#like Robby would be an adorable big brother but that is not the point

[queer-and-dear-books]

Title: The Sky Blues

Author: Robbie Couch

Genre: YA Fiction | Mystery | Drama | Friendship | LGBTQ+

Content Warnings: Homophobia | Racism | Child Abuse/Neglect

Overall Rating: 10/10

Personal Opinion: This is the future liberals want. Sky Baker is the only openly gay kid at his school in a small Midwest town but when his promposal scheme gets outed, he finds that he has more allies than he initially believed. His best friends, his crush, and even a whole bunch strangers rally around him to show that they will not be bullied. Without meaning to, Sky starts a movement that gives people courage. Him and his wonderfully amazing chosen family.

Do I Own This Book? Yes! This was another Christmas gift that I bought for myself and it’s definitely one of my top 5 all-time favorite books.

Spoilers Below For My Likes & Dislikes:

- Firstly, this is just proof that I have an amazing gaydar when it comes to book characters. I knew, from the moment Teddy said to Sky, “I like your shoes, where’d you get them?” that he was gay for Sky. Like fullblown homosexual. The way Sky’s unreliable narrator ass kept on emphasizing that Teddy was “probably straight” really gave me a home run feeling though. It was so obvious that he was being set up as the new love interest to take over after Ali Rashid was out of the picture and it worked so well! I don’t know if anyone else would’ve caught the hints that early on but I loved it. It was brilliantly set up and Teddy’s reactions to and around Sky were just so adorable when you have that context. Once we got to the big promposal scene, it was over for me. I figured out that Teddy was going to prompose to Sky there but I hadn’t been expecting him to do it with the yellow roses and the movie ticket stubs and the tracksuit! Oh my god, all those questions Marshall asked about how to prompose to Ainsley were all recon for his sports buddy to ask out his best friend! See, I did find it strange that Ainsley and Sky had the same favorite color but I hadn’t put two and two together. And the fact that she seemed to have never been to the LMEP before even though Marshall was going to give her the movie ticket stubs as a promposal gift. He was wing-manning for Teddy and he did it so well! The scene where Marshall found out that Sky thought their track uniforms were sexy though was funny. And Teddy really did all that for Sky! Oh, I bet he felt like he had no chance when the e-blast with the promposal pics were sent out. But he still went and checked in on his crush despite that! And I’m guessing Marshall (who didn’t know the wall existed either) was extra pissed at Sky because he felt like he led his friend on a wild goose chase, going after a boy who was already crushing on someone else. Ugh, but then Teddy and Sky got close over the course of the book and it just went so well for them and it makes me so happy, thinking about them together because it’s what Sky deserves. I do wish we got to see more of the two of them dating but their love story isn’t the point of the novel, I get it. It’s about Sky finding his true family. His own chosen family!

- His chosen family! I am such a sucker for that trope but this book nailed it! Sky was kicked out of his home by his own mother during winter break so he had to go live with Bree’s parents. And her family easily accepted him into the house. They teased him over his Ali crush with no judgment and supported him through that traumatizing event of having his crush outed. They didn’t force him to go to school until he was ready. They made him feel included in the house. Ray and Petey are sweethearts that always delivered his food and Clare made sweet treats for him too! And even though Gus, Sky’s brother, is a dick who called him a “faggot” and didn’t even try to give his own brother a home after he’d been disowned, Bree and Marshall were there for him. Winter said it best, they would go to the ends of the earth for Sky. And they’re the kind of friends that are worth fighting for. It’s no wonder why she came to mind when that sales lady told him to “think of the best person” as he was struggling to choose a paint swatch to paint his room. And Charlie and Brian are like his gay uncles! Charlie being his dad’s best friend and living proof that Henry Baker would have been so proud of his son and the man he became. And Brian even gave Sky a job at his tattoo parlor! And covered up Mars with a tattoo that was in memory of his father! Like, I just love this chosen family so much because Sky could not have chosen better. Not just all these people either. Teddy, Ali, Ainsley, Dan, Christina, and Carolyn were all there walking beside Sky. The Yearbookers and total strangers stood by them. It was so beautiful to see and having confirmation that this is 2021 just made it all the better because yes, this is the present we want. The future I want. This “heterosexual hellscape” as Sky put it, wasn’t so bad. Especially not with Dan, a trans kid, starting a GLOW (Gays, Lesbians, or Whatever) club on campus. And with the new lesbian Mrs. Choi (Asian and married to a woman!) as the advisor too!

- The comedy in this book is so on point. My favorites come to mind when Bree called her dad and her sister and hung up on them just as they were going to mention the clam chowder that Clare made. And also with Marshall cracking the fuck up during the promposal scene as it dawned on Sky that Teddy’s been into him since forever. It is just brilliantly done and set up. And I loved each and every one of their dynamics because the comedy truly enhanced it.

- The mystery of how Cliff was able to get those photos and hack into Memories was such an intriguing point because I really had no idea how he had pulled it off. But as they slowly pieced it together (one of the construction workers in the basement being his cousin, his buddy using two phones to get the photo and access to the Memories app), it became so clear and clever. And then the queen, Carolyn, really went and broke into Cliff’s phone for the evidence, lmfao, she got him good. 

- Winter? Icon. She’s worldly and cool and tough and she’s so proud of her students for coming up with the gay shirts idea and shoving it in the faces of those bigoted bullies. She also stood up to her own boss when Principal Burger tried to put a stop to the shirts. He had the fucking audacity to say that they were “distracting” like they were spaghetti straps. Dress code is stupid and I love that Winter said “Fuck you, I’m not enforcing that rule.” And when she and Sky and Ali went off with that “Have you gotten any progress on the investigation on the person who called them a faggot and a terrorist?” Like, come on dude, it’s 2021. Get with the goddamn program. As I was saying, Winter? A queen. I have so much respect for her especially as the person who gave Sky her yearbook and orchestrated him going to meet Charlie. She knew how to help without overstepping and I just have the utmost respect for her as a person and an ally. She knew he wouldn’t listen to her but he would listen to a gay man and the words of his dad calling that very gay man, “The toughest guy I know.” My god, that scene made my heart squeeze in the best way! And Charlie is really living his best life. He’s got a super hot inked husband and a cute friendly dog (named Robert!) and a big house! Respect to everyone. I do hope Winter and Charlie reconnect too.

- Also, I just remembered the other funny scene where Bree texted Sky to get Brian’s phone number for her. “Bree, he’s like 35.” “So?” Like that would be me. Same girl.

- Sky and Marshall relating in the ways they hide their “otherness” hit so hard. Same with Ali too actually. And also, I will usually hate when best friends fight in books. But this made so much sense. What Sky said to Bree was fucking low but it makes sense given what just happened. And he wanted to apologize immediately when he said it too. And him ignoring Marshall? Also makes sense. I am going to guess that when he responded to Teddy’s DM and not to him was also a big blow too. It’s tough. I get it. I absolutely get policing your gayness around “the hets.” It’s scary because you don’t know how much otherness is too much. Marshall hated being excluded from his best friend’s life but he got it being a black person. Sneaking snacks and blaring music from his car? All signs point to an altercation with the cops. I love all of their friendships and I love how they felt guilty about making Sky use money to apologize to the two of them. They are really great friends and Sky will fight to be with them. Because he knows they’re worth it. And he and Teddy and Ainsley are all going to community college so Marshall’s definitely stuck with them. Dan also still has a year there. I also just realized why he was so standoffish that day at the LMEP. But anyway, as Bree’s boyfriend, she’s also stuck there. I also adore that Ali is exploring his nerdier side. Teddy was right when he said that Sky’s gay movement was giving people courage. They were all changing for the better and expressing themselves in ways they hadn’t even thought possible before. Their bravery and their unabashed selves are so inspiring.

- Yearbook Prom! And the gay shirts too! Ugh, Winter is just so awesome. She really stuck it to the men trying to control her beloved students. And she clearly loves her job too. I just wish I had a teacher like her.

- Honestly, I’m still stuck on the gay shirts bit. Teddy choosing to be gay for Sky was so cute! I actually teared up because that was him being real and Sky had no idea.

Dislikes:

- Fuck Cliff Norquest but he’s a bit of a necessary evil. He was shut down so well and I’m glad he barely showed up throughout the book. Because he truly didn’t matter in this story. Like Winter said, Sky needed to focus on the people that mattered. Not asses like him. Speaking of which, fuck Victor Bungle. It made me so happy that Ali was a brown kid and he was popular just for being nice but of course a rat bastard would also be popular if he was a jock and conventionally good-looking. He really tried to be like “I’m not homophobic but…” and it backfired on him lmao. He just added fuel to the gay fire as even more people rallied behind Sky and put on the shirts. Did they get banned from prom? Yes. Did it matter when Winter hosted her own prom and Bree offered her house as a venue and so many other students offered their own services for cheap? Because that was so amazing. I’m willing to bet more people showed up to the Yearbook prom than regular prom which of course means that the school wasted money, resources, and more. Ugh, Cliff and Bungle and Burger are disgusting but all necessary evils for the student body to enact real change. Is it a bit unrealistic? Maybe. But it’s a present and future I would love to see someday.

- Fuck Sky’s biological family. But a theme in the book is chosen family so again, necessary evil. I hate them but at least they will never be in Sky’s life again. They don’t deserve him. Meanwhile, the Brandstones are prepared to take him in as their fifth child and raise him as their own.

- Honestly, my only real qualm is that the town is overwhelmingly white. But they acknowledged it as such by mentioning that there were only like four POC among the student body. Still, the fact is, the POC were good people. And I love that even though only four of them existed, half of them got main character roles.

- I do wonder what had attracted Teddy to Sky in the first place. It seems like they didn’t even know each other that well until Marshall joined the track team. I wonder if Teddy had planned on coming out by promposing to Sky (the only out gay boy at their school) but as time went on, he started to fall for Sky for real. Because I do feel like, over the course of the book, they got closer and those butterflies Sky felt around Teddy became mutual. I just hope it’s not a case of “Oh, this guy is the only other gay guy at school so I will just fall for him.” But to be honest, it doesn’t feel that way because Sky fell for Ali who is straight. So it stands to reason that Teddy didn’t fall for Sky just because he was the only option. His feelings are real. And when he held Sky’s hand and asked if he needed anything while Sky was getting his tattoo done by Brian, I fell for him myself a bit more. Also when Sky kept on noticing Teddy’s huge shot-put muscles, I thought that was not only comedic genius but adorably gay. And when Teddy called Mars “badass” too! Like he really gave his crush so much confidence and he really had no idea! I love their relationship so much and I can’t find much to dislike about in this book at all. 

[tortilla-of-courage]

Describing it as being like home is actually pretty accurate yeah.

And YES! I am totally willing to talk about my modern AU.

I've been calling it the Adoption AU because Time ends up adopting all of the boys. It mostly started as, I saw an edit for a tweet someone did with Wars and Wild that involved Taco Bell (cannot remember the blog or post for the life of me though), and so I wrote a thing about Warriors sneaking out of his university dorm to pick up Wild, who snuck out the window despite his broken arm, and then got extorted by Legend in exchange for silence at 3am.

This was followed by a fic where Groose decided spray painting a public building was a good idea and got himself and Sky arrested, set earlier in the timeline.

So then I made a timeline. Twilight is Time and Malon's biological son, and he found Wild on the side of the road one day (Wild's backstory involves a bad car wreck and an underground hospital, but no conspiracy bullshit. Yet). Wild has no memory, so they keep him. Wild brings home Legend, who was told his uncle died at school before a holiday. They then also keep Legend. Malon finds Four in her barn one morning for complicated reasons, and they keep him too. Twilight finds Warriors, who is in his class, hiding in an alley one day after he ran away from an abusive home and brings him home too. SS Impa (who I've nicknamed Shield because there are enough prominent Impas here that they should get nicknames too) is a social worker who's trying to find Sky a home and has run out of options, and turns to Time, who has a record of successfully housing 'unhousable' youths, and asks if he can take one more. He can. Wild finds Hyrule and brings him home because 'Rule needs a shower even more than Wild does. Hyrule stays. Wind's grandma ends up with Wind and his sister but can't financially take care of both and so Wind ends up with the boys and everyone is +1 Grandma.

Twilight has a fic detailing how he knows Midna and Dusk and I ended up shooting him (oops) but at least their social project gets handed in on time.

Then I started hashing out Time's backstory and suddenly this AU had plot. And organized crime. And a conspiracy. And secret societies.

The summarized version is that the gems from OoT are like, Idk what they do yet. Haven't gotten to a point where I need to figure that out yet. But they are Important and have to be carefully guarded. The Great Deku Tree (just called Deku because he's not a tree here) was Time's foster father before Ganondorf killed him. Also, Ganondorf is Deku's half brother. Because. However Time 'stole' the Emerald and he and Navi ran until OoT Impa (Sage) and Lullaby found them. So Time got adopted into Lullaby's family. Ruto inherited the Sapphire from her mother who also died from mysterious circumstances, and Darunia has the Ruby. Lullaby got the Ocarina from her late paternal grandmother.

Then Ganon finds them and tries to steal the Emerald from Time, so Lullaby goes looking for help and thus finds the sages. Saria is an anonymous hacker who uses the screen name 'Kokiri'. Time reveals he didn't steal the Emerald, he was Deku's heir, and then Navi goes missing. Time is home worried enough that he's physically sick, and Ganon decides to try and attack the home. Only Lullaby's family is Olde Money, and they live in a big, old manor, so Lullaby as Sheik decides to play 'Home Alone' with the secret passages in the walls and they piss off Ganon because when did that brat get a sheikah bodyguard??? Sage and Rottla (Lullaby's mother, who is fully sheikah as well) rush home from a thing and Kokiri is running a play by play watching the security cameras.

I pull in my headcanon that Time was killed in the Downfall Timeline by getting impaled on Ganon's tusk and Ganondorf stabs him with the tusk of a mounted boar head and then Sheik shows up to protect his brother, and then Mama gets home and is not happy to find this man in her home attacking her kids. Time is fine, but Navi stays missing. (She's alive tho.)

Also, Time's foster dad was the last leader of a secret society known as The Order of The Lost Woods, and Time learns this upon meeting Tatl, who gets him sucked into another event that would probably make a good action movie. I have thought too much about the Order and it's hierarchy, but what's important here is that Time ends up with a standing job offer and Tatl and he remain friends and we find out how I fit FD into this AU. It's not pretty. This is where Time loses his eye too.

The AoC came out and I added that Link in as Wild's twin brother and he shows up during the main plot.

Which starts with Twi getting kidnapped. (I'm not really meaner to him than the others, I swear, he's just the most logical choice to be Time's heir. Which he is. He doesn't know this though.)

So he's kidnapped by Ganondorf, who broke out of jail, Zant, who shot Twi in highschool, and Ghirahim, who has some history with Sky I haven't fleshed out yet and a very public rivalry with Warriors over twitter. About six weeks later Sage finds him in an abandoned warehouse (because of course) with a shackle on his left arm and a lot of new injuries. He ends up fine, but he tells Time later in the hospital what happened and he's both message and messenger and Time is this close to just committing murder. Tatl talks him down.

Somewhere here is the half finished fic where I introduce AoC Link as Luke/Knight, and this is as far as I've plotted thus far.

Other tidbits: Wild and Lullaby/Sheik are both genderfluid, Lullaby/Sheik married Ruto, Wild has a very popular YouTube channel, Twi does drag racing sometimes, Sky has a pet bird, Four has DID to explain how the Colours are here too, and Wolfie exists in the form of a random wolf-dog Wild found and brought home that Legend somehow convinced half the family was Twilight. Also, Warriors has somehow befriended an entire sorority and he doesn't know how this happened.

This... got long. As you can see I have a lot of thoughts about the Adoption AU. It's gotten a bit away from me, I'll admit. This went from 'Wild does stunts on his motorbike and keeps breaking bones but somehow not the bike' to 'Twilight got kidnapped and Time is the target of a mafia that Ganon runs and also maybe killed a man once' and I don't know how that happened. Also, this is the condensed version of the summary. My actual summary/outline is much, much longer than this. So if there's any detail you want more on, feel free to say so and I'll happily go into more detail (there are so many things I didn't even mention....)

And yes, Robbie having a bong is very important to my best friend, for some reason. He has one in a modern AU and he probably invented one in canon. I happen to agree that this makes sense for his character, if anyone would invent a bong in LoZ it's Robbie (this is such an anticlimactic end to this ask after the stuff about the modern AU...)

Also, sorry for the long ass ask. I genuinely don't know how to condense the Adoption Au down any further. There's a lot of important plot beats to cover, and I still skipped things.

-Attllhak

oh my GOD???? if you ever write and post this somewhere id love to read it, the level of "crazy" conspiracy/action movie elements implemented sound sosososo cool, from Ganondorf being Deku's half brother to trying to "send a message" via Twi and- just- all of this is SO good.i sat here and reread this ask like 3 times as if that would magically spawn more info about it ahaha

there's so much to unpack here but it's honestly so worth it i love every single detail!!! i can imagine the actual outline being way longer, nad honestly that just makes me the more excited/curious about all that might be missing from this ask - i cant believe it started with Wild and Wars going to Taco Bell of all things

also i can totally see Robbie making a bong, no matter the setting or AU. fits him a lot I'd say

and dont worry about long asks!! i adore opening up my askbox to see one ask take over the entire thing, it makes me really happy aha

[nautiscarader]

Nautiscarader’s Wendip Week day 3: Prank War

geez, this one took a while. I apologise, and let’s hope next one will arrive faster

 (ao3)

============

Someone standing outside of The Mystery Shack might have thought that the living room contained a very predictable lighting bug, or at least that someone inside was broadcasting a rather boring Morse code message using light signals.

In reality, it was just Wendy and Dipper, slouched on the sofa, surfing TV channels, giving each of them at most three seconds to entertain their bored minds. So far, none of them stood up to the challenge.

But as Wendy continued the only physical activity she had the energy for, i.e. pressing one button, something finally caught their attention.

- "What's up everyone? It's your boy, the Prankster Prancer!"

A loud, obnoxious, blonde man in his twenties, wearing spiky, gelled hair rode into the shot on a fake unicorn, face-hugged the camera, filling the wide-angle lens and made both Dipper and Wendy jump in their seats as loud horn noise shook the air around them.

- Wait, I thought this guy was only on the internet! - Wendy raised her brow - Did he escape to the real world?! - Come on, who in the right mind would give him a show? - "So, first of all, thanks to our station, The Cheese Network, for giving me the chance to entertain you guys..."

Dipper and Wendy groaned in collective understanding.

- "...and for giving us some cheese to pay for our last week's prank!"

The screen dimmed and the camera changed to an aerial shot, containing not only fires and flood, but also several military helicopters.

- "So last time we did some EPIC prank during the gender reveal party and we've made a hole in the ozone hole!"

The man made extra effort to extend every vowel in the last word, to an equally obnoxious collection of sound effects.

- Wow. That looks... bad. Even by our standards. - Wendy watched the footage. - Yeah. Good thing this dude stays away from us. - "And now it's time to reveal the next place for our EPIC PRANK!"

The man took a baseball bat and unceremoniously smashed the unicorn doll in half, and stuck his hand in the fake guts, revealing an envelope.

- "And this one is a suggestion from my top commentator on-line, that girl leaves comments under every single one of my videos, so I could not ignore her request".

The envelope was opened, and suddenly, a girl's voice began reading it.

- "Dear Prankster Prancer. I love your videos, and how creative your calamity can be..." - Wait a minute - Dipper sat up, as his eyes widened in horror - Is that- - "My name is Mabel Pines, and I am staying in a small town called Gravity Falls, in Oregon...".

Dipper and Wendy looked at each other and understood each other at once.

- Barricade the doors!

But it was too late. As Dipper ran towards the lobby, the door were smashed to the ground, seemingly under the power of the air horns, and flooded the Shack with lights. The same blonde man walked inside, as if he owned the place, leading with him Mabel Pines.

- What's up birches? Is that how you call people living in the middle of a forest? - he shoved his face to the camera again. - More like, in the middle of nowhere! - Mabel added, high-five'ing him - Thankfully, me and my Prankster Protégé are gonna rock this place! - he shouted.

Dipper Pines stood up and cleaned himself from the dust and debris, watching as the two rock their heads to some aggressive tune.

- Hold on a minute! Mabel, why did you invite him here? If anything, there's too much going around in here! - Ugh, this is my little brother, Dipper. - Mabel rolled her eyes - I'm-I'm not little! - Dipper stomped in place - We're twins!

Somewhere behind him, Wendy snickered.

- What, you just look adorable when you're angry.

Dipper turned back and stormed towards his sister.

- Mabel, do you have amnesia or something? Gravity Falls is full of amazing things! We've been on treasure hunts, found all sorts of monsters in every lake, glade and a cave... You wanted to date a zombie on out first day here! - Yeah, sure, kid, as if I could just walk into a forest and find a dead body... - the Prankster took a sip of soda, looking somewhat nervously. - Mabel, we've seen living dinosaurs here! - Yeah, like I can see one now!

The Prankster pointed to the kitchen and very confused Grunkle Stan in his pajamas.

- What in the DMV is going on here? - Check this out, a living fossil!

The Prankster jumped towards Grunkle Stan and unceremoniously took a selfie with him.

- Oh no, my eyes! The light is coming towards me instead of the other way around!

Stan cried when flash of light blinded him, and with a sleigh of hand, the blonde man undid his belt, causing Stan to nearly trip and fall, if it wasn't for Wendy.

- Hey, you! You're not a prankster, you're a jerk!

At the sound of those words, the man stopped laughing and turned his attention, as well as cameras, towards Wendy.

- What's that? We've got ourselves a HATER!

An air horn was about to blow her hat off, but Wendy swiftly grabbed it and twisted it.

- Yeah, that's what I've said, you're a jerk. I like pranking people, but not to hurt them. - And watchu gonna do, leave a mean comment? - No, we're gonna prank you. - Wendy reached and brought Dipper towards her. - Cos we've done some pranking together ourselves! - Like what? - Like... when we've made our friend think his inflatable tube could talk!

The Prankster shot them with a dead stare.

- You know what, I don't even have time to play the "wah-wah" soundbite. But if you want to lose, your call. Tomorrow, we're gonna get an EPIC PRANK-OFF!

And he shot a pose in front of the camera.

- Right, now tell me where's someplace to eat. And they better have unlimited refills. - Lazy Susan is neat. And there's water tower nearby...

And with that, he and Mabel walked off, leaving the small destruction behind them.

- Wendy! - Dipper turned at once towards her - Are you crazy? He has entire film crew! And money! And very little empathy! He's gonna plough through us! - Chill out, man, we're gonna trick him, one way or another.

And she gently smacked the edge of his hat.

- Er, I know you guys like to babble all the time, but I still can't get up. - Grunkle Stan grumbled from the floor.

=============

The next day, Wendy woke up at the break of dawn with unbridled optimism. Dipper less so, and he was a bit nervous when Wendy gathered him and her crew in the small lumberjack shack in the woods to explain the plan of action.

- So, any questions? - she asked

At the same time, every teenager in the small room raised hands.

- So, how does exactly the can of whipped cream is supposed to work with the rake? - Tambry asked - And what do we have to do with the rat-shaped balloons? - Thompson asked shyly. - And can't we just... punch him? - Robbie suggested, mimicking the action. - Ugh, you guys!

Wendy groaned and hid her face in her hands. hearing the murmurs of doubt across the room, Dipper quickly stood up and continued.

- Guys, this jerk is giving us, pranksters, a bad name! We gotta prank him in a way that shows we are better... Because we can do better!

He watched as faces of the older teenagers brighten with his speech. Several of them even smiled.

- Plus he could, like, sue us for millions of dollars, so we gotta stay clean.

With newly gained optimism, the gang rushed to Thompson's van and readied themselves for the prank.

- Thanks, man, for giving me a hand. - Wendy suddenly patted Dipper's back. - Oh, no-no problem. - Dipper spoke, wondering if she noticed his blush.

=========

- Alright, we're all in places.

Wendy spoke to her phone, and observed the places, leaning from behind the wall. Her eyes moved from Robbie, hidden in the abandoned ice-cream stall, to Thompson, on top of a tree, to Tambry, pretending to read a large newspaper, and finally, to Dipper, holding a bag of provisions.

- We-Wendy, I'm not sure if this is gonna work. - Now!

She commanded, as Prankster walked nonchalantly out of the store. He thre away the half-eaten sandwich he just bought and was about to walk into the string that would have activate the whipped cream... if he didn't make a sudden jump.

He then threw something into the stall.

- Oh, crap, it's a grenade!

Robbie stormed out, tripping on the same wire he helped setting up, which resulted in his black hair covered in white goo and sprinkles.

Tambry was supposed attack next, but Prankester was already next to her. He took a bucket of soapy water and dumped it over her, destroying her diguise that covered her pruple hair.

For Thompson, he didn't even have to do much - he threw a mouse toy into the air, and listened how the boy tumbles down, shrieking.

And finally, he took something big and colourful out of his backpack and tossed it onto the street, watching as Dipper and Wendy rush towards it.

- Limited edition Giraffeoala!

They realised the two were after it when it was too late. Their heads collided with each other, just as the elusive plushie was yanked from their hands, back into his bag.

- Seriously, guys? You wanted to outsmart me? There like five of you and you couldn't do it. - Ha! That was a good one! - Mabel emerged from behind his back and did another high-five. - But I couldn't do it without you. - he pointed at her. - Me? But I didn't do anything... - Of course you did.

The Prankster lowered his sunglasses.

