#series: invisible string

[clinquaant]

12 DAYS OF GIFMAS / Day Ten: A Gifset of Your Favorite Couple: Alice Kingsleigh and Harry Potter from Deep End

If nothing else, I hope you know that I love you with every ounce of my being. I hope you realize your importance not only to me but to everyone who has been lucky enough to know you. I hope you know that when you’re feeling down, I only ever strive for your happiness. I hope you that remember no matter what, I’m here for you and I fully intend on staying in your life for quite some time. I hope you recognize the fact that I appreciate and adore you without restraints, and that this will never change.“

— Unknown

[toomanystoriessolittletime]

Please, Please, Please

Summary: A lot can change in two years, but will your husband be able to gain back your trust?

Pairing: past (?) Joel Miller x fem. reader

Wordcount: 3k

Rating: T

Warnings: angst, talk about past shitty behaviour, moving on, feelings and their denial, more feelings, earning back trust, eventual forgiveness, flashbacks, maybe... a kiss???!

A/N: This is it! The last part of yet another series that started out as a very angsty one shot I had no real intention of writing more parts of. I hope you like this last part. Now all I need is to finish my long neglected Joel Soulmate series....

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part five of invisible string

Christmas was approaching. 

The second Christmas you and your family would be spending in Jackson. 

And with it a long to do list to make the holiday as perfect as it was possible in these times. The plan today was to prepare everything for the cookie bake session the next day at the community hall. Your alarm bleeped early and you reached over it blindly with a long groan that turned into a cough that shook your whole body. 

Groaning you turned to lay on your back, your eyes blinking open. 

Trying to take a deep breath through your nose gave you another cough attack, your throat hurting, your nose stuck. 

„Fuck,“ you sighed, eyes closing. 

„Mommy?“ There was a knock on the door. It was Ana. 

„Mhhhhh?“ You sighed and the door opened. Your heard her footsteps coming to the side of your bed, your eyes opening. Smiling softly at her wearing the Christmas jumper Tommy had gotten for her and her brother only the week before. Patrol having found five boxes in the corner of an old store a couple weeks ago. 

Her lips turned down as she looked at you. 

„Are you okay Mom?“ She asked, frowning. 

„I think I’m a little bit sick,“ you coughed, voice hoarse. 

„Oh nooo,“ she said, about to crawl into bed with you when you heard the door downstairs open and Joel calling a loud Good Morning into the house. 

„Daddy’s here,“ she cried out happily before she turned around, about to run out of your room, stopping at the door, looking at you. 

„Get better soon,“ she smiled before she turned around and ran down the hallway, leaving you chuckling to yourself. 

You must have fallen asleep again at some point, the sun already high up in the sky when your eyes blinked open the next time. You tried to take a deep breath which only ended in another coughing fit. 

You looked around the room, surprised when you found a full bottle of water on your bedside table. Next to it was one of those herbal scent candles lighted you knew one of the nurses from the clinic made in her free time and you think you could scent the eucalyptus. But maybe that was just wishful thinking.

„You’re awake,“ you were startled, your head turning towards the voice, finding Joel leaning in the doorway. 

„Barely,“ you croaked and he hummed. 

„I got the kids to school and I shovelled the snow in front of the house. I also started some chicken soup downstairs and Tommy will get some honey so I can make you your favourite tea,“ he said and a small smile sneaked to your face. 

„You remember my favourite tea?“ You asked and he looked almost insulted. 

„With the amount of times you asked me to keep an eye out for honey and lemon? You bet I do,“ he winked.

You still did not know how to react to him causally mentioning things like these. 

The last almost two years had been a constant back and forth on your journey to learning to trust Joel again. And he was working hard to get you to trust him again. 

You had talked. A lot. 

Which was so unlike the Joel you had married in Boston. He answered every question you had and apologised over and over again until you told him to stop. 

Deep down you had forgiven him a long time ago, and you told him so. Because it was hard to hold a grudge over someone who had such a big part in your life.

But that did not mean things could just go back to the way they were before. 

Something he agreed on. He did not want to get back to how things were. Because the way he treated you was not how a husband should treat his wife. And if you’d give him a chance to show him how he wanted to treat you if you’d let him, he’d love to have one. 

That was how family dinner started. 

Once per week in your house. 

Once in his house. 

And occasionally at Tommy and Maria’s.

In the beginning your brother joined the dinners too, still not trusting Joel completely, at least not with you and his family. 

Outside of that they became quite the patrol team, becoming partners. Calvin trusted Joel to have his back and vice versa. But it took longer to gain that trust when it came to you and the kids. 

You actually had one of your biggest fights with your brother when you wanted to tell Ana and Leo that Joel was their father. 

It was almost a year ago. 

You could see the longing in Joel’s eyes every time he was looking at the two children.

And even though it scared the shit out of you to tell them the truth and let Joel into your life like that, you knew your kids life would be better with Joel as their father. 

Because above all, Joel was a Dad. 

He had spoken a lot to you about Sarah and how losing her made him lose the part of himself that kept him going. That kept him human. 

He told you that he felt a little like that again when he met you, when you were together. But so many things had happened that made him fear for what would happen if you were taken from him too, that he always kept you at arms length. Even though all he wanted was to just love on you.

That part of him had died, or so he thought. 

Loosing you for real had made him spiral so badly, he had woken up in the FEDRA hospital with no recollection of how he got there. 

Apparently while drinking himself into a coma his heart had given out and he had a heart attack. 

If it wasn’t for Tess coming to pick him up for a drop he would have died. 

And it was only after then that he realised how much he was the problem in the situation he was in. 

Which apparently did not mean he wanted to change. 

No, things got even worse before they got better, but Joel did not want to go into detail about that. 

It was only after he was tasked with taking Ellie to the fireflies, you knew she was immune by now, that he felt like he was starting to heal. It was her that did it, and he told you that he was sorry he could not do it for you. That you had to live with a shell of a man. 

More than once he asked you how you could ever have fallen in love with him in the first place to which you only said

„The moment I first saw you I knew that you would be it for me. It was you or no one, Joel.“

And so, a week before Joel’s birthday you had sat him down and told him that you wanted to tell Ana and Leo that he was their father.

A news that was taken with big eyes and excited shouts of „I always wanted a Daddy!“ by both of your kids when you finally told them. 

Yet when a month after Ana and Leo asked you if they could have a sleepover at their Daddy’s place you found yourself agreeing only reluctantly. Frankly, you did not know what to do with yourself when your kids weren’t around. Because ever since you had given birth to them, you were never apart for more than a couple of hours. 

This would be two days.

You think it was the panic of being completely alone in your house that made you agree to meet up for dinner with Nick, Jackson’s dentist. 

He was in his late forties and had been in Jackson for the last five years. 

And it was only after almost an hour into the dinner that you realised that he thought this was a date. A date you had said yes to. 

Internally panicking you had excused yourself with a very much not existent headache, making your way to Maria and Tommy’s where you and Maria had a glass of Jackson’s first red wine and a much needed talk which made you come to the realisation that the thought of dating, let alone being together with anyone other than Joel was so foreign to you that for some reason you let Maria talk you into an actual date with Nick. 

It seemed logical to you after two glasses of wine.

Something you regretted by the time the date ended and you had allowed Nick to kiss you. 

You felt absolutely nothing.

Thankfully he felt the same way.

What you did not know was that Joel had seen the two of you kiss. He had been on his way to the Bison to pick up leftover cake for the kids, Ellie was at home with Ana and Leo. 

It was only when Tommy walked by, watching Joel stare at the spot you and Nick had long been gone from that Joel snapped out of his trance, the cake long forgotten as he walked back to his house. 

He had asked you about it the next morning, wanting to know if he still had a chance to make things right with you. 

And seeing him like that, almost desperate at the thought of having lost you for good, stirred something in you. 

So in a move neither you or him had seen coming, you had kissed him. 

It was just a quick peck, so quick you did not even realise it happened until after when you saw Joel’s surprised expression. He just looked down at you, his lips parted in surprise. You were torn if you wanted to run out for the door or if you wanted more. So you didn’t fight him when he pulled you closer, his arm hesitantly coming to wrap around your body, his face lowering to catch your lips in a kiss that would be consuming your every waking thought in the near future. 

He kissed you like you were his oxygen, and it stirred something inside of you, you thought you had forgotten. 

Joel moaned when you let your fingers scratch through his hair, his whole body seemingly jumping in surprise. 

Parting from your lips, he rested his forehead against yours. 

A tear slipped down his cheek as he smiled at you. 

„I gotta pick up the kids from school,“ he whispered and you took a deep breath. 

„I know,“ you whispered back. 

He pecked your lips again, before he very reluctantly let go of you. 

„See you at my place for family dinner later?“ He asked, to which you only nodded. He smiled, making you laugh when he walked straight into the wall behind him, cursing under his breath. 

That day was three months ago.

And while you haven’t kissed since then, you and Joel got closer. As close as possible without actually being together. 

Because there was a tiny part of your brain who was still wondering if the old Joel is lurking somewhere. If he would end up hurting you again once something happened that he could not deal with. If he would lash out like a wounded animal just to push you away again. 

Though deep down the last almost two years had shown you that he had changed. He was…. Content. Happy even at times. Mostly when he was with you and the kids. 

Ana and Leo asking if their Daddy could live with you was not helping either. 

Because you craved it. 

You craved having some… domestic normalcy in this crazy world. You wanted to come home to Joel. To have dinner with him and the kids every single day. You wanted to fall asleep in his arms. You wanted to wake up with him. 

You just wanted to be with him. 

The tiny part in your brain just needed to shut up and let you do your thing. 

When you woke up the next time to a coughing fit, the sun was setting outside. Taking a deep breath, or as deep as you could manage, you sat yourself up with a groan. You went in the bathroom to do your business before you grabbed your fluffy bathrobe, Joels birthday gift to you, and slowly made your way downstairs. 

You could hear Leo asking something when you made it down the stairs. Following his voice you walked towards the kitchen, a smile sneaking to your lips at the picture that you walked into. 

Joel was sitting at the kitchen table together with Leo, Ana on his lap. He had his tongue poking out of his mouth in concentration, as he helped Ana use one of the cookie cutters to make the perfect cookie, a big sheet of dough on the table. 

Looking through the kitchen you could see that he must have prepared the whole dough that you had intended to make for the baking session tomorrow. There was a big pot on the stove which probably would be the chicken soup he mentioned earlier. And to top it all off it looked like he had fixed the blinds of the kitchen window. 

„Mommy is awake,“ you heard Joel say and you looked back at your little family, sitting at the table. 

Leo and Ana were grinning at you, just like Joel, all three showing the dimple in their cheeks. 

„Are you feeling better mommy?“ Ana asked and you nodded. 

„A little. I might feel even better after I eat something,“ you said and she nodded. 

„You should have some of the soup Dad made. It’s super yummy,“ Leo perked up and you smiled. 

„I think I will,“ you said, walking over. You were about to grab a bowl to put some soup in when you heard Joel get up. 

„Sit. I’ll bring you some,“ he whispered as he walked by, his hand coming to rest on your hip as he did. You nodded, too tired to fight him before you walked and sat down at the table. 

„Daddy made so much dough, we can make our own cookies,“ Ana said, carefully picking up the cookie she had just cut out, setting it down on the baking sheet. 

„I didn’t even know Daddy could make dough. Or…. Cook anything really,“ you said.

„I have some hidden talents you do not know about,“ Joel winked as he sat a bowl of soup down you wish you could smell. It looked delicious and you gave him a small smile. 

„You gotta tell me about those hidden talents some time,“ you said and he nodded with a mischievous grin. 

„Will do. Now eat. You gotta get better,“ he said before he sat back down to make some more cookies. 

This is what you wanted. 

You wanted to have everyone you loved under one roof. You wanted Joel to never leave. 

You were back in bed after dinner, reading your book when you heard a soft knock on your opened bedroom door. Looking up you found Joel there, looking at you.

„Kids are in bed. I’m gonna get them tomorrow morning too, so try to sleep the cold off and get better quickly. Wouldn’t want you to miss Christmas over this,“ he said.

You nodded softly.

„Okay. Then…. Good night,“ he said, about to leave.

„Joel?“ You asked and he stopped and looked at you.

„Yeah?“

„Would you… Would you mind staying?“ You asked quietly.

Concern washed over his face immediately, walking towards you. 

„Are you feeling worse?“ He asked. He knelt down beside the bed with a groan, his hand coming to rest on your forehead. You shook your head, your hand taking his and pulling it down to rest against your cheek. 

„I want…. I want you to stay. Here. With me. With us. I want us to be a real family. I want to fall asleep next to you every night. I… want you to be my husband. For real this time. Because I finally feel like I know you. All of you. And I… I love you,“ you said.

Joel just looked at you. 

And when he didn’t say anything you were afraid you had waited for too long to completely forgive him. Your face fell and you were about to pull away when he kissed you, surprising you. 

„I love you,“ he mumbled against your lips and you sighed relieved. 

„I love you so much,“ he said and you carefully pushed him away.

„You gonna get sick,“ you warned and he huffed a teary laugh.

„I don’t care. Through sickness and in health, remember baby?“ He asked.

„We actually never said those vows,“ you reminded him and he hummed. 

„That’s why I’m gonna ask you to marry me. For real this time. But not now,“ he said and your eyes widened, your head shaking. 

„We are already married Joel. You don’t have to ask me.“

„Oh but I do. Because if we do this, I want to do this right. Fresh start. I wanna speak my vows in front of everyone who wants to listen because I will spend the rest of my life loving you the way I should have from the start,“ he said and you felt yourself tear up. 

„But not now. Now I want you to get better so I can take you out to show you the surprise I’ve been working on,“ he said and you smiled. 

„Surprise?“ You asked, he nodded. 

„I have been working on a surprise for you and the kids, and it’s finally ready,“ he brushed his hand over your cheek.

„Now I wanna knowwww,“ you pouted and he smiled.

„You will,“ he promised.

„Joel?“

„Yeah?“

„Will you hold me?“ You whispered and his expression softened before he nodded. 

Minutes later you were laying in bed, Joel behind you, his arms around you. 

„Thank you for giving me another chance at loving you,“ he whispered against your ear. 

„Don’t waste it,“ you hummed, already half asleep. 

„I won’t,“ he promised before you both fell asleep. 

[rotthepoet]

Invisible String Theory (Anon!Slytherin Boy x Reader)

Chapter 4

warnings; NSFW, Stalking behavior, violence and self-inflicted injury(punching a wall), dumbification for like three sentences, some boys beef, reader has a panic attack, like kinda cliffhanger?

ﾟ+*:ꔫ:*﹤

To Whom It May Concern,

Please leave me alone. 

Regards.

The folded letter sits on the mantle of the Slytherin common room fireplace. It taunts me. The soft, orange flicker casts long shadows over the room. Like a kid expecting Saint Nick, I wait. Patiently. Even as my eyes drift shut, exhaustion claiming my body, I prevail. Just a glimpse. Just a moment of eye contact. To know, to see, to end. A yawn racks through my body, and I stretch my arms above my head, my back popping.

Pinned.

A shrill shriek escapes me when a strong grip pins my wrists together above my head, and as soon as the scream leaves my lips, I’m released. Panic surges through my body, goosebumps plaguing my skin with a cold shiver, I stand suddenly and whip around to find–

Theodore.

It’s just Theo.

He has a sheepish look on his face, and he moves around the couch to gently lead me back to sitting, settling in beside me. He watches me lean back against the overstuffed cushions, releasing a deep sigh of relief.

“I’m sorry, I thought it was going to be funny.”

“No, no, it was. I’m just on edge,” I assured him, and shut my eyes, just for a moment.

Nott rests a hand on my knee, a friendly gesture, as he starts to rub small, comforting circles on the skin. “It isn’t helpful to stay up and wait for… It. Let’s get you in bed,” He whispers, and I shake my head.

“Just a bit longer, it’s the principle of the matter,” I explain, sighing and opening my eyes again. My eyes lazily scan the common room, abnormally empty, which makes me wonder about the time. Theodore sighs beside me and clicks his tongue. He shakes his head at me and suddenly, his arms wrap underneath my knees and around my back, and I yelp as I’m lifted off the couch. I wrap my arms around Theodore for the safety of my life, kicking my legs in protest.

“Let’s get you to bed–”

“Am I interupting?”

Nott and I’s head both snap towards the sound of a new voice, and a tall body stands in the shadows. Theo’s grip tightens on me, and I can’t help but squeak as his fingers dig into the soft skin of my thighs. The figure steps forward, his hands in his pockets, built like an athlete with wide, strong shoulders. Silver light passes through the Black Lake into our windows, casting an otherworldly glow across his face, and onyx eyes meet mine. 

“Riddle, you scared me,” I let out a shaky breath, slowly dropping my leg to the floor despite Theodore’s best effort to hold onto me. Speaking of which, he looks particularly upset. Maybe he doesn’t like being scared as much as he likes to scare people. “Anyone else planning on jumping out tonight? So far, I have two-for-two,” I try to laugh, but it falls silent as I notice the electric glare between the two. Another spat, I assumed, nothing surprising despite their tight-knit friendship. 

“You aren’t writing back to him, right?” Mattheo asks me, glancing at the envelope on the mantelpiece. Sheepishly, I look away and rub my goosebump covered arm. “It isn’t really writing back to him if I’m asking him to leave me alone–” “Asking?” “Telling. Telling him to leave me alone.”

