very hard for you.” Judy was sympathetic. She was the one to help her poor son pick up all the broken pieces after you left. She knew there were still some open cracks, and now you had come back to make sure those wounds never healed.

“Yeah, but I can get through it. It’s fine.” He felt his words hit his heart, but he knew they were just comforting words for his mother and not for himself.

Judy only smiled politely at her son, gathering her hands together and bowing her head before praying, Colin swung off his beer before joining her.

The pray was cut short when a knock sounded at the front door. Colin decided he would retrieve the door while his mother waited to see who had come this late at night to their home.

Colin swung open the door, and speak of the devil herself, y/n was standing in front of him bundled in warm winter gear. “uh, hi,” Zabel blinked a few times to see if he might have been imagining her, but when she responded with a hi back he knew the imagery was real.

“What are you doing here?” He asked politely, but with a hint of confusion mixed in.

“I saw the news and I have some information you might want.” You watched as Colin opened up the door to invite you in. Taking a deep breath you made it over the threshold into the familiar space of his mothers cozy home that they had shared so many wonderful moments in. Judy was nothing short of amazing, and you had always felt comfort in her presence, much more than you ever had with your own mother.

“Judy, it’s nice to see you,” You spoke quietly, trying to avoid her harsh gaze that you were expecting the second you walked up the steps of the Zabel household. She just nodded, looking between Colin and you.

“Colin was just telling me he ran into you.”

“Yeah, it was a pleasant surprise,” You responded, sending a small smile to Colin, who surprisingly smiled back at you. Judy was not as kind, she huffed lightly at your words.

“Pleasant for one of you at least,” She mumbled.

Colin cleared his throat, embarrassed at his mothers sudden hostility. You knew she was just protecting Colin, and you decided to just hang your head and nod, ending the interaction between the two of you. Colin cleared his throat, mentioning that he would run to the kitchen to grab the two of you beer before getting to work. Judy and you stood there awkwardly as Colin left the room.

“Please, don’t hurt him again. I’m begging you,” Judy whispered, as she looked into your eyes. You saw the pain and sadness that she harbored for her son’s heartbreak.

“I’m not looking to do that, I promise Mrs. Zabel,” You spoke quietly. You were telling the truth, you wanted nothing more than to heal whatever would you had given to Colin in the first place.

Judy walked closer to you, letting her hostility subside momentarily and looked you up and down.

“You look good, honey. Take care of yourself,” She patted your shoulder before walking towards the living room, leaving you and Colin to get to work.

#Colin Zabel x y/n #colin zabel #Colin Zabel x reader #colin zabel mare of easttown #Colin Zabel fan fiction #Colin Zabel imagine #colin zabel x reader #mare of easttown #Colin mare of east town #evan peters x y/n #Evan peters #evan peters imagine #Evan Peters smut #evan peters imagine

66 notes · View notes

olsenmyolsen · 1 year

Text

Looking Forward

Part 38 of On The Inside With Elizabeth Olsen

Word Count: 11.2K

masterlist

TW: Walmart Jesus talk

A/N: This is officially the longest chapter I've made. It's got pictures, drama, and turns that I don't think you're ready for. So go to the bathroom, grab a snack and stay hydrated. Happy reading 🩵!

"Mom, you're favorite daughter is here!!" Liz takes my hand and begins dragging me through the house with a child-like smile full of glee.

Y/N POV

Oh, this is going to be a gas, I think to myself as my eyes look back from the twins to Liz to the beautiful house around me. Pictures of childhood memories line the walls of a home I can't wait to see later.

"And who might that be?" We hear an older voice call out as Liz drags me closer and closer to what I can only assume is the kitchen based on the wonderful smell radiating in the air. "Me!!" Liz yells back to her mom Jarnie as we round a corner and spot a busy kitchen with some people I've never met.

Liz drops my hand and runs past two familiar-looking men. One of them is Ash's husband, Louis, who gives me a courtesy wave, and the other is who I can only assume is her biological brother. The man looks up and shoots me a smile before leaning over to say something to the other woman in the kitchen. She quickly turns to me and wipes her hands on her blue apron as Liz finishes up her hug with her mom.

"Hi. I'm Alexis." The woman with the apron moves before me with a warm smile. "Oh, hi, I'm Y/N!" I reach my hand out and let my nerves do the shaking as the man next to her reaches his hand out. "Hi. I'm this one's boyfriend, and those two older brother. I'm Trent." I look behind me to see the twins roll their eyes at their brother. "Nice to meet you!" I say with a smile before holding back some laughter due to Mary-Kate's words, "Oh please, the only thing nice about him is his hot girlfriend." Trent scoffs at this and directs his attention to the duo behind me. "MK, you wouldn't know shit if it hit you in the face."

Without warning, Mary-Kate and Trent begin bickering. Playfully, of course.

Well, I hope it is.

"This happens every year." I turn to my right as Alexis starts leading me away from the bickering siblings, just as Ash joins in. "They love each other dearly. I'm sure you know." I nod my head along and smile as Jarnie yells at the trio to knock it off. When my eyes met Liz's, I couldn't help but laugh as Jarnie covered Liz's ears before yelling at her siblings. She looks like a little kid.

"You guys are cute together." I move my eyes back to Alexis with a raised eyebrow. "Sorry. I- It's just true. Plus, she seems happier than she did last year." Oh? "Last year?" I ask Alexis. "Oh, uh, I shouldn't have said-"

"Babe!" My attention shifts as my smiling girlfriend comes crashing into me, lacing her arm around my body and pulling me closer. "Hi, Alexis! Nice to see you!"

"You as well!" Alexis smiles back. "Is it okay if I steal Y/N? Just real quick?" Liz asks with a smile and squint of the eyes, making me internally laugh. Alexis puts her hands up, mocking defeat. "She's all yours." Oh yes, I am.

"Yes, she is."

Liz utters those three words making my jaw drop, and Alexis' face blush. Neither one of us expected to hear that. But my girlfriend just smiles and starts leading me no less than ten steps to Jarnie, who looks at me with nothing but care in her eyes. "My goodness, Lizard, look at her!"

"Mom-"

"Oh, honey!" Jarnie moves her attention from Liz back to me. "You're beautiful!" Without another moment between us, Jarnie pulls me into a hug before relenting. "Thank you for joining us this year." A smile sneaks onto my face at the sincere words and feeling of love surrounding me. "I was more than happy to come. Honestly." I say truthfully. "I was also going to bring a gift, but Liz fought me on it." I send a confident smile.

Don't get me wrong. I'm terrified to be here. Afraid that something will go wrong. Or I'll open my mouth and insert my foot. But at the same time. Liz was missing home. She tried to hide it the best she could, but I could see it. Between the uptick in calls to her mother and the amount of singing Lizzie would do about songs from her childhood

I would do anything to be here with her now.

Plus, I needed to meet more of her family at some point!

"Oh, nonsense." Jarnie waves her hand. "According to the internet and our Lizard, it appears you're quite busy." I look to Liz, who makes a locking gesture to her lips and shrugs. "Is that what our Lizard is saying?" I peel my eyes back to Liz's mom, who picks up on the looks between her daughter and I. "Yes, contracts for record companies being signed and all that! But frankly, anything to get her to stop talking about her garden all the time" Jarnie then makes a don't tell her look even though Liz very clearly heard her mom. "Mom!"

