#mattie and flora | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

eviebakes · 1 year ago

Text

'til morning comes

Summary: In the twilight years of gunslingers and outlaws, Mattie is used to being on her own—and then she meets Flora.

Word Count: ~4.5K

Warnings: Violence, Explicit Language

A/N: This story was inspired by @drizzledrawings amazing cowbians art, which you should definitely go check out!! Mattie and Flora are their characters, but hopefully I did these two cowboys justice 🤠 The title is from Tessellate by alt-j. Thank you so much for reading!

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Mattie stood beneath the shade of an oak tree, an unlit cigarette between her lips.

She patted her pockets, biting back a sigh when the search failed to yield any matches.

Damn. Mattie tilted her head skyward, lifting her hat and pushing her bangs back into her hair.

Dark clouds loomed on the horizon, hinting at the promise of rain. Somewhere overhead, a hawk screeched.

June grazed nearby, just visible through the trees. Mattie debated calling her over so she could look through the saddle bags before quickly dismissing the idea.

She’d resupply when she got the chance. Maybe stop at that muddy little town she’d ridden past this morning and grab a hot meal while she was at it.

Later though.

Now, it was time to rob some bastard blind.

Mattie hummed beneath her breath as she strode through the trees, her hand brushing against the worn leather of her holster. The ground, still wet from last night’s rain, sunk beneath her boots with every step.

She found a good vantage spot on the edge of the road and tucked herself against a tree, half-obscured by the surrounding foliage.

A covered wagon rolled past, a man and woman arguing loudly over supplies. Then, a group of men on horseback, all of them grim faced and armed to the teeth.

Mattie waited patiently, biding her time.

Experience had taught her that it was better to wait for the right target. Even if there were less lawmen in this part of the country, picking the wrong person could lead to trouble.

Mattie straightened from her lean when a woman appeared down the road sitting astride a piebald horse, a white hat pulled low over her face.

Mattie eyed her consideringly—but to her surprise, the woman raised her head and looked straight at her.

Their eyes met. The woman gave her a once-over and smiled, touching the brim of her hat as she rode past. After a moment’s hesitation, Mattie returned the gesture and resumed her vigil.

Half an hour passed before another single rider appeared. A man this time, unarmed and covered in road dust.

Perfect.

“Help me,” Mattie gasped, limping out of the brush and stumbling to the ground in front of him. “Oh, God—please help me!”

“Whoa!” The man pulled his horse to a stop and dismounted, eyeing her warily. “What’s wrong, miss?”

“I-it’s my ankle,” she whimpered, clutching at her foot. “Somethin’ is wrong with my ankle!”

He hesitantly took a step closer, the watch chain on his vest glinting in the sun. “What happened?”

“My horse bucked me and r-ran off into the woods,” Mattie panted. “Please, mister. Can you help me find him?”

He shifted on his feet, seemingly torn between pity and suspicion. But Mattie was a good liar and, after several days of traveling, she didn’t have to feign dishevelment.

“Please,” she said, her voice cracking, and his expression finally softened. Got you.

“Here, let’s get you up,” he said, crouching beside her. “We’ll find your horse, miss.”

He helped her to stand and, as soon as she put weight on her foot, Mattie pretended to stumble into him.

Her fingers skimmed against the watch chain right as he moved to catch her, causing her hand to knock into his stomach. Shit.

Before she could play it off, he grabbed her wrist. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Let go of me!” Mattie snapped, dropping all pretense.

Her free hand went to her holster when he only tightened his grip. “I should’ve known better! You’re nothing more than a goddamn—"

They both froze when a horse appeared down the road at a full gallop, heading straight for them.

The man released her with a curse, and Mattie dove away as the rider desperately pulled back on the reigns to avoid them.

The horse reared, the rider tumbling off the saddle and hitting the ground with a cry.

The man rushed over to help, and Mattie took advantage of the distraction to crawl into the undergrowth. Breathless, she peered through the leaves to watch the scene unfold.

“Miss! Miss, are you okay?”

“I-I think so. J-just a little shaken.”

“Here, let me help you sit up. Careful now—take it slow.”

Mattie narrowed her eyes. It was the same brunette who’d ridden past earlier. Why’d she come back this way…?

“Thank you, sir,” she said as the man helped her up, hastily offering an arm when she swayed unsteadily on her feet. “I truly appreciate your kindness.”

“If anything, I should be thanking you. You interrupted some ugly business—a would-be thief trying to rob me.”

“How awful!”

She clutched the man’s arm more tightly, and the sleight of hand was so subtle, so natural, that Mattie almost thought she’d imagined it.

But no—the woman smoothly tucked the watch up her shirtsleeve a moment later, her eyes never once leaving the man’s face. “I’m lucky I ran into you instead—I could’ve been in even more trouble!”

Unlike Mattie’s fumbled attempt at pickpocketing, the man didn’t so much as blink. “Don’t worry, now. She seems to have scampered off in the chaos.”

“Thank goodness for that! The roads can so unsafe sometimes.”

Mattie ground her teeth, fuming at the turn of events. This had to be a damn joke.

But as the man helped her onto the horse, the brunette turned to look right at the spot where Mattie had concealed herself—a flash of dark, mischievous eyes.

And then she winked.

What. The. FUCK.

_________

A few hours later found Mattie at the saloon, nursing a lukewarm beer while she sulked.

What a waste of a day. Hours spent staking out a decent spot along the road, and nothing to show for it but a bruised ego. She’d been outmaneuvered and out—out thieved, and it pissed her off to no end.

She took an angry gulp of beer, slamming down the bottle in a futile effort to relieve some of the frustration prickling beneath her skin.

No one paid her any mind. It was late afternoon, and the saloon was blessedly empty save for a few men playing poker.

Tomorrow, she’d start fresh. Ride to that town north of here and rob any easy targets she found along the way.

Tonight though, Mattie just wanted to forget the whole shitty day.

She drank her way through several more beers while the saloon slowly filled with people, the wall lights flickering to life as the sunlight faded. Carts and stagecoaches rumbled past outside, joining the piano music and the hum of conversation.

One of the poker players sidled up to the bar, squeezing into the open spot beside her. He was around her age, his hair slicked back with too much pomade.

He ordered a whiskey, subtly glancing at her while the bartender filled a glass for him. Mattie ignored him, keeping her gaze forward.

She bit back a sigh when he fully twisted to face her. “Well, aren’t you a sight for sore—"

“Not interested,” Mattie broke in flatly, not even bothering to look at him.

“I’m just trying to have a conv—”

“Get. Lost.”

His ears reddened, but there were too many people around for him to do more than shoot her a dirty look. “You aren’t that pretty anyways.”

“Good one. Very original,” Mattie said beneath her breath as he staggered away.

“Right? A real charmer,” someone said at her elbow.

Mattie tensed. It was the brunette—smiling at her like they were the best of friends. “You.”

“Me,” she agreed easily, resting her arms on the bar and nodding at the empty bottles. “Tough day, huh?”

“No thanks to you,” Mattie hissed accusingly, jabbing a finger at her. “You robbed me.”

“I thought about robbing you, but you didn’t look like you had much.”

She gaped. “You serious?”

“No, I’m Flora.”

“You—that’s not—!” Mattie pressed her lips together, glowering. “So…so you just came here to gloat then?”

“I came here for a drink, sunshine.”

Sunshine…? Mattie mouthed stupidly, her glare faltering. It was like she’d encountered a whirlwind—one that was two steps ahead of her.