Theodore scoffs and his hand finds the small of my back. “Let’s go, it’s too late for this,” He suggests, but with the way he gently leads me away from Riddle leaves no room for argument. I cast a glance over my shoulder and mouth a good night, not wanting to further upset whatever Theodore is brooding over. 

“You shouldn’t talk to him anymore,” Theodore mutters, leading me to my dorm room.

“What?” I ask, brows furrowing at his comment, “Look, whatever petty little fight you two are having will blow over,” 

“Not this time,”

“You say that every time, Theo!” I groan in exasperation, “You can’t just tell me who to hang out with just because you’re mad at them!”

Nott grunts in frustration and drops his arm from my back, stopping in his tracks. “Fine. Since, you want to be stupid-”

“Stupid?”

“Did I stutter?” He snaps, and my stomach churns suddenly at his tone, “Since you want to be so stupid, you can figure this all out on your own. No, actually. Go to Riddle. See how far that gets you.” He practically snarls at me, his once welcoming eyes now an angry rapid waiting to drown me beneath its waters. His gaze is suffocating. Angry.

“Fine,” I snap right back at him, but my voice is more confident than I feel, “He’ll be more helpful than you!” 

A sickening crack. That’s all I heard as Nott slams his fist against the stone wall, and a gasp leaves my lips in pure shock. Loose rock crumbles to the floor, skidding across the dungeon floor.

Theodore grips his first, his chest heaving with labored breaths, and blood drips from his balled fist to the floor. Before I can say anything, he turns on his heel and stalks away, leaving me alone outside my door.

Anxiety and anger seep into my stomach, and my brows knit with frustration. I push open my door, scanning my room, and my stomach drops when I find a bouquet of fresh red roses laying atop a heart shaped box of what could only be chocolates. I turn on my heel, but Theo’s name gets caught on my lips as I try to call for him, and suddenly, I feel very, very unwell.

Shit.

ﾟ+*:ꔫ:*﹤

I sat next to Mattheo at breakfast out of spite. Maybe it’s petty, but as Mattheo rests his elbow comically against my shoulder, Theodore glares at us from across the table. Draco continues talking at Theodore, unaware of his complete lack of focus on the subject at hand. I make eye contact with him for a moment, just a moment, and it sends a cold chill down my spine.

My eye drifts down to Theo's wrapped fist and wrist, his fingers tapping rapidly on the wood of the table. His stormy eyes never leave me even as I turn my gaze away, Parkinson catching my attention with a call of my name. 

“You got mail,” Pansy hummed, passing out each morning parcel. My anxiety creeps back up my neck, and I swear I feel Theodore still staring at me as I carefully tear open a crisp envelope. My hands shake as I slowly pull the nauseatingly familiar paper out, now stained with a deep crimson, and I hold my breath as I open it.

~

To Whom It May Concern, My Darling Future Husband,

Please leave me alone. I’m so sorry for being an insufferable brat recently. I really miss you, and I love you.

Regards. Yours, even if I need my attitude fixed.

I want that written word for word in your next response, or I promise you won’t like what I do to you. This is your last warning.

Yours.

P.s. You aren’t thinking about taking this to the headmaster, are you? It wouldn’t work out for you, love. Don’t be stupid. I hate when you don’t use that clever little brain of yours. Although, I wonder what you would look like fucked dumb.

~

A sob catches in my throat and fear courses through my body. The letter itself reeks, metalic, copper. I curl over in place, feeling my heartbeat quicken exponentially as I wrap my arms around my own stomach. A wave of nausea washes over me like a tsunami, and tears fall from my eyes as they squeeze shut. 

The outside world drowns away, any commotion muffled into a distant buzz as my ears start to ring. I’m hyper aware of the hand placed on my back, and beyond the buzz I can almost make out the voices of the friends surrounding me. 

Hey.

My brain feels fuzzy, and it flickers from one worst case scenario to the other. Pins prick at my skin painfully, making tears fall harder from my eyes.

Hey. 

I try to steady my breathing, but I can’t help but gasp for air.

Hey.

Hey, Hey, Hey, Look at me, Look at me.

I don’t look though, I can’t look. My body feels too light as my thoughts drift away, and the last thing I feel is strong arms catching me as I fall over. 

[invisiblestringmm]

chapter four

i’ll tell you the truth but never goodbye

a/n: i hope this chapter makes you cry 😂

tw: there’s a bit of angst, and definitely lots of fluff. y/n struggling with being a single mum. mason being a gorgeous mf. lily being the cutest human, lots of lily appreciation too.

3.100k words

It didn’t come as a surprise to see Jaz keeping her promise to support you as best as she could - you got daily FaceTime calls, texts, and Instagram DMs. You got post-ballet dinners and ice cream, the four of you becoming closer each day - Lily and Summer were inseparable now, and you had Jaz not getting tired of telling you she felt like you’d become the sister she never had.

Not being able to control where your thoughts went, your mind made you question a few times how it would’ve been having this extra support when you were pregnant, and you asked yourself if you’d ever stop being hunted by the countless what-ifs of yours and Lily’s life. You had to stop and take a deep breath and just force yourself to focus on all the wonderful things that were happening now, and how much you wanted them to still be this way when it was time to tell Mason, and everyone else.

Despite having Jaz reassure you that things would end up well, Mason was pretty much unknown territory to you, emotionally speaking - yes, you gave birth to his “mini-me”, but that was no guarantee that you were able to predict him. Not knowing what to expect should’ve made you stay as far away as possible from him, but after you had a text message from Jaz sharing the big news that Mason would be at the ballet recital, while you watched your daughter roll her eyes in the delight as she devoured the pancakes and strawberries on her plate, you decided to reply to that message he had sent you weeks ago.

What you didn’t expect was for him to reply within less than a minute.

“Mummy, are you okay?” Lily had her eyebrows frowned at you, she curiously scanned your probably pale face as your heart pounded against your chest. A simple nod was enough for her to focus back on the pancakes, but also give you occasional and quick glares as your shaky hands tightly held the phone.

You barely had any appetite left as you felt your stomach dropping when Mason texted that - so, he wanted to see you. It wasn’t time yet, at least, it didn’t feel like it. But should the ballet recital be the best place to meet him? Would you be able to act surprised and sustain casualty at that meeting that’d be sort of arranged by his sister?

So many questions and insecurity surrounded you whenever Mason was on your mind, and having to look into Lily’s hazel eyes, her smile, and everything else on her that was his copy only made it worse for you - it was nearly suffocating, and you just needed a mother and daughter moment to focus on anyone but Lilian.

“Peanut,” you poked her tummy, making her giggle. “Why don’t we have a girl's afternoon today, huh? Museum, whatever you want for lunch and we can wrap it with skincare and Moana!”

Lily stood on the chair - your instinct making you hold her arm - and made her little celebration dance, still chewing the pancake, her dark brown soft curls bouncing. That vision completely took your breath away, you often couldn’t believe such a precious girl was your daughter.

Not that all of your days weren’t already hers, but dedicating a whole day off to Lily was your favourite thing to do. When she was just a baby, you often imagined how these days would be, with your little best friend and soulmate, on coffee dates and nights where you’d light up a scented candle and read her a book. The way your voice soothed her was Lily’s favourite thing, combined with your smell. It made her feel safe like nothing could ever harm her. In her dreams, her daddy joined the two of you - she couldn’t see his face but could feel the warmth of his hand holding hers and his laugh was the best sound in the world. Lily wondered if she’d ever meet him, the only thing she knew and was happy about was the fact that she looked like him, as you’ve told her countless times.

Careful not to lose Lily from your sight as she walked three steps in front of you, her eyes not sure what she wanted to focus her attention on at the museum, your mind went back to Mason’s last words to you that morning. So, he wanted to apologise for the way he treated you. Part of you felt good about it, that he had finally recognised what a complete twat he had been, but the other part of you just thought how that made no difference now - it was in the past. Not buried, since your past with him had taken the most angelic human form, but it wouldn’t change things. It was all about the future now.

For lunch, Lily insisted on spaghetti, her all-time favourite food. You had to persuade her a bit to eat a bit of protein too because pasta would make her feel hungry again by the afternoon, and you knew how much she hated being hungry right before taking a nap - your persuasion included the word dessert, so not much time was wasted trying to convince her to accept some chicken with her pasta.

Your phone buzzed with a real-time picture of Jaz and Summer by the time you had just bought a gorgeous bouquet of yellow roses, Lily’s favourite. She insisted that a good girls’ night would only be complete if you had fresh roses, that she wanted to carry herself. You quickly snapped a picture of her and sent it to Jaz, asking why they’d have to grow up so fast and that her niece was insufferable.

“Can you please behave like a child and not like an adult, Lilian Maisie?” like a little kid, you pouted, suddenly emotional to see so much wit and wisdom in your tiny human.

Lily giggled, “Mummy!” she held your hand, placing a soft kiss against it and walking according to your pace. “Can we go home now?” You nodded, quickly fetching an Uber to drive you home.

By the time you got there, she was already heavily sleeping in your arms as you clumsily also carried your purse and the flowers, and tried to open the door without troubling her sleep - if it was up to you, you’d find a way for mums to have an extra pair of arms, they’d definitely be useful in times like these.

You knew Lily wouldn’t sleep that much, so the sofa was where you put her before putting the roses in the water and getting rid of your coat. It was almost dark outside, so you also started to prepare the apartment for movie night. Your little girl woke up with a loud yawn that was followed by a wide smile when she noticed the blankets and pillows on the floor, some candies in a bowl, and fruits too, which were her favourite snacks.

“Matching pyjamas?” you winked at her and giggled as Lily nodded repeatedly, stretching her arms at you so you’d carry her to the bedroom.

A few minutes later you were cuddling under the blankets and watching Moana for the millionth time. You fell asleep shortly before the film ended and were quickly followed by Lily as she hummed an “I love you, mummy” and kissed the tip of your nose.

Despite not being the most comfortable place for your back to spend the night, there was no other place you’d rather be right now, holding your daughter's warm and small body - the smell of her strawberry shampoo and the pace of her calm breathing taking you to a place where no nightmares, no worries, would catch you in your sleep. You woke up in the middle of the night when she moved a bit and, after watching her sleep for a few minutes, finally turned off the TV and quickly texted Mason before going back to sleep.

When you woke up, there was a message from Jaz saying that they’d all go out for dinner after the ballet recital, and as hard as it was, you had to politely decline for you’d have a little celebration with your own family in a pre-Christmas party since a few members wouldn’t be joining at Foxwoods this year. And that you wouldn’t be able to be around Mason before telling him all the truth, which led to you telling her that he had reached you and you agreed to talk. She went from upset to hopeful in the blink of an eye.

As you prepared for the recital, you had to deal with an impatient and bossy Lily - combined with stress from work, that you had to forcefully turn into home office for the Holidays, the exhaustion that took over your body grew by the minute. It resulted in calling your mum for help, who showed up with your dad on her side by your door.

“You know she’d ask for me anyway, kid!” Your always cheerful father rubbed his hands together as he went straight for his granddaughter, who waited for him with her arms up, waiting to be spun around like a doll. You loved how your dad, a serious and famous lawyer, turned so soft whenever Lily was around - and now, how he’d cope with having to eventually “share” her with her other grandfather.

“Where do you need me to begin, amor?” Your mother’s heavy Colombian accent woke you up, and a sigh of relief parted your lips as you pulled her into a hug. “What is wrong, bebe? Tell your mamá,” Her hands softly stroked your back as you just closed your eyes and enjoyed being the daughter instead of being the mum.

“It’s nothing, I’m just exhausted. I thought that being one of the bosses would give me more free time but it’s just more work, and Lily is insufferable with this recital thing,” you sniffed. “I’m so glad it’s finally tomorrow.”

But you also weren’t, because it meant you’d see Mason after five years.

-

If anyone told you that your daughter’s ballet recital would be the place you’d almost certainly meet her father again, especially without him being the father of another kid there, you’d just roll your eyes and leave - as you stood in front of your closet, not sure about what to wear, your mind played tricks on you creating different scenarios on how that meeting would go. There was so much expectation from you, so much anxiety to see how Mason would react. He thought you’d meet for coffee sometime soon, not at a ballet recital where you were the mother of one of the kids.

Much to your relief, Willow arrived at your place right on time to save you from a breakdown over “what to wear to meet the father of my daughter after five years without looking like an exhausted mother, but also drop-dead gorgeous, and respectful”.

“Lord, that’s specific!” Willow screeched, not really helping you, in the end. “Why do you want to impress him anyway?”

“Willie, I know you’re smarter than this,” you replied as she just shrugged, still waiting for an answer. You got a positive reaction when you picked a knit burgundy dress, so you tried it on and what you saw in the mirror made you satisfied. “The next time I see him it’ll be to tell him the truth, so he needs a good first second impression.”

“His first impression of you was good enough,” she teased, watching your cheeks blush as she helped to remove the dress tag. “But you’re wearing a brand new dress for him tonight, so I’m sure the second impression will be just as good.”

“Stop it, silly. You know it’s not like this, and he doesn’t know it’s a new dress.”

Willow kept teasing you with her glares and smirks as the five of you drove to the small theatre rented for the night by the ballet studio, it was already a bit crowded when you got there and you rushed to take Lily to the backstage, where all her ballet friends greeted her in excitement. It truly was the cutest thing in the world, those little humans in their tutus, giggling and chatting like they were grown-ups.

With a quick and wet kiss on your daughter’s cheek - that made her adorably embarrassed - and a hug on Summer, you told the girls how wonderful they were and left to find your family. You quickly spotted Willow and Jaz laughing about something that made you curious, and although you were happy to see Jasmine, you also hoped it’d take a little longer to meet her and, potentially, the rest of her family. And Mason, to be more specific.

“He’s not here yet,” like she could read your mind, Jaz’s words caused you to sigh in relief. “You look gorgeous, by the way!”

Smiling at her, you softly stroked her bump. “You too, pretty mumma.”

As the lights dimmed down, announcing that the recital would begin soon, you and Willow parted ways from Jaz to meet your family. Your dad held your hand and gently squeezed it, his eyes already sparkling with tears - the truth was you couldn’t have done it without your parents, but your dad was something else. It was expected that being showered with affection would be something you’d get from your mum, who was a Latina, but you got it all from your dad because, according to him, you were the result of how much he adored your mum and Lily was an extension of that. His legacy, as he’d say. He never questioned your choices, the way you raised your daughter, nor why you never talked about who Lily’s father was. The respect your parents had for you was overwhelming, and that’s why you’d tell the whole truth tonight as soon as Lily was peacefully asleep.

When the five-year-olds act began, you were the one ready to let some tears roll down your cheeks. There she was, your Lilian Maisie, as beautiful as ever on her first ballet performance - something you never truly expected, since she had always been the adventurous type of kid. But you watched her balance it so perfectly that you often questioned if she was just five years old, and also how she’d be as a grown woman. As she danced, you had a clear vision of Lily in her early twenties. She was tall, her hair was a bit darker now but the soft curls were still there and so was the natural flush on her cheeks. She was beautiful and finally looked a bit more like you, but Mason’s smile was still there. She was kind, full of hope, funny, gracious and so smart. She was loved by everyone around her and made their lives better by simply existing.

When her act ended, you proudly stood up and clapped your hands as if your life relied on it. Her eyes scanned the audience, looking for you, and when she finally found you her face lit up and that smile you loved so much was there, making your heart melt. “I love you,” you mumbled, and she just winked at you.

Gosh, there was no way Mason wouldn’t love this girl to the point his heart would nearly explode. You wanted him to have it too.

Excusing yourself as the older girls got on stage, you went to the bathroom to fix your makeup. As you looked at yourself in the mirror, you searched for your phone and, with a courage you hadn’t felt in the longest time, you typed a quick message to Mason asking if he’d be willing to meet the next day, in the afternoon.

What you didn’t expect was to find him right outside, holding his phone with a wide smile on his lips.

Mason Mount looked as gorgeous as he’d ever been - you could smell his cologne even if you were at least ten steps away from him. Wearing black jeans, and a Dior sweater that made him look breathtakingly gorgeous, Mason ended the distance between you as you felt your heart beating faster each second. He was still holding his phone when he stopped in front of you.

“I literally just texted you back saying yes,” he ran his fingers through his hair and that was as sexy as you remembered. Mason had a beard now, and although he was still young, the wrinkles on the corners of his eyes were more evident now. “You’re the last person I thought I’d meet here.”

You nodded, forcing your brain to put some words together. “You too.” Lie. But you had to make it look like it was just a coincidence.

“You look incredible, Y/n,” Mason said under his breath, his eyes shamelessly scanning your outfit. That same pair of eyes was your favourite thing to look at every morning. Now you knew what Willow meant when she said that Lily and Mason were identical - how could he not notice when they met? “There’s so much I wanna say to you,” he continued.

“Save it for tomorrow.” You interrupted, not wanting to sound rude, and Mason nodded in agreement.

“Can I pick you up around 3?”

“I think we should meet there.” You said, thinking of how suffocating and awkward it’d be being inside a car with him after all these years. “There’s a nice place I usually go with my dau-,” you coughed, watching his brows frown. “With my best friend. I’ll text you the address and we’ll meet there.”

Then, all of a sudden, Mason pulled you into a hug. His warmth against your body melted your heart, and you could feel how his breath deepened as his arms tightened around your figure. “I’ll meet you there, so I can decently apologise for being a complete idiot to someone incredible like you.”

