Rascals&CO: Superheroes. Detectives. Matchmakers. Part one
Book: Open Heart Book 3
Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x F!MC ((Elisabeth Sarah Hughes (Liz))
Title: Rascals&CO. Superheroes. Detectives. Matchmakers.
Rating: 18+
Summary: Liz offers to watch her twin nephews for a weekend when her sisters Anna’s nanny gets sick. Her nephews, superhero detectives, Thomas and Max come to her rescue when she can't find her phone… Until an, for some, unexpected visitor comes to her rescue, who is unfortunately forced to stay due to a snowstorm.
Category: Fluff-ish
Warnings: Language (swearing), Mentions of death.
A/N: Part one of a miniseries.
A/N: 'Thank Rod' is not a type-O 😉
A/N: This is also a contribution for the “Ex Came Back in the Picture” Weekly trope. @openheartfanfics
It’s not at the center of attention, but it’s why Ethan does what he does…
A/N: And once again @kachrisberry, thank you for pre-reading and editing. You're the best! 😘
A/N:Disclaimer: Characters owned by Pixelberry.
Rascals&CO.
Superheroes. Detectives. Matchmakers.
Liz murmurs under her breath as she looks behind the pillows of the couch, “Phone, phone, phone, insert curse word, phone, where Is my phone?”
And with a defeated sigh she glances around the room. Where could it be? I’m sure I've put it in my bag after my morning shift. Maybe I left it in my sister's car after she picked me up from work?
Max and Thomas suddenly jump up from behind the couch, screaming in unison; “Superhero detective twin brothers Max and Thomas reporting for duty, aunty Liz.” The boys share a trenchcoat, with each one arm in one of the sleeves. Both of them wearing a cute barrette and holding a magnifying glass.
“Whaahaaaa,” Liz startles, and her heart pounds in her throat, “Boys, seriously? What did I tell you about appearing out of the blue?”
Again in unison, “That it increases the chance of you swearing. We’re sorry, aunt Liz.”
Max pouts, “We just wanted to let you know that we are ready to face mission “Where the hell is my phone?”
She pinches the bridge of her nose, “And that is really much appreciated! But your mom is so going to kill me if she hears about our unfortunate mission's name.”
Thomas grins, “Good thing you’re a great doctor. You can patch yourself up if she does.”
Liz frowns, but before she can say anything Max beats her to it.
“She can’t revive herself. Others need to do that for her, just like in those video games.”
“Wait, what video games?” But she’s completely ignored as Thomas puts on his thinking face. “You are absolutely right Max! So what about those doctors who saved aunt Liz’s life last year?”
Max matches his thinking face with Thomas, “Oh, you mean Ethan? The long man who looks like Dr. Strange and who Liz has a crush on. He’s certainly serious and smart enough!”
Her cheeks are burning, “I do not have…” but again she's completely ignored.
“Could be, could be,” Thomas taps with his finger against his bottom lip, "And what about the other one? You know, the fun one who always says things that makes dr. Strange, even more grumpy? ”
“Oh, you mean Tobias?” Max shrugs, “I mean a good duo always has a funny guy right? So you know what, I think they could definitely do it together. How about you, Thomas?”
“Agreed, so what do you think aunt Liz?" And all of a sudden their heads turn towards her in expectancy. Death has been such an important subject ever since they lost their father two years ago and almost lost her only a year ago. The twins are only six years old, but they grew way too fast due to those experiences.
Liz sits down on her knees to match their eye level and squeezes their hands, “Boys, what Ethan and Tobias did last year was truly close to a miracle. But even smart and funny doctors duo's cannot bring people to life. It’s unfortunately not how things work.”
Max and Thomas frown in confusion, “But what about doctor Frankenstein?” They ask.
“Apart from the fact that I’m really impressed that the two of you are aware that Frankenstein is the doctor… Did you guys sneak out of bed again to watch movies the two of you were not supposed to see?”
