#the vet was shocked that she likes to sleep on my husbands head and that we let her

[hafwen]

Ollie’s injury is healing so well. She has a scab and there’s absolutely no heat or redness

I still feel incredibly guilty. I wasn’t petting her because I felt so guilty but she climb up onto the bed and climbed into my chest and meatloafed

[sequinsmile-x]

Barter

He knew if he took a moment to step back and think about what he was doing. About the fact he was bargaining with a cat, and an unconscious one at that, that he’d think he’d lost his mind. But Aaron knew he’d do anything for Emily, for his wife, even if that meant he ended up making promises to a cat who had made it his life work to poop in all of his shoes.

-x-

Hi friends,

This is for the lovely @em-prentiss! She wrote a fic about Aaron and Sergio being indifferent to each other recently and it made my brain whir and here we are!

As always, please let me know what you think <3 I am going to go give my cat a massive hug.

-x-

Warnings: sick pet, pregnancy

Words: 2k

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

Aaron had always known that Emily and Sergio were a package deal. She loved that cat, and he loved her back. He followed her around her apartment like a shadow, the click-clack of his claws on the hardwood floor a soundtrack to her life as she moved from room to room. Sergio, however, had always been much less keen on Aaron. 

It was something that was clear from the first night he’d ever slept over at Emily’s. He’d snuck out of bed, a kiss pressed against her forehead before he headed for her kitchen, intent on waking her up with breakfast. Instead, she’d woken up to the sound of him yelping in pain as Sergio appeared from nowhere and sunk his claws into Aaron’s bare back. Emily had apologised profusely, all flushed cheeks and messy hair as she stood behind him wearing only his shirt and she dabbed antiseptic on his scratches. He said it was fine, because it was, and they both joked Sergio would get used to no longer being the only man in Emily’s life. 

Sergio’s indifference for Aaron, something he returned in equal measure, continued as their relationship grew. As Aaron and Emily shifted from boyfriend and girlfriend to living together in a house with both their names on the deed, to husband and wife, Sergio continued to make his dislike of Aaron clear. The cat loved Jack, and would often sleep curled up at the end of the young boy's bed, and sometimes Aaron wondered how he’d ended up in a situation where he lived with a cat who somehow knew what freshly clean clothes were his when he dragged them out of the basket to tear them up. 

He’d lost countless ties and shirts, pieces of them found shredded across the house, even though Sergio had more toys than a cat could wish for. Aaron was powerless against it, the love that reflected in his wife and son’s eyes when Sergio purred happily in one of their laps enough to make him put up with all the chaos the four legged creature had brought into his life. He’d lost even more of his will to do or say anything about it when he’d watch Sergio curl up with his head on Emily’s pregnant belly, the shock on the cats face whenever the baby would kick at him funny every time. 

Aaron yawns as he walks through the house, scratching the back of his head as he goes over everything he has to do before he goes up to bed to join Emily. He’s about to go, his foot on the bottom step, when he spots something near Sergio’s food bowl out of the corner of his eye. He furrows his brow and walks over to check, his confusion turning into concern when he sees Sergio laying on his side next to his still full bowl.

“Hey buddy,” he says, crouching down next to the cat, anxiety building in his chest as Sergio doesn’t even react to him, “You didn’t want your dinner?” He asks, trying to move the bowl closer to him, his lips pressed together as he still doesn’t get a reaction. He moves to pick Sergio up, something that would usually result in hissing and a batting of his paws at Aaron’s arms but there is still nothing. He simply lays there as Aaron lifts him into his arms and stands up, “Okay, Serg. We need to get you to the vet.”

He’s suddenly very grateful Jack is at Jessica’s tonight, that he only has to tell his wife, who he knows will insist she drags herself out of bed and go to the vet with him, that the cat is sick. He keeps a hold of Sergio, who is tucked against his chest and heads upstairs to wake up Emily.

At first, she’s bleary eyed and irritated that he’s woken her up from from a deep sleep - something that was rare for her these days because of their very active baby - but the moment he shows her Sergio she’s wide awake. She wraps him in his favourite blanket, a bright pink thing from his days living with Penelope, and hold him close as they drive to the emergency vet. Tears she blames on her pregnancy hormones, as if being upset about her beloved pet being sick was something to be embarrassed over, streaming down her face. 

Their concern is only heightened when the veterinary nurse immediately takes Sergio from them. Her eyes wide as she tells them she’ll check them in as soon as Sergio is with the vet. It’s a long wait as they sit there for news, the only sounds in the otherwise empty vet’s office Emily’s sniffles and the clock on the wall. 

Aaron isn’t entirely sure how much time has passed when the vet comes out to see them, a tight smile on her face he doesn’t have to be good at his job to know isn’t good news. She tells them that they’ll monitor Sergio overnight, and if he makes it they’ll operate in the morning. Emily cries into Aaron’s shoulder, tears and snot seeping through the thin material of his t-shirt. The vet tells them they can see him for a few minutes before they leave and they follow her back past the reception desk. 

Emily gasps as she walks in, the sight of her cat lying there with an IV almost too much for her to take. She sits down at the chair pulled up next to him and she strokes over his soft fur, her other hand on her bump as she tries to soothe both of her babies at the same time. 

“Hi Serg,” she says, swallowing thickly to try and push her emotions down, “You’re going to be okay. You’re in the best place. Everyone is going to take really good care of you and you’ll be home before you know it,” she keeps talking to him, reassuring him as if he’d understand even if he was awake. She sits there for a few minutes before she blows out a shaky breath and turns to look at Aaron who had stood dutifully behind her ever since they’d stepped into the room, a solemn look on his face as he rubbed comforting circles on her back, “I need to pee. Again,” she says, a flash of a smile across her face, “Your kid is on my bladder,” she slowly stands up, letting him help her without fuss for once, “Can you sit with him whilst I go?”

“Of course, sweetheart,” he says, kissing her cheek and then her forehead. The vet shows her to the bathroom and Aaron finds himself alone with Sergio for the first time since he’d found him unresponsive on the floor. 

He clears his throat and then he sighs, leaning in to get closer to him, the stillness of the creature that was usually always on the go unnerving. 

“You’ve got to pull through, buddy,” he says, scratching between Sergio’s ears, almost wishing he’d bat at him like he usually would if Aaron dared touch him, “I know we’ve never quite seen eye to eye, but she loves you a lot. So does Jack. So if you make it through this for them I’ll buy you all of the treats you want. And I’ll stop complaining about you shredding my ties or using my shoes as a litter tray.” He knew if he took a moment to step back and think about what he was doing. About the fact he was bargaining with a cat, and an unconscious one at that, that he’d think he’d lost his mind. But Aaron knew he’d do anything for Emily, for his wife, even if that meant he ended up making promises to a cat who had made it his life work to poop in all of his shoes. Aaron sighs and scratches Sergio’s head again, “I promise.” 

He hears Emily clear her throat behind him, her smile shaky and face unreadable other than that and the tears still shining in her eyes. He has no idea how much of what he’d said, if any, that she’d heard, and she steps towards him, her hand on his shoulder as she makes it to his side, “I’ll just give him a kiss and we can head home.” 

He nods and stands up, letting her take his place. She leans down and kisses Sergio between the ears and she whispers something against his fur before she stands up straight, wincing as she places one hand on her back and one on her bump. He closes the gap and rubs a hand on her back where he knows it hurts the most and he drops a kiss to the top of her head. The drive home is silent, one of Emily’s hands in Aaron’s and the other on her belly to distract herself from the fact Sergio isn’t with them. 

It’s only when they are home, snuggled up in their bed, that she breaks. Her tears slipping down onto her pregnancy pillow as he wraps himself around her, doing his best to surround her with love and reassurance. 

“What if he dies?” She asks, trying to catch her breath, both of her hands wrapped around one of his as she secures his arm against her chest, “For a long time he was all I had and…he can’t die.” 

He tries to soothe her, murmuring words of comfort he knows don’t mean anything against the top of her head in between kisses. She eventually falls asleep, worn out by the last few hours and the preemptive grief stuffed in her lungs. He lays there and finds himself wishing for all sorts of things that don’t make sense - cursing himself for not going to veterinary school so he can save Sergio himself, and by the time he falls asleep he’s bartering with a god he isn’t sure he believes in.

___

Sergio makes it through the night, and then his surgery, and before they know it he’s home with a shaved paw and a shaved belly and he’s lapping up the attention they are all giving him. He sits curled up in Emily’s lap, loving all the head scratches and kisses, his loud pur giving away any attempt at indifference. 

He’s been home a day when Emily brings it up, her smile coy and teasing as she turns to look at Aaron, Sergio fast asleep in her lap as she smiles at her husband. 

“So…are you going to make good on your promise to get him all the treats he could ever want?” 

His eyes go wide and he swallows thickly, his cheeks flaming with embarrassment, “You heard that?” 

“I heard all of it,” she says, reaching up to cup his cheek, leaning in to kiss him, her smile pressed against his lips, “You’re sweet. Who knew all it would take for you guys to become friends was a near death experience” 

He sighs, “I just know how much you love him.” 

She hums and kisses him again, “If I said we’re out of treats, and the pet store happens to be next to that ice cream place baby and I like…what would you say?” 

He rolls his eyes even though they both know he is already planning on going, and he kisses her before he stands up, “I’d say I’ll be back in 30 minutes,” he leans down to kiss her again, “Rocky Road?”

She nods, “You’re the best. I love you.” 

“I love you too,” he says, sighing as he scratches Sergio’s head, “And I love you buddy.” 

He shakes his head as he hears Emily tell Sergio that she always knew Aaron would come around. He goes to put on his sneakers and turns up his nose at a familiar smell emanating up from them. He picks one of them up and has his suspicion confirmed and he grimaces, sighing to himself before he reaches for another pair of shoes and grumbles. 

“A promise is a promise.” 

[sirthisisa-wendys]

Queen of Diamonds (Chapter 2): Tetta Kisaki x Fem!Reader

creators: @sirthisisa-wendys and @thehypestdeano

synopsis: the secret is out. but will you crumble in the face of your husband? (You might... or you might not.)

wc: 1.4k

tw: cheating, angst, suggestiveness

previous chapter 👑 masterlist 👑 next chapter

song recommendation:

"Now," Tetta begins, and everything in you quakes. Your body tenses up for the hand that will definitely shoot up to grab you and shake you or possibly even throttle you. Your heart freezes, and your entire body seems to begin to close in on itself.

If you could disappear, you'd do it right now and never come back to this place that turned into your home in your head and heart.

This is it.

"Y/n," he sighs, pushing his hair back and fiddling with his glasses. You watch the back of his hand and shrink back a little, preparing for the impending assault. "You need to know that these cameras are always active, always around." Your mouth drops open to offer apologies, pleas, anything that'll keep you from getting hurt or kicked out.

"Let me finish, babe." You inhale shakily before closing your mouth, lacing your fingers together. "When I'm away and even when I'm here, do as you please. You have money, you have cars, you have a driver, a maid... whatever I can afford, you can have it. I know my work takes me away from you most of the time." Your expression falters at the statement. Tetta's telling the truth - he is away more often than not. "But let me just make sure who you bring by the house is safe first. I'd hate for something to happen to you."

You very nearly faint from the shock, and you find yourself holding onto Tetta's arm, knuckles paling. "You're not upset?"

"No," he laughs, shaking his blonde head. "No, this is a turn-on. My beautiful wife is the item of almost every man's affection, and yet, she's still in my bed? Every night? I suppose I've struck gold with you."

You stare at him dumbly, not understanding. "But I'm sleeping around with someone else..."

"That's fine," Tetta repeats, reaching out to touch your previously stone-cold face, which is a rare move. "But I still get to call you my wife. No one else gets that pleasure but me."

"But--"

"I want you to be happy. If this satisfies you in the areas where I can't provide, then have fun." Money. Cars. Butlers. Houses. Pools. And yet, the one thing you genuinely crave is intimacy.

The innocent touches that turn flirty.

The signs that your lover is awaiting you in the bedroom, like a slightly cracked door beckoning you inside.

The feeling of your skin against his as you tangle legs and torsos between the sheets -- kisses in the rain -- dances had in empty living rooms...

Intimacy.

And here Tetta is, all at once admitting he can't provide that, and yet... you could still have it. From someone else.

You look back up at him, eyes really taking in the man before you. And Tetta looks back to you, his eyes taking in your expression while you reel from the shock. "You don't have to say anything about it today," he reassures you, standing. "But don't worry, I want you to do what you please. Just let me vet your flings first, alright?"

Don't worry?

"I'll be up until ten tonight." As he walks off, hands in his pockets, you feel a slight sense of relief but then an inkling of suspicion.

Tetta Kisaki isn't the kind of man to let things like betrayal go lightly.

Everyone knows that.

_____________________________________________________________

It's been a week.

One whole week and you haven't even bothered to answer your fling's texts or bring up your revealed indiscretion. You're watching Tetta for any sign of retaliation, anything that would indicate his true displeasure with your behavior. Sometimes when you're falling asleep, you wonder if he's secretly plotting to have you exposed and just biding his time.

But there's nothing out of the ordinary. Your bank account doesn't have money missing.

You're allowed to go anywhere (confirmed with your driver). You even took the Tesla out for a spin without anyone watching over you.

You drove and drove and drove and drove, yet when you arrived home, no one said a word.

Life goes on as normal, with Tetta going to work, coming home, and being just as busy and unaffectionate as before. It wasn't like you were communicating that you wanted him to touch you or be intimate with you, either. You know his stance on it, and you don't ask for it.

But the nagging returns.

The unsatisfied feeling swims inside your mind most nights while you lay cold on the other side of the bed, fingers itching for a lover. It bothers you while you're reading, eating, showering, dressing. It bothers you endlessly.

And finally, when you can't take the distance, the coldness, the unabashed way he makes fun of neglecting you without saying a word - you snap.

And it just so happens to be in the middle of his mid-year Associates gathering at the house. You'd spent hours putting on dresses, trying to make sure you looked not-too-modest but not-too-flashy and settled for a mint silk one, the slit in it not-too-noticeable. The thought that Tetta's told some of his Associates and they'll gather to mock you tonight sticks too firmly in your mind for you to chance it.

Serves you right, you suppose.

And despite Tetta parading you around the room, telling his business partners how his lovely, patient wife "chose the beautiful tiling on the stairs" or how his incredibly refined spouse "curated all of the paintings in the house", you still feel the suffocating restriction in your gut like they're all in on some secret joke.

"What do you think about him," Tetta murmurs in your ear, pointing at a man with short black hair in a red suit. "He's my head accountant; very well put together and always respectful. Or maybe him?" Tetta points to a tall man with blue hair leaning against the wall and looking somewhat unaffected by the number of people in the room. "He's a former model; very sweet guy. He'd treat you well, I'm sure. You want to have a drink with him?" Your stomach lurches in fear, and you pull away from your husband, whispering,

"I can't take this."

You push past the swinging door into the kitchen, sweat pooling on your forehead as you rush into the less crowded space. A butler quickly dodges your entrance, and you grip the island countertop, staring at the marble in rage.

Tears pool into your eyes at the shame of it all. You're guilty, that's certain, but Kisaki didn't need to actively rub it in your face like this. He brought you out just make a mockery of you for betraying him, just to--

"There you are." You lift your head, staring at the wall as Tetta approaches you from behind. "Are you alright? If you're not feeling well, I'll tell everyone to go home right this second."

"Why?" you croak. "So they can laugh at your little game in private?"

"My little game?"

"This," you exclaim, turning around to face him with tears running down your cheeks. "This whole party is just to laugh at me, isn't it?" Tetta doesn't reply. Instead, he stands so still that you think he's frozen in time. But he takes a step, then another, and another until he is right in front of you, brushing a tear from your eye with a slow and careful thumb.

"Why would I laugh at you?" he whispers, pain lacing his tone.

"Because you want to show everyone the 'loyal' and 'loving' wife that I am, even though I cheated." Kisaki frowns, shaking his head and touching your hand with tender fingers. He brings the hand up to kiss each knuckle delicately, then holds it to his chest.

"I brought all of them here to show you off. But not in a bad way," he reassures you, tilting his head to the side. "I want them to see the life we have and be utterly infatuated by you. I would never make you a laughingstock in front of my associates, or anyone else for that matter," Tetta continues. "Because you're not."

You sniff, trying not to burst into fresh tears.

"If me pointing out men you might like makes you uncomfortable, then I won't do that. I've even made a list of men I've already vetted for you, so if you want it--"

"A list?" you whisper.

"Yes," Tetta nods, letting go of your hand and turning toward the door. "I'll go get it right now."

"No," you object, shaking your head. "I believe you."

"We can go through the list together and you can pick whoever you'd like. Would you like that?"

"Yes," you murmur. "I would like that." Tetta smiles genuinely, handing you his handkerchief.

"Come on. I want you to meet one of my favorite partners. I have a feeling he'll love you..."

