#or at least as close to fluff as you can get with DL

[carlatsukinamistolemyhamsandwich]

Both as an interest check for the thing I may or may not be working on and because I've been curious about this question for years and now have access to polls:

As per usual I'd be interested to see people's thoughts on this in the replies if you have any. I remember back when I first got into the fandom this was a pretty big debate but it's died down a lot as the fandom's shrunk so I'm kind of curious where people sit on this now.

[queeraaronhotchner]

hi my love! i’m just followed you but i did see your recent post for request! SO! i got one for ya!

could you maybe do a little fluff fic of morgan and penelope where they try to keep their relationship a secret (mainly bc penelope wants to keep it on the dl bc yanno work relationships idk) and then when they finally decide to announce it everyone’s like, “oh we already know”

i hope that’s something you were looking for? or you could get something out of this i’m horrible at explaining things lol

okay but this is SO cute tysm for sending this in 🥺 i'm going to answer this one in more of a hc/shortform style rather than a proper blurb, i hope that's alright!!

my inbox is open for requests! <3

-okay so we already know that this is like, pretty close to canon because of how garcia acts in black queen where she gets super embarrassed for being called out for how she and derek talk to each other

-once they start dating they actually tone down the flirting pretty significantly which everyone is honestly sort of worried about

-emily pulls derek aside and asks what he did, jj comes into penny's bat cave and asks if everything is alright with morgan (which makes her ‼️ because she thinks jj Knows even though she literally doesn't), reid asks derek if penelope is okay, rossi tells penelope that if something happened she can always come to him, hotch quietly stews in his office wondering if the team is falling apart

-but after a bit it becomes pretty obvious to all of them because they're not as flirty in the office but morgan starts bringing penelope takeout for lunch if he goes out, they're always leaving the office at the same time, stuff like that

-(morgan also writes her little love notes which make her tear up and also make the 'no kissing at the office' rule a lot harder)

-(one time emily comes into garcia's office when she's reading a note and garcia gets all flustered and freaks out at emily for not knocking)

-morgan is the first one to say he wants to stop sneaking around like this but the minute he does penelope is like "oh thank god you do too because this has been a NIGHTMARE"

-they decide that they should be cool about it and just maybe tell people at the next round table

-so the next day as penelope is like "guys get ready for this one because we've been finding fingers and toes scattered around near the border"

-and derek looks at her like 🤨 bc she was the one who said they should do it Right Now

-and she's like "oh yeah also me and morgan decided for our six month anniversary we should tell you all that we're together" and then waits for the reactions

-she didn't really want for it to be a big deal but she's weirdly disappointed by the lack of response she gets

-not even spencer or hotch give anything, hotch barely raises an eyebrow and reid just like... half-nods

-derek is also not happy that no one is surprised and he's like "what the hell guys"

-rossi says something about how they're profilers, they couldn't have thought they were really getting away with it

-they're both a little mad to find out that everybody knew and nobody said anything but at least now they can hold hands in the office now :,)

[lunawritesaa]

HI I'M THIRSTY FOR MORE SEBBY CONTENT!! May I request sebastian, edgeworth and raymond shield with a touch starved s/o that loves to hold hands and hugs? in public, they always seen holding hands and hugging their arm (if they let them to). but in private, they are more touch starved? if that makes sense? THANK YOU AND REMEMBER TO TAKE A BREAK -sebastian anon

——

characters: sebastian debeste. miles edgeworth, raymond shields

warnings: none

genre: request, fluff

a/n: I KNOW, I WILL TAKE A BREAK IF I NEED ONE!! but thank you for your concern as always, sebastian anon~

[requests are closed, rules are pinned]

——

{sebastian debeste}

Sebastian is probably as touch starved as you are, if not more. 

His father never really gave him the much needed physical affection that a child should get thus leading to him now craving affection. 

When you two start dating, he can get pretty clingy. He likes being around you constantly or having you nearby. He feels more comfortable with you by his side, so he doesn’t like being away from you. 

In public, he is definitely more reserved with his touches with you. He’s just more.. shy with giving affection. At least at the beginning of your relationship. 

He doesn’t really know what’s the best way to show you affection so he more or less lets you take the lead until he gets more comfortable. 

Will totally let you hold his hand! Honestly, he may even be the one to initiate it at times. He really likes holding your hand. 

Gets more flustered if you grab onto his arm or hug his arm, though. But he doesn’t shy away from it. He wants you to be comfortable and happy, so if holding his arm makes you happy then he literally can’t say no. 

Behind closed doors? 

Y’all are ALWAYS showing affection in some way or another. 

Cuddling? Yes. Hugs? Yes! Kisses? Yes!!

Sebastian is much more likely to be open with affection in private, and will gladly accept all of your love. 

He’s such a sucker for any and all of the love that you give him. 

He always tries to reciprocate any affection that you give him, too. Like if you give him a kiss, he’ll give you a kiss. 

He always does it too.

Please protect this precious bby~

——

{miles edgeworth}

Miles is another one who is lowkey very touch starved. 

But he’s less likely to act on this. In other words, as much as he craves your touch he will not ask for it. He’s too embarrassed to!

His childhood was not the best and lacked a lot of loving touches (more so after the DL-6) so he definitely loves whenever you give him love. 

He doesn’t mind hand holding, as it is a more subtle gesture of affection. But please please do not latch onto his arm. 

He’ll get super embarrassed and quite honestly hates it! You can probably get away with it once but never again. 

He isn’t a huge fan of PDA in general, and thinks that some things are better saved for when the two of you are in private. 

So you can try to be affectionate with him in front of others, but he’ll most likely scold you and ask you to stop. 

In private though?

He’s much more open to all kinds of affection. 

He likes cuddling! But he’s pretty shy and doesn’t like asking for them. So you’ll most likely have to be the one to initiate it. 

But given the fact that you’re as, if not more, touch starved than him, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem!

He won’t tell you this, but he loves when you’re affectionate in private. 

He loves all of your loving touches and kisses!!

Tries to give you love back but he’s very embarrassed about it. 

He gets somewhat comfortable with it over time but not as much as you are. 

More or less just lets you initiate any and all affection. 

——

{raymond shields}

Ooooh boy. You chose the right person to be with. 

Raymond’s love language is physical touch. He is always showing you affection through some sort of touch. Whether that’s hugs, hand holding, or anything of the sort. 

He LOVES it. 

A HUGE fan of PDA so you can cling to him, hold his hands, hell even shower him with kisses and public and he will LOVE it. 

He’s not touch starved but he loves giving affection. Perfect for someone like you!

He constantly showers you with affection both in private and in public. 

He does it more in private, but he really has no shame in showing you any love in public either. 

Does try to be a little considerate of others in public, but sometimes he can’t help himself around you!! You’re so adorable he just can’t help himself at times!

Will always give you a kiss when he leaves to go somewhere and when he comes back. Always. 

Privately, he tends to give you affection more often. 

For example, he’ll kiss you very very often because he simply “missed kissing you”. He makes up excuses all the time. 

Huge on cuddling, huge on hugging. 

Huge on touching you in general. 

But if you cuddle with him, expect him to be kissing you a LOT more frequently. Hell, you may want to even expect him to want to make out with you.

He has no restraint when it comes to you.

Be prepared!

——

[themculibrary]

200k+ Masterlist

Links Last Checked: January 1st, 2024

part two

A Higher Form of War (ao3) - sabrecmc steve/tony M, 292k

Summary: Tony is a King with a surprising number of people out to kill him. Steve and the rest of the Avengers are fighting for Pierce's rebellion and end up with Tony as their prisoner. Oops.

Basically one of those bodice-ripping romance novels I don't read (ahem) but with far more gay.

Captivated (ao3) - missbecky steve/tony M, 281k

Summary: When Tony sustains a life-threatening injury, Steve takes him to a world where magic can heal any wound. But their happy ending swiftly becomes a nightmare when slavers attack, and Tony is captured and taken away. After months apart, they are finally reunited, but the quest to save Tony is only just beginning.

Deep in the Heart of Me (ao3) - Finely Honed (jaqen_hgar) steve/tony, bucky/clint M, 244k

Summary: Veteran single dad Steve runs a tattoo shop. Pepper arranges for Tony to get that tattoo he always wanted, and he winds up with the mother of all crushes instead. Jumping out of airplanes is one thing, but love requires real courage. Steve struggles with letting someone into his life. Tony tries to keep his heart intact while Steve works on his issues.

Craving a realistic depiction of a romantic relationship featuring PTSD, mental health issues, and characters who discuss their problems? This might be for you. No magic fixes here but a happy ending is guaranteed!

Don't Look Down (ao3) - NamelesslyNightlock loki/tony M, 256k

Summary: When forced to decide between the lives of Tony Stark and Iron Man, Steve Rogers chose wrong.

Tony is left to deal with the consequences, but it’s not like he’s helpless, and he certainly isn’t alone.

Drowning in Demons (And Learning to Breathe) (ao3) - ariverofthings, PS_NoThanks pepper/tony T, 244k

Summary: The oh-so-overdone HYDRA Peter trope that literally no one asked for, but we delivered anyway. Featuring shameless Peter whump, way too much angst to be healthy, and a bucketload of Irondad and Spiderson fluff.

