#three new first cousins once removed due this year

[tj-crochets]

Update:  My nieces got their quilts and they loved them!! My older niece put the rainbow quilt around her like a royal cloak and wouldn’t take it off, and my younger niece (who just turned 2) saw the cat quilt, immediately pulled it over her head and sat on the ground completely still. Her mom lifted up an edge of the blanket and said “Can I join you under there?” and she said “no” and pulled the blanket back down and just continued to sit there lol

[kmomof4]

A Swan Family Christmas: A Christmas Fic in the Universe of A Family Affair

We finally made it, y'all!!! Ohhhhhhh, I've been sooooo anxious and excited to share this fic with y'all!!! I hope you enjoy reading it half as much as I enjoyed writing it!!

If you are not familiar with the series, it was inspired by The O'Hurley's by Nora Roberts, which I then adapted to Once Upon a Time. A Family Affair features the family of Marco and Beverly Swan- their first born David and triplet daughters Regina, Emma, and Ruby.

Love Between the Pages tells the story of Emma and Killian Jones. Killian is a bestselling biographer and he arrives at Emma’s horse farm in rural Virginia to interview her for his biography on her late husband Neal Cassidy, NASCAR darling who died 5yrs ago on the track. Falling in love with her was not part of the plan.

Dance With the Gypsy tells the story of Broadway star Ruby and how she falls in love with Graham Humbert, the producer of her new show, Secrets.

Clipping an Angel's Wings tells the story of Hollywood star Regina and Robin Locksley, the PI she hires to protect her from an unstable fan.

And finally, A Spy Finds a Home, David and Mary Margaret’s story. Dr. Mary Margaret Blanchard hires David to find her parents, scientists who have been kidnapped by a terrorist group. Once all the dust settles, Mary Margaret brings David back to the family he left many years ago.

It's not necessary for you to have read the other fics in the series to enjoy this, but this fic does reference people and circumstances introduced in the other fics.

And now, to give credit where credit is due. All the love and thanks in the world to Joni and Marta, my FABULOUS betas. This fic wouldn't be here without them, so please give them a hand...👏🏻 And second to Kit, the creator of the INCREDIBLE artwork up above!! Isn't it AWESOME???!!!! I could stare at it FOREVER!!!! Thank you so SO much, babe!!!

Thank you all so much for reading!!!

Summary: A year after Regina and Robin's wedding, the entire Swan, Jones, and Humbert clan descend on Emma and Killian's Virginia farm for Christmas!

Rating: G Total Christmas fluff ahead!!

Words: 7100

On ao3, if that's your preference.

Tagging the usuals. Please let me know if you'd like to be added or removed.

@jrob64 @teamhook @winterbaby89 @hollyethecurious @artistic-writer @xarandomdreamx @undercaffinatednightmare @the-darkdragonfly @stahlop @superchocovian @pirateprincessofpizza @tiganasummertree @anmylica @cosette141 @motherkatereloyshipper @zaharadessert @jonesfandomfanatic @ultraluckycatnd @jennjenn615 @allons-y-to-hogwarts-713 @kymbersmith-90 @booksteaandtoomuchtv @wistfulcynic @mie779 @snowbellewells @lfh1226-linda @aprilqueen84 @whimsicallyenchantedrose @pirateherokillian @elfiola @ilovemesomekillianjones @justanother-unluckysoul @poptart-cat-78 @myfearless-love @goforlaunchcee @searchingwardrobes @gingerpolyglot @gingerchangeling @djlbg @cocohook38 @cs-rylie @thisonesatellite @donteattheappleshook @deckerstarblanche @veryverynotgoodwrites @wefoundloveunderthelight @fleurdepetite @alexa-fangirl-forever @bluewildcatfanatic @qualitycoffeethings

Under the cut, unless Tumblr ate it.

Christmas was just a couple of days away. Emma, Killian, and Henry were feverishly getting everything ready to host the entire extended Swan and Jones families. They were expecting a total of sixteen extra guests for the holiday and excitement was running very high. 

They didn’t usually have much snow in December, but this year, they were predicting around three inches on Christmas Eve. Henry had never seen a white Christmas, and with all his aunts, uncles, and cousins, in addition to his grandparents coming, this was sure to be the best Christmas ever!

Henry peeked into his baby sister’s bedroom, not surprised to see her awake and standing in her crib. Henry grinned and came in, followed closely by Shep.