- Last evening at that stupid bar. You told me you were friends with everyone here. You told me how one of them likes gloomy, dark places. Like another one is afraid of mice. Like another one never looks away from her phone...

Mabel's ecstatic, radiant smile faded with each word the Prankster spoke, and her eyes, widened from excitation began to fill with tears.

- And, well, you told me what these two dorks are obsessed about... amongst other things. - Mabel! - Wendy and Dipper cried at the same time. - But-But I didn't... - Aw, really? You feel sad for them? LAME. - he pushed her aside and waved for his crew that followed him anyway.

For quite a while, all the small town could hear was Mabel Pines sobbing, until someone closed his arms around her.

- There, there, sis. - Dipper spoke quietly. - I guess you see why were so angry now. - I-I didn't know he would...

Dipper hugged her, letting her cry as much as she wants into his vest.

- It's not your fault, Mabel. - Wendy added, taking a knee and gently patting her. - But-But it is! - Well... Kinda... - Robbie added, and received a cold, piercing stare from Wendy. - Jerks like that like to... use people. And they know that the best ones are those, who are most trusting and kind.

Mabel's sniffing stopped, as Wendy continued.

- But you know what? - Dipper spoke suddenly - I think I got an idea...

He let go of his sister rushed to the Prankster, sitting on one of the toy unicorns, tossing quarter after quarter, while two children in queue began to tear up.

- Hey, you! - Ugh, you again, twerp. What, want me to reveal more secrets about you and your stupid hobbies? Or, like, who is your biggest crush after a toy plushie from the 90s?

Dipper's face reddened, but he remained unperturbed.

- We're not done yet. Tomorrow we're gonna prank you for good. Double or nothing! - Ugh, sure, fine. - the Prankster didn't even look at him - It's not like I can do anything until my lawyers clean up the whole "gender reveal party" fiasco. Like, who cares if the whole state is now inhabitable for life?

==============

By the next morning, the battleground was set. Cameras and tons of equipment surrounded the small grassy meadow in front of the Mystery Shack, where Dipper and Wendy were sitting in their chairs with their arms crossed, both wearing much more confident smiles. And the fact that Mabel was with them added them extra layer of morale.

When the clock struck 12, a mighty roar shook the place, as monster truck drove from behind the tree line, smoking and setting nearby branches on fire. The Prankster Prancer jumped out of it, and, drowned in the flashes of cameras, walked into his place.

- So, are you twerps ready for the FINAL PRANK OF YOUR LIFE? - he roared into the microphone, rolling his tongue back and forth as if he was about to eat it. - Nah, we're not gonna prank you. - Wendy shrugged - But someone else will.

The newly reinstalled door to the Mystery Shack opened, and a new figure appeared. An elderly woman walked out, being led by Grunkle Stan that gallantly helped her, for once not sneaking his hand into her purse.

And when she looked up from behind her glasses, the confident smile on Prancer's face disappeared at once.

- Grandma?! What-What are you doing here?! - Oh, don't you know? - Grunkle Stan rushed with explanation - We, old folks, all know each other. And I simply couldn't let her miss her grandson's grand day! - I'm so glad I can see you, Archibald!

The elderly lady used her cane to hook him by his neck and brought him into his arms, despite his best efforts to avoid any interactions.

- G-Grandma, don't- don't call me that! - Why not? - she continued, seemingly ignoring her grandson efforts to escape her tight hug. - I am your grandma, and I will call you by your full name, Archibald Roderick Sebastian Eugene!

Somewhere behind them, Dipper, Wendy and Mabel were having the time of their life, trying to hide their laughter.

- So, wait, his initials literally make him an... - Grandma! Make them stop! They-they are laughing at me! - Nonsense! Those young folks told me all your fans would love to see me talk about you. So I've send them some photos via the eclectic mail!

The blonde man looked to the side at Wendy and Dipper's faces. Their wide smiles told him everything, and in the act of ultimate desperation, he gently shook his head, silently mouthing his plea. He then looked at Mabel's, but hers was filled with spite.

In response, Mabel simply pressed a button.

The enormous screen behind them lit up, showing an adorable newborn blonde boy in diaper, giggling at the baby rattle.

Several more followed, showing his equally naked body in progressively embarrassing positions.

The screen changed, and the same boy was now three-years old, wearing a strict haircut as well as a bowtie. And the worst part was, he looked happy.

The Prankster Prancer fell to his knees, as tears began rolling from his eyes, which his grandma quickly dried with her handkerchief.

- Oh, yes, I do tear up a little at this one too. Oh, but the next one makes me so proud!

Prancer's eyes widen, if possibly even more, and throwing away all the pretence, he rushed to Wendy and Dipper and began begging them for mercy. But it was for nothing. He knew they have seen the photo already.

And with another press of a button, a seven-year old Prancer was shown, wearing a blue cardigan, sitting in an armchair with a big book in his hands, smiling at the camera, proudly showing his braces.

The scanned photo displayed a title, written in crayon over it.

"I love school!"

Flocks of birds flew into the air from the nearby trees in response to the shriek that reverberated the air, full of remorse, despair, and unmistakably, defeat.

- Nooooo!

The Prancer hit the ground with his fists, for which he was quickly reprimanded by his grandma ("You're going to make them dirty!"), while Wendy and Dipper high-fived each other, before giving Mabel a warm hug.

=============

- So I guess that will teach him? - Dipper asked Wendy as the two lay on the sofa, flicking through the channels again. - Pfh. I wish it did. - Wendy reached for her phone and showed Dipper a familiar blonde man waving his arms uncontrollably. - "What's up Prankster Pros? It's ya boy, and I've got this sweet book deal full of my MOST EMBARASSING photos! Look at that baby bottom! Only for $99.99..." - Geez, I guess they never learn. - Nope. But at least he's not here...

For a while the room dimmed every few seconds, as Wendy searched for anything interesting, but something else was on Dipper's mind.

- So... about those Cuddle Buddies...

The remote fell out of Wendy's hand.

- Uh, yeah, so, I just...

She shied away and mumbled her answer, until she saw a polite smile on Dipper's face.

- So, like, remember ever since you wanted to win that Duck Panda for me? I... kinda got into them, you know. Not like, obsessively collecting them, but... you know. - Yeah, I do. For cuddling.

The two looked at each other and exchanged the same, warm smiles.

- So which generation you like the most? - Well, gen 2 obviously - she rolled her eyes - What? Five is the best. - The best as sucking, perhaps. - Come on, they had changed the lead designer and everything, but they're still Cuddle Buddies...

For quite a while, the channel stayed on, as neither of them bother to change it. And when the night fell on, Wendy and Dipper realised that they might have discovered something new to talk about.

[aestheticsuwu]

No one else But us

( Okinawa Trip AU part 1 of Moodboards )

....

His plan was take Sam to Okinawa for her to meet Kumiko and Chozen.  Take a small vacation get away from the divorce . Even though Him and Amanda ended on great terms , and he didn't mind her now dating Carmen . And not to add to the mix that him and Johnny kinda have a thing going on .

Except Sam told the other kids ,  once he saw Robby eyes lit up and started rambling about the books he read . He couldn't help himself to invite Robby , and seeing the smile on the kid face made him happy ( you can also add to the fact Robby had given him a hug also . ) .

It wasn't a secret to the kids that both sensei's had their favourites . Even if Daniel tried his best not to show it . Johnny's was Miguel , Daniel was like a mother hen he couldn't help it . His list consisted : Sam , Robby , and Demetri . So in that same day, he  heard Demetri telling Sam he was having problem with his mother ,He thought One more couldn't hurt .

Once he got around to tell Johnny about the change of plans of the trip , it was all fine until he mentioned Kumiko and Chozen.  He wasn't  mad or upset of taking Robby , the blonde just didn't like the idea of Daniel being with his ex Girlfriend/ Rival .

" Johnny nothing is gonna happen , okay . You don't have to be worry . "

" Of course nothing is going to happen , that ass is Mine and if I have to go there myself to keep my eye on you , so be it . "

He didn't think it was hot the way Johnny voice sounded and he totally did not end up on his lap to make out .

.... ....

The next day Johnny had called him saying Miguel was coming along . He knew how much Johnny loved the kid like his own . All the kids were getting along fine , sometimes they would get into an argument . Sam , Robby,  and Miguel had solved their differences  and now we're inseparable with the addition of Demetri .

Aisha had convinced her parents to let her do Karate and that was the only reason Tory was part of their dojo . At first he wasn't sure about her but Johnny had persuade reminding him she deserved a second chance  .

" She's just a kid , she got no one . Everybody deserves a second chance if their willing to change . "

The two girls always stood together . Hawk was the same , he had hurt Demetri and Sam was constantly keeping her eye on him , Until she saw he really changed . He can see Sam , Robby and Chris always kept Demetri Safe like their own little brother .

.....

Amanda surprises him while he was packing telling him she was also coming along .

" What , Don't want me there ? C'mon Daniel , Would you really ditch your best friend ? . "

" Its not that , What about Anthony,  remember he clearly said he did not want to go . "

" He's staying with your mother , oh and Carmen is coming with me  , I think you should might as well invite the other kids "

He knew the last part was a joke but that's how he ended up having a trip to Okinawa with his Boyfriend , Ex wife and her current girlfriend and his class and Kids .

........... .......

Waking up early wasn't ideal to him but if he didn't want to miss his flight he had to wake up.  Including he had to go pick up his students   , might as well start getting ready .

Arriving at the airport , Johnny was surprise people were awake at this hour . Quickly trying to spot Daniel , it would've been easier if he wasn't that short . Telling the kids to keep an eye out . Once he caught the sight of Daniel and the kids like pups trailing behind him , he couldn't but feel warm at the sight .

" Sensei their over there , Oh My mom arrived to "  Miguel told him pointing at the opposite direction , making him  and the other kids run towards them .

Saying hi to everyone he couldn't help but hold Daniel in his arms . God he was so adorable but a hot babe .

" Someone missed me . "

" I always miss you , Bambi . "

receiving a kiss , he makes a mental note to say more cheesy thing like that . He could live off kissing Daniel if the kids had stopped complaining , guess he would settle for coffee .

As if reading his mind

" Do you want coffee , I already promised the kids on the way here to get them junk food on the way over . I swear they act like little kids . "

" That's on you , and don't act like it bothers you . you totally love it . Let's go get some coffee then .

Turning to his students , signalling to them he guess they got the message as they cheered on .  Smiling he waves his hand like a true gentleman he is . Daniel doesn't buys it

" You just want me go in front for you could stare at my ass . "

" I was trying to be polite , not everything is about your ass , LaRusso . "

 He starts walking as he gives him a ' I don't believe a word your saying ' . And for that he totally check out his ass , and starts running when he slaps it and Daniel shouts.

" Johnny ! "

..... .....

Daniel gives him his card as the cashier ringing up the items , as the kids start convincing him to go to different store . After paying , the cashier smiles at him .

" You have a beautiful family "

Wanting to correct her  that  only one of them  were his kids but he liked idea him and Daniel having a family .

" Thanks . "

...

He loved his students but he was glad the adults were separated from the students on the airplane . Not that he would admit it out loud but deep down the kids knew . Him and Daniel spent the time reading a book called The outsiders , he would've preferred anything else like making out but he couldn't say no to the those big Bambi eyes .

Amanda had to wake them both up once the airplane had landed . Being caught up on getting everyone's luggage and making sure no one was missing , he lost LaRusso . He was sure he was right beside him , Neither Amanda or Carmen had seen him . Voices and the noise from the airport was distracting .

" Quiet !  . Now that I got your attention I need to inform you all , we lost LaRusso . It's gonna be hard to find him with him being small and short but the man can stop talking to save his life . Stay by me or Carmen and Amanda , alright get your ass walking unless you want to get left behind  . "

" Yes Sensei ! "

Ignoring the stares they were all receiving and  started following Amanda directions .

....... .......

Daniel honestly thought they were all behind him . He hoped Amanda will know the way to the exit , He spotted Kumiko and Chozen as they waited for him . Huh Chozen was actually smiling , guess he didn't have to worry at all .

" Daniel-san " Kumiko Hugged him while Chozen bowed . He never thought he would say he missed Chozen , Guess he can count him as a friend .

" Chozen offered me a ride to pick you and Sam , We can't wait to meet her . "

" Yeah about that there was a change of plans , I forgot to inform you about this Kumiko I apologize.  It was a last minute thing an- "

" Your daughter is not coming " Chozen asked as he looked confused as Kumiko was .

Right as he was about to answer , He heard a excited  yelling that he knew to well after many classes at the dojo . Looking behind ,  his answer was confirmed . Catching Johnny eye , he guessed he was telling the group he had found him . As they started walking faster until they were all in front of him .

" Dad , where were you ? " " Did you get Lost Mr. LaRusso? " " Mr . L , we worried that they had kidnapped you ." " Daniel I don't know how you disappeared that quick . " " Dad , can we go get something to eat were starving ." " Please " " Please "

 Smiling , he loved how the kids still were full of energy .

" Quiet ! , Couldn't wait to get rid us , Daniel ? "

Turning to her  right , Kumiko says to Chozen .

" This is going to be fun . "

Sidenote: This Part 1 of the moodboards . Hope you guys like it and sorry for my shitty writing . Okinawa AU Trip .

[absentsdream]

* nico hiraga, cis man + he/him | you know owen murase, right? they’re twenty-five, and they’ve lived in irving for, like, their whole life? well, their spotify wrapped says they listened to swim and sleep (like a shark) by unknown mortal orchestra like, a million times this year, which makes sense, ‘cause they’ve got that whole laughing to the point that the joke’s never been told properly, talking pensively on the roof of your family home until your mother calls you back inside, novelty caps with witty remarks embroidered on them thing going on. i just checked and their birthday is april 13th, so they’re a taurus, which is unsurprising, all things considered.

hi it’s cee … again… bet ya getting sick of me now huh….

AESTHETICS.

too-sweet orange sherbet, the only light source in the middle of the night being a measly desk lamp, a beanie well-loved enough it threatens to fall apart, childhoods spent talking to your friends next door across the backyard fence, nineties nintendo games, skate decks fractured clean down the middle, eyes glued to a television, lips chapped with ocean water, vintage stripe shirts, perfectly clear midsummer skies

CHARACTER INSPO.

zach taylor ( super dark times ), alexis rose ( schitt’s creek ), robbie ( angus, thongs and perfect snogging ), casey ( atypical ), francis abernathy ( the secret history ), gordo ( lizzie mcguire ), troy barnes ( community )

BACKGROUND.

it’s an idyllic spring day when you’re born. there’s a gentle chill that soars off the quivering ocean, a warmth from the sun that brings a flush to the cheeks. the youngest of two boys, you are adored, loved. the apple of one’s eye.

your mother makes sure you never forget who you are. without fail she packs your lunch each day ( you love it despite the odd looks of your classmates ), japanese school saturday mornings, family visits to morioka in the summer where cicadas seem to buzz within your head. it’s not easy for her despite the understanding of your father, durham born and raised. you don’t realise it until much later. it only seems to sink in once she’s flown back to japan to care for ailing grandparents when you are twelve. you hate the way a peanut butter and jelly sandwich glues to the roof of your mouth. you miss how she would force a hat on your head seconds before you left for school every morning.

the loneliness is more pronounced when your brother leaves for college three years later. he’s not far, but there’s a hollowness in the room that makes living with your father hard sometimes. he takes you to little league. you take to little league a duck to water. there’s less shouting matches, less ‘ i hate yous ’ and acting out. learning to forgive the world is less a big stride and more short steps, sometimes one backward.

you graduate the golden boy. everything is at your fingertips, it seems. varsity baseball, prom king, an ivy league sports scholarship on the horizon. your mother comes back home for it. your brother does, too. your breath is quick and sharp when you hold back hot tears on stage. your breath stops when the boy you’ve admired for the last year and a half walks past to you to shake the principal’s hand. your girlfriend never knew. you’re grateful for the calm in you when you return to japan that year, a little sunburn across the bridge of your nose, sweat beading on your forehead and nights spent listlessly gazing upward to stars.

INJURY & NEEDLES MENT. CW college is a blow out. so’s your arm. halfway into your freshman year and a sports med degree, your elbow won’t get better, no matter how many needles are poked in it, no matter how many times you ice it religiously. surgery isn’t enough, either. the scholarship and your place as pitcher are no longer yours and for the next few months, you’re home again in irving with your tail between your legs. your father isn’t angry so much as he’s disappointed for you. your brother’s made it to law school now, and here you are watching daytime reruns of judge judy and admiring the grass stains on your white sneakers, eating froot loops with far too much milk. CW END

it’s hard to get past the searing embarrassment on your cheeks when you return to college the next year. you liked writing, although it comes as a surprise to your family. at the very least, your father wonders, weren’t you going to go into a science degree and not literature?

you pay no heed and write until your eyes turn square at four in the morning. you are the best student in the course, the professor says. that hard work will pay off, the professor says. and it does. after your degree, the culmination of your work falls into three-hundred-and-something pages of a novel that a small publisher in charlotte seems to adore. your father pulled some strings to get it there. within a year, it’s a new york times bestseller. it’s a shock, but not really. the way you grit your teeth, the way you steeled your resolve, made you something, just like you promised your mother when you were seven years old and eyes shining.

PERSONALITY & QUIRKS.

goofy ass

bilingual :P

the family home in delphinus heights is too big for one person after his father went back to durham, so he chose to find his own place instead. he has a cute little studio flat on dorado road on a block behind a retired couple that sometimes invites him over for early dinner.

has no pets but there’s a bird that squawks outside his back door each morning until it gets a bit of toast from him

never wakes up early enough to see the sunrise over the sea, though

currently works a few days a week at a surf shop near the pier to make ends meet. writes and coaches little league in his spare time

owen’s first publication was a sci-fi novel. after excelling in most subjects, he puts math and science to good use for his work

tends to hang around you more if you’re a good source of inspiration for his writing

surfer babey …. his hair is disgusting. coarse n horrible n sun bleached like a mangy dog. it’s almost long enough to tie up the whole thing. occasionally lets someone put them into pigtails at a party

voted most likely to bust his wrist fucking up a skate trick

ur typical boy next door. very approachable, not a mean bone in his body, although in recent years he’s shown more anxiety than he’s ever been used to. sucks having to cook for urself everyday n pay bills like an adult :/

pansexual. leans a lot more towards masc presenting folks

has a collection of old, sun-faded shinkansen ticket stubs. sentimental like that

also very protective of his music vhs tape collection

not too fond of social media. his last post on insta was from like 2018. has no profile picture on fb. instead, he updates his ig story ten times a day and quadruple texts you on imessage like a heathen

chronic people pleaser. rarely says no and is shithouse at setting boundaries with others

loves all kinds of creepy shit, aliens especially

bit of a pisstake really 

WANTED PLOTS.

all da friends. family n childhood friends, someone he would goof around with during shifts in his high school job at the local mini mart, skate / surf buddies, anything and everything

a fan of his book

someone who witnessed owen stack it on his skateboard once n had to help get him to the hospital for a near miss broken bone SKGNSLDGDKSL

a writing muse he’s too scared to tell them IS his muse

a failed relationship from his few months in irving between college degrees. it was definitely him, not you

will accept any n all plots :-)

[calypsoff]

Sixty Eight. Part 3

Honestly it’s annoyed me that my brother did and said what he said about me to my mother like, he knows what she is like and how she reacts about being a good wife “don’t take it out on your brother” it’s always the boys “I’m not but you’re making out I am bullying my husband when I’m not, he would say I am if I was” Chris snorted laughing “and Robbie I said jokes can hurt sometimes, he is your husband so he is priority. You’re being very hormonal baby” I huffed out “I give up” they really think I bully Chris “I must admit she can be very violent, it’s that Bajan blood” looking at Chris frowning “you need to stop right there, I mean it. Don’t let this ugly ass man make you think you can join him because you will be sleeping in the spare room” Chris gasped “Robbie, it’s his birthday. Be kind” I think my mother is annoying me the most “just nobody speak to me please, I’m done” I can’t deal to hear anymore bullshit from any of these people, like why are they making out I am mean to my husband unless this is a ploy to annoy me, maybe I am being hormonal but I am not mean to him I just playfully annoy him and I like to do it because it’s so easy to do but my family like to make out I am bullying him “don’t speak” I pointed at Rorrey, I knew he was going to try and say something “I can’t even laugh, you’re miserable” getting up from the seat “I am cleaning” I rather clean then sit with these idiots that think I am being mean when I’m not “I will help you” Mel also got up, picking my plate up and walked around the table “relax baby” Mel said to me as I placed the plate in the sink “I am but Rorrey is actually riling mom up to say that in front of Chris making it seem like I am, I am not incapable of supporting my man and knowing when to not tease him” I said in a whisper “I don’t think they meant it, just relax” I am being very hormonal but I find it annoying, it’s my marriage.

I just finished cleaning with Mel, my mother made a lot of mess in the kitchen “ayo, how you get my high school picture in that jersey. I have gone taller too, that is dope” smiling at him “can I speak to Robyn for a moment please Mel” drying my hands off “sure birthday boy, also I need to find why Noella ain’t give you the present” Mel hit his arm “one of twenty six punches” Chris laughed rubbing his arm “mean as hell” watching him walk over to me “you like it? I think you look extra cute in the high school picture, imagine a daughter with long hair looking like you, actually no. That’s not cute” Chris laughed out “I would feel sorry for her if she did when she got a beautiful mom like you, you good?” Chris sat atop of the kitchen counter “what makes you think I’m not? I don’t want her to feel like she has to be like me, I really hope we never get that issue because it would hurt me. I don’t want that for my daughter” walking over to Chris “just seemed very annoyed at your family, you know they are joking with you. You not been doing anything to upset me at all” standing between Chris’ legs “just my family is annoying me and on top of that I am very hormonal and feeling sensitive about things, are you happy?” Chris gasped “happy!? I got a Rolex, and I am sitting in a Versace robe, I am over the moon. Thank you so much and your kind words to me, I don’t deserve it and I feel like you’re feeling a little emotional about things, I feel it, with the messages and everything. I know you, just don’t worry about it. You done a lot for me and I appreciate you” he wrapped his arms around me “thank you Poppa” I adore him a lot “hey Chris, JC is here” Chris looked behind him and at my brother “really? Why?” He questioned “I booked him for you, go and get a cut” moving back “oh wow, ok. Thank you” he is so oblivious about everything and it’s cute.

Yusuf is here and Mylah is also to dress me the hell up, I need to look good for my man’ birthday now “you are pregnant, like wow! It’s been a while, oh my god” Yusuf hugged me “like you really pregnant baby, you are glowing” I laughed out, he is having a meltdown seeing me this pregnant “be quiet and coming up the stairs, is Mel here with my dress and his suit?” He is nowhere to be found “knowing him he’s probably dressing up himself oh my god, my queen you look so good” holding Yusuf’ hand as we went up the steps “ayo Robyn” looking down at Chris “yeah?” He looks so handsome with his new cut “just want to say thank you, you keep surprising me even more. So thank you” I cooed out “it’s ok baby, I am going upstairs now” how adorable is he “your man is a cutie, happy birthday Chris. Can’t wait to dance with you tonight” elbowing Yusuf “hey!” He spat “thanks man” he’s so slow “you are so lucky he didn’t” mean mugging Yusuf “wait, he doesn’t know l... ?” Shaking my head “no he doesn’t know yet” I whispered “you are lucky he is not paying attention to it; he thinks we are going to a meal together and he’s paying” I laughed “he’s very cute you know; I mean bless his heart he came to say that to you. Awww baby” Yusuf cooed out.

It’s been a while since I have been dressed up like this and I am excited to say the least, someone to just do the dressing up for me instead of me doing my own makeup “doesn’t he think why everyone is here and why we came? Like deadass?” Yusuf is confused “well with what went on I stopped speaking about his birthday, I just altogether stopped caring and I just didn’t want to know because I was hurt. So to him he thinks he’s getting nothing but a meal, but I kept everything the same. I wanted to spoil him and he never did cheat on me, imagine if I just thought fuck it let me treat you like shit for something you never did, that would generally hurt him because he did nothing wrong. Privately I of course did what I needed but I kept it as that” Yusuf nodded his head “he seems like not the type so when I was reading I was like, nobody cheats on my sis” the bedroom door opened “oh, I came to get changed” Chris has clearly had enough of his robe “wait a little more, your outfit will be here” Chris nodded his head looking at me weirdly “you really getting ready for this meal huh” I smirked “I want to look nice for once, why not. Are you having fun?” I don’t want him to be sad now “yeah of course, I’m gonna be in the games room” he walked out, I’m glad I have a husband that can be a little slow “he’s cute, I’m gonna keep saying this” I giggled to myself.

Mel tied up my heels, he didn’t want me to bend over and do it which is sweet of him. I may regret putting these heels on but whatever, it goes with the outfit, but my feet will suffer and I am taking my slides with me just for later “you look so good Robyn” Mel got up from the floor, moving back from me “so beautiful, I saw this silk black dress and I was like Robyn will look perfect in it, your boobs have grown but it’s fine, beautiful. For your man’ birthday, I was speaking to Chris actually, he was so confused and said why am I wearing a suit, I said because I felt cute” I chuckled “he is not clicking on at all, he assumes we are having a meal, a real nice one too” Mel laughed shaking his head “he is so funny but come, let’s go down. A lot of the family have already left, let’s help you down” I feel so cute “does my butt look big” walking out of the bedroom “of course it does, but who cares. You flaunt that” he pointed at me as he walked towards the stairs “let’s be careful down these, I got you” smiling lightly at him, I hope Chris likes my dress. Holding onto the side, Mel took my bag from me and then I held onto his arm, slowly making my way down the steps “wow, it feels like I am meeting my wife all over again. Wow! Look at her” Chris cooed over him, his eyes lit up and smiled so wide “you look amazing twin, oh wow” I am getting shy now.