“This was the closest town in riding distance,” Flora said, gesturing at the sunflower on Mattie’s hat in answer to her unspoken question. “And I was gonna rob the first good target I ran into out there. Don’t read too much into it.”

Her voice was friendly, but lacked the flirtatiousness from the road. It’d just been part of the act, like pretending to fall off her horse or Mattie’s damsel in distress ploy.

“Well aren’t you good at what you do,” Mattie said, like she had a mouthful of marbles.

“Awful sweet of you for noticing,” Flora said, grinning when she rolled her eyes. “Tell you what. Your next round is on me.”

“No thanks,” Mattie said, scowling. “I don’t need your pity.”

“Hey, if I feel bad for anyone, it’s that poor bastard from earlier.” Flora leaned closer, one of her braids sliding over her shoulder and grazing Mattie’s arm. “He was the one getting robbed today, one way or another.”

A laugh bubbled from the back of her throat. Mattie barely managed to turn it into a cough because—yeah, she had a point. “Just one drink.”

“That’s the spirit,” Flora said cheerfully, catching the bartender’s attention and tossing a few coins on the bar.

“But this doesn’t make us friends,” Mattie added, catching the drink Flora slid her way.

“Whatever you say,” Flora agreed amicably, clinking their bottles together. “Cheers.”

She waited until Mattie took a sip, smiling with the lip of the bottle still pressed to her mouth. “That wasn’t so bad, was—"

“Hey,” someone interrupted loudly. They simultaneously looked over their shoulders. “Hey, you. Irish.”

“Oh good,” Flora said lightly, turning and propping a hip against the bar. “Mr. Charmer is back for another round."

“Course he is.” Mattie clenched her jaw, twisting to face the man. “What do you want now?”

It took him a full second to focus on her. “I want to know what your problem is.”

“My problem is that I’m tryin’ to have a peaceful evenin’, and you keep botherin’ me.”

“I’m just trying to be friendly.” He leaned closer, his breath making her nose crinkle. “What, you’re too good for a conversation?”

“Is that what you call this?” Mattie looked at him coolly, her lip curling. “If you want to talk so badly, go pay someone for it.”

He flushed a dark red when Flora snickered, something ugly flashing across his face. “You really think you’re better than me, huh.”

“Oh no, I wouldn’t go that far, but at least I don’t spend my time harassin’ folk and—what was that other part again?”

She pretended to mull it over before snapping her fingers. “Oh right. I don’t smell like fucking pig shit.”

Mattie raised her bottle in a sarcastic salute and turned back toward the bar, already anticipating his next move.

Sure enough, he grabbed her arm and tugged her toward him. “We aren’t done talk—"

The words cut off in a howl of pain when Mattie deftly flipped her bottle and smashed it against his face. He stumbled backwards and tripped over a chair, taking another man down with him as he fell.

The uproar was immediate. A few people ran for the exit, but the drunkest men joined the fray—hooting and hollering as they laid into one another.

Mattie didn’t wait to see the outcome. She sidestepped two brawling men and beelined it toward the exit, dodging neatly out of the way when someone ran past with a chair and threw it through the window with a whoop.

She’d almost reached the saloon doors when a hand clamped down on her arm and yanked her backwards.

Mattie twisted, catching a flash of Pig Shit’s bloodied face right before he plowed her in the cheek.

She spun with the force of the blow, tasting blood as pain erupted across her entire face. Mattie barely avoided his next few swings, landing a single punch before he decked her again.

Her vision went white. She flew into a table and crashed to the floor, shot glasses and bottles raining down around her.

Mattie struggled to her knees, shards of glass digging into her skin. Pig Shit’s boots appeared in her line of vision, the leather worn and muddied.

“Not so superior now, huh,” he sneered, kicking aside her hat as she spat out blood. “Bet you’re regretting that smart mouth of your—"

He staggered when something connected with his head, his expression frozen in surprise for the briefest second before he crumpled in a heap.

“With a mouth that big, he’s sure one to talk,” Flora said disdainfully, tossing aside the broken table leg while Mattie gaped at her. “Come on, sunshine—on your feet.”

“I’m surprised you’re still here,” Mattie panted as Flora hauled her up and pushed her hat into her hands. “Figured you’d be long gone.”

“Well, you’re glad I’m not, right?” Flora retorted, her gaze locking onto something across the bar. Mattie wiped at her bloody lip and looked over her shoulder.

Two of the poker players—likely Pig Shit’s buddies—were shoving their way through the crowd in their direction.

“Can you run?” Flora asked urgently, grasping her wrist.

“I think so.”

“Then run,” she ordered, already tugging Mattie towards the exit.

They shouldered through the saloon doors and raced across the street, Flora leading them into a dark alleyway between a row of buildings and a fence where several people were loitering.

Without warning, Flora pulled off her hat and crowded her against the wall, pinning their hats between them.

“What’re you doin’,” Mattie hissed as Flora casually wrapped her arms around her waist. “This is the opposite of runnin’.”

“It’s called hiding in plain sight,” Flora whispered, settling into the embrace. She was a few inches shorter than Mattie, her temple fitting perfectly in the curve of her jaw. “Play along.”

Mattie bit back a retort when footsteps echoed down the alley, bowing her head as the men ran past—but young lovers hiding in the shadows was nothing unusual, and they didn’t so much as spare them a glance.

Flora stepped away as soon as the footsteps receded, placing her hat on her head. “Where’s your horse? You might be able to sneak away without them noticing.”

Mattie rested against the wall, biting back a wince while she probed at her cheek. Her left eye was already swollen shut. “The only place I’m goin’ tonight is a hotel.”

“Right,” Flora said, drawing out the word into multiple syllables and somehow injecting skepticism in all of them. “And you’re doing that why…?”

“’Cause they’ll be expectin’ me to jump town tonight,” Mattie explained. “Better to hunker down now and head out early.”

“That’s…actually pretty smart.”

She sounded insultingly impressed. Mattie huffed. “Give me some credit here.”

“The hotel is just around the corner,” Flora said, ignoring her. “We should head there now before our new friends decide to come calling again.”

Mattie looked at her sharply. “We?”

“You’re not the only one in danger,” Flora said, her tone losing some of the levity that’d been there all night. “They’ll be looking for me too.”

Mattie shook her head, too tired to argue. “Fine, but you’re not—"

“—your friend,” she broke in, raising an eyebrow. “I know.”

“No, that’s not—” Mattie put on her hat and pulled some coins from her pocket, pushing them into Flora’s hand. “I was gonna say that you don’t need to pay for the rooms since it’s my fault you’re in this mess.”

Flora gazed down at her palm for a moment, looking taken aback for the first time that day. Her eyes were bright when she glanced up, a smile tugging at her lips. “Thanks, partner.”

Mattie grunted and made her way toward the street. Flora fell into step beside her, undeterred. “Buddy?”

“No.”

“Pal?”

“Ugh.”

She thought for a moment before snapping her fingers. “Compadre.”

“Don’t push your luck,” Mattie warned without heat, tilting her hat down to hide her smile when Flora just laughed.

“Maybe you should stay here,” Flora suggested when they reached the hotel. Light spilled through the windows, casting flickering shadows across her face. “You might, uh—”

Mattie snorted, sinking into a squat beside the water barrel sitting on the edge of the hotel porch. “Draw some attention?”

“Just a little,” Flora agreed. She hesitated, then untied the red bandana from her neck and held it out. “Here, sunshine. Your lip is bleeding again.”