Friday Night Lights (ao3) - beezyland steve/natasha T, 276k

Summary: Coming off a heartbreaking loss their previous season, the Lieber High Avengers, led by ex-military first year head coach Nick Fury, need all the help they can get when the next football season brings teenage drama and heartbreaking injuries.

AKA A Friday Night Lights AU where Natasha is the coach’s daughter and Steve is big enough to be a linebacker, but only wants to play quarterback, a position secured by Bucky, his football machine of a best friend destined to play college ball. Well, at least, before the accident.

From Now On (ao3) - buckleyirondad pepper/tony T, 201k

Summary: The Parker Family worked alongside the Starks since the creation of the company.

Following a tragic accident that leaves Peter Parker without a family, Tony goes against the pleas of the people closest to him and decides to adopt Peter. The duo fight against unpredictable odds as they enter a universe bigger than they truly understand. [Pre-Iron Man through to Endgame]

Heat Stroke (ao3) - cleo4u2, xantissa steve/bucky E, 243k

Summary: Captain America and the Winter Soldier meet for the first time in 2015. Now Bucky, after years of torture at Hydra's and more as a prisoner of S.H.I.E.L.D., is being given the chance to gain his freedom. All he has to do, is complete a mission with a team he can't stand while following the orders of yet another pompous, controlling Alpha. Steve thinks he can get his team through their most difficult mission to date, so long as he can get the smell of the Winter Soldier's heat out of his nose.

Identity Theft (ao3) - KitCat992 pepper/tony T, 244k

Summary: (Or: The Avengers welcome Peter into their crazy superhero family and will do anything to protect him.)

If You Had This Time Again (ao3) - dls loki/tony T, 268k

Summary: Tony Stark closed his eyes in a wrecked Siberian bunker and woke up on a demolished New York street. Four years earlier.

I Hope You Have Unlimited Text Messaging (ao3) - Misscar steve/tony M, 246k

Summary: Post Captain America Civil War fix-it: For the first time in their entire acquaintance, Tony and Steve start having really honest conversations with each other via text message, of course.

Or Tony and Steve try to repair their relationship before the next apocalypse. This may take a while. Actually, battling blue and/or purple aliens would be preferable to working through their feelings.

Now with a trailer to the sequel Infinite Messaging to the Endgame.

Las Vegas (ao3) - elcapitan_rogers steve/natasha M, 219k

Summary: Steve was freaking out over his own wedding and the gang decided to take him to Las Vegas to unwind him.

Life In Reverse (ao3) - Lise T, 228k

Summary: Home is where you make it. Or, the AU where Loki falls to Earth after Thor, wanders around trying to work out what to do with himself, and somehow ends up working for SHIELD. (Mostly because supervillains are so plebian.)

More Than Meets the Eye (ao3) - LokiNeedsHugs1031 loki/tony, steve/bucky E, 249k

Summary: Tony Stark and Loki have known each other long before the attack on New York. Tony is shocked to find that Loki doesn't remember him at all, that hence the reason Tony being thrown out the window, that is until he's slammed to the ground by The Hulk. When Tony sneaks a peek at the beginning of interrogations he discovers that the Loki that attacked New York has seemingly woken up from some kind of mind control, and is begging for help.

The Guardian (ao3) - Emily_F6 pepper/tony T, 234k

Summary: Guardian: a person who guards, protects, or preserves.

When a terrible accident claims the life of May Parker, Tony Stark steps up as Peter's guaridan. But it's not just a traumatized super-teen he'll have to worry about when he recieves a transmission from Thor.

The Puzzle that is Peter Parker (ao3) - Neuropsyche pepper/tony T, 279k

Summary: Peter is reeling from the after-effects of the spider bite and seeks out Tony Stark. If anyone can teach him how to be a superhero, it's Ironman, right? Tony isn't impressed at being stalked by an eight year old

The Third Option (ao3) - Uncertainty_Principle M, 220k

Summary: Homecoming A/U.

Ben and May divorced before Peter’s parents died, so when Ben is murdered Peter goes into foster care. It takes just a tiny taste of superpowers for Peter to decide he doesn’t want to put up with his horrible foster father anymore—the streets are infinitely more appealing. All he wants is to be Spider-Man anyway.

So he leaves.

Simple.

Simple, that is, until Iron Man needs Spider-Man’s help. Peter isn’t about to turn down an opportunity to fight alongside Tony Freaking Stark, but he also isn’t going to let his hero know that his recruit is a fifteen-year-old homeless dropout. So they strike a deal. Peter will help Tony. In return, the mask stays on.

And that’s when things get complicated.

Where Our Restless Monsters Sleep (ao3) - Mizzy steve/tony E, 233k

Summary: Years after Tony Stark saved the universe, the Avengers realize there’s a major problem: his body has gone missing. And he isn’t the only one. Fallen heroes all over the galaxy have had their graves pillaged.

An old foe is stealing the bodies of fallen warriors, but for what nefarious reason? There’s only one solution. To find out why it’s happening, Steve’s gotta die.

He probably shouldn’t be so eager to do that.

[potatopersonplease]

Like i'm gonna lose you

Prompt:

You and rosa are dating. You work at shaws bar as a singer/ performer and one night the team decides to come for a drink while you're performing and of course none of them know who you are.

Warnings: none except fluff and drinking

➿➿➿➿➿➿(^o^)➿➿➿➿➿➿

You were the entertainment at shaws, as the music player had stopped working. You sang with a few more people, depending on the day and what time.

Tonight was starting like no other; slow but gradually getting more people in. You were currently singing  Royals by Lorde. Someone had requested it and you being the person you know it by heart. You loved the song (not as much as Rosa though).



"...and we'll never be royals (royals), it don't run in our blood. That kind of looks just ain't for us, we crave a different kind of lust.

Let me be your ruler (ruler), you can call me queen B. And baby I'll rule (I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule). Let me live that fantasy"

You finish and the people in the bar applaud you as you get off of the stage to get a drink of water. As you were gulping down the refreshing drink, you notice a bunch of people enter the bar.

You take a closer look and notice that your girlfriend, Rosa, is one of them. You came to the conclusion that she and her Co-workers had finished a particularly hard case and decided to celebrate.

Because you notice your girlfriend, you decide to sing a song that's very special to the both of you. It's the song that was playing when you too had confessed your love to each other.

'y/n and rosa were running from the rain and took shelter under a small bus stop. You both looked at each other and laughed. Y/n found it interesting at how much she opened up to you. She was t like this with most people, but you were thankful that she was around you.

You both noticed how long you had been staring at each other. Rosa was taking in every detail of your face, the way the loose pieces of hair stuck to your forehead because of the water, or how your mascara had left streaks down your face from the rain and how the droplets rolled down your face and dropped yer again as they came to the bottom of your face.

You were looking into her eyes and looking at how soft-looking they were as she stared back at you. You looked down to her soft, plump lips and she did the same. You both looked back up and took no hesitation in your next act.

You both leaned forward and kissed. It felt so right to have each other's lips upon another. Her soft lips moving against yours. It was like lock and key. You pulled back and heard the song in the background, playing from inside of the close bar. You both stared into each other's eyes, seating to the music, the rain pouring. '

You smiled at the memory as the band prepared the music and also had a bathroom break. You tested the microphone and spoke out to the crowd.

"hi, everyone! I'd just like to dedicate the next song to someone who really means a lot to me and is also in the crowd tonight. You know who you are. Thank you!''

You all got ready as the crowd watched intently while also having fun, drinking, and talking. You notice rosa in the crowd with a small blush and a crack of a smile. You caught her eye and smiled back at her.

The music started

' found myself dreaming. In silver and gold. Like a scene from a movie, that every broken heart knows.

We were walking on moonlight, you pulled me close. Split-second, then you disappeared, and I was all alone.

I woke up in tears, with you by my side. Breath of relief, I realize, ne we're not promised tomorrow.

So I'm gonna love you. Like I'm gonna lose you and I'm gonna hold you, like I'm saying goodbye. '

'wherever we're standing, I won't take you for granted. 'cause we' ll never know when we'll run out of time

So I'm gonna love you, like I'm gonna lose you. Said I'm gonna love you like I'm gonna lose you.'

You look to the crowd and see Rosa swaying to the rhythm of the music, drink in hand with a smile on her face. The memories probably flooding her mind. You really did love her.

Your partner was now singing his part as you simped over Rosa. Her hair, her face, her ruthless exterior but soft interior. Her wonderful personality. You loved everything about her. You smiled lovingly Dow at her from the stage.

Your partner was on the way of finishing his solo so you prepared yourself.

'no, we're not promised tomorrow! So I'm gonna love you. Like I'm gonna lose you, and I'm gonna hold you, like I'm saying goodbye.

Wherever we're standing, I won't take you for granted 'cause we'll never know when, we'll run out of time

So I'm gonna love you. Like I'm gonna lose you. Said I'm gonna love you, like I'm gonna lose you.

*jazzy music solo*

I'm gonna love you... Like I'm gonna lose you. I'm gonna hold you... Like I'm saying goodbye.

Where ever were standing... I won't take you for granted. 'cause we'll never know when, when we'll run out of time.

So I'm gonna love you... Like I'm gonna lose you. And I'm gonna love you... Like I'm gonna lose you'

You finished and the crowd applauded your performance. You got off stage and walked over to Rosa.

