#please pretend i am hand delivering words of our boys and a birthday cake right to your door.

[squidyyy23]

keeper of the prize

Ian and Mickey, growing and learning as they become domino champions, hustle their way through their prison sentences.

hey, everyone! it’s chrissy’s @you-are-so-much-better-than-that birthday!!! and she really, really, really loves to be showered in love on her special day (😉) so we gotta give her what she wants. which will always and forever be some sweet sweet prison boys. so here it is, my love. some dumbasses in jumpsuits playing some silly games and figuring out their shit along the way. 💕

rating: m word count: 7k

and special thanks to the lovely sara @shameless-notashamed for always being the bestest beta on the planet and bee @gallawitchxx for soothing my wild brain. 😘

read on ao3 here

[joneryskingdom]

He is stil sleeping when she awakens, sunlight shining through the white curtains of their canopy. Buried in the pillows, his curls a dark mess emerging from that immaculate sea of linen. He’s snoring, her sweet Jon, making sounds similar to the ones of a wolf in his den.

Dany stirs, washing away all the sleepiness. Near her, Ghost welcome the new day and his mistress, waving happily his long white tail.

«Good morning Ghost.» she says, petting him, caressing him between his fluffy albino ears. «Have you sleep well? Should we verified how is Jon today? Mmh?»

He’s still burning, from what she can tell by a kiss on his forehead. Pale, dark half moons of sleeplessness and exhaustion marking his eyes, drooling on the pillow. Luckily, the fever is not dangerously high, but she has to be careful. He particularly has to be careful with his body, not stressing himself too much.

Resting all the morning will heal him a bit, Dany thinks, kissing his warm forehead another time. He definitely needs it.

She will call Sam later for a visit, her husband’s health is important.

And the one of our little new entry too, she reminds herself, laying an hand on the cloister of flesh in which her, their, new baby dragon is growing.

A boy or a girl? Prince or princess? Only time will tell...

Around the breakfast table, the baby dragon’s siblings are chatting, an increasingly storm of discussions, clawing Daenerys’ ears. Any nausea hasn’t touching her yet, instead she’s hungry.

For her children kisses, for Jon’s healing, for this new babe. She cannot wait to hold him or her in her arms. And Jon! Jon’s reaction! She’s not sure he had listened last night, he was asleep after all. Well, today, if the Gods are kind, she would tell him. “You have to commission another cradle” or “I have a gift for you, close your eyes and touch me”.

An effect phrase, she wants him to be surprised.

Babe number eight, she counts, looking Aelionor eating her bacon in her exquisite regal manners - her septa is all praises for her - and the twins arguing over the last lemon cake remained on the silver tray a servant is holding. Daeron and Alysanne are identical, except for their sex.

Delivered on Dragonstone, just like her taciturn Daenys. She suspects there is a tribute in her name, Jon’s work behind it, not only an homage to the Dreamer and Dragonstone itself, the castle of their love, before and after their reunion beyond the Wall. Daenys and Daenerys, so phonetically similar after all.

The toddler is splashing her mush, seated in her high chair. Quiet, as always, Daenys, at two, doesn’t speak much, sometimes she doesn’t speak at all, tossing some High Valyrian words here and there. Instead, the septas who manage the nursery said she stare intensely at the flames roaring in the braziers and at the candles, that she listens fervently at the nighttime prayers of her brothers and sisters.

They were worried, her and Jon, after her first birthday and the last year has been a carousel of maesters and experts visiting their lovely girl, trying to obtain something more than the rare “Pa-pa” and “Mamma” or “Kepa” and “Muña”. She isn’t mute, they all have reassured the monarchs, telling them what their already know.

«Mama.» Rhaella draws her from her thoughts.

«Yes my dear?»

«It is true that beyond the Wall there mammoths? Dada says they are legends, he claims of having read it in a book.»

Daeron, bookworm since babyhood.

«Because it’s true!» Daeron replied in a lunatic rage. «It was in the library.»

«Mama’s and Papa’s library.» Jaehaerys, basically a clone of Jon, a skinny rascal, black curls and grey eyes and all. «I saw you...»

«He wasn’t stealing from it Mama I swear!» Daeron says. «I’m saying the truth. Of course, you have so many books...»

Aemon laughs. «You will marry a book at this point, mister know-it-all!»

«I didn’t saw any mammoth when I was with Papa beyond the wall my sweethearts.» Dany says. «But I have to tell you something.»

Silence. All pairs of eyes are on her.

«It’s a segret remember! Only I can I tell Papa about this.» She takes a deep breath. «Soon you will have a new baby brother or sister!»

Sam had examined her, but by this time she knows all the symptoms.

«You are preg-prenan-» Jae stumbles on the right word. «What was that?»

«Pregnant.» Daeron corrects him. «It means Mama has a baby inside her belly, but now the baby is small, like a peanut, right Mama?»

«Yes my dear sweetie, like a seed.»

Daenys suddenly exclaims: «Mammú!»

«A mammoth?» Rhaella jumps from her chair. «Have you seen a mammoth little sis?»

«Mammú» One finger is in her mouth, the other indicates at the entrance.

«Daenys saw a mammoth Mama!» Aemon joins his sister and partner in crime.

She already knows what mammoth and with a funny grin she says: «Well, I think you should chase him then.»

«Haunting party!» Rhaella announced.

And suddenly all the children are on Jon, laughing and climbing on him, on his marvelous and furry night robe, shouting, all excited. Pearls of laughter flourish from their mouth, all are playing with their papa, pretending he’s a giant mammoth.

And, judging by the noises he makes, he is playing along.

«You have caught me!» He surrenders, kneeling, faking his end. «Aaargh! All these children have caught me! Help!»