"Oh, I'm teasing, honey." Jarnie waves her hands at her youngest before grabbing me and positioning me next to her. "Yeah, we're just teasing Lizzie!" A very smug-looking Mary-Kate says as she walks past her sister to the fridge, clearly not knowing what's going on. "Oh, is it teasing Lizzie time?!" Ash chirps, much to Trent's delight and Liz's dismay.

"I say so!" Trent speaks up.

"Baby photos or high school first?!" Mary-Kate excitedly jumps and down, begging me to answer from across the kitchen, while a wide-eyed Liz runs to me and quickly places her hands on my mouth. "Do not answer them. You love me, and it will stay that way!" I can't do anything but laugh through Liz's hands. "Don't do it."

"Lizard, let her speak."

"Mom, she'll betray me! I know that look!" I glance at Jarnie, who shakes her head. "You're right." She says to me. "High school photos first!!" Jarnie says, causing the twins to shriek and run out of the kitchen, spilling water from a freshly made cup. "Mom!!" Liz turns to her mother with a betrayed tone—faking sadness and offense.

"What? Y/N's the one who said it!" I look to Jarnie with Liz's hands still on my mouth. She does nothing but smile and wink. "You'll love them, dear." Without thinking, I try speaking, but nothing but a muffled noise is heard, causing Liz to laugh in defeat before removing her hands. "Thank you, Jarnie," I say with a smile that gets returned. "I bet you look cute!" Liz rolls her eyes and hangs her head as the twins' yells are heard through the house. "Well, thanks, Mom. Let's get this over with.."

"Wait, shouldn't we help?" I look to the remaining food that still needs to be prepped. "Nonsense," Jarnie speaks up. "Alexis and I got it. You're our guest this year. But next year you'll be here next to me. Okay?"

"Yes, ma'am." I nod to Liz's mom, who gives a wink. "Now go see pictures of our Lizard."

I turn back to Liz, who happily grabs my hand and leads me past Trent and Alexis trying to hide their smiles before she turns back to her mother. "I'm still your favorite, though... right?"

This causes me to laugh and wrap my arms around my girlfriend. "Oh, come on. Yes, everyone loves you, Lizzie Olsen! Let's go." I say with a smile as I push through the entryway of the kitchen.

Liz laughs with me as we walk through the house towards the loud twins. "She loves you." I bring my attention from the house's high ceilings back to Liz. "My mom. She already loves you. Plus Trent. I'm surprised he didn't give his big brother/if you hurt her speech." Liz pauses for a moment. "Maybe that's because of what happened at the show." I'm momentarily confused but then remember what happened after my All Eyes On Me performance. "So I guess he already knows you'll do what you can to love and protect his little sister." I smile and wrap my arm around Liz. "I do love her." We slow our walk, and I let Liz's lips plant themselves on me.

"Are you doing okay?" I tilt my head at her question. "I mean, I'm the more outgoing one most of the time in this relationship, but you really turned on the charm in the kitchen. You okay?" Liz smirks while she laces her hands in my own, and I squeeze them, thanking her for her concerns. "Uh.. Don't get me wrong. I'm scared shitless right now." I chuckle. "But it's Thanksgiving. With your family! Today isn't about me. It's about us. And them." I gesture with both our hands together. "The people you love. I'd rather be scared and nervous today than to never do this at all." Liz beams at me and kisses me once again. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"And thank you." "For?" "Being you."

Liz POV

I've been embarrassed and teased, and tricked before.

Yes. Mainly by my sisters. We all know the gum in the hair story.

And I'm not saying everyone hasn't been teased, tricked, and embarrassed because everyone has. Growing up with sisters or not. It's a part of life. It happens whether we want it to or not.

But boy, oh boy, do I want it to stop now.

Because against my wishes, the photo albums and years books were pulled out. The twins started with the college photos. Most of which I'm not proud of, but my sweet Y/N loved them and secretly counted every time I had a joint or cigarette in my hand.

That was thirty minutes ago, and now we've moved on to high school photos.

"Oh, my God!" Y/N yells, snatching another photo Ashley held up to her. "Look at the smile!"

"Look at you!" I smile as Y/N flashes the picture to me before dropping it into my hands as Mary-Kate holds up another one like it's a treat. "Oh my God, You're so cute here, Lizzie!" Ash squeals before flipping the photo over.

Instantly I'm trying to cover it, but Y/N fights me off. "Oh, babe." She says with a laugh. "I can't tell if it's laundry day or you're going through a phase." The twins just about collapse with laughter, practically dying at Y/N's words, clearly hitting it on the head.

Y/N herself bites back her lip before scooting closer to me. "I can tell what phase this is." She whispers, forcing me to snatch the photo from her hands. "It's called being a teenager." Y/N just nods to me and mouths the word sure.

"Oh, look at this one!" My brother shouts from his hovering stance behind the twins. In his hand, I see my high school yearbook. "Trent." I quietly plead, but it's no use because instantly, everyone is gathered around Y/N as Trent shoves the book into her hands.

"Babe." Y/N starts as her finger brushes over the picture. "You're so fucking cute! Your hair is a little frizzy, but Jesus Christ, have you ever had a like bad one? I'm talking awful to look at bad picture taken? Has she?" Y/N looks to the twins and then to me, almost as if she's offended. I don't even get to answer before her ramblings start. "God, it's gonna be so mortifying when I take you to my mom's, and in every picture, I look like I just woke, but I'm also somehow a walking corpse." She sighs. "Meanwhile, you've looked like this for years and years?!"

The rest of her words hit me, and I laughed and smiled along like everyone else, but I focused on what she said. "when I take you to my mom's."

My heart warms up at that.

It's evident to Y/N and myself that we're in this relationship for the long haul, but explicit and fine details have never been discussed. Family visits and trips for the next year or two had never been discussed until very recently. So the fact that Y/N is already thinking and joking about the future in which I see her baby and high school photos makes me melt.

That might not seem like a big deal from the outside looking in, but to the two of us, bringing someone home means a lot, especially after what we've been through.

You all know.

"I'm sure you'll look cute," I say as I pull myself back from getting lost in her eyes. But Y/N rolls them to me. "Notice how you said cute and not gorgeous."

"Babe, stop!"

"Oooh, fight. Fight. Fight!" I look to the twins, who are eagerly looking back at Y/N and me, waiting for this to turn into something bigger. Y/N just laughs and shakes her head. "No fighting here, blondes." "Boo!" Mary-Kate speaks up before her eyes focus back on the stack of pictures while Y/N closes the yearbook. "Hey." I quickly grab her hand. "You're beautiful." And thankfully, Y/N blushes and kisses my hand.

"So are you. I have pictures to prove it." She holds up another and smiles. I gently take it from her. "You and every sapphic lover out there."