'' you did great y/n. I also loved the song you picked" she said to you as you say down with her at a lone table. You and she drank and talked about everything and nothing

➿➿➿➿➿➿(^o^)➿➿➿➿➿➿

"Woah, guys look!" jake said pointing at the table where you and rosa were sat. You and she were laughing.

"Rosa's laughing!" Boyle said with a shocked look on his face.

The thing is rosa had been too glued to you and your performance that she had forgotten that the whole squad was there. She wanted to keep your relationship on the DL. As she does with most things in her life.

The whole team was shocked, to say the least when they saw you and Rosa, not to mention that Rosa was LAUGHING  that was a rare sight indeed.

"oh my god, guys, she's holding the singer's hand! What is going on?" Boyle said holding his head. Everyone looked over to you two. You saw the staring in the corner of your eye.

"Rosa, why are there a bunch of people staring at us and talking about us?" you ask curiously tilting your head to the side as Rosa looked over.

"oh, shit! I forgot that they were here!" she says letting go of your hand with wide eyes

"wait who are they? Rosa what's wrong?" you asked now genuinely scared because of your girlfriend.

''they're my work colleagues. And I like to keep things private around them. They don't know about you and me and I wanted to keep it that way." she says to you with wide eyes as one of the people comes up to you.

" well hello there, Rosa. Who may this be? " jake asks with a childlike smirk.

"oh, I'm y/n! Rosa's gi-mph" you wanted to say Rosa's girlfriend, but a hand covered your mouth and silenced you. You look and see it was Rosa's hand you furrow your brows when jake speaks up

"no, no Diaz. Let the girl finish." jake said with that grin

"no. It's non of your business," she said as she removed her hand from your mouth.

"I'm her girlfriend," you said rushed as to net get stopped by Rosa jet again. Roža looks at you with a nasty but somehow friendly ment glare a d Peralta grin gets impossibly bigger.

"guys get o er here and meet Diaz's girlfriend!" jake says

to the rest of the people in the group. They come over to your table and gather around it.

"wait so you're her girlfriend?" Boyle asks with a confused grin

"I was correct. I believe you owe me 20 dollars detective Peralta" captain holt says with a smirk

"ughhh, I was hoping that you had forgot about that." jake says as he hands the 20 dollar bill over to the man.

The squad spends the rest of the night asking you questions about you and your relationship with Rosa. You could tell she didn't like it, so you went back on stage to stop her from getting more irritated.

The rest of the night was filled with joy, singing, and fun. The ream liked you and rosa was actually relieved that you had told them.

➿➿➿➿➿➿(^o^)➿➿➿➿➿➿

Word count: 1503

Hope you liked itttt. Leave a comment a d a request if you have one! Have a good one. Byeeee!

Also, I don't own anything but the plot

[ladylillianrose]

The Best Laid Plans a Max Richman/Zoey Clarke Fanfiction

Summary: 5 times Max tries to propose to Zoey and one successful proposal

A/N: So this idea popped into my head the other day, and since I had trouble sleeping last night....tada!! I hope you all enjoy this fluff!

AO3

I.

Max had it all planned out, a nice early dinner, a romantic walk along the beach to watch the sunset, and then he would ask her to marry him.

He had continuously checked the weather report, making sure that everything would be perfect. Sunny and 73 degrees, can't get much better than that. 

Max had the ring in his pocket, it had been hidden away in his drawer for the past three years. Once he realized that he was no other woman for him than Zoey, he'd asked his mom for his grandmother's ring. It had been waiting there for the perfect moment, and today it was finally here.

Max had been nervous all day at work, unable to focus on any task at hand. What if she said no? She wouldn't...would she? No, he was certain that she would say yes.

He got home before she did, thankful to have a moment to calm himself down.

He opened the ring box and looked at it, imagining it on Zoey's finger. He smiled, a sense of calm washing over him.

"Babe? Are you in here?" he heard Zoey call out.

Shit! He quickly placed the box in his pocket, before heading out to greet her.

"Hello, love," Max smiled, pulling her in for a kiss.

"Mmm, hello to you too," Zoey grinned. She tried to deepen the kiss but Max reluctantly moved away.

"Come on, we've got to get ready."

"Wouldn't you rather stay in tonight? I can make it worth your while," she teasingly ran her fingers along his buttons. 

Max counted to ten silently, attempting to steady himself. "You can make it worth my while, after dinner," he said, grabbing her hands before they slipped any lower.

Zoey pouted, "Fine….I guess I'll go get ready." She threw an extra sway in her hips as she walked into the bedroom to get ready.

Max breathed a sigh of relief and checked the weather again. Still sunny and warm, so far so good.

Dinner went by in a blur, Max was so nervous he couldn't even tell you what they ate. He spent most of the dinner checking his pocket obsessively to make sure the ring was still there.

As they left the restaurant, Max suggested they take a walk along the beach, hoping she wasn't becoming suspicious of his plan.

Zoey smiled, as she leaned on his shoulder, "That sounds lovely."

They made their way down to the beach, stopping to leave their shoes on a nearby rock.

As they walked hand in hand Zoey told him about the latest hijinks at work.

"Can you believe that Tobin actually got his ferret certified as an emotional support animal? She looks adorable in her little vest, riding around on his shoulder. Good thing Joan is too busy running the company to notice!" Zoey laughed.

Max chuckled, shaking his head as he listened to her. He missed working at SPRQ Point, sometimes. But he found his true calling in helping out schools and libraries with their STEAM programs for kids. He was a natural teacher, his job allowed his creativity to flow and the children all adored him.

A cool wind picked up as the sun disappeared behind a cloud. Max glanced up and frowned, those were some very dark clouds overhead. Then he felt the first drops of rain beginning. 

"Maybe we should head back," Zoey suggested.

"It's only a few drops. It's not that bad," Max replied, determined to not let a few raindrops spoil his proposal.

As if the heavens had decided to mock him, the rain began pouring down suddenly.  

Max rolled his eyes at the sky and grabbed Zoey's hand. They raced back to where their shoes were and jumped into Max's car.

"Well, so much for romantic walks in the rain," Zoey quipped.

"Yeah, I don't think they mean this kind of rain," Max dryly replied.

Zoey leaned over to kiss him. "Well, it was still a lovely time. We'll go walk along the beach another day."

Max sighed and nodded as he started the car. He could feel the ring burning a hole in his pocket, he needed to come up with a new plan, and soon.

II.

After the rain fiasco, Max determined that keeping the proposal inside was a much safer option. He decided to surprise Zoey with a trip to the California Academy of Sciences. She loved going there when she was younger and had talked about going back when they had the time.

"Oh Max, let's go to the Planetarium next!" She said excitedly holding the map. He nodded and grinned at her eagerness, and they grabbed a spot line to wait for the next show to begin. Max glanced at his watch, 15 minutes till the show started, plenty of time.

He took a deep breath, "Zoey, there's something I've been…"

"Oh my gosh, Max look!" Zoey pointed at something in front of them.

Max turned to see a couple standing in front of the Planetarium, the man was down on one knee and holding out a box to the woman. A small crowd had gathered to watch the events unfold.

"Yes! A thousand times yes!" They heard the woman shriek in excitement.

Everyone burst into applause, except Max who stood there looking gobsmacked. "You have got to be kidding me," he mumbled, annoyed.

"That was so sweet," Zoey smiled at him.

"Yeah, really romantic," Max tried to keep his voice light.

"It was. So, what did you want to ask me?" Zoey said looking at him.

"Oh umm...I was thinking I might want to grow a beard and was wondering what your opinion was," he replied.

"You wanted to ask me if you should grow a beard or not?" Zoey looked at him puzzled. Max nodded, hoping she bought the lie.

"I mean, I hadn't really thought about it before, but yeah why not. I think it could be a good look."

"You do?" He asked in surprise. 

"Oh yes, not like a full mountain man of course. But a little scruff could be very sexy," she smirked, running her hand along his smooth face. 

"Well, then I'm glad I asked that important question," Max replied.

Zoey looked at him oddly and shrugged her shoulders, reading the program about what they would be seeing.

Max rolled his eyes at himself.  Really a beard? That was the "important question?" There wasn't anything better you could have made up? Stupid couple ruining his plan, stealing his proposal idea. 

The happy couple walked by them, "Congratulations!" Zoey called out.

"Wasn't it just so romantic?" The woman sighed, smiling at her fiance. 

"It certainly was. Wasn't it, babe?" Zoey smiled at him.

"Oh yes, very romantic,” Max smiled tightly at them.

"Ooo, come on, the shows starting, " Zoey looped her arm through his and bid the couple farewell.

As Zoey enjoyed the show, Max began formulating a new plan, this one would leave nothing to chance.

III.

"No, I don't want to do the ring in her drink or food. I'll just give you guys the signal and then the violinist can come to the table and I'll propose then. It needs to be at the beginning of the meal….yes I know most couples wait until the end, but I'm not taking a chance with this. Yes, okay, thank you." Max hung up the phone, relieved that all the details were fixed with the restaurant. He and Zoey would go out to dinner, order their food and then Max would propose with the restaurant's violinist played nearby. It was the perfect plan.

Later That Evening

*sirens*

"How crazy is this?" Zoey said, huddled next to Max as they stood outside the restaurant.

"It's crazy alright," Max shook his head in disbelief.

"It's lucky no one was hurt in the fire," She replied. 