«Pups.» Dany calls them. «Out for a minute please, me and Papa have to talk alone.»

The door close, Jon comes to her.

«I’m hungry, what there is here, with which I could break my fast?»

«You should be in bed.» Dany hide her disappointment. «Resting.»

«I’m not tired, I told you.» He sits beside her. «And I have work to do.»

«Not today or tomorrow. Resting is all you will have to do. Sam will come soon, to visit you.»

«I’m not sick Dany.» he grumbles.

«You have a fever.»

«And with it? Being a little feverish means I am overworked?»

«Yes, my northerner fool.» They exchange a tender kiss. «Your health is well regarded by me. But, anyway...» she looks at time. «I have something to share with you.»

He is suddenly serious. «It is something-»

«Nothing bad my Dragonwolf, just that... do we have any baby clothes left?»

He doesn’t say anything and she is scares for his reaction. Didn’t he like the news?

«D-Do you m-mean you are...»

«Aye.» she teases him, using his pronunciation. «I am with child.»

Jon embraces her, it’s a possessive, protective and secluded embrace. Her nest, her house with the red door.

«It’s beautiful Dany, really beautiful... I-I’m... gods... another babe on they way... we’re fast at making them.» he jokes, caressing her belly. «Aren’t we?»

«I want many more Jon, many, many more.»

«A Red Keep full of squealing babes.»

«Yes.» she sniffles. «Isn’t a beautiful dream?»

«It will became real Dany.» His other hand is on her cheek. «I promise.»

He then talk to her belly, yes, he talks.

«Hey buddy, you don’t know me yet but I’m your Papa and I love you so much, both me and you Mama. So treat her well, understood?»

[gabriel-agreste-has-no-rights]

Rating: G

Chapter Summary: Nathalie and co. crash the party. This time, Alya is the one with the backup plan. Meanwhile, Ladybug and Adrien are both stupidly in love.

Word Count:  4294 | Chapter 4/4

Notes: Last chapter of the fic for @marinetteplztakeabreak commissioned through @mlbforblm!  The drive is over, but please check out the blog to see what everyone else has created and how to stay involved!

XXX

“I am telling you!  If you did not RSVP, you do not come in!  That is the rules!”  Philippe spread his arms wide, blocking the entrance to the rink.  Nino could barely see him through the crack in the double doors.  Philippe was a cool dude, but he wouldn’t last long against Nathalie, Adrien’s bodyguard, and tablet-Gabe himself.

Nino was tempted to go out there and turn the tablet’s power off, just to see what Nathalie would do.  But he didn’t want to get Adrien grounded for the next millennium.

Plus, he wasn’t supposed to be seen at all.  Kagami and Wayhem were on stalling duty with Philippe.  Nino just had to make sure that Nathalie wouldn’t find any trace of Adrien when she eventually forced her way in.

“They’re gone.  Finally.”  Chloé reported.

Nino nodded.  He’d seen a red blur leave through the window.

“Rose, Juleka, and I hid the presents behind the skate rental booth,” Alya said.  “Kim ate the rest of the cake, and Luka took XY to make out in the bathroom.  That should cover all the loose ends.”

“Why are you telling us that?”  Chloé gagged, and Alya rolled her eyes.

“Because XY’s obviously the weakest link here.  You said you caught him posting photos on Insta, right?”

“I did.  It’s a good thing you put me on the job.”  She flipped her hair.

Not that it mattered in the end, because Nathalie had found them anyway.  But the rink looked about as innocent as it could get.  With the presents hidden, the laser lights turned off, and generic pop music playing, they could’ve been a bunch of dudes on a regular Friday evening.

“Anyway, we’ll all be safer if XY isn’t here to spill our secrets for a little while.  You better go too, babe,” Alya said, squeezing Nino’s hand.  

“Go where?  Apparently Luka and XY called dibs on the bathroom.”  Besides, he’d planned this party, and he was going to see it through.  It was time to break his three-year-long failure streak.

Alya sighed.  “I’ll be ready to pay your bail, then.”

He gave a weak grin.  Like Adrien, he was still seventeen.  They couldn’t actually arrest him, right?

Considering the Agrestes were loaded, he wouldn’t take his chances.

The doors opened.  Nino did his best not to scowl at Gabriel’s face on the tablet.

“What gives?”  He asked, pretending like he hadn’t put weeks of planning into this moment.  “Did you get mad we didn’t invite you to our sweet party?”

“So you admit it,” Gabe said coldly from the screen.  Nathalie remained as still as a statue, like she was only there to display her boss’ face.  It was pretty creepy, honestly.  Adrien’s bodyguard was normally silent anyway, so that wasn’t as unnerving.

“Admit what?  That we know how to have a rad time, and you don’t?”  Nino put his hands on his hips.  His tone might be pushing it, but if he acted too nice, Gabe would never buy it.

“That you threw a birthday party for dsfkslksdkfklfdfk when I have repeatedly sdlfdsfsllkdf express disapproval.”  Gabriel’s face glitched out a few times, his voice blurring to something like a keysmash.  

Nino bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.  Man, he owed Max big time for this.

“Birthday party?”  Wayhem frowned.  He was a better actor than most of them.  “I didn’t hear anything about a birthday.”

“Today is my son’s sdsaskdlfirthday.”

Wayhem’s head tilted.  “You have a son?”

Nino choked.  Okay, maybe Wayhem was trying too hard, but the look on tablet-Gabe’s face was priceless.  If only he could convince Nathalie to take a screenshot.

“It’s Adrien’s birthday, dude.”  Nino punched Wayhem’s arm.  “We just couldn’t invite him, remember?  ‘Cause his dad’s a buzzkill.”

