#meanwhile taylors just. driving them. while they do that

[bookwyrminspiration]

I might add she violently argues that Anna is a very strong female character.

And yes, she really needs to raise her standards. I fear for that woman. I’m glad we agree lmfao

I mean, if we're qualifying strong female character as someone who can argue well? Then I suppose? Like I will concede Ana does hold her own against Christian in several instances, which I could see being interpreted as making her a strong woman. Standing up for herself, identifying and communicating her limits, not going with everything Christian wants. But a strong, well-rounded character? I disagree

Her life and story is so tied to Christian literally from page one...there is no her without him. Even those arguments that could be said to make her a strong character are just showing her in opposition to him. She does have a career of her own (editor, which is her dream job), but Christian literally buys the company she works for like a week after she gets hired. If that. And he intends to gift her the company to run, so her ambitions are also tied to and guided by him. While Christian's are entirely separately managed from Ana.

I couldn't tell you Ana's strength's or weaknesses, I couldn't tell you what she's afraid of, or what her flaws are. And if we take into account her being a strong female character, I also couldn't tell you anything about how being a woman affects her. A lot of what I can surmise about her character is actually me superimposing Bella Swan onto her.

I just! She's so uninteresting. There's so little complexity to her and so much of her is defined by Christian in the story.

I'm also fearing for your mother. I can't even articulate just how...lackluster Ana is. To be fair though, so is everyone.

[theetherealbloom]

WHERE DO WE GO NOW? - CH. 3 | 14th Doctor

Chapter Three: Guess The Space Was The Thing That I Needed, But I Miss You

Summary: You arrived on present-day Earth engulfed in violence and chaos. And a familiar foe who transcends the universe’s laws and logic. He hails from a realm where science is a game, but that salt trick apparently blurred the lines of reality enough for him to enter your universe.

Pairing: 14th Doctor x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Hurt-to-Comfort, Angst, Fluff, Possible Plot Holes, Vague Background, Aliens, Mild Horror, Violence, Past Trauma, Depression, Anxiety, Timey-Wimey Stuff, Star-Crossed Lovers, Second Chance, Character Death, 

Word Count: 15.5k

A/N: Hello old friend, and here we are, you and me on the last… chapter. When I posted the first chapter of this mini-series I was honestly terrified of the response I would be getting. I hadn’t been writing for a while due to stress or lack of motivation. But then the miracle called the Doctor Who specials came into existence and here we are. Also, Merry Christmas Eve! Here’s my little gift to you. I hope you enjoy. (P.S. yes there will be an epilogue :>)

Song: This Love by Taylor Swift (Taylor's Version)

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Dividers by @/saradika-graphics

ENGLAND, THE STREETS OF LONDON — DAY, 2023

The world descends into turmoil and pandemonium as cars collide, their metal frames screeching against each other. The air is filled with the cacophony of people shouting and screaming. Amidst the mayhem, you, the Doctor, and Donna navigate the tumult, pushing Wilf's wheelchair through the chaotic landscape. Struggling through the disarray, people around you engage in fights and heated arguments, adding to the surreal spectacle of disorder unfolding.

As the rumble of a truck engine grows louder, a man defiantly strides onto the road, seemingly prepared to challenge the oncoming driver. Reacting swiftly, both you and the Doctor extend your arms, urgently intervening. You exclaim, "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Excuse me. Can you tell me, what the bloody hell are you doing?"

The elderly man, with an air of self-assuredness, retorts, "I can’t drive."

Perplexed, you furrow your brow and inquire, "Okay, so— Which means?"

Meanwhile, a car behind you impatiently honks, prompting the Doctor to raise his hand, signaling the driver to wait. Unperturbed, the stranger in front of you explains, "I pay my taxes. Which means I paid for this road. It is mine, and I will do with it what I like."

The Doctor interjects, cautioning, "You’ll get yourself killed."

The man, with a sneer and a narrowed gaze, replies, "It’s my life, not yours." Undeterred, the Doctor suggests, "But you could just stand over there and be safe."

Flailing his arms emphatically, the man retorts, "Blame them! Because it all changed two days ago. Everyone started thinking they’re right all the time. And they won’t change their mind. If you try to argue, they go mad. Well, not me. I’ve always been right."

The deafening honk of the truck intensifies as it barrels forward, compelling the Doctor to swiftly seize you and yank you out of harm's way. In the chaos, you unintentionally collide with a well-dressed man adorned in a tuxedo, complete with a top hat and a staff in his left hand. Apologizing in a refined manner, he utters, "Oh, excusez-moi, madame et monsieur, je suis désolé. But perhaps you will dance avec moi."

He then takes the lead in an impromptu dance, placing his hand just above your waist and swaying with you amidst the bedlam unfolding on the street. In a rather peculiar tone, he utters, "Ooh la la."

Feeling uncomfortable, you gently pull away from the eccentric stranger. The Doctor, sensing your unease, protectively tucks you behind his body and asserts, "That's my wife, sir. Excuse me." With a subtle maneuver, he guides you away, back to where Donna and Wilf are positioned on the side of the street.

Amidst the cacophony of screaming voices echoing through the chaotic streets, the peculiar stranger continues his solo dance, creating a bizarre spectacle in the midst of the turmoil. The distant whirr of a helicopter above adds to the disconcerting atmosphere, leaving you and the Doctor with a growing sense of panic, a shared feeling of confusion about the unfolding events.

Armored vehicles roll onto the scene, their imposing presence and military precision contrasting sharply with the chaotic backdrop. A soldier, wielding a loud megaphone, calls out with urgency, "Attention, the Doctor and the Stargazer! Attention, the Doctor and the Stargazer! Stay where you are. You are UNIT control. Repeat, UNIT control."

The soldiers swiftly move into action, their movements coordinated as they converge on your location. One of them confidently asserts, "Go, go, go! Let’s move! Eyes on, eyes on! I got them." The atmosphere shifts from anarchic confusion to a semblance of organized control as UNIT takes charge.

The authoritative figure from UNIT, Colonel Ibrahim, strides forward, a no-nonsense expression etched on his face. "Doctor, Stargazer, I’m Colonel Ibrahim of UNIT squad five," he declares with military precision. He gestures toward a waiting vehicle, a subtle urgency in his stance.

Donna, the voice of concern, steps forward, her plea directed at the Colonel. "Get him to safety. All right? Never mind about us. I want my grandad safe. All right? You got that?" Her words carry the weight of a granddaughter determined to ensure the safety of her grandad, emphasizing the weight of the situation.

Colonel Ibrahim gives an assertive nod, his military demeanor unwavering. "Yes, ma’am. We’ll keep your family safe," he assures Donna. Wilf, displaying concern for his granddaughter's well-being, encourages her, "You go with the Doctor."

Amidst the organized chaos of UNIT soldiers following orders, a palpable sense of unease settles over you. A feeling of being observed intensifies, prompting you to instinctively clasp the Doctor’s hand. Together, your hearts quicken as you turn to the left, discovering the stranger with whom you shared an odd dance. He stands eerily still, offering a disconcerting smile and a small wave, sending shivers down your spine.

UNIT HEADQUARTERS, LONDON — DAY, 2023

Seated alongside the Doctor in the first helicopter, you peer out of the window, taking in the chaotic scene below. The city is ablaze, casting an eerie glow that turns the world outside into a disorienting spectacle, as if the very fabric of reality has been upended. The second helicopter follows closely, bearing the weight of the TARDIS, an emblem of hope amidst the turmoil. The flickering flames paint a surreal canvas against the night sky, leaving you with a profound sense of displacement.

The helicopter sets down on the helipad at the UNIT headquarters, and as you disembark, the brisk wind from the rotor blades whips through the air. Donna clutches her coat tightly, shouting over the din, "Oh, here comes trouble."

Shirley, in her wheelchair, wheels forward with a wide smile, greeting you with a warm, "I could say the same thing about you." The TARDIS touches down nearby on the helipad, and amidst the noise, the Doctor remarks, "Shirley, you can’t be serious." Shirley squeezes your arm in a friendly greeting.

Chief Scientific Officer Kate, your boss, appears on the scene, her short blonde hair bouncing slightly as she strides towards the group. The Doctor, arms outstretched, exclaims, "And Kate Lethbridge-Stewart. I remember your father working night and day to keep UNIT a secret. Look at you now. Out and proud defending the Earth."

Kate embraces the Doctor tightly before turning to you with a subdued smile, saying, "I fought them all. Robots and insects and yetis and clones. But what do we do this time, Doctor? How do we fight the human race?"

Inside the UNIT headquarters, the large steel doors close behind you, shutting out the chaos. The new HQ unfolds before your eyes, with the hum of radio chatter and the bustle of people. Multiple screens and tables with keyboards fill the room, and a triple giant screen at the center displays various statistics and news outlets reporting the devastation around the world.

Kate hands the tablet to the Doctor, and you lean over to peer at the symbols and graphs displayed on it. The Doctor, engrossed in the data, doesn't look up as he remarks, "Good, good, good. Now, what have we got? Are these worldwide? 'Cause I'm gonna need all of the statistics."

As he turns to his right, an exclamation of surprise escapes him. Your gaze follows his, and there stands a very familiar redheaded companion and colleague. She grins at the Doctor's reaction, and he joyfully exclaims, "Oh! That is the best news! Melanie, hello!"

Both you and the Doctor share a brief hug with Mel, who giggles and adds, "We'll catch up later. We haven't got time." You chime in with a playful, "Ta-da! Surprise, Doctor."

Turning to you, the Doctor asks, "You knew?"

You playfully roll your eyes and retort, "We work together, dear." Mel adds, "We also try to meet every Saturday for a cuppa."

Mel tilts her head slightly, addressing Donna with a warm smile, "I used to be like you. I was one of their companions." Donna gasps, exclaiming, "I wasn't the first redhead?"

With a shake of her head, Mel allows her large red curls to bounce, "No. That was me."

Donna awkwardly chuckles as the Doctor takes his glasses and wears them, quipping, "Although don't say companion. That sounds like we park him on the seafront at Weston-super-mare."

As Shirley pushes herself off the wheelchair, standing and giving Donna a look, Donna suddenly realizes what she said and turns to face Shirley, asking, "Is 'park' rude?" Shirley replies with a monotone voice, "Borderline." Donna winces in response.

In the heart of the command center, Kate stands with authority, her tablet in hand, and announces, "And stations. Gold Protocols. The Doctor and the Stargazer are in the room. Report."

Shirley adjusts her stance, her voice cutting through the air, "Two days ago, an increase in violence worldwide. The same increase in every country, all rising at exactly the same rate."

"Basically, every single human being thinks they're right and won't be told otherwise," Kate says, moving to stand next to you. Colonel Ibrahim adds, "That plane crash, the F665, Boston to Heathrow. The pilot declared his right to land wherever he wants."

On the screen, footage of the crazed pilot plays. His eyes were wide, he laughs amidst the blaring alarms of his instruments, declaring, "I'm coming home. Lookout, London. Daddy's coming home!"

In the tension-filled room, the Doctor initiates, "If everyone is going mad—" and Kate concurs, completing the thought, "So is the government."

Shirley, with a solemn nod, swipes on the screen of her tablet, unveiling footage of the current Prime Minister. He stands on a podium, his laughter echoing as he addresses the nation, "What do I care? I mean, seriously? Why should I care about you?"

In the aftermath of Donna's nonchalant remark, injecting a touch of humor with her observation, "No change there then," the room grapples with the unsettling scenes unfolding on the screen. The Doctor, now reclaiming the tablet, hands it back to Mel, who places it on her station. His gaze then sweeps across the room, and he remarks, "But you're fine. You're completely normal. And that's because of the—" He gestures towards the silver bands adorned with a glowing blue light worn around their arms.

Kate steps in to elaborate, "Oh, we call it the Zeedex." As the room processes this information, a robot's machine voice chimes in from the far left, connected to tubes and sporting screens, proudly announcing, "An invention of the Vlinx."

Taking a step forward, the Doctor addresses the robotic AI, "Hello, the Vlinx. I'm the Doctor, and this is my wife, the Stargazer."

Quick to clarify, you interject, "Not married yet."

"Just practicing," the Doctor playfully hums before turning his attention back to the Vlinx. With curiosity piqued, he queries, "So why's it called the Zeedex?"

In response to the Vlinx's brief explanation, "Good name," the Doctor emits a small, contemplative "Oh." Kate supplements the information, stating, "It disrupts the brain. Flattens the spike. Keeps everything calm."

With a slight scrunch of your nose, you inquire, "And the spike is?"

"I think I need to show you," Kate responds. Sensing a shift in the room, she commands Shirley, "Activate brain scan."

"Activating, ma'am," Shirley acknowledges. A beep emanates from the computer, and the screen displays the frequency inside Kate's brain. She points out, "That's my brain activity. Seems normal, albeit slightly heightened, given the end of the world. Now keep your eyes on the scan."

Kate moves to the center of the room and instructs, "And deactivate my Zeedex."

Shirley types on the keyboard, announcing, "Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, off." The light on her silver armband extinguishes. Kate takes a moment to scan the room, hands on hips, and asks, "Well?"

You gently interject, "Uh, hello?"

"Hello," Kate replies promptly, but her narrowed eyes betray suspicion. The Doctor poses a simple question, "How are you?"

"Fine," she responds.

You casually inquire, "Busy day?" Kate's nostrils flare, and she glares at you, retorting, "Why do you want to know?"

"I'm just asking. Is that a problem?" you reply, observing the increased spike in brain activity. Kate aggressively points at you, asserting, "It's an invasion of my privacy. In fact, it's an assault on my civic rights. And I think it's highly relevant that the person demanding information from me is an alien."

The Doctor turns to Shirley, nodding in approval for her to activate her Zeedex, and calmly says, "Okay."

However, Kate abruptly interjects, rejecting the Doctor's initiative, "No, no, no, no, no. I think you'll find that I'm in charge here." With a swift motion, she rips off her Zeedex, launching into an impassioned tirade, "And we've been infiltrated by aliens, a man and a woman with two hearts," she points accusatorily at the Doctor, "a man who changes his face and cannot be trusted."

As her anger intensifies, Kate aggressively directs her accusations at Donna and Mel, both with red hair, insinuating a conspiracy. You instinctively step forward, shielding them from Kate's escalating rage.

Growing more incensed, Kate turns her ire towards Shirley, who looks on with mild dissatisfaction. Kate singles out your friend and declares, "And as for her, in that chair. I've seen you walk. I've seen you walking! Don't deny it!"

UNIT soldiers move in to pull Kate away, and she unleashes her fury at you, "And you! This is all your fault! If you hadn't fallen into the bloody time rift, altering the universe with your existence and falling in love with the Doctor—none of this would have happened!"

The soldiers carefully escort Kate away, and the Doctor swiftly positions himself in front of you, protectively shielding you from lingering gazes. You bury your face in his shoulder as Kate continues to shout, "No, you can't stop me. It's about time you heard the truth."

One of the soldiers places the silver band back on Kate's arm and commands, "Activate Zeedex," resulting in a beep and the restoration of the blue light on her band. Kate sits on the floor, panting, as the tension in the room eases.

You lift your head from the Doctor's shoulder and nod, silently assuring him that you're okay. Together, you approach Kate, who is visibly distressed, covering her face with her hand. She breathes out an apology, "I'm sorry."

Both you and the Doctor shake your heads, reassuring her, "No, it's okay."

Gasping for air, Kate turns to Shirley, mortified, realizing the extent of her outburst. She says, "Shirley, I'm so sorry."

Shirley dismisses the need for an apology, "Absolutely no need."

UNIT soldiers help Kate to her feet as she acknowledges, "It's not just me. It keeps spiking inside every single person's head."

"But what does that mean? Is it being beamed in from outside?" Donna inquires. The Vlinx responds, "No. It is natural. It is generated inside the brain."

Donna points out, "But not me. Not Grandad." Mel adds, "Nor me. I'm wearing a Zeedex just in case, but I've been fine. Well, no more opinionated than usual." Donna sighs, "You and me both."

You and the Doctor ponder the situation, and he suggests, "Maybe long-term travel in the TARDIS put you out of sync."

Donna shakes her head and proposes, "Can't you give everyone a Zeedex?" Kate scoffs at the idea, gesturing to the screen behind her, where a late-night talk show host expresses her skepticism, "They're using this to control us and monitor us. And microwave our brains. I am anti-Zeedex!"

The Doctor, in response, asks you to help him with his coat. You take it from him and neatly place it on a chair. He then stands next to Shirley and suggests, "Can we filter this wavelength? Lose the background noise."

Shirley hums in response, typing away on her keyboard, "Uh-huh. Gives us a strong coherent wave in seizure focus. Peaking seven times."

As you consider the recent events, you voice your thoughts, "So, this started two days ago. But why then? What else happened on that day?" Kate responds, "Exactly. We've been looking for a trigger, and there's this."

The screen illuminates with the image of a satellite gracefully orbiting the Earth, accompanied by detailed blueprints on the left side. Kate elucidates, "The KOSAT 5 satellite, launched by South Korea, activated two days ago.”

Shirley, with a swift gesture, adds to the explanation by displaying a live feed of the satellite, which hovers 36,000 kilometers above Earth. Kate expounds further, “KOSAT is the final link in the chain. The world is now 100% online. From the highest mountain to the deepest valley on Earth, everyone is connected.”

"But KOSAT is clean. We’ve checked and double-checked. It’s not like the old Archangel Network. There’s nothing hiding in that signal." Shirley asserts, and the Doctor, with a contemplative hum, adds, “And yet.” He shakes his head, “For the first time in history, everyone has access to this.” He taps on the edge of one of the monitors, saying, “A screen.”

"What if it’s a tune?" Donna asks, prompting you and the Doctor to turn around and face her.

"What?" The Doctor inquires as you move to stand in front of her. Donna continues, "I know we’ve only got minutes left to live, but give me a second." Donna begins to draw lines on a clipboard with a piece of paper as she explains, "Because I spent six months teaching my daughter how to play the recorder till she said, ‘This is not who I am.’ That was the start of a whole other conversation, believe you me.”

She places the sheet of paper on the screen, drawing dots on the corresponding line, “But if… you look at these seven peaks, like this…”

She flips the sheet of paper around, revealing what you recognize to be music notes, and Donna confirms this by saying, “Maybe it's music.”

“A classic arpeggio. Middle C, an octave higher.” Mel says before she sings in arpeggio, “La, la, la, la, la, la, la.”

“Oh.” Kate says as if she remembers something, and you look around to see others having the same reaction, as if they’ve heard it before. You and the Doctor look around and ask, “What? What is it?”

Mel repeats her tune, “La, la, la, la, la, la, la.”

Donna gasps, her eyes slightly watering and her blue eyes shining as she says, “I know that tune.”

“I-I know that from somewhere. What are the notes?” Shirley asks, spinning her chair to face you, and you read them off, “C, E, G, C, G, E, C. It’s a musical palindrome.” Then you sigh, “But it’s just a straightforward arpeggio. Everyone knows arpeggios.”

“It’s a basic tune. So, the question is, why are we all reacting to this one?” Mel asks as everyone looks around at each other. You and the Doctor frown, and he says, “We’re not. The Vlinx?”

“Negative.” The Vlinx replies promptly, and you hum out loud, “Just the humans.”

“It’s just— It’s so familiar. It’s like it’s been buried in my head for years.” Donna says and groans, “What is it?”

Then you hear giggling from across the room, a nearby station. You and the Doctor turn to see Shirley pointing to her screen, a puppet in black and white display as she says, “I found the exact same notes.”

The puppet begins to laugh in arpeggio, and you and the Doctor realize it at the same time. The Doctor says, “Oh, it’s not a tune. It’s a laugh.”

“It’s a puppet.” Kate says as she stares wide-eyed at the screen featuring the puppet.

“The giggle in everyone’s head.” You say as you stand behind Shirley, looking at the monitor as it continues to laugh in the arpeggio notes.

“What is that thing?” Donna asks, and Shirley explains, “Stooky Bill, the first face ever to appear on television. Put there by John Logie Baird himself.”

Donna shakes her head and points at Stooky displayed on the monitor, “I’ve never seen him before, so how do— How do I know that laugh?”

You blink a few times before realizing out loud, saying, “If the very first image has been hiding in every screen since… sneaking into your head, carving a wave, and waiting…”

“But hiding how? If there were secret pictures hiding in every television, we would have found it,” Shirley asks, so sure of herself and UNIT’s capabilities. The Doctor then sassily and in a mocking tone replies, “Oh, why? Because you’re so clever? Maybe Stooky Bill’s a lot smarter than you.” Shirley raises her eyebrows and puckers her lips, somewhat agreeing to the possibility.

“Imagine… if he burnt himself into television itself and every picture ever since, every single one.” You say before taking out your sonic screwdriver, pointing to one of the monitors, and clicking the button. It whizzes, and the image of Stooky Bill appears. The woman who sat by that desk pushes back her chair in shock, and he is mockingly laughing as you hear the notes in the air.

“Screen… after screen, after screen.” You use your sonic screwdriver, tapping on each station's monitor, revealing Stooky Bill as it continues to reverberate its laughs.

The Doctor joins in, using his sonic on an employee’s phone in their hands. He says as he clicks his sonic screwdriver, “And every type of screen.” The Doctor taps on Kate’s tablet, showing the image of Stooky Bill. He says, “Every one and everywhere. He’s inside ‘em all!”

You move to stand in the very front of the room, center, pointing your sonic at the large screens. “And two days ago, he finally connected worldwide, branding his Giggle into your brains.” The sonic screwdriver warbles, and images of Stooky Bill, along with his laugh, appear on the large monitor.

The Doctor stands by your side, adding in a low voice, “Since the very first existence of television. Laughing at the human race. And driving you mad.”

The entire group gathers for a small meeting by the large metal doors that lead to the helipad outside. You stand in a circle, positioned by the Doctor’s side, his glasses tucked away in his pocket. Kate tries to grasp the newfound knowledge as she asks, “But something at that scale, over so many years, who could do that?”