Me and my husband look so good, we look so fly and I am proud of how good we look, Chris thinking we are still going to a meal is making me laugh “how amazing is my Rolex though? Not as amazing as you my love” I cooed out “thank you Chris, you’re always there making me feel so special and so confident, thank you” Chris smiled at me “like you are getting me these things are just amazing, I didn’t expect it because like I wasn’t good to you, I didn’t call you and stuff, so I deserved it. Thank you, like with everything” he’s so thankful “don’t be, today is your day so stop saying thank you. I just want to see you smile and have fun, that’s what we are doing, that’s what you deserve and that’s what I want for you ok?” I love him so much “I’m hungry as hell actually, I can’t wait to eat” come to think of it that means he will be drinking on an empty stomach which doesn’t bother me actually because, it’s his day and if he wants to spend the next day drunk he can, I will let him have that fun today.

The driver stopped outside Poppy Nightclub “Giorgio Baldi?” Chris questioned “you know me so well but I wanted to spice it up, just thought I would you know have it here, a meal that is” Chris looks so confused, he is very confused “they do food in a club?” Rich opened the door for me, I also got Dennis to take pictures today. The full works I got it for him, I told them that I am coming so keep it quiet “it’s quiet isn’t it” I know Chris is not that stupid, maybe he is because he knows I wouldn’t lie to him which I am today “because I wanted it like this” Dennis is here bless him “Rich you looking handsome for my birthday, I appreciate it” Rich just side eyed him, Dennis continued to take pictures of Chris and I “shall we go inside then” I gestured “yeah, man I am hungry” nodding my head “ok go in then, be the man” Chris started to walk and then he stopped “are you lying to me?” he turned to look at me “about what part? Why would I lie? For what? Just go” maybe he is clicking on now, Dennis rushed by us to go inside, Rich held the door as we walked into the place which is pretty quiet the way I wanted it. Chris seems so reluctant to go further inside he seems to be walking so slow, he finally went by the board “allow me to introduce, his name Christopher Maurice Brown used to move snowflakes back in VA. Happy Birthday Chris, it’s big pimpin baby” Jay Z said on the mic as Big Pimpin started playing, I wish I walked ahead of him now. Chris froze in shock seeing the place just filled, I mean I was going to use my contacts, Jay didn’t say no “no way!” Chris spat, he turned to me in utter shock “Happy Birthday, I lied” I laughed saying “you got my dad in a club, oh my god!” I got him good, I am so proud of me.

Mel shimmied herself over to me “we be big pimping, spending cheese!” she sang to me “aye, aye. This is so fucking lit, like I am speechless. See me? His face was shocked, like he just peed himself. You should be proud of yourself” I grinned “I am, now I can relax. My feet are killing me already” looking over at Chris, he is busy just saying his hi to everyone. I invited everyone I could get for him everyone that knows him and then I did as Jay, he said yes so here we are. I will be taking these heels off actually “he looks handsome” my mom pointed at Chris, I grinned “he does” sitting down on the chair “already?” Mel said looking “yes, I have too. Even though these heels make me look even better but I can’t right now, the extra weight is a no” Mel crouched down “let me do it for you” looking up at my mom “I am going to say hi to him” nodding my head, this is going to be long night for me because I love my sleep more then ever, I have to make it through the night but Rorrey can deal with him drunk because I can’t do it.

[maerenee930]

random post 😅 just a heads up, this is super long!! so please feel free to scroll past this! i’m honestly not expecting anyone to read this. i just wanted to write all of this down so i wouldn’t forget it 😅

(and for anyone who does happen to read this super long post, thank you so much, and i’m sorry for any spelling and grammar errors! 😅💖)

woke up from a nap a few hours ago and had some really vivid dreams. in one of them i was at one of my aunt’s house at a party she was having and i kept looking for someone. i couldn’t figure out who it was at first but i could feel it was someone i felt comfortable and really safe with 💙

originally, i thought i was looking for my mom. she’s a comfort person for me. especially at family parties. (although like most parties my aunt has, it wasn’t just family at the party.) so i kept looking for this person, but something inside me kept telling me that i wasn’t looking for my mom. like i just had this really strong feeling that i wasn’t looking for her. so i keep asking friends and family members if they’ve seen anyone looking for me or if anyone as asked them where i am. they would say they did see someone but they weren’t sure who it was or they would say yeah someone did and before i could get a straight answer as to who it was, someone would call the person i was talking to or i would get pulled away by a friend or one of my cousins 😅

so finally after what felt like a few hours looking for this person, i felt myself getting so sad that i couldn’t find them. that feeling was so strong and the fact that all i was looking for was someone, the person i knew who would make me feel safe and i couldn’t find them, broke my heart. at one point i was sitting on my aunt’s patio and i started crying. so as i’m sitting there crying, one of my younger cousins came up to me and asked me what was wrong. when i explained to her everything that was going on she looked at me and smiled. i was so confused lol. she hugged me really tight and said “i’ll be right back, Mae-Mae” again, i was so confused 😅

so i see her walk away and i look down at the ground trying not to cry again but it didn’t work and started quietly crying to myself again. after a few minutes, i hear her walk back and see her feet right by me. but then immediately notice there’s another set of feet next to her. they’re definitely guys’ feet and i honestly recognized them rig he away 😅 i look up and see Eva (my younger cousin) holding hands with (i’m sure this will come as no surprise to anyone lol) Robert Sheehan 🥺🥰 they both smile at me. Eva looks at Robert and says “Mae-Mae, this is who’ve you’ve been looking for and who’s been looking for you. did you really not know it was him?” then she says very sarcastically, “c’mon, Mae-Mae...” (that’s very much the relationship Eva and i have. we’re very sarcastic with each other 😄)

Robbie looks down at Eva and chuckles. he lets go of Eva’s hand, looks down at me, gives me the cutest and most adorable smile and says “hey there gorgeous. we finally found each other”. then he puts both of his hands out to me and does that little gesture for me to take them 😄 so i hold his hands and he helps me stand up. he gave me the sweetest and most loving smile and put his left hand on my cheek. he rubbed his thumb along my cheekbone wiping away some of my tears and said “it’s okay, Mae.” 🥺 i smiled at him, put my right hand on his hand and moved his hand a little bit to kiss his palm. he looked back down at Eva and said “thank you so much for helping me find her, kiddo! we both really appreciate it!” i looked at Eva and said “yes, thank you so much, beeba!” (that’s one of her nicknames lol) then i asked her, “how did you know it was him?”

she looked at me like i just asked her the dumbest thing ever (again, that’s how we are with each other lol) and says “who else would it have been, Mae-Mae? you know how you’ve told me that i’m one of your best friends and your other half. and you’ve said that you feel whole when we’re together. even though we’re only cousins and there’s a big age gap. and how you’ve always said that you felt like we were meant to be in each other lives? when you told me what was going on and that you were looking for someone but didn’t know who, i knew who it was right away. and i know that the way you feel about you and me is also the feel that way about Robbie. and i can tell he feels that way about you, too. that’s how i knew it was him. well that and earlier he asked me if i saw you. but yeah” we all laughed. i grabbed her hand, pulled her close and gave her the biggest hug! i told her she’s too smart and i love her so much. we both thanked her again for helping us find each other and then she said she was gonna go get something to eat but she’ll be back later. 😅

so after Eva left, Robert put both of his hands on my jawline and neck, pull my face close to his and said “i missed you so much, Mae.” and before i could say the same to him, he kissed me. 🥺 it was so passionate but also gentle and it was just so perfect! after we kissed, he put his arms over my shoulders and around my neck (cause i’m 5’1” and he’s 6’0” lol) and he pulled me in and hugged/held me. he kissed the top of my head and asked me if i was alright. i pulled back a bit so i could look at him and said “i’ve never been better. i just missed you so much and got so worried i wouldn’t find you. it felt like there was this strong magnet pulling me towards someone but i couldn’t figure out who. i was so anxious and just wanted to find who it was because i knew once i found them that i’d be okay and would feel safe, secure and loved. and i can’t believe i couldn’t figure out that i was looking for you and that it took me so long to find you” 😅 he smiled and and let out a little breathy laugh. he then said “it’s okay my love. i couldn’t find you either and it took me longer than i thought it would or wanted it too, as well. but all that matters now is that we found each other and we’re together.” hearing him say that made my heart so happy! then he pulled me in close again to hug/hold me and said, “i adore you. you know that? that i love you so much and am so completely in love with you. and that i can’t believe i’m lucky enough to call you mine. you know that, right? i love you with all of my heart, my daisy” (daises are my favorite flower and the fact that i dreamt that that’s one of his pet names for me, broke my heart!) and he rested his chin the top of my head. i told him i know that and i absolutely feel the exact same way about him. that i truly couldn’t believe that i’m lucky enough to not only be apart of his life, but that i also get to have him in mine. and i can’t believe that he loves me. i told him he makes me feel so gorgeous and loved and i just adore him as well. and i told him that i love him so much and am so in love with him, too. he gave me a little squeeze and kisses my head. and then i woke up. it was so perfect and so sweet! it felt so real!! 🥺🖤 i wish it was real and not just a dream, you know? 😅😢💙

(oh also, don’t know if i’ve mentioned this before and i’m really sorry if i have, but my full name is Meagan. i’ve never cared for my name or felt like it suited or fit me. like it never felt right. and my younger cousin, the one i’m talking about in the dream 😅 is the one who came up with the nick name Mae-Mae, for me when she was learning to talk. all of my other younger cousins couldn’t say my name when they were learning to talk. they would call me mamma, daddy or josh. that’s my brother. so yeah, for Eva to come up with that nickname meant everything to me. and then i started thinking about possibly going by the name Mae, and it just felt right. and then last year i decided that i wanna start going by Mae cause it just feels like that’s supposed to be my name and i feel like it suits me. so yeah, that’s why i go by Mae 😅)

[deaconsleatherpants]

hello moi again :)) I saw a while ago that you were thinking of writing an 800 words fic so I was wondering if you had any monty headcanons (maybe adolescence?) I've searched high and low but there's a grand total of 0 content for it, not even a Tumblr tag, and I had a hard time even watching it when it came out 🥴 thank youuu for being the committed Brugh source :")

@vilebodiess Hello!! :) yessss I adore 800 Words, and Monty of course! There’s really no content out there, it’s such a shame. And hardly anybody’s watched it or even heard of it either 😭

Yeah, I can write up a few of my headcanons, sure thing! I don’t know if you’ve seen the entire show or not, but these reference things that happen in all three seasons, just a little warning. Gonna put these under a read more just because most of my followers don’t know the show but -- (edit: the read more isn’t working, rip)

adolescence, like you mentioned:

- When Monty was growing up, his mother absolutely adored him. He was a total mama’s boy, and he preferred to spend his time with her rather than his father or brothers. Her death hit him really hard.

- Because he was more the sensitive type, he probably got left out a lot in the “manly” activities his father did with his brothers. Monty looked up to Bill Jr. as a kid, and when it was just the two of them, he probably got mostly ignored. Robbie though, despite being younger than Monty, picked on him when they were kids and teenagers - and Bill Jr. joined in. They’ve never really gotten along.

- His favorite topics in school were english and art.

- He probably didn’t actually have all that many friends growing up. Not for lack of trying, though; he was always friendly and kind just as he is now, and the other kids were always friendly back. He just didn’t have many genuine, true friends. 

- Monty definitely had a rebellious phase at some point, a bit like Siouxsie, and probably even dressed a little bit like her (although not quite that extreme).

- He met his first wife when they were both pretty young, and they fell in love (and married) quickly. But once the initial passion wore off, they didn’t really have much in common to keep the marriage going, except for Siouxsie. She was probably an accident, and Monty didn’t expect to become a father so soon (early 20s?), but he loves her more than anything. His ex-wife, on the other hand, never really cared too much.

some other little random headcanons:

- He’s actually pretty good at cooking, once given the chance. 

- Part of him has kind of given up on finding love, although overall he’s still hopeful and almost desperate for it, to the point where it’s difficult for him to notice if he’s not being treated well in a relationship (i.e. his relationship with Ngahuia). 

- A lot of people find him somewhat annoying at first, but he doesn’t let that stop him - he tends to not stop trying until he’s won someone over. He’s practically the human embodiment of a golden retriever, he’s very generous with who he gives his friendship to. He likes most people.

- He just likes to be included in whatever people are doing or talking about. This includes being involved in gossip and trying to help out with things people might not actually need help with. He really likes to help people; that’s part of why he became a volunteer firefighter.

I can’t think of any more right now but I probably will after I post this lol

& yeah, I’m still thinking about writing a fic, but I’m not sure yet. It would either be a sort of character study on Monty (maybe set around his fight with Robbie and going back to how his brothers treated him growing up?) or a short little Monty x reader, because I’m trash for him. We’ll have to see.

And you’re welcome, I’m so glad I’m not the only one who’s a big fan of him lol

[franklyshipping]

Day 4 ~ Christmas 2019 Ego Fanfics

Alright people, Day number 4! Now, I personally think we're lacking a cute little zombie right now....LET'S DO THIS!

TAGGING: @robbie-lee-zombie and @jack-leeboyman

I don’t know about you guys, but I for one like eating foods at times when society says you’re not meant to eat them. I think you all know what I’m about to talk about, but I’ll elaborate anyway. Advent calendars. Chocolate for breakfast that is not only socially acceptable, but it is in fact expected! I have to say that it is one of the most wonderful, delicious inventions to grace the mess that is humanity, and on this here day it is what we shall be focusing on. Needless to say….every single ego had their own personal advent calendar, but I think Robbie the Zombie’s was the absolute cutest.

The art depicted on the front of his had been designed by all the Septics and printed by the Googles, and it depicted stunning artwork of Robbie being cuddled by all the Septics, plus some purple pugs because why the heck not. Robbie was wiggling with excitement as he stroked his fingers over the three empty days, he was excited to have chocolate number four. However, as we all know, getting those little perforated cardboard flaps open can be darn fiddly, so someone always gave Robbie a little help with his; this morning it was Jackie-Boy Man.

‘Alright, I got one of the corners there, ya think you can do the rest?’

Robbie nodded with a determined grin as he narrowed his eyes at the little cardboard square.

‘Uh huh, I open it!’

Jackie laughed softly as he watched Robbie scrutinise everything, before delicately opening the little cardboard door. Robbie squeaked with delight when he achieved it, and looked at Jackie giddily.

‘I did it!’

Robbie purred when Jackie affectionately ruffled his hair, before the hero replied jovially.

‘Good job! Make sure you don’t miss any of that chocolate!’

Robbie nodded with a giggle, making Jackie smile fondly. The hero had never anticipated the prospect of having a child-like zombie for a little brother, but here and now he just couldn’t imagine his life without Robbie. He was so pure and special and perfect and Jackie loved him so damn much. Jackie sighed softly, wiggling in his lying-down position on the carpet so he could get comfy, when suddenly he felt something seemingly bump into his butt.

‘What the-? Oho, do you need some help too bud?’

Jackie shifted with a grin when he saw that it was none other than Gooper who had bonked his booty with a whiny gurgle, whilst dragging his own special advent calendar in tow. Everyone had made it especially for him, and instead of it being filled with chocolates it was filled with Gooper’s favourite thing in the entire world. Paperclips. Jackie eased up the corner of the little cardboard door with his fingernail, before grinning and nodding at Gooper.

‘Have at it!’

Gooper squealed and eagerly started poking and prodding and pulling at the little cardboard door, before it popped open to reveal a light green coloured paperclip. Gooper hopped up and down giddily before he absorbed the little piece of stationary into his body, for safe-keeping until he could add it to his stash later. Jackie giggled when the creature proceeded to nuzzle against his kneecap, and he scratched his underbelly gently.

‘You’re too frickin cute ya lil globbins!’

Gooper squealed and gurgled in delight from the underbelly attention, before he gurgled cutely in farewell and went about returning his advent calendar to its proper place. Jackie sighed happily as he absently looked back to Robbie….but then his eyes widened; the zombie was trying to open up next day’s door!

‘Ah, ah, ah buddy you know it’s only one choc per day!’

Jackie reached to get the advent calendar from Robbie, so he wouldn’t be tempted, but to the hero’s surprise Robbie gripped it to his chest and stuck his bottom lip out. Frankly, Robbie had come to the conclusion that these chocolates were very tasty and there was no reason why he shouldn’t have them all now.

‘Nuh! Robbie want chocs!’

Jackie raised an eyebrow at him, lowering his voice into his more reprimanding tone.

‘Robbie, give me the advent calendar.’

Robbie shook his head, and a little growl came from the back of his throat.

‘Nuh!’

Jackie let out a surprised laugh….wow, Robbie must really have wanted these chocolates, and Jackie couldn’t really blame him. There’s always something about advent calendar chocolates that makes them so much more irresistible. However, Jackie knew he had to exercise discipline with his little brother. He stood, and easily snatched the advent calendar from Robbie’s weak hold, making the zombie whine and growl as Jackie pointed a finger down at him.

‘Sorry Robbie, I don’t make the advent calendar rules.’

Jackie went to go and put the calendar back on the mantle….not realising for one second….that he had awakened a beast. Robbie wanted those chocolates, and he wanted them badly, they just made him so fricking hungry! However, if Jackie was going to keep them from him, then Robbie figured that he’d have to find a substitute snack to satiate his hunger. He narrowed his eyes at Jackie as he crawled towards him deftly and silently. Then, he grasped Jackie’s shins.

‘I’m huuungryyy!’

Jackie jumped at the sudden grip on his shins, and his eyes widened when he saw Robbie snarling up at him; then, before the hero could even react, Robbie had grasped him and pulled him down to the floor.

‘W-Woah hey-HEY! L-Look we can f-find you another snack okay bud, w-we have other chocolates!’

Jackie gulped and shivered as Robbie crawled on top of him; as sweet as his little brother was, Jackie had to admit to himself that sometimes Robbie’s growls and snarls sent little chills down his spine. Especially now, when he was pinned down. Jackie hoped that Robbie would remember that the house was full of delicious snacks and thus let him go….but that was not to be the case.

‘Nuh uh….I want a waaarm snack. Waaarm and wriiiiiggly…'

Jackie gulped as Robbie pinned his arms above his head, leaning over him with a wide, toothy grin. The zombie was going to make his big brother sorry for taking away his chocolates, he was going to play a game with him….he was going to pretend he was his snack.

‘Wr-Wriggly? What k-kind of s-snack is wriggly?’

Jackie squeaked out, sounding a lot more nervous than he’d intended, which made Robbie giggle….and coo in happy delight.

‘Yoooou!’

Jackie’s eyes went wide, and he let out quite the high-pitched squeal as Robbie dove down to attack the crook of his neck with sloppy nuzzles and nibbles. Of course, Jackie’s whole body wriggled in response to the tickling; it was the hero’s number one weakness.

‘N-Nohoho n-noho I-I-I’m nahahat aha snahahack!’

Jackie cried out amidst his giggles, flustered as all hell as he prayed to whatever power existed that no-one would walk in on this, he’d never live it down! Oh god he could imagine Anti now, cooing about how he’d been bested by their littlest brother by just a few tickles, it didn’t bear thinking about! Robbie meanwhile, was already excited to gush about this to everyone else later.

‘Are toooo! So taaasty and soooft! Taaasty taasty taaaaasty!'

Jackie shook his head desperately, his cheeks turning a bright, flustered pink as he replied with flustered splutters.

‘N-N-Nohohoho b-behe quihihiet oho god be quihihihieeet!’

Robbie giggled into Jackie’s neck, making obnoxious slurpy noises at his skin teasingly as he cooed in response.

‘Robbie will be quiet if Jaaackie can be quiet!’

Jackie flushed almost as red as his crimson pyjamas as he writhed and snorted at Robbie’s eating noises, his giggling was non-stop now as Robbie absolutely gorged on every sensitive inch of Jackie’s neck.

‘Buhuhuhut Ihihi cahahahan’t! R-Rohohobbihie plehehehease!’

Robbie giggled and reared up and away from Jackie’s neck, letting out a giggly squeak when he saw how blushy and smiley his big hero brother was, he was so cute! Robbie figured that Jackie probably had other nummy tickle spots, so he cast his gaze over Jackie’s torso, humming to himself.

‘Hmmm….wheeeere should Robbie snack neeext?’

Jackie gulped at the sight of Robbie’s predatory gaze, and tried to struggle as he shook his head VERY adorably.

‘N-Nohowhere nowhere!’

Robbie giggled down at Jackie fondly, before setting his sights on where Jackie’s pyjama top had started to ride up. The grinning zombie slowly used his nose to push up the rest of the top, thus leaving Jackie’s lean belly exposed and on display. Robbie let out a soft, teasy purr as he brushed his lips over Jackie’s tummy, all while the hero tried and failed to suck it in.

‘But Rooobbie still huuuungry…sooo veeery huuungry….’

Jackie had goose-bumps all over and was trembling like a leaf….no-one, not even Anti, had made him feel so flustered with tickles until now, it was like it was Robbie’s superpower or something! Jackie had a shaky smile on his face as he looked at Robbie imploringly, his soft blue eyes were wide with nervousness.

‘P-Plehease R-Rohobbie, p-plehease nohot there!’

Robbie giggled at Jackie’s whimpers, before he grinned a frankly feral grin.

‘But Jackie tumtum looks so taaasty!’

Jackie’s eyes widened, and he let out a yelp and a snort, which soon became a plethora of snorts and cackly laughter as Robbie eagerly dined upon Jackie’s belly. Jackie was kicking his legs haphazardly, his feet hitting the carpet frantically as one of Jackie’s prime tickle spots was just absolutely tortured.

‘NOHOHAHA NAHAT THEHEHERE RAHABBIE!!’

Robbie happily ignored his brother’s pleas, nipping the sides of his tummy eagerly as he crooned lovingly.

‘So sooft and nuuuummy, and so preeetty tooo…’

Jackie desperately hid in his forearm out of embarrassment, that kind of comment on his tummy flustered him so damn much; the hero wasn’t used to compliments like that, so the sweet guy just didn’t know how on earth to react aside from rejecting them.

‘AHAHA IHIT IHIS NAHAHAT!’

Jackie cried out, squeezing his eyes shut as he tried to block it all out. Robbie meanwhile, was absolutely flabbergasted! How could Jackie not know how pretty his belly was? Robbie thought it was one of the prettiest bellies he had ever seen! It was so smooth and warm and ticklish AND it had lots of cute little freckles dotted everywhere, like pretty stars in the night’s sky! Robbie couldn’t have Jackie denying his prettiness.

‘Is too! Say it!’

Robbie growled into Jackie’s belly, nibbling harder and sloppier which made Jackie arch his back desperately. The poor guy couldn’t harness his brain cells long enough to answer properly.

‘AHAHAHA NAHAHA YOHOU MEHEHEANIE STAHAHAP!!’

Robbie growled even more, which made the poor hero wail amidst his mirth; Robbie wasn’t going to let up on Jackie’s belly until Jackie admitted how pretty it was!

‘Say you have pretty belly! Saaaay iiit!’

Jackie was a mess of laughter, and he could feel himself sweating from all the energy he’d spent struggling; fun fact, Robbie’s strength outmatched all the Septic’s, even Jackie’s superhuman strength. Jackie knew he couldn’t escape, so agreeing was his only way to mercy.

‘OHOHOKAHAY OHOKAHAHAY IHIT IHIS!!’

Robbie hummed….then nibbled under Jackie’s navel. He knew his hero brother could do better than that.

‘Proooperly!’

Jackie shrieked, and complied pretty damn fast.

‘AHHHIHAVEAPRETTYBELLY AHAHAAAHHH!!’

Robbie giggle, nuzzling Jackie’s belly one last time before leaning up with a fond giggle to his, now panting, brother.

‘Good Jackie-Booooy…’

Robbie cooed, whilst Jackie whined. His neck and tummy felt so tingly, and his face was so hot you could probably fry two darned eggs on it! He tentatively looked up at Robbie, speaking oh so preciously and meekly.

‘P-Plehease lehet me goho, I-I-I’m sohorry Rohobbie!’

Robbie cocked his head at Jackie fondly, Robbie just couldn’t get over how absolutely precious and adorable he was! Robbie decided then and there that he was definitely going to tickle Jackie more often, he was so ticklish and soft and precious; plus, Robbie loved being the evil tickler, he loved the feeling of making Jackie laugh and beg (this was totally not Anti’s influence). Robbie grinned, bringing Jackie’s arms down to pin them under his knees as he wiggled his fingers in the air over Jackie’s body.

‘But Jaaackie! Yooou’re so fuun to tickle! So so so so so fun!’

Robbie had seen his brothers do this sometimes, they’d hover their wiggly fingers in the air to make the tickles more teasy and the trapped person more giggly! Robbie giggled as he watched Jackie smile and squeak nervously beneath him, constantly watching his moving fingers as he stammered.

‘Thihis i-ihisn’t fahaaaair! I-I sahaid I wahas sorry!’

Jackie squirmed about, giggling despite his efforts to compose himself; the hero was definitely going to somehow have words with Anti regarding the influences Robbie was picking up.

‘Mmmm….yooou stiiill took my choooocs!’

Jackie gasped and squealed, but rather than descending into some climactic form of hysteria, he was encompassed by fit of squeaky giggles as Robbie used his blunt nails to lightly scratch at his hipbones. Robbie loved to see Jackie giggling, Jackie’s giggles were Robbie’s favourite giggles.