His words were all you needed to know for sure that this wouldn’t be easy.

Was he being genuine, or was he just trying to get into your pants like he did back then? Either way, things were immensely different now, for this wasn’t just about you and Mason anymore.

This was about her - Lily. It was about her future, her happiness, how his presence in her life would have a tremendous impact on how she’d develop and what kind of adult she’d be. Nothing would ever be the same, and there was nowhere to run.

This was going to be tough.

————

BONUS - SOCIAL MEDIA

next chapter

[nunafilms]

What Comes After Love | Episode 1 사랑 후에 오는 것들 dir. Moon Hyun Sung

[rcbdo]

mess it up

sakusa kiyoomi x miya atsumu x f!reader

part four - masterlist

word count: 1,561

tw: implied history of abuse, injury - mention of blood

It was late in the evening when Sakusa Kiyoomi finally woke up. He reached over and found Atsumu’s side of the bed cold and undisturbed. He rolled his eyes; the idiot was probably still at the gym, undoubtedly pushing himself too far. Atsumu rarely took matters of health and wellbeing seriously, much to Sakusa’s chagrin.

A pleasant aroma had filled the apartment. As Sakusa rubbed his eyes, he picked up on rustling sounds coming from the kitchen. Maybe Atsumu was home after all.

Sakusa slipped on his sweatpants before making his way down the hall. Sure enough, something was being prepared. The savory aroma seemed to awaken Sakusa’s appetite; he hadn’t eaten much today. He smiled softly at the humming coming from around the corner.

He took another step forward, then froze.

It wasn’t Atsumu.

It was you.

He frowned, frustrated to find himself alone with you again. It’s not that he didn’t like you; in fact, he was surprised how much you had grown on him in these past weeks. No, it was the longing within him that frustrated him. He was finally happy. He loved Atsumu and the life they had built together. But something in him yearned to reach out to you, to be something more. And that terrified him.

Lost in his own thoughts, Sakusa didn’t think to announce his presence. You turned, and shrieked in surprise.

Sakusa started as well, first at your scream, then at the sound of the wine glass you held shattering across the floor.

After glaring down at the mess, his eyes returned to you, looking like a deer in headlights.

“I’m so—” you began.

“What the hell?” Sakusa snapped, trying to control his temper. It was an accident, he knew that. But he was sick, and tired, and now had this mess to deal with.

“I’m sorry,” you repeated, shrinking further back. “I’m really sorry. I’ll clean this up now.”

You crouched down and began to pick up pieces of broken glass. Sakusa noticed you trembling. Fuck, he hadn’t meant to startle you so badly.

He exhaled, taking a moment to compose himself. “Here, let me help,” he said as he stepped into the small space.

“It’s ok, I’ve got it,” you said, your voice strained.

Sakusa continued forward, reaching his longer frame over you to pick up a towel from the counter.

“No!” you cried out as he loomed over you. Sakusa watched, horrified, as you hurried to scramble away from him. Right through the shattered glass.

He froze. Again. His mind was racing, but he could seem to form coherent thoughts.

You were huddled in the corner now, clutching your wounded hand against your chest. Tears began to slip down your face, but your eyes never left him.

“Why did you—are you ok?” he finally managed to ask.

“I’m sorry. Just give me a second. I’ll clean it up,” you replied meekly.

“It’s ok,” Sakusa said softly, crouching down to your level. “Can I look at your hand? That looks pretty bad.”

You looked down at your hand, eyes widening as if you were just now registering the injury. Blood had already begun to drip down your forearm.

“It’s ok,” Sakusa repeated, feeling like he was talking down a skittish animal. “I have a first aid kit, but you may need stitches. Can I take a look?”

He inched himself forward, but you immediately flinched. He paused, not knowing what to do. Were you really that scared of him?

“I’m so sorry,” you whispered, then rushed past him and down the hall before he could register what was going on.

He jumped up to follow you, but heard the bathroom door shut and the lock click.

Still, he tried the doorknob. Sakusa called your name, knocking gently on the door.

“Please. I just want to help.”

No response.

Sakusa paced back in forth in front of the door. He tried to get you to respond a few more times, to no avail. He then glanced back and noticed drops of blood on the floor. Should he break down the door? What if you lost too much blood and passed out?

As Sakusa’s thoughts began to spiral, he knew he had to act. He ran back to the bed room and grabbed his phone, calling Atsumu. You were his friend, his ex, after all. He would know what to do.

No answer.

Sakusa dialed again.

Still no answer.

He tried a third time and felt like throwing his phone against the wall at the sound of Atsumu’s stupid voicemail greeting.

My name is Miya Atsumu. I’m your favorite volleyball player’s favorite volleyball player. And I’m serving exactly what you are. Cu—*beep*

“Atsumu, call me back as soon as you get this,” Sakusa seethed, then hung up to text him the same message. Atsumu was notorious for neglecting his phone during practice. Who knows when he would respond. Sakusa had to figure something else out.

Osamu was his second choice, but he was all the way back in Hyogo. Sakusa pinched the bridge of his nose and made another call.

“Hey cuz!” Motoya answered cherrily. “What’s up?”

“Hi. Do you have Suna’s number?” Sakusa asked, cutting straight to the chase.

“Uh, yeah. I can text it to you. Is everything ok?” Motoya asked warily.

Sakusa hesitated. The situation felt like something you wouldn’t want shared with strangers, but he was in way over his head. He needed guidance, and he trusted Motoya. He quickly relayed the situation, keeping his voice low so you wouldn’t overhear.

“Shit, that does sound bad,” Motoya replied, “Good call on reaching out to Suna, he always has his phone on him. I’ll text you his number and let him know to get in touch with you.”

“Thank you, I appreciate it,” Sakusa sighed, feeling relieved to have a plan coming together.

“Of course. Do you need me to come over?” Motoya offered.

“No, not right now. I don’t want to make it worse,” Sakusa answered.

There was a pause, then Sakusa phone buzzed as Suna’s contact information came through.

“There’s Suna’s number,” Motoya said, “And Omi—I know you’re trying, but be gentle with her, ok?”

Sakusa’s heart clenched. Even Motoya, a complete stranger to you, showed more compassion than he had been able to.

“Yeah. Thanks again,” Sakusa said before hanging up. He slumped against the wall and took a deep breath, glancing back at the closed door. You still hadn’t emerged, or made a single sound for that matter.

Before Sakusa could spiral further, his phone began to vibrate.

“This is Saku–”

“What did you do?” Suna Rinatoru asked harshly.

“I don’t know!” Sakusa snapped, then quickly lowered his voice. “I don’t know. I startled her, then tried to help clean up a broken glass and startled her again. She literally crawled through the glass to get away from me, Suna. Now she’s locked herself in the bathroom, and Atsumu won’t answer his goddamn phone, and I don’t know what to do!”

“Fuck, ok, calm down,” Suna replied, his tone much softer, “I’m leaving now, I’ll be there in 15 minutes. Can you slide your phone under the door? Or put me on speaker?”

“Yeah, I can put you on speaker,” Sakusa said as he stumbled towards the door. He knocked gently, then set his phone down.

“Hey, Baby,” Suna said, using the nickname Sakusa didn’t have the courage to employ himself. “I’m coming over, alright. You doing ok?”

The silence between the two men was thick.

“Uh...can she hear me?” Suna asked.

“I think so,” Sakusa whispered back. He could hear the sounds of the city in the background as Suna made his way towards the train station.

“Hmm. Oh! One tap on the door for you’re ok, two taps for you’re not ok,” Suna suggested. Sakusa held his breath, hoping you would answer. Hoping that you were ok, and not bleeding out alone on the floor. He needed you to be ok so he could fix this.

Tap tap tap

Sakusa straightened up, then looked down at his phone.

“Did I hear three taps?” Suna asked.

“Yeah. What does that mean?” Sakusa asked.

“I dunno man, I didn’t make up a code for three knocks. Babes, you lose too much blood in there?”

Tap tap

“Should I take that as no you didn’t lose too much blood or no you’re not ok?” Suna asked worriedly.

Tap

“Ask yes or no questions,” Sakusa huffed.

“You ask them, man! You’re there,” Suna snapped back, “Geez, she was probably telling you to fuck off.”

Tap

Sakusa’s eyes widened. Suna chuckled over the phone.

“Baby’s got jokes, then. Sakusa, I’m hanging up and getting on the train. I’ll be there in a few minutes. It’s gonna be ok.”

Sakusa ended the call, then stared at his reflection in the blank screen. He realized how intensely his brows were knitted, which probably wasn't helping his pounding headache. He took a deep breath, trying to ground himself before even more chaos ensued.

In the silence of the apartment, Sakusa hoped. He hoped Suna could help you. He hoped Atsumu would come home and smooth things over. He hoped you would be ok. But most of all, he hoped he hadn't irrevocably messed up what was between you before it even had a chance to start.

[liesmultixxx]

percy and annabeth are the definition of “invisible string tying you to me”

[stylesispunk]

"The not so invisible string" | part 7

Not outbreak!Joel Miller x f! reader

previous chapter | next chapter | series masterlist

summary: you and Joel were made right for each other at the wrong time. Now, thirteen years later your paths crossed when both of your daughters get in trouble at school. Would be the right time for you now?

word count: 7,8k>

warnings: none but, angst, mentions of bruises, and FLUFF

a/n: Hello, hello! chapter 7 is here! The next one may be the last since it's time to say goodbye to this silly fic, by the way, I hope you like this one because I added everything I could and it's kinda cute. Reblogs and comments are always appreciated. Happy reading 💌 Remember my dm and asks are always open for you if you wanna talk.

dividers by @/saradika.

Joel

I miss you; I haven’t seen you in a week!

You thought that by now, Joel would have begun to behave very differently from the teen boy trying to win your heart back in time, that in your 30s he was going to find different ways to show affection, but he still got the boyish smile on him all the time he saw you, as if you hang up the moon. He still got the dirtiest jokes about salad dressings, and most importantly, he still got your heart in the palm of his hand, but this time he was taking care of it as if it were crystal, and you were so grateful for his actions, talking louder than his promises.

You loved him; he still made you feel like the only girl in the room.

You

Well, sorry for being on a job trip.

I miss you too, but I’m back tomorrow!! Don’t be so needy.

Joel

A delicious dinner will be waiting for you at my house when you arrive.

And well, me.

You

I have a daughter to go see first!

Joel

I will be waiting for the both of you then.

You chuckled at Joel's response; his enthusiasm was evident even through text messages. Despite being apart for just a week, you found yourself eagerly anticipating the moment you would be reunited with him.

You adored the way he always had the time to make you feel special, but he also made his time to include Tara too, as if she were a tiny extension of you to love and take care of as if she were his own daughter.

He was behaving like the father Tara needed.

And you didn’t know this, but Joel was starting to love Tara as if she were his daughter. He knew you and her, plus he and Sarah will become a family soon.

When you arrived again on Tuesday, you made your way to your mother’s house. You couldn’t wait to see Tara. She had been staying with her grandmother while you were away, and you missed her terribly after seven days apart.

As soon as you stepped through the door, you were met with your mother’s smile, welcoming you to enter the house; however, she stopped you for a second.

“Tara seemed to be bothered by something.” Your mom warned.

“What do you mean? Did Dwight do something?” Of course, Dwight was the first person to put the blame on him since he was going to have a day with his daughter because you allowed him to see her once this week while you were away.

“I don’t know, but she was really upset today, and she doesn’t want to talk to me,” she said, her voice tinted with worry.

“Don’t worry, I’ll fix it,” you assured her, with determination in your voice. You knew that Tara often kept her feelings bottled up, especially with all the drama between you and her father.

Heading towards Tara's room, you knocked softly on the door before gently pushing it open. Tara was sitting on her bed, her gaze fixed on the floor, lost in her own thoughts.

"Tara, sweetheart, hey!"" You greeted her, approaching her carefully.

“Mom, you’re back,” she said, stepping up from her bed and welcoming you in a tight hug. You knew her so well that you noticed something was off with her. 

You held her close, feeling her warmth and the familiar comfort of her embrace. "I missed you so much," you whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Is everything okay? Your grandma mentioned you seemed upset."

Tara pulled away slightly; her expression was troubled. "It's nothing, Mom," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. But you could see the sadness in her eyes; the weight of whatever was troubling her was evident in the way she held herself.

You reached out to gently cup her face, tilting it up so you could look into her eyes. "You can talk to me, Tara," you reassured her, your voice filled with love and understanding. "Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together."

“Shouldn’t you be at Joel’s by now?” she mentioned, dismissing the topic.

You sighed softly, recognizing Tara's attempt to divert the conversation. "I was planning on going there, but you're more important to me right now," you replied, giving her a reassuring smile. "If you want to talk about what's bothering you, I'm here. But if you'd rather not, that's okay too. Just know that I'm always here for you."

Tara's expression softened at your words, a hint of gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thanks, Mom," she said quietly, leaning into your touch. “But you should go; he must miss you by now.”

“He actually wanted both of us over for dinner,” you mentioned, studying her face, which shone at the mention of Joel’s invitation, but it faded soon.

“I just... I don't feel like going out tonight," she admitted softly, avoiding your eyes.

Your heart sank at her words, knowing that Tara's reluctance to go to Joel's house was a sign that something was truly bothering her. "Okay, sweetheart," you said, trying to hide your own disappointment. "We can stay in tonight and talk, just the two of us."

“No, you must go,” she said.

You could sense Tara's insistence—her desire for you to go and spend time with Joel—conflicting with her own reluctance to join. It was clear that she was trying to put on a brave face for you, but you couldn't ignore the underlying sadness in her eyes.

"Tara, if something is bothering you, I want to be here for you," you said gently, reaching out to grasp her hand. "Joel will understand if I need to stay with you tonight. Your well-being is my priority."

Tara squeezed your hand, her gaze meeting yours with a mixture of gratitude and apprehension. "I know, Mom," she said softly. "But I'll be okay. And I don't want you to miss out on time with Joel because of me."

You sighed, torn between your desire to comfort Tara and your longing to see Joel. But ultimately, you knew that Tara needed you more in that moment.

"Okay, Tara," you conceded, offering her a reassuring smile. "I'll go to say hi to him, but I'll be back later, and we can talk more then, okay?"

Tara nodded, her expression filled with understanding. "Okay, Mom," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

With one last squeeze of her hand, you rose from the bed and made your way to the door, feeling a pang of guilt as you left Tara behind.

As you made your way to Joel's house, your heart raced with anticipation. Despite the conflicting emotions stirring within you about leaving Tara behind, the prospect of seeing Joel filled you with a sense of excitement and longing.

Finally, you arrived at Joel's doorstep, your heart pounding with nervous energy as you raised your hand to knock on the door. The sound echoed through the quiet night, and you held your breath, waiting for Joel to answer.

Seconds felt like an eternity until you heard the sound of footsteps approaching the door. And then it swung open, revealing Joel standing before you, his eyes lighting up with joy at the sight of you.

"Hey," he said softly, a smile spreading across his face as he pulled you into his arms. "I've missed you."

Seconds felt like an eternity until you heard the sound of footsteps approaching the door. And then it swung open, revealing Joel standing before you, his eyes lighting up with joy at the sight of you.

"Hey," he said softly, a smile spreading across his face as he pulled you into his arms. "I missed you,” he whispered, placing a kiss on your lips.

You melted into his embrace, feeling a rush of relief and contentment wash over you. In that moment, all the worries and uncertainties faded away, leaving only the comfort of being in Joel's arms once more.

“I missed you too,” you replied, your voice filled with warmth as you leaned into him and into his embrace, where you belonged.

“Where is Tara?” Joel asked after noticing the absence of the teen behind you.

“At my mother’s. She said she didn’t feel good, and I know she is lying, but she insisted on me coming to see you,” you said to him.

Joel's smile widened at Tara's thoughtful gesture, his eyes softening with affection but still showing worry. "She's always looking out for you," he remarked, his voice filled with warmth.

You nodded, feeling grateful for Tara's care and concern. "Yes, she is," you agreed, feeling a surge of love for your daughter. "I'm lucky to have her, but she is my priority, so I just came to say hi.”

Joel pulled you closer, his arms enveloping you in a comforting embrace once again. "Maybe you could ask Sarah," he whispered, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “Maybe she knows something.”

“Are you sure?” You mumbled against his shoulder.

“Yes, she is inside; come on.” Joel took your hand, leading you inside his house.

As you entered the house, Sarah greeted you with a warm smile, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Hey," she said, stepping forward to hug you. "It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you too, sweetheart," you replied, returning her embrace. "How have you been?"

Sarah shrugged with a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Same old, same old," she said cryptically, her gaze flickering towards Joel before returning to you. "What brings you here?"

“Your dad is her boyfriend, and he missed her terribly,” Joel answered to his daughter for you.

You glanced at Joel; a smile creeped on your lips at his words.

A mischievous grin spread across Sarah’s face. "Is that so?" she teased, shooting a playful look at her father. "You must really like her."

Joel chuckled, giving Sarah a mock glare. "She wants to talk to you about Tara."

Sarah's grin softened into a more sympathetic expression as she turned her attention back to you. "Is everything okay with her?" she asked, her tone serious.

You sighed, feeling a weight lift off your shoulders at the opportunity to discuss your concerns with Sarah. "I'm not sure," you admitted, your voice tinged with worry. "She seemed upset earlier, and I can't shake the feeling that something's bothering her."

“Dad, can you let us alone for a bit?” Sarah asked Joel.