“Eny, Eny,” Hope babbled as her big brother approached.

“Do you know what today is, Hope?” Henry asked his sister. “Everyone’s coming today! Mimi and Papaw, Aunt Ruby, Uncle Graham and Poppa, and you’ll get to meet your baby cousins in person, Aunt Regina and Uncle Robin, Aunt M’s and Uncle David, Aunt Elsa and Uncle Liam, Aaron and Dale, and Grandpa Nemo!”

Henry lowered the side of the crib and lifted Hope out, setting her on her feet on the floor. She wasn’t walking independently yet, but she was close and Henry just knew that she’d do it sometime in the next few days while everyone was here. He stood behind her and held onto her hands raised in the air as she started toward the door of her bedroom.

He followed along behind her as they toddled the short distance to their parents’ room. Once they reached the door, Henry knocked.

“Mom? Dad?” he asked, opening the door slightly. Shep pushed the door open the rest of the way with his nose.

“Mamamamamamamama,” Hope babbled. “Dadadadadadadada.” 

The lights were still off, but the sun was poking through the blinds. Their dad sat up, his mouth opening on a huge yawn and swung his legs off the side of the bed, motioning for them to be quiet.

“Mom’s still asleep,” he whispered. “Let’s let her sleep just a little more. Go downstairs with Hope, Henry, and I’ll be down in just a minute to get breakfast started.”

Henry nodded and turned Hope around, back toward the door of the bedroom. As soon as they were gone, Killian leaned over to Emma, pressing a kiss to her brow and whispering in her ear.

“You can sleep for a little while longer, babe. I’ll send Henry up to get you once breakfast is ready.”

All he got was a muffled Mmmph in reply. Killian chuckled and made his way to the bathroom. A few minutes later, he came down the stairs and entered the breakfast room to find Henry entertaining his sister in her high chair. Killian smiled and pulled out eggs and the pancake batter he’d whipped up the night before. It only took a few minutes to cook the eggs and start on the pancakes.

“Go wake your mom, Henry,” he said, plating up the first batch of pancakes. Shep sat very attentively and patiently at Killian’s feet as he cooked, waiting to see if his pleading gaze would get him a breakfast treat.

“Don’t even think about it,” he told him with a frown. When Shep’s tail started to wag, Killian sighed. “If there’s any left after Mom eats, I might let you have one.” Shep wagged his tail even harder and Killian rolled his eyes.

By the time Emma and Henry came back down, there was a full plate of pancakes on the table and Killian was cutting one up for Hope, who’d already started on the eggs on her plate.

“So what do we have to do today, Mom?” Henry asked before stuffing a huge bite of eggs in his mouth. Killian gave him a disapproving look.

“You’ve been a big help the last few days, Henry, so there’s really not that much left to do,” Emma said. “All the sheets need to be washed and the airbeds blown up. Oh, and we should make sure there are plenty of clean towels for everyone.” Emma sat back, her face a little stunned. “I still can’t believe everyone’s coming,” she breathed. “This will probably never happen again.” Her eyes sparkled with excitement as her gaze met Killian’s and Henry’s. “This is gonna be the best Christmas ever!”

Killian reached over and covered her hand with his. “Yes, it is,” he said, smiling. “I’m so glad Liam, Elsa, the boys, and Nemo could all come.”

Henry all but bounced in his seat. “When will they get here?”

“Let’s see,” Emma said, opening her phone and checking all the flight times. “Regina and Robin won’t be here until tonight. Their flight doesn’t leave for a couple more hours yet, and Mimi and Papaw are with them. Ruby, Graham, the twins, and Poppa should be here around three. David and M’s, and Liam, Elsa, the boys, and Grandpa Nemo are all getting in around two. You and Dad will go to the airport to pick everyone up, and Ruby and the rest should be here by the time you get back. Regina has a limo bringing them out.”

They finished their breakfast quickly, Henry chatting animatedly about all the adventures he, Aaron, and Dale would have while they were here. He’d met Liam, Elsa, their boys, and Grandpa Nemo almost two years ago when Killian had taken them to meet his family once he got his finished manuscript sent off to his publisher. The three boys were only a year apart, with Henry in the middle, and they hit it off wonderfully. They kept in touch with Facetime and visits during the summer, but Henry was excited for them to enjoy the farm in the winter, especially with the snow expected.