Y/N's mouth drops. "What- how- yo-" She stumbles over her words, making Trent laugh as he's quietly watched before returning to his phone. "You know. I think I have to put parental controls on your phone." Y/N squints, but I shrug and look over to Ash, who has heart eyes at what she just witnessed. I also see Ash look at Y/N, who is now helping MK try and find even younger pictures of me, before her eyes focus back to me.

"She's perfect for you." She mouths.

"I know." I mouth back.

"Oh hey guys, we should clean up. Dads is almost here." Trent bursts the bubble of memories we're locked in as he locks his phone and puts it into his pocket. I move my head to Y/N, who moves hers from Trent to me. Everyone else in the room wouldn't notice it, but I do. The strong confidence she's been exuding falters slightly.

I go to speak, but before I can even scoot myself closer to Y/N, the twins begin piling up every photo and yearbook to make it appear as if they were never here. "We can look later!" Mary-Kate tells us as she runs to put them away. Ash running behind her to head to the nearest bathroom. When I turn around to Trent, he's already gone back to the kitchen. Leaving Y/N and I.

"They wasted no time.." Y/N nervously laughs. "They.." I lean closer to my girlfriend. "Trent and the twins grew up.. a little more.. differently than I did." I watch as a quizzical look morphs onto Y/N's face. "Differently?" I nod. "More prim and proper." I husk out, which causes a smile to form on Y/N's face. "What?" I ask as the smile turns to laughter. "Well, babe. I've gathered that. But from what I just witnessed." She gestures with her hands. "You would think it was more.. militant."

I make ah sound, but don't argue with Y/N's word choice. "He's a man of respect. Give it, earn it, or don't bother." I pause and see Y/N slowly nod. "But trust me. He loves us and wants what's best for us. It just.. can take a while. Okay?" Without saying it, I'm confirming and trying to keep calm with what we both fear—the possibility of my Dad, David Olsen.. disliking.. my girlfriend Y/N Y/L/N.

"Okay." Y/N takes her hand in mine. "I remember the first day you met my mom, so if I go through the day without crying over tea. We can count it as a win." Y/N squeezes my hand as I remember that day and fall into the crook of her neck. "Oh, God."

Y/N POV

"Alright, they're pulling up!" Mary-Kate yells from the front door and acts like she isn't just peeking out the window. Ash standing right behind her, making the same look. "Girls, get over here and quit freaking Y/N out!" Jarnie yells as she exits the kitchen for the first time today. Well, she went to the dining room to drop some food off earlier, but those places are one in the same. "You two do this every year. It's just your father and siblings. No need to get so crazy about it."

"But-" MK starts but quickly stops as she and Ash step away from the door. "Come on, guys," Liz speaks up and wraps her arm around each sister. It makes me laugh because of the height difference between the three of them. "Don't." MK glares at me before Liz covers her eyes, laughing.

"Knock knock!" The front door slowly opens as a younger male opens the door. Clearly not David, so this must be... Jake! That's his name! "Come on in, hun!" Jarnie makes her way past us to greet the remaining Olsens. "Jarnie, good to see you as always!" Jarnie makes a comment back to Jake as he smiles and makes his way down the line that all of us happen to be standing in. The twins, Liz and I being last.

"Jake, I'd like you to meet Y/N. My girlfriend!" Jake extends his hand with a smile. "Nice to meet you! Court has mentioned you before and sent me your TikTok's. Very talented."

Oh? I didn't realize Courtney had seen them, much less shared them.

Jake keeps shaking my hand as he continues talking about music and how TikTok has been helping all kinds of artists find their base. So he's excited to see what I got coming up. I agree with him, but I would like my hand back at some point. It appears Liz finally catches on and speaks up. "Jake. Her hand." She says with a friendly smile causing him to look down, embarrassed. "Sorry. I was shaking your hand too long." I nod with a laugh. "That's okay. And thank you. It's nice to meet you! We can chat later."

As Jake scurries to put away the bottle of wine he brought, I glance towards the front door, and I see a tall, grey-haired man finishing up a conversation with Jarnie. Both leaving it with smiles. "Chat later?" Liz asks with a smirk. "Shh." I roll my eyes.

"Hi, Dad!" Trent greets his father with a bear hug before David moves on to the twins, who quickly chat up their dad as Liz laces her fingers in mine. "Where's Courtney?" Ash asks, catching Liz and mines attention. "Oh, she's outside talking with her.. friend," David answers with a sheepish look that I catch. "Well, we're happy everyone could make it!" MK speaks up, obviously catching the vibe. "Yes. Yes, of course." David speaks as he moves to Liz and I. "Speaking of hiya Lizard!" David goes for a bear hug like he did with Trent but only gets a half hug in return since Liz refuses to let go of my hand. This earning a look at our intertwined hands. "Dad." Liz starts. "This is Y/N. My lovely girlfriend."

For the first time since entering the house, David's eyes meet my own. He nods his head and simply speaks as if I were a business deal.

"David Olsen. Elizabeth's Father." He extends his hand directly to the one holding Liz's. I feel as if everyone's eyes are on us. Without a shared word between us, Liz loosens her hand so I can let her go too firmly. And I mean firmly shake David's hand. "Y/N Y/L/N. Lizard's girlfriend."

From the corner of my eye, I can see Jarnie, Mary-Kate, and Ashley's smiles spread.

"So I've heard." David drops my hand and adverts his attention as Jake comes back into the room with a scotch in hand. "Ah, thank you, Jake." He grasps the glass from his son's hand and steps aside. "Much needed." He says after taking a long sip. "Jarnie, could you go get Court, please," David speaks to his ex-wife, who is already waving her hands at him as she made that decision first. "Nurse, your scotch." She says, earning a laugh from the twins as they separate to freshen up. Liz is momentarily ushered away by Trent. "Okay, bye." Those two words drop with sarcasm while I wave while avoiding the burning holes in my head.

"Here." I turn to my right to see Alexis with a glass of white wine. "For the... nerves." She so kindly says. "Thank you," I reply with my own long and strong sip. "Everyone goes through it," Alexis whispers to me when she raises her glass. I give her a look to make sure we're talking about the same thing.

We are.

"Wine?" Alexis rapidly changes the subject as someone appears behind me. "Please." My Liz begs. "One minute." Alexis departs with a strong sip of her own.

"I can't believe him."

I turn to my left to see Liz with a tight jaw boring holes into the her father's head. If looks could kill. I sigh and open my mouth."Liz-" "Trent had the audacity to give me the give it time talk." Hmm. "Fuck that." Liz practically snarls. "Give me your hand." I don't even get a second before our hands are tied together once again. "These." She squeezes our hands. "Don't get separated for the rest of the day." "Liz-" I start again but get interrupted by Jarnie opening the door with a very wide smile. Courtney and her friend, as David put it.

"Hey, everyone!!" Courtney beams to all of us. "This is Ness!" She kisses her cheek and wraps an arm around a shorter dyed black-haired cardigan-wearing woman. "Not only a friend." She emphasizes. "But my girlfriend!" Ness shyly waves, clearly not expecting all of us to be gathered in one of the living rooms. "Hi." Everyone, including myself, send warm smiles as Courtney pulls Ness further into the house. Jarnie watching Ness with care, just as she did with me.