Joel nodded, but before heading towards the kitchen, he placed a soft kiss on your forehead as a sign of affection and love for you, saying he was there for you whenever you needed him.

As Joel left the room, Sarah turned her attention back to you, her expression filled with concern.

"What do you think could be bothering her?" you asked gently.

“Well, she seemed off this morning at school. I knew she was with her dad yesterday, so I guess it has to do with him,” she confessed, carefully not to say beyond what she knew; it was Tara who should tell you once she feels ready for it.

You nodded, understanding Sarah's hesitation to delve too deeply into Tara's personal affairs. "That's what I was thinking too," you admitted, feeling a knot of worry tighten in your chest. "But I don't want to push her if she's not ready to talk about it."

Sarah nodded in agreement, her expression sympathetic. "I get it," she said softly. "But maybe knowing that you're here for her, whenever she's ready, will give her some comfort."

You smiled gratefully at Sarah, touched by her insight and understanding. "Thank you," you said, feeling a sense of relief knowing that Sarah was there to support Tara too.

Sarah returned your smile, her eyes filled with warmth. "Of course," she said. "Family looks out for each other, right?"

Your heart warmed at those words, and you looked at Sarah, driven by pure adoration, and found Joel was there spying on the both of you. You couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Joel peeking in on your conversation with Sarah; his expression was genuine adoration. You couldn’t help but admire the girl he had raised on his own all this time.

As Sarah caught sight of Joel, she grinned mischievously, clearly enjoying the playful moment. "Dad, you're such a spy," she teased, her tone filled with playful banter.

Joel chuckled, stepping fully into the room and wrapping an arm around your waist. "I can't help it if I'm curious about what you two are plotting," he replied with a wink, his gaze shifting between you and Sarah.

You leaned into Joel's touch, feeling a sense of contentment wash over you at the warmth and love radiating from your little family. "We're just talking," you reassured him, exchanging a knowing glance with Sarah.

With a smile, Joel pressed a kiss on your temple, his love for you evident in the gentle gesture. "Well, don't let me interrupt," he said, his voice filled with affection. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."

As Joel made his way out of the room, you turned back to Sarah, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips. "He's something else, isn't he?" you remarked, feeling grateful for the man by your side and the daughter who had grown up under his loving care.

Sarah nodded, her eyes sparkling with fondness. "Yeah, he is," she agreed, her voice filled with warmth. "But we wouldn't have it any other way, would we?"

You shook your head, feeling a surge of love for your family. "No, we wouldn't."

As your conversation with Sarah came to a close, you felt a sense of resolve settling within you. It was time to return to your mother's house and check in on Tara, even if you didn't have all the answers yet.

Turning to Joel, you reached out to take his hand, a gentle smile playing on your lips. "I think I should head back to my mom's house now," you said softly, your voice filled with determination. "I want to see how Tara's doing."

Joel nodded in understanding, squeezing your hand gently. "Of course," he replied, his gaze filled with warmth and support. "Let me know if there's anything I can do."

You leaned in to press a soft kiss to his lips, feeling a rush of affection for the man who had stood by your side through thick and thin. "Thank you, Joel," you murmured against his lips, savoring the closeness between you.

With a final smile, you pulled away, reluctantly releasing his hand as you approached the door. As you stepped outside, you paused momentarily, casting one last glance back at Joel, looking back at you with bright eyes and mouthing “I love you”.

You made your way back to your mother's house, your mind buzzing with thoughts about Tara and what could be bothering her. When you arrived, Tara greeted you at the door with a warm smile, ready to go back home with you.

Since you and Dwight ended your marriage, you stayed at your mother’s house for a day until you found an apartment that was perfect for you and Tara to live together.

"Hey, Mom," Tara said, wrapping you in a quick hug before grabbing her bag. "Ready to head back?"

You returned her hug, giving her a reassuring smile. "Yes, let's go."

As you drove back home with Tara in the passenger seat, you couldn't shake the feeling of unease about her. Finally, you turned to her, breaking the silence that had settled between you.

"Tara, sweetheart," you began, your voice gentle. "I know something's been bothering you. Can you tell me what's wrong?"

Tara glanced out the window, her expression troubled. "It's just... I don't know, Mom," she admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I guess I've just been feeling really confused lately."

You reached out to gently squeeze her hand, offering her a reassuring smile. "It's okay to feel confused, sweetheart," you said softly. "But I want you to know that I'm here for you, no matter what. You can talk to me about anything."

Tara nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Thanks, Mom," she whispered, leaning into your touch. "I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart," you replied, feeling a surge of love and gratitude for your daughter. "We'll figure this out together, okay?"

"I love you too, sweetheart," you replied, feeling a surge of love and gratitude for your daughter. "We'll figure this out together, okay?"

She nodded. “You know you deserve all the best in the world,” she said to you, her voice cracking a little bit.

“Do you think so?” You asked playfully, your eyes still focused on the road.

“Yes, and my father never deserved you,” she finally said.

You felt a pang of sadness at Tara's words, knowing the pain she must have been feeling about the situation with her father. But you also felt a sense of pride in her strength and honesty.

"I appreciate you saying that, sweetheart," you replied, your voice soft with emotion. "But he's  still your father after all. What’s between us is just between us; don’t hate him just because he wasn’t a good husband.”

And hating him won't change the past or make things better. It's okay to feel hurt or angry, but holding onto that resentment will only weigh you down."

Tara nodded, her expression thoughtful as she absorbed your words. "I know, Mom," she said quietly. “I just see Sarah and Joel, and sometimes I wish he was my father.”

Your heart ached at Tara's words, understanding the longing she felt for a stable and loving family dynamic. You reached out to gently squeeze her hand, offering her comfort and reassurance.

"I understand, sweetheart," you said softly, your voice filled with empathy. "But “what you have left to say was interrupted by the sound of your phone ringing as if Joel sensed his name being mentioned; he was the one calling, “Oh my god, I’m going to dump him.”

Tara laughed at your words, encouraging you to answer the call, so you put your phone on speaker.

You glanced at Tara, sharing a laugh with her before answering the call. "Hey, Joel," you said, trying to hide the amusement in your voice.

"Hey, Doe," Joel replied, his voice warm and familiar. "I was just thinking about you. How's everything going?"

"We're on our way back home now," you replied, glancing at Tara as you drove. "I just had a little heart-to-heart."

"Everything okay?" Joel asked, his concern evident in his tone.

"Yeah, everything's fine," you reassured him. "Just some family stuff. How about you? How's your evening going?"

"It's going well," Joel replied. "Sarah and I just finished dinner. She's upstairs doing homework now. I miss you, though.”

You smiled at the warmth in Joel's voice, feeling a surge of affection for him. "You just saw it like an hour ago.”

“I know, but still,” he said. “However, I was calling you for another reason.”

“Oh?” you questioned, furrowing your eyebrows.

"I wanted to ask if Tara would like to join Sarah and me for lunch tomorrow after school; I’m taking the afternoon off," Joel said, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation.

You glanced at Tara, who perked up at the mention of her name. Tara's eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes, I would love to!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with a tint of enthusiasm.

You smiled, feeling a warmth spread through your chest at Tara's eagerness. "You heard her," you confirmed to Joel, a sense of gratitude washing over you for his thoughtful invitation.

“Great!" Joel replied, his tone filled with genuine pleasure. "I look forward to it. See you tomorrow, then.” He paused, “Please tell your mother she is pretty and that I love her.”

“Bye! I love you,” you said on the phone.

You loved the way he had been including Tara in his life since you had returned to his, making an effortless attempt to make her feel loved and included in every single aspect of your now-joined lives.

The next day, Joel led the way to their table, his smile infectious as he engaged in playful banter with Sarah and Tara. The three of them seemed to hit it off effortlessly, their conversation flowing smoothly as they shared stories and jokes.

Throughout the meal, Joel made sure to include both girls in the conversation, asking about their interests and sharing stories from his own life. Sarah and Tara seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely, their laughter ringing out amidst the bustle of the restaurant.

Tara hadn’t felt this loved by a paternal figure since she was nine, and she couldn’t help but feel the beating of her heart increasing, knowing that this may be her reality for the rest of her life.

Tara found herself opening up to Joel in a way she hadn't with anyone else since her parents' divorce. His kindness and attentiveness made her feel seen and valued, filling a void she hadn't realized was there.

Unbeknownst to them, Dwight was nearby, observing the scene from a distance. His heart clenched with jealousy and bitterness as he watched Joel bond with his daughter. He had always believed that he was the only father figure Tara needed, but seeing her smile and laugh in Joel's presence made him realize that he had been wrong.

Dwight's resentment toward Joel only grew; the man hasn’t only kept the hold of his heart in the palm of his hand, but now he is stealing his daughter from him, and his mind is swirling with thoughts of how to regain control over Tara's affections. But little did he know, Tara's heart had already begun to open up to Joel, and there was no turning back.

As Joel led the way back to his truck, Sarah and Tara chatted animatedly behind him, their laughter ringing out in the crisp afternoon air. But their jovial mood came to an abrupt halt when Joel suddenly stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing as he examined the side of his truck.

"What's wrong?" Sarah asked, her brow furrowing with concern.

Joel crouched down, inspecting one of the truck's wheels. "It looks like we've got a flat tire," he said, his voice tinged with frustration.

Tara peered over his shoulder, her heart sinking as she saw the damage. "Is there anything we can do?" she asked, feeling a sense of helplessness wash over her.

Joel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'll need to call for a tow truck," he replied, his tone resigned. "It looks like we're going to be here for a while."

As Joel pulled out his phone to make the call, Tara glanced at Sarah, her mind racing with thoughts of what could have caused the flat tire.

But a few seconds later, Joel came back. “I called Tommy; he is going to take the both of you home while I stay here waiting for the tow truck, okay?”

The teens nodded as Joel made the arrangements, and Tara and Sarah exchanged glances, silently communicating their concern. Despite the unexpected turn of events, they knew they could count on Joel to take care of the situation.

"Thanks, dad," Sarah said gratefully as Tommy's car pulled up beside them.

"Yeah, thanks," Tara echoed, offering Joel a reassuring smile.

Joel returned their smiles, though there was a hint of worry in his eyes. "No problem, girls," he said. "Just make sure to get home safely, okay?"

"We will," Sarah promised, giving Joel a quick hug before climbing into Tommy's car.

Tara followed suit, offering Joel a hug of her own before joining Sarah in the car. As they drove away, Tara couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for Joel's kindness and reliability, even in the face of unexpected challenges.

After the girls were out of sight, a voice interrupted Joel’s solitude.

“First, now, are you trying to steal my daughter too?”

That voice. Joel knew that voice that damn well, and he was getting exhausted from hearing it.

Joel's jaw clenched as he turned to face the source of the voice, his expression a mix of frustration and irritation. "Dwight," he said evenly, his voice tinged with disdain. "What are you doing here?"

Dwight's lips curled into a sneer as he approached Joel, his eyes flashing with anger. "I saw you with your little girl and my daughter," he spat. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to."

Dwight scoffed, his gaze cold and accusatory. "Right, like I'm supposed to believe that," he retorted. "You've been trying to worm your way into their lives ever since she came back and got to know my daughter.”

Joel's temper flared at the insinuation, but he forced himself to remain calm. "I care about Tara,” he said firmly. "And unlike you, I actually want what's best for her." He accused,” You saw her here, and you waited for her to go instead of saying hello to her, just to come up at me just like the pathetic loser you are.”

Joel's words struck a nerve with Dwight, his face contorting with anger. "You think you're better than me, huh?" He snarled, taking a menacing step closer to Joel. "You think you can just waltz in here and take over my daughter's life?"

Joel stood his ground, refusing to back down in the face of Dwight's aggression. "I'm not trying to take over anything," he said, his voice steady. "I just want to be there for Tara, to support her and care for her like she deserves."

Dwight scoffed, his fists clenched at his sides. "You don't know the first thing about being her father."

“And you do?” Joel asked, but the answer he received was Dwigth’s fist directly in his face.

As Dwight's fist connected with Joel's face, the impact sent a shockwave of pain through him. Joel stumbled backward, his hand instinctively reaching up to touch his throbbing eye. Anger flared in his eyes as he regained his balance, his jaw clenched tight.

"Is that how you fix your problems?" Joel growled, his voice laced with defiance. Despite the pain, he refused to let Dwight intimidate him. "You think you can just throw a punch and scare me off?"

Dwight's expression twisted into a snarl as he lunged forward again, this time hitting on Joel's jaw, causing him to bleed, but still, with a swift motion, Joel sidestepped Dwight’s attack, grabbing his arm and twisting it behind his back.

“I’m not going to hit you, not because I can't, but because I have respect for Tara,” Joel said, letting Dwight go from his hold.

Dwight's expression softened slightly, though suspicion lingered in his gaze. "You think you're some kind of hero, huh?" He muttered, rubbing his sore arm.

Joel shook his head, his expression serious. "I'm not a hero," he said.

Dwight regarded Joel for a moment longer before finally turning away, his footsteps heavy as he retreated. Joel watched him go, his jaw still throbbing from the impact of Dwight's punches on his face.

After receiving a call from Tommy about the altercation between Joel and Dwight, you knew you had to go check on Joel. Despite the late hour, you made your way to his house, your heart heavy with worry.

When you arrived, you felt an uneasiness before knocking on the door. When Joel appeared behind the door, you took a look at his appearance. His purple eye and swollen jaw made your stomach twist in pain.

His eyes softened at the sight of you, but the tension on his shoulder told you he wasn’t pleased at all.

“Who told you?” he asked, not a greeting, nor a hug, nor a kiss.

"Tommy,” you replied carefully, studying his subtle behavior.

As you spoke, Joel's expression tightened, mixed frustration and resignation crossing his features. He didn’t step aside, and he didn’t invite you into the house. He just stood there with a weary expression.

“Are you okay?” You asked again.

“Let’s see. I look like an idiot with this on my face; I can’t go to work like this, and I feel tired of your ex-husband.”

You winced at Joel's words, feeling the blame on his words. You couldn’t help but feel guilty; after all, Dwight had appeared in his life because of you. You wished you could take away all this, but you knew that wasn't possible. Instead, you feel small in front of him.

Feeling the weight of Joel's frustration, you took a step closer, wanting to offer him comfort despite feeling somewhat responsible for the situation. "I'm sorry," you said softly, your voice filled with genuine remorse. You lifted your hands to cup his face delicately, but Joel grabbed your wrists before you could feel his face on your palms.

Your breath left your lungs, and your heart sank.

You could feel the tension radiating from him; his eyes were dark and unreadable as they bore into yours. For a moment, neither of you spoke, the weight of the situation hanging heavily in the air.

"I appreciate your concern," Joel finally said, his voice strained. "But right now, I just need some space."

His words stung, a sharp pang of hurt shooting through you as you withdrew your hands from his grasp. You nodded silently, feeling a lump form in your throat as you struggled to contain your emotions.

"Are you putting the blame on me?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper. You needed an answer before breaking down in front of him.

Joel's expression softened slightly at your question, his eyes flickering with a mixture of emotions. He hesitated for a moment before responding, his voice tinged with regret.

"No, I'm not blaming you," he replied, his tone softer now. "I just... I need some time to process everything that's happened."

You nodded, understanding his need for space but unable to shake off the hurt that lingered within you.

“Go home, Doe,” he whispered.

With a heavy heart, you nodded in response to Joel's words. His request for space was clear, and though it pained you to leave him in such a state, you knew that respecting his boundaries was crucial in this moment.

"Okay," you whispered back, your voice barely above a murmur. "Take care of yourself, Joel."

Turning away, you walked slowly back to your car, the weight of the situation settling heavily on your shoulders. As you drove home, the silence of the car mirrored the heaviness in your heart, your thoughts consumed by the turmoil of emotions stirred up by the encounter with Joel.

It felt like the night he didn’t fight for you when you left him.

Arriving home with a heavy heart, tears threatened to spill from your eyes as you stepped through the door. Tara, ever-perceptive, noticed your somber expression immediately.

"Mom, what's wrong?" She asked, concern evident in her voice as she hurried to your side.

You tried to offer her a reassuring smile, but it faltered as the weight of the day's events pressed down on you.

"It's nothing, sweetheart," you replied, your voice trembling slightly. "Just a long day."

Tara studied you for a moment, her gaze searching yours for any sign of what was truly bothering you. Seeing the unshed tears in your eyes, she wrapped you in a gentle hug, offering you the comfort of her presence.

"Is it about what dad did to Joel?” She asked, waiting for your answer.

Your heart ached at Tara's question; her perceptiveness never failed to astound you. You pulled back slightly from the embrace, meeting her concerned gaze with a mixture of surprise and admiration.

"How did you know?" you asked softly, impressed by her ability to see through you. 

Tara sighed, her expression filled with empathy. "Sarah”

Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes as you nodded, grateful for Tara's understanding. "Of course,” you said. “Yes, it's about that," you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper. "I just feel so helpless, Tara. It’s all my fault for thinking we could be together again.”

“I don’t want you to say that ever again, mom,” Tara said, her tone clear enough.

Tara's words struck a chord deep within you, her unwavering support providing a glimmer of solace in the midst of your turmoil. You looked at her, your eyes brimming with tears, and felt a surge of gratitude for her strength and wisdom beyond her years.

"I'm sorry, Tara," you whispered, your voice choked with emotion. "I just... I thought I could make things right, but instead, I've only caused more pain."