“Mattie,” she corrected, gratefully accepting the piece of cloth. She realized Flora was staring at her after a second. “My name’s Mattie.”

“Mattie,” Flora said slowly, like she was testing the weight on her tongue. “It suits you.”

She looked up, caught off guard by the sincerity in her voice. Flora was already walking away, her boots clunking softly across the wood.

Mattie exhaled and pressed the bandana to her mouth. It smelled like clean linen and something slightly floral.

She closed her eye and leaned her head against the barrel, breathing in the scent of water-soaked wood. Her face throbbed, the pressure almost unbearable around her eye socket.

Someone was humming nearby, the tune fading in and out. A horse walked past on the street, its hooves thudding against the packed dirt road.

Mattie didn’t realize she’d dozed off until someone touched her shoulder. She jerked away, her hand shooting to her knife, but it was just Flora.

She pushed unsteadily to her feet. “We good?”

“Kinda. They only had one room left,” Flora said, trading a key and the remaining coins for her bandana. “You alright with sharing for the night?”

Mattie shrugged one shoulder. “If you wanted me dead, you’ve had a few chances.”

“And we’ve already established you have nothing worth robbing,” Flora joked, moving toward the hotel entrance.

“That too,” she said dryly, tipping her hat over her face as they passed the front desk and climbed a creaky set of stairs.

The room was surprisingly spacious, with a lit hearth and two neatly made beds.

Flora opened the window while Mattie tossed her hat onto the closest bed and went over to the washstand.

She pulled a towel from the rack and poured water into the basin, wincing when she caught sight of her reflection. Shit.

Flora was watching her when she turned around, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. “That’s looking pretty bad.”

“Feels worse,” Mattie muttered, sitting on her bed and balancing the basin on her lap.

She wet the cloth, pausing when Flora stepped in front of her and touched her wrist.

“Let me help you with that,” she offered softly, waiting until Mattie gave a terse nod before sliding the cloth from her hand.

Flora retrieved the chair from the corner of the room and sat down, shifting forward until her knee bumped into her thigh. Mattie tensed when she grasped her chin, her fingers cool against her overheated skin.

“So, ‘peaceful evening,’ huh,” Flora said, dabbing the cloth against her lip. “I hate to see when you really let loose.”

“I doubt you could handle it,” Mattie said more airily than she felt, her eye darting to Flora’s face when she laughed.

“Oh, I think what I can handle would surprise you,” she said lightly, her fingertips sliding across Mattie’s jaw as she turned her face—the pale imitation of a tender touch.

“Why’re you helpin’ me so much?” Mattie demanded, feeling suddenly defensive.

Flora glanced at her through her lashes, a ghost of a smile on her lips. “Maybe I have a soft spot for underdogs.”

She bristled. “I’m not a charity case.”

“And I’m not your enemy,” Flora said quietly, her thumb resting on the soft underside of Mattie’s chin. “Besides, everyone needs a little help now and then—even tough cowboys like you.”

Flora dipped the cloth in the basin and ran the cloth over her swollen cheek, the motion achingly gentle—and Mattie abruptly realized the answer to her own question.

Kind. Flora was helping her because she was kind.

Mattie shot Flora a subtle glance, her eye moving from the furrow of concentration between her brows to the soft curve of her face.

Flora lifted her arm to inspect the cuts left behind from the broken glass, the motion causing Mattie’s knuckles to skim against her shirt.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, followed by the soft patter of raindrops against the window. A gust of wind fluttered the curtains, filling the room with the scent of rain.

“There,” Flora said after securing a makeshift bandage over the deepest cut, sitting back in the chair as she surveyed her handiwork. “Good as new.”

“Just about,” Mattie said, cradling her arm to her chest. She hunched in on herself when Flora smiled, the skin at the corner of her eyes crinkling. “What?”

“You aren’t so tough, are you? You just need someone to look after you.”

“Yeah yeah,” Mattie muttered, her cheeks warming. She picked at a thread on her pants as Flora stood and stretched her arms over her head. “Hey, uh…”

Flora looked at her, letting her arms drop to her sides.

“Thank you.” Her eye darted to Flora and away again. “For everythin’.”

Mattie stared fixedly at the peeling wallpaper, but she could still feel Flora’s smile. “You’re welcome.”

_________

Mattie woke early the next morning, her entire face aching.

She stared blearily at the ceiling, breathing through the pain for a few minutes before sitting up and pulling on her boots.

It was still dark out, the only light coming from the dying embers of the fire. Mattie put on her hat, glancing at where Flora was sprawled across the other bed. For a moment, she thought about leaving her.

The impulse faded as quickly as it had come. It would’ve been a shit way to repay her kindness.

“Flora,” she said quietly, touching her shoulder. Flora sat up, instantly—enviably—awake. “We should go before the sun is up.”

They left the hotel a few minutes later and retrieved their horses from the hitching post in front of the saloon, following the road northeast until the town had disappeared behind them.

The ground was still wet from the rain, mud splattering onto their boots while they rode and a cool breeze ruffling their hair.

When the town was several miles behind them, they paused beside a river to refill their canteens while the first glint of sunlight pressed through the trees.

“Your horse is beautiful,” Flora said, shaking her hair loose from its ties and redoing her braids. “She seems so sweet.”

“Looks can be deceivin’,” Mattie said with a snort, glancing at where June was drinking from the river. “Tamin’ her cost me a sprained ankle and two cracked ribs. June’s a feisty one.”

“Just like her rider,” Flora teased, grinning when Mattie scoffed. She swept her braids over her shoulder and nodded at her horse. “Meanwhile, Bandit would gladly sell my soul for a peppermint.”

Mattie released a startled laugh. “Everyone has their price.”

“Oh! Speaking of...” Flora rummaged in her saddle bag and tossed Mattie a small sack. “Your cut.”

“My cut?” Mattie frowned and opened the bag, nearly choking when she saw the contents. “Where the hell you get this?”

“From the saloon,” Flora said innocently, her eyes shining. “I took the liberty of robbing the place blind after the fight broke out.”

Mattie gaped at her. “But why are you givin’ me half your share?”

“Because you started the fight.”

“You are somethin’ else,” Mattie said, shaking her head and stowing the money in her saddle bags. “How’d you get so good at stealin’, anyways?”

“Lots of practice,” Flora said, looking pleased as punch. She pulled a cigarette from her pocket and lit it, inhaling deeply. “Your brand of chaos isn’t half bad either.”

Warmth flooded her cheeks. Matie retrieved a cigarette too, more for something to do with her hands than because she wanted a smoke.

She put the cigarette between her lips and patted her pockets for a match before abruptly remembering the previous day.

“Goddammit,” she sighed, shaking her head when Flora looked at her questioningly. “I meant to pick up matches in town, but then—”

“You picked a fight instead?”

“Well—yes, but—” Mattie smiled winningly, the cigarette still between her lips. “These things happen.”

“For some more than others, I imagine,” she laughed, exhaling a cloud of smoke from the side of her mouth. “Come here.”

Flora leaned forward, tilting up her face so the ends of their cigarettes touched. Her eyes flickered up for a breath, the light catching on her face.

Mattie had spent time in Arizona before realizing how much she’d preferred the plains and forests to the unyielding heat of a semi-desert, but the land out there had been something special.

The ring of color around Flora’s pupil was the exact same shade as the rocks had been in the soft light of morning, a richness and depth of color that faded into the same warm tones found in coffee or the earth.

And then Flora straightened, leaving Mattie to take a deep, shaky drag of her cigarette.