[aliwritesfic]

The Night Shift Part 4 (F!Reader x Frankie Morales)

Chapter summary: Cute work things (sorry im very hungover and i can't remember what i actually wrote)

Warnings: maybe a bit of second-hand embarrassment, masturbation

W/C: 1.5K

Part 1 Part 5

Monday night, Frankie arrived before you. The day cook, a grizzled old woman named Annette, gave him a toothy grin.

“Evenin’ hotshot,” she said. “You here to make all my dreams come true?”

“Only for a night, darlin’,” Frankie said.

“All you men are the same,” Annette laughed and handed Frankie the spatula. She gave him a to-do list, which was significantly shorter than the one on Friday night had been, bid him goodnight and hightailed it out of there, saying something about dinner with her husband.

Frankie watched the window out of the corner of his eye, waiting for you to arrive. There weren’t many orders up, so he could manage the task of cooking and having his head whip up every time he heard the tinkle of the chimes above the door.

It was almost forty-five minutes after he arrived before you came in, red faced and breathing heavily.

“I’m-I’m so sorry, Riss,” you panted. Marissa shrugged and patted you on the cheek.

“Don’t worry about it, sweet, I had some good company,” she winked at Frankie. “Have a good night, guys, don’t get into too much trouble!”

Frankie watched as you leant over the counter and caught your breath. “Do you want some water?”

You nodded wordlessly, straightening up. Frankie handed you a glass, a shock of electricity surging through him as your fingers briefly touched.

Fuck. He had it bad.

“I had to run here,” you said when you had your breath back. Frankie nodded, waiting for you to continue. “I found a kitten behind a dumpster, all wet and shivering and crying, so I had to take her to the vet.”

“What kind of kitten?” Frankie asked, having a soft spot for cats. He had had one, until he and Portia broke up and she took the cat with her. He didn’t hold it against her: Anthony the Great was technically hers.

“A black one. I’m not good with breeds,” you said.

The conversation was broken up by a pair of old men calling out your name. Your genuine smile was back as you greeted them. Frankie adjusted his cap and smiled to himself.

Occasionally he would glance up at you while he worked, catching the occasional glimpse of your side profile or the back of your head. You seemed a little lighter today, like you weren’t carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. It was nearing 1 in the morning before he decided to attempt a conversation with you.

“So, how was your weekend?” He kept his tone light, nonchalant. You shrugged, pouring him a cup of coffee.

“It was okay, nothing special.” You stirred in the sugar as you spoke, avoiding his gaze. “My boyfriend has his stupid friends over so I spent most of my Sunday cleaning up after them.” Frankie deflated just a bit. Of course you had a boyfriend. Of course. Someone as beautiful as you . . . he’d be more surprised if you were single.

“But uh, I saw Manny on Sunday,” you continued, oblivious to Frankie’s disappointment. “You remember Manny, right? He was the night cook before you, you met him I think.”

“Yeah, I did. Nice guy.”

“Uh, yeah, so I saw Manny for lunch on Sunday and he suggested making a night shift lunch group.” You wiped down menus, deftly avoiding Frankie’s gaze. “And um, well, if you wanted to come this coming Sunday, that’d be cool.”

“You’re inviting me to lunch?” Frankie asked.

“Yeah,” you said, finally looking up at him. You flushed slightly. “If you’re interested, that is. You don’t have to, obviously, but Manny and I thought it would be nice. We could all get to know each other outside of this place. Make friends, you know?”

Frankie smiled, happy at least with the prospect of a friendship with you. “That sounds great. What time?”

“Midday, if you want you can give me your number later and I’ll text you the place?”

“Yeah, absolutely.”

“Oh, and it’s just us three. So don’t invite the weekend crew, or your wife or anything.”

“I’m not married, so no problem there,” Frankie grinned at you. You nodded quickly, turning away before you could see the smile you were trying so desperately to fight off.

~*~

You didn’t know why it excited you so much that Frankie had said yes to Sunday lunch. Maybe it was because he wasn’t married, not that it made a difference.

Still, it gave you a slight thrill that Frankie had said yes.

You worked with a renewed vigor for the rest of the night. You weren’t sure any amount of rude customers or spilled drinks or broken plates that could bring you down. At one point you found yourself humming along to the radio, some song you hadn’t heard in years by an artist you couldn’t place. You knew it would bug you until you figured it out

“You like Prince?” Frankie asked, making you blush furiously at being caught with your guard down.

“I-uh-I-yeah. Yeah a bit,” you said, “actually, I haven’t listened to him in years. But I like a few of his songs.”

Frankie grinned and began to sing along in a terrible falsetto, making you snort with laughter. You danced along, allowing yourself this moment of freeing yourself of any embarrassment. After all, if Frankie was willing to put on the falsetto, it wouldn’t kill you to dance. The entire thing was ridiculous, but you were having a better time than you had had in months.

Frankie ended the song with a kick and a flourish, taking off his cap to bow dramatically.

“Have you ever thought of auditioning for one of those talent shows?” You grinned at him, wiping the sweat off your brow.

“Actually, I’ve won several of them,” Frankie winked, “I just work jobs like this when I’m not on sold out world tours.” You laughed again at his joke, almost shocked at how easy it was to laugh with someone. How freeing it was to dance like a fool and not feel embarrassed or like you were in on the joke and not the butt of it.

The rest of the shift passed quickly, the night peppered with jokes between you and Frankie. At the end of the night, instead of rushing out the door as soon as your relief was there, you waited around a few minutes.

Your phone was mercifully free of messages from Kurt, pushing your mood even higher.

Frankie met you outside by the back door, and looked shocked to see you still there. You held up your phone as a way of explanation. “I still gotta get your number.” You handed your phone to Frankie, already open to the new contact screen. Frankie punched it in quickly and handed it back to you.

“What’s with the emojis?” you asked, squinting at them.

“It’s my nickname, Catfish. My buddies and I all had callsigns in the military and that was mine. Except for Benny. He was just Benny.”

“Catfish,” you repeated. “Well, I’ll see you tonight, Catfish.”

“Yeah, see you tonight.”

~*~

You couldn’t sleep. You were too busy thinking. About him. Frankie. His dark, warm eyes that when you looked into them you felt like you could melt. The way his soft looking curls stuck out under his ever present cap. His smile that felt like safety. His hooked nose that led to lips you could only imagine kissing. His hands. You felt yourself warm as you imagined what you wanted his hands to do to you. You let yourself imagine what the rest of his body might look like.

Before you could overthink it and stop yourself, your fingers slipped between your folds and began to rub. You were wetter than you could remember yourself being. You moaned softly as you thought about him doing things to you that you didn’t even realise you wanted. Within minutes you were to your climax, legs stiffening and back arching. Sweat dotted your brow and your heart slammed into your ribcage. You hadn’t orgasmed in almost a year, always too exhausted to masturbate, and it wasn’t like Kurt gave a shit about you finishing when he fucked you.

The thought of Kurt immediately turned you sour. The burning feeling of betrayal knotted itself in your stomach. Kurt didn’t even let you have a vibrator. He had huffed and become scornful when you tentatively brought up the subject a few years back. He didn’t want anyone or anything but him to make you cum. It was a man's job to keep his woman satisfied, even if he struggled with the whole keeping you satisfied part.. You knew Kurt would practically have an aneurysm if he knew you were touching yourself to the thought of another man. But the thought of Frankie touching you gave you a thrill you hadn’t felt in years. You couldn’t bring yourself to feel truly guilty for it. Surely that was some kind of sign.

Eventually, you fell asleep a few hours before your alarm was supposed to go off. Normally, you dreamt of being in your own private space station, as far away from the apartment as possible. That night, you dreamt of Frankie.

Taglist: @hnt-escape @sharkbait77 let me know if you'd like to be added <3

[starlessskies94]

Consequence (Joel Miller x OC)

Summary: What if Joel survived his injuries from the Abby and Fireflies attack but ends up with really bad amnesia. He can’t remember his wife, Ellie, or the Outbreak; only before. How will his family bring back the man they once knew?

Pairing: Joel Miller x OC

Notes: I wanted to apologise for a stupid mistake I made in the last chapter, I mentioned that Ada fixed Joel's injury with no medical knowledge; only to remember weeks later that she's a vet as part of her character skills and I completely overlooked it while writing the last chapter so I'm sorry for that. And sorry to my lovely Adaline; because it makes total sense that she would be able to tend to his wound rather easily so I hope that doesn't spoil that last flashback too much my bad hehe

Also I apologise that it's been a while since my last chapter, I'm not going to lie this one has been a bitch to write and I'm still not 100% happy with it so I just sincerely hope it doesn't disappoint.

Chapter Twelve

Ada didn't remember falling asleep. But she certainly felt it when she woke up. Her joints cracking and popping from the curled up position she was laid in all night. Everything ached from her shoulders, to her back and her toes.

The last of her dreams faded as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. A quick glance at the clock telling her that she had slept through the better part of a day and half and although she had slept; she didn't feel rested in the slightest. The memories came flooding back, bringing with it that weight that pushed against her chest so tightly until she could barely breathe. Everything that had happened the day before felt like a bad nightmare, where her fears and worries had all come true. Joel hated her. Had more or less disowned her and Ellie. And it was her fault. The sadness and the tears were gone leaving her numb. All she had left was anger.

Yes she had made the wrong call leaving Joel as she had but it was Tommy who had thrown her under the bus. Not giving her the time she had needed to explain. It had all happened so quickly it had made her head spin. It wasn't fair.

There was no logic or reason in leaving her home and storming through the town to find her brother in law. There was no reason to slug the poor man in the face with a swift right hook either but that still didn't stop Ada from doing it away when she saw him.

The world only came back into focus when Maria had restrained her; her vision finally clearing to see Tommy holding his bloody nose.

"What the hell do you think you're doing Ada?!" Maria cried in shocked anger. "What has gotten into you?!"

"Let me go, Maria!"

"Not until you tell me what's going on!" The blonde demanded, holding Ada's arms behind her back: her grip getting tighter the more she struggled. Tommy stumbled forward still holding his nose, spitting a mouthful of blood by his feet before looking up at his wife.

"Maria it's okay...let her go." He asked woefully. Maria just scoffed in disbelief at his request, as if it was the most crazy thing in the world. She attempted to argue but the younger Miller just waved a dismissive hand at her words; his other pinching the bridge of his nose in a bid to stop the bleeding, that was now staining it's way down the front of his shirt. The townspeople were beginning to gather, a rumble of murmurs breaking out amongst the crowd at the sight of their leader being injured by one of their own.

That still didn't stop Ada from taking another swing at Tommy. Only this one didn't make contact as Maria stopped her, twisting her arm and pinning it to her back again.

"That is enough!" She roared, staring down both her husband and her sister in law. "Now you two had better tell what in the hell is going on!"

Tommy winced against the pain shooting through his nose and jaw; turning to look at the crowd staring with wide eyes. His own falling to the floor, not quite able to look at both women in front of him.

"Maybe we'd better go inside to talk." He suggested quietly; making his way back towards his home with Ada and Maria following behind. The brunette struggled her way out of Maria's grip and reluctantly she gave in and let go; turning on her heel and barking orders at the crowd to disperse and get back to whatever it was they were doing before. They did eventually albeit hesitantly. Ada glanced over her shoulder and watched them go as she made her way towards Tommy's; her brain quickly catching up with her actions. God... what they must think of her now. She was just grateful Ellie hadn't seen it; just as grateful as she was that the teen had chosen to stay with Dina the day before. Heaven only knew what she would've thought had she heard Joel's cold words when he'd left. She tried not to think about it as she looked down at her shaking hands; her right now turning red and swelling slightly. The shame engulfed her almost as rapidly as the anger had. And now she had to face the consequences of that anger.

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"...And after that he just left? You didn't even try to stop him?" Maria asked sadly as she poured Ada another whisky into her glass. She didn't waste any time downing the brown liquid as quickly as she did her first; coughing slightly as it burned her throat.

"What would've been the point? I tried to explain things and he made it perfectly clear that he wasn't in the mood to listen."

The nausea had come back; whether it was caused by the whiskey on an empty stomach or the stress of retelling what had happened between her and Joel yesterday, Ada wasn't sure. Though she guessed it was probably the former, if her headache was anything to go by. She slumped further into her chair as a deep sigh left her lungs; everything was such a mess and she was tired of feeling so hopeless. She turned the empty glass along her hand that grasped it, her eyes red and raw from the tears and the worst night of sleep she'd had in weeks. "Maybe Joel is right." She wondered aloud. "Maybe this is all my fault and I deserve this. I'd hate me too."

Maria shook her head defiantly at Ada's words, reaching over to take the glass from her and placing it back onto the coffee table between them. "Joel doesn't hate you. And as far as blame goes...I'd say we're all at fault for how we handled this. Some of us more than others." She stated bitterly, her blue cold eyes glaring at her husband sitting across from her on the living room couch. A small rag of wrapped ice held to his face. The man rolled his eyes and scoffed, pulling the ice pack from his nose and resting it by his knee as he leaned forward.

"I already told you that I was sorry. I don't know what else you want me to say."

"And I told you to keep that damn ice on your nose to take down the swelling." She berated without taking a breath. "You had no right to go behind Ada's back like that! And Joel didn't deserve to find out the way he did either!"

She was right. Tommy knew she was right. Always was. He owed his brother a hell of a lot more than yelling the truth at him like he had. But he had just been so angry. So frustrated; it had come out before he could stop it and then it had been too late to take it back. He honestly hadn't expected Joel to react the way he did. So cold and harsh with the way he'd shouted at Ada...Tommy knew how much his brother loved her. And yet he'd all but ambushed the poor woman to get answers. He uttered another apology and sat back with the ice cooling his throbbing nose that was now beginning to bruise. He didn't blame Ada for hitting him either; he'd definitely deserved it. There were a lot of things all of them wished they could've done differently. Hindsight was a nice thing in theory but now it was proving to be painfully useless once the damage was already done.

His sister in law rose from her seat and as he watched her pace about the room, the more his guilt niggled at him. She ran her hands through her greying roots and down through the fading brunette locks that cascaded down her back, they were still shaking as she moved to rest them on her neck while she continued pacing.

"Ada..." He tried cautiously." Ada..."

"You shouldn't blame Tommy for this Maria, this is my fault." She interjected and paused looking down at the blonde who could only give the woman a look of pity in return. "I mean it, Joel was right with everything he said. I'm a fucking coward!" The couple shared a look as Ada laughed bitterly at her words. "I was too afraid to deal with what happened so I left. Because I was terrified that if I had stayed...If I had tried to help him remember, forcing him to live with a damn stranger; he'd eventually decide that life was better without me. It's stupid and it's selfish..." her voice quivered as she held back tears, her arms falling from her neck to hold herself. "...but there it is."

Maria was quick to reassure her; rushing to her feet and pulling her into a hug. Ada pulled back as she was offered an old handkerchief from the other woman's pocket. Her sniffles subsiding as she was encouraged to sit down again.

"Ada, Joel loves you. He might not remember that but it doesn't just go away. You still have a chance to fix things."

Ada scoffed out a wet sob and shook her head. "No...it's over Maria. As far as he's concerned; I'm just the coldhearted bitch that abandoned him."

"Wait...Joel actually said that?" Tommy asked aghast, his eyes wide. The woman just shrugged dismissively. "He didn't have too...Though it's nothing less than I deserve.

Tommy wished she would stop being so hard on herself. He understood her guilt more than most and he hadn't even agreed with the plan in the first place. It just hadn't sat right with him to lie to Joel about his family. But then he'd spoken to his brother and realized just how much of his memory had been lost. And it seemed that he was losing himself in it. Joel was becoming angry and bitter at the world for taking something from him, for harming him in a way he hadn't been able to control. It was eerily similar to the darkness he'd descended into when he'd lost Sarah. When he'd lost all hope for happiness and decency. There was no mercy or love. It was just a means to an end in order to survive. That wall that Joel had built around himself to keep the world out. To keep emotions just out of reach. And Tommy feared his brother falling into it again. Ellie and Ada had pulled him out of it once, he had hoped they would've been able to do it again. Now he was starting to worry he'd been wrong.

He pulled back the rag and thankfully it seemed as though his nose had stopped bleeding. He discarded the spoiled cloth on the coffee table; taking in the silence that had fallen in the room. Both his wife and sister in law sat quietly with the same tired looks and stern frowns upon their faces. No one had the answers anymore, no matter how much they pretended they did.

"Ada..." his voice was quiet but it caught her attention as she glanced up at him. "I'm sorry."

She nodded meekly and smiled. "Me too. I'm sorry I punched you in the face." He laughed; waving his hand coolly as he shrugged. "Nah, don't worry about it. I mean I'm pretty sure you broke my nose but ya know...we're good sis." Ada laughed as Maria jokingly rolled her eyes at her husband's dramatics. It was badly bruised at best, both they and Tommy knew that. But Ada appreciated him trying to lighten the mood. It was the first time in a long time that she'd truly laughed since Joel's attack. And it was nice to feel something other than grief for even a second.