At least I'm not the only new person this holiday.

"Oh my God, Lizzie, you brought her!!" Courtney screams as she hugs her older sister. "So nice to see you again, Y/N! Ness, this is Y/N!" Ness looks me up and down, confused, before a light bulb goes off. "Oh?! The one from the show you went to?!" Courtney nods. "Wow. Courtney and I love your music so far!"

"So far?" I tease, earning a laugh from Court and Ness. "It's nice to meet you."

"You as well."

"So Ness, how long have you and Court been together?" Liz asks as everyone begins to shuffle around the house. "Couple of months. Although we can't agree on when we started dating exactly." Courtney laughs while nudging Ness. "Only because this one thinks our first night in Mexico was our first date, but it was obviously the Tuesday at Al's before we even left," Ness speaks before Court pecks her lips to get her to stop. "Mexico or some restaurant called Al's. Tell me, which one sounds more romantic?" Court asks Liz and me as we find ourselves in the kitchen. Again.

"Mexico." Liz and I say at the same time. "Unbelievable." Ness' head and shoulders drop. "Anyways." Court wraps her arms around Ness as Alexis drops off more glasses of wine. "What's new between you two."

Where do we start?

"Oh, girls, save that talk for the table. It'll only be a couple more minutes."

"Of course, Mama J," Courtney speaks for the group. "Shall we?" Liz takes my hand and leads me to the elegant dining room. Clearly, a lived in space, but no one eats here regularly. "Mom, what's up with the name plates?"

"I thought it might be fun this year. What with our new guest and all." Jarnie nods towards Ness and me, whose nameplates happen to be right next to each other. On the other side of me is Liz. Of course. "Ah, no fair!" Mary-Kate whines, finding her spot. "I always sit next to Ashley. I sit next to her every day. Can I switch? Who wants to switch?"

"No switching. Now stop it." Jarnie lightly smacks Mary-Kate's head, earning a quiet "ow" from the blonde as the rest of us begin to sit down.

Jarnie and David are at each end of the table. On either side of David is Trent and Alexis.

Next to Trent is Louis, Ashley, Mary-Kate, and Jake

Next to Alexis is Courtney, Ness, myself, and Liz.

"Alright, Y/N, would you like to say, Grace?" Mary-Kate calmly asks me. Grace? Do they do that? "Mary-Kate." Liz sighs as Ash slaps her twin. "Wow, real violence going on today!" MK rubs where she got hit.

"Serves you right." Jarnie scolds her daughter as she turns to me. "We don't do that. Feel free to do it if you want, or start piling up your plate."

"Piling up my plate sounds good." Jarnie nods back and turns to Liz and not so quietly says. "Have I mentioned that I like her?"

Liz POV

I'm glad to be back home.

I love working, and Texas has been fun, but Y/N was right. I was missing my family and home a lot more than I realized. Because of this: Mary-Kate making a mashed potato mountain while Courtney scolds her for not doing it right. Alexis sharing embarrassing stories of Trent we haven't heard before. Or Ness leaning over to Y/N and I to joke about the twins. This. This is what I love. The fun of it all. The care and joy. Family.

A real Vin Diesel moment.

Don't tell Y/N I watched Fast and Furious without her, by the way.

Anyways I wasn't kidding when I said Y/N's and mines hand were going to be tied together all day. However, if it were up to me, we'd still be doing it, but it was making grabbing the bowls of food passed around very difficult. And eating, for that matter.

"Till after we eat." Y/N convinced me.

Trust me. I know it's a little ridiculous to practically hold someone's hand hostage all day, all because of things my Dad technically hasn't even voiced yet. But I wasn't going to let my father be immediately defensive to Y/N, myself, or Court and Ness, for that matter.

"Wait, what?" Y/N's shocked and open jaw makes me hide my laugh.

"Did you not know?" Ash looks puzzled before her, and my girlfriend's eyes are looking at me. I playfully smile and shrug. "Babe... is there something you'd like to say?"

"Alright, I know Spanish, so what."

"You didn't think to bring that up to your girlfriend?"

"Yeah! You didn't think to bring that up to me?! Like ever!" I shrug again. Enjoying the amused and flabbergasted looks. "I don't believe you," Y/N states as she returns to shoving turkey in her mouth. "There's no way this hasn't come up!" Mary-Kate tries to reason but to no avail.

"So you've been watching me do Duolingo for months and have said nothing?" Y/N breaks after a brief moment of silence. "Nothing?!"

"You never asked for help." I tease, earning a groan. "Also, I thought you've been doing very well, mi amor."

"Gracias." Y/N tries her best to look at me upset but fails as soon as I lean into her and leave a peck.

"Mi corazón."

"Huh?"

"Oh, haven't gotten there yet, huh?" Y/N shakes her head. "Tell me." I keep my face from breaking into a wide grin at the new game I'm going to play. "No."

"Oh, come on." I shake my head. "And no one better help or tell her what it means." I direct to the table and see phones quickly being out away. "That means you, MK."

"Oh, come on." She whines exactly like Y/N. Earning a chorus of laughs around the table.

"So Y/N." My father speaks to Y/N for the first time all meal. Mind you. Enough time has elapsed that some of us are on our second plates myself, Court, Mom, and Alexis. While some are on their third. Trent and Jake. "From what some of the group here and what Courtney have told me. You're quite popular. Talented even." All conversations quiet down, and eyes divert between my father and my girlfriend.

"Oh well." I lay my left hand on Y/N's knee to let her know I'm here no matter how much charisma and confidence she's had it in herself today. "I wouldn't say popular-"

"You held a show right here in LA not too long ago, no?"

"Well, yes, but-" "That certainly sounds like someone who's popular. Talented. Not some nobody. Are you a nobody?" I squeeze Y/N's knees as the clanging of my father's silver wear hits his dish.

"No, but-"

"Do you see yourself having a future? Being somebody?" "Sir, with all due respect-" In an instant, I watch my father move on.

"How about you, Ness?" Y/N looks back at me, mouth agape. "David!" My mom speaks out while throwing her serviette to the ground. "Stop this."

"Jarnie, please."

"Dad!" The twins speak up as I squeeze Y/N's knee again. "Stop this game your playing, or listen to what these young ladies have to say."

"J, what's there to say?" A beat. Confused looks all around. "You know, Lizard." My father draws his eyes back to me. Without removing her eyes from him, Y/N lays her hand on my knee. "What happened with Robbie? I know that Robbie upset you last year-"

"Stop." I close my eyes, hoping he'll listen. "But he knew-"

"Dad, please stop." I can feel Y/N tense as she squeezes my knee again.

"Dad, stop!" Ash speaks as I begin to block out what our father is saying.

Y/N POV

I visibly watch Liz tune out what's happening around here. She's an actress, so it appears she's listening, but I see her. I know her. She's hurting, and the mood for today is ruined.

I lean into her hold and grab her chin gently in my hand, turning her to see me ignoring her father's look. "Hey. It'll be okay." Liz smiles at me and holds back the tears in her eyes. Jarnie watches this interact with a clenched jaw, not at us but at her ex-husband.

