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theprettynosferatu · 11 months

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Unit Commander John Heinlein was a simple man. Above all, he valued order. Order kept the world safe, functional, understandable. Everyone and everything had its proper place and proper role: like different organs in a body, they all contributed to the overall health of society as long as they did what they were supposed to do and didn’t get any stupid ideas. In that gigantic body, John Heinlen was a fist, and stupid ideas were what he punched into oblivion. Reality was simple, and if it wasn’t, the higher-ups pointed him to the complication and he pummeled it back into simplicity.

As usual, intelligence was spotty. Why exactly this club was a Stupid Idea, John did not know nor did he care. What the informant had revealed was something about women going against their conditioning, although they had not revealed how or why. It seemed patently ridiculous to John Heinlein. Conditioned women were happy, and they made their men happy. Simple, proper. Everything in its natural place. If Fulgrim’s was messing with that, it deserved to be squashed.

Looking at the rest of the Unit, he felt sending them was perhaps a waste of resources. If the informant was correct, they would be facing women and whatever deviants might be attending off-hours, if any; but it was not his call to make, and he liked it that way. His purpose was to punch, not to decide who deserved to be punched.

The six men stood in front of the gaudy purple door. As much as he wanted to kick the door down and be done with it, John played it by the book. He made the signal to place the breaching device and got into the correct position, ingrained in him by hundreds of hours of training. Still, no matter how many times the device blasted the door open, John always felt underwhelmed. Part of him seemed to expect a big thunderous sound, instead of the measured, barely audible “pop” designed not to alert the criminals.

Like a perfect machine, they went in, weapons ready. They were all running on autopilot, relying on their modified genetics and exhaustive drilling. It took only a few seconds for them to reach the same, obvious conclusion. No threats present. Instead, two women stood by the door, as if expecting them. John felt a deep revulsion, something primal stirring within him. It was wrong.

The women weren’t blonde. They weren’t smiling. They didn’t seem pleasant, or demure, or bubbly. In fact, they looked like wolves on the prowl. One had blood-red hair, a leather corset, fishnet stockings and boots that ended in the sort of spiked heels that could kill a man. The other was, to John Heinlein, even worse. She seemed shy, wearing a short skirt and trying to cover up… but her eyes spoke of a deep hunger, a devious intelligence and a depraved longing he couldn’t quite place.

“Oh, I’m so glad you’re here!” said the redhead with mock gratitude. “You see, I’ve been trying to train this sweet little creature right here…” she added as her hand went under the other girl’s skirt. “But I’m afraid she needs a bit of… male guidance. A strong hand to show her the way”

John frowned. There was something strange in the air. A subtle smell he couldn’t fully detect. As he turned to ask his comrades about it, he noticed Johnson shifting his weight slightly. It was a small thing, but utterly out of place for a man of their training. And he could tell the women saw it too. Slowly, seductively the redhead walked toward Johnson, leading the other girl by her wrist. It was surreal, unsettling. But they couldn’t just open fire on females.

“Johnson, step away from the females, now!”, barked Commander Heinlein.

For the first time in his illustrious career, the Commander’s order went unheeded. He watched in horror as the petite woman placed a slender hand on the soldier’s chest and, with a look designed to melt hearts and break down barriers at the same time, pouted like a mischievous child.

“Please, Sir. I’ve been bad. So, so bad… Won’t you teach me? I’m a very good learner… if I’m put in my place”

Meanwhile, the woman in the spiked heels had gone around Johnson, and whispered in his ear as her hand caressed his perfectly sculpted abs and kept moving downwards…

“She can be so good… we both can be so good… but are you man enough to show us you can handle us? Tame us? Mold us into your perfect good girls?”

Johnson was breathing heavily, paralyzed by a million conflicting impulses. He had a job to do. He was a soldier. He was…

And just then, he broke. Johnson grabbed the smaller woman by the neck, and in a swift movement turned her around and bent her over. He couldn’t see the devilish smile on her face, but John Henlein sure did. There was victory in that lustful look, a triumph only magnified when, cock hard as metal, Johnson railed her from behind as hard as he possibly could, his mind gone in a frenzy of half-formed sentences and grunts, the redhead woman rubbing her pussy as she now shouted encouragement.

“Do it! Pound that little slut! Show her what she really is! Fucking break her like the stupid fuckdoll she dresses as! Punish that pussy with your cock! Make her scream for me… make her beg! Make. Her. Yours!”

“Johnson!”, shouted Heinlein in vain. The soldier was gone, and all that remained was a beast, a bundle of muscles determined to conquer the females before it, to claim them and mark them as his. And worse, whoever was behind it all remained unseen, deeper inside the club.

“Fuck! Everyone else! On me! We press on!”

“What about Johnson?”, asked a rookie soldier by the name of Phillips.

“We lost him! Now, move!”

They stormed the place, kicking down doors- no time to play it straight, as much as it pained Unit Commander John Heinlein, for whom standard procedure was akin to a biblical dogma. With every hallway they crossed, every room they breached, the air seemed to get heavier, denser somehow. Sweeter, perhaps.

They entered a room covered in black velvet. It caused a strange effect, almost as if the walls themselves devoured the light. And there, sitting in the middle of the room, long legs crossed, was another female. Like the ones before, she didn’t look like the blonde, obedient women that had undergone the mandatory conditioning. Horror gripped Heinlein. This person went against every conceivable notion of what a woman should be. Clad in a leather corset and thigh-high boots, she stared the five soldiers down with a look of disgust and clear disapproval. Even the sight of their guns was to her just another gauche shortcoming, one in a very long list of inadequacies clamored without words by her deep, green eyes.

“Did I say you could come in?”, she asked.

The question was ridiculous. They were Soldiers. They didn’t ask, they acted. And yet, two of Heinlein’s men started moving their heads, something between shaking off a creeping mental fog and answering the woman’s question. No, she had not said they could come in.

“Get on the ground, and-” started barking Heinlein before the woman cut him off.

“No. it’s not your turn to speak. You don’t talk unless I tell you to, is that clear?”

Unit Commander Heinlein froze. Her tone, firm, in total control, was something he recognized very well. For a moment he was a raw recruit again, undergoing basic training. A part of him, a part of all Soldiers knew to obey that sort of utterance, that confident command. It was part of the crucial training that made any warrior more than a brawler. It was the core of discipline. He knew, at that moment, they were all in grave danger.

“Now, that sort of rude entrance needs to be punished. You all know it, don’t you my toys? But I’ll be kind…ish. How about you start by being a pack of good dogs and kneel?”

Heinlein felt his legs almost give in. He managed to stay on his feet… barely. He watched as most of his squad went on their knees, their eyes wide, fixed on that beautiful woman, seeking every ounce of validation she could give them. Ready to obey.

“Crawl to me, pets”

They did. With a few words, she had made them love her. Adore her. Obey her. Their sense of duty twisted, molded, corrupted. And Heinlein felt himself wanting to join them, wanting so badly to be one of her favorite pets… no, her very favorite. The alpha of the pack. Perfect for her. Obedient for her.

It took a superhuman effort to turn away from her perfect silhouette, her beckoning curves, her voice of absolute command and dominion. The last thing he saw before sprinting away from that goddess of a woman was his once proud squad almost fighting like dogs for the privilege of kissing her heels. How he hated the fact that he wanted to join them…

He tried to push it all away as he ran through hallways, deeper into the club, down stairs, through room after room. Deeper and deeper… the air getting heavier and sweeter… his mind getting fuzzier…

How long did he run? How deep did he go? He couldn’t tell. Different themes passed him by like a blur, and he felt almost as if he was just running in place, the facility moving around him, assaulting him with perverted ideas, digesting him like some monstrous organism designed to destroy everything that was right and natural in the world… but he couldn’t stop. He wouldn’t. Stopping, he felt, would mean the end.

And then, he stopped.

The woman looked like no one he had ever seen. Every part of her seemed designed to short-circuit his understanding of reality, his very core, and he found himself frozen before her, his brain trying to catch up to what his eyes were seeing. She looked like something out of some strange, fae world: she wore her hair in dancing ponytails, one dyed blue, one pink. Her makeup was a striking mixture of neon colors punctuated by tiny drawn hearts scattered over a face that spoke at once of innocence and mischief. She had a single fishnet glove on, mismatched thigh-high socks, a pink and black nighty that hovered between dark and slutty and the most pure chastity… Even her eyes, he noticed, refused to follow any notion of order: one was a deep blue, while the other was an inhuman, alluring red. She was something he couldn’t comprehend, and yet couldn’t stop watching. She moved with a strange liquid freedom, as if gravity and anatomy were vague suggestions she very much didn’t intend to follow. And her smile… he couldn’t quite place what it was: it was joyful, yes, but also shy and yet it had a hint of a predator somewhere deep inside it…

“Oh, hi!” she chirped and bounced out of her purple sofa. “I was fingering myself!” she declared, almost with pride.

Unit Commander Heinlein found himself unable to respond. This… being was not a woman. Not as he understood them, at least. And yet he could feel something stirring inside, something he had forgotten about long, long ago…

“Who are you?”, she asked, her face becoming almost a caricature of confusion before snapping back into a jubilant smile. “I’m Alara! Nice to meet you!”

She ran to him. Normally such an action would call for tactical evasion, or a well-practiced takedown. Instead, Heinlein found himself frozen in place as the girl hugged him. She smelled sweet, like the air around them.

“Are you okay, dude?”, she asked with a look of genuine concern.

“I… this establishment has been deemed… unsuitable and against the… proper conditioning of females… get on the ground, and…”

“Ooooh, the ground? I can go to the ground for you, Daddy! Or do you prefer Sir? Or Joe? You know what? Joe it is! Is your name Joe? You look like a Joe to me. So, the ground! Ass up? Or maybe on my back, legs open? Which one do you want, Joe?”

Heinlein, whose first name was most certainly not Joe, watched as the girl seemed to flow from one pose to another: one second she was on all fours, looking over her shoulder with an inviting smile; the next she was on her back, legs open, her eyes shocked like a virgin about to feel a man inside her for the very first time… then she bounced back to her feet and pouted.

“Come on, Joe, make up your mind! Or do you want me to take charge? Wait! I should have it… here!”. The girl beamed, brandishing a gigantic, double-sided dildo. “Want me to use this on you, Joe? Come on, give me a little something to work with here!”

“Please stay still. Do you understand the situation? You have been… altered. You’re not a normal…”

“Normal? Normal?! Joe, how boring are you? Seriously, how many times can you fuck a blonde big-titty bimbo before it gets so fucking samey? Fuck ‘normal’, Joe! Let your freaky self out to play for once!”

“I do not have a freaky self”

Alara tripped on her own legs and landed sprawled on the carpeted ground before shooting Heinlein a look that might as well have been directed at a two-headed alien, before turning into an expression of pure, profound pity.

“Oh, Joe… of course you do! We all have our freaky sides… don’t think for a second they’ve drilled yours completely dead. It’s there… I can feel it. And so can you, can’t you? Growing inside you. Getting stronger. Don’t you get tired of following orders? Of everything being always in the same place? Of loving the same woman? The world isn’t like that, Joe! People aren’t like that! We are insane, contradictory, fucking twisted messes… and that’s perfect! Come on, Joe… don’t you ever think about doing… the wrong thing?”

Her words dripped inside his head like honey, so much so that he didn’t notice her approaching him, rubbing him through his pants as she playfully made him so confused, so mixed up, so fuzzy and…

“Mmmm… tell me Joe… what’s that thing you’d like to do, that wrong, wrong thing you dream of in the dark, swearing to yourself you’ll never say a word of it?”

“Non-regulation shoes”

His mouth had spoken before his brain had even registered it.

“Oh, don’t like the uniform shoes?”, she teased.

“Uncomfortable”, he mumbled.

“So… why don’t you take them off?”

“On mission. Tactical shoes. Reinforced. Useful”

“Are you going to tactically kick me, Joe? Of course not! No one would kick pretty little me… well, unless I asked… but not with those shoes! Who’s gonna know, Joe? No one’s gonna spank you for letting your feet out for a bit! So… take them off!”

“Can’t. On a mission”

“Oh, for fuck’s- come here, you big dummy”

Alara lunged for his shoes, and made a big show of pulling with all her might. Heinlein watched her, entranced.

“A little help here, Joe? These fucking things are tighter than your ass! I mean, I’m just guessing there”

He moved as if in a dream. He released the lock on one boot, then the other. Alara flew back, boot in hand, before jumping up, holding the black boot in the air like a trophy.

“Victory! Look, Joe! You have one boot off and the world hasn’t ended!”

It was true. He looked down at his feet. He had gone against standard procedure. In fact, he had flat-out broken a strict, simple rule. No one was screaming at him. Nothing bad had happened. If anything, he was overcome by childish elation. Suddenly, his world had shifted. Rules were words. Only that. No more solid than millions of other words spoken every single day.

“Sooooo? How do you feel, you rebel?”

“It’s… good”

Alara smiled and bent over.

“I’m guessing there’s a rule against using a suspect as a living fleshlight, isn’t there? A rule against pounding pussy when on a mission? A rule against using little me as your own personal, depraved fuckdoll?”

“There are many such rules”

“And how do you feel about them now?”

“I don’t give a fuck”

Her screams of ecstasy echoes through the entire club. She pushed him further, and he only growled and, for once, did exactly as he pleased. Alara could only cum, and cum again in victory. Every act was a testament to her triumph. He used her throat, not caring if she gagged, if she choked. He slapped her face and she laughed. He spit on her mouth, grabbed her neck, took her tight asshole. He came once deep inside her, but it wasn’t enough. Alara knew the aphrodisiac in the air gave some… special endurance as well, and she intended to see exactly how long they could go.

By the end her clothes had been ripped off her, her tits were covered in cum, her pussy pumped full three times, her ass abused, her buttocks red with spankings, her makeup ruined. And by the end, he had become anything but a Soldier.

The following day a meeting was called at the highest levels of the government. An elite unit had gone into Fulgrim’s, never to return.

They would have to take drastic measures if they hoped to contain the corruption now growing in their city.

Did you enjoy this story? You can support my work at patreon.com/prettynosferatu

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losersimonriley · 4 months

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After a bad breakup, Soap vows to never ever ever EVER date anyone again. No guys who're always just after a quick fuck and not much else (he has a thing for assholes, he is aware. He hates it too). No gals who nag and nag and cannot deal with his whole thing after the first bout of attraction wears off (he hasn't met a single patient woman in his life, he swears).

He's sick and tired of everything, of even trying. He wanted to marry his since as of two hours ago ex-girlfriend. And what did he get? A "sorry, I want to break up"! He's sitting by the river, looking at the ring he'd proposed with. It's nice. It's got his last name in it, because it's an heirloom. He's never gonna use it now. His sisters all only have girls. What even is the point? So he throws it into the river as far as he can.

He spends the rest of his leave trying to pretend he is not depressed.

Two months later, during his leave, Ghost pulls a fish out of the water. It's a nice catch for his dinner. But when he guts it, he finds a ring inside. It's really nice. Whoever lost it had to be missing it. But with only a last name, he has not much to go on to return it to its owner.

Still, he puts it in his wallet, just in case.

Another seven months later, Soap is transferred. Ghost barely acknowledges him for the first couple of months. He sure as fuck doesn't even know his name. Soap tries, despite everyone warning him, telling him he'll get himself killed playing with fire. Ghost never does anything to him, beyond the occasional friendly shove when Soap really gets on his nerves. Eventually, he stops telling Soap to go away nine out of ten times.

It takes over a year working together before Ghost learns Soap's name. By then, Ghost is sure he's in love, as ridiculous as it sounds. He's also sure he'll never do anything about it outside of his daydreams. But when he hears "John MacTavish" a bell in the back of his head rings. He fishes out his wallet, drops it, gets on one knee to pick it up while mumbling: "Johnny? Soap? I think I got something of yours."

Soap almost faints as Ghost pulls the ring out. It takes a moment to register that he knows that ring. His first thoughts are already out of his mouth by then: "Are you proposing to me, Ghost?"

"I... what?" Ghost looks at the ring then at Soap. "Looks like it," he admits.

Soap falls to his knees too. "We're not even together," he laughs.

"That a no?"

"That's a yeah why the fuck not."

They both break down laughing. But neither ever chickens out, walks the whole thing back. Soap's wearing his heirloom engagement ring. Ghost is telling everyone he proposed just to watch the faces of people.

They don't kiss until the first anniversary of their engagement.

I was NOT expecting that fish part alshdhdh I love this so much accidental proposals my beloved <3

#the sillies #and i love them #ghostsoap #traum’s treats #long post

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feinv · 3 months

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the thought of john wick being a girl dad makes my heart melts 😞

“you are too young to have a kid. you don’t even want children,” i whisper to myself as i continue writing this on the verge of a sob. john wick as a girl dad <3

i wholeheartedly believe john wick was put in this world for one reason only, and it’s to have a loving wife and a daughter.

ᯓᡣ𐭩 he is so devoted to his family, always putting the two of you first. oh he has a business meeting in twenty minutes? well too bad, because he is cancelling, his little princess wanted to play some more.

ᯓᡣ𐭩 you will often catch him in ridiculous outfits, like dressed in all black professional suit with a pair of fairy wings on his back your child made him wear. or cute hello kitty hair clips in his dark hair. and he doesn’t mind!! whatever makes her happy :)

ᯓᡣ𐭩 expect to be showered in compliments by your child too because that’s what she sees john do all the time “mommy you are so pretty!! daddy is always right,” and you are like :<

ᯓᡣ𐭩 this man has all the money in the world, he would spoil his child to the brim. every barbie doll, every cute dollhouse, whatever she wants. besides that, he would always put in time and effort, and not just buy things. he will absolutely build a small treehouse for her, sit down to play and draw, watch ridiculous amount of cartoons.

ᯓᡣ𐭩 a strict parent, but in a sense that he doesn’t get mad or yell, he just makes the kid respect him! he would be so patient with her, calmly explaining why doing such thing is wrong and how can she fix it. he didn’t have the best childhood, and he would hate to turn out like people who raised him, so he would often get too worried and ask you if he is treating her right or being too strict with her.

ᯓᡣ𐭩 being graced with an energetic child often gets you exhausted by the end of the day. but he is there for you :3

“john, i cannot keep up after her. she is like. on full battery mode all the time,” you huffed softly, a happy smile on your face as you dropped your head to his shoulder.

“get some rest. i will stay up with her,” he chuckled lightly, giving you a goodnight kiss before going back to living room where the mini version of him already set up all the games they were going to play for at least two hours.

ᯓᡣ𐭩 it’s the least he can do for you. he doesn’t think he will ever be able to repay you for everything you gave him: love, home, family, and purpose. he will always be grateful to you that you not only chose him to be your life partner, but also trusted him enough to build a family with him, and he will spend the rest of his days with a sole purpose of bringing happiness to your faces <3

#anon what have u done #chad when i catch you chad #release jw5 when it’s just john and helen being happy #or else #bad things chad #real bad things #feinv—jw #feinv!jw #john wick x you

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major-mads · 6 months

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Chapter 7: Lucky 25

John "Bucky" Egan x Ruth Morgan (OFC)

Series Masterlist

A/N: please comment or reblog and tell us what you think!! thanks for reading!! <3

Collab: On a Wing and a Prayer by @footprintsinthesxnd

Word Count: 11k

Thursday, September 16th: Thorpe Abbotts AAF Base, Norwich: 1300 HRS: 1 PM

Hope’s back ached as she bent over her old Singer sewing machine, silk fabric sliding effortlessly as the needle punched thread through it. Silk was hard to come by with rationing, and there was no way, even with Hugh’s help, that she could afford a new wedding dress. Luckily for her, Frank had a knack for making things disappear from the storeroom on base and later making them reappear in the girls' hut.

Ruth hummed Artie Shaw out of tune from behind her as the blonde cut out more fabric from the pattern, laying the pieces of cloth over the tissue paper cutouts. Tatty and Helen hand-sewed small pieces of lace together, just some odd cuts they’d gotten from the local fabric shop.

The girls worked hard all afternoon, measuring, cutting, and sewing. The dress was coming along nicely, and with only three weeks to go until the big day, Hope was anxious to get it finished in time.

The Singer buzzed along nicely as three familiar heads poked around the nissen hut door.

“Knock, knock,” Hugh called out, stepping inside, his hands on his hips as he assessed the girl's work. Gale and John followed him closely.

“You guys can’t be in here,” Helen scolded.

“It’s bad luck to see the dress before the wedding, Cleven,” Tatty hissed, marching over to the men. “You better get going before…”

“My dear Tatty, don’t be so defensive, I merely come to offer my services,” Hugh bowed dramatically.

Hope snickered, all too aware of Hugh’s sewing skills, “I don’t think your skills are required here, Hugh. You’re not really one for a needle and thread.”

Hugh scrunched his face up at her just like he’d done since they were children, and before he could throw out any more ridiculous ideas, Gale stepped forward.

“I don’t want to cause trouble, I merely want to spend some time with my girl,” Gale smiled charmingly at Tatty who moved aside.

“No wonder Hope can never say no to you, Major. That damn smile.”

Gale made his way across the room just as Hope finished covering the dress with a sheet. “Hello darling,” he leaned down, pressing his lips to hers, “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too,” Hope stood up, pressing her lips against his again, smiling into his touch.

“Tatty, come on,” John all but whined, pointing into the hut while Tatty stood firm on the doorstep. “It’s me.”

“And that is exactly why I’m not letting you in. You’d get your grubby mitts all over the dress.”

“I wouldn’t dare! Please,” John clasped his hands together, looking rather sad and pathetic until Tatty sighed.

“Fine, but one step out of line, Major, and you’re out.”

John moved past Tatty towards Ruth who was still sitting on the floor, surrounded by a collection of differently shaped pieces of silk.

“Never knew you were such a seamstress,” he grinned, kissing her gently and enjoying the familiar blush that crept across her pale cheeks.

“Well, I’m a woman of many talents,” Ruth retorted, grinning up at the Major.

“That you are.”

“Hugh, put that fabric down now,” Hope hissed, moving away from Gale’s arms to scold her brother, smacking his arm until he released the precious fabric. “Do you have any idea how hard it was to get a hold of this?”

“It’s just some silk, I’m sure any white fabric would do,” Hugh replied nonchalantly, pushing the reeling of cotton across Helen’s desk and glancing awkwardly around the room as it fell to the floor.

Hope sighed, “Hugh, for once in your life, please just be serious and stop acting like a child. It’s for my wedding day. Please don’t mess this up for me.”

Hope loved her brother dearly, but sometimes it felt like she had to do all the work in their relationship.

Hugh nodded apologetically, “I will. I wouldn’t dream of ruining your big day, Little Bird.” Hope smiled at her childhood nickname, it had been a long time since he’d called her that. “But is there anything I can help with?”