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Ellie tried to keep up with the rushing of her mind the quicker her pace picked up. She'd already been home to find the place empty, the only other place she could think to check would be Tommy and Maria's to find her mother. Her sneakers skidded slightly against the porch wood when she stopped to tap on the door. Her surrogate aunt greeting her with a warm smile as she opened the front door.

"Is my mom here?" The teen asked softly. Maria simply nodded, letting the young girl inside and following her into the living room. She walked in to find her mom and Tommy sat together chuckling lowly at their shared stories and fond memories. A half emptied bottle of whiskey sitting between them, with three half drunk glasses on the table. Ellie figured the three of them must've been here most of the day. Her mom shifted when she noticed her daughter, scooting along the couch to make room for her. Ellie made her way around the coffee table towards them, wincing when she saw the state of Tommy's face. "Jeez what the fuck happened to you?" She asked in concern. But Tommy just snorted a laugh. "It's a long story, don't worry about it."

The girl scoffed, a sarcastic smile spreading across her face as sat down.

"Is everything okay?"

She couldn't stop herself from fidgeting at her mother's question, instantly going back to her nervous habit. Her fingernail beds were already sore from the hours she'd spent picking at them. "I uh...I can't find Joel. I wanted to talk to him. I stopped by the house but he wasn't there." Stunned silence filled the room at Ellie's admission, Tommy's face full of confusion when he glanced at her beside him.

"Why'd you want to talk to him?" He asked. She took a moment before answering, looking to her mom with sadness in her eyes.

"I heard what happened between you two yesterday. I know what he said about us."

"Oh sweetheart, come here." She didn't say anything as Ada pulled her into her arms, instead just snuggled further into her warmth. Her head leaning against her shoulder. Hands once buried inside her jacket sleeves.

"I just thought maybe I could try talking to him...maybe if I tell him everything he'd understand or he'd forgive us for leaving." She explained." This is my fucking fault! This happened to him because of me; because of what he did to protect me...I need him to know I'm sorry...that I'm trying to fix things. That I'm trying to make it better and when we find them we can--"

"Wait, hold on, find who?"

Oh shit now Ellie had done it. She pulled back from her mother's arms, a look of guilt pulled at her brows as she chewed nervously at her lip. She tried to avoid eye contact but was only greeted with more accusing stares from Maria and Tommy.

"Ellie.." Maria uttered disapprovingly. But she didn't answer once again, attempting to avoid the eyes staring at her.

"Ellie what aren't you telling us?"

"Promise you won't get mad?" It was a big ask. Ellie knew that when she finally took the chance to look her mother in the eye, hoping that she'd soften even just a little bit. But all she saw was worry and that only made her feel worse for lying to her.

"Ellie." She warned sternly and the girl knew she had to come clean. She took a deep breath, her head falling in defeat as she finally gave in.

"Okay...I lied before. I wasn't staying at Dina's the last couple of days...we've been staying at one of the outposts outside of town tracking the fireflies...or what was left of them from Abbey's group."

"I'm sorry you've been doing what?!" "Are you insane?!" She flinched at both her mother and Maria's outbursts that echoed together in the heavy silence of the room. She shared a look with Tommy as he flashed her a small smile of gratitude but it flickered away as quickly as it came when both women rose to their feet in a rush of anger and frustrated annoyance.

"Ellie, we've talked about this and we agreed to leave it alone."

"No you fucking decided!" The teen challenged as she snapped to her feet, her face snarling into a roaring temper that could easily rival her mother's. "Those fuckers could come back! They already found us once, what's stopping them coming back to finish what they started?!"

Ada scoffed at Ellie's argument throwing her hands up, exasperated they were having this argument yet again! She understood her daughter's worries but she was certain the Fireflies had no reason to come back. They thought Joel was dead and she was determined to keep it that way. They'd had this same conversation again and again and yet every time Ellie would always push back.

"She's right."

The girls all fell silent to the single voice that spoke up, as all eyes turned to Tommy. Maria seething at her husband and Ada downright irritated that he'd shamelessly encourage this reckless behaviour. Ellie just appreciated having Tommy on her side at least.

"Tommy..." Maria warned, her eyes pleading him to stop.

"Well she is! Do you really wanna live the rest of our lives looking over our shoulders?! Just hoping to God that those bastards don't come back. Yeah they think Joel is dead but for how long? They already managed to get word he was living in Jackson in the first damn place...what do you think they'll do when they realise that he's not quite as dead as they thought?" He paused, stopping to look at Ada as she held back her tears, her bottom lip quivering and he was quick to her side. His hand resting on her shoulder.

"Look I'm sorry... I know this is not what you want to hear right now but Ellie has a point. We can end this. If it were any of us, Joel would be halfway there already."

She shook her head, her breath catching in her throat. "No he wouldn't." She argued.

"He absolutely fucking would!" Ellie shouted. Her words stopped them all dead. Knowing looks exchanged between the adults before walking to huddle by the table. They knew Ellie was right. If any one of them in that room had been attacked; Joel would be doing everything he could to get them the justice they deserved. He'd never lay down and let them get away with it. Ada let out a sigh of defeat as she looked back to Ellie, gesturing for her to sit back down. She did, though moved hesitant at first. Ada sat silent, her mind clearing and calculating for a second as she sat with her hands rested against her mouth before she eventually lowered them to speak. "So...you were tracking those bastards...did you find any?" She asked apprehensively. Ellie swallowed hard and cleared her throat, sitting up in her seat before nodding.

"Yeah...Dina and I watched the area for hours. Most of the group left but a couple stayed behind at the hunting lodge. Two of them...I don't know their names. They were packing up their stuff. We followed them out when they went hunting for food. Managed to lure some infected on the way back..." Ellie didn't realise she was shaking as she spoke until her mother took her hand and squeezed it gently. "We stood and watched as the clickers tore those fuckers apart.."

"Good riddance." Tommy stated bitterly.

"I came back to tell you what happened but then I heard the neighbours gossiping about what happened between you and Joel, all that stuff he said. I thought I could fix it. But when I went to the house he wasn't there. So I sent Dina to ask around town if anyone had seen him and I came here." Adaline nodded slowly, taking everything in. She looked at Tommy and Maria both sharing the same lost look on their faces. They all knew what they needed to do next. It was just a case of whether they had any strength left to do it.

Though Ada never got the chance to answer; instead their heads turned to the direction of stomping footsteps and the door bursting opening to a breathless Dina, panting as she almost slipped on the doormat under her boots. Ellie flew to her feet and darted to her girlfriend, asking her what was wrong.

"It's Joel!" She gasped. "He's gone..."

[sithsecrets]

A Matter of Expediency - Part XIV

2.9 k After being married off to Kylo Ren in the name of securing an heir to the First Order’s throne, a princess tries to navigate the ins and outs of married life. As she grows closer to her new husband, the princess also carves out a place for herself in the Order, assuming control over her life when she thought she would have none.

---

Part 14

2.9k words

Mentions: family drama, crying, pregnancy, pregnant!reader, dead loved ones

---

Though it is your intention to deal with your family swiftly, your plans are pushed aside for a time.

In the wake of over twenty executions spanning across numerous planets and entire star systems, there’s much to be done. You spend days poring over work histories and background checks, working diligently to replace lost personnel. There are four positions that need filling on the Board of Charitable Affairs alone, though Hux is at your side to vet candidates. And then of course there’s spying to do, for several Valderan mineral companies are replacing key players in their operations. Canto Bight’s casino owners are kissing major ass, stolen funds need redistributing to various charities, several small insurrections must be crushed…

It’s like you blink and nearly a month’s gone by, days passing in a haze of paperwork, meetings, and formal appearances. You and Kylo are pulled here and there, always busy, always doing something, and the whole ordeal is more exhausting than you ever imagined it could be. Sleep becomes a luxury, and not for the first time do you find yourself marveling at the Chancellor’s ability to go without it. Still, the sacrifice is worth the reward, and you’re happy to see things straightening out amongst the Order’s possessions.

Finally, all is well, and you’re able to relax again. Handling your uncle and his children sits at the forefront of your mind, but you’re smart enough to know that you need rest before launching into yet another confrontation. Still, even after several days of decent sleep, you’re dragging your feet at midday, drowsiness clouding your mind and dulling your senses. More than once do you find the notion of taking a nap irresistible, and you sleep the sleep of the dead each time you lie down.

Miriam notices the change in your behavior immediately, though she says nothing as she helps you fix your hair and set your clothes straight each afternoon. Kylo is more vocal with his concerns, more insistent that you seek medical attention. He corners you one afternoon in your shared quarters, catching you just as you’ve awoken from another one of your naps.

“I fear someone or something has made you ill,” your husband presses, pushing back against your flippant view of the matter. You turn away from your vanity, amused as you take in your husband’s furrowed brow and tense posture.

“Kylo,” you say, voice dripping honey, “I’m just a little tired. I’m not dying.”

Your husband rushes to your side, taking your face in his hands as he becomes more desperate than you’ve ever seen him before. “My love, I am begging you—”

“And I,” you cut gently, turning to kiss the inside of his wrist, “am begging you to not worry about this.”

Kylo’s exasperation heightens, though you don’t let him go on.

“I’m fine, darling” you insist, fussing with the cuff of your husband’s sleeve. “I’ve never been better.”

---

Returning to the palace is almost surreal, everything just as you left it all those months ago. You hadn’t expected anything to change, not really, but the sameness of it all still makes your chest clench in the strangest way. Every rug, every tapestry, every artifact and decoration… each one reminds you of a time that was not long ago, though you can hardly recognize that version of yourself now.

Two Knights of Ren flank you on either side as you glide into the receiving room you know all too well, your only protection on your home planet. Kylo was insistent for a while there, demanded that you be attended by stormtroopers and Reds and a number of other personnel, but you managed to talk him out of it. Ap’lek and Vicrul are more valuable than fifty imperial guards put together, and besides, you are adored here— the chance of you being harmed is slim to none.

Your uncle’s throne still sits on its dais in the center of the room, this fixture too unchanged. You approach it cautiously, mildly afraid to be caught near the thing on principle. It was the cardinal rule of your childhood— do not sit on Uncle’s throne, not under any circumstances. How many tongue lashings had you received for climbing up here as a child? Ten? Twenty? You can’t be sure after all these years.

What you do know, however, is that your uncle’s throne is even more comfortable now than it was in your childhood.

As if on cue, the patriarch of your remaining family comes striding into the room, mid-conversation with one of his attendants. His entire body shudders when he lays eyes on you, no doubt surprised to see you, or anyone else, for that matter, in this room. Arriving unannounced was a key element in your plan, and, if your uncle’s wide-eyed, horrified gaze is anything to go by, it’s already having the desired effect.

You let your uncle splutter stupidly on the floor for a moment, let him go through aborted versions of your name, your old title, and your new one before he finally blurts, “What are you doing here?”

It’s by no means a respectful way to address his Empress, but you’re too pleased with the way he cringes at his own words to care.

Setting your expression carefully, you gesture about the room with one lofty hand. “I’m here for a visit, Uncle. I wanted to check on the state of things here.” Your voice drops, becomes less pleasant. “The state of our people.”

Your uncle looks as if he’s going to vomit. This pleases you.

Mila is the first to come before you, startled like her father was upon seeing your face. She has the decency to kneel though, to show you respect as she waits for her brothers to arrive. And they do after several minutes, the both of them looking ruffled and perturbed as they shuffle into the room.

“You do not kneel before you Empress?” Ap’lek snaps, incensed by the way Sebastian and Tensin make no move to join their father and sister on the floor.

Sebastian, the smart-mouthed little shit that he is, opens his mouth at once, no doubt about to spit something acidic and defiant in Ap’lek’s face. But your uncle stops his son before he can do something stupid, yanking the eldest boy down onto his knees.

“Shut up and kneel down,” the King hisses. “Both of you.”

Sebastian and Tensin need no further prompting after that, though they obviously aren’t happy about being forced to show fealty to you. Mila, however, looks almost afraid, refusing to meet your eyes even as she says, “To what do we owe this honor, Empress?”

You like this change in your cousin’s demeanor, like the way she addresses you with humility and respect. So, you answer her question calmly, though you can feel rage coming to a boil in your chest.

“I am here, Princess, to tell your father that I know what he’s been doing with his people’s money.”

At this, your uncle pales, shifting uncomfortably on his knees. He, too, now will not look you in the eye, an indirect but still very overt admission of his guilt. You can’t believe him, so shameless and yet so cowardly at the same time.

Your uncle drops his head, voice subdued as he speaks. “Empress, I think you’ve misunderstood—”

Something in your snaps then, for how dare he treat your like you’re stupid, like you haven’t been paying attention?

“Oh no, Uncle, it is you who has misunderstood,” you snap, rising from his throne. Venom drips from your every word, Ap’lek and Vicrul your dark, dangerous shadows as you stalk closer and closer to your family. “You misunderstand the purpose of your tax dollars; you misunderstand the needs of your people. They suffer under the financial burden you’ve placed upon them while you snort spice and fuck whores.”

“Do not speak to my father like that!” Sebastian shouts, jumping to his feet in front of you. His eyes are wild, but you are equally as enraged, getting in his face, daring him to so much as touch you.

“Harm me or my child and it will be the last thing you do, you insolent little fuck.”

All eyes land on you, the members of your family stunned into silence by the implications of what you’ve just said. Mila is the only one brave enough to speak, eyeing you from the floor with a look of utter shock slapped across her face. “You’re pregnant?”

Remembering yourself, you take a breath and set your hands on the almost imperceptible swell of your stomach. “Yes, I am pregnant,” you affirm, speaking softly as you think of all your days spent in bed and the way Kylo cried when you told him what you knew. It was the one reason he was so insistent that you come here armed to the teeth.

Your family looks upon you as if you’re a live explosive then, falling all over themselves to widen the distance between all of you. You crowd right back in, however, undeterred and unafraid. “All of you must understand, then, why I came to do this before my condition progresses any farther.”

Tensin decides to be bold. “And what would this be?”

Cutting your eyes away from him, you look squarely at the King. “I’ve come to take your father’s crown.”

The noise that comes out of Sebastian is indignant and angry. Mila gasps, eyes wide and terrified. Tensin turns white as a sheet. And your uncle? All he does is stare up at your stupidly, mouth opening and closing on what appears to be its own accord for several seconds.

“You can’t— You can’t do that,” he stammers, looking from you, to his throne, and back again. “You can’t— Who will rule in my place? You?”

“I have the galaxy, Uncle,” you state, voice even and calm. “I don’t need this planet.”

The King looks at his eldest son and then back at you, a silent question swimming behind his eyes. You refuse to answer it, simply holding out your hand and eyeing the crown that glitters before you.

“Take that ridiculous thing off your head.”

Your uncle hesitates for a moment, a look of utter heartbreak coming across his face as he finally reaches up and out, handing you his crown as instructed. You hold the thing in your hands for a moment, studying the craftsmanship, the fine jewels that glint so beautifully in the light…

And then you throw it at Mila’s feet.

The clang of metal against marble bounces off the walls of the room again and again, the sound almost painfully loud in your ears until Mila’s able to get her hands on her father’s crown— or, rather, her crown. You see tears in her eyes as she studies it, looking at the gold and gilding as if she can’t believe it’s real.

Your uncle is clearly bewildered, shaking his head as he asks, “Why?”

“Because she’s smarter and more capable than both of your sons put together.” You lean down, really get in his face so that he can feel your anger properly. “And to think that you were going to sell her to the highest bidder.”

These words suck all other protests from your uncle’s mouth, and you can see now that this is over.

“You and the Princes will leave this palace immediately,” you declare. “You are not allowed to return for a year.”

Tensin looks distressed. “This is our home!”

You eye him coolly. “Not anymore. I can’t have you poisoning Mila’s reign with your childish partying and idiotic ideas. Now leave me and your Queen alone, all of you.”

Your uncle and his sons stumble out of the room, dazed and humiliated. Mila finally rises to her feet once they’re gone still weakly clutching her crown in one hand. Tears stream down her face. She looks like she’s been punched in the gut.

“Don’t waste it,” you say simply, tossing your head towards the throne in the center of the room. “I can take it from you just as easily as I took it from him.”

“I won’t,” Mila whispers. You believe her.

“Goodbye, Your Majesty.”

And then you’re walking out of the room, your guards trailing behind you without a word.

Mila calls out after a moment, calls you by your title and then by your real name.

You turn to her. “Yes?”

“I—” Your cousin is distraught, eyes darting as she pants for breath. “I’ve been do awful to you. I treated you like dirt, I— You could have let Father sell me to that old man, and I would have been miserable. Why would you give me this instead?”

You stare her down for a moment, considering what to say. “I’m not like you, Mila. I’m not cruel.”

Mila shudders like she’s been slapped, and you turn to leave the room.