“Nooo?” And the two put on their most innocent faces imaginable.
Liz sighs, “Alright. So what do the two of you say about me handing over the mission ‘Where the BEEP is my phone?' to some awesome super detectives, while I make some us some spaghetti and meatballs?”
Max beams, "Thank you for putting your trust in us! You can count on the best services that Rascals&Co can provide." And they start awkwardly walking through the room since they are still sharing the same big and long coat.
Liz grins at the twins as she walks towards the open kitchen. She collects ingredients for spaghetti meatballs out of the refrigerator, and her eyes falls on the window. The snowstorm became thicker and thicker, just like predicted all week and it was not safe anymore to go outside. A good thing maybe, because now her sister has no choice but to stay put in the luxurious spa hotel where she is staying with two of her besties. It's her first trip in over a year and she was kind of anxious about it.
Initially, the twin's regular babysitter was hired to watch the twins this weekend. But when Liz called her sister this morning to wish her all the fun in the world, she heard about her being sick and her sister wanting to cancel because of it.
It took Liz over an hour, but she was eventually able to convince her to go and let her take care of the little ones tonight.”
“Look what I found,” and she looks up to a beaming Max who holds up some chocolate bars from under the cabinet, “I found those bars we hid a few months ago, Thomas!”
Thomas's eyes start to glister, “Ohhh, maybe we can also find those sandwiches we hid two weeks ago together! Come one, I think we have a treasure map in our room."
“Oh Rod,” and she screams, “boys if the two of you find those sandwiches, please show them to me before you eat them.”
“Yeah, Yeah, will do. Come on Max!"
She watches the twins who run awkwardly while almost tripping over the way to big coat. "Please be careful with the running boys!"
"Yeah, yeah, screams Max, and right before they disappear in their bedrooms she hears him say, "The first bite is for us. No way we are going to share that sandwich."
Liz feels an upcoming headache and takes a deep breath. How is her sister able to survive this day after day? Of course, Liz loved them to death, but these kids were seriously nothing but trouble together.
She takes one of the onions out of the pantry, but before she can get a knife, the doorbell rings. She hears immediate excited screams coming from the bedrooms.
“The door! The door! Max, maybe the avengers received our letters and they are finally coming over for some lemonade.”
Liz walks with a grin on her face to the front door, and with her hand on the doorknob she hears, “Get onto my shoulders Thom, we are going to be so big in this one trench coat. Thor is going to be so impressed. Yes, we are going to be true detective Avenger superheroes.”
She shakes her head and opens the door, not paying any attention to who exactly is standing in front of it and she screams, "Guys at least wait with the dangerous stuff until I'm back okay?”
“Yes, aunty Liz. Okay, forget standing on each other’s shoulders, Max”
Liz closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, “Oh Thank Rod.” But then she hears Max say; “I need to make holes into this paper to spy.”
“We're gonna need scissors for that.”
She murmurs, “Aaaand relieved too soon.”
A chuckle sounds through the hallway, “I’m not sure that sounds safe, you might want to check on them.”
Liz's head snaps at the familiar voice in the doorway, “Ethan, what are you doing here?”
He holds up her phone, “Look what I got.”
“My phone!”
And he hands it to her with a lazy smile, “You left it on my desk, which is kind of a weird place to leave it.”
She matches his smile, “I left it on your desk? That’s weird indeed. But it's so sweet of you to take a two-hour ride in this weather to bring me my phone!” Her head snaps back towards the living room since her radars are tuned in on the mentioning of anything sharp.
Max pouts, “But we can't have scissors, mom always hides them from us remember?”
“I know," says Thomas, "But what kind of detective superheroes are we going to be if we are not able to find those scissors? Besides we need those papers to hide our identity behind! This means that we need those holes to look through because it would be kind of stupid to trip over everything right?”
Liz and Ethan share a chuckle "There is no faulting that logic," she grins.