“I took him out for birthday orange juice to cheer him up,” Kagami told Wayhem, but her words were really directed towards Gabriel.  “A poor substitute for a party, but it was the best I could do.”

Gabriel’s eyes flickered, as if scanning as much of the rink as his screen would allow.

“Search the area.”

Adrien’s bodyguard nodded once, not that Gabe could see him from his angle.  Then he went off to inspect the rows of chairs.  At least he wasn’t starting with the skate rental booth.

“Be careful with my rink!  Don’t step on the ice without proper skating equipment!”  Philippe shouted.  

“Weren’t you listening?  He’s not here, dude—sir,” Nino corrected.  Not that it mattered much.  He’d already been as disrespectful as he dared. 

Gabe’s face glitched again.  “Where is my son now, then?”

Alya shrugged.  “Probably on his way home, right?”

“Alone?”  He practically snarled.  The tablet froze for a moment, catching his mouth open in an unflattering frame.  Maybe Nino could sneak his phone out and take a picture if he couldn’t get a real screenshot.  “Why wouldn’t he call his bodyguard?  Have you all dslkfddfsjljfdls irresponsible—”

“He’s with Ladybug, dude,” Nino interrupted.  Adrien’s bodyguard was getting close to the skates; he couldn’t afford to stall too long.  “He can’t get safer than that.”

For some reason, that only seemed to make Gabe seethe more.  But a neutral expression quickly replaced it, so maybe Nino was just imagining things.

“If sdlfkdfs your idea of a trick, you’ll have to—”

Kagami’s phone dinged.  Silently, she held up her screen to the tablet.  Nino couldn’t see what it showed, but Gabe’s mouth finally shut.

“Nathalie.  Return home at once and sdlfjkdssdls Ladybug has delivered my son safely.”

Nathalie’s expression changed for the first time, her eyes widening.  “But, sir, aren’t you already at—”

“Kskdlfskfl at once.”  The screen went dark.

Nathalie sighed, like Gabriel had taken the last bit of her composure with him. 

“Enjoy your not-birthday party,” she said in monotone before exiting the rink, her heels clicking against the concrete floor with each step.

Adrien’s bodyguard jogged after her.  His face was bright pink—he’d just come out from investigating the boy’s bathroom.  XY must have been useful after all.

Nino whistled once the adults were gone.  “What did you show her?”

Kagami held up her phone for him.  Adrien’s face was squished next to Ladybug’s in a selfie he’d posted to Instagram.  Her smile looked a little more hysteric than Alya’s Ladyblog photos could capture.  Actually, it looked kind of familiar.

But Nino didn’t think too hard about that, considering the caption Adrien had typed.

Escorted home by my favorite superhero!  I couldn’t ask for a more miraculous birthday present!! <3

If Ladybug looked awkward, it was probably just embarrassment at how cheesy he was.

“How did you get that so fast?”  Nino frowned.

“I messaged Adrien while you were stalling.  Unfortunately, he’ll have to return home to maintain the illusion.”  Her brows pulled into a scowl.  “I should have created a contingency plan for this.”

“What?”  Kim shouted.  “But I haven’t even won my bet!”

Alix cackled and stretched out her hand.  “Pay up, loser.”

Juleka ran her fingers comfortingly through Rose’s hair.  Max frowned down at his computer screen.  Others were murmuring to each other, looking downcast.  All of them knew how much work Nino and Kagami had put into this party.  All of them knew how much it meant to Adrien.

“Come on, we’re not giving up that easily!” Nino insisted.  “There’s gotta be some way to keep fooling Nathalie.  What if Max hacks the sound system again?  We can make it sound like he’s in bed snoring, or something.”

“Guys?”  Alya stepped up, waving her phone at the two of them.  “I have a better idea.”

XXX

Marinette.exe had stopped working.  Thankfully, Ladybug.exe could still run on backup power.  She tried to keep her cool as she swung them up onto the roof of the rink.

“Wait,” Adrien said before she could cast out her yo-yo again.  His breath was close to her neck, ruffling her pigtails. She did her best not to shiver.

“We need to get you away from here. Just in case,” Marinette said.  The silver limo was still parked below, but she had no idea how long it would take for Nathalie and Adrien’s bodyguard to leave the rink.

“They won't see us up here.  I can’t leave without making sure Nino is okay.  Last year, my father almost got him arrested.”

Marinette winced.  Of course, Adrien didn’t know that “Ladybug” was there for his previous almost-birthday-party, close enough to see the bruises on Nino’s arm.

“I hope he’s alright too,” she said quietly before gently setting him on his feet.  His arms were still secure around her neck, and his ring was a shock of cold where it brushed her skin.

His ring.  She’d never seen him without it.

“I—sorry!”  Adrien practically yelped when she did shiver.  His arms slapped back to his sides.

She couldn’t do anything but stare as red spilled across his cheeks.  It was him.  It had to be him.

Ladybug.exe was beginning to shut down too.  Maybe Max could reinstall her software.

“Ladybug?”  Adrien swallowed.  “We should probably hide a little bit better…”

“R-right!”

She let him pull her flat against the roof.  They laid there on their stomachs, her arm pressed to his, their fingers still twined together.  His silver ring gleamed against the red of her suit.

How was she supposed to breach the subject?  “Oh, by the way, I know you’re Chat Noir?”  It was his birthday.  He deserved a perfect identity reveal, not just her stupidly blurting whatever came into her head.  

His phone beeped, startling her.

“Sorry.  Kagami said to keep my ringer on in case of an emergency.”  He fished the phone from his pocket and set it on the roof.  They were close enough for Marinette to see the message from Kagami on his screen.

“She needs us to take a selfie?”  Her brow furrowed.

Adrien shrugged.  “It must be important.”