---

Ap’lek and Vicrul fly you out into the countryside after the lot of you make your exit from the palace, cruising at a comfortable speed as you take in the rush of scenery bellow you. This part of your planet feels as though it belongs somewhere else entirely, underdeveloped and free from the crowding of urban sprawl.

Your mother’s house, like the palace you just came from, is exactly as you remember it. The landscaping, the front steps, the courtyards— there’s not a blade of grass out of place, and the joy you feel because of this makes you want to weep.

Stepping inside is like stepping back inside, for you haven’t been to this place since you were a girl. Servants and small droids bustle about, putting on the finishing touches for your arrival. You’d asked to have the place opened up a couple of weeks ago, wanted to spend some time here after you finished dethroning your uncle. But now that you know you’re pregnant, you have other plans for this home.

Shooing Ap’lek and Vicrul away, you go exploring, halfway surprised that you still remember your way around. But no, you haven’t forgotten the layout of this house you love so much, these halls and rooms you played in as a baby.

You peek in your old bedroom, delighted to see that no one’s changed the colors on the walls. The same furniture that looked so big in your eyes then only looks average now— small, even. Your little window even faces the same flowers, the same fields, the same sunshine. At once, you decide that your child will know all these things too, just as you did.

Crossing the threshold in your mother’s room feels almost like stepping into a tomb, though the sensation is not one of dread or gloom like you thought it would be. Her bed and furniture are, like everything else in this house, just as they were when she was alive, though the vanity looks strange without her things strewn across it. You can remember your mother sitting there before the mirror, a tube of lipstick in her hand, a bottle of perfume close by. All little children think that their mothers are beautiful, and you were no different back then. Now, though, you realize that your mother really was a gorgeous woman, buxom and bright and so, so pretty. She would have you help her sometimes before she left for a party, would let you pick out her earrings or ask you which scent you liked better that night. Staring at yourself in the mirror, you reach up and unclip your own jewelry, laying the pieces out carefully on the vanity as your first action as this house’s new mistress.

The covers on the bed aren’t the ones your mother slept under, but you still feel like you’re crawling in bed beside her as you lie down. A length of time passes in silence after that, how much you can’t be sure, but you’re brought back to reality when you hear heavy boots in the hallway. Kylo appears in the doorway not one second later, quiet as he pauses to study you for a moment. And then he’s sitting on the edge of the bed and unlacing his boots, he’s lying down beside you. The two of your clasp hands, tangling your feet together like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“How did it go?” Kylo asks, though you’re sure he already knows.

“Mila will be coronated this afternoon.”

Kylo nods, unfazed. “How are you?”

“I’m fine,” you say softly, reaching out to stroke his cheek. Kylo turns to kiss your palm, gentle in the same way he’s been gentle since he found out about the baby.

“This is a very beautiful house,” Kylo declares, leaving the topic of your uncle and his children behind. “Why are we here?”

“This is where I grew up,” you explain, fingers in his hair now. “I was born in this room.”

Kylo almost-smiles. “What a lovely place for a child. I see why your mother chose it for you.”

It’s your turn to nod. “I know. I… I want to be pregnant here. I want to give birth here, like my mother did. The baby needs to feel the sun on his face, needs to breathe real air when he takes his first breath.”

Kylo pulls you closer, kisses the top of your head. “I’ve always thought space was too cold for an infant.”

And just like that, the matter’s settled.

Everything’s settled.

[randomly-a-fan]

Malon's First Time At The Hospital Pt. 3

Pt. 1

Pt. 2

At the hospital in Haddonfield, Malon was having her light breakfast before she has her temperature and blood pressure checked. Jason was looking out the window far out from the horizon, thinking about his home; he senses that something is wrong. He wanted to go out there and check, but he has no way to get there, and he didn’t want to leave Malon behind while she’s still recovering.

Malon’s coughs were getting less painful, so the medicine that the doctors gave her are working great. Just then, MJ came in with a ‘Get Well Soon’ balloon. “Hi, sweetie... How are you feeling?” MJ asked in a gentle tone while approaching her. “Hi mom... I’m starting to get less coughs, and my chest is starting to hurt less,” Malon answered. “But I still have to stay in the hospital for another night.” Malon said sadly. “I know you missed being home, but you’ll be going home soon; the doctor told me that you’re making a speedy recovery, and that we might go home tomorrow night if you get your appetite back.” MJ explained. Malon smiled to hear the good news.

*** 

Back at Camp Crystal Lake, Aquarius took her kids to check the Voorhees’ cabin, to see if there are any plants that needed to be watered. But as Aquarius entered in, she was shocked to see the blood on the walls and the couch. “What the Hel-- hel... hel--li--coptors...” Aquarius didn’t want to cuss in front of her kids, even though Archie has heard worse cusses than Hell, but she didn’t want Kandy to know the word since she’s only a baby. “Archie... Take your sister home... There’s something I got to do.” Aquarius ordered. Archie was shocked by his mom’s reaction, however, he was more surprised by the mess and how loud the music was. “Come on, Kandy, lets go home to daddy.” Archie said to his baby sister.

After Archie took Kandy home, Aquarius decided to clean the place up while observing the cause for this disruption. She was going to clean the couch until her cellphone rang. 

“Hello?” Aquarius answered.

It was MJ that was on the phone from the hospital. “Hi Star, I’m just calling to ask you a favor, would you or Pennywise mind checking on Camp Crystal Lake, Jason was having the senses that something is wrong.” MJ explained.

Aquarius didn’t want MJ or Jason to know about the mess in the cabin, since she knew it might infuriate the family, especially Jason. “Of course I will, well heck, I’ll even clean up the place if you liked me to.” Aquarius offered.

While being unaware, Michael approaches the cabin and saw what he thought to be a ‘trespasser’, so he took out his knife and approach to her slowly with his knife raised. Aquarius senses someone’s presence so she had to cut the conversation short. “I love chatting with you, but I must go now, bye.” Aquarius hung up the phone and quickly did the spin attack on her still-on roller-skates; she may have dodged the knife, but the ‘stalker’ did not get knocked out. So she pounced on him. Michael tried to choke Aquarius to death, but she was quick thinking and grabbed a knife that he dropped and stabbed his arm. However, Michael was not affected by the knife stab; which worried her since she’s in a deadly position. 

Aquarius tried to remove his hand, but his grip is too strong. As she was slowly perishing, his grip loosened as he was being grabbed. Pennywise came at a nick of time; the truth is that Jason called Pennywise’s place earlier back at the hospital and answered it. MJ called from Aquarius’s cell, so it was strangely ironic. Pennywise lifted Michael in the air with a mad glare. “No one strangles my wife... except me!” Pennywise scolded. Michael did not show any reaction as usual, but whatever Michael is saying in his mind made Pennywise put him down. “You’re an acquaintance of Jason Voorhees?” Pennywise asked while still holding him by the shoulder. Aquarius finished coughing out blood before she spoke up severely. “Ask him why he trashed the place! There better be a promising explanation for his behavior, or else I’ll eat off his face...” Aquarius threatened. “You’re going to want to answer that question, because she’s a sin-muncher, and I’m sensing that you’re responsible for a full amount of sins.” Pennywise said. Michael was surprised that he can read his mind, so if he can read his mind, he can explain his reasons for this mess.

***

At the hospital, Malon was eating her lunch, a lot more than usual; which is a good sign that she’s hungry because it means that she’s starting to get better. “My goodness, Malon, you ate up all of your food like a vacuum.” MJ joked. “Well I was hungry... I’m starting to feel a little bit better each time.” Malon explained. Just then, nurse Linda came in. “Hello Malon, I just thought I come up to see how you are doing; I see you’ve eaten all of your lunch.” Linda assumes. Malon nodded with a smile. “Since you’re getting better, I thought I take you over to the play area; we have a special guest coming today.” Linda explained. “Can I mom?” Malon asked her mom. “Of course you can, and I’m sure daddy will let you as well.” MJ said while smiling at her husband. Jason nodded as he accepts the idea of Malon playing with the other kids, so she wouldn’t have to be cooped up on her bed.

Back at Camp Crystal Lake, Aquarius frustratedly scrubbed the floors while Michael watches. “Michael, will you please stop staring at me? it’s annoying because I can sense you!” Aquarius said in a grumble. “Don’t be a corpse in the weeds Pretty-Blue, at least what Michael told me about him getting rid of the trespassers that broke-in was pretty noble.” Pennywise said. “You know what, that’s great, maybe we can give him a treat; or even better, let’s keep him; Archie has been asking for a pet this morning, Michael would be perfect, we just have to take him to the vet and have him neutered!” Aquarius said in a sarcastic and sassy tone. Pennywise just chuckles and crawled towards her to comfort her. “Don’t be so dramatic, I know what’s best for everyone; no subconscious mind tells a lie.” Pennywise reassures before he kissed Aquarius passionately. 

Without realizing, they noticed Michael actually wiping the couch, almost as if there’s something within him that is so toxic and disgusting to his character. “Let’s keep cleaning the place up for the Voorhees, then we shall do something together as a family with our kids.” Pennywise suggested. Aquarius nodded and agreed, even though Pennywise is not the kind of being that likes to do chores, but he does get a lot of TLC afterwards.

***

When Malon was being taken to the Play Area, Jason wrote a note to MJ about what he wanted to do. “I’m thinking of going back home to check on the place, is that alright with you?” Jason wrote. MJ frowned, she thought that her calling Aquarius would calm Jason’s nerves, she even heard from Malon that her dad also called the Gray’s place. However, she can’t really tell him what he can or can not do, but she did gave him a reasonable response. “I can’t really stop you, since it’s my turn to spend the night with Malon anyway, but you should ask Malon and see what she thinks.” MJ suggested. Jason nodded and decided to take her advice.

Jason walked over to the play area to see Malon with the question that he have wrote for her. He was watching Malon drawing and coloring, he tried to get her attention until he saw what she was drawing. “What’s that you coloring?” The little sick girl asked. “That’s me and daddy; he was always there for me whenever I needed him...” Then Malon noticed her daddy and waved at him happily. Jason waved back at his daughter with a tearful smile; he looked at the note and then back at Malon, he decided to not worry about his cabin, his family comes first, especially Malon’s, so he tared up the paper and threw it into the recycling bin. Jason was going to go back to her room, until he spotted a Shetland Pony heading towards the play area, he assumes that the pony was the ‘special guest’ that Linda was talking about.

Malon and the rest of the young patients went out to meet the little pony, Malon has never seen a little pony so tiny that Malon teared up over cuteness. She was going to pet it until the man grabbed her by the wrist to stop her. “Don’t touch him, the sign said to not touch.” The man said, he didn’t mean any harm, but Malon is still tearing up, so she decided to go back to her room. Only to realize that she doesn’t remember where she came from or how to get back to her room; the nurse was preoccupied that she wasn’t paying attention to Malon.

Luckily, her dad was close by, so he caught up to her and gently lay a hand on her. Malon turned around and hugged her daddy while tearing up. “I want to go back to my room!” Malon mumbled into his shirt. Jason rubbed her back to comfort her, he saw the whole situation with the man and his Shetland Pony; if he weren’t in a public place, he’d kill him in a instant for making his daughter cry, but he has to hold himself back and not make a scene. Eventually, Jason guided her to her room and put her up to her bed. “You’re back quickly, everything okay?” MJ asked. Malon shook her head and decided to sleep it through from her depression. Jason wrote a note to his wife and explained to her about what happened. “Aww... That’s not fair... Service animals were supposed to be used for little kids to cuddle, like dogs and puppies... Did she cry?” MJ asked. Jason nodded sadly as he almost cried himself. 

MJ got up and walked towards Malon and gave her a lingering kiss by the cheek, which gave Malon a half smile with a dimple; just like when she was a baby. Even though Jason is sad over Malon’s disappointing opportunity, he’s glad he didn’t decide on leaving for home, or else Malon would have gotten herself lost from wandering through the hospital. He’s grateful for listening to his own family instincts and not think too much about his home.

To Be Continued

[muertawrites]

Two Halves - Chapter Fourteen (Zuko x Reader)

Chapter 13

Word Count: 2,400

Author’s Note: I’m not gonna say much about this one other than a few fun little tidbits from my creative process. I have a headcanon that the Firelady would’ve ended up with Kuei if she hadn’t married Zuko, and I wanted to make Druk’s collection forks, but since there are no forks in the Avatar universe (which is a strange little statement), I had to change it. Enjoy (and also I’m sorry [not sorry]).

~ Muerta

You awake in Zuko’s arms, his head nestled heavily within the crook of your neck. For a moment, your mind wanders, groping about the unfamiliar space around you as it tries to make sense of its surroundings. The bed cradling you isn’t yours, the sheets twined around your legs feeling entirely new; the large windows to your right and crimson canopy fluttering in the breeze they admit don’t belong to your bedroom. This is Zuko’s room, where you fell asleep the previous night after returning to the palace. 

You sigh sleepily as you extend your arms and legs, stretching your muscles while your memory aligns through your grogginess. Nightmares rocked your sleep not long after you hit your mattress, and you crawled into Zuko’s bed seeking his comfort. He hushed and held you and eased you out of your terror, forming a fortress around you with his tall, strong body. He made you feel safe. He made you feel loved. 

“Firelord Zuko!” 

Rina’s shrill, panicked chirping from the other room breaks you from your haze. Zuko, light sleeper that he is, wakes with a start, blinking in a fluster before sitting up, immediately alert. 

“I can’t find her!” Rina cries, her voice drawing nearer. “The Firelady’s missing! She’s not in her room, and the servants-” 

She halts as she thrusts open the doors to Zuko’s bedroom, her fearful expression dropping into one of wide-eyed surprise and embarrassment. She falters only for a moment, however, composing herself as quickly as she fumbled and bowing apologetically. 

“Forgive me,” she says, keeping her gaze cast downward; you manage to glimpse the tail of a smirk as it curls around her cheek. “I wasn’t aware she was with you.” 

“It’s alright, Rina,” Zuko yawns, relaxed once again now that the threat of possible danger is gone. “Good morning.” 

Rina straightens her back, making a point of looking only at you. You hadn’t noticed it last night when you joined him, but Zuko is naked from the waist up; the realization makes you blush, the skin all over your body raising to a fever. 

“Will you require me to help you prepare for the day?” Rina asks you. Amusement still twitches in her lips, a taunting gleam in her eye; you fight the urge to grab the pillow nearest to you and fling it at her. 

“I’ll meet you in my room in ten minutes,” you tell her, and she nods, bowing once more as she slips from the room. You know she’ll want the details of your night with your husband, and you prepare yourself for her disappointment when you break to her that the circumstances were entirely innocent. 

Zuko falls back into the sheets, burying his face in his pillow in an attempt to make the most of the last dregs of his slumber; he reaches for you, his arm wrapping around your middle and pulling you in, compelling you to do the same. You let out a quiet breath of laughter as you comply, noting the way his expression eases when your body meets his. 

“Do we have to do this?” you whisper as the day’s impending events form in your mind. 

He hums, pressing his nose back into the space it occupied before his sleep was interrupted; his lips graze your neck, your skin rising in millions of minute peaks at the sensation.

“Yeah,” he grumbles. “Unfortunately.” 

You run your fingers pensively through his hair, loose from its typical knot and falling in cascades of black ink around his bare shoulders and back. He shivers, his hand finding the exposed skin of your thigh under your night dress and stroking his thumb tenderly over the flesh. 

“Don’t let them force me,” you plead. “I won’t do it. I don’t think I even can.” 

“You’ve never given into them before,” Zuko reminds you. “This won’t be any different.” 

Beside your setting at breakfast, you find a letter addressed from Kuei. You grin as you read it, instantly missing his gentle sarcasm and subdued demeanor, but finding comfort in your thoughts of him.

My dearest Firelady,

I've just heard of Aang and Katara’s wonderful announcement and had to write my congratulations. How exciting it will be to have a little niece or nephew! I've already sent forth gifts on behalf of my kingdom and myself.

However, I do also write my concern. Having met your council, I can say quite honestly that I do not trust them - I fear that in the wake of such pivotal news, your advisors may attempt to steer you into decisions that aren't theirs to make. 

Firelord Zuko loves you dearly, that much is clear to me. I trust in my heart of hearts that he's caring for you in his uniquely attentive way. I also love you dearly, and it is with this love that I inquire about your health. Are you taking precautions? Are you standing your ground in regards to your actions? (I know you are.) Are you caring for yourself as much as we who love you care for you? Please answer in detail - I cannot stand the worry. 

On a more serious note (or perhaps no less serious, but an entirely different vein of seriousness altogether) we have heard of your meeting and its subsequent revelations from the warden of Azula’s compound, and have begun tracking and arresting as many Dai Li as we can in order to question them. Those in custody have given us very little, and our informants within have revealed possible collaborators with the former princess, though we have no strong leads. We've even launched an investigation into Ozai’s prison, but have come up with nothing as of this moment in which I write to you which connects him to any of the matters at hand. 