“I bet Joel wants space tonight, but that doesn’t mean anything bad.” She reassured me, “The way he looked at you, mom, He wouldn’t lose you over the prick of a father I have.”

Tara's words brought a small glimmer of hope to your heart; her unwavering faith in Joel's feelings for you offered a sense of reassurance in the midst of your doubts.

"Thank you, sweetheart," you said, your voice soft with gratitude. "I hope you're right. I just... I hate seeing him hurt because of me."

“He is not hurt because of you.”

Tara's reassurance was like a balm to your wounded soul, her unwavering belief in Joel's love for you providing a beacon of hope amidst the darkness of your doubts.

"You're right," you said, feeling a weight lift off your shoulders. "Thank you for reminding me of that, Tara. I needed to hear it."

As the night wore on, you found yourself tossing and turning in bed, unable to shake off the nagging feeling of unease that lingered within you. The thoughts of Joel consumed your mind, his bruised face haunting your thoughts.

Despite Tara's reassurances, you couldn't shake off the guilt that weighed heavily on your heart. The urge to reach out to Joel, to check on him and apologize for everything, gnawed at you relentlessly.

You glanced at the clock beside your bed, its hands ticking away the seconds of the sleepless night. With a heavy sigh, you reached for your phone, the temptation to call Joel becoming too strong to resist.

But as your fingers hovered over the dial button, doubt crept in. What if he needed space? What if he was still angry?

With a frustrated groan, you set your phone aside, resigning yourself to the torment of your thoughts. Sleep remained elusive, the weight of guilt and uncertainty pressing down on you like a leaden blanket.

Just as you resigned yourself to the torment of your thoughts, your phone vibrated with the arrival of a notification. With a flutter of anticipation, you reached for it, your heart racing with hope.

The message was from Joel.

Your breath caught in your throat as you read his words, a mix of relief and apprehension flooding through you.

“Are you awake?”

You typed out a simple "yes,” and just seconds later, he was calling you.

Your heart pounded in your chest as you answered Joel's call, the sound of his voice washing over you like a balm. "Hey," he said softly, his tone carrying a hint of weariness.

"Hey," you replied, unable to mask the relief in your voice.

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Joel spoke again, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "I just wanted to hear your voice," he admitted, his words sending a shiver down your spine.

A rush of warmth flooded through you at his confession, dispelling some of the tension that had been coiling in your chest. "I'm glad you called," you said softly, a genuine smile tugging at the corners of your lips. "How are you feeling?"

“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “I just want to say sorry for the way I acted, and I wanted to remind you that I love you so much, Doe.”

"I love you too," you replied, your voice filled with tenderness. "More than you'll ever know."

“Go to sleep now, love,” he said, knowing you finally felt at ease. He would never repeat the same mistakes with you again.

The next day, you found yourself standing in front of Dwight's house, your heart pounding with a mix of apprehension and determination. You took a deep breath before raising your hand to knock on the door.

After a moment, the door swung open, revealing Dwight's girlfriend, his mistress. Her expression hardened when she saw you, and she spoke with a hint of disdain in her voice.

"My daughter is here," she stated bluntly, her tone bordering on hostility.

You held your gaze, refusing to be intimidated by her. "I didn't come for her," you replied evenly. "Where is Dwight?"

Her eyes narrowed at your question, and for a moment, she seemed to consider whether to answer. Finally, she stepped aside, allowing you to enter the house. "He's in the living room," she said tersely.

“Can you tell him to come outside?” you said, not showing emotion.

“Okay”

As Dwight stepped outside, closing the door behind him, you couldn't contain the surge of anger that coursed through you. Without a word, you lifted your hand and delivered a sharp slap across his face.

"Ouch, what the hell is wrong with you?" Dwight exclaimed, his hand instinctively rising to his stinging cheek.

"You know damn well what's wrong," you retorted, your voice laced with frustration and indignation.

Dwight's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with defiance. "I don't have to listen to this," he snapped, turning to walk away.

But you weren't finished. "Oh no, you're not getting away that easily." You grabbed him by the neck of his shirt. 

As Dwight attempted to walk away, you couldn't let him escape so easily. Fueled by anger and frustration, you moved swiftly, grabbing him by the neck of his shirt to prevent him from leaving.

His eyes widened in surprise as you held him firmly, your grip tight and unwavering. "Let me go!" he growled, struggling against your hold.

You tightened your grip, refusing to back down. "No," you replied firmly, your voice dripping with determination. "We're going to have this conversation, whether you like it or not."

“Listen to me now. Joel didn’t press charges against you, but I will if you don’t stop acting like this.” Your grip on his shirt left him speechless. “I’m tired of you trying to ruin my happiness when you know damn well what you did, and not only that, but acting like a bully when you’re pushing your 40s is pathetic; you may be older than me but not wiser.”

Dwight's eyes narrowed as he listened to your words, a mixture of anger and resentment flashing across his face. Despite his attempts to break free, your grip remained firm, holding him in place.

“Are you threatening me?” he spat.

You met his glare with steely resolve, feeling fury and disgust towards that man. "I'm not trying to dictate anything," you replied, your tone unwavering. "I'm simply telling you how it's going to be if you don't change your behavior."

He didn’t say a word, inviting you to continue.

“Tara doesn’t want to see you, but I told her you’re her father, and what happened between us should define her relationship with you, but if you ever pull a stunt like this again, I’ll make sure you will never see her,” you stated firmly, your voice leaving no room for argument. "I won't hesitate to protect myself and my family from your toxicity, so you will take a step away for a while; you will change your behavior and start acting like a man; and once you’re ready to be a father, you call me, and we can arrange a meeting with Tara.”

He gulped. “Okay.”

His shoulders slumped slightly, and he averted his gaze, seemingly unable to meet your eyes.

"Fine," he muttered, his voice lacking its usual bravado. "I'll stay away... for now."

You nodded, not entirely convinced of his sincerity but determined to hold him to his word. "Good," you said firmly. "And remember, this is your chance to make things right. Don't waste it." You paused, “Now I want you to get on your knees and promise me you will never go for Joel like that.”

As you waited for Dwight's response, he hesitated for a moment, his expression conflicted. But eventually, he let out a heavy sigh and slowly sank to his knees before you, a begrudging acknowledgment of your authority in this situation.

"I promise," he muttered, his voice strained with reluctance. "I won't go after Joel like that again."

You watched him carefully, your gaze unwavering, as you waited for him to finish his vow. Once he had spoken the words, you nodded, satisfied that he understood the gravity of his promise.

"Good," you said firmly, your tone leaving no room for doubt. “Go to be happy with the family you choose; you have the chance to be a good father for that little girl of yours. And you will let me be happy with a daughter and the man I love.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, ashamed for the first time, but you didn't want to buy his act so easily yet.

You observed him silently, your resolve unwavering as you awaited his apology. When he finally spoke, offering a half-hearted sorry, you shook your head.

"Say sorry when you mean it," you replied firmly, your tone leaving no room for ambiguity. "And remember your promise."

With that, you turned on your heel and walked away, leaving Dwight kneeling on the ground behind you, you were determined to protect your family and ensure that Dwight stayed true to his word.

When you returned to your apartment, your heart skipped a beat as you noticed Joel standing by the door, a concerned look etched on his face. His eyes softened when he saw you, and he took a step forward, his expression filled with worry.

“What are you doing here?” you asked, stepping back at the sight of him, still carrying the colored traces of Dwight’s fist on his face.

“I wanted to see you, but nobody opened the door, so I was leaving,” he said, his voice laced with concern as he noticed a somber demeanor on you.

“Yes, Tara wanted to spend the day with my mom, so she left earlier and I was doing something,” you informed, stepping forward to open the door.

Joel followed you inside, his gaze lingering on your face with a mix of concern and curiosity. You could feel the weight of his gaze, his eyes searching yours for any sign of what was troubling you.

"Is everything alright?" he asked softly.

You hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal about your encounter with Dwight. But seeing the genuine concern in Joel's eyes, you knew you could trust him with the truth.

"Not really," you admitted, your voice tinged with frustration. "I went to Dwight's.”

Joel's expression darkened at the mention of Dwight's name, his jaw tightening with anger. "Did he hurt you?" he asked, his tone low and dangerous.

You shook your head, offering him a small smile to reassure him. "No, nothing like that.” You paused, “It was actually me who slapped him on the face.”

Joel's eyes widened slightly in surprise at your revelation. "You slapped him?" he echoed.

You nodded, feeling a surge of empowerment at the memory of standing up to Dwight. "Yeah," you confirmed, with a hint of pride in your voice. "He had it coming."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Joel's lips. "I wish I could have seen that," he said, a touch of amusement in his tone.

You laughed softly at his comment, “Well, we also talked, mostly me, and I think it's all okay.”

Joel's smile softened at your words, his eyes reflecting his relief. "I'm glad to hear that," he said sincerely, pulling you into a comforting embrace. "You're incredibly brave, you know that?"

You leaned into his embrace, feeling a warmth spread through you at his words. “I’m not”

“Yes, you’re. You stood by yourself, and that’s always brave,” he reminded you, pulling back slightly. He cupped your face in his hands and met your gaze with all the love dancing in his eyes.

You smiled at him, lifting your hand to caress his face, where his eye was still bruised as a violet. Your heart ached for him, for love, and for the memories he always brought with him.

"This reminds me of something,” you murmured softly, your voice filled with a tint of amusement at the memory.

He chuckled softly, a fond smile playing on his lips as he recalled the same thought in his mind. “And I always get the girl,” he said.

A soft chuckle escaped your lips as Joel's words echoed the sentiment you were about to share. "Yes, you do," you replied, your voice laced with affection. "But don't think you can use those puppy eyes to get out of trouble every time."

He stole a kiss from your lips and pressed his forehead against yours. "I still have the ring," he whispered.

Your heart skipped a beat at Joel's words, a rush of warmth flooding through you as you gazed into his eyes.

“Then, ask me,” you whispered back, your voice filled with love and certainty. You didn’t care about rushing things anymore; you knew that, for a marvelous reason, what had made you separate for thirteen years was the same reason that brought you back together, this time older and wiser, and you wanted to dive in, not hold back anymore.

Joel's eyes widened slightly in surprise at your words, his breath catching in his throat as he processed the depth of your request. But beneath the surprise, there was a glimmer of joy and a spark of hope that ignited in his eyes.

"Are you sure?" he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper as he searched your eyes for any hint of hesitation.

You nodded, a smile playing on your lips as you met his gaze with unwavering determination. "I've never been surer of anything in my life," you replied, your voice filled with conviction.

“Well, I don’t have the ring with me right now,” he warned, embarrassed.

Your smile widened at Joel's words; his concern about the ring only added a touch of genuine joy to this. "That's okay," you reassured him, reaching out to gently squeeze his hand.

“I’m doing this anyway,” he said, getting on one knee and causing you to chuckle, hiding the emotion in your throat.

As Joel kneeled before you, your heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and joy. Despite the playful chuckle and tears pricked at the corners of your eyes, threatening to spill over, you allow him to continue.

"Will you marry me, Doe?"

a/n part 2: Before someone says the last part may be stupid, let's clarify this is fiction.

tags 💌: @joeldjarin @missladym1981 @yomiyasxx @aliengirl99 @lola8888673 @nottodaysattan @picketniffler @violinchick @sadgirlcheesecake @caitlynsixxx @luvwanda @sarahhxx03

[photodumppps]

❗THE INVISIBLE STRING THEORY IS REAL❗

[prettygirl-gabi]

By A thread

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Rating:General Audiences

Warning: Fluff, angst, happy ending

Category:F/M

Fandom:Seventeen (SVT)  (boyband)

Relationships: !idol Vernon x !non-idol f reader

Summary: When you and Vernon have a falling out...will the thread you're hanging on snap or was it only getting stronger

Trope : Invisible String Theory

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Hiiiii everyone who is reading! Welcome to the twelfth installment of my new mini series called "Oi! Not this again!" They do not have to be read together or in order! I hope you all enjoy!

The moment I learned about the invisible string theory, I couldn't shake the idea that Vernon and I were connected by one. Not in the whimsical, serendipitous way people describe in romantic movies or storybooks, but in the messy, painful way life tends to unfold. Maybe that’s just how my mind works — always lingering on the edges of things, never fully believing in fairy tales. But still, I couldn’t let it go.

The red thread is supposed to be unbreakable, they say, no matter how much it tangles or stretches across time and space. Yet, as I sit here, staring at the text from Vernon that hasn’t received a response in weeks, I wonder if ours had snapped when I wasn’t paying attention.

*“We need to talk,”* he had said the last time we saw each other, his voice barely a whisper. It was one of those moments where you already know what’s coming but pretend you don’t. I had nodded, and we sat in silence.

Looking at my phone, the message stares back at me, a reminder that some things are left unfinished. I hadn’t meant for this to happen — this distance between us. It felt like it snuck up, inch by inch, until one day we were too far apart to meet in the middle.

*“Hey, are you still coming to the party tonight?”*

I blink back to the present, tapping out a quick response to my friend before tossing my phone onto the bed. I’m not sure why I’m going. Maybe part of me hopes Vernon will be there, though the thought makes my chest tighten. We haven’t spoken since that day. I don’t even know if he’ll want to see me.

---

The party is loud, buzzing with the kind of chaotic energy that both excites and exhausts me at once. People swarm around me, their laughter and chatter blending into a noise I can’t focus on. I’m too busy scanning the room, pretending like I’m not hoping to see him. It’s not until my third lap around the house that I finally spot him in the corner, surrounded by a few of his friends.

Vernon looks the same as always — tall, with that easy posture that makes him look like he belongs anywhere. His hair is a bit messier than usual, his jacket hanging loosely off his shoulders. But it’s his eyes that get me, the same way they always do. They glance up, meet mine for half a second, and I swear I feel something pull inside of me. That invisible string, tightening and pulling me closer.

I’m not sure if it’s the alcohol or the unresolved tension, but before I can stop myself, I start walking toward him. He notices me, of course, because that’s just how it is with us. Our eyes always seem to find each other. The crowd parts slightly as I make my way over, and suddenly, we’re face-to-face.

“Hey,” I manage, my voice barely audible above the noise.

“Hey,” he replies, his tone unreadable.

The air between us feels charged, thick with all the things we haven’t said. I can’t help but wonder if he’s been thinking about me the way I’ve been thinking about him. About how we drifted apart, about all the little moments that built up to this silence.

“Can we talk?” I blurt out, and his expression falters for a second before he nods.

We weave through the crowd until we find a quieter spot outside. The cool night air hits me, calming the nerves that have been building up inside. Vernon stands a few feet away from me, his hands shoved into his pockets, looking like he’s trying to figure out what to say. I beat him to it.

“I’m sorry,” I begin, my voice shaky. “For everything. I didn’t mean to just disappear like that.”

His eyes soften, but there’s still a distance in them. “You didn’t disappear. I did. Or maybe we both did. I don’t know.”

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I thought we were good, you know? And then… we weren’t. And I didn’t know how to fix it.”

His words hang in the air, and I feel that invisible string between us tugging again. The tension in his voice mirrors the one inside me, a mess of confusion, hurt, and regret that’s been building for months.

“I thought the same thing,” I admit, stepping closer to him. “But maybe we both were waiting for the other to fix it. And we didn’t realize it was falling apart until it was too late.”

Vernon looks down at his feet, and for a moment, I’m terrified he’ll agree — that maybe it *is* too late. But when he looks back up, there’s something different in his eyes. Not the same frustration or disappointment I’d seen before. There’s hope there, and it makes my heart ache.

“Do you think we could fix it now?” he asks softly, his voice barely louder than a whisper.

I swallow the lump in my throat. “I don’t know. But I want to try. I miss you, Vernon. More than you probably realize.”

His lips tug into a small, sad smile, and he takes a step closer to me. The space between us feels smaller now, but not suffocating — comforting, like we’re figuring this out together.

“I miss you, too,” he admits, and it feels like the words are being pulled from deep inside him, ones he’s been holding back for too long. “I don’t want to keep messing this up.”

I nod, feeling the same way. We stand there for a moment, neither of us speaking, just letting the quiet fill the gaps. I can feel the weight of all the unspoken things between us, but for the first time, it doesn’t feel unbearable.

“You know the invisible string thing?” I say suddenly, my words tumbling out before I can stop them.

Vernon raises an eyebrow, looking at me like I’ve lost it. “Uh, what?”

I laugh softly, shaking my head. “It’s this theory — that people who are meant to be connected are tied together by an invisible red string. No matter how far apart they are, or how tangled things get, they’re still connected. Like… fate, or something.”

Vernon is quiet for a second, his expression thoughtful. “So, you think we’re connected by some invisible string?”

I shrug, feeling a bit embarrassed now that I’ve said it out loud. “I don’t know. It sounds kind of ridiculous, but… yeah. I do.”

He smiles, this time a real one, and I feel warmth spread through my chest. “I don’t think it’s ridiculous. I mean, we’ve made it this far, right?”

I meet his gaze, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I feel that connection between us again. Stronger, somehow.

“Yeah,” I whisper. “We did.”

Vernon reaches out, his fingers brushing against mine, and I take his hand, feeling the warmth of his palm against my own. We stand there, hand in hand, the world around us fading into the background.

Maybe the invisible string between us never snapped after all. Maybe it just got a little tangled along the way. But standing here, with Vernon by my side, I know one thing for sure — we’re still connected.

And this time, we’re not letting go.