They sat up, still holding hands.  Her blush probably matched his by now, but if he hadn’t let go, why should she?

She shuffled closer to him, until her chin was resting over his shoulder.  Just so they would both fit in the camera frame, of course.  Not because she wanted to press her cheek to his, feel his blush on her skin.

Yeah, she wasn’t kidding anyone.  Except maybe him.

“Smile!”  He said, holding up his phone.

As if she could not smile when breathing in his radiant, carefree, dreamy scent.  When she knew more than ever that they were made for each other.

Her grin still looked a bit too wide in the photo, not like his perfect, brilliant smile.

“You’re still that happy?”  She couldn’t help blurting.  She had his model smiles memorized.  This wasn’t one of them.  It was too genuine, much more so than her tense grin.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”  He looked up from where he was typing out a caption.  “I get to spend my birthday with my—with my favorite superhero.”  His smile twitched, almost becoming a familiar smirk. 

She blushed, even though Chat Noir had said more flirtatious things to her than that.

“But your party might be over.  You didn’t even get to open presents.”  Which reminded her, she still had his present in her yo-yo.  Now didn’t feel like the right time to give it to him, though.

“The best present is how much my friends thought of me.”  He squeezed her hand.  “And I wouldn’t worry yet.  Nino and Kagami probably have a plan for this.”

His phone rang.  Nino or Kagami already?  Was the coast clear?

But the contact on the screen wasn’t either of them.

“Alya?”  Adrien asked after picking up.  “Is everything okay?  Nino didn’t do anything crazy, did he?”

Marinette strained to pick out what Alya was saying on the other end, but it was too muffled.  Adrien’s eyes widened.

“Uh…” To her surprise, he held out the phone to her.  “Alya wants to talk to you.”

Marinette blinked before holding the phone to her ear.  “Hello?”

Alya didn’t waste time with introductions.  “Sorry to interrupt your date, but I know a way we can save Adrien’s party.  Can I borrow the fox miraculous again?”

XXX

Alya played a few notes on her flute, and brilliant light streamed from the end.  It coalesced into Adrien’s sleeping form, nestled beneath the covers.  So realistic.  His back even rose and fell with the illusion of breath.

“Amazing,”  Marinette whispered as she crouched in Adrien’s windowsill.  She tried not to fidget as she kept lookout—not that Nathalie should show up anytime soon.  Even though Marinette had stopped to pick up Alya’s miraculous, they’d easily left the Agreste limo behind in the Friday evening traffic. 

Alya strapped her flute to her back and nodded.  “Probably a waste of effort.  I doubt Nathalie will even pay attention.”

Marinette sighed.  She was probably right.  If only she could take Adrien away for longer than one evening, one birthday party…

Soon.  Even if Adrien had to spend his days here, she would make sure his nights were full of freedom and laughter.  

Full of love.

Just as soon as she found out the best way to reveal her identity.  It was only fair, now that she’d figured out his.  And then everything would be perfect, and they’d go on dates in the park, and she’d sew him sweaters to wear over his suit, and he’d crack puns and she’d pun back, and— 

“You alright there, Ladybug?”  The faux eyebrows on Alya’s mask drew together.

“Yep!  Doing great!”  She grinned, face heating.  She had to be careful.  If she daydreamed too much in front of Alya, her friend might puzzle out her identity, too.

“We better go then.  Don’t want to leave your boyfriend waiting.”  She winked.

Marinette gaped.  “What?  He’s not—I mean, I wouldn’t mind if he was, but—”

She couldn’t date Adrien as Ladybug.  She’d known that even before she agreed to come suited up to his party.  But she hadn’t realized just how much of a mess it would be if Alya thought Ladybug was dating Adrien, and then Marinette showed up with him at school.

“It’s okay.  Practically everyone’s had a crush on Adrien at some point.  But Ladybug?”  Alya stepped close, then swung her legs over the windowsill so they were sitting side by side. “If you really want to be with him, you’d better love him, okay?  At least as much as my best friend does.  And I’m not sure that’s possible.”

Her face heated, but from what?  Embarrassment?  Intimidation?  She was being ridiculous.  Alya was comparing her to herself!

“I—I promise I’ll take his feelings seriously,” she said quietly.

Alya nodded.  “Well then, let’s go.”

With that, she leapt off for the next rooftop.  Marinette lagged behind for just a moment, though, glancing back at the illusory Adrien.

“He means everything to me.”

XXX

Adrien paced on the roof after Ladybug left.  He wasn’t sure what she was doing with Alya, or how they were going to keep Nathalie from realizing he wasn’t in his room.  She was Ladybug.  She always had a plan.

He did kind of wish she’d remembered to take him back inside first, though.

“So you’re just gonna sit out here?  You’re missing your own party!”  Plagg said, flying out of his hoodie.

“It’s alright.”  He swung his legs over the edge of the roof, kicking slowly back and forth.  The party had been amazing, and while he did want to be back inside, this was nice too.  The evening air, the bright moon, the phantom memory of Ladybug’s hand in his.

Did she actually like him?  Him?  No way.  She’d said she didn’t want to kiss him, and she’d acted a little bit off all night.

Maybe that was why he waited up here, rather than transforming and climbing down.  Somehow, he felt that if he could see her just one more time, he’d be able to understand.

His phone beeped.  He checked it immediately, heart pounding.  Was Ladybug okay?  Had her and Alya’s mysterious plan failed?

No.  It was Kagami, just checking on him.  He breathed a sigh of relief and began typing a reply.

“Boring.”  Plagg sighed.  “Wake me up when we get back inside.  I didn’t even get the chance to check out the cheese table.”

Adrien smiled and patted him as he snuggled back in the hoodie pocket.