The Doctor's countenance turns wrathful, and you sense the heat and intensity radiating from his body as he retorts, "The puppet’s just a puppet. We’re looking for the puppeteer." He then pauses, taking a deep breath that puffs out his chest as he crosses his arms. Speaking with a low intensity, he adds, "And I’ve got a memory. I think something’s coming back… after a very long time."

Raising his voice to address everyone, he grits his teeth, "But it’s not only the giggle. Don’t go thinking you’ve got an excuse. The human race might be clever and bright and brilliant." His words are delivered with a hint of disgust, "But it’s also savage and venal and relentless."

The Doctor points to the screens showcasing people causing havoc around the world as he vehemently declares, "All the anger out there on the street. The lies, the righteousness." Jabbing a finger at the rest of the group, he continues, "That’s human. That’s you. That’s who you are. Using you’re intelligence to be stupid. Poisoning the world. And hating each other, you’ve never needed any help with that!”

He briefly pauses, toning down his voice as he says, “But today, something else is using your worst attributes. Playing with you. Like toys.” A chill runs down your spine as a distant memory starts to resurface, hinting at an old-time foe returning to wreak havoc. You blink, a hunch forming about who might be orchestrating all of the catastrophe.

“Can we take that satellite out?” The Doctor asks Kate, and she replies promptly, “All missiles are on lockdown, but we’ve got the Galvanic Beam.”

“What range?” You inquire, and Kate explains, “We could pick off a pebble on the moon. Trouble is, taking out a South Korean satellite will have international consequences, so we’ve been waiting for permission. All world leaders are being affected by the Giggle.”

The Doctor nods and says, “You have my permission.” He then looks to you, and you deeply sigh, nodding, “And you have mine.”

Kate nods to Colonel Ibrahim, signaling to get the Galvanic Beam ready. Then, she turns to you and the Doctor, “Thank you, Doctor and Stargazer.” Kate moves past you, announcing to the entire UNIT staff on the floor, “Gold protocol override. All staff, initiate Galvanic activation. Bring up the beam.”

“Platform in motion,” an employee's voice echoes through the speaker as the platform outside the tower shifts downward.

“Shirley, have we got the exact date that Logie Baird made that transmission?” The Doctor asks aloud, to which Shirley responds with determination, “I’ll find it,” and begins clicking away on her keyboard.

“All clear on the helipad,” another employee announces over the speaker as The Doctor walks over to Mel’s station, and you make your way towards Shirley, beginning to help her locate the date of the transmission.

The Doctor leans over Mel’s shoulder, and she says to him, “I fed the KOSAT fake coordinates, so it’s coming into UK orbit. Within range in three minutes.” The Doctor compliments her, “You’re brilliant.” He then looks at her with a smile, “Hello.” Mel replies with her own smile, the kind that reaches her eyes as she says, “Hi.”

You glance over to see the Doctor and Mel chatting as they work, and a sense of happiness and comfort washes over you, knowing Mel is okay. After a few minutes, you hear Mel announce to everyone, “Galvanic Beam payload boarding.”

“Platform locking at level 55,” an employee announces over the intercom, and Mel continues, “Galvanic Beam in position. KOSAT in range in 90 seconds.”

A beep emanates from Shirley’s computer, and your eyes quickly scan over the words before Shirley turns her head and says to the Doctor, “Doctor, Stooky Bill was televised on the 2nd of October 1925 at 22 Frith Street, Soho, W1D 4RF.”

You grab the Doctor’s coat from the chair and hand it to him as he says to Kate, “Fire when ready. Don’t wait for us.” He then looks to Colonel Ibrahim, quickly asking, “TARDIS?”

The Colonel points as he replies promptly, “Suite 17.”

The Doctor grunts, “Okay.” After putting on his coat, he grabs your hand, pulling you along with him as Donna says to you both, “You’re not going without me.”

As you enter the suite and find the TARDIS parked there, the Doctor quickly unlocks it with his key and rushes inside, with you and Donna trailing right behind him. Time’s running out, always running out, and every road you discover disappears under your feet. Because if nothing else, you're given a little time to change the game, a chance to redefine everything.

SOHO — 1925

The TARDIS whooshes and whizzes, finally giving a loud thud as it lands. The Doctor opens the door first, popping his head out to check if it’s safe before allowing you and Donna to step out into the dimly lit alley where the TARDIS is parked. The flickering gas lamps cast a warm glow, highlighting the cobblestone street and the faint echoes of distant chatter.

The Doctor announces to the two of you, “Soho, 1925.”

“So, what about Mel?” Donna asks, wiggling her eyebrows playfully at the two of you. You let out a chuckle, saying, “She’s brilliant, isn’t she?”

Donna laughs with a smile, “Yeah, but I just kept thinking, all this time, you’ve never mentioned her.”

The Doctor addresses Donna with a frown, “Donna, we’re a billion years old. If we stood and talked about everyone we’d ever met, we’d still be in the TARDIS yapping.”

“So you talk about no one ever?” Donna asks, and you look away guiltily. Donna continues, “You just keep charging on.”

“Yes, because I’m busy. Like now,” the Doctor replies.

“But you are busy every second of every day. I mean, look at us now. We haven’t stopped,” Donna points out, and you all come to a halt by the sidewalk. She continues, “I saw you, Doctor. I got a glimpse inside your mind.” The three of you stand on the sidewalk, surrounded by the ambient sounds of 1925 London, as Donna expresses, “And it’s like you’re staggering. You are staggering along. Maybe that’s why your old face came back. You’re wearing yourself out.”

You observe as the Doctor contemplates her words, his expression revealing a momentary reflection on her insight. However, he doesn't directly acknowledge them. Instead, he smoothly shifts the topic, saying, "Stooky Bill might be on Frith Street, but the question is, where did Stooky Bill come from?”

His gaze shifts to the bright red shop on the street labeled Mr. Emporium above the store. The three of you cross the street, anticipation building as you peek through the window. There, you spot someone engaged in a playful exchange with the Doctor, both figures playing peek-a-boo before the mysterious man expertly hops down to conceal himself. The Doctor's expression tightens with anger as he forcefully shoves the door open, pulling back the maroon curtains, and the three of you step into the enchanting toy store.

The atmosphere is filled with wonder and a touch of nostalgia as you take in the whimsical surroundings. Shelves adorned with a myriad of toys, each telling a story of childhood innocence and imagination. The air is scented with a mix of wooden toys, plush animals, and the faint fragrance of freshly painted models.

As you step further into the store, your disbelief intensifies as you recognize the man orchestrating this peculiar encounter. An old foe, one who could have channeled his creativity for good, yet chose to warp reality into a twisted game where play meant suffering for others. Dressed in a crisp white button-up and a vibrant red apron, he skillfully juggles three balls, his voice carrying a distinct German accent as he addresses you, "Die ball is die first game ever being invented."

He throws a ball towards you, only for the Doctor to swiftly intercept it before it makes contact with your stomach. Without missing a beat, the Doctor tosses it away onto the ground. Meanwhile, the man behind the counter continues his mesmerizing juggling act, sharing his narrative, "Stone Age man, he picked up ein rock." The Doctor catches another ball skillfully, and with a nonchalant toss, sends it away.

The rhythmic cadence of his speech, accompanied by the mesmerizing flow of his juggling, weaves an enchanting atmosphere within the toy store. The balls dance through the air, tracing whimsical patterns, adding a touch of magic to the man's storytelling. With a gleam in his eye, he continues narrating, "He said, ‘Oh! Das ist ein Ball.’"

The sequence of throw and catch becomes a rhythmic ballet, each movement a beat in the peculiar symphony unfolding before you. "He threw it, und he killed a man," he declares with a dramatic flair, followed by a nonchalant toss.

Another cycle of throw and catch commences, and he recounts, "He said, ‘Oh, what fun!’" The balls move effortlessly in the air, and the ambiance resonates with a sense of playfulness.

"Und now, everybody loves the balls," he proclaims, the balls gliding through the air in a mesmerizing display. Every throw, catch, and toss adds to the building tension in the tale.

"Until the year five billion. When the very last human picks up the skull of his enemy," he declares, the tone shifting slightly, yet maintaining the captivating rhythm. The balls continue their dance, and he winks as he concludes, "Und said, ‘That is the final ball of all,’ jah?"

As he tosses another ball, the vibrant atmosphere in the toy store takes a sudden turn when Donna, with a determined air, steps forward and effortlessly catches the ball with a single hand. Her gaze, firm and unyielding, pierces through the whimsical scene as she asserts, "Enough."

The man behind the counter raises an eyebrow, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips. "Ah, Donna Noble. I wondered which one of you had the balls," he retorts, his words carrying a playful undertone. Donna, taken aback, attempts to brush it off with a casual, "Okay. So you know my name?" The man, still smirking, raises both eyebrows in response.

Curiosity sparking, Donna seeks answers. "How do you three know each other?" she questions, her tone holding a mix of suspicion and intrigue. In response, the Doctor, donning a low, stern tone and a deep frown that accentuates the lines on his face, issues a command, "Star, Donna, go back to the TARDIS." The urgency in his voice hints at a deeper concern, urging them to retreat from the unfolding confrontation.

Donna, wearing a perplexed expression, seeks clarification, "What?"

The Doctor, frustration evident in his gritted teeth, reiterates his command, "Go back to the TARDIS."

You, however, defiantly shake your head. "As much as I love you bossing me around, you do not get to tell me to leave you here with him." The tension in the air thickens, with unspoken concerns lingering between all of you.

"Oh, but he is recognizing me," he says, a mischievous glint in his eyes. You whip your head back to the man behind the counter, the one who revels in tricks and games for sheer amusement. Chaos and discord personified, he continues, "Are you not 'ge-pleased,' Herr Doctor und Stargazer, to see me again after so many years?"

Donna, finally seeking clarity, asks, "Who is he?" Flashbacks of memories flood your mind.

The Doctor answers, "The Toymaker." As the realization sinks in, the atmosphere in the room starts to change.

The Toymaker gives a bow, a theatrical flourish that befits his whimsical yet ominous presence. Abruptly changing accents, he addresses with a menacing tone, "We meet again, Doctor, Stargazer."

But just as swiftly, the Toymaker's demeanor undergoes a shift. Stepping backward, he adopts a German accent, prompting curiosity. "But think, if the ball was the very first game, what was the second?"

With a mischievous grin, he seizes both ends of the curtain behind him and declares, "Hide-and-seek!" The Toymaker pulls the curtain shut, his laughter echoing in the room in those distinctive arpeggio notes.

The Doctor vaults over the counter, deftly pushing aside the two curtains, only to discover the Toymaker's disappearance. Behind the curtains lies a door, and with a quick turn of the copper-colored knob, the Doctor reveals a seemingly endless hallway. Warm-toned lights bathe the corridor in a gentle glow, wooden floorboards creak, and numerous doors line both sides of the mysterious passage.

As the Doctor steps forward, guided by an instinct you and Donna share, the door abruptly slams shut behind both of you. Turning sharply, the Doctor commands, “No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Go back.” With a quick twist of the doorknob, it should logically lead you out, but instead, it reveals the same seemingly endless hallway. Donna, her mouth agape, exclaims, “It’s bigger than the shop. Don’t tell me he’s got his own TARDIS.”

“The TARDIS is an idea the Toymaker would throw away,” the Doctor spits out with disdain as you three stride down the hallway. He continues, “We’ve stepped inside his domain, and it’s governed by the rules of play.” The Doctor turns to the door on his left, confidently opening it. Donna and you follow him, but just as the door slams shut, you find yourselves still trapped in the long, mysterious hallway.

“Okay. Keep going forward,” the Doctor instructs, stepping ahead with you and Donna in tow. Donna, perplexed, shakes her head and remarks, “But how does this even make sense? 'Cause I’ve seen some things with you two. I’ve seen Ood, Davros. I mean, the Adipose, for God’s sake.”

The Doctor twists another doorknob, taking a chance with the door to his left, only for it to transport you three back into the hallway. Donna continues, “But they had a sort of logic. Daleks built a great big bomb. I understood that. But this— this is impossible. How does it exist?”

The Doctor grits his teeth, growling, “That’s what unravels me. All the laws I cling to, gone.” He spins, opening another door only to lead you three back into the hallway. Moving to the opposite door, he finds it locked and slams his palm against the wood in frustration before pressing on down the hall.

Donna moves closer to you two and asks, “Who is the Toymaker? What is he?”

The Doctor turns to face Donna, explaining, “When I was young, I was so sure of myself. I made a terrible mistake. I let the TARDIS fall into another realm.” The Doctor opens a door, and you follow him as he continues, “A hollow beneath the Under Universe, where science is a game and all of us are toys.”

He pauses, taking a deep breath. "It's also how the Stargazer ended up with us, but that's something I will never regret." You softly remark, "A rift in the universe..." The Doctor quickly kisses your forehead, saying, "And it brought me you, my love."

After a moment, the Doctor struggles with another stubborn door, wiggling the doorknob in frustration. "I beat the Toymaker. I won his game, but now he's here. He's found his way into reality."

As he opens the door to the right, leading the three of you back into the hallway, he stills and sighs. "And I think it's all because of me."

You exchange a glance with the Doctor, shaking your head in disagreement. However, before you can utter a word, he cuts you off, his gaze intense. "'Cause I got clever, didn't I? I cast that salt at the edge of the universe. Thought I could have it all," he admits, his eyes locked onto yours. "I thought I could finally have you. I played a game and let him in, an elemental force with the power of a god, and he’s driven the human race mad with a puppet.”

Donna begins, “Yeah, but you always say—” the Doctor shakes his head and mockingly replies as he walks backward down the hall raising his voice, “Oh, what do I say? What do I say? What do I say?”

“‘Cause I’m always so certain. I’m all sonic and TARDIS and Time Lord. Take that away.” The Doctor says and defeatedly shrugs, “Take away the toys. What am I?” He chokes a little as his eyes glaze over, repeating, “What am I now?”

The Doctor looks to you and Donna as he offers a variation of the truth, “I don’t know if I can save your life this time.” The vulnerability in his voice echoes through the corridor, a stark departure from his usual confident demeanor.

Donna raises her eyebrows, her gaze shifting between you and the Doctor. “It’s not about me,” she asserts.

You meet Donna's gaze and respond, “Oh, yes, it is.”

With a nonchalant shrug and a deep breath, Donna begins, “Well,” and then she steps a little forward, flashing a determined smile, “Maybe I’ll save you, you big idiot.” Through the perplexing hallway, the chatter reverberates with a mixture of warmth and friendliness as you all chuckle.

"Anyway, you beat him before," Donna points out, and the Doctor wears a contemplative frown. "That’s the problem. Odd-on I’ll lose next time."

Donna dismisses the notion with a shake of her head. "Nope. Doesn’t work like that. Because my dad used to say, ‘Dice didn’t know what the dice did last time.’ Games don’t have a memory. Every game starts from scratch."

After a moment of letting the words settle, the Doctor nods with a genuine smile. "Oh, I like that. Well said, Dad." He takes a deep breath before suggesting, "Okay. Shall we find the right door?"

The Doctor swiftly dashes to one of the doors, opening them one after the other. You and Donna struggle to keep up, the anticipation heightening. Suddenly, one of the heavy doors slams shut behind Donna, separating you from her. Then the door in front of Donna slams shut, also separating her from the Doctor, the echoes of the closing door lingering in the air. 

You sense your fingernails biting into the palm of your hand, forming a tight fist as you strike the door with the side of your fists. An exasperated cry escapes your lips as you press your forehead against the wooden door. You shut your eyes, tears trickling down your cheeks. Slowly, you lower your hands to your sides, then raise them, placing them at the back of your neck in an attempt to regain composure.

You take a deep breath, letting the air fill your lungs before releasing it in a resounding exhale. Pushing away from the door, you continue down the corridor. A distinct pull guides you to a door on the right. Twisting the knob, you pull the door open and step into a room filled with standing mirrors encased in plastic frames. As you survey the surroundings, the door slams shut behind you, making you flinch and glance back.

Turning your head forward, you're met with various incarnations of the Doctor—past and present—alongside friends and companions, all staring back at you through the mirrors. Their gaze penetrates through you. The mirrors shift, forming two opposing lines, resembling portraits guiding you towards a solitary dresser and a seat. On the creaky wooden floors, you move delicately, feeling like a doll as the eyes of your own reflections track your every step down the mirrored pathway.

You eventually reach the dresser, and the seat smoothly pulls out from underneath it. Hesitant, you lower yourself onto it, only to find that your own reflection is not what greets you. Instead, it's the Toymaker, wearing a smug expression as he says, “Ah, yes, the Stargazer. Oh, how I’ve missed you, old friend.”

You cross your arms and raise your eyebrows, “If that’s what you want to call it, sure.”

The Toymaker’s expression shifts to a sour one as his face scrunches up, “We were friends, we had such wonderful games in our little dollhouse until the Doctor stole you away from me.”

You shake your head as you say sternly, “He didn’t take me away from you.”

The Toymaker childishly rolls his eyes as he also crosses his arms, “Admit it. You were happy. Happier to be blissfully unaware of who you are when we were in our universe.”

You shake your head as you feel your eyes glaze over, pressing your lips, trying to steady your breathing. Softly, you spoke, “You were controlling me. You were trying to mold me into something… that had to be exceptional to be worthwhile.”

You sniff as you continue, “You never cared about me or any of it. You only wanted to play your games and win. And the one time I won… I saw your true nature and never let me out of that box.”

You gaze directly into the Toymaker's eyes, inquiring, “How? How did you end up here?”

He tilts his head and smiles, “The Doctor may have cast that salt, but that was just the door. You being here, allowing yourself to exist in this reality, my dear, you were the key. The Doctor merely provided the key, and voila. Here I am.”

The Toymaker shifts before he hums and then says nonchalantly, “Well, this was so much fun… us two friends catching up. We should do this more often.”

You narrow your eyes as you shake your head, “Don’t you dare hurt them.”

The Toymaker grins, “Well, what’s the fun in that?”

The room around you seems to blur as a heaviness settles in your chest, the weight of your choices and the consequences of your time with the Toymaker bearing down on you. The mirrors that once reflected various versions of yourself, your friends, and the Doctor now seem to mock your vulnerability.

Your face shifts to anger as you grab your sonic screwdriver, raise it to the mirror, and press the button, causing the illusion to shatter. There is no glass in the mirror because, on the other side of it, is you—freed from the false reflections that sought to define you.

You rise from your seat, hastening as the glass mirrors rupture behind you, fragments and shards soaring through the air. Grabbing the doorknob, you wrench the door open, hurtling into the hallway just as the door behind you slams shut.

Anticipating the impact of the hard hallway floor, you're surprised to find yourself enveloped in sturdy arms, the familiar texture of the Doctor’s coat reassuring. "Whoa! Darling, there you are," he exclaims.

Speechless, you encircle him with your arms, finding solace in the warmth he provides. He eases back, cradling the side of your head, and you yield to the touch, trying to ground yourself in the reassurance that you're still alive, still breathing. Life may have presented challenges, love may have left its mark, and certain experiences may have etched an ache in your soul, yet, you survived.

The Doctor scans your face and says, “You’ve been crying. What’s wrong? What happened? Did he hurt you?”

You sniffle as you shake your head frantically, “No, I’m just… I’m sorry.”

The Doctor frowns, “What for?”

“It’s my fault. All of this is my fault.”

“No. I cast that salt—”

“Yes, but since I’m here, in this reality. I allowed him to exist here as well. It’s my fault. I’m so sorry.”

The Doctor pulls you in closer, tightly wrapping his arms around your frame as he asks, “Did he tell you that?”

You merely make a squeak as you nod into his chest, “It makes sense—”

“No. It’s— I refuse to believe it. I won’t.”

You began, “But—”

The Doctor pauses, his gaze softening, and he says, “No, my love. It's not your fault. Don't let his games mess with your mind. We'll figure this out together.”

You let go of your ghosts and your worries for once. It was just one step, but it said plenty. That you've been cut off from the outside world for such a large portion of your existence dawns on you. That you devoted so much of your life to a version of existence that was cut off from believing in the good and the beautiful as a means of survival, that you tried so hard to shield yourself from the love you so desperately needed.

You knew that you wouldn’t find a love that was perfect, but you found a love that was real. The kind that sees you and brings down your walls, that asks you to share parts of your soul you have tucked away and kept hidden from the world.

Suddenly, the creak of another door opening startles both of you, prompting a swift turn of your heads. Your heart skips a beat as you spot your fiery-haired friend. You exclaim, “Donna!”

“Oh, my god!” Donna exclaims, and the Doctor responds, “There you are!” As you eagerly move forward to embrace Donna, the room undergoes a rapid metamorphosis, transforming into a puppeteer theatre, with the Toymaker standing at its center.

Fanfare resonates in the background through concealed speakers as the Toymaker speaks in German, “Kommen Sie, kommen sie!”

Three chairs materialize from behind you, smoothly rolling forward and obliging you to take a seat upon them as they advance towards where the Toymaker stands.

"The show is just beginning. Worldwide premiere," the Toymaker announces, vanishing momentarily only to reappear behind the puppet theatre at the center. He addresses Donna Noble, "This is for you. Let me tell you what happened when the Doctor, he was leaving you."

Lifting the cross brace of the string puppet, he continues, "He met a friend called Amy Pond. And he loved Amy Pond." The strings sway as he manipulates the Amy puppet. "Yes, he be liking die redheads." A playful wink is followed by, "And they went to and fro in time und space."

The Toymaker's tone darkens as he narrates, "But Amy Pond was touched by the Weeping Angel. And she died." He grabs a large pair of scissors, severing the strings of the puppet, rendering it limp and lifeless.

The Doctor's expression turns grim and angry as he grits his teeth, "She died of old age."