Once the kitchen was cleaned up, everyone went their separate ways, marching orders in hand. Hope had been deposited in her room to play until Henry was done blowing up the air mattresses for his cousins in his bedroom, and in the downstairs study for Uncle Liam and Aunt Elsa. Emma was in the old farmhouse collecting all the sheets off the beds and getting them in the laundry while Killian and Shep headed out to the barn just to check with Leroy that the farmhands and horses had everything they needed for the next few days. With all the company expected, not to mention the holiday itself, there wasn’t going to be time for him to be doing anything out in the barn.

The last book he’d written on Henry’s father, Neal Cassidy, had been his biggest bestseller yet. He’d enjoyed a relatively lucrative career up to that point, between being an investigative journalist for the Boston Globe for several years before turning to writing official biographies for a living. But his book on Cassidy had exceeded all expectations and had brought in a windfall that had allowed him and Emma to not only really fix up the old farmhouse, and hire full time farm hands with Leroy as part time manager, but also to build themselves a new house for their growing family. So now with two large houses on the farm, they could host their very large extended family for the holidays.

After talking with Leroy and seeing that everything was under control, not that he expected anything different, Killian returned to the house to get his white chicken chili in the two slow cookers before heading upstairs to get Hope dressed. It was going to be a long and busy day.

~*~*~

When Henry and Killian arrived home from the airport with David, Mary Margaret, Liam, Elsa, Aaron, Dale, and Grandpa Nemo in tow, true chaos descended. The boys immediately retreated to their shared bedroom, but were quickly summoned back to the family room and kitchen to greet Ruby, Graham, Maurice- who the kids called Poppa- and their new baby cousins, Hunter and Diana. Everyone was thrilled to see the babies, but the six-month-old twins didn’t hold the attention of the older boys very long, so after a round of hugs and making cute faces at the babies, they were off again.

Everyone else gathered in the kitchen, catching up with each other’s goings on in the last year since they’d all been together for Robin and Regina’s wedding. Liam and Elsa’s farm was flourishing, and they were thinking about branching into cattle farming. They already harvested corn for grain and hay, in addition to the apple orchard that was their main crop, and had one cow for milk for the family in addition to a few horses, but the income cattle farming would generate wasn’t anything to shake a stick at and could set the farm up for generations to come. 

Ruby was back on stage with Secrets after having the twins, and Graham was as busy as ever scouting for and signing new talent, as well as further expanding Humbert Records’ Broadway presence. 

Grandpa Nemo and Poppa were simply enjoying their retirement and spending lots of time with their respective grandchildren.

David and Mary Margaret had gotten married the previous summer in New York before moving to Chicago. David couldn’t bring himself to lie to his family about how he’d met Mary Margaret and how he’d come into possession of a very large estate outside of the Windy City. So, he told them the truth about what he did during the decade he was away from them, in the very vaguest of terms. They knew he was an American spy, and that the estate where they now lived had been left to him by his recruiter and mentor. He wanted to hold on to the last thing in existence that tied him to Lance, so once he and Mary Margaret tied the knot, they’d relocated there permanently. 

Now David was dipping his toes into the songwriting business, mostly due to Mary Margaret’s encouragement. Graham and Poppa’s ears both perked at that little tidbit, but David told them not to get their hopes up. He wasn’t interested in singing himself, but might be interested in partnering with someone. Graham told David to get in touch with him after the holidays and he’d see about finding a partner for him.

After getting her parents back, taking some very well deserved time off to plan her wedding, and the wedding itself, Mary Margaret had decided that she wasn’t interested in being sequestered in the laboratory again. Once they settled in Chicago, she’d accepted a teaching position at Northwestern and was loving every minute of it. She enjoyed engaging and challenging young minds in the principles of physics and had trouble seeing herself ever going back to the lab.

Once everyone was caught up, they called the boys down to the kitchen for dinner. With two large pots filled with Killian’s white chicken chili recipe, there was plenty to go around, as well as for their missing family members once they arrived in a couple of hours.

Dinner was loud and happy with about half a dozen different conversations going on at the same time. Killian caught Emma’s eye and wasn’t surprised to see the tears sparkling in the corner of them. He felt a surge of love and contentment inside him to be here right now with almost all of their loved ones beside them.

Killian smiled and mouthed I love you to his beloved. She smiled and mouthed the same thing right back to him.