"Enough!!" Jarnie shouts out over everyone as she pulls her youngest close. Liz wrapping our hands together. "David Olsen, you've upset everyone with your yammering and condescending questions and statements. Kindly stop it and apologize or leave."

"Jarnie-" David scoffs at this, and I feel Liz tense under my hand again. "David!" Liz sighs- "Dad, stop!" She stands up and yells at her father, surprising everyone.

"What are you doing? Why are you doing this? Just stop it. Stop thinking you know everything or that you have a clue about our relationships or lives! You only know about shit that's going on if Mom tells you or Court and Jake decide to fill you in!" Jarnie places her hand on Liz's arm as Liz stops to catch her breath and wipes some tears that have begun trailing her cheeks. "For the love of God, stop saying the name Robbie. He doesn't exist to us. I don't care what you think, you know, because whatever it is. It's wrong. He and I broke up. He fucked up again and again. And before you start bringing up last year this and last year that. Just stop." Liz sways a bit as she stamps her foot. "God, Dad, do you even know why I was so upset last year?" She sniffles. "Do you even care?"

"Honey-"

Liz places her hand up. "I was upset because that morning, I had gotten my period. After days of bated breath, this was the sign that I wasn't pregnant."

W-What?

I didn't know that.

I feel time halting as my breathing slows as I look around the room. It's clear that no one knew of this except the twins. Their eyes scurrying away from my own.

"But fuck- I- I wasn't upset because I wasn't pregnant. In fact, I was happy. Ecstatic even." My girlfriend chuckles through her sore, sobbed throat. "I was happy. And it felt so wrong to be so happy th-that I twisted myself up into this knot, and I just let myself... go." Liz's lips tremble as she fights for control. "All morning, I just let my body feel. All the emotions. The anger and sadness and the-that fucking happiness that I was putting on myself!" Liz takes a deep breath and lets go of my hand to push her hair out of her face. And I don't know if it was the anger of the weight of it all, but that's when I saw how horrible her hands were shaking and shaking more than the last leaf on a snow-covered tree. I reach up and grab her hand once more. Kissing it. Letting her know I'm here.

The only indication I know that Liz is aware of everyone else in the room is the light squeeze I feel on my fingers.

"But the guilt I felt for feeling how I goddamn felt. Me. The person that would've had to carry it. The person whose body would've been forever changed. My feelings were amped up by the person everyone should live up to, apparently. Robbie Arnett." I turn my head to David for the first time since Liz stood up. Guilt and regret are apparent on his face, but his eyebrows are furrowed, and his eyes remain stoic.

"He wanted kids and that future right then and there. So imagine the hurt I felt. Imagine the look on his face when I laid out everything for him. Okay?" She sniffles again, pushing her pink nose up. "Now imagine when he says nothing. Okay? Now imagine when he starts talking, but those words turn spiteful. Okay? Can you do that? Can you fucking do that, Dad?" Liz picks up her wine glass and rapidly downs it before throwing it into the middle of the table. "I knew that something was happening to our relationship even before that moment. But last year. The same day you want to bring up Dad. That was when I stopped loving Robbie Arnett."

Liz blinks some more tears away before looking around the room. "It was going to happen. And I'm glad it did." The soft tone in which Liz speaks makes me think that it she is talking about isn't her relationship with Robbie. "Excuse me." Liz covers her mouth and bolts from my grip. Running out of the dining room before I can even grasp what transpired in the last couple of minutes. But her footsteps are upstairs and long gone.

The twins hot on her trail, leaving a coat of silence in the large dining room—the quiet air being broken up by my own movement. My body and mind racing and going into autopilot.

Find your Liz.

"Honey.." Jarnie whispers while reaching her hand out to me, forcing me to look at her. Tears fill her eyes.

Mine too.

"Why don't you go check on her. Okay?" I nod, and I don't want to, but I do it anyways. I look into the direction of what caused this eventful meal.

The heads of the side of the table follow my look.

David is leaning back into his chair at the head of the table, looking out the window into the green backyard. I force myself to hold in the scoff.

"Go, Y/N," Court says, sending me a flat-line white people smile. With that, I force my legs to walk away from this. From everything that just happened. "Check upstairs," Jarnie informs me as I walk by her. "Thank you," I reply, only earning a wave of the hand.

"Just hug my Lizard. Please."

"Of course," I answer truthfully, and just as my body leaves the room, I begin to hear the shouting of multiple people.

"She locked herself in there," Ash says to me with trembling lips. "We're pretty sure we heard her throw up, but she won't answer us," Mary-Kate adds while she comforts her sister. "She just got her so fast."

Here. A hallway with a bonus room and a bedroom are at the end of it. One-half bath in between. Where Liz is now. "Okay." I squeak out. Still reeling from EVERYTHING I just learned. "We're sorry," Mary-Kate says as she looks down ashamed. Ash nodding in agreement. "Sorry? What are you sorry for?" I shake my head, trying to focus myself. "For what Dad- David said." Ash corrects. "I swear I've never seen him act like that. Well, to that extent." Mary-Kate says and groans before trying the bathroom handle again. "Lizzie, come on. Unlock the door. Y/N's here." She rushes through her words as the guilt eats her up.

But it's not her fault. Or Ashley's. Or anyone at that table's fault whose name doesn't start with a D.

"Babe. I'm here." I clear my throat and stand next to MK. "Open up. We don't have to talk about anything. I need to know you're alright." Nothing. Followed by nothing. I press my ear against the door, and aside from the hum of the house, I can hear what sounds like whispers. Repeating whispers. I pull my head back from the door and gently try the handle again, but it's still locked. The twins look at me curiously as I examine the door.

"Babe, like I said, we don't have to talk, okay? But I'd like to say some things. It's just you and me. Okay?" I raise my arm and shoo the twins away. Obviously, earning a shaking of the head, but I persist. "It'll be okay." I mouth to the duo, who eventually agree with their heads and make themselves home at the end of the hallway. "Okay, now it's just us." I start with a slight chuckle while feeling lost, nervous, and confused about today means for the greater scheme of things.

"I love you. I love you so much, Liz... and I'm- I.." I lean my head against the door while my hands grip the frame. "I'm sorry dinner took a turn, to say the least. But it wasn't your fault." I swallow. "Nothing that happened today or yesterday, or last year was your fault. Because you're perfect, I'm not just saying that to make you feel better or to open this door." I add a small laugh. "I'm saying it because I believe it. I believe in you. I believe you all the time. I believe you when you tell me I look pretty, even when I just woke up. I believe you when you say you like my smile, even though I've always hated it. I believe you when you tell me about your nightmares, no matter how silly and plant-based they are." I press my ear against the door again, hearing a hushed giggle. "I- I also believe you when.." I sigh, still wrapping my head around this.

"I also believe you'd make a great mom someday." A smile creeps onto my face, just imagining it. "And I believe you when you say you were happy about the outcome last year because there's nothing wrong with that. Nothing. You're allowed to feel however you want to feel. No one should tell you differently. You can always choose what you want. You want to cry. You want to laugh. Say Yes. Say No. You name it. Because no matter what, Liz, at the end of the day, it's your life... your choice. I'm just so happy, and I feel so lucky to get to be a part of it. I'm sorry I wasn't sooner.. and Liz, I believe you deserve nothing but support and love all the time. So.." I lean away from the door. "So, Liz, please open the door so I can take care of you right now."