My sweetest little friend, I fret for you so. I think of you always, and have taken to consulting daily with the Spirits after the well-being of yourself and your husband (a practice you know I have never engaged in, but as of late, it feels like the only thing I can do). 

Promise me you will keep safe and sound, but in the fearless way I so admire you for. 

Sincerely and forever yours, 

Kuei

Zuko huffs as he reads over your shoulder, biting into his meal with a bit too much force.

“He talks to you like he's your lover,” he mutters. 

You smirk, folding the letter into the breast of your robes. 

“I thought you liked Kuei?” you needle, taking a slow sip of your tea. 

“I do,” Zuko replies. “I just like him better when you're not around.”

As you enter the meeting room, you make a point of keeping your chin held upright, your gaze steady. Advisor Qiang watches you in his typical, scrutinizing way, while Advisors Sung and Yong greet you kindly. Zuko takes your hand as he lowers himself into his place beside you. 

“Firstly,” Yong opens, “I want to give my congratulations to the both of you on your new addition to the family.” 

“Thank you,” Zuko replies with a nod. “We’re all very excited.” 

“Of course,” Sung interjects, “the announcement also raises questions about your own heirs, and when you plan for them to arrive.” 

“Yes,” Yong agrees. “In typical royal marriages, children would already be on their way; but we all understand that yours is not a typical royal marriage.” 

She gives a pointed look towards the international affairs advisors and their aids, which is met with a sharp twitch of Qiang’s brow. 

“The question remains one of public reception,” he quips. “I, for one, believe it would enrage those among the Fire Nation population who remain purists.” 

“But, of course, domestic concerns are my responsibility,” Yong counters, “and I believe a child would bring more cohesion to the image of our Lord and Lady’s marriage - especially to those who are doubtful.” 

“You all seem to forget,” Zuko chimes in, his voice smooth and calm, “that none of you will be carrying or raising this baby.” 

Each of the council members turns their heads towards you, as if suddenly remembering you're there. 

“Whether or not we have children is our decision,” you state, “and our decision alone. We won’t allow the people we bring into this world to be used as political pawns.” 

“Political involvement is unavoidable,” Qiang scoffs, glowering at you. “You're foolish to think you can dictate whether the inheritants of the nation remain neutral.” 

“We can,” you contest, meeting his belittling tone with one of soft determination. “Firelord Zuko and I wish that royal children no longer inherit their station - successors to the throne will no longer be elected by blood, but by vetting from the council.”

The room falls deathly silent. For an excruciating moment, your advisors stare at you in shock, their bodies frozen as if carved in stone. 

“That has never been done before,” Yong finally says. 

“Neither has a Firelord’s marriage to a member of another nation,” Zuko replies. “The war is over. We can't continue to live as if it isn't.” 

“Why would you want to change the operation of the government so drastically?” Sung wonders. 

“Because our rule is not a dictatorship,” you answer. “In the Water Tribe, the chief is always appointed by members of the community - we choose who will govern us for the benefit of everyone. Since the Firelord’s council is chosen by the people, we believe it will best decide who should take over the throne upon our retirement.” 

“We don't want to continue the system my father and grandfathers created,” Zuko adds. “Putting a vetting process in place will ensure that nothing like the Hundred Year War ever happens again. And even besides that, we all know that trying to live up to a title was what destroyed my family. I don’t want to repeat that cycle.” 

“The Fire Nation has always been a monarchy,” Qiang resists. “The global repercussions of such a drastic change could be catastrophic - you’ll look weak.” 

“They’ll look compassionate,” Yong tosses back. “Our people already benefit from having a Firelord who wants to lead for the sake of leadership; distributing the power further will help to erase Ozai’s mark on history. I think it's excellent.” 

You return your attention to Qiang, fixing him with the same searching, calculating gaze he's so accustomed to using. Though his expression remains stoic, the glare of his pupils reveal rage, their wild, acute fizzling back and forth conveying a panic that you're certain isn't for the sake of his government or his people. After a moment he nods; you know his surrender is only temporary. 

“It will take time,” is all he says. 

He shares a glance with Sung. Beneath the table, you grip Zuko’s hand in a vice. 

The evening is cool; cool enough that Zuko bends a sizable fire in the hearth of your sitting room to fight the chill. You curl up with him on a gathering of blankets and cushions at the mouth of the flames, leaned back against his chest as you share your nightly pot of tea. Druk nuzzles his way between you into Zuko’s lap, dropping a flat, round stone onto his leg. He chuckles as the dragon disappears under a table in the corner, emerging with another, similar stone which he presents to you. 

“He's starting a collection,” Zuko explains. “Uncle sent me some of his old books on dragons. They keep collections of different things. Apparently Druk likes rocks.” 

You smile as Druk shimmies once again into the space between you, purring contentedly as he burrows into the fabric where your robes meet. Zuko absently scratches at the space behind his ears. 

“We should take a honeymoon,” you suggest.

“A what?” 

You turn to face him, furrowing your brows in confusion. 

“A honeymoon,” you repeat. “It's something that newlyweds do - after the wedding, the bride and groom go on a trip together so they can spend time alone as husband and wife.” 

“Is that a Water Tribe thing?” Zuko asks. 

You smirk, shaking your head. 

“They do it in the Earth Kingdom, too,” you tell him. “Sorry, I forgot that the Fire Nation spent a century without anything nice or fun.” 

Zuko pinches you in the side, causing you to erupt with giggles. He grins at the reaction, reaching to brush a few stray locks of hair away from your face. 

“We should do that,” he agrees. “We can go to Ember Island. My family has a house there where we used to go in the summer. It's where we stayed before the comet.” 

His expression becomes wistful, and you lay a hand on the side of his neck, tenderly stroking his skin; you can tell the memories are as painful as they are warm. 

“I would love that,” you murmur, chastely kissing his lips. “Maybe we can pretend we’re normal for a few days.” 

Zuko chuckles, then with a sigh rests his forehead against yours; he gazes at you for a long moment, his hands resting on your hips and gripping just a little bit tighter, pulling you just a little bit closer. 

“Kiss me again,” he whispers. “... For real.” 

You search his eyes, looking for anything that will spark your doubt; all you find is exaltation, so quiet and yielding you can hardly bring yourself to fight him. You don't think twice about the command, your lips finding his in the scant space between you. 

As you kiss him, your body lights with fireworks. Every one of your senses seems heightened, your body rippling with embers of a flame that grows stronger the nearer he gets. His lips are soft against yours, the taste of his skin sweet on the edge of your tongue; his chest presses firmly to yours, his hands on your back attempting to pull you nearer despite the impossibility of such an act. You can feel his breath quickening to match his heartbeat, each movement aligned with your own. 

You're broken apart by the rapping of knuckles on the sitting room door, followed immediately by Rina’s entrance. She bows hurriedly simply out of respect - her lack of reaction to your intimate position piques a deep, hollow dread in your gut. 

“Firelord Zuko,” she addresses him. “I’m sorry to come to you so late, but the head of the royal guard just received word from the warden - Azula is dead.” 

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[juminsmysticmc]

Woo I'm so happy that we're able to request something from you!😍I love your writing sooo much and I have been following you for a long time and you improved a lot!^^ (definitely not saying that anything I read was bad♡You are awesome!!!) How do you think would the RFA react to their Lover or crush not paying much attention to them due to important work?I think that especially Jumins/Sevens and Jabeas reaction is super interesting since they drown themselves in work.. Thank you so much!

RFA with a MC who seeks for attention

Hey you!! Thank you a lot for saying these kind words to me! I am so happy that you kept staying by my side! Thank you! So, I hope you like the story! I gave my best….! I actually was/ I’m still unmotivated to even write something and this request made me want to really keep writing…Hahaha, my head has been odd lately...so, enjoy! BTW, I think that all members of the RFA are fucking working too much! Like, Jumin and Jaehee are two workaholics and Saeyoung is obsessed with whatever he does but also Zen. We shouldn’t forget that he is still trying to become bigger and more famous and also works hard so that his family finally acknowledges him. And even though Yoosung is our little baby he too wants to work hard for the Mc so...I just realized that I am dumb because I could have refreshed my mind while Quarantine Time, oof...Okay, I will stop talking now.

Ps.: The Layout is weird because I‘m not at home and instead working on my phone.

Jumin

You observed Jumin working on his desk.

He was stressing out himself and it worried you.

Your husband wasn’t sleeping a lot lately and he didn’t even eat.

His best friend was the caffeine and his enemy was the due date of his work.

Well, it was understandable that he was working so much.

Jaehee didn’t want to tell you either but someone made a big mistake and due to that Jumin now had to correct everything.

A work of more than two years in just three weeks.

Your husband was amazing but also crazy.

,,Jumin…’’ you mumbled.

No response.

,,Baby…?’’ you called him again.

You sighed as he seemed to not hear you.

You approached him and stroked his shoulders, down to his chest.

,,Husband?’’ you asked him again, looking at him.

,,Mh?’’ he asked you but of course he wasn’t listening.

,,I am...selfish...can’t you take a break for a few hours?’’ you asked him, laying your head down on his shoulder.

,,Sorry, my love, I really need to…’’ he stopped and instead kept on working.

Well, you wanted to understand him but he was hurting himself like that.

And so, with all the strength you had, you turned his chair, so that he would face you, and sat down on his lap.

,,Please, just a bit…’’ you begged and pressed his head against your chest, making him relax his whole body and lay down the pen.

Well, you enjoyed the feeling of his warmth even through Jumin fell asleep on you...

Zen

,,If I can do this very well, I can finally have my Debute!’’ he laughed excitedly and began to learn his lines.

Your eyes stayed glued on the silver-haired man who by now wasn’t even paying attention to you anymore.

And you as his manager knew that he needed to also have some rest.

You were taught a lot while you studied to become a manager and this was one of your tasks, to make sure that he would also take a good rest.

The work he would do would be much better that way anyway.

And as his girlfriend you thought that you also had the right to have a bit of his time.

You kept watching the situation for two days.

Hyun was smoking a double amount of cigarettes and was drinking also too much beer.

,,Hyun, could you please pay some attention to other stuff?’’ you asked him, a bit annoyed.

But just a bit.

,,Mhm,’’ he mumbled and kept learning his lines, moving his hands while reading.

,,Hyun!’’ you called a bit later.

,,Sorry,’’ he mumbled.

You just through that he would now pay some attention to you but you were just so wrong.

Your boyfriend got up and instead moved to another room, closing the door behind himself.

That’s when you became tired of it.

Even while you took your meals together he wasn’t paying any attention to you.

And that’s when you decided to play your joker.

,,Hyun, it’s okay if I meet someone later, right?’’ you asked him with a cute voice.

He just nodded, and so you took out your phone and acted as if you were speaking to someone,,Oppa! He said yes, it’s okay to meet my Ex...will you pick me up~?’’ you asked.

And now, finally, you had his whole attention.

,,Give me your phone! I never said yes for your EX!’’ he hissed angrily.

And so, a few minutes later, the both of you laid together on the couch, your body on his while he explained, why he was still trying so hard...

Yoosung

After seven years of marriage you knew Yoosung by your pockets.

You knew all his movements.

You knew his thoughts, worries, and secrets. Things he didn’t even know, you knew them all.

It was just natural that you knew that something at work was troubling him a lot.

Being a vet was hard and by now you realized that Yoosung had a big issue with letting go of some things.

He couldn’t bear goodbyes or deaths.

Especially whenever a dog died.

Your husband would be a total wreck afterward.

And so you guessed that also this time his overworking behavior had to do something with a dog.

He came home late, really late, and went off to work really early.

Someone else would think that he was cheating.

But he was just overworking himself.

,,Yoosung,’’ you whispered when he finally came home.

As if he was in trance he took off the shoes and walked straight in his room, working on some documents.

You walked behind him, calling him again and again.

,,The baby‘s gender!“ you spoke up, making him finally look at you.

Panic was in his eyes.

,,You missed the date. You weren’t by our side again.

Could you please just...give us some more attention?“ you asked him, almost tearing up.

,,Mc I-”

,,I understand that something is troubling you. Everyone has times like these...but you will become a Daddy soon...let’s go through there together,“ you cracked out.

And after a long hug, which helped the both of you, Yoosung finally confessed his problem at work and you finally told him the baby‘s sex...

Jaehee

At first your shop was going just alright.

Guests came regularly and just in the perfect amount.

But slowly the visitor went back and Jaehee was panicking.

She couldn’t understand why that happened.

What was the reason?

Sleepless nights approached her and the both of you didn‘t even have the time to speak to each other.

And even if you had the time, Jaehee was always working, checking over and over the win and if she already had to fill out a file for bankruptcy.

,,Jaehee Kang,“ you spoke up.

You just needed a bit more marketing.

You guys just needed money, someone just had to invest into you.

You already had a solution.

Jaehee just didn’t want to realize it.

,,Jaehee!“ you called her again.

,,Not now, Mc,“ she told you and seemed to write something down.

You decided to go back, take a pan and threw the heavy metallic gadget on the floor, making her shriek in panic.

,,Did you go crazy?“ she asked you shocked.

,,No! But you did! Take a break and talk to me! You need to overcome your feelings! You know better than anyone else that Jumin could help us.

We need a good marketing strategy! It’s hard on you but you seem to make it worse!

Get yourself together now, Jaehee and talk to me…“ you blasted.

The woman observed you until she put aside her stuff and agreed with you.

Saeyoung

You thought that after Saeran would be with the two of you, that Saeyoung would relax a bit.

He had his family back after all.

But you were wrong.

The better his brother became, the more he threw himself in work.

The lesser attention he paid to you.

The situation was becoming odd and you didn’t know what to do.

No matter how hard you tried, Saeyoung wasn’t giving you any attention.

That’s when you came up with the only way to stop him from working - hacking his gadgets.

Of course you couldn’t make it work yourself and so you asked Saeran for help.

It took him a while but he too noticed that Saeyoung was overworking himself.

And it seemed, that your solution was the only one.

Saeran took out his own laptop and began to hack in his brother’s.

,,FUCK!“ he yelled out and stamped into the room of his brother, finding the both of you.

For the first time in a while Saeyoung was paying attention to you, even through the both of you were fighting.

But not long afterwards he calmed down and began to calmly understand your point.

,,There‘s no need to worry...we’re here too and we can also support you...just give us the possibility to help you and don’t drown yourself in work…“ you patted his back.

MASTERLIST 1

MASTERLIST 2

MASTERLIST 3

04.06.2020//  MEST

[maybe-your-left]

Cowboy Blues: Cowgirls in Kuna

A few months have gone by since you and Clyde were in the mountains and your relationship takes a turn. 

TW/CW: VIOLENCE THERE IS VIOLENCE AND BLOOD IN THIS CHAPTER. I am SO SORRY BUT IT HAD TO HAPPEN. If you are uncomfortable reading about physical assault PLEASE skip this chapter.

ALSO HERE IS MY MASTERLIST incase you miss any chapters or you want to see what else I am writing! Which is usually hot garbage! :) 

“Sunshine could y’ bring me some dinner?” Clyde grumbled through the phone, “I forgot t’ pack some before I left an the bar is packed tonight.” 

“Of course baby,” you started rummaging through the fridge, “I’ll be there in 20 okay?” 

“Okay. Thank y’.” 

“You’re welcome, bye.” 

It was rare for Clyde to forget food. Usually, he would steal whatever leftovers you had in your fridge, or on the rare nights you could eat together you would bring him food to the bar. After your cabin trip, you and Clyde had been ‘steady’ for about  2 months. Spending time at each other’s houses, spreading personal items in each other's space. Both of you shared house keys, and sometimes if Clyde was really lonely after work he would come to your house and sleep in until it was time for you to head to work. It was a wonderful routine, you felt so safe and secure in the rhythm. Clyde was sweet, attentive, and so loving towards you. 

Not a day went by without Clyde reminding you how beautiful you were, how much he appreciated you, or how much you meant to him. Nothing else mattered to him except your happiness and that was true both ways. You enjoyed his company, and every day he taught you something new. Everything was going so well you weren’t sure what to expect next! 

You climbed into the car and started towards the bar. Not really thinking about putting on a nice outfit, you wouldn’t stay too long since you worked in the morning. You had thrown together some leftover Lasagna, one of Clyde’s favorites, and some other odds and ends in case he got hungry again during his shift. 

Parking at the bar you saw how packed it was, most of the cars were out of state plates. It wasn’t rare, Duck tape was off the highway so lots of people came through before checking into a motel. Walking up the steps you noticed a truck that you thought looked familiar, an old Chevy. Each piece looked like it was from a different truck, and it was covered in mud. However, the plates were from another state so you paid it no mind. 

Earl greeted you at the door, “Howdy miss (Y/N), Clyde’s pretty busy tonight. Outta towners are here.” 

“Well, He asked me to bring him dinner so he better make some room for me!” 