“Yes, there is,” Helen grabbed ahold of Gale and John’s sleeves, marching them towards Hugh, “You can take these two and keep them out of trouble until this evening.”

“Oh, come on, we just got here,” John groaned, glancing at Ruth in the hope of some sympathy, but she just waved at him. Gale glanced around Helen, blowing a kiss in Hope’s direction before the three men descended from the hut.

“You ladies have fun now, we’ll see you later,” Hugh called out, slamming the door dramatically.

Helen turned back to the group, hurrying back to her spot beside Tatty, “I honestly don’t know how you’ve put up with Hugh for so long.”

“I didn’t have much choice,” Hope laughed, turning back to the sewing machine, “He’s my brother after all.”

A few moments passed until another knock sounded at the door, and Helen marched back over with a groan, slinging it open to reveal John leaning on the doorframe.

“What is it?”

He peered around the woman, his eyes falling on Ruth. “Can I get a kiss?”

“You just got one!” she giggled, rising to her feet and approaching the door. “You’re so needy.”

Helen moved out of the doorway, chuckling as Ruth rose on her tiptoes and quickly kissed John before pushing him out the door with a wink. “See you later, hotshot!”

As the door closed in his face, John couldn’t help but shake his head at Ruth, his heart racing at the mere sight of her. Buck clapped his shoulder and turned him toward the nearby mess hall where Hugh walked a few feet ahead of them. “You gonna tell her tonight?”

“If Dye gets back in one piece, I will,” Johnny nodded, scratching his mustache.

“He will.”

One Week Earlier: September 10: Thorpe Abbotts AAF Base

The mess hall was unusually quiet as John and Gale sat eating their breakfast, having missed the morning rush by sleeping in an extra hour. They both laid awake the night before, their minds unable to shut off after the events of John’s party. Since they’d arrived, Bucky was silent, only speaking to thank the mess hall worker for his coffee.

Buck stared at him skeptically, taking in his slightly pursed lips and distant gaze that focused on the plate of eggs, bacon, and toast in front of him. “I can hear the gears turning from here, John. What is it?”

A few beats passed until he spoke up, his eyes remaining on his food. “Ruth.”

“Hmm,” Gale nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. “What about her?”

“Everything…I can’t get her off my mind, Buck. I don’t know what’s going on.”

‘I do,’ the younger man thought.

John shook his head with a sigh, his brow creasing as his conflicted gaze lifted from the table. “I can’t explain it.”

Gale put down his coffee cup and smiled softly at his friend. “I can…you love her.”

“I don’t know, Buck.”

“What don’t you know?” he asked as his brows furrowed. Gale saw the deep thought behind the Major’s eyes and realized the confident and boisterous John Egan was nowhere in sight. This Bucky was unsure of himself, facing emotions he’d never felt before. Buck’s voice softened as he continued. “What do you know?”

John raised a questioning brow and Gale leaned his elbows onto the table. “How do you feel around her?”

“I don’t-” Bucky frustratedly groaned, sitting back into his seat. ”I don’t know how to explain it.”

“Just try.”

Every moment he shared with Ruth replayed like a film in John’s mind as he tried to find the words to describe the way he felt.

“When I think about her,” he finally began, a fond smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “It just…It just does somethin’ to me, Buck, and can’t think straight.”

Gale listened intently, nodding along as John continued, his voice growing softer.

“And after last night, how she did all that for me? I’ve never met anyone like her.” His brow creased in thought as he struggled to find his next words. “She’s…she’s-”

“Everything,” Buck finished, Hope’s smiling face forming in his mind.

Gale’s words hung in the air for a few moments as the Majors thought of their beloved nurses.

Bucky nodded slowly, his gaze drifting to the window where the morning sun filtered through the glass, lighting up the mess hall in a golden glow. He took a deep breath as he finally came to terms with what he was feeling.

John Egan was in love.

“Yeah,” he murmured, his deep voice rumbling in his chest. “She’s everything.”

A knowing grin painted Gale’s face as he repeated his earlier statement. “You love her.”

“That how you feel about Hope?”

“Yeah, it is.”

As Buck’s words settled over them, John felt a weight lift off his shoulders. It was as if hearing the words out loud made them easier to grasp, and he couldn’t deny it any longer…he was in love with Ruth Morgan.

But even as the realization settled in, Bucky couldn’t shake the uncertainty that lingered in the back of his mind. This was a new territory for him, uncharted skies that both excited and terrified him. He’d always prided himself on his wild heart, but now he found himself willingly surrendering to feelings he’d managed to avoid for so long.

“You know,” Gale began, breaking the silence that had fallen over them. “You should tell her. It’s pretty clear she feels the same way.”

“We said we’d take it slow.”

Cleven pushed his plate aside and leaned further over the table. “So? When have you ever been one to follow the rules?”

Finally, John’s serious expression faded and he shook his head with a chuckle, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “And when have you ever encouraged me to break them?”

“Today,” he shrugged. “But only cause you need an extra shove.”

“Should I get used to this new Buck?”

“Don’t count on it,” Gale smirked as he sat back in his chair, taking a sip of his coffee.

1900 HRS: 7 PM

The lively sound of Glenn Miller filled the Officer’s Club as the band brought the hall to life. Couples jitterbugged and lindy-hopped across the dance floor, and happy conversation filled the air, including loud cackles and laughter from a table in the bar section where Hope and Ruth sat with their Majors. They were reminiscing about their time in San Angelo, Texas, with the girls’ under their arms and Hugh to the right of his sister.

Buck took a sip of his ginger beer with a raised brow. “Isn’t that where you picked up that damned jacket?”

“Sure is,” John replied and sucked his teeth. “My pride and joy.”

“So that’s where you got it,” Ruth giggled, shaking her head.

“Well,” he shrugged, holding a hand up defensively. “It was being discontinued, so I had no choice.”

Sitting up in his chair across from them, Hugh let out something between a chuckle and a scoff. “It was a choice, alright.”

Hope’s eyes met Ruth’s at the comment, waiting for a snarky comeback from the Major, but the blonde just patted John’s chest consolingly before he could respond. “It was being discontinued for a reason, John. Have you seen that thing?”

“Thank you. It always looks dirty,” Gale interjected as he smirked at John. “Seems Ruth is on my side for this one, Bucky.”

A giggle escaped Ruth’s lips and she sheepishly looked up at Johnny to see him already staring down at her, a playful frown on his lips a few inches away. “Say it isn’t true, Ruthie.”

“Sorry, hotshot,” she laughed, her eyes unable to resist flicking to his mouth at their close proximity. “Buck’s right, hon, but know you’re still my favorite Major.”

John’s frown faded and his lips curled into a mischievous grin as her laughter filled the air, and to his surprise, she leaned up and kissed him softly. Ruth pulled away after a moment with bright pink cheeks. The taste of her drink lingered on Bucky’s lips as his gaze locked with hers, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

His plans to finally tell her how he cared about her, how he loved her, flashed in the forefront of his mind. But even as he stared down at her smiling face and a wave of pure adoration washed over him, his stomach swirled with nervousness.

What if she thought it was too fast? Too soon? Too much?

Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, John forced himself to look away and took a sip of his pint before turning to Hope and pointing at her across the table. “And whaddya think, Hope? About my jacket? It’s nice, right?”

The woman met Ruth’s lovesick eyes and chuckled, shaking her head slightly. “It’s not the worst thing I’ve seen, but I prefer Gale’s.”

Gale smiled smugly, pressing his lips firmly to her forehead, “That’s my girl. Always knew you had good taste.”

“Well, of course, I do. I picked you didn’t I?” She grinned at him, leaning up to press her lips to his, smiling into the kiss.

“Well, that’s right. You sure a lady with a good eye,” Gale mused, nuzzling his nose into her neck.

“Gale,” she chuckled, feeling his breath tickling against her collarbone, while her fingers carded through his tousled, blond locks.

“Gaaaale,” John teased, dramatically drawing out the name with his eyes closed. “What kind of name is Gale, anyway?”

Hope’s eyes widened in amusement as Gale groaned beside her, having heard the joke a million times before. “Well, what kind of a name is Bucky?” she asked, tilting her head with a sarcastic grin. “Now Buck I can get because he’s a dashing young man, but Bucky? I don’t know…”

The group burst into laughter and John tried to send the woman a dirty look, but he couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from curling into a smirk and joining in with them. Before long, he itched for a dance and stood to his feet, pulling Ruth toward the dance floor.

“I think it’s time for a dance, Ruthie.”

“Alright, I’m coming!” she giggled, sending Hope a wave as she tried to keep up with Bucky’s long strides in her tight skirt.

The couple found themselves at the edge of the dancefloor, swaying hand in hand to the soft trumpet solo ringing through the hall. Ruth rested her head on John’s chest, calmed by the gentle thrum of his heartbeat beneath her ear and his warmth as they danced.

She could’ve stayed there in that moment forever…just her and her hotshot…just her and the man she loved.

“You look beautiful, sweetheart,” he murmured against her hair, breaking the silence between them. “I know I told you earlier, but you do.”

Lifting her head from his chest, Ruth smiled sheepishly at him. “Thank you. I don’t normally wear my dress uniform, but-”

“Oh, I’m so glad you did.”

She raised an eyebrow and slid her hands around his neck. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah,” he nodded with a smirk, his eyes drifting down to her breast pocket area that proudly displayed her pair of wings and lieutenant’s bars. “I’m a sucker for a woman in uniform.”

“So I need to worry about the WACs?”

Bucky chuckled, tugging Ruth against him. “Don’t worry. You’ve got nothing to worry about, lieutenant.”

As the music swirled around them, John’s gaze softened as he looked into her deep blues. Leaning down, he brushed his lips against hers in a tender kiss. Ruth’s cheeks flushed pink as she returned it, her fingers playing with the hair at the nape of his neck, melting into his embrace. She felt him smile against her lips and pulled back to get a good look at him.

“What are you smiling about, Major?” she joked.

Bucky wanted to say, ‘How much I love you,’ but anxiety churned in his stomach and he couldn’t go through with it.

“Just you.”

Rolling her eyes, Ruth pecked the corner of his lips before returning her head to its place on his chest. “I’m so happy for Gale and Hope.”

“Me too,” he replied, his eyes scanning the room for the couple. “Speaking of Buck…where is he?”

Ruth joined him looking for their friends, but she had no luck and wiggled her eyebrows at Bucky. “They’re probably having some alone time.”

He sent her a mischievous smirk, and she knew what he planned to do. “Leave ‘em be, Johnny,” she groaned, sighing as he pulled her along behind him toward the door. “Don’t bother them.”

“But it’s my job to bother Buck.”

Before Ruth could respond, he flung open the side door and stuck his head outside. By the wild grin on his face, she knew he’d found them. “Hey, Lovebirds! Hurry up, you're missing the party!”

“Five more minutes!” she heard Gale groan, and then John closed the door, a proud smirk hanging from his lips.

“You’re terrible.”

Bucky shot her a wink and led her back to their table, settling back into their seats as they saw Gale and Hope enter the hall and begin swaying slowly.

“Would you look at that?” John scoffed, sipping his pint and throwing an arm over the back of Ruth’s chair. “I’ve been trying to get Buck to dance for years and Hope did it in two months.”

The couple couldn’t help but watch their friends dance, both with lovesick smiles as they got lost in the song, spinning around the floor with a practiced grace that neither Ruth nor John expected.

Buck was good at dancing.

Their concentration on the couple was broken when yells echoed through the air. Following the sound, they saw Harry throw peanuts across the table into Hugh’s mouth, laughing hysterically as Hugh caught another one.

Ruth opened her mouth to speak but was cut off when Hope beat her to it.

“I leave you two alone for all of five minutes and you wreak havoc,” Hope tutted, patting Harry on the head like a small child. “If you choke on all those nuts Hugh, I swear…”

A giggle escaped the blonde’s lips at the comment and John chuckled beside her.

“Alright mother,” Hugh laughed, throwing one of the nuts at his sister.

Hope and Gale took their seats beside Harry, settling easily beside each other with Gale’s hand draping lazily around her shoulder. The six of them fell into easy conversation, and soon, the table became more crowded when Veal, Crank, Brady, Blakely, and a few other airmen joined the group. Laughter and wisps of cigarette smoke filled the air as the men and the two nurses unwound, enjoying the company of friends.

Ruth remained tucked under Bucky’s arm, listening to yet another story from training in the States. This one was about a failed exercise where several forts experienced ‘equipment malfunctions’ and ‘discrepancies’ that forced them to land in or near the hometowns of family and girlfriends.

Crank grinned, shaking his head. “Yeah, the Hundredth almost got canned after that.”

“And I got demoted for the first time,” John chimed as he thought about just how many times he’d changed commands over his time with the 100th.

Eyes widening in surprise, Ruth playfully smacked his chest. “For the first time? I thought you getting demoted back to Squadron CO only happened once?”

“It would’ve been three times if LeMay would have found him or Buck that day he came to base,” Kidd added.

Nudging Buck with her shoulder, Hope smirked. “And what about you, Gale?”

Gale shrugged as he hid a smirk behind his glass of ginger beer. “I don’t know why LeMay thought both of us were responsible for the ‘raunchy discipline’ on base.”

“So you’re sayin’ it was just me?” John asked with an incredulous grin.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“I mean,” Benny started, trying to hold in a laugh as he rubbed Meatball’s head affectionately. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Buck tear up a bar with a narwhal tusk.”

Laughter erupted like a sudden burst of fireworks around the table, echoing around the lively room and drowning out the music.

Narrowing his eyes at them, John pointed around the table. “Technically, none of you dodos saw any of that!”

“We didn’t have to. We saw the aftermath,” Brady called out through his chuckles.

After a few moments, the laughter died down, and the large group broke into smaller conversations.

Gale spoke quietly to Benny as Hope whispered with Hugh, and Ruth listened as Jack shared more stories of John’s escapades back in the States. Before long, the two majors went at it as they often did, but Ruth’s attention was drawn away by Hugh and Hope slinking away from the table and disappearing into the crowd.

‘This outta be good,’ she thought.

When the band slowly faded out, Ruth smirked, knowing what was most likely coming. She peered over at Gale, expecting him to be watching Hope, but he was engrossed in a conversation with Benny and didn’t seem to notice his fiancée’s absence from the seat beside him.

The band thrummed to life, music springing out across the room in a less-than-subtle fashion that had all heads turning toward the siblings. Then Gale’s eyes found Hope’s across the room and he did a double take, glancing back at her empty chair in confusion.

Ruth pointed at siblings, a wide smile painting her face as she whispered in John’s ear. “This is gonna be interesting. They both can sing.”

“Sparky? No way,” he griped with a grimace. “No way he’s got better pipes than me.”

Giggling, she patted his cheek lightly and turned back to the stage. “Just wait and see, hon.”

Hugh took his place in front of the microphone, encouraging Hope to do the same as he pressed his lips near the cool metal grille. The conductor gave them the queue, and she took a deep breath before singing into the microphone.

“One of our planes was missing, two hours overdue.

Yes, one of our planes was missing with all its gallant crew,

The radio sets were hummin', they waited for the word,

Then a voice broke through that hummin',

And this is what they heard!”

The song, rather aptly chosen by Hugh for Dye’s 25th mission, began to flow easily. Hugh joined in, belting out,

“Comin' in on a wing and a prayer!”

The second Hugh’s voice rang through the speakers, the skeptical smirk on John’s lips fell, and he raised a brow at Ruth, who just rolled her eyes at his reaction.

“I told you he was good.”

“I never said he was good,” he defended.

The corners of the blonde’s eyes crinkled as she laughed. “You didn’t have to.”

Around them, some of the crowd began to join in, all looking at Dye whose cheeks were growing redder by the minute as he stood beside Lil, trying to shield his face.

“What a show (What a show),

What a fight (What a fight).”

The instrumental section began to play, and the couple watched as Hugh took Hope’s arm and spun her around in quick concession. A wide grin spread on Ruth’s face that matched her best friend’s on stage.

With her eyes glued on Hope, Ruth started to sing along. Her voice was slightly off-key, but she didn’t care, continuing to sing quietly where only John could hear. The man couldn’t look away from her smiling face as she sang. His gaze wandered over her face with a gentle intensity, watching how her lips moved, the slight quirk of her smile adding to her already breathtaking look.

“Yes, we really hit our target for tonight,

How we’ll sing as we limp through the air,

Look below, there’s a field over there.”

Ruth’s eyes flickered over to John and caught his gaze. For a brief moment, their eyes locked, and she noticed the same vulnerable glint in his eyes as the night he told her of his past. She offered him a questioning look, silently asking what was on his mind.

Johnny’s mind raced as his lips parted slightly. He wanted to tell her how he felt, but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he sent her a small, reassuring smile and barely shook his head as if to say, ‘nothing.’

There was something in his eyes that Ruth couldn’t quite put it into words, but it made her heart flutter nonetheless. With a soft nod, she turned her attention back to the stage, her hand reaching for John’s beneath the table, intertwining their fingers gently.

The Major’s heart sank as Ruth turned away, his own hand squeezing hers softly in response. He cursed himself silently for his inability to tell her how he felt, and frustration bubbled up within him.

How many more opportunities would he let slip away without telling her the truth?

“With our full crew aboard,

And our trust in the Lord,

Comin’ in on a wing and a prayer.”

As the song came to a close, Hugh wrapped his arms around his sister, squeezing her hard before grasping her hand and pulling her down from the stage. Hope hopped down the best she could, ignoring the small ripping noise from her skirt that would surely be a problem later. Hugh had a little skip in his step as they made their way back to the table.

Hugh threw himself down into his chair, downing the last of his whiskey, while Hope took her seat beside Gale, his face still in awe and his lips turned upwards into the largest smile.

“Have I ever told you how amazing you are?” He mumbled softly, kissing her cheek, letting the rough stubble on his chin graze against Hope’s cheek.

She squirmed, laughing lightly, “Oh only about every hour that I’m on base and in every letter.”

“Good,” he mused, kissing her cheek once more, “Because you’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met…” Gale was broken off by Bucky’s loud declaration.

“What the hell was that, Sparky?” John asked with a mischievous grin, his eyebrows raised at Hugh.

Scoffing as he settled into his chair, the lieutenant rolled his eyes. “I sounded a helluva lot better than you ever have…Isn’t that right, Croz?”

Harry’s expression dropped, his eyes widening nervously as he darted glances between Hugh and his Squadron CO, who sported a smirk and an eyebrow raised expectantly. “Uhhhhh…”

Ruth was in the middle of sipping her when the comment left Hugh’s lips, and she choked on the liquid, her hand flying to cover her mouth as she coughed, trying to regain her composure. Immediately, John’s hand on her chair moved to rub her back as he ducked to check on her, the rest of the table turning their attention to the pair. Before he could speak, she waved him off with a sheepish smile, finally managing to swallow.

“Sorry about that,” she rasped, wiping at her eyes. “I’m alright…please continue.”

Looking around the group, Ruth met Hope’s concerned gaze and sent her a teary grin, her pale face splotchy as she caught her breath.

“Where was I?”

Bubbles chuckled under his breath before sending Hugh a smirk. “You were complimenting Bucky’s singing abilities.”

“Right! I-”

“Everyone look here!”

A flash of light momentarily blinded the group as Captain John Schwarz, the 100th’s photographer, stepped forward with his camera in hand.

“Alright, everyone, let’s get a good one!” he called out cheerfully, adjusting the settings on his camera.

The group quickly turned toward him, and Ruth managed to put on a bright smile for the photo despite still trying to clear her throat. They all posed in their seats, and John’s arm draped casually over the blonde’s chair, her hand resting on his knee as she leaned into him.

With the click of the camera, the Captain took the picture, but before he could step back, John called out to him with a grin, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Hey, Schwarz. Mind getting a picture of just the two of us?”

He nodded enthusiastically, adjusting the camera to focus on the couple. Bucky flashed a charming smile as he reached over and gently tugged Ruth from her chair into his lap.

“Hey!” she protested playfully, her cheeks flushing pink as John wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close.

Ruth giggled as Johnny leaned in, his cheek pressing against hers as they posed for the picture. Despite her initial protest, she found herself melting into his embrace. The photographer chuckled at their antics, capturing the moment with a few clicks of his camera. She glanced up at the Major just as Schwarz lowered his camera, and Bucky planted a soft kiss on her lips.

The table erupted into a chorus of whistles and hoots, their friends cheering them on as they kissed. Ruth laughed against John’s lips, feeling a rush of happiness and warmth enveloping her. Pulling back slightly, John gazed into her blue eyes, his own filled with pure adoration as her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink.

“Alright, lovebirds. That’s enough,” Gale grinned, repeating Bucky’s words from a few minutes before.

Schwarz moved around the table, snapping a photo of Demarco and Meatball, Hugh with poor Harry in a headlock, until he moved around to Hope and Gale. Buck stood up, leading Hope slightly away from the table, and wrapping his arms around her from behind kissing her temple. Hope grinned widely at the photographer who snapped the picture with his own smile.

Hugh appeared beside the Captain, mumbling something under his breath before moving over to the couple.

“Could I please borrow my sister, Cleven?”

Gale looked a little forlorn as he released Hope from his embrace, stepping back towards the table. Hugh pulled his sister into his side, a bright smile on his lips as Schwarz took the photo.

Back at the table, Hope slipped into her seat beside Gale, his arm draping over her shoulder as they got comfortable. Ruth sent her a bright smile from her position on John’s lap, and soon the group’s conversation picked back up, laughter filling the air once more. This continued for a little while longer, but when Dye made his way over with Lil under his arm, there was a shift in the air.

It was almost unnoticeable at first.

Ruth chuckled under her breath, watching John take a drag of his cigarette across the table and point to Dye as he neared the group. “There’s our very own Charlie Robertson!”

She’d moved back to her own chair when he got up to get her another ginger beer. Ruth learned her lesson with alcohol after waking up with a raging migraine the morning following John’s birthday party.

“Charlie? Who’s Charlie?” Lil asked, trailing behind Glen and smiling at John as she passed him on his way back to Ruth.

“Not me,” Hugh snickered, sipping his whiskey with a grimace. The British liquor was nothing compared to the ‘good ole American stuff,’ as he called it. In his footlocker sat an unopened bottle of VAT-69 he was saving for his own 25th mission.

No one else thought anything was wrong with the alcohol, but Hugh just had his particular taste and he stuck to that.

“1922. White Sox at Tigers. No runs, no hits, no errors,” John answered, his hand gesturing in the air with each word before sinking into the chair beside Ruth. He kissed her on the cheek quickly, scooting his seat closer to her until their shoulders touched and she wrapped her arm around his bicep, whispering into his ear.

“He threw the last perfect game, right?”