"Except the violinist's violin and the waiter's pride," Max reminded her.

"Well honestly, the violinist shouldn't have placed himself there. Maybe then the waiter wouldn't have tripped over him knocking over all those candles. I wonder why he was standing so close to the table near us," Zoey rambled. 

"Who knows, maybe someone had asked him to play nearby, " Max shrugged.

"Hmm, maybe. Well, I'm starving since we didn't get to eat. I think I saw a taco truck down the way," Zoey smiled at Max.

"Sure, tacos sound good."

"Come on, last one there is buying!" Zoey teased racing ahead of him.

Max chuckled, as he chased after her. He needed to stop trying to plan the perfect proposal. He would just carry the ring with him and ask her when the moment was right.

IV.

The park was crowded, though it always seemed to be that way for the summer concerts. Max and Zoey had forgotten about them when they had made plans to take a walk in the park.

At least the paths were clear, everyone was crowding over at the lawn to find a seat before the show started. 

They strolled hand in hand along the pond, quietly enjoying the way the water reflected the sun.

Zoey sighed and smiled as she looked at Max. "It's so peaceful here," she said. "As though we were the only two people here."

Max grinned, this was it, this was the moment. Palming the ring box, he knelt on one knee behind her.

"Zoey…"

"YO, ZO-DOG!" They heard a voice yell.

Zoey turned and saw Tobin walking towards them. Was that Abigail with him?

"Hey!" Zoey grinned and waved at the couple as they approached. 

Abigail smiled at Zoey as she leaned in for a hug.

"Hey bro, trouble with your shoe?" Tobin asked, looking down at Max who was still kneeling on the ground.

"Ummm yeah, just needed to tie it. All good now " Max replied. He slipped the box back in his pocket, before standing up.

"What are you guys doing here? I didn't even know you were seeing each other," Zoey commented.

"Oh yeah, we just started hanging out, outside of work and we just clicked. We're keeping it on the DL for now, but of course, you guys know all about that," Tobin tossed them a knowing wink.

"What? No, we weren't a thing when we worked together," Zoey sputtered as she blushed. 

"Sure, whatever. Anyway, we were coming to check out the concert, but it's some lame dad rock cover band so we decided to ditch. Figured we could go grab some burgers instead," Tobin replied.

"Ooo, burgers sound good right about now. You mind if we tag along?" Zoey asked. She turned and silently asked Max if that was okay with him and he nodded.

Abigail grinned and signed, 'Of course not. The more the merrier!' She looped her arm through Zoey's and they started to make their way out of the park.

"You okay, bro? You seem a little tense," Tobin looked at over at Max.

"Nope, fine. Everything is just fine," Max ground out.

"Well, come on then!" Tobin ran excitedly ahead to catch up with the girls.

Max shook his head, he was beginning to feel like the universe had it out for him. He sighed and went to catch up with the group. Maybe a public proposal wasn't the way to go, too many things could go wrong or interfere. A more private proposal, just the two of them at home, that was the ticket.

V.

It was movie night, they had maintained the tradition even after they started dating. Though once they became a couple there were a few times they had to rewatch the movies because they got too distracted during them.

It was Max's turn to pick and he had decided on,  Big Trouble In Little China . He got everything set up, making sure the popcorn and wine were ready, so they could start as soon as Zoey got home. She'd been working long hours this week, she deserved to have a night where she could just kick back and relax.

Zoey came wearily trudging through the door and dropped her purse, letting out a sigh of relief.

"Welcome home, love," Max greeted her with a kiss.

"Mmmmm," she replied.

"Go put on your comfy clothes and then come sit on the couch. I've got everything ready, so you can take it easy," he told her.

"You're the best boyfriend ever," she smiled at him. Slowly she stumbled to their bedroom to change. 

Max put away her purse and keys and poured her a glass of wine.

She emerged in her PJs and Max led her over to the couch. She snuggled up next to him and took a sip of her wine.

Max hit play and they started the movie.

Zoey was enjoying the film, it was ridiculous and totally 80's, but it was the kind of fun she needed after the week she had.

She glanced over at Max and grinned, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"What was that for?" He smiled at her.

"Because I can," she replied, reaching for more popcorn only to find an empty bowl. 

"I'll go make more," Max said standing up.

"You don't have to," Zoey protested.

"I want to," Max replied, placing a soft kiss on her lips. "Just relax, I'll be right back."

Max threw a bag of popcorn into the microwave, as he watched Zoey from the corner of his eye. She was leaning on her hand against the armrest, totally absorbed in the film.

He smiled, this was everything he wanted in life, right here at home. It dawned on him that this was the perfect opportunity. He raced into the bedroom and retrieved the ring from his drawer. 

He walked back out just as the microwave dinged. He poured the popcorn into the bowl and made his way back to the sofa.

He set the popcorn on the table and knelt on the floor next to Zoey's side of the sofa. 

"Zoey, there's something I wanted to ask you," he started.

Zoey let out a small snore, causing Max to look up in surprise. She had fallen asleep…. Max shook his head and chuckled to himself. Poor Zoey, she was more tired than she had let on.

He set the box down and scooped her into his arms.

"I was watching that," she sleepily protested, snuggling against him.

"With your eyes closed?" Max teasingly asked.

"Hear better that way," came the mumbled reply.

"Mmhmm, and the snores?"

"I don't snore!"

"No, you're right, my mistake. Must have been someone else snoring."

"Hmph," Zoey responded.

Max gently placed her in their bed and tucked her in. "I love you, Zoey."

"I love you too, Max," she sleepily replied.

Max smiled and headed out to put away everything. He picked up the ring box and sighed, someday he'd get the chance to ask her, and it would be absolutely perfect. 

+ 1

Zoey jiggled her leg nervously under the table where they sat.

"Zoey, are you okay? You look pale..er than usual," Max asked her.

"No, I'm fine. I'm actually really happy*," Zoey replied grinning at him.

"Oooookay," Max said looking at her oddly.

Mo had invited them to hear him perform at a local bar's open mic night, so they went to support him.

"When do you think Mo is on?" Max asked.

"Mmm, I don't know. Oh, look here he comes," Zoey pointed to the stage.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Mo, but I am not the one who will be dazzling you tonight with my voice."

Max looked at Zoey confused, and she shrugged her shoulders in response.

"Instead, my good friend, Zoey Clarke, has a very special performance for you all," Mo grinned and gestured for Zoey to come up.

Max stared at her as she stood up and tossed a wink at him as she made her way to the stage. Mo handed her the microphone, "Thank you Mo. Hello everyone, I'm Zoey Clarke, and Max, this one's for you."

Zoey blew Max a kiss and began to sing.

I had no choice but to hear you

You stated your case time and again

I thought about it

You treat me like I'm a princess

I'm not used to liking that

You ask how my day was

You've already won me over in spite of me

And don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet

And don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are

I couldn't help it

It's all your fault

Your love is thick and it swallowed me whole

You're so much braver than I gave you credit for

That's not lip service

You've already won me over in spite of me

And don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet

And don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are

I couldn't help it

It's all your fault

You are the bearer of unconditional things

You held your breath and the door for me

Thanks for your patience

Max watched, stunned as Zoey sang to him. She began to make her way off the stage still singing, as she walked towards him.

You're the best listener that I've ever met

You're my best friend

Best friend with benefits

What took me so long

I've never felt this healthy before

I've never wanted something rational

I am aware now

I am aware now

You've already won me over in spite of me

And don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet

And don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are

I couldn't help it

It's all your fault

The music stopped as Zoey stood in front of him smiling. She slowly lowered herself to one knee. "Max Richman, you are the love of my life, my best friend, and I can't imagine spending another moment without you by my side. Will you marry me?" 

Max slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring box. "That was supposed to be my line," he grinned. "Yes, Zoey Clarke, I'll marry you!"

Max pulled her up, slipping the ring on her finger before capturing her lips with his.

Around them, everyone in the bar cheered and congratulated them.

They pulled apart flushing and breathless. 

"I guess the universe was trying to tell me something after all," Max grinned. 

Zoey looked at him confused.

"I'll tell you later."

"I'm just glad everything went smoothly. You have no idea how worried I was that something would go wrong or ruin it!" Zoey told him.

"No, you're right, I haven't a clue how that feels," he laughed and pulled her into another kiss. 

A/N: Song is "Head Over Feet" by Alanis Morissette (Listen to it here https://youtu.be/4iuO49jbovg)

*Episode 1x07

[epigeneticsandnutritions]

At What Age Should Men Start Worrying About Low Testosterone?

Low testosterone is a major problem for millions of men who are otherwise in good overall health. Men need to be concerned about testosterone because it is a crucial sex hormone that has multiple effects on their overall health, sex drive and physical appearance. Find out what causes testosterone levels to get dangerously low and learn about some safe and effective ways to prevent or reverse the problem below.

It’s Complicated

It’s long been known that overall levels of testosterone in men decrease as they get older. The average over-50 male in modern Western society displays many symptoms of low testosterone, and so do many men who are younger than that. UW Health explains that most medical researchers measure testosterone based upon how much of the hormone is present in the blood, measuring it in nanograms per deciliter. As a general guideline, a specific amount, 300 ng/dl, is viewed as the cutoff point between normal and low levels of testosterone. For every 100 men, at least two show obvious signs of being well below that critical level. Many more are either on the borderline or slightly above the 300 ng/dl mark. Men need to worry about low testosterone levels because when testosterone levels get too low, you can start seeing all sorts of health problems, including symptoms like decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction (ED) and weak bones. Testosterone is vital for male health because it helps the body create muscle mass, hair and sperm.

