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proxima-writes · 11 months

Text

the last great american dynasty

pairing: pre-outbreak!joel miller x female reader

rating: explicit (18+ MDNI)

word count: 6.8k (whoops)

summary:

Joel Miller has loved the historic Victorian home in his neighborhood since the first time he laid eyes on it. When the elderly owner passes, he thinks he might get his chance to finally buy it and fix it up.

He doesn’t expect to find you, the granddaughter of the previous owner and trustee of her estate, standing in the way of his dream

author's note:

inspo board this work is inspired by taylor swift's song "the last great american dynasty" and is part of the folklore album anthology! if you enjoy, please consider reblogging/commenting and make sure to check out the other works by the amazing collaborators on this project.

tags/warnings:

explicit sexual content (18+ minors do not interact), explicit language, no physical description of reader, no use of y/n, work contains journal entries as part of the plot, porn with plot, pre-outbreak!joel, grandma is a named OFC, sassy reader, dirty talk, teasing, praise, unprotected p in v, oral (f receiving), vaginal fingering, paint as a flirting mechanism, mild enemies to lovers, pet names. let me know if there are any missing!

August 20, 1948

I have arrived in Texas. I am uncertain where to go or what to do. For so long I’ve answered only to George, but now I am my own woman and the world before me has suddenly become much bigger, seemingly overnight.

I just hope it will be good for me.

-R

PRESENT DAY

If there’s one thing you never expected, it’s to inherit a mansion from a grandmother that you’ve never spoken to. As far as you were aware that kind of thing only happened in movies, so receiving a phone call from an estate lawyer that had been trying to locate you for a whole year since this mystery woman’s passing was a complete shock.

Now you find yourself with a car full of your belongings driving cross country to a sleepy suburb of Austin, Texas. The first stop is the lawyer’s office, where a secretary eyes you warily as you sit in the lobby of the lush office suite, fingers toying with a loose thread on the t-shirt you’d been wearing for the last eight-hour leg of your road trip.

A voice calls your name from a door just past the secretary’s desk, an older man with white hair and a deeply wrinkled face smiling kindly at you. You stand, shaking his hand as you pass by him into his office. He gestures to the wingback chairs that face his impressive dark wood desk. You take in the diplomas on the wall and the floor to ceiling bookshelves lined with thick, leather bound tomes.

“I appreciate you comin’ all the way out here so quickly. You were quite the tough one to find,” the man says with a chuckle. He pulls out a thick envelope, cream colored with swooping, swirling handwriting across the front reading your name. “Your grandmother was a dear friend of mine. She established a trust in your name not long after you were born.”

“I’m sorry, I guess I’m still a little confused. I didn’t even know I had a grandmother,” you admit quietly. He nods solemnly.

“She never told me all the details, but there had been a falling out between her and her daughter. They kept their distance after that.” When you don’t say anything, mind too busy racing with the questions that you suppose only your mom can answer now, he continues. “Would you like the review the details of the trust?”

“Um, sure. I guess that’s why I’m here, after all.”

He slips a piece of paper from the folder, sliding it across the desk. The same swirling handwriting fills the page.

My Dearest,

You may not know me, but I’ve watched you grow in photographs and letters since you were born. You mean the world to me, even if I could not fit in the world that your mother created for you. I respected that choice, hurt though it may have. She had her own path to forge, just as I did, and just as you will. I am eternally grateful for the parts of her life she did share after she left.

In the event of my passing, I leave my estate to you in its entirety. I built my true happiness in those walls, and I hope you can do the same.

-R

You read the letter twice, eyes stinging with tears. A tissue box slides across the desk, and you pluck two sheets out gratefully.

“In this envelope are the more official documents. The deed transfer that will need your signature, beneficiary statements for her banking and savings accounts, things like that. My office will handle all the paperwork filing,” the man says. A few more forms are laid out on the desk, and you lean forward to read them.

“Holy shit,” you snap, eyes wide as you swipe the beneficiary statement from the wood. “There must be too many zeroes in this, right? Or a rogue comma? That can’t be the right amount.”

“I assure you that’s the correct amount,” he says with a laugh. “And if you’ll sign down there, it’ll be transferred to your name and designated account.”

Your mouth goes dry as you read through the rest of the documents. In addition to the sizeable amount of money about to hit your bank account, there’s a five-bedroom house being transferred into your name, as well as a safety deposit box. You sign each form where directed, sliding them back over to the lawyer.

“I believe this is yours,” he says, holding a house key out to you. He drops it into your open palm. “Good luck.”

“I wish they would just put that place up for sale already,” Joel grumbles from the passenger seat of his brother’s truck as they drive by the out-of-place 1920s Victorian home on their way to a job site.

“You’ve been sayin’ that for the past year since that poor old woman passed,” Tommy says with a laugh. “Give it up, brother. Your dream house is just goin’ to rot away before your eyes.”

“Don’t you say that,” Joel replies. He doesn’t need Tommy speaking his fear into the universe.

The house has already been showing signs of falling apart in the last ten years Joel has lived in the neighborhood. The roof needs work, the shutters need replacing, the lawn is overgrown, and there’s a sizable hole in the wrap-around porch that seems to get bigger over time.

He’s wanted that house since the first time he saw it while he was house hunting ten years ago, a then three-year-old Sarah on his hip as he toured a nice little house that was available in the neighborhood at the time. While the home he’s built with his daughter through long days of hard work is nothing to scoff at, he’s always dreamed of something with more character and story.

He just hopes he’ll get his chance.

You stare up at the old house in front of you, shielding your eyes from the late afternoon sun. It’s a beautiful house, though there’s no denying its seen better days – two stories with large bay windows on both floors, white wood siding and chipped red shutters that are clinging to their rusty hardware, a large wrap around porch that has vines encroaching on the banisters, a lawn overgrown with weeds. You tentatively climb the steps of the porch, peeking nervously into the large hole in the wood to the left of the front door.

“That’s private property,” a gruff voice calls out, making you jump. You turn, finding a man standing on the sidewalk with his arms crossed over his broad chest. “You ain’t supposed to be snoopin’ around.”

“Actually—”

“Why don’t you just head home, sweetheart, and I won’t have to call the cops,” the stranger says, cutting you off. You raise your eyebrows at him.

“This is—”

The man huffs, arms dropping as he digs in the pocket of his jeans, pulling out a cell phone. “Seriously, I’ll give you until the count of three. We don’t need trouble around this neighborhood, alright?”

The nerve, you think, narrowing your eyes at the man. Since he clearly doesn’t want to hear what you have to say, you decide to take a different route. You reach into the pocket of your shorts, pulling out the key that the lawyer had given you earlier that day. You take a sideways step closer to the door, keeping your eyes on the man as you pointedly insert the key into the lock and opening the heavy wood door.

His mouth drops open in surprise and you smile at him.

“You were saying?”

Joel had seen the car parked in the driveway of the empty house when Tommy dropped him off after work. He’d quickly checked on Sarah, newly thirteen and fiercely independent, finding her working on her homework at the kitchen table, before making his way across the street.

He hadn’t expected to find a gorgeous woman snooping around the old house, curves hugged in denim shorts and a tank top that made his mouth water. He also hadn’t expected the woman to produce a key from the pocket of those sinfully tight shorts.

“You were saying?” You ask, lips curved in a smirk and eyebrows raised at him. When Joel doesn’t immediately reply, still too stunned that you have access to the house, you turn and walk through the door, shutting it behind you.

He finally shakes himself of his shock, bounding up the steps and knocking on the door. You pull it back open.

“I’ll buy it from you,” Joel says immediately.

“Excuse me?” You reply, your hands moving to your hips. “It’s not for sale.”

“Come on, what’s a girl like you need all this space for?” Your mouth drops open, pretty lips stretched wide in surprise and Joel struggles to keep his thoughts from drifting to sinful places.

“A girl like me? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re young, that’s all. You don’t need a house this big and this much of a project!”

“What makes you think I don’t have a big ol’ family I’m moving in here? Four kids and a loving husband?!”

Joel blinks. “You got four kids and a lovin’ husband?”

“No, but that’s besides the point.” You roll your eyes, jabbing a finger at his chest. “It’s not for sale. Now get off my porch before I call the cops on you.”

With that final word, the door shuts in Joel’s face again, the sound of your retreating footsteps signaling the end of the discussion.

November 12, 1948

There’s a gentleman who comes into the diner every Tuesday. He always sits in one of my booths, with his perfect hair and suit and handsome face distracting me until he leaves. Some of the other waitresses try talking to him but he doesn’t pay them any mind. They’ve whispered to me before that he comes from money - oil, or something, not that it matters.

His name is William, and I think he’s trying to steal my heart.

-R

“So, let me get this straight. First, you threatened to call the police on this woman. Then, rather than introducin’ yourself or welcomin’ her to the neighborhood or even apologizin’, you just go straight to tellin’ her she doesn’t need a house that big and that you wanna buy it from her. Did I hear that right?” Tommy says, watching Joel as he throws together dinner the following evening.

“Yeah, that sums it up,” Sarah says. Joel huffs.

“Well, when you put it like that.” He sips his beer as his daughter and brother share a look. “What’s that look for?”

“Nothin’,” they say in tandem. Joel narrows his eyes as Sarah breaks out in giggles. Tommy stands, heading to Joel’s pantry and rifling through the shelves until he finds an unopened bottle of whiskey buried in the back.

“What are you doin’ with that?” Joel asks.

“Welcomin’ your new neighbor like the gentleman I am. Sarah, watch the pasta while I show your dad how it’s done,” Tommy replies, heading for the front door, Joel trailing behind him.

Tommy crosses the street with quick steps, eyeing the porch dubiously as he knocks on the door. Joel stands beside him, hands shoved in his pockets as he curses under his breath about his brother’s stupid antics.

You open the door, dressed this time in a pretty sundress that makes Joel’s mouth go dry. Tommy flashes you a grin and Joel can’t help the annoyance he feels when his brother’s eyes trail over your body.

“Hey there! I’m Tommy Miller, you may have met my dumbass brother over here the other day. I’m certain he didn’t make the best impression, so I just wanted to come over and welcome you to the neighborhood,” he says, holding the whiskey out to you.

You introduce yourself, ignoring Joel. “Thank you so much, Tommy. Would you like to come in?”

“Sure thing,” his traitorous brother replies, stepping over the threshold. When Joel makes a move to follow, you give him a pointed look before shutting the door in his face.

“You want a beer, Tommy?” You ask the handsome man in your kitchen. You can’t help but be impressed by the genetics of the Miller family, both men tall and tan and handsome as hell. Sure, one of them could use a lesson on manners, but you’ll admit that since your confrontation your mind has drifted to thoughts of brown eyes and soft dark hair that belong to the brother you left on the porch out of spite.

“Yes, please,” Tommy says politely. You open the dated refrigerator and grab two beer bottles, popping the caps against the countertop and handing one to him. “This sure is a nice place.”

“Thanks. I just inherited it from my grandma,” you explain. “It’s a little…dated.”

He chuckles. “We call it ‘character’ in contractin’.”

“That what you guys do, then? Contracting?”

“Sure is. Miller Brothers Contracting and Construction.” Tommy scratches at the label on the bottle before saying, “Look, I know my brother can come off the wrong way. He didn’t get the social genes. But he’s a good guy, and he’s loved this house since the first time he saw it. Always wanted to buy it, fix it up, raise his little girl here. Maybe add to his family one day.”

You look around the rundown kitchen. You’ve only been here a day and you know you’ve got your work cut out for you. The electrical and plumbing are all outdated, the appliances need replacing, the floors need to be refurbished, and that’s just the first floor. You could use some help with it all, and maybe the grumpy contractor next door who cares about the house could help you with it all.

“I appreciate that he loves the house but…I never met my grandma. Never even knew who she was or that she was even alive, and it’s the only connection I have to her. I don’t know if this is going to be my forever but…I want to at least give it a shot.”

Tommy smiles. “We could help with that.”

It feels like ages before Tommy’s stepping back out onto the porch, a beer in his hand that makes Joel frown.

“Y’all were havin’ drinks while I sat out here like an ass?” He asks incredulously. Tommy throws an arm around his brother’s shoulders.

“Yes, and if you don’t quit your whinin’ I’m not goin’ to tell you about our lovely conversation,” the younger man says as he walks with Joel back to his house.

In the kitchen, Sarah is pouring the pasta sauce and ground beef over the noodles. Joel takes over and waves her away, mumbling his thanks as he mixes the ingredients together. He sets up two plates, setting one in front of his daughter and sitting down with the other. Tommy makes an affronted sound before fixing his own plate.

“So?” Joel asks. Tommy slurps at his food.

“Was the lady nice?” Sarah asks.

“No,” Joel replies at the same time Tommy says, “Yes.”

Joel glares at Tommy. “You gonna tell me what she said or what?”

“She ain’t sellin’,” Tommy finally says. “But, she wants to fix the place up. Offered our services so you could get your grubby fuckin’ hands in there.”

“Language,” Joel says, eyes flicking to Sarah. The girl rolls her eyes. “Really?”

“Yep. Better start callin’ the guys. From what I saw we’re dealin’ with electrical from the 50s, plumbing from who knows when, not to mention the HVAC and roof will need to be upgraded, too.” He wipes his mouth with a napkin before grinning at Joel. “You up for the challenge?”

“Hell yeah.”

August 23, 1949

William and I have just been married.

I know, I know. I can’t believe it either. But he is truly the light of my life.

The wedding was charming, if a little gauche. I’m still not abreast of all these new societal expectations that surround a man like William, but I’m willing to try. Today he will be taking me around to view houses in the more opulent neighborhoods, the type of homes I used to gawk at but one of them will be mine.

I must be dreaming.

-R

Joel and Tommy start working on the house right away. Every day there’s a line of pick-up trucks parked on the curb and the sounds of construction start early in the morning and continue into the late evening. The electrician and plumber come through first, updating the wiring and pipes through the whole house. The roofers and HVAC come through next, replacing the crumbling shingles and dated central unit with a split system for each level of the house.

It’s not until the big projects are done that you get to have fun with the place, which is how you found yourself methodically painting the front door a muted lime green early one morning.

“What do you think you’re doin’?”

You sigh. Despite Tommy’s assurances that Joel is a great guy beneath the grumpy control freak exterior, you’ve continued to only get the side of the man that grates your nerves.

“What’s it look like I’m doing? I’m painting the door.”

“You can’t paint the door that color,” Joel says, heavy footsteps stomping up your newly repaired porch.

“Says who?” You retort. You smear another stroke of paint over the sanded wood.

“Me, for one. The historical society, for two.” He pulls the brush from your hand and holds it above his head and out of your reach. The movement drags his shirt up, exposing a strip of tan belly with a trail of dark hair that disappears into the waistband of his jeans. “Why are you bein’ a pain in the ass?”

“I was put on this earth simply to make your life more difficult, Joel Miller. Isn’t that obvious?” You reply sarcastically. He mumbles something under his breath that sounds suspiciously like you got that right. “What are you even doing over here? It’s Saturday.”

“We’re goin’ to the store. You gotta start pickin’ stuff out for the bathrooms and kitchen,” he says, tossing the paint brush into the tray. “And then we’re gettin’ a new color to cover this up.”

Joel leaves the porch and you follow behind him to the black pick-up truck idling by the sidewalk. He opens the passenger door for you and you raise your eyebrow at the gesture but climb inside.

January 3, 1950

Our New Year’s party is the talk of the town. There were so many people in the house I began to lose count. William had so much champagne ordered I swear we could fill an entire swimming pool with it all.

The ladies at the club have already begun to ask when we would host our next event. I can’t wait to plan another.

-R

“Can you please focus?” Joel begs, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation. He’s laid out three tile combinations, one for each bathroom in the home, and he needs you to look at them but you keep getting distracted.

“You’re no fun,” you huff. You examine the tiles, pointing to a turquoise blue one he’s picked for the shower in the master. “I love that.”

He looks at you in surprise. “Well, I’ll be damned. She can be reasoned with.”

You giggle and Joel can’t help the smile it prompts from him, the sound of your laugh so sweet compared to your sharp tongue.

“I like the white and blue combinations for upstairs, but in that powder room I want a pink theme,” you tell him. Your eyes search the displays, landing on a blush pink glass subway tile option. “Like this!”

“Whatever you want, sweetheart,” Joel replies without thinking, taking the sample from you and comparing it next to the floor tile he’d chosen for that bathroom. When he glances at you, you’re giving him a confused look. “What?”

“Nothing,” you reply, shaking your head. “What about the kitchen?”

“What were you thinking for in there?”

“Green cabinets. White and black backsplash, the kind with the little hexagons that look like flowers. I gotta pick out appliances now that the electrical can sustain newer ones, too.” You pause. “And how do you feel about wallpaper?”

“It’s the devil,” Joel replies.

Your grin is downright mischievous. “Excellent.”

February 2, 1956

William had a heart attack. It scared me so badly that I haven’t let him out of my sight since. The doctor said he’s been working too hard, drinking too much, and not sleeping enough. Maybe the parties have started to be too much for him.

I’ve been feeling unlike myself. Tired, nauseated. Hopefully my heart isn’t troubled, too.

-R

Joel places a hefty order for all the items you’ve picked out today from nearly every aisle of the store - tile for the bathrooms and kitchen, vanities and plumbing fixtures, countertops, lighting, and appliances. While he’s preoccupied with calculations and measurements and pricing things out, you pick out paint and wallpaper for the projects you’ll be able to do on your own.

He finds you a while later, a cart full of paint buckets and supplies. To your surprise, he grins.

“More paint, huh? You pick a new one for the door?” He asks. You smile back at him, butterflies erupting in your tummy.

“Yep. Does navy blue suffice, your highness? I thought we could paint the trim the same color.”

Joel nods. “Good choice. Look, I’ve kept you here so long for all the orderin’. You wanna get lunch?”

“Careful, Joel. I’m like a stray cat - once you start feeding me, I might never leave,” you reply with a laugh. You push your heavy cart of paint towards the exit.

You miss the soft smile he gives to your retreating figure.

September 23, 1956

Our daughter is here. She’s the sweetest little thing, though she can screech like a banshee when she sees fit. William is so besotted, he keeps looking between the two of us with stars in his eyes like he can’t believe how lucky he is.

I love them both with my whole heart and soul.

-R

Joel takes you to a retro family diner with black-and-white checkerboard flooring and red vinyl accents with a vintage jukebox in the corner. You’re delighted by the themed menu, eyes immediately zeroing in on the classic malt shakes and french fries.

Over lunch, Joel actually opens up to you. He tells you about going into construction right out of high school and dragging Tommy into it when he’d gotten back from serving his tour with the Army. He talks about his daughter, Sarah, and you can’t help the smile that stretches your lips as you watch his eyes light up while he talks about his little girl. She’s at a sleepover this weekend, which gave him the extra time to visit the home improvement store this morning.

In turn, you tell him about getting the call from the lawyer one afternoon that changed your life forever. How you’d packed up everything you owned and driven across the country to find out that you had a grandmother that your mother never told you about that left you her entire estate.

“Wow. That’s…wow,” Joel says when you’ve paused to take a sip of your chocolate shake.

“Excuse me?” A voice asks. You both look up at the elderly woman dressed in a t-shirt with the restaurant’s logo and pressed slacks. She smiles. “I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation and ever since you sat down I’ve been wrackin’ my brain tryin’ to place your face and it’s just hit me.”

She holds out a framed black and white photo of six waitresses standing beneath the same sign that’s still out front, all of them grinning at the camera. There’s one face, however, that looks familiar despite you never having seen her.

“Her name was Rebecca. We used to work together. That’s me, right there,” she says, pointing to the girl standing to the woman’s left. “Rolled up to town at eighteen, fresh off a divorce and hardly a penny to her name. My daddy, god rest his soul, he owned the restaurant and gave her a job when she’d come through lookin’ for work.”

“Wow,” you murmur. “This is insane. Do you have any other pictures?”

She gives you a sympathetic smile. “‘Fraid not, darlin’. Just the one. But I know she kept a lot of journals. Was always scribblin’ in one and spent what little extra cash she had makin’ sure she had a new notebook ready. Maybe they’re still around?”

July 16, 1958

William…

William is gone. My light, my love, my world. The doctor said his heart just…stopped. In his sleep, right beside me.

I have to continue to live with a hole in my own heart, the piece that William stole years ago gone with him.

But I have to be strong for our daughter. Our brave girl, my little bird.

-R

When Joel brings you back to the house, you stare up at the facade, wondering if the journals the woman had spoken about could still be inside. Lost in thought, your eyes land on the little window that sits above the bay windows on the second floor, where the master bedroom is. You’ve been sleeping in that room for months now and you know there’s no window there that you can see from the inside.