“Sure did,” he grinned, shooting her a wink. “Way to go, Slugger.”

Benny nodded from beside Hope and Gale, not having heard the blonde. “Yeah, he’s the last guy to throw a perfect game.”

“Til’ now!”

“You get to go home before Florida?” Jack asked, but the conversation soon Ruth faded as she turned her gaze to John with a fond smile. She traced the outline of his face, her eyes trailing over the dark pink scars from Regensburg, the slope of his nose, his mustache, and the natural pout of his lips…the soft lips she’d kissed dozens of times. The warmth of his touch seeped through her uniform, and a feeling of contentment washed over her.

Over the last week, the couple exchanged multiple letters corresponding about the party and how each was doing, but John mainly raved about how much he liked his birthday present.

‘Doll, I think I’m hooked…’ John wrote two days after the party.

She was broken from her inner dialogue when the toothy grin on John’s face suddenly fell, and Ruth’s heart jolted in concern as she became aware of the hush that fell over the group

“We’re all that’s left, aren’t we?”

At Glen’s question, her eyes quickly scanned those around them and found that all the airmen shared the same pained and exhausted look. Curt’s smiling face flashed in her mind…a reminder of the sacrifices of the heroes from the 100th.

Hope’s wandering eyes met Ruth’s across the table, and she sent her a weary frown at the way the lively men quieted, each lost in their thoughts.

Blakely spoke first, breaking the silence that fell over the group “12 crews out of-”

“35 that flew in from Greenland,” Crank finished.

With his lips in a tight line, Bucky nodded solemnly. “That’s right.”

Ruth reached out, her free hand finding John’s atop his chair’s armrest, squeezing it gently. He didn’t meet her gaze, but she felt him deflate slightly beside her just before Gale began to speak.

“We’re just happy for you, Dye.”

“That’s right. We are,” John added, his voice deepening as he raised his glass. “Very happy for you. Very happy.”

Glen held out his drink to the group. “And to all the fellas that aren’t here tonight, who should’ve been.”

The table broke out into quiet mumbles of agreement as they all lifted their glasses in a toast before tipping them back. Ruth’s ginger beer fizzed as it traveled down her throat, and beside her, John downed the rest of the amber liquid in his glass, unfazed. She watched him stare at the tabletop in front of them for a few seconds until Dye’s voice filled the air.

“Gentlemen…and ladies, I’m gonna go check on the boys, make sure they aren’t celebrating too hard without me.”

As he walked away with Lil tugged against his side, John’s eyes followed them and he pointed in their direction, muttering, “Charlie Robertson,” under his breath.

The jovial atmosphere from before shattered as the group remained quiet despite the raging party around them. And to think…John’s day had started off so well, had gone off without a hitch until that very moment.

He got to see Ruth, and Dye made it back from his 25th Mission, but as Bucky leaned back in his chair, he couldn’t help but be bothered by all the new faces and the lack of old ones.

Even Ruth’s presence beside him wasn’t enough to quell the rising anger and frustration that swirled in his stomach when he thought of the numbers.

Out of 35 crews that flew in from Greenland, only 12 remained.

120 men out of 350…230 gone in the matter of a few months.

‘Will we all just be another number? Another crew marked off the list until replacements come and fill the huts like we never existed in the first place?’

These questions floated in his mind while his gaze stayed on the empty glass in front of him. “I’m, uh, gonna get another drink. I’ll be back,” he announced quickly, rising from his chair and turning toward the bar. Ruth’s anxious eyes followed him before she glanced back at Hope.

Buck watched him go with a pang of concern and kissed Hope on the temple, promising his return before he got up and followed after his friend. The women shared a knowing look as they watched the men they loved disappear into the crowd. Seemingly following their Majors, the rest of the men got up and trailed after them a few minutes later, leaving Hope and Ruth alone at the table.

“I’m worried,” Ruth muttered, chewing her bottom lip nervously. “What happens if John or Gale don’t make it back one-”

Hope cut her off quickly and moved to sit beside her. “Hey. They’re going to be fine, Rue. Before long, we’re gonna be celebrating their 25th mission, alright?”

“Alright,” she whispered as her gaze fell to the table.

The dance floor cleared over the next few minutes, and just a few couples remained dancing. In the middle of the floor was Helen, wrapped up in the arms of an airman they’d never seen before. Wide grins grew on their faces as they watched her place a few kisses against the dark-headed stranger’s jawline. Over his shoulder, Helen’s eyes wandered to the two women sitting alone, and Ruth smiled, giving her a thumbs up as Hope winked at her.

Feeling someone’s gaze on her, Hope scanned the room, meeting the familiar but concerned blues of Gale across the room from where he leaned against the bar beside John. They talked to yet another new airman the girls had never met, but even she could see the grimace on Bucky’s face as he leaned closer to the man, gesturing his hands out.

She glanced over at Ruth who thankfully was too busy tidying up the mess the men left before returning her eyes to her fiancée. In the few seconds she’d looked away, the replacement airman disappeared, and the two Majors stood alone.

“Come on, Rue. Let’s rejoin the party, shall we?” Hope asked, rising to her feet and offering Ruth her hand with a forced smile.

She knew something was up with John. She could tell by Gale’s body language alone.

The blonde took her hand, allowing Hope to lead them towards the men. But just as they passed Helen and the dancing soldier, Colonel Harding and Major Bowman stepped through the doors and sauntered over the bar, a fat cigar hanging from Chick’s lips.

“My boys!”

Not wanting to interrupt, the women stood on the outskirts of the group, moving to stand beside Tatty, even though both Buck and Johnny sent them a questioning look. Ruth scanned Bucky’s face, but her smile fell when she immediately noticed the line between his brows and the muscle twitching in his jaw.

“Listen up! I just had a mood-killing conversation with Doc Stover. He thinks you sissies could be getting flack happy.”

“No, not us, sir,” the airmen chorused.

“I told him war is war. The longer you go at it, the more it screws a man up. And it’s been that way since the first caveman son of a bitch picked up a club and went after the other. Did cavemen go for head-shrinking?”

As the men shook their heads, Ruth and Hope shared a wary glance.

Where was this going?

“No! Damn sure not! What counts is that you soldiers show up ready and able to fight. What you do between battles…” Harding trailed off with a chuckle, smirking as he took a drag of his cigar.

Hope watched as Buck remained stoic, no reaction on his face, but John looked over at Ruth, sending her a wink. “I like your style, sir!”

For the first time, Bucky’s wink didn’t make her heart skip a beat…it made it drop into her stomach. His grin was so clearly forced that her mind went haywire, and he was the only thing she could focus on. Sensing the blonde finally picked up on John’s demeanor, Hope silently intertwined their hands, squeezing Ruth’s reassuringly.

Red broke his silence, shaking his head slightly as he spoke. “Aerial combat like this hasn’t been around since the caveman, sir.”

“Of course not, Red. Every war has its novelties,” Harding dismissed the Major, turning to look at the dance hall. A few seconds later, his demeanor changed, and his voice grew serious. “Who the hell decorated this fiesta?”

Everyone looked around the group before Jack hesitantly spoke. “I put together a committee, sir.”

Craning their heads to see around the Colonel, the women confusedly searched the hall for what he possibly could be upset about, but had no such luck.

“The damned plane looks like it’s in a nosedive.”

The sound of chuckles filled the air as John grinned over at Ruth. “Fire ‘em. Fire the committee…Ruth can decorate next time.”

She did her best to smile back at him, but it was just as forced as the grin on his lips.

“I won’t bother next time,” Kidd muttered.

Harding seemed to move on and faced the men again, waving them all closer. “Come on, get in. Come here. Got something to tell ‘ya.”

Hope and Ruth stepped forward, watching the Colonel over Tatty’s shoulder, their eyes moving between their Majors and the CO.

“You know how we could end this whole thing tonight?” Chick asked, his face scrunched into a half-grimace as he leaned into the group. “We fill up one of our forts with as many 500-pounders as she can hold, we bomb the hell out of Hitler’s hidey-hole.”

The grin on Johnny’s face fell, and he tilted his face to the floor with slightly pursed lips for a moment before returning his gaze to Harding. His forced smiles and strained banter only added to the underlying tension in the room. Ruth’s fingers tightened around Hope’s hand, seeking reassurance as Chick continued.

“I’m sure Red and Bubbles could locate that mustachioed little fucker.”

Bubbles grinned proudly. “Yes, sir.”

“Well, now who’s flack happy?”

The second the words left John’s mouth, Ruth’s heart plummeted, and a knot formed in the pit of her stomach. She held her breath waiting for what would happen next.

What happened in the last few minutes to change his attitude completely?

All the officer’s went silent, shooting each other worried looks while Bucky and Harding stared at each other.

“Who?”

“You are,” John nodded, his expression bearing no trace of any amusement.

Harding smirked, “You are.”

“No, you are,” Egan leaned forward, thwacking Harding’s chest with his hand. “Sir.”

The next few seconds seemed to stretch on for hours as the atmosphere became even more tense, the room seeming to hold its breath. Gale quickly glanced over at Hope, his eyes filled with concern, much like the rest of the officers. The blonde beside her didn’t notice Buck, unable to tear her eyes away from John, who looked like he was teetering on the edge of an outburst.

The Major and the Colonel stared at each other until a smirk broke out on Chick’s face and he chuckled, the rest of the group following suit when the tension eased.

“Mmm, Single fillies. Come on, boys. Let’s get the lead out!” Harding smirked, taking a drag from his cigar, and left the party with Red trailing behind him.

The officers dispersed out onto the dance floor, leaving John, Gale, Hope, Ruth, and Benny at the bar.

Gale turned to catch Hope’s eye, his face saying ‘hold on while I talk to him’. Hope nodded in agreement, catching Ruth’s arm and leading her away from their men.

“What about John?” Ruth looked hastily over her shoulder for him, meeting his conflicted eyes momentarily, but Hope pulled her on.

“Gale’s going to talk to him, it’ll be okay. They’ve been through a lot, remember? It’s bound to catch up with them all at some point, and we just need to be here to help them if they fall.” Hope led her back to the table, sitting her down and placing the glass of ginger beer in front of her.

Hope hated watching Ruth’s worried eyes keep darting back toward the boys, but she knew that her own eyes kept drifting back to Gale’s. If this evening had taught her anything, it was that life was more precious than they could ever realize, and each moment should be cherished.

They needed a distraction from their anxieties, and Hope blurted the first story that came to mind.

“Do you remember that day when you were new to the Grove and you walked in on Frank naked?”

The blonde’s cheeks immediately heated up as she buried her head in her hands, “How could I forget? I’d only known the man for three days.”

Hope laughed too, “Well, it could be worse. On my first day on base, he nearly ran me over with a jeep. That was before he realized I was on his plane. He bought me a beer that same evening to apologize.”

Ruth laughed, imagining a younger Hope giving Frank hell for trying to run her down.

“We had a medical technician on our plane with us back then. Joseph was his name. He was a right pretty boy…thought he was the bee's knees but I soon told him otherwise.”

Ruth chuckled, knowing Hope probably gave the poor boy hell. It was strange thinking back to when they first came to the Grove, the airbase that had quickly become their home and safe haven.

“It seems like a lifetime ago that I met you, Hope. I thought you hated me at first.”

“Oh, I didn’t hate you…I just thought you weren’t going to make it,” Hope replied honestly, feeling slightly guilty about how she’d misjudged her best friend. “You soon proved me wrong though, Rue. You’re a good nurse.”

Hope looked up as Gale approached them, smiling brightly at her while John still stood near the bar still looking quite somber. Ruth stood up, quickly excusing herself as she made her way over to the bar, resting her hand against John’s arm.

“Hey,” she whispered, her blue eyes filled with worry. “Let’s go somewhere we can talk.”

He nodded, allowing her to take his hand and tug him to the door.

“What’s going on in that head of yours?” she finally asked when they excited the club into the English night, her voice soft with concern.

John pursed his lips and a flicker of hesitation crossed his features before he shrugged. “Nothing. What do you mean?”

“John,” Ruth urged, her voice hardening as she gave him the look that always made her students squirm in their seats.

And her tone…it was only used when dealing with problem students, the ones who lied directly to her face when she already knew the truth.

He sighed, his shoulders slumping ever so slightly. “I’m fine.”

“What was that, then?” Ruth pressed, refusing to let it go. She needed to know exactly what was wrong…needed to help him in whatever way she could.

But how could he tell her the truth?

He could go down the next day and it would be like he never was there in the first place. Gone like the 230 men they’d lost.

How was he supposed to tell the woman he loved that she could lose him in the blink of an eye?

That he could lose her just the same?

That he couldn’t write another life-shattering letter to a boy’s family?

His nervousness to confess his feelings was replaced with guilt, anger, and frustration that compounded in his chest, creating a volatile mixture that was bound to explode.

“Nothing,” he insisted, his tone growing defensive. “Like I said.”

“Please don’t lie to me,” Ruth pleaded as she grasped his hand, her voice barely above a whisper. “I know-”

The flood he’d been trying to hold back finally broke, and his voice raised just a fraction as he pulled his hand from hers. “Damn it, Ruth. I said I’m fine!”

The sharpness of his tone caught the woman off guard, and she recoiled slightly, blinking furiously to hold back the tears threatened to fill her eyes. “I’m just trying to help,” she whispered.

Without another word, she turned and walked back into the dance, leaving Bucky standing there in the chilly night. His hands moved to his hips as his chest heaved, the anger slowly leaving his body and morphing into guilt as his mind replayed her baby blues shining with tears and the tremble in her voice.

He was supposed to be a better man, someone worthy of her, and what did he do at the first chance?

Despite the mix of emotions within him, Johnny knew she was only trying to help, only trying to be there for him, and he’d raised his voice at her. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself before following after her, his heart pounding in his chest.

Pushing open the door and stepping inside, the sounds of the party filled Bucky’s ears, but for once, he couldn’t bring himself to care that the band played ‘Blue Skies’. His eyes scanned the bustling club and caught a glimpse of her blonde hair disappearing into the women’s bathroom.

John hesitated where he stood in the middle of the club, lost and unsure of what to do next. He knew he needed to talk to her, to make things right, but he also didn’t want to intrude on her privacy. Frustratingly running a hand over his mouth, he caught sight of Gale on the dance floor where he swayed slowly with Hope. Buck’s brow furrowed in confusion as he glanced in the direction Ruth had gone over Hope’s shoulder. With a nod of his head, he silently urged Johnny to go after her.

It was the push that he needed to make a decision.

Swallowing thickly, he approached the bathroom door and knocked, his knuckles rapping against the wood gently. “Ruthie, can I come in?”

His heart sank when he heard sniffles from inside.

“Please,” John murmured softly, his voice barely audible through the door.

A few seconds ticked by and he was about to ask again when the door clicked open, giving him a view of her reddened and splotchy face. Ruth backed up, allowing him to slowly push in the door. She stood before him with her arms wrapped tightly around herself, barely meeting his gaze as her eyes remained on the floor. John silently stepped into the room and closed the door behind him gently, muffling the sounds of the party outside.

They stood there silently for a few moments until Ruth finally looked up at him, quickly wiping a tear from her cheek as she chewed on her bottom lip.

“Come here,” he mumbled, pulling her softly into his chest, running a hand up and down her back. “I’m sorry, doll. So sorry.”

Ruth stiffened for a moment before relaxing against him, burying her face into his chest.

“I’m not mad at you. I just,” he sighed against her hair. “I hate myself for making you upset. I know you’re just trying to help me.”

She lifted her head from his chest and broke her silence, her voice wavering. “Then talk to me.”

John stared at her for a moment, running his fingers through her hair gently as he thought of a way to explain what he felt…the weight he felt on his shoulders. “There’s nothing you can do about it, Ruth,” he muttered, his face tilting to the ground.

“I don’t care,” the nurse answered quietly, reaching up and gently lifting his face to meet her teary gaze. "Just…just please don’t shut me out.”

For a moment, they stood there in silence as Bucky nodded to himself with his lips pulled into a tight line. When he finally found the words, his voice was barely audible as he fought to keep his composure.

“You heard Crank earlier. We’ve lost so many boys, and I-,” he cleared his throat, looking over her shoulder at the wall while fighting the burning sensation in his eyes. “I don’t know how much more I can take.”

Ruth’s heart broke at his confession, and she cupped his cheeks and pulled him down to her, their foreheads pressing together.

“John, you are going to get through this. We are going to get through this,” Ruth whispered. “I’m right here, and I don’t plan on going anywhere. You can talk to me, alright?”

He released a shuddering breath against her face, allowing his eyes to flutter shut as he savored the feeling of her warm touch. The three words he’d been meaning to say all night danced on the tip of his tongue but refused to pour from his lips.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve you. I-”

“You didn’t have to do anything,” she interrupted, her thumb caressing his cheekbone lightly. “I know I don’t say it enough, but thank you. You make me so happy, Johnny.”

Bucky raised his hand to cover her much smaller one on his cheek as he sent her a soft smile. “I should be the one thanking you. You…you mean everything to me, Ruth. Everything. And I’m so sorry for talking to you like-”

“Just kiss me,” she whispered, her eyes flicking to his lips.

John immediately obeyed, tilting his head to connect their lips softly, their worries fading away as they lost themselves in each other. Ruth’s hands slid from his face to the nape of his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair as she deepened the kiss with an eagerness he’d never seen from her before. He fought against every instinct in him urging him to take things farther, but she deserved more than that…they both did.

As they pulled away from the kiss, they remained wrapped in the other’s arms, their breaths mingling in the air between them. John’s gaze softened as he looked into Ruth’s eyes, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. He noticed the remnants of tears still clinging to her lashes, her eyes red and puffy, and his hand raised to brush her hair behind her ear.

“I’m getting a weekend pass to London,” he said breathlessly, nervously peering down at her. “Come with me.”

Ruth grinned and pecked his lips again softly. “I’d want nothing more.”

In that moment, with Ruth in his arms, John Egan vowed London would be the place…would be the time he’d confess his love for her.

How he couldn’t imagine life without her.

London…it would be the place that everything changed.

Monday, September 20th: AAF Grove, Berkshire: 0700 HRS: 7 AM

Hope let out a long sigh as the C-47’s wheels left the runway in one swoop, rising above the airstrip and leaving the base far below them as they climbed into the clouds. Frank talked quietly to Bill in the cockpit, and both girls couldn’t help but smile at their pilot's antics. He was a good pilot, but as a mentor, he was a hard task-master, and Bill was being put through his paces. Ruth pulled John’s latest letter from her pocket, rereading his words with a small smile.

September 17th My Ruth, Hey, slugger. I hope you’ve had a good few days. Have your runs been okay? Has Frank been nice to you? You know I won’t hesitate to rough him up if not. I have been unable to keep my mind off of you…as usual. Schwarz developed the pictures from the party yesterday, and I’ve found myself staring at our photo for longer than I’d like to admit. You’re just so beautiful…the most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on…have I told you that? Schwarz also gave each Buck and Hugh individual pictures of them with Hope. I’m pretty sure Buck is sending copies of the letter he’s writing from his bunk. You’ll find one of us in this envelope, as well. I’m sure you’ll love it just as much as I do. I keep my copy in my breast pocket, next to my heart so you’ll be with me everywhere I go. When I start to spiral, I just look at you and your smiling face, and I remember what all this is for. Every day I ask myself how I got so lucky that you landed on my base out of the hundreds scattered around England, and after months of wondering, I still have no explanation. All I know is that I kiss the lucky cross around my neck every time I leave and come back from a mission, thanking Mrs. Virginia Morgan that I made it back to the ground…back to you. I still can’t believe you wouldn’t take it back, Ruthie, but I promise to keep it safe until you’re ready to. I can’t wait to take you to London, doll. Did your CO approve your leave? I can try to pull some strings if she doesn’t. Maybe I could give her a call and use my charm to convince her? What do you think? Stay safe up there for me, alright? Yours Completely, John Egan P.S. The Yankees swept the Athletics in their series, keeping their 9-game win streak alive. We’ve got the American League in the bag! What do I always say? The Yankees always end on top! Remember that, doll. You’ll be hearing it a lot after we win the World Series next month.

Both women received letters from their Majors late the night before and immediately wrote their responses, promising to send them the following morning. But when they were called up for a run before dawn, both dashed to the post room before hurrying back to ‘The Angel.’

“So how is the hotshot then?” Hope asked with a grin, amused by Ruth’s embarrassed expression, her pale cheeks blushing deeply.

“How do you know I call him that?” Ruth asked curiously, but Hope just shook her head with a chuckle.

“Ruth, you've read his letters out loud enough times when I’m around that I’ve basically read them myself.” The blonde nodded slowly, half listening to Hope and the other half of her too engrossed in John’s words as she reread them again. After a few moments, she looked up from the letter.

“I wrote to my parents about John the other day,” Ruth called out over the engine’s whine, a fond smile on her lips.

“Oh yeah?”

The blonde nodded. “Yeah.”

“What all did you tell them?” Hope asked with a raised brow.

Ruth’s innocent smile turned into a mischievous smirk as she chuckled to herself. “Well, my Mama always reads the letters, so I wrote the basics for her to tell my Dad and Jamie, but gave her all the details.”

“John’s right,” she laughed. “You are a sneaky woman.”

Shrugging, Ruth pulled out the picture he sent from her pocket, her heart fluttering as she studied it, tracing the lines of John’s face on the small photo. She was glad to finally have a piece of Johnny to carry around with her, being able to whip it out whenever she missed him or just wanted to see his handsome face.

The plane rocked from side to side as they gained altitude, and the large metal bird flew ‘through the ‘gate’ as Frank liked to call it as she moved to full throttle, soaring up into the clouds.

“Stop being a clot,” Frank hissed to Bill, flicking a few switches in the cockpit with a long sigh, “You know what you’re doing kid, but shit, try using your head sometimes okay?”

“Yes Sir,” Bill nodded shyly, turning his attention back to the plane's control panel. The girls smiled at each other, listening to the two men bickering in the cockpit

“Where do you think the boys are right now?” Ruth asked, looking up nervously at Hope. She always worried when she thought of where their men could be. The thought of them in harm's way made her sick to the stomach.

Were they flying like girls were? Were they in danger?

Hope slouched in her seat as the plane leveled out, “I don’t know, Rue. I’d like to think that they’re at Thorpe Abbotts. Hugh’s probably getting into some sort of trouble or terrorizing poor Harry Crosby. John is probably having some coffee with his whiskey about now at breakfast.” This caused Ruth to laugh lightly at the thought of John’s usual morning routine.

“What about Gale?”

Hope took a little longer to reply this time. “I think Gale would… well I don’t know. He’s probably either eating breakfast with John, walking Meatball, or he’s with his baby.”

“His baby?” Ruth sputtered, cocking her head and looking at her friend for the answer.