“You’re right. But why don’t you just use your fingers? Like this.” And they hear the ripping of paper.
Thomas shrugs, “Nah, I’m going to look for the scissors. And otherwise, I know how the child’s lock work on the drawer with the knives.”
Liz pinches the bridge of her nose, “Okay, that's my queue to step in… and another thing to warn Catherine about." She sighs and hastily walks out of the hallway, “Max, don’t you dare open that drawer.”
Ethan takes off his jacket with a smile. He visited her sister Anna multiple times with Liz after the incident last year, so he knows his way around the house and he knows the twins very well. He and Anna bonded during those stressful and scary days where Liz almost died. He tried to support them as much as he can despite his own sadness, especially since they were also still grieving at the time for their late husband and dad. And the moment you're both on the brink of losing someone you really care about it creates an instant connection, which also led to finding support in each other by talking after.
And even though they never made it official, Ethan loved Liz with all his heart. It was one of the things that her being on the brink of death made him realize. Time is short and life is unexpected. But admitting loving her to himself took over a year and a near-death experience... So until he figures out how to finally tell her, he decides to keep it to himself... And truth be told. It's probably going to take a long time before he gets there.
“Ahh maaaan, you’re not a real avenger!” Ethan startles as Max glances at him through a ripped open cut in an old paper.
“Hi, Max. And I'm not a what now?”
Thomas screams from inside the living room towards the hallway, “Who is it? Is it Iron Man, Thor?"
Max shouts back to his brother, "It’s just Ethan with Liz’s phone.”
“Aaaaaaaah sucks!”
“Thomas!" Liz squeeks, "Didn’t I bribe you three weeks ago with five brownies that we would never use that word again?”
Ethan chuckles.
“Well, since you’re only a look-alike of dr. Strange. State your business sir and tell me what are you doing with aunt Liz’s mobile phone.” He narrows his eyes, and Thomas joins them in the hallway also with a paper in front of his face, but with tidy cut-out eyes.
"Ahh, Thomas," states Max, "I already started the interrogation!"
Thomas narrows his eyes, “Not necessary because I might already have an idea what's going on here. You want to hear my theory?”
Ethan grins, “Hi Thomas, and of course. Lay it on me.”
He starts pacing around, paper in front of his eyes with one hand and the other he brushes his pretend beard, “I think that you stole her phone just so you can bring it to her and had an excuse to see Liz. You're a smart man, Ethan, so you were very well aware that now you got here you've have to stay due to the storm for grossly hand holding as the gross grown-ups do.”
Ethan's cheeks turn fire red and Liz comes running into the hallway with a matching flushed cheeks, “Boys, you can’t say that.”
Thomas pouts, “Why? You like him too, we’ve heard you and mom talking the other night. You know, the one where the two of you constantly giggled, and when we woke up the morning after there were like three empty bottles of wine on the counter and mom was all grumpy because she had the worst hang-over ever but you didn't feel a thing.”
Liz squeaks, “And how are the two of you six years old?"
"Were almost seven," they raise their voice with an offended tone.
"Okay, excuse me... Almost seven. Now come on, get out of here. Give Ethan some breathing space.”
Both boys are pouting now, “But what are we supposed to do? The case of “where the hell is my phone is already solved…”
Liz sighs, already regretting what she’s about to say, “So what about that sandwich you guys hid? Did the two of you find that treasure map already?”
“Ohh right, let’s go, Max,” and they both run towards their bedroom.
"Boys, first showing, then eating okay?"
"Okaaaaaay aunt, Liz."
She sighs and leads Ethan into the living room, "We might have to work tonight E. Because they're going to absolutely eat that sandwich first before showing it to me."
Ethan smiles, grabs her at the hips to turn her around., “Sooo the two of you giggle about me, huh?”