~*~*~

The next day was Christmas Eve, and the weatherman might find himself unemployed, after his prediction of three inches was so far off from the actual snowfall the farm received overnight. Henry, Aaron, and Dale pressed their faces to the window in Henry’s room, their mouths hanging open and eyes wide as saucers at the blanket of white outside. 

The snow was high, and the distance to the old farmhouse was an unblemished carpet that the boys couldn’t wait to get into. After standing there stunned for several minutes, they all scrambled to get into their snow suits and downstairs into the drifts outside, not even bothering with breakfast, Shep hot on their heels.

An hour later, shouts from outside woke Robin in the other house. When Emma, Killian, Henry and Hope moved into the new house, the old farmhouse had undergone a full renovation, bringing it up to 21st century standards and making it company ready. So while all the children and their parents were in the new house, the rest of the family was in the old farmhouse. Robin looked over at Regina, still snoring softly. She was utterly breathtaking in the morning light, but Robin’s brow furrowed as he wondered how she was still asleep. Even when she was in between projects, she could never sleep past eight. He glanced at his phone on the nightstand and saw it was nearly 8:30 in the morning. It had been a very long and exhausting day yesterday, between the cross country flight and the late night spent with her sisters, so he wasn’t going to begrudge her sleeping in a bit.

He rose from the bed and went to the window to see the boys and the dog playing in the drifts that covered the front lawn. Robin grinned at their antics before grabbing his robe and heading down to the kitchen to start the coffee maker.

It was almost another thirty minutes later that Regina finally came down, yawning hugely. 

“There’s my Sleeping Beauty,” Robin said, rising from his seat at the bar, placing his hand on her waist and leaning in to kiss her cheek. “Did you sleep ok?”

“I did,” she said, “just not enough of it.” She made her way to the coffee maker as Robin shot a speculative look at Beverly, who simply raised her eyebrows at Regina’s comment.

“Where is everyone?” Regina asked, sitting down next to Robin at the bar and leaning her head against his shoulder.

“Mary Margaret, I believe, is in the new house getting things together for the gingerbread cookoff,” Beverly said as she cooked some eggs for Regina. “The men are all outside playing in the snow with the boys,” Beverly chuckled. 

“I wanted to wait until you woke up before heading outside myself,” Robin said, kissing Regina on the brow.

“Mmmm,” Regina hummed, eyes shut while taking a sip of her coffee. As soon as she did, she grimaced in distaste and opened her eyes. “Eww… What's wrong with this coffee? Does the Keurig need descaling or something?”

Robin turned confused eyes on his bride as Beverly brought a plate of scrambled eggs over.

“The coffee tastes fine to me,” he commented, taking another sip from his mug. “What does it taste like to you?”

Regina shook her head before speaking. “I don’t know,” she said, the grimace still on her face. “But I don’t like it, whatever it is.” She took a bite of the eggs her mother had made and had barely swallowed the first bite, when her hand flew to her mouth and she lunged for the half bath on the other side of the kitchen.

Beverly gave her a loving yet stern look after she came back out of the bathroom, followed closely by Robin.

“I think it’s time you took a pregnancy test, Regina,” she said.

The look on Regina’s face as she looked at Robin, nearly made Beverly’s heart break. The fear mixed with hope in her daughter’s eyes was mirrored by her husband, although much more hope than fear in his case, and Beverly lifted a silent prayer for them both and the potential addition to their family.

“Here, try this,” Beverly urged, placing some toast on the bar as they came back and sat down. “Might help settle your stomach.”

“Just the thought that I might be pregnant,” Regina murmured, “makes my stomach roll even more.” Robin sat down next to her and rubbed circles into her back as she took a bite. When she was able to swallow with no ill effects, Regina smiled. “Do you really think it’s possible?”

“You’ve slept more in the last week than I think I’ve ever seen you sleep,” Beverly observed, “plus the coffee tasting off and not being able to even take a bite of scrambled eggs without throwing it back up?” She shrugged. “It’s certainly suggestive.”

“She’s right, Regina,” Robin added.

“I don’t want to wait until after Christmas to take a test,” Regina said, softly. “Do you think Emma might have one?”

“Chances are probably decent,” Beverly said, nodding. “Finish eating that first and we can go over and ask.”