She held the smoke in her lungs before releasing it through her nose. “So, where’re you headed next?”

“I was thinking of going to a town about twenty miles north of here,” Flora said, flicking cinders from the end of her cigarette.

“I know the place,” Mattie said, cutting her eye to the side. “It’s more of a proper city than this dump was.”

“Exactly.” Flora grinned, propping a hand on her hip. “Lots of places for folks to drop some money or lose some valuables.”

Mattie chuckled. “Oh, I’m sure.”

“What about you?” Flora asked once they’d finished their cigarettes and had mounted their horses. “More bar fights in your future?”

“Not for the time bein,’ no,” Mattie said, leaning down to stroke June’s neck. “I was plannin’ on headin’ north too. You know, if you don’t mind ridin’ together for a bit.”

“That depends.” Flora tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “You always this much trouble?”

“Sometimes,” Mattie admitted, leaning forward in the saddle. “But I can usually make it worth your while.”

“Somehow I don’t doubt it,” Flora said, her smile as bright as the new day. “Lead on, sunshine.”

Mattie ducked her head to hide her own smile, facing the horizon.

Together, they rode towards it.

#mattie and flora #flora and mattie #cowbians #cowboy lesbians #wlw #cowboys #fanfiction #fanfic #rdr2

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frettchanstudios · 2 years ago

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This was a fun and informative collaboration with the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia @iscbc. My design features a child removing invasive plants allowing native species to thrive. It will be used as a part of ISCBC's education program in the form of stickers and signs posted in areas of stewardship work.

You can read more about it here: https://bcinvasives.ca/news/knowledge-sharing-and-storytelling-through-stickers/

#art #artist #frettchanstudios #insavie species #british columbia #chantelle trainor-matties #indigenous #invasive plants #flora #plant life

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bandcampsnoop · 2 years ago

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8/13/23.

I saw that Krischan (Frischluft! Tonträger) had bought this the other day. I listened and was immediately hooked. But, I was traveling so I completely forgot. Today, it got the Mawkish Twaddler stamp of approval and stayed on my radar long enough to get the coveted Sunday post.

Vasas flora och fauna is a Vasa, Finland band that play sweet, gentle indie pop. The kind of sound what The Kings of Convenience might sound like if they sped up their songs and played more indie pop. Of the Finnish posts, I would say this trends closest to Matti Jasu - but really this is more in the vein of BMX Bandits (with vocals that sound nothing like Duglas).

This is released by Swedish label Startracks.

#Vasas flora och fauna #Vasa #Finland #Startracks #Sweden #The Kings of Convenience #Matti Jasu #BMX Bandits #Duglas Stewart #Bandcamp

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kittyhasskittles · 2 months ago

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@drizzledrawings I hope I did Flora and Mattie justice for some warmup sketches. Hope you like it 🫶

Been stuck on what to draw for some of my own cowbians I have with a friend and your cowbians give me inspo sometimes.

Silly note below the header:

This town ain't big enough for the two of us to have ocs with fox representation. We duel at sunrise.

Jk jk

I think they'd get along great.

#art #artists on tumblr #not my oc #digital art #digital drawing #original character #cowboy oc

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httpssturns · 15 days ago

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Flora..

flower crowns, frolicking, and a little hair lesson with reader and Matt!

notes: fluffy, established relationship, flower filled, teaching Matt how to braid hair, clumsy, idiots in love, pet names, I need this 💔

“Just loop this one around the other, anddd.... Done!” You exclaim triumphantly, before placing the flower crown on Matt’s soft, brown locks.

You and Matt love nature. You both love the breeze and the green of the trees, the butterflies and the bees that flutter around all of the beautiful flowers. Even the birds that hum around the sky, the wind ruffling through their feathers.

Nature had always been something that you two bonded over, a common interest that just made you both like each other even more.

“Its kind of like braiding, just with flowers and stems instead of hair.” You grin softly, booping his nose with the pad of your thumb.

“Like braiding?” Matt asks curiously, adjusting the crown on his head with an almost adorable demeanor. “I’ve never tried braiding before, I don’t really know how it works.” He chuckles, his hand threading through his own hair to fix the tousled strands.

“Oh, really? I could teach you if you'd like!” You say with an excited lilt, already scooting closer to him against the plush grass.

“Ah- okay, alright.” Matt chuckles, almost protesting but stopping himself, he knows you're just going to do it anyway.

You plop into his lap, your legs straddling his waist as you shift to get comfortable, before a soft smile graces your lips.

“Okay, so first, you have to get three sections—try to make them equal, but it's okay if you don't. I struggle with that a lot.” You laugh softly at the end, taking a small piece of your hair to section it into three pieces.

“Then, you cross this piece under this one,” You explain, holding up the two pieces to show him how to do it.

“Then, you do the same but with the third piece, and you repeat that until you get to the end!” You conclude, finishing the braid and letting it unravel.

“Can..can I try now?” Matt murmurs, a soft pink hue on his cheeks. He's been like this since you sat in his lap. He's always been the shy type.

“f’course you can, baby!” You chirp, enthusiastically sitting up and putting your hands in your lap.

Matt’s blush deepens, the sight of you so excited and ready for him to braid your hair making his heart skip a beat and his stomach flutter.

He takes half of your hair, deciding to give you two big braids. He needs constant reassurance, his hands slightly shaky—not because he's nervous or anything, but because he's always been a bit of a shaker.

He asks you about every 5 seconds; “Is this right?” “Am I doing this okay?” “Is it too tight, petal?” when he's been braiding probably the loosest braid in existence.

When he finishes, he gives you a tentative smile, before picking up his camera and taking a picture of you so you can see.

“They’re so cute, Matt!” You coo softly, touching the braided sections of hair. The braids aren't perfect by any means—messy, loose, some hairs are sticking out a little, but theyre his. He made them, and that makes them more beautiful than any professional hair appointment could do.

“Really? I know they arent the best—the ones you do are way better...” He mumbles softly, the pink of the tips of his ears seemingly permanent.

You cut him off with a soft peck to his lips; just a touch, but still conveying all of the words he needs to hear.

“they’re perfect to me, Matty. I promise I love them.” You murmur, booping his nose with your thumb once again before snuggling into his embrace, feeling his arms drape around you.

By the end of the day, with flora scattered around you both and grass on your clothes, unraveled braids in his hair and yours, all that matters in this flowery meadow is you and him;

Matt and his petal.

@strangergraphics for the dividers

☆ soph's notes: bae @viviansturns actually gave me this idea, so I hope she really enjoys it! writing is surprisingly a lot more fun during a road trip ✨️

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ @sugarraez @ribbonlovergirl @slvt4subchratt @sturnsblogs @oopsiedaisydeer @backwardshatnick @izzylovesmatt @viviansturns @courta13 @coquettechris @matts-wife @matts-babytomatoes @whore4chris @ilsaxdemi @bambi-cloud9

comment below to be added to the main taglist!

#☆˚ 𝑺𝒐𝒑𝒉 ˚☆#ˏˋ°•*⁀➷#matt sturniolo #chris sturniolo #nick sturniolo #sturniolo triplets #matt x reader #matt sturniolo x you #matt sturniolo x reader #matthew sturniolo #matthew sturniolo fluff #matthew sturniolo angst #matthew sturniolo fanfic #matthew sturniolo x reader #matt sturniolo fanfic

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drizzledrawings · 8 months ago

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Lesbians deserve to kiss while the world goes up in flames around them

#take this as a gift for these trying times #cowbians #mattie and flora #cowboy lesbians #drizzledrawings #original characters #illustration #lesbian art #lesbians #lesbian #wlw #wlw art #western #cowboys

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surprise-sausage-party · 2 months ago

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(Enchanted AU part 4)

Alistair walked around his many gardens, trying to clear his head by tending to the flowers.

he was so invested in his beautiful greenery that he didn't even take notice of all the animals that had gathered around him to watch..