“His Fort, ‘Our Baby’,” Hope laughed, watching as Ruth nodded, understanding the men’s attachment to their Forts. She guessed they all felt the same way about their own plane, although Ruth thought if she never had to fly again it would be a blessing.

The pair soon fell into silence, both organizing their mussette bags for the hundredth time, as if they hadn’t checked all their supplies pre-flight. Hope moved up to the cockpit to check in with the pilots while Ruth moved along the racks of supplies, laying out fresh blankets on each cot, humming an Artie Shaw song to herself as she went.

“How’s it going up here, boys?” Hope leant over Frank’s shoulder, watching as the cloudy sky unfolded before them.

“Can’t complain,” Frank replied plainly. “I think Billy Boy here is getting the hang of things at last.” The young pilot grinned at the compliment and Hope couldn’t help the sense of pride that filled her chest. They’d had several copilots training with Frank, but Bill was definitely the girl's favorite.

Looking back out the window, Hope pointed towards the dark clouds erupting ahead of them.

“Hey Frank, what’s that up ahead? That’s not what I think it is…right?”

“That, my dear Hope, is flak fire,” he said regretfully. “Looks like we’re heading to the movies. I suggest you girls grab a seat…Ruth may want a blindfold for this next part.”

Hope swallowed, nodding quickly before rushing back to her seat. Bill talked quickly to Frank in the cockpit but remained calm, it wasn’t anything they hadn’t been through before.

Ruth’s fearful eyes widened as Hope explained what Frank had told her before swiftly strapping herself into her seat. Her mind raced at all the terrible outcomes that could occur.

What happens if they go down?

What would happen if they just blew up over Germany?

She tried to put on a brave face but she knew Hope would see right through it, she always did.

The plane swerved as flak erupted around them, swooping and diving as the black clouds and wuffs from the Ack-Acks flew wildly around them. Hope and Ruth were thrown around in their seats as the plane swerved, flack bursts shaking the bird. They were very grateful that they always secured all their supplies and stretchers down pre-flight.

Hope’s fingers dug into the metal seat and her eyes closed as her stomach flipped in circles with each turn. She’d not had any issues with her motion sickness since her training, but the urge to vomit up her breakfast only grew as the bile rose in the back of her throat.

Ruth opposite from her was as white as a sheet, her already pale face now the color of a corpse with her lips set in a thin worried line. Her teeth clenched tightly together and her eyes squeezed shut as flack pierced through the plane's fuselage above her head.

“Shit!” Ruth shrieked, covering her head with her hands.

“You okay, Rue?” Hope shouted over the noise of the war around them. A glossy-eyed and panting Ruth only nodded quickly in response.

Bullets ripped through the riveted sheets of the fuselage with a series of metallic pings, piercing through easily and sending metal flying into the cabin like confetti. With the chaos surrounding them, Ruth barely noticed when a piece of shrapnel flew past her face, just grazing her temple. Flak fire continued to blast in the air surrounding the skytrain and the noise was deafening to everyone inside.

How could anyone think strategically in these conditions?

“OH FUCK!” Frank’s voice shouted from the cockpit as he leaned over to Bill, “Stay with me, kid.” Bill’s lifeless body lay wide-eyed staring straight ahead, his young face frozen, expressionless. “DAMMIT!”

“What’s wrong, Frank?” Hope called out as she unbuckled herself and stumbled from her seat, edging her way towards him.

Ruth’s eyes widened. “Hope! What are you doing?!”

She simply sent her a worried glance, seeing the blood trickling down Ruth’s cheek before disappearing from view, and the blonde stared at her in disbelief. When another burst sent burning hot metal through the plane’s fuselage around her, Ruth’s eyes clenched shut, her head bowing as she mumbled a prayer for them, her hand instinctively reaching up for her usual comfort… her necklace….her lucky necklace that now hung around the neck of John Egan.

“Our Father, who art in heaven…”

In the cockpit, Frank didn’t turn to face Hope when he spoke, his eyes trained on the incoming fire from the Messerschmitts flying in all directions around them.

“We have been fucked by the fickle finger of fate and today is not our day. We’re down to one engine and she isn’t sounding too healthy. We’re littered with holes and,” he paused, his throat constricting as he motioned to the young boy who lay dead beside him. “And the Krauts…they got Billy.”

The plane juddered and smoke poured from the remaining engine with a horrendous screech as Frank took a steadying breath. The next words to leave his lips sent a shiver down Hope’s spine.

They were the ones every airman, flight nurse, and pilot prayed they’d never have to hear…

“There goes the last engine. We’re going down!”

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m1ssunderstanding · 9 months

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Get Back Rewatch 55 Years On: Day Three

Literally saw the orange sweater and my heart sank. Here we go.

George's hair!! I hate him.

Also literally WHY does he have to lend them his own personal recording equipment? It really is ridiculous how bad the record company treated them considering they were the fucking BEATLES.

Magic Alex! Honestly though why is half of me like "Yes! Scamming king! Take their money and RUN!"

"My Imagination" is physical cringe level.

"The rhythms in the guitars anyway." It's a callback to their earliest days when they had to say that to hustle, but I think part of them really did believe that back then, and part of Paul still does. That the four of them are all they need.

And then in response to that callback to early days to convey current not-articulable feelings, John responds with one of his own. His mini rant about how stupid it is to use three mikes and never come together and sing as a GROUP. It's like he can't bear the thought.

Paul singing his guitar and drum ideas. Apparently my sexuality is women and unhinged men. There's nothing to be done about it. Poor George literally can't get a word between all Paul's "Downownownowneernernerner" and "chuchuchutah ba Ta. Ba." And if I was a good person I'd be annoyed. But no. It's too hot.

"Corny's alright on this one though because what he's doing's corny." Be fucking nice to him. He needs you to be like you were on 909 about every single thing he does because he cares so much what you think. Of course they don't talk about that kind of thing so Paul has no idea. But look at his face!

I also like "the same old shit," George. "Don't Let Me Down" is so fucking sexy idgaf what anyone says.

But here's the other thing is that John is SO down for all of these wrong suggestions Paul's making. If they're not literally saying the same thing at the same time, it's instantly "Yes. Exactly. Yeah."

So John says "alright girls" and sounds like he's just so above Paul and George squabbling and bickering and couldn't care less except for the fact that they're annoying him. Because that's his macho front, right? But then look at his face while they're fighting, eyes darting and full of love, sorrow, and what honestly looks like fear.

Ringo stays the hell out of all of it. Good for him.

Shortly after Paul says "I can't frickin do it on camera either" John starts strumming. And soon George joins, while Paul's pacing and gesturing. And at first I was confused like "they're not being very good listeners that's not very nice" but they're trying to cover up the dialogue for Paul's sake. Trying to take away the cameras if he can't do it with them. "Forget about candy camera." It's very loving, very protective, especially from George. John, we expect this kind of thing from, when it comes to Paul. But George is literally in a fight with him and protecting him at the same time and I find it to be so beautiful.

Gosh, there's so much in this little rant though. "I always feel as though I'm tryna put you down and stop you playing *voice cracks and goes higher* but I'm not." How he looks at John when he says "and I never get any support or anything" and the "and you know it's right." I usually find the 'Paul's the mom, John's the dad' analogy reductive, but boy is it perfect here.

But really, Paul, you've got to just let George do his thing. "I can only do me, you know." George is absolutely right in this argument. He's actually very emotionally mature for being the youngest.

Ugh it's hard to leave them on this note. But I'll pick back up tomorrow

#get back #paul mccartney #the beatles #john lennon #mclennon #ringo starr #george harrison #I know my pictures do not do it justice but they're just to give an idea of what I'm talking about

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john-mary-andco · 2 months

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“Yoooo we got people watching us, John!”

“Oh…Great…”

“We have what?”

_____

Welcome to the second “John and Mary” ask blog! This one, the time is around when they were in high school, so obviously no Ryder yet (although you could technically send asks about him…for fun…). Here’s some info about some of the characters! More characters will come if people ask for them.

John Emerson- 16, sophomore; Kinda popular guy if I do say…Although he’s popular in the way that everyone is either SUPER nice to him (fake) or scared of him. He’s told people that he’s interested in becoming a cop, and most people tried to get on his good side so they “don’t get in trouble”…He tells them that’s not exactly how that works, but he’s given up at this point. At least he gets to avoid the bullying part of high school. He looks super scary and intimidating (which, he is…) but he’s also really cool and he’ll try to help a person out if they’re having a problem. (Ex: Driving a person home because they missed the bus, he lets people vent to him if he has the time, etc.) He overworks himself a LOT. He has a lot of freedom, but that’s only because his parents. Don’t. Really…care? He guesses that he wasn’t planned, and his parents weren’t really interested in taking care of him after he got to the age where he could take care of himself. Bro is a people pleaser, someone please tell him he’s doing a great job…

Mary Winters- 15, sophomore; She has a late birthday, but everyone assumes that she’s really smart because she’s a year younger than them (She’s a few months younger than John). She IS pretty smart, book wise. People and world wise…Not so much. She’s usually quiet, and focuses on her work. She isn’t picked on much. Nobody really knows she’s there half the time. Where John’s parents were neglecting, hers was controlling. She can’t do much of anything without their permission and supervision. God forbid she goes outside without telling them, she’ll get an earful about it later. All she knows is school, home, and that’s basically it. It seems like her parents don’t want her to…grow up. She doesn’t question it though, after all, it’s all she’s known. She gets absolutely petrified if a boy asks her out (joke or not), her parents would probably ground her if she said yes. She’s not even allowed to go out to eat without her parents being there…Give my girl some damn freedom PLEASE. 😭 (Don’t worry, John does eventually).

Altair Sterling- 14, freshman; He’s the new boy of the group. As a freshman, he used to get RELENTLESSLY bullied, before John took notice of it and people started backing off. He doesn’t really know a lot of people yet, but he’s already taken a liking to John, almost too much. He doesn’t understand it, but he gets abnormally happy when Emerson calls him over from across the hall after school lets out. They get to hang out? He wants to hang out with him? Hell yeah! He mostly likes his math and English classes, but he also likes psychology and space. He plans to become a sort of psychologist, maybe a therapist. He listens a lot…Maybe that’s a good career for him? Ah, he doesn’t know…It’s too early to start planning…But he wants to!

Andrew Barrett- 15, sophomore; He kinda acts like he’s an overly confident person, but he’s actually really insecure, it doesn’t help that he also gets bullied because of his weight. “Andrew, my guy, you don’t look that bad. You’re not unhealthy, you’re fine. Don’t listen to them-“ “Do you think I can do a cartwheel from this end of the classroom to the other when the teacher leaves to go to the bathroom?” “…God fucking damnit, Barrett…” He tries to tease and jokingly pick on John every chance he gets, and tells him ridiculous things that make a man want to throw something. It’s a surprise that John hasn’t kicked him down yet. He is a bro, however. If you need something, he’ll probably go to John because “Emerson knows all” and he’ll fix it for you. If he tries to help? He’ll probably ruin it or make things worse. He’s not one for liking any core subject, but he does like art class a lot. This is his second year taking an art class (it’s art 2, he’s not retaking-). He wants to become some sort of artist, but he doesn’t know which one yet; he likes painting and he doodles a lot in his notes, so maybe a painter?

Now, teacher names! Only the important ones, because 11th and 12th aren’t important.

Mrs. Littrell- 9th and 10th grade English teacher, she’s honestly really good at her job. Everyone loves her.

Mrs. J.- 10th grade math teacher, she’s overly happy, but she brightens her students days with her extraness, they love her (John hates her in the sense of “it’s too damn early for aLL THIS NOISE-“)

Mr. Carroll- 9th grade math teacher, literally so chill, but he also makes sure to get the quota for the day “listen guys, I don’t want to do this either, but I like my job, soooooo….”

Mrs. Kathrine- 9th and 10th grade science teacher, she has two sciences that she teaches: Biology, and Earth and Space. She gives the kids mental health days where “hey, if you have late work, turn it in RIGHT N O W, or it’s half credit for the rest of the year, win or lose, your choice.” She’s that teacher that has all the snacks and literally EVERYTHING a student would ever need stashed in her classroom closet.

Mr. Beach- 9th grade “US history 1” and 10th “US history 2” teacher, he’s similar to Mr. Carroll, but he’s more joking about it. “Oh, you don’t want to work today? Too bad, so sad, *hits his long ruler on the desk* DO IT.” He also taps the ruler on the top of his student’s heads when he’s teaching at the board, because bro is BORED and the reactions he gets are funny. Mary tries to duck away from the ruler, while John grabs it and tries to bonk him in the head with it. He’s lucky Mr. Beach doesn’t like to write people up. He’s strangely interested in all the wars. He also has a rubber duck collection up at the top of his cabinets, his students sacrifices their rubber ducks to him because he’s a cool teacher. Also he claims that he’s married to a woman, but LITERALLY EVERYONE thinks he’s a little gay. “Listen, Mr. Beach said he has a spouse, NOT a wife, plus he doesn’t have kids! HE’S A FA-“ “ANDREW BARRETT IF YOU DON’T SHUT THE FUCK UP-“

Mr. Lawrence- Psychology teacher, he’s THE sarcastic teacher but in the funniest way possible. He turns every complaint and weird comment thrown his way into a salty response. He hates presentations, he doesn’t want to grade them, so he gives the students a puzzle sheet and “claims” that it’s a grade for it. He grades SO SLOWLY. Literally every quarter, there’s at least one student BEGGING HIM to hurry up and grade. “Sorry guys, sports was crazy last weekend-“ “MR. LAWRENCE PLEASE MY PARENTS ARE GOING TO GROUND ME IF I DON’T GET AN A IN THIS CLASS- ITS A C- IT WOULD BE AN A IF YOU’D HURRY THE FRICK UP-“

——

I do believe that’s about it! Please no overly NSFW asks, we don’t do that here. However if it’s a “your mom” joke or something similar to that kind of suggestive, go ahead. They’ll probably make a remark back!

Important tags!

#johnask

#maryask

#altairask

#andrewask

#littrellask

#jask

#carrollask

#kathrineask

#beachask

#lawrenceask

And of course the characters that will be tagged in the post relating to the ask, but I don’t want to type that.

Please note that there’s obviously mentions of child neglect, discrimination, child abuse (…someone gets a little beat at home) and slightly suggestive language (it’s not THAT but y’know…Guys…being silly and joking around…)

Some asks will be drawn, some will be written!

Thank you, and here’s my main account if you need it@stanleyvampire14 -mod

#lotf #lord of the flies #lotf oc #john Emerson #Mary winters #Altair sterling #Andrew Barrett #/im too lazy to tag all the teachers #/please ask about Ryder that’d be so funny lmao ‘who is RYDER?’#I like Altair already #he’s a little guy

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transfemmesam · 5 months

Note

🥰 I wanna hear about your au where Sam is a girl!!

YIPPEE ^_^ so. she’s not superrr feminine but ofc the hunting lifestyle doesn’t really lend itself to that, and in part it’s because she looks up to dean so much and wants to be like him (mostly when she’s younger though).

girl sam definitely still has canon sam’s absolutely ridiculous height, she’s lanky and not particularly curvy, and she probably has similar hair to canon as well because again, the hunting life is not easy on long hair. in late high school she probably starts growing it out in preparation for college

on the wincest side of things (because i’m me), dean would be SO much more weird and overprotective of her than he already is, with an added layer of misogyny 💀 when she outgrows him around 10th grade and can’t wear his hand-me-downs anymore, he freaks out because he has the amulet as part of her with him, but there’s nothing left of his on her…. so he starts being meaner and rougher so she has some visible bruises and bites from him <3 also when she “officially” loses her virginity (aka has sex with someone other than dean) it makes him both so horny and violent that he doesn’t know what to do with himself 🫶 god forbid someone other than him touch sammy and kiss sammy and fuck sammy bc that’s his job!! and oh man if they’re mean to her that’s his job too >:(

all her teachers during this era are kinda freaked out bc (direct quote from my buddy) “it’s this really smart awkward girl always showing up to school with new bruises and she gets picked up by an angry guy who pushes her around and yells at her but she refuses to say anything bad about him ever”. <3

one last thing bc this got really long: john is also definitely weird abt her because she reminds him of mary, and both he and dean keep her away from hunts as much as possible because they’re ultra-worried about other hunters being pervy and they’re jealous. sam doesn’t like this because she can handle herself and she’s not gonna do anything with a stranger wtf 🙄🙄

#supernatural #spn #sam winchester #wincest #femchesters #ask #holyfreaks #also i know this is kinda rambly so if you have specific questions i’m more than happy to answer :33 #txt

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footprintsinthesxnd · 6 months

Text

Chapter 7: Lucky 25

Gale Cleven x Hope Armstrong (ofc)

Series Masterlist

This story is based on on the fictional portrayal of these men from the MOTA to series.

Summary: With Dye reaching his 25th mission tensions are high among the airmen, while wedding planning is in full swing for the Clevens. But not everything is destined to go as smoothly planned.

Collab: A Pair of Silver Wings by @major-mads

Thursday, September 16th: Thorpe Abbotts AAF Base, Norwich: 13:00

Hope's back ached as she bent over her old Singer sewing machine, the silk fabric sliding effortlessly as the needle punched thread through it. Silk was hard to come by with rationing, and there was no way, even with Hugh's help, that she could afford a new wedding dress. Luckily for her, Frank had a knack for making things disappear from the storeroom on base and later making them reappear in the girls' hut.

Ruth hummed Artie Shaw out of tune from behind her as the blonde cut out more fabric from the pattern, laying the pieces on cloth over the tissue paper cutouts. Tatty and Helen hand-sewed small pieces of lace together, just some odd cuts they'd gotten from the local fabric shop.

The girls had been working hard all afternoon, measuring, cutting, and sewing. The dress was coming along nicely, and with only three weeks to go until the big day, Hope was anxious to get it finished in time.

The Singer buzzed along nicely as three familiar heads poked around the Nissan hut door.

"Knock, knock," Hugh called out, stepping inside, his hands on his hips as he assessed the girl's work. Gale and John followed him closely.

"You guys can't be in here," Helen scolded.

"It's bad luck to see the dress before the wedding, Cleven," Tatty hissed, marching over to the men. "You better get going before..."

"My dear Tatty, don't be so defensive, I merely come to offer my services," Hugh bowed dramatically.

Hope sniggered, all too aware of Hugh's sewing skills, "I don't think your skills are required here, Hugh. You're not really one for a needle and thread."

Hugh scrunched his face up at her just like he'd done since they were children, and before he could throw out any more ridiculous ideas, Gale stepped forward.

"I don't want to cause trouble, I merely want to spend some time with my girl," Gale smiled charmingly at Tatty who moved aside.

"No wonder Hope can never say no to you, Major. That damn smile."

Gale made his way across the room just as Hope finished covering the dress with a cloth. "Hello darling," he leaned down, pressing his lips to hers, "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too," Hope stood up, pressing her lips against his again, smiling into his touch.

"Tatty, come on," John all but whined, pointing into the hut while Tatty stood firm on the doorstep. "It's me."

"And that is exactly why I'm not letting you in. You'd get your grubby mitts all over the dress."

"I wouldn't dare! Please," John clasped his hands together, looking rather sad and pathetic until Tatty sighed.

"Fine, but one step out of line, Major, and you're out."

John moved past Tatty towards Ruth who was still sitting on the floor, surrounded by a collection of differently shaped pieces of silk.

"Never knew you were such a seamstress," he grinned, pressing his lips to hers and enjoying the familiar blush that crept across her pale cheeks.

"Well, I'm a woman of many talents," Ruth retorted, grinning up at the Major.

"That you are."

"Hugh, put that fabric down now," Hope hissed, moving away from Gale's arms to scold her brother, smacking his arm until he released the precious fabric. "Do you have any idea how hard it was to get hold of this?"

"It's just some silk, I'm sure any white fabric would do," Hugh replied nonchalantly, pushing the reeling of cotton across Helen's desk and glancing awkwardly around the room as it fell to the floor.

Hope sighed, "Hugh, for once in your life, please just be serious and stop acting like a child. It's for my wedding day. Please don't mess this up for me." Hope loved her brother dearly, but sometimes it felt like she had to do all the work in their relationship.

Hugh nodded apologetically, "I will, I wouldn't dream of ruining your big day, Little Bird." Hope smiled at her childhood nickname, it had been a long time since he'd called her that. "But is there anything I can help with?"

"Yes, there is can," Helen grabbed ahold of Gale and John's sleeves, marching them towards Hugh, "You can take these two and keep them out of trouble until this evening."

"Oh, come on, we just got here," John groaned, glancing at Ruth in the hope of some sympathy, but she just waved at him. Gale glanced around Helen, blowing a kiss in Hope's direction before the three men descended from the hut.

"You ladies have fun now, we'll see you later," Hugh called out, slamming the door dramatically.

Helen turned back to the group, hurrying back to her spot beside Tatty, "I honestly don't know how you've put up with Hugh for so long."

"I didn't have much choice," Hope laughed, turning back to the sewing machine, "He's my brother after all."

A few moments passed until another knock sounded at the door, and Helen marched back over with a groan, slinging it open to reveal John leaning on the doorframe.

"What is it?"

He peered around the woman, his eyes falling on Ruth. "Can I get a kiss?"

"You just got one!" she giggled, rising to her feet and approaching the door. "You're so needy."

Helen moved out of the doorway, chuckling as Ruth rose on her tiptoes and quickly kissed John before pushing him out the door with a wink. "See you later, hotshot!"

As the door closed in his face, John couldn't help but shake his head at Ruth, his heart racing at the mere sight of her. Buck clapped his shoulder and turned him toward the nearby mess hall where Hugh was a few feet ahead of them. "You gonna tell her tonight?"

"If Dye gets back in one piece, I will," Johnny nodded, scratching his mustache.

"He will."

…….…….…….…….…….…….…….…….…….…………………….

One Week Earlier: September 10: Thorpe Abbotts AAF Base

The mess hall was unusually quiet as John and Gale sat eating their breakfast, having missed the morning rush by sleeping in an extra hour. They both laid awake the night before, their minds unable to shut off after the events of John's party. Since they'd arrived, Bucky was silent, only speaking to thank the kitchen staff for his coffee.

Buck stared at him skeptically, taking in his slightly pursed lips and distant gaze that focused on the plate of eggs, bacon, and toast in front of him. "I can hear the gears turning from here, John. What is it?"

A few beats passed until he spoke up, his eyes remaining on his food. "Ruth."

"Hmm," Gale nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. "What about her?"

"Everything...I can't get her off my mind, Buck. I don't know what's going on."

'I do,' the younger man thought.

John shook his head with a sigh, his brow creasing as his conflicted gaze lifted from the table. "I can't explain it."