“Hey, Joel?” You call out, eyes still fixed on the little window like it might disappear if you look away. “This place is only two stories. How come there’s a window there?”

He looks up at the roof. “Huh. Might be decorative?”

“Or it might be a secret room,” you tell him.

“Okay, Sherlock. Let’s go see.”

You lead him upstairs to the master bedroom, most of your grandma’s furniture still present save for the bed that you replaced upon arriving. You stare up at the ceiling, but it’s smooth - no trap doors to be found.

“If I were a secret door, where would I hide?” You ask.

Joel, who’d been poking his head into the walk-in closet, replies, “Probably the closet.”

There’s a creak of old hinges as Joel reaches up high and tugs the brass pull handle fixed in the ceiling. A descending ladder falls to the ground and you both stare at each other in surprise.

“I’ll go grab a flashlight,” Joel offers, sprinting from the room. You stare up at the hole in the ceiling, anticipation thrumming in your veins.

He returns quickly. “I’ll go up first.”

“Ever the gentleman,” you tease, watching as he ascends the ladder, your eyes shamelessly fixed to his ass as he climbs. You hear the click of the flashlight and see the sweep of the beam through the opening in the ceiling. “Anything?”

“Lots of suitcases. Hang on, let me grab one of the small ones,” he calls down. There’s the sound of something being dragged across the floor before he’s slowly lowering a leather suitcase into your hands.

It’s surprisingly heavy and you drag it by the handle to the bedroom, kneeling on the ground to pop the latches and open the dusty lid. Inside are stacks of leather bound notebooks, edges of the pages yellow with age.

“I’ll be damned,” Joel says, wiping his palms against his jeans. “We found the journals.”

Joel drags the suitcase downstairs, setting it in the living room for you while you order pizza and open a bottle of wine for the occasion. You sit beside each other on the couch and he hands you a journal that you carefully open.

May 17, 1974

We had another argument last night. She claims that I’ve been too overbearing, too protective, too stifling, but what else is a mother meant to do?

-R

May 18, 1974

Her bed was cold and empty this morning. Her piggy bank smashed to bits on the floor and her drawers cleared. Despite my tight grip, my little bird has flown away.

It appears that history does repeat itself. Imagine that.

-R

“Holy shit,” you say, sitting back on the couch with your glass of wine in one hand and one of your grandma’s journals in the other. “She ran away.”

“Who did?” Joel asks, biting into a slice of pizza.

“My mom. She just…packed up and disappeared.” You glance at him. “Guess that’s why I never knew about her.”

“Maybe you should stop uncoverin’ dark family secrets for the night,” Joel suggests. “You know, the dining room could stand to be painted.”

You glance over to the room in question. Joel must have set down the drop cloth on the floor while you’d been engrossed in your discovery.

“Sure. Why not,” you acquiesce.

October 29, 1976

I’ve received an envelope of photographs in the mail, pictures of my daughter holding a little baby. She’s written notes on the back of each one. I’m a grandmother.

My daughter looks happy. Healthy. That’s all I can ask. She didn’t provide a return address.

As for the baby…I love her so much. She takes my breath away. I keep one of the photos on me at all times.

-R

Joel turns on the radio while he works, humming along to the classic rock station selections. He’s been working on painting the wall near the wood molding while he left you with a paint roller to cover the middle of the wall. He looks up at you occasionally, admiring the way your muscles work as you wash the wall with color.

You must sense that he’s watching, turning your head over your shoulder and looking at him curiously. “What?”

“Nothin’,” he says. You smile at him, setting the roller in the tray. He can’t help but look at your ass in your tight leggings as you bend over.

You straighten up, walking over to him. There’s a glint in your eye that has Joel on high alert.

“You got a little something on your face,” you tell him.

“No, I don’t,” he counters. He’s a master at painting. He knows damn well he doesn’t have a drop on him.

“Yeah, you do,” you argue. You reach out, and your fingers smooth across his forehead. “Right there!”

Joel’s mouth drops open in surprise and he lets out a bark of laughter, bringing his fingers up to his forehead. When he pulls his hand away, they’re stained blue and you’re grinning at him like a mad woman.

“Yeah? Well, you got some right—“ He smears his paintbrush across your chest and you try to step back, but it’s too late. “—there,” he finishes.

You rush back to the paint tray and dip your hands in the liquid, brandishing your palms like weapons. He starts to advance on you, smirking as you back up.

“Stay back,” you command. Joel laughs, dodging your swinging arms as he charges, dropping low to press a shoulder into your belly, dragging you down to the ground in a heap of limbs.

He presses his body to yours as he reaches an arm out to the paint tray, covering his own hand in paint. Your eyes go wide and you squirm beneath him, your paint covered palms reaching up under his shirt to press the cold liquid to his ribs. He flinches away, giving you enough room to scramble out from under him.

Joel grabs your arm, paint smearing on your skin as he tugs you back down. You wrestle together, paint getting everywhere as he lets you straddle his waist. His hands grip your hips, fingers pressing tightly as he stares up into your face.

“You win,” he murmurs, voice low. Your lashes flutter, hips canting over the obvious bulge in his jeans. He groans, hands urging you to do it again.

“What’s my prize?”

Joel slips his fingers beneath the hem of your tank top, dragging the paint stained material up and over your head and tossing it aside. His gaze burns across your newly exposed skin.

“You’re fuckin’ gorgeous, you know that?” He says, a hand sliding up your belly to palm one of your breasts. Your head drops back as you moan.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” you reply. He chuckles, a deep rumble in his chest as his eyes grow darker, his gaze more heated. “Come on, Miller. What’s my prize?”

With a growl Joel sits up, wrapping an arm around your low back and twisting your bodies until you’re on your back, staring up at him as his lips stretch in a devious smirk. His fingers curl into the waistband of your leggings, sliding the fabric down your legs. His touch paints your skin blue as he does.

His hands press your thighs apart, opening you up. Your cheeks heat as he stares down at you like he’s trying to commit every curve of you to his memory. Finally, he leans in and you can feel his breath ghosting over your heated flesh.

Joel’s tongue traces through your slick folds, a broad stroke that has you gasping and arching your back. He hums against your sensitive flesh as he repeats the languid motion, his stubble catching on the soft skin of your inner thighs.

You reach your hands down to tangle in his hair, paint catching on the strands as you tug and pull. He groans against you, tongue moving faster as he circles your clit before pulling it between his lips. A hand leaves your thigh, the one not coated in paint, and two thick fingers press to your entrance, sliding inside of you as you gasp out Joel’s name.

“Christ,” he groans as he presses in deep before withdrawing slowly, curling his digits against your front wall, “you’re so fuckin’ wet, pretty girl. That for me?”

“Uh huh,” you reply, breathless as you work your hips to the rhythm of his fingers. Joel watches you, his lips and chin shiny from his efforts. “Joel, please!”

“Please what?” His hand moves faster, fingers pressing harder as his lips spread in a lascivious grin that makes your toes curl. “Come on, baby, ask me real nice and I’ll give you anythin’. Ain’t that right? You know damn well you’ve had me wrapped around your sassy little finger since the moment we met, don’t you?”

You whine, nodding your head quickly. “Knew you were a glutton for punishment.”

“Could say that again,” he says, chuckling as he lands a smash to the outside of your thigh with his free hand. “Now, come on, baby. Follow directions. Tell me what you want.”

“Wanna cum, Joel. Please!”

“Good girl,” he growls, lowering his lips to your pussy to lick at your clit. He hums as he lavishes the sensitive bud with attention and it’s the final push you need over the razor's edge you’d been teetering on since he started. You press your thighs against his head as your nerves light up and your muscles go tight with pleasure, his movements slowing as he works you through your release.

Your muscles go limp, head dropping back to the floor with a thunk. Joel sits up, crawling up your body and trailing kisses across your tummy and chest in the patches of skin not covered by paint. He grips your chin, holding you steady as his lips press to yours in a kiss so deep you worry you’re at risk of drowning.

Your hands fumble with his belt, pulling the leather free of the loops in a frenzy. He stands quickly, freeing himself of his jeans and boxers in one motion before reaching behind his head to tug his shirt off while you admire his labor-toned body.

Joel drops to his knees, pressing his hips to yours and dragging the thick head of his cock through your sensitive pussy, bumping your clit and making you both groan in tandem. His forearms rest on the floor beside your head as he teases you like this, slow drags of his length through your wetness, the tantalizing catch of him at your aching hole. You tilt your hips slightly, hoping he gets the hint, and he chuckles.

“You know the drill, baby,” he says, breathless with his own desire. “Just say the word.”

“Fuck me, Joel, please.”

His cock slips inside of you with little resistance, the stretch of him making you gasp. His eyes remain fixed to yours as he bottoms out and you smile up at him, reaching up to wrap your arms around his shoulders.

Joel gives a small, experimental thrust that makes your eyes roll back with pleasure. He does it again, a sharper snap of his hips making you cry out and dig your nails into his shoulder. He builds his own rhythm, one that has your hips chasing his on every pull from your body, one that has you chanting his name and staring up at him like he’s a god and you’re simply a sacrifice on his altar.

He sits back on his heels, the angle changing as your hips get lifted onto his lap. His hands wrap around your waist, fingertips pressing tightly to your ribs as he uses your body for his pleasure, pounding into you roughly.

“Cum for me again,” he demands, bringing a thumb to your clit in quick circles. “Come on, sweetheart, want you to cum on my cock. Was so pretty on my fingers.”

Tears prick at the corners of your eyes at the near overstimulation but you nod, wanting to give this man whatever he wants if it means he’ll keep touching you, holding you, looking at you.

You cum again with a shout of his name and he groans, deep and visceral as he presses in deep, holding your hips to his as his cock pulses inside of you with his release.

Joel slowly lowers your hips to the ground, withdrawing from your body as he does. He flops gracelessly to the floor beside you, sweat damp chest heaving with exertion. His head turns to yours, grin wide and eyes bright.

“You’re covered in paint,” he comments, reaching out to run his hand across a streak on your collarbone.

“So are you,” you reply, mimicking the gesture against his ribs.

“What do you say to a shower?”

You smirk at him before jumping up and racing to the doorway.

“I’d say last one there doesn’t get the hot water!”

You can hear his curse as you rush up the stairs, making it halfway before a strong arm wraps around you and stops you in your tracks, your laughter echoing through the house.

June 27, 1993

The neighborhood has changed so vastly. Much of the older homes have been torn down and replaced with less handsome architecture. The residents grow younger while I continue to age. Just last week a handsome young man and his darling daughter moved in down the street. He looks exhausted. I remember those days.

Not all the neighbors are lovely. Harold next door has an annoying dog that barks at all hours. He prances her around like a show pony, when she’s just a yappy little creature.

-R

ONE YEAR LATER

The house is finally finished. All the tile has been laid, everything has been painted, appliances delivered, holes repaired, fixtures installed, and wallpaper glued. You go downstairs for coffee in the morning, you take it to the parlor room you’ve made into a study. Floor to ceiling bookshelves display every journal you’d unearthed from the hiding place in the attic, each one read through cover to cover.

When you finally told your mom about what you’d been up to, her surprise and hurt could be felt even through the phone. You mailed one of her mother’s journals to her.

“I’m sorry,” she said the next time you spoke. “So much time had passed and I didn’t know how to fix what I’d broken.”

You don’t begrudge her decisions. Your grandma left you her story, and through that you’ve been able to know her.

Heavy footsteps on the stairs precede Joel’s appearance in the study, his hair messy from sleep and his eyes half shut. He drops beside you on the couch, grabbing your coffee from your hands and taking a sip of it.

“Is it everything you’ve always wanted?” You ask him, tilting your head to his shoulder. You still remember the way he’d been desperate to buy the house from you and you laugh at how the world works, given that he now wakes up in bed beside you and is tasked with the lawn maintenance every weekend. He presses a kiss to your head.

“It’s even better.”

June 29, 1993

I don’t think the dog will be bothering the neighborhood again anytime soon.

Turns out he doesn’t hold as much pride for the dog when she’s been dyed lime green.

Imagine that.

-R

Want more Joel Miller? Check out my masterlist!

#joel miller #joel miller x reader #joel miller fic #joel miller x female reader #joel miller smut #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller x you #no use of y/n #joel tlou #joel x reader #joel the last of us #tlou fic #taylor swift folklore #folklore anthology #joel miller folklore

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madame-mortician · 8 months

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Texas Chain Saw Massacre Game lore Deep Dive!

I wanted to do a lore deep dive since I've been hyperfixated on this game for the past fortnight, so here we are. Also I have an Evil Dead the Game one coming out soon, but that's for later. Before we start, please note this game is a prequel to the first film, so Sally and her friends haven't met the Slaughter Family yet.

Essentially the main story of TCM (the Game) is that these group of friends go searching for Maria Flores, Ana's sister who has been missing for the past month. Since other crimes are happening throughout Texas, Maria's disappearance gets drowned out and the police are unable to help. Ana gets her close friends together, this being (so far) Connie Taylor, Leland McKinney, Sonny Williams and Julie Crawford, and she tries to find out what happened.

In their search, the group come across the Slaughter Family, and all of them are kidnapped and either held captive in the family house, the slaughterhouse, the gas station or Nancy's house. Through gameplay the player chooses their fates, and so far there is no canonical ending so it's unknown who exactly was kidnapped, where they were kept or who, if any, survived. (Update: There is now a canonical fate for each character, check the end.) During an opening cutscene, one of the 5 victims tries to escape but gets killed by Leatherface before everybody else even wakes up.

In gameplay only 3 members of the Slaughter Family actually appear, though Leatherface is mandatory and canonically is one of the killers hunting these group of friends. (Update: Leatherface is no longer mandatory to start a game, but considering the game was made with the intent of him being mandatory I'm still saying he's canonically one of the killers, it just makes sense.)

So what exactly happened to Maria? Well we have the prequel game "Petals" to answer us. Essentially, Maria had gone on a roadtrip where she stopped to take photos of random things that interested her, and every so often sent a postcard to her family to let them know she was safe. At some point, a man began to follow her around and she felt like he was stalking her every move even if she couldn't see him. In Newt, Muerto County, Texas, Maria's car broke down and she decided to kill time by taking photos. What she did not know was that Johnny was following her at this point, being the guy who had been stalking her. As she takes pictures, he follows her around before unlocking the front gate to the family house, leading to Maria entering out of curiosity. As Maria took her last photo, Johnny finally revealed himself and stole her camera. This caused Maria to realise who he was and flee towards the closest house, begging for help. Unfortunately for Maria, this was the home of the Slaughter Family and Sissy answered the door, and she and Johnny held Maria down as Leatherface killed the poor girl. After this, her body was taken to Black Nancy's house, where it's possible her friends found her (if that is where they spawned.) Since she had told her family about the man stalking her, and she'd stopped sending letters, her sister instantly became worried and began to search for answers, becoming paranoid after her car was found abandoned.

Whilst this is the main story, there are other behind the scenes lore related to the characters, mainly the killers. Since Leatherface, Cook and Hitchhiker are already well known I'll only talk about the new characters.

First, Sissy. Sissy is one of the original characters introduced for this game, however she was actually a scrapped concept from the original film that Kim Henkel removed, likely because the film was too crowded. (It should also be noted there is a member of the family named Sissy in the 2013 film.) Sissy is sister to the Cook, Hitchhiker and Leatherface, however at some point during her adolescence she ran away from home, and went around the country joining various different cults, most notably joining the Manson Cult where she learned the songs she sings in game. It's implied she wasn't always insane but became so after joining the Manson’s. During her time in the Manson Cult, she learnt how to make poisons from flowers and she used this on her victims as her MO. It's implied she was part of the cult during the murder of Sharon Tate, meaning she’s been in the cult for at least 4 years. Only recently she returned home to the Slaughter Family, where she quickly became a favourite of grandpa and a useful member of the team due to her innocent and sweet appearance. Sissy is seemingly the most beloved member of the family (aside from Grandpa) as Leatherface, Hitchhiker and Grandpa are on good terms with her, or at least as good as you’re getting in this family, with only Johnny and Nancy seeming to dislike her. As to why she isn't in the films, it's likely after the game she left the family again to either go off on her own or to join a new cult.

Next is Johnny, being based on real life serial killers who used their good looks to attract victims, especially women. Like Sissy, he was a scrapped concept that was reused for the game. He is not directly related to the Slaughter Family, as he is actually adopted and is only cousins to the main siblings. As a toddler, Johnny's real mother was murdered by Black Nancy, who for whatever reason, took Johnny in and raised him as her own, lying to him and saying she was his Aunt. Growing up he became sadistic and enjoyed using his charms and handsome face to attract his victims and kill them. Despite being good at killing, and excellent at drawing prey in, he is rather disliked by most of the family who find him too hard to control. Whilst the family are murderers, Johnny is a serial killer and causes trouble for the family by murdering girls all the time and drawing attention to them as reflected by the voice lines said in game. He got a scar on his left shoulder, from the "Pflugerville Incident" where he'd stabbed a girl to death, but her roommates woke up and fought back. Opposite to Sissy, majority of the family doesn't like Johnny, as Sissy, Hitchhiker, Cook and Leatherface all seem annoyed by him. Johnny is the one who inadvertantly starts the game, as it is he who stalks and eventually kills Maria, leading to Ana and her friends going after them, and this is one of the reasons the other family members are so mad at him, especially Cook who states he doesn't take pleasure in killing like the others do. It's likely he isn't in the films because he wasn't with the family, but rather with Nancy or off on his own.

Black Nancy is a black widow killer, using her meek and innocent apperance to draw in men, who she eventually married before they "mysteriously" disappeared. Unlike the other characters with an outside life, Nancy has a bad reputation giving her the nickname "Black Nancy" although nobody can prove she killed her husbands. In her backstory it's stated she didn't really kill her husbands for money, but rather because they couldn't fill the void in her heart, yet raising Johnny did. It's unknown what relation she has to the main family, but seeing as Johnny is considered a cousin to Sissy, Hitchhiker and Leatherface, it's likely she is their Aunt making her the sister to whoever their parents are (which might be Grandpa, idk lore's very weird.) Since she isn't part of their direct family, she isn't as close to the rest of them, however she is very much obsessive over her "son" in an odd juxtaposition as she is very motherly to Johnny, whilst also being sadistic and cannibalistic. It's likely she keeps Maria's body in her house to protect Johnny specifically. Since she isn't as close to the family and doesn't live with them, it's likely she didn't appear in the films because she was doing her own thing away from the rest of the family. She also seems to have a connection to Cook, but nothing has been confirmed. Some think she might be his partner, but considering she's a black widow, it would be weird. That and he could be her nephew so I'd hold off on shipping them.

Ana Flores is the unofficial protagonist of the game, being the one who gets all her friends together to go searching for her missing sister when the police were unable to do anything. Despite being a regular girl, she has the best endurance and takes hits easier, likely being due to her willpower. She is so determined to find her sister she literally tanks hits from a chainsaw, just to discover the truth. Likely following where her sisters car was found, she comes across the Slaughter Family along with 3 of her close friends, and they end up being kidnapped and hunted down in one of the four maps. It's unknown whether Ana or any of her friends survive, but considering the original film shows no signs the family were close to being caught, it's possible the victims were all killed, or Ana was unable to convince the cops of anything. It should be noted that Ana’s character is referred to as “The Final Girl” implying she might’ve survived. (Update: She doesn’t survive, check the end of this post.)

Finally there is Danny Gaines, Maria's boyfriend who went looking for her. He didn't go with Ana or her friends, he instead went off on his own and came to Black Nancy's house to find answers. Nancy knew what happened with Maria, and to protect her son she decided to try and kill Danny, which might've led to him being taken to the Family House which is right next to Nancy's house, being kidnapped alongside the others. Since his fate is not mentioned alongside the other survivors, it seems to be canon that he was killed by Nancy.

Some other small tidbits is that the Hitchhiker's camera is actually stolen from Maria, and is the same one he uses in the first TCM film. Majority if not all of the radio broadcasts are related to the Slaughter Family, such as a person getting poisoned by Sissy, the "Terror of 1-40", and Johnny's Pflugerville murder case.

Regarding canonicity, this game works with the original writers and actors, and nothing contradicts anything in the original 2 films, so I consider this canon to the franchise, as does the creators. If a new character comes out that is somebody like Sally Hardesty, that definitely won't be canon, but it is an online asymmetrical game, so not everything will be 100% canon.

These are really fun, but after Evil Dead the Game I don't think I'll do another since Friday the 13th didn't really have lore and Dead by Daylight has way too much lore for me to cover. As always, if you have any questions about the lore of this game, just ask, I don't have all the answers but I know most of the lore so don't be afraid to ask.