I’ll be back soon, he typed.  Just waiting on Ladybug.

She left you up there?  Kagami sent back.  I’ll come get you.  Philippe is showing me a way up.

His eyes widened.  That fast?  Well, Kagami was never one to hesitate.

He didn’t even have time to write a reply before Philippe’s head poked up through a hidden trap door.

“Ah, there you are!  The man of the hour!”  He smiled.  “Your friend is looking for you.  She’s waiting below.”

“Thanks.  I’ll be down in just a second.”  He waved back, then turned his gaze to the horizon.

“Don’t take too long.  She’s very concerned about you.”

Kagami was always looking out for him.  It warmed his heart, even as he felt guilty for missing the party she’d planned.

“I won’t; don’t worry.”

Philippe disappeared down the hatch, and sure enough, Ladybug didn’t keep him waiting much longer either.  She dropped Alya off at the front door before swinging up onto the roof.

“You should be safe now,” she said with a smile.  “Your father will never know you’re here.”

He smiled back, suddenly overwhelmed with just how much he loved this girl.  Not only had she come to his party, she’d gone out of her way to make sure he didn’t get in trouble.  

Of course, Alya had helped with that too.  He’d have to thank her when he got back inside.

“Thank you, Ladybug.”  He fought back the urge to take her hand again.  He didn’t have an excuse this time.  Besides, he was around her all the time as Chat Noir; he should have enough practice keeping his hands to himself.

She just smiled back, looking as strained as before, like a balloon about to burst.

“Are you okay?”  He asked, reaching out vaguely before letting his arm fall back to his side.  Hands to himself.

Because she didn’t like him.  Probably.  Even if his love was like a drum beating its way out of his chest, so loud she’d have to be deaf to ignore it.

She laughed with her head in her hands.  “Why does everyone keep asking that?”  

“Um… because you’ve been acting a little bit weird all night, and if I did anything to make you uncomfortable, I want to be able to fix it.”

“You?”  Her head popped back up, revealing wide eyes.  “Worried about making me uncomfortable?”

“Uh… yeah?”  He wasn’t suited up, and “Adrien” didn’t have years of familiarity to fall back on.  Each casual touch could be misconstrued.

This time, her laugh was real, echoing over the traffic below.

“You’re too nice, you know that?”  She finally said.

“Um… thanks?”

Real eloquent, Adrien.  He was pretty sure he’d started the last three sentences with some variation of uh.

“I mean it.  You’re always too nice, and you’re always here for me, and I—I can’t believe I didn’t see it sooner.” She hiccuped, and—and was she crying?  

“My—” he cut off before he could say my lady. 

But she just smiled, even as tears trickled down her mask.

“Your lady.  Yeah.”  She giggled, though a wet sniffle interrupted it.  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to get all emotional.  I planned out a whole speech on the way over, and then I saw you and it just—woosh!  Gone.” 

Your lady.  His… but then she…?

“You’re so cute when you figure things out,” she said, reaching out to take his hand.  “I hope you’re not disappointed.  I wanted to give you a more dramatic reveal, but I—I just love you so much, aaaaaaand I wasn’t supposed to say that yet either.”

She smacked her forehead with her free hand.  He was still gaping, his soul practically leaving his body.

“How could I ever be disappointed with that?”  He breathed, looking between her eyes and their joined hands.  He gave hers an experimental squeeze, and found that she squeezed back.  Sparks went off from his fingers to his toes.  “My Lady, this is the best birthday present ever.”

That was a lie.  She threw her arms around him, and that was the best present ever.  Every heartbeat was better, and better, and soon he was laughing and breathing in the scent of her hair, and she was laughing back and squeezing him so tight he could burst.

“I love you too,” he said against her neck.  “Obviously.” 

“Obviously,” she huffed.  “It wasn’t obvious to me.”

“Well, I’ll make sure it will be from now on.”  He pulled back just enough to rest his forehead against hers, to stare into her eyes.  A few freckles spilled out from under her mask.  He’d never been close enough to see those before.

“I’d appreciate that.”

He could’ve asked when, or how, or why she’d fallen for him.  What happened to the other boy she used to talk about? 

But that all faded in the face of her lips brushing his.  Hesitant at first, then wanting, needing.  This was better than anything he could’ve asked for.  A giddy laugh burst from his lungs to hers, and she pulled back.

“Sorry,” he said sheepishly.  You probably weren’t supposed to laugh in someone’s mouth while you were kissing them.  “I got a little too excited.”

“Adrien.”  She cupped his cheek in her palm.  “Never feel sorry for being happy.  Or excited.  I’m so excited I could die right now.”

“Please don’t.”

She chuckled.  “Anyway, as much as I just want to keep kissing you, I should probably give you your real birthday present.”

He blinked.  If she had more in mind for him than that, he might actually die.

She flipped open her yo-yo and pulled something from inside.  A little vial?

“I remembered you saying that you hated Adrien: the Fragrance,” she started, rolling the glass between her fingers. A pinkish liquid sloshed inside.  “So I found out some scents that you like, and I put something together.  Making cologne is a lot like making the potions for our kwamis.”

“You… made this?”  He accepted the bottle, unscrewing the top to take a whiff.  It did smell wonderful.  Like roses and strawberries, with just a hint of rain.  Was it magical, like the potions she could create?  “This is amazing, my Lady.  But… when did I tell you I hated the fragrance they made me advertise?”

She smiled.  “That’s the other part of your present.”

His eyebrows creased, but before he could ask for clarification, she whispered, “Tikki, spots off.”

He stared wide-eyed as pink light washed over her.  When the sparkles faded, he gasped.

“Marinette.”  Her name tasted sweeter than the smells she’d mixed just for him.  “Marinette.”