Gale put down his coffee cup and smiled softly at his friend. "I can...you love her."

"I don't know, Buck."

"What don't you know?" he asked as his brows furrowed. Gale saw the deep thought behind the Major's eyes and realized the confident and boisterous John Egan was nowhere in sight. This Bucky was unsure of himself, facing emotions he'd never felt before. Buck's voice softened as he continued. "What do you know?"

John raised a questioning brow and Gale leaned his elbows onto the table. "How do you feel around her?"

"I don't-" Bucky frustratedly groaned, sitting back into his seat. "I don't know how to explain it."

"Just try."

Every moment he shared with Ruth replayed like a film in John's mind as he tried to find the words to describe the way he felt.

"When I think about her," he finally began, a fond smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "It just...It just does somethin' to me, Buck, and can't think straight."

Gale listened intently, nodding along as John continued, his voice growing softer.

"And after last night, how she did all that for me? I've never met anyone like her." His brow creased in thought as he struggled to find his next words. "She's...she's-"

"Everything," Buck finished, Hope's smiling face forming in his mind.

Gale's words hung in the air for a few moments as the Majors thought of their beloved nurses.

John Egan was in love.

"Yeah," he murmured, his deep voice rumbling in his chest. "She's everything."

A knowing grin painted Gale's face as he repeated his earlier statement. "You love her."

"That how you feel about Hope?"

"Yeah, it is."

As Buck's words settled over them, John felt a weight lift off his shoulders. It was as if hearing the words out loud made them easier to grasp, and he couldn't deny it any longer...he was in love with Ruth Morgan.

But even as the realization settled in, Bucky couldn't shake the uncertainty that lingered in the back of his mind. This was a new territory for him, uncharted skies that both excited and terrified him. He'd always prided himself on his wild heart, but now he found himself willingly surrendering to feelings he'd managed to avoid for so long.

"You know," Gale began, breaking the silence that had fallen over them. "You should tell her. It's pretty clear she feels the same way."

"We said we'd take it slow."

Cleven pushed his plate aside and leaned further over the table. "So? When have you ever been one to follow the rules?"

Finally, John's serious expression faded and he shook his head with a chuckle, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "And when have you ever encouraged me to break them?"

"Today," he shrugged. "But only cause you need an extra shove."

"Should I get used to this new Buck?"

"Don't count on it," Gale smirked as he sat back in his chair, taking a sip of his coffee.

…….…….…….…….…….…….…….…….…….…………………….

1900 HRS

The lively sound of Glenn Miller filled the Officer's Club as the band brought the hall to life. Couples jitterbugged and lindy-hopped across the dance floor, and happy conversation filled the air, including loud cackles and laughter from a table in the bar section where Hope and Ruth sat with their Majors. They were reminiscing about their time in San Angelo, Texas with the girls' under their arms and Hugh to the right of his sister.

Buck took a sip of his ginger beer with a raised brow. "Isn't that where you picked up that damned jacket?"

"Sure is," John replied and sucked his teeth. "My pride and joy."

"So that's where you got it," Ruth giggled, shaking her head.

"Well," he shrugged, holding a hand up defensively. "It was being discontinued, so I had no choice."

Sitting up in his chair across from them, Hugh let out something between a chuckle and a scoff. "It was a choice, alright."

Hope's eyes met Ruth's at the comment, waiting for a snarky comeback from the Major, but the blonde just patted John's chest consolingly before he could respond. "It was being discontinued for a reason, John. Have you seen that thing?"

"Thank you. It always looks dirty," Gale interjected as he smirked over at John. "Seems Ruth is on my side for this one, Bucky."

A giggle escaped Ruth's lips and she sheepishly looked up at Johnny to see him already staring down at her, a playful frown on his lips a few inches away. "Say it isn't true, Ruthie."

"Sorry, hotshot," she laughed, her eyes unable to resist flicking to his mouth at their close proximity. "Buck's right, hon, but know you're still my favorite Major."

John's frown faded and his lips curled into a mischievous grin as her laughter filled the air, and to his surprise, she leaned up and kissed him softly. Ruth pulled away after a moment with bright pink cheeks. The taste of her drink lingered on Bucky's lips as his gaze locked with hers, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

John forced himself to look away and took a sip of his pint before turning to Hope and pointing at her across the table. "And whaddya think, Hope? About my jacket? It's nice, right?"

The woman met Ruth's lovesick eyes and chuckled, shaking her head slightly. "It's not the worst thing I've seen, but I prefer Gale's."

Gale smiled smugly, pressing his lips firmly to her forehead, "That's my girl. Always knew you had good taste."

"Well, of course I do, I picked you didn't I?" She grinned at him, leaning up to press her lips to his, smiling into the kiss.

"Well that's right. You sure a lady with a good eye," Gale mused, nuzzling his nose into her neck.

"Gale," she chuckled, feeling his breath tickling against her collarbone, while her fingers carded through his tousled, blond locks.

"Gaaaale," John teased, dramatically drawing out the name with his eyes closed. "What kind of name is Gale, anyway?"

Hope's eyes widened in amusement as Gale groaned beside her, having heard the joke a million times before. "Well, what kind of a name is Bucky?" she asked, tilting her head with a sarcastic grin. "Now Buck I can get because he's a dashing young man, but Bucky? I don't know..."

The group burst into laughter and John tried to send the woman a dirty look, but he couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from curling into a smirk and joining in with them. Before long, he itched for a dance and stood to his feet, pulling Ruth toward the dance floor.

"I think it's time for a dance, Ruthie."

"Alright, I'm coming!" she giggled, sending Hope a wave as she tried to keep up with Bucky's long strides in her tight skirt.

Hope chuckled, taking a small sip from her ginger beer, her eyes following the couple as they took to the floor and 'Danny boy' began to play.

She swayed slowly in her chair, Gale's arm around her as she enjoyed the music.

Hugh slammed his glass down loudly against the wooden table, causing a few startled faces to look over at him.

"Well I've already finished my first glass, anyone else want another drink?" A chorus of 'yes please' followed. Hugh stood up, dragging Hope along with him, "Come on, you can help me bring them over."

Hope went to complain but he raised an eyebrow which meant he wanted to talk. She followed him, placing a quick kiss to Gale's cheeks that left him glancing longingly after her.

Hope leant against the bar, placing her now empty glass down next to Hugh's.

"So your dress is all finished then?" Hugh asked, passing Hope a glass of whiskey that she eyed suspiciously, "Don't worry, it's the good stuff." Hugh motioned to the hit flask in the top of his jacket pocket.

"You're unbelievable," she sighed, taking a sip and wincing as the amber liquid burned her throat.

"Hey, I'm not a big drinker, I drink socially and so I want it to be something I actually like," he cocked his eyebrow at her, but Hope just shrugged.

He had a point.

Their father had always been a heavy drinker and so Hope and Hugh had vowed they wouldn't be like him. They both drank but neither had been more than a little giggly rather than black out drunk.

"I can't imagine getting to 25 missions," Hugh admitted, leaning casually against the bar as he took in the scene.

Hope glanced up at him, waiting for the punchline that never came. "Don't say that. Don't ever say that, Hugh. You're on 21 missions now. There's no reason you won't get those other 4, and then you'll be back to the States. You'll have the life of luxury selling war bonds with a girl on each arm."

Hugh smirked, chuckling as he took another sip of his whiskey, "We'll see. It's a miracle any of us make it to 25 missions. Hell, even you got hit. I don't know what I'd have done if..." Hugh gulped, turning back towards the bar, but Hope wasn't about to let him shut her out.

"But I didn't, alright. You can't get rid of me that easily, okay. We're Hope and Hugh remember, always."

Hugh nodded, throwing his arms around his younger sisters and pulling her close to his chest, "I don't know what I'd do without you, Little Bird."

"Well it's a good job you'll never have to find out."

Hugh pulled away, looking down with a small smirk, "You know there's a big empty stage up there waiting to be filled. How about you and me, in say half an hour?"

Hope couldn't resist, nodding excitedly, "You've got a deal."

"Alright!" Hugh shouted a little too loudly, ignoring all the eyes that fell upon him. "Let's give 'em something to remember."

The arm draping around Hope's shoulder made her jump until her fiancé smiled down at her. His blue eyes seemingly bluer than ever as he gazed at her, a soft smile on his lips.

"What are you two planning?" He raised an eyebrow, looking between the two siblings like a father questioning his unruly children.

"Us!"

"Plotting!"

"Never!" They spoke the last part in unison, shaking a horrified look that Gale could suggest such a thing.

He sighed, chuckling under his breath, "Alright Armstrong's keep your secrets, but could I borrow my fiancée for just a moment?"

Hugh sighed jokingly, relinquishing the hold her had on his sister's arm and pushing her lightly towards Gale who only pulled her closer, pressing his lips soothingly to her forehead. She smiled into the kiss, his arms wrapping around her made her feel like they were the only two people in the room.

Gale led her over to the door and she went out into the evening, the warm summers air greeting her pleasantly. His hands remained firmly on her hips so he could spin her around, grinning when she came to face him.

"I have something to tell you," he spoke seriously, but his was probably the most serious she'd ever seen Gale. Even when he'd asked her to marry him he'd seemed less serious.

Hope's face fell and she reached up to cup his cheek, rubbing her thumb gently over the rough stubble. "Whatever it is you can tell me. Everything will be okay."

Gale nodded, his hands coming to rest on her own cheeks, "I don't want you to be mad or upset but I wrote a letter to your parents."

Hope swallowed hard. The image of her parents receiving a letter from the fiancé they had never met and somehow seemed to despise nearly brought her to tears.

Gale's heart instantly shattered at the desperate look on his girl's face, chewing her lips anxiously.

"Hope, I asked for their blessing and they said yes. I explained how much you meant to me, how I'd do anything for you and that I want to marry you. I want to make it official and make an honest woman of you."

Hope chuckled at the honest woman part, she wasn't sure her parents would have approved of their recent night together, but what they don't know can't hurt them.

"I love you, Hope," he admitted, looking down at her like he was saying those words for the first time. His hands found their way around her back, running up and down her spine, making her shiver.

"Here," he removed his jacket, wrapping it around her shoulders. "It looks good on you."

Hope blushed, stepping forward to clutch his shirt, "What did I ever do to deserve you?"

"Well, maybe it's because you're the most amazing woman I've ever met, and I can't believe you're mine." He pulled Hope away, twirling her around before her back came to rest against his chest, swaying to the music that drifted through the open doors to the hall.

"I can't wait to become Mrs Cleven," Hope admitted, enjoying the feeling of Gale's hand curling tighter around her. He hummed softly, planting a soft kiss to her temple. Hope wondered how long they could get away with staying outside before someone missed them.

Her question was quickly answered when none other than John Egan's wild face appeared in the doorway, "Hey Lovebirds, hurry up you're missing the party!"

Gale groaned, burying his head into Hope's hair, "Five more minutes!"

Hope chuckled, catching hold of Gale's hand, "Come on Cleven, you owe me a dance."

For someone who didn't like dancing, Gale wasn't half bad. He easily led Hope around the floor, his right hand resting firmly on her hip and the left clasping her own.

His eyes never left hers and they swept around the floor as if they were the only ones in the room.

"I finished my wedding dress today," Hope spoke softly, just loud so Gale could hear her, a gentle smile on his lips.

"Oh really," he mused, spinning her around until she came back into his embrace. She nodded happily as Gale pressed his lips against her forehead. "I can't wait to see you in it," he kissed her again, "and out of it..."

Hope blushed, hiding her head against his chest. She was surprised by his forwardness, but then again they were going to be married in less than a month and then she would have him all to herself.

The song drew to a close but Gale's arms remained firmly around her.

"Gale?" Hope reached up, cupping his cheek, her thumb running along his sharp jawline. "What's wrong?"

Gale shook his head, "Nothing, nothing's wrong, Love." He tried to pull away but Hope pulled him back.

"Gale, please."

His cobalt eyes grew stormy as a melancholy smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, "I try to tell myself that every time you go up you'll come back, that you'll always come back to me..." Gale sighed, rubbing his hand over his chin.

"I can't lose you, Hope. I love you and..."

"Where is this coming from, Gale? Don't think like this, alright? I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. In a few short weeks I'm going to walk down the aisle and become Mrs Cleven," she pulled him down to her, brushing her lips briefly against his. "Then we'll go on our little honeymoon to London where we can spend all day together... in bed.., making love..."

Gale cut her off, pressing his lips firmly to hers, "You'll be the death of me, Mrs Cleven."

"Oh no, you're not going anywhere, Major. Not a chance."

The couple laughed, kissing once more as they suddenly came to the realisation that another song had started playing and couples had already begun to dance around them.

Gale chuckled, linking his arm through Hope's and leading her back to the table where most of the others were still seated.

Harry was throwing peanuts across the table into Hugh's mouth, laughing hysterically as Hugh caught another one. John and Ruth amusedly watched them for a moment until Hope spoke up.

"I leave you two alone for all of five minutes and you wreak havoc," Hope tutted, patting Harry on the head like a small child. "If you choke on all those nuts Hugh, I swear to God..."

"Alright mother," Hugh laughed, throwing one of the nuts at his sister.

Hope and Gale took their seats beside Harry, settling easily beside each other, Gale's hand draping lazily around her shoulder.The six of them fell into easy conversation, and soon, the table became more crowded when Veal, Crank, Brady, Blakely, and a few other airmen joined the group. Laughter and wisps of cigarette smoke filled the air as the men and the two nurses unwound, enjoying the company of friends.

Gale's free hand moved to rest against Hope's thigh and she shuffled closer into his side, enjoying the chance to relax amongst their friends. This one was about a failed exercise where several forts experienced 'equipment malfunctions' and 'discrepancies' that forced them to land in or near the hometowns of family and girlfriends.

Crank grinned, shaking his head. "Yeah, the Hundredth almost got canned after that."

"And I got demoted for the first time," John chimed in as he thought about just how many times he'd changed commands over his time with the 100th.

Eyes widening in surprise, Ruth playfully smacked his chest. "For the first time? I thought you getting demoted back to Squadron CO only happened once?"

"It would've been three times if LeMay would have found him or Buck that day he came to base," Kidd added.

Nudging him with her shoulder, Hope smirked at him. "And what about you, Gale?"

Gale shrugged as he hid a smirk behind his glass of ginger beer. "I don't know why LeMay thought both of us were responsible for the 'raunchy discipline' on base."

"So you're sayin' it was just me?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying."

"I mean," Benny said, trying to hold in a laugh as he rubbed Meatball's head affectionately. "I don't think I've ever seen Buck tear up a bar with a narwhal tusk."

Laughter erupted like a sudden burst of fireworks around the table, echoing around the lively room and drowning out the music.

Narrowing his eyes at them, John pointed around the table. "Technically, none of you dodos saw any of that!"

"We didn't have to. We saw the aftermath," Brady called out through his chuckles.

After a few moments, the laughter died down, and the large group broke into smaller conversations. Hugh nudged Hope's arm, distracting her enough for him to pull her away from Gale, who's hand was resting on her chair.

"Shall we do it then?"

She grinned back at him, nodding enthusiastically.

How could she say no to Hugh and his troublesome ways?

It had always been the two of them, even as kids she'd gone along with his plans.

She glanced back at Gale, noticing that he was still deep in conversation with Demarco, his eyes trained on the pilot in front of him as Hope disappeared into the crowd.

Hugh had been begging her to sing with him at a party ever since she'd got on stage and sang with John. 'It will be like old times,' he'd promised, recalling the many times they'd sung at friends' birthday parties or family gatherings while growing up.

They weaved through the many bodies that filled the hall, making it rather warm and clammy in a claustrophobic sense. Hugh stopped occasionally to greet someone he knew. Helen and Tatty were sitting at one of the tables they passed and Hope winked at them, encouraging their gossip as they watched in confusion as the siblings continued towards the stage.

Hugh hopped up with ease, turning to help Hope as she struggled with the tight pencil skirt of her dress uniform. She had to try and keep some modesty, and she managed to step up with as much grace as she could muster.

The two microphones stood center stage, which Hope began to wonder whether this was Hugh's doing. Had he really planned this all ahead of tonight?

Hugh stood at the back of the stage, sharing a few hushed words with the band, before passing over a few notes. The conductor nodded, turning to pass on the request to the rest of the band who were sitting there in utter horror, as the two siblings took their places.

Hope wondered if they thought they were about to relieve the night of her first party at Thorpe Abbotts where she'd sung with John. At least she knew that Hugh was a lot better singer, not that she'd ever hurt John's feelings by telling him that. Then again, knowing Hugh and his theatrics anything could happen.

This really could go one of two ways.

Hope's eyes scanned the crowd, noticing that Gale was still deep in conversation and oblivious to her disappearance, his hand still resting on the back of her now empty chair. She wondered if he'd notice soon and look around to check on her. She knew he didn't mean to ignore her, too engrossed in whatever DeMarco was telling him, but she also knew that when he realised he'd apologise profusely later, which made her smile even more.

The band thrummed to life, music springing out across the room in a less-than-subtle fashion that had all heads turning towards the siblings. Ruth was pointing at them as she whispered something in John's ear, while Gale did a double take, glancing back at the empty chair in confusion.

Hugh took his place in front of the microphone, encouraging Hope to do the same as he pressed his lips near the cool metal grille.

Hope felt the music flowing up through the stage and through her body. She often wondered that if she hadn't become a nurse then maybe she would have been a singer. Somehow performing for the troops in USO clubs just didn't have the same appeal as nursing.

"One of our planes was missing, two hours overdue.

Yes, one of our planes was missing with all its gallant crew

The radio sets were hummin', they wait for their word

Then a voice broke through that hummin'

And this is what they heard"

The song, rather aptly chosen by Hugh for Dye's 25th mission, began to flow easily. Hugh joined in, belting out

"Comin' in on a wing and a prayer"

The crowd began to join in, all turning to face Dye who's cheeks were growing redder by the minute as he stood beside Lil, trying to shield his face.

"What a show (What a show)

What a fight (What a fight)"

Hope was pleasantly surprised by their harmonisations, all things considered they hadn't properly sung together in years, and yet Hugh was keeping time with her like it was only yesterday.

The instrumental section began to play and Hugh took her arm, spinning her around in quick concession. The room blurred around her, bright colours flashing into one, and yet she could still make out Gale. He hadn't moved from his spot, bright, blue eyes never leaving hers, his lips pulling upwards into a warm smile.

Hugh's firm grip on her hips was the only thing preventing her from becoming airborne as he spun her again. She felt a little like a ragdoll, and only hoped that she looked as though she was keeping up with her brother.

The song came to life again and Hope was back on the microphone, tapping along without missing a beat. Hugh grinned widely at her. It was lovely to see Hugh so carefree, despite his wild antics he always had worry lines streaking his forehead but now his face was smooth, he looked ten years younger.

As the tempo slowed and the song came to an end Hugh wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her hard, "Thank you, Hope."

"For what?" She pulled back, watching his face worriedly for any sign that he was going to give away what was eating away at him.

Hugh shook his head, "For being here," he laughed, returning to his normal jolly personality. He grasped her hand, pulling her down from the stage. Hope hopped down the best she could, ignoring the small ripping noise her skirt made, that would be a problem for later. Hugh had a little skip in his step but Hope couldn't help the anxious feeling that grew inside her.

Hugh threw himself down into his chair, downing the last of his whiskey, while Hope took her seat beside Gale, his face still in awe and his lips turned upwards into the largest smile.

"Have I ever told you how amazing you are?" He mumbled softly, kissing her cheek, letting the rough stubble on his chin graze against Hope's cheek.

She squirmed, laughing lightly, "Oh only about every hour that I'm on base and in every letter."

"Good," he mused, kissing her cheek once more, "Because you're the most amazing woman I've ever met..." Gale was broken off by John's loud declaration.

"What the hell was that, Sparky?" John asked with a mischievous grin, his eyebrows raised at Hugh.

Scoffing as he settled into his chair, the lieutenant rolled his eyes. "I sounded a helluva lot better than you ever have..Isn't that right, Croz?"

Harry's expression dropped, his eyes widening nervously as he darted glances between Hugh and his Squadron CO, who sported a smirk and an eyebrow raised expectantly. "Uhhhhh..."

Ruth was in the middle of sipping her when the comment left Hugh's lips, and she choked on the liquid, her hand flying to cover her mouth as she coughed, trying to regain her composure. Immediately, John's hand on her chair moved to rub her back as he ducked to check on her, the rest of the table turning their attention to the pair. Before he could speak, she waved him off with a sheepish smile, finally managing to swallow.

"Sorry about that," she rasped, wiping at her eyes. "I'm alright...please continue."

Looking around the group, Ruth met Hope's concerned gaze and sent her a teary grin, her pale face splotchy as she caught her breath.

"Where was I?"

Bubbles chuckled under his breath before sending Hugh a smirk. "You were complimenting Bucky's singing abilities."

"Right! I-"

"Everyone look here!"

A flash of light momentarily blinded the group as Captain John Schwarz, the 100th's photographer, stepped forward with his camera in hand.

"Alright, everyone, let's get a good one!" he called out cheerfully, adjusting the settings on his camera.

The group quickly turned toward him, Hope beamed up at the photographer, enjoying the feeling of Gale pulling her closer into his chest. Hugh sat beside her, his hand resting against her shoulder and he gave it a light, reassuring squeeze.

With the click of the camera, the photographer took the picture, but before he could step back, John called out to him with a grin, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Hey, Schwarz. Mind getting a picture of just the two of us?"

He nodded enthusiastically, adjusting the camera to focus on the couple. Bucky flashed a charming smile as he reached over and gently tugged Ruth from her chair into his lap.

"Hey!" she protested playfully, her cheeks flushing pink as John wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close.

Hope chuckled, watching her friends' antics when Gale mumbled, "Should we get a photo too? The photo I have of you is getting a little worn around the edges."

Hope nodded, placing a small kiss on his lips, "Well, you gotta stop looking at it."

"I try, you're just too damn beautiful." He kissed her again, this time a little harder, his right hand weaving into her hair, while his left cupped her cheek. For a moment Hope forgot where they were until Hugh elbowed her in the ribs.

"Hey, Clevens keep it in your pants there are children present," he pointed at Harry who was blushing furiously, trying to avoid eye contact with the couple.

Hope sniggered, leaning over the best she could with Gale's hands gripping her waist, "Sorry Croz."

The navigator gave a curt nod, turning back to see what Captain Schwarz was doing.

"That reminds me, did you get through all those condoms Frank gave you?" Hugh leant back on his chair, a cheeky grin on his face.

Hope leant over smacking her brother hard on the chest, causing her palm to sting. Before she could retort the comment Gale chinned in.

"Don't worry, Hugh, we put them to good use."