He smiled and let you in, dozens of people inside. You could barely hear the jukebox playing over the loud crowds around the pool tables. You glanced around and saw groups of men circling around the few women in the bar. Most were regulars that wouldn’t take any shit from men who weren’t respectful, but you were glad that Clyde had help in case things got out of hand. 

Behind the bar you saw Clyde, your big bear of a man was moving so fast filling drink orders. Next to him was Joe Bang, Mellie’s husband, barking at customers to stay off the pool felts and also handing out beers. You wondered where Mellie was, usually, she helped with the bar. Ever since Jimmy moved to be closer to his daughter, she and Joe had helped out with Duck Tape. 

Walking behind the bar you placed his food in the mini-fridge, smiling at Joe when he waved at you. 

“Hi baby, do you want me to help out for a little?” you placed your hand on Clyde’s back. Instantly you felt how stressed out he was, this many people around him made him nervous. Especially since most were from out of town and they liked to ask questions about his arm. 

“Here y’ go,” he nodded to a customer, “Hi darlin’ sorry, it’s so busy.” 

He leaned forward giving you a quick kiss before rushing out from behind the bar, barking at some young kid that thought it was a good idea to throw a pool cue. You stood there watching Clyde escort the gentlemen and his friends out of the bar, saying that they needed to respect the property and whatnot. Sighing you turned back around and started taking simple orders, not being a bartender you just knew how to get people beers and that stuff. Besides, it looked like a beer-drinking crowd. 

“Well well well, what do we have here?” a voice called over the bar. 

You instantly froze, you knew that voice. It had been a while, but the voice was familiar. 

“You left me to become a barmaid? Pathetic,” they called again, “Even for you.” 

Whipping around you stared at the cold dead eyes of your ex, Josh. Sitting at the bar, about 4 empty beers in front of him as he nursed his 5th. 

“Excuse me?” you croaked out. You had to do a double-take, there was no way that Josh was here, how could he know where you were? You had changed your phone number, even gotten a new car, and you were sure you didn’t allow your vet clinic to post your picture on their website in case he went snooping. 

You turned slightly towards Clyde, unsure if you should call out to him or not. Although the two of you had been together for a couple months, you hadn’t told him everything about your past. Especially leaving out the parts where your ex used to beat you senseless, or how you ran so far your feet bled just so you could get away from him. 

Josh must’ve seen you look at him and he started laughing, “Oh and now you’re dating a cripple? What kinda man is that?” He chugged his beer, “Fuckin’ disrespectful is what you are. Leaving me and now, here is where I find you?” 

You couldn’t speak, afraid of screaming in front of everyone. You tried to get closer to Joe but he was too busy dealing with other customers to even pay you any attention and unfortunately you could hear Clyde by the front laughing with Earl about something. 

“What? You not gonna talk?” 

Looking around the room you tried to see anything you could defend yourself with. You didn’t think Josh was stupid enough to do anything in front of everyone but you couldn’t be too sure. Spying Clyde’s office in the distance you started scooting away from the bar.

Once you were about a body length away from Josh, never breaking eye contact, you sprinted. Pushing around the bar and through patrons, tears streaming down your cheeks. Thank god the bar was full or else people would’ve heard your sobs. Unfortunately, Josh had other plans, whipping around and grabbing your wrist. 

“You gonna fuckin’ run again?!” He had you pinned to a table, his sweaty hand was pressing your cheek to the wood. You were full-on crying now, the entire bar silent and staring at the encounter between you and the ‘stranger’. 

“Please let go of me, Josh,” you whispered. 

He pressed you down harder, your arm pinned behind your back. You felt like it was going to break and he had you in a cobra grip. “No, you don’t get to talk after what you did to me!” 

He lifted you off the table and suddenly you were thrown towards the bar, slamming into the stools. Crying into your arms, pleading for someone to help you. You looked through your hands, sure that Josh was about to kick you in the face when suddenly he was taken down by a large figure. 

In one fluid motion, Josh was on the floor knocked out cold. Blood seeping from his nose and mouth. You closed your eyes in fear as the boots came closer to you, above you, you heard his voice, “Joe get the fuckin’ police down here. Have em pick up this deadbeat.” 

Clyde. 

Of course, it was Clyde. He must’ve heard the commotion from outside and came in when Josh threw you. You sobbed even harder into your arms, acutely aware that you may have broken your wrist when you landed. 

You were scooped in the air, cuddled into Clyde’s chest as you cried. You didn’t dare move, paralyzed from what just happened. 

“I’m takin’ her t’ the hospital. Lock up after the police leave,” Clyde growled at Joe. 

“Sounds good big boy.” 

Wrapping your legs around his waist and arms around his neck you cried into Clyde’s neck. Shaking from shock, every movement was shooting pain through your wrist but you didn’t want to be put down. Clyde was carrying you with his metal arm, secure under your ass, and he walked out of the bar towards his car. 

Opening up the passenger door he gently placed you inside, securing your seatbelt and shutting the door. He walked around the car and waved goodbye to Earl who just stared at you with an open mouth. Clyde climbed in, starting the car and drove out of the parking lot. No words were shared between the two of you, all that filled the air were your hiccuped sobs followed by Clyde’s deep breaths. 

----- 

The two of you sat in the emergency room lobby for about 20 minutes, Clyde had his arm around you the whole time. Giving you small kisses on your forehead and whispering “It’s okay darlin’,” every few minutes. 

Finally, the two of you were called back. Clyde quickly explained what happened to the doctor who was checking out your arm. Josh had managed to throw you against the barstools, leaving you with plenty of bruised ribs. On top of that, she assumed you did break your wrist when you landed, which meant x-rays. After going over the incident with both of you she excused herself to get the machine ready for you. 

“I’m sorry Clyde,” you whispered. 

“Why are y’ sorry? Y’ have nothin’ t’ be sorry bout darlin’,” he stood up in front of you. Placing his big paw on your knee, giving it a big squeeze. “Y’ don’ ever need t’ be sorry (Y/N).” 

You gulped, “Is your hand okay?” 

Clyde smiled at you, looking down at his knuckles which were barely bruising. “Y’ don’ need t’ worry about me. I was in the’ Army remember?” 

“Oh do they train you to punch assholes in the Army?” you hiccuped. 

“Sorta baby,” he kissed your forehead, “M’ sorry I was outside when he found y’. We probably wouldn’t be here if I had done my job.” 

You looked up at him. His eyes were searching yours, full of honesty and love. No one had ever protected you like he had, or even taken it out of your abuser. Even when you told your ‘friends’ about Josh they didn’t believe you, saying you were overreacting. But here and now you were being cared for by a man who desperately wanted you in his life. You felt the urge to tell him how you felt, how much you loved and appreciated him at this moment. 

“Miss (Y/N), the x-ray machine is ready for you!” 

“Oh, okay,” you pushed Clyde away from you. Moving out of the room with the tech, bringing you to the x-ray machine. She instructed you to take off your shoes and any other metal objects. She ran through a couple of cautionary questions like ‘have you had any issues with x-rays before’ and ‘is there any chance you’re pregnant’, all the normal questions. 

After about 10 minutes they escorted you back to the room where Clyde was waiting. He was sitting in one of the chairs, it was too small for his massive body. Staring down at his phone with a frown. 

“What’s wrong baby?” you asked, taking a seat on the table again. 

“Nothin’ just worried bout y’.” 

You sighed, looking down at your wrist. It was bruising really badly. If it wasn’t for Clyde, Josh probably would’ve done much more. You met his gaze again, taking a deep breath, “Clyde. Thank you. For this and for protecting me. I know I haven’t told you a lot but it means so much to me.”

“Of course Sunshine. There’s nothing in the world that would stop me from protectin’ y’.” 

You smiled, wanting to blurt out those three little words again but of course fate had other plans. 

“The x-rays looked good,” your doctor burst in, “Just a small hairline fracture. Should take about a month to fully heal. We will be putting you in a cast.” 

Nodding you looked over at Clyde who was sitting there with a pout on his face, “Okay that’s okay.” 

“However,” she sighed and set down her paperwork, “It wouldn’t be wise for you to be getting thrown around like that anymore considering you’re pregnant.” 

For the second time tonight, you froze. Pregnant? You couldn’t be pregnant, you were on the pill. Even though you and Clyde fucked like rabbits but you were really good at taking your birth control. Well pretty good, there were a couple times when you were late with taking it but that couldn’t have been the case for you getting pregnant. 

“We’re pregnant?” Clyde whispered next to you. 

“Yes, about 5 weeks pregnant. Came back from your urine sample earlier. I recommend getting in with a gyno here quickly since you’ll want to know if any harm has come to the baby.” 

“Okay,” you whispered back at her. She went on and on about your wrist after that, wrapping it in a cast and telling you how to take care of it but everything was turning into white noise. You couldn’t get over that you were pregnant, with Clyde Logan’s baby. Both of you were awestruck at the news. 

Before you left you made an appointment with the doctor she recommended for the next morning and Clyde drove the both of you to his house. Leroy greeted you at the door, following his master inside for some late-night snacks. You picked up your phone and let your office know you would be out for a couple of days, the injury and the news left you wanting some alone time with Clyde. 

The both of you made it to his bedroom. You had your own drawer in it, filled with pajamas and extra work clothes in case you forgot, and your nightstand had flowers and a phone charger for you. Clyde made sure you had everything you needed whenever you stayed, saying that his house was your house. You settled on the bed, staring up at Clyde who was taking off his work clothes. 

“So…” you coughed, “What uh-what do you think?” 

He furrowed his brow, “Bout what?” 

“About the weather,” you snapped at him, “The fuckin’ baby Clyde! What do you think about this?” 

He sighed and sat down next to you, pulling off his prosthetic arm and setting it on the nightstand. “It’s not up t’ me darlin’. This is yer choice an’ I will respect yer wishes.” 

You stared at him dumbfounded. You weren’t talking about that at all, you just wanted to know what his opinion on it was. Earlier today he had defended your honor, almost breaking his hand in the process, and now he was being weird about having children with you. Not like the two of you had an in-depth conversation yet, but you wanted to know what he wanted, especially since you were so close to saying the L-word earlier. 

“Please,” you grabbed his hand, “Just tell me what you’re thinking.” 

Clyde took in a deep breath, “I think,” he coughed, “I think yer gon’ be the most beautiful momma I’ve ever seen.” 

“Clyde,” you choked. 

“An’ I’m not jus sayin’ this because of it, but I love you (Y/N). I have for a while an’,” he sniffled pulling you into his arms, “I would love t’ raise a family with y’.” 

You cried into his chest, “Oh Clyde, I love you too!” 

Both of you held each other, crying into each other's necks. Placing deep kisses on your lips when you finally broke free, looking deep into each other’s eyes. Even though the night had started shitty, the two of you had come out the other side with wonderful news and signs of your love for one another. 

“We should get to sleep, we have a busy day tomorrow,” you grinned at him, wiping the tears from both your cheeks. 

“Okay sunshine,” he took a deep breath, collapsing next to you and pulling you into his chest. “I love you, it’s gonna be alright.” 

“I love you too Clyde,” you sighed kissing his chest, “Goodnight baby.” 

TAGLIST: @finn-ray-nal-beads​ @kirah36​ @morby​ @clumsycopy​ @onlykyloscenes​ @candycanes19​ @desiraypark​ @princss-bucky​ @swiss-mrs​ @douglasdriver​ @ghoulian13​ @direnightshade​ @millenialcatlady​ 

Poor Daddy Clyde was just tryna lay some PIPE AND HE DONE GOT US KNOCKED UP. Also, I'm sorry for the late update, this fic has a lot in it and unfortunately, I see Clyde as a family man and dad Clyde gets me WET.

[renee-writer]

That Eye Chapter 13

On Wattpad

I enter a quiet house. It is just as I left it. As is my habit, I do a sweep of it. Nothing is out of place. It is a cozy little apartment, perfect for one. So unlike the house full of rooms and a wife and baby, my partner has. After locking up my gun, I sink down in my favorite chair and slip my boots of. Then, in stocking feet, I walk into the kitchen to get a glass of tea. Ah, fooled you, didn’t I? You expected a glass of wine, a beer, whisky. Let me tell you a little secret. Not all cops drink. My dad was an alcoholic. I don’t touch the stuff. A good thing after a day like today.

 

A portion of a chicken pot pie, I had made and frozen a week ago, is placed in the microwave to heat up while I go take a quick shower. That is something August and I have in common, we both like to wash of the day as soon as possible. Baths are for soaking on my days off. Showers are for getting clean every other day.

 

Yes, on my days off I bath, soaking in the bath until the water gets cold. I also make a week’s worth of meals. It takes a few hours but well worth it. I am not the type who likes to grab a bite from fast food restaurants. No, the need to take care of my body trump’s the convenience of that.

 

After eating and doing the dishes, I take a seat and place my feet up on the stool. Sleep will come soon but I try to clear my mind first. This is another time I envy August. I know he doesn’t tell Lennon everything but that he tells her enough to help him in the transition from work to home. There are times when I think it would be nice to have a husband to come home to. Someone to rub my feet, listen to my day, hold me at night. I just value my independence to much. I can’t imagine having to consult someone about my life. But on days like today.

 

With a sigh, I place my head back. There is no doubt that Owen was the rapist. Very little doubt it was rape. We have him for that, without question. It is the murder. Yes, I can see the little punk getting out of control and strangling her. It is just, with his connections, why didn’t he confess. He copped to the rape an accidental strangulation during sex, yeah that is how they would play it, and a deal with the prosecutor, it happens all the time with these rich punks. He denied it. Swore she was alive when he left her. Was shocked to learn of her death. I believe it wasn’t an act. So, he is a rapist not a murderer.

 

That leaves Rain and the teacher. Rain was definitely angry. Hell, I could feel her anger when I was interviewing her. She believed special favors were exchanged to get Willow her spot. Her spot. She was insistent that it was her spot. Teen girls though, they get upset over what, we adults would say is a little thing, and hold a grudge. But, would that lead to murder? I wasn’t sure. Willow’s death does leave the head cheerleader spot open for her. Was a spot on a high school cheer squad worth killing over? I remind myself that people have killed for a lot less.

 

There was another thing. If we are going on the assumption that Owen is telling the truth, then Willow was left on that bus stop bench. Her killer came upon her there. Willow would have had to voluntarily enter the vehicle of her killer. Would she have got in the car with someone that she was fighting with her? It seems unlikely.

 

 

That leaves the teacher. If the rumors are true, and there is something more then student and teacher between them, or at least on the teacher’s side, then… But why kill the object of your affection? Willow would be more likely to get in the car with her teacher. If she was upset, and she would be upset, then I can see her getting in the car and vetting to someone she is comfortable with.  How that could lead to murder is the question that was running through my mind. With a shake of my head, I try to shut my mind off. I need some good sleep.

 

With a bit of a groan, I lift myself off the chair and head towards my bedroom. Sleep will renew my mind and body. It is long overdue. This case had started several days ago. Laying across my queen bed, I place my hands under the pillow and roll over. The alarm is set for six the next morning. It is eight o five. A good ten hours will reset the gears. I fall asleep thinking of her staring eye.

[universe-in-the-void-in-the-cube]

I challenge you to write the other half of this fic!

I blame you for this @happyflappymoscowbirbpleyyn! You put up that song and this popped in my head. So the rules are simple. You write Mikkel’s side of the story where the other woman starts flirting with him and Regina walks up to them and gives Mikkel an out till Regina gets back to him after the fight she has with the woman. And you must have Italy try to get Mikkel not to come out and see what the noise is about.

She knew what was going on as soon as she saw them. The expression on Mikkel’s face of nervousness and total wave of being uncomfortable with the woman that was talking to him to the way this woman was talking and carrying on with Mikkel. Oh boy did Regina knew what was going on and she wasn’t going to have it. No two kroner floosy was going to try to seduce and steal her husband away from her. Not now, not ever. But she wanted to make this as delicate and diplomatic as possible for Mikkel’s case.

Walking up to them Regina smiled. “Oh hello, I hate to interrupt you and your new friend Mikkel but Gilbert and Mathias need to talk to you about some Prussian and Danish treaty stuff. So, if you don’t mind, I can keep your friend company till you come back.”

Mikkel blinked as Regina acted as she was oblivious to what was going on, but was still kind of her to give him and out to this uncomfortable situation. “Oh… ah… yeah. Sure… right on it. Talk to you two in a bit. Please excuse me.” Mikkel said in a nervous tone as he said his goodbyes to them and walked to where the 1P Prussian and 1P Dane were.

As the two women saw him leave, the other woman spoke. “He is quite a charmer, sexy too. He said he has a wife but she isn’t around so what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. He deserves to have a little fling.”

This irritated Regina to no end.

“So, tell me, are you his sectary or associate to him?” The woman asked as both of them saw Mikkel shut the door behind him.

When the cost was clear, Regina’s sweet and charming angle like demeaner did a 180 as she gave the bitch a strong slap across her face causing the other woman stumble back a bit.

“WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT FOR???” the bitch asked.

Regina glared at her coldly as the woman bull rushed her making Regina fall on the floor.

As the fight escalated a small crowd of fellow humans and personifications started to form around the women in the hall. Various humans were cheering the bitch on. Clearly associates, friends and coworkers of the cunt. While various nations looked on in shock.

The first to appear were Spain, 2P China, Hong Kong, 2P Germany and Belarus.

“Kick her ass Regina! You can do it girl!!!” Belarus cheered her on as various other nations followed suit.

The bitch looked at Regina who was slowly trying to get up off the floor, as the other woman was kicking her. “What is your problem bitch? Jealous? As ugly a cunt as you are, he wouldn’t even think about cheating on his wife with you. He is better off with a real woman like me!”

The bitch was enjoying humiliating Regina and then a huge surprised happened. 2P Germany was the first to spot that look on Regina’s face, then the others. Clearly this was officially an unfair fight. And the other nations who knew Regina personally knew it. Especially Gilbert, Sylvia, Feliks, Toris, Natasha, Ivan, and Ludwig.

All the abuse, the manipulation, control from various military and government powers who controlled her country, her people and her finally boiled to the top and let loose. When she stood up the bitch tried to punch her; emphasis on tried. Since Regina’s reflexes and senses were heightened as she grabbed the other woman’s fist before the first punch was made on Regina’s face. As Regina slapped the first away as she just looked coldly at the woman.

The woman had to back up a bit as she started to shake in fear. “Your eyes! Your damn eyes!”

“What about them?” Regina asked the cunt as she just stared coldly at her.

“You have the eyes of a vet who has seen front line combat. But you are not older than me? How?” the woman asked in a shaking voice.

“How?” Regina retorted quietly as she frowned. “I have seen more war and experienced front line combat more times over than a 100 of your life time you arrogant, husband stealing cunt!”

The woman was confused by the answer Regina gave as the Prussian woman attacked her. Regina was being nice as she fought the woman. Using various hand-to-hand combat maneuvers that were known only by various nations from the past 1000 years. Russian, German, Lithuanian, Prussian. Some of the tactics seen were only known to either Gilbert, Ludwig or Ivan. And the scary thing was it wasn’t the physical movies that these nations saw her do, it was the manipulation and mind games that Regina was using against this woman.

“Italy.” Ludwig said to the Northern Italian.

“What is it Germany?”

Sighing heavily, “Do me a favor and keep Mikkel away from this fight. I forbid him sing his wife using old interrogation techniques from the second world war and the cold war. Do you hear me?”

“Ye… yes. Yes Germany.” Italy said as he ran to where Mikkel was talking to Mathias and the other Nordics who weren’t watching the fight.

“She is just toying with that woman!” Toris said to Gilbert.

Gilbert was trying not to cry. This was clearly breaking his heart. “I am aware of its Lithuania.”

Ivan, oddly was tearing up as a bit of gilt hit his heart as well. “Regina is not even laying a figure on her and when she does it is only in defense. I never thought she would ever act like this again.”

“I agree.” Ludwig said as the other woman fell to her knees crying.

“Get out of my head, you bitch! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!” The woman who was now exhausted from fighting and dealing with the various things Regina said to her as she was throwing punches and kicks that Regina avoided.

“No, I won’t. You tried to make my husband cheat on me with a slut like you. It is women like you that make me sick. You think you are better than everyone else and that your shit doesn’t stink. But I hate to tell you, a real woman will fight for the man she loves, especially when the man still loves her back and wants nothing to do with the woman who wants to sleep with him.” Regina said calmly, but extremely coldly.

The woman looked at Regina and glared, “You are nothing but a sick communist Nazi you know that!”

“I am neither of those bitch, thank god. But sadly, it was both the Nazi party and the Soviets that made me who I am. In fact, they both trained me in interrogation, so if I were you, stay away from Mikkel or you will be hunted down and you will get the full experience of my specialty of work. Understood?”

The other woman just nodded her head as she started crying more, shaking in total fear.

“Now, if you can excuse me. I want to snuggle and love on my beloved husband Mikkel.” Regina said as she turned and walked past the other nations and to the room Mikkel was in. Everyone watched as Regina and then the other woman and the others left, leaving only Ivan, Gilbert and Ludwig in the hall.

“It is our fault.” Ivan said as he wiped his eyes.

“Ja… I know.” Gilbert said taking a deep breath and exhaling out of frustration.

“It is our fault alright…” Ludwig said with a guilty expression on his face, “… we help made a monster.”

[cartoonfangirl1218]

This is an absolutely mess of an outline of a fic that I’m never gonna write so any brave souls who want to try go ahead. But it’s basically it’s what if Ash and Doña met in a night of drunken insanity. Most of it rips off Crazy Ex Girlfriend. And I blame @just-a-random-soul-things​ for all of it. All of it. So if you want to see it (and the gifs) check out under the line.

So anyway it begins with Doña playing pool by herself in a bar. For every shot she makes in, she takes a shot. Flashback to hours earlier showing her fight with Esteban. Esteban saying she’s changed too much from what she was to a greedy selfish person and she saying he was self pitying and frozen in time which helps no one. So drunk Doña

Ash comes around (this would be pre malvago Ash so she has dark hair), totally drunk.

Taking food from Doña’s plate which is like a total berserk button for Doña whose protective of ehr food (cuz trauma) and since she’s already a bit drunk herself she pushes Ash with her pool stick. Ash grabs one from a nearby table and before you know it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itQPOuwyfHA Then the owner comes, "You're banned! Both of you are banned from here! Get out!" https://64.media.tumblr.com/6bb1c083fc65d4e4435937d84cf1de4f/tumblr_pwgowfdRM01vehswro1_r1_540.gifv (the picture is better in gif form but tumblr is being crappy so here’s link to gif)  Ash/Doña: "Me?!" 

So both irritably stumble away, still fighting. Doña gets into the carriage and Ash just tries to take over and pushes the original driver so they start fighting over the reins until they suddenly hit something. They had hit a cat. And before they know it the owner comes out. 

Doña totally freaks out and tells the owner it was some strange pirate who hit the cat, not them. Not them at all. The owner is just like, "A pirate..How is that even-" 

Ash: "Yes, I know it's unbelievable but that's why you got to believe us-her. She doesn't work well under any sort of pressure and is incapable of coming up with a believable lie to save her ass." Doña: How can I be calm under pressure? It's so bloody!

Somehow the owner believes them, and they end up going with him to the vet to make sure the cat is okay and wants to confront the carriage driver for reckless endangerment.That's when Ash realizes the little snag in their lie, that the carriage driver would say they hijack the carriage. So the only thing to do is to erase his memories.

First, she casually asks who is the carriage driver around these parts. Dona wants nothing to do with this but she has no choice because she inadvertently helped to hit the cat. Besides Ash is scary so it’s best to do what she says.

So casually engage in chit chat, find the carriage driver's name is Sergio and head to the boarding house he is staying at. They trade small, vague bits of info that dona is a merchant and Ash is studying magic....neglecting the malvago part. With some quick talking on Doña’s part, they convince the owner to let them into his room in the boarding house and are relieved to put all this behind them and never see the other again. Ash works on the amnesia spell over the sleeping Sergio and Doña is of no help as she unashamedly admires the man's extensive skin care items and writes down what she wants to buy for her store.

They’re finally in the clear, and they celebrate with the free samples a man is offering (again, this all started because they were drunk and they're still not in the best decision making mode here). The drink is suspect https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNiY3t-QSso

“I'm so sad!" "I'm going to kill him!" (You can guess which is which) 

Anyway after coming off their drug trip and hungover in a surprisingly vulnerable states (they are truthful drunk. They've reached that level.) they spill everything to this total stranger. Doña tells about the flood, the starvation, the death etc. Ash gets it that the rich would never understand and the only way to survive is to be tougher than everyone else.

Ash hints at Zopilote's ruining of her life, and bits of Victor and Carla and how she left them for training. That she misses Carla so much but she had to finish her training first because it's not like she can depend on Victor to be the savior. Only magic can do that cuz in this world, power is all that matters. And thus starts the bad advice. Ash tells Dona she is being stupid in catering to the needs of Avalorans. She was on top as Magister, she should do whatever it takes to stay on top. Sabotage, manipulation, anything. And anyone who says otherwise like that pompous Chancellor is just trying to protect his job, not help her.

Doña, on the other hand, enables Ash's frustration with Victor. Saying that if he was a good husband, he'd hiked himself and Carla up to the magic lair despite the danger because that's what love is. So they're just like "Men" and then they turn to each other. Because they're drunk they think it is an absolutely brilliant idea to confront the jerk who (had a completely legitimate reason to) kicked them out of the club. It’s oddly very girl empowerment moment. 

And the owner reminds them, they are still banned.   They leave, a bit shocked that they did that and actually sort of stood up for someone other than themself. 

Anyway they don't dwell on it and go get their drink on again. Yes, their dancing is bad like this but they had fun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzasG3O8lE4

Then the night ends and the sun rises and they leave to never see each other again.

Doña: This is weird but you-you remind me of when I used to have adventures with my sister. I mean sort of. She was a lot sweeter than you. So much nicer. And not as harsh. And we didn't get into carriage stealing or anything illegal or-and- okay this metaphor is falling apart. What I meant to say is that I had fun. You’re awful and attacked me but I think I get you. 

Ash:

Ash: But we’re never-

Doña: Yeah never. Never going to speak of this. I don't want to see you again. So I guess nice knowing you-you um... I didn't get your name 

Ash: It's..oh what the hell, I'm never seeing you again. Azula.

Doña: Hortensia 

And then they leave. Completely forgetting each other's names and most of the night in a hangovery blur. Some of it intentional cuz cringe that they messily told all their dirty laundry to a stranger. But the advice remained with Ash resenting Victor even more and Doña putting her manipulative powers to win. 

[choiceenvironment]

Shorty’s Fight

Shorty is so deserving of the proper surgery to save her leg.  I feel horrible that I can not afford to provide her with it. With so many people struggling, I hate to ask for this kind of financial help, but I have no choice.  I have to try for her sake. Our local small town community has already sponsored the costs to saving her, with help from the wonderful (Strathmore Veterinarian).  The donations gave the vet enough to amputate her tail and cast her arm from a broken Radial bone. Including an anonymous donor that paid her intake. I believe it is because the town knows her, she has gone into stores, got the mail with me and all my clients love her. Since then (2 weeks ago) something has gone wrong and the Ulnar bone which had a hairline fracture has now broken fully, the only option now is amputate her front left arm for $2000 or Surgery for $4500 to save the arm. She is in a lot of pain, this breaks my heart for her and she does not deserve to suffer. I have been told by some that she is just a cat, That I should just do what ever is cheapest and/or put her down. But she is not just a regular cat, her personality captures anyone who meets her but not in the cuddly way most would think. This is my story of the most unique cat I have ever known. "Sam Shorty" 2 years ago I was looking for a small companion cat that I could bring to work at my newly opened print shop. I thought it would be great to keep the mice away, I was lonely as I worked alone and I had some struggles coping with stress. My store was opened in 2017, Since then my entire store was flooded and I lost all my inventory with no help from insurance because it was "overland flooding" - Jerks! They didn't help at all.  But my community did! Since then I lost my father, 2 brothers and covid took away my events which used to pay for my store rent.  I hosted, cooking and paint classes for kids when they were off school.  I also trained people who struggle to learn computer skills and building their own resume. I honestly needed to find a daily companion and furry friend.  My first thought was to catch or coax one of the Ferrell cats around town because I would be "giving them a better life".  So I thought. ha ha ha But the stray cats around town are pretty happy just eating the field mice and being wild and free.  No worries, just play, eat and sleep, I am almost jealous except in winter time. ha ha ha So after weeks of desperately trying to make friends with the Ferrell's I gave up and realized that all I was doing was creating Night Fights from all the food I kept leaving out. The neighbors must have loved that. ha ha ha They did keep all the outside mice away, but funny...I seemed to end up with more mice inside the store. ha ha ha Moving forward I checked online for any cats needing a home and oddly at that time frame there was none?  People even tried catching their own farm Ferrell's to no avail.  Well I was determined so I planned to go on the weekend to buy one SOMEWHERE lol, didn't know where but I was determined. Saturday morning we planned for a Sunday trip to the city.  But I was feeling really down so I prayed.  I honestly prayed to God and asked for help in sending me a cat that needs the most help. See, Although I want a companion for my sake I also want to return the favor to my friend, I want to be doing something good. 2 hours later I was cleaning up some things in the shed and my husband says "I think there is something behind the quad" Sure as shit there was a kitten!  So we ran and told my daughter to grab a can of tuna and after a few attempts I was able to quickly grab her scruff and pull her into my scarf. She fought hard but only for a few seconds, then she tucked her head into my hair and didn't move. I walked around with her for a bit and she seemed to like it.  Eventually I set her on my bed and she just stared at all of us like she was in shock.  Pretty sure she was freaking out. ha ha ha Her eyes were full of gunk, she was so badly filled with worms and she pooped all over my bedroom, my bed, but I could care less. Funny story - she even gave me worms which is very rare! The first night she was so afraid that she would only lay on the window sill.  Shorty was so stunted and small that we called her shorty.  Also because her tail was the smallest tail we had ever seen. While she was going from the window to the liter box and back up to the window sill, her litter was getting stuck to her feet and a small amount kept dropping into my bedside drinking glass. Lets not get into details, but I drank a lot of water that night. ha ha ha - I still laugh at this cause she was worth it. It took a long time to get her back to health, we thought she was dead a few times when she would not move for hours. We eventually got her fixed and with consistent food she began to grow :) and although small she is one tough kitty. I had her on a leash when we would go for walks, camping or to work.  But eventually I just felt like she missed the wild. When we were camping it poured rain one year so bad, but she did not want to leave the brush beside the fire and I realized she was hunting mice! She would be soaking wet and I would try to take her inside with me but she would get so mad, growl and kick her back paws on me.  So in return for her friendship I sat in the rain with her for hours so she could listen to the wilderness and hunt mice.  She even caught one that year but her excitement caused her to lose it and it ran away. She would stand on her back feet and sway her head like a crazy person filled with glee, she looked like a playful bear. Shorty would finally want to go to bed around 11 pm, but at the crack of dawn she would be sitting on her leash staring at me and using her "mind powers" to wake me up.  She is very polite and tries not to disturb me while I sleep.  So sweet. I decided that if I truly love her I would have to let her have her own freedom and if she loved me too, she would return home. At first when I took her off her leash, Shorty would stay with me as I gardened or worked in the yard.  But eventually she left the yard for a day and night. But she returned and before the incident she would come and go on the hour. Shorty could be dead asleep on the piano ( her favorite spot) and she would know if another cat stepped on her property.   So would we, because all of a sudden she would run upstairs to the bedroom windows, then down to the basement windows. Sometimes she would "Scobie Doo"  around the corners then race to be let out the back door. All the neighborhood cats are free out here and go as they please.  They are also bigger than her! But she puff's up, spits and kicks her back feet like she is the toughest little girl in the world. Climbing is her favorite and she always has to show me.  She will run up the tree and if I am not watching her Shorty meows at me and scratches harder on the tree. She loves to run and show off how fast she is, her favorite game with my daughters is what we call "the chase game" That's where the kids will get a foot from her and she will run to the other side of the yard and lay down.  Then she rolls and shows her tummy, so the girls walk up to pet her and when they are a foot from her she runs back to the other side. She loves it. Shorty does not cuddle, wont let strangers touch her and only comes to me "Mom" Now the sad part -  We rescued a Pitbull and have spent month retraining her as she was abused and left to freeze in the cold.  Her name is Calypso. She cowers to many things and we thought we were getting her back to normal. Her prey drive was bad, but the cat and her were beginning to play and we began lowering our guard. I never left them in a room alone together, I still always supervised just encase. But 2 weeks ago I was in court awaiting a verdict on a local exploitation of a minor case.  The judge called guilty, we cried with relief and became overwhelmed as it had been a year long uncertain battle.  By the system prevailed! AS we celebrated on the way home I got a call from my daughter, the dog had got upstairs and the cat was bleeding. I tried to keep my daughter calm and a Neighbour ran to my house to see how bad it was. When I got there, the floor had a trail of blood and a pool of blood behind the couch. But it is not the dogs fault, she is a sweet sweet dog that just wants to be loved.  The dog took to me the moment we met and her jealousy took her over along with her natural instinct. Just as the cat needs to hunt mice, the dog wants to hunt too.  It part of them and I hold no fault to either of them. We called the nearest vet who responded with "we are booked unless you want to just bring her in and put her down?" Yah we hung up on them. Then we called Strathmore Vet and while bawling I explained that I had absolutely no money, I had no idea how to get any money but I would do anything to save her. The vet worked tirelessly through the night and all the next day.  Shorty had her tail amputated, and a second time from the damage.   Luckily she had enough blood to rebuild and just a fractured radial bone.  They tried there best to cast the arm but gave me a 50/50 chance of keeping it. The last two weeks of healing, Shorty has been such a trooper.  We have been trapped in my room since but I think she knows its only so she can heal.  I have not gone to work or left her side. I thought she was getting depressed the last few days but yesterday we found out its pain, from the second bone finally giving out. Shorty deserves to keep her leg and she deserves proper care.  The feeling of not being able to provide this to her is horrible. I cant even afford the amputation. With amputation I wonder if I will ever let her back outside? There is 2 jerks on our street that always speed and with her only having 3 legs I would be too worried that someone would run her over. Most people in our town will actually stop and let a cat cross the road, we are always watching for children and the speed is basically 30 klm/hr over the entire hamlet or Carseland. This is my last resort. I have tried to phone Pet Card to get approve for a pet loan but I don't make enough.  I actually don't make anything since covid and have been operating my print shop at a loss for 6 months. My customers have been hit hard, they don't have the money to pay anymore.  Its not their fault and I have stayed close with all my clients because I truly understand what they are going through. I tried selling all my game consoles i have collected since I was 12, that didn't pan out. The stress of everything gave me shingles, so I have 4 bags of bottles to take in and I am now better so I can actually take them in, but that's not going to help her today. So I am here asking for help because Shorty deserves better and I am okay with putting myself out there for her. She really deserves a chance to keep her freedom and live the happy life she had before. Thank you so much for reading, sharing or considering helping my little girl. My love to you all Jennifer

[dinrelsanddragons]

A drabble I wrote in early December. Takes place prior to Twilight Princess.