He couldn’t say anything else.  His face was sore from smiling so much, but he couldn’t stop.  Ladybug was Marinette, and she loved him!

“That makes sense,” a voice said from behind him.  He almost screamed, but Ladybug—Marinette—slapped a hand over his mouth first.

“Kagami?”  She gaped.  Her hand fell from Adrien’s face, giving him room to turn around.  “What—what are you doing up here?”

Kagami crossed her arms over the lip of the trap door.  “Adrien didn’t come down.  Philippe told you not to take too long.  But I understand why you did.”  She nodded, as if thinking to herself.  

Adrien locked frantic eyes with Marinette.  Just because she was okay with revealing her identity to Chat Noir didn’t mean she’d be okay with Kagami knowing too.

“You… um… so how much did you…?”  He trailed off.

“I was waiting for you to finish kissing.  I’m told it’s impolite to interrupt.”

His eyes widened.  She’d been watching for that long?  He hoped she wasn’t upset.  Even if she didn’t like him romantically, it might still be awkward to watch him kiss someone else.

Marinette was bright red, but she cleared her throat.  “You won’t tell anyone, will you?”

“About your secret identity, or about kissing Adrien?”

“My identity,” she said quickly, looking more and more mortified by the second.

Kagami grinned.  It was a rare expression on her, but all the more special for it.  “I was only teasing.  Of course I will guard your identity with my life.”

Marinette smiled gratefully.  “Thank you, Kagami.”

“You’re welcome.  I’ll tell the others Ladybug dropped you off, so you were able to make it after all.”  She took a step down the ladder, before pausing and poking her head back up.  “And Marinette?  Thank you for taking care of him.”

“Of course.  He means everything to me.”

His heart warmed at the praise, at the way she said it so matter-of-factly.  

Kagami disappeared back down the ladder, leaving him and Marinette in silence that somehow felt both comfortable and vaguely awkward.

“So, uh… you don’t mind if people know that we kissed?”  He asked cautiously.

That finally made her laugh again.  “Of course not.  I was… well, I was hoping you were going to be my boyfriend.”

“Yes,” he said quickly, as if she’d change her mind.  “I mean—please let me be your boyfriend.  That would be the best birthday present ever.”

She took his hand again and squeezed it tenderly before slipping his cologne vial into his hoodie pocket.  He’d dropped it at some point while they were kissing.  Plagg, blessedly, did not complain, even though the little bottle probably bonked him on the head.

“Then happy birthday, boyfriend.”

[hellomissmabel]

Nothing under 7 inches part 5

MASTERLIST

Pairing: Baker!Bucky x reader

Warnings:Fluff and angst y’all.

Word count: 2k

Summary: Bucky is a baker in Y/N’s hometown and with her mother’s birthday right around the corner, he’s excited to see her again. Y/N however doesn’t plan on staying for too long and aims to return to the city life, a dirty little secret getting in the way of her love life.

A/N: My prompt was “cottage”. This fic is written for @soldatbarnes her writing challenge. If you want on the tag list, please send me an ask! I can’t keep track of all the comments.

IF YOU WANT IN ON THE GENERAL TAG LIST OR WANNA STAY ON THE GENERAL TAG LIST PLEASE SEND ME AN ASK.

Series masterlist can be found here

“What’s your least favourite cake to bake? I know you love anything patisserie but surely there’s one thing you don’t like?,” you chuckle whilst drawing a makeshift Christmas tree on top of the cake you just pulled out of the oven. Bucky insisted upon decorating it properly, sensing catharsis is nearby.

“Red velvet,” he answers honestly, a gasp of shock falling from your lips. “Not the cake but the brownie version. And don’t look at me like that, Y/N.”

He finishes up on a beautifully crafted snowman, his steady hands and expertise delivering an impeccable result. “How can you not love red velvet? A fluffy red velvet cake or a firm red velvet brownie… it doesn’t matter!”

“It’s not that I have something against red velvet,” he explains as he asks you to get a knife from the top drawer so he can cut the cake. “On the contrary, I love red velvet. But every time I try making red velvet brownies they end up either too gooey or too dry.”

“Maybe it’s not the red velvet that’s the problem…,” you poke gently, admiring your handiwork. “And maybe you can also put the second cake in the oven now while this one cools off.”

With the second batch of cake in the oven, you oversee your surroundings and realise your mind is just as much a mess as the kitchen is. So you end up volunteering to help him clean up, but Bucky is unyielding in his request to talk things through and with one swift move of his arm he slides everything aside. Resting his hands on your hips he lifts you up on top of the counter, standing in between your legs with his fingertips digging into your thighs.

“The cake is in the oven, which means we have an hour all to ourselves.” His tone is piercing and it tickles your ears as much as the scent of the freshly bakes cake awakens your senses.

“Ever since I was a kid, I stood in Peggy’s shadow,” you start off with a sharp exhale, your chest rising as you gather all your courage with a deep breath.

“She got all the attention from mom. It never bothered Wade, he always did his own thing. But it had a huge effect on me.” Bucky nods as he caresses your legs over the soft fabric of your dress. “Peggy was always the favourite and mom even based the heroin in one of her fantasy novels on her. Dad and I got along much better, but he was always at work which left us with little to no quality time.”

Taking a hold of Bucky’s hands, you slide them off your thighs and let them rest on the counter. Bucky’s head drops a little and he mumbles something like “I’m going to check on the cake” before turning away to the oven where the cake is slowly rising.

“One day I got home and Peggy and mom were seated at the table waiting for me to return from school,” you continue speaking, finding it easier to be honest with Bucky now his back is to you.