Lifestyle is a Major Factor

Andro Fuel explains that the good news is that there are many ways to naturally boost your testosterone that only depend on lifestyle and diet changes. When lifestyle changes are approached sensibly, even men who are well past middle age can do things to raise their testosterone levels considerably. For younger men who suffer from a lack of this vital hormone, lifestyle changes can have fast and visible effects. How can the average man who needs to increase the amount of testosterone in his blood deal with the situation? It’s all about educating oneself and discovering what factors contribute to your own lack of testosterone. There are many factors that can cause low T; things like diet, activity levels, passive ingestion of chemicals, certain prescription drugs, emotional states and sleep habits all have the potential to directly change the body’s static amount of testosterone.

Soy, No. Zinc, Yes.

When it comes to testosterone, soy is the enemy. For men who use soy protein as a supplement and who tend to overdo it, the results can be disappointing. Studies have shown that even moderate amounts of soy protein can significantly reduce the amount of testosterone in the blood, so if you’re concerned about low testosterone, you should try to avoid soy as much as possible. Check ingredients lists closely because a surprising number of products include soy as an ingredient. Zinc is at the opposite end of the spectrum as far as testosterone is concerned and can help to increase it.

Go Easy on the Adult Beverages

Alcohol probably has no negative effects on testosterone levels when it is used in moderation. In fact, those who occasionally drink beer, wine and hard liquor might enjoy a slight health benefit compared to those who never consume any alcohol at all. However, heavy drinkers can experience low testosterone as well as unwelcome changes in other reproductive hormones in the body.

Grains, Grains, Go Away

The relationship between grains and testosterone levels is a strange one. Gluten Free Society explains that not all grains have a detrimental effect on the hormone, but gluten seems to be a major contributor to low testosterone. This situation is a good example of the concept that it is possible to increase testosterone levels in a completely natural way. That means adding some foods to the diet and avoiding others. Except in extreme medical cases, there is no need for taking testosterone supplements or going on strict diets. Nor is there a need for massive amounts of exercise. Testosterone is one hormone that responds well to natural manipulation with time and diligence.

Can Meditation Increase Testosterone Levels?

Protocol8 explains that most people don’t view purely mental activities as a way to deal with a low testosterone problem, but it is possible to meditate your way to better hormones. Decades of research has shown that adults who meditate regularly tend to have lower levels of cortisol in their bloodstream. Cortisol levels directly impact lower testosterone problems because cortisol raises the body’s stress level in many ways. Just 20 minutes of meditation each day can reduce cortisol levels significantly. When cortisol levels go down, growth hormones, including testosterone, go up as a result. So, in addition to all the dietary and exercise changes, it does apparently help men to incorporate meditation into their daily routines. Lower cortisol and higher growth hormones can mean an easier path to muscle building and faster recovery after sessions of exercise.

Sunscreen and Cardio No-No’s

Sunscreen is a part of life for anyone who spends time outdoors. Medical literature has touted the benefits of applying the creamy, sun-blocking goo for years, and the public has followed that advice in large part. Kitchen Stewardship explains that the problem is that most sunscreen products contain enough estrogen to interfere with testosterone production in the body of adult males. There are safe and effective products that don’t contain estrogen, but it’s imperative to read labels and do research to find the right ones.

Weightlifting and Testosterone Levels

Some studies have shown that so-called “toning” weight workouts do not have an effect on testosterone levels. It appears, based on research, that short sessions of power-style lifting can help boost the hormone’s level rather well. For men who already incorporate weight work in their exercise regimen, it might help to focus on lifting heavier weights for fewer reps and taking longer rest periods between sets. If you don’t currently strength train, taking up heavy lifting can help boost your testosterone levels.

Work on Posture

NoGym.com explains that some psychologists have suggested that posture might play a role in testosterone production. Actively working to get rid of a slumping posture and trying to stand up straight has effects on self-image, mood, and possibly increases the amount of testosterone in a person’s blood. Researchers theorize that “power postures” tell the brain to send signals out that generate more testosterone.

Lose Weight

One of the more reliable ways to boost testosterone is to drop excess weight. Adult men who carry between 10 and 20 extra pounds (and that includes the majority of the adult male population in the U.S.) can ramp up their testosterone levels by losing the extra fluff. Losing excess weight has many other health benefits as well, including the restoration of proper blood pressure and triglyceride levels. Dropping a few unneeded pounds is pretty much a win/win. There’s no reason to fly blind when it comes to dealing with testosterone levels. Everyone who wants to address the problem should speak with a doctor before embarking on a major change of diet or lifestyle. There’s no reason to put your health in danger by going to extremes, either. In most cases, it’s easy enough to improve testosterone levels with moderate changes to your diet and lifestyle.

[buckyscrystalqueen]

Half Blood, Whole Heart: Part 33

Pairings: Jax x Reader, sister Winchester!reader- SOA/SPN Crossover

Warnings: Swearing, fluff

Word Count: 4,156

A/N: So I decided to repost my novel- the story that someone stole from my old blog and put up on Wattpad. PLEASE don’t be an asshole and steal my stories. It CRUSHED me when it happened and almost ran me off Tumblr.

A/N 2: Alright y’all. This is the last part of the story! You made it!!! You just have this one and the epilogue! Yay!!!!

Half Blood, Whole Heart Masterlist    Aesthetic by @ravenangel33​

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chibs, who was now wearing some of Jax’s winter clothes, looked at the four of you as he tried to process everything that had happened in the past year with Gemma, Clay, Juice, RICO and what you could tell him about the supernatural world.

“So… this means I’m free… but dead?” He asked as you rocked yourself on your chair.

“Same as us. This is a small town; people don’t ask questions. You’ll be safe here.” Opie said as he lit a cigarette.

“Sam can get you a public identity when he gets here tonight. I can talk to Bobby, see if he has it in his budget to hire you on as a mechanic in the warmer months. Cash, off the record, so you don’t exist.” You said.

“In the winter, Ope and I fix snowmobiles and do the mobile mechanic thing around town. We do a lot of shoveling for the people out here. We’re working on getting a snow plow for these back roads since we are really far out here.” Jax told him.

“And you’re more than welcome to stay in either our guest room or (Y/N)’s.” Lyla chipped in as she rocked next to you; her hand slowly dancing across her large baby bump. “But our daughter is due next week so it might be a little quieter here.”

“’It’s a lot to take in, we know.” You said as you tried to read Chibs’ nearly blank stare.

“Sorry… ‘m still tryin’ ta wrap my ‘ead round this all.” He said as he pulled a cigarette out of the pack on the railing. “I can’t believe ye’s all are alive.” You huffed a laughed as you looked up at Jax, who was leaning on the rail in front of you.

“God, you have no idea.”

“Hey, are you expecting someone?” Opie asked as the sound of a car pulling into your driveway caught your attention. Your brow furrowed and you shook your head.

“Not until tonight.” You said as you tried to see around Ope. You realized that that wasn’t happening and straightened your legs out to stand up.

“Holy shit… it’s Dean.” Your stomach soared as you leapt from your chair. Your brother got out of the car with an almost cocky smile.

“Miss me?” You were just about to run down the stairs to greet him when the passenger got out of the car. The whole world ceased to exist as John looked over the top of the car at you and you came to a dead stop on the top of the stairs. 

“Daddy?” You whispered into your hands as tears welled in your eyes. Reason went out the window as you ran down the snow covered steps in your socks, slipping slightly as you hit the bottom.

“Hi sweetheart.” Your dad said as you ran and jumped into his arms as tears poured down your cheeks.

“How are you here?” You asked as you wiggled to get down; instantly regretting your choice as you landed in ankle deep snow.”No, pick me up! Pick me up!” You shrieked as you tried to jump on the hood of the car to get away from the cold. 

“Amara brought him back. Said since I gave her her family back I should get the same thing.” Dean said as he headed up porch with John carrying you on his back right behind him. “Where’s Sam?” 

“On his way. Have you talked to him?” You said as your dad put you down. 

“Don’t have a phone. Figured he’d come here since he thought I was dead.” 

“Jesus Christ, this day is getting weirder and weirder.” Jax said.

“Yea, you’re tellin… Holy shit, Chibs!” Dean said as he finally noticed his old friend. 

“Dean-o. ‘ow are ye, lad?” Dean shrugged as they gave each other a back slapping hug.

“I mean, I almost blew myself up this morning so I guess I’m doing OK.”

“Aye. Died my self ‘parently. Wee bit confused ta say the least.” Dean laughed and nodded.

“Yea, tends to happen when you know the Winchesters now-a-days. Can we go inside? That piece of shit car didn’t have a heater.”

“Umm… Ree is in there with the boys.” You said as Dean moved to open the door. You watched a slight blush creep up Dean’s ears as he looked over at you.

“Shut up, Button.” He snapped at your knowing smirk. You raised your hands and pursed your lips.

“Didn’t say nothing, De.”

“Boys?” John asked as everyone headed inside. You nodded as you laced your arm through his.