‘Ihihihi’ll gehehet yohohou mohore! Ihihihi’ll doho ahahanything!’

Literally, at this point Jackie was ready to do just about anything to get mercy, all this tickling was really tuckering the poor guy out, and they hadn’t even reached lunchtime yet! Robbie hummed curiously at Jackie’s words, wondering if he really would do anything to stop the tickles.

‘Reeeally?’

Jackie nodded frantically, gazing up at Robbie red-cheeked with the giddiest, most flustered grin known to man in place. His hips were tingling from Robbie’s scratches and his energy was waning.

‘Yehehes yehehehes!’

Jackie’s eyes were starting to water as Robbie thought for a few moments….before having mercy and humming. Jackie caught his breath and looked up at Robbie, nervously wondering if the cheeky guy was going to get him to do something silly or embarrassing…but what Robbie asked was not what the hero had been expecting.

‘….build fort with Robbie?’

Robbie was slumped on Jackie as he looked down at him nervously. Robbie had always wanted to build the biggest, best blanket fort ever with Jackie…but Jackie was nearly always out on mission, or training in the gym, or training with Silver, Dark or Anti. Robbie knew Jackie was an important busy hero, but he was Robbie’s special inspiring hero too, and Robbie always wanted to spend more time with him.

‘You….you just wanna build a fort?’

Jackie asked curiously, to which Robbie nodded softly, and Jackie softly smiled. Jackie knew he wasn’t there for Robbie as much as he should be, he was a busy guy…but one thing Jackie was going to take from this year was that time with his brothers, time with Robbie, was more important than anything else. Jackie smiled and sat up, spurring Robbie to shift, and when he did so, Jackie cupped Robbie’s face in his hands lovingly.

‘Oh Robbie, we’re not just gonna build a fort….we’re gonna build a super hero headquarters! A special base just for me and you, with password protection, fairy lights, cushions, blankets….and tons of snacks. Does that sound good?’

Robbie’s eyes had been getting wider and wider the more Jackie talked about what he wanted to build with him, and when he’d finished all Robbie could do was squeal and eagerly hug Jackie, before they set about building the most amazing heroic base that anyone has ever seen. And you can bet that they ate all the damn chocolate that they could lay their hands on too.

WOOOOOO HOPE YOU GUYS LIKE THIS NEXT SEGMENT LEMME KNOW IF YA DO WOOOO LUV YOUS XX

[go-events]

GO Rom Com Spotlight: @musegnome​

The most excellent @musegnome​ has claimed The Wedding Singer to adapt for Good Omens in the Good Omens Rom Com Event.

For reference, here’s a little background about the source material!

About The Wedding Singer: Set in 1985, Adam Sandler plays a nice guy with a broken heart who's stuck in one of the most romantic jobs in the world, a wedding singer. He loses all hope when he is abandoned at the altar by his fiancé. He meets a young woman named Julia (Drew Barrymore), who enlists his help to plan her wedding. He falls in love with her and must win her over before she gets married.

We spent some time chatting about how the adaptation is coming so far, as well as future plans for it! Now, get to know @musegnome​ a little better!

* * *

goromcom: You know how if you open a Tumblr chat with someone you haven't chatted to before, Tumblr tells you two things they post about? I wanted to tell you that yours reports that you post "about #goromcom and #good omens." Aww! goromcom 4eva!

musegnome: #goromcom 4eva indeed! I actually have a weird online social media anxiety, because I worry that can't read people like I can in person. I've been an accountless Tumblr lurker for years - and finally created Tumblr and Discord accounts when I signed on to the Rom Com event! Everyone has been lovely. Please come say Hi on my new Tumblr!

goromcom: And we’re happy to have you! You chose to adapt The Wedding Singer as your rom com. Has this movie been a favorite of yours, or is there some other reason you chose it?

musegnome: I was a teenager when this movie came out and I've loved it forever (though not of course without an eye toward its more problematic qualities). I also feel like Robbie and Julia map very well to Crowley and Aziraphale respectively, and a lot of the other characters connect wonderfully too (Glenn's attitude toward Julia was reminiscent of Gabriel's attitude toward Aziraphale; Robbie's brother-in-law's nipple-twisting comments were a great way to link to Shadwell, etc.) Because of the aforementioned online social anxiety I was hesitant to jump in to the event, but when I realized I had a list of almost all the GO characters connected to Wedding Singer ones, and a multi-chapter story line outlined, I took the plunge! I'm really excited to mix up a favorite nostalgic movie with my current GO obsession.

goromcom: What's your favorite moment of The Wedding Singer, and are you looking forward to presenting it in your adaptation? Any loose plans for that scene that you can share?

musegnome: Less a favorite moment and more some favorite scenes/lines. The scene where Robbie is talking to the woman who jilted him at the altar, Linda, and as she's telling him about all the reasons she doesn't want to marry him, he says "You know, that information might have been a little more useful to me yesterday." I quote this line all the time, and that scene is definitely making it into this fic! Along with the whole wedding cake/dress shopping montage, capped by the bit where Robbie and Julia listen to the rival wedding singer John Lovitz (to be replaced by Hastur and Ligur ...with Ligur singing "I Will Survive"). That's actually the next scene up for me to write, and just writing this description has me antsy to get started!

goromcom: Oh, some Ligur irony there! It sounds like you may plan to stick closer to the story beats of the original movie rather than making bigger changes?

musegnome: Pretty closely. The major events and scenes will be the same as the Wedding Singer (but stuffed with GO tropes like a turducken), and there's a few original scenes I'm adding to firm up the Wedding Singer/GO bridges. I'm still working on the ending - in the movie, Glenn and Julia get on a plane to go get married in Las Vegas, and Robbie gets on the same plane and stops them. But I have Gabriel as Glenn, and since the angel/demon characters are still angels and demons in this fic, I can NOT imagine Gabriel tolerating plane travel at all, or viewing Las Vegas with anything other than horrified fascination. I have a tentative plan that will be a major change from the Wedding Singer ending, but would tie into the Nazi church scene in GO. We'll see how it plays out though; characters can veer off in unexpected directions!

goromcom: What's an interesting decision you've made in your planning so far--a notable casting decision, a changing of venue, or some other plan you have to paint Good Omens all over your rom com?

musegnome: I thought about doing the fic as a full human AU, but I had a lot of touches I wanted to include that involved angelic/demonic abilities. So I have the Wedding Singer town of Richfield (which is of course Tadfield in the fic) as a kind of neutral space where the angels/demons come to tinker and thwart each other in the happy parts/miserable parts of weddings and wedding planning. Also, The Wedding Singer was almost as much a tribute to the 1980s as it was a romcom; I'm not doing a specific 80s focus, although I've tried to keep music and technology mentions such that the fic could vaguely be set in the 80s. Like I mentioned earlier, a lot of the characters have similar roles and personalities, and map really well - Robbie and Julia as Crowley and Aziraphale, their respective BFFs Holly and Sammy as Anathema and Newt, Glenn as Gabriel, Rosie (the lady Robbie is teaching to sing) as Madam Tracy... so it's been fun to draw those lines.

goromcom: I am blatantly stealing this last question from The Good Place: The Podcast, but here goes: Tell me something "good". It can be something big or small. It can be a charity you think is doing good work, or you can talk about how great your pet is.

musegnome: Not to belabor a point, or to gush too much, but everyone on the GO RomCom server has been a delight. I've really loved getting to interact with everyone - couldn't be a nicer group (or a more welcoming fandom) for a socially anxious gnome to dip online toes into! And I haven't written for fun in a very, VERY long time, and it's been a real confidence booster to see how easily the writing has been flowing so far. (Hope I haven't just jinxed myself....) I'm so thrilled about this whole experience. Also, I have a very cute tiny dog who likes to keep me company while writing.

goromcom: Adorable! 

Stay tuned for the GO adaptation of The Wedding Singer, coming soon!

[polygamyff]

48.

My baby’ first day at day care, I am nervous but also excited to take her. I think she will enjoy it, as long as they give Reign something for the pain she will be fine “you are becoming so big my princess, have you grown? You looking so pretty for day care” leaning forward and pressing a kiss to Reign’ cheek “aww happy baby ain’t you” Reign clapped her hands giggling “you need to sit here baby, you’re wearing white and I can’t let you ruin this. Let me take a picture for your daddy, he can’t be here for your first day” walking over to the side table in the bedroom, I have strapped Reign into her booster seat, I can’t let her start ruining her outfit now, it’s white. Reign was supposed to go to day care last week but Maurice being Maurice, he didn’t want her to go yet, he took her to work but then he complained after like, I could have told him that. She likes to play, she is so happy today and I am loving it “excited aren’t you?” she is talking so much to herself, she is constantly saying da which doesn’t bother me but I wish she said mama, I mean I am the one that gave birth to her “ok, I am here. What is it?” Reign is staring at her hand saying something “what have you seen?” making my way back to Reign with my phone in hand, leaning down and holding her hand “what is it?” she is being intrigued by her hand, I don’t know what for “shall mommy kiss it better?” she looked up at me “ok” kissing her little hand “there we go, mommy kissed it better. Shall we take a picture for daddy now, he will be sad if he doesn’t get one” tapping on my camera on my phone “Reign! Baby look here” she is back to touching her hand again, I gasped “papa is here” Reign looked up, she knew. Taking the picture “so the word papa has really seeped into your little mind, what is he like” Maurice is a pain with this “let me send this to him” sitting on the edge of the bed, tapping on Maurice’ name “he is going to see how pretty you look” I do want to kill him too, Reign’ bedroom is becoming a damn amusement park, like my home is being changed dramatically. They are still working on it, today is supposed to be the last day, I do hope.

I miss my mom so much, it’s so empty without shouting mommy can you get this or get Reign for me “oh dear, your nose is running” making my way into the main living room “Jay, can you hold Reign for me?” I be always asking him to do that now since my mom is gone “sure” Jay got up from the couch “come here little crazy!” Jay laughed walking towards us “she was dancing last night; she was making me laugh. Hey you!” Reign smiled “I will wipe her nose, be back” walking off to get some tissues for her nose, also we have the new maid in the home which I am trying to get used too but it’s proving difficult for me “Good morning Mrs Davenport” Krista said to me “morning Krista, did Maurice tell you that I cleaned our bedroom already?” I asked “oh yes he did and thank you for the welcome gifts. You are so kind” I smiled at her grabbing the tissue from the side, when Krista came I thought I would try and be nice, I got her a welcome hamper, I mean she is living with us so she is family, like Jay is so I got to try. She seems to be not in the way at all, she is always doing her thing though. She is very kind too; I do lose her in the home. My phone started to ring in my hand, it’s my mother “hello mom” answering the call “morning Robbie, I miss you so much. How are you?” making my way back to Jay “I am ok mom, just getting Reign ready for day care, it’s her first time. I am excited for her. Also her tooth at the bottom is pushing out, I can see it. I am like so excited that my baby is getting her first tooth, how are you?” wiping Reign’ nose, her little red cheeks are adorable to me “there you go, Jay. Please do not let her ruin her clothes” I said to him before walking off “I am ok, I have seen Thomas. We are starting again, but I said before we start thinking things are ok, Robyn is the girl you hurt. But I am missing you so much Robyn, my beautiful girl” I grinned like a goof, my mom makes me happy so much.

Sitting down away from Jay “I love you mom; I do miss you here. When are you coming back?” my mom laughed “I have been here a week Robyn, soon” poking my lips out “but, I do have something to speak to you about, I came back, and I responded to the letter. She left her number; it was her daughter’ number. I text it; I didn’t want to talk but she called me so I answered, it was awkward oh my god, it was hard to speak to her. She said she remembers me for the little time I was with him and she asked is it true, is the girl we saw on the TV that smiled like her brother is the girl. She said in my heart I know it is, so I said it is. And I apologised and I explained why, I was scared but she said she understood. I was shocked, she said things were a mess. Her mother cried seeing you but she said it might not be it without clear confirmation, they do remember I was dating him, he spoke a lot about me which to be honest, I got emotional. He didn’t speak on feelings as much but his sister said he mentioned me to her, he was happy. Anyways enough of me but then she said she would call later, she did. I spoke to Rell’ mother, it was emotional. I ended up crying, so she said can I meet her, I said she lives in New York, she has also just recently found out about Rell, this is all new to her. We kept it short so she says she will fly to you, just her ex-husband, her son too. They broke up once Rell passed away, she said in her heart she felt her son lived on. Look It’s up to you, she said she will come to you. But let me know, I will set it up for you. No need to speak to her, just once you’re ready” I wasn’t expecting this at all, I paused just thinking to myself “Robbie, you don’t have to say anything right now” my mom said “uhm, Maurice is at work. I will speak to him; I don’t know how to feel mom. It’s just weird, it’s like I am missing something in my heart. Thomas will never be dad anymore and I am mourning that and now I have to mourn the fact my real dad is dead? I just can’t process this; I am mourning my dad” I am welling up now.

Taking in a deep breath “I will speak to Maurice on this mom, I am ok” I don’t want to cry but I do feel upset in regards to this situation, I feel very hurt “you do what you need to Robyn, you can decide to meet them or not, it’s ok. You speak to Maurice” smiling a little “I will do, and mom. Thank you for protecting me, as a mother myself now. I was ready to protect Reign from Maurice and his family; I would do the same. I know the love you hold for me like I do for Reign, I get it” my mom cooed out “thank you Robyn, that means so much to me. Sometimes as a mother you can make the wrong decisions, that is ok too, but you think on it. I am not going to tell what to do ok?” she is leaving the decision to me, bless her “thank you mom, I will catch Maurice later, he was talking to his Mami in the morning. This is the first time I have caught him doing it” the phone line went silent “what?” my mom said “Paula from Spain, his Mami like he calls her. The woman that took care of him, he was speaking to her in Spanish, such strong Spanish so I could not understand what he was saying, seems like he was arguing, I only knew when he said Mami, Mami and then something about something. I have no idea mom, but he was speaking to her in the morning. I would like to know. I wish I knew Spanish, it’s funny how he doesn’t ever call Joy, like at all” it’s so odd, I find it weird “as a mother that would hurt me, wow. What is Mami?” my mom asked “mother I think anyways, I need to go and drop off Reign, speak soon. Love you” I want my mom back already “love you too, don’t work too hard” I laughed disconnecting the call “shall we drop you off now baby, time for day care” getting up from the seat.

Jay came with me, he is driving me when I said I could but he said he would do it “so how are things between you and Ally? Are you both official yet?” I am being nosey of course, not like I care but I like to be nosey “uh, no not yet. Still early days, I feel like” Jay paused as he was looking around at the New York traffic “I feel like she is holding back, we didn’t have sex at all. That never happened, I actually got my own room. She is nice, I feel like she wants love but doesn’t want to give it, I think she is scared. And I ain’t got no problem with that, just give me a little. You know” and it was like the thought hit me “maybe Maurice did that” it came out of my mouth so quick, I didn’t even process that “ha, wow. You didn’t think about that did you?” Jay said, I am shocked at myself “clearly not, sorry. I think, and I am just saying this, I know Maurice was not an angel. I know that myself, trust me. He did do that girl so wrong; I am not sticking up for her or him, she is stupid too but he also kept going along with this game, but I get it also. Love doesn’t go away, I know she cares for Maurice way more then she is leading on, Maurice probably knows that too but he wants her to move on, I did see you both talking, you both looked very happy, I think you need to give her time if you are willing to give it her. I have stopped being a bitch, at one point I wanted her dead, I wanted a lot but then I had to weigh out the faults. She was a woman about it too, but I did hate her and I now don’t care because I don’t feel insecure, like I did anyways” Jay sighed out “I do have time I guess, you are brutally honest today aren’t you” nodding my head laughing “I can’t help it, but it’s just one of those things. I am not blind to it, love doesn’t go away, and I can see she did love him, I mean come on. She stuck around for his shit, I didn’t and wouldn’t. Now he is good, but I can imagine how he was, business men do have that power hungry head, he does. I just know my man, and I know what love is. Give her time, she is scared of another man hurting her, ok?” Jay smirked “thank you Robyn, women are hard to figure out, but I do understand now” I want Ally to get a man for herself, I am not blaming just her because it was him too.

Placing Reign’ baby bag over my arm before picking her out of the car seat “big day for you baby, I hope you’re going to be a good girl” I love this Fendi hend band, she looks so glamorous for today “shall I come with you?” Jay asked “no, I am ok. Stay there please, I don’t want them to think we are having a bodyguard now” pressing the buzzer “it’s your nap time soon isn’t it” watching Reign sucking on her bottom lip, she just wants to chew and suck on anything “I wish I could stop the drooling” wiping her chin “I will get your soft toy out to chew on” she has to be the biggest blessing for me, I love her so much “Good morning! Hello Reign-Texas, and Robyn. Come in” Thelma met us, walking inside the building “doesn’t she look like a doll, hello you” Reign stared at Thelma in disgust “I thought, it’s her first day. Dress to impress” I laughed wiping the saliva again “my baby” I feel sad now, I don’t want to leave her at all “come on in, settle Reign in for the first time. Maurice not here this time?” Thelma asked “no, he is working. He had to go, he will be picking her up though, so you will see him, he will be emotional about it” I know what he is like with his dramatic ass “I am sure he will be” following Thelma to the room.

Sitting on the floor next to Reign, she has her grip on my sleeve while stood tall looking around, she is intrigued to see other kids around “I have put her things away, and we will do as you said with the medication for the pain. Reign, we have your milk. It’s your nap time now” Thelma said, Reign’ eyes widened seeing her own milk bottle. Her head turned looking at me “Thelma got your bottle?” I said, Reign looked back and she raised her free hand towards the bottle “it’s your bottle baby, you go to bed now” Thelma crouched down “come on, you’re coming to me” Thelma placed her bottle down and then opened her arms, Reign is just staring she ain’t going to do anything. Reaching over and grabbing Reign’ bottle “I think I will feed her, put her to sleep and then go?” I can’t help it, it’s my daughter and I honestly don’t want to leave her, but I have work, I love her to death. I don’t want to leave her with strangers, and I am so sad to leave her, but I won’t admit that to Maurice because then he will say I told you so.

I don’t have a car seat for Reign, and I am in my SUV, what can I do but place her on my lap. I can’t wait to see Reign, if they ever open the damn door. I really need to get Robyn a car, soon anyways. The door opened, this white lady stood there “Maurice, come in. Sorry we took so long” walking inside “it’s ok, I am excited to see my daughter. Is she ok? How has she been?” I hope she is ok, at least had a good day “I have not seen her, I know she is new though” letting out an oh, she swiped her card and the door unlocked “we have Reign’ dad here, come in” I can see my baby from here, in her little white dress “look at my boo thang” Thelma is putting her jacket on “is she sad?” I asked, I keep asking this lady things and she don’t know “Thelma can speak on her day for you, here she is” my smile grew “Mi Amor, awww hello, come here” Reign looked actually happy to see me, her arms open to me, the biggest smile on her face “yes, papa is here” taking Reign from Thelma “awww we hug, ok we hug” Reign held me “how was she? Did she cry?” I need to know this “she woke up very unsettled, she was not happy at first. Then the day continued she started to warm to me, I took her to the soft play area, get her moving more. She is reluctant in walking; she is there but it’s so scary. We all get it, it’s a big step in her case. And she hasn’t explored in terms of crawling, I see her refusal to attempt to crawl, she doesn’t want to know. She stands and thinks of what to do, she was ok. We had fun didn’t we Reign” she looks happy, I can take that “she skipped over the normal procedure, she is special. I am glad to know she had fun, yeah?” looking at Reign, she smiled at me “for once huh, you want to smile at me” she missed me.

Robyn told me to cook dinner, well I didn’t cook I obviously ordered something in, I don’t really cook. I mean if I wanted too I could, it’s literally hard work trying to feed myself and then Reign at the same time when she is making a damn mess of everything “are you done? Mess” sat there slapping the damn tray “I am back home and look at you both eating late why?” feeling Robyn press a kiss to the top of my head “well, the food came late. It’s still warm, come and eat and also feed Reign” I said, Robyn made her way to Reign “mommy is back, look at your messy face. Missed you, I will be back to eat with you. I thought you was going to cook?” I had to laugh at that “you thought Bonita, and that was never going to happen. What’s good? I got you something too Jay, sit down” dapping Jay “Reign is a mess” Jay pointed “this is what happens when you leave a man to do something, how was day care for her, I was so sad leaving her. Tell me” I pointed at Robyn “you wanted this!” I spat “anyways, tell me!?” Robyn half shouted “so yeah, I went there and Reign was so happy to see me, Thelma said she was unsettled when she woke up but she was ok, she said Reign is scared to take that big step, it’s ok. Daddy got you” Robyn sat down at the table “awww my baby, I am happy she was ok, I just didn’t want her to be stressed out upset, what is this? Daddy decided to take off your clothes as he does! Maurice, you love doing this to her, she has been putting food all over herself, god” I shrugged “you’re here now” she can deal with it.

Robyn is not amused by what I did, she had to give Reign a bath and clean up the mess “can you never feed Reign again? You’re a mess, but anyways. I need to speak to you” my ears perked up “oh, am I in trouble” flicking through the newspaper, I like to see the business part “listen to me” she snatched the newspaper “ok” rolling my eyes and moving onto my back “what was you arguing to Paula about? You seemed really angry at her?” she heard then “she came to Atlanta to visit; she never came to see me. I was highly upset about it, she said that my dad told her to not see me, Joy doesn’t like it. I just got angry saying since when do you listen to him, I wanted you here. She said she doesn’t want to upset Joy, and I just said in Spanish terms fuck her” Robyn put her finger up to stop me from speaking “I am not spreading any rumours but so was your dad, are they still fucking!?” I shrugged “I just find it rude that she was there, it’s whatever though. It’s not my problem but her husband came so I doubt it” I stifled out a yawn “your dad totally met her, I don’t care what you say but anyways, next chapter in the Willis household” I groaned out “nobody care about Willis household, they boring” Robyn reached over slapping my arm “be quiet, so my mom called me. My real dad’ mom wants to meet me, she said she is willing to come New York for me, my mom said it is up to me on what I want to do but I said I would speak to you about it. I just feel scared and sad, I don’t know. You tell me, I trust your word” my eyed widened “wow, ok” that is a big jump “they really want to see you, hand on my heart. I would say let them come here, they can use my office meeting room. I would do it, I can either watch from afar or be there, but do it” Robyn is very unsure, bless her heart “no, I want you there please. So I should say yes?” nodding my head “trust me, it could be a good thing and if not you’re not losing anything, I will be there” I agree with the meet up, I think it will be great.

[kittensjonsa]

Otherwise, Engaged

The Proposal AU (with a slight deviation from the actual movie)

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4

---

Chapter 5

Jon had just turned sixteen when he received news of his parents' death. It was a car accident that took their lives instantaneously. He could still remember being called to the principal's office one sunny afternoon, sitting in that uncomfortable chair whilst the police officer broke the news to him.

He did not remember crying much but he did remember the people who came for the funeral, a good-sized turn out, paying their respects to Rhaegar Targaryen and Elia Martell. Everyone was cordial, kind and concerned. All he did was shake hands with them and telling them he was all right, and that he was getting the help needed. That was the only memory growing up that stayed with him, sad as it was, being around that many people who knew and loved his family. Jon loved his parents and they adored him that much he knew but being left alone and on his own, truly changed his world. He had to do everything himself, apart from the lawyers who helped with the estate, he had to figure out life on his own. It was difficult at first but soon enough, it became comfortable. His solitude became a sanctuary; a soft-padded cell he enjoyed retreating to and quite often.

But that was almost twenty years ago. A sad memory he associated with family. A social event he wished he didn't have to be a part of and since then Jon had grown accustomed to avoiding any large family gatherings or any gatherings at all. He grew comfortable living in a huge house alone, got through university alone somewhat breezily thanks to the lack of social distractions. He had the time to hone his writing, an outlet that healed him and thanks to it, eventually went on to be a reporter, the kind whose articles touched the outside world. And with that, surfaced a chance meeting with Jeor Mormont of the renowned Mormont & Sons Publishing, in whom Jon found his family.

Family, Jon thought. For fifteen years or so, it was word that rarely came to mind.

And now here I am. Jon watched as people stopped them to greet and hug Sansa as she made her way to the house. Jon could tell she was very much loved in Winterfell and it made him wonder why Sansa would want to leave all of this behind.

“So, you ready?” Sansa's voice broke through, waking him from deep thought. Jon afforded a smile and a shrug. “Here we go.”

“Hey, look who's here everybody!” the announcement was barely needed.

“Ahhhh! SANSA!!”

The collective squeals and shrieks of joy were deafening and perhaps startled him a little as Jon stood back and observed the throngs of people heading his direction and huddled around Sansa. Beloved Sansa.

“Oh my god! You're back!”

“It's been so long!”

“ You look amazing!”

“We missed you so much!”

The showers of love kept on coming for Sansa and though he was mostly invisible, which was understandable, Jon quite enjoyed watching as it all went on. Sansa took the time to hug every single one them and it occurred to him that he hadn't seen her entire family yet. Did it say anywhere in that file how many siblings she had? Jon made a mental note to remember these things. After all, it might turn up during the inquiry with the Immigration Department.

The excitement eventually subsided and Jon found himself face to face with a crowd of curious onlookers. Jon figured he probably looked out of place, with his formal suit on and not being recognised as someone from Winterfell.

Sansa was quick to pick up and as always, the well mannered lady she was, stood next to him as everyone gathered around them.