“I was 14 and Wade had just left for Los Angeles to make it big as a comedian. Peggy had been accepted to a college in London for a PHD. Mom was overjoyed when she announced the news to me. From then on, something clicked inside my head and when Peggy left for London, I locked myself up in my room, crying my heart out because she’d never love me as much as she’d love my big sister.”

The brunet spins around on his heels and casually leans against the counter next to the oven, ears listening intently. “It got so bad that my mother demanded I’d see the school counsellor. I refused. I didn’t want anybody at school to know how deep I was. Then dad noticed and took me to my aunt’s farm over Thanksgiving. It was a very therapeutic experience for me and we bounded over our love for animals. That’s when he told me why mom is so attached to Peggy.”

“My parents got married at a very young age and my mother wanted to have kids as soon as possible.” You eye Bucky sadly, the corners of his mouth tugged downwards in a morose smile, aching to comfort you.

“But the doctors told mom she couldn’t get pregnant without a little help, because of her disease. Peggy was a miracle and she gave my mother hope, hope for a second child. She always wanted two children, a boy and a girl, so they kept trying and trying and trying for a second child. Then Wade was born a few years later and it was like a dream came through. My parents didn’t really try for another kid after Wade.”

“And then came along Y/N?,” Bucky queries while walking to the fridge and taking out a carton of milk, pouring you both a glass of milk.

Handing one glass to you, he opens another cupboard where he takes out a box with some leftover cookies he made the other day, offering them as some kind of peace offer. You take a sip, the freshness of the milk hitting your taste buds and in no time you finish your glass, a slight milk moustache gracing your upper lip and Bucky chuckles as he points it out to you.

“Anyway,” you cough a little, a small laugh escaping you. “Then mom and dad went on a romantic weekend… It’s not that I was an unwanted child… Because they were thrilled to have me.”

As Bucky munches on one of the chocolate chip cookies, you only take one bite of yours, afraid you’ll choke on the lump in your throat. “But then mom found out that I had the same disease she’d been struggling with her whole life and she just… snapped. She couldn’t deal with it.”

Pushing the plate with the rest of the cookies aside, your face contorts in a sour expression as you’re fighting back the tears. “Now you know. Now you know why I’m afraid to have that white picket fence life with you. I’m afraid I’m not good enough because of my mom. I’m afraid my kids will be just as sick as I am. I’m afraid, Bucky, afraid that you’ll cast me aside, too.”

Bucky is quick to step towards you again. “I would never do that to you, baby. I love you. I love you, I love you, Y/N.” It’s like Bucky’s stuck dancing on a broken record, forced to retrace his steps over and over again. He’s done this before, but this time it’s the last do-over.

“I know you do, I know. Believe me, I know. But at 18, I wasn’t sure of anything anymore. I’d been damaged too much. I needed to be repaired. In New York, I found the repair I needed. But I also accumulated quite a debt.”

Bucky shoots you a confused and troubled look. “But I thought your parents settled your debt?”

That’s what you wanted everybody to believe, you confide in Bucky as regret and shame lace your voice. “I – I found a way to make money on the side.”

You had your job that pays quite well and your parents who’d send you money on the regular. But then you met Tony Stark, a man that runs in a lot of social circles and with a lot of connections. His wife was divorcing him and hung out all the dirty laundry. “He didn’t want us to be just friends, so he made me a proposal I couldn’t refuse.”

There’s a pang in Bucky’s heart, hearing another man has got you more to himself than Bucky. “So you’re still seeing him now?”

Biting your lower lip in regret, you lock eyes with Bucky and see his jaw is clenched so tight he might break his teeth from gritting them too hard. “He’s the reason why I need to go back as soon as possible.”

As soon as you utter those last words, Bucky pulls back straightaway. “He’s the reason why you wanna go back to New York so badly?”

His tone is higher and harder than before, even when you we’re arguing so heatedly outside the cottage. With his eyes spitting fire at you, venom on the tip of his tongue as well as a string of profanities, Bucky’s hand lashes out and slams the plate of cookies to the ground, sending them clattering with a sharp noise that screeches in your mind.

“Is he the one that mended you? Is that it?” Furiously carding his fingers through his brown locks, Bucky kicks with the tip of his feet at the cookies scattered all over the kitchen floor, not even acknowledging your completely tensed up form on the kitchen counter until you hike up your knees to your chest and hurl up into a small ball.

Much to your surprise, once Bucky turns around again and shows you his true emotions, he isn’t angered with or disappointed in you. On the contrary, his sadness is eating him up from the inside. “What do I have to do to get through to you, Y/N?,” he wails while dragging his hands down his face, tears mingling with the skin of his fingertips as they drop onto his hands. “I can’t let you go. I can’t.”

“I promised Tony one last night of play pretend, Bucky. If I don’t show up, he will ruin me,” you cry softly into your arms. “But I don’t wanna…” The tears are stronger than your words and they hitch in your throat. “I don’t wanna give you up, too.”

Bucky realises there’s only one solution, one way to ensure a future for the both of you. Still rocking back and forth as he embraces you, he presses his forehead to yours and closes his eyes, envisioning that future while he whispers softly. “I’m coming to New York with you. I’m giving it all up for you. My mind is made up, Y/N. I’m coming to New York.”