“Your grandsons. Thomas is three and John turns one tomorrow.” You told him softly as you walked him inside to your little war zone. 

“No!” Thomas screamed from upstairs over the sound of running bath water; his least favorite thing in the world these days. He would much prefer taking a shower like a big kid. 

“Thomas. You have chocolate in your hair…” Crowley tried to reason with the three year old.

“No! Big boy bath!”

“I got it…” Jax sighed as he headed toward the stairs.

“Well I was going to make lunch before everything got a little crazy so I’m hoping grilled cheese sandwiches are OK with everyone because I don’t have anything else.” You said as you looked around at your visitors. 

“I’ll help. Ope, you wanna start a fire in the living room and help Dean fill in gaps for Chibs and John?” Lyla said as she looked at her husband expectantly. He nodded as Dean toed off his boots and made himself comfortable in your home like he always did. 

“De, call Sammy!” You said as you pulled off your wet socks and headed into the kitchen to see Crowley there looking as confused as ever.

“Dean and John are back from the dead?” He asked softly as he peaked out of the kitchen toward the living room.

“Dean apparently never died. Amara… who I’m assuming is the Darkness, brought dad back as thanks for her getting her family back…?” You said; your words trailing up in a question as you didn’t know what that really meant to begin with. Crowley nodded.

“Well, that’s an interesting twist of events. That would explain as to where Chuck went.” You looked over your shoulder at him as you grabbed butter and cheese out of your fridge.

“Who the hell is Chuck?” Crowley chuckled as Lyla started laying out pieces of bread to get buttered.

“That, kitten, is what God chooses to be called these days.”

“Oh, for the love of… fuck…” You grumbled with a small shake of your head.

“Wait, you met God?” Lyla asked as she plugged in your griddle. 

“We fought his sister together, darling. Of course I’ve met him.” 

“So how’s your relationship going?” You asked; trying to avoid having to admit to your best friend that you had been lying by omission for the past 5 months. You looked at Crowley pointedly; giving him the silent and subtle clue to take your hint.

“Oh! Well… that is… not… something I wish to discuss with you, kitten. It’s rather personal and…”

“Are you still fucking him on the DL or what?” You asked flat out; causing Lyla to snort with laughter. Crowley’s cheeks flared red. He opened his mouth to respond, snapping it closed a second later as he looked at his nails as if they were the most interesting thing in the entire world.

“Frankly, darling that’s none of your business.”

“That’s a yes.” Lyla giggled as the two of you flipped sandwiches.

“Wretched women… I hate both of you.” Crowley said before he disappeared.

“I can’t believe he and Dean…”

“Who and Dean?” Jax asked as he walked in to the kitchen with a clean son on each hip. “Figured you would wanna do the introductions with this one.” He said as he bobbed his head toward Thomas.

“Crowley and Dean are still doin’ it.” You said as you started stacking finished grilled cheese sandwiches on a plate. You paused for a moment and turned around to look at Jax and shook your head. “How the hell do we explain this one?”

“Now you see why I said you could do it.” You rolled your eyes as Lyla unplugged the griddle and put the rest of the sandwiches on the stack. With a heavy sigh, you walked over and took your oldest from Jax. With a small shake of your head you pulled something out of thin air that you hoped made sense to a child.

“Hey Tommy… you know how grandpa John went to live with the angels before you were born? Well, Uncle Dean and Uncle Sam helped the angels and God with some big things recently. The angels decided that because they were so helpful, they would let grandpa come back to us so he could meet you and your brother and watch you grow up.” Your son crinkled his face, thinking hard about this new information. 

“Are the angels letting everyone go back to their families?” He asked.

“Umm… no baby, just grandpa. And it’s only this one time.”

“Why?” You blanched and looked at Jax; realizing that there was no easy way to answer this question. 

“Because your Uncle Dean gave God his family back.” Lyla stepped in. “And God didn’t want your mommy to raise you without your grandpa. So he did what is called a favor. That’s something grown ups do to help someone out when they do something for each other.” Your son stayed quiet for an unusually long time; processing the information. You looked back and forth between Lyla and Jax, wondering what he was thinking before he nodded.

“I should make God a thanks card. Dat’s what I gotta do for Santa when he brings gifts, too.” You all laughed and nodded as Jax kissed the side of his son’s head proudly.

“Yea, that’s a good idea. Maybe you and grandpa can even make it together so you can both thank him.” You suggested.

“Is he good at crafts like papa?” You nodded as you thought about your dad’s amazing artistic ability. 

“Grandpa is amazing at crafts.” You said as you grabbed the plate of sandwiches and headed toward the living room. “You should ask him nicely to draw you a tiger.” Thomas cheered as you stopped in the doorway of your living room and looked at your dad. “Tommy, this is your grandpa.” You said as you set the plate down on the table and sat on the arm of the couch next to your dad.

“Grandpa draw a tiger for da card?” Tommy asked as he crawled out of your lap and into John’s. Your dad looked a little startled and chuckled.

“I think I can draw a tiger. What’s the card for?”

“We gots to thanks God for letting you come back to mommy. You gots ta make a card for a gift.” Your dad’s eyes shot up to yours and you gave him a smile.

“Those are the rules in this house. Get a gift, you write a thank you card.” Your dad’s eyes filled with tears and he nodded as he looked back at his grandson.

“Yea… we can make a card.” Thomas smiled and wiggled off John’s lap.

“OK. I go gets the papers.” He said as he darted out of the room to the play room you had down stairs. Your dad smiled and put his hand on your knee as everyone grabbed a sandwich.

“And this little guy is your and my dad’s namesake.” Jax said as he passed off your youngest to your dad. 

“He looks like you.” Your dad said as he looked back and forth between his other grandson and you. “Little bit of Sam as well.” You nodded as Jax grabbed two sandwiches and handed you one.

“He may look like me but he has Jax’s personality. Tommy is mini me.” You said as your oldest came running back with a stack of papers and his box of crayons and colored pencils. Your dad nodded as Thomas push all his stuff on the couch and used your dad’s jeans to pull himself on the cushion next to him, causing John to laugh.

“Oh yea. He is just like you.” He said as he helped his grandson up. 

“Give me the wee one. I need ta love the little bugger.” Chibs said as he stood up and reached across the coffee table for little John. You smiled at your family; the dysfunctional chaos that it was.

“World almost ends and we get a grandparent and one of our friends back because of it.” Jax whispered in your ear. You smiled and nodded as you wrapped your arm around his waist.

“I call that a Teller win.”

——

The smell of bacon and something burning woke you up way too early for your liking the next morning. Your brow furrowed as you looked to the other side of your bed at your sleeping husband. You knew Chibs wasn’t an early riser so that left one of the three Winchester men. As quietly as you could, you slipped out of bed and headed down stairs. You could hear grumbling that you immediately recognized as your fathers as the smell of strong coffee slammed into your senses.

“Daddy? What are you doing?” You asked as you leaned against the door way, rubbing sleep out of your eyes. John turned around to look at you with a sour look on his face.

“Your pans are stupid.” You giggled as you walked into the kitchen and looked at the stove.

“First of all, they are not stupid, they are amazing.” You reached in front of him and turned the burner he was using for what you assumed had to be pancakes down from ‘high’ to ‘medium’ with a smile. “Second, they are teflon. Non-meat foods cook on medium so the whole thing cooks not just the outside.”

“That explains it.” He said as he scooped up the pancake he was burning onto a pile of other burnt ones on a plate to his right.

“Third, I have a fancy griddle to cook pancakes on. Has a pancake temp in the book and everything.” He hummed at the new information as he grabbed the bowl of batter and started in on a new pancake. You pat his shoulder and headed over to make yourself a cup of coffee.

“You know… I don’t think I have cooked on an actual stove in thirty somethin’ years.” He said as he flipped the bacon in a different pan. “Diner food, fast food… Mary, the corp… I never really had to.”

“Well, you are more than welcome to stick around here and practice if you want.” You hopped up on the counter next to the stove out of the mess as he looked over at you.

“Thanks, princess. I appreciate that.” You nodded as you took a sip of your coffee; letting it warm you from the inside. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do here.” He said as he flipped the pancake over; his brow knit in frustrated thought. “After Mary the only thing I had going was the fight. I ruined my kids lives because of it…”

“Dad, you didn’t ruin our lives…” He looked up at you with a serious ‘Sam bitch face’ and you quickly chewed on your bottom lip to keep from laughing as you realized that John was the originator of the look.

“One of my sons ran away to college to get away from me and two years after that, my only daughter did too. Don’t tell me I didn’t ruin your life.” You shook your head as you set your coffee mug down.

“You didn’t. If I hadn’t run away, I would have never met Jax and had my sons. My brothers wouldn’t be the strong, determined, crazy, independent men they are now. Sure, we were a little different from most families but from where I sit today- 27 years old with a beautiful family, a job, a house… I wouldn’t trade anything about my life to get me to where I am right now. So if anything you gave me this.” You gestured around the kitchen, indicating your life before you picked your coffee back up and took another sip.

“Yea… well, still. Now my fight is over but according to your brothers there is still a fight out there…”

“There will always be a fight, daddy. The question that I had to ask myself years ago was is it worth it?” He looked up at you; the fighter in him obvious in his gaze and you sighed. “Not what I meant it to sound like.” You put your coffee mug down and tucked your hands under your thighs as you took a moment to collect your thoughts. “I don’t know if it was just because I’m not Mary’s daughter or if the hunting life was never really meant for me but I always looked at what you and my brothers did as not my fight… because it wasn’t. It was yours to avenge the love of your life and theirs to avenge their mother. My mother was just a piece of shit; nothing I can do about that.