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

            ‐Thank You For Reading!🩵🩶

                             -prettygirl-Gabi✨️🎀

[clinquaant]

12 DAYS OF GIFMAS / Day Three: A Story Idea That You Love: The Continuing Story of…, a Marauders Era Fanfiction (OC x OC and James Potter x OC)

…LEWIS KINGSLEIGH IS CENTERED AROUND A LIE. It’s actually a little concerning how easily spreading mistruths runs in his family — but given his future profession as a politician involved with the American Wizarding Government, maybe it’s not that hard to believe. As a young Ilvermorny student, he attested his strained relationship with his father, and his mother at times, to the web of lies they seemed to constantly be adding on to.

Lewis vowed that he would be different, but with the subliminal effects of Rappaport’s Law still infesting Wizarding America, he finds himself relying on false information himself as he falls in love with the No-Maj next door. His falsified life continues into his tenure as the President of the divided nation, only until his half-blood daughter learns of her true heritage and is finally exposed to the whole other world waiting for her.

…MALORIE LEPTIRBIDGE BEGINS WITH CHAOS. As easily the most intelligent student in her class, she is quickly approached by a group of best friends for her help with an odd task. She ponders over it for weeks, weighing the pros and cons of either helping the boys with this outlandish plan, or ignoring them and risking being an indirect accomplice to their probable deaths due to incorrectly performing the Animagus ritual.

Her relationship with the Marauders only deepens from there, essentially becoming an honorary member of the group for her invaluable contribution to maintaining their life-long bond with one another. One Gryffindor, in particular, takes an especially fond liking towards Malorie, despite her being painfully oblivious of the fact for years. Once Malorie finally succumbs to the intoxicating charm of James Potter, her life is never the same — for better, and for worse.

+ bonus:

[toomanystoriessolittletime]

I wish I hated you

Summary: You never thought a family dinner would include the father of your children, but after you and Joel finally talk, things might slowly start to heal between the two of you.

Pairing: past Joel Miller x fem. reader

Wordcount: 3.9k

Rating: T

Warnings: angst, crying, talk about past shitty behaviour, more sorry's, beginning of moving on, feelings and their denial, more feelings, it's complicated cause these fools deep down love each other, food, regrets

A/N: It's been a while, but Part four is finally here. I was struggling with this but I finally have the idea for how to end this. One more part and we're done. Hope you enjoy this (and if not, don't tell me lol)

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part four of invisible string

Life in Jackson quickly became your new normal, apart from the fact that he was here too. 

Leo and Ana were thriving, going to school every day. They learned to write and to read and to count and they were excited to tell you about every little thing they had learned in school every time you picked them up. 

You already had a big collection of pictures they painted in class all around the house too. 

You had been in Jackson for almost four months now. 

You brother, being the more open one of the two of you, already had made a lot of friends. He was a trusted part of the patrol group and went out at least twice per week.

He also was officially dating Lauren, the school teacher as of the week before. 

And you?

You were… okay.

After the first two weeks of living in Jackson you had started the working rotation to find out how you could provide something to the community and you had been happy to now be working at the kitchen every morning to prepare breakfast and lunch service at the community hall. 

Cooking had always been your happy place.

You hadn’t really made any friends. 

You were working with Carl, Andy and Lisa in the kitchen, and you were going to weekly dinners at Maria and Tommy’s place. 

You and Tommy had a long talk shortly after you arrived.

He had told you how sorry he was for everything that happened. He felt guilty for leaving out of the blue, without telling you, knowing how bad Joel had been back then. 

But you weren’t mad at him, and you told him that. 

It wasn’t his responsibility to stay back just because his brother did. Tommy had believed he would find something better when he left with the Fireflies. And even though it hadn’t worked out with them, his life still changed for the better. 

Leo and Ana were ecstatic to have a little cousin in Sammy. Of course you had to explain what cousin meant, which also meant that Tommy became Uncle Tommy. A title he took with pride. 

Life was good. 

As good as it could be with anyone doing their best to not mention the big elephant in the room. 

Joel.

You hadn’t seen him more for a couple of moments since the morning he came to pick up your brother. That did not mean you had not heard about him though. 

Your brother Calvin apparently had been paired with him out on patrol a couple of times and you were more than surprised when Calvin asked you how or if he should answer when Joel asked him questions about you and the twins. 

Apparently after the first couple of almost silent patrols out, Joel had to began to ask about you on the latest patrol. Something that surprised you, if you were honest. 

You really didn’t think Joel was thinking about you. Even though he told you he was still in love with you all those weeks ago. 

How was the man who said all those cruel words to you when you needed him most still in love with you?

And why hadn’t you been able to stop thinking about him ever since that first night you saw him again?

He had not only hurt you, he had broken you. Had blamed the whole pregnancy on you alone, as if he wasn’t the one who had fucked you and had came inside of you. 

You were always on the verge between angry, hurt and longing when it came to Joel and you had no fucking clue what to do about it. 

So, after taking some time to think about your brothers question over what to tell Joel when he asked about you, you took matters in your own hands and had made the decision to talk to the man in question yourself. 

You had asked Maria where you would be able to find him and she had told you that he was working on a house on the other side of town together with Tommy for the week. Apparently the girl, Ellie, wasn’t feeling too well and Joel did not want to be on patrol until she got better. 

So on a rainy day, after you got your kids to school, you found yourself walking towards the house Maria had told you. It was Tommy you saw first when you walked up the stairs, his eyes widening in surprise before he nodded his head up, silently telling you that Joel was upstairs. 

You were thankful that the house seemed to be empty apart from Joel who you could hear hammering upstairs. Taking a deep breath you pulled your soaked rain jacket off, hanging it on a doorhandles downstairs, before you walked up. 

He must have not heard you walk up the steps, his back turned towards you as he knelt on the floor, hammering some floor boards. You approached him quietly, leaning with your shoulder against the doorframe of the door he was working in. 

It gave you some time to look at him. 

Noticing the changes in his appearance in the last six years. 

It seemed to you that he aged quite a lot since the last time you saw him. There was a lot more grey in his hair than you remembered. 

When you looked at his hands you found him wearing his wedding ring. The one you had put on his fingers, the one that he hadn’t worn much when you were still together. 

You were more than surprised that he still had it. 

He stilled for a moment before his head turned towards you, as if he had sensed you standing there. Surprised he raised his eyebrows before he put the hammer down, pulling himself up to his feet with a groan, his joints popping. 

You continued to look at him, now noticing the deeper lines around his eyes. 

He seemed nervous as he looked at you. 

„Calving told me you have questions,“ you said after a while.

„I do,“ he said with a small nod. 

„Why?“ You asked. 

„So I know that you and the… that you are okay. That you don’t need anything,“ he said. 

„You did not care about me when you told me to get the fuck out of your life,“ you said before you could stop yourself. He visibly flinched, closing his eyes. 

„I should have never said that,“ he whispered, looking at the ground as he shook his head. 

„No, you shouldn’t,“ you agreed. 

For a while the only sound that could be heard was the rain outside. 

„I revisit that day every single day and I can’t understand why I said those things,“ he said all of the sudden, looking up at you. 

„I can not understand why I treated you like I did. And I am not talking just about that night. I am talking about the whole time. Every time I told you that you deserve better, I meant it. I wasn’t… I am not what you deserve. I am broken. Maybe that’s why I kept lashing out at you. To make you understand.“

„It’s because of Sarah,“ you said and you could hear him take a deep breath, his eyes closing. 

Only saying this name had him shouting at you in the past, but you weren’t afraid of his reaction now. 

„You push everything and everyone away because you feel like it was your fault that Sarah died. And so you push everyone and everything away that could potentially hurt you like Sarah’s death did without realising that it is you how is hurting you,“ you said. 

A tear slipped down his cheek. 

„They ask about you,“ you said and he furrowed his brows.

„They ask about their Dad. In the community before they did not have an actual school, but the kids got to hang out three times a week and every time friends of them were picked up by their father, they asked about where their Dad was,“ you sighed. 

„What did you tell them?“

„That their father was out and looking for a better world for us,“ you whispered, blinking your own tears away. You looked at him with a sad smile. 

„They look so much like you. They both have your eyes and your curly hair. And your stubbornness,“ you said the last part with a small smile. 

Joel chuckled. 

„I’m sorry for that,“ he said with a head shake. 

„Can’t wait for them to be teenagers. It’s gonna be a ride,“ you said. 

Joel sucked his bottom lip in before he spoke.

„If you need help then, or… anytime really… I have some experience with moody teenagers. Sarah was…,“ a small smile sneaked to his lips, „Sarah could easily bribed with food. My Tacos to be specific. And since Tommy found a Taco press and there’s a whole field of corn currently growing….“

„I’ll keep that in mind,“ you said softly. 

Tommy called for help from downstairs and you sucked your bottom lip in. 

Joel grabbed his toolbox.

„We have dinner at Tommy’s place every Thursday,“ you said as he turned towards you again. 

He nodded. 

„If you like, you and Ellie could join us tomorrow,“ you said, before your brain could talk you out of it. 

„Are you sure?“

You huffed a laugh. 

„Not really. If I’m honest I am terrified of getting hurt again, but I am also tired of running. There is still this part inside of me, that wants you. That is and probably always will be in love with you. But while I figure this part of my feelings out, you can get to know your kids, if you’d like,“ you said.

He nodded slowly. 

„I’d really like that.“

You had never been more thankful to have found a friend like Maria. 

After telling her that you had invited Joel over for Thursday night dinner, you had freaked out immediately. Maria knew everything. You had told her you whole history with Joel after she had shown up with a bottle of wine on your doorstep a couple of weeks after you had arrived and you had spilled your feelings after two glasses of wine. 

Knowing your whole history with Joel did not help Maria’s dislike of him in the least. She judged him for the things he had done to keep the people he loved safe. How he made Tommy participate. And even though you could have just let Maria rant about him and his ways, you found yourself defending him. 

Something Maria could not understand in the beginning. 

How you could defend a man who killed, tortured, robbed and hurt people without any consequences. A man who hurt you so baldy you fled across the country while being pregnant. 

And logically she was right. There was no sane reason why you should be defending him. 

Then again, falling for the man in the first place was probably not the most logic decision you made all those years back. 

You just did.

So here you were, a glass of wine in your left hand while you „helped“ Maria cook dinner. You could hear Leo and Ana in the living room as they played with Tommy. 

Usually your brother Calvin would be here too, but it was his girlfriend's birthday to day and they had plans.

„You ready to forgive him? Just like that?“ Maria asked. 

You shook your head. 

„This is not about that. He’s their father,“ you whispered the last sentence. 

„And no matter how much of an asshole he was to me, I don’t want to stand in the way of them having a relationship, if he wants to have one,“ you said.

„I think he wants the whole package,“ Maria said, stirring the soup she had made.

You raised one eyebrow. 

„Joel came over to help Tommy fix the roof last weekend, and he stayed for dinner and some drinks afterwards. I overhead them talk about you from upstairs,“ she said quietly. 

„He is pretty damn determinate to win you back. Said he never loved anyone as much as he does still love you and that he’ll spend the rest of his life worshipping you on his knees if you gave him another chance,“ Maria said. 

„He said that?“ You asked. She nodded. 

„They were already some beers deep into the conversation, but yeah. I had my doubts, I still have them. But I can’t deny that the man is in love with you. And he’s a great father to Ellie, even though it’s complicated between them at the moment.“

Before you could react there was a knock on the door and you felt yourself tense up. 

Maria gave you a warm smile. 

„Better get out there, before Tommy tells them who exactly Joel is,“ she said and your eyes widened before you walked towards the door. 

Joel had been nervous many many times in his life. 

But nothing seemed to compare to the moment he knocked on the door of his brothers house, knowing you and his two kids, the kids he never met before, were waiting behind it. 

He had spent almost twenty minutes trying to find an outfit for himself, like this was some kind of date. Which technically it was. It was a date to meet his children for the first time. And the first step to hopefully earning your trust and forgiveness. So when he saw his blue flannel, the only piece of clothing that had survived all the way from Boston, your favourite shirt on him, it felt like it was a sign. 

„So these kids really don’t know who you are?“ Ellie asked next to him. He was more than glad she had agreed to come with him tonight. Though Maria cooking her favourite dinner might have been the real reason she agreed. 

Things with Ellie were still tense. 

And that was another thing he was to blame for. 

He should have told her the truth from the beginning. Not that it would have made the whole situation about Ellie feeling like she lost her purpose better, but at least he wouldn’t have lied to her. 

Lying to protect the people he loved seemed to be a pattern in Joel’s life, that he needed to work on too. 

„They don’t. I don’t know if or when she will tell them. So please don’t mention it. I know you’re not my biggest fan at the moment, but those kids should not have to suffer because of it, okay?“ He asked. 

Ellie rolled her eyes with a sigh. 

„Won’t spill the beans, promise,“ she said.

The door opened and Tommy grinned at them. 

„Fancy seeing you here,“ he said, Sammy on his arm who already made grabby hands towards Joel. He found himself smiling at his little nephew before he reached over to take Sammy from Tommy. 

„Yeah, Yeah. I was promised food,“ Ellie grumbled, pushing past the men.

„Still a ray of sunshine, huh?“ Tommy teased, rubbing through Ellie’s hair and she slapped his hand away with a long groan.

Joel followed them inside, closing the door behind him, Sammy still on his arm. His hands were clammy as he heard Ellie introduce herself to Leo and Ana. Sammy looked up at Joel, putting one tiny hand on his cheek, making raspberry lips. Joel find himself smiling, the nervous flutter in his stomach dying down a little. 

„Hi,“ he heard your voice and he turned his head as you walked out of the kitchen towards him. You were wearing what looked like a oversized black sweater that went to the middle of your upper thighs and a leggings beneath it. You looked cozy and he wanted nothing more than to pull you in his arms and….

„Hey,“ he said, interrupting his train of thoughts.

„You want me to go in with you? Introduce you?“ You asked. He found himself nodding.

„I am gonna tell them that you are Joel’s brother. Nothing more right now, okay?“ You asked again and he nodded again. 

„Okay,“ you said before you turned away from him, but he reached for you before he even realised he was moving, catching you by surprise, as he carefully wrapped his hand around your wrist. He could hear you little gasp as you turned back to him, your eyes searching his. 

„You look beautiful,“ he whispered squeezing your wrist.

He watched as you took a deep breath, your eyes slipping close for just a moment before you opened them and gave him a small smile.

The combination of seeing Joel wear the shirt you had gifted him for Christmas in 2014 and seeing him hold Sammy in his arms was a little overwhelming. 

But that was nothing compared to your body reacting to his touch as he told you that you looked beautiful. You flushed so hard, you were sure you could melt snow if you stepped outside. 

It was various kinds of fascinating that he still had that effect on you. 

Taking a deep breath as you turned away from him you walked inside the living room where Ellie was already sitting between Ana and Leo who were explaining their rules of Monopoly to them. Tommy had found a lot of boardgames on patrol a while back and borrowed it for tonight. 

You did not think playing Monopoly was a perfect bonding experience (it was war really) but who were you to complain?

„You gonna play too Mommy?“ Ana asked as she saw you, giving you those big pleasing puppy eyes she had from her father. 

„After dinner. I promise. But we play the official rules and no cheating like the last time,“ you said with narrowed eyes and Leo giggled. 

„Hi Ellie,“ you smiled at her and she gave you a small wave before she looked back at the game.

You took a deep breath.

„Remember that I told you that there would be guests tonight? You already meet Ellie, and this is Joel. Tommy’s brother,“ you explained to them. 

They both said Hi to him and you looked behind you finding Joel’s watery eyes on them. 

„You gonna play with us after dinner too, Mr. Joel?“ Ana asked with hopeful eyes. The dimple that mirrored Joel’s showing on her cheek as she smiled.

Joel cleared his throat and you found yourself stepping closer to him, hesitantly taking his hand.

He looked at you and you gave him a small nod. 

„I’d love to.“

It was way past the twins bedtime when you finished the second round of Monopoly. Against your hesitations, no family war broke out and Maria declared herself the winner, much to the disappointment of Ellie. 

It only took you three hours to understand why Joel was so protective of the girl. She was funny, smart and took no shit from anyone. 

Ana and Leo had been sleeping on the couch for at least an hour when you were helping to clean up the table.

„Can we… do this again?“ Ellie asked hesitantly while Joel was helping his brother in the kitchen to dry the dishes. 

„We do this every Thursday. You are always welcome to join, Ellie,“ Maria said.

„Cool,“ she nodded and you smiled, before you looked towards the couch, wondering how you would get those two kids home. 

„You think Tommy could help me get Leo home?“ You asked Maria.

„Why? We live on the same street. Joel can help,“ Ellie said before Maria could answer. Maria chuckled.

„She’s right, you know?“ Maria said. 

„I always am,“ Ellie said as she walked towards the door, calling one loud bye into the house before she stepped outside. 

There was a part of you that did not want this evening to end. 

It really felt like you were a family. 

After dinner the kids had went right into their first round of Monopoly, Tommy and Joel joining them as you had helped Maria in the kitchen. 

All you thoughts about this evening being awkward disappeared as you had come back into the living room to find Leo sitting in Joel’s lap, both of them grinning and plotting against Tommy who had Ana on his lap. 

You knew that both of the kids were so much like Joel. But seeing Leo and Joel like that made you realise that he really was a Mini version of Joel.

It made you wonder how the last years could have been if things had went differently. 