Quickly shifting to an American accent, the Toymaker mockingly remarks, "Well, that’s alright then."

Continuing in his vibrant German accent, the Toymaker orchestrates the descent of a new puppet onto the stage, "Und then he was meeting Clara. Mmm." He adds, "But she was killed by a bird." Another snip of the strings leaves the puppet limp and lifeless.

The Doctor growls, "She still survives in her last second of life."

"Well, that’s alright then!" The Toymaker replies in his mocking American accent.

The Toymaker continues in his vibrant German accent, placing another puppet on the stage, "Und then the Doctor met Bill." Strings are pulled as he continues, "Not Stooky Bill, but lady Bill. But she was killed by the Cybermen." With a snip, the puppet falls to the floor, lifeless.

The Doctor's lip trembles, jaw set, as he asserts in a raised tone, "But her consciousness survives."

"Oh, well, that’s alright then!" The Toymaker retorts once more in his mocking American accent. He then transitions to a new scene with stars and planets descending, connected with strings. Cutting the strings, he comments with feigned remorse, "Und then there came die Flux. Oh, Donna Noble, the poor Doctor." The Toymaker continues to sever the strings attached to the planets, remarking, "Die Flux was killing everything."

"Is all of this true?" Donna asks in disbelief, leaving you frozen and unsure of what to do or say.

The Doctor abruptly stands up, his gaze locked onto the Toymaker's eyes as he lowers his tone, the gruffness evident, "I challenge you to a game."

The Toymaker's expression drops, his nostrils flare, and he strides toward the table. The Doctor meets him at the other end, and they lock eyes, a tense silence enveloping them.

The two of them settle into seats across from each other as the Toymaker mysteriously conjures a deck of cards. In a refined British accent, he declares, “I accept the challenge.”

The Doctor retorts, “You have no choice.”

With an air of a magician, the Toymaker skillfully shuffles the deck of cards, his hands moving with deliberate precision. "I came to this universe with such delight, and I played them all, Doctor." The Toymaker lays down the cards in a line, maintaining his magical flair. "I toyed with supernovas, turned galaxies into spinning tops."

He holds the two halves of the deck and continues, "I gambled with God and made him a jack-in-the-box." Flipping the cards, he shuffles the deck, his eyes locked onto the Doctor's. "I made a jigsaw out of your history. Did you like it?"

"The Master was dying and begged for his life with one final game. And when he lost, I sealed him for all eternity inside my gold tooth." The Toymaker says, a sly smile accompanying the gesture to his shiny gold tooth. However, his tone turns grave and haunted as he continues, "There’s only one player I didn’t dare face. The one who waits."

Both you and the Doctor furrow your brows, and the Doctor questions, “Who’s that?”

The Toymaker's gaze becomes distant as he recalls, “I saw it. Hiding. And I ran.”

“What do you mean?” The Doctor presses, and the Toymaker shakes his head, “Mmm. That’s someone else’s game.” Placing the deck of cards neatly on the table, he asks, “What shall we play?”

“One request. Tell me,” The Doctor starts, his tone curious, “The human race, back in the future. Why does everyone think they’re right?”

The Toymaker smirks knowingly and replies, “So that they win. I made every opinion supreme. That’s the game of the 21st century. They shout, they type, and they cancel. So I fixed it. Now everybody wins.”

“And everyone loses,” you remark, your eyebrows furrowing in contemplation. The Toymaker smiles, acknowledging the truth, “The never-ending game.” He then turns to the Doctor, prompting, “Now name your challenge.”

“The simplest game of all. Let’s cut,” the Doctor proposes, and the Toymaker grins, “Highest card wins.”

“Aces high,” the Doctor asserts.

“You choose,” the Toymaker replies.

“I’ll go first,” the Doctor declares.

Then Donna interjects, “But he’ll cheat.”

You, the Toymaker, and the Doctor quickly disagree, simultaneously stating, “No.” The Toymaker's face turns sour, offended by the accusation, “Shame.”

“That’s the one thing he won’t do,” the Doctor asserts, and Donna points out, “But they’re his cards. He’s all tricks. Of course, he’ll cheat.”

You then explain, “The only rules the Toymaker follows are the rules of the game. They bind his entire existence. The Doctor wins or he loses, and that’s it.”

The Toymaker glowers at the Doctor as he says, “Then play.”

The Doctor seizes the top deck of cards, turning it to reveal the Eight of Clubs. A sinking feeling creeps into the pit of your stomach as you calculate the odds, not liking the prospects for the Doctor.

The Toymaker raises an eyebrow with a smug expression, “My turn.” He grabs a portion of the deck, turning it to reveal the King of Hearts. Gripping the sides of your chair, you feel a sense of dread as the Toymaker laughs, “I’m the King.”

Switching back to his German accent, he declares excitedly, “Und now, meine kleine Doctor, we will see what is my prize!”

The Doctor responds, “One… all.”

A light laugh of relief escapes you, realizing the Doctor had a backup plan in case he lost. Leaning across the table, the Doctor's words make the Toymaker's expression drop, “I won the game many years ago. You’ve won today, which leaves us equal. And you know two players are bound by one inviolable rule.”

The Toymaker sneers as he begrudgingly admits, “Best of three.”

The Doctor nods, “Best of three.”

The Toymaker purses his lips in annoyance, narrowing his eyes before saying, “Then let’s make it 2023.” He suddenly pulls a curtain from the side, quickly vanishing as the red velvet cloth clatters to the floor. The room transforms, and you hear the creaking of wood.

Both you and the Doctor exclaim, “Donna!”

Donna has already sprung from her chair, responding, “I’m already running!”

As you run, the structure behind you collapses in on itself, the scratching and groaning of wood as it folds in the hallway. Eventually, you make it out of the shop, running into the streets and stopping from across the street to see the entire building fold itself neatly into a box on the ground.

Donna points out, "He said 2023," and the Doctor responds as his chest puffs out a breath, "Winner takes all."

UNIT HEADQUARTERS, LONDON — DAY, 2023

Once the TARDIS had landed, you and Donna hurriedly followed the Doctor, who carried the box containing the Toymaker's shop. As you reached the main area of operations, the Doctor placed the red box on Melanie's desk and instructed, "Keep an eye on that."

Stepping up on one of the desks, the Doctor addressed everyone in a loud tone, "The satellite was only a link in the chain, so Donna needs access to the subframe. There is no one in London faster on a keyboard. She’s creating a template for this." He produced a flash drive and explained, "It coordinates all telescopes and satellites and deep-space scans across the Earth." Tossing the flash drive to Shirley, who deftly caught it.

Turning to the Vlinx, the Doctor requested, "The Vlinx, I need all mesh reflectors on Earth translated to digital five."

As Donna worked on the keyboard, Mel replied to Donna's question, "Dynamic. We’re using triad."

Donna nodded in understanding, typing rapidly, "Got ya. Okay, so you should all be receiving this now."

"How bad is it, Doctor, Star?" Kate asked with concern. The Doctor responded with a warning tone, "Something entered this world in 1925. I don’t know how. And I warn you, this thing can get from 1925 to now like stepping through a door."

He shoved his hands into his pockets and continued, "But if we’re lucky, the program the Stargrazer created can detect the decay of an energy signature from 98 years ago. Might be on Earth. Might be in orbit. Might be in space. But if we can find the entrance, maybe we can turn it into an exit."

"What are we fighting?" Kate asked, and you responded grimly, "An elemental force beyond the rules of the universe."

Shirley then inquired with a puzzled tone, "What’s that supposed to mean?"

The Doctor gave her a look and explained, "You think life is a balance between order and chaos, but the universe is not binary." As the Spice Girls' "Spice Up Your Life" began playing from somewhere, he continued, "Far from it. There is order and chaos, and then there is play." Pointing to the ceiling, he asked, "What’s that?"

"Could you turn that off, please?" Kate requested, and Melanie, standing from her chair, asked, "Who is that?"

The Doctor groaned, "Oh, I think he’s here."

The Toymaker entered the scene like a Broadway hurricane, dressed as a band leader with his hair curled and styled. A door suddenly appearing with the bell jingling as he strutted forward. Confetti popped, lights flashed, and the Toymaker lip-synced to the Spice Girls' song playing from an unknown location.

"When you're feelin' sad and low

We will take you where you gotta go"

The door materialized behind you, the bell jingling as the Toymaker stepped out, dancing and lifting his hat, grooving to the music. You and the Doctor stood there, unimpressed, wearing a fed-up expression.

The Toymaker, immersed in the infectious beats of the Spice Girls, continued his impromptu performance. With infectious enthusiasm, he teleported across various areas of the headquarters, seamlessly syncing his lip movements to the lyrics of the song. His dance was a spectacle of exaggerated expressions, capturing the vibrant spirit of the Spice Girls' anthem.

As the music echoed through the room, the Toymaker made flamboyant movements, teleporting next to Shirley. With flair, he held up a phone, lip-syncing passionately to the lyrics.

"Smilin', dancin', everything is free

All you need is positivity"

The Toymaker's energetic dance moves and lively expressions added a surreal touch to the otherwise serious atmosphere of the operation.

“Colours of the world

Spice up your life”

Teleporting with theatrical finesse, he continued his spirited performance, engaging with the song's upbeat tempo.

“Every boy and every girl

Spice up your life”

The Toymaker, a delightful force of whimsy, twirled and danced with infectious energy, infusing the tension-filled room with an unexpected burst of joy.

“People of the world

Spice up your life

Aah

Slam it to the left

If you're havin' a good time

Shake it to the right

If ya know that you feel fine

Chicas to the front

Ha ha (uh uh)

Go round”

With each step, he appeared and disappeared, dancing effortlessly to the rhythm. In a sudden move, the Toymaker materialized next to Kate, seamlessly incorporating her into his lively dance. However, the exuberant twirl proved too much, and Kate, spun too fast, and collided with a wall.

Undeterred, the Toymaker vanished and reappeared beside Melanie, pulling her into an impromptu dance as UNIT soldiers point their weapon at him.

“Slam it to the left

If you're havin' a good time

Shake it to the right

If ya know that you feel fine

Chicas to the front”

The Toymaker spun Melanie like a spinning top, prompting your alarmed cry, "Melanie!" Both you and the Doctor rushed to her aid as she tumbled to the ground, the unexpected dance taking an unforeseen turn.

"La la la la la la la la la

La la la la la la la"

Kate regains her composure, brushing off her slacks with a determined air as she commands the UNIT soldiers, "Detain him!"

In response, a contingent of UNIT soldiers swiftly advances, attempting to apprehend the whimsical Toymaker. The Doctor's warning echoes in the air, “No, don’t!” However, defying the Doctor's urgent plea, the Toymaker playfully taps the soldiers, transforming them into vibrant, bouncing balls that clatter across the floor.

"What happened to them?" Kate urgently inquires, and you, wearing a grimace, shake your head, "They're dead. I'm sorry. Just stop it. Let me talk to him."

The Toymaker confidently struts down the center aisle among the stations, seizing the attention of everyone. Kate seizes the opportunity and commands the remaining UNIT soldiers, "On my command, open fire!"

"Take him out, take him out!"

Despite the barrage of gunfire from the UNIT troops, the bullets magically transform into a cascade of delicate rose petals, scattering around the office in a surreal display. The Toymaker, reveling in the chaos, gleefully glances atop a table as more rose petals dance in the air.

"Yellow man in Timbuktu

Colourful, both me and you

Kung Fu fighting, dancing queen

Tribal spaceman and all that's in between"

Undeterred, more UNIT soldiers step in, brandishing larger firearms. Kate urgently yells, "Get down!" Yet, instead of bullets, they too unleash a storm of rose petals towards the Toymaker, amplifying the confusion and chaos in the headquarters.

Now seated on the floor, the Toymaker whimsically creates a rose petal angel, moving his arms and legs in a playful display as he swims amidst the never-ending fall of petals, still lip-syncing to the song.

"Colours of the world (Spice up your life)

Every boy and every girl (Spice up your life)

People of the world (Spice up your life, ah)"

As the Toymaker gracefully walks away from the floral aftermath, he makes his exit, singing the last part of the song and forming a heart with his hands.

"Hai, sí, ja! Hold tight!"

With a resounding honk, he disappears into the floor, leaving the bewildered onlookers shaken and utterly confused about the bizarre turn of events.

The Doctor swiftly dashes forward, sliding to his knees with palms pressed to the floor in an attempt to catch the Toymaker, yet the space where he once stood appears empty, as if he were an illusion.

While Donna tends to Mel, you approach the Doctor, who rises to his feet. Kate's inquiry breaks the moment, "Doctor, Stargazer, who is he?"

Breathing heavily, you respond, "The Toymaker."

"How does he do that?" Shirley questions from her wheelchair, seeking understanding.

Ignoring the query, the Doctor directs urgently, "The Vlinx, speed up those scans. I need those results." He then turns to the group, nostrils flaring, and commands, "All of you, search the building. He’s still here. Where’s he gone?"

Soldiers take charge, securing the perimeter, while Shirley persists, "But how does he do it?" The Doctor, resolute, explains in a low tone, "If I told you he manipulates atoms with the power of thought, would you believe it?"

Shirley ponders for a moment before responding, "Is that what he does?"

The Doctor shakes his head, "No. You can’t fight him, Shirley. There’s nothing you can do."

A sudden noise interrupts the conversation—a bell tinkling. Hushing everyone, you urge, "Listen. Listen."

The ringing intensifies. Kate steps towards the automatic door leading to the helipad, and you follow suit. There, on the helipad, the Toymaker stands alone, dressed in an aviator outfit, ringing the doorbell. Kate exclaims, "Oh, my God. He’s got the Galvanic Beam." Reacting swiftly, you and the Doctor rush onto the helipad. The Toymaker sits on the chair of the Galvanic Beam, swinging it as he excitedly exclaims in German, "Achtung, Achtung! Backen Sie."

Kate, Donna, Shirley, and Mel, carrying the box, join you on the helipad along with the UNIT soldiers. The Toymaker continues, with his goggles on and his exaggerated German accent, "Oh, how I am liking this, the gun mit the laser und the bang und the boom."

The Doctor turns back to the group, urgently shouting, "Go back inside! Get back, get back!"

The Toymaker, however, dismisses the idea, insisting, "No, no, no, no, no. Every game is ge-needing an audience, ja."

Now it's your turn to raise your voice, "Get back inside!" Yet, the Toymaker, maintaining his defiance, sternly disagrees, "Und I said nein!" He takes aim at the glass higher up the building, shattering it. The team below reacts with startled cries as you and the Doctor shoot furious glares at the Toymaker.

Removing his goggles, the Toymaker switches to a British accent, calmly stating, "Now we can all have some fun."

Kate steps forward, undeterred and unafraid, confronting the Toymaker with a determined gaze. "Where are my staff? The beam had a pilot, and the armourer and the ground staff. Where are they?"

“I think they're still falling,” the Toymaker replies, and then a faint thud in the distance is followed by the sound of glass shattering.

The Doctor bares his teeth, anger etched across his face as he stomps forward and confronts the Toymaker, “I don't understand why you're so small!” The Toymaker’s face shifts into a frown, his features scrunching up as the Doctor continues his impassioned confrontation, “You can turn bullets into flowers. Think of the good you could do. So tell me why you don't!”

The Toymaker responds with resounding sureness, "You know full well this is merely a face concealing a vastness that will never cease, because your good and your bad are nothing to me. All that exists is to win or to lose."

“And you know full well that I've had many faces, containing something far more,” the Doctor begins. You inch closer to him as he grabs your hand, offering the Toymaker a compelling invitation, “So come with us. Leave this tiny world. We can take your games back to the stars. We can play across the cosmos. We can be... Celestial.”

You watch as the Toymaker’s gaze shifts between the two of you, “The Time Lords, and the Toymaker?”

You nod, extending your hand, “Infinite games.”

A moment of anticipation hangs in the air as you hope for his acceptance. However, the Toymaker's expression shifts to one of indifference as he uses the controller of the Galvanic Beam. Turning to survey London, he begins, “And yet…” The soldiers cautiously retreat as the Toymaker observes the destruction and chaos engulfing the city.

“I have fallen in love with humanity. This world is the ultimate playground. All of the sport, the matches, the medals, the gambling, and the anger, and the children shackled to their bedrooms with their joysticks and their buttons. You make games out of bricks falling upon other bricks. You are exceptional,” the Toymaker remarks, and you signal the troops to halt their advance. The Toymaker gasps, “And then there are the mind games. Oh, the dating and ghosting, the deceit and the control. You make me dizzy. I am in no hurry to leave this place.”

He swivels the turret around, a maniacal glint in his eye as he chuckles, “We can play Grandma's Footsteps.” He gleefully fires at the soldiers' feet, forcing them to hastily retreat, "And Off-Ground Touch."

“Ah! Stop, stop, stop, stop!” You plead helplessly as the Toymaker, a sinister smirk on his face, persists in aiming the Galvanic Beam at your companions. He remarks, "Shooting ducks. Who's up next? The companion? The soldier? The scientist? The orphan?"

The Doctor charges ahead, bellowing and thumping his chest defiantly, "Your fight is with me!" The Toymaker directs the beam towards the Doctor, declaring, "And you owe me! One more ga—"

His words abruptly cease as the Toymaker unleashes the Galvanic Beam, piercing through the Doctor's torso. A gut-wrenching scream escapes your lips, and you desperately attempt to rush towards him, only to be forcefully restrained by Donna and Kate. Helplessly, you bear witness to the Doctor's anguished ordeal.

The Toymaker proclaims, “I played the first game with one Doctor. I played the second game with this Doctor. Therefore, your own rules have decreed I play the third game with the next Doctor.” As the beam deactivates, you extricate yourself from Donna and Kate's grasp, hastening to reach your Doctor who has descended to his knees on the ground. Regeneration energy begins to shimmer around him, and you sniffle as you cradle him close, feeling his feeble arm wrap around you.

Tears stream down your face as you murmur, "Hey, hey... I'm right here."

You sense his touch, brushing away your tears as he utters, "Hello, my sweet Stargazer... I’ve been alone for so long. Oh, how I've missed you." A resonant sniff escapes you as you reply, "I'm so sorry. For running. For leaving. For everything, I’m sorry.”

He softly hushes you, "No. None of that. It's not your fault." A wistful smile gently paints his face. "I love you." You release a sob, "I love you too."

"Marry me?" The Doctor proposes, managing to flash you a boyish grin. You can't help but emit a weak laugh, "Right now?"

"Whenever, wherever you like. Just say yes."

"You already know I’d say yes, you idiot!" you retort.

"Say it, please," he murmurs, and you nod as tears continue to fall from your cheeks, "Of course, I'll marry you. I’ll marry you as many times as you want. As many lifetimes as you want."

As the regeneration energy glows brighter, Donna steps forward, yelling loudly to the Toymaker, “He's not dying alone. You can do what you like to me. I'm going to be with them both.”

“And so am I,” Mel declares, setting the box down and approaching the other side of the Doctor along with Donna.

The Toymaker allows it, nodding, “Handmaidens.”

“It's okay,” Donna says, and the Doctor responds, “It's not dying.” Donna nods in understanding, adding, “I know. But…”

Mel smiles as she interjects, “You're going to be someone else. It doesn't matter who because every single one of you is fantastic.”

The Doctor’s eyes glaze as he feels the regeneration energy glow brighter and stronger, surging throughout his body, “It's time. Here we go again. Allons-y!”

The energy fizzles out, and the Doctor hasn't changed his face, leaving you all blinking in confusion as he lets out an, “Um.”

The Doctor’s brow furrows as Donna asks, “What... What's happening?”

Looking to you, the Doctor asks in an even more confused tone, “Could you... pull?”

With your mouth agape and wide-eyed, you inquire, “Could I... what?” The Doctor looks to Mel and Donna to his left, saying, “And you.”

“What do you mean?” Mel asks, and the Doctor blinks as stands up and replies, “Pull! Just pull each way. I don't know. It feels different this time.” The three of you begin to pull in each way, and the Doctor exclaims, “Ow! Oh.”

Regeneration surges and flares up once more, and out pops the head and shoulders of the new Doctor, number 15. You all gasp in shock, and you're the first to say, “What?”

“What?” Donna and Mel ask in unison.

“What?!” The Toymaker exclaims.

“No way,” the other part of the Doctor exclaims, and your Doctor responds with glee, “You're me.”

The new regeneration of the Doctor smiles, a toothy grin spreading across his face as he says, “No, I'm me. I think I'm really, really me. Oh, ho-ho, I am completely me! Don't just stand there, push!”

Your Doctor poses the question once more, "Do what?" to which his other half retorts, "Push."

"What— Does this work?" Your Doctor questions and the new one responds with a laugh, "I don't know."

They part ways entirely, each now clad in half of the other one's attire. Your Doctor sports the undershirt, vest, and trousers, and is left barefoot. Meanwhile, as far as your memory serves, the 15th regeneration of the Doctor is now adorned in a button-up shirt, tie, sneakers, and underwear. You purse your lips as you try to hide your smile and feel a warmth spreading out your face as you realize your Doctor isn’t wearing any underwear. You decide to pocket that bit of information for later.

A surge of joy and laughter fills the air as the 15th Doctor exclaims, "Hello!" Arms outstretched in a welcoming embrace, he moves towards your Doctor, continuing to laugh, "So good to see you! So good!"

Turning his attention to you, a broad grin decorates his face as he rushes towards you, enveloping you in a warm hug and lifting you off the ground, spinning you around. A yelp of surprise and glee escapes you, and you notice a twinge of jealousy in your Doctor's expression. However, you shoot him a look, a gentle reminder that they are one and the same.

The 15th Doctor lets out hearty laughter before addressing everyone, "Now, someone tell me what the hell is going on here."

"Excuse me. Sorry, but..." Kate begins, and Shirley interjects, "How did that happen?"