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[wishescrown-blog]

Best Belated Birthday Wishes 2019: Happy Belated Birthday [New List]

Every person on earth has a birthday but not everybody celebrates it. And yet, we never let them go unnoticed. Even those of us who don’t celebrate feel happy when our loved ones remember to wish us. It somehow makes us feel loved and worth remembering. That’s not always the case though. Forgetfulness can happen to anyone and even you may forget to wish someone on their birthday who might have been expecting you to. It’s true that we don’t need birthdays to prove that we appreciate each other. But since sending someone belated birthday wishes won’t hurt and it will definitely let them know you’re thinking about them, it sure is a good idea. So what do you do if you could not wish someone on their special day? Having to deal with belated birthday wishes is something that could happen to anyone. It could be forgetfulness or not being able to contact them. In such cases, it’s definitely better late than never. So don’t resent, just wish them as you would on their actual birthday and they will be happy you did. Also, you’ll be happy to see a smile back on a sulking face, thanks to your belated birthday wishes. A belated birthday wish from me that your life will continue to be filled with the happiness you deserve All my life I have been blaming you for being forgetful. Maybe this time it was life’s way of giving you a chance to blame me for a change. I am sorry for my late wishes. As I missed your birthday, so I’m sending double hugs and kisses as a bonus to make things up. Happy belated birthday.

Birthday cheer a little late, I am so sorry mate, This will never happen again, You know I don’t pretend, Belated Happy Birthday! Birthdays come only once every year but our friendship is forever. This is not an excuse for being forgetful but to remind you how our friendship makes life so beautiful. Happy belated birthday dear. Do you need a reason to celebrate a party? You can take the belated birthday wishes as a chance to enjoy yourself and have another blasting party Do you need a reason to celebrate a party? You can take the belated wishes on your birthday as a chance to enjoy yourself and have another blasting party. Don’t worry, forgetting your birthday is not a sign of a weakening friendship. It is just a sign of my weakening memory. Happy belated birthday. Even though this happy birthday message comes to you a little late, the wish it brings for happiness is good on any day date. Happy belated birthday. Forgetting your birthday is not a sign of our weakening friendship, it’s just a sign of my weakening memory. Happy belated birthday. Happy belated birthday to someone who deserved ‘on-time’. Here is wishing you a day that special to you just the way you are to me. I know my birthday wishes are late but they are nevertheless true. Happy Birthday dear, belated! I am sorry, my wishes may have come in a tad late. But that doesn’t stop me from calling you my best mate. Happy belated birthday. I forget my own wedding anniversary. How do you expect me to remember your birthday? Sorry for the late birthday wishes my friend.

I forgot your birthday but hey, at least I didn’t forget that I forgot it. Happy belated birthday. I have forgotten your birthday but I haven’t forgotten what a wonderful person you are. So please be the gentleman I portray you to be and forgive me for forgetting your birthday. Belated happy birthday. I hope that your birthday was a wonderful one and you enjoyed that day a lot. Have an amazing year. I know I forgot your birthday but believe me, it hurts me more that it does to you. I feel down and depressed and I’m suffering, as if I had the flu. Please forgive me. I know I’m a little behind on celebrating your special day. May be the reason is you live a very fast life and my one is little slower. I wait for you before doing anything important in my life. How come you didn’t tell your birthday to wait for me? Happy belated birthday.

I was hundreds of miles away on your special day. I hope you enjoyed your day with a big cake. I won’t miss the opportunity to wish you a happy birthday. But you know I’m fashionably late. I’m making this belated birthday wish that your every day of life becomes peaceful and continue to be filled with plenty of joy that you deserve most. I’m sending you this message late, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t care about you. Happy belated birthday. I’m so silly that I missed your birthday. I can’t believe it that I really did it. In school I was taught that ‘time and tide wait for no one’. If I was taught that birthdays don’t wait for anyone either, I would never have missed your birthday. Sorry, but I blame my forgetfulness on the education system.

It is hard to believe that you are getting older. That is why I am late in wishing you a very Happy Birthday. Just because my birthday wishes for you are belated, doesn’t mean that my feelings for you have become outdated. Kick me, be rude to me, spank me, throw tantrums at me, curse at me – do whatever you want but please forgive me. Sorry, happy belated birthday. May be my greetings are not on time but our beloved thoughts are always similar and are on time. You are so special to me…Happy Belated Birthday. Please forget that I forgot your birthday. I will be able to forgive myself only if you forgive me by forgetting that I forgot your big day – The Birthday. Please forget that I forgot your birthday. I will be able to forgive myself only if you forgive me by forgetting that I forgot your birthday. Since we are so far apart right now, I think my wishes took longer to reach you. Happy belated birthday. Sometimes when you remember an important date way too much in advance, you tend to forget it when the day actually comes. That is exactly what happened to me on your birthday. I am sorry. Sorry I forgot your birthday. I am less worried about whether you will forgive me, but more about how I will forgive myself. xoxo The reason for my late birthday wish is a top secret and if you ever wish to know then I’ll hand over those classified information to you. This trip around the sun was just faster than I expected that’s why I am a bit late in saying “Happy Birthday!” Though I’m little late, but yet I’ve a chance to wish you a very happy belated birthday. Though my greeting is reaching little late, but I hope that it’ll bring plenty of happiness on your face. Happy belated birthday. We all know that the birthdays are special, but a person like you is special every day. Wishing you a happy belated birthday. You are lucky that I forgot your birthday because now you will get two gifts. One for your birthday and one to make you feel better. Happy belated birthday. After all, it’s not just about when you wish, it’s mostly about how you do it. The most important thing is that you send out that happy belated birthday wishes using your creativity and making sure that there’s a personal touch to it while letting the birthday girl or boy know that you’re sorry for being late. You could write a long, sweet sorry note in your own words on paper or as a message online telling the person things like you appreciate them every day and not just on their birthday. And this goes without saying, but don’t forget to apologize. Even when physically far away from the birthday girl or boy, we could arrange for belated birthday wishes in the form of a cake, present, or flowers to be delivered right at their doorstep. The aim of belated birthday wishes is to make the person forget about what you did not do by doing something that’s guaranteed to make them happy so whatever you do, put yourself into it and make sure it’s all you because that’s how they’ll know that you really care. Read the full article