Now that your revenge is done, you find yourself in my shoes. Sam and Dean have managed to find themselves in a fight with Lucifer… again. It’s not your fight, daddy. You don’t have to hunt with them. You said it yourself yesterday, this must be God’s way of giving you a second chance. You raised them right as hunters. They can handle this fight like they did the first time. You don’t have to take on the responsibility if you don’t want to nor do you have to feel guilty if you choose not to.”

“She’s right, dad.” Dean said as he leaned against the door frame of your kitchen with Sam right behind him. “If you want to stay and help raise your grandsons and be the parent you couldn’t be for us because of the circumstances, we don’t blame you and we won’t stop you. Shit, Sam and I want you to stay.”

“We don’t hate you for raising us how you did. It was the cards you were dealt. It prepared us for the things we face today in and out of the hunting world. But we also know that if you had the option when we were babies, you wouldn’t have wanted that life for us. You would have wanted the life (Y/N) has made for herself for us.” Sam said as he stepped into the kitchen past Dean and leaned on the counter next to you facing John. “We may butt heads more than territorial goats but you were the best father I could ever ask for. It just took me a while to realize it. Minus, you know, the giving your kids guns for Christmas at the age of nine to protect us from bad Santa but that’s a different story all together.” The four of you chuckled as Dean brought Sam a cup of coffee and stood by his side.

“Like I said, all we are saying is that if you want to take the second chance that you were given to be with your grandsons, do it. Sam and I; we got this. Lucifer will be back in his cage in no time. And no extreme measures will be taken to do so.” Dean said as he glanced at you with a knowing smile.

“Yea, better not.” You grumbled with a smirk as you grabbed your coffee and took another sip before looking back at your father. “And if you choose to go with them, I won’t take it personally… you are a hunter after all. Your truck is in the garage. The gun in the glove compartment was replaced by coloring books and Cheerio boxes and the photos have all been updated but the weapons box is still loaded and I’ve taken care of her.”

“You still have my truck?” John asked as he added another perfectly cooked pancake to the growing stack. 

“Yep. I had Bobby bring it to me after you died and I’ve had it ever since. Had to replace the carburetor and the transmission last year and she’s a bitch to find parts for... but it was yours. It’s come in handy over the years, too; Jax loves it in the winter but we can get a new one.”

“Keep it.” He said with a small shake of his head. “I can get one from the lot… if you’ll help me rebuild it.” He looked up at you hopefully. You nodded with a genuine smile.

“Yea… I’d like that.” He nodded his head and glanced over at his sons before going back to making breakfast.

“So, uh… can I get some of that bacon?” Dean asked as he craned his neck to look at the pan. You rolled your eyes as you jumped off the counter.

“There goes De and his no chick-flick moment rule.” Sam grumbled as you headed toward the stairs to get your youngest before he woke up and started crying.

“Somethin’ burnin’?” Chibs asked as he walked out of the room that was designated as the play room.

“My dad didn't know how to use a teflon pan. It’s OK; there’s coffee, pancakes and bacon.” Your friend moaned as he pulled a shirt that was way too big for him over his head.

“Real bed, real food. Cheers, I’m in ‘eaven.” You laughed as you shuffled upstairs and dipped into your room to throw on warm clothes to go out for a smoke.

“You’re up early.” Jax groaned as he rolled over in bed to watch you.

“Dad was trying to cook pancakes on ‘high’. Had to save the house from being burned down.” Jax huffed a laugh as you crawled across the bed and gave him a kiss. “Do you care if he sticks around for a while?”

“Nope…” Jax yawned as he rolled onto his back and stretched. “Two live-in sitters we trust… maybe we can try honeymoon take two.” You laughed as he wrapped his arms around you and pulled you down on top of him.

“I love you, baby but you shot me on our first honeymoon. I don’t think…” Your words were lost in a yelp as he tickled your sides and rolled you underneath him.

“God, you’re such a smart ass.” You smiled up at him as you tried to tame his wild bed head.

“You still love me.” You gave him a chaste kiss and pat his cheek. “Now, up you get. Our baby boy turns one today.”

“Where did time go?” Jax asked as he rolled off you and flopped back on the bed. “And with your dad moving in, we gotta start calling him Johnny or something so we don’t confuse the two.” You looked over your shoulder as you pulled your bra into place with a half mouth smirk.

“I think it would be a little strange for you to call my dad Johnny, babe.” You dodged the first pillow expertly but the second one hit you square in the back.

“I hate you sometimes.” You smiled as you tossed the pillows back on the bed and walked over to his dresser to grab one of his long-sleeved SAMCRO t-shirts that you loved to wear in the winter.

“I know you do. Now quit being lazy, we gotta head into town before people start comin’ over.���

“For what?” Jax asked as he rolled out of bed and grabbed a shirt from the drawer you were closing.

“Chibs needs clothes. I know Bobby has my dad’s old stuff but you, Ope, my brothers and my dad are all too broad for that man to borrow clothes from. I’ll just use one of Sam’s cards. And with two people moving in, we need more food.” Jax shrugged as he headed toward the bathroom.

“I’ll stay here. You can take him.” You shrugged as John started to fuss over the baby monitor.

“Have fun hanging out with Dean, then. No fighting.” Your husband popped his head out and shook his head.

“On second though, you may need my help… carrying shit.” You laughed as you headed out of your room to get the birthday boy with a smile on your face. You hesitated for a moment outside the door and looked up at the ceiling.

“Thank you.” You whispered softly to the mystery man and woman you now fully believed in who gave you part of your family back. With a small nod, you stepped into the room and cooed at your youngest pride and joy.

Epilogue

[sakyou]

Answered a bunch of asks. Some are really old ones I never got round to because of exams/coursework/work (/)u(\)

The jist of it all is i’ve been really busy, i’m sorry I can’t translate more ;;

Asks arranged by fandom(?); Thanatos Night > A3! > Diabolik Lovers > AxK

Thanatos Night

lucentheart said: Is there anything I can do to help Thanatos Night maybe one day become an otome game or anime? Or is there no chance at all for it to ever happen? :o I want to know the best way to support it getting bigger <3 I just love the animation and videos too much!

Hmmm honestly the best way to support anything is buy it. By buying the CDs and merch you show Rejet that people actually want more of a series which will encourage them to keep it going.

I doubt it’ll ever get a game or anime though. Games and anime are far more expensive to produce than Drama CDs. Plus Rejet has a lot of good series that they could have turned into a game but haven’t yet...

To sum up, buy into the series to support it if you want to see more! ^^

Anonymous said: will you please translate Thanatos Night Re: Vival story and characters? thank you

This is super later sorry OTL Rui and Cann have translated them somewhere on their blogs so I recommend you check them out ^^

Anonymous said: Hi! First off, I really like your tumblr and I enjoy your translations, so thank you so much for your hard work! I was wondering if you will be willing to translate or write a summary of Oliver's drama cd from thanatos night?

Hey anon thanks for the kind words! Okay this is going to sound terrible considering I just posted Seth’s translation...but the truth is I haven’t listened to Oliver’s CD yet OTL 

I have it but for some reason I keep putting off listening to it >.>; There’s already a summary I think(?) somewhere in the tag so perhaps check that out ^^ As for translation I haven’t decided yet...I feel like I should translate them all but my motivation for translating CDs comes and goes...i’ll definitely consider it though! c:

A3!

Anonymous said: Thank you for the A3! translations!

Anonymous said: I want to say thank you for translating a3. I really wanted to get into it and now reading the stories have really got me hooked. thank you again!

Thank you for reading them! I had a lot of fun translating A3! things ;3; I hope more people get into A3! because these kids are honestly precious and need love (/)u(\)

Diabolik Lovers

kyndredraven said: Hello, I know that it has been a long time since Dark Fate was released, but I thught I would ask just in case (because you never know if you dont ask). Is there any way that you could translate Shu' s vampire ending, or at least, the conversation he has with his father during his CG? I really want to know what he tells his father, but my Japanese is only so so :( Thank you so much for taking the time to do other translations too!

Hi, first of all really sorry for taking so long to reply. Originally I was planning to leave this until I got round to Shuu’s Vampire ending but it’s probably going to be a while >u<;

Thinking back to Shuu’s route I don’t remember him having a conversation with his father in his Vampire ending CG though...the CG in his Vampire ending was the one where they get married if I remember correctly. Having said that they do have a somewhat conversation at the start of his vampire ending where Shuu kills Karlheinz which I have summarized in my route summary here:

“Shuu reacts before his father can and Karlheinz falls to his knees. With his life coming to an end he tells his son that this was his fate all along. He asks Shuu if he really is going to stop running and protect everything dear to him. Shuu says yes and upon hearing that Karlheinz says everything will be fine then.

Shuu had surpassed him and became Adam. It was finally over, with nothing left to live for he asks Shuu to take his head back and confirm his death. Shuu asks Yui to close her eyes whilst he does so. In this dying last words he leaves the rest to everyone.”