“Everyone, this is Jon. And Jon, this is everyone,” Sansa began with the introductions. Jon gave his best smile and shook hands with everybody. No mention of fiancé yet, he thought. Keep mum and follow her lead.

“Sansa?” a small boy peeked out from behind one of the guests. He had blue eyes and dark auburn locks just like Sansa.

“Hey buddy! Oh my god! I missed you! Look at you! You're so big now, Rickon!” Sansa swooned as she lifted the boy in her arms.

Another boy, this time brown-eyed with the same copper hair jumped in. “You're back, Sansa!”

Sansa gave them each a kiss on the forehead as they held on to her tightly. It was a lovely private moment Jon felt he wasn't privy to and his insides were twisting a little, reacting to emotions he had not experienced for a very long time.

Sansa wiped away a stray tear. “Hey guys, I want you to meet Jon.” She didn't have to, Jon thought.

Jon knelt down and extended his hand to them. Family. Her family.

“Hi guys. I'm Jon. What are your names?”

“I'm Rickon and he's Bran," the younger boy pointed to himself and Bran. “Are you Sansa's boyfriend?”

Jon had to laugh. He had skipped all of that when he fake-proposed to Sansa eighteen hours ago. “ Well, yeah I guess.”

Rickon made a face. “Eww.. don't kiss okay.”

“Rickon!” Sansa chided him. Jon guffawed. Nope, buddy. No kissing expected. Bran had his face in a palm, obviously embarrassed by Rickon's forthrightness. “Oh my god, Rickon! You can't just ask people stuff like that!”

Sansa giggled at the exchange. “They're my little brothers. Rickon is six and Bran is ten. They're just curious so don't mind them if they keep asking you questions.”

“That's all right. They can ask me anything,” Jon winked at them. For a moment, flashes of his own childhood came flooding back. I was once like them too.

“There she is.” A young man appeared squeezing himself in from the group, this time much older than the boys. He had the same blue eyes and auburn hair.

“Robbie! Lisa!” Sansa held out her arms once again, to him and the lady who accompanied. Sansa was beyond ecstatic having everyone she loved surrounding her.

“Oh my god..” Sansa gasped the moment she saw the noticeable bump on Talisa. “I'm going to be an aunt?”

Talisa nodded excitedly, stroking her belly. “Yep. To twins.”

Sansa sniffed, the tears were coming hard and fast. The welcoming party isn't so bad after all. I miss everyone so much.

“Congratulations,” Jon added . Then, he forgot they haven't been introduced.

“Oh hi.. you must be-”

“Jon. Pleasure,” Jon introduced himself to them.

“Nice to meet you Jon. I'm Rob and this is my wife, Talisa.”

“I'm guessing Sansa's older brother?”

“That obvious huh?” Robb chuckled.

“The eyes and the hair,” Jon smiled.

Sansa cleared her throat. She forgot for a second that Jon was here with her, and why. Rip the band aid. Do it.

“So, guys.. he's my fiance. S-surprise.”

There it is. Jon bit his lip.

The smiles on Robb and Talisa's faces dropped. Jon guessed that would be the general reaction to the news so he'd might as well get used to it and perhaps, practice his best ‘surprise fiancé’ face.

Sansa and Jon both grinned nervously, watching both Robb and Talisa slowly come round from their initial shock.

“I.. I heard from Dad about a guest but… well, this is news! Congratulations to you both,” Robb finally said. Talisa eyed them curiously, wearing a polite grin but leaned in to whisper to Robb.

Jon had to get used to that too for the next two days. Talk of the town.

“But we thought… Jon is.. kind of your boss?”

Bingo. Cue the Q&A. Sansa was about to face the firing squad and she hoped Jon had well-prepared answers like she did.

“Well, yes but you know.. things happen,” Sansa lied, shooting a warning glance at Jon.

“Right. Of course.” Robb and Talisa paused for them to continue.

Think of something.. quick!

“I guess all the late nights at the office, the weekends working together.. I mean, she was practically glued to me,” Jon quickly added, though it made things worse.

“So is that why you said you couldn't come this weekend, Sansa?” a voice called out from behind them. A lady with long dark red hair and fierce blue eyes approached them. She was beautiful and elegant. A lady of the house. It was unmistakable who she was and didn't take long for Jon to guess.

“Mom,” Sansa greeted her. Jon watched as the two of them hugged. It wasn't quite as warm as he had seen with the rest, and Jon noticed how Sansa pulled away almost immediately.

“You must be Jon. The boss she had been talking about lately.”

She made him nervous. Jon smiled and nodded, holding his hand out anyway.

“Well, I'm not surprised. I hope it has all been good.”

She eyed him up and down, the upturned corners of her mouth faded the moment she met his eyes. Jon regretted immediately just breathing in her presence.

“I'm just glad she decided to come. I guess you must be the one to thank then.. Jon, was it?”

“Jon, this is Catelyn, my mother,” the introduction by Sansa was unnecessary.

“But you may call me Mrs Stark,” Catelyn advised. Jon gulped.

“Pleasure to meet you, Mrs Stark. Y-you.. have a beautiful house.”

Catelyn looked around at the people from around town that she had invited for her father's eightieth and Sansa's long overdue homecoming. And here was Jon. A complete stranger who kept her beloved daughter away for far too long. Keeping her composure, she had promised Ned to be at her best behaviour, especially after he shared with her the shocking news. It wasn't the homecoming she was looking forward to.

“Thank you. Please do make yourself comfortable. Seeing you'll be joining us for the weekend.”

“Thank you… Mrs Stark.”

A chime of the doorbell and a cacophony of voices joining the fray caught Catelyn's attention, before she could continue. Saved by the bell, Jon watched as Catelyn gave Sansa and him a nod before greeting the guests who had just arrived.

If hell froze over, it would have been right at that moment, as Jon exhaled, a long breath he didn't realise he was holding.

“Interesting,” Jon remarked, giving Sansa a questioning look. Robb and Talisa were similarly reeling from the chilly encounter but deflected well, excusing themselves and shuttling the younger boys away from Sansa and Jon.

“Well, it's clear your mother doesn't like me very much. I wonder why,” Jon nudged Sansa into a quieter corner. “Is there something I should be warned about?”

“What do you mean?” Sansa bluffed.

“Okay so I haven't been the best boss, I know that but I am trying my best as I promised you. We're in this together so help me out here. What am I missing?”

Sansa couldn't look him in the eye. “She kinda hates your guts.”

Okay not really a surprise. “Because?”

Sansa groaned. “ Because! Well.. because I left Winterfell right after graduation and got a job in the city! And I then told her you were kind of a dick. That's why.”

Jon sighed. “Great. Just great.”

“Well, you asked.”

Sansa continued. “Since I left and started working for you, I haven't really visited home.”

Jon was confused. “And why didn't you? What has that got to do with me?”

Sansa stared at him in disbelief. Three years I have given to you. That's three long years I haven't seen my family. “I have not had any vacation days since I started working for you, just to jog your memory a bit. So yeah, she kind of blames you for taking me away from her.”

Oh. And him being here, as Sansa's fiancé was a slap in the face, Jon surmised. “Right. So.. there's no way to fix this?”

Sansa shook her head. She really didn't expect her mother to act out the way she had with Jon. But it was unavoidable, the tension brewing from day one, what with all the heaty exchanges on the phone with Catelyn demanding why Sansa hadn't resigned yet if she hated her job and boss so much. And now, imploded with Sansa returning home with him as her fiancé. Sansa was well aware how she herself had caused it but simply had no clue on how to fix it. She hadn't thought that far yet. All she wanted was to get through the weekend without the family drama.

“Sweetie, do you want to put your bags in your room?” Ned's soothing voice was just the escape both Jon and Sansa needed. Yes, they were tired, exhausted already from the charade and some time away from lying to people would be a welcome change of pace.

Jon followed Sansa upstairs where Ned, Robb and Talisa led them to their room for the night. Jon noticed there were many rooms in the large house, he had hoped it would be one with a comfortable bed at least. And as far away from the family as possible.

“Oh, my old room! You still kept it like before?” Sansa cooed as she dropped her bag on the floor. Her bed and the comfy couch were still in the same spot as was her desk and dresser. The posters were long gone and probably for the better but the nostalgia got the better of her.

“Yeah, Mom wanted to keep it in case you returned home. You know how she is. But anyways,” Robb said, draping his arm around Sansa's shoulder. “Welcome back, Sans.”

It was all very nice and warm to observe but Jon couldn't wait to see his room. Sansa's had a fantastic view of the snow capped hills that Winterfell seemed to have so many of and he didn't mind waking up to the same.

“This is nice. Well, I do hope mine is half as nice as this.”

Robb and Ned turned to him, puzzled at his statement. A nervous chuckle escaped Ned, as he scratched at his beard.

“Well, this is weird for me to say in front of my daughter but I am under no illusion that you two have shared a bed together. I mean we are all adults here, we can understand how two people engaged to each other sleep.”

Oh dear god. Jon and Sansa exchanged looks of horror.

“Besides there is only this room. The guest rooms are being renovated at the moment,” Ned added.

“Right.. okay.” Jon gave up.

Can today get any worse?

“The towels and sheets are in that cupboard over there if you need them. And, oh,” Talisa walked over to a wooden closet and took out a thickly folded hand made quilt.

“This should keep you warm in the cold Winterfell weather,” she smiled and handed it to Jon.

“Oh, lovely. Thank you so much.” It looked nice and comfy, just what he needed since he didn't quite pack proper sleep wear.

Talisa giggled, then whispered to Sansa and Jon as she pointed to the quilt. “That blanket is also sort of a Stark tradition. It's called the Baby Maker, you know.” Talisa cheekily pointed to her burgeoning baby bump.

Oh god, no. Jon flinched and tossed the blanket aside. “Well, we gotta be extra careful with that one, right there.”

Sansa was aghast. “Yeah, super extra careful.” Goodness.

“Right, okay we'll leave you two love birds to take a break. And umm.. maybe keep it down eh?” Ned joked awkwardly. It was disheartening to see his darling girl all grown up.

“Oh my god, Dad!”

“Okay, okay we're leaving,” Ned yielded as he made his way out.

“Do come down in a bit for snacks and say hi to the guests if you can. Seems they're all curious to meet you,” Robb suggested, giving Jon a wink and Sansa a kiss on the cheek.

Sansa and Jon watched as Ned and company left their room. Sansa quickly shut the door and locked it before anyone in her family barged in. In that room and only in that room were they Jon Snow, Editor-in-Chief and illegal immigrant and her, Sansa Stark, executive assistant and accomplice. Just two people brought together by a set of very strange circumstances and ill-thought decisions. The brevity of the situation wasn't lost on Sansa as there stood only one bed before them. Yeah.. nope.

“You're taking the couch.”

Jon groaned. He wanted the bed. If he had stayed at the hotel, he would've already been in bed now, all tucked in and snoring away. “This is not how I planned the weekend.”

“Well, too bad. Unless you want to all this to blow up in everyone's faces and we're found out because of your brilliant idea, we have to stay here, like it or not. In my old room. And no, I am not sharing my bed with you.”

Fair enough. Jon couldn't insist on taking the bed nor share it with Sansa. There were clear boundaries he had set for himself, unspoken but unquestionable. This was a fake engagement, they didn't have to actually share anything at all. Besides, Jon had slept in worse places before, recalling the futon from his old college dorm. Sansa's couch looked bigger than the futon and far more comfortable.

“Fine, take the bed.”

The rest of the evening was more of the same - Sansa and Jon introducing themselves to the rest of the people who were either neighbours or childhood friends. Winterfell seemed like a large town where the Starks knew everyone. Well, they are well to do, Jon understood that was expected. Catelyn was still giving him the cold shoulder and Jon found solace in playing UNO with Sansa's kid brothers at the kitchen table. Sansa was still catching up with everyone else and it was only right that she did, so Jon didn't want to intrude.

“Hey guys, think maybe it's time for bed?” Jon asked, seeing the large yawns that took over the boys. It was their fourth hand in the game and though Jon enjoyed their company immensely, he too was tired.

Rickon rubbed his sleepy eyes. “Okay but only if we play again tomorrow.”

“Promise,” Jon held out his fist for a bump. The boys waved good night and Jon drank the last of his juice as he compiled the cards into a neat deck. The house had gone quiet with the party guests gone, save for the quiet hum and rattling of dishes in the dishwasher. It was ten and high time for a hot shower and then crawl into bed. In Sansa's room. Great.

“Knock, knock. Everyone decent?” Jon had to make sure.

“Yeah,” Sansa answered. She was already dressed for bed and tucked in under her covers, scribbling thoughtfully on her notepad she had propped up on her knees.

“Whatcha doin?” Jon cringed. He had never made any small talk with Sansa before and it showed.

Sansa's eyes never left the notepad. “Just a script. Sort of I guess.”

“A script?” Jon took off his coat and hanged it neatly in the empty closet. Sansa obviously hadn't unpacked yet, seeing her bag was only half open.

“Yeah. I mean I have to say the right things when my family and people start asking questions. At breakfast, at dinner. We're going to be surrounded by family if you haven't noticed. Maybe you should do one too?”

“What's wrong with going with the flow?” Jon wondered. He thought today had gone pretty well, considering.

“Well, my mother for one and two, I'm really bad at lying if you can't tell already.”

Oh dear. Jon sighed as he removed his vest and unbuttoned his shirt. Though, a script didn't sound half bad. Charm might not work so much in the North.

“But I'm drawing blanks. I really don't know what they're going to ask,” Sansa tossed her pencil in frustration.

“Maybe it's best not to overthink it. Say what comes naturally. We'll figure it out when we get to it, okay?” Jon suggested. He didn't want to overact his part, he'd look and feel awkward and that would only make it worse. He needed to sell it and sell it right. Jon sighed as he pressed on his temples. His head was pounding from the amount of quick thinking and shrewd planning he did today. All he craved for now was a hot shower, to wash the day away stinking of lies.

The steam and the hot water did wonders in soothing the tense muscles he didn't realise he had. He was wound up so tight from all the interactions earlier than day that his shoulders and neck were as stiff as concrete. Can't wait to get into bed. No, Jon thought. Couch. Dammit. Jon didn't want to leave the shower but any longer he would've used up all the hot water in the house. I miss my bed.

“Umm Jon? What are you wearing?” Sansa narrowed her eyes at him as he came out of the bathroom. He felt the chill seep right through his bones. Note to self, buy pyjamas.

“ What? This is what I wear to bed.”

“Boxers? You're going to freeze in your sleep.”

Jon was fully aware and accepted his fate, that it could happen but he didn't have much of a choice now.

“Well, the idea was to have a nice warm bed all to myself in a hotel. But... here we are.” The cancellation was uncalled for but it wasn't her fault.

Jon glanced at the couch. Sansa had already placed pillows and a blanket for him but Jon had an inkling they wouldn't be enough to keep him warm. But he'd make do. One night down. “Good night Sansa.”

Sansa shrugged. “Good night Jon. Don't die on me, okay?”

Whatever. Jon ignored Sansa and rested his head on the pillow, pulling the sheets and blanket right up to his neck. He still felt cold but he would try to endure. Shutting his eyes, Jon counted to a hundred. It was a coping technique his grief therapist recommended, especially useful during uncomfortable situations and for whenever Jon needed to get his bearings. Also, he didn't want to think about dying frozen in his sleep, no thanks to Sansa. 

Jon sighed as he reached sixty, his eyelids were getting heavier and the cold wasn't nipping at him so much now. As he gently drifted off to sleep, Jon made a wish, for warmer weather the next two days, the only remedy he'd ask for to get through the weekend.

Stay warm, stay warm.. stay warm.. must keep warm..

And indeed it was. Jon wriggled, his body welcoming a lovely warm sensation that enveloped his chest and legs. Slowly, it covered him more and more, causing Jon to stretch his arms as he adjusted himself, wallowing in the sudden warm, comfy bliss. It was so soft and cozy where he laid, pleased that the weather gods had heard his wish. Jon wanted to remain just like this for as long as he could.

“Mmmm..” A groan. 

A rustle.

But Jon didn't move an inch. He didn't want to. Another groan heard and then the warmth he felt, shifted. Why is this couch moving? 

Reluctantly, Jon opened his eyes, squinting as the bright rays broke through the crack in between the drapes and slowly came into his line of vision. Jon shut his eyes again. All he wanted to do was sleep in. It was the weekend, after all.

Weekend... Sansa.

“Oh my god!”

“Jon!”

“Why are you in my bed?!” Sansa shrieked.

[go-diane-winchester]

How do I know Jensen hates the militant destiel shippers?

@supernaturallygayforyou said the following:​

''people may hate me and you but Jensen doesn’t. He just doesn’t like for his character to be reduced to a ship (which I have realized I’ve done and apologized for in my comments because I do actually love supernatural and the post was a joke). he doesn’t mind destiel shippers and is comfortable with hanging with jared and misha.''

I told her that Jensen hates the hellers, but apparently she didn't believe me, thus giving me the opportunity to reopen this can of worms.  First, lets identify a heller.  If you have the following vile traits, you are a heller.  If you don't, then you are a normal destiel shipper in whom we see no fault, other than your terrible taste in men.  Because seriously, Misha?  No hate though.  Just a little revulsion but no hate.  You do you.  These are heller traits:

Hellers tag their ship posts in the main tags.

Hellers accuse CW of queer baiting.

Hellers ship shame.

Hellers threaten Jensen with death.

Hellers want endgame destiel.

Hellers tweet Jared that he should die. 

Hellers threaten kidnapping, arson and poisoning.

Hellers call Jensen a homophobe.

Hellers insist Dean is anything but straight.

Hellers pretend to like Jared and Sam but secretly want both gone.

So how do I know that Jensen hates the hellers.  Lets look at the timeline:

October 2014 - NerdHQ

A bunch of horny destihellers planned to throw Astroglide on stage every time Jensen and Misha spoke.  The organizers were asked permission to bring this stuff to the event, and they notified Jensen and gang to ask for permission to allow it.  They were not given permission and Misha was excluded from the panel.  Only J2 and Mark Sheppard attended.  This is the first inkling that Jensen was getting aggravated with the hellers.

January 2017 [Jaxcon]:

A heller asked an ignorant shipping question, even though they were banned from asking shipping question.  Jensen succinctly said ''Destiel doesn't exist''.  He was bashed on social media and that is where he got the first death threat.  The homophobia accusation has been happening since 2014 and mass media is aware of it.  So essentially they are ruining Jensen's reputation.  But if I point out that Misha's ugly face is ugly, I am such a meanie, right?  The result of this relentless bullying and death threat, manifested itself, at Jibcon.  Explain to me how Jensen can like the hellers after the question, the bullying and the death threat.

May 2017 [Jibcon]:

Jensen has a breakdown during the only panel he shares with Misha, and Jared shuts the panel down early.  But hellers thought he was flirting with Misha.  The man who mocks Misha on any other day, chooses this one convention to get all sexual.  Could it be because of the online abuse and the death threat?  Could it be because he was pacifying his abusers, during the only panel where he knows they will be watching?  Nah, it must be because the bag-eyed overlord is totes irresistible.  Tell me how Jensen likes the hellers who can have such a negative effect on him.         

June 2017 [Comic Con]

Misha pulls a chair stunt that makes Jensen and Jared look like bullies.  They become aware of it.  Jensen knows what the hellers will do.  But he loves them, right?

October 2017 [Nolacon]

This was the con where J2 reiterated that Misha is NOT the lead, and the hellers went after them, calling them rape enablers for using a stale joke from previous cons.  The media got wind of it and J2 issued a statement and no apology.  The hellers got angry because they wanted separate con panels for J2 and didn't get it.  There was a rumor that they were trying to get Jared fired from the show, but I have not receipt for that.  Tell me how despite this unnecessary hurdle, Jensen still loves the fans. 

November 2017 [DCcon]

The scandal has only just subsided.  Its affect on the boys showed in the Js behavior when they took to the stage.  Jared was suffering from a manic episode [which was painful to watch] and Jensen was already angry.  The insufferable J stans were there, getting the wrong end of the stick, as per usual.  Jensen stans said Jared was being disruptive.  Jared stans fought back or said that Jared was being ''extra'' because he was trying to cheer Jensen up after the scandal.   Ironically, it was a Jensen stan who recognized that Jared was suffering from mania. 

Jensen was being patient with Jared because he has seen Jared's manic episodes and the crash that is likely to follow it.  I have to say Jensen, despite already being angry with fans for the scandal, was still very patient with Jared.  Anyone else would have been at their wits end.  Jared is very lucky to have a friend and co-worker who has so much compassion.  Especially considering the state of this panel.  Let me point out that this was the worst panel I have ever witnessed, because those were some of the most horrible attendees.  One of them told Jensen to shut up when she was given the opportunity to ask them a question.  That will give you an idea of how horrible this panel was.  The other questions were either boring or the person asking the question went off on a tangent about themselves.  I only watched it once and never again. 

This is a link to the panel, for those who mind watching Jared fall apart and Jensen looking close to driving his fist right through a wall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOBs7Hp9FRo

At the timestamp of 15:53, this exchange happened. 

Jensen:  ''We pull our punches.  So if we do connect, its not a full... you know, its a 50% power punch.  It shouldn't knock you out, unless you have a really weak chin.  But, eh...''

Jared:  ''Like Misha.''

Jensen:  ''Well, you could just go...''  Blows out air hard and makes a splatting sound, ''Eh, I'm kidding.  We love Misha.  People will get mad at me know.'' 

The look that Jared gave Jensen showed why the episode happened.  He didn't follow up what Jensen said, with a snarky remark.  No jokes.  He just moved on but not before putting his hand on Jensen's shoulder and Jensen bit his lower lip.  They figured out that the scandal happened only because of Misha's fans.  They joined the dots beforehand.  That is why they were messed up during that panel.  Jensen's facial expression when he said that last bit.  You can tell he is completely insincere when he says they love Misha.  So Jensen knew who caused the Nolacon scandal, and why they went after him and Jared.  But he still loves the hellers, how exactly?

November 2017:  Honocon

This con was going to be destiel friendly.  The hellers were running their mouths off about it on social media.  Jensen and Misha was getting a panel together for the first time in Creation con history.  Jared would not be interfering or so they thought.  Jared threw a spanner in the works, staying on stage for longer than he was needed, fiddling around with the keyboard and the drums, disrupting the entire panel.  This time he wasn't suffering a manic attack.  This time he was doing it on purpose.  That is what you get when you anger the boys.  During J2 panel, they kept making shippy remarks about each other.  No, its not because they ship themselves.  We are not stupid like the hellers.  Straight men don't ship anything.  They were doing it to annoy the hellers.  During the Cockles panel, Jensen laughed at Misha's walk and Empty Cas voice choice.  Other than the insults flung at Misha, they just did the recycled paper airplane story.  Destiel fans are scattered around the globe and not the majority of the fans in America.  So the con didn't do well.  Honocon was never mentioned again.  Whether it pops up again in the future remains to be seen.  Despite loving the hellers, why is he essentially spitting in their face. 

December 2017: Sydney con/AHBL

J2 was in very good form during this panel, because pig-of-a-face was not attending.  Jared played guitar while Jensen and Robbie sang ''Free Falling''.  Here's an adorable tiny clip of Jared being adorably adorable while eating an egg roll.  Only 42 people watched it so shame on all of you.  Heres the link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPE5JlGp8dg

See how happy they are when Pee puddle and his splatterings are not present.  So why didn't Jensen miss his heller fans? 

 May 2018 - Birmingham

Misha shares a panel with Jensen and Jared, and Jared places himself between the two of them.  Misha tries to pull the stupid chair stunt again, but Jared put a stop to it.  Misha picks up the topic of the shirt sharing for the heller's benefit.  Jensen throws out that he has shared underwear with Jared.  When Misha pointed out that the brothers were not affectionate people generally, J2 shot him down by saying Sam and Dean were very emotional and affectionate with each other.   Between the stripping, the mocking and the icing, Misha did not enjoy the panel.  Why is Jensen punishing his beloved heller fans.

May 2018 - Jibcon 

After Jensen's breakdown the previous year, suddenly Jibcon was no longer destiel con.  Suddenly shipping questions were banned.  Hellers bashed Daniella for that.  When the much anticipated cockles panel happened, Jared threw a spanner in the works, and crashed the panel brandishing balloons.  Hellers tore him apart on social media.  At the beginning of the panel,  Misha put his hand on Jensen's shoulder. Jensen tapped Misha on the knee and then rubbed his fingers together in a disgusted manner.  So he instantly squashed the shippy vibes Misha was pushing for.  During the panel, Jared and Jensen took the time to laugh in Misha's face whilst in character.  Why did Jensen allow his heller fans' only panel to be taken away from them? 

July 2018 - Comic Con

Jensen placed himself between Jared and Alex, and every time Misha opened his big mouth, they just pulled faces and laughed.  Doesn't he care how its going to affect his heller fans?

September 2018 - Indycon

This was the Misha-led con.  No J2 in sight.  It flopped.  Misha is consistently losing fans.  Only the really crass and tasteless ones really like him.  This has nothing to do with Jensen and his opinion of the hellers.  I just derive great pleasure in pointing this out to you.

December 2018 - Jaxcon

A heller got into an argument with Jensen during autos because she insisted Dean was bisexual whilst Jensen was saying that Dean wasn't.  Misha confirmed [as if he has the authority] that Dean is indeed bisexual.  Jensen must absolutely love the hellers after that, right?