Liz walks back towards her cutting board and grabs a knife out of the drawer to start on the onions. "Yeah, Please let me know what you think in an hour because something tells me that that feeling is going to change in regret very soon. Because it sucks E. But you're stuck here with us for the night."
“I plead the fifth dr. Ramsey!” And she smiles as his lips meet hers in a lingering kiss, walking backward until she bumps into the counter.
And Ethan pulls back after a few minutes of properly greeting with a huge grin on his face, "Absolutely worth the two-hour drive."
He wraps his arms around her and whispers in her ear, “Yeah, such a shame!” He takes the knife out of her hand, turns her once again to face him, and showers her neck with small kisses. "Ethan," she giggles at his stubble tickling her neck, "What has gotten into you these two days? Make out supply room sessions at work, sneaking into my room back in Boston in the middle of the night while everyone is asleep... driving two hours to bring me my phone. And so handsy all the time!"
He grins while locking her against the counter, "Well, do you want me to stop?" And he pulls her once again in for a slow kiss.
“Mmh, not altogether” she murmurs, “But unfortunately now... Yes because I need to cook."
Ethan breaks the kiss with a groan, "No, you need to sit down at the counter, with a wine glass in your hand and relax for a bit. I'm taking over the kitchen."
"Absolutely not! You've already worked a double shift, stayed even longer, AND drove two hours. You are the one who is going to sit down at the counter, and be handsome with wine in your hand."
He slowly moves in for another kiss, but they startle at a loud 'thoink' and stuff falling down coming out of the room from the boys. He grins, "You might want to check that out. Too bad, but I will be starting dinner."
She rolls her eyes, "Finnnneeeeee, but please pour us some wine because we are going to need it," and she walks into the boy's room. "First things first. Is someone hurt?"
"Noooo"
"Thank Rod!"
Max frowns, "You're always thanking Rod, but who's Rod?"
And before Liz can react, Thomas is on it.
"It's a replacement for God, remember when mom got so angry at her for swearing?"
"Which of the thousand times?"
"The second worst time."
"Ahhh right, so now you're using Rod instead of God, that's smart! Good to know."
Liz pinches the bridge of her nose, "Back to business guys. What was that noise? Please tell me that it’s not like last time where the two of you tried to reverse gravity.”
"Nah," says Max, "We found the ehmm..."
"Map," Thomas adds, "We found the treasure map to the sandwich."
Liz narrows her eyes, "Riiiight, you guys are being weird. What are the two of you hiding?"
"Nothing," they scream way too quick.
"Let me see that treasure map!"
Max and Thomas share a look but hand over the map.
Liz frowns, "This doesn't seem to be a map, more like a list. Why is it drawn on hospital notepaper? And where are the cute little drawings which you always find on every map ever made?"
Thomas rolls his eyes, "because we made our lists of steps in the hospital two days ago. We have to follow step one, then two. And tiny drawings? We're not babies anymore, Jeez."
"Of course not. You are right, the two of you are after all almost seven." Thomas and Max nod in unison.
“But waith… didn’t the two of you say that you’ve hid the sandwich weeks ago…”
The boys share a nervous glance, “Yes, but…”
“We remembered two days ago where it was…” Adds Thomas with a bit of doubt.
And Max nods, “So we didn’t want to forget again and made this,” and a big smile appear on their face.
Liz cocks up an eyebrow, "Riiiiiiight. Let’s just say that I believe this for now. So what's step one?"
"You... you can't read it," asks Max with genuine surprise on his face.
Liz glances down at the scrabbles, not even able to decipher one single world.
Thomas seizes the paper back, "aunt Liz, I thought that you were really smart. You can you read, right?"
Liz stares at them with an open mouth, "Of course I can..."
Thomas sighs and shakes his head in disapproval, "she can't read Max. I think we need to tell Ethan. He might have to fire her."
"Agreed," says Max, "And then get the ice cream out of the fridge, because getting fired by the man you love is no walk in the park."