"Bi-generation. I have bi-generated! There's no such thing. Bi-generation is supposed to be a myth, but... look at me.” He chuckles and stretches as his joints crack, “Yeah, myth, myth, myth," the 15th Doctor declares with a jolly tone, turning to Mel and inquiring, "Mel, what do you think?"

Mel smiles widely as she gazes at the 15th Doctor, "I think you're beautiful."

Your Doctor furrows his brow, questioning, "Still beautiful?"

"Yeah," Mel responds.

Donna, taking in the new Doctor with a rich deep ebony skin tone, asks, "Do you come in a range of colours?"

To which all the Time Lords reply with a resounding, "Yes."

You hear the Toymaker clear his throat and begin, pointing the beam at the two Doctors, "If I can interrupt... Behold the game of the Time Lords. A dummy who dies and doubles and dies and doubles. I could play this for 100 years. I'll have vast meadows of Doctors dying over and over again, and I'll never get bored because…"

The two Doctors step forward in unison, declaring, "I challenge you to a game."

The Toymaker's face sours, and he tosses his goggles, shifting into a frown. "But there's two of you."

Your Doctor asserts, "I'm the Doctor," and the 15th remarks, "And I'm the Doctor."

Your Doctor smirks, "And according to the rules, you can't say no."

The Toymaker stammers, "But that's cheating."

“How?” both Doctors say simultaneously, and your Doctor continues, “It's your game, and you did this.”

The Toymaker is at a loss for words, stammering, "But…"

Your Doctor smiles, "You doubled us."

“So, who am I marrying then—” You interject, and the two Doctors exclaim, “Me!”

Your eyebrows shoot up, eyes widening in response. "Y’know what, that seems like an issue for later."

The Toymaker interjects, stating, "I accept your challenge." Stepping off the Galvanic Beam, your Doctor commands everyone in a commanding voice, "Get back." In compliance, everyone takes a few steps back.

“Moments like these are a joy, when someone thinks they can outwit the maker of the games. Do you think a grand total of two can cause me to shiver when I've played against the Guardians of Time and Space and shrank them into voodoo dolls? Name your challenge, Doctor,” the Toymaker says, and you mockingly yawn, eliciting a glare from him.

“You said it. The first game ever,” the 15th Doctor states, and your Doctor finishes his thoughts, “The ball.”

The Toymaker conjures a ball from thin air and declares, “Catch? Of course, before we begin, there is one thing to remember. It's a simple game, really, but I think…”

Suddenly, the Toymaker hurls the ball towards your Doctor at an astonishing speed, making contact with his chest just as he finishes his sentence, “…if you drop it, you lose.”

Your Doctor catches the ball, releasing a deep breath, “Nice.”

The ball is tossed around in a flurry. You can only watch as it keeps getting passed and tossed. Eventually, the 15th Doctor throws it extremely far to your Doctor, causing him to tumble and dive to catch it from the 15th.

Your Doctor looks at the 15th with wide eyes, his chest puffing out breaths as he exclaims, “Hey! I'm on your side!”

15th sheepishly replies, “I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry!”

The game of catch persists, and you nervously bite your nails as you observe the trio. There are numerous extreme throws and catches, accompanied by near misses, until the 15th Doctor imparts enough spin on the ball. It glances off the Toymaker's fingers, tumbling over the building's edge.

The Toymaker pants in disbelief, beginning, "But—"

“We won!” Your Doctor asserts, and the 15th adds, “We did it. Fair game. You lost.”

Attempting to salvage the situation, the Toymaker stammers, “No, but I think you'll find…”

Your Doctor steps forward, declaring, “Best of three. And my prize, Toymaker, is to banish you from existence forever.”

The Toymaker protests, “No! But I'm... It's not…” Suddenly, he starts to flatten and fold, “You can't... But I…” Mel steps forward and brings out the box as the Toymaker yelps, “Not fair. Please. My legions are coming. Argh!” He folds up into a square and drops into the box, which slams shut.

Kate seizes the box by the handles, instructing the soldier, “Take it to the deepest vault and bind it in salt.” The soldier promptly responds, “Yes, ma'am.”

Shirley and Kate disengage their Zeedexes. Kate turns to Shirley, saying, “Shirley, tell Geneva we're in full resus. Tell every base to follow Green Shoot protocols, full liaison.” She then addresses the soldier, “Rudi, I'll want the names of all those staff.”

Your attention shifts to your Doctor, standing at the edge of the helipad. The wind tousles his brown, spiky hair as he surveys the destruction wreaked upon London by the Toymaker. Approaching him, you grasp his hand and offer, “Hey, we did it.”

“But how many died down there?” The Doctor frowns, his tone heavy with sorrow. The 15th and Donna approach, with Donna reassuringly stating, “That's not your fault.”

The 15th points out, “You can't save everyone.”

Your Doctor pouts, “Why not?”

The 15th Doctor pulls both you and him into a hug, soothingly saying, “Come here. I've got you. Yeah? It's okay. I'm here.”

As you let out a sigh of relief, exhausted to the events that occurred. Your mind wanders and you smile. This love will intimately understand you, resonating on certain levels as if it has always existed—a deep-seated yearning your soul has carried, anticipating the reunion with its heart, perpetually poised to return home to the facets of itself discovered in another being. It serves as a poignant reminder that hope can emanate from the fingertips of another human being, nestled within the layers of the uncharted aspects waiting to be unveiled.

You and the group re-enter the building, abandoning the helipad to solitude, save for a lone sentry stationed at the entrance. A faint echo of laughter seems to linger in the air, leaving you with an inexplicable sense of dread resonating from a distant place.

UNIT HEADQUARTERS, SUITE 17, LONDON – DAY 2023

INSIDE THE TARDIS

You observe as the Doctor maneuvers around the console, guiding his other incarnation through the intricacies. "That's the petrolink shatterfy compensator, moved from there to there. Hyperdynes. Er... fluid links, obviously," he explains, his hands deftly pointing out the components.

Your Doctor halts abruptly, stumbling over his words as he gazes at the version of himself standing on the bridge. "And, well, you know... things. But, er... how's it going to work? You and me. This is great, I think. Is it? But... How do we both...?”

“One thing you need in this place is a chair,” the 15th Doctor remarks, and you arch your eyebrows, glancing at your Doctor, who responds, “I'll be all right.”

The 15th shakes his head, emphasizing, “No, you're thin as a pin, love. You're running on fumes.”

You and Donna both sigh in agreement, stating, “That's what we keep saying.”

“I'm just... post-bi-generation,” your Doctor attempts to justify, but the 15th Doctor interjects, “Ha! It's more than that. Our whole lifetime. That Doctor that first met the Toymaker never, ever stopped. Put on trial, exiled, Key to Time, all the devastation of Logopolis.”

“Adric,” your Doctor says with a tinge of sadness, and the 15th nods, “Adric.”

Your Doctor's expression shifts to a sorrowful pout as he reminisces about the days and tragic events. “River Song. All the people we lost. Sarah Jane has gone. Can you believe that for a second?”

“I loved her,” your Doctor admits, and the 15th agrees, “I loved her. And Rose. But the Time War, Pandorica, Mavic Chen. We fought the Gods of Ragnarok, and we didn't stop for a second to say, ‘what the hell?’”

Your Doctor shakes his head, “But you're fine.” He gestures to his newly regenerated self, and the 15th says, “I'm fine because you fixed yourself. We're Time Lords. We're doing rehab out of order.”

You then gently interject, “He's saying you need to stop.”

Your Doctor shakes his head in disagreement, stating, “I don't know how.”

Donna takes a step forward, her words measured, “Well, I can tell you. Cos you know what I did when you went flying off in your blue box, Spaceman? I stayed in one place, and I lived day after day after day.”

“It would drive me mad,” your Doctor admits. You nod in agreement, stepping closer to him, your hand gently holding his cheek. “Same here. I’ll be honest, it was difficult… at first. Yeah. It does. But you keep on going. That’s what makes it special. You won’t exactly know what’s going to happen. And that's the adventure. The one adventure you've never had. Because I've... I've worked out what happened. The Flux caused a reset in the universe, no longer making my entire existence a threat to everyone. Then you changed your face, and then you found me. Do you know why?”

The Doctor is wide-eyed as you gaze into his chocolate brown eyes, and you give him a soft smile, “To come home.”

“Do you mean... he flies off?” The Doctor says as he glances at the 15th Doctor, tears welling up. “But I could never let the Tardis go. Never. It would hurt.”

The 15th Doctor approaches you two and leans against the console, stating, “Yeah, but... bi-generation has never happened before.” An idea begins to form in his mind, “What if...? What if!”

Eagerly, he dashes to the walkway, producing a 'test your strength' mallet. “What if the Toymaker's domain is still lingering? Just for a few seconds more, we're in a state of play. Oh! So maybe…”

The 15th Doctor steps out of the TARDIS, and the three of you follow after him. Shirley and Mel are waiting in the suite.

Excitedly, the 15th Doctor exclaims, “Hey! Watch this, watch this. Watch, watch, watch, watch. Stand back. Stand back. Go on, that's it, Donna. Oh! Wish me luck.”

“What for?” The Doctor asks, to which the 15th responds with a big smile, “We won the game. You get a prize, honey, and here is mine!” He swings at the side of the TARDIS, knocking a second one out. An exact duplicate stands on the left side of the original one.

“Ta-da!” The 15th shows off in a sing-songy voice before whispering to the TARDIS, “I am so sorry.”

Donna expresses with glee, “That is completely nuts,” and the 15th Doctor laughs in agreement.

The Doctor pushes the other TARDIS doors open and looks down. He unfolds a ramp, saying, “Oh, look! Oh, that's not bad. Wheelchair accessible.”

“At last! You finally caught up with the 21st century!” Shirley smiles, laughing.

“Yeah. Go on,” the 15th Doctor says to your Doctor, who steps inside to glance around as you wait outside. After a minute, he walks out, goes into the original TARDIS, and looks around. You watch as the 15th Doctor gives you a wink before stepping inside his TARDIS, and you let out a snort.

You see your Doctor exit the TARDIS and realize the 15th Doctor is missing. “Where is he? Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!”

You follow your Doctor as he pushes open the other TARDIS doors, saying, “You weren't going to leave without saying goodbye, were you?”

The 15th Doctor mischievously grins as he replies, “As if I would ever do that. Come here. Come here, come here, come here, come here.” He hugs him and kisses you on the cheek, saying, “Look after him, you know? Now, you three, if you don't mind, there is a great big universe out there calling, and I've got to get going. So off you pop, old man.”

Your Doctor shakes his head, a playful glint in his eyes, “Oh. You're the old man. You're older than me.”

Donna nods in agreement, “Actually, that is true. He's younger because you came after him. So you're the older Doctor.”

The 15th Doctor rolls his eyes playfully, teasing, “Okay, kid. I love you. Get out!” He sets the Time Rotor in motion, and Donna rushes out of the TARDIS, yelping, “I'm not doing that again!”

Observing the Doctors salute each other, you hear him say to you, “I’ll see you soon.” Then the two of you exit.

Stepping into Suite 17, the group gathers as the Doctor remarks, “Shirley, I don't suppose you've seen this before. I don't see it often myself. Stand by.”

“Where's he going?” Mel asks, and the Doctor replies, “Everywhere.”

You watch as the TARDIS dematerializes, and you catch the soft whisper of the Doctor, “Good luck.”

DONNA’S GARDEN — DAY, 2023

The TARDIS is parked in Donna’s garden, a testament to the new chapter you and the Doctor were embarking on—cohabiting. Presently, the entire family savored a meal al fresco beneath the pergola adorned with wisteria in full bloom. The Doctor sat beside you, his hand resting casually on your thigh, a constant desire to connect, to be near.

“Right. The cast-iron pot is the vegan. Ta-da! And the one with the flowers is the chicken,” Shaun declares, placing the dish on the table. You hum and nod, and Shaun adds, “I think.”

Sylvia chimes in, pointing to the dish, “And this is cauliflower cheese, which doesn't really go with anything, but it was there.” Rose nods as they begin to take their seats.

Donna raises a hand, signaling for attention, “Anyway, shush, please, for the eyebrow story.”

“Oh, yes. So... this species only communicated with their eyebrows. I thought, I can do that,” the Doctor says with an unusually happy tone, a rare occurrence that visibly lifts the weight from his shoulders. He sits straighter, and with a flourish of his eyebrows, he continues the story, “So I'm stood there on this clifftop and I went... ‘I mean you no harm. I come in peace. I am your friend.’”

“Am I late?” Mel's voice breaks through, and you lift your head to see her sheepishly saying, “Sorry. The door was open. You don't mind?”

Sylvia dismisses her concern, cooing, “Oh, you're family, darling. Sit down.”

You glance at Mel and ask, “Did you drive?”

“No. I got a lift off a zingo,” Mel replies as she takes a seat next to you, prompting cheers and laughter from the group.

“A zingo!” Donna exclaims, and Sylvia smiles, “Oh, how strange.”

The Doctor continues his eyebrow-raising tale, “So, she looked at me, the Warrior Queen of the Felooth, and she said, ‘Good. And now... you will marry me.’ I said, ‘What?!’ And she pushed me off the cliff!”

Sylvia leans in over the table, asking, “But is it true, though? Is it really true?”

The Doctor looks to you, humming and shrugging, “Mmm…” You playfully shove his shoulder, and he kisses your cheek.

“We could always go in the Tardis and find out,” Rose suggests, but Shaun interjects, “Don't you dare.”

Donna sternly tells her daughter, “You are grounded until the Doctor feels better. Don't go sneaking off to Mars.”

“Again,” Rose says, and Donna goes wide-eyed, asking, “What does that mean?” She pointedly looks at the two of you.

“Oh, no. It was just once. Oh, you're in trouble,” the Doctor says, and you wince.

Mel explains, “They took me to New York last week. The Gilded Age. It was amazing.”

The Doctor shrugs, “Well, yeah. We just can't turn down my favourite niece.”

Rose smiles, “Ah! Niece. I like that.”

“Well, that's what you are. With my best friend, my brother-in-law, the evil stepmother…” The Doctor says, and Sylvia chuckles, “Oh, I have barely begun.” The Doctor continues, “..and Mad Aunty Mel.”

Mel chuckles, “Mad Aunty Mel!”

You all toast happily, exclaiming, “Mad Aunty Mel!”

The Doctor then places down his glass before lifting your left hand, now adorned with a gold band inscribed in Gallifreyan. He kisses your knuckles and says lovingly, “And of course, my soon-to-be wife.”

You can’t help but smile as you look at him. With him, you just open. The cost of staying fortified and hidden away becomes too high. With the Doctor, you lay down your arms. You let love rush in. You let it wash over you. You crack your shell, exposing your heart to this world, trusting that you are worthy of being seen there.

The Doctor then remembers, “And Grandad! Where is he?”

Sylvia says, “Oh, he's off shooting moles.”

The sound of a shotgun resonates, and you hum as the Doctor says, “Don't worry, I gave the moles a forcefield. I love the moles.”

Donna raises her eyebrows, asking, “You love the moles?”

The Doctor grins, “I love them. But here we are, Grandad and all. Who'd have thought? I ended up with a family.”

You feel the weight of his words settling in the cracks of your bones as your hearts thump in the silence. You lean your head on his shoulder, feeling him kiss the top of your head.

Shaun suddenly exclaims, “Oh, my God, I got it wrong. The vegan one is in the flowers.”

Rose groans, tossing her fork on the plate, “Urgh! What am I eating?”

“Oh... Don't worry.” Shaun tries to help. “We'll just… give it to Grandad.” Sylvia adds, “Don't make a fuss. Pass me your plate.”

Donna looks between the two of you, smiling as she says, “You don't have to stay forever.”

The Doctor glances at you, and you smile up at him, saying, “We'll see.”

“Do you miss it? Out there?” Donna asks.

The Doctor looks around, realizing he’s surrounded by love as he says, “The funny thing is, I fought all those battles for all those years, and now I know what for. This. I've never been so happy in my life.”

This love infuses honey into the core of your being; it's akin to a gentle warmth seeping into the very marrow of your bones. Witnessing how it learns about you, fights on your behalf, and remains steadfast through life's storms by your side, you're reminded of the profound connection often overshadowed by the preference for distance over depth in this world. It's a reminder that hope emanates from the touch of another, concealed within the layers of undiscovered facets. You now comprehend that love was always intended to be gentle, always meant to be tender, as evidenced by the Doctor intertwining his fingers with yours, accompanied by a bright grin. Your bones are safe, and your heart can rest assured it belongs to him. Your world transforms, cradled by the comforting embrace that is the Doctor.

“So,” Donna begins as she chews her food and swallows as he smiles at her best friends, “When’s the wedding?”

TAGLIST:

@awesome-badass-cafeteria-sauce @matthew-lilards @a-dash-of-cinnamon @imthedoctorlove @scoliobean @allophonicmess @mirkwoodshewolf @jaziona92 @melloww-akira @crowleythesexydemon @pedrettilov3r @nsainmoonchild @h-l-vlovesvintage @jaziona92 @1potato2rulethemall @jesssimblrorwhatever @prettyboigenius @ladygrimmx

[moneymoneygreengreen]

Satosugu fanfiction #2

(WARNING: slight 18+)

this is a headcannon/au so don’t take it seriously.

Satoru, the fluffy white haired boy with sunglasses on his face approached his two friends, Suguru and Shoko. They were both chatting with one another while leaning against a brick wall. When Satoru finally reached the two, he rose a hand up from his pocket with a short, “hey.”

Suguru responded with a “what’s up,” meanwhile Shoko gave a small nod of welcome with the cigarette hanging from the side of her lips.

“Hey, Suguru?” Satoru started while turning his head over to the gorgeous black haired boy. “Do you want to go to that one Italian joint that’s around ///////// after classes? It’s my treat,” Satoru added. “I heard they have pretty good stuff over there.”

Suguru’s lips expands into a warm, soft smile and he answers with a, “I would love to!”

Satoru smiled back but it was more of a grin. “Great! It’s a date then!” He turns around and darts off.

Shoko took a drag from her cigarette and frowned playfully. “Awe, I want to come too! I’d love to see what you and your”- she made air quotes -“boyfriend does when you both go out~” she let out a little chuckle as Suguru punched her arm softly.

///

At around 5:23 pm, Satoru walks with Suguru. The two of them were talking together all day long. Soon enough, Satoru lead Suguru to a shiny, white, brand new Koenigsegg. Satoru grabs the keys from his pockets and presses a button to unlock the car.

Suguru looked at Satoru with an eyebrow raised. “Wait a minute, you never told me you had a car? Let alone, I never knew you could drive!” Satoru chuckled and he says, “That’s because I just got the car today! And uh- I taught myself how to drive.” Suguru grew a bit uneasy but Satoru immediately added, “But don’t worry, I’ve got my drivers license.” Suguru breathed out slowly, glad to hear that.

Satoru Opened the passenger’s door of the Koenigsegg and murmured, “after you.” To Suguru before getting onto the other side of the sports car and getting in.

///

During the 30 minute drive, the two were listening to Taylor Swift and Katie Perry. And singing along to it…

“…California girls, we’re unforgettable! Daisy Dukes bikinis on top…”

They laughed and sung together all the way until they had both reached the Italian restaurant.

When they had reached the restaurant, Satoru had parked the car somewhere in the parking lot and hopped out of the car. He went to the passenger side door where Suguru was sitting and opened the door for him as if he was a princess. “Here you go, your highness~” He teased as Suguru climbed out of the car. the two walked into the restaurant together and took a seat at a booth. It was silent for a moment. Perhaps a little two silent that it was getting a bit awkward. So, Satoru decided to spark up a conversation.

“So, uh… Suguru. Where do you want to go see a movie film after this? I have a movie in mind!” He says. Moving a bowl of food to the side.

Suguru was leaning back against the seat he was in with both of his hands in his lap. “Mmm, sure! What kind of movie is it?” He asked

Satoru answered what movie it was going to be and told him what genre it was. Suguru seemed to be amazed at the movie idea and nodded. “That sounds great! Yeah I’m totally down!” Suguru said.

Satoru grinned. “Well then let’s get going,” he gets up from the booth chair.

Suguru looked from Satoru standing up and straightening out his clothes to the table. “Ummm, aren’t we going to pay?” He asked, his voice lowering a bit in concern. “why would we when we can just go? I just don’t feel like paying.” Satoru said before grabbing Suguru’s arm. “Let’s just go before we get caught!” And he raced off to the door with Suguru trailing behind.

///

While the movie was playing, the two friends were sitting in the car looking at the film like old school, typical teenage men. They were eating popcorn and drinking soda.

Satoru heard Suguru laugh at a scene. He turned his head to look at him. Satoru’s vibrant blue eyes shimmered as they explored Suguru’s beautiful laughing face. The way his eyes closed as tears welled up in them while chuckling softly. He couldn’t believe he just found out how beautiful and handsome his friend was. He gulped as a little bit of red shone on his cheek. Suguru’s slight grin closed back up into a smile as the scene on the movie turned to something else. He can feel Satoru looking at him and slowly glanced at him. He giggled softly before turning his full face to Satoru and kissed his lips before Satoru can turn away.

Satoru was a bit surprised but he closed all six of his eyes and lead into the kiss. His elbow coming off of the windowsill to grab onto Suguru’s back as he kisses him back.

after a nice long minute of them kissing, they slowly, and reluctantly pulled away from each other. A thin line of saliva hanging from each other’s tongues before finally breaking apart. Satoru licked his bottom lip before curling his lips into a smirk and chuckling softly. “W-wow, never expected that…” He mused.