Hugh remained silent, looking between Gale and Hope with a deadpan expression. Hope's cheeks grew redder but Gale's lips turned up into a triumphant grin. He'd left Hugh speechless.

Gale laughed softly, peaked over at John and Ruth, who were in a tight embrace, lips sealed in a kiss.

"Alright, lovebirds. That's enough," Gale grinned, repeating Bucky's words from a few minutes before. A bright blush spread across Ruth's cheeks and Hope knew she'd tease her about it later.

The photographer moved around the table, snapping a photo of Demarco and Meatball, Hugh with poor Harry in a headlock, until he moved around to Hope and Gale.

Gale stood up, leading Hope slightly away from the table, wrapping his arms around her from behind and kissing her temple. Hope grinned widely at the photographer. She realised that the next time they'd have a photo like this would be their wedding day. The image of her silk dress hanging in the Red Cross hut only made her smile wider. She was excited for her wedding, but she was even more excited for four uninterrupted days with the man she loved in London. It would be the longest amount of time they'd spent together in concession and she couldn't wait.

Gale felt his heartbeat quicken as Hope leant against his chest. He couldn't believe his luck. The woman in his arms was going to become his wife in a few short weeks. He wasn't sure what he'd done to deserve such an incredible woman but he promised himself that he'd tell her how wonderful she was every day for as long as he was able to.

He smoothed her brown locks away from her neck, pressing a firm kiss to her cheek.

"I love you," he mumbled under his breath, enjoying the light pink dusting that grew over Hope's nose.

"I love you too."

Hugh appeared beside the Captain, mumbling something under his breath before moving over to the couple.

"Could I please borrow my sister, Cleven?"

Gale looked a little forlorn as he released Hope from his embrace, and stepped back towards the table.

Hugh pulled his sister into his side, a bright smile on his lips, his eyes shining as the photographer snapped the photo.

"I'll have to send it to Ma and Pa with my next letter, they'd love it," Hugh smiled thoughtfully.

"Yeah, I think they would," Hope added, realising that it had been a while since her last letter home. She decided to write one as soon as they were back to The Grove, and might even slip a picture of her and Gale in too.

Back at the table, Hope slipped into her seat beside Gale, his strong cologne filling her nostrils and she instantly felt at ease. His arm came around to drape over her shoulder as they resumed their previous positions. Ruth sent her a bright smile from her position on John's lap, and soon the group's conversation picked back up, laughter filling the air once more. This continued for a little while longer, but when Dye made his way over with Lil under his arm, there was a shift in the air.

It was almost unnoticeable at first.

Ruth chuckled under her breath, watching John take a drag of his cigarette and point to Dye as he neared the table. "There's our very own Charlie Robertson!"

"Charlie? Who's Charlie?" Lil asked, trailing behind Glen and smiling at John as she passed him on his way back to Ruth.

"Not me," Hugh snickered, sipping his whiskey with a grimace, it wasn't as good as the VAT-69. In his footlocker sat an unopened bottle of VAT-69 he was saving for his own 25th mission.

No one else thought anything was wrong with the alcohol, but Hugh just had his particular taste and he stuck to that.

"1922. White Sox at Tigers. No runs, no hits, no errors," John answered, his hand gesturing in the air with each word before sinking into the chair beside Ruth. He kissed her on the cheek quickly, scooting his seat closer to her until their shoulders touched and she wrapped her arm around his bicep, whispering into his ear.

"He threw the last perfect game, right?"

"Sure did," he grinned, shooting her a wink. "Way to go, Slugger."

Benny nodded from beside Hope and Gale, not having heard the blonde. "Yeah, he's the last guy to throw a perfect game."

"Til' now!"

"You get to go home before Florida?" Jack asked, and Hope turned to Gale, nuzzling her head into the crook of his neck.

"You're nearly at your 25 missions," she mused, running her fingers absentmindedly up and down his thigh. Gale nodded slowly, pressing a small kiss against the top of her head, mumbling a yes.

He'd barely thought about his 25 missions if he was being honest. His main concern was to survive each mission and to get back to Hope in one piece. The thought of completing his 25 missions and being shipped back to the States to sell war bonds, and leaving Hope behind filled him with anxiety. He'd be leaving his wife in a war zone while he'd have a comfortable life back home.

Hope's thumb brushing across his cheek drew him back to reality.

"What's on your mind?" She asked, her eyes filled with concern and he instantly moved forward to kiss her, his lips pressing softly against her own. He could feel the tension in her shoulders dissipate and she relaxed into his arms. The warmth of his touch enveloped her and brought on a fuzzy feeling inside her.

"Nothing, Sugar," he mumbled, burying his head into her hair and healing deeply, enjoying the fragrance of her perfume.

She chuckled, reaching up to push his head away so she could face him, "Talk to me, Gale."

He sighed, leaning back in his chair and moving around so he sat directly in front of her, "I was just thinking about my 25th mission."

Hope could see the sadness filling his blue eyes, glistening slightly with unshed tears. "Gale..." she pressed her lips against his forehead, ignoring the fact that she left a red lipstick stain, cradling him close.

"You're gonna make it to your 25th, I know you will."

"But what about you?" He mumbled, clutching her hands in his lap.

"Well I'll be here, doing my job until the allies win and then I'll come back to the States to be with you."

Gale sighed, "But why should I be back home safe when the love of my life is still in danger? It's not fair, Hope. I want to be here with you. I've been thinking about staying on after my 25 missions, maybe get a promotion so I can stay here with you."

Hope shook her head, "No Gale, you get that chance to go home you take it, okay? You promise me you'll take it. My job will be a whole lot easier when I know you're safe." She bit her lip, chewing at the red lipstick as she waited for him to reply.

Gale was torn, he hated seeing Hope so torn up, the unshed tears in her dark eyes tugging at his heart strings. "All right," he replied, pressing his lips to hers once more. He wasn't sure whether he could keep his promise, but for now she let out a sigh of relief.

"We're all that's left, aren't we?"

Hope and Gale suddenly became all too aware of the conversation going on around them. Hope glanced around the table at the other airmen, all wearing the same downtrodden and exhausted expression. Harry Crosby, but his quivering lip nervously, as if he could cry at any moment. Hugh's eyes were downcast and he picked anxiously at the cuff of his uniform.

Hope's wandering eyes met Ruth's across the table, and she sent her a weary frown at the way the lively men quieted, each lost in their thoughts.

Blakely spoke first, breaking the silence that fell over the group "12 crews out of-"

"35 that flew in from Greenland," Crank finished.

With his lips in a tight line, Bucky nodded solemnly. "That's right."

Ruth reached out, her free hand finding John's atop his chair's armrest, squeezing it gently. He didn't meet her gaze, but she felt him deflate slightly beside her just before Gale began to speak.

"We're just happy for you, Dye."

"That's right. We are," John added, his voice deepening as he raised his glass. "Very happy for you. Very happy."

Glen held out his drink to the group. "And to all the fellas that aren't here tonight, who should've been."

The table broke out into quiet mumbles of agreement as they all lifted their glasses in a toast before tipping them back. Hope took a long swig from her ginger beer, as Gale took a sip from his own. Everyone's faces remained somber as they drank and a few seconds later Dye's voice filled the air.

"Gentlemen...and ladies, I'm gonna go check on the boys, make sure they aren't celebrating too hard without me."

As he walked away with Lil tugged against his side, John's eyes followed them and he pointed in their direction, muttering, "Charlie Robertson," under his breath.

The jovial atmosphere from before shattered as the group remained quiet despite the raging party around them.

Gale pulled Hope closer, his left hand clasped in her on her lap, his finger running over the engagement ring adoring her finger. It was a constant reminder of their hope for the future, of their lives together, of their love. It was all he needed to keep him going despite the horrific odds.

Hope reached over, squeezing Hugh's hand to which he sent her a small smile in return.

Hugh's heart had sunk as he realised how truly lucky he was to still be here, with his sister and his friends, when so many were not. Gale looked lovingly down at Hope and the pair shared a small kiss. Hugh couldn't have been happier for them, truly, but his heart ached for a love like theirs. His arms remained empty, and despite all the women he'd flirted with and kissed none had ever been love. The realisation that if he went down no one would mourn him other than his sister. He'd never know true love.

Hope could sense the tension in the room, each man lost in his own thoughts. Glancing around the table it became abundantly clear of all the men she had met on base when they had first come to Thorpe Abbott who were no longer here.

"I'm, uh, gonna get another drink. I'll be back," John announced quickly, rising from his chair and turning toward the bar. Ruth's worried eyes followed him before she glanced back at Hope.

Gale watched him go with a pang of concern and kissed Hope on the temple, promising his return before he got up and followed after his friend. The women shared a knowing look as they watched the men they loved disappear into the crowd. Seemingly following their Majors, the rest of the men got up and trailed after them a few minutes later, leaving Hope and Ruth alone at the table.

"I'm worried," Ruth muttered, chewing her bottom lip nervously. "What happens if John or Gale don't make it back one-"

Hope cut her off quickly and moved to sit beside her. "Hey. They're going to be fine, Rue. Before long, we're gonna be celebrating their 25th mission, alright?"

"Alright," she whispered as her gaze fell to the table.

The dance floor cleared over the next few minutes, and just a few couples remained dancing. In the middle of the floor was Helen, wrapped up in the arms of an airman they'd never seen before. Wide grins grew on their faces as they watched her place a few kisses against the dark-headed stranger's jawline. Over his shoulder, Helen's eyes wandered to the two women sitting alone, and Ruth smiled, giving her a thumbs up as Hope winked at her.

Feeling someone's gaze on her, Hope scanned the room, meeting the familiar but concerned blues of Gale across the room from where he leaned against the bar beside John. They talked to yet another new airman the girls had never met, but even she could see the grimace on Bucky's face as he leaned closer to the man, gesturing his hands out.

She glanced over at Ruth who thankfully was too busy tidying up the mess the men left before returning her eyes to her fiancée. In the few seconds she'd looked away, the replacement airman disappeared, and the two Majors stood alone.

"Come on, Rue. Let's rejoin the party, shall we?" Hope asked, rising to her feet and offering Ruth her hand with a forced smile.

She knew something was up with John. She could tell by Buck's body language alone.

"My boys!"

Not wanting to interrupt, the women stood on the outskirts of the group, moving to stand beside Tatty, even though both Buck and Johnny sent them a questioning look. Ruth scanned Bucky's face, but her smile fell when she immediately noticed the line between his brows and the muscle twitching in his jaw.

"Listen up! I just had a mood-killing conversation with Doc Stover. He thinks you sissies could be getting flack happy."

"No, not us, sir," the airmen chorused.

"I told him war is war. The longer you go at it, the more it screws a man up. And it's been that way since the first caveman son of a bitch picked up a club and went after the other. Did cavemen go for head-shrinking?"

As the men shook their heads, Ruth and Hope shared a wary glance.

Where was this going?

"No! Damn sure not! What counts is that you soldiers show up ready and able to fight! What you do between battles..." Harding trailed off with a chuckle, smirking as he took a drag of his cigar.

Hope watched as Buck remained stoic, no reaction on his face, but John looked over at Ruth, sending her a wink. "I like your style, sir!"

For the first time, Bucky's wink didn't make her heart skip a beat...it made it drop into her stomach. His grin was so clearly forced that her mind went haywire, and he was the only thing she could focus on. Sensing the blonde finally picked up on John's demeanor, Hope silently intertwined their hands, squeezing Ruth's reassuringly.

Red broke his silence, shaking his head slightly as he spoke. "Aerial combat like this hasn't been around since the caveman, sir."

"Of course not, Red. Every war has its novelties," Harding dismissed the Major, turning to look at the dance hall. A split second later, his demeanor changed, and his voice grew serious. "Who the hell decorated this fiesta?"

Everyone looked around the group before Jack hesitantly spoke. "I put together a committee, sir."

Craning their heads to see around the Colonel, the women confusedly searched the hall for what he possibly could be upset about, but had no such luck.

"That damned plane looks like it's in a nosedive."

The sound of chuckles filled the air as John grinned over at Ruth. "Fire 'em. Fire the committee...Ruth can decorate next time."

She did her best to smile back at him, but it was just as forced as the grin that hung on his lips.

"I won't bother next time," Kidd muttered.

Harding seemed to move on and faced the men again, waving them all closer. "Come on, get in. Come here. Got something to tell 'ya."

Hope and Ruth stepped forward, watching the Colonel over Tatty's shoulder, their eyes moving between their Majors and the CO.

"You know how we could end this whole thing tonight?" Chick asked, his face scrunched into a half-grimace as he leaned into the group. "We fill up one of our forts with as many 500-pounders as she can hold, we bomb the hell out of Hitler's hidey-hole."

The grin on Johnny's face fell, and his tilted his face to the floor with slightly pursed lips for a moment before returning his gaze to Harding. His forced smiles and strained banter only added to the underlying tension in the room. Ruth's fingers tightened around Hope's hand, seeking reassurance as Chick continued.

"I'm sure Red and Bubbles could locate that mustachioed little fucker."

Bubbles grinned proudly. "Yes, sir."

"Well, now who's flack happy?"

The second the words left John's mouth, Ruth's heart plummeted, and a knot formed in the pit of her stomach. She held her breath waiting for what would happen next.

What happened in the last ten minutes to change his attitude completely?

All the officer's went silent, shooting each other worried looks while Bucky and Harding stared at each other.

"Who?"

"You are," John nodded, his expression bearing no trace of any amusement.

Harding smirked, "You are."

"No, you are," Egan leaned forward, thwacking Harding's chest with his hand. "Sir."

The next few seconds seemed to stretch on for hours as the atmosphere became even more tense and the room seemed to hold its breath. Gale quickly glanced over at Hope, his eyes filled with concern, much like the rest of the officers. The blonde beside her didn't notice Buck, unable to tear her eyes away from John, who looked like he was teetering on the edge of an outburst.

The Major and the Colonel stared at each other until a smirk broke out on Chick's face and he chuckled, the rest of the group following suit when the tension eased.

"Mmm, Single fillies. Come on, boys. Let's get the lead out!" Harding smirked, taking a drag from his cigar and left the party with Red trailing behind him.

The officers dispersed out onto the dance floor, leaving John, Gale, Hope, Ruth, and Benny at the bar.

Gale turned to catch Hope's eye, his face saying 'hold on while I talk to him'. Hope nodded in agreement, catching Ruth's arm and leading her away from their men.

"What about John?" Ruth looked hastily over her shoulder for him, but Hope pulled her on.

"Gale's going to talk to him, it will be okay, Ruth. They've been through a lot, remember? It's bound to catch up with them all at some point and we just need to be here to help them if they fall." Hope led her back to the table, sitting her down and placing the glass of ginger beer in front of her.

Hope hated watching Ruth's worried eyes keep darting back towards the boys but she knew that her own eyes kept drifting back to Gale's. If this evening had taught her anything it was that life was more precious than they could ever realise and each moment should be cherished.

They needed a distraction from their anxieties, and Hope blurted the first story that came to mind.

"Hey Rue, do you remember that day when you were new to the Grove and you walked in on Frank naked?"

Ruth's cheeks immediately heated up as she buried her head, "How could I forget? I'd only known the man for three days."

Hope laughed too, "Well it could be worse. On my first day on base he nearly ran me over with a jeep. That was before he realised I was on his plane. He bought me a beer that same evening to apologies."

Ruth laughed, imagining a young Hope giving Frank hell for trying to run her down.

"We had a medical technician on our plane with us back then. Joseph was his name. He was a right pretty boy, thought he was the bee's knees but I soon told him otherwise."

Ruth chuckled, knowing that Hope probably gave the poor boy hell. It was strange thinking back to when they first came to the Grove, the airbase that had quickly become their home and safe haven.

"It seems like a lifetime ago that I met you, Hope.I thought you hated me at first."

"Oh, I didn't hate you...I just thought you weren't going to make it," Hope replied honestly, feeling slightly guilty about how she'd misjudged her best friend. "You soon proved me wrong though, Rue. You're a good nurse."

Hope looked up as Gale approached them, smiling brightly at her while John still stood near the bar looking quite somber. Ruth stood up, quickly excusing herself as she made her way over to the bar, resting her hand against John's arm as she spoke softly before they retreated outside.

"Is he gonna be okay?" Hope asked, worried for what Ruth would have to face next. She knew John would never hurt her purposefully but she also knew he had a short fuse and could say something that would break her heart.

"When have you ever known John not to be okay," Gale chuckled, "I got him a pass to London for a few days and he's gonna ask Ruth to go with him."

Gale leant a little closer to Hope, "Which means that we could have some alone time..."

"I like your thinking, Major," Hope grinned, walking her fingers up to his chin where she tilted his head down and brought their lips together. Gale's hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her close and beginning to sway to the music, while their lips remained together.

The beat from the band quickened as 'Blue Skies' came into full swing.

"Hey, it's John's song," Hope laughed, and Gale just groaned, hiding his head in the crook of her neck for a moment before replying.

"But you sing it so much better than he does."

Hope hummed in agreement, resting her head against Gale's chest, her eyes half closed as he led her with ease around the floor.

Gale's eyes shot up when he noticed Ruth hurrying through the dancing couples, heading straight for the bathroom at the end of the hall. Her blonde locks covered most of her face as she shielded herself from view, but Gale caught sight of her cheeks, red and blotchy which only ever happened when she cried.

Soon after she disappeared, John came into view. He hesitated where he stood in the middle of the club, lost and unsure of what to do next. Gale watched his best friend as he seemed to debate his options. Whatever had just gone down between the couple must have been serious.

Frustratingly running a hand over his mouth, John caught sight of Gale on the dance floor where he swayed slowly with Hope. Gale's brow furrowed in confusion as he glanced in the direction Ruth had gone over Hope's shoulder. With a nod of his head, he silently urged Johnny to go after her. It was the push that he needed to make a decision, and John quickly disappeared in the direction Ruth had vanished.

Gale felt his shoulders sag as the tension began to lift, whatever was going on with Ruth and John he was sure they'd work it out, he just didn't want to worry Hope about it on one of her rare evenings off.

A cold object on her leg caused Hope to jump, leaping forward into Gale's arms. He stumbled back, laughing heartily as Meatball sat beside them.

"Goddammit Meatball! I nearly had a heart attack," Hope scolded, reaching down to scratch the dog's head.

"You didn't mean it did you, Meatball," Gale scooped down, lifting the large husky into his arms, he snorted, turning his head to avoid the husky's large tongue lapping across his face.

"Fancy a dance Meatball?" Gale began to sway across the floor, the large dog sitting comfortably in his arms. Hope watched in awe as he spun slowly around the floor. He was oblivious to the strange glances he got from the other couples on the floor. Hope wondered if he'd dance with their children like that. She could see him now, clutching a small child in his arms as he swayed around the floor with them.

Gale's eyes met hers across the floor and he smiled cheerfully at her, as he made his way back over to her, placing Meatball back on the floor. She'd headed back to Demarco who was still at the bar and Gale took Hope into his arms.

"I love you, Gale Cleven," Hope declared. She'd been so nervous to tell him how she felt to begin with and now it was second nature to love him. How could anyone not love Gale? She was just so grateful that he loved her back.

"I love you too, Hope, always," he brushed a few loose strands of hair from her face, running his thumb over her cheek bone.

"When's your next mission?" Hope asked, playing with Gale's fingers as she asked the nerve wracking question.

"I don't know yet," Gale admitted, "Although 'Our Baby' is already so whenever the light goes on we'll be off."

Hope nodded sadly, regretting asking the question that she always feared the answer to. She knew that there was always a risk and yet somehow a mission before their wedding just seemed so ominous.

"Hey," Gale tugged on her hand, "Come with me."

She followed him obediently through the kitchen and out of the side door into the cool night air once more. Gale's hand remained firmly on her waist as he led her over to a bench situated on the grass.

Hope hopped up onto the bench while Gale sat on the seat below, his hand running up and down her bare thigh soothingly, until it brushed against her scar. Hope jumped with a gasp, shoving Gale's hand away.

"Hope? Are you alright, Sugar?" Gale's blue eyes swam with concern as he reached out again to his fiancée, this time his hand came to rest on her thigh covered by her dress. "Does it still hurt?"

Hope shook her head, tears slipping from the corners of her eyes as she tried to contain the emotions that threatened to bubble over.

"Then what's wrong, Sweetheart? You know you can talk to me about anything? We're in this together," Gale pleaded, moving so he could sit directly in front of her, both his hands now resting on her thighs.

Hope exhaled slowly, letting out the breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding, a breath that she'd been holding ever since the accident. "I haven't been sleeping well," she began slowly, her hands coming down to clutch Gale's. "Every time I close my eyes I relive the accident again and again. I just can't seem to move past it and..."

The desperate sob escaped her lips and Gale immediately jumped into action, climbing onto the bench beside her and clutching her close as she began to bawl into his dress uniform. Her body felt so small and frail in his arms and as her shoulders shook violently, Gale thought each one might break her.

"I just can't take it anymore."

That was the final straw, he enveloped her now, his whole body surrounding her, holding her close, comforting her. His own silent tears began to slip down his cheeks as the woman he loved broke before his eyes, and there was nothing he could do to help her. Gale moved his arm to rub small circles up and down her back, soothing patterns that eventually helped her breathing to calm.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, wiping her hand across her cheeks, trying to avoid smudging her makeup that she'd so lovingly applied that afternoon.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Sugar. Nothing at all, alright? I've got you now and I'm never gonna let anything bad happen to you, I swear," Gale placed his index finger under her chin, tilting her head towards him so he could press a gentle kiss against her lips. Their mouths molded together easily and Hope soon found herself slipping her tongue into Gale's mouth, fighting against his own tongue for dominance, while his hands roamed over her curves.

They both pulled away, a little breathless but with wide smiles on their faces.

Gale chuckled softly, running his hand through her dark curls in an attempt to tidy them up from where his hand had wound around them.

"We should've heading back inside... before they missed us," he spoke between kisses, his breath fanning over her cheeks.

Hope nodded sadly, crawling down off the bench. For a few moments she'd been distracted enough not to think about how awful everything else was, and Gale could tell.

"How about you spend the night with me?" He suggested, throwing his arm around her shoulder and waiting patiently for her answer.

"You know we can't, Colonel Harding found out last time," she giggled remembering how Hugh had informed her that the whole of the officer's hut knew what they'd been up to at John's party.

"No, not in the officer's hut, but I have a fine plane you have yet to meet and if we pad her out I reckon she could give us a good night's sleep."

Hope's heart swelled as she looked up at Gale in the moonlight, "You'd do that for me? You'd sleep in a Fort just to be with me?"

"I would sleep anywhere as long as I have you by my side," he assured her, grasping her left hand and thumbing over the engagement ring. "When I gave you this ring I promised you that."