Regina hurriedly finished eating the toast- it really did help her stomach- and then they all trooped through the snow, carefully avoiding the gigantic snow fort and snowman the boys and men were busy building. The kitchen in the new house was a hive of activity, with Mary Margaret, Ruby, and Elsa helping Emma get all the ingredients out for the gingerbread bake-off happening later that morning and afternoon. The participants were separated by household, so there’d be five different gingerbread recipes being baked with Mimi, Papaw, Grandpa Nemo, and Poppa judging the results.

Regina made her way over to Emma and pulled her aside.

“Do you, uhhh,” Regina began, picking at the hem of the sweater she wore and not meeting Emma’s eyes, “have a pregnancy test that I could use?”

Emma’s eyes widened, and Regina blushed furiously.

“Really? Are you serious?” Emma asked incredulously before schooling her features. “Yes, I do, actually. Come on.” She grabbed her sister by the arm and motioned to Ruby to follow them upstairs.

They got to the master bath, and Emma and Ruby waited in the bedroom while Regina took the test. Once done, Regina came back into the room, taking a deep shaky breath.

She sat on the bed in between her sisters and looked down at her clasped hands.

“Mom said I’d been sleeping more than she’s ever seen,” Regina murmured. “The coffee this morning was awful, and I was sick when she cooked me plain scrambled eggs.” She shrugged. “So she said I should take a test.”

Emma placed her arm around Regina’s shoulders. “Are you late?” she asked.

“Not technically,” she replied with a shrug. “Not yet. My cycle’s never been exact, and a day or two off in either direction is normal.” She looked at her sisters. “So I wouldn’t have bothered for at least another week.” She took a deep breath, trying to keep her tumultuous feelings in check. She took both her sisters' hands in her own as they waited.

The timer went off, and Regina could feel the blood drain from her face. Ruby and Emma squeezed her hands in reassurance.

“You can do this, Regina,” Ruby encouraged her. “We’re right behind you.”

Regina rose on shaky legs and walked into the bathroom. A moment later, Emma and Ruby heard a loud sob and ran to their sister. She stood in front of the sink, holding on to the edge for dear life with the test in front of her, Pregnant showing clearly in the window. Ruby and Emma wrapped Regina in their arms, tears flowing freely from all three.

Emma was the first to get herself under control enough to speak. 

“Congratulations, Mom,” she hiccupped through her tears. 

The appellation made Regina dissolve into fresh tears.

“I never thought…” she gasped in between sobs. “Oh, God! Everything I took to get on the plane yesterday! What if…?”

“Do not even think about that, Regina,” Ruby urged her. “Do you know how many unsuspecting moms drink alcohol, or take medications, or do things that aren’t considered safe in pregnancy? And their babies turn out just fine. Your little one will be completely perfect. You mark my words.”

Regina nodded, tears still tracking down her face. She pulled out her phone and sent a text to Robin before hugging her sisters close again.

“Thank you,” she breathed. “I love you both so much.”

“Love you, too.”

“Love you, three.”

~*~*~

Robin felt a vibration in his pocket and pulled out his phone to see a 👶🏻 in a text from Regina. He surged to his feet and ran for the stairs. When Emma and Ruby had gone upstairs with Regina, he stayed behind to give the sisters the privacy he was sure Regina appreciated. He may be the potential father, but her sisters had been the ones who’d been with her through all of it and letting them be the first to know seemed like the least he could do. Especially since they were both mothers themselves and had been through this before.

He came into the bedroom to see the three of them caught up in a three way embrace, tears tracking down their faces, and beaming smiles on them all. His own smile broke through as they let go of one another. Regina ran for him. He caught her and swung her around as Emma and Ruby left them alone.

Robin set her back down and planted a hard kiss on her lips, even as delighted giggles spilled from his love’s mouth. He held her tightly, burying his face in the side of her neck. His face and neck were wet from where her tear-stained face had rubbed up against his, and Robin could feel the tears collecting in his own eyes. He pulled back just a bit and rested his forehead against hers.

“I assume it was positive,” he quipped drily.

A bark laugh escaped Regina. “Yes,” she confirmed. “It was positive.” 

Robin tightened his arms around her and kissed her gently. “So, when are you due?”

She pulled back completely and picked up her phone. Opening her period tracker app, she calculated her due date. 

“August 29th.” She caught her bottom lip with her teeth as she looked at him. He gathered her back in his arms, hugging her tightly.

“Oh, Regina,” he sighed. “I’m so happy.” He could feel her deep inhale as he held her, but she didn’t exhale right away. He pulled back again to look into her eyes. “What is it?”