But maybe he just wasn’t ready for it back then.

„Thank you for dinner, Maria,“ Joel said as he walked back into the living room. 

„Yes, Thank you for dinner Maria,“ Tommy grinned as he went over to her, kissing her softly. 

„Oh by the way Ellie volunteered you to carry Leo home,“ Maria said towards Joel who raised his eyebrows in surprise. 

„Is that so?“ He asked with a chuckle.

„You don’t have to though. I can go ask Calvin…“ you began but he shook his head, walking towards the couch and carefully picked up Leo who, as if sensing it, put his arms around his neck, continuing to sleep soundly. 

You gulped, giving both Tommy and Maria a nervous smile before you walked to the couch, picking Ana up. She snuggled against your neck. 

„Good night,“ Maria and Tommy whispered, following you down the hallway to their door. 

„Good night,“ you whispered back, taking a deep breath before you followed Joel. 

Ellie must have went home already, leaving the two of you alone on the short walk to your house. 

„I can’t believe I voluntarily gave all of this up because I was such a coward,“ Joel said quietly as you walked into your street. 

„They are pretty awesome huh?“ You asked and you could hear the smile in his voice as he answered:

„They are everything.“

Once you were at your house you guided him upstairs and into the twins room. He carefully put Leo into his bed before he walked out of the room as you undressed them and put them into their pyjamas. Giving both of them a forehead kiss you walked out of their room, closing the door behind you.

Joel was nowhere to be found so you walked back down, finding him sitting on the porch steps outside. It had started to rain again. 

When you approached him you could hear him sniffling, your heart breaking. 

„Why don’t you hate me?“ He asked as you sat down next to him. 

„I pushed you away. I pushed my wife away, the only woman I ever truly loved. I pushed you away because I was scared to loose you. How fucking stupid can a person be? Why am I like this? I lost everything and rightfully so and yet here you are, giving me a chance to meet the children who I wanted you to…“ he stopped himself. You could see him shaking as he cried, his head lowered, his face hidden behind his hands. 

Hesitantly you let your head fall on his shoulder, one of your hand coming to rest on his knee. 

„I wish I hated you,“ you whispered;

„But I just can’t stop loving you.“

[rotthepoet]

Invisible String Theory (pt. 3)

Angel,

I don’t understand why you’re so upset. There's no reason to use such foul, angry language with me. We can talk about this, love. Oh I’d love to just sit down and talk with you for hours. I really think I could listen to you talk for days on end. Maybe you could read to me sometime, like she used to. Regardless, amo my love, we shouldn’t be fighting like this. This isn’t like us, we’re happy together. I’m happy with you, and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you're happy with me. We should go back to how it used to be, where you smiled at what I wrote, where you wore my gifts happily. What changed? You threw my sweater out. 

But that really doesn't matter, what matters is that you're happy. Let me make you happy, love. What would you like to do on our first date? Maybe a picnic by the lake, underneath your favorite tree. I'll prepare everything so you don’t have to worry. You can just lay down underneath the tree, head on my lap, and I'll read to you for hours if you like. Do you like reading? I forgot to ask, but I see you in the library a lot, so I bet you do. I’m a writer, you know. Maybe it’s because I spent so much time in a library as a kid, too. I wish you could have seen the library of my childhood home, where she used to spend her days. I wish you could have met her. She would have loved you. Like I love you. I love you. God, I love you. I love you! I love you! I love you!

I just want to say it to your face. I’ve never been shy, but there's something about you. You change me, darling. 

-Yours, even if you’re upset with me.

P.S. I left 100 Galleons under your pillow. Buy yourself something pretty for me ;)

𓆙

Princi Princess,

You don’t need to know me right now, you just need to know how much I love you. How much I care about you. How much I want to protect you, darling. That doesn’t mean I haven’t talked to you, of course not. In fact, we had a lovely conversation today, though everything is lovely with you. You pushed your hair out of your face, and I wanted nothing more than to do it for you. To gently push your hair behind your ear, make you stare up into my eyes, God i love when you look me in the eyes. I could stare into your eyes all day, all night, all the time. I love you. I just wanted to remind you.

-Yours, head over heels.

𓆙

Fuckface, 

Stop. Just stop. This isn’t funny anymore. This is weird and unsettling. I don’t know you, I don’t want to talk to you, stop seeking me out. Don’t even bother approaching me outside of your letters for our “lovely chats” because I'm certain the loveliness is one-sided. I’m sick of this, i’m sick of you. Knock it off. Fuck you, fuck your “love”, and fuck everything about you. 

Fuck you,

 Never Yours.

𓆙

Darling,

I’m going to pretend your little outburst didn’t happen. We can just pretend everything is okay, because it is okay. I heard you paid Theodore Nott to beat up anyone “suspicious” who approaches you, but what is he going to do? You’re smarter than this, love. Who am I? Really think about it.

-Yours, Forever.

P.s. Fix your attitude.

[invisiblestringmm]

chapter six - social media

the storm is coming but…

———————

masonsprivate posted a story

yourusername

Liked by masonmount, masonsprivate, willowfoster, jazbenham and 148 others

yourusername Miss ballerina, chocolate chip biscuit monster, peanut - everything will always be about making you smile. Happy you liked your Christmas present this year! 💕

willowfoster my little bestie deserves the whole world!! you liked

masonsprivate and a dog

yourusername Don’t start. 🥲

jazbenham 🐾 next year for the prettiest girlie!

masonsprivate 💙 you liked

woody_ she’s beautiful Y/n! Happy Christmas! you liked

———————

[rcbdo]

mess it up - part two

sakusa kiyoomi x miya atsumu x f!reader

part one - masterlist

word count: 3,068

Atsumu had no idea what to do.

He realized it had been a few months since he had talked to you. Really talked, not just sharing memes or new music or stupid selfies. 

Last he heard, you had finally moved in with your boyfriend—the one you got in college while he was off pursuing a career in volleyball. You had a decent job that you liked, and had recently earned a promotion. You seemed so happy.

What the hell had happened?

Alone in the living room, Atsumu did his best to give Kiyoomi space. His leg bounced restlessly as he slouched back on the couch. While he had been caught off guard by his boyfriend’s reaction to your call, he wasn’t entirely surprised. Honestly, he probably would have responded in the same way had the roles been reversed.

But you were more than just an ex-girlfriend to Atsumu. You were a friend, one who had grown up right beside him and Osamu. The three of you had transitioned through life together; from wild, carefree children to awkward adolescents to impassioned teenagers. You had been there for it all, cheering for his wins and consoling him after losses. When he needed you most, you helped lift him up after Osamu announced he didn’t plan to pursue volleyball after graduation.

And then you broke his heart.

In the end, everything worked out as it should have, because it allowed him to pursue Kiyoomi.

Atsumu could still remember the first time he laid eyes on Sakusa Kiyoomi. It was the first day of the All-Japan Youth Camp, and the moment they locked eyes Atsumu felt like he was on fire. Sakusa was the most beautiful man he had ever seen.

That night he got himself off to the thought of Kiyoomi.

He felt the shame immediately. He’d never considered himself to be attracted to men, but his feelings were undeniable. The problem was, he was dating you.

The remainder of the camp was both exhilarating and unbearable. Eventually he opened up to Osamu, who shrugged and said he was still a scrub no matter who he liked.

Atsumu was wracked with guilt about whether to tell you. For all your confidence and popularity, you still struggled with the attention Atsumu received at school. He thought his feelings for Sakusa would fade with time, but his traitorous mind just wouldn’t let go.

After a few months, he finally confessed. The two of you were laying on your bed, talking about your dreams for the future. 

“I think I’m attracted to guys.”

The words tumbled out of his mouth, Atsumu unable to keep them locked up any longer. You fell silent, staring up at the ceiling.

 “Well, just one guy really,” Atsumu stammered. “We met at the training camp a while back. You know? The one in that was in Tokyo. But I—”

He stopped as he heard a sniffle, turning to see you wiping away tears. He shot up and braced his arms on either side of you, his face hovering above yours. You tried to hide behind your hands, but he gently moved them away.

“Are ya mad at me?” Atsumu asked.

You searched his eyes for a moment before responding.

“Did you cheat on me?”

“No! No, I would never! Baby, I promise I didn’t—”

“Do you want to break up with me?” you whispered.

Atsumu felt his heart clench.

“No,” he answered adamantly.  “I love you. I just—I don’t know what is wrong with me. But I wanted to be honest with you. Yer the best friend I have besides my stupid scrub of a brother. I don’t want to hide this anymore. ”

You reached up to cup his cheek, and Atsumu melted into your touch as you caressed his skin.

“Tsumu, there’s nothing wrong with you,” you stated emphatically. “I love you too. If you need to explore this, then I’ll—I’ll let you go.”

Atsumu squeezed his eyes shut, trying to hold back his tears. He failed, and felt you gently wipe one away as it reached your finger. He grabbed your wrist, feeling your racing pulse against his fingertips.

“No. Please don’t let me go.”

“I won’t. I promise,” you said, leaning up to give him a kiss.

Eventually you broke that promise.

It was the week before graduation, and Atsumu was completely blindsided by the breakup. 

You both knew he would likely be recruited abroad after school. There were already a few interested parties, and Atsumu would accept any opportunity in a heartbeat. You told him that you didn’t want to hold him back any more, that he deserved to be free. That he deserved explore the part of himself that he couldn’t with you.

Atsumu balked, saying had every intention of staying together no matter where he ended up, but you confessed that you didn’t want to be in a long distance relationship.

No matter how much he fought, you insisted it was over.

Atsumu was devastated at first. You pleaded with him to remain friends, but he couldn’t imagine just being your friend after everything you had shared. 

He came to blows with Osamu for saying the breakup wouldn’t stop him from talking to you, reminding Atsumu that he had warned him of this exact scenario at the start of the relationship. After that fight, Atsumu’s anger faded and he realized his brother was right.

You were entwined in his life in so many ways; spending evenings helping his mother prepare meals, teaming up with Suna to play video games against the twins, helping clean the gym to Kita’s standards after your cheer practice. It wouldn’t be just you hurt by his grudge, it would be everyone.

Losing you hurt, but it didn’t have to be forever. 

You had also forced Atsumu to face a truth he had been avoiding. Osamu was branching out and building his own life. Atsumu needed too as well.

Then, just as he had come to terms with the massive shift in his life, he ending up signing to the MSBY Black Jackals. A team based in Osaka.

It was ironic that you two had broken up because of the impending distance, only to end up a few hours away from each other.

You reconnected slowly, both of you learning how to navigate your new relationship—or lack thereof. By the time the winter holiday came around, it was like you had never missed a beat. You sat with the Inarizaki boys at the local izakaya, sipping drinks and sharing laughs.

Neither of you brought up getting back together.

During his second year with the team, the Black Jackals started searching for a new wing spiker. It felt like fate when Sakusa walked through the doors for his tryout. 

Atsumu played like shit during the match, but Kiyoomi’s talent shined regardless. He got the offer, and promptly called out Atsumu during his first official practice session.

Old feelings came rushing back immediately. Atsumu felt just as overwhelmed by Kiyoomi’s presence now as he did in high school. However, this time he could do something about it. 

He started affectionately referring to Kiyoomi as “Omi-kun,” which Sakusa seemed to begrudgingly accept. Atsumu wasn’t sure about Kiyoomi’s sexuality at first, but after several heated glances he decided to push his luck further.

After what felt like endless flirting, Sakusa finally snapped. He pulled Atsumu aside in the locker room, demanding to know why he was toying with him. They stood in stunned silence after Atsumu confessed he wasn’t making fun of him, he had feelings for him.

Then Kiyoomi grabbed his face and kissed him fiercely.

The rest was history. 

They tried to hide their relationship from the team, but Shugo Meian, their ever observant captain, called them out almost immediately. Bokuto had been thrilled, grabbing them both in a hug, much to Kiyoomi’s annoyance. Once settled, he admitted that he was relieved to have people he could relate to on the team. The circumstances weren’t quite the same, considering Bokuto was in a poly relationship, but it was nice knowing they weren’t alone.

Atsumu’s reverie was interrupted as his phone starting buzzing in his pocket. He glanced at the screen before answering with a sharp “What?”

“‘Scuse you. Wanna try that again?”

Atsumu sighed, pinching the bridge of this nose.

“Sorry, Samu. I’m—what’s up?”

“Saw you placed an order. Wanted to see if you thought Omi would like this new umeboshi recipe I’m testing. Yer an uncultured swine, so I know you wouldn’t touch it.”

“Oh…yeah, I think he’d like that. Thanks,” Atsumu replied.

“Wow. Not even a squawk? Not gonna call me a good for nothing copy? What’s up with you?”

Atsumu listened to the din of the restaurant in the background, debating whether to reveal his predicament to his brother. 

“I talked to Baby earlier,” he explained.

Osamu hummed in affirmation over the crisp tapping of his knife.

“She, uh…she asked if she could crash with me ’n Omi for a while.”

“About damn time,” Osamu huffed, “I told her to man up and just ask you.”

“What!? You mean you knew she was homeless and didn’t say anything?”

“She asked me not to. Not until she figured out what she wanted to do.”

“I’m yer twin!” Atsumu exclaimed, “Ya should’ve told me, ya ugly scrub!”

“We have the same face, idiot,” Osamu retorted.

Atsumu huffed, and the two fell into an awkward silence.

“So what happened?” he finally asked.

“Dunno,” Osamu offered blandly.

“Oh my god, you are the worst! Whaddya mean you don’t—”

“Can we talk?”

Atsumu whirled to see Kiyoomi standing in the hallway. He had a towel draped over his shoulders, hair still damp from his shower.

“Yeah, of course,” Atsumu replied, unceremoniously hanging up on his brother and throwing the phone aside.

It was a long night, but Atsumu felt better after talking to Kiyoomi. They both apologized; Atsumu for having assumed Kiyoomi to be fine with the request, and Kiyoomi for being so possessive.

Sakusa didn’t often talk about the challenges of his childhood, but Atsumu understood why his partner could be so defensive at times. The two had come a long way from sitting in sullen silence, expecting the other to guess what was wrong rather than communicate.

Atsumu felt even closer to Kiyoomi for that fact, having grown into the man he wanted to be with him. He felt secure and content in a way he never had before. He felt confident that, together, they could help you get back on your feet, without any old feelings being stirred up.

Finally, after dinner and more deliberation, Kiyoomi agreed to at least meet you before making a decision.

You arrived at the cafe twenty minutes ahead of your scheduled meeting time. It was excessive, but you’d rather have time to kill than risk being late. Though, as you stood in line to order, you realized that also gave you more time to stress.

It’s just Tsumu. Why are you acting like this is a business transaction? You chided yourself.

You ordered a green tea at the counter; something inexpensive and non-caffeinated. After receiving your beverage, you made your way to an empty table, sitting to face the front of the building.

The entrance had a small chime to announce customers’ arrivals. A few people came in, then took their drinks to go. You tried not to look too eager each time you heard the sound.

To distract yourself, you pulled out your phone to continue reviewing apartment listings. The daunting task had consumed all of your free time recently. Not only were decent apartments hard to come by, but the lengthy approval process made it even more challenging.

And then there was the price tag. You had a job that paid well, but not near enough saved up to afford anything in the area. The best option in your price range was two hours away from the city. At that point, you would be better off moving back home, which was your absolute last resort.

The bell chimed once more, and you couldn’t help but glance up. You smiled reflexively at the sight of bleach blonde hair walking through the door. Atsumu’s eyes flit around the cafe, then he smiled in return as he spotted you.

He looked good. Really good. Atsumu had always been attractive, but it wasn’t just his physique that you noticed.

He seemed truly happy, which in turn made you happy, despite the sorrow in your life.

It had killed you to end your relationship all those years ago…but the Atsumu walking towards you now was proof you had done the right thing.

Trailing a few steps behind was none other than Sakusa Kiyoomi, Atsumu’s boyfriend. You had seen pictures of him, of course, but photos did not do him justice.

Even with a mask covering half his face he was stunning. He stood a few inches taller than Atsumu, with wavy black hair that framed his sultry eyes. 

Eyes that were currently sizing you up.

You stood to greet them, accepting a quick hug from Atsumu. It still startled you how much he had grown, how small your frame was compared to his.

He said your name, thankfully cognizant enough not to use that silly nickname, then pulled Sakusa closer.

“This is my boyfriend, Kiyoomi,” he continued, beaming at the man standing next to him.

You didn’t miss how Sakusa tensed at the casual introduction. While you and Atsumu were close, you were still a stranger to him.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sakusa,” you said, offering a small bow.

Sakusa seemed to appreciate the formality.

“Likewise,” he replied with a nod.

“You already got a drink,” Atsumu observed. “You want anything to eat?”

“No, I’m good. Thank you, though.”

“Alright, I’ll go order for us. Be right back!” he replied before sauntering away.

Suddenly leaving you alone with Sakusa.

The two of you blinked, likely coming to the same realization. You took a seat, prompting him to do the same. Having no idea what else to talk to him about, you defaulted to the one topic you knew he would appreciate.

“You played well against Kanagawa last week. That last point in the second set was amazing. I thought that rally was never going to end.”

Sakusa’s eyes focused on you, and you felt yourself grow warm under his gaze. He slid his mask off, folding it neatly before sliding it into the pocket of his jacket.

“Thanks. It was a new play. We’d never been able to get it down in practice, so I was shocked when it worked.”