*UPDATE* The game devs have released an official lore post about the story! I’d recommend checking that out:

*SECOND UPDATE!! The Devs have revealed the canon fates of each character. Unfortunately every survivor dies in the game. First to die is Leland, then Sonny, Connie and Ana. Julie does escape the house but bleeds out and dies on the road. Personally IMO I think it’s odd they characterised Ana as the “Final Girl” just to have her not only die but not even be the last one standing? Like just say Julie is the final girl or make Ana the one who dies on the road… Since Danny is also dead, this means so far, nobody has canonically survived the Slaughter Family. I should mention, the opening cutscene where a victim is killed by Leatherface appears to canonically be Leland, since he's the first to die.

*ANOTHER UPDATE: An official lore stream has been uploaded that goes through each character in detail, so my post is obsolete and if you are interested you should just go check that out.

twitch

#lore #deep dive #tcm #texas chainsaw massacre #texas chainsaw massacre game #texas chain saw massacre #texas chain saw massacre game #tcm game #texas chainsaw game #fun facts

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stevegasnsip · 5 months

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I'm sure someone else has already done this, and if they haven't someone will, but here's a link to a google drive folder that has the extended version of the eras tour with the extra stongs where they were supposed to be instead of at the end, I couldn't bring back the Wildest Dreams/Bad Blood transition though, sorry! Also, it's not perfect by any means. I tried my best to add some crowd noise in the background to help smooth the transitions but I'm very new to video editing so it's far from perfect

Swifties who can and/or want to spend 19.89 on a 48 hour rental good for you! Not everyone has that luxury (some people don't even know when it will be available in their countries), and Taylor's bank account will survive the blow so please don't report this so other people can enjoy the tour too

The folder also has a 5SOS concert on there and it will have the Rep tour by the end of the day. I just finished uploading The Eras Tour though so you may have to download it if you want to watch it today because google drive takes a bit of time to process files and let it play directly on the browser. If the image quality is really bad today please wait a day, I promise it'll be better tomorrow, the same thing happened last year when I uploaded the 5SOS concert, it was terrible on the first day because it was still processing. Also, if there's enough space left I'm putting the Speak Now World Tour and Lover live from Paris on the drive too

#taylor swift #the eras tour

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klawsfangs · 7 months

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What a relationship with Klaus Mikaelson would include:

-Ok so obviously Klaus is really protective given his many enemies and he would literally do anything to keep you safe.

-Sometimes that can be exhausting since him beeing overprotective will probably end up with him not wanting you to go anywhere without him.

-that also includes : You want to go to a party with your friends? Cool klaus surprisingly has time too. You want to go to a concert of your favorite artist? How nice klaus also really likes the artist and yes he would love to go to this concert with you. You wanna go out to the bakery to get a cake? ,,don't stress yourself love, I will pick it up for you"

-so be prepared that he will pretty much follow you everywhere or makes sure that you don't even leave the house.

-even tho after some time it can start to get annoying you know that he only does that because he loves you sm and is scared to be without you

-let's discuss that "scared" topic a bit more. Klaus isn't really one to show his emotions and feelings. So when he opens up to you, you can be certain that you really are important to him.

-Once you gained his trust, which will be a hard and long way, he will literally talk to you all the time. His enemies tried to do that. His siblings annoyed him with that. He killed that person because of that.

-you will soon learn that he talkes about it sm because he wants to be understood. He wouldn't want you to be afraid of him or mad because of the things he does. He wants you to know his reasoning behind his actions so that you won't leave him.

-but if he does soemthing that really upsets you oh lord he would stop at nothing to earn your forgiveness. From your favorite flowers till a big vacation to your favorite country.

-we all know that klaus is soemone with MUCH pride so he isn't soemone that would normally beg. But if he really messed up then he would even get on his knees for you for sure. After all this man is completely wiped for you.

-He would do just about anything if you asked him too. Backstage tickets for your fav event? This new restaurant that just opend? This island that you really wanna travel to? Please he's klaus freaking mikaelson, he already booked and bought all of that for you.

-which brings us to our next topic. Gifts. Now this man knows how to give gifts. He know all your desires and wishes even tho you might never told him. One sparkling in your eyes when you look at soemthing? Well he knows what to give you to Christmas then.

-he has access to things and clothes you could only dream of. 1000 years of collection pays off. He will always have just the perfect present for you at hand. And he will always be happy to spoil you with them.

-When it comes to spoiling he really knows no end. Just this little things like your favorite flowers or the new book that you wanted will be daily received by you from him. But it can also be much bigger things like the car you always dreamed of. And if you want to go shopping well he his money is yours so don't even think about using your own money.

-how ever even tho all this things sound nice, there are some things that will also be unavoidable when you date nik.

-you will for sure get kidnapped by his enemies from time to time. Yes klaus will always get you back and protect you but still that can leave damage on you. You're in danger of getting anxiety, trust issues, panic attacks and other unpleasant things. After all kidnapping is not soemthing you just forget about, especially not when it happens often and not just once.

-You will get dragged into the Mikaelson family drama. No way around that🤷‍♀️ So believe me when I tell you it will never get bored with them. You will get involved in fights that aren't yours and you will not be able to get out of all of that easily.

-klaus however always tells you that he can send you away till the fight is over or that you will stay at the compound the whole time. He would never be disappointed or mad at you if you choose to not fight. He will always be there for you to comfort you and protect you when you need him and he will never drag you to things you don't want.

-in general he would never be disappointed in you. You broke his car? ,,it's okay my love I'm not mad, I will just buy me a new one" You accidentally failed the task he gave you?,, no need to be angry with yourself sweetheart, we will just do it together tomorrow" God you could even lose the damn white oak stake and he still wouldn't be really angry at you. Sure he would be a bit tensed and mad but he would never let that out on you.

- klaus is also surprisingly willing to cuddle with you. He will always want to make sure that you are warm, safe and comfortable. And where is a better place for that than in his arms?

-it doesn't matter if he's spooning you, if you lay your head on his chest or if you are fully on top of him as long as he can hold you in some way. Soemtimes if he had a bad day or soemthing he would even be the one coming to you for cuddles and not you coming to him. But psst don't tell anyone🤫

-In general klaus is really needy when if comes to your touch and attention. He can't stand when you even look at someone else. Poor boy wants to feel loved cause he never felt that before.

-he will always have a hand on you. Either its him holding your hand. Or his hand is on your tight. Or he will also often put his hand on the small of you back or around your hips.

-and if someone even dares to touch you or look at you the wrong way. Oh God stand that person by. He will probably be dead by night.

-all and all klaus is a really protective boyfriend who would stop a nothing for you. He will always shower you with love and be there for you when you need him the most.

-You are his light just as much as he is yours.

I will probably gonna do another part for the more nasty stuff😉

Goodnight everyone🤍

#klaus mikealson fanfiction #klaus mikaelson #klaus mikaelson alphabet #niklaus mikaelson #boyfriend #fanfic #Spotify

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lemoncrushh · 4 days

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Wild Horses - Three

Summary: Amber Crosby didn’t end up with the life she’d expected, but that didn’t keep her from following her dream. A young, up and coming country recording artist, she and her band set out to do just that. Trying to leave her past behind, it wasn’t until meeting Harry Styles that she realized just how her life could take a turn and alter her future forever.

A/N: Please note all portions in italics are meant to be flashbacks :).

STORY PAGE

Chapter Two Word Count: 5.1k+

"I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now..." - Taylor Swift; Everything Has Changed (ft. Ed Sheeran)

Harry clapped enthusiastically when Amber and her band finished the song they'd been rehearsing. Watching from the audience, he caught the little smirk on Amber's face as she looked at the ground and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. It had been their third run-through and he could tell she was nervous. It could have been because it was supposed to be their new single and she wanted to get it just right, or it could have been because he was watching, he wasn't sure. Either way, he thought they sounded great, and by Friday night when the tour officially kicked off, he had no doubt she'd have it down perfectly.

Opting for a break, Amber slung her guitar strap over her head and laid her instrument on its stand.

"That's good for now, guys," she told her band. "Next time, let's try it a little faster tempo maybe? See how it sounds with less echo, too."

Johnny and Brendan nodded, returning their guitars to their stands before following Carter backstage. Rising from his seat, Harry met Amber beside the soundboard where she discussed briefly with the tech a few things she wanted to tweak next time.

"Sounding good up there," he commented.

"Ugh, I don't know," she replied, biting her lip as she tucked that same stubborn strand of hair behind her ear. "I feel a little rusty. I hope it sounds better Friday night."

"Don't be so hard on yourself," encouraged Harry. "You're really talented. I wouldn't have invited you here if I didn't believe it."

Amber's face softened, a bit of rosiness on her cheeks which did not go unnoticed by Harry.

"Thanks," she whispered.

Harry leaned forward. "Do I make you nervous?" he asked softly.

"Huh?" She hadn't meant to make that sound. She regretted it immediately. Harry smiled anyway.

"By being here," he explained. "Watching your rehearsal."

"Oh, um..." Amber swallowed. "Well, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little nervous. But...I kinda like you being here. Makes me feel...important. Like I've made it, or something."

Harry's grin widened as he stood up straight. "Good. You should feel that way."

Unsure how to reply, Amber shrugged. "Um...I'm gonna go..." she pointed behind her, "grab a bite to eat."

"Of course."

"I don't suppose..." Amber hesitated. Harry raised his eyebrows in question. "...you ever eat dinner with your opening act?"

Amber caught the slight twitch in Harry's lips before his left dimple appeared.

"I mean...I know you send them trays of snacks and sodas and bottled water...which by the way," she held up her hands, "we really did appreciate! Oh my God, did I say that already?"

Harry chuckled then. "You did."

She was cute, he admitted to himself. Alright, so maybe he'd admitted it to himself already, when they'd first met in fact. But almost as quickly, he'd vowed that this would be strictly a professional relationship, albeit a friendly one. Getting involved in any other way would be a recipe for disaster, and he was willing to stick to his guns. Still, when she'd thanked him profusely for the food he'd set up for the band backstage, the flowers and wine in her hotel room, and again for inviting her band on tour, he couldn't help but feel a wee bit...of a stomach flip - butterflies in his tummy, behind his matching tattoo. And perhaps, that was why he'd found himself strolling into the audience and taking a seat to watch her rehearsal during his free time.

"So...would you like to join us? I doubt we're doing anything fancy. Brendan said he wanted to find some barbecue."

With a slight grin, Harry shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Actually, I have plans," he said. "But maybe next time."

"Oh," Amber mouthed, unable to hide her disappointment. She felt dumb. "'kay."

"Have a nice dinner," said Harry. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Giving him a weak smile, Amber said her goodbyes and walked away to find her band. Harry watched her until she'd disappeared behind the stage. Then with a sigh, he turned around and left the way he'd arrived.

Amber picked at her potato salad, her barbecue sandwich half-eaten. She didn't know why it had disappointed her so much that Harry hadn't joined her for dinner. He had plans, so what? It didn't mean he hadn't wanted to come. And he had said maybe next time. Still, her stomach felt like a pinball machine, the little metal ball rolling around aimlessly and making her nauseous.

"You gonna eat that?" Amber heard next to her. Looking up at Carter, she blinked.

"What?"

"The other half," Carter gestured at her plate with his thumb.

"Oh," Amber sighed. "No. Go ahead."

With a toothy grin, Carter grabbed the sandwich and shoved it into his mouth. Resting her chin in her hand, Amber looked around the restaurant, ready for her escape.

"What's with you?" asked Carter, reaching for his soda to wash down the sandwich he'd just devoured.

"With me?" Amber raised a brow.

"Yeah, you've been quiet all night. And you've barely eaten. You feel okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Something on your mind?"

Amber shook her head. "No, I'm fine."

Carter rolled his eyes, sipping his Coke through the straw. "Whatever."

"What does that mean?"

"It means...whatever."

Amber glared at Carter until he sat back in his chair.

"It's like I can't win with you," he said. "I'm trying to give you your space like you wanted, just be friends. I try to be nice and you snap at me. I try to be concerned and ask if you're okay, and you shut me out."

"I'm not shutting you out-"

"'I'm fine' is what you say when you're not fine, Amber. I know you."

"You know me?" she scoffed.

Carter turned in his seat to face her. "Yeah, I do. You used to talk to me, Ambs. I miss that."

Amber shifted her gaze to Johnny and Brendan across the table who seemed to be deep in their own conversation. She sighed.

"I miss it too," she admitted.

"Yeah?"

Looking down at her plate, she nodded. "Sometimes."

"Pffft," Carter sounded as he rose from his chair. "Tell you what. When that sometimes comes around again, let me know. I'm gonna take a leak. I'll meet you in the van."

Amber glared at Carter incredulously as he walked away. What the hell did he expect her to do, cry and beg to have him hold her while she confessed her deepest, darkest secrets? She'd done that already. And if memory serves, it was always while finishing off a bottle of booze. She was done with that, she'd promised herself.

"What's his deal now?" asked Brendan.

"Who the fuck knows," Johnny mumbled.

"Boy needs to get-"

"Don't!" Amber interrupted, her hand raised.

"Sorry," Brendan said sheepishly.

"Let's go." Grabbing the van keys, Amber stood up. "When we get back, let's do a couple run-throughs and call it a night. I'd like to turn in early."

Standing alone in the kitchen, Amber silently cursed herself for deciding to come to the party. She pulled her phone from her pocket, ready to text Faith, but changed her mind. They hadn't even been there an hour yet, and Faith would have a cow if she had to leave so early.

"Hey."

Amber spun around at the sound, not sure if it was meant for her. Face to face with Dallas Marker, she widened her eyes, her hand gripping her Solo cup. Surely he wasn't speaking to her.

"Are you in my Chem class?" he asked.

"Um, no," she muttered.

"Oh. Thought you were. What's your name?"

"Amber."

"Amber..." he repeated, letting the name simmer on his lips. "Don't think I know an Amber. You a Junior or Senior?"

Amber blushed, looking down at her cup. "Neither."

"Oh shit, you're a Freshman?"

"No, Sophomore."

"Oh, phew," Dallas sounded. "Thank God."

"Why?" Amber asked, furrowing her brow.

Dallas shrugged, a smirk on his face. "Just 'cause you're cute. And I woulda been disappointed if you weren't at least sixteen."

"Oh..." Amber swallowed hard. She swore she was about to tell him she wouldn't be sixteen until next summer, but two more boys walked into the kitchen, interrupting her confession.

"Dallas, bro!" exclaimed the tall guy. Amber was pretty sure he was on the football team, but she forgot his name.

Dallas turned, smacking hands with both boys. "You guys drunk yet?"

"Nah, man," said tall guy. "Just got here. What ya got?"

Dallas shrugged. "Ain't my party, bro."

The other two boys walked around Dallas to the kitchen counter, inspecting the various bottles. One of them picked up the Jack Daniels with a nod.

"Fuck yeah, dude."

"Beer's for pussies," said the other.

Dallas chuckled, suddenly remembering Amber's presence.

"Hey, y'all know Amber?" he asked, throwing his arm around her shoulders. "She's a Sophomore."

The other boys each gave a short nod before filling their own Solo cups with ice and whatever liquor they preferred.

"Whatcha drinkin'?" Dallas asked Amber, looking over her shoulder into her cup.

"Just Coke," she replied meekly.

"Let's put something in that Coke," insisted Dallas.

Amber giggled, unsure if it was because of what he'd said or the fact that his breath tickled her ear. Either way, she wasn't about to refuse a suggestion from Dallas Marker. She watched as he poured a generous amount of Jack into her cup, topping it off with a tiny bit more soda. Then with a sly grin, he handed the cup back to her.

"Drink up," he said.

Amber could smell the strong, pungent odor of alcohol before even taking one sip. But Dallas's eager eyes on her made her lose her senses, and before she knew it, she'd gulped down half the cup. All three boys let out a chorus of whoops and hollers, cheering her on.

"Hell yeah, babe," beamed Dallas, his own cup in his hand as the other slipped around her waist. "My kinda girl."

Amber could taste it on her tongue, a phantom of flavor. She needed a drink. No, she shook her head. She wanted a drink, but she didn't need it.

She sat on her hotel bed, staring at the wall. Wringing her hands in her lap, she took several deep breaths. She knew she could open the mini bar and grab a little bottle of something, but she also knew those things were damn expensive. Besides, one wouldn't end up being enough to get drunk and she'd wind up spending a fortune just to numb herself. Her mouth watered as she debated taking the elevator down to the bar.

The tour kicked off the next day. She was nervous as hell. What if she fucked up on stage, forgot a line to a song or didn't realize her guitar was out of tune? What if the lights got in her eyes and she passed out? What if her voice cracked and everyone laughed?

Taking another deep breath, she rose from the bed, grabbing her room key. Then tip-toeing out into the hall, she turned toward the elevators. She'd just pressed the button when the doors opened and she saw two familiar faces.

"Oh!" she gasped.

"Hi, Amber," grinned Harry as Jeffrey held the door.

"Hi," she greeted, stepping hesitantly inside.

"Where are you off to this evening?"

"Um..." she looked between Harry and Jeff, deciding not to confess the truth. "Nowhere, really. Just thought I might get some fresh air."

"That might not be such a good idea," offered Jeff as he released the doors and they closed. "There's already a line of fans outside, and if they see you, it could grow into a large mob in minutes."

"Are you serious?"

"That shouldn't concern her though, Jeffrey," argued Harry.

"In general, no, but because she's billed as your opening act, she may still get recognized. And that could only fuel the fire."

"What fire?" Harry and Amber asked in unison. Catching her eye, Harry winked.

"The belief that you're at this hotel too."

"But I don't always stay at the same hotel," remarked Harry.

"You didn't used to," Jeff agreed. "But now that Amber is under my management, fans of yours have become aware of that. So if they know for certain she's staying at this hotel, then they can only assume I'm here as well. Therefore...you're here."

"Oh for fuck's sake!" Harry groaned, running a hand down his face. Amber bit her lip to keep from giggling.

"It's okay, Jeff," she said. "I understand. Maybe I'll just...wander into the gift shop."

The elevator opened then and Jeff held the door as Harry and Amber stepped off.

"Or you could join us," Harry offered.

"Huh?" Amber sounded, kicking herself once again.

"We were just going to dinner. It's a meeting but..." Harry glanced at Jeff.

"Oh, I can't intrude," Amber held up a hand.

"Nonsense," said Jeff. "You're my client now. I mean, we were going to discuss some personal business, but mostly we just need to eat. Have you eaten?"

"I had a little something earlier," she replied, recalling the microwavable soup. "But my stomach's kind of in knots. Nervous about tomorrow."

"Ah, well you can still join us for a drink, then," offered Jeff. "Or dessert."

"Well..." Amber crinkled her nose. The prospect of a drink did sound good, but she wasn't about to tell them that.

"C'mon," Harry insisted, his hand held out. "I promised to join you for dinner the next time, only you can join me instead."

With a wide smile, Amber tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "How can I say no to that?"

Amber felt a little underdressed in the restaurant in her jeans and cardigan, and she wished she'd had time to run back to her room to change. But Harry and Jeffrey had been so nice to allow her to tag along, there was no way she would have made them wait.

"Another glass of wine, Miss?"

"Oh yes, thank you," Amber smiled at the waiter. She wasn't quite finished with the glass she had, but seeing as both men were already on their second glasses, she figured it was okay to order another.

She'd opted for a greek salad, thinking it wouldn't hurt her stomach too much, but she hadn't anticipated its massive size. She'd barely made a dent in it. She wasn't quite used to such sophistication when it came to food and dining, and she worried she looked like a fish out of water, especially next to Harry Styles.

So far, however, her dinner companions had done nothing but make her feel welcome in their presence. Amber found both Harry and Jeff to be delightfully funny, and the way they cracked jokes with each other only proved to her the deep solidarity of their friendship. As far as she was concerned, Harry was ever the gentleman and she understood why he had such a large following. And although she had only come to know Jeffrey a little better in recent weeks since he'd officially become her manager, it was nice to see this lighthearted side of him.

"So how are you feeling now, Amber?" asked Harry as she swallowed the last of her wine. "Still nervous?"

"Are you kidding?" she laughed, lowering her glass, the color rising in her cheeks. "Of course I am. I've never been on a legit tour like this before. I don't really know what to expect. And I have to go on before you. In front of your fans!"

"But they'll be your fans too, soon enough," remarked Jeff.

"You really think so?"

"Of course. Perhaps not all. There will be those who don't care one iota about the opening act. They show up late, or they chat with their friends or buy merch during your set. But there will still be plenty of fans who get excited about the entire experience, and anything remotely connected to Harry. Including you."