Silence.

And then click.

I'm a little stunned to hear the door being unlocked, that it takes me a second to turn the handle. But the door slowly opens to reveal my shaking girlfriend sitting atop the toilet. Makeup ruined. Her eyes void of the striking green. They've turned red from her hot tears. However, she's still beautiful. She always will be.

"Hey.." I slowly walk in and close the door behind me. Locking it so the twins don't barge in. Liz lifts her face up to me; she goes to smile, but it falters as more tears slip out. "Oh, Liz." I quickly grab the towel off the rack and wet it to wipe her face and chin. Once that's done, I kneel before her and wrap my arms around her. Muffling her cries as her head buries into the crook of my neck. "I'm here," I whisper into her head, earning a nod as she quiets down.

"Come here." I pull her into me as I maneuver my legs under me. I fall back onto my butt while Liz places her weight on top of me. So now we're both just lying on the floor up against the wall. Well, I am, and Liz has her head on my chest. Luckily I know the floor is clean. "I-I'm sorry." Liz sobs into my chest adding new cracks into my breaking heart. "Hey." I kiss her head and pull her closer. If possible. "You have nothing to be sorry for. Nothing." I whisper. "Did you not hear me through the door?"

Liz's sniffles crawl to a stop, and after what feels like a few minutes, she speaks up. "I love your smile." She lifts her head off my chest and looks at me. "You're right. I love your smile even though you hate it." I smile at seeing hers. "There it is." Liz lightly laughs and wipes off the stray tears she has on her face.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

I rise to my feet and help Liz onto the toilet seat again. Grabbing a new rag from Underneath the sink to clean up her trail-stained red cheeks and puffy eyes. "Don't worry. You still look beautiful." I wink at my girlfriend, that looks up at me with nothing but care. "Are you okay?" Liz closes her eyes as I wipe them. "No," I answer honestly. "I'm mad and upset by your fathers' actions. They hurt you. And my feelings. Probably Courts and Ness'." I rant.

"I understand." Liz sighs as I drop the hand towel in her hands. "I hate him." She concludes. "Li-" "No. I do. He disrespected us all. I've never seen him act like that! And what was up with the vague homophobia?? He's known about Court for the last two months? We've been in the news! I don't get it." Liz grips onto the sides of the sink and hangs her head.

"Do you hate me?"

I look at Liz in the mirror as if she's turned blue and grown 7 feet. "What?" I watch her hands let go of the sink and wrap themselves around one another in front of her stomach. She's anxious.

"Why would I hate you?" I question and bring myself closer to her. Liz opens her mouth before giving up on her words and shrugging, making me shake my head.

"Liz, I know you were listening earlier, so listen again. I could never hate you. Could I be annoyed or slightly frustrated? Sure. Has that happened yet? No, never." Nice safe. "So it stands to reason that I could never hate you. I don't want that thought to ever cross your mind. Ever. You're an Angel on earth."

"Do you still want kids someday?"

I look Liz up and down, catching her hand placement this time. I move gently into her space and grab her hands to lace them in mine. "With you? Of course."

Liz lets out a relieved sigh/laugh. "I'll never forget when you blurted that question out in the New York apartment." I laugh back. "I don't know what possessed me to do that."

We stand like that for a few minutes more. But for Liz, I'd stop the world and stand here forever.

After leaving the bathroom to find the twins on the floor with tears in their eyes, claiming that they weren't listening to our private conversation (liars), we made it back to the site of the crime. To find everyone there but one person.

"He's in the study upstairs," Jarnie says before anyone of us even thinks about asking. "Why is he still here?" Mary-Kate sternly asks her mom. "We don't want him here. He ruined the day." Ash backs up her twin and returns to Louis side. They're cute. "Lizard.." Jarnie walks up to her youngest and wraps her up. "I love you. No matter what. You know this, honey." Jarnie rubs her hands up and down Liz's back. "Do you want to..."

"Y/N." I pull my attention from Liz and her mother to Courtney on my left. "Hi." She shyly looks at me. "Umm, look, we're going to talk to Lizzie as well, but Jake and myself and, uh, Trent are just horribly sorry for how our father acted. Like he's-" "Never acted like that." I finished her sentence for her. "I've heard."

"Right. We're just so so sorry. We all love you and think you're wonderful, and oh god, I had all this to say-" I look back to see the twins now joining Liz in her convo with her mom.

"The study." Court looks at me, puzzled. "The study?" She asks, and I nod. "The upstairs study. Where is it?"

The lightbulb goes off above Court. "Up the stairs. Right hallway. Second door on the left."

"Thanks." I nod at her instructions and start working my way out of the kitchen, passing my lovely girlfriend with a kiss on the head. "Babe?" I turn back to face her when she grabs my hand. "Where are you going?" She knows. "Liz-" "No." "Liz, I want to speak to him." "No." She grips me harder. "Stop, let's just leave." I shake my head to her as Liz's sisters and mother watch us. "No. I'm sorry, Liz, but I'm not letting this go without speaking to him. He doesn't get to push anyone of us like that." "But-" She loosens her grip on me. "No buts, babe. I love you and respect everyone here, but I respect myself too. Maybe not all the time," I squeak out a laugh. "Okay. I love you too. Be careful."

"Always." I kiss her head and give a nod to the twins. "Y/N?" Jarnie calls out to me just as my foot hits the bottom step. "Yes?"

"Thank you for being there for her. In more ways than one." Jarnie covers her mouth, her hand as if debating something. "The first Thanksgiving, our Lizard, brought someone home, it was a blonde hair man whose name I forget, and I didn't like him all that much. No one really did, but we played nice for her sake, and we wanted what made her happy. But he came and went... Then Robbie happened. And he was a nice change of pace for her. Kind and caring, but something was missing that David and I couldn't put a finger on. But once again. We just wanted what made her happy." Jarnie stops as she walks closer to me, taking my hands in her own. "Today." She starts. "Today, I saw her eyes shine, and her smile shine brighter than ever before. You're right for her. Everyone here can see that. Including David." I tilt my head a bit at that last word. "No, I know. That sounds ridiculous, but I think it's true. He doesn't want Lizzie to be hurt again. He's a scared old man." She laughs. "But how he treated you and Ness, for that matter, is unacceptable. So when you get done yelling or talking or knocking him a new one, find me so I can do it as well. Okay?"

I laugh and smile at Jarnie. "Yes, Ma'am."

"Oh, stop with the Ma'am. You're going to be family soon enough. Mama J is fine." She pulls me into a hug that has the warmth of a loving mother. "Family?" I question. Mama J nods. "When you and Lizard are ready, you have my wishes."

Shocked isn't a big enough word to describe how I'm feeling. "Oh wow. Thank you! Thank you. Liz and I haven't even been together that long, and we have our whole careers and everything plus-" "Dear." She stops me. "It doesn't have to be tomorrow. I just don't see you going anywhere anytime soon. You and Lizard have already been through what most people go through in a lifetime. So I have faith. No, go upstairs. He's probably brooding." She pats my shoulders and heads down the hallway towards the bathroom Liz was held up in earlier.