Whatever I told you now is a brief overview.  More in-depth posts are on my blog on all these subjects, except for DC Con 2017 which I elaborated on in this post.  During 2017 and 2018, the online attacks have increased including telling Jared that they wish him dead.  This was tweeted to him.  Jensen's death threats increased to include an arson and poisoning threat.  Hellers even threatened to kidnap Jared's children.  Many of these tweets were directed to Jensen.  The receipts for all of these, are on my blog.  They are getting worse.  I fear that they might actually act of their threats one day.  The threats start from mistagged posts which is why I always call those out.  Stay on your lane and you will offend nobody. 

To summarize:

Jensen hates the hellers because they threatened to kill him, in various ways, ruined his reputation by accusing him of homophobia and threatening to kidnap Jared's children whilst also hoping that Jared would die along with Sam.  Oh, and Misha is ugly.  The End. 

[littlecrookedheart]

Shadows

Pairing : Clove and Elliot | Tom x Clove

Rating : Fluff, M for language

Word Count : 6,080

Author’s Note : Please take caution reading this if you are sensitive to sexual harassment (in the family of cat calling / staring.) Please take caution reading if you struggle with grief / death discussion.

Disclaimer : I do not own these characters. I’ve added a bit of a flare to them for the sake of this piece, but they do not belong to me.

Clove grabbed her phone from the bedside table, jumping up as she saw the time and Elliot’s missed messages, quickly typing back a reply. She swiped a sweater and black jeggings from her bag, running her fingers through her hair like a comb and leaving Tom with a note and a kiss on the cheek.

She pulled up to the driveway, sending her text before seeing Elliot already running up to the car, a wide smile on his face.

“You look sunny today.”

“I've been up for awhile.”

“Nope, Scooter, not what I meant. You look happy.”

Elliot shyly grinned, playing with his sleeves as she drove off down the road.

“I um...I may have asked Robbie to a dance.”

“Whaaat!”

“I know I'm not going to school with him this year but he should still go, right?”

“For sure. How'd you do it?”

“It was so dumb. I wrote it on the inside of a box of breadsticks.”

“Carbs are never dumb, first of all. Second, that's really cute!”

“You think? They're his favorite, you know the ones from that pizza place that has the best bread?”

“Yeah, the one by the spice market?”

“Yep.”

“Okay, critical question. Does he dip them in ranch, garlic sauce, or marinara?”

“How is that a critical question?”

“He's practically my brother in law-”

“Clove!”

“It matters!”

Elliot rolled his eyes and mumbled, “Garlic.”

“Ah, see? That wasn't so hard. And now he has an extra stamp of approval from your favorite me!”

“You're my least favorite you.”

“Elliot, you know how much I love you, but I will dump you out of this car.”

“Right here? Nah. We’re by that diaper place.”

“You lost me.”

“This whole area smells like a diaper.”

“No way?” Clove rolled her window down, immediately making a face and closing it. “Wow. It really does smell like a diaper.”

He chuckled, turning away to stifle the sound, “Like massive diaper.”

“I've considered it and I think that this would be the perfect Elliot dumping zone.”

-

“Welcome! Just the two of you?” The hostess perked, smiling from behind a couple of menus. Before either of them could reply, she gestured for them to follow her, leaving the menus at the table. “Your server will be over in just a moment.”

“Sit next to me, Scoot. Miss you.”

Elliot rolled his eyes and slid in the booth next to her, immediately flipping to a place in the menu full of waffles and pancakes.

A few moments later, a server came to take their order quickly dropping off drinks and a basket of toast.

“This is what I live for.”

“Toast in a basket?”

“Carbs!” Clove spread butter and jam on two pieces of toast, stacking them before taking a big bite. “I could literally just have this and I'd be content.”

“What are you gonna get?”

“I don't know! What do you think I should?”

“We've been sitting here for like ten minutes and you haven't decided what you want? I'm getting the supreme pancake thing.”

“Oh! Do they still have those birthday cake pancakes?”

“We have the birthday cake waffles,” the server said as he reappeared, pulling out his notepad. “Your birthday?”

“Nah, they just taste like dessert and I like dessert.”

“I haven't tried them but they do look delicious…” He gave her a long, full bodied once over, “Those cakes.”

Elliot looked to her with a scowl, confused.

“Not even trying to hide it, huh?”

The server moved his eyes along her curves, obviously staring at her chest. She pretended not to be bothered, zipping her jacket up higher.

“I need a sec. Scoot, go first.”

“Um...okay...I want the pancake supreme breakfast.”

“Sausage or bacon?”

“Both?”

“Okay. And for you, sweetcheeks?”

Clove started cracking up, holding a finger up to signify that she needed a moment. She stood up, facing him straight on.

“You think I'm hot, right? Do you always creepy stare at hot girls?”

“I'm not supposed to flirt on the job, sweetie-”

“'Sweetie,' my foot in your ass. I hope you like the unemployment line.”

She marched up to the front desk, pounding her fist on the wooden counter. The server quickly followed over, murmuring under his breath.

“Hi! I'd really like to see the manager. Like, head honcho. Who is in charge?”

“Ma’am, if you'll please-”

“I'm ma'am now? Twenty seconds ago I was, ‘sweet cheeks.’”

Elliot grabbed his phone to record her, a man with a large beard approaching her at the counter.

“Hello, I'm Peter. I'm the manager, what can I help you with?”

“I came here for a breakfast with my kid brother. He's right over there,” she nodded toward him, “Instead, I'm being sexually harassed by the guy that's meant to be my server.”

“Are we sure this wasn't a misunderstanding?”

“Right, I suppose I misunderstood him staring at my tits and making a comment about my ‘cakes,’ along with calling me, ‘sweet cheeks.’”

Peter's face turned a deep shade of red as he whipped around to face the server, who stood with his hands up in surrender.

“Didn't mean anything by it! If she didn't have those things out in the open like that-”

“I'm wearing a sweater, asshole. I could walk in here completely naked and you being a creep would still not be okay!” She used her hands to talk, keeping her volume cool and collected despite the rage in her eyes, “Clothes don't determine consent! Having breasts does not mean I'm dying for you to talk to me like that! You need to take a few lessons on common fucking courtesy, because my dude, you are lacking.”

“My office, Clancy. Now.”

Peter turned back to face her, shaking his head, “I am so sorry. He will be dealt with and your meal today will be free of charge.”

“Thanks, but listen, Peter. First of all, don't doubt someone when they say they're being sexually harassed. Second, he doesn't need to be, ‘dealt with,’ he needs to be fired. Keeping him employed here poses a risk to every single female patron that walks through that door with your seal of approval. That isn't an establishment most people want to support.”

As she turned away, Elliot began to clap, attracting the attention of a few other customers who joined in. She did a little twirl and bow, elbowing him as she got back in the booth.

“Tom thinks you're a badass.”

“Did you record me?”

“Yeah, because you're a badass. So I sent it to Tom.”

“Don't ever be like that guy, Scoot. You're so much better than that.”

“I'm not gonna objectify someone's body. I know how bad that is.”

“You're right. And you're smart for remembering.”

-

“You sure you're okay? That guy was a creep.”

“I'm fine! No scratches. Plus, I felt pretty brave doing what I did.”

“Yeah..you were.”

She wiped her mouth, grinning at him, “So...why do you think that area smells like diaper?”

“Dunno,” he shoved a huge bite of pancakes in his mouth, “But it didn't smell like that until after the flood.”

“Something wicked in those waters.”

Elliot glared at her, pouring more syrup over his food.

“Sorry, jeez. Something more wicked. Like poop.”

He snorted, covering his nose and mouth, “Goober, don't say, ‘poop,’ at the table.”

“Okay, dad. I forgot we can't say any of the gross words.”

Elliot’s face went slack, a weak smile slowly curling on his lips. “Dad hated that.”

“He did! He was the only one who was allowed to talk about poop while we ate.”

“I don't know why that made me really sad.”

“It’s okay, Scooter. We’re allowed to miss them.”

At the front of the restaurant, a small girl sat beside her mother, looking up as she watched her reapply her lipstick after their meal. Elliot’s gaze locked on them, his fake smile beginning to become genuine. Clove turned her head and watched them for a moment before saying, “That’s adorable.”

“I remember you used to do that with mom.”

“You do?”

“I remember when we were younger and you’d sit on the hamper in the bathroom and watch mom do her makeup. She always said, ‘Clove, draw your eyebrows as high as your hopes will take you-’”

“And when you dream, aim higher,” she joined him in unison, putting her arm around him. “I miss her.”

“Me too.”

“Remember when she’d sing to you when you were little? You’d hum along but never sing. She told you that your lungs were made to belt it out and you were doing the world and injustice by keeping it in.”

“I really can’t sing, either. She was the one doing the world and injustice by wanting me to belt it out.”

“Nah, Scoot. She just loves you.”

“Do…you believe in heaven?”

“I’ve seen enough of it to know it’s out there.”

“I don’t know if I do…but if it’s real, mom’s there. Dad too, but…mom is like the queen of the angels.”

“You know something? It might sound crazy, but-”

“Can you feel her, too?”

“Yeah. Right now, sitting across the table,” she pointed her fork to the empty spot, “Telling you that this hair looks so nice since it’s grown out.”

“She’d like Tom, I think.”

Clove’s eyes welled with tears, picturing a world in which her mother may have known him.

“I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

“No, it’s okay. It’s just bittersweet.”

She wrapped her arms around him, feeling him sniffle against her.

“Mom would love Robbie. God, Scooter. She’d be so proud of you. I know she is, wherever she is. They both are.”

“Do you think..” Elliot poked at his breakfast, choosing his words. “Do you think they’d care? Y’know…about me…liking guys?”

“I don’t have to think, I know they’d be happy to know that you were being true to yourself. I know they’d care, but only about your happiness. They’d never treat you differently.”

“Yeah…but how can you know that? It’s not like I ever got close to saying anything.”

“Because I know they didn’t mind. You know, one time I told mom that I liked girls.”

“You like girls?”

Clove shrugged, finishing off her drink, “Yeah. Not super often, but if I met a girl and I got feelings for her, I wouldn’t think any differently. One time when I was younger than you, though? I had a crush on our old neighbor. Remember Mia?”

“The girl with short hair? She was so much older than you!”

“Yeah, but I didn’t care. It was just a harmless crush, anyway. I told mom, ‘I think Mia is really hot.’ and she just laughed and said, ‘I don’t blame you.’”

“She really said that?”

“Why would I make that up?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I feel bad that we’ve mostly talked about mom.”

“Dad was great, but Scooter, me and you were always glued to mom’s hip. Of course we’re gonna have these times where we just talk about her, but we will have those times about dad, too.”

“My favorite thing about dad was his Saturday morning speech.”

“Oh, God. Kill me now.”

Elliot cleared his throat and began to do an impression. “Today is Saturday and I am going to sit right here-”

“In my pj’s-”

“And no kid or wife-”

“Is going to make me put on real pants!”

“-So if you need anything today…”

“Ask your mother or call a delivery service.”

They both stared at one another for a moment before doubling over in laughter.

“There is no question where we get our humor from.”

“Hey, Clove? I know we can’t visit their gravestones…not today, at least. But could we do something for them?”

“Whatcha have in mind?”

“Maybe we could write notes and burn them or something.”

“Huh. Okay. You ready to go?”

“Yeah.”

Clove pulled her jacket on, slipping a twenty dollar bill to Elliot.

“What’s that for?”

“Being you. But can you run up and get grandpa’s to go? It’s free like the rest of this meal, thanks to Clancy.“

He made his way to the counter to grab the order while Clove pulled out her phone, swiping through a photo album she had complied of she and Elliot with their parents through the years. He met her back at the table and slid the change under his glass for a tip, looking over her shoulder.

“Come on, Goob. Let’s go.”

-

“Just up that hill.”

Elliot pointed ahead to a pathway of trees, dead and barren from Winter’s wrath, the surrounding woods plush with evergreens. Atop the hill sat a dead patch of grass, remnants of a bonfire still smoking at a makeshift fire pit.

“Someone had fun here last night,” Clove smiled, “I love bonfires.”

“Actually…that was me. I came up here to think.”

A look of concern crossed her face as she sat on the ground next to him, bumping his knee with her own.

“You’re not just playing with fire…right?”

“No, I swear. I just got the idea from the fire last night. Watching the branches and sticks curl up and basically just become ash? It..it was like..why can’t bad memories do that, too?”

“Because memories are a part of us.”

“I wish not all of them were.”

“Tom told me something once that helped me a lot. Can I share it with you?”

Elliot nodded, pulling his beanie off. He stretched it in his hands, looking into the distance.

“We are the people we are. Our grandpa is the guy who was involved with the cult. Our parents..were murdered by that cult. We can’t run from it, but we have to remember that it doesn’t define us.”

“I don’t know if I know what you mean.”

“When you look at me, do you see any of that?”

“No.”

“What do you see?”

“My sister. That’s it.”

“Exactly, Scooter. Because we aren’t our past. Nobody should ever look at you and see those things, especially yourself. You were amazing before, during, and now, after all of that. You aren’t, ‘Elliot, kid who almost died however many times.’ You’re Elliot, my baby brother. You’re smart, you’ve got a great head on your shoulders. You’re a big sweetie-”

“Don’t push it.”

“…Even though you don’t believe it.”

“Thanks, Clove. I guess you’re right. I don’t think Robbie is anything like his dad or something..that’s kind of similar, right?”

“Yeah, it’s similar.”

Elliot laid back, folding his arms under his head. Clove joined him, watching the overcast sky as the clouds drifted along. She thought of the moments in between the sadness, taking her brother’s hand in her own.

“We made it.”

“Yeah, we did, didn’t we?”

“And we’re gonna keep on making it. Somewhere up there in all of those clouds, mom and dad are there. They’re looking at us now and they’re proud, I can feel it in my heart.” She placed a hand to her chest, choking back tears, “One day in a couple years, you’re gonna graduate high school, and you’re gonna look in the seats and wish they were there. It’s gonna feel like acid in your heart, but I need you to know something.”

She turned to him, wiping her eyes with her other hand, “I swear to you, no matter what you feel, they will be there. I will be there. You still have a family, okay?”

Elliot dove forward, embracing her tightly.

“Why did they have to leave, Clove?”

She squeezed her eyes, desperate to hold back her emotions as he sobbed in her arms. Be strong. Be strong.

“I don’t know, Scooter. They are right here with us, right now,” she wiped his tears, pressing her hand over his, aligning it at his heart, “You can’t tell me you don’t feel that.”

“I’m so scared..I-” he buried his face in his hands, “It’s been this long and I’m still so scared to lose you, too.”

“I’m not going anywhere. You hear me? I’m not leaving.” Clove’s arms wrapped around him, rocking back and forth as she began to hum, her touch maternal against his heartache. “We’re okay, Elliot. Breathe with me,” she said, her voice soft. She inhaled deeply, waiting for him to mirror her, slowing down his sobs one breath at a time.

Once he’d gone quiet, her humming the only sound against the blowing wind, she kissed the crown of his head and tightened her embrace.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.” He sat up, using his sleeves to wipe his face.

“Still wanna burn a note?”

“Yeah.”

She dug through her purse, taking out a miniature journal and a pen. She scribbled something of her own and handed him the items, digging a book of matches from her things.

“Do you want me to read it?” Elliot asked, pulling his hat back on.

“Only if you want to. I didn’t think you would.”

“Um…Doctor Ripley…wants me to be more open with you.”

Their therapist, a kind, plump man with thinning hair and very large, square glasses, had been working with Elliot twice weekly over the past year and a half. Clove joined him in seeing a therapist, sometimes the same, sometimes a tall woman with a harsh smokers rasp and eyes like a river. Always helpful, regardless - and she was delighted to see that Elliot, too, was having a good experience.

“Okay.”

He took a shaky breath and cleared his throat before starting, “Mom and Dad…I’m not mad anymore. I’m sorry that I was. I didn’t know how to..how to think about you actually not being here anymore. I kept..thinking about you, hoping we could go home again. I think it took me this long to let you go..and I just want to. I want to let you go. I love you so much…but you deserve to be free.”

Clove swiped the matchstick along the panel, placing the flame along the edge of his note. He dropped it, watching as it blew to the blackened pile of sticks. Once it dissipated, it was nothing but a clipping the size of a snowflake, and it floated off with the breeze.

“I’ll go now.”

She dug the tip of her boot into the dirt, doing her best to keep her eyes from flooding.

“Mom…Dad..”

Elliot placed a hand on her shoulder, feeling her body tremble beneath his touch. “You don’t have to, Goob.”

“It’s okay. Mom, Dad…you taught me love for so long I never actually realized that one day, I wouldn’t feel yours anymore. I just want to say thank you for Elliot…”

He looked to her, his brows bent in confusion.

“Thank you for Elliot because when I look at him, your love is everywhere. All around me. And I don’t think I could live without him for one second.”

She lit a new match, placing her note on the embers.

“I didn’t write this..but I want to add something. Grandma Josephine…wherever you are, thank you for my mom. Because she has always been an angel, and me and Elliot miss her so much. I wish I could have met you before you were hurt. But all of you…Elliot’s right. We have to let you go. You have to be free.” Clove reached for her brother’s hand, looking to the sky. “We’ll always love you.”

“Always.”

Their hands linked as they looked to the sky, taking in the crisp air. Elliot reached to hug her again, his eyes going wide as he broke away, “Grandpa’s breakfast!”

“Oh, shit! Okay, ready? I’m ready.”

-

She waved goodbye as Elliot ran inside, dodging many beginning drops of rain. She pulled up Tom’s contact and called him, leaning her head back against the seat rest.

“Hello, beautiful.”

“Hey. You busy?”

“Nope. Did Elliot tell you he sent me a video of you absolutely slaying that-”

“Tommy?”

Her voice was breaking, chest riddled in emotion and a heavy sound of tears.

“What’s wrong, angel?”

“I just really need you right now.”

“Okay, I’m here. Want me to meet you anywhere?”

“Are you home?”

“Yeah. Come over.”

“I’m gonna take a minute to myself and I’ll be on my way.”

“I’ll come pick you up if you need me to. Can you drive?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“It’s gonna be okay, my love. See you when you get here.”

-

Tom hung up the phone, scrubbing his face with his palm before sending Elliot a text.

He grabbed his keys and ran outside, speeding to the farmers market down the street before Clove arrived. Nearly slipping on the slick sidewalk, he pummeled through the door, running into an elderly woman who was sweeping the floor. The air smelled of fresh produce and rain, his eyes scanning around for plants and flowers.

“You okay there, son?”

“Yeah! Sorry, I slipped.”

“You’re in a real hurry.”

“The love of my life is on her way over and she’s bawling her eyes out. I need flowers. Can you point me-”

“What kind?”

Tom pulled his phone out to verify the texts from Elliot.

“Red carnations and white daisies.”

“You want the mini carnations?”

“What looks better?”

“The mini ones.”

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

The woman gathered a bundle of flowers and wrapped them in newspaper, tying a ribbon around the base.

“Wait, what are those tiny tiny white little things that come with flowers? On green branches?”

“Baby’s breath. I’ll add some.”

“Thank you!” He pulled out his wallet, but she shooed him away.

“You came in here and nearly bowled me over. I asked if you were okay and you didn’t say, ‘a girl I like,’ or, ‘my girlfriend,’ you said the love of your life.”

“Yeah?”

“Young people finding that is something special. On the house.”

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

“Yeah, yeah, now you go on.”

Tom smiled and ran out the door, jumping in the car.

When he pulled up to his apartment, sheets of rain blanketed the sky, Clove’s car nowhere to be seen. Safe, he thought, darting from the car to the front door, pushing it open to see her already sitting on the couch, her hair and sweater soaking wet.

He set the bouquet down along with his keys and grabbed a towel from the hall closet, pulling the throw blanket off the back of the couch.

Her eyes were rimmed in red, face puffy from her tears. He pulled her into an embrace, holding her tight as she collapsed in his arms, crying with all of her might.

“I’m here, I’m here.”

-

Once her crying slowed, he unfolded the towel, scrunching her curls within it to dry them. Lifting her sweater over her head, he dried her skin, draping the blanket around her shoulders.

“Don’t go anywhere. I’m gonna get you a top.”

She nodded, sniffling, using her sweater to wipe her face.

Tom shuffled through his drawers, finding an oversized t-shirt and a washcloth, stopping by the bathroom to warm up the cloth before heading back to her spot on the couch.

“Okay. Hand me that towel?”

He took it from her, drying the top of her back and spots on her hair he’d missed as he stood behind her, unhooking her bra before handing her the shirt. He smoothed his hands over her shoulders, running his fingers along the imprint of her bra straps, noting the indentation across her back where the band rested.

She pulled the top on, kicking off her jeans as she nestled into the corner of the couch, Tom squeezing his way next to her. He wiped her face with the washcloth and kissed her cheek, pulling her into his embrace.

“You know..when I was little before Elliot was born, sometimes my mom and I would order pizza and have a girls night. She’d bake cookies and play with my hair…”

Tom zoned out for a second, her hair in his hands as she told this story, her voice aching in grief. And back to reality, he took her hand, kissing the top of it.

“…It was just…everything.”

“Missing them extra today?”

“Yeah. Elliot and I talked about them and it was so nice but just..I can’t help but be heartbroken when I think about some things.”

“Do you want to tell me about those things?”

“Graduation. I know it was just a sheet of paper, but I did it, you know? They weren’t there. They won’t be there when I open my store. They…”

She choked on her words, tears spilling from her eyes again. Tom’s own eyes began to water as he wrapped her in his arms even tighter, easing her through the moment.

“If I ever get married, I- I always dreamed of them being there. And I know I have Elliot, I just…it’s not the same. I dreamt of it my whole life, Tommy. They’ll never be there. They won’t see me fall in love with you every single day. They won’t see it if I…what if we have a baby one day? How can I explain to my kids how amazing they were, but ‘sorry, you’ll never meet them?’ It’s just…it’s not fair. And I’m angry!” Her voice grew louder, “I’m so mad and I’m so fucking upset because I deserved them to be there. I deserved them holding my hands as I walked down the aisle. I’m angry and I’m sad and I feel like my chest is caving in.”

Tom rubbed her back, gently holding her to his chest.

“It’s not fair. You’re right. It’s the opposite of fair. But you know what you’re forgetting? They see you, Clove. You know they do.”

“Seeing me from another plane doesn’t make me feel less alone.”

“It’s know, baby. I wish I could mend your heart a million times over. Let me see those eyes.”

She looked to him and gave him a small, sad smile.

“They’re so fucking proud of you. Look at you, you’re a powerhouse. Not only are you a total badass, you’re an amazing artist. You have the best heart. The best head on your shoulders. You’re everything, Clove. And if for one second you ever feel alone, remember that you will always, always have my heart and soul. Plus, you know what? You can be pissed off. Throw something, kick a wall in, punch me in the face! It’s justified. You are allowed to be angry!”

She blinked a few times in a deadpan stare, “Did you just yell at me to punch you in the face?”

“Yes. Punch me, baby. If you feel better after beating the shit out of someone, I’ll volunteer.”

She giggled, his laughter joining hers.

“I’d never hurt you. I just…I’m so..”

“You don’t have to explain. I’m gonna be here every step of the way, even if that means making you laugh at me.”

“Why are you so good to me?”

“Because you’re the love of my life. Oh! Speaking of.”

He hopped up and grabbed the flowers, handing her the bouquet.

“Tommy…”

“Do you like them?”

He kneeled on the floor next to her, stroking her cheek with his thumb.

“They’re perfect. My mom…you..you remembered?”

“Elliot helped me out, but yeah. I remembered the story where she put them in every window on your birthday. You said that’s where you got that from…and if you have kids, you’ll do the same for them.”

She held them to her chest and kissed him, his lips like feathers against her own, the warmth of his love radiating from where he knelt.

“I’m gonna love you forever.”

“I’m gonna love you for even longer. And so do they. Their love for you is limitless, angel. They see you. They’re proud of you. They love you.”

“I’m wish they could have met you.”

“Me too.”

-

Late in the evening, Tom stood in the open doorway, listening to the birds sing after the storm. Clove sat curled up on the couch, streaming YouTube videos on Tom’s laptop as she munched on Doritos.

“Do you mind if I ask Elliot over to stay the night with us? I just really want him here.”

“Absolutely. I’ll text him and pick him up.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“It’s cool. We can get dinner on the way back.”

He sent the text, stepping inside to put his shoes on.

“Your hair looks nice like that.”

“What, like wild? You just like it down.”

“I do. You can’t blame me, you look like some fancy poet.”

“Now, that’s a compliment I’ll take. Elliot says he’ll be ready in fifteen. I should head over. What do you want food wise?”

“Can I say…junk? I want junk.”

“I can do that. Toppings?”

“You know me so well. Just a bunch of cheese…and some of that garlic bread?”

“Say no more, my lady. I’ll tell him to text when we’re on the way.”

“Tommy?”

“Hm?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, angel.”

-

After picking up Elliot and a massive order of pizza, Tom pulled into the parking lot of a grocery store, taking the key from the ignition.

“Ice cream?”

“Hell yeah!”

Tom chuckled, raising his eyebrows. “Okay, what kind?”

“Anything chocolate.”

“You…really, really are Clove’s brother.”

“What of it?! Can you get me some tea? I have mone-”

“Shut up, dork. I don’t want your money. Do you also have a weird flavored tea addiction? I’m grabbing raspberry while I’m in here anyway.”

“I might like it.”

“I might dump it on you when I get back then. Put that money away.”

Elliot stuffed the bill back in his pocket, trying not to grin as widely as he was.

At Tom’s return, he grabbed the grocery bags, sifting through them to eye the items inside.

“You’re like, a really good boyfriend.”

“What do you say that for?”