Amber's face softened as she took in Jeff's words. Then stealing a glance at Harry, she saw he had the same grin on his face that he'd had when she'd seen him watching her from the audience. It made her feel...special, excited and a little vulnerable at the same time.

Just then, the waiter returned with her second glass of wine and asked if the table needed anything else.

"Yes, actually," said Jeff, "go ahead and bring us a bottle of champagne. We're celebrating."

"Oh gosh!" Amber gasped. "No way I could drink this wine and champagne!"

She knew that was a lie, she could. But she most certainly did not want to look like a lush in front of her new manager and friend, or worse, let them see her puke.

"No worries, you can send it back," assured Jeff.

"Really?"

"Of course."

Amber gave the waiter an apologetic look as he lifted the glass of wine he'd just set on the table, but he only returned her gaze with a polite smile.

"Sorry, I always feel bad sending things back," Amber mumbled, pushing her hair behind her ear.

"Believe me, that waiter's seen a lot worse," Harry chuckled.

"Not from you, I hope," Amber jabbed.

"God, no. I'm not mean."

"Harry is the poster boy for kindness," added Jeff. "And I can promise you, it's not a put-on."

Relaxing a bit, Amber smiled at Harry.

"I've always been curious about that," she said. "I can barely get my bandmates to get along. How do you stay so sweet and kind, and also grounded?"

"Lots of practice," he grinned.

"And therapy."

"Jeffrey!" exclaimed Harry, his eyebrows raised.

"What? Like it's a surprise? We all need it, especially in this business."

Harry looked back at Amber and shrugged. "It's true. I also meditate a lot. Keeps me calm."

"Hmm," Amber sounded. "I might have to try that."

"I have some apps I can show you, and some good playlists-"

"Ah, here we are," Jeff interrupted when the waiter returned with the champagne.

Unsure how loud the cork would pop, Amber braced herself as she watched the waiter, but was relieved when it wasn't loud like in the movies. Filling the first glass, the waiter placed it in front of her, but she waited until Jeff and Harry had theirs.

"Are we toasting?" asked Amber, lifting her class.

"May I?" Harry eyed Jeffrey who nodded. "To...you, Amber," he said, turning to face her.

"Me?"

"Thank you...for joining me on this tour. I see a great future ahead of you, love. And...I hope...a life-long friendship for us both. I'm excited to get to know you better, and even more thrilled that we'll get to experience this journey together."

Amber stared at Harry for a moment, unable to speak, breathe or even blink.

"Hear, hear!" called Jeff, his glass raised.

"Wow," Amber finally muttered. She wasn't sure whether to wipe her eyes or give Harry a hug. Instead, she clinked her glass against his and then with Jeff's. "Thank you, Harry. That was really nice."

"You're welcome," he said. "I'm only sorry we don't have the entire band here for the toast."

"Oh please, they'd probably ruin the moment anyway," Amber chuckled behind her tears. "Their idea of a toast is a couple pitchers of beer over a Falcons game."

Jeff let out a boisterous laugh as Harry had a look of cringe all over his face.

"Yeah," Amber snorted. "Whatever you do, don't tell them you're Packers fans."

It was Harry's turn to laugh then. Amber noticed she really liked his laugh.

"How did you know we were?"

Amber shrugged with a smirk. "I thought it was common knowledge."

Harry's eyes narrowed, though they continued to sparkle and dance with glee. "Hmm."

A giggle slipped from Amber's throat after she took another sip of champagne. Soon enough, she had to excuse herself to the ladies' room. She was finally feeling loose and happy, not tight and nervous like before. She knew the bubbly had something to do with it, but she couldn't deny it also had to do with a certain British guy sitting at her table. He somehow made her feel at ease while also causing butterflies to dance in her tummy. She didn't know how he did it, but she was willing to spend as much time as possible trying to find out.

Harry could feel Jeffrey's eyes on him as he watched Amber cross the room to the loo. Clearing his throat, he lifted his glass to his lips, taking a long sip.

"Fuck, H," he heard Jeffrey curse low.

"What?" he finally looked at him, setting down his glass.

"Don't do it, man. Please don't go there."

"Don't go where?"

"I see the way you look at her," said Jeff. "I'm not blind."

"I'm not blind either," argued Harry. "She's a pretty girl. But I'm not interested in her that way."

"You swear?"

"Yeah. I like her. I wanna be her friend. That's all."

Jeffrey pursed his lips, not sure if he fully believed Harry, but he also knew Harry never lied to him.

"Besides, I think she could use one," Harry added.

"What makes you say that?"

Harry shrugged. "She just...seems rather lonely."

Jeffrey snorted. "She's in a band with four boys. Four southern, American boys. You don't think that has something to do with it?"

"Perhaps."

"Maybe she needs another girl to be friends with, not you."

Harry glared at Jeffrey. "You don't think I'm a good friend?"

"H, you're the best friend there is, that's not my point. It's not your job to take care of her. Platonically or otherwise."

Harry sat back in his chair and sighed. "I just wanna get to know her, Jeffrey. Is there anything wrong with that?"

"No," Jeff admitted. "Not at all. Just don't forget what could happen...if you step over the line."

"And what exactly could happen, Jeffrey?" Harry leaned forward, his eyes blazing.

Before Jeff could reply, Amber was making her way back to the table. Both men looked up and smiled.

"Well," said Jeff. "I suppose it's my turn."

Laying his cloth napkin on the table, Jeffrey excused himself and crossed the room.

"More champagne?" Harry asked, grabbing the bottle from the ice bucket.

"Mmm...maybe just a little," Amber smiled. "I think it might be going to my head. And my toes."

She let out another little giggle that she hadn't meant to. Harry chuckled though, as he poured the bubbly into her glass.

"Mind if I make a toast?" she asked. "Without Jeff."

"Of course."

"That came out wrong," Amber shook her head. "I like Jeff a lot, and I'm so grateful to him. I just meant...a toast to you...from me."

Harry's lips curled into a smile as he raised his glass. His gaze focused on the pink of her cheeks and the berry shade of her lips that she must have touched up in the restroom.

"Thank you..." she began hesitantly, "for your overwhelming kindness. You really do live up to your motto, and I couldn't be more grateful that you chose me and my band to join you on tour. I um...haven't had the best of luck in the past...even the more recent past...and I'm not exactly sure yet what you see in me. But whatever it is, I'm so happy the stars aligned this time. I only hope I can make you proud."

Harry's green eyes met her blue ones then, and for a moment he was speechless. Then taking a breath, he grinned and tapped his glass to hers.

"That was...more than a toast, love," he choked. "But thank you."

Amber groaned. "Too mushy? I'm so not good at this."

"No, no. It was lovely." Harry blinked slowly. "You're lovely."

He caught the blush in her cheeks deepening as she looked down and took a sip of champagne.

"By the way," he added, setting down his own glass, "I've been meaning to ask you. How did you come to know the lads in your band?"

Amber giggled again, quickly covering her mouth.

"Did I say something wrong?"

She shook her head. "No. Just...lads. That's so cute."

Harry rolled his eyes, feeling himself blush a tiny bit.

"Sorry," Amber covered her mouth again. "I'm not making fun. I'm just so used to hanging around frat boys all day, the British vernacular catches me off guard."

"Frat boys?" Harry laughed.

"Yeah, I mean, they might as well be. They act like it sometimes."

"So tell me about them," Harry folded his arms on the table. "I chatted a bit with each of them, just some pleasantries to get to know them. But I'd like to get your take."

"Well..." she paused and then giggled slightly. Harry liked her laugh. It was cute without being too dainty. "I'm not sure the word 'pleasantries' is even in their vocabulary. But they're good guys. I've known them all a while."

"Since school?"

"No. None of us went to the same school. Johnny's brother used to date my cousin years ago. That's how we met. He was actually in a different band then, a rock cover band. We used to go see them play, mostly at places I could go to since I wasn't twenty-one yet. But sometimes somebody knew the bar owner and got me in anyway. They would let me come up on stage and sing a song or two. When they disbanded, Johnny was looking for another group, and he already knew Carter who was a drummer, so they formed their own band."

"And they asked you to join?"

"Not at first," said Amber. "But I'd written a handful of songs, and I really wanted to find a band to play them. So I asked Johnny if he wouldn't mind trying them out with me. He thought they were great and convinced the rest of the band to give me a shot."

"And you said the stars didn't align," Harry commented.

"I'm giving you the short version," Amber smirked. "The interview version."

"Ah," Harry nodded. "Maybe one day you'll give me the long, 'confiding in a friend' version."

Amber's lips spread into a pretty smile. "Maybe. Are you saying you're my friend?"

"I hope so. I'd like to be."

Biting her lip, she tilted her head and pushed that stubborn strand of hair behind her ear. Harry's fingers itched to reach out and touch it.

"I'd like that, too," she said softly.

Jeffrey returned then, the waiter soon following, asking if they needed anything else. Politely declining, Jeff paid the bill and the three of them rose from the table.

In the lift, Harry leaned forward and whispered in Amber's ear. "Still nervous?"

"Yeah," she grinned. "But in a different way."

"How so?"

"I still have first night stage jitters," she said. "But I'm excited to have a friend."

Harry wasn't quite sure why, but he felt his hand reach the back of Amber's arm and slide down to her hand, giving it a squeeze. He smiled when she squeezed back. When the elevator doors opened to her floor, however, he was disappointed when he felt her let go.

"Have a good night, Amber," announced Jeffrey.

"Thanks, you too," she said, stepping out into the hallway.

"Goodnight, Amber," called Harry. She turned and caught his dimpled smile as he held the door. "We should do this again."

She tilted her head and beamed at him. He suddenly felt warmth ooze throughout his entire body.

"I'd like that, too," she repeated. "Goodnight, Harry."

She watched the elevator doors close before she turned and made her way to her room, the apparent giddiness still on her face.

"Hey, where've you been?" she suddenly heard behind her as she slipped in her key. With a jolt, she turned and saw Carter standing with his arms crossed.

"Oh, hey. I went to dinner," she replied.

"With who?"

"Harry and Jeff."

"Yeah? Just you?"

Amber caught the disappointment in his tone, but it was masked by the perturbed expression on his face.

"It was kind of last minute," she explained. "I met them in the elevator and they invited me."

"You could have called me," remarked Carter.

"Sorry. I didn't think-"

"Nah, of course you didn't," Carter scoffed. As he took a step closer, Amber could smell the alcohol on his breath. But the irony in his next words surprised her. "You've been drinking."

"So have you," she declared.

"Yeah 'cause you didn't show."

Amber frowned. "Did we have plans?"

"No. Just...night before a gig...you're usually nervous. I thought you'd be knocking on my door."

Exhaling loudly, Amber turned back to her door, inserting the key once more.

"Goodnight, Carter," she called as she opened the door and stepped inside her room.

Two hands grabbed her waist within seconds and pushed her against the wall, knocking the breath out of her. She whimpered as Carter's body pressed against her back, pinning her so she couldn't escape.

"You were drinking with him, weren't you?" he growled in her ear.

"We...we had champagne," Amber explained shakily. "Jeff bought it to celebrate."

"You like him?"

"Jeff? He's our manager!"

"No, fucking Styles!" Carter yelled.

"Get off me, Carter!" Amber shouted, finding some of her strength. Sliding her hand down the wall, she managed to elbow him in the ribs. He stumbled back, his eyes glassy.

"You fucking like him," he muttered, his words slurred.

"He's my friend," she declared, getting her bearings.

"I thought I was your friend."

Amber glared at Carter. His words had a pout to them, but his body and gaze still showed nothing but pure rage.

"Get out," she said.

"Huh?"

Amber dared to take a step closer, pointing to the door. "Get the fuck out of my room, Carter! Now!"

"Goddamn slut," he mumbled as he exited the room, the door slamming behind him.

Falling face down on the bed, Amber began to cry, her entire body trembling. Carter had been persistent in wanting to get back to...whatever it was they'd had. But this was the first time she'd ever been physically afraid of him.

It had to be the alcohol, she told herself. It wasn't him. He wasn't himself when he drank. He was just jealous and the booze fueled his anger. Tomorrow he might not even remember what he'd done.

Tomorrow was the first show of the tour. It was a big day. She couldn't lose her drummer now.

tagging: @freedomfireflies, @daphnesutton

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fallinallincurls · 2 years

Text

I Know Something Now That I Didn’t Before

coming in at the last minute, but this fic is finally here!! thank you to @antoineroussel for hosting the summer fic exchange once again, it’s always so much fun to be a part of. this is for @hockeylvr59! the entire idea was amazing to bring to life and i hope you love it! the title comes from taylor swift’s “everything has changed” which also fits the vibe of this fic perfectly

warnings: brief mentions of childbirth and blood, side character death. if i missed anything else, please let me know!

hope you enjoy!! feedback is always appreciated! xx

word count: 7.4k

~~~~~

Out of all the titles and accomplishments that can be attached to Cale Makar’s name, being a father is the one he is most proud of. But it’s days like today that he’s unfortunately reminded of how life doesn’t always go to plan no matter who you are.

His daughter is starting preschool today. Cale’s little baby girl has grown so much over the years, but this big moment in their lives is proof that time is moving too quickly. And on top of those emotions, she’s starting school without her mom here. A reminder that Cale wishes he could change with every single passing day.

He’s currently standing at the stove making Maisy’s favorite breakfast, chocolate chip and sprinkle pancakes, when all the memories rush back unwelcome on what’s meant to be a happy morning for the father and daughter.

Cale never expected this to be his life at 23. But after being asked to join the Avalanche in the middle of their 2019 playoff run, he left behind his college years and became a professional athlete in the blink of an eye. It just so happened the Avs were playing the Flames which meant Cale was heading home in an odd way. And somehow, in all the craziness of that time in his life, he reconnected with Beatrice.

Beatrice who he went to high school with and remained one of his best friends when hockey started taking over his life. Beatrice who was so happy to see him back in Calgary even if only for a short period of time. Beatrice who made the first move when the Avs got eliminated and made the two of them official.

Everything had been a whirlwind to Cale, but reconnecting with Bea was incredible. For the entirety of the offseason, their relationship was happy and full of love. It was all he could ever ask for. But as the next season approached and Cale received word that he would be returning to the team permanently, things began to shift.

The time for training, meetings, moving from one country to another permanently, and all the other requirements of playing in the NHL started to take a toll on them. Cale couldn’t stop the inevitable, so before he flew to Denver for training camp, he gently suggested that they break up and remain friends. Because after all this time, he didn’t want her to disappear from his life.

And life went on. The season started and Cale was off to a phenomenal start as a rookie which continued to stun anyone watching him play. Bea reached out frequently enough whether with a simple text or phone call. Life was good.

Then, Beatrice called that November.

The words she said all made perfect sense, but Cale couldn’t comprehend anything. Pregnant, it’s his, what are they going to do, unexpected. The world came to a screeching halt all at once. And from that moment on, his life was changed forever.

He was going to be a dad.

Despite the fact that he and Beatrice broke up, Cale insisted on being there for her during the entire pregnancy because that’s what good friends do when they’re expecting together. He wanted to help with anything he possibly could so he did. Doctor appointments, shopping for the necessities, taking care of Bea when he wasn’t on the road. It wasn’t easy to balance both his rookie season and the preparation of having a baby, but Cale found himself getting more and more excited with each passing day.

The day his little girl arrived in the world was full of more emotions than Cale thought possible. Bea’s labor was seemingly going well, not too long and not that painful, and he was there for every step of the way. Cale was in awe more than anything of Bea and the fact that their baby girl was finally here, but before either of them could soak in the moment, chaos broke out.

The next thing Cale remembers is the nurse telling him she has to push through the afterbirth. They were both terrified, but his heart dropped the second the machines started beeping and Bea began to lose consciousness. He was immediately rushed out of the room so the doctors could help, but when the nurse approached him again with a look of despair, all he heard were the words complications with delivery and severe blood loss. Bea unfortunately didn’t make it. She was gone. There was hardly any time to process the devastating news before the nurse asked if he would finally like to meet his baby. His little girl.

With tears in his eyes, Cale nodded and followed the nurse back to the nursery. The moment she was placed in Cale’s arms, he felt his heart burst and tears roll down his cheeks. Everything he will ever do will be for her, he swears right then and there.

“Do you have a name for her?” The nurse asked quietly, not following the question with a further explanation. It dawns on him then that this decision, and everything else going forward, will be completely up to him. He’s on his own.

“Maisy. Maisy Beatrice Makar.” Cale replied, trying to keep his emotions in check. The baby girl, Maisy, wrapped one of her tiny hands around Cale’s pointer finger as if in approval of her carefully selected name. Maisy was the one both Cale and Bea had picked out in advance, but there was no doubt about making his daughter’s middle name the one that belonged to her mom. It had to be.

From then on, it’s been Cale and Maisy against the world. Of course, they both miss Bea in different ways that almost no one understands, but Cale couldn’t be anymore grateful for the help he’s received over the last four years from friends, family and teammates. They say it takes a village and Cale is the first to second that statement.

Now, he’s just won the Stanley Cup, his lifelong dream, along with the Norris and Conn Smythe. Celebrating and making the most of riding out the high this huge victory provided has been nothing short of incredible. The happiness he’s felt since the Avs became champs is like nothing else in the entire world. And through the entire season, from start to finish, Maisy has been there. The win meant just as much to her as it did for him.

Except Cale thinks that her first day at preschool might be even more exciting considering how she hasn’t stopped talking about it practically all summer.

“Daddy! I lost my shoes!” Maisy’s voice breaks Cale out of his trance where he’s reliving the good and painful memories. No matter how badly he wishes that Beatrice was here to see Maisy on such an important day, she isn’t, and he’s going to make sure his little girl knows her mom would be insanely proud of her like always.

With a glance over his shoulder, he spots Maisy’s favorite pair of sparkly Converse by the door. “By the door, sweetie!” He calls back, plating the pancakes before turning around towards the kitchen island. His eyes find the flash of blonde hair passing through the room in mere seconds as Maisy runs to get her shoes.

Before he knows it, Maisy is crawling up onto a stool at the counter and giving Cale her biggest smile. Even after all this time, Cale’s overwhelmed with emotions looking at his daughter. She’s beautiful. Identical clear blue eyes like his which shine beneath her pink framed glasses, curly blonde hair that just reaches her shoulders now, a sweet smile that reminds him so much of Beatrice’s. He adores her and can’t believe how much she’s already grown.

“Chocolate chip and sprinkle pancakes! My favorite!” Maisy exclaims when she sees the full plate at her seat. “Will you help me put my shoes on and do my hair after we eat?” She asks adorably, attention never faltering from her father.

“Absolutely I can do that. Are you sure you want to wear your jersey to the first day of preschool though?” Cale smiles as he sits next to her and they start eating breakfast together. He couldn’t miss the signature burgundy and blue that adorned the top half of her body when she came down the stairs moments ago. Maisy cherishes her Stanley Cup playoffs Makar jersey over all her others now and it seems to be her outfit choice to start school.

“Mhm! I love my jersey and it’ll be like having you at school with me in a funny way.” Maisy replies with a definitive nod. Cale can’t argue with her and as long as she’s happy, he’s happy so he just smiles while love rushes through him.

Maisy pushes her breakfast plate away from her only a few minutes later, stating that she’s full and needs help with finishing getting ready. Cale kneels down to tie her shoes before getting to work on her hair. Of course, she picked out a matching bow to go with her jersey and Cale can’t help but chuckle as he tries to wrangle in her unruly curls.

It’s only when Maisy is distractedly humming to herself while her dad puts the bow in her hair that Cale spills the big surprise.

“Maisy?” He asks, earning a soft response from the little girl. “I know you’re really excited for your first day of preschool and so am I. And even though Mommy isn’t here today, she left me something a long time ago to give you. Is that okay?”

“From Mommy?” Maisy’s voice is so quiet that Cale’s heart almost breaks. It’s not like they don’t talk about Beatrice, it’s just hard for both of them for different reasons. Maisy never got the chance to know her. She doesn’t have any memories, only the stories that Cale has told her while he feels the direct pain of the loss for both him and their daughter. Cale nods, tying her bow in place before facing her. “Can we open it together before we go to school?”

“That sounds like a great plan. Stay right here, okay?”

When Cale returns only a few minutes later with a small box in hand, Maisy’s head tilts in curiosity, but she waits until her father speaks again.

“When you were in Mommy’s tummy, she decided to write you a letter for the first day of school for each year. Because today is the first day of preschool, we can open the first letter.” Cale explains softly, kissing the top of her head as he picks up a pink envelope in the front of the box and lets Maisy open it.

“Dear Maisy,” She starts reading with a smile until her brows furrow in confusion and she looks back up at Cale. “Read for me, please?”

“Dear Maisy, it’s your first day of preschool! I’m so proud of you. I hope you have your favorite outfit picked out and all the best snacks in your lunchbox. This is a really big moment! I can’t believe you’ve grown so much and I just know you’re the most resilient, funny and bright little girl in the entire world. Daddy and I are so lucky to have you. Go make some friends, have fun and I’m wishing you the best first day ever! Love, Mommy.” Cale reads Beatrice’s handwritten words from the small card.

He doesn’t notice the tears in his own eyes until he’s wiping away Maisy’s and pulling her in for a hug. A comfortable silence settles around them for a moment, but it isn’t long before Maisy’s voice fills the air once more.

“Don’t worry, Daddy. I know Mommy is with me right here,” She puts a little hand over her heart, “and that makes today even more special. I think I’m ready to go to school now.” Maisy tucks the paper in the envelope again before tugging on Cale’s hand. She puts the letter in the safest place within her backpack to have with her throughout the day and the two of them finish up their morning routine. The heavy emotions subside only to be replaced with happiness that Cale feels with each passing second.

It is Maisy’s first day of school after all.