Sensing someone watching me, I move my gaze to them. I see Liz watching me with a smile I've missed over the last half hour. "Did you hear all that?" I asked with a hushed whisper.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She replies in the same manner. "Uh-huh." I playfully roll my eyes and head up the stairs. In less than forty steps, I'm up the stairs and down the hall in front of the study. I stand there staring at the dark oak door breathing in and out. Calming my nerves that are making their appearance once again.

"Let's fucking do it." I knock on the door and twist the handle to open it.

"Mr. Olsen?" I ask I my eyes scan the darken room. Bookshelves and paintings line the wall. Amazement and wonder fill my eyes, and I'd love this room. On some other day. Because right now, I'm here for the man sitting in the brown leather chair. What appears to be a first-edition book of some kind in his hand.

"I'd like to discuss what happened downstairs." I firmly imply as I close the door behind me and stagger my steps to behind the chair oppose of Liz's father. "How so?" He closes the book and lets it rest on the table next to him giving me his full undivided attention for the first time today. "I'd like to know why you did what you did," I state, earning a Hmm.

"What was it that I did?" He's baiting me. "Mr. Olsen, I would just like an explanation as to why what happened. Happened. Was it something I did or didn't do?" He remains silent. "Is the fact that two of your daughters and I can't believe I'm saying this are in a same-sex relationship?"

"Don't be so naive, Y/N." He leans back into his chair. "Excuse me?" I say.

"I don't care if my daughters have, as you put it, a same-sex relationship." I lean forward. "Then what was that?"

"What was what? What did I do?"

I clench my jaw as he goes to pick up his book. Fuck it.

"Okay. Sir. You want to know what you did. What you already know." He closes his book once again and looks up at me. "You just pushed and pushed Liz to embarrass and humiliate herself out there in front of the people she loves most. And whether you like it or not, as you so claim, I'm on that list of people. Now are there days where I feel as if I don't deserve it? Sure. I'm sure you love to hear that." I stand away from the chair and let my feet guide myself around the room. "But that doesn't mean I don't love and care for your daughter every goddamn day as if she created the very ground I walk on. And I know. I know you love every single one of your children. You want what's best for them, like every parent should, whether they're blonde-haired assholes or guys who give her the world only to rip it away again and again. However, how you acted downstairs makes me think otherwise." I point my finger. "I'm better than both of those guys will ever be, by the way. Oh! Also. Liz talked about how you're a man of respect. You earn it, give it, or don't bother, right? So where was my right to earn it in your eyes today? Or Ness, for that matter. She and I had today to make you see how much we love your daughters, and you couldn't bother. Everyone else could. But not you? What is this a test." Mr. Olsen stands for the first time since I walked into the room. It throws me off a little, but I don't stop.

"And just so you know, I have worked my ass off to even be where I'm at today. These last few months haven't been easy, but I'm here. I'm a fucking artist now. And no, your daughter didn't do anything for me except support me. So before you go off thinking I'm only with her for money or notoriety, that's the furthest thing from the truth. I didn't even know who she fucking was till after we slept together!"

Okay, I should've kept that last one in.

I stop myself and look at the man I've been yelling at. "I'm sorry." I freeze, realizing the words that just left my mouth. "No, wait, no, I'm not. I'm not sorry. You treated me like dirt so I could yell at you and tell you that I love your daughter and that I don't plan on going anywhere."

The silence that follows speaks for itself the longer it goes on.

"I just want what's best for Lizzie." Her father breaks the tension in the room as he leans himself against what looks to be a hundred-year-old desk. "I do too." As if that's not obvious, I want to add on but refrain from doing so. "I respect you for coming up and laying into me; however, how you did so was only because of my arrogance, and for that, I'm sorry."

I don't say anything.

"Now.." David takes a pause as he pushes himself off the desk. "I don't know if you're the one for my daughter. You appear to be so." Here we go. "You make her happier than anybody I've ever seen. I would hate for her to lose that." Implying I would do something to hurt Liz. "I understand." I extend my hand to him. He looks down at it and shakes it as I open my mouth. "However, I can't accept your apologies. You hurt your daughters' feelings and my own today. I know you're a smart man. Capable of reading the room and the emotions within it. I thought what you did knowing that was mean. So thank you for your respect and for letting me know how happy I make my own girlfriend, but I don't need your respect for myself. I only need your acceptance for Liz's sake."

"I see."

"So once you apologize to your daughters and to Ness, then I'd love to sit down with you and talk about everything under the sun. Once again, thank you." Without another word, I drop his hand and turn my body to head out the door. Mr. Olsen doesn't stop me.

Liz POV

We all look up as we hear the study room door close. Yes, all. All of us who surround the table now stand at the bottom of the stairs.

Y/N appears from the top of the stairs, not with tears in her eyes or a clenched jaw but with a look of pride? Yeah, pride. "Hey, everyone." She smiles as she descends the stairs. "So!? How'd it go." Jake speaks up. Out of everyone, he was surprisingly really nervous for Y/N and made that known to me when he noticed Y/N was missing moments ago. "Umm.." Y/N plants herself in front of me, and behind the pride on her face, I see exhaustion taking over.

This day ruined us.

"It was informative." She decides.

"We thought we heard yelling," Ashley says as she earns a slap on the arm from Mary-Kate. I ignore them as I wrap my arms around Y/N. "It's true," I add. "Maybe a little." Y/N turns to my mom.

"If you want to go up, you can."

"Oh, honey, I will soon enough. Before we leave."

"Leave?" Y/N questions. "We're going to my- our house." I correct myself. "Our home here. To finish the rest of this day. Dessert. Board games. Movies. Nap somewhere in all of that." I do my best to smile as Y/N doesn't say anything, but I can tell she's thinking. "Is that what you want?" She asks. I honestly want this day to be over. I would have loved to stay here curled up on the couch after stuffing my face more, but the thought of staying in this house longer than an hour after being forced to share things I never wanted to again makes me sick.

"Yeah. Family bonding."

"Okay. Then su-" The upstairs study room door closes again. "Lizard." My father calls out to me as my mother and Y/N move themselves before me. "David, how about some other time? The girls are exhausted."

"It won't take long." He argues. I wrap my hand around Y/N's and pull it as we leave the foyer to go to the kitchen. Ignoring my dad's eyes and pleads. "Did he apologize to you?" I ask Y/N as I begin packing the Tupperware full of food into a tote bag. "Yes and no." She says. "Babe, what are you doing?"

"Is he homophobic now?"

"No. Just old. Babe stop. You shouldn't be doing this. You're exhausted." She takes the bag from my hand and places it down on the counter. "I hate him." I reaffirm as Trent walks into the kitchen. "Lizzie." I hold up my hand to my brother. "Don't."

"He wants to talk to you. Apologize." Trent looks at me so seriously it makes me laugh. No, really, it makes me laugh. I cover my face with my hands to stop myself from crying as I do my best to keep my smile. "No."