..multiple little bunnies, birds, rats and even a lone little deer glancing over his shoulder.

they all stood around the realm's ruler, watching as he added some new types of flora to the already blooming scenery around them.

Alistair took a deep breath as a peaceful smile formed on his lips.

“PAPA!!!!” It would seem the king’s peace wouldn’t last for long, as his tiny son came galloping to his side, riding one of the large rats like a valiant steed. There was an urgency in the young prince’s voice as the fluffy mini horse sized rodent skidded to a stop at Alistair’s feet.

“PAPA! PAPA! COME QUICK!!!” Felonious was practically shouting.

“ITS MAMA MATTIE AND DADDY CEBBY!!”

————

While it was true that the king’s peace wouldn’t and prince took to the two humans insanely quick, it would seem that some of his subjects thought otherwise.

“Look at that human scum!” A maid hissed while pouting in the direction of the maiden she was supposed to be serving. Matilda was blissfully unaware of the two fae talking nastily about her. No, the honey eyed woman’s full attention was on lovingly bathing the rodents that normally flocked her beloved Alistair’s side.

“Thinking she’s all that because the KING adores her! She’s just his pet! A pretty pet, but a pet nonetheless!”

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drizzledrawings · 9 months ago

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Guys GUYS!!

A/N: I wrote a little fanfic based of @drizzledrawings shapeshifting cowboys, Mattie and Flora. Particularly their now deeply tragic lore and this tumblr post :,)

Word Count: 4.6K

Warnings: Violence, Character Distress

Summary: Mattie and Flora, stuck in the middle of a sandstorm after being ambushed and betrayed by Mattie’s brother, have to fight to get out of the desert with their lives.

I hope y’all enjoy :)

#gonna go read this and cry #and then I’m gonna write an essay about it #cowbians #mattie and flora

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suugarbabe · 2 years ago

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Saving Grace V||

Chapter 7 | FINAL CHAPTER

Word count: ~2.9k

Warning: fluffy fluff

an: this is the LAST chapter. I will not be adding any more to this series. I loved writing it, but it’s time to move on to the next. I’m totally open to asks about side details or mini blurbs if you would like but otherwise we have ended with saving grace 🖤 not proof read either sorry xx

Featherlight touches along the outside of your arm are what woke you from your slumber. You turned on to your back only to be welcomed by velvet soft lips attaching themselves to the underside of your jaw. You couldn’t help the smile that spread to your face, “Good morning to you too, Matty.” You felt him smile against your skin, “Every morning is good when I wake up to you in my bed.”

You duck further into Mattheo’s chest as a pillow is thrown toward the both of you. “Can you guys not be so sickening in the morning, you’re going to make me vomit and I haven’t even fully woken up,” Draco’s morning rasp make his complaint sound more serious then he truly meant, but you and Mattheo laughed all the same.

“You’ll never be in a relationship with that attitude, Cousin,” Mattheo teased the older boy, only to be told to sod off as Draco rolled back over. Mattheo turned back to you, “We’re not sickening are we? Have I gone soft?” You pecked his lips in a chaste kiss, “Never, darling. You’re still intimidating, don’t worry.”

Mattheo smirked at you humoring him, “Well, Princess, I hope I’m not intimidating to you because I have something to ask.” You raised your eyebrows in anticipation, “Go on.”

He rested his palm against your cheek, his eyes filled with adoration. He traced the apples of your cheeks with thumb, wetting his lips with his tongue before he spoke. “Angel, would you do me the honors of going to the Yule ball with me?”

The grin that appeared on your face must have been infectious because Mattheo mirrored it immediately. “A thousand times yes,” you grabbed hold of the back of his neck, pulling him in for a deep kiss. He hummed against your lips, slightly stunned at your boldness but soon echoed your passion, grabbing hold of your waist and pulling you to straddle his hips.

He sat up, lips still connected, tongues battling for dominance as his hands squeezed and needed at the flesh of your thighs and bum. You ran your hands down his strong chest, nails raking against the muscles on his abdomen eliciting a low groan from Mattheo. However, before anything could get too heated, three pillows collided with your bodies, all thrown from different directions of the room.

You broke apart from Mattheo, grabbing hold of a rogue pillow and whipping it at the nearest bed to you. “Ow, what the fuck, Mattheo control your woman,” Theo was rubbing the side of his head where the pillow had connected.

Mattheo grinned, giving your bum another full squeeze, “She’s uncontrollable, Nott. You’d know if you had any balls third year.” You gasped, mouth in a wide smile as you smacked Mattheo’s chest. He grabbed hold of your wrists, leaning in for another kiss amidst the groans of his dorm mates.

The next two weeks were a whirlwind of planning for you; planning your dress, planning Mattheo’s dress robes, planning your hair, your makeup. Thankfully, Pansy, Ottie, Darcy and Flora were by your side the entire time. Unsurprisingly Pansy had agreed to go with Draco to the ball, but what was surprising was your other three friends agreeing to go with Enzo, Theo and Blaise.

You were thrilled that your friends would be able to go with the same group as you; this made going dress shopping more enjoyable. You had fought Mattheo for two days about him buying your dress; eventually, you lost, but that also meant that you could pick any dress you wanted, regardless of the price tag.

That is how you ended up with the floor length emerald number you were in whilst getting ready with the rest of the group in your dorm. Green really was your color, and the slit that ran up to your hip was sure to drive Mattheo mad, which you were more than happy about. Once your hair and makeup was done, you and the other girls made your way down to the common room to meet the boys.

As you descended down the stairs, Mattheo’s back was turned, talking with his cousin and the rest of the group. Even from the back he was handsome. His dress robes fitting him perfectly, showing off his strong broad shoulders and lean back. His curls seem to fall perfectly from what you could see and it made your heart race in your chest at how lucky you really got all those months ago.

With a nudge from Draco, Mattheo turned, his face dropping in awe. Mattheo’s breath seemed to still as he took you in, how the green silk seemed to hug you in all the right places, how your black strappy heels wrapped around the small of your ankle, how the necklace your mother gave you sat perfectly in the dip of your collarbone; you were an angel ascending from Heaven, there to finally take him away.

Your hand on his cheek finally pulled him from his trance, “Seems you’re the one off in a daze this evening, Mattheo.” Your smile was teasing but Mattheo couldn’t help the bashfulness that spread across his cheeks. “You look…absolutely ravishing, Princess. I don’t know how I have been so blessed to be in the presence of an angel tonight.”

Your cheeks burned scarlet at the compliment. Draco rolled his eyes beside you, “Oi, you’ve already got her to date you, cousin. No need for the sappy sentiments. We’re gonna be late.” Mattheo scowled at the older boy, his face calming only when you laced your fingers with his, “Why the rush, Malfoy. Your group is notoriously late, tonight is going to be no different.”

Enzo hooked his arm with Ottie’s as he led the group toward the common room exit, “We prefer to call it ‘making an entrance’. And with you on my arm, love, it will be the grandest entrance of them all.” Ottie blushed, looking down to the ground.