Suguru looked up into Satoru’s glasses and smiled, “Honestly, I didn’t think I’d have the balls to do it…”

Satoru pushed his glasses up onto his head. “Well… can you do it again…?” He asked. And Suguru kisses Satoru again.

this time, their tongues started to explore each other’s mouths a bit and the two started rubbing each other’s backs a lot more. “got damn it, Suguru…” Satoru exclaimed as Suguru swiftly breaks the kiss and lowers his head down to give Satoru’s neck and collarbone small kisses. He takes time unbuttoning Satoru’s shirt and continues to tease Satoru’s neck with licks, kisses and bites. once he took the first three buttons of Satoru’s shirt out, he starts to kiss him on his chest and then down to his torso and well-marked abs. Then finally, once Suguru’s kisses reached Satoru’s pants, Suguru looked up at Satoru. Silently asking if it was okay…

Satoru’s face was extremely flushed and he had the back of his hand up to his mouth but he nodded a yes.

with that, Suguru smirked and his eyes darkened slightly as he opened his mouth to bite on the large hard bulge on Satoru’s pants. “I can’t wait to see what you taste like…”

///

In the morning, Satoru wakes up to find himself naked in the backseat with Suguru also naked but sleeping soundly on Satoru’s chest. He looked like a beautiful sleeping angel… Satoru smiled. He couldn’t believe he just had sex with his best friend—- and he was surprised Suguru accepted himself to be dominated so easily. (“Someday… I swear, I’ll marry you…”) Satoru swore to himself before staring up at the ceiling of the car. “I swear it…”

[simpforfandom231]

Mario cart wrestle PT 1

pairing: Alycia Debnam-Carey x Fem!reader

Summary: just you guys hanging out and playing some Mario Cart that turns into an Olympic sport.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alycia Debnam-Carey and her girlfriend Y/N were enjoying a rare day off together. The couple decided to spend their free time doing something fun and competitive, so they set up their Nintendo Switch and started playing Mario Kart. The living room was filled with laughter and playful banter as they selected their favorite characters and prepared for a gaming showdown.

Alycia chose Princess Peach, and Y/N went with Yoshi. The race started with the familiar countdown, and they were off, racing through the vibrant tracks of the Mushroom Kingdom. The room echoed with the sounds of excitement and button mashing as they jostled for the lead.

"You better watch out, Y/N! I've been practicing," Alycia teased, her fingers dancing across the controller.

Y/N smirked, "Oh please, Alycia. I've got this in the bag. Yoshi's going to leave Princess Peach in the dust!"

As they raced through Rainbow Road, the intensity escalated. The tight turns and colorful obstacles made the competition fierce. Alycia managed to pull ahead, but Y/N wasn't one to back down. She used a well-timed mushroom boost to catch up, causing both of them to burst into laughter.

The playful banter continued as they navigated through the different courses. Alycia couldn't resist throwing in a few jokes about Y/N's driving skills, while Y/N retaliated with playful jabs at Alycia's character choice.

The final lap of the last race arrived, and the tension in the room reached its peak. Alycia and Y/N were neck and neck, exchanging glances of determination. The finish line was in sight, and victory hung in the balance.

In a surprising twist, Alycia pulled off a perfectly timed boost, crossing the finish line just ahead of Y/N. The room erupted into cheers and laughter as Alycia celebrated her triumph.

"I told you, Y/N! Princess Peach for the win!" Alycia exclaimed, doing a little victory dance.

Y/N, however, wasn't as amused. She playfully pouted, crossing her arms, "This is rigged! I demand a rematch. Best two out of three!"

Alycia chuckled, "Alright, alright. But prepare to lose again, my love."

As the day went on, Alycia and Y/N's gaming session escalated into a full-blown battle. The friendly competition turned into a hilarious yet intense struggle for victory. The living room was filled with shouts, laughter, and the rapid clicking of buttons as they fought for the upper hand in the game.

Eliza Taylor, Alycia's best friend and co-star on "The 100," decided to surprise them with an impromptu visit. Little did she know, she was about to witness a spectacle she would never forget.

As Eliza entered the room, she was greeted by the chaotic scene. Alycia and Y/N, both on the edge of the couch, were practically on top of each other, feet and hands flying in every direction. It looked more like a wrestling match than a video game session.

Eliza stood there, stunned, taking in the bizarre sight before her. "Um, what is happening here?" she finally managed to ask, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Alycia, caught in the heat of the moment, looked up and grinned, "Oh hey, Eliza! We're just settling a little Mario Kart dispute. Care to join?"

Eliza couldn't help but burst into laughter at the absurdity of the situation. "This is better than any reality TV show I've ever seen," she remarked, pulling out her phone to capture the moment.

Meanwhile, the gaming battle raged on. Y/N, fueled by a desire to win, decided to take a bold approach. She playfully lunged at Alycia, attempting to suffocate her with her strategic positioning. Alycia, not one to back down, responded with a swift jab to Y/N's ribs, causing both of them to erupt into laughter.

Eliza, still recording the hilarious scene, decided to go live on social media. "You guys, you won't believe what's happening here. Alycia and Y/N have turned Mario Kart into a full-contact sport! Check this out!"

As the live stream gained viewers, fans couldn't get enough of the entertaining chaos. The comments section flooded with laughing emojis and exclamations of disbelief. Alycia and Y/N, oblivious to the online audience, continued their playful brawl for victory.

Eventually, they collapsed back onto the couch, breathless and in fits of laughter. Eliza, wiping tears from her eyes, declared, "I think we just discovered a new Olympic sport – Mario Kart Wrestling!"

The trio spent the rest of the day reminiscing about their outrageous gaming session, sharing the video with fans, and creating memories that would be talked about for years to come.

[cdyssey]

Aunt Mel

Summary: Before Open House is officially over, Taylor pays her Aunt Mel a visit. Set during 1x10.

AO3 Link

CW: Alcohol Mentions; Emotional Infidelity

—

Melissa is just about ready to close up her classroom for the night—convinced that in the five minutes before Open House is officially over that no one else is coming—when a gentle rapping on her open door startles her from her whiteboard cleaning. She glances to her left to see none other than Taylor Howard leaning against the doorframe, looking more and more like her mother everyday—tall, elegant, and simply beautiful.

God, she still vividly remembers when the kid was runnin’ around Abbott with a Lisa Frank backpack and lovingly braided pigtails. Even when she moved to the upper levels of the school, she’d unfailingly stop by Melissa’s classroom after the last bell rang for a piece of candy.

A special treat.

Shhh, she’d sometimes wink, pressing a finger to her lips. Don’t tell your mom now.

It was their little secret.

“Now if it isn't Taylor Howard,“ she grins in a way that can only be described as loudly, tossing her eraser on a nearby desk in one fluid motion and opening her arms wide in another. “Finally decided to pay your poor, old aunt a visit, huh?”

“Pffft,” Taylor laughs, bounding over almost childishly and straight into Melissa’s embrace, nearly toppling her over in the process. She thinks fast and steadies herself against the edge of the whiteboard tray, though, before hugging the kid tight, all but squeezing her.

It’s been a while since she’s seen her—nearly two months or something ridiculous like that. The little shit doesn’t get a chance to come down from the city all that often anymore, a fact which occasionally saddens Melissa and meanwhile drives Barbara perfectly insane.

“Don’t start with me, Aunt Mel! I’ve been trying to track your elusive ass down all evening! Went to the lounge and everything.”

“Oh, yeah,” she shakes her head and moves back from the hug, though she holds on to Taylor’s shoulders for a brief moment, just looking at her—all fashionable in a silky button down and high-waisted pants, so vogue and very distinctively New York. She’s exceptionally proud of this entrepreneur-in-the-making, of the fine, young woman she has so clearly become, and she's simultaneously wondering when all the time that has led to this crucial point has apparently passed her by. Is this really the same kid who used to glue her fingers together when Melissa wasn't looking? The clever girl who laughed so brightly when Barbara and Melissa would take her by the hands at the end of a long day and swing her down the steps of Abbott Elementary? She thinks so—(there aren’t any other conclusions that explain the phenomenon better)—and it simultaneously breaks her heart and makes her so ridiculously happy at the exact same time. Her little Tay Tay has grown up in the rush of so many days, weeks, months, and years upon years.

She's growing even still.

“I was in the library playin’ poker with the boys."

“Taking them for all they had?” The twenty-nine year old raises an expectant brow.

“I flippin’ wish,” she snorts, conjuring Jacob’s smug expression in her mind’s eye. She admires the boy for getting one up on her, and she’ll plan her sweet revenge on him for doing so later. “But, hey, can’t win ‘em all! That'd just be cheating."

Taylor giggles, all fondness, and Melissa, with one last pat for good measure, finally lets her go. 

“God, it’s so good to see you, Mel,” she says softly then, and the smile inexplicably drifts from her lips, the easy humor, leaving something more contemplative—and perhaps a little sad—in its place. “You always know how to make me feel better after a weird day…”

Melissa immediately frowns too, searching the kid over, and comes up with the only plausible explanation—or more accurately still—the only explanation that there ever is.

“Another fight with your mom?”

“Yeah,” Taylor sighs, averting her gaze, fiddling with the gold rings on her fingers.

“Same old conversation?”

“You know it.”

“Sorry, hon.” She reaches over again and fleetingly touches the girl’s arm.

“Don’t be,” Taylor shakes her head, mustering a brilliant smile. Like mother, like daughter, she supposes—both women are capable of turning their own faces into well-worn masks, hiding the worst of their tumult—the most unpalatable of their fears—behind the incredible veneer of their flashing teeth. Barbara is especially proficient at it, well-practiced in the art of never once saying exactly what she means. “We’ve already kissed and made up.”

Which is also frankly a part of the familiar tango that the two generations of Howard women often dance with each other.

Melissa is well aware of what the same old conversation and the familiar tango entail because she and Barbara have both talked that talk and danced that dance many times before too.

Indeed, if they’ve had one circular discussion about the kindergarten teacher’s eldest daughter, then they’ve had hundreds, all of which largely consist of Barbara complaining that she’s wasting her life at that “no-good booze company” and Melissa doing a barely acceptable job of biting her tongue. She doesn’t agree with her friend’s position on Taylor’s career, but she damn well knows it’s not her place to say anything. 

(She just heavily implies her opinion from time to time.)

Of course, she knows that a not entirely inconsequential part of this conversation—a part which Barbara rarely admits to unless she accompanies it with some sort of caveat—is that the older woman deeply misses her daughter. 

Wishes that she was closer. 

Geographically certainly.

And perhaps even emotionally too.

But whatever pain that Barbara feels at her daughter’s absence, she seems to channel it into scolding admonition, holding Taylor to an unimpeachable standard—the very same precarious tightrope that she maintains for herself.

In the past ten years or so—since Taylor has grown into her adulthood—Melissa has observed all of this very keenly and tried to be a supportive shoulder for both Howard women, listening to them say the exact same thing about each other without ever articulating the words.

I love her.

Why is it so hard for her to understand me?

“Still sucks, though,” she offers sympathetically. “For you and for her. Your ma hates it when you guys fight."

“You mean, she hates when I don’t automatically agree with her,” Taylor snorts bitterly, her eyes tight.

“No,” Melissa shakes her head vigorously, but then she pauses. Thinks on it for a second. Amends herself. “Well, yes, but that’s only a sliver of it. Your mom misses ya so much... but she has a hard time of saying it for God knows what reason.”

Barbara's daughter seems to know the precise reason, though.

“Deep rooted and generational repression,” she readily sighs, crossing her arms over her chest—now the spitting image of her careworn father, down to the softly furrowed brow. “That’s what my therapist guesses anyway.”

“Yeah, probably,” Melissa concedes quietly, always amazed when younger people seem to have the guts to say the unspoken thing aloud. Melissa’s a blunt person, sure—crass even and unapologetically so—but she’s not entirely convinced that this trait is the same thing as total honesty. Her and Barbara’s generation, regardless of their totally different upbringings, has always prioritized discretion, shoving every ugly and hard thing safely into the hall closet where onlookers can’t see the embarrassing rot.

Even after twenty-something years of having known each other, Barbara and Melissa only sometimes have candid conversations, and that’s just when one or both of them have had a little too much wine.

“Doesn’t make it right,” she continues in that same low voice, her mind suddenly full of Barbara. She thinks about their annual Christmas dinner last year and how Barbara had drunk a glass more of Merlot than she usually does. After they had finished dessert, she took Melissa's hand where it had been laying on the table, delicately lacing it with her own, and whispered an assembly of words that the second grade teacher still isn't entirely convinced that she hadn't dreamed.

If I could do it all over again, Melissa...

What? She had initially teased, unaware that her friend was being serious, always amused when tipsy Barbara came out to play. It was such a rare occurrence, like a double-yolked egg in a regular carton—that she couldn't help but smile at its happening.

If I could be free to express how I really feel, Barbara had continued in a frustrated tone, gesturing with uncharacteristic imprecision, staring at her with glazed eyes, eyes that have since haunted her every time she closes her own. There was nothing of playfulness about the other teacher—just a quiet and keening intensity that made her pause, the grin falling away from her face.

About this, Barbara squeezed her hand so tightly that it hurt, about all these wonderful traditions that we have together, about you...

She'd really gotten Melissa's attention then, her heart nearly stopping in her chest. The only sensation—beyond her own shuttered breath—that she could feel was the warmth of Barbara's hand templed in her own, the utter rightness of the fit.

The divine holiness.

(And the tender, exquisite pain.)

What's stoppin' you? She'd barely been able to croak, far from the master of her own voice, barely in control of her body; nervousness coiled upwards from her stomach like a snake, slowly serpentining around the matrix of her spine. She wanted—more than anything else in the goddamn world—to lean across the space between them and discover the taste of Barbara Howard's deliciously plump lips.

But the answer to her own question and the sole reason she abstained from acting on her own unconscionable impulses gleamed on Barbara's fourth finger.

They both looked at it then, as though magnetized to that damn ring's shine and the thirty-year oath that it represented, and they suddenly let each other go, as though stung.

As though irreparably burned.

"Doesn't make it excusable," she goes on, centering her mind on Taylor again, ignoring the sudden color rising to her cheeks. "But... it makes it understandable—why your mom does the things she does.”

Barbara is desperately afraid to ever want something for herself.

But maybe they both are.

Life has only taught them that they have to kill themselves over and over again to ever earn it.

“She loves you unconditionally, kiddo—“

“—she has a funny way of showing it sometimes,” Taylor interrupts dryly, to which Melissa awards her with the same glare that she gives to her students when they’re talking during quiet time.

Taylor immediately closes her mouth again, apology flashing in her eyes.

“She just places a lot of conditions on herself,” Melissa finishes fiercely but not unkindly. She feels as though it's her imperative to defend her friend, but at the same time, she knows that things will always be more complicated than saying that Barbara is always right or that Taylor isn't wrong. Relationships don't work in such polarities, are never defined by those kinds of inflexible extremes. And people aren't either. People, with all their glorious and messy and gloriously messy contradictions, could never be. “And that's what makes it hard for her to be open... but it's never about you or your sister—I promise.”

She grins warmly.

“I’ve never seen someone as crazy about their kids as your mom is about you girls."

Taylor takes a long moment to digest this information, her expression thoughtful and sad—(and perhaps a little doubtful still)—but to Melissa's bodily relief, a small, wobbly smile eventually rises to her glossy lips, and she nods once.

Message received and thoroughly understood.

“So she really misses me, huh?” She asks, finally unfolding her arms from over chest and looking a little more vulnerable for this concession, far younger than her nearly thirty years of age.

“Talks about you every day, kid,” Melissa chuckles in return, nodding emphatically. “Every time ya send her a new selfie, she shows the whole teacher’s lounge. You’d think you were the second coming of Christ.”

At the vaguely sacrilegious remark, Taylor immediately cuts her eyes to the half-open door as though she’s expecting her mother to be standing there with a Bible under her arm, scowling disapprovingly.

“Stoooopppp,” she giggles, covering her mouth with one of her hands. “You’re gonna get on Mama’s prayer list, you know.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Melissa chuckles, though she crosses herself once for good measure and her daily dosage of Catholic guilt. “Hell, won’t be the last eith—huh?”

She stops mid-quip because much to her surprise but never to her objection, Taylor suddenly throws her arms around Melissa's midsection for the second time of the night, nestling her pointed chin on her shoulder.

“Thanks, Aunt Mel,” she murmurs, her voice constricted and yet somehow so steady, “for getting Mom enough for the both of us.”

Once the initial shock of being unexpectedly touched works its way through her system, she encircles her arms around the kid, gently threading her fingers through that long, dark hair.

“That’s what I’m here for,” she smiles—a little sadly only because she knows that Taylor can't see.

I love your mother more than life itself, she thinks but never says.

"Your ma means a lot to me," she settles upon instead.

[skyland2703]

(Be prepared to HATE me~)

Unconventional AUs: Sentry Skull x Billy x Matt + ghost AU~

ACTUALLY, you be prepared to hate me.

Skull is a new, rising musician; he's just got his new paycheck. Billy is a professor in quantum chemistry, and the two of them have been together for quite a while now.

They've also been saving for a while to move out of the shared apartment they had been living in— their flatmate, a certain Jason Scott, being a little too annoying with the constant martial arts practice, and not particularly liking the three-persons living conditions— and actually move into something of a proper home.

It's weird when Jason's boyfriend, Zack, approaches them with an offer of a house he had seen on sale a few days back, in a locality familiar to him, where his parents have lived for ages, a seemingly perfect place to move into. It's a nice two floor bungalow, neat lawns, lovely society, everything just about perfect... except the fact that its unbelievably cheap.

Skull is initially reluctant, believing something's a 100% wrong with the place, and that they'd be moving into some serial killer's mansion, with bodies buried in the basement, if they do.

Billy isn't hearing any of that, though, because its the house he's always dreamed of having with Skull.

Skull finally gives in, they buy the house, they move in. Everything's normal, the neighbours are nice, even though they gossip occasionally, behind their backs.

There's a very nice Miss Kwan living next door, and she brings them dinner on their first evening there, along with some nice potted plants which she says are a lovely housewarming gift.

It's nice, really.

The first few months in the house are lovely, even though Skull notices some weird things happening every now and then.

It's weird, how someone keeps flushing the toilet at nights, when both of them are lying together in bed, and there's absolutely nobody else around, or how that one ceiling fan is always so creaky, no matter how many electricians you call over to fix them, or how there's a wailing noise coming from one of the pantries, or the ever so flickering lights. Some days it's good, there's no strange happenings, other days its fucking awful.

It doesn't take Skull long to realise they're being haunted by a ghost.

Well, fuck you Billy, I TOLD YOU THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS HOUSE!! OUR FLATMATE IS APPARENTLY A GHOST NOW.

Billy doesn't believe it, of course. He's gonna find a scientific reason for it all.

Meanwhile, Skull's doing his own research. He talks to Mrs. Taylor, Zack's mom, and then to a few of the other old gossipy housewives and old men and then strikes up a conversation with Miss Kwan too, about what is up with the house.

Turns out, he was right. There was a ghost who was haunting them.

That’s actually why the house was so cheap. It absolutely was considered haunted, and the previous owners had wanted to get rid of it as soon as possible.

So who was the ghost exactly? Billy didn't seem to want to move out at all, so it was maybe better to drive out the ghost itself?

Matthew Cook. He found out about him after looking through tons of articles online, followed by searching for newspaper clippings at the library, and talking to that one very, very, verrryyy old man in the county, a certain Mr. Oliver, who seemed to be the only person alive who could recount the tale o'tragedy as old as time, vividly.

Matthew Cook had been about the same age as Skull and Billy when he had committed suicide. He'd hanged himself from that one particular ceiling fan in the lobby that kept creaking no matter what.

Nobody knew why he did it, but it was all in the papers. This old lady, who had been his landlady, Grace Sterling, had been imprisoned for abetment of suicide, later on, and the house had been sold off, and moved from hands to hands to hands, because the ghost apparently didn't like anybody else living in the house.

Skull wasn't very convinced.

The ghost felt rather... depressed... to him.

Well, Skull considered, the ghost was bound to get lonely, right?

Maybe what he needed was just some comfort? Considering the ghost actually was Matthew cook, of course.

Skull needed confirmation, so calling a psychic— who seemed very young too be in the profession, and wore a pink bandana— to conduct a seance seemed like the best idea. They conveyed to the spirit that it was okay to talk to them, that Skull only wanted to help, that he knew it must've felt lonely for him, after all, and that a few friends could hurt no one, especially when Billy and Skull were here to stay.

It didn't work, of course.

But the very next morning, when Skull drowsily walked into the bathroom, he was shocked out of his gut to find a guy, as old as him, with a thick stubble, messy hair, and wearing a crimson letterman jacket, sitting on the toilet, howling in sadness, even though very faint sounds escaped him.

The jacket read Matthew Cook...

oh boy. Billy wasn't gonna believe this.

Thanks for the ask :3

Unconventional AU Prompts

[sindri42]

I need a Worm AU where Danny Hebert adopts Amy Dallon.

Like, after running away from the New Wave she's wandering the area, going from shelter to shelter trying to stay incognito, and he's trying to organize rebuilding and has just lost his own awkward mopey teenage daughter so seeing this stray tugs at him, and one thing leads to another...

Next thing he knows he's driving a borrowed truck at breakneck speeds through rubble-choked streets trying to keep her away from the Nine's "tests" by dragging their pursuers through the territory of every single villain in the city because what the fuck she's just a kid and these monsters are hunting her? like, specifically?

She starts to open up about the fatigue and guilt and resentment wrapped around her using her powers at the hospitals and he's just standing there like 'shit, you need a union.' And he casually takes over making sure she has reasonable hours and compensation and physically preventing her from going to work off the clock.

'Okay there's nothing we can really do to re-secret your identity, but given the regulations protecting the identities of non-criminal capes and the fact that this New Wave group unmasked you without your consent, while you were underage, we can sue the shit out of them...'

Taylor comes back to visit and starts freaking out about why is there a known superhero eating breakfast with my dad is this an ambush-- and Amy sees her and starts freaking out about why is the leader of the Undersiders coming to visit some random union boss is this some sort of extortion thing and why is she out of costume-- and then they look at each other and look at their dad and the realization very slowly starts to dawn, meanwhile Danny remains oblivious.