And the boys run out of there, leaving a flustered Liz behind. "I don..." What just happened?
She glances around the room as she sees that the boys are going through their old baby stuff. She puts the stuff back in the box. Huh? Where is the baby monitor?
And all of a sudden she hears the twins talk to Ethan. She gets up and stops in the doorway, leaning grinning against the door frame. He looks down at the two boys while he is stirring in the sauce. The room is filled with the smell of garlic, onions, and tomatoes.
"I really think you should let her go, Ethan. I'm sorry to bring you this bad news but... she can't read."
Ethan chuckles, "Oh is that right Thomas? Liz can't read? And what is it that she can't read?"
Thomas holds up the paper and Ethan frowns. He lays down the wooden spoon and kneels down to meet them at their eye level. “Mmh, let me see that," he brushes his hand along his stubble, “You know, I see what the problem is.”
Max and Thomas share a frown, before staring back at Ethan.
"The reason why Liz and I can't read this is is because we are doctors. And do the two of you know what kind of handwriting doctors only can read?“
The twins shake their heads.
“Well, let me tell the two of you a secret. We can only read unreadable handwriting. And the list the two of you made is so well written, that it just doesn’t make sense to us.”
The twins run towards their room to come back with some comics and sit down at the counter.
Liz feels her heart almost explode, how does this man keep saying that he sucks with kids? She walks towards the endearing scene in the kitchen with a big smile on her face and lays her hands on the heads of Max and Thomas. "Boys, why don't the two of you grab some comics. I think it's time for me to join Ethan in the kitchen to help out with cooking.
Ethan's eyes meet hers with a genuine gentleness as he gets up, and she feels her heart pound in her chest as he matches her soft smile with ease.
Liz leans against the counter, "So what do you want me to do?"
"Take your wine," and he nods towards the two glasses on the counter, "and sit down and relax."
"Absolutely not, E." And she takes the spatula out of his hands, "You worked a double shift, stayed even longer at work, AND drove two hours to bring me my fuuu," Ethan frowns. "To bring me my Fuzzing phone," she sighs, "I really need to swear less, don't I?"
Ethan takes the wooden spoon back, “We were indeed already planning an intervention, but I guess we can skip it since you already realize it. Which means that I do not have to prepare, leaving me all the time in the world to finish these spaghetti meatballs.”
“Ughhh, gross,” and Max puts on a disgusted face, “Get a room already.”
“Max!” Liz squeaks again and a blush appears on her cheeks, “You can’t say that.”
"Seriously adults, Jeez." And Thomas rolls his eyes in irritation, "Being all clingy and googly, and getting mad when you point it out." And he picks up his comic and walks to the couch. And Max, equally irritated, follows without question.
"Those two are too smart for their own good, "Liz sighs and takes her wine in hand, "Cheers because I certainly need it." And she takes a few sips before looking at her watch, "Officially one hour in E. Tell me, any regrets already?"
"Not in the slightest, although my book and scotch were a bit disappointed when I canceled the meeting. But I can't say I'm sad about it."
Liz shyly smiles, “Oh, really? Why's that?”
He quickly tastes some of the sauce with a broad smile on his face to avoid answering “Mmh, try this,” and he offers her some sauce on a spoon. She tastes it, “Ethan, this is delicious,” and she takes the spoon from him to taste one of the meatballs, “Mmh, so good.”
He grins, “You’ve got some sauce over there, at the corner of your mouth.”
Liz frowns and wipes her hand along her mouth, “Better?”
Liz glances quickly over to the boys now discussing something about the comic in Thomas's hand. And even though the sauce is long gone, he lets his thumb drift along her cheek, their eyes meet and linger. He drops his hand and Liz feels her heart pound out of her chest, as she feels how he very secretly entwines his fingers with hers. And as two magnets they set a step towards each other.
Ethan grins, “You just smeared it. Good thing red is your color!" And Liz rolls her eyes.