I’m still working on Shuu’s Dark Fate so i’ll get round to it eventually, my schedule has been a little hectic these past few months ^^;

Anonymous said: Can you translate the vandead carvinal where Yuma and Yui are flying together and then falls in the cake that was for the carvinal ? (Sorry for my english i'm learning ;D )

Hi anon, what you’re referring to is actually Chapter 1 of Yuma’s Lunatic Parade. When I first saw this I was really confused since I hadn’t played it yet OTL These chapters are on the ridiculously long side so i’ll have to pass for now sadly but maybe when I have more time i’ll get round to it ^^;

Anonymous said: You're amazing and wonderful and i hope your life is filled with nothing but kindness

Anonymous said: Hi! I just wanted to pop up and thank you for taking time out of your day to maintain this blog and answer asks. It is much appreciated, even though there are, sadly, lots of people that are ungrateful and toxic in the DL fandom, please don't let them get to you.❤️💛💚💙💜

Thank you both for your kind words ;; Honestly when I got these message I was having a really tough time with the fandom and I really did feel like quitting again. But i’ve taken some time out and other things have happened so i’m back now...kind of...(/)u(\);

Anonymous said: I know you're busy and can't do full translations so I was wondering if you'd do quick summaries of what happens in the routes for lunatic parade when you have time

Hey anon sadly I don’t think i’d have the time to summarize them all any time soon BUT if there are any guys you’re particularly interested drop me another ask and i’ll try to throw a summary up for those ones at least. I tend to write really long summaries which is probably why they take so long....but I enjoy doing them >u<

Anonymous said: I read somewhere that in Lunatic Parade Subaru is a hardcore Carla Fanboy lol so if you could find the time, could you translate the scenarios for Carla w/ Subaru or Subaru w/ Carla because I have to know if this is true XD Sooo yeah hope you answer to this ask and have a nice day! :)

It’s been so long I genuinely cannot remember if anything happened like this in Subaru’s route and I haven’t played Carla’s yet pls don’t judge me >.>; If it’s definitely in Subaru’s route though drop me another ask and I can get that done soon! I don’t know when i’ll get round to Carla’s route >u<

Anonymous said: please do carla tsukinami or reiji sakamaki! ive never seen their dark fate routes done completely. pretty pleaseeee :)))

Hi anon I honestly don’t think I could do Reiji’s mannerisms justice. For sub scenarios and fluff like VC/LP it’s a little easier but more plot driven content i’d probably butcher him ;3;

As for Carla I just haven’t played his route yet...I don’t know why I keep putting him off...

Aoharu x Kikanjuu

Anonymous said: When i get stressed i think about adorable little kid Hotaru Tachibana hugging her story book and it's just so cute she loves justice THEN IT'S FUNNY CAUSE SHE BEATS UP THOSE KIDS SO BADLY so cute so innocent so aborable. If you tumblr break is cause your stressed just think about Hotaru ;D and hope you enjoy your break!

ANON THIS IS THE CUTEST THING EVER AAAAAAAH. Thank you for sending this I really needed it ;; I’m still really stressed but coping much better than I was before ;3; Hotaru is forever cute adorable innocent child ;3; protect all of TGG I say with Hoshishiro as my url OTL

Anonymous said: Hi~ first off, I love your translations!! You Always translate the best pics!! On a side note, do you know where to contact NAOE? Nothing personal just a social media account that I can comment on or something like that.

Hey anon~ Thank you for reading my translations ^^ aaaaah I miss translating AxK why am I so lazy these days... NAOE sensei has a twitter account here! You may not get a reply but sensei reads and likes all @ mentions c:

[marisdoner]

At What Age Should Men Start Worrying About Low Testosterone?

Low testosterone is a major problem for millions of men who are otherwise in good overall health. Men need to be concerned about testosterone because it is a crucial sex hormone that has multiple effects on their overall health, sex drive and physical appearance. Find out what causes testosterone levels to get dangerously low and learn about some safe and effective ways to prevent or reverse the problem below.

It’s Complicated

It’s long been known that overall levels of testosterone in men decrease as they get older. The average over-50 male in modern Western society displays many symptoms of low testosterone, and so do many men who are younger than that. UW Health explains that most medical researchers measure testosterone based upon how much of the hormone is present in the blood, measuring it in nanograms per deciliter. As a general guideline, a specific amount, 300 ng/dl, is viewed as the cutoff point between normal and low levels of testosterone. For every 100 men, at least two show obvious signs of being well below that critical level. Many more are either on the borderline or slightly above the 300 ng/dl mark. Men need to worry about low testosterone levels because when testosterone levels get too low, you can start seeing all sorts of health problems, including symptoms like decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction (ED) and weak bones. Testosterone is vital for male health because it helps the body create muscle mass, hair and sperm.

Lifestyle is a Major Factor

Andro Fuel explains that the good news is that there are many ways to naturally boost your testosterone that only depend on lifestyle and diet changes. When lifestyle changes are approached sensibly, even men who are well past middle age can do things to raise their testosterone levels considerably. For younger men who suffer from a lack of this vital hormone, lifestyle changes can have fast and visible effects. How can the average man who needs to increase the amount of testosterone in his blood deal with the situation? It’s all about educating oneself and discovering what factors contribute to your own lack of testosterone. There are many factors that can cause low T; things like diet, activity levels, passive ingestion of chemicals, certain prescription drugs, emotional states and sleep habits all have the potential to directly change the body’s static amount of testosterone.

Soy, No. Zinc, Yes.

When it comes to testosterone, soy is the enemy. For men who use soy protein as a supplement and who tend to overdo it, the results can be disappointing. Studies have shown that even moderate amounts of soy protein can significantly reduce the amount of testosterone in the blood, so if you’re concerned about low testosterone, you should try to avoid soy as much as possible. Check ingredients lists closely because a surprising number of products include soy as an ingredient. Zinc is at the opposite end of the spectrum as far as testosterone is concerned and can help to increase it.

Go Easy on the Adult Beverages

Alcohol probably has no negative effects on testosterone levels when it is used in moderation. In fact, those who occasionally drink beer, wine and hard liquor might enjoy a slight health benefit compared to those who never consume any alcohol at all. However, heavy drinkers can experience low testosterone as well as unwelcome changes in other reproductive hormones in the body.

Grains, Grains, Go Away

The relationship between grains and testosterone levels is a strange one. Gluten Free Society explains that not all grains have a detrimental effect on the hormone, but gluten seems to be a major contributor to low testosterone. This situation is a good example of the concept that it is possible to increase testosterone levels in a completely natural way. That means adding some foods to the diet and avoiding others. Except in extreme medical cases, there is no need for taking testosterone supplements or going on strict diets. Nor is there a need for massive amounts of exercise. Testosterone is one hormone that responds well to natural manipulation with time and diligence.

Can Meditation Increase Testosterone Levels?

Protocol8 explains that most people don’t view purely mental activities as a way to deal with a low testosterone problem, but it is possible to meditate your way to better hormones. Decades of research has shown that adults who meditate regularly tend to have lower levels of cortisol in their bloodstream. Cortisol levels directly impact lower testosterone problems because cortisol raises the body’s stress level in many ways. Just 20 minutes of meditation each day can reduce cortisol levels significantly. When cortisol levels go down, growth hormones, including testosterone, go up as a result. So, in addition to all the dietary and exercise changes, it does apparently help men to incorporate meditation into their daily routines. Lower cortisol and higher growth hormones can mean an easier path to muscle building and faster recovery after sessions of exercise.

Sunscreen and Cardio No-No’s

Sunscreen is a part of life for anyone who spends time outdoors. Medical literature has touted the benefits of applying the creamy, sun-blocking goo for years, and the public has followed that advice in large part. Kitchen Stewardship explains that the problem is that most sunscreen products contain enough estrogen to interfere with testosterone production in the body of adult males. There are safe and effective products that don’t contain estrogen, but it’s imperative to read labels and do research to find the right ones.

Weightlifting and Testosterone Levels

Some studies have shown that so-called “toning” weight workouts do not have an effect on testosterone levels. It appears, based on research, that short sessions of power-style lifting can help boost the hormone’s level rather well. For men who already incorporate weight work in their exercise regimen, it might help to focus on lifting heavier weights for fewer reps and taking longer rest periods between sets. If you don’t currently strength train, taking up heavy lifting can help boost your testosterone levels.

Work on Posture

NoGym.com explains that some psychologists have suggested that posture might play a role in testosterone production. Actively working to get rid of a slumping posture and trying to stand up straight has effects on self-image, mood, and possibly increases the amount of testosterone in a person’s blood. Researchers theorize that “power postures” tell the brain to send signals out that generate more testosterone.

Lose Weight

One of the more reliable ways to boost testosterone is to drop excess weight. Adult men who carry between 10 and 20 extra pounds (and that includes the majority of the adult male population in the U.S.) can ramp up their testosterone levels by losing the extra fluff. Losing excess weight has many other health benefits as well, including the restoration of proper blood pressure and triglyceride levels. Dropping a few unneeded pounds is pretty much a win/win. There’s no reason to fly blind when it comes to dealing with testosterone levels. Everyone who wants to address the problem should speak with a doctor before embarking on a major change of diet or lifestyle. There’s no reason to put your health in danger by going to extremes, either. In most cases, it’s easy enough to improve testosterone levels with moderate changes to your diet and lifestyle.

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