Biting her lip and tears trickling down her cheeks, she nodded hastily, leaning up to kiss him once more. "What did I ever do to deserve you, Gale?"

"You landed on the right airbase, that's what. My life has been so much better since the day you flew into it."

With happy tears slipping down both cheeks, they made their way back inside where the party was still in full swing, taking their original seats.

Hugh was standing with Demarco and Harry at the bar when they walked in, giving her a worried look but Hope just shook her head with a smile, before taking residence in Gale's lap. His hand rested firmly against her scared thigh.

"You know, if we have children I'm gonna tell them their mum's a war hero, and she's got the scar to prove it."

Hope smiled sweetly at his antics, the fact that he was thinking about kids too made her heart swell even more as her love for him grew.

"Well, I think it's their dad who will be the war hero, he'll have completed his 25 missions and all."

The couple laughed lightly, swaying along to the beat as the band played 'Bless 'Em All'. Something about what Gale had said earlier replayed over in Hope's mind, 'We're in this together', and they indeed were. Maybe things weren't as bad as Hope thought they were, and with Gale by her side how bad could things really be?

…….…….…….…….…….…….…….…….…….………………….

September 20th 1943, The Grove, Berkshire 05:00

Hope let out a long sigh as the C47's wheels left the runway in one swoop, rising above the airstrip ,and leaving the base far below them as they climbed into the clouds. Frank talked quietly to Bill in the cockpit, and both girls couldn't help but smile at their pilot's antics. He was a good pilot, but as a mentor, he was a hard task-master, and Bill was being put through his paces. Ruth pulled John's latest letter from her pocket, rereading his words with a small smile.

"So how is the hotshot then?" Hope asked with a grin, amused by Ruth's embarrassed expression, her pale cheeks blushing deeply.

"How do you know I call him that?" Ruth asked curiously, but Hope just shook her head with a chuckle.

"Ruth, you've read his letters out loud enough times when I'm around that I've basically read them myself." The blonde nodded slowly, half listening to Hope and the other half of her too engrossed in John's words. After a few moments, she looked up from the letter.

"I wrote to my parents about John the other day," Ruth called out over the engine's whine, a fond smile on her lips.

"Oh yeah?"

The blonde nodded. "Yeah."

"What did you tell them?" Hope asked with a raised brow.

Ruth's innocent smile turned into a mischievous smirk as she chuckled to herself. "Well, my Mama always reads the letters, so I wrote the basics for her to tell my Dad and Jamie, but gave her all the details."

"John's right," she laughed. "You are a sneaky woman."

Hope had her latest letter from Gale tucked safely into her top pocket, 'It's close to my heart, just like you,' she always told him. His words always brought her a deep sense of comfort that she'd never felt before. Somehow it felt that he was giving her one of his warm, loving embraces as her eyes trailed over his words.

The new addition of, 'you are the love of my life' made her heart beat rapidly in her chest every time she thought about it. She could picture him now, tucked away at his desk in the corner while John and Hugh chatted loudly, probably interrupting his train of thought with, 'Buck, does this sound right?' as John wrote his own reply to Ruth's letter. It amused her that he now signed his letter from 'your Gale'.

Unable to resist, she pulled the letter free from her pocket, unfolding the page lovingly and smiling as the picture that came with it. Their two smiling faces looked back at her, Gale's face lit up with a bright smile while he held her lovingly in his arms. The second picture in her pocket was of her and Hugh, both smiling cheekily like they had in so many pictures as children.

She thumbed the edge of the letter, reading over the last words Gale had sent to her. She'd posted her reply just that morning, having dashed to the post room with Ruth before hurrying back to 'The Angel'.

September 17th 1943

To my dearest Hope,

I know I'm getting sentimental and that this is my third letter in the same week but I can't help myself. I just want to be close to you again. You're my everything Hope. Everyday that we're apart I know will make our reunion even sweeter.

I don't know how other couples cope being separated for years due to this wretched war. I can barely be away from you for a week without thinking of hijacking a Fort to come and see you. Without your smile the days feel darker but just knowing that you're out there somewhere waiting for me fills me with Hope.

The thought of our wedding coming round so soon keeps me going each day, knowing that in just a few short weeks you'll become Mrs Cleven and that's all I could ever want from this life, to have you with me always. Four days away from everything will be a pleasant relief from all the missions, just to be away from war with you. I bought your wedding gift the other day, it's not much but I just wanted to give you something on the day.

John and I picked up the rings from the jewellery shop in Norwich yesterday and I'm pleased to say that mine fits like a glove. I can't wait to wear it always. You mean everything to me Hope.

I know this week has been tough on you but know that I am always with you, no matter what, and I'll always be here when you need me.

I hope that you will be able to visit Thorpe Abbotts again soon. I know John would also appreciate a visit from Ruth, and even Hugh enjoys your company, despite him being adamant that he doesn't.

I love you always.

Your Gale

Hope smiled fondly at the thought of their wedding rings, tucked away in a box in Gale's bedside draw, probably alongside all of her letters.

The plane rocked from side to side as they gained altitude, and the large metal bird flew 'through the gate' as Frank liked to call it as she moved to full throttle, soaring up into the clouds.

"Stop being a clot," Frank hissed to Bill, flicking a few switches in the cockpit with a long sigh, "You know what you're doing kid but try using your head sometimes okay?"

"Yes Sir," Bill nodded shyly, turning his attention back to the plane's control panel. The girls smiled at each other, listening to the two men bickering in the cockpit.

"Where do you think the boys are right now?" Ruth asked, looking up nervously at Hope. She always worried when she thought of where their men could be. The thought of them in harm's way made her sick to the stomach.

Were they flying right now? Were they in danger?

Hope slouched in her seat as the plane leveled out, "I don't know, Rue. I'd like to think that they're at Thorpe Abbotts. Hugh's probably getting into some sort of trouble or terrorising poor Harry Crosby. John is probably having some coffee with his whiskey about now at breakfast." This caused Ruth to laugh lightly at the thought of John's usual morning routine.

"What about Gale?"

Hope took a little longer to reply this time. "I think Gale would... well I don't know. He's probably either eating breakfast with John, walking Meatball, or he's with his baby."

"His baby?" Ruth spluttered, cocking her head andlooking at her friend for the answer.

"His Fort, 'Our Baby'," Hope laughed, watching as Ruth nodded, understanding the men's attachment to their Forts. She guessed they all felt the same way about their own plane, although Ruth thought if she never had to fly again it would be a blessing.

The pair soon fell into silence, both organising their mussette bags for the hundredth time, as if they hadn't checked all their supplies pre-flight. Hope moved up to the cockpit to check in with the pilots, while Ruth moved along the racks of supplies, laying out fresh blankets on each cot, humming an Artie Shaw song to herself as she went.

"How's it going up here, boys?" Hope leant over Frank's shoulder, watching as the cloudy sky unfolded before them.

"Can't complain," Frank replied plainly. "I think Billy Boy here is getting the hang of things at last."

The young pilot grinned at the compliment, and Hope couldn't help the sense of pride that filled her chest. They'd had several copilots training with Frank, but Bill was definitely the girl's favourite.

Looking back out the window, Hope pointed towards the dark clouds erupting ahead of them.

"Hey Frank, what's that up ahead? That's not what I think it is...right?"

"That, my dear Hope, is flak fire," he said regretfully. "Looks like we're heading to the movies. I suggest you girls grab a seat...Ruth may want a blindfold for this next part."

Hope swallowed, nodding quickly before rushing back to her seat. Bill talked quickly to Frank, but remained calm, it wasn't anything they hadn't been through before.

Ruth's fearful eyes widened as Hope explained what Frank had told her, before swiftly strapping herself into her seat. Her mind raced at all the terrible outcomes that could occur.

What happens if they go down?

What would happen if they just blew up over Germany? Boom!

She tried to put on a brave face but she knew Hope would see right through it, she always did.

Hope's fingers dug into the metal seat and her eyes closed, as her stomach flipped in circles with each turn. She'd not had any issues with her motion sickness since her training, but the urge to vomit up her breakfast only grew as the bile rose in the back of her throat.

Ruth opposite from her was as white as a sheet, her already pale face now the colour of a corpse with her lips set in a thin worried line. Her teeth clenched tightly together and her eyes shut tightly, as flack pierced through the plane's fuselage above her head.

"Shit!" she shreiked, covering her head with her hands.

"You okay, Rue?" Hope shouted over the noise of the war around them. A glossy-eyed and panting Ruth only nodded quickly in response.

Bullets ripped through the riveted sheets with a series of metallic pings, piercing through easily and sending metal flying into the cabin like confetti.

With the chaos surrounding them, Ruth barely noticed when a piece of shrapnel flew past her face, just grazing her temple. Flak continued to blast in the air surrounding the skytrain, the noise was deafening to everyone inside.

How could anyone think strategically in these conditions?

"OH FUCK!" Frank's voice shouted from the cockpit as he leaned over to Bill, "Stay with me, kid." Bill's lifeless body lay wide-eyed staring straight ahead, his young face frozen, expressionless. "DAMMIT!"

"What's wrong, Frank?" Hope called out as she unbuckled herself and stumbled from her seat, edging her way towards him.

Ruth's eyes widened. "Hope! What are you doing?!"

She simply sent her a worried glance, seeing the blood trickling down Ruth's cheek before disappearing from view, and the blonde stared at her in disbelief.

When another burst sent burning hot metal through the plane's fuselage around her, Ruth's eyes clenched shut, her head bowing as she mumbled a prayer for them, her hand instinctively reaching up for her usual comfort... her necklace....her lucky necklace that now hung around the neck of John Egan.

"Our Father, who art in heaven..."

In the cockpit, Frank didn't turn to face Hope when he spoke, his eyes trained on the incoming fire from the Messerschmitts that flew in all directions around them.

"We have been fucked by the fickle finger of fate and today is not our day. We're down to one engine and she isn't sounding too healthy. We're littered with holes and," he paused, his throat constricting as he motioned to the young boy who lay dead beside him. "And the Krauts...they got Billy."

The plane juddered and smoke poured from the remaining engine with a horrendous screech as Frank took a steadying breath. The next words to leave his lips sent a shiver down Hope's spine.

They were the ones every airman, flight nurse, and pilot prayed they'd never have to hear...

"There goes the last engine. We're going down!"

Tags: @georgieluz @docroesmorphine @major-mads @violetdaze25 @bcofl0ve @precious-little-scoundrel @blurredcolour @artlover8992 @b00ks1ut @xxluckystrike @hockeyboysarehot @groovin2beats @kmc1989 @ginabaker1666 @hesbuckcompton-baby @forsythiagalt

#masters of the air #gale cleven #John Egan #Buck Cleven #hope armstrong #Hugh Armstrong #ruth morgan #on a wing and a prayer

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willyoubemycherryy · 6 months

Text

❣︎𝙹𝚘𝚑𝚗 𝚡 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕𝚢𝚙𝚘𝚙 ᴍᴏᴅᴇʀɴ ᴀᴜ!

ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢs: 𝚘𝚏𝚏-𝚔𝚎𝚢 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚌𝚊𝚛 𝚔𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚘𝚔𝚎😭, 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚌 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚜 ’𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎’, 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜, 𝚙𝚍𝚊, 𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚏𝚏 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚃𝙾𝙼-𝚂𝙷𝙴𝙽𝙰𝙽𝙸𝙶𝙰𝙽𝙴𝚁𝚈, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚞𝚗 𝚅 𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢😂💕

“𝑲𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏’ 𝒄𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒂𝒏...’’

࣪𖤐๋࣭ ໒꒱✧. • 𐙚˙⋆.˚. .

If someone told you that you’d be stuck in traffic with 6 of the most adoringly irritating men you’ve ever met, fiancé included, you would punch them in the fucking chest for jinxing you like that.

Because that’s exactly the type of circus you currently found yourself in.

“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s goooo!”

“Bucky, turn it up!”

“No but like the way this song still EATS to THIS DAY?!!!”

“YEEAAAAHHH!”

Rolling your eyes behind the steering wheel at what apparently was your group of middle-school girls, you take a deep breath at what was about to occur.

“I THREW A WISH IN THE WELL-“

Ah yes.

The beautiful vocals of John Egan. Off tune as ever as he shouts the words, the others getting so rowdy that their bouncing shakes the car while they grin and dap each other up.

“DON’T ASK ME, I’LL NEVER TELL!” Curt scream-sings louder than John, moving a piece of imaginary long hair behind his ear before looking up to the side, batting his eyes dramatically. It’s all so completely ridiculous that before you can help it, you’re laughing and smiling with them. You know to other cars, you all probably look crazy as fuck but stranger things honestly.

They bounce line after line at each other, playing it up to absurd proportions by running their hands through their hair, fanning themselves like Victorian ladies seeing forearms for the first time, shaking each other, and firing off every over the top ‘come hither’ stare known to man.

At this point even you can’t help but to bop your head because the song really was catchy as hell.

“BUCK GO!”

“YEAH this is you!”

Oh dear god.

Now in his defense, Gale at least had the decency to look slightly embarrassed, given that he was the only one who hadn’t gone and joined in yet but now the pressure was on with Bucky, Curtis, Rosie, Bubbles, and Douglass all looking at him. Practically daring him to ruin the mood.

“…”

“If you don’t-!”

“BEFORE YOU CAME INTO MY LIFE I MISSED YOU SO BAD!”

The hoops and hollers get so loud that you have to roll the windows down. Gale gives in and sings with them and not surprisingly at all, his voice is hot and beautiful not bad compared to the others.

But as good a mood you may be in, you refuse to entertain their foolishness too much or else it’ll go on forever and after being held in traffic hostage for almost an hour and a half, that’s something you just can’t risk. Luckily you don’t have to because the song ends a minute and change later with them all yelling “so call me maybe!!” out the windows, all crowding each other as they try to get their heads through like a bouquet of golden retrievers.

Bucky leans over to press a sloppy kiss on your cheek, making the skin heat up under his sudden undivided attention.

“Babydoll cmon, why don’t you sing with us?” He asks, tapping the underside of your chin.

“Because~ no♡︎. I don’t think I’d sound too great.” which is a complete lie, you sound just fine but you don’t feel like it right now. More than wanting to sing, you want to get back and eat a turkey sandwich (sorry vegans).

However, your fiancé being who he is, can’t help but voice his opinion on your voice…in the most mortifying way possible.

“Well I think you sound better than great when I’ve got you singing underneath me.”

The collective gasps from the Peanut Gallery in your backseat makes the heat rushing up the back of your neck almost unbearable as you snap your head sideways to look Bucky in his face, eyes wide in shock because oh no he didn’t.

“I beg your utmost pardon?!” Screeching as your hand flies to your chest, jaw dropped. He laughs, shrugging like he didn’t just end your honor.

“What?? I’ve said worse to you!” The “ooh’s” from the backseat egg you on as you two start to argue.

“Immediately no, because be so for real! My pearls are clutched to the finest degreeee right now like what is wrong with you?!”

“Babe what! What’d I say?!”

“Dude you DO NOT say shit like that in front of company!”

“We’re not in the house though!”

“The rule still applies! Do I talk about your d-“, while in the middle of your back and forth, Gale interrupts.

“I feel like this would be less…whatever is happening, with some background noise. Could you turn the radio back on, hon? And if it helps, we didn’t hear anything.”

He’s so sweet, truly. Smacking Curtis on the back of the head when he looks like he’s about to disagree with what he knows he definitely did hear, he smiles at you. So, turning to shoot one last irritated look at John, you turn the radio on.

The intro of an almost electro-80’s pop song fill the car and almost immediately the excitement starts again but Gale’s reaction catches you completely off guard, mouth dropping open as he sings,

“My silhouette is in the frame of your shades again~…”

Hillside boys??!!!!

#callum turner #callum turner x reader #masters of the air #mota #fluff #x reader #john egan x reader #john bucky egan #john egan #callum turner fluff #austin butler #major gale cleven #gale cleven #buck cleven #gale buck cleven #john bucky egan x reader

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vialovesyou · 9 months

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𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗝𝗝 𝗠𝗔𝗬𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗞

" oh-oh my god" kelsey exhaled, holding y/n's hair back as she threw up into the toilet for the third time that night. kelsey glanced up at caitlyn who shrugged her shoulders." she can't go home like this" kelsey stated, rubbing the girls back.

it was halloween night, and mckay, a stupid rich kook,was throwing a huge party. his parents were out of town for the weekend and left with without a spending limit on his daddy's amex so the marble island in the kitchen was covered with alchohol.

jj and y/n had argued a few hours before, it started as something stupid but it turned into them both saying something they regret. y/n had showed up at mckay's with a strapless black bodycon dress, black stockings that had pink bows at the cut-off at her thigh and a fake gun in the holster. " mrs smith" mckay grinned, opening his arms for the brunette. mckay was dressed as hugh hefner, and y/n noticed his girlfriend, sienna, dressed up as a playboy bunny in another room.

mckay was one of the only decent kooks on the island, he was a nice person. his parents raised him like that. he was respectful, did well in school and never picked fights.

" where's mr smith?" mckay asked, walking to the kitchen with his hand on y/n's lower back. "that doesn't matter " smiled y/n, grinning at the array of bottles. " shots?"

that was how y/n ended up in this situation. she was able to talk at first, being semi illiterate before she passed out in the downstairs bathroom. mckay helped kelsey take her upstairs to his bedroom, before giving the two some privacy after bringing y/n some water and bread.

she was unable to talk at this stage, going in and out of conciousness to throw up as she layed on the bathroom floor with mckay's quilt on top of her to cover her dress which was pulled up far too high, her underwear on show.

" should we call jj?" caitlyn asked, reaching for y/n's phone that was on the counter top and quickly unlocking it. " yeah, i can't take her to my place like this. my mom's home" kelsey spoke, as y/n's head fell onto her lap.

kelsey began stroking the girls hair as caitlyn dialed jj's number.

" i don't know how you watch this shit" jj exhaled, uncrossing his arms from his chest as he glanced at sarah. john b had fell asleep long ago, his head on her shoulder as him and sarah watched some sappy rom-com. " why are you so grouchy?" asked sarah, a pout on her features.

jj had been in a bad mood since he stormed into the chateau, slamming the front door so hard that the full house shook. he had been snappy ever since. sarah knew that it was something to do with y/n since the only response she got when she asked what y/n was up too ,was a grumble under his breath.

his ringtone cut threw the air, cutting sarah off as a picture of jj and y/n flashed on the screen, her name across the top. sarah watched as jj cleared his throat, diverting his eyes back to the tv.

" aren't you going to answer that?" sarah questioned as the phone rung out. they were engulfed in silence once again, before it started ringing again. " jj" sarah urged, rolling her eyes as the boy silenced the call again.

y/n❤️

jj it's caity

can u come get y/n

she's really drunk

it's bad

we are at mckays

the adress is 57 whitehill lane

j 💌

i'm on my way

" i need to go" jj stated, standing up and picking up his shoes. " is everything okay?" sarah questioned, at the boys now frantic state but didn't get a reply as he slammed the door shut.

" yo, jj. my man, so glad you could make it " grinned mckay, dapping up jj as the blonde came into the kitchen.

" where's y/n " jj questioned, his face void of a smile. mckay nodded, understanding that jj was worried about his girlfriend.

" follow me" mckay spoke, beggining to walk up the spiral staircase with jj behind him. they walked down a ridiculously long hallway, before they stopped.

" she's in there" mckay spoke, gesturing to the door causing jj to nod. mckay began to walk away, but stopped when he heard jj speak. "mckay?" mckay nodded in response. " thanks"jj stated, smiling with his lips in a thin line at the boy.

" no problem, bro" mckay shouted, going back downstairs as jj opened the door. his eyes immediately went to the ensuite bathroom as he could see caity stood in the doorway.

" oh, jj " she sighed in relief, stepping to the side to allow jj to crouch down beside y/n.

" what happened?" jj questioned, lifting the girls head gently from kelsey's lap to his own allowing the girl to stand up.

" i don't know, she showed up and she was really upset. she started drinking, and crying. god, she was crying alot- what the fuck did you do to make her cry so much?" kelsey questioned, as jj stroked the girl's tear stained cheek as she was still asleep. " she came in here with blair, then i came in and blair was gone, and y/n was on the floor"

" shit" he muttured, guilt flooding his chest as the girl suddenly woke up. she turned her head to the toilet, coughing as she began to throw up. he wrapped his hand around her hair, pulling it into a make-shift ponytail.

kelsey kneeled down beside the couple, giving jj the plastic cup filled with water as y/n leaned back, falling into jj's chest. " hey, baby. drink this" jj spoke softly, using his thumb to lightly open the girls mouth. y/n blinked slowly, allowing jj to tilt the liquid into her mouth before she pulled away.

she blinked a couple of times, looking up to see it was jj. " hi, asshole" she slurred, accepting the bit of pizza caitlyn was handing her before taking a bite. jj laughed lightly. he was sat on the bathroom floor, his back against the wall beside the toilet with y/n between his legs. she leaned her head back onto his chest, taking another bite of the pizza having seemingly sobered up slightly.

she reached up and plucked the cap off his head, and put it on her own causing jj to reach down and push the front off the cap down blocking her eyesighr. " hey, want to fuck off?" y/n questioned, looking up at jj with her head still on his chest. he rolled his eyes, wrapping his arm loosely around the girls waist fiddling with the bows on her stockings.

#jjmaybank #jjmaybankfluff #jjmaybanksmut #jj mayback x reader #jjmaybankangst #outerbanks #obx

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karmic-vibes · 2 years

Text

If I Can Dream

8 - Oh Why Can’t My Dream Come True

art credit: @lazylittledragon on tumblr and lazyjunebug on twitter

cw: gender dysphoria, misuse of pronouns, use of deadname

Year: 1988

“They’re gonna freak out,” Eddie panicked.

“No they won’t,” Steve assured.

“They’re gonna call me a girl,” he hissed.

“And I’ll yell at them, then we’ll leave. You’re my boyfriend and soon-to-be husband, alright? I’m not gonna let them walk all over you.”

“If you say so.”

“Oh, hello boys. What brings you here?” he asked.

“Off to a good start,” Steve whispered. “Hi, dad. We, uh… we actually had some news we wanted to share with you guys.”

“Alright, what is it?”

“For starters, we’re getting married.”

“Oh, congratulations!” Pattie cheered, forcing the two of them into a hug.

“How, uh… how exactly does that work?” John asked.

“Well…” Steve looked to Eddie, seeking his approval before continuing. He gave him a nod and a reassuring rub on the back. “Since Eddie is still legally considered a female, we’re able to get married. When we go to change his last name, he’ll finally be changing his first one too.”

“About time,” John said.

“You’re telling me,” Eddie dryly chuckled.

“So what else?” Pattie asked.

“Hmm?” Steve hummed.