~~~~~

That cannot be her.

The last time Cale saw Maia, they were sitting next to each other in their sophomore statistics class at UMass the day before he left for Colorado. He hasn’t seen her since. Through Instagram, he knows that she graduated summa cum laude last year and got her dream teaching job for the following fall. But other than that, she has been someone stuck in his past that he wishes he had more time with before his college career got cut short because of hockey.

Except at this very moment, she’s standing right in front of him and his daughter at her new preschool welcoming each of the children that will presumably be her students.

Ohmygod.

Gabe, ever observant, notices the longing and surprised look on his teammate’s face and elbows Cale just enough to grab his attention again. Maisy’s arms are wrapped around one of Cale’s legs as she takes in the scene around her. It’s easy to tell that she’s nervous, scared and shy all at once, her earlier excitement seemingly having disappeared for the moment. Linnea, on the other hand, is happily bouncing next to Gabe and Cale feels grateful for the millionth time that Maisy won’t be alone today because she has such a good friend in his captain’s daughter.

“Who is she?” Gabe asks, not dancing around the subject at all. Cale tries to suppress the urge to roll his eyes as he drops a hand to Maisy’s head knowing the simple touch will keep her calm until he can talk to her.

“Who?” Cale decides to play dumb, hoping to get Gabe off the topic but it doesn’t work. He gets a level stare instead. “Maia. We went to UMass together and I had the biggest crush on her. We shared a lot of classes and hung out a lot because of that, but I never acted on anything since I wasn’t sure if she felt the same way. I haven’t seen her since I left to join the team.” He admits, awaiting some kind of reaction to the shortened story he just recounted.

“Well, judging by the look on your face you wish you did something about it then. Universe works in funny ways, Cale. Give it some time. You know she’s here now and considering she’s your daughter’s preschool teacher, I’m sure there won’t be a shortage of opportunities to talk to her.”

“I don’t even know if she remembers me, Gabe.”

With one glance back towards the woman standing near the school’s entrance, Gabe catches her eyes flickering over to where the two hockey players are standing. It’s almost impossible to miss the split second change of emotions on display across her facial features when she looks at Cale.

“I highly doubt that.” Gabe responds, patting Cale on the shoulder and offering a genuine smile before kneeling down to talk to Linnea.

“Daddy?” Maisy speaks up softly, tugging at his hand and looking up at him with her big blue eyes. Cale’s heart just about melts at the sight.

“How are you feeling, Maise?” Cale asks, putting himself on the little girl’s level. She offers him a shy smile and then hugs her father tightly for a moment. He holds her close, letting her revel in the comfort of the embrace until she’s ready to say anything more.

“I’m scared. There’s a lot of kids and I only know Lala.” Maisy admits with a small waver in her voice giving away her emotions.

“There are a lot of kids here, but you’ll have Linnea to play with and I know you’ll make so many new friends. I saw a girl with an Avalanche keychain on her backpack over there and a boy who had the same coloring book you love at home.” “Really?” Maisy says with that familiar gleam of hope. Cale only nods in response, kissing her forehead which earns him a tiny giggle. A sound he’ll never get tired of hearing.

“Really. You’ll have so much fun today and I can’t wait to hear all about it.” That seems to ease some of Maisy’s anxiety about such a big change, but he knows another question is going to follow behind so he patiently waits.

“Will we have snacktime? You packed my Teddy Grahams right?” Before Cale can answer that, yes there will be snacktime and of course he packed her Teddy Grahams, a soft female voice cuts in surprising both of the Makars.

“Snacktime is right after coloring so you’ll be able to eat your Teddy Grahams. What kind is your favorite?”

“The honey ones!” Maisy perks right up, turning right back into the happy and adorable girl that Cale knows so well. She leans right into Cale who keeps her close, but everything seems to disappear the moment he looks up at who is currently talking to his daughter.

Maia.

“Me too! Those are the best.” Maisy giggles at that, filling the air with joy just from the simple sound. And if Cale wasn’t so focused on the woman crouching down in front of them, he would’ve chuckled along too. Instead his heart is racing and he can’t form one coherent thought because after all this time, she’s right here again. The one who got away.

Her wavy hair is a little longer and darker than it was in college and her eyes are still so bright. Cale can’t help but notice how her curves have filled out since the last time he saw her and the pretty clementine print dress she’s wearing highlights that, taking his breath away. He’s in awe of how beautiful she is like he always has been.

“I’m Ms. Webber, your preschool teacher. What’s your name?”

“Maisy!”

“It’s so nice to meet you, Maisy. I love your name.” Maia responds, smiling fondly at the little girl who is already melting her heart.

“Thank you. It was picked out special for me.” She says, voice quiet with shyness but Cale can tell she’s slowly warming up to the idea of school once again. “This is Daddy! He plays hockey here. Did you know that?” Maisy continues, squeezing Cale’s arm and that’s when Maia’s gaze falls to the little girl’s father.

It is him.

Cale Makar.

When Maia received her class list at the beginning of the summer, she picked out the last name within seconds. Makar is pretty much a household name in Denver now so it wasn’t easy to overlook, but more importantly, it still belonged to the man who has held her heart since the day they first met. She tried to not get her hopes up because how could he have a daughter entering preschool at this very moment in time? Yet, here he is with that exact little girl who’s name was on her roster and looks just like her father. Not to mention, she’s full of sunshine.

“I had no idea. That’s so cool! This must be his jersey then, huh?” Maia asks, keeping the conversation going with Maisy but her eyes drift to Cale and it feels as if her heart stops right then and there. He looks almost exactly as she remembers him, maybe a little more muscular and older, but other than that he looks like the Cale she knew in college. Glasses and all. She can’t believe it.

“Well, that’s his name and number, but this is my jersey.” Maisy exclaims with a laugh and the way Cale looks at his daughter is the purest form of love that Maia has ever seen. Before anything else could be said, the school bell rings and the kids begin departing from their parents. Maia politely excuses herself to join her colleagues for the day as Maisy collapses into Cale’s arms for one last hug.

“Have a great first day, Maise. You’ll have lots of fun. I love you so much.” Cale murmurs into her blonde hair, trying to hold back the surge of emotions that have arisen in the moment.

“I love you too. I’ll have lots of fun so I can tell you about it later. Bye, Daddy!” Maisy leans up to kiss his cheek and Cale can’t help but hold onto her for just a moment longer.

There’s an unfamiliar pressure evident in Maia’s chest as she watches the father and daughter hold each other in the tightest hug before Maisy falls into step with a girl she must be friends with and together they walk backwards, Maisy waving to Cale the whole way to the door.

It’s going to be an interesting school year.

~~~~~

“Alright, Maisy. Are you getting your usual pizza today or something different?” Cale asks, looking down at his daughter who is holding his hand and bouncing with excitement. The father daughter pizza dates on Friday nights have become a staple in the Makar household and even if Cale’s on the road, they make time for this exact tradition no matter what.

“Mmm, my usual!” Maisy pipes up in response with a bright smile.

“Okay, go get your favorite seat and I’ll order.” Maisy nods quickly and skips off to the table they always sit at whenever they come to Proto’s Pizza. This particular pizza place is not only Maisy’s favorite, but it was also Beatrice’s whenever she used to come see Cale in Denver. It’s one way that her mom’s memory is kept alive through a simple act even if the cute restaurant has a new meaning to both of them now too.

Cale watches to make sure Maisy settles at the table with her coloring book before stepping up to the counter to order. Two Hawaiian slices for him and two plain for Maisy. The exchange with the cashier is almost exactly the same since he’s a regular here now, but as he moves towards the pick up area, Cale’s eyes spot the familiar brunette waves of not only his daughter’s preschool teacher but the girl he still carries an immense amount of love for.

Maia.

He hasn’t really seen her since Maisy’s first day of school almost two months ago. Of course she’s there at drop off and pick up, but it’s nothing more than about five minutes and Cale doesn’t know how to start a conversation that isn’t awkward because of all the time they’ve missed. But he wants her back in his life and so far, just Maisy’s teacher isn’t enough.

She’s reading something on her phone when Cale sidles up next to her. With one glance back to make sure Maisy is okay, which she is, he takes a moment to admire how pretty Maia looks in jeans that hug her curves and how she looks more relaxed than she is at school everyday.

And then he takes that leap of faith.

“Are you still ordering your half veggie half meat lovers pizza?” The question leaves Cale’s lips, a teasing tone evident in every word he says. Maia’s head snaps up at the sound of his voice, a look of utter disbelief on display across her face.

“Still a better choice than your beloved Hawaiian, Makar.” Maia fires back with that playfulness she always had around him. In that split second, their eyes lock, every memory from college comes rushing back and she suddenly finds herself nervous more than anything. Maia’s heart is racing with anticipation and she knows things have changed since the two of them were themselves, but she can’t stop the sense of familiarity that surrounds her as the conversation unfolds. They’ve had the same argument a million times so it’s easy to slip back into even if their lives are not the same. “Sorry, I mean, it’s still a great choice, but-”

“Not your favorite, I know.” Cale finishes, offering a kind smile to help ease the obvious tension she’s feeling. “It wasn’t then and I can’t imagine that’s changed over the years.” He teases, feeling a tug on his heart when thinking about what they shared at UMass.

“I’m more surprised you remember my go-to order honestly.”

“How could I forget? Every study date, late night snack and pizza craving you ever had was always half veggie half meat lovers. I’ll remember that order forever.” Cale admits with a chuckle, warming Maia’s heart in mere seconds. It almost feels as if no time has passed at all and they’re still those two kids just trying to get their degrees while figuring out life along the way.

Except, they aren’t and time has passed. A reminder that strikes Maia as the comfortable silence settles between them.

“Where’s your little one?”

“Oh,” Cale starts, momentarily forgetting that they’re currently in Proto's, not the dining hall on campus. “Maisy’s at our usual table coloring until our order is ready.” Maia looks towards where he tilts his head, spotting the curly blonde hair that belongs to one of her favorite students.

“She’s just like you. You know that?” Maia asks, surprising even herself at letting the observation slip past her lips. But it’s the truth. Everyday at preschool, she sees more and more of her father in Maisy and the emotions she thought were long gone have risen to the surface over the last two months.

“That’s what people tell me.” Cale replies, cheeks flushing pink as he scratches the back of his neck. He looks absolutely adorable and Maia can’t help but grin at the sight of him.

“She’s really lucky to have you. And we have plenty to catch up on already, but I would love to hear the story about how she got here.” Maia says softly, gaze flickering back to Maisy who is lost in her own world while coloring away.

Before Cale can do anything else but nod in response, both of their orders are ready. Maia steps forward to grab her pizza box, sparks flying when she brushes past Cale. Almost repeating her actions, he finally finds his voice again.

“Keep that catching up date in mind. There’s more to cover than you think.”

“Okay, Makar. We’ll do that soon. Until then, I’ll see you at school with Maisy. Enjoy your Hawaiian pizza, weirdo.”

“Make sure you eat the veggie slices first, Webber.” And just like that, with a small wave and a smile that could rival the sun, Maia heads toward the door. Cale snaps out of his little trance in seconds, bringing the pizza back to the table where his too curious daughter is waiting with lots of questions.

“You and Ms. Webber are friends?” Maisy says immediately as Cale sits down across from her and she forgets about the coloring book she was just working on. Her voice is full of what sounds like hope mixed with peaked interest.

“She’s actually an old friend of mine from college. We used to do almost everything together before I left to play hockey here.” Cale explains with a grin, his heart swelling like it always does at the thought or mention of Maia. The girl he loved then and never thought he’d have another chance with. “And then we went to your first day of preschool and I found out she’s your teacher!”

“Oh!” The little girl exclaims as she digs into her pizza. Cale chuckles at her reaction, but it isn’t long before Maisy keeps up her questioning. “Were you best friends? What did you do together?”

The innocent words hang in the hang for a moment. Despite their time being cut short due to Cale’s call up to the NHL, there are countless memories to recall of everything he did with Maia. So without any hesitation, Cale tells his daughter almost everything. About how they met, the way they became instant friends, how when they hung out time felt as if it didn’t exist, the late nights after his games, studying together in the back of the library. There’s so much history and although none of the almost’s slip through his story, the almost kiss, the almost confession of feelings, the almost being something more, Cale longs to change that now.

“I’m going to tell Ms. Webber tomorrow that she knows a famous hockey player. And my daddy!” Maisy exclaims after listening intently. Her blue eyes are alight with joy, a sight that makes her father smile like nothing else.

“You do that, Maise.” As the two go back to chatting about much simpler things, Cale’s mind wanders through every possibility. He would be stupid to not give them another shot, but he has no idea if those lingering feelings still exist for Maia or if they even existed in the first place.

That, Cale decides, is step one.

And he knows just the person to ask for advice on how to win a woman’s heart.

~~~~~

Gabe, unfortunately, beats him to the punch.

It’s a chilly November morning and as Linnea and Maisy reach for each other’s hands to walk into the preschool building together after saying goodbye to their fathers, Gabe voices the question that makes Cale freeze.

“So when are you gonna make a move, Caler?” Gabe teases, lightly elbowing his teammate and Cale’s cheeks become rosier by the second.

“I-uh, was actually going to ask you about that.”

“Me? Not EJ or even Devon? It’s an honor.”

“Shut up. EJ would make the whole thing a spectacle and Devon would probably be shocked that I even know how to talk to girls. You’re my best bet. And it’s not a big deal.” Cale replies, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets and tries to ignore how embarrassing this is. He’s 23 years old and is asking for advice on how to get the girl.

He’s won the Stanley Cup and is one of the most distinguished hockey players in the league this early in his career. But talking to one person who’s held his heart for years? That’s impossible.

“Okay, well what are you thinking?” Gabe prompts, eyes remaining on the girls as they say hi to their teacher before disappearing into the building.

“I don’t even know if she was into me back in college, Gabe. Like I can’t make a move thinking she feels the same way when it’s been years since we last saw each other and I wasn’t sure of her feelings then.”

“You have to figure out where you stand then.” Cale’s brows furrow in confusion, but his captain continues speaking. “By the way things seem between the two of you, she definitely feels the same way. But I think she’s unsure more than ever. You do have a kid in her preschool class and she might think someone else is in your life.”

“There isn’t.” “Maia doesn’t know that. Does she?” Cale shook his head, the realization dawning on him right then. Since Maisy’s first day of school, there’s been that distance between them. The flirting and comfortableness has returned in their brief exchanges, but not like it used to be. And maybe it’s because Maia thinks Cale’s committed to Maisy’s mom since she doesn’t know the whole story.

“I have to fill her in.”

“Exactly. And I’m sure once everything is clear, you’ll both be able to admit how you feel to each other. Finally.” Gabe says with a reassuring nod, a smile creeping back onto his face. “You’re growing up so fast. Cale Makar is going to get the girl!”

“Shush! Don’t jinx anything. Nothing’s guaranteed so don’t get your hopes up. I just have to find a moment where I can tell her everything.” Cale settes, brain already racing to find a solution to that problem.

The answer comes not even days later when Maisy hands him a paper about parent teacher conferences. The meeting is used to discuss the progress of each child in class with their parents or guardians. Cale selects a time and date for the following week before making sure to tuck the paper into Maisy’s backpack so she can hand it in the next day.

And even as Maisy rambles on excitedly that night about how she met a friend who loves horses just like Uncle EJ, Cale is stuck on the fact that he’s going to have a designated time alone with just Maia. This is what he needs to finally move their relationship out of the friendzone after all this time.

But this is Maisy’s teacher he’s talking about. Maia isn’t just someone he knows and loves anymore. She’s important to his daughter too now for other reasons. He can’t overlook or forget that. And that means if this doesn’t go as planned, the hurt and awkwardness will be felt by more than just the two of them.

By time the day of the meeting rolls around, Cale is trying to desperately focus on how this is supposed to be about Maisy. The little girl who already owns his heart. It’s constant reminders of how although this is the perfect opportunity, he won’t get distracted by what’s actually at hand: his daughter’s wellbeing.

After dropping Maisy off to spend the afternoon with Nate, who was more than happy to spend time with the much cuter Makar as he says, Cale drove over to the school. The trip seems quicker than usual because before he knows it, Maia is welcoming him into the little classroom that’s colorfully decorated.

“Hi Cale.” Maia greets, her soft smile lighting up her face and Cale feels his heart swell with adoration. “Thank you so much for coming in today.”

“Hi,” Cale murmurs with a nod of acknowledgement, suddenly becoming the shy person he usually is when meeting others for the first time. “Your classroom is really cute. Decorate it yourself?”

“I did! It’s my second year teaching so I figured out what worked best last year and made this little space my dream classroom.” Cale’s gaze moves around the room, taking in every little detail about where his little girl spends part of her days now. He sees Maia’s desk in one corner, neatly organized, hand paintings from the class taped up on one wall, different signs hanging around with numbers, colors and letters on them and the small library of books nestled in the reading corner. A slow smile blossoms across his lips, making butterflies erupt in Maia’s stomach.

“I love it.” Cale says simply. And he does. The whole classroom is exactly as he imagined it would’ve looked when she talked about in college.

“Thank you.” Maia replies, tucking a piece of hair behind her hair. “Let’s sit and get started.” Cale follows her to a little table on the other side of the room and takes a seat in a tiny chair made for preschoolers. He hardly fits in it, knees bending at an awkward angle, and Maia can’t help but giggle at him. Despite everything they’ve missed over the last few years, he’s still the boy she’s in love with.

“So first off, everything I have to say about Maisy today is good. She’s a wonderful student and an even more amazing little girl to her classmates in every situation. It’s clear you’ve done an excellent job raising her.” Maia begins, her warm smile and kind words melting Cale’s heart in an instant. He still isn’t used to accepting compliments about how good of a father he is even if it’s true. He just wants to be enough for Maisy. As long as she’s happy, he did his job right.

“Thank you so much.”

“Oh, of course! There’s plenty more praise for Maisy coming throughout this meeting.” She laughs, the beautiful sound bringing a sense of happiness to Cale that he hasn’t experienced in quite some time. And he can tell Maia feels it too. “Maisy is also ahead of her classmates in several areas of her education. She’s got her ABC’s down and can write her name, her basic math skills are off the charts and she has a pretty good grasp on recognizing words which is great for how young she is.”

“Oh, really? That’s good to hear. I was worried we hadn’t done enough at home to prepare her.” Cale admits with relief, fumbling with his fingers under the table as a small distraction.

“Absolutely no worries there. Maisy is right on track for kindergarten and doing so well with things like reading and writing already at her age. We love seeing her here everyday. You and your partner should be so proud. You’ve raised a beautiful and incredible daughter.”

This is his chance. Tell her the truth.

“I- uh, it’s actually just me and Maisy. But I appreciate that. It means a lot.”

“Oh, I apologize-”

“You can stop me if this is an inappropriate time to tell you this, but-”

Both of them stop speaking, not wanting to talk over the other. Blush spreads across Cale’s cheeks as Maia’s beautiful eyes drop down in that way which quietly shows she’s nervous.

“Go ahead.” She almost whispers. “I know we’re here to talk about Maisy and we pretty much covered everything I had planned, but there seems to be a lot of other things we both have to say.”

With one deep breath and a racing heart, Cale jumps into his well thought out explanation. He tells Maia about everything that’s happened since he left UMass. Meeting Bea, the tragedy of losing her but gaining his daughter at the same time, taking care of Maisy since then while still playing for the Avs. Every word comes out in a rush, but she listens to every single bit and her gaze begins to fill with hope.

“I just wanted to make it clear that there isn’t anyone else in my life. You’ve been in the dark this whole time and that didn’t feel right.” Cale concludes, feeling the weight of his confession in the air. But the reaction he gets erases every worry present in his mind.