"Okay Here, let me help!” He licks his thumb and brushes softly along her mouth.
“Seriously we don’t have to see this. The two of you are even grosser than mom and dad, when dad was still alive, and I didn’t even know that was possible.”
Ethan and Liz startle at the two boys suddenly standing in the kitchen, immediately letting go of each other’s hands. They both feel their words directly in their chests. Liz composes herself, “What... but a second ago the two of you were sitting on the couch. Besides, we were not doing anything.”
“Rigggggght, the two of you were staring so hard in each other eyes that you didn’t even hear when we asked the two of you a question.”
“Question?”
Thomas sighs, “Again, seriously adults.”
Max agrees, “And they say that we don't pay attention to anything.”
“Well, they did have a lot of attention for each other and for quite a long time.”
Max agrees again, “You’re not wrong.”
“Boys,” Liz squeaks, “Seriously?”
Ethan grins, and Liz smacks him against the shoulder. “Okay, I’m going to take my wine and we are going to sit down at the counter. We are in Ethan's way.”
The boys sit down at the counter as Max asks Thomas, “Do you think it’s normal to smack your boss like that?’
Liz now turns completely red and hides her face in her hands, “Stop grinning E,” she murmurs through her fingers.
“Never! Now, dinner will be ready in fifteen, Honey.” As she walks towards the counter, he taps her secretly against her bottom and her cheeks are on fire now.
“LALALALLALALALALALA,” Scream Max and Thomas in unison, with their fingers in their ears.
“Okay boys, what are the two of you reading?” And she sits down between the two of them, facing the kitchen where Ethan starts with boiling the spaghetti.
The boys start to talk, but she finds it hard to concentrate when Ethan is standing so relaxed in the kitchen. She lets her eyes drift over his broad shoulders. God, he's crazy muscled for such a long man. And damn, that ass in those pants. What is it about a handsome man in the kitchen? And not just being in the kitchen. He can cook. Ultimate swoooon. She sighs deeply and he gives her a crazy charming smirk over his shoulder without meeting her eyes, as if reading her mind.
Max and Thomas stare at Liz, who keeps staring at Ethan.
Max mouths to Thomas, "Let me try something." He clears his throat, “So that’s why we need, rocket fuel and titanium. Do you know where to get that?”
“Sure, sure,” she murmurs.
Max's and Thomas's eyes start to glisten if they suddenly see all the possibilities.
“As for dessert. Can we have cake and ice cream and candy?”
“Yeah, why not?”
“And can we watch 'Cars' after dinner?”
“Sure.”
“Can we eat cookies for dinner since we're not having that for dessert?”
Ethan plates the food with a grin, “Liz, before you answer that…”
Liz snaps out of it, “Mmh... wait answer what?”
Ethan laughs and the boys pout at their last missed opportunity while running to the dining table. He shakes his head and gives her a quick kiss on the forehead, before following the boys to the dining table. And after a half-hour, the plates are empty, and the kids are hanging in their chairs. Liz had snuck her leg under the table against Ethan's and is also contently relaxing.
Max sighs deeply, "this was sooooo good, Ethan, can you come over to cook every day?"
"I would love to boys, but..." and the doorbell rings.
Liz frowns in confusion, "Who can that be in this weather?" She glances at her watch, "And at this time?"
Max shrugs casually, “Probably John, you know your ex-boyfriend who lives two doors from here.”
“John Marson? Why would he come over?”
Thomas frowns, “Mom asked him to check up on you because of the storm, didn’t Ethan tell you? Because we told him two days ago.”
Liz's gaze snaps towards Ethan and she pulls back her leg, “What?”
The doorbell rings again. "Well at least does this explain your behavior the past two days..." She stands up from her chair. "We are talking about this later Ethan." And she disappears into the hallway.
Ethen moves down in his chair, hand dripping over his face.
And the twins grin, “Ooooohhh, someone is in trouble!"
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