In her little dress, Noel carefully peered around the corner, hoping no one would see her. In truth, several people saw her, but not the two she meant to avoid, for they were quite distracted with each other.

Mama. Papa.

It had been a while since they had talked. Vair hadn't come home for a week now, choosing instead to sleep in the barracks with the other knights. Shanzira couldn't fathom why he would do this– she hadn't done anything, not a thing in years, that would drive him away from her. After first realizing her attractions to him, she'd attentively noted his dislikes so as to avoid them.

"Vair?"

Even as she approached, on those ginger tiptoes that pointed inward with anxiety, she feared this wasn't going to go well. "Vair, please talk to me. What's wrong?" In his years of experience at his post, Vair knew how to ignore distractions and focus on his job. Never before, however, had that distraction been so personal– his wife, the mother of his daughter, his beloved. On the verge of tears, at that. He didn't know what to say, and it was only the thought of his duty that kept his expression straight.

Shanzira gave him a few seconds for good measure. She wondered if he needed a moment to compose what to say to the wife he had been avoiding. But that seemed not to be the case; he seemed intent on shunning her as if they'd never met. "What did I do, Vair? What's going on? Noel misses you." Not returning to the arms of his wife meant not seeing his daughter. His eyes flicked to a corner, around which he could just see a tinge of red hair– oh, goddesses, the girl had followed her mother here. In truth, Vair didn't know what to do. Avoiding Shanzira had been the simplest solution to his problem, but a temporary one, apparently.

He wondered how 'temporary' this marriage was to be.

His wife was under investigation. They had met on the field of battle years ago, Vair saving Shanzira from the horde of monsters and gifting her his halberd for her own protection. But there were absolutely no records of her existence prior to that. None of residence, none of birth, not even gossip about a red-haired, round-eared woman. Anywhere.

He had wondered how this had not been apparent before. How it was that this literal nobody had been able to create an existence for herself, a comfortable life in a crucial position– married to one of the king's guards. She had never spoken of her past, but focused solely on the present. Never of the future, though. Vair had been the one to bring it up, when he had proposed to her. He had never once thought to look the other way...

She had crafted the perfect position for a spy. That was the king's fear. Vair was the perfect conduit to receive information about the royalty from. He was careful never to repeat any sensitive information he accidentally overheard, and he thought he had vetted Shanzira for any sign of a volatile temperament.

In truth, he couldn't imagine her to be anything but who she said she was, who he had seen her be. An artist, a wife, a mother, a storyteller...

"Vair, can't you even look at me?" Her voice shivered with grief from what felt like some distance away as he was in his thoughts, despite there not being so much as a foot of distance between them. A small hand rose up as if to touch his face, but pulled back quickly, as Shanzira feared what his boundaries on the job might be. "Please stop this. Please come home. Talk to me again. Spend time with your daughter, let her see her playmate again."

Zelda. Goddesses, the princess and Vair's daughter got along like two peas in a pod. Shanzira would recite stories to them and the children would listen attentively, mesmerized by every word. Those stories were laced with information only the royals could have known, was what the king told Vair. Shanzira knew such facets and details that it was as if she had personally lived through those events... Vair had had to choose where his loyalties truly lay, and they were with the king. But it was a painful choice to make, and every night he had lost hours of sleep thinking, wondering: Had he been right? Should he have protested further the king's decision? To do so would have been to risk his livelihood... but now he risked his heart.

Out of the corner of his eye, Vair witnessed tears snaking down his wife's face. He had only that brief moment of warning before she turned around and began to sob, unable to stand looking at his face anymore. She tugged her hood over her face and exited, walking briskly to the point that the now-apparent Noel had to run to keep up.

From behind the door Vair guarded, he faintly heard something. If he had to take a guess, it was a deep sigh... from none other than the king himself.

He felt a twinge in his chest. Even the king had his regrets. Perhaps, then, he would be willing to listen to reason, assuming the investigation bore no fruit that would incriminate Shanzira. Perhaps traces of an idyllic past could be brought up, but from what Vair had been able to tell, there was simply nothing to find. As if she had sprung into existence on the day they'd met.

A cry rent him from his thoughts. A child's wail, filled with pain. His child's wail. "Paaapaaaa! Want Papaaaa! Mama, pleeeeeease!"

He closed his eyes, gently as he could when he was so aggrieved. Tears streamed down. Would that his uniform had the luxury of a hood like his wife had, that he could have hidden them...

PART 2

For over a week, Shanzira had been unable to bring herself to put pen to parchment. Inspiring as emotions could be– even the negative– there was nothing artistic about what she felt. She could not continue to write her stories– she had no motivation when she had only Noel to tell them to– and she had thrown out every charcoal sketch she had thus far made. There was nothing to do regarding her work but place her head to her desk and try not to cry. If she hadn't had Noel to look after, she might have gone mad. Something about being responsible for another person kept her sanity in check.

As the little one napped in a chamber adjacent to Shanzira's study, she heard a click. The distinct sound of a doorknob turning. Shanzira twisted around in her chair, wondering who it could be. Perhaps someone had arrived with divorce papers. She prayed not. Or she was under arrest. Or something worse yet... As the door began to open, Shanzira leapt to her feet with a hand on the hilt of her dagger, ever prepared to defend herself. Her thoughts went to the halberd displayed on the wall, with a twinge of pain– the same halberd her husband had given her so long ago.

The door swung wide, and Shanzira dropped her arm by her side in shock. How could she have seen this coming, a visit from the king himself? Trembling in fear and anticipating the worst, she hurried to a kneel– praying that a show in sincerity and loyalty would mitigate whatever punishment lay in store for her.

She betrayed a single glance back up, and noted her husband behind him. What was this? What could it be?

"Rise, Lady Shanzira. I would speak with you."

It called back to her youth, of being summoned to authority figures to be scolded and punished. When being in trouble was the worst imaginable fate. Regardless, Shanzira stood back up, unsteady at first but regaining her balance quickly enough. Averting her eyes, she didn't see the king's expression. Nor did she really know his face that well. She had no indication apart from tone of voice of what his intent might be.

"You have presented quite the quandary of late, a quandary that we should have seen long ago. You are the spouse to a royal guard, and on occasion a caretaker of Princess Zelda. Yet there is no information on you prior to five years ago. Your history cannot be tracked by any means imaginable, though prior to now it has not been a problem. Thus you have eluded any kind of investigation... until your role as my daughter's storyteller began."

With that final sentence, a revelation hit Shanzira like a blow from her husband's claymore.

The dazed look on her face must have betrayed her thoughts, as the king cleared his throat before continuing. "Your tales began as fanciful and clearly works of a creative imagination, though at the apparent request of your daughter turned more historical. So historical, in fact, that they hit the nail on the head. They could not be more accurate. Or detailed. Such information has been privy only to members of the royal family until you appeared. You have paid few visits to the royal library, and you could not possibly know the location of the secret library. This was why I ordered my agents to look into your past. I do not like unanswerable questions."

"They have found nothing. There are no records of you, or anyone like you, existing anywhere. Even one so close to you as your own husband and daughter have no inkling of where you came from. My final recourse is to turn directly to you. So, you will tell me... and we will be here as long as it takes to hear the truth out of you."

A silence followed.

Where to begin. Shanzira thought briefly of Noel, still asleep in her crib, and wondered if she might wake before she finished telling her tale. A tale she had no choice but to share, at this point. She chanced a look to Vair's face, over the king's shoulder, and noted a regretful expression, his eyes cast down and to the side and his brows tented.

"I don't know if you'll believe the truth." She wanted to be clear with that. "I hail from a very strange and technologically advanced world, with no magic or monsters. There is but one intelligent species of life. In this world, the world of Hyrule is known but considered entirely fiction. Stories are told from the viewpoint of the hero, of his struggles against evil. They span many different eras and ages. They are stories that I followed intently.

"I didn't know what to think when I awoke on a battlefield, surrounded by monsters. If Vair hadn't been there that day, I would have died without a clue. I did my best to blend in to my environment and say nothing about this bizarre place I came from, or I'd be written off as a madwoman. I was extremely lucky in that the same man who defended me from monsters also found me a place to live and gainful employment. Not to mention, we ended up falling in love and having a kid. I suppose I couldn't have it all for long, though."

Her eyes drifted downward at the last sentence. She didn't believe it likely, even now, that the king would believe her. And Vair, his regretful expression? It could have meant anything.

"So you do not know how you came to be here." The king scratched his chin thoughtfully. Shanzira had definitely explained the cause of her knowledge, but her presence was a mystery. "Very well."

Eh? Shanz risked a glance at his face, but failed to read his expression in the brief time she saw it. "I am not satisfied, but for now, it will be enough. I understand this investigation has caused your husband and you much grief. I will allow you to resume watching over my daughter... if you know Hyrule as if it were a book, then perhaps your knowledge may come in useful."

"Your Majesty," Vair piped up, "does this mean–?"

"Yes, Sir Vair. You may return to the arms of your loving wife."

Oof!

Shanzira almost fell over from the force with which Vair collided into her, one of his arms wrapped tightly around her upper back and the other resting atop her head. Shanz could barely breathe with her face trapped in her husband's chest. She pushed against him just enough to look at his face, and saw radiant joy upon his features, to the point of tears glistening in his eyes.

"I'm never doing that to you again. Never."

Shanz still needed a moment to process it all, but for now... it was welcome to have Vair back.

"He ordered me not to say a word," he explained at the quizzical look on Shanz's face. "He tried to hide the whole thing from me... but I could see you were being watched."

"Indeed." The king almost chuckled, or perhaps scoffed. "He was beside himself when he came to me with his little discovery. I have work to return to."

"Of course, Sire." Vair didn't so much as turn his head to the king, but kept his eyes focused on Shanzira. Silence followed but for the king's footsteps as he exited, and once those faded from earshot, Vair released Shanzira. "I'm so sorry."

She wasn't a hundred percent sure she had forgiven him yet, but... he'd been between a rock and a hard place. If nothing else, Shanz could forget. She raised a hand to rub out the tension between her eyebrows. "I'm still upset over it, but I at least understand. And you might like to know that Noel is asleep right now..."

Vair blinked. "What... does that have to do with this?"

"I will tell you," Shanzira answered lowly. "It has to do with the fact that you're coming with me to the bedroom. And we're going to be there for a bit while you pay me back for over a week of loneliness..."

[megmckinney]

Traveling to Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico

On Sunday, Dec 6, 2020 Governor Gavin Newsom decided he was going to shut down our state again - restaurants to be closed, more restrictions, etc. We decided we didn’t want to stay in a city/state/country that was willing to treat it’s people so poorly so in one week we packed our bags, packed up all of our personal items in storage boxes, deep cleaned our home, put the house on airbnb and bought a one way ticket to Puerto Vallarta Mexico. We didn’t secure lodging, we didn’t know when we would return, we just left. 

To make matters more interesting, our daughter who is 17 months or one year and 5 months as they say down here in Mexico doesn’t have a passport and I had never ordered her a birth certificate. All we had was her Social Security Card. My passport expired exactly 1.5 months before our trip and my husband insisted we bring our 15 year old dog who can barely walk and definitely has dementia. 

I looked into opportunities to expedite my passport renewal-- with coronavirus it was not an option. I didn’t even really consider that our little baby would need identification. I browsed the airlines information on flying with pets. Rowley, our dog, would need to have a rabbis shot 30 days minimum before flying (we were leaving in a week), he would need a deworming, and he would need a health certificate from the vet 5 days before the flight to say he is healthy. We assumed since we were flying mexican airline Volaris that they would be lenient and that everything would go smoothly. Who needs a passport, ID, or their shots. Either way, we did what we could to secure all the necessary information before our travels.

One of the main reasons we only booked a one way ticket and didn’t secure our lodging was because we really didn’t know if we would make it. Could we actually pack up our entire home and get it ready for airbnb? This entailed removing all of our clothes from the closets and putting it in storage bins in the garage, cleaning out and organizing all of the drawers, removing the food from the fridge, locking up shelves with personal items, cleaning out bathrooms, etc. All the while my husband is working full time and I am 5 months pregnant with a toddler. That and then would we make it into another country without proper ID? Would the dog be allowed on the flight? How would we carry everything? Stroller, pac n play, carseat, a dog who can’t walk, (the wagon to wheel him), matt’s surfboard, the large dog crate, our personal suitcases and bags. It just seemed like an impossible feat.

To avoid proper identification, we had a friend drive us across the border straight to the TJ airport for our flight. Since we live in San Diego, CA, this was an easy option available to us. It worked. Once at the airport there were many men with carts who came over right away to help-- PTL! We were in mexico, at the airport, with help for our luggage, heading to check in to our flight. We get stopped heading to the airline check in-- do we have our tourism visa? No. So he points us to the line to get it. We go. She notices my passport is expired and will not issue me a tourist visa but does issue one to Matt. Summer, our daughter, doesn’t get one either. She basically says you can still fly but be careful and don’t get in trouble. So I guess Summer and I are technically in this country living illegally. Would this consider us illegal aliens? I’m not quite sure what Mexican terminology or legalities are. We make it to our airline check in line. Since we have the dog and the surfboard and I suppose all the baby stuff, as well, we have to stand in a special line. We finally get to the front, they as for our passports, we give our driver’s license. They ask for Summer’s ID, we give her social security card, everything is going smoothly so far. They ask for Rowley’s vet info and that’s when everything came crashing down. We had already been waiting in lines for an hour, our ride had left, and Rowley’s rabbi’s vaccine had only been administered 3 days before the flight. This was against their terms. They needed it to have been administered 30 days incase there was a reaction on the flight. But-- we are in Mexico, there are supposed to be lenient. Could we pay them? What could we do? They just said no. They said sorry. They said we could rebook our flight 30 days from when the vaccine was administered. There was nothing we could do. 

I knew there was a chance of something going wrong like this. The backup plan was to fly to Florida. We just wanted somewhere warm with ocean, and surf, and no lockdowns. Matt, my husband, was not prepared for this. He was shocked. He walked off to the bathroom, took some time to process, and then went searching for another airline who could take our dog. We didn’t panic, we didn’t fight, we just hustled. Between his determination and my broken english we were able to find an airline who would take Rowley. The cost was 8x as much, we obviously weren’t going to try and get our initial airline costs refunded and this flight included a layover in Mexico City with the second flight not being until the following day. So we would have to go through the airport, security, bag check, showing our ID’s, hoping they would take Rowley, all over again. To end the suspense and keep the story short, I’ll just say it all worked out fine. Traveling domestically through Mexico in 2020 even amidst a global pandemic, only requires one form of ID and our USA Driver’s License was valid.

We booked a cheap hotel in Mexico City close to the airport, Rowley had to sleep down in the basement of the hotel LOL he was not allowed in our room. We placed Summer’s Pac n Play in the shower, she went to sleep just fine. Matt went out to get us some street tacos! We didn’t have any pesos so a nice man bought our food for us. Matt went back for seconds this time stopping at 7/11 hoping for some cash bank in pesos but they weren’t doing it so another nice man bought our food again. We gorged on fresh mexican street food, fell fast to sleep, and spend the next day at the airport doing it all over again.

We booked our accommodations at the airport on Saturday, Dec 12 in the TJ airport and arrived in Sayulita on Sunday, Dec 13 from Mexico City in the afternoon. We stayed at the Pajaro De Fuego Condominiums for our first 13 days in Sayulita and over Christmas.