“Cale,” Maia chuckles, her expression soft with joy. “I was honestly so shocked to see you on the first day of school even if Maisy’s name on my classlist gave it away a little bit. But I can’t help and think that us being right here, together, means something more. We never gave ourselves a real chance back in college, but now might be the time. My feelings haven’t changed,”

“Mine either.” Cale interrupts politely, voice quiet but full of emotions.

“So do you want to give this thing another go? For real this time?” The question falls off of Maia’s pink lips, but he can see she’s still unsure if this is real. He’s wondering the same thing. They’ve waited so long for each other and now here’s the opportunity they’ve been waiting for.

“For real this time.”

~~~~~

“Family, friends and community members, I welcome you to this year’s preschool graduation.” Principal Andrews announces with a bright smile while standing at the podium that’s in front of the small crowd. “These children are on their way to kindergarten in the fall and this ceremony is to recognize the achievement they have all reached during their time in preschool.”

“Crazy you’re going to have a kindergartener soon, huh?” Maia teases, bumping her knee against Cale’s. Her fingers are intertwined with his, their hands resting in his lap.

“Don’t remind me.” He rolls his blue eyes and laughs in response.

It’s been six months since the two of them admitted their feelings to each other and started dating. Despite the fact that the Avs didn’t win the Cup this season, much to Cale and his teammates’ dismay, their relationship has only grown stronger and more incredible. Maisy couldn’t have been more thrilled even if she tried when they told her, the joy of her father finally having someone and that someone being the teacher she adores was the best news. Maia fits right into their lives like she’s always belonged there, something that makes Cale’s heart all warm and fuzzy just thinking about it.

Now, it’s graduation day for the preschoolers and Cale couldn’t be happier sitting with the girl he’s always loved waiting for his daughter’s name to be announced. He presses a quick kiss to Maia’s temple before they both turn their attention back to the ceremony.

“These fifteen young, bright children have grown in so many ways over the course of this past school year. And now, many would say, they’re ready for the big leagues also known as kindergarten.” The crowd laughs along to the joke, hundreds of emotions being felt at the same time. “The teachers and myself have all cherished the time we had together with these little ones so this is just as special for us as it is for you. Without a further ado, we’ll now be presenting the students with their preschool diploma.”

All the little kids stood up in front of their chairs, the biggest smiles plastered onto each of their faces. Cale spots Maisy easily. Her curly blonde hair is pinned back on the sides and her pink glasses aren’t hard to find in a small group. She picked out her favorite dress, a sparkly blue one, just for today’s event. Watching her shuffle forward on the stage, beautiful and happy, makes Cale think about how much she’s grown up. Time has passed too quickly for his liking and seeing his little girl up there now, moving onto another monumental time in her life, strikes his heart like never before.

The sadness doesn’t stick around for long though as Maisy steps up and Principal Andrews says her name out loud.

“Maisy Beatrice Makar.”

Tears spring into Cale’s eyes while he and Maia stand to clap and cheer. Maisy walks with joy in her step across the stage, accepting a tiny diploma and waving out to Cale right afterwards. With a watery smile and his usual rosy cheeks, he waves back to her. And when Maia leans into his side as silent support, the whole moment couldn’t be any more perfect than it is.

“She did it.” Cale whispers in awe and Maia giggles softly next to him.

“She did. But it’s only preschool. You have at least three more graduations to get through.”

It’s then that the entire class stands in front of the crowd with their diplomas and the principal declares them all preschool graduates. Everyone erupts in cheers, pictures being taken from all angles and Cale is pretty sure the grin on his face will be stuck there for days.

“Before we conclude our ceremony, it’s part of our school’s tradition to invite parents or guardians on stage for pictures and to represent who will be offering support to the students as they continue on with their education. So, those special individuals, please make your way to the front.”

“Ready?” The question is a mumble, but Maia hears it. She nods, grabbing Cale’s hand again. Both of their hearts are beating so fast that it’s a surprise no one around hears. Together, they walk towards the stage to join Maisy who is clueless to the moment that’s about to unfold.

“Daddy!” Maisy calls when she sees Cale come up the stairs. Her excitement is incredibly infectious, something that Maia adores about her too. “And Maia? You both came up?” She asks, obvious confusion crossing over her facial features.

“Of course. Maia is part of our family, isn’t she? We always say so.”

“She is! Principal Andrews said parents so I only thought you would come up, Daddy, but it’s way better with Maia here too. We’re a family.” Maisy says gently, warmth in each word as she processes what this means.

“We’re a family, Maise.” Maia repeats back before kissing the top of the little girl’s head and earning a giggle. Cale watches on as pure love makes his heart swell. This is all he’s wanted for so long. The girl of his dreams and his daughter. Life couldn’t be any better.

And later, when they’re settled at their usual table at Proto’s for Maisy’s celebratory dinner and Maia hands over her gift which of course is a copy of “Maisy Goes To School”, her personal favorite of all the Maisy Mouse books and fitting for the occasion, Cale is hit with a realization.

No matter what happens in his life going forward, he knows something now that he didn’t before. As long as he has these two, Maia and Maisy, everything will always be okay. And that is all he will ever need.

tagging some friends/mutuals who might be interested! @tonyspep @starshine-hockey-girl @kailyn-writes @rosesvioletshardy @sorryjustafangirl @laurenairay @miracleonice87 @hockeyunits @stroopwaffle8 @musiclove-12 @eightmakar @ilyasorokinn @barzysreputation @broadstflyers @breezymichelle99 @comphyjost @ya-pucking-nerd @jostystyles @ch-ristiane @beauvibaby @sourjoonie @idontgiveaflyinggrayson69 @itrocksmysocks @tysonjost-taylorsversion @boqvistsbabe @happer08 @antoineroussel @tpwkstiles @hockeylvr59 @2manytabsopen @senditcolton @equallyshaw

#cale makar #cale makar fic #cale makar imagine #cale makar blurb #summer fic exchange 2k22 #nhl imagine #nhl fic #hockey fic #hockey imagine #fluff #hwncloud #hwn cloud #colorado avalanche #cale makar x oc

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virgil-my-beloved · 1 year

Text

Once again rereading Red, White and Royal Blue so enjoy some of my favorite lines and a few thoughts I had while reading <3

'RULE #1: DON'T GET CAUGHT'

"Well, you don't have to like him, you just have to put on a happy face and not cause an international incident at his brother's wedding." right yes good, so about that...

I'm obsessed with Cash's full name being Cassius

'"Do either of you know what a viscount is?" ... "I think it's that thing when a vampire creates an army of crazed sex waifs and starts his own ruling body."'

'When he got his first girlfriend, she made a PowerPoint presentation' I love Ellen, she's been the same he whole life, queen.

'Shaan is on the phone with Portugal' is absolutely my favorite line in the whole book.

'He just... Well, he gets told he's great a lot. He just doesn't often get told he's good enough'

'Then he thinks: If there was a prince, and he was gay, and he kissed someone, and maybe it mattered, that prince might have to run a bit of interference. And in one mercurial swing, Alex is not just angry anymore. He's sad too.'

'... where people are to busy mingling and listening to music to notice Alex frog-marching an heir to the throne out of the dining room' This paints such a vivid and hysterical picture.

'Henry is one talented bastard, a man of many hidden gifts, Alex muses half-hysterically. A true prodigy. God Save the Queen'

"... She still listens, and she tries, and she wants us to be happy. But I don't know if she has it in her anymore to be a part of anyone's happiness."

'How he realized by the time he was four that every person in the country knew his name, and how he told his mother he didn't know if he wanted them to, and how she knelt down and told him she'd let nothing touch him, not ever'

'... Two parentheses enclosing 3,700 miles.'

'He keeps staring at them, hoping if he recites them enough time in his head, he'll figure out how to feel like he's doing enough.'

'"Good morning, strumpet." Henry say, glancing away from the road to wink at the camera'

As a leftist that lives in and loves the fuck out of a red state, Alex's argument with Hunter in chapter eight is so healing tbh. "You think y'all are off the hook for institutional bigotry because you come from a blue state. Not every white supremacist is a meth-head in Bumfuck, Mississippi--there are plenty of them at Duke or UPenn on Daddy's money." Alex in this scene is so important to understanding red state democrats and liberals. Please please please go read the full scene again.

'He remembers, as if from a million miles away, telling Henry once not to overthink this.'

'It's rare anyone other than June goes out of their way to check on him. It's by his own design, mostly, a barricade of charm and fitful monologues and hard-headed independence. Henry looks at him like he's not fooled by any of it.'

Besties whatever you do Do Not listen to Haunted by Taylor Swift while reading Alex and Henry's almost breakup in chapter ten omg.

Taking up irl royal watching has made me inexplicably violent to seeing "The Daily Mail" in this book. They're actually awful irl if you were wondering.

"Alex. I don't want to do this."

"... You and me and history, remember? We're just gonna fucking fight. Because you're it, okay?..."

'He wants to set himself on fire but he can't afford for anyone to see him burn'

'This is the damage you cause, Alex, it all seems to say, right there in hard facts and figures. This is who you hurt.'

'Alex hasn't been a good Catholic on a long time, but he knows confession is a sacrament. They were supposed to stay safe.'

'"Oh, love," she says simply. "he misses Dad."'

"... On purpose. I love him on purpose."

#red white and royal blue #rwrb book #rwrb henry #rwrb alex #rwrb reread

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chiefduckgarden · 2 years

Text

Champagne Problems

Wanda maximoff x reader

Natasha Romanoff x reader

Based on Taylor Swift's Champagne Problems.

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

The cold air of New York filled her lungs as she walked through the streets of the big city. She was back in town after a long time outside the country. But even after all that time, her feet were basically walking on their own as she made her way to the cafe that used to be her favorite some years ago.

The sudden warmth hit her face as she walked through the doors of the establishment, and the familiar smell of coffee and food drew a smile on her face.

- Natasha Romanoff, what a nice surprise! - A male voice shouted from the bar with emotion - It has been a long time since the last time I saw you walking through that door - he continued as the redhead walked towards him.

- Dan, it’s great to see you too - she answered with a soft smile taking a seat in front of the bar - How has everything been around here?

- Oh, we’ve been fine, you know, there has been no more alien invasion or attempts of ancient mythological gods to conquer the city, so, everything has been normal around here - he laughed and the girl did too. The lives of those poor people had not been the same since Loki’s last visit to earth.

- I’m glad to hear that - she said smiling - Can i have a regular coffee? - she asked and the man nodded.

- So, how you’ve been Natasha? Is fighting and protecting our world as tired as i heard? - Dan asked her as he began to prepare her order.

- You tell me. Have you ever blown up an entire country while fighting an army of robots a thousand feet from the ground?

- Oh yeah, the news from Sokovia was definitely a note, what a crazy world isn’t? A whole country completely gone from the face of earth… - the man said, but when he saw the girl’s reaction immediately added - But I’m sure you did what was necessary.

The Russian smirked and nodded without saying a word.

It’s been a while since i last saw Y/N too, how is she? - he said trying to change the conversation.

Natasha felt a knot on her stomach at the mention of your name. It had been a while since someone asked her about you. She was the last person anyone expected to know something about you. Well, at least anyone who knew what had happened between the both of you.

- Oh, Y/N and i are not together anymore. We broke up a few years ago - she said almost in a whisper.

The man handed her the coffee with a surprise expression on his face. He couldn’t believed what he was hearing. You and Natasha… Broke up? How could such an impossible thing could’ve happen?

- I’m sorry Natasha, i wouldn’t have asked if I knew - Dan apologized.

- Don’t worry, not many people outside the team knew about it, it was a very private matter - she said taking a sip of her coffee.

The man just nodded, not sure of what to say.

- Excuse me sir, I’ll have a cappuccino and a bagel please - a voice spoke from the other side of the bar.

- Uhh sure, in a moment - Dan replied giving Natasha one last apologetic look before heading back to work.

She just smile and said goodbye heading towards the door to leave.

5 years ago

- I swear this place has an amazing chocolate cake, and the coffee is also really good, c'mon Natty, come with me - your pleading voice filled the redhead’s room as you were trying to convince her to go with you to a new cafe you found a few days before .

- I don’t feel like going out today honey - she replied from her bed without taking her eyes off the screen in front of her.

You pouted and headed for her.

- Please, I promise you will love it - you tried again putting your best puppy eyes.

She sighed. How could she deny anything to you?

- Okay, let’s go before I change my mind - she said faking a sarcastic tone.

You smile and pecked her lips for a kiss, then you took her by the hand and dragged her outside the compound.

She was happy to be the one that provide you happiness. All she could see was how excited you were to show her this new place, and to share it with her. She felt lucky to be the first person you thought about when something made you happy, to be the one you fell in love with, to be the one to call you hers.

After that afternoon the cafe became your usual place for dates, or just to go to eat. And consequently you became friends with the owner, Dan, a 58 year old man that was very kind and friendly to both of you since day one.

He watched your relationship from the outside for years, three to be exact, and he was sure that you two were perfect soul mates. Also, he was excited to have two avengers as regular costumers.

But then, life showed to have different plans for the both of you.

Because I dropped your hand while dancing

Left you out there standing

Crestfallen on the landing

Champagne problems

Natasha wasn’t sure of when it started, but the constant overwhelming feeling of thinking about the future began to consume her.

If she had to mark a moment, she would say that was when she heard you talk about having an apartment together just for the two of you. Afterward, the idea of a house crossed your mind and you couldn’t stop yourself from talking with her about it.

- Can you imagine having a house for ourselves, and having a dog, or a cat, or… children, perhaps - you said while you were layed on her chest on the bed in your room.

She froze for a moment. A house? Children?

No, she wasn’t ready to think about that yet. But she could tell you were.

So all she did was laugh.

- Sure, maybe someday.

But her tone gave you a bad feeling. You stood from your place and took a sit beside her.

- We’ve been together for almost three years now and almost nothing in our relationship has change since then. Maybe it’s the right time to make a change, like move out of the compound and find a new place, just for you and me - you said with a little bit of disappointment on your voice.

She heard you were getting upset, so she tried to calm you down.

- Okay, baby, let’s chill, we don’t have to fight over this.

- No but let’s talk about it, i was really excited about talking with you about this kind of stuff.

- But why do you want to move out? here are our friends and the people that we love and consider our family - she replied on a try to convince you.

- Yes, but we only go to missions, save the world and then come back in here to wait for another mission. Also, some of them have another place to call home besides the compound.

Okay, you were getting on her nerves now.

- I thought this was enough for you.

You looked at her with teary eyes, about to cry.

- It was but… i thought we were on the same page. My bad - you answered moving your gaze to the ground.

She got that as a sign to leave the room, so she did. She definitely needed a drink.

When she got into the bar that Stark put on the compound for the parties that he used to do after long missions she found Steve and Banner in it.

- Place for one more? - she said as she placed herself between the two man drinking.

- Sure Romanoff, anything in particular that you’d like? - the blonde man asked her.

- No, anything will be fine, I’m kind of having a rough time - she said quietly.

- What happened? - Banner asked.

She sighed.

- I just had fight with Y/N

- Why? - Steve questioned as he handed a glass to her.

- Well, she wants us to move out to a place for me and her, and basically begin a new life with prospects of starting a family - she said sipping her drink.

- Isn’t that a good thing? That she wants a future with you? - the Cap asked confused.

Natasha thought about it for a moment. Wasn’t that good? Steve understood her silence and smiled friendly at her.

- I know this might seem scary, you never thought there would be chance for you to have a normal life, but Nat, there is a chance, and Y/N knows that. She loves you, maybe you should do it.

And that’s how her night went, hearing Steve talk about how good it’d be if she moved out with you and how great your lives would become.

But something about that didn’t felt right with her. She loved your lives just as how they were. And she didn’t even knew why she couldn’t see herself having that lifestyle with you.

Eventually Steve left the bar to go to sleep and leaving her and Banner alone in the place.

The green man hadn’t speak that much that night, he mostly just listened Rogers talk, just like Natasha.

- What do you think Bruce? Any advice for your friend? - she said taking another shot of liquor.

He smiled slightly, imitating the redhead’s action with the drink.

- Well Nat, I think I kind of understand your feelings. People like you and I don’t get to live a normal life, ever.

- You don’t think i should give a chance to this new phase with Y/N?

- I think you should do what you feel like doing, don’t act just because you are under pressure.

She sighed.

- So you are saying you don’t see yourself living a life like that? With a wife or kids?

He nodded

- That’s right, if i ever get a partner i’ll make sure that she has the same life goals and plans. That she understands my lifestyle and be okay with it, without any strong compromise that could possibly hurt each other’s feelings in the future. This way to live, where we are always saving the world it’s not for everybody, we don’t know if we will ever stop cause the danger can come from anywhere. And i don’t want anyone to waste their time either, people deserve better.

She knew exactly what her friend was talking about, cause she felt the same. It would be sort of impossible for you and her to try to persue a suburban lifestyle, cause your work was a priority. Or at least it was for her.

She kept talking with Bruce about it for a few more minutes and then, both left the bar.

She wasn’t sure if you wanted to see her, so she went straight to her room, maybe you were with Wanda, you had became a good friend of the Sokovian after defeating Ultron. But her surprise was that you were already there waiting for her.

- Hi - you said almost inaudibly.

- Hi - she replied closing the door behind her and walking towards you.

She saw the rednes around your eyes, as a proof of how much you have cried that night. And she felt guilty, you didn’t deserve that.

- Listen Nat, i’m sorry if tonight i tried to push you into anything that you are not ready for, but i really thought that it was the right time to do it - you started talking in a shaky voice.

She felt horrible with herself. How could she hurt you? the person she loved the most was in pain because of her.

- No no no, honey, i’m sorry for how i handled the situation, it’s just that i don’t think i want to have that just yet, maybe we should get married first and…

- Married? - you asked, a slight hope coming from voice.

Oh no. She was giving you a fake hope for something that she might never be ready for.

But the words came out of her mouth before she could even think of what she was saying.

- Yes - she said still unsure - Maybe we can give that step first before doing something else.

You smiled brightly and held her by the neck to crash your lips with hers. Maybe Nat was right, you needed to start slowly.

She felt relaxed after that night, maybe over the time you’ll see how great you two were together without any pressure for the future.

But the clock was ticking for the both of you.

Your mom’s ring in your pocket

My picture in your wallet

Your heart was glass, I dropped it

Champagne problems

Unlike your girlfriend you never stopped thinking about the wedding thing since that night. You were only waiting the right moment to do it, cause you wanted to be the one to propose to Nat. You knew how insecure she was feeling about it and wanted to give her the reassurance to give the next step. You were so ready.

So you began to plan everything, and asked Wanda for help.

Of course, she said yes.

Since the destruction of Sokovia you were the closest person to the girl and you had been there for her anytime she needed it. Cause, for sure Vision was a great friend for her too, but there was something about you that made her feel happy, your presence was like a breath of fresh air to her soul. Everytime you were near, she felt in complete confidence.

But when those feelings started to develop into something deeper, she tried to take a step back.

She knew about your relationship with Natasha and was grateful with the redhead for sharing you with her. The russian girl never showed any kind of jealous about your friendship, and Wanda didn’t want to betray Nat’s trust. So she tried to put those feelings aside. But undoubtedly they were still there, making your engagement, being like hell for her.

- I’m gonna go for the rings to my old parent’s house next week and gonna ask Stark about doing the proposal at the compound, with all of our friends - you said to Wanda, who was with you in your favorite cafe, chatting about the proposal planning.

- That’s great, it’ll be intimate but with your closest friends with you - she agreed - So you’re giving her your mom’s ring?

- Yes, she told me that she wanted me to give that ring to the girl i married, and for me to wear my father’s. It will be something very special.

She wished she was that girl.

You both continued talking for a while longer without knowing that it was the last time you would be in that cafe.

Natasha was completely unaware of your plans, she thought you were taking your space after your last fight. No one but you, Wanda and Tony knew about the proposal.

You told your family for a reason

You couldn’t keep it in

Your sister splashed out on the bottle

Now no one’s celebrating

Dom Pérignon, you brought it

No crowd of friends applauded

Your hometown skeptics called it

Champagne Problems

And the day finally came. Stark told the team that they were having an intimate party just for them. They knew that he always liked to have parties for no reason, so they just confirmed their attendance without asking anything more. The only requirement was to be as stylish as possible, because “they couldn’t look like homeless all the time” in Stark’s words.

You chose a cute black suit tailored for you and a matching pair of high heels. “You looked amazing,” in Wanda’s words.

Natasha wore a silver-gray dress that fell just above her knees. “She looked like a Goddess” in your own words.

Dinner was fine, you and the team were chatting about anything and everything. Every single one of your friends was there: Sam, Bucky, Clint with Laura, Cap, Banner, Thor, Wanda, Maria Hill, Stark, Pepper, Vision, Peter and even Nick Fury himself was there. He might not be close to you but he was special for Natasha, so you asked Stark to invite him over.