You faked a gag, turning to Mattheo, “We were never that bad, were we?” Mattheo shook his head, seemingly agreeing, however Blaise was quick to speak behind you, “I’m sorry, were you not just with us two minutes ago. Bruv was essentially making up his own Shakespeare back there.”

You stuck your tongue out, Blaise doing the same in return. Mattheo gave your hand a light squeeze, silently assuring you he liked being cheesy with you. The group made consistent small talk on the walk to the Great Hall. Mogonagall and Flitwick standing at the entrance and welcoming students.

The hall had never looked so beautiful to you. Instead of the four long house tables, there were instead many round tables along the outside edge of the hall. A stage had replaced the head table in the front, a band playing light music for dinner time. The enchanted ceiling displayed light glowing clouds with different constellations in the background popping in and out with the different movement of the simulated sky above.

As you sat, Mattheo to your left, you crossed your legs. Mattheo’s eyes nearly bugged from his skull as your entire left leg was displayed due to the slit in your dress. His large hand immediately spread across the top of your thigh, “Are you trying to kill me, woman? Or get someone else killed?”

You batted your eyelashes with innocence, “Why would you kill someone?” A playful smirk was dancing on your lips. Mattheo was unsure if he was aroused or scared by this; possibly both. “Princess, I’m not sure if I could control myself if some tosser got a look at half of your body being displayed right now.

You had to suppress a snort, “Mattheo, hardly half my body is out. Bit dramatic you’re being.” Mattheo’s grip on your leg tightened slightly, sending a jolt to your core as he leaned in to whisper in your ear, “You know I don’t like to share what’s mine, Princess.”

Goosebumps were surely rising on your neck from his breath being so close, but you did your best to keep your composure and earlier teasing nature, “I thought you said before it didn’t matter what I wore, that it was okay because what was it you said,” you tapped your chin, pretending to wrack your brain for the phrase, “Oh, that’s right. Because you could fight.”

Mattheo’s smirk made you smile, “Is that what you want, pretty girl? You want me to fight on this special night?” You placed your hand on his thigh, mirroring his earlier gesture and giving it a light squeeze, “Well, seeing you fight does rile me up a bit.” Mattheo grinned as he leaned close to you again, catching your lips briefly before you were pulling away with a hand on his chest, “Wait, why is tonight special? What have you got planned, Riddle?”

Mattheo’s confident facade faltered slightly, his eyes going wide and him stumbling on his words, “W-Oh, just, you know, just that it’s a ball and it only happens once a year.” He captured your lips quickly in a bruising kiss, seemingly distracting you for the time being before going back to conversations with his friends around the table.

After dinner, the real music began and students began flooding the dance floor. It was nice to see everyone relaxing and enjoying the night together, regardless of house or status. Even Draco was loose and relaxed, dancing jovially with Pansy. As the upbeat music began to change to a slow song, you felt a familiar palm rest against the curve of your bum.

Mattheo’s lips brushed against the shell of his ear, a smile evident on his lips even though you couldn’t see him, “May I have the honor of this dance?” You turned around, wrapping your arms around his neck, “I would love nothing more.” Mattheo’s hands rested on your hips as you both swayed to the music playing.

“I wonder who you would’ve ended up here with if I didn’t heroically save you all those months ago,” Mattheo smirked. Without missing a beat you wittily replied, “Probably Theo.” Mattheo squeezed your hips, causing a small squeal to erupt from your lips, “I’m kidding! I dunno, can’t really see myself here with anyone else but you.”

He must have not expected such an honest answer as a tint of blush coated his cheeks. “I think I would’ve asked you.” His statement took you off guard, “Wha-wait, really?” Before you had come up to him that day for help, you and Mattheo had never even spoken before. Glances sure, but no more than any other person from any other student, or so you thought.

You could tell Mattheo was getting nervous, his eye contact with you less frequent, gnawing on his bottom lip as he searched for the right words, “I, erm, sort of had a bit of a crush on you for a while. I know Enzo told you, Theo can’t keep his mouth shut for shit.”

The laugh the left your lips caused Mattheo to smile, relaxing a little more as he continued, “Cousin had been encouraging me all summer to just approach you when the school year started, I just…didn’t know how. So when you found me that day in the hall, begging me for help I just…I saw it as an opportunity to spend time with you, get to know you. And you could get to know me.”

“So when you said this arrangement could help both of us…” you trailed off as Mattheo nodded. “I meant it was helping me get closer to you. Hopefully helping you get to know me. The real me, not what everyone paints me out to be. The Dark Lord's son, the broody bad boy with no heart. So when we started all this I was over the bloody moon. I know I was being selfish with all the touching and stolen kisses.”

“To be fair, you did warn me,” you smiled at him. “Yeah, I did,” he laughed, “and then you said you were falling for me. Merlin, I thought I just won the fucking Quidditch World Cup I was so happy. I don’t think I’ve come down from that night, the happiness I feel when I’m with you. It’s never ending, Princess. I-I, erm…”

You placed your hands on either side of his face, holding him so he had to keep eye contact with you. You could see it in his eyes, the raw emotion he was feeling, how hard it was for him to be this vulnerable, you decided to make it a little easier on him. “I love you, Mattheo.”

If you had a camera you would’ve taken a picture of the smile that elicited Mattheo’s face, pure joy rang in his eyes before he crashed his lips to yours in a searing kiss. “I love you so much,” he mumbled against your lips, “I love you,” kiss, “I love you,” kiss, “so fucking much.”

You giggled against his lips, pushing him back so you could properly talk again, “I love you, too, Mattheo. Really, really fucking love you.” He kissed you again, this time more fiercely, not caring where the two of you were or who was around. He bit your bottom lip, pulling back lightly as he groped and grabbed at your bum before you slapped his arm in warning, “Mattheo! Not here, wait till later.” While your tone did not match your warning, Mattheo ceased his assault on your lips and body, “I’m sorry, love. I just can’t resist you.”

Mattheo could see the gears turning in your head as your brows furrowed, “Is that why you said tonight was going to be special? Because you were going to tell me you loved me?”

Another blush dusted across his cheeks to the tips of his ears, “Too cheesy?” You shook your head, taking your bottom lip between your teeth, “No, s’just perfect from someone who saved me.” You cupped his cheek, tracing the curve of his cheek bone with your thumb, “I don’t think I can ever thank you enough for what you did for me.”

Mattheo’s smile turned devilish, “I think you’ve thanked me plenty, but I have another idea or two if you’d like to try them out.” You laughed lightly, slapping his chest playfully. “Mattheo Marvelo, you dirty minded man.”

He shrugged his shoulders, “Can you blame me? Look at you, at this dress,” he spun you around, “bloody gorgeous, my love. I could take you back to my dorm right now if you’d let me.”

“So do it.” Your bold statement caught him off guard, eyes widening. You couldn’t suppress the smirk that graced your face, “You’re not dreaming, Matty. I’m being serious.” You twirled one of the curls framing his face around your finger before letting it go.

Mattheo didn’t even give you time to properly say goodbye to the others before he was dragging you toward the dungeons, having you a giggling mess the entire time. He had you pressed up against the corridor walls several times on the way down, leaving what you were sure were bruising kisses and marks along your neck and collarbone.

“Mattheo,” you giggled breathlessly as he had you pinned against the wall beside his dorm door. “Hmm,” he hummed against your skin. “I love you.” He looked up at you, pupils blown in a mix of love and lust, “Merlin I could hear you say that every day for the rest of my life.”

You pulled him in by his collar, lips brushing against his feather light, “That’s the plan.”