“I remember that feeling. Sometimes our best performances happened after the worst practice sessions.”

Sakusa cocked his head. “Performances?”

“For dance club,” you clarified.

Sakusa hummed in acknowledgement, but didn’t offer any further commentary. You took a sip of your tea, letting the silence settle between you.

Atsumu returned a moment later, drinks in hand.

“Did you two talk at all? Or just sit around and wait for my lovely presence?” he joked, taking the seat next to Sakusa.

“We talked about the VC Kanagawa game,” Sakusa retorted, taking the proffered cup.

“Oh!” Atsumu exclaimed, “Did you see our last play set in the second set? I couldn’t believe Omi scored from that angle! It’s those bendy wrists of his…”

With Atsumu present, conversation was easier, but felt mundane. More like polite small talk than spending time with friends. That is, until he decided to abruptly shift the topic back to you.

“So what’s going on with you? Sounds like something big happened.”

You froze, cup halfway to your lips. 

This was it, time to rip the bandaid off.

“Yeah,” you answered, setting your drink down. You could barely bring yourself to look Atsumu in the face. 

“I, um…I left last week. Things hadn’t been good for a while. I think I was just fooling myself, hoping that it would get better. But then I just…I couldn’t take it anymore.”

“So you broke up?” Atsumu asked.

You nodded, not able to speak around the knot in your throat.

“Did he do something?” he pressed.

Yes, your mind screamed.

You looked down to hide the tears you felt forming. You quickly shut your eyes, refusing to let yourself cry in front of your ex and his boyfriend—the people with whom you were begging to stay.

“It’s ok.”

You looked up at Sakusa, whose gentle voice had spoken.

“You don’t have to talk about it. Atsumu’s too pushy for his own good.”

That brought a grin to your face, momentarily chasing away the memories you had tried so hard to forget.

“Yeah. He is, isn’t he?” you chuckle.

“Hey! I didn’t agree to meet so you two could gang up on me,” Atsumu pouted.

You smiled in earnest, leaning forward to address Sakusa. “Well now I’m definitely glad we agreed to meet.”

Sakusa smirked, and it felt like a victory.

“Ok,” he acquiesced, “How long do you need to stay with us?”

You started, looking to Atsumu for confirmation, only he looked just as surprised as you.

“Are you—really?” you asked in disbelief.

“Yes,” Sakusa answered.

A wave of relief crashed over you. Atsumu threw his arms around Sakusa, who’s stoic expression wavered as Atsumu kissed his cheek. You couldn’t help but feel slightly jealous, wishing you had that kind of love in your life.

The three of you spent the rest of the time going over guidelines. You would stay with them for one month, six weeks at the absolute most. Hopefully that would give you enough time to find a new place and save up enough of a down payment. Since they wouldn’t accept any kind of rent, you insisted you would help with meals and chores. Atsumu laughed, but Sakusa graciously accepted the offer.

Things were finally starting to look up. You now had a safe, comfortable place to stay. There were still difficult tasks that lay ahead, but you had already taken the hardest step. 

For the first time in forever, you felt hopeful. Excited, even, to build your new life. One full of light and laughter, with people who cherished you. No more fear. No more isolation. No more sadness.

Everything was going to be better from here on out.

tag list: @akumakitsune21

[reasonsmandy]

TRACK 1

Curious Time

(1974-5)

It's dark all around you. You inhaled the smoke of different drugs with each breath but since it was so common in everyone's day, it wasn't bothersome. You pull the jacket a little tighter on your body, preventing the breeze from the ceiling fan from leaving you cold. Around you was just you and about ten other people at most, but you had arrived early anyway.

Your best friend had told you that there would be a performance by a rock band today, which made her interest grow that afternoon at the bar where she worked. She knew that you loved everything that involved this universe and since nothing occupied your schedule today, there you were.

You get up from the farthest table and make your way to the one closest to the stage, wanting to observe the members more. After arranging your things at the table with two chairs, after that making your way to the bar. You rest your torso on the marble object, smiling at the woman who was already preparing your drink.

“Are you looking forward to the band?” She asks, still keeping her gaze on her utensils. You nod with a wide smile. “I was told they were hot, and good, of course.” You roll your eyes while laughing, it was classic coming from her.

“Rock bands are always sexy.” You say, having a sip of the drink she handed you. “I wasn't that excited until you told me that Teddy Price was behind them, he's huge!!”

“Yeah maybe.” She shrugs, lighting a cigarette. “It doesn't matter, I have a boyfriend anyway. Can I help you with something else, kitten?”

You shake your head, letting her answer to the older guy who was waiting a few steps away from you. Do you feel him watching you as you put out the cigarette on your tongue, intrigued perhaps? You couldn't say it, your shyness didn't allow you to turn around and check.

If you had been watching Maria you'd see the curiosity also on her face when she noticed his gaze on you. And when you were getting ready to go back to your table you heard him softly, turning around.

“Sorry, were you talking to me? I didn't hear…” You calmly question, slowly seeing the bar fill with more people.

“I just asked if you've been a fan of the band for a long time.” He says once more.

“In fact...” You begin to say, trying to explain that you actually just knew the hit on the radio. “I'm just obsessed with Look Me In The Eye, my favorite, can't wait to see them play.” But something told you to get around the situation, and Maria's look at your conversation also said the same, since you knew every look your best friend gave you.

He agrees as he smiles small, you see him try to get something out of his pocket, while the other lowers the glass of tequila down his throat. “Here, keep this and go to the backstage door at the end of the show.”

You open your mouth to respond, very confused, but despite loving the idea of getting to know backstage, you knew that the probability of there being ulterior motives in this request was high.

“I'm sorry but I'm not interested in you.” You return the match, feeling embarrassed.

“What? No kid, I'm older enough to be your father.” He says, sounding just as disgusted by this scenario as you are. This relieves you, making you pull the match again. “I just don't have anyone to offer a pass to the party today, and you seem excited enough. “Just keep this, and go if you’re interested.”

“And who are you again?” Maria asks, her hands on her hips. You laugh at her.

“I'm Rod, the manager.” He responds, already getting up to disappear through the door towards the staff area.

Ecstasy was all that could define Warren Rojas at that moment (and perhaps throughout his life), he was finally accomplishing everything he wanted with his best friends, nothing could be better.He is the first to appear on stage, being welcomed by the audience shouting and applauding, he raises his drumsticks while his gaze quickly flicks to the people there, laying on you.

You didn't think he would be the one that caught your attention the most, not even if Maria was so right (after all, your taste in men has always been very different). Keeping your eyes on him you were speechless, every note he hit your whole body shivers.

The show was everything, actually mind-blowing for their first show of the tour, you were pretty impressed by all of them and their whole set. Billy says goodbye to the audience, the other members approach the edge of the stage to bow in farewell. Rojas observes you among the others, who applauded alongside you as they processed the most recent experience.

Warren Rojas (drummer of The Six): *chuckles* Yeah, I knew exactly what I was doing. I mean, she looked beautiful as she danced to our music. I just needed to get to know her. But it wasn't that easy...

Y/n L/n (songwriter): I actually was pretty nervous, I mean, I've been dreaming about getting close to rock stars since I can remember but actually doing it… it was intense. If I had known how things would go after that *laugh*

“I didn't want to say anything, kitten, But if you don’t decide soon what you want to do with this match, the party will end.” Maria says while drying the counter.

You let out a heavy breath, playing with the match between your fingers. “Do you think I should go?”

“You kidding? Of course!” She says it like it's obvious. “You keep telling me that this is the universe you want to be in, are you going to miss this opportunity?”

You don't respond, scratching the back of your head still searching for your decision.

“And if that guy tries something with you, you know just scream for me.”

Y/n Rojas L/n: She was right, I had been talking about all of that for so long that it would be stupid not to go.

When you hand the match to the security guard at the door he seems to check it before opening the door for you, it was like entering a sauna due to the drug vapor but you pretend to be used to it. As soon as you enter you can see Billy smelling a line so quickly that it causes you distress, Eddie had a girl you knew from somewhere you didn't know on her lap, Graham was playing something with Rod and Karen seemed to be feeling the effect of some drug kick in.

You think about turning around, feeling a little out of place, but Warren notices you entering the place and watches you from afar.

Y/n Rojas L/n: I felt someone looking at me, but I don't know, I didn't want to move because I was so nervous.

Warren Rojas: She was so pretty, I just wish I could remember everything from that night.

“Hey bella, you good?” You are startled by the drummer's voice behind you, right next to your ear so you can hear him.

“Oh, hey.” You turn to him, now noticing how poorly you had calculated the space between you.

Y/n Rojas L/n: It was an accident, I didn't notice he was so close.

Warren Rojas: *smirks* Aham.

“Hey.” He answers with the biggest smile you've ever seen. He squints his eyes.

Y/n Rojas L/n: He looked so high, I doubt he remembered anything from the set even. But it was cute though.

Warren Rojas: She thinks it was cute? Really? Wait a minute... *covers the camera* Hey babe, what's this about you..?

Warren was wearing a blue shirt, his jeans adorned him in the perfect way. His curls were a little damp, you couldn't tell if it was because of the heat in the room or because of the presentation a while ago. Embarrassed by the situation, you take a few steps back, your eyes fixed on the floor.

“You look lost.” He says laughing, and you notice that he takes a look at you. You seem to enjoy that. “I'm Warren Rojas. You are?”

“Call me June.” You say, accepting his hand when he extends it to you.

Y/n Rojas L/n: He was so kind to me I almost felt bad for lying about my name, I was actually shocked! I was just afraid, rockstars can be wild, and in my defense I thought I was never gonna see him again. *sigh* But you know, when you meet someone like Warren... Your life is never the same. At least mine never was! *You say, showing to the camera your wedding ring*

Warren Rojas: Can you believe she had the nerve to do that to me? It's not like I'd remember the next morning, but whatever.

Rock band parties were everything you imagined they would be, but Warren Rojas surprised you with every conversation. You didn't think that out of all the women there you would be the one to catch his attention but the drummer didn't let go of you throughout the event. And inside June's alter ego you connected with one of the most incredible men in the world, The drugs took over your consciousness while you were getting to know each other and that made everything even better.

Initially you stayed with the rest of the band, but after you mentioned that you liked writing things and producing music too, he insisted that you go back to the bar and you showed him. You didn't know if it was a good idea, but it was impressive how convincing he could be.

The night passed as quickly as the show, you talked and danced, smoked and laughed about the stupidest jokes you could tell. Even though you had met a few hours ago, You didn't know if it was due to the drugs or the little drink you had, but there was something different about being next to the drummer.

Interviewer: But did you continue to see each other during the rest of the tour?

Warren Rojas: Well… I kinda ghosted her.

Y/n Rojas L/n: *rolls your eyes*

Warren Rojas: *shrugs* I didn't mean to though. It's just, some drugs make me forget things. So I kind of never called back.

Y/n Rojas L/n: So, hear me out. Warren loves to say that I was crazy about him since day one but that's not true. I was not upset because he ghosted me, I was upset because I felt like I lost my opportunity to get into the industry. So, that's why I gave my number to him and also to Rod. And after I met Daisy, things just fell right into place. And somehow we keep meeting each other.

Interviewer: So you weren't into him?

Y/n Rojas L/n: I was attracted to him of course, but back then all I wanted was to go for my dreams. I didn't even know If I was going to meet him again.

Interviewer: So what happened?

You knew Rod was going to stay another day, you had heard last night that some complications had occurred and he would need to deal with them. The band was leaving early today, they would all meet up at the bar, so you decided to sleep together with Maria in your room upstairs. The bar owner was downstairs talking to those who had already arrived, you could see him when he stopped on one of the steps.

You see Warren and Eddie at one of the tables, they both look tired and clearly hungover. You deduce that they slept little and will recover during the journey to the next city, Then you finish your way to the end of the stairs giving a wave to Rod and Pablo who smiled in response. You make your way to Rojas, knowing he wouldn't forget your face this time.

“Good morning drummer.” You're the one who catches his attention this time, Warren feels happy in your presence. Eddie inspects you like he's trying to remember who the hell you are.

“Hey bella, my god how are you standing up? I can't even open my eyes after last night.” He turns to look at you, you feel comfort in this attitude. And he actually seemed unable to assimilate his surroundings.

“Well, I didn’t use everything you used yesterday.” You say with a weak laugh. He agrees, smiling with you. “I was going to the kitchen to make something to eat, you guys want something?”

“No need to bother.”

“I would love scrambled eggs to tell you the truth.” Eddie speaks at the same time as Warren, who gives him a reprimanding look. "What? She offered.”

“Don't worry, I'll be right back.”

Y/n Rojas L/n: I made them breakfast, for all of them, then I left my number on Warren's napkin and left it to talk to Rod later. Well, we know that neither of them helped in what I wanted.

Warren Rojas: She was so into me that she left her number on my napkin. *smirks* " I mean, she couldn't be more obvious.

Y/n Rojas L/n: I didn't hear from either of them for a long time, so I decided I didn't want to wait any longer. I gathered all my things and savings and moved to LA. But don't worry, I didn't move out of nowhere, I had this moving planned for over a year. I would stay at a relative's house while I looked for a place for myself. I'm not crazy, right?

Interviewer: So you haven't talked after you left?

Warren Rojas: Exactly, you know, the whole thing about being a rock star was great, I was having the time of my life, and to be honest, the first night was nothing compared to the rest. My wife will hate me, but it didn't take long to forget everything.

Y/n Rojas L/n: Looking back I understand why he didn't recognize me at all, I changed my whole wardrobe and hair when I moved.

(1975-6)

Y/n Rojas L/n: Sometimes, it's all about networking.

Writing things under June's name was easier, thanks to Warren you gained a great name to let out your thoughts and ideas, so you started using it since moving to LA. You sold song lyrics under that name and started working with him and everything that involved personal things was still yours.

But the market was at a standstill, that was the best way you could define it. You had the money to still be there, but it wasn't pleasant to live in fear of the edges. And whether or not you wanted to be more active in the artistic world, this wasn't what you expected.

That was the fourth party you attended that week, little by little your hope was fading when things didn't seem to go the way you expected. And even if you tried to keep your creativity and desires alive, everything ended up on paper as sad lyrics and melodies. Still, you watch the singers interact with each other while dancing, drinking and doing drugs.

Apathetic around you, what consumes your thoughts is the probability of returning home, but you are taken away from them when a commotion around you begins, after a loud splash of water. You turn around curiously.

A red-haired woman sang while smiling mockingly, the guy in the water seemed furious and bitter, you then got closer listening to her sing “Stumble on Sublime”. She looks at you and raises her eyebrows, she comes closer.

“This song isn't his, by the way.” She passes you by isolating herself in a far corner of the party.

Daisy Jones: Y/n got me, like Simone she just understood me. She was probably the only one at that party who didn't judge me for pushing that asshole, and I liked that.

Y/n Rojas L/n: So we spent the night talking about lyrics, songs and everything related to that. She introduced me to Simone and we started seeing each other everyday. Daisy and Simone were the ones I needed to finally let all my inspiration out.

Simone Jackson: Y/n was fire, it was difficult to find pure talent like ours *laughs* But joking aside, we spent our mornings creating music and Y/n became an important part of Daisy's album and also a great help in mine.

Y/n Rojas L/n: Daisy was brilliant and I was good *laughs*, so her album was getting amazing. You heard it right? You can tell me I'm right. I was just thrilled that she invited me to work with her. *Holds up Daisy's record to the camera and points to your name*

Daisy Jones: Daisy and June were fire and intensity, Margaret and Y/n are friendship from start to finish.

Simone Jackson: But Daisy had a problem, the drugs were getting her behind. And even though she thought it made her create amazing things, we were getting worried, she just disappeared at times.

Y/n Rojas L/n: Unlike The Six, Daisy didn't have a tour... I don't know why.

Artie Snyder: Daisy had great songs, when Y/n joined the equation everything got better, but she wasn't rock. I didn't see crowds screaming and jumping to her songs back then, I couldn't risk the money.

Interviewer: How were things with The Six?

Rod: *smirks* A disaster, I mean, Billy had quit and they were completely lost. I knew he needed the time, but I believed he wouldn't spend so much time away from music. And I was right, he came up with Honeycomb… but it wasn't perfect. So Teddy had an idea.

Billy Dunne: *rolls his eyes*

Daisy Jones: Me and Y/n were drinking and smoking with Teddy one day, when I heard this really soft song coming out of the speaker and I just stopped.

Y/n Rojas L/n: I wasn't even paying attention until I saw that she was *laughing*, but from the moment I saw her look at me I knew we had to get to work.

Daisy Jones: Teddy asked us what we would do with it and I asked him for two days. That was all we needed.

Y/n Rojas L/n: It was a long two days, it was a complex song, I wish I had talked to the composer before, but Teddy said it was impossible. So I did my best with what we had.

Daisy Jones: In the end he loved the result, and asked me to record in the studio. Y/n didn't like being in this part of the production, in the singing I mean, but I still asked her to come with me. She loved the production part and choosing rhythm and instruments, so it was our moment to shine, we were very excited.

Y/n Rojas L/n: I couldn't believe my eyes when we entered the room.

Warren Rojas: *giggles*

✧.* 📚 — Hello! So, my first time writing something with more than two parts. I hope you like it because I'm very excited about my ideas. As it is different content, I don't know if I will use the same taglist that I always use. So here's the new one (in case you want to be tagged)

✧.* taglist — @cieopatrasss @neptunes-curse