You couldn’t stop to feel butterflies on your stomach. Wanda squeezed your hand giving you a supportive look. “It’s gonna be fine” she whispered in your ear. Stark gave you a sign that he had ready the champagne to celebrate as soon as Natasha said yes.

You gave a last glance to the Natasha’s picture you always kept with you in your wallet.

You were ready.

It was time.

You had a speech, you’re speechless

Love slipped beyond your reaches

And I couldn’t give a reason

Champagne problems

You got up from your chair and caught everyone’s attention by tapping your fork against your glass.

Suddenly the room was silent and everyone’s eyes were on you. You felt your blood run to your face as you flushed, but then you started to talk.

- Goodnight everybody, I hope you had a great dinner and a great night as well. Tonight you came here by Tony’s call, but I’m the one who asked him to get all of you gathered together.

Natasha was confused, why didn’t you tell her that dinner was your idea?

She looked for Tony’s face and she saw him smiling and holding a champagne bottle. Then she found Banner’s look on her, he was given her a sad smile, almost pity.

What was happening?

Bruce heard from Tony what were your plans for the night a few minutes ago. He knew Natasha’s feelings, so he couldn’t help but feel pity for you, and for her.

- As everyone here knows, me and this beautiful woman have been together for almost 3 years now. We’ve been through very different situations and plenty of experiences that made me realized she is the love of my life, and the girl i want by my side for eternity…

Wanda, sitting right beside you, was heartbreaking. She was holding a soft smile to give you confidence, but in the inside all she wanted to do was ask you to don’t ask Natasha for marriage. But everything was settled, after that night you would be Natasha’s forever.

The Sokovian saw you getting in one knee front of your girlfriend, taking a little red velvet box out of your pocket.

A bucket of cold water hit on Natasha in that instant.

- Natasha…

- No, Y/N, no, I’m sorry - she cut you off before you could even start your special speech for her.

Everyone in the room was in complete silence after that, the only sounds that could be heard was the music playing in the background, Natasha’s heels walking out of the room and her sobs. She ran out crying.

But you, you were frozen still on your knee. All you could feel was a pain in your chest as you began to be aware of what had just happened.

Reality hit you.

She said no.

Wanda took a few seconds to react to the situation, but the sudden splash of the champagne that Tony was holding took her out her thoughts. Everyone looked at him and the man’s face turned all red whilst trying to stop the liquid.

- Okay people, the party is over, let’s give her some space, everybody out of this room now - Tony said, still trying to stop the drink, and everyone obeyed him in a hurry.

Only Wanda and Vision stayed.

Wanda went straight to help you to stand up, but you fell on both of your knees instead.

- Y/N... - she said your name with sadness.

You said nothing. Everything went blurry from that moment on. You weren’t sure if it was because of your tears or because you felt like you could pass out at any moment.

- Vis, help me sit her on the chair please - she said and the android took you gently by the arm so you could use him as a support, passing a hand on your back to help you walk.

When you made it to the chair your tears began to fall down as you started to cry.

Wanda knew in advance that it will take a while before you could start to talk about the situation. She asked Vision to leave te room so you could cry as long as you wanted.

She would be there with you.

Being honest, she couldn’t understand Natasha’s actions. Even she knew that the redhead was head over heels for you, and she expected the girl to say yes. She was as confused as the rest of the team.

Your crying brought her out of her thoughts some minutes after, your eyes were all red as was your face. You were a mess.

- I wanna go to my room, please - you asked her between sobs, she nodded and took your hand to lead you upstairs.

When the two of you were in front of your door, you realized that it would be a torture for you to walk in when everything in that room could remind you of Natasha.

- Can we go to your room? I don’t wanna go inside mine - you said to Wanda.

- Yes, of course - she replied and lead you both to her room.

Once in there you continued crying. How could she ever did such a thing to you? Natasha was supposed to be your eternal love but now all she had done was rip your heart out without thinking twice.

Your head was on Wanda’s lap as she was caressing your back and your hair, singing a Sokovian lullaby softly. You didn’t know what she was saying but it was so relaxing that you stayed like that for minutes.

- I can’t believe what she said - you finally spoke - I thought she loved me.

- I’m sure she loves you Y/N, maybe she just freaked out - she tried to convince you it could have been a first reaction from her part.

- Clearly she doesn’t love me as much as I love her - you said with a sad tone, and began to cry again.

- Don’t overwhelmed yourself with those thoughts, you haven’t spoke to her yet

- You’re right, she hasn’t even come to talk to me.

Wanda didn’t say anything else. She couldn’t keep trying to justify Nat’s actions anymore, it had been a while since the dinner events and the redhead hadn’t shown up since she ran out.

So she just let you vent with her for as long as you needed.

The person who you loved the most had just broke you. It didn’t matter what her reasons were, all you knew in that moment was that Natasha didn’t want to spend the rest of her life with you. The worse thing was that you truly believed in her word on what she told you a few weeks ago, you believed she wanted to go slow, step by step. But now you knew that Natasha wasn’t sure to even start.

- Can I spend the night with you? I don’t want to be alone right now - you asked Wanda, hoping for her to say yes.

- Of course, I’m not letting you be on your own tonight - she said with a soft smile - I’ll lend you a pajama so you can be more comfortable okay?

You just nodded and let the girl take care of you.

Although your mind was begging you to get some rest, you couldn’t help but wonder where Natasha was and what was she doing.

—

The moment she ran out of the dining room she headed outside the compound, in needing of fresh air. Her tears were all over her face and she screamed in pain knowing that everybody was still inside and no one could hear her.

What have she done?

Everything felt like a nightmare. All she could remember was your face fulled with pain the moment she cut your speech out to tell you no.

She cried again at the remind of her own words.

But she needed to stop you before you could start to proclaim your love for her, otherwise she would have accept the engagement and made you believe she wanted to get married.

Now she was wondering if she made the right thing. You prepared a whole night for her and she just screwed everything up.

But why would you? She knew she told you that marriage was an option for her, but she never expected for you to propose to her.

But you did, and she said no. In front of all of your friends. She left you kneeled with the ring on your hand.

- I’m a monster - she whispered to herself.

The sound of steps on the grass caught her attention. Clint and Banner were approaching towards her.

- Nat - Clint said as he came closer - Oh Nat...

- Clint, please, I want to be alone now - she requested.

But the man held her in a hug and she broke inside his arms.

- I’m a horrible person - she said between her crying.

- No, Nat you’re not - he tried to comfort her.

- I just broke her heart

He and Banner didn’t say a word. They knew Natasha had just messed up her relationship, the moment had been awful not just for the two girls but for the whole people watching. No one was expecting such a twist in the night.

- Where is she? - Nat asked breaking the hug.

- Wanda and Vision are with her in the dining room.

She nodded and hugged Clint again.

The three of them sat on the little bench of the garden and Banner gave his blazer to Nat so she could be warm.

- What am I supposed to do? I don’t think she’ll ever talk to me again - Nat finally said after a few minutes.

- But you both need to talk, what just happened is something huge for the two of you and your relationship - Clint said

- I know but, maybe if we talk it’ll be just to… - before she could finish her sentence her tears came out of her eyes. Natasha realized that everything was over for the both of you. The talk you will have would be the final talk. To finish everything.

- You’re not sure about getting married, right? - Clint asked her friend.

She shook her head side to side. He understood.

- So you would rather finish everything with Y/N before do something you don’t want to do? - Bruce said.

- Banner I don’t think Nat… - Clint tried to interrupt him but the doctor kept talking.

- No Clint, I’m seriously asking cause what happened in there was not a joke. Nat needs to begin to think about what she wants for hers and Y/N’s future.

- Maybe she doesn’t need to figure everything out just yet - Clint said.

- I just don’t think that’s fair for Y/N - Banner said before standing from the bench to look at Nat - You know what you want Nat, if you’re sure you can handle marriage then go and tell it to Y/N. But if you like your life just as how it is so far, you need to start to think about what is going to happen. I told you, this way to live is not for everybody, make sure Y/N is part of the people who understand that.

Then the doctor said goodbye and left the pair of friends alone.

- Clint I don’t think I’ll ever want to be married - she spit out of nowhere

The man sighed.

- Are you sure Nat? Like never? Not even to Y/N?

She shook her head.

- No… - the redhead paused for a second - And don’t get me wrong, i love her so much, i would love to have her in my life forever… But i don’t think i can give her the life she wants, the life she deserves.

- But if you want to be with her, what would be the difference between being married or not?

- Because she wants more. She talked to me about buying a house and having pets and children. She wants a family lifestyle and I don’t. I like our lives just as they are so far, living here, going on missions and saving the day; and it’s been amazing having her by my side all this time, but that’s not enough for her anymore.

That’s when it dawned on Natasha what she needed to do.

Your Midas touch on the Chevy door

November flush and your flannel cure

“This dorm was once a madhouse”

I made a joke, “Well, it’s made for me”

How evergreen, our group of friends

Don’t think we’ll say that word again

And soon they’ll have the nerve to deck the halls

That we once walked through

Your friends were unsure about what to do. Some of them were in the bar waiting for news about you and Natasha, mostly hoping it was a misunderstanding and that you would be engaged by the end of the night.

But as the time went by some of them understood that the situation was worse than they could have imagined, and they started to either go to their rooms in the compound or leave to go home, all worried for what would come for the two of you.

The only person who didn’t seem shocked at all was Nick Fury. That man knew Natasha well enough to know that she was not getting married now or ever. And for a split of second he felt sorry for you, cause he already knew what Natasha was about to do.

One for the money, two for the show

I never was ready, so I watch you go

Sometimes you just don’t know the answer

‘Til someone’s on their knees and asks you

You woke up late the next day, not wanting to leave Wanda’s room. You were terrified by the idea of finding Nat on the halls, so Wanda brought your breakfast to her room and some of your clothes for you to wear.

Nat didn’t come out of her room that day either, Steve went talk to her as he did to you too, but Nat had took a decision, she was just waiting to find the right words to go to talk to you.

By five in the afternoon she knew it was time to face it, so she encouraged herself and walked to your room hoping to find you in there.

She opened the door looking for your presence, but she found and empty room with the lights out.

- She’s not in there - Wanda’s voice told her from the hall - She spent the night in my room.

Natasha turned around to find Wanda holding a tray of food.

- This is her meal. Do you want to take it to her? She hasn't eat anything since breakfast - the brunette girl offered to Nat.

Romanoff just nodded and took the tray.

- Thanks Wanda, thanks for taking care of her last night - Nat said on their way to Wanda’s room

- Don’t worry Nat, Y/N is my friend, I would do anything for her

- Is she mad at me?

- No, i don’t think so, mostly sad and disappointed - Wanda said - But she wants to talk with you, she was waiting for you to come over last night.

- I know, but i also needed to do some thinking, now i’m sure about what i’m gonna say - Natasha told her as they stood in front of the door.

- Natasha, please don’t break her heart - Wanda said softly before the redhead could get inside the room.

The russian similed sadly at the girl.

- Wanda, after this Y/N is going to need you all the way. Please make sure she doesn’t drown herself in sadness and pain. She deserves a better life than the one i could ever offer. Make sure she finds someone good enough for her. Could you do me that favor?

Wanda said nothing. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Natasha was going to break up with you definitely.

Natasha opened the door to get in and closed it behind her.

- Wanda I told you I’m not hungry - she heard your voice from under the blankets, you were all covered up from head to toe.

- Y/N - the woman said your name.

You froze the moment you heard her voice. You were worried to get out of the blankets and face her.

- Could you please get out of the bed? You need to eat and… We need to talk - she said placing the tray of food on the counter beside the bed.

You said nothing, still all curled up on mattress.

- Please Y/N, look at me…

- No, Natasha, I don’t wanna look at you - you said.

- We need to talk, is important.

- What do you wanna talk about!? - you yelled in exasperation as you came out of the blankets - Oh yeah, about how you shut me down last night when i was giving you my heart? When I was about to propose to you?

She jumped a little due the sudden change in the atmosphere. Just as Wanda said, she saw the disappointment in your eyes.

- Please, let me explain…

- You said you wanted to go slow, step by step, and even after being together for almost three years i gave you that - you cut her off.

- Yeah I know but-

- You said that we should get married first, and i gave you that, or at least I tried - you chuckled bitterly.

- I know, and I’m so sorry for giving you non-existent hopes, but…

- non-existent hopes? What do you mean? - you asked her with a broken voice.

She sighed.

- I don’t want to get married Y/N, never - she said.

You felt your heart break as the tears began to roll down your cheeks.

- And i’m sorry for making you believe that I would do it one day, but i thought you would forget the subject eventually.

- Forget the subject? Natasha i told you i wanted to have a family with you one day, why would I forget my intentions on marry you? - anger began to run through your body.

- That is the problem Y/N, i don’t see myself having that life, i don’t wanna have a family or have a perfect house with a picket fence - she mentioned, breaking your heart in the process.

You were speechless after that, so she kept talking.

- I like my life and i like my job, do you think the danger or the bad guys will wait for us to have our perfect Barbie life before attacking again?

- So you want to do this forever? - you questioned, finally realizing what she was saying.

- Yes, i want that... I don't know if it's because of my past - she said with trembling lips - You know I can't have children, the red room trained me to only do my job... I guess that's why the idea of a "family" never crossed my mind, it dawned on me the idea of only do this way before I met you...

You gulped, Natasha have told you about her life in the red room, but she mentioned this aspect before.

- Why didn't you tell me? - you asked getting closer, caressing her cheek and Natasha closing her eyes at your touch - Natty we can change that, I want you to know that we can have a life together...

She shook her head, opening her eyes.

- No Y/N, i don't want it - she said in a whisper - I just don't want it, and it’s unfair for you because you want and deserve something i can’t give you, you deserve something better… Someone better…

You shook your head denying, not liking where this was heading.

- No, no, Nat, please - you plead in a whisper - Don’t do this… Please…

She stared at you, tears starting to roll down her cheeks.

- I’m sorry Y/N…

- No, I’m sure we can make this work, we can… - you cried, looking right into her eyes - Please just don’t… Please.

The silence in the room felt like hell. The both of you knew what was about to happen.

- Y/N…

- Nat…

She would’ve made such a lovely bride

What a shame she’s fucked in her head, “ they said

But you’ll find the real thing instead

She’ll patch up your tapestry that I shred

And hold your hand while dancing

Never leave you standing

Crestfallen on the landing

With champagne problems

The following days you locked yourself in Wanda’s room again, refusing to go out, speaking exclusively to Wanda. The rest of the team didn’t force you to go out either, they were worried about you, but thanks to Wanda, they at least were sure you were still breathing.

After a week, you knew it was time to get out. You wanted to avoid Natasha at all costs. You were not ready to talk or see her again yet. But soon you found out that was not happening.

- She left the compound yesterday, Tony sent her to an undercover mission to Asia with Bruce, Steve and Clint - Wanda told you.

Wow, you weren’t expecting that. She literally left you out of her life in less than one week.

Soon everyone knew that you had broken up with her definitely, and your teammates were in complete shock.

"I can’t believe they broke up”

“It would have been a beautiful wedding”

“Poor Y/N she must be destroyed”

“I really believed they would end up together”

The time passed by and you couldn’t help to hear some of the things the people said about you and Natasha. It was incredibly painful the first weeks, but luckily you had Wanda. She was with you the whole time, holding your hand and cleaning you tears, never leaving your side.

After four months Wanda told you that Natasha had finished her mission on Asia and that she and the rest of the boys were coming back to the compound on the following days.

For sure you’d been a long way on your healing process, but weren’t ready to see her again yet.

- I don’t think i wanna be here when she comes back, Wanda i need to leave this place before her arrival - you told the girl.

- You want to leave? - she asked worried that you might want to go alone.

- I want us to leave, Wanda come with me, you’ve been with me this whole time, you are my rock, I don’t think i can make it without you… But if you want to stay i completely understand…

- Oh Y/N - she cut you off cupping your face with her hands and smiling at you - I’m sure you can make anything you want all by yourself, but i’ll be glad to go with you anywhere you want.

You stared at her eyes, feeling a warm sensation and then you kissed the palm of her hand that was on your face, making the girl’s heart skip like crazy.

Wanda knew that you were still healing, and that Natasha’s wound was a deep one. But she felt hope that someday you would fall for her just as hard as you did for the russian. She would never leave you, she would give you the life you deserve.

That night you both talked with Tony about your plans and your reasons to leave. The man told you that there was a house, in Belgium that was big enough for the two of you and that was completely out of the radar, so you would have privacy. He also said that you could work for Stark Industries from there to earn some money.

You accepted immediately, and Tony told you that it was possible they might still need Wanda in the future to help the team occasionally. She agreed and the next night the both of you left for Belgium, so when Natasha was back you were completely gone.

Present day

After heading out the cafe Natasha walked to the park where she told Steve to wait for her.

She saw him sat on a bench next to his motorcycle.

- Hello stranger - she said once she was near enough for him to hear her.

He looked up and smiled at his friend. It was been a while since the last time he saw her. One year and a half to be concrete.

- Romanoff, it’s good to see you again - he said as he stood up to hug the woman.

She felt good with the embrace.

- I know, but I’m finally back. How’s been everything around here? - she asked taking a sit on the bench.

- Well you know, we hit the bad guys and teach them some manners.

They both laughed.

- How are you? - he asked this time

- Good, everything’s been good. Just needed to solved some family issues that I had pendant, but now I’m available again for the Avengers.

- Well you are more than welcome, we need our Widow back.

Steve received a message from Tony, it was time for the party.

- Are you ready to go? Stark it’s asking for us - the man said as he stood up to the motorcycle.

- Sure, i wanna see everyone - she said happily.

Then Steve remembered that there was something he needed to tell her.

- Uhmm Nat… Y/N and Wanda will be there too - he said.

Natasha felt a knot on her stomach again, your name was giving her goosebumps.

- I know, Tony told me when he called me to come, i’m fine with that - she answered, lying in the last part.

He sighed.

- Okay Romanoff, let’s go.

The way to the compound was a little long, and she couldn’t stop her mind from thinking of you.

She wasn’t updated with all of your life, but the last thing she heard about you was that you were now in a relationship with Wanda since 2 years ago and that you were still living on Belgium.

She was happy for you, but the sensation of a hole on her stomach by the thought of you, building your life with someone else, was still there.

In all those years, there was a time where she found herself wondering, how would it be if you were still with her? She hadn’t changed her mind about the marriage idea, but then she thought that she could have changed it for you.

But in the moment she left you, she was sure of what she was doing, maybe still being so immature at that moment.

—

It was being great to see everyone again, it’s been so long since the last time you have been in the compound. Wanda used to visit it a little more often than you because of her missions, but in the last year she stayed with you at home. Both had left the superhero life.

You and Wanda were married now, a half year ago you had a very private wedding at Belgium. You asked her to marry you after one year and a half of dating, and she said yes. Only Pepper and Tony knew about it cause they were the only guests to the dinner celebration. Now you were thinking about starting a family soon. Wanda told you she would love to have two kids. And you couldn’t be happier about it. That woman turned into your entire world since the moment she dropped her life in America and followed you to Europe without thinking twice. She might not be your first love, but she definitely is the love of your life.

- Are you okay sweetie? You zoned out for a moment - your wife’s voice took you out of your trance.

You look up to meet her eyes and smiled at her.

- Yes honey, i’m fine, i was just thinking about everything we’ve been through since the moment we left this compound - you said grabbing her waist to put her closer to you - And about how i’m so lucky to have you.

Wanda smiled and kissed you before giving you hug.

She was so happy that you were finally hers, that you loved her the way she always wanted, that she was the only one that get to call you wife and that she will be the mother of your future children.

Your moment was interrupted by Pepper and Tony, whom went to say hello. They became your closest friends since the moment Tony give you the house (that ended up being almost a Mansion, but for Tony it was just “big enough for the two of you”), and the happy couple was like family now to you.

Pepper stole your wife from your side to have a chat and you and Tony started to talk about Stark Industries. After so many years of working for him, you became his right hand for the business. It was a hard work, but the money you were earning was making it worth.

After a few minutes you saw Steve coming into the party, and your heart stopped for a second when you saw who was with him.