Taglist:

@v1olentdelights @cherry-hoe @itsamusical4lifee @chaosartic @l4venderia @mypolicemanharryyy @ma-las @usmell4 @carav4l @jinxxangel13 @stvrligghtt @taylors--version @classicfandomavenue @lucyispan @moonlightreader649 @badasseddy @icecube1912 @kezibear @little-miss-naill @laurajmcmanus @onlyangel-444 @unstablereader @aunicornmademedoit @im-unwellbabe @fairydimples07

#Mattheo riddle #saving grace series #saving Grace chapter 8 #saving Grace final part #Mattheo riddle fluff #Mattheo riddle x you #mattheo riddle x reader #mattheo riddle x y/n

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kate-the1975 · 7 months ago

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I Love You, Flora... // Dad!Matty x Reader

A/N: This is long, I know, but the voting poll said longer so that's what you beauties are getting I'm sorry 💞

W/C: 2,885 words

C/W: Mentions of labour and child birth, waters breaking....basically anything that has to do with giving birth xoxo

Your home was settling into a deep, peaceful sleep. The only sounds being Matty's light snores and the wind blowing through the vents, which was normal for a late night in November. You lay in bed, your swollen belly pressing into the soft sheets, the rhythmic sound of Matty's steady breathing beside you calming your own. You'd been overdue for a week now, and though you had tried to convince yourself that this baby would arrive on its own time, the ache in your back and the persistent discomfort in your lower abdomen told you that you wouldn't be waiting much longer.

You shifted under the covers carefully, trying not to disturb Matty. He was sound asleep, his face relaxed, the lines of fatigue from working early and late on the bands new album, softened by the comfort of home. You admired him for a moment, the warmth that always radiated from him even in his sleep, before you felt another twinge of discomfort deep in your belly. You winced slightly, rubbing the spot with your hand.

Another ache. It had been happening on and off for days now—false alarms, which you were familiar with since you had the same experience with Rosie, but this time it felt longer.

Like your body gearing up for something that never came.

Tonight did feel different though. The ache lingered longer than usual, and when you shifted again, the pressure in your lower back was unmistakable.

Carefully, you slid out of bed, careful not to wake Matty. The room was cool, the dark shadows of the night wrapping the house in a quiet blanket. The house was silent except for the occasional creak of the floorboards beneath your feet. You paused for a moment, letting the ache pass before gently making your way toward the landing.

You didn't want to wake Matty just yet. Not until you were sure.

The landing was dimly lit by the soft glow of a nightlight near Rosie's door. You could hear the steady sound of her breathing on the other side, soft and rhythmic. The last thing you wanted was for her to wake up in the middle of the night to all this.

Taking a deep breath, you started walking slowly up and down the narrow hallway, letting the motion help ease the tightening in your abdomen. Each step was measured and slow, your hand resting lightly on the railing for support. The ache in your back was starting to intensify, and your breath caught as another contraction rolled through your body. You paused, letting it pass. It wasn't too bad yet.

But it wasn't going away.

You took a few more steps, trying to walk through it, but then another contraction hit—a bit sharper this time. The pressure was building in your pelvis, making it harder to ignore. You froze against the wall, breathing deeply, trying to keep calm.

And then, just as you thought you could push through it, you felt it—a warm rush of fluid. Your waters had broken.

You gasped in surprise, the reality of it hitting you all at once. This was happening. Now. The baby was on its way, and there was no turning back.

Your heart raced as you steadied yourself against the wall. You squeezed your eyes shut for a moment, taking a few deep breaths. Even though you were ready you still felt completely unprepared at the same time. But as the fluid continued to trickle down your legs, you knew it was time. It was happening.

"Matty..." you whispered, voice strained, but still careful not to let it rise too loud. Your hand clutched your belly, and you looked down at the wet spot on the floor.

No response.

You called again, slightly louder this time, but still trying to keep it soft. "Matty... wake up..."

There was a groan from the bed, followed by the rustling of sheets. Matty's head popped up from beneath the covers, his bleary eyes squinting at you in the low light. "Mmm? Babe?" He blinked a few times, his brain slowly catching up to reality.

When his eyes finally focused, they widened as he took in your stance—your hand practically white-knuckling the door frame, your face pale from the pain, and the unmistakable wetness between your legs.

"Wait... wait, is your—are your waters broken?" His voice was thick with sleep, but his concern was immediate, rushing to the forefront.

You nodded, still trying to steady yourself through another contraction. "Yeah... I think so."

Matty was fully awake now, his expression shifting from confusion to panic in a matter of seconds. "Okay, okay, right. Are you... are you okay? Is it—oh God, are the contractions...?"

You nodded again, breathing through the pressure. "They're coming, but they're still pretty far apart. It's happening."

Matty blinked rapidly as he processed what you were saying, his hand coming to your back to rub gentle circles. "Alright, you've done this before. You can do it again. It's okay."

He tried to reach for his phone on the bedside table, but his hands were shaking, fumbling in the dark. You smiled faintly at the sight of him, trying to calm him down with a gentle touch on his arm.

"It's fine, Matty. Just... just time the contractions and ring the midwife."

He nodded quickly, the urgency finally sinking in. "Right. Okay. Contractions, then midwife, yeah."

You took a slow, deep breath as another one hit, this time more intense. Matty held up his phone, his fingers tapping quickly as he set the timer. "Let's get this right, yeah? Gotta time them. You're doing great. Just breathe. Focus on me, yeah?"

You closed your eyes for a moment, listening to his voice. His reassurance, even in his panic, helped keep you grounded. You nodded through the next few contractions, trying to keep yourself calm.

"Okay, okay, the first one was, uh, a minute... now we wait... ten minutes until the next, babe?"

You nodded, still breathing through it, trying to ignore the intensity. "Something like that... I don't fucking know."

Matty was pacing now, his mind clearly spinning as he muttered to himself, "Alright, alright, don't panic, don't panic. Breathe. It's fine. We're good."

You smiled a little, watching him flit around like an anxious bird, but the tenderness in his movements gave you comfort. He came back to your side after he rang the midwife, holding a warm hand against your lower back. "I've got you, love. You'll be alright."

The next few minutes felt like hours. Matty's calm presence was grounding you, even though his mind was clearly racing. You could see him glancing toward Rosie's room every so often, as if checking if she was still asleep, not wanting to disturb her yet.

"I think it's time to go." he urged softly, his voice now much more steady. "But try and get as much rest as you can in the car, I don't want you to worry about the bags and everything else, I've got them."

You shook your head, though. "I don't think I can sleep through this. So you'll just have to deal with my screaming instead."

The next contraction came quickly, a sharp pain that sent you gripping his arm for support. Matty rubbed your back gently, whispering little words of encouragement between each one. "I'm here. You're safe. You're doing amazing."

Another few minutes passed without any realisation, and eventually, the contractions grew closer together, more intense. Your breath quickened, and Matty's eyes were wide with the realisation that neither of you have moved from you now designated spot right outside your bedroom door, and the two of you needed to get a move on quick and fast.

"Okay, we really need to get going this time, pet." he said, his voice clipped with urgency but still soft. "Don't think we can wait around much longer I'm afraid."

You nodded, but then a small voice interrupted from down the hallway.

"Mummy? Daddy?" Rosie's sleepy voice drifted from her bedroom. "What's going on?"

Matty froze, his eyes locking with yours. He was torn between rushing to get you to the car and not waking up their four-year-old who was now undoubtedly wondering why the whole house was in a state of mild panic.