"No?" Trent asks as the twins enter the kitchen now. Moving past our brother to help with the loading of the food.

"No, he doesn't get to just apologize."

"Lizzie, I don't think it's like that."

"I don't care what you think it's like, Trent." I fully turn away from the counter to look at my brother. "I don't care what Dad wants to say or do. He should've done right earlier or not shown up today. So it's too little too late." I turn back to Y/N and my sister, who each have a bag around their arms. "Let's go." I muster out as I avoid the concerned look from Y/N.

Trent moves out of our way. "You can tell Dad I don't want to speak to him. I don't want to hear from him. Tell him I said no. No is a full sentence."

Dec. 31st, 2021

Missed Calls Dad (2)

New Voicemail: Hey, kiddo. I see I missed you again. Umm. I just wanted to call and let you know that I wish you and Y/N a happy new year considering I won't be staying up. Everyone here misses you. Me included. Umm, anyways, so long. Love you, Lizard.

I drop my phone from my ear and onto the bathroom counter. As you can tell, I haven't spoken with my father since Thanksgiving. It hasn't been hard to avoid him, but it can't exactly be easy.

"In a minute!" I respond to the rapid knocking on that guest bathroom door that I'm on the other side of. "But Lizzzard, it's me!" I chuckle and put my phone away before opening the door to reveal my very drunk girlfriend. "Why, hello, beautiful!" The drunker she gets, the more of a flirt she becomes. "Hi, baby," I reply as she pulls me into a kiss. A kiss that keeps going and going from my lips to my neck and my collarbone. "Ba-aby." I fluster out. "We have to stop. Someone could see u-us."

"Let them." Y/N looks up at me with that mischievous look in her eyes. "Oh no. Not here. Not in Ivy's penthouse." Y/N bites down on my skin before removing her lips from me. "Fine. Only because you're so fucking smart." She huffs and fakes annoyance before breaking out her wide smile. "I love you." She laughs. "I love you too. Okay. Now move it." I turn her around and smack her ass, so she starts moving us back to the party.

As we whiz through people we know and don't know, Y/N locks her hand in mine. "I wish we had the party at our place." She whines, and a part of me agrees because I know Y/N is horny and would kick everyone out. Another reason is having Ivy and Max host a party was safer for us, especially after some concerning pieces of mail were dropped off at our LA place.

We alerted all who we needed to, but with the holidays, so haven't heard much back.

The pieces of mail were pictures of us. At first, we thought they were paparazzi pictures, but the closer you looked at them, they clearly were pictures a stalker would take. Photos of Y/N coming and going from her record company. Pictures of the two of us at dinner. Even a picture of us when we donated food and toys to the local animal shelter. Y/N's idea, by the way.

But to say we were freaked would be an understatement. I locked myself away in my cave for three days like a ball of anxiety before Y/N, and I discussed our next course of action. She blamed herself, while I blamed myself. But it's neither of our faults—only that assholes.

So anywho, it's been a crazy past two weeks between that and Christmas. Plus seeing Scarlett, Colin, Cosmo, and of course, little Rosie!

"Y/N! Lizzie!" Both of us turn our heads around to see Ivy. "Hey, you two! I've barely seen you since you guys got here!" "To you. Wait, you too!" Y/N stumbles as I just smile at Ivy. "What she said." I laugh and pull Y/N closer to me, not that she minds.

"Where's Max?" Y/N questions. Ivy takes Y/N's finger and points so it'll be easy for her to follow. "Ah!!!" Y/N squeals and drags the three of us over to see Max with a fashionably late Scarlett and a star-struck Sam..? Yeah! Sam, that's her name. The blonde that used to work with Y/N.

"Nice of you to join us ScarJo!" Y/N stumbles a bit as she taunts Scar. "Oh God, she's not drunk, is she?" Max intercepts only to get my nod. "She wanted to celebrate what the new year has in store for us." "Meaning?" Scarlett questions while laughing. "Multiverse of Madness, my new show, her record, us in general-" "Wait, stop!" Scar sets her drink down. "HER? New record?! She signed?!"

Apparently, this is new news to Scar. "Yeah, she did." I smile. "Oh, my God! That's amazing!" She focuses her attention on Y/N, who looks like she just won the lottery. Oh gosh, I forgot about her crush on Natasha Romanoff. "Come here!" Scarlett pulls Y/N into a hug. "Watch the hands, Y/L/N!" I yell to my girlfriend, who does nothing but gasp and pull Scarlett into her again.

Oh, she's so going to get it.

Once everyone stopped hugging one another, I not so gently and calmly pulled Y/N onto my lap once we all gathered around a table in the corner of the room. "Mine," I whispered into her ear as Max questioned Scarlett about Black Widow and The Outset. "Yours." She whispered back.

"So, will you keep the name Y/N or create a stage name?" Ivy asks as her fingers dance around on Max's neck. I hide my smile behind Y/N, knowing the name she came up with. "Stage name." She says with a wave of her hand before flopping into me. "Do we get to know it?" Sam laughs.

"Oh yeah, sure, it's-"

April 22, 2022

Twitter

Marvel Studios @MarvelStudios

The trip through the Multiverse has begun. The stars of Marvel Studios' #DoctorStrange in the Multiverse of Madness began the global tour in Berlin, Germany! - Experience the movie only in theaters May 6.

@scrunchnoselizzie @marvelstudios she was looking at me 🥰🥰

@Hole4TaylorSloane @marvelstudios THE people's princess!! 👸

@MadMaxMoore @marvelstudios oh wait till Y/N sees these. 💙 Y/N wake up!!!

@yeahitsY/N @marvelstudios omg she's so pretty she can crush me and I'd thank her. Alexa play Gorgeous by Taylor Swift! Also not joking but if you guys kill Wanda I just want to talk

@multiversemother @marvelstudios @yeahitsY/N not Lizzie's gf commenting with that picture 💀💀

@NSanders28 @marvelstudios 🥱🥱🥱 next

@witcheswhores @multiversemother they haven't publicly confirmed that they're back together. I know there's been paparazzi photos and posts about them but let's not possibly spread misinformation.

@incellonerman @witcheswhores @multiversemother 👎 as if someone like @yikesitsY/N could pull the beauty that is Elizabeth Olsen.

@happywandaplease @yikesitsY/N @incellonerman WTF are you talkin about?? They're both beautiful af and id pay for them to step on me in their highest of high stilettos!!

@yikesitsY/N Quote Tweeted @inclelonerman

Bet. L. Ratio.

"👎 as if someone like @yikesitsY/N could pull the beauty that is Elizabeth Olsen."

@user8 @yeahitsY/N lmaooooo

@OlsenMyOlsen @yeahitsY/N omg queen!!!

@y/nsgreenreptile @yeahitsY/N i love you

@yeahitsY/N @y/nsgreenreptile i love you too

A/N: We're finally well into 2022!! So I can finally start writing about things that happened more recently!!! Did you guys have a fav part? Twitter handle? Anything??? Please let me know!

Also I truly love every single one of you that takes time to read, comment, like and share this. It means the world to me. And thank you for letting me be me and write this story. 💜 See y'all soon!!

29 notes · View notes