The Dockworkers' Association makes it very clear that they have the utmost respect for law enforcement and have no intention of trying to take over any part of the city for their own purposes, in spite of the number of criminals who have recently reported being "detained" by squads of "bulletproof, regenerating, unnaturally strong" local civilian workers. A union spokesperson did however ask authorities if this would be a good time to bring up the possibility of getting the old ferry fixed up.

[housefashionblog24]

Cricut or what

I like to watch this nyc lifestyle vlog sometimes, it is nice because there are things in the videos that I have seen before while shopping online or rarely in person shopping. I like the decorated glass tumblers in this video, which are like an iridescent set of cupcakes and cashmere brand glass tumblers I didn't purchase from the local tj maxx, or things I have seen online. In past videos, this youtuber used a customized taylor swift style viral Stanley cup and she decorated a coffee mug with her own cricut machine. I would love an excuse to work on a laptop again. Sometimes she goes to an influencer boxing class, I could get workout clothes just like the videos, she does her skincare and makeup with a big spa headband like they sell at the local ROSS or online. But I usually just watch the videos because I'm not working on any projects or goals, there is already too much cute or trendy stuff around me again without a purpose and I think if I got some salon equipment, my TV room would look like a beauty salon for children's parties. So many possibilities, but I don't know what to do. At least it is nice to see what they do on youtube for a cohesive media personality lifestyle.

Wouldnt it be fun to decorate these with a Cricut machine and apple laptop:

Meanwhile, I am experimenting with fake wisteria

I also thought about it, I have a dream catcher and a little bear fan, the decorations could go in another direction and be southwest or native appropriation style or taco bell speakeasy, it would look cool but probably not quite right for anything if I added a neon sign shaped like a Cactus and some colorful Mexican blankets.

Have you ever been so bored when you were in jail, you read some out of print books about missionaries and native americans. Like an older version of this book that has a map with Formosa

Then there was that obscure academic book about sioux Indians and some other inmates already tore out the pages with annie oakley's photograph. My old girl scout leader when I did girl scouts as a child was married to a descendent of Custer, I don't think there were any pages left in that jail book with his or his wife's photo. Last year, the girl scout leader helped my mom (troop co-leaders) with the garage/estate sale when before my mom moved away from this house, I don't know what kind of weird stuff was going on with her network, but it's the type of people who find men who look like my crime victims to prance around town with and send them thru the drive thru when I worked at mcdonalds and promote the singer jelly roll and the movie the whale and then do a background check that is incorrect and confuses my domestic crimes with what happened with this former friend that was a more serious charge until my plea deal, and I could never go back because of how everyone there violated me and scared me and I don't know how to play those games and thrive like other people, like whoever he was sending gift card codes to. I was recently reminded of this when I was streaming episodes of Dateline on youtube, and there was an episode about a woman in the military who was murdered on a military base. My friend was also involved with gift card romance scammers who said they were on military bases.

I could go on an on about advertising I've suffered through related to accusations from that case, I don't know how they do that, but I do not think it's fair to bother me anymore because he was my friend and I'm sorry it didn't work out and I can't go back.

Like, it wasn't a joke when he showed me photos of a woman in her underwear, bound and gagged with ransom notes superimposed text on the photos in weird font. He met her online and she got kidnapped instead of catching her flight to meet him. He actually called police departments other places. He told me that another girl friend of his was offering kidnapping for hire services, like reenacting a violent crime or some kinky thing )not like a cute thing like blindfolding someone on their way to their surprise destination birthday party). That is scary. Sometimes, I wonder if it is good when you're homeless to have the reputation of an insane criminal, like I did especially when i was homeless and trying to fulfill all my court obligations after release from jail. I did not get into that thing inmates (or some acquaintances or friends and family might do) do with announcing the maximum penalties when they talk about what they're in for.

I don't know if Jelly Roll has hosted of judged any beauty pageants, but thelaurennorris youtube competes in pageants. That collab would be almost as cool as when Taylor Swift and Ice Spice went to the Super bowl together. They have both done music videos with similar red hair, maybe they are wearing wigs or some type of hair extensions. It is like when you are similar but not quite as good looking as the hotel hostage photos of your friend's internet girlfriend. It is like "you might be a redneck" jokes but "you might be a red head"

[lazysublimeengineer]

Bye Bye Baby

Summary: I want you bad but it's come down to nothing

And all I have is your sympathy

'Cause you took me home but you just couldn't keep me

Characters: Takemichi H. & Manjirou (Mikey) S.

It wasn't just like a movie

The rain didn't soak through my clothes, down to my skin

I'm driving away and I, I guess you could say

This is the last time I'll drive this way again

Lost in the gray and I try to grab at the fray

'Cause I, I still love you but I can't

The roar of the CB25OT rang against the road as he swerved ferociously into the right panel of the street. Nonetheless, the sounds were being swallowed by the heavy rainfall and the clap of the thunderclouds. His clothes were soaking wet and clung heavily into his skin. But Mikey didn’t care. All he cared right about now was to get rid of the heavy thoughts around him ever since Takemichi left and went back to the future. He wanted to stop Takemichi from leaving that day. But the words got stuck into his throat. He didn’t have any right to stop him. Takemichi needed to go back to the life where he belonged to. And it wasn’t in his arms and in this past.

Bye, bye, to everything I thought was on my side

Bye, bye, baby

I want you bad but it's come down to nothing

And all I have is your sympathy

'Cause you took me home but you just couldn't keep me

Bye, bye, baby

Bye, bye, baby

Takemichi always possessed a heart bigger than himself or any of them really. His honesty and sincerity towards them were pure as a snow. His promises to save all of them from their tragic fate was a beaming hope for their bleak and gray futures. It was one of Takemichi’s biggest strengths yet also one of his glaring weaknesses. Mikey could’ve take advantage of it. He could’ve stitch up lies about an impending danger to the gang or to anyone else just to make him stay. But all he could say to him was, “Go back to the future, Takemitchy. Go back to that future where Hina is waiting for you!”

Because Mikey can’t make him stay here if Takemichi’s heart doesn’t belong here and all he can give him was his sympathy.

He’s not cruel like that.

The picture frame is empty

On the dresser, vacant just like me

I see your writing on the dash

Then back to your hesitation

I was so sure of everything

Everything I thought we'd always have

Guess I never doubted it

Then the here and the now floods in

Feels like I'm becoming a part of your past

Takemichi stared at the picture where he stood beside Mikey and the other members of Toman. It felt like a long time ago yet it doesn’t. A month, a year, a few weeks or even a few days…where it all seemed like a minute or second had passed when he came back to the future. To the current present. Where he actually belongs.

But why does it felt like his heart was empty? A vacuum of nothingness?

He should be satisfied right?

But why he couldn’t shake off this feeling of emptiness?

The smiling face of Mikey before he returned to the future made his heart soar previously.

But now it also brought his heart down shattering into a tiny, million pieces.

How ironic.

Bye, bye, to everything I thought was on my side

Bye, bye, baby

I want you bad but it's come down to nothing

And all I have is your sympathy

'Cause you took me home but you just couldn't keep me

Bye, bye, baby

There's so much that I can't touch

You're all I want but it's not enough this time

And all the pages are just slipping through my hands

And I'm so scared of how this ends

They still meet up through a quaint café or in a nearby bar downtown to catch up. Mikey has been laughing and exchanging crude, childish jokes with them until Draken became annoyed at him as usual and they were beating up each other’s asses once again.

It felt normal. Yet it wasn’t.

There’s a lingering emptiness there that he could feel but avoided thinking about it further. Or even bringing that up.

Takemichi’s absence would seeped quietly into his veins when he was finally alone with his own thoughts and emotions.

Mikey stared at the ceiling numbly. A devastating ache started to fester inside his heart.

But he has to grin and bear it right?

Since he can’t drag people down with him.

And he already promised to Takemichi before they parted ways that he’ll protect everyone’s futures as well.

So, he’ll fulfill his promise no matter what it costs.

Bye, bye, to everything I thought was on my side

Bye, bye, baby

I want you bad but it's come down to nothing

And all I have is your sympathy

'Cause you took me home but you just couldn't keep me

Bye, bye, to everything I thought was on my side

Bye, bye, baby

I want you bad but it's come down to nothing

And all I have is your sympathy

'Cause you took me home but you just couldn't keep me

Oh, you took me home, I thought you were gonna keep me

Bye, bye, baby

Bye, bye, baby

Draken told Takemichi that Mikey was managing a restaurant overseas so that’s why he couldn’t attend Pah-Chin’s wedding.

Relief and disappointment flooded Takemichi’s veins at the news.

He should be relieved right? Everyone’s doing fine. And Mikey was having a great future as well. So why does it feel like there’s a pang in his chest from the moment he didn’t saw Mikey at the reception hall previously?

Takemichi couldn’t hold on too long for that niggling thought as Hina has called him from afar, letting him know that there’s already a cab waiting for them outside the hall to get into.

Maybe he should let it go…

And focus on his impending wedding soon…

Since he promised Hina back in the past…

And say goodbye to these ideas and thoughts of wanting to see Mikey soon just to ease his anxieties and doubt…

But his heart told him otherwise.

Meanwhile in an obscure bar hidden in one of the alleys in Tokyo…

“You sure you don’t want to gatecrash and invite yourself boss to their wedding?” Sanzu asked idly as he sat down in a barstool holding a glass of whiskey into one of his hands.

Mikey continued to read silently about the latest reports on his former friends and comrades. Even though he already cut off his ties with them, he made sure that he was carefully keeping tabs on them and ensuring that their futures were secured and normal.

All except for one.

Takemichi and Hina’s impending wedding.

A blank expression was still on his face yet his hand automatically tightened its grip on the paper.

It’s the best future isn’t it?

So why did the news made his heart break down into tiny pieces?

“It’s not my style to gatecrash a wedding where I’m not invited in the first place. Besides, events like these are a waste of my time and utterly boring.” Mikey replied in a monotone voice.

As he said those words, he knew that he already said goodbye to his feelings about the blue-eyed crybaby hero that tried to save all of them in the past.

This was for the best even if his heart disagreed with it vehemently.

(A/N: I don’t own any of these characters from this franchise nor Taylor Swift’s Bye Bye Baby song. While waiting for chapter 213 of the manga to come out soon, have some Takemikey angst for your daily suffering needs. Currently listening to the Fearless Taylor Swift’s version of the album and Bye Bye Baby is just screaming of pain and angst hence the inspiration behind this one shot angsty fic. Reviews are amusing. So, let me hear them from you.)

[engagemachine]

Hey ☺️ I'm just sitting in my room thinking about zombie! AU to Burn and like, wowza. The Joker would be on a hunt for Batman, knowing the rich and corrupted of Gotham are burrowed away to safety, I can imagine the Joker would want to draw the Bat out, the Joker knowing full well that Bruce Wayne wouldn't be able to do the cowardly thing and hide out like the other elites. Batman would put on the cape and try to save any survivors he could, and the Joker would be trying so desperately to maintain their dynamic in the midst of it all since it's all he has and it's his biggest purpose. Meanwhile his second biggest obsession, at least I'd hazard that she is, Taylor, would be by his side and terrified. She would know that if anything happened to Mr. J and Ressling she would be Royally Screwed. The Joker would do what he could to keep her safe and alive, making her wear a big ugly denim coat so bites won't go through just in case. She would be tucked as small as possible in the backseat, all scrunched up on the floor while they drive along, and she would pass time by sketching and trying not to think about what might happen next. Her hair would be kept up in a messy bun almost always because she has this fear of an undead monster grabbing her by her hair and yanking her away (even though she's constantly sandwiches between the two men when they're walking for obvious reasons). I imagine she would adapt surprisingly well, simply being used to trauma and uncertainty when it comes to her safety just in every day life. Ressling and The Joker would have to sleep in shifts and they'd have to be careful risking fires to cook too often. One night Taylor might wake up, startled by something she can't explain, lifts her head up from Mr. J's lap and instead of being asleep leaned up on the window like she thought he was he's just staring down at her, eyes black. He shushes her and tells her to go back to sleep, and Ressling would turn the radio on softly to drown out the screams in the distance, mostly for Taylor's sake. They'd eat canned foodsnand sleep in the car, parked deep in the forest so theyre hidden as possible. They would see horrible things like bodies eaten away laying out on the roads, the Joker might chuckle at a couple of them and Ressling would be unfazed, and Taylor would be having to try and hide PTSD attacks because she would just see Anders cut up all over again. She might even have to close her eyes sometimes. Anyways sorry for going on I'm smoking weed and that's prolly making me ramble lmbo

"I'm smoking weed and that's prolly making me ramble"

anon, I love you so much for this. omg.

Also, like, the fact that you would get high and then choose to think about Burn? Specifically your Zombie AU? And then headcanon about my characters???? you are the real MVP. that's so sexy of you.

anyway, UGH, this AU haunts me!!! I love the images you described. And, my gosh, that bit about how she wakes up in Mr. J's lap (and not leaning up against the window like she had thought... boi!!!!) and he's just. staring at her. Maybe pets her hair before telling her to go back to sleep. But she can't, she can't, she's scared because she can hear them. And Ressling, in the front seat, watching the exchange from the rearview mirror, knows that that's his cue to turn up the radio (they listen to the same five CDs on rotation, because obviously there is no radio to listen to anymore, it's all just static).

And how they'd live out of the car most days, but then occasionally they stumble onto an abandoned safehouse, and for Taylor's sake, they make it "home" for a little while. It's not safe to stay in one place for too long, so Taylor knows she shouldn't get attached, but she still cries every time they have to get back in the truck and leave. Sometimes she's especially stubborn and refuses to get in. The last house was like that. It was a cottage in the woods--fairly well-kept, somehow, despite everything--and it even had running water still, from a well somewhere on the property.

They hunker down there for three weeks, which is the longest they've ever stayed anywhere in one place. It starts to feel like... almost like home to her, and she puts her little touches everywhere. There are flowers growing in the backyard--weeds, really--but she collects them and finds a vase under the sink, arranges the flowers just so and puts them on the kitchen table. She picks up all the overturned furniture and rearranges it in the way she imagines how it used to be, before the outbreak. Tries to imagine what the family who had lived here before might've been like. There's some old clothes in the closet in the single bedroom, and when she's alone she goes in there and presses her face into them, trying to smell.... sometimes she thinks she catches a lingering scent. It's been a long time since she's seen another human who isn't Mr. J and Ressling. A really, really long time. For some reason, one of the things she misses about people most of all is their unique scent. What a weird thing to miss.

She sleeps in the single bedroom with Mr. J, and Ressling sleeps on the couch. That's how it always is. And when she's not tidying up the cottage, she's carefully rationing out their food, or searching for more. Most of the kitchen shelves and the pantry have been ransacked, but she miraculously finds a can of unopened corn, and it's like finding a precious diamond.

She surprises them with it at dinnertime, hot and piping corn--so yellow, she forgot food could be so bright--and it's the best thing she's eaten in months. She's careful to divvy out their portions, making sure they all get an even amount--although, if she's honest, she always gives a little extra to Mr. J.

She had loved that cottage. She'd wanted to stay forever. She could picture the three of them living there, making a life for themselves, living off the land... what else was there?

But Mr. J told her they had to go, and Taylor stomped her foot and told him no and threw what might've been her biggest hissy fit ever. She actually clung to the porch rail while Ressling packed up the truck, and when Mr. J threatened to leave her there to fend off the zombies all by herself, already turning his back to her, Ressling was the one who had to carry her instead--kicking and screaming--back to the truck.

[natromanxoff]

Most of you probably know about the alleged tape incident of Roger’s. After constantly getting pissed off because of him getting called as “dumbass”, seeing people trying to find and watch the video (let’s be honest that is actually a little impertinent); now I am able to acknowledge better how someone out there made up some incorrect version about this, maybe even totally fake, story and the misinformation had spread around. It’s actually getting even worse when the incident in question might not have happened at all.

Last month, I have come across and received the scan of another article which had headlines about this matter. And guess what? While I was only expecting to read pure nonsense again, there was more about it - I realized that it doesn’t tell about it as Roger giving the wrong tape and it’s totally different. The Sun said “it’s stolen" too but everybody around has been saying “he gave it”. Before I start, I’d like to point out some important points: 

1. Be aware that this is, even though it has reached out to tabloids, a private issue. Whether the story is wrong or right, this is a story about a private stuff of them. Above all, Roger is already a private person himself about his personal life. Please be respectful at that if you ever say something about it.

2. You all use this story to mock him in some ways which I don’t really appreciate – it’s kind of like IILWMC –, don’t do it. I am not writing this down for you to change the context and make more jokes. My sole purpose is trying to stop this ‘gave the wrong tape’ accusation because I don’t see any source or proof regarding that. Send me if there’s any but I don’t think there is.

3. Always remember that these are only tabloid stuff. Most of the time, they are not credible or creditable at all. Those are the same papers which wrote all the horrible things when Freddie passed away. It’s hard to trust anything that those unreliable papers wrote about. But, at least, we’ll be able to see the origin of some details. Basically, keep in mind that this whole thing might not have happened at all but it also mentions nothing about him making a mistake - that part doesn’t appear anywhere on the internet actually, except on the words of fans’.

4. Let’s just not delve into this subject much more than necessary but only read the paper to see what it says. As I said, this post is written only for information.

We all know about The Sun article (May 4th, 1991). The one I mentioned now is from Sunday Mirror (SM) (May 5th, 1991). There is a couple of interesting points when you compare these two; that person asked for £10,000 from the first one anonymously and £5,000 from the second one by arranging a meeting; The Sun says they let the police know about it and some progress have already been made, SM says they gave the files to detectives the previous night; The Sun is somehow able to tell that the video was recorded in the previous year but also tells that it’s not known how the copy was made, meanwhile SM describes it with details. They make me nothing but more suspicious, like they are in contradict and something feels off. Did he request two different amounts of money from two different newspaper company by having only one copy to see which one will accept? Or were there more than one copy? If there were more than one, it makes me think that people would have found it by now. I am not going to question these anymore though, I don’t want to do that and it’s not my aim at all, because the main point I’d like to talk about and correct is how the tape has reached out to Douglas Lane, the person who tried to sell it,: by the man who was hired to do some work at Roger’s home when he was away. He thought the tape he saw on the shelf is a video from The Miracle album and took it home to watch so he basically ‘stole’ it because he ended up making a copy and giving it to Lean.

Lean claimed the tape had been “borrowed” and copied by a 47-old-friend.

The man had been hired to do building work at Taylor’s £700,000 second home in Kensington, West London, while the star was away.

He took the tape from a shelf thinking it was a video from Queen’s Miracle album.

Lean said: “He is a Queen fan so he thought he would take it home and have a look at it.”

And Douglas, who earns money in an unsatisfying amount, thought that he would get more by selling it.

“He had the sense to copy it and put the original back, but he didn’t do anything with the copy.

“He knew I was involved in music and told me about it.”

Lean, who drives a concrete mixer by day and earns £20 a night playing guitar in pubs, said: “I immediately thought I could make myself a packet out of it.

“It was my idea to sell it.”

Sunday Mirror writes that Lean said Roger edited the tape so that after those “sessions”, you see Breakthru video and he labelled the tape “Breakthru promo”.

“Taylor has no idea the video has been copied,” said Lean.

He said the tape was labelled “Breakthrough Promo” — the name of the band’s single from the Miracle album.”

I mean, really? I honestly don’t have any idea why he would do that. Why would he add a private video on a same tape with one of Queen videos? Why would he bother? If he did, why does he label it with that? Why does that worker get so curious about a video from 2 years ago? Maybe he didn’t have chance to see it in those two years, that could be the only answer. But why does he bring it to his home rather than watching it in Roger’s home? Surely, he wouldn’t see any problem at that as he’s fine with taking something that doesn’t belong to him. It’s purely a chance that he came across with something unexpected which will make him want to copy it at his home.

And after everything, this is apparently what Lean says:

But he insisted: The video was not stolen. It was just borrowed and copied.”

I can say a lot of words right now but I won’t… If all these things are really true, that is not an excuse of taking someone’s private stuff to copy without their consent, not ethical at all as he aimed to sell it and make it public. Ergo it was indeed stolen.

So, see? There is no “mixing the tapes and giving the wrong tape to a fan”. I assume this article must be the first place where that wrong version came from. And if it is telling the truth, there seems to be no mistake he has done here because his private stuff has been taken from his property unbeknownst to him. Briefly, we don’t know for sure if they had a tape and if it has really reached out to someone but if it did, then I believe this is high likely how it would happen.

It’s worth to mention that there is another theory regarding these news, that it’s been arranged to take media’s attention off Freddie. I can’t tell which one is true or if both them are wrong and nothing even happened, of course. It’s up to you, choosing whatever you’re going to believe in. But know that I can’t see any creditable source about him giving the wrong tape - so I wouldn’t suggest believing in that or keeping talking about it - and there might be more about this that we don’t / won’t know about so it’s only haste to make a judgement based on these. 

Last note about something regarding him in general: Please, don’t take the different versions of this story and comments about them into account when you form your opinion about him because only those things don’t define him. Or the other way around, “if it’s Roger, it’s probably true - he would do it” attitude is not really fair when we consider that it’s actually you who chose to perceive him in that way by getting influenced whether by the movie or some ‘facts’ around - they do not reflect some aspects of him in the right way. Always try to find an original source. It is not always only him who would have his fun in those various ways, it is possible for any other rock star. All of them did some stuff - sometimes some really bad stuff - but it is not only Roger (I don’t mean the stated story here though, I honestly can’t see anything bad there). So him being the one who is involved in this story doesn’t prove or provide any authenticity. If everyone complies with that while critizing him or not approving something about him, it is always acceptable and welcomed, in my opinion. And that is valid about everyone, of course.