"I'll talk to her. You just stay here for two seconds, love" Matty said, leaning over to kiss your bare shoulder. "I'll tell her everything's okay."

He hurried off down the hall, rushing Rosie gently back into her room, and you were left standing there, your body in the thick of labour. You closed your eyes and breathed deeply, knowing that the wait for your second child was almost over, and that soon you'd be holding this tiny little person in your arms.

Matty came back a few moments later, looking slightly panicked but trying to hide it behind a gentle smile. "Rosie's good, just a little confused. Told her you were going to the hospital to get the baby. Oh! And George and Charli were on speed dial anyways, as you know, so I dropped them the all systems go text and they were already in the car. Should be here once I get you in the car and grab the bags."

You nodded, wincing slightly at another contraction. "That's great and all but let's get a move on before I give birth to this baby on the landing."

Together, you made your way downstairs, Matty's hand never leaving your back, guiding you, steadying you. The car was waiting in the driveway, the headlights cutting through the darkness as Matty opened the door for you. As you climbed in, the headlights of another car pulled up the driveway, and much to your relief it was George and Charli, meaning you and Matty could just head straight off to the hospital now. The second baby was on its way, and despite the chaos, you knew everything would be okay. ------------------------------------------------------------

The sterile smell of the hospital room clung to the air, mixing with the sharp scent of antiseptic, making both you and Matty feel slightly nauseous. Outside, the world was moving on like any other day, but here, in this room, everything felt suspended—timeless, almost.

Matty stood beside the bed, his hand tight around yours, fingers pressing against your palm with a mix of anxiety and gentle encouragement. His face was pale, eyes wide, constantly flicking from her face to the monitor to the nurses bustling around the room. His usual composure, the calm that usually came with his presence naturally, was nowhere to be found. Instead, he was here, completely present, completely unsure, completely human.

"I can't believe this is happening again," he said, voice tight. "I mean, it feels like just yesterday—" His sentence faltered as you gripped his hand tighter with a loud grunt, pulling yourself through the next contraction. His eyes widened, watching you with concern.

Matty's voice cut through the aftermath of another round of pushing, warm and steady. "You're doing amazing, love. Just breathe, okay? I'm right here. You're incredible."

His words should have been comforting, but right now, they felt like nails on a chalkboard, and so did his presence. You clenched your teeth, trying to focus on anything other than the sharp, relentless pressure. You squeezed Matty's hand harder, feeling his grip tighten around yours in return.

"You're almost there," Matty added, his voice soft but encouraging. "You're so strong. Just one more push, I promise."

Your mind spun. How the fuck would he know it was only one more push? This felt like it was never going to end. You were exhausted, sweaty, and every inch of your body felt like it was being pulled apart. You wanted to scream at him, tell him he had no idea how it felt, but instead, you bit back the frustration.

Another contraction hit, and your breath caught in your throat. You gasped, squeezing your eyes shut as your body tensed against the oncoming wave of pain.

Matty rubbed your back, soothingly murmuring, "I know it's hard, but you've got this, love. You're amazing. You're doing so well."

Your body shuddered, the pain so overwhelming that it pushed everything else out of your mind. You tried to focus on his words—tried—but now you were just getting pissed off by them. "I'm not amazing," you snapped, voice breaking as another contraction set in. "I'm fucking tired, Matty, so fuck off."

Your words seemed sharper than you had intended, but you couldn't help it. The overstimulation, the pain, the exhaustion—it was all too much. You were too close to the edge to care about being gentle.

There was a brief moment of silence, and Matty paused, his hand still resting on your back. You could see the flicker of hurt in his eyes before he quickly masked it, but that didn't stop your heart from sinking. He'd always been there for you, always supported you, and now, in this moment of weakness, you'd snapped.

But Matty knew better than to let it effect him too much. You were in pain, and you didn't say anything hurtful towards him, you had just snapped, and if he was in that position, he thought to himself, that he probably would've exploded, never mind snapped at someone.

"I'm sorry," you muttered under your breath, voice cracking. "I didn't mean that."

Matty squeezed your hand. "You don't have to apologize," he said gently. "I'm just trying to help. I know you're in pain. I'm right here."

Your eyes welled with tears, frustration melting into something deeper, a mix of guilt and exhaustion. "I don't want to keep hearing how amazing I am," you admitted, a little breathless. "I just want it to be over."

Matty nodded, understanding the unspoken weight behind your words. "I get it," he said quietly. "You're incredible for doing this. I know it's hard, so tell me to fuck off and scream in my face all you want if that's what makes you get through this a bit easier."

You took a deep breath, trying to calm your racing heart, trying to center yourself. It felt like everything was spinning out of control, but Matty's words grounded you in the moment. You squeezed his hand again, body trembling with the force of another contraction.

The midwife spoke up then, her voice clear and reassuring. "Alright, we're almost there. Just one more push, darling. You're doing beautifully."

With one final surge of energy, you gave everything you had left, and after what felt like an eternity, the pressure finally released. You collapsed back onto the bed, your body weak and spent, while the sound of the baby's first cries filled the room.

A soft gasp left your lips as the midwife gently announced, "It's a girl."

You blinked, heart skipping a beat. A girl. Another daughter.

You turned your head to look at Matty, seeing the same emotion written on his face—surprise, wonder, a deep, quiet joy. His eyes were a little misty, his lips parted in disbelief, and he pressed a kiss to your forehead, his hand resting against your cheek.

"Two girls," he whispered softly, his voice thick with emotion. "We have two little girls."

Your heart swelled in your chest as the reality of the moment washed over you.

You smiled weakly, the exhaustion heavy in your limbs, but the love you felt for this tiny new life—this little girl who had just arrived—was overwhelming.

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The hours passed slowly in the dimly lit hospital room. The baby, still nestled against Matty's chest, slept peacefully, her tiny body rising and falling with each gentle breath.

The world outside the room continued on, but in this small, quiet space, it was just the three of you.

You layed back against the pillows, the exhaustion of labor slowly fading into a soft, contented peace. You watched Matty as he looked down at the baby, his face a mixture of awe and tenderness, as though he couldn't quite believe she was really here.

"Flora," You said softly, the name slipping from your lips as you watched him with a faint smile. "I've been thinking about it... I think she looks like a Flora."

Matty's gaze shifted from the baby to you, his eyes lighting up. "Flora," he repeated, as if testing the name. "Yeah. I like it. It feels... right."

You smiled, face aching from how much smiling you'd done in the last few hours your new baby girl had been here.

Flora. It was simple but beautiful, elegant, like a quiet bloom in the spring. You felt the weight of the name settle into the quiet space between you both, a name that belonged to their daughter. "I love it," you murmured. "Flora Healy."

Matty grinned, a slow, fond smile spreading across his face as he adjusted the baby on his chest. He pressed a soft kiss to the top of Flora's head, his voice barely a whisper. "Flora... Yeah. I think she's perfect."

You felt tears prick at the corners of your eyes again, but this time, they were tears of joy. It wasn't just the name; it was everything—the shared decision, the quiet beauty of the moment, the knowledge that you both had built this family together, and now, this little girl, Flora, was all yours.

Matty glanced up at you, his eyes warm. "I love you," he said simply, his voice thick with emotion.

Your heart began to beat faster, the simple words carrying more weight than you could express. "I love you too, so fucking much." You whispered back with just as much emotion.

Together, you sat there in the soft glow of the room. Flora snuggled against Matty's chest, and everything in the world seemed right.

Flora Healy. Your daughter. Perfect.

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