“Clove is lucky to have you. She had a bad day and you went like,” he gestured with his hands, “Massively all out. People don’t usually do that.”

“I’m in love with her. That’s what you do when someone you love is hurting.”

“Thanks for being there for her. I know she loves you like that, too.”

“Can I…Elliot, I really want to tell you something. But it can’t make it back to Clove.”

“Okay?”

“Um..I have been thinking and I just-”

“Watch out!”

Tom slammed on the brake just in time to avoid a loose dog sprinting down the road, owners chasing behind.

“Who does that!”

“This town isn’t ever boring, huh?”

“I feel like I almost shit my heart out.”

“Same.”

They parked in Tom’s parking spot, unhooking their seat belts simultaneously.

“I’ll get the bags if you get the boxes?” Elliot smiled, reaching behind him to grab the few grocery bags they’d gotten.

-

“So wait, your mom was this jack of every trade, and your dad sold cars?”

“He said he’d been selling cars since he was seventeen.” Elliot chimed, slurping what was left of his ice cream.

“It sounds so boring!”

“Mom was the magic, dad was…the stage?”

“Scooter, what does that even mean?”

“Like, mom was all lights and colors, ya know? But dad was just stable. And he always would support her.”

“That…was a great metaphor. I’m sorry I doubted you.”

“You should be.”

“Oh! Another time, mom came in from being out all morning and called a family meeting-”

“Oh my god.”

“You remember, Scoot? Oh yeah. She came in with this old, hideous, weird beaded wedding dress from the thrift shop. She said she needed to work her magic and it would be as good as new.”

“Was it?”

Clove and Elliot looked to each other and said, “No!”

Elliot laughed, “She made it big enough for the neighbors dog. That’s it! Mia, right Clove? Her first girl crush.”

“I’ve heard of Mia.”

“What? You have?”

“He’s my boyfriend, Elliot, what did you expect? He just had no idea?”

“Maaaybe?”

“Nah, she told me about Mia the same day I told her about-”

“Ben Park.”

“The comic guy?”

“Yeah, and Tom’s first guy crush.”

“You like guys?”

“I don’t really have a preference. I’d be into anyone who made the world light up, but I don’t have to worry about that anymore.”

He kissed Clove sweetly, pulling away quickly as not to annoy Elliot.

“Wow. This is actually really cool to know. I guess..I guess more people get it than I thought.”

“You’re never alone, man. Even if it feels like it.”

“You guys are cooler than I give you credit for. Can we do this again sometime? Maybe Robbie could have dinner with us.”

“We can do this any time. My place is open to both of you whenever.”

“Oh…speaking of. Scooter, what do you think about me moving a town over?”

“Why?”

“We’ve just been thinking about finding somewhere-”

“Like you guys living together? That’d be cool. We could do this more. Plus, you could give me my dresser back that you took to your studio.”

“If we can, we’ll get a place big enough for you to have your own room for when you’re over. And close enough to not really make a difference, like less than an hour.”

“Really?” Elliot laid back against the couch, “Cool.”

Tom pulled an array of blankets from the closet, tossing them behind him.

“What are you doing, baby?”

“Fort time.”

“Oh my god! For real? Scooter, when was the last time we built a fort?!���

“Like your birthday that one year?”

“Oh boy. I love forts.”

They spent the next thirty minutes layering blankets over the furniture, tossing them over one another, laughing until their sides hurt. Finally, after many slips and fumbles, the three of them settled in beneath the fort, television streaming old Adam Sandler comedies.

-

“Elliot’s out officially,” Tom whispered, “We had fun tonight, didn’t we?”

“So much fun.”

“It’s kinda funny, when I was talking to him in the car before we got the food, he had much of the same sentiments as you regarding your parents. Like…different experiences, but still saw them the same way.”

He climbed behind her, holding her close.

“Elliot and I wrote them notes and burned them today. But we read them out loud and it…was nice.”

“If I could say one thing to them, I’d thank them for giving the world someone like you.”

“My mom would cry.”

“That’s where you got that from.”

“Hey! You love that about me.”

“I do. I love every piece of you.”

“Thank you for being here for me..for loving me. For loving him,” she nodded to her snoring brother, “He needs people like you in his life.”

“He’s a part of you. Of course I love him. I’ll always be here for him, too.”

“You’re amazing.”

She kissed him, sweet pecks, silently pulling beautiful affections from within him. Tom held her into the night, gently singing to her as she fell asleep. He grabbed his phone, going to her social media and scrolling down to find photos of them that she’d posted.

He felt his chest swell with emotion, blinking away fresh mist. He closed the app and looked toward the ceiling, imagining their faces as happy as they were in the photo. With a voice as low as a whisper, he said, “I’ll never be able to thank you for everything you’ve given me. I want to…I love her more than anything. I want to marry her so badly. I hope that if she says yes…if she says yes, I hope you’d approve. I hope I can make her as happy as she deserves. And I’ll be anything I can to Elliot. I swear to you, he has my heart, too. I’ll help him. I’ll guide him. Whatever I can do. Thank you…from the bottom of my heart…for these two. They’re my family.”

And he dozed away, his cheek resting in a bed of Clove’s hair, their fingers laced together. This night was full of quiet love, happy, happy love - the light of the moon dancing across the walls, much like the slow fade of two lingering silhouettes watching over them.

[cuddly-robbie-fluff]

Anti the Tickle Addict

This is a story that I wanted to write for a while but never got around to! It’s kinda like Squealing Santa, but just for one person! This is dedicated to Bubby Anti! Hope you don’t kill me, but I just had to write about how adorably ticklish you were!

Tags: @anti-switch-glitch & @franklyshipping

Warnings: This is a Tickle Fic, obviously- Swearing, Tickle Fight, that’s about it.

Ah, the snow falling outside at a gentle speed, no storm or blizzard in sight. A youtuber and his egos living in what felt like harmony. The youtuber was out on vacation to visit his family for the holidays, leaving all his different personality traits and egos, whatever they were at this point, at home to watch the house. Was this a good idea? Probably not. As long as nothing is burned down by the time he gets back. Back to the seasonal things: The smell of eggnog and cookies, peppermint candy canes hanging from the tree as decoration, the mistletoe, it was pretty obvious what time of year it was.

“Holy Shit!”

Certainly not time to hear that.

“Stupid fucking icing…”

It was Christmas, or at least… a few days before. Two of the egos had taken it upon themselves to make cookies for the holidays, but they decided to improvise their own ingredients and fun into the baking. A green haired, static like individual who was trying to pour the icing out of the tube, tapping the back as he saw nothing come out. He turned the nozzle towards himself, closing one eye to peek into the dispenser, only to have it squirt out all over him.

“Bubba Anti okay?”

A meek voice asked, snapping Antisepticeye out of his previous shock and clear annoyance at the tube of icing. It was an accident, obviously, but it still ticked him off. Robbie, the purple haired undead character in the room who was assisting in the baking adventures, picked up a napkin and wiped the icing off of Anti’s cheeks.

“All clean! All clean!” Robbie smiled.

“Thanks, Rob.”

So the baking continued. They had cut out so many different shapes! There are snowmen, Christmas trees, gingerbread men, candy canes, reindeer, Santa Claus, you name it, they probably baked it… And ate it. You can’t expect Anti of all people to bake and not eat half of the ingredients and batter. Robbie, getting covered in flour, claps his hands and made a big explosion of white powder.

Anti chuckled at that. Which only seemed to pique Robbie’s curiosity.

It was no secret that Antisepticeye was a terrifying individual. He could scare off some middle school bully, make a shark swim away, Robbie’s brother could even intimidate Thor! At least in the zombie’s wishful mind, he could! Anti had an image to uphold, he couldn’t show weakness or signs of being anything but spooky to the fandom, but when it came to Robbie? Robbie felt super special to be able to see Anti so chill and relaxed around him. That chuckle was one of the rare things that people got to see out of him.

Anti must’ve caught him staring at him because he dabbed a bit of icing onto the zombie’s nose.

“Earth to Robbie, would you rather take a picture to look at?”

Robbie blinks a few times, getting his mind back to the present.

“Anti giggle!”

“...What?”  “Anti giggle! Anti giggled!”

The blue and green-eyed ego raises an eyebrow. What was so great about his laugh? It was a glitchy pile of snorts and cackles. To Anti, it was anything but-

“Cute!! Bubby cutie giggles!”

Anything, anything but cute.

“Do it again! Giggle again!”

Anti rolls his eyes softly at the request. While it was cute, he ruffled Robbie’s hair and shook his head.

“Sorry, little bro, but Antisepticeye doesn’t giggle.”

Robbie puffs his cheeks in a pout. What was a way to get that adorable sound out again? Something to really get him hysterical. It didn’t take long to come up with an idea, setting his icing down as he wiggles his fingers menacingly. Anti glanced at Robbie again, his eyes widening ever so slightly, but Robbie noticed.

“Don’t you even think about it!”

So the chase began. Anti ran out of the kitchen, taking a turn and heading down the hallway. Robbie was hot on his tail. I’m pretty sure Anti has teleporting abilities, but he couldn’t focus enough to decide a location to take him to, and if you don’t concentrate on your powers, it can lead to bad things happening… yes… that’s totally the reason he isn’t escaping right now. Not because he totally saw this coming sometime today and loved bringing out the playful side in his little brother to start a tickle fight. None of that was true. Nope!

“The Tickle Monster wants a word with Bubby Anti!!”

“The Tihickle Mohonster can fuhuhuhuck ohohoff!!”

Anti developed a fit of snickering as he ran down the corridors of the house. They dodged furniture, ran around couches, until he finally felt a weight pounce and roll both of them to the floor, Robbie straddling his hips with a glint of mischief in his eyes that shows Anti he wasn’t getting out of this.

“The tickle monster doesn’t like chasing down his prey, Brother~”

The tone in Robbie’s voice grew more menacing. Not enough to be terrifying, but it definitely wasn’t as happy and cheerful as his daily one. It was like a totally different person, but it was still the little brother Anti knew and loved.

“Come on, Anti, you knew this was coming! It’s not like tickling is a rare sight for us, now is it?”

Oh, Anti would kill to wipe that cocky smirk off his face, but he couldn’t as he felt a wobbly smile of his own begin to grow. He was too weak to teasing for his own good. Robbie’s voice resonated between Anti’s ears, but this wasn’t the first time Robbie had taken on this tough persona to tease the ever living hell out of his older brother. Both of them knew this neck of the woods, and they knew just how bad it could get.

“Now the question is, how badly should this become? Does Anti wanna give in easily, and get the giggles Robbie’s looking for now? Orrrrr.. do we wanna play the fun games of exploring every single tickle spot Anti has, seeing which one Anti can stand more than another?~”

“Noho! Lehet’s not!” Anti swore under his breath for giggling out his answer. His stomach swells with butterflies as he felt open and vulnerable when Robbie raised both of his hands above his head, pinning them there with one hand.

“Oh, you want to, don’t you? You sound so excited! Do me a favor, brother, hold onto the table leg for me, it’ll make this easier with both hands free~”

Anti blinks, looking upwards to the coffee table legs Robbie was talking about. He wanted him to keep his arms UP!? All on his own?! Robbie snaps his fingers softly to get Anti’s attention again.

“Robbie expects some sort of answer, brother~”

Anti let out a small sigh, grabbing onto the leg of the table.

“Great! Now, should we work top to bottom? I think that’ll save your ticklish wittle toes and feet for last, wouldn’t you agree?”

Robbie got off for a moment, leaving the living room for a moment. Only to come back with a few… interesting items. A few feathers, a paint brush, a makeup brush, a hairbrush, an electric toothbrush, too many brushes if you ask Anti. Robbie picks up the feather, fluttering it at Anti’s neck, earning a squeak and a buck from the captive.

“Noho! Rohobbie, nahat the feheheathers!!” He whined.

“You aren’t in any position to give the orders, Bubby! Besides, you love the super soft and delicate touch, don’t you? Or would you rather Robbie get right into the good stuff?”

Robbie emphasized his second option by fluttering his free hand of fingers at Anti’s underarm ruthlessly, earning a snort from the glitching ego. His voice came out well, it was true, but it wasn’t what Robbie was looking for. Robbie wanted to make Anti really laugh, like laughing until you can’t think of anything else. It was what he loved hearing, and he knew Anti loved it just the same.

“Neheheheither! Just lehehemme gohoho!”

“But where’s the fun in that?”

Robbie sets the feather aside, picking up a new tool. Anti opens one eye to take a glance at the tool, only to immediately regret his decision. He picked up the hair brush.

“Where oh where should this lovely brush tickle tickle tickle the little glitchy?~ Should it be his underarms?”

Robbie trails the first few bristles down his underarm and back up a few times, making Anti turn his head away into his shoulder as he squealed.

“Should it be his many delicate ribbies?”

Moving downwards, he let the brush wander its way down each individual rib, making Anti giggle even harder.

“NOHOHO! ROHOBBIE!”

“Gosh, will you calm down, it can’t tickle that badly~”

No more being nice, he scrubs and brushes up and down along his sensitive ribs, making Anti kick his feet and cackle wildly.

“ROHOHOHOBBIE! STAHAHAP THAHAAT!” “But you look so happy! You just love being coochie coochie cooed, don’t you?” Anti’s cheeks lit up a brilliant green. “THAHAHAT IS UHUHUNTRUE!”

“Lying is very wrong, you know. You wouldn’t want the Tickle Monster knowing you’ve been lying, do you?”

Robbie pulls the brush away, letting Anti have a breather as he shook his head no wildly. Robbie giggled, having way too much fun being a tormenter to his brother. He loved making a mess of his insanely ticklish tickle spots, watching as he squirmed and laughed. He put the brush down, picking up the electric toothbrush.

The sound of it turning on was enough to make Anti start squirming. The anticipation filled the air, he didn’t move an inch, which was totally rude in Anti’s opinion as it just made him feel even more open and vulnerable and ticklish than he already was.

“Do you know where this lovely tool is gonna go?”

Anti bit his lip, swallowing as he shook his head.

Robbie lifts his thin shirt up past his stomach. Robbie looks up at Anti’s face, wondering if he’s figured it out yet. The look on his face was priceless; his eyes were the size of dinner plates, his head slowly moving side to side to say no, but Robbie could see in Anti’s bashful smile that he wasn’t wanting it to stop just yet.

Who was he to take that away from him?

“It’s going riiiight here!”

Robbie descended the torturous buzzing tool into Anti’s navel, letting it sit there as he watched the whole thing unfold. He thrashed and wailed amidst his laughter as Robbie smirked down at him teasingly, his words were making the ordeal ten times worse.

“PLEHEHEHEHEHEASE!! STAHAHAHAHAP THAHAHAT!!! IHIHI CAHAHAHA!!”

“So ticklish and so helpless, Antisepticeye, the one and only terrifying and spooky individual is here screaming and laughing like a little baby to his baby brother’s tickly tools and fingers. How embarrassing, wouldn’t you agree?”

“NOHOHOHO MOHOHOHORE!!” He squealed.

Robbie didn’t answer, however, leaning down to nibble and nip at his tasty neck. He watched as Anti threw his head back against the carpet, only exposing his neck even more for Robbie to blow a big fat raspberry into the vulnerable area.

“FAHAHAHAHACK!!”

“Such language…” Robbie frowns.

The brush seemed to be pulled out, but Anti couldn’t see where it went. But he sure felt it. It crash landed into the bowels of his hips, making the other’s body thrash even more wildly.

“IHIHIM SHAHAHARRY! IHIMSARRY! STAHAPSTOHOPSTOPSTOP!”

Robbie placed a little loving kiss to his neck as he sat back up, pulling the brush up off his body and showing Anti proof he turned it off as the sound of whirring and buzzing left the air. The only sound left in the room was Anti’s still wild, loud, giggling fit.

“Thahahahank yohohohou..” He breathed.

“You think we’re done? We got a grand finale!”

“Oho come ohon! Yohou’ve tihickled me enohohough!”

“Robbie disagrees.”

The weight on his legs moved downwards to his shins as he felt his socks being worked off. Oh god.

“Robbie could just attack these little feets of yours, Anti, or… we could find out more about that secret spot of yours-”

“NONONO HOW ABOUT WE DON’T-”

Robbie giggles. Anti sure seemed frantic about that. What, was he so worried about letting it slip where his super secret ticklish spot was? Robbie didn’t know if anyone else knew about this super sensitive spot, but oh was it a good one. Wouldn’t you like to know?

“Ahanywhere but thehere..” Anti squeaked.

Robbie, deciding to obey, nodded his head. He wouldn’t wanna give away the big surprise to just anybody. It was a tickle spot only he could share. A spot only he and Anti would know.

“Aw, only for you!” Robbie smiles, as if the past half hour wasn’t as ruthless as it seemed. “But that means Robbie gets to tickle tickle tickle these poor little feets of yours~”

The socks off and forgotten, Robbie decided his good old fashioned fingers would work like a charm here. Boy, was he underestimating how ticklish Anti was. As soon as two wiggling fingers spidered up and down each sole, Anti lost it. Anti bucked violently as Robbie relentlessly scratched and dug into the sensitive flesh.

“FAHAHAHAHAHAHACK! NAHAHAHA!! RAHAHAHABBIE!”

Robbie relished in the melodious sound of Anti’s wild laughter. Robbie can’t remember a time they’ve had a one sided tickle fight where Anti laughed this hard. It was a great way to avoid all their responsibilities, a way to make someone insanely happy and giggly, and if you’re really lucky it makes them shriek-y. Which is exactly how Anti was right now. Robbie loved it, he wished he could hear it forever.

“PLEHEHEHEHEHAHAHAHA!”

Anti couldn’t remember a time himself either he laughed so much his lungs burned, a time his eyes started to water, his chest and stomach felt tough from laughter booming out of him like a drum. No matter how insane it got, no one knew how much he adored this tickly sensation.

“Come on, this spot can’t be that bad, can it?”

“YEHEHEHEHEHEHEHES! PLEHEHEASE!!”

“Please what? Please tickle you more? Gosh, you tickle-addict~”

It only took Anti’s laughter falling silent to get Robbie to wrap it up. Pulling his torturous fingers away from the sensitive soles and toes that he’d attacked, climbing off of Anti as he watched him pull his legs up to his chest in defense as if he wasn’t done. Low and behold, Robbie knew when to call it far enough, even if Anti didn’t want it to be, but in this case Robbie assumed he did need it to be over.

The glitchy man looked exhausted. His hair was a mess, his cheeks and pointy ears were bright green, a wide goofy smile stretched across his face. His toned body was shaking slightly from all his laughing, his muscles tense and sore from squirming; but that look in his different colored eyes showed that he had just as much fun as Robbie did.

“Nehever… tehell ahahanyone abohout… thihis….”

“Robbie promises. Bubba Anti loved it way too much for it to be ruined!”

“Dihid.. Nohohot..”

Robbie raises an eyebrow, pointing upwards, and forward, with one finger. Anti follows where his brother pointed, and his cheeks only grew darker in flush.

Anti had kept his arms up and held onto the table leg the entire time.

Robbie smiled, watching as Anti slowly lowered his arms and sat up. The zombie boops a finger to Anti’s nose.

“My Ticklish Bubby~”

[jordan202]

My Boys Drabbles: Just a Feeling (Part 3)

Hey guys, like promised here goes part three. Owen is finally face to face to with ex again. Sorry about taking so long to post it! 

Previous chapters are HERE.

My Boys Drabbles – Just a Feeling (Part Three)

“Beth. It’s really you.”

Owen took his time recovering from the shock of unexpectedly bumping into his ex-fiancé. Seeing her after all those years was already surprising enough, but to find out she now taught his youngest sons felt like his past had decided to suddenly play all kinds of tricky games with him.

Beth stood up with a dignified expression on her face that seemed much more neutral and contained than Owen could ever associate with her. And somewhere in between processing all those thoughts and impressions, his mind also registered that while he felt absolutely stunned to be facing her, the teacher on the other hand didn’t seem really that surprised to casually run into him after over a decade of not seeing each other.

When met by nothing other than a quick inspection, Owen felt compelled to break the uncomfortable silence. In the past, he’d usually had a hard time getting Beth to stop talking and not the other way around.

“I... I had no idea you were a teacher here,” he confessed looking into her eyes and trying to understand what her distant expression meant. From what he could remember, Beth had always been receptive and kind whenever they saw each other after months apart and even though everything was different now, her silence was still strange.

Owen couldn’t quite expect her to smile and excitedly greet him now, but her total lack of reaction confused him. He knew years had passed and people grew and changed, but the image he’d carried of Beth during all that time had been the one of an idealistic, excited, naive young woman who was perhaps too optimistic and too much of a dreamer for her own good. Nonetheless, despite her lack of maturity, Beth had always had a good, decent heart. So it felt odd for him to face her right now and be met with an indifferent expression rather than a smile.

“I worked in Medina Elementary. It wasn’t until very recently that I took a position here,” she explained with a more polite approach.

“That’s good,” Owen swallowed hard, unsure of what else to say. He’d never really imagined what it would be like seeing her after so many years but if he had, his mind probably would have come up with something a lot different from what he was experiencing. “I hope you like the new job.”

“I do,” Beth said matter-of-factly.

“This is a great school,” Owen added, hoping the awkwardness of their interaction wouldn’t last very long.

“Yes, it is.”

The surgeon nodded, suddenly met by the uncomfortable silence again.

“It might be just an impression, but...” his voice trailed off as he looked for the best way to phrase what was conflicting him. “I kind of have the feeling that I am completely surprised to see you but you don’t look at all that surprised to see me.”

Beth gently furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at the twins standing next to them and then back at Owen.

“The first thing I got when I arrived at school was a list with all my students,” she looked at the man standing in front of her with a dumbstruck expression, as if what he was saying made no sense. “Hunt is not a rare name but it isn’t all that common either. And really, Owen? Just look at them,” Beth added, slightly shaking her head from side to side as if she couldn’t believe he was doubting that, “did you really think I wouldn’t recognize your sons the minute I first laid eyes on them?”

Owen opened up his mouth to refute her, but after realizing Beth was right, he decided not to say anything. Of all his children, Danny and Robbie were by far the ones who resembled him the most, not only in facial features but also in physical structure and maybe even in the way they spoke.

“Yeah, I guess you have a point.”

“Ms. Whitman, do you know my Dad?” Robbie interrupted their conversation, just as curious as his twin brother about the interaction between both adults.

“As a matter of fact, I do, Robbie,” Beth turned her head to face the child and her expression softened immediately, going from neutral to warm and receptive. “We met a long time ago, before you were even born.”

“Really?” Danny’s eyes widened with curiosity as he entered the conversation.

“Yes, but today your Dad is here for our meeting and he wants to hear about the two of you,” the teacher sneakily changed the focus of the conversation, knowing that as the normal six-year-olds Danny and Robbie were, they would definitely want to talk about themselves if offered a chance. “Is their mother joining us or can we start?” she asked with her best professional tone as she turned her head from the boys to their father.

“Uh, she can’t make it,” Owen replied, still disconcerted by the way Beth’s expressions would quickly change depending on whether she was talking to the kids or facing him. “She is stuck at work, so...”

“It’s alright,” Beth assured him with practicality. “I just want to update you on Danny’s and Robbie’s progress over the last trimester. We’ve had a remarkable...”

As his ex-fiancé and current sons’ teacher went on to give him a full report on how the twins were adapting to the transition from kindergarten to first grade, a much more impartial topic, Owen slowly made himself more at ease. Since he’d been caught so off guard, it had been hard at first to process anything out of that surprising encounter.

It was true that in the past he and Beth hadn’t had the easiest breakup. In fact, now he thought about it, the trauma surgeon became well aware that he’d probably been a real jerk to her at the time they had parted ways.

Not only had he taken too long to let Beth know he didn’t reciprocate her feelings and wishes, Owen had also failed to inform her he’d been back from a war zone once he made it to Seattle, even though deep down he knew she was deeply worried about him, to the point of praying for his well-being every night. Owen knew that the reason why he’d done it was because back then, he’d been caught up with a lot more than he could handle, including a serious mental condition. It had been easier to simply sweep his dirt under the rug and pretend he could start over with a clean slate rather than having to deal with what had actually happened to him.

Life had put Cristina Yang on his way and coincidence or not, she was exactly what he wanted but didn’t need in a woman at the time. Unlike Beth, Cristina was very comfortable with not knowing details and not asking any questions. And his unwillingness to face what happened to him in Iraq had been one of the reasons Owen had avoided Beth upon his return.

Even though he knew he wasn’t in love with her anymore, after their breakup Owen was pretty sure that she would have done everything within her power to try and help him if she so much as thought he was that damaged from the war. She would probably want to salvage their relationship too. The only problem at the time was that Owen wasn’t open to receiving that kind of help.

Or perhaps deep down he had a feeling that Beth was never meant to be the one with whom he could share his pain and trust his heart. Owen supposed that was true because now that he was older, had lived through things and knew better, he was sure that back then he couldn’t have connected to anyone else in the way he connected to his wife now, regardless of what he’d lived or been through at the time. It wasn’t so much about the experiences but rather how comfortable he felt to share with a particular person or not.

As Owen’s mind drifted back and forth in thoughts about the past and present, Beth’s voice broke the silence.

“So... we are done here, I guess,” she wrapped the conversation with a smile, playfully giving Danny an affectionate squeeze on his belly that made the boy chuckle and look at her with adoration in his eyes. “Can you boys please go pick up your backpacks and get the crayons you used back in the proper box? We want to keep the room tidy for tomorrow.”

“Yes, Ms. Whitman,” Robbie and Danny replied in unison.