[youareinlovees]

Rep Tour Metlife Night 3 (submission)

The roar of the stadium fills the atmosphere like a thunderstorm as the expectators anticipate the start of the show. Though this isn't the first time he attends one of her concerts, the massiveness of the crowd and of the performance itself is still quite astonishing to him. It just wasn't the type of thing you got used to after a few times. Not to mention that this is the third consecutive night she fills out this stadium, which was impressive and a rather unheard of situation. 

"Are you ready for it?"

The crowd screams even louder as Taylor appears on stage with a black hood. For him, it's genuinely entertaining to see just how much the fans in the crowd love her, shouting out every single word to the songs. The impact she has on these people is really intense, some of them even crying at certain parts of the show. There's others that you can tell came as a group of friends for a good time and they hug, jump, and laugh together throughout the show. There's people of all ages, from couples in love to families that came together with little kids and grandparents, and every single person looks happy and excited. Truly a phenomenon.

But the most powerful phenomenon is the woman on stage on whom everyone's attention is focused. She is so beautiful and wonderful it almost feels like she's some sort of mythical creature. The passion she puts in her singing and dancing is endearing and at the same time very attractive to him. How did he even manage to have her love him? She's fucking gorgeous and perfect in every way. Her legs are just unbelievably hot and he knows he isn't the only one in the crowd having that thought. When she dances to Gorgeous, it makes his brain feel numb because all he can think of is the things he wants to do with her as soon as he gets her to himself after the show. But it's only the beginning and he knows the wait will be painfully long, so he tries to divert his thoughts elsewhere. As if reading his mind, she winks in his direction as the song ends, licking her lips and smiling cheekily. Warmth floods his insides in response to the gesture. Man, he'd really really missed her. They'd been apart from each other for some days because he had work things to do away in London. Though it was only a few days, he had ached for her company every single instant.

Apparently, she has similar feelings because she can't stop looking in his direction throughout King of my Heart. He remembers very vividly the first time she played him that song, some days after they'd made their relationship official. At the time, he couldn't believe she'd actually written that about him. He couldn't believe he inspired those feelings in her because she sure as hell inspired that and so much more in him. She fixes her gaze on him hungrily as she sings "we rule the kingdom inside my room." Oh shit. Her bum looks so good in that outfit. How is he gonna survive what's left of the show? Luckily, he's good at keeping it cool on the outside. He has no choice anyways because his mum and Patrick are right there beside him. He knows his face probably looks all giddy and lovestruck regardless, but he doesn't mind. She points at him in circles suggestively as she says "never took me quite where you do." Urgh she knows what she's doing and he can't help chuckling at her teasing. It's torture though. The fact that she's doing this in front of thousands of people is extra sexy. It's interesting because a part of him feels possessive and wants to snatch her from the stage and not have anyone look at her in a "she's MINE" sort of way, but at the same time it's satisfying to know that she's doing all this sexy shit and making everybody desire her, yet he is the only one who gets to have her. He's the only one who gets to love her and enjoy her, and a lot of what she's doing up there is directed specifically at him even though the whole stadium's watching it. Besides, he just knows that she loves having those secret moments with him, as she sings in Dress. So cruel of her to put literal moans on that song and blast them on stadiums. Her antics as she performs it are driving him crazy. Tonight, he feels particularly deprived of her and desperate for her touch because he's been away for what has felt like an eternity.

The crowd bursts into loud screaming one last time as the show ends. Everyone looks giddy and happy, as if they'd just gotten off a spiritual experience, which isn't that far from the truth, he thinks to himself. His mum and Patrick stay chatting with some people and he makes his way towards the dressing room. He says hi to Tree and the staff briefly and walks further down the hall until he reaches it. The door is open and there's no one else but her inside, with her back facing him as she looks in the mirror wiping herself with a towel. She's still sweaty and flustered from the show, and her hair is a bit messy, but she's the most beautiful creature he's ever laid eyes upon. If she looked stunning on stage, she was even more drop dead gorgeous up close.

"You look breathtakingly beautiful this evening, Miss Swift. I heard your boyfriend is out of town, may I take you out for a drink?," he says in a flirtatious tone.

She hadn't realized he was standing there at the door. She immediately looks up at him when she hears his voice and smiles at him through the mirror, her whole face lightening up as she turns around.

"Is that what they told you?", she says playfully as she makes her way towards him. She kisses his lips excitedly. He smiles against her mouth at her enthusiasm.

"Hello, love," he greets her softly when she pulls back for air. They embrace each other tightly for a few seconds, his hands caressing her hair. 

"How did it go in London? How was work?," she asks, resting her head on his chest.

"Work was alright. The rest was awfully dull because you weren't there," he answers.

She chuckles softly and looks up into his eyes. "I missed you so much."

"I did, too," he says, staring back. She puts her mouth onto his again, this time more passionate and hungry, her tongue going inside him desperately trying to saviour as much of him as possible. He welcomes it eagerly, her sudden aggressive desire catching him a bit off guard. He responds to her kiss with the same energy, biting her lower lip a little and devouring her delicious taste. His hands rub down her back, pulling her waist towards him. Meanwhile, her fingers snake into his hair as she pulls herself deeper into his mouth. He feels his crotch tighten as he becomes inevitably aroused with her body rubbing against his. His mouth finds her neck and she moans as he pulls her head back gently to get a better angle. 

"Shut the door," she pants in between kisses. They'd forgotten that there's people walking by in the hallway.

"Wait, don't you have to meet your fans in the other room?", he remembers, pausing for a moment, which results in a complaining grunt from her.

"I'll have them cancel it," she says decidedly, impatiently pulling him in again, "Most of them came the other two nights anyways."

He pushes her back. "Are you really sure about that?", he questions, raising an eyebrow.

"Do you really want me to answer?", she ponders back desperately, still insisting fiercely on kissing him.

"Fair enough," he chuckles as he gives in to her needs. What Taylor Swift wants, Taylor Swift gets.

She grabs her phone and sends a quick text to Tree telling her that Rep Room isn't happening tonight while Joe shuts and locks the door. He sneaks up behind her and wraps his arms smoothly around her waist, kissing her shoulder as she hits send. "Done?", he asks. She puts the phone on the table and closes her eyes. 

"Mmhmm", she moans as he runs kisses up and down her neck. Her skin is so soft and healthy. He grunts a little when her ass grinds against his crotch as she leans back into him. 

"You pulled some interesting bits up there tonight."

"Mmhmmm, did you enjoy them?", she says with a small smile, her eyes still closed. 

"I certainly did." He starts to unzip her glittery dress to bare her back. Her body is still warm from the physical exertion caused by the almost two hour long show. A shiver runs down her spine when his cold fingers brush against her skin, peeling away the dress as his mouth runs soft kisses behind her neck and shoulders. A loud moan escapes her, the sound making his erection feel even harder in his trousers. She finishes taking off the dress and turns around to face him, her naked breasts against his chest. He grabs one of them as his mouth finds hers once again, his tongue pushing inside in rhythmic movements. Then, he makes his way from her jawline to her neck, shoulders, chest, until he finally puts her other breast in his mouth, sucking and licking her nipple while massaging the other one with his thumb and index finger. She gasps in response. "That feels so good, baby," she whimpers in between moans.  Her breasts are a work of art in his eyes, everything about them is perfection: their size, their softness, the hardness of her nipples when she’s aroused, as it was the case right now. 

She pulls at the hem of his shirt, aching to feel more of his skin against her. He briefly releases her to quickly take off his shirt and disregard it on the floor. Immediately she pulls herself against him, her hands around his neck as their bare torsos collide heatedly and their tongues dance together. She runs her warm hands over his chest and his abs, sending electricity waves through his body with each touch. The sensation of her hardened nipples against his naked chest was too much to handle and so he dives down to put her breasts in his mouth once again. She moans loudly. "Joe, I...I want you so much," she says, almost in anguish. He licks and bites her nipples hungrily and then, he starts to make his way slowly downward, kissing below her breasts as his hands slide down her sides until he reaches her tummy. She inhales deeply. "Tell me, baby, what do you need?", he says against her skin as his mouth moves further down to her lower stomach. Her body trembles involuntarily in response and he can see her wetness through her panties. She’s very wet, he realizes with a grin. "You," she groans in response, holding onto the table for balance as his hands go up and down the insides of her thighs, "I need you, Joe." He teasingly pulls down the edges of her panties and kisses directly on top of her pubic bone. Her hips thrust forward. "Fuck, I need you now," she blurts out.

"Let’s take care of that, shall we?", he whispers in her ear as he picks her up and carries her towards the comfy couch in the dressing room, her legs wrapping themselves around his back. He throws the cushions to the floor with one hand and places her gently on the couch, kneeling in front of her on one of the cushions. He slides her panties down her legs and onto the floor, so that she was now lying completely naked on the couch. Such a gorgeous sight. "You are so beautiful, my love," he says looking up into her eyes. Her belly moves up and down with her quick breathing, her cheeks flushed slightly. He takes off her shoes and massages her ankles and her toes, releasing the tension on them from wearing tight heels for hours. Then, he starts to kiss his way up her left leg, gently pushing her knees apart to open her legs as he approaches her inner thigh. Finally, his mouth reaches her most sensitive organ and he licks and sucks on her clit, enjoying her delicious taste that he’d missed so much. She arches her back as the waves of pleasure penetrate her. His tongue continues to move around expertly as he digs into the corners of her walls and sucks and bites her clit. "Fuck," she moans, her fingers aggresively digging into the edges of the couch. He slides two fingers deep into her core, his mouth still working on her clit, and starts to thrust in and out. She tangles one of her hands in his hair and pushes him deeper inside her, his tongue joining his fingers inside of her. He gradually quickens the pace of his fingers as her walls contract around his hand and her hips push into him, until eventually she can’t contain her orgasm and comes loudly, screaming his name.

He licks his lips in satisfaction, savoring the fluids from her insides as he moves towards her face to kiss her gently, his fingers still inside her. "Did you like that?", he mumbles against her face. "It was so good, baby," she barely pants in response, "so fucking good". Hovering over her as she recovers, he takes his fingers out and licks them. He could never get enough of her wonderful taste. "I’m glad you liked it, because I’m not finished yet," he informs her.

However, her hands are reaching towards his trousers, where his erection is bulking out, attempting to unbutton them. "No teasing," she pleads. 

"What’s that?", he asks instead, deciding to mess with her a little regardless. He’d had to survive her teasing on stage for two hours, it was only fair that she endured something similar after all. He licks the outline of her areolas with the tip of his tongue as slowly and scarcely as he could master, forcing her to lay back, his fingers brushing lightly against her sides. "Joe," she complains, shifting and trying to pull his body closer to her. But Joe holds himself up firmly in a hovering position over her, his skin brushing only ever so slightly against hers every now and then, while his mouth was busy planting the softest of kisses all around her face, occasionally brushing her neck and behind her ears. "Please," she begs, still trying to pull him down.

"Please what? Say it to me, baby. I can’t guess what you want unless you ask for it," he responds calmly while continuing his slow torture on her sensitive spots. He wanted to hear her say it out loud. He wanted to hear her scream how much she wanted him.

"I want you inside of me, Joe. I want all of you inside of me now," she nearly cries out in desperation.

He nibbles on her neck one last time before unbuttoning his trousers. "Is that so?", he says mischievously as he finishes taking off his underpants and shoes. She breathes deeply in anticipation when she sees him completely naked in front of her, her insides feeling overwhelmingly empty without him. He leans towards her mouth once again and she kisses him with hunger, a small gasp escaping her lips when his dick rubs against her clit. "What do you want me to do inside you?", he whispers hoarsely into her ear. "I want you to fuck me, baby," she pants.

"As you wish," he says, staring deep into her blue eyes as he enters her wet insides slowly, groaning from the pleasure of feeling her warm core around him. She gasps and moans, her small fingers digging into his back as she hugs his chest towards hers. He thrusts in and out with slow movements, going inside deeper and deeper each time until he pushes against her cervix. She arches her back and responds moving her hips upwards, moaning and closing her eyes. He goes forward with a bit more strength, pushing her against the couch and touching on her G spot. "Yes, baby, fuck me," she whimpers, her breaths small and quick. Still deep inside of her, he sways his hips rhythmically, rocking their unified bodies back and forth. 

"I love you so much, Taylor," he says with adoration. Every inch of skin on his chest was in contact with hers, her soft breasts deliciously cushioned below him. "I love you more, baby," she says back breathlessly, running her lips across his neck and shoulders. He starts thrusting again, gradually picking up the pace. He holds onto the back of the couch and thrusts faster and faster, feeling her walls contracting against his cock. She moans as he goes even faster until she finally comes, another orgasm running through her body as she cries out.

The sight of her body squirming in pleasure almost makes him cum as well. But then, she unexpectedly pushes him to the side, switching their positions so that she was now on top of him. She kisses him and starts riding him energetically, her hands resting on his shoulders and her knees on the couch on either side of him. He grunts and caresses her breasts as she bounces on top of him, eventually placing both hands on her hips to hold her down, until the sensation and the sight of her with her eyes closed and her boobs bouncing as she fucks him become too much and he cums inside of her.

She collapses on top of him and the two of them lay in silence for a few minutes as they recover and stabilize their breathing, their bodies warm and sweaty. When he’s back to his senses, he notices her bathrobe is on the side of the couch and he reaches for it with one hand. He spreads it across her back to keep her warm. Covered with the bathrobe, she cuddles into his lap with her legs on one side and her head resting on his chest as she breathes in and out slowly. He caresses her head with one hand and rubs circles with the other on top of the robe on her back.

"That was a nice surprise there at the end," he says, kissing her forehead.

She smiles smugly. "I thought you’d like it," she mumbles against his chest.

"Did you kick out all the staff before I came in here?", he asks curiously. Usually there were stylists and make-up people inside the dressing rooms with her.

"Maybe," she answers with a smirk, looking up at him playfully. He chuckles in amusement, but secretly he’s glad that she did because he doesn’t know if he would’ve actually been able to wait until they got back to her apartment.  

It was hard to believe that this was the same person that had a whole stadium submitted to her performance less than an hour ago. This beautiful creature bundled in his arms was the same powerful force that gave around orders to executives, dominated enormous stages, and attracted followers from all over the world with her songwriting. Yet at this very moment, she’s just another vulnerable human, her blue eyes glowing like a curious child’s as she stares into his lovingly. She reaches up to caress his cheek softly with her hand, scanning his face with wonder. "You’re so gorgeous," she admires quietly. "That was amazing, babe. Thank you."

He leans down to kiss her gently. "You are the most stunningly beautiful creature inside and out that I’ve ever laid eyes upon. I am just fortunate enough to get to be yours," he says sincerely. He touches his nose to hers. "I love you, baby." And he truly loves her so much to the point where it feels like an unexplainable supernatural phenomenon, larger than life itself.

"I love you, too," she says warmly, her face shining like sunlight.

[terrence-silver]

“It was something Taylor fucking Swift would write a song about --- perfect.”

LOVED IT

For a while I have been thinking, do you believe Terry would like Taylor’s songs?

(AAAAhhhahah, so happy people liked that line.) 😂

―

I think Terry likes things privately and ironically for his own wicked amusement, especially to entertain himself, I also think that old man Terry doesn't fail to see the sheer cocksure laughability factor of an old billionaire with a high classical musical education and with the moral compass of Satan himself occasionally just playing a song about girlhood, romance, teenager crushes, liking boys and teardrops on one's guitar. It tickles his funny bone because Terry isn't the target audience for such things and he never was, in fact, he's probably the very opposite of T-Swift's target audience. That's why it is so (perversely?) hilarious to him. The fact that he's essentially hijacking something never meant for him in the first place. It feels a bit like corruption. I can legitimately imagine him driving a lavish car so expensive that the price-range alone could give someone a headache, chuckling to himself as a song about feeling like 22 jams on his radio, while he's off to do something truly nefarious. Meanwhile, he himself might be 62 at the time. I also think Terry might've done this in the 80's too with any pop starlet that was popular at the time as well. He's there singing a Dynatox contract allowing the pollution of yet another Third World Country while Cindy Lauper's Girls Just Wanna Have Fun is playing in his mind. One gets the impression Terry chooses a soundtrack he personally finds comedic for all his misdeeds as an elaborate way to mock and demean said situations further and the individuals caught in them and showcase that the world is in fact his circus and his theatre. I suppose there's something infinitely giddy to him about heading out a business meeting about to support a merger entirely unprofitable for his rivals, pulling up in front of the company's headquarters with the musical backing and the lyrics;"There goes the maddest woman this town has ever seen."

[whatiwillsay]

the swiftgron red holy trinity plus 22

Ok so you guys may know I have fully become obsessed with three songs Taylor wrote in the Spring of 2012: Everything Has Changed, Treacherous, and Come Back... Be Here.

There’s a lot to say about these songs as Gaylor proof, how she assigns Treacherous to Harry, how she assigns EHC to Conor, and how neither Conor or Harry fit as the muse for CBBH... but today I want to talk about how these songs are all thematically linked to one another and the song 22(particularly the original lyrics.)

The songs all talk about night/are set at night

EHC - she sings about waking up and being changed, insinuating that something changed the night before, she also asks the person to “meet me there tonight”

Treacherous - in Style’s little sibling she sings about being out driving around at night and how she’s sleepless “Two headlights shine through the sleepless night”

Come Back... Be Here - She’s up at 4am (sleepless night!) chatting with this person

and in 22 - she has breakfast at midnight during the “perfect night”, “tonight’s the night we forget about the heartbreak”, PLUS “It feels like one of those nights, We won't be sleeping” (sleepless night!)

Falling for strangers

EHC - She just wants to know this person better now

Treacherous - It’s not as explicit but she’s getting swept away by this new person, gravity pulling her to them, they’re a new love and there is an air of “unknownness” to them in the song even if not explicitly commented on in the lyrics

Come Back... Be Here - “how strange that I don’t know you at all”

and in 22 - “It feels like a perfect night, For breakfast at midnight, To fall in love with strangers”

Rushing into things (didn’t they tell us don’t?)

EHC - She falls for this person in the space of 18 hours and she’s worried it might be all in her mind because it’s so new

Treacherous - It’s not as explicit but the quicksand nature of slipping into something with this new person feels rushed

Come Back... Be Here - It’s only the second day, they barely know one another, and she’s already completely besotted

and in 22 - “sometimes it hits me, we’re moving quickly”

Uncertainty/confusion

EHC - she’s worried it’s all in her mind and asking her new lover to come back and assure her it’s not

Treacherous - she can’t decide if getting swept away is a choice or not, she’s feeling very conflicted, she even says she’d be smart to walk away but she isn’t going to

CBBH - “The feeling you can know so much, Without knowing anything at all” ... “If I had known what I'd known now, I never would've played so nonchalant”

and in 22 - “Yeah, we're happy, free, confused and lonely at the same time It's miserable and magical”

Furthermore the original scrapped lyrics of 22 are the exact same vibe of Treacherous which tells of a dangerous love that she’s slipping into despite her trepidation that she has almost no choice but to plunge into as headlights cut through the nighttime haze.  She knows there’s danger and they might get her into trouble or be bad news but she’s going to do it anyway.

meanwhile 22 says this:

Sometimes it hits me, We're moving quickly, Toward something hazy, A future I can't see, Let's break the old rules, While we're still 22, You look like bad news, I gotta have you.

Now we are supposed to believe that these four songs have four different muses.  Harry for Treacherous, Conor for EHC, A mystery man for CBBH, and the fulltime fancy girls + selena for 22.  But it seems like she’s talking about the same relationship/connection.  Someone she’s up late nights with that she’s getting swept away by and fast.  Someone she has conflicted feelings for.  Someone she doesn’t know all that well but is already enamoured with in which she’s in a confusing but tantalizing situation with.  

There’s this heightened level of emotional stakes that are are raised so high the situation is both miserable and magical, it’s treacherous and dangerous and reckless but it’s worth the drive.  It’s only the second day and she’s already saying she misses this person so bad she’s breaking down over it.  She’s worried it’s all in her mind but it’s all she thinks about as their name echoes through her mind... This person looks like bad news but she’s gotta have them anyway.

Now of course Taylor loves a reoccuring theme. we know from debut to folkmore she addresses similar ideas about life and love again and again in similar terms.  So it’s of course possible that the artist is the common denominator here, not the muse.

However wouldn’t it make a hell of a lot of sense if Dianna were the muse for all of these songs?  The male muses associated with the songs are a mess.  Dianna is of course an appropriate muse for 22 with her name in the liner notes and Taylor did spend that whole spring and summer with her but Dianna also works as a fine muse for the other three songs too.

Taylor reflects on her new lover as the rain pours down around her in EHC and we know it rained all day in LA the first time she hung out with Dianna.  Furthermore, Dianna went to London and New York City (a couple times!) without Taylor that spring.

I don’t claim to have all the answers guys.  I don’t know who these songs are about but god damn if it doesn’t add up in my mind for them to all be about Dianna.

[bebepac]

Substitute Queen (Happy Birthday Queen Walton!)

This is a special edition of Fast Forward for my friend @queenwalton as she enjoys this series I've created a lot and it is her birthday! (Well a day early!)

I'm pretty sure you have been following along with me since I started writing on the fandom a little over a year ago. Thank you for your friendship and support. I hear from you after every chapter I post and I love it. Also thank you for being my trustworthy reader of infinite snippets. I hope you have an absolutely wonderful birthday my friend. 🥰🥰🥰🥰❤❤❤

A/N:  Thanks @dcbbw​ for bouncing some ideas around with me, and giving me a few to make this birthday fic even better.  Thank you girl.  

Summary:  Riley and Liam go on their first vacation alone since the events of Ellie’s kidnapping.  Maxwell and Taylor take care of all the children.  Maxwell throws a “Baby” Beaumont Bash.

Original Post Date: 03/24/21 at 11:55AM EST

The Book:  TRH and Beyond

Pairing: Liam x Riley  / Maxwell x Taylor 

Warnings:  None other than hilarious fluff

Word Count: 2425

Song inspiration for this chapter: Baby Shark (Trap Music Remix) 

I don’t own rights to this hilarious music.  