“You said ‘for starters’—what else is there?”

“Well…” They looked the each other, fear filling their eyes. “We’re, um… uh…”

“For Christ’s sake, we’re having a baby,” Eddie rushed out.

Pattie and John stood there catching flies. Their eyes bulged out of their head, not quite sure how to take the news.

“Okay, not everyone speak all at once, god,” Steve said.

“I… are you sure?” Pattie asked.

“Yeah, we’re sure.”

“Okay, but how sure?”

“I took an at home test and just got my blood work done. So… pretty sure…”

“Wow… John?”

His father didn’t answer. Instead, he pushed past the boys and made his way to the study. Pattie rolled her eyes and chased after her husband.

“Told you so,” Eddie said.

“Not the time, Munson. Mom, dad?” Steve called.

“What?” Pattie sighed.

“We just… we thought you guys would be happy. You know… grandkids, yay…”

“Steven, we put up with this whole charade you made us put on for your girlfriend–“

“Whoa–“

“I am not done speaking, Steven. You make us relearn a name, address her by some ridiculous new pronouns. We can accept the two of you getting married, since legally we can’t stop you. But having a child? No, absolutely not. You two as parents? Please. It’s an unfit household.”

“How, dad? Hmm? How are we unfit to be parents?”

“A child needs a mom and a dad. Not a dad and a fucking tranny.”

“Yeah, because a mom and a dad did me so fucking well. We’re done here. Let’s go.”

Steve grabbed onto Eddie’s wrist and practically dragged him out of the house. He opened Eddie’s door for him and shut it once he was fully in the car. Even when he was heated beyond belief, he always took the time to treat Eddie the way he deserved. Especially now that they had a child on the way, he always found a reason to calm himself down.

Without realizing, Steve was driving with his mind on autopilot. Despite not being scheduled to work that day, he found himself pulling into the Family Video lot. When it clicked, he blinked aimlessly a few times and profusely apologized to Eddie.

“No, no, it’s okay, honey. Let’s get a movie or something while we’re here and say hi to Robin.”

“Yeah, okay…”

“We don’t have to tell her yet if you don’t want.”

“No, no I do. Sorry, my parents put me in a bad mood.”

“I know, it’s okay.”

Steve got out, rushing over to get Eddie’s door for him. He helped him out and the two stood outside the door, trying to silently reassure each other before heading inside. As Eddie reached for the door, Steve grabbed his waist and pulled him in for a sweet kiss.

The two caught Robin’s eye as she was processing some returns. She raised a brow and leaned over the counter, waiting for the two to walk in. They mumbled something incoherent to each other before Steve opened the door for Eddie.

“Long time, no see, boys. How’re we doing today?”

“Good,” Eddie smiled. “How’re you, Rob?”

“I’m good,” she said, glancing over at Steve. “Are you hiding something from me, Harrington? You’re usually talking my ear off.”

“Can we talk in the back, Rob?”

“Sure… everything okay?”

“Yeah, just come on.”

The friends dipped into the cramped back room as Eddie wandered around looking for a movie for the night. Robin leaned against the door as Steve hopped onto the desk with a huff.

“What’s really going on?”

“What do you mean?”

“Something’s up. What’s going on?”

“Sorry, we just got back from my parents’ house.”

“Ah. Any reason you were there?”

“Do I need a reason to visit my parents?” Robin raised a brow and crossed her arms. “Yeah, okay, you got me there.” Steve buried his face in his hands. “Eddie’s pregnant…”

“Holy shit, what? How?”

“We weren’t careful and uh… yeah. He’s pregnant. Just about two months, now.”

“Wow… so, you’re gonna be a dad?”

“I know…”

“What the hell‽”

“I know!”

“Jesus… how does Eddie feel about the whole thing?”

“He’s nervous, understandably. I’m more nervous for his mental state, y’know?”

“Why?”

“Rob, he’s worked so hard getting where he is. He’s come out to me, to everyone we know, dealt with the backlash, went through the agony of top surgery, and now… after all that… he’s pregnant… it’s like two steps forward and three steps back. I feel terrible.”

“Steve, he loves you and I’m sure he’s happy to do this for you. If he weren’t, I’m sure he’d bring up the idea of getting rid of it. I think he’ll be okay.”

“I just worry.”

“And you have every right to worry! It just means you’re a good boyfriend.”

“Fiancé,” he corrected.

“Jesus, Harrington, I don’t see you for a week and you come in here saying you’re gonna be a dad and a husband!”

“I know, crazy, huh?”

“Where does all the time go, Christ…”

“What do you mean?” Steve chuckled.

“Steve, three years ago, when we met at Scoops, you and Ed had only been dating for like six or seven months. Both unsure what you’d be doing with each of your futures. Now here you are, nearly college graduates, engaged, and future dads. It’s insane!”

“Yeah, I guess it is…”

“I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks, Rob. That means a lot.”

“Of course, dingus. I’ll always be happy for you.”

“Thanks,” Steve chortled. “I should go check on the husband. Lord knows what he’s getting into.”

“Probably ruining all my hard work from this morning,” Robin teased.

“I wouldn’t put it past him.”

As if I’m cue, as the friends emerged from the back room, Eddie had tripped over one of the displays Robin had spent all morning setting up. She pinched the bridge of her nose, motioning for Steve to collect his man.

“Sorry,” Eddie started. “Pregnancy brain is already getting to me.”

“I figured. Congrats, by the way.”

“Thanks, Robin…” Eddie blushed as Steve helped him up. “Uh, Stevie, how do you feel about a horror movie?”

“Depends which one.”

“Nightmare on Elm?”

“Ed, we’ve watched that a million times.”

“Yeah, your point?”

“God, I hate you. Fine, we’ll rent it again, but I’m getting something too.”

“Fine by me. I’ll be right back,” he said, setting the tape down on the counter.

“Where’re you running off to?” Steve asked.

“If you must know, Steven, I feel like I’m about to puke my guts out. Happy?”

“Dear lord. Call me if you need anything.” Eddie gave him a thumbs up as he headed to the Staff Only bathroom.

“So, what’re you gonna make him sit through?” Robin asked.

“A birthing video. He wants horror, I’ll give him horror.”

“You sure that’s a good idea?”

“Why not? We both need to be prepared.”

“If you say so.”

Later that night, after the boys had dinner and finished watching Nightmare on Elm Street, Steve surprised Eddie with the birthing video. At first, Eddie was reluctant to watch it, especially so soon, but he eventually caved and let Steve pop the tape in.

The tape started out as rather informational, going through the different stages of labor and what to expect in each. What neither of them were anticipating, was it cutting to a woman actually pushing a child out of her.

“Can result in a severe hemorrhage, which could lead to death in minutes,” the narrator droned.

Eddie and Steve sat back on the couch, clutching their thighs to their chests, mouths hanging open with eyes popped out of the skulls.

“Steven, why did you make me watch that‽”

“I don’t know!”

“Was that meant to be comforting‽”

“I don’t know!”

“Oh my god, a human is going to be coming out of me!” Eddie panicked. “This is all your fault, Harrington!”

“What is‽”

“First knocking me up, then showing me that video!”

“I’m sorry!”

“Ugh!” Eddie fell back on the couch, dragging a blanket with him. He cocooned himself in the couch’s throw, only allowing his eyes to pop out. “This kid better be worth it.”

“She will be.”

“I hate you, Harrington.”

“I know you do, Munson…” Steve sighed as he rubbed his fiancé’s back. “I know you do…”

#eddie munson #eddie st4 #eddie stranger things #gay #st4 #steddie #steve harrington #steve x eddie #stranger things #lgbtq #pride #lgbt pride #trans eddie munson #transgender #parent steddie #joseph quinn #joe kerry #robin buckley #maya hawke

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eternal--returned · 3 months

Text

IGGY POP: Once I heard the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters, and even Chuck Berry playing his own tune, I couldn't go back and listen to the British Invasion, you know, a band like the Kinks. I'm sorry, the Kinks are great, but when you're a young guy and you're trying to find out where your balls are, you go, "Those guys sound like pussies!" I had tried to go to college, but I couldn't do it. I had met Paul Butterfield's guitarist, Mike Bloomfield, who said, "If you really want to play, you've got to go to Chicago." So I went to Chicago with nineteen cents. I got a ride with some girls that worked at Discount Records. They dumped me off at a guy named Bob Koester's house. Bob was white and ran the Jazz Record Mart there. I crashed with him and then I went out to Sam's neighborhood. I really was the only white guy there. It was scary, but it was also a travel adventure—all these little record stores, and Mojos hanging, and people wearing colorful clothes. I went to Sam's place and his wife was very surprised that I was looking for him. She said, "Well, he's not here, but would you like some fried chicken?" So I hooked up with Sam Lay. He was playing with Jimmy Cotton and I'd go see them play and learned what I could. And very occasionally, I would get to sit in, I'd get a cheap gig for five or ten bucks. I played for Johnny Young once—he was hired to play for a white church group, and I could play cheap, so he let me play. It was a thrill, you know? It was a thrill to be really close to some of those guys—they all had an attitude, like jive motherfuckers, you know? What I noticed about these black guys was that their music was like honey off their fingers. Real childlike and charming in its simplicity. It was just a very natural mode of expression and lifestyle. They were drunk all the time and it was all sexy-sexy and dudey-dudey, and it was just a bunch of guys that didn't want to work and who played good. I realized that these guys were way over my head, and that what they were doing was so natural to them that it was ridiculous for me to make a studious copy of it, which is what most white blues bands did. Then one night, I smoked a joint. I'd always wanted to take drugs, but I'd never been able to because the only drug I knew about was marijuana and I was a really bad asthmatic. Before that, I wasn't interested in drugs, or getting drunk, either. just wanted to play and get something going, that was all I cared about. But this girl, Vivian, who had given me the ride to Chicago, left me with a little grass. So one night I went down by the sewage treatment plant by the Loop, where the river is entirely industrialized. It's all concrete banks and effluvia by the Marina Towers. So I smoked this joint and then it hit me. I thought, What you gotta do is play your own simple blues. I could describe my experience based on the way those guys are describing theirs . . . So that's what I did. I appropriated a lot of their vocal forms, and also their turns of phrase—either heard or misheard or twisted from blues songs. So "I Wanna Be Your Dog" is probably my mishearing of "Baby Please Don't Go."

Legs McNeil & Gillian McCain ֍ Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk (1996)

youtube

The Stooges ֍ I Wanna Be Your Dog (1969)

youtube

Muddy Waters ֍ Baby Please Don't Go (1953)

#legs mcneil #gillian mccain #please kill me: the uncensored oral history of punk #iggy pop #paul butterfield blues band #john lee hooker #muddy waters #chuck berry #the kinks #i wanna be your dog #baby please don't go #bookshelf #quotes #tunes #music #fav #Youtube

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azures-bazar · 2 years

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How would the gang members react to the female reader being a highly skilled badass martial artist and supermodel? I don’t mind if it’s headcannons or a a write up! Hope this is okay! Love your blog 💖

Headcanon - Strong martial artist - Female!Reader

Hi there anon, thank you for your request ! This is my very first headcanon, I hope you’ll like it ! I don't know much about martial arts, unfortunately :')

Overall gang members and Arthur, John, Dutch, Hosea, Sadie, Javier, Charles and Sean head canons ! In case you want other gang members, feel free to tell me and I’ll add them ! :D

I haven't found the right format yet, I'll keep trying to make headcanons to get better at it ! Please excuse my mistakes :')

Request : Female!Reader

Characters : Arthur Morgan, John Marston, Dutch Van der Linde, Hosea Matthews, Sadie Addler, Javier Escuella, Charles Smith, Sean MacGuire

Relationship : Ambiguous, flirtatious, friendly, protective

Lines : About 8 per character

Overall gang members :

Well, let’s be honest : Everyone is actually impressed by the way you fight because no-one in the gang knows much about martial arts. You’re the very first gang member who is mastering this combat style !

And oh my god, you’re so gorgeous when you fight ! Everyone says it, even Bill and Micah, in their own way.

You’re also really skilled with guns, which leads a few gang members to be jealous of you. How can you be so beautiful, so strong and so skilled at once ? It’s not fair !

Even if you’re coming back to camp badly wounded and bleeding, while the whole gang is worried about you, you’ll sit down and take care of yourself without any help.

Because, you know… it’s just a flesh wound.

No one dares bothering you whenever you’re mad. Most gang members have seen how fierce you are, they seriously won’t try messing with you.

However, Bill and Micah did try once. They ended up badly hurt and never did that again.

The girls admire you so much that Mary-Beth created a fictional character inspired by you.

You are an absolute model to follow, not only because of your beauty, but also because you know how to fight for yourself and won’t hesitate calling people off if anyone is in danger.

And men respect you, despite some of them keep taunting you because you’re a woman who knows how to fight… which is something quite common in 1899.

Arthur Morgan :

Arthur knows how to fight with his fists, but in a different way. His technique is a little bit less… subtle, but he has broken as many feller's bones as you did.

However, he never had the opportunity to beat you when you’re having some friendly fights. You’re very quick, his fists never end up on your face. But don’t worry, he would never hurt you and can measure his own strength because he’s somewhat scared to cause you harm.

He wants you to teach him about martial arts, but is too shy to ask since he’s not much flexible and believes he would look ridiculous.

However, he secretly tries imitating your fighting positions when being out of sight, since he doesn’t want anyone to see him. He struggles at times, especially while trying to perform some high kicks on a nearby tree.

His muscles often end up sore and he says he just slept in a bad position. However, just by looking at these bruises on his legs and hands, you can quickly guess he’s lying.

He’s absolutely mortified when seeing you coming back to camp covered in bruises, and spends a lot of time trying to stitch your wounds up even if you tell him you don’t need his help.

You’re amongst the most beautiful women Arthur has ever seen. He likes drawing you, no matter what you’re actually doing. "She's a strange woman, fierce and skilled soul hidden beneath an angel's face." he wrote.

He trusts your skills whenever you’re going on robberies. He knows how good you are with guns, but also with your fists. And yet… he can turn into a protective bear whenever he sees someone take the advantage.

John Marston :

Just like Arthur, John never beat you during your friendly fights. You’re literally invincible and John likes teasing you to make you loose. However, it doesn’t affect you… and you still pin him to the ground without a struggle.

However, he says he won just once, despite everyone knows it is not true. Even Jack knows you never loose a fight. Aunt Y/N can’t loose against his pa’ !

You tried teaching him about your skills… but let’s be honest : John was not really a good student. He kept moving like crazy, fell quite often due to his overall lack of balance… and broke his arm.

Twice.

Whenever he’s tasked to rob a stagecoach or a train, John brings you in because you know how to fight, and because you’re almost a human shield. You can’t even count the number of times you had to fight folks while John was lockpicking a chest.

He often comments about your beauty and says how surprising it is to see such a gorgeous-looking lady being able to fight and win against men which are twice her weight.

When you’re caught in a brawl together, he often taunts you about having your beautiful face bruised. "It’d be a shame to have such a sweet angel-like face scarred like mine, huh ?". Indeed, it would, but it would only give you even more charisma.

And you taunt him on his scars in return, but he likes that.

Dutch Van Der Linde :

Dutch is absolutely amazed by your fighting skills and obviously doesn't try messing with you. Even if he needs something and you're not in the mood, he won't try anything.

He literally sees you win your friendly fights against his sons on a daily basis, he doesn’t stand a chance. Even if he's the leader of your gang and your "boss", as he often says.

You’re the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. He won't hesitate gently courting you on a daily basis… even when Molly is around. Mostly when Molly is around. "The toughest pretty girl in the world !" he always says when seeing you.

Despite being obviously aware of your skills, as soon as you’re coming back to camp, you MUST be protected, especially when you’re covered in bruises. You're not leaving his tent until you feel a little better.

He will spend some time applying a balm he asked Hosea to make while begging you to be careful next time. He wants your beautiful face and body to remain as perfect as it already is.

Dutch loves watching your trainings, finding you gorgeous and, somehow, very lovely. He admires you but feels frightened whenever he witnesses you chopping some wood with your forearms.

He likes having you under his wing, knowing that such a beautiful gem, so fierce and strong, mastering martial arts while being absolutely calm under any circumstances, needs to be guided.

He is afraid about you loosing faith in him. He doesn’t want to be on the wrong side of your fists… or your guns.

Hosea Matthews :

Hosea is a Cowboy Dad™, he wants to protect you even if he knows how strong you are, and secretly enjoys taking care of you. You’re such a beautiful and wild gem !

Especially when you’re trying to explain him that you don’t need his help. He finds pleasure in seeing you pushing him away out of pride. You know he’s not patronising, he just genuinely cares about your wellbeing.

No matter how badass or how strong you are, if you’re hurt, he's going full dad mode. Don’t try anything against it, you’re not going to escape him and his numerous plant-based balms. "It’s for your own good, sweetheart." he always says. It truly is.

He likes watching you fight against John and Arthur, just to witness their priceless faces every time they loose against you. After all, it’s such a funny even to witness !

Hosea also claps his hands to support each one of you during these short fights. It’s so amazing to see you pin Arthur to the ground, knowing how much he weights.

He won’t hesitate telling you how beautiful you are, no matter what you’re wearing or what you are doing. How can such a beautiful lady be this skilled ? He often thinks about it and tell how proud and absolutely in awe he is whenever you're around him.

Hosea somewhat supervises your trainings and tries cheering you up whenever something doesn’t go your way. "It’s alright, my sweet darling. Just try again !" can be heard whenever you miss your target or accidentally fall on the ground.

Even if you’re one of the most skilled gang members, Hosea is always worried about you going on robberies but knows everything will be alright, as long as you don’t follow Bill or Sean.

Sadie Adler :

You and Sadie share a lot in common, no wonder why you’ve been good friends for a while already ! The two of you are fierce and strong, and absolutely beautiful, indeed !

She doesn’t know anything about martial arts, but now she wants to be able to fight just like you. She would ask you to teach her what you know every morning, which is very sweet. It's lovely to see her excited like that !

She loves the way you walk back to camp after a robbery or a brawl and always asks you how many limbs you broke. Also, the two of you share this common independence whenever you need to stitch up your own wounds, not needing anyone’s help.

Sadie is already very skilled and is a quick learner, but she did not succeed in winning a fight against you yet.

However, last time the two of you had a friendly fight, she nearly won ! In a couple of months, she might be able to pin you to the ground !

She admires you as much as you admire her, you’re the perfect pair to be sent on raids against O’Driscolls or on random robberies. You always come back victorious… and wounded, but going on raids with Sadie is so much fun !

The two of you kinda scare the rest of the gang because of how skilled you are with your fists and with your guns. Amongst them, Bill is the most frightened.

She finds you gorgeous and won’t hesitate telling everyone about how she feels whenever you’re around her. She often compliments you because, according to her, you deserve it !

Javier Escuella :

Javier is absolutely blown away by your fighting skills and begs you to teach him how to fight like you ! "Like this, Y/N ? Like this ?" is his favourite quote whenever he tries imitating you, he sounds adorable.

Just like Sadie, Javier is a quick learner but tends to feel a little too excited whenever you compliment his overall flexibility. He would like to show more in order to impress you !

Javier laughs during your friendly fights because, sometimes, he has no idea about what he’s currently doing. He is very good with guns, this is what he often tells you.

Watching you during your daily trainings makes his heart melt as he finds you gorgeous, even while breaking wooden crates with your legs.

He is flirty, nobody denies it. Javier loves walking around you and often compliments your beauty by rewarding you with some adorable nicknames in Spanish.

You’re called leona, cariña, reina… at times, he teases you by calling you chiquita, but you like it anyway. A chiquita who knows how to fight and has broken a hundred bones in her lifetime.

He sings ballads about you and mentions how gorgeous and strong you are, but only he can understand what he’s talking about… unless you know Spanish.

If you’re wounded after a job, Javier will take care of you. And you won’t be able to resist his insisting stares ! If he wants to take care of you, he will do it.

Charles Smith :

Charles doesn’t talk much, but he actually admires the way you fight and smiles at you. He always falls out of time while gazing at you during your trainings, feeling mostly impressed but also charmed.

He has seen how good you are to fight and care for yourself, so he trusts you when you have to do jobs together. He really likes having you around !

He finds you absolutely beautiful but only tells it to you when there is no-one else around, believing you and only you should hear him. "You're a wonderful person, Y/N." he often says.

As far as you can recall, Charles publicly complimented you twice : one time because of an outfit he found beautiful, the other time because of your ease at pinning men down following a brawl at the saloon.

He did not tell you about it yet, but he absolutely loves watching you walk around in your most beautiful outfits… and fight wearing them.

If you try teaching him about martial arts, he will most likely end up teaching you what he knows about wild animals and how to hunt them. He feels grateful towards you for everything you can teach him.

If you don’t have one yet, Charles would craft you a bow for you to hunt with him. He takes his sweet time to teach you how to use your new bow and is very proud of you no matter what you're doing with it.

Despite fully trusting you, Charles is worried whenever you’re badly wounded and will take care of you, just like he does with anyone he loves. He knows you’re a tough cookie, but also needs to know you’re alright.

Sean MacGuire

Sean is clueless about what martial arts are. He genuinely believed you were talking about marital arts, making him feel confused to learn that what he thought to be the art of fancy weddings was actually a large set of fighting techniques.

He is in awe whenever you fight and is overwhelmingly excited when you try teaching him what you know. He looks like an hyperactive child who doesn’t really know how to stand still, but it’s kinda fun to watch.

His overall careless behaviour caused him to fall numerous times. He nearly lost another tooth while training with you, but laughed all the time, holding back some tears of pain.

"Me Da’ used to say women who know how to fight are the most beautiful women !" is his favourite quote. Indeed, you know how to fight, and Sean won’t lie to you about your beauty ! You are gorgeous, so beautiful and charming !

He admires how stern-faced you are whenever you stitch up your own wounds. He tried doing it once, but ended up screaming… so Arthur finished the job. But don’t remind him about it.

Whenever you’re doing jobs with him, you know you should not follow his lead. His carefree attitude makes a stark contrast with your calm behaviour, but he somewhat knows he’s safe with you, and believes you’re safe with him too... which isn't completely true.

He likes teasing you at times, giving you some sweet nicknames while falling from his seat whenever he’s drunk. He’s hopeless, but it’s fun to watch him like this. He likes calling you pretty doll, sober or not.

Sean is quick to compliment your beauty, he often shouts some of them from the other side of the hideout for everyone to hear him. The whole gang needs to know about it, and everyone agrees with him on that !

#rdr2 oc #rdr2 headcanons #arthur morgan #john marston #dutch van der linde #hosea matthews #javier escuella #sadie adler #charles smith #sean macguire #female reader #martial arts #azurestales #this is bad but I'm going to do better next time #sorry for my mistakes

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