Owen waited until the kids were out of their hearing range after noticing how Beth remained still, watching from a distance as his sons strictly followed her instructions.

“So...” Owen put both his hands in his pant pockets, drawing her attention with his voice. “You’re still excellent with kids, I see,” he commented awkwardly, unsure of how she would react at his attempt at small talk. Even though it had been years, Owen still felt awful about the way he had treated her, mostly because he had never really apologized for it. “Not that it surprises me, of course,” Owen added. “How many do you have now? Five, six?” he asked with a lighthearted tone, knowing that just like him, Beth had always wanted a big family.

Owen could swear he identified a trace of sadness in her gaze as she turned her head at him to reply.

“Eighteen,” she shrugged, apparently trying to look like she was okay with the joke but Owen knew her well enough to see that the question – and mostly the answer – bothered her.

The trauma surgeon quickly understood that eighteen was the number of children in his sons’ first grade class. And if Beth had given that as a reply, apparently regarding her beloved students as her children, it could only mean she didn’t have any kids of her own.

The realization took Owen by surprise but he didn’t have the courage to ask why she had changed her plans – or maybe why they had failed to happen? It was probably not his place to ask, anyway.

“Danny and Robbie talk about their siblings all the time,” Beth commented as she crouched down to pick up a pencil from the floor, making Owen wonder how she’d even spotted the object underneath a student’s desk in the first place. “Just yesterday they were talking about how you were flying kites with them over the weekend… They are obviously happy kids,” Beth gazed at the boys from a distance with a lingering smile. Owen saw the contrast between that and the shadow of sadness he could swear she was trying hard to conceal. “You got the whole package, didn’t you?” the teacher asked as she got up with the pencil in hand at the same time a gloomy shadow darkened her usually lively eyes. “Not that I am surprised, it is what you always wanted, I guess… What we both did.”

“Beth...”

“No, Owen, don’t,” Beth interrupted him before the surgeon could even start. She could precisely predict what he was about to do, and after taking years to recover from their unilateral decision to end their engagement, she wasn’t interested in hearing what he had to say anymore.

“I know we have both moved on and it probably doesn’t matter anymore… What’s in the past is in the past,” Owen repeated the sentence he seemed to be telling himself quite a lot lately. “But I’d just like to apologize for the way things ended between us,” he added the most considerately and kindly he could.

A daunting silence followed and Owen noticed as the face of the woman standing in front of him went through many transformations.

First she seemed surprised. Then confused. And finally, really angry.

“That’s it?” Beth scoffed, suddenly neglecting every progress she’d made in her journey to be resolved about her past. For a long time, she had tried every method possible for moving on: therapy, sports, yoga. Many years before she had finally convinced herself that she was over the heartbreak and if faced with Owen once again in her life, she would be able to simply ignore him because he couldn’t affect her anymore. Well, how wrong had she been, apparently. “You break up with me through an email, come back from the war and don’t say anything, then you get a job, start a relationship with someone else… And as if that’s not enough, you tell me to my face that my dad has cancer and walk away…” Beth summoned up the events from her perspective. “Years later that’s what I get?” for the first time that day, Owen could see a reaction on her face that seemed spontaneous instead of rehearsed whenever she looked at him. “A simple, generic apology? Are you actually serious?”

“Beth...” Owen took a long breath, suddenly regretting having gone there. He should have kept his mouth shut but something about his uncontrollable urge to come to terms with the people he’d let down had prompted him to say it.

“No,” she backed out raising her voice, for a moment forgetting they were inside a classroom and that she was at her workplace, in the company of two of her students. “Do you have any idea the pain you put me through that day?” the trauma surgeon didn’t have to ask her to know she was talking about the last time they’d seen each other. “You made me lose my ground, Owen,” her voice broke down a little as Beth struggled to contain her tears. “My ground!” she insisted, thinking back about how at the same time she had lost the man she had considered to be the love of her life and her father, the only parent she had. “I didn’t get a chance to take care of my dad because he didn’t tell me about it and I couldn’t take care of you either because you walked away. Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to lose the two of you in the same month?”

“I...” Owen struggled with his words. It was the first time he was being confronted with that part of his past and when she put it like that, he couldn’t help feeling guiltier. “I was going through some stuff at the time and I didn’t realize what I was doing. I am sorry,” Owen replied in a lower tone, trying to keep their voices down not to draw attention from the boys who were already frowning as they collected crayons across the room and noticed how worked up their teacher seemed to be. “I get it if you can’t understand it and I respect it,” Owen said with honesty, feeling even worse for how he’d failed her. “I know it must be really painful for you to come here and have to teach my children after everything I put you through, so I also want you to know that I really appreciate how good you are with them...” the surgeon said, once again taking a peek at the boys. “And how much of a bigger person you are not to let our past interfere in the way you treat them.”

The teacher took a deep breath and closed her eyes, taking her time to open them again. It became obvious she was struggling to keep herself together and Owen censored himself for bringing up the subject.

“Owen...” Beth’s voice sounded hoarse as she tilted her head and looked at him, looking almost offended. “Danny and Robbie are wonderful kids and they have nothing to do with what happened between us,” she enforced, looking at them as she swallowed hard. Those boys and their stunning resemblance with the man she had built her dreams with once were a daily reminder of her failed past and everything Beth had set to accomplish but never did. “As you said, what’s in the past is in the past. Let’s just leave it there.”

“I really didn’t mean to make your life such a nightmare...” Owen said with a guilty conscience. At the time, it hadn’t been so obvious because he had been too caught up with his own traumas. But now, it made him feel extremely remorseful to realize that not only he’d broken Beth’s heart by leaving her, but he’d also done it around the same time he’d given her the worst news of her life after bluntly letting her know her father had cancer. At the time, Owen had grown sick of everyone hiding everything from her and he’d thought that she would be better off with the truth, no matter how hard it was.

So he’d disclosed to his ex-fiancé in the hospital waiting area that unbeknownst to her, her father had been battling cancer for a while now. And then Owen had walked out to never see Beth again until today.

By the time the older man had died, Beth had lost not one, but the two most important people in her life: her father and her fiancé.

The teacher was just about to once again suggest they dropped the subject when the twins finally came from across the room carrying their backpacks, silencing the adults’ apologies and once for all putting an end to that unexpectedly raw conversation.  

.

On the short drive home, even though they had stopped to pick up the other kids, Owen was worried he might have to deal with a series of questions from the twins as to how he knew their teacher, but to his luck, they were too distracted with their siblings to bring up the subject.

But hours later though, by the time his wife got home, Danny didn’t waste any time sharing with his mother the news he’d learned earlier that day.

“How was everything with the school meeting?” Amelia asked at the same time she dropped her handbag on the counter, took off her jacket and approached the kids, giving them each a kiss on the head. “Did you meet the popular Ms. Whitman?” she asked with good mood as she looked up to meet her husband’s eyes.

Before Owen could reply, Danny intervened.

“She and Dad already knew each other, Mom,” the boy repeated what he’d learned earlier that day with a proud smile to be breaking the news, succeeding in getting his mother’s attention. “Ms. Whitman said she knew my dad from before I was even born!” he added with widened eyes, as if his father having a life prior to his birth was already shocking enough.

Amelia took in the information and looked back at her husband, using a confused expression rather than words to ask him to elaborate Danny’s revelation.

“I was going to tell you but Dan obviously beat me to it,” Owen said with a playful eye roll, knowing he really meant it. “I was surprised to find out like this, but it turns out the twins’ substitute teacher is Beth,” he unconsciously raised his eyebrows, expecting her response apprehensively as he whispered in addition, “as in, Beth Whitman. The woman I was engaged to before moving back here for good.”

As anticipated, Amelia was also taken by surprise with the information.

“Your ex-fiancé is their teacher?” she asked, thinking about the woman she’d heard about only a few times but never really met. Amelia looked at her husband almost apologetically, thinking about the couple of occasions in which she’d joked about the teacher’s manners and she talked like one of her students. “Is it the one you were going to marry when you were serving in Iraq?” she asked whispering back, unwilling to be heard from the kids considering she had no idea how much they had indeed been told.

“That one,” Owen replied tensely as he watched the twins go back to the toys they had been playing with prior to their mother’s arrival.

Over the years, Owen had shared so many of the most intimate things about his life and his past with his wife that he liked to think there wasn’t anything they couldn’t talk about. Surely some things were more difficult to discuss than others, and some topics Owen would much rather avoid if it could be helped, for various reasons.

It so happened that he wasn’t the least bit proud of the way he’d treated Beth in the past and talking about her only made Owen feel exposed in the worst way possible to perhaps the only person whose good opinion of him really mattered. So it was probably for the best not to dwell on that subject.  

“Are you okay?” Amelia asked, mistaking his reservation for discomfort. Owen had been acting a little quieter than usual lately and she was starting to wonder if something was indeed off with him.  “Did something happen?”

“No, it was just weird, that’s all,” Owen shook his head in denial, unwilling to stay trapped in his thoughts. “It’s past eight thirty already, I’ll get the kids upstairs to start their bedtime,” he proposed, crossing the distance between himself and his wife and giving her a kiss on the forehead. He’d already had dinner with the kids but had been waiting with them so that they could see Amelia for a while before going to sleep since she was working late that day. “There is a plate for you in the oven if you’re hungry.”

“I am starved,” Amelia confessed, already making her way to the kitchen. “I will catch up with you guys soon.”

The neurosurgeon had dinner and a shower at the same time Owen got the kids ready to bed. She then tucked Megan in, which didn’t take five minutes, and later spent nearly half an hour with Thomas lying on his bed as they read together until he finally fell asleep.

After giving the boy a kiss goodnight, Amelia proceeded to Lucas’ room. She made him promise he would turn off the TV after the anime he was watching was over and also got a hug and a kiss before finally turning off the lights in that bedroom.

That only left the twins’ room to go check and Amelia expected to find both boys already asleep. Nonetheless, she would go in to give them the kiss goodnight she always gave all her children.

To her surprise, she found out the bedside lamp was on and Owen was sitting between the children’s beds on a tiny stool that made him look even bigger than he already was. Even though he had his back turned to her, Amelia could tell he was reading the boys a bedtime story and she couldn’t help but stand against the doorframe and watch the scene from a distance with a smile on her face.

“Dad,” Danny’s voice echoed in the room as he contained a yawn right when his father finished reading a chapter of the story. “Did you misbehave?” he asked very seriously, but at the same time Owen noticed his son was looking at him with an empathetic, forgiving glance.

“Did I what?” Owen tilted his head to the side as he gently spoke back, confused by what Danny really meant.

“He meant when Ms. Whitman was your teacher,” Robbie offered some explanation to what was going on in the twins’ minds. “Were you in timeout a lot?”

Amelia had to contain a chuckle from where she was standing.

“No, buddy, that’s not what happened,” Owen calmly explained, smiling at the boys’ logic. “She is not old enough to have been my teacher. I knew her from before because she used to be my friend.”

Since Danny had asked if he’d misbehaved, it didn’t go unnoticed to Owen that the boys had assumed their teacher for some reason disapproved of their father. The additional question about him being sent to timeout corroborated that. They had probably picked up the animosity in the air, despite the adults’ effort to tone it down as much as they could. It made sense that the six year olds had related Beth’s attitude with misbehavior, the likely most common cause for the kids in their class to get frowned upon by their teacher.

Well, they weren’t totally in the wrong, Owen had to admit. Except that his past with Beth was more complicated than talking during class or forgetting to hand in his homework. It was true that he was going through the worst moment of his life at the time everything had happened but it didn’t make Owen feel any less awful for realizing now the pain she’d had to endure, something that at the time he couldn’t see very clearly exactly because of his own traumas.

“She’s not your friend anymore?” Danny asked with confusion and a glimpse of disappointment.

“I haven’t seen her in a long time,” Owen replied evasively. The details were too difficult to try to explain to two kids. “But what makes you think Dad might have misbehaved?” he asked Danny with a patient smile, leaning over to pull the covers on his son.

Owen noticed how the twins looked at each other, as if communicating in their own secret language before Robbie opened his mouth to answer the question that had been directed at his brother.

“Ms. Whitman seemed upset,” Robbie confessed, confirming Owen’s theory. “It was like…” the six-year-old hesitated, unsure of how to phrase what he wanted to say. “It was like Amanda when I told her that I can take care of Casper much better than she can,” the boy explained, referring to their class’s goldfish. “She can’t even reach the bottom of his tank, Dad,” he added, as if the argument absolutely proved his point.

“And Amanda was upset about what you said?” Owen raised his eyebrows with amusement, correctly supposing their sons were talking about a fellow first grader.

“She was! She didn’t want the strawberries mom put in my lunch box even though I said I would share them with her!” Robbie confided with outrage at what he apparently considered a big offense.

“I see,” Owen smiled at the dynamics of two six-year-olds innocently trying to socialize. “Maybe she just doesn’t like strawberries. How about you offer her some other kind of fruit next time?” he proposed with a playful smile. “Or even better, when grandma bakes a batch of chocolate brownies, maybe you can pack a big slice and take it to school for Amanda?”

“That’s a perfect idea, dad,” Robbie cheerfully agreed. “I bet she is going to love it!” he said with confidence. Everyone loved his grandma’s brownies.

“Maybe you can take some to Ms. Whitman too, Dad!” Danny promptly intervened, sharing his brother’s impression. “Maybe then she will like you again!”

Owen frowned, pensively. Apparently, he had reached the perfect conclusion by assuming the boys had picked up on some animosity in the air and figured that their teacher wasn’t all too pleased with their father.

“Ms. Whitman and I didn’t have a fight, Dan,” Owen said assuredly even though it wasn’t entirely true. “The only thing is that I hadn’t seen Ms. Whitman in many, many years,” he explained as he closed the book and placed it on the nightstand next to the lamp. “But it doesn’t change the fact she was a wonderful friend, and I know she is a wonderful teacher so I am glad you guys have her this year,” the surgeon added with a smile, knowing that his approval would mean a lot to the boys. Danny and Robbie liked the teacher very much and to have them so much as think their father might see her differently could conflict their heads. Owen was determined not to let that happen because his kids had nothing to do with his past and shouldn’t pay the price for his mistakes. “It’s late now, close your eyes, buddy,” he said, ruffling Robbie’s hair affectionately before pulling the covers to tighten them around his body.

Amelia chose that moment to make her presence noted and it was with smiles that she was welcomed in the room. After staying with the twins until they fell asleep, she was escorted by her husband back to the hallway.

“I am so tired I had to give my everything to resist calling it a night and just crashing on Danny’s bed with him,” Amelia confessed with a playful grin, putting both arms around herself and rubbing them to fight off the cold and exhaustion.

“Was your shift that bad? I thought you would come home after the surgery you paged me to,” Owen confessed with an understanding glance, pulling the covers on her side of the bed first so she could crawl in. After he got a positive nod in response and realized Amelia was too exhausted to elaborate an answer, he added, “I was kind of hoping we could start that show about the hostages trapped on an island on Netflix tonight,” he joined her in bed. Unlike his wife, Owen didn’t feel the least inclined to fall asleep. It had been happening quite often lately.

“Yeah, let’s do it,” Amelia agreed with a yawn. “I actually should start drafting the paper for my new research but, nope, not gonna happen.”

“If I put on the show, you’re going to fall asleep five minutes into it,” Owen shook his head with playful disapproval as he turned on the TV with the remote anyway. After returning the object to his nightstand, he used his arm to capture his wife by the waist and pull her closer.

Amelia didn’t protest but rather sought the warmth of his embrace. She’d had a really long day with back-to-back surgeries and a lot of unexpected bureaucracy to deal within her department. The following days promised to be just as busy as she once again planned a new and complicated research within her department but at least for now she could enjoy the comfort of her husband’s familiar embrace and relax while he gently stroked her hair as she lay against him with her eyes closed hearing the sound of the TV on the background.

The neurosurgeon was nearly asleep when something her husband had said earlier that night came to her memory and she suddenly couldn’t put her mind at ease again.

“What was weird?”

Owen seemed very confused by her blunt question and Amelia instantly figured out that she hadn’t explained herself very well.

“When I arrived from work today… You said that running into your ex and finding out she is teaching Robbie and Danny was weird,” Amelia reminded him, slightly rolling her head to the side and opening her eyes to meet his gaze. “Why would you think that? It’s not a word you use very often.”

Owen seemed to think for a while before he opened his mouth to reply.

“I meant to say I didn’t see it coming, I guess,” he said with a low, patient tone of voice while looking straight into his wife’s eyes. Amelia still felt his fingers gently caressing her hair and that combined with the sincerity in his gaze as he maintained eye contact with her made her sure that Owen was being honest. “It just took me by surprise… I hadn’t seen her or heard from her in years.”

Amelia took her time processing his answer. It made absolute sense that Owen would be surprised with the news. But somehow, there seemed to be more to it. As if he wasn’t only surprised, but also shocked and intrigued.

“You don’t talk much about her,” Amelia mentioned the most casually she could. Robbie and Danny had obviously gotten the impression that their teacher was upset with their father, even though he’d denied it. Amelia could only wonder what that meant.  “I mean, you never really told me what happened between the two of you.”

“There isn’t much to tell,” Owen said, hoping it wasn’t too obvious he was avoiding going deeper into that conversation or else it would only raise a flag for Amelia to ask further questions. He didn’t want to go into the subject because deep down, it ashamed him to admit to his wife how he’d treated his ex-fiancé in the past. Even though Owen supposed he had to cut himself some slack considering how unwell he’d been at the time, he still couldn’t come to terms with his realizations from that day. “We met when we really young and as we grew older, I got wiser and eventually I realized that she wasn’t the right woman for me, so we broke up,” he summed up, hoping Amelia’s tiredness would prevent her from asking further details.

Owen should suspect he wasn’t going to get away so easily, though.

“Why?” Amelia moved in his arms and gently turned her head up to maintain their eye contact. “I mean, how did you come to the conclusion she wasn’t the right one for you?”

Even though she was very serious about her question, Owen was determined to skip all those painful, unnecessary parts of his past that would probably only serve to disappoint Amelia nearly as much as he felt disappointed in himself for his past behavior.

“Because she wasn’t you,” Owen said with flattery as he possessively chucked her under the chin and stared into her eyes with a trace of playfulness before stealing a kiss from her lips.

Amelia saw right through him and his plot.

“Oh yeah?” she pretended to be on board with his game. “And are you so smart that you’ve reached that conclusion and broke up with her before you even met me?” she asked with a challenging smile.

“Exactly. I am glad you’re able to acknowledge how smart I am,” Owen brought his other hand to her face and caressed her, mesmerized by the way she looked at him and everything he saw in her eyes. “I was just killing time while waiting for you,” he added with a teasing voice.

Amelia laughed right through his exaggerated sentimentality and before she could grill him, her husband decided to share a little more.

“Okay, so… When I started dating Beth, I was this idealistic, fresh off college guy who saw the world much the same way she did,” he explained. Back then Owen hadn’t known many of the hard truths he later on had learned about life. “But then I went to war and it changed me. Beth stayed and she remained the same person. As you can see, it was only a matter of time before our perspectives collided,” he added, being as evasive as he could without being dishonest. “Especially when our relationship was already on the rocks because of the distance and everything... So that’s why it never had much of a future.”

When Owen took a deep breath and slowly let it out, Amelia wondered if she really should be pushing him to talk about that subject. She knew that even after all those years, talking about his deployments and what had happened during the time he’d been at war was still hard on her husband. If he had to relive all of those things to talk about his ex-fiancé, it was no wonder why he was avoiding the subject.

“I am sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up some hard memories. I know you don’t like talking about the war,” she considerately said.

Owen gave her a doubtful sideways glance, suspicious about the intention of her last statement considering how much in the past Amelia had used her power of persuasion to get him to talk about his time in service.

“Alright, I know I grill you about it, but only when it is for your own good!” she justified her manners, getting a playful glance in response.

“It wouldn’t be you if you didn’t,” Owen commented lightheartedly, although deep down he hoped the conversation about Beth was over.

Owen didn’t have to think about it for much longer because sooner after, Amelia finally gave in to exhaustion, quickly falling asleep next to him.

Knowing he wouldn’t be as lucky as his wife to successful rest and put his mind at ease, Owen was once again confronted by memories of his past and his misdoings.

From everything he’d learned that day, he had to admit that finding out Beth apparently hadn’t gotten married or had kids was by far what had blown his mind. Her vague answer about her life at present time and indirect admission that she didn’t have any kids was still conflicting Owen. He hadn’t seen a ring on her finger either and didn’t fully understand why that got to him.

He and Beth had spent apart the majority of the time they were a couple, mostly because Owen had been deployed. But that didn’t mean Owen hadn’t gotten to truly know Beth and what moved her.

During his life, he’d met all kinds of women. Some dreamed of being doctors, some wanted to be business owners, a few had no idea what they really wanted. And Owen knew that people’s dreams and goals changed overtime. But ever since he’d known Beth, the only thing she had ever truly wanted was to be a mom. So to find out she had made it this far in life without fulfilling that dream made Owen feel strangely sad, and to some degree, even accountable.

During the time they had been together, all Beth ever talked about was getting married, having kids and being a stay at home mom. And Owen knew that dream wasn’t just something she considered for herself but rather something she felt like defined her. Kind of like an ideal she based her entire life on, according to the teacher’s own admissions. And even though Owen knew it could very well have changed over the years, based on what he’d seen earlier that day, he had a bad feeling Beth’s life aspirations hadn’t really changed at all.

But soon enough, the surgeon wondered if that perhaps he was being too arrogant and giving himself too much importance.

What did he know, really? Maybe Beth had indeed tried. For all he knew, she could have met half a dozen guys after him and moved on with her life as he honestly wished she had. Beth could have even gotten married. Just because apparently it hadn’t worked out, it didn’t mean she hadn’t tried, he told himself.

But before Owen could control it, his gut feeling told him that it probably had not been like that. Beth was very selective. She wouldn’t be jumping from guy to guy looking for a Prince Charming. And she definitely wouldn’t marry the first guy that came along considering how much of a romantic, idealistic girl she had always been.

Up until now, Owen had never really given any thought about how much he’d affected Beth’s life by breaking up with her and leaving her alone to deal with her dying father. Maybe he was overestimating the importance of the role he had in her life but judging by how dependent Beth had been on him at the time and the spoiled, naïve and sheltered way with which she had been raised, it was only fair to assume that he’d put her through so much heartbreak that perhaps he’d played a bigger role into turning the woman into a cynical than he’d initially assumed.

You made me lose my ground, Beth had said. That wasn’t something a person who’d experienced a common heartbreak confessed. Her suffering had probably gone beyond that. And Owen knew he had a big load of responsibility for putting her through it.

It was absolutely true that he couldn’t have forced himself to love Beth in the way she wanted him to love her. Owen was in peace with that. But there were a lot of things he could have done differently.

He could have broken up with her earlier on when he’d first realized they didn’t want the same things instead of postponing it and unknowingly doing it in the worst possible moment… Just before her father got sick.

He could have called to check in on her after she’d learned the truth.

Hell, he could have at least asked about her father and offered help if she needed any kind of medical assistance…

It stung to realize this only now, but maybe for Beth, being engaged to him and getting married to him meant more than it did for the surgeon. Owen had failed to realize just how important their relationship was to her at the time. Perhaps he might have ruined her life more than he imagined, more than he’d ever considered himself capable to.

While drowning in his own guilt, Owen failed to realize that he hadn’t really been herself back then.

If he shared some of the thoughts that were torturing him with his wife, she would have rightfully pointed out that he had just been through something huge by the time everything unfolded. After going through perhaps his worst army deployment, Owen had not been in a condition to make any good decisions. In addition to that, he had already accepted that by the time he’d put an end to his relationship with Beth, he didn’t love her in the way she deserved. And frankly, even back then her presence in his life and constant badgering had already started to annoy him. He knew Beth did it with the best of intentions, but Owen just wouldn’t have put up with being questioned constantly and forced to confront his experiences in the Army, much less talking about them.

If Owen had stayed with Beth, he would never have given her the opportunity to help him, no matter how much she would have wanted to. Her attempts would increasingly irritate him, perhaps to the point where everything would backfire, causing more pain and heartbreak. Owen could be quite difficult when he was pushing people away and it was likely he could have hurt Beth even more if he’d forced himself to be around her.

Years later, it was easy to look at his past and judge himself after assuming he could have done better or tried harder. But truth was, Owen couldn’t have seen any of that at the time because he was struggling with his own demons and focusing too much on the outcome of his decisions to really see the bigger picture.

Exactly in the same way he was functioning right now.

Owen took another deep breath, trying to process everything. He couldn’t change his past and the way he’d hurt other people, no matter how much he wanted to. The burden weighing on his chest felt especially heavy after the truths he’d learned recently. Sometimes it was just too hard for him to forgive himself.

One look at the woman sleeping peacefully by his side made Owen want to try and see the silver lining. All his misdoings and mistakes, even the worst ones, had led him exactly to the life he was living right now. That was something he couldn’t take for granted. As he lay awake in bed, forcing himself to clear his mind of all those thoughts, Owen realized that he was sorry for many things. Some of his choices had been absolutely dreadful and if he could go back on them, he would.

But if there was something he wasn’t sorry about it was definitely the person lying next to him and everything they had built together. His family was by far the most important thing he had and it was his responsibility to take care of them and make sure they were okay.

Owen had hurt a lot of people on the course of his life but he would never forgive himself if he did the same to Amelia and the kids. Just the thought of it made him cringe, and the surgeon immediately closed his eyes rejecting the idea, more determined than ever to protect them from anyone and anything.  

Even if that included himself.

--