- Y/N - Tony said awkwardly - I might forgot to tell you that Romanoff was coming today.

You saw her greeting everyone on the room happily. She was blonde now. But, contrary of what anyone could think, all the sadness and anger you had against her on the past, was gone now.

Of course it was shocking for you to see her again after all those years, but you felt nothing more with her presence. No joy, no anger, no sadness, no disappointment… You just felt nothing after that initial surprise.

You knew nothing about her life on those years, only that Tony and Wanda told you that she was with Banner from time to time, and that she was still being an Avenger.

- Sweetheart - Wanda called for you holding your hand. Judging by her face you could tell that she had seen Natasha as well.

- I know darling, i’m fine - you assured her and kissed her hand gently to let her know that everything was fine.

Natasha saw you next to Stark from the very first moment that she walked inside the room, but seeing her friends again took you out of her mind for some minutes. But when she went to greet Tony you were no longer there.

She spent the whole party trying to avoid you, and ignoring the knot on her stomach everytime she saw you and Wanda sharing moments.

From afar, she could recognize a ring placed on your left hand, and she saw the pair of that ring on Wanda’s hand. She understood in that moment that, either you were engaged, or already married with the girl.

By the end of the night there was only the team left, still chatting and drinking. Eventually the wedding subject came out and everyone seemed excited to know everything about it.

- What i wanna know is why you only invited Stark? I thought we were besties Y/N - you heard Sam joking.

You and Wanda laughed, you were happy to finally talk about you special day with your friends.

- I promise to convince my wife to do a party here in New York to share with you guys - Wanda said and everyone cheered at the idea.

Everyone except Natasha. She was with Bruce in the bar on her attempt to avoid jeopardize the chat about you and your wife for the rest of the team.

Bruce tried to distract her from your conversation but totally failed. Natasha was not paying any attention to the doctor. Her mind was on you.

She saw how you held Wanda’s hand to give it a kiss, talking about how your wedding day had been one of the best in your life. She heard about your plans for the future and how you were finally getting everything you ever dreamed about.

It was like slow motion for her, watching you so happy with your wife by your side.

And she understood that the decision she took years ago was the right one. She couldn’t had ever give you the life you had now. And she was grateful with Wanda for make you so happy. In your life there was no space for her uncertain lifestyle; there were no space for it in the past, and there was no space for it now in the future.

She heard a slow music begin to play and the lighting of the room suddenly shifted to a warmer tone, with a spotlight on the center for you and Wanda. The team made you both dance as soon as they knew you didn’t had a dance on your wedding night. Everybody was staring at you with bright smiles on their faces as you and Wanda danced around the room like nobody else was there.

And Natasha smiled too. She was happy for you.

Your mom’s ring in your pocket

Her picture in your wallet

You won’t remember all my

Champagne problems

You won’t remember all my

Champagne problems

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margridarnauds · 5 months

Note

👻, 🥳, and 💌 please!

Thank you!

👻 What is your wildest headcanon?

Me deciding that Chateau de Peyrol is ridiculously haunted has to be somewhere up on the list -- no canon evidence to support it, but I like to think of Lazare being totally oblivious to his house being a setting from a gothic novel while Ronan is constantly going "Lazare. Lazare. The portrait is staring at me, Lazare."

Lazare secretly loving gossip is based purely on that one moment in the French production when Louis and Marie's marriage is breaking down in front of everyone and Lazare IMMEDIATELY comes in to tell Louis that, by the way, there's a full-on revolt. It's not AS out of pocket, but it is definitely leaning on the cracky side of things, but it also is always funny to have a Lazare who is very critical of the hypocrisy of Versailles, the shallow obsession with gossip, the backstabbing, the intrigues...while he is actively dying on his country estate because he can't get all the hot gossip.

For my Irish mythological things, I decided at some point that the Fomoiri, aka the notoriously terrifying group of people that have been, at various points, described (not by me) as demonic sea monsters who represent pure chaos and destruction, as well as representing various Scandinavian invaders, go out for karaoke once a month as a team building exercise. Themed nights have included ABBA, Britney Spears, Disney, and Taylor Swift. Manannán mac Lir, who is on the other side, gets privileges to come along because he's best friends with Tethra (for Disney night, they did a duet version of "Under the Sea"). They also do a Eurovision watch party once a year, where they root for their various countries of origin (Bres, since he's half Irish and half Norwegian, will root for whoever seems to be winning, going for the UK when he's depressed with both. He might or might not have been culpable for Dustin the Turkey's appearance, which is objectively the most heinous thing he's done.)

🥳 Why did you start writing fanfic?

The very first things I wrote were what I would later recognize were self insert fanfics, where me and my various OCs based on my toys would go into various films and books I was reading to save the day. The Mummy, Barbie: The Princess and the Pauper, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Lord of the Rings were the favorites back in the day (which...really highlights the kind of kid I was), when I was about 5-8. Fanfic, in some form or another, is a natural part of who I am. If I didn't write it, I'd suffocate.

💌 Is there a favorite trope you like to write?

I have been roundly mocked for my tendency to use Significant Chess Games in my fanfic -- you can make a bingo card off of it. In my defense, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

On a broader scale...it's interesting because when I was younger, I was more inclined to say that I was writing redemption arcs or enemies to lovers arcs, and I think, to some extent, that holds true, but to other extents, there's a lot more in terms of shades of gray -- I work with characters who are at odds with one another for one reason or another and then get them to a point of, frankly, dangerous codependency, and let the dice fall where they may as far as whether it's truly a case of "redemption" or "corruption" or just "becoming increasingly tired over time." Is Ronan a traitor to the revolution for marrying Lazare? Is Margrid betraying some part of who she is by falling in love with Orléans? Would Emma be betraying something if she joined the Tango Korrupti? Is Kitrye betraying her sense of morality by falling in love with Raphael and, honestly, vice versa? I don't know -- I can see why they're irredeemable to some people, no one *has* to forgive the villainous characters for doing villainous things, or the heroic characters for falling for the villainous characters, and I'm not particularly interested in that side of things, but I can also understand exactly why they refuse to give up or compromise, too. That's a very broad arc, but it's definitely a question that I'm always returning to. "The horror was for love" and all that.

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unbridledbrainrots · 1 year

Text

Home is (never) far away

Rating: Restricted Length: ~1,4k words Genre: Canon-divergence, angst, a little comfort in the middle Pairing: Sebastian Moran (from Moriarty The Patriot) x OC (named Emmanuelle “Emma” Rousseau/Greta) Notes: Back again with my project hohoho~ this one is set before the entente on chapter 60... oh definitely breaking the rules of historical accuracy, proofread as always but maybe some things left unnoticed, also... there’s (implied) mention of William in the middle of the story. Enjoy! P.S. Please listen to Taylor Dayne’s Love Will Lead You Back to enhance the experience.

The stool shrieked as the four legs rubbed the old wooden floor backwards. A woman perched on that pulled seat, and let herself lost in her own thoughts of which liquor should she drink. The pub was relatively crowded since it was late afternoon. And in a few hours, there would be a reception party at the nearby hotel—in which Emmanuelle Rousseau was assigned there to assist one of the ambassadors in an agreement between two longtime rivals; hence, she still had time to sneak out awhile.

“Do you have brandy?” That was very out of the blue from her who regularly savoured white wine in a pub whenever she was on her own. Perhaps she was tense these past days due to heightened workload, so she needed a quick and easy escape through today’s choice.

“Sure, in seconds.”

Emma smiled as the bartender served her order in a snifter, “thanks.” Then her hands cupped the glass, letting the warmth from her body seeped into the liquor. Coming back to London after three years made her mind suddenly reminiscing past memories in the country, be it on or off duty. First sip to quench her stress, she pictured herself lying down on a mattress of grass then thanking God for a clear sky full of glittering stars. Second sip to numb her senses, all those files pressed her head yet her eyes had to read them. And the third to—

“Whiskey. On the rocks, please.” That lifeless voice harmonised with a loud screech from the pulled stool beside her. And the next sequence was a pure idiocy: Emma unconsciously shifted her gaze from her brandy to the newcomer, and that person also did the same as if he knew the previous sound surprised his neighbour. Time froze for them; and their minds were full of cuss and blame, even noisier than the pub itself.

Sebastian Moran and Emmanuelle Rousseau were staring at each other awkwardly and they loathed themselves for it. They never expected their forgotten memories simply arose from the dusty tombs—and it was all because of their foolishness! Shit, they shouldn’t be too responsive to a slight noise. And then the ordered liquors somehow became bland, maybe sour when touching the respective tongues. But they had to clean their rowdy minds first so they still swallowed that to refrain themselves from breaking down. Oh, how funny! They were professionals who had been hiding their true identities from each other, and on top of that their relationship was strictly sexual; but why did they behave as if they were ex-lovers? Did they finally admit that they had crossed the line by chance?

At least, there was a big relief between those curses—they were still alive, although their appearances were like two different worlds. Emma, in his eyes, looked refined as she was supposed to be: well-dressed with a thin layer of makeup and dark rouge on her lips to enhance her beauty. However, for her, Moran seemed like he lost his will to live, probably a few steps closer as a living corpse. His cheekbones indicated a slight loss in his weight, his lower jaw was full of stubble, yet the unfinished revenge she used to see in his eyes came back along with the usual melancholy he bore on his shoulders.

Moran finally sat on the stool, thus making him lost in the staring contest. Emma tightened her grip on the glass before she gulped the remaining brandy in a flash—and none of them realised that they drank their own booze in unison. Silence. A thorny silence. Their lips puckered, reluctant to greet each other, or perhaps they were settling their minds first.

“How are you?”

“How’s life?”

Again, they looked at one another. And they tittered afterwards; at last the tension between them had cooled down a little.

“I’m good,” Emma replied.

“So, your little sister has fully recovered, then?”

“Ah—” Emma was slightly taken aback by his question, but she managed to keep her composure and nodded in reply. Moran knew she lied about the answer, even the whole excuse from three years ago was also a lie. Her face said it all! But he couldn’t be angry at her. No, he wouldn’t do that to her, never; and it was all in the past. Moreover, just to see her once again was enough—and she was like a glimmer in the gloom for him.

“I’m happy to hear that.”

Emma merely smiled then looked down on the table. Everything she wanted to utter was swallowed to her throat; she truly had no courage to ask him back, seeing him miserable somehow made her heart burnt for the second time. Her forefinger danced on that solid wood, enough to distract her for a while.

Then, Moran exhaled deeply soon after he finished his shot. And much to her surprise, he leaned his head on her shoulder. Emma remained silent but she felt the weight of his crumbled world pressing her skin, so close to tear it apart. If he wanted to cry, let him be—she kept that thought in her mind; she didn’t care if one side of her red overcoat became darker as maybe she was the only solace he had.

“Stay. I have nowhere to go.”

“Don’t you have a home, sir?”

“I’ve lost him.”

Sometimes silence was the best response Emma could do, but she stretched her arm to tenderly caress his head as she leaned her head closer, giving him reassurance as best as she could.

“You’ll find your home soon.”

“No—” Moran whimpered. His arms confined her waist as he snuggled closer to her neck. Then a loud snivel deafened Emma slightly, yet her fingers kept brushing his tousled black hair as if his cry never bothered her. “Don’t worry, you’re home even if it’s for a while,” she mouthed those words cowardly, she simply didn’t want him to know because she thought her gesture was enough to comfort him. Five, ten, fifteen, she occasionally looked at the longcase clock near the bar counter; she still had time.

No, twenty. Time’s up! Emma reluctantly tapped his shoulder and whispered, “I’m sorry.” Moran arose from her shoulder and sat straight on his stool. She smiled wistfully as she took out her hanky to wipe his face gently. At this point, she wished she could stay longer with him, even just for a chat, but she still had a duty to perform. And deep down, his heart shattered as she returned the hanky back to her pocket. He finally realised that he yearned for her, yet ironically all he could say was an impossible plea to be fulfilled.

“Why can’t you stay longer?”

“I’m sorry,” Emma apologised again, “I have something important to do, Mr. Moran.”

Moran only sniggered. Ah, now he understood everything about her; no wonder she had been a great liar since day one, no wonder she refused to exchange some words, no wonder she completely distanced herself from him afterwards, it was a perfect disguise executed by a brilliant actress. All of their memories flashed through his eyes. He was a fool, a fool that took him three years to perceive her true colours. And the stubbornness in him still wanted her closer—no, not as a potential enemy, but as a friend to share stories.

“Right, go—”

“I have to go,” Emma took out some money and placed it on the table, “ah, bills on me! Say it’s a treat for a regular though it’s too late.” She ended her sentence with a beam on her face; and that smile might be something Moran would hate for the rest of his life. As she got up from her seat, he grabbed her wrist.

“Can we—can I write a letter to you, Greta?” Moran knew her name wasn’t Greta but that was all he got from her.

“You’re such a strong-willed person, sir. But still, the absolute answer is no.” Of course, Emma would decline it again; at least, their relationship finally received a closure—it was all over before it could begin.

Moran slowly loosened his grip, “well, I guess… good luck, dear.” He then looked at her with a forced smile. He had to let go of her again, and for the last time. “Thanks,” Emma bowed at him before she walked away from the pub. And he could only watch her slowly disappearing into the early twilight.

#yume #fanfic #yuukoku no moriarty #moriarty the patriot #sebastian moran #sebastian moran x oc

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ferretinasweater · 1 year

Text

Taylor Swift Eras Legacy Challenge

This challenge is inspired by my love of Taylor Swift. While each generation’s requirements are inspired by themes found in her albums, they are not meant to be a reflection of what I think of Queen Taylor. I have not play-tested, so please let me know if there are any problems! I know I’m not the only one to make a challenge like this, but I’m hoping mine is not too similar to anyone else’s. Any overlap is completely unintentional.

General rules:

For each generation, complete the required aspiration, career, and skills.

The aesthetic and colors for each generation are not required, but I think they make it more fun!

Each generation can begin with starter funds, or 0 simoleons if you want to make it more challenging. If you have multiple generations living together, you can keep the household funds from each generation in the family.

Play on normal or long lifespan

If you get a self-discovery trait pop-up, you may accept additional traits, but you can't change existing traits.

Legacy challenges are about having fun! If changing any of the requirements will make your gameplay more fun, go right ahead!

If you post your gameplay anywhere, feel free to tag it with #tseraslegacy

This challenge requires:

Expansions: All except Island Living and Eco Lifestyle

Game Packs: Spa Day, Dine Out (can be played without), and Parenthood

Stuff packs: Nifty Knitting

Generation 1: Debut

From a young age, you’ve dreamed of having a big family and a loving spouse. You love to write songs and sing about your dreams for the future, and you’re determined to make your dreams come true. Your favorite thing in the world is spending time with your family.

Aesthetic/Colors: Country, Blue/Green/White

Aspiration: Big Happy Family

Traits: Proper, Romantic, Ambitious

Career: Gardener (use the work from home option once you have children)

Skills: Writing, Guitar, Parenting

Other Requirements:

Marry your high school sweetheart (preferably, have known them since childhood)- This requires starting the generation as a child. Skip this requirement if you'd like to start the challenge as a young adult

Have at least three children

Frequently join family members in what they’re doing

Generation 2: Fearless

You had loving parents who raised you to believe that you could do anything, so you’re literally reaching for the stars. While your career is important to you, you also make time for your friends and family and like to host dinner parties for them at home. You always keep your guest room open in case someone gets sleepy and wants to stay the night.

Aesthetic/Colors: Light Academia, Gold/Brown/White

Aspiration: Friend of the World

Traits: Jealous, Family-oriented, Geek

Career: Astronaut

Skills: Rocket Science, Logic

Other Requirements:

Have a high school best friend you’re close with your whole life

Host a dinner party once a week

Have a guest room in your house and accept any stay-over requests you get

Generation 3: Speak Now

Having such a successful parent led you to want the same success. The arts are your passion, so you make them both your career and hobbies. Whenever you’re not taking in beautiful art at a museum or good food at a restaurant, you’re making music at home. You want to instill the same values in your children, so you take them weekly to either a museum or restaurant.

Aesthetic/Colors: Artsy, Purple/Blue/White

Aspiration: Musical Genius

Traits: Overachiever, Good, Cheerful

Career: Critic (either branch)

Skills: Writing, any instrument

Other Requirements:

Have at least one failed relationship

Have a pristine reputation

Take your family on a weekly outing to a museum or restaurant

Generation 4: Red

You always looked up to your parent, and wanted to win their approval by making one of their passions your career, even though you weren’t very passionate about them. Throughout your first two (sort of miserable) careers, your two consolations were posting to social media and photography. Eventually, you realize that your parent is proud of you no matter what, and you follow your own path.

Aesthetic/Colors: Hipster, Red/Black/White

Aspiration: Renaissance Sim

Traits: Cat lover, Outgoing, Music lover

Careers: Fast food employee, Painter, Social Media (either branch)

Skills: Piano, Painting, Photography

Other Requirements:

Have one failed relationship with a sim at least one life stage ahead of you

Post to social media (Simstagram, Social Bunny, etc.) every day

Generation 5: 1989

You have always had a very strong sense of self, and knew from an early age that you were destined for superstardom. As an adult, you are quickly obsessed with the celebrity lifestyle, and become known for your amazing parties. People flock to you, and you have a large group of friends. You are very career-focused, so you don’t have a strong relationship with your child, even though you give them the best of everything.

Aesthetic/Colors: Preppy, Blue/Pink/Black

Aspiration: Party Animal

Traits: Insider, Party Animal, Clumsy

Career: Entertainer (musician branch)

Skills: Singing, Dance, Guitar

Other Requirements:

Become a level 5 celebrity

Have only one child

Go out with a group or throw a party twice a week

Gain the people person lifestyle

Generation 6: Reputation

Your parent didn’t spend much time with you during your childhood, so your relationship with them is tense. You have a strong sense of right and wrong, so you become a judge to bring people to justice (sometimes through mischievous means). Sometimes your commitment to justice makes you enemies, but that’s the job. Despite your relationship, you’re more like your parent than you think, and you love to go out and dance any chance you get.

Aesthetic/Colors: Rocker/Grunge, Black/Gray/White

Aspiration: Chief of Mischief

Traits: Self-assured, Dance machine, Hot-headed

Career: Lawyer (Justice branch)

Skills: Mischief, Dance

Other Requirements:

Have 3 enemies

Pull pranks on sims you see perform negative interactions

Go out and dance at a venue once a week

Generation 7: Lover

You share your parent’s commitment to public service, but you prefer to affect change at the ground-level. When you’re not sticking up for the underdog, you like to spend time with your spouse and children around a good meal. You often cook together with members of your household. Your love of your family means that you’re always ready to brighten their day with a joke.

Aesthetic/Colors: Twee, Pastel Pink/Blue/Purple

Aspiration: Soulmate

Traits: Foodie, Goofball, Loyal

Career: Politics (Charity organizer branch)

Skills: Charisma, Cooking, Comedy

Other Requirements:

Marry your first relationship

Have a weekly family meal

Frequently cook together with your family

Frequently tell jokes to your family members

Generation 8: Folklore

You’ve always loved making things and being creative. The only thing better is sharing what you’ve made with your large family. You love the bustle of your busy house, and often have other family members and friends over to visit.

Aesthetic/Colors: Boho, Red/Brown/Green

Aspiration: Lord/Lady of the Knits

Traits: Creative, Animal enthusiast, Bookworm

Career: Writer

Skills: Knitting, Writing, Baking

Other Requirements:

Be involved in a love triangle

Have a full household once you're an adult (Sims and pets)

Invite friends and family over to hang out at your house

Generation 9: Evermore

Growing up in such a big household, you were always trying to find some peace and quiet. You are most comfortable on your own, outside with your animals. You’ve designed your life so that you rarely have to interact with strangers in-person, so you grow and collect most of your food on your farm. You make and sell arts and crafts online, so you don’t need to interact with other sims outside your family.

Aesthetic/Colors: Cottagecore, Orange/Blue/Cream

Aspiration: Country Caretaker

Traits: Loves the outdoors, Loner, Perfectionist

Career: Freelance artist

Skills: Gardening, Painting, Cross stitch

Other Requirements:

Have at least one bad break-up

Skip prom (like Dorothea)

Have the simple living lot trait

Avoid interacting with sims outside your family

Generation 10: Midnights

You’ve always had a big personality and felt different than your quiet family. As a young adult, you become an actress to pursue a life of glamor, but you find that you miss the serenity of your childhood. You turn to Wellness to find a balance between the different parts of yourself.

Aesthetic/Colors: Polished, Blue/Black/Purple

Aspiration: Admired Icon (teen) and Inner Peace

Traits: High maintenance, Snob, Genius

Career: Actor/Actress

Skills: Acting, Wellness, Logic

Other Requirements:

Have a low or distant relationship with your family as a teen and young adult, but become closer over time

Break up with a significant other to focus on your career

Have a cat named Karma

#sims4 #tseraslegacy #simslegacy

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