Liam saw Riley standing  in the study with her back turned to him.  The King of Cordonia shifted seamlessly into stealth mode as he crept silently into the study, surprising his Queen by pouncing on her like a lion, grabbing her and slipping his arms around her waist, and sensually planting a soft kiss to the sensitive skin on her neck.  He gently rubbed himself against her.  

“Take a break for a little while my love.”

He felt her body tense up.

“EEEWWWWW GROSS!!! NOT YOUR WIFE!!!  OOOOH GOD!!!!!!! NOT YOUR WIFE!!! PUT THAT THING AWAY!!!!!!  YOU HAVE FOUR KIDS!?!?!?!?!?  AREN’T YOU GUYS TIRED OF DOING THAT?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?”

Liam quickly recoiled from her.   Liam looked genuinely horrified when she turned to face him.

“I’m so sorry Taylor.  From behind, I swear I couldn’t…I mean I didn’t…..”  

“Bleh!!!! Don’t finish that sentence!!!!!!

Riley walked in the room seeing Taylor and Liam visibly uncomfortable.

“What did I miss?”  

“I need a bath!!!  Your husband thought I was you.  Apparently we look the same from behind.”  

Riley glanced at Taylor.  “I mean…. He’s really not completely wrong Tay.  Now that you had the twins, we really do.”  

Taylor scowled.  

“And that right there is why no one will mistake us for each other from the front.  Your scowl face.”

“Well this is a sufficiently awkward conversation, so I’m going to go, especially after I’ve completely embarrassed myself. Riley when you’re finished, please come by my study.”  Liam still had a flush on his cheeks and ears.

“For real, put that thing away Liam, it’s barely lunch time.”  Taylor grumbled.

“I will be there.”  She winked at him.  

Liam’s smile returned.  

“Can one of you keep it in your pants please?  You two are like horny teenagers.”  

“I’m okay with that.”  They both said in unison smiling at each other.  Liam left the room.

“Are you going away for your wedding anniversary?”

“We probably should, but we have our date nights, and we can always sneak some time alone now that the kids are a little older, now that everyone is potty trained and not on the boob anymore.  God I missed my boobs being mine, and now that they are again, of course they look like a dumpster fire after breastfeeding four kids.”  

“Well that’s one hell of a bra then.”

“Who are you telling? They would be dragging the floor otherwise.”

Taylor laughed.  

“Please don’t do that visual to our body.”

“It is our body right?”  

Riley and Taylor giggled.  

“You two should go away alone.  You two never get adult time… And I don’t mean just for that.  You two apparently get more than enough adult time for that.” 

“Tay, it’s just that we haven’t really been away from the kids.  Anywhere we go, we travel as a family.  I feel safer that way, so does Liam.”  

“Because of me right?”  

“Tay….”

“It is.  The last time you two tried to go on vacation was when I took Ellie, and you haven’t been apart from them a day since.  It’s my fault you two are afraid to be away from your children."

“Taylor, Liam and I have forgiven you for that, a long time ago.  We know that you’re not the same person you once were.”

“Prove it, you two take a trip, and it’s a trip you two desperately deserve. I promise the palace will be still standing when you get back.”

Taylor smiled at Riley.

“Please let me do this for the two of you. It’s been one thing after another, and you guys deserve a vacation. Let me and Max take care of the kids.”

“Tay… you do realize that would be your two barely crawling plus my four.  You two would be taking care of six children.”  

“And your kids are pretty self sufficient.  They can feed themselves.”  

“You’ll need some reinforcements, Tay. For real.  I’ll call Drake and Hana to help.”  

“I really think Max and I can handle it.”

“Tay…”  

“Riley, we got this.”

*^*^*^*^* Taylor and Maxwell *^*^*^*^*

“You volunteered us for WHAT?!?!?!?!?”

“Oh come on Max, they’re just kids.”

“Yeah, and we’ve been lucky to keep the two of ours alive so far.  We’re going to be outnumbered Softie. There’s going to be six of them and two of us. You have put them at an unfair advantage.”  

Taylor laughed.

“This is not a war Maxwell.”

“Oh, it’s definitely a war.”

A week later,  Riley and Liam were preparing to leave for their first vacation alone, since they had children.  

Riley kissed and hugged each child.

“Now you kids behave for Auntie Taylor and Uncle Maxwell.  I’m counting on you Miss Crown Princess for a report when I return. You know you’re first in command Ellie.”

Ellie stood up straight and squared her shoulders.  “I promise Daddy, we’ll all be good.”

Ellie gave a little salute.

Liam gave one back.

“As you were, my princess.”

Riley, still kneeling, smoothed down Liberty’s little curls.  Her little lip was already trembling.  

“Mommy loves you baby.”  She kissed her little cheeks.  

“Are you ready to leave My Love?”  

Riley stood up nodding.   Liam reached out her hand for hers.  

They started to walk towards the SUV.  

“Mama.”  

Liam felt Riley stop.  

“It’s okay My Love we can do this.”  

Riley’s eyes were quickly filling with tears.

Riley resumed her stride.

“Dada?”

The little inflection of a question in Liberty’s voice made Liam stop dead in his tracks. His grip tightening on Riley’s hand.  Liam took a deep shaky breath.

"Don't look back Liam, you know we won't leave if we do."

Bastien and Nico could see how the King and Queen were struggling to leave their children.

“Your Majesties, come this way.”  Bastien called out to them gently.

Both the King and Queen were in tears hearing their youngest burst into tears at the sight of them leaving, as they climbed into  the black SUV.

“It’s okay.  They’ll be fine Riley. They have reinforcements.”

“Taylor wouldn’t let me call Drake or Hana.”  

Liam hit a button on his phone. He put the phone on speaker.

“What’s your location?”  

“Already inside the palace.”  

“Olivia?”  

“And you fully understand the plan?”

“Let your tiny humans drive Taylor and Maxwell insane?”

“NO!!!!”

“I know the plan Liam! Not be seen and keep a watch on them, and only appear if they need help with the children. “

“Yes. Thank you Liv.”  

“I do this because we’re friends Riley.”  

“Liberty has a set of lungs on her, she hasn’t stopped crying since you two left.  I’m sure she’ll be fine.”  

“Thank you Liv.”  

“They’ll be fine, i’ll be watching. Enjoy your vacation already.”  

“Where are we headed? Since you wouldn’t disclose a location to me, I literally packed for everything including plagues and fire rain.”  

“For some fun in the sun on our own private beach.”

“Good thing I packed a bathing suit.”  

“You won’t be needing it.”  

Riley smacked Liam’s arm as he waggled his eyebrows at her.

*^*^*^*^*^* Meanwhile back at the Palace *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

“C’mon Libby it’s okay.   Mommy and Daddy will be back.”  

Taylor picked her up, rocking her in her arms.  

“Shhhhhh… it’s okay Libby.   Auntie Taylor is here, so is Uncle Max.”

Libby’s cries subsided a little but not significantly.

“Can I try?”  Ellie asked.

Ellie crossed her eyes and made a funny face at Libby causing her to break out into a fit of giggles.  

“We’re evening out the odds.  Three on three, I like those odds better Taylor.  We might actually survive this. They will listen to one of their own.  Ellie is like our super agent spy.”

By the end of day one both Taylor and Maxwell were exhausted, tending to and chasing around six children.  At least their two were relatively easy to catch, as they were barely mobile.

“Why did I think the children being self-sufficient was going to be a good thing?  I’ve never been this tired in my life.”  

“Is this what we have to look forward to when they’re older?”  

"Seems like it."

^*^*^*^* Liam and Riley *^*^*^*

“My Love?”  

“Yes Dear?”  

“You don’t have to cut up my food for me.”  

Riley had absentmindedly cut up Liam’s chicken into very small child bite size pieces. She had also ruffled his hair and kissed his forehead.

“Oh!  I didn’t even realize.”

Liam smiled at her, running his fingers through his hair.  “We’ve been parents for so long, it’s been a long time since you and I have been truly alone.”  

“You know what I want to do after dinner?” Riley inquired.

Liam raised his eyebrow with an intrigued smirk.  

“I think I might have an idea of exactly what you want to do.”  

Liam and Riley went to sleep after dinner.  Both stretched out in the bed.  Both had covers, and no kids arms, legs, feet, or hair  in their face.

Every night was like that Liam and Riley got the most sleep they had, had in years…. Well after other adult activities. Liam had even turned off his alarm living in the moment with Riley.

*^*^* Baby Beaumont Bash *^*^*^*

Taylor was feeding the girls when she heard loud thumping music. Taylor could hear jingling. Taylor glanced up, seeing the chandelier above her head was thumping to the beat of the music. Thank goodness the twins were used to Maxwell's antics, and Lily and Violet were sleeping right through it. She put Violet back in the crib and walked down the hall. The closer she got to the east wing ballroom the music got louder.

Taylor pulled the doors open to the ballroom, smoke bubbled down the hall.

There were multi colored blinking lights, a disco ball spinning from the ceiling and a snack table full of candy, sweets and soda.

Maxwell had a DJ station set up  playing a song on an endless loop, bobbing his head to the music with his headphones on.

And Riley's kids hopped up on kiddie cocaine (aka sugar) dancing and flailing around in what Taylor could only think to describe as a kiddie rave.

"Is that….. a trap remix of baby shark?"

"Heck yeah it is."

And the kids were loving it.

Maxwell let the music keep playing and he had a bottle of champagne in one hand calling Ellie and Adam over to him. He had a sword in his right.

"Adam you hold the bottle."

"You are not giving them champagne Maxwell! They're children!"

"I'm shocked at you Softie. What kind of Uncle do you think I am? It's just sparkling apple cider. Okay Ellie, you get the sword because you're the oldest. And what you want to do is slice just like I'm showing you. Oh, and don't kill your brother, that would be bad."

"I don't think Daddy would let us do this Uncle Maxwell." Ellie said wearily.

"Heck no he wouldn't.  Well not with Maxwell teaching you. If anyone is going to teach the crown princess to slice anything while someone else is holding it, it's going to be me."

Olivia appeared walking out of the shadows of an alcove.

"Have you been here the whole week?"

"Of course! You know Liam and Riley. And these kids are never going to fall asleep, if we don't have them dance the sugar out."

"I've got just the thing.”

 Max cranked up the music.

*^*^*^*^* Liam and Riley *^*^*^*^*

"Liam I miss them."

"We'll be home to see them by noon tomorrow."

"Liam I know you miss them too, log into Crown Cam, so we can see them."

Riley sat next to Liam as he logged into Crown Cam.

As they went to each room they noticed none of the children were in their beds.

"It's past their bedtime."

"Did you really think Max and Taylor would get all kids to bed on time?"

"No but…."

They clicked on each room, until they got to the ballroom on the east wing.

Both gasped at the scene. Liam clicked the button enabling the cameras to pick up sound in the room.

Both looked at each other, seeing their kids wildly dancing and flailing about. Libby was excitedly jumping up and down with a glow stick while Olivia sang on stage.

"Is Olivia really singing and rapping to Let It Go?!?"

Olivia's Rap

Liam nodded, watching the scene for a few more moments before slowly closing his laptop.

"I'm sure there is a perfectly good explanation for all of this."

*^*^*^*^*^* kiddie rave *^*^*^*^*

Taylor danced with the kids while Max continued at his DJ station.

"Olivia can flow, can you believe it Max?!?"

"OLIVIA!!!!! LANGUAGE!!!!!!! THEY'RE CHILDREN!!!!" Maxwell screamed.

"Are you serious with me right now?!? Language?"

Olivia rolled her eyes in complete annoyance.

"Of all the things you've done, LANGUAGE is your hard stop? You gave the crown princess a SWORD to slice a bottle out of her younger brother's hands, and instructed her not to kill him. That's entirely okay, but CURSING is where you draw the line in the sand? Seriously Maxwell?"

Both Taylor and Olivia glared at Maxwell for a few moments in confusion.

"Liv keep going!!! We have to tire them out!!!"

Olivia resumed her rap battle….with herself.

Within an hour it looked like a crime scene in the ballroom. Children were passed out everywhere.  

Taylor picked up a sleeping Ellie, Olivia, grabbed Adam, and Maxwell carried Jaiden and Liberty upstairs to their beds.  

"They need baths, their faces and hands are dirty with crumbs and sweets."

"We'll give them baths in the morning, before Liam and Riley get back." Maxwell was confident they could get it done.

They didn't. They all slept in instead.

When Liam and Riley arrived back at the palace, they didn't know what to expect.

They saw their kids, all lined up wearing yesterday's clothes, dirty faces, and wild chaotic hair, looking like they had their own kiddie walks of shame.  But each child had a huge smile on their face.

Liam walked up to Ellie.

"Your report my Crown Princess?"

"Daddy! I sliced a bottle top off a bottle while Adam held it."

"And I didn't die!" Adam screamed confidently.

"We had fun!" Jaiden exclaimed.

"Daddy did you know Auntie Liv is a gangsta rapper?" Ellie's voice sounded like she was in complete awe.

"Yes My Princess, we saw."

Olivia turned pale, then she knowingly nodded. "I should have known you two would access Crown Cam."

Riley turned to Maxwell.

"So you threw a Beaumont Bash…. for our children?"  Riley asked.

"Of course, gotta train them up right!! Little Blossom!"

"Sure, they're a little dirty, but at least the palace is still standing, what else would you expect from the Substitute Queen?" Taylor commented with a smirk.

Happy birthday! I hope you enjoyed this!

Tagging the comments

[babygirl-diaz]

The Way I Loved You

(I felt like writing something based on that ridiculously cheesy song by Taylor Swift. It's a silly fic but I had fun writing it. Also, this fic is more SamSteve than SamBucky. Sorry.)

Present Day

"Man, did you just-- did you just open the door for me?" Sam looked between Steve and the open car door and tried to keep himself from laughing. He let out a chuckle when he noticed Steve awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.

"Sorry-- I just-- I-- Sorry." Steve's cheeks turn red, making Sam laugh even harder.

Taking pity on the other man, he thumped him on the back. "It's okay, buddy. I was just messing with you. I think it's sweet, you being chivalrous and all." He leaned in to kiss Steve on the cheek.

Over Steve's shoulder, Sam noticed the figure standing in the apartment window. The smile fell from Sam's lips when he noticed Bucky glaring at them while tightly clutching onto the curtains with his metal hand.

"Everything okay?" Steve asked.

Sam tore his gaze away from Bucky and looked at Steve.

“Yeah, everything is great. Can we go?” Sam quickly got into the car and let Steve close the door for him.

He threw another glance towards the apartment and noticed that Bucky was still standing there, watching them.

Sam cleared his throat when Steve got into the driver’s side and asked, “So where are we going?”

“There’s a new planetarium and observatory just outside the city. Figured we could go there and watch the stars.”

“You are such a nerd,” Sam teased. “You do realize there is a planetarium at the Compound, right?”

“Yeah, but there are other Avengers there and I’d rather spend some alone time just with you. I forgot to say earlier, but you look great tonight.”

That made Sam’s heart flutter. “Thanks. So do you” Sam had put no effort into his outfit. It was just his usual pair of jeans, paired with a t-shirt, and a black leather jacket. Meanwhile, Steve was wearing a tight black shirt with a pair of jeans.

Suddenly Sam’s phone buzzed, and he threw a quick apology at Steve before taking out his phone. Bucky’s name flashed across the screen, ruining Sam’s good mood. He ignored the call and stuffed his phone back into his jacket pocket.

“Who was that?” Steve casually inquired.

“Robocall,” Sam easily lied.

Silence fell between them as Steve continued to drive. Sam’s phone buzzed once again, and he again took it out to see Bucky’s name on his screen. Sam canceled it and put his phone on silent.

“Robocall again?” Steve asked.

“Yeah,” Sam answered distractedly, as he wondered why Bucky would call him. They live together but they haven’t talked for a month.

Almost as if reading his mind, Steve asked, “Is Bucky okay?”

“What?”

“Bucky,” Steve repeated himself. “Is he okay? He just-- he barely talks to me these days.”

“Yeah, he’s good.” Truth be told, Sam wasn’t sure if Bucky was okay or not. “He’s just busy I guess.”

“And how has it been living with him? Are you two getting along?”

“Yeah… we get along as well as two roommates can.” Sam shrugged. Except for the part where they were once sleeping with each other.

“Steve-”

“Sam-”

They said at the same time and chuckled.

“Sorry.” Steve apologized. “Go ahead.”

“What is this?” Sam asked

“What do you mean?”

“This-- tonight I mean-- Is this a date?” Sam’s life was so complicated right now that he needed some sort of clarity.

“I thought that was obvious.” There was a slight disappointment in Steve’s voice.

“Sorry-- I just-- I need to be honest with you,” said Sam. “My life is a mess right now. I was just in a--- I don’t want to call it a relationship, but I had a thing with someone and it ended pretty badly.”

“Oh,” Steve mumbled. “Do you still have feelings for them?”

“No,” Sam replies after a beat.

“Are you sure?” Steve asked. “Because if you do and it’s worth giving it another chance then I think you should go for it.”

Sam hated how Steve always knew how to say the right thing.

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Sam replied. “It’s not worth giving it another chance… He has made that very clear.”

Another wave of silence fell between them before Steve asked, “Do I know him?”

“No, no, you don’t,” Sam lied. Again.

***

One Month Ago

Sam’s tongue found its way inside Bucky’s mouth, and he explored it with fervor. He tried to get the upper hand, but Bucky, being the competitive asshole that he was, practically picked Sam off the ground and flipped them around, and slammed him against the wall. Sam moaned into his mouth, and Bucky swallowed up the sound. Sam pushed at him, and Bucky groaned but moved away. Sam directly looked him in the eyes as he took off his t-shirt and threw it aside. His jeans and boxers followed, while Bucky hungrily looked at him.

“Like what you see?” Sam asked

“Hell yeah.” Bucky moved forward and took Sam into his arms again.

Sam helped Bucky out of his own clothes and pushed him onto the bed. He climbed on top of his roommate and kissed him once again.

“God, I wanna fuck you so bad,” Bucky whispered in his ear and bit down on his earlobe which caused Sam to let out a loud moan.

***

Bucky got out of the bed and started putting his clothes on when Sam said, “You know you can stay, right? You can sleep in here.”

“I kinda need to sleep in my bed,” Bucky replied, without looking at Sam.

He did this every night. Only stayed long enough to fuck Sam before heading back to his own room.

“Bucky.” Sam reached out and grabbed Bucky’s flesh wrist. “We need to talk.”

“Can it wait?” Bucky asked, still refusing to look at Sam. “I just wanna sleep right now.”

Sam sat up on the bed and tugged Bucky’s wrist to force him to sit down as well. “No, we need to talk about this right now. You always do this. You walk away before we can talk about us.”

“Sam---” Bucky said desperately

“Bucky, please.”

“Okay, fine,” Bucky threw his hands up in frustration. “What do you wanna talk about?”

“About this. About us… I need more from this relationship, Bucky.”

“What relationship, Sam? We don’t have a relationship.”

Sam felt his heart break a little. “Exactly. We don’t. But I want one. I want you to be my boyfriend.” There, he said it.

Bucky opened and closed his mouth a few times, looking lost and confused. “Sam...don’t…”

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t ask me for something I can’t give you.”

Sam knew this was coming, but it still hurt like hell after hearing Bucky say it. “Why not?”

“Because…” Bucky trailed off. “I don’t want a relationship.” He got up from the bed and looked down at Sam. “I like what we have going on.”

Sam got out of the bed and as he threw on his tee and boxers he said, “Well, I don’t! I don’t just do hookups. I need something real.”

“This is real,” Bucky argued.

“No, it’s not!” Sam threw back. “We’re just fuck buddies!”

“And what’s wrong with that?”

“It’s wrong because I LIKE YOU!” The words left Sam’s mouth before he could stop himself.

Bucky looked at him in shock. “What?”

“I like you, Buck. As more than a friend,” Sam shrugged.

Bucky went eerily quiet. A few moments passed, and Sam’s heart sunk to the bottom of his stomach. “I like you too, Sam… but not like that.”

Bucky stepped closer to Sam and tried to touch him, but Sam stepped back, his heart breaking into a million pieces. “Get out.” Sam told him.

“Sam…”

“I said get out!”

Bucky didn’t say another word and left the room.

“Fuck you, Barnes,” Sam said after him.

***

Present Day

“Sam, hey,”

Sam felt a hand on his arm and almost jumped. “Shit!”

“Crap, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” Steve looked worried when Sam turned to look at him. “Are you okay? You’ve been lost in your own world.”

Sam immediately felt bad for being such bad company. “I am so sorry, Steve. I am the worst date ever.”

“Not the worst. I’ve had worse.” Steve tried to make him feel better. “At least you didn’t throw up on me after having one too many.”

That made Sam chuckle. He remembered that story.

Steve kept his eyes on the road as he said, “Is this about that guy? Are you sure you still don’t have feelings for him?” They came to a stop in a parking lot and Steve turned to look at Sam. “I can't do this if you have feelings for someone else.”

“I don’t,” Sam replies with an edge in his voice. “But I don’t want to lead you on either.”

A sad, kicked puppy look fell on Steve’s face, and Sam tried to ignore it.

“I like you, Steve. You’re my best friend, and I don’t want to lose you.”

“You will never lose me.” Steve reached out to touch his cheek. “I’ll always be your friend. Whether or not we date.”

“So where do we go from here?” Sam asked

“How about we watch the stars and then get some dinner and just have an amazing night? Then we can go from there.”

Sam felt some pressure lifted off his shoulders. “I like that plan. A lot.”

They got out of the car, and Sam pulled out his phone to find 11 missed calls and 20 messages from Bucky. He ignored them and stuffed his phone away in his back pocket and took Steve’s hand.