She swallowed hard, and the tearful happiness in her eyes disappeared to be replaced by a nervousness he hadn’t seen since she’d told him about her history with Samdi Facillier.

“If… if something happens…” She tripped over her words and understanding came over him.

He met her gaze unflinchingly and tightened his arms around her.

“I told you when I asked you to marry me, that you were first. Always and forever,” he assured her. “That if we never had children, you were the only thing I needed. Everything else, we would take as it came.”

Another sob escaped her, and Robin gathered her close again, kissing her on the forehead. “I love you, Regina. And nothing will ever change that.”

~*~*~

The snowball war to end all snowball wars was going on outside with the vast majority of the family taking part. The babies were down for afternoon naps, and all the gingerbread was baked, cooled, and ready for decorating. Except for the gingerbread cake Elsa planned to bake while everyone else was decorating their creations. Regina, Beverly, and Emma were the only three members of the family who weren’t outside romping in the winter wonderland.

Emma suggested they get themselves cups of hot cocoa, and go sit in the gazebo that was part of the wraparound front porch to watch the shenanigans going on outside. The ladies agreed.

They bundled up, grabbed their mugs with the steaming hot beverages and emerged onto the front porch. They didn’t know who was keeping score, but it was obviously a free-for-all and every man for himself. 

All except the young boys. 

They seemed to be a well-oiled machine, taking cover behind the walls of the snow fort they’d spent that morning building right on the edge of the tree line so they couldn’t be ambushed from behind. 

The rest of their family was spread out over the no man's land between the two houses. From where the three women sat, they could see Henry, Aaron, and Dale’s heads pop up occasionally from their fort, sending their projectiles toward wherever their target had sought to hide. 

Ruby was behind the giant snowman, a pile of snowballs at her feet. They could see Elsa about ten feet away from the fort behind one of the tall pine trees that shielded the farm from the state highway. Poppa and Marco were on either side of the gazebo where the ladies sat. The porch and gazebo were too high off the ground for the grandpas to be able to see over them and target one another. 

Liam played baseball in high school and college and had been good enough to make a career of it, if his heart hadn’t laid squarely on the farm he grew up on and in the hands of his high school sweetheart. His pitching arm was still in very good shape though, so he took up his position on the corner of the old farmhouse, far out of reach of his adversaries, but not so far that he couldn’t reach them with his own arsenal of projectiles.

Mary Margaret crept around the corner of the garage and lobbed a snowball at Marco, catching him on the shoulder. She shouted in triumph before disappearing back around the corner as Marco shouted his indignation at being blindsided.

Grandpa Nemo and Graham were also hiding behind trees near the fort and were staying busy throwing snowballs at anyone who caught their eye while trying to evade the same, with varying degrees of success.

Killian, David, and Robin were nowhere to be seen. Emma sat up, as Killian suddenly emerged from the trees behind the fort, knelt for a moment, and grabbed Henry and Dale around the waist. He rose again, with both boys firmly under his arms and ran headlong into the no man’s land where he unceremoniously dropped them and then ran for cover on the other side of the front porch of the new house. As soon as the boys were on the ground, they were pummeled with snowballs from all sides. Having the protection of the fort, they’d been hit much less than the others. They howled as they hightailed it back to the fort, shouting threats of retribution at Killian for sneaking up on them the way he had.

As soon as they took cover, Robin and David both emerged from the trees in the same place Killian had only a minute before. The two were obviously working together as they held their snowballs aloft and flushed the boys out from the protection of the fort. The men chased the boys out into the middle of the yard, signaling to everyone else to come out of hiding and hit as many targets as possible.  It was a total knock-down-drag-out, with no one getting away scot free.

Henry emerged from the melee, shouting at Emma.

“Did you see me, Mom? I got Uncle David on the back of the head!” Emma rose from her seat in the gazebo and made her way to where Henry was climbing the steps to the porch.

“I did see,” she assured her son, a wide grin on her face. “I think it’s time for everyone to come inside and warm up. We have gingerbread to decorate, judge and eat, and Christmas movies to watch.”

The other boys were the first to come toward the porch and the promise of gingerbread, followed by the women and grandfathers. The men were still trying to best one another on the snowball field. Robin had taken up a position next to the gazebo, where Regina and Beverly still sat, enjoying their hot chocolate, and laughing at the men trying to one up each other. As they finished their drinks and rose from their seats to head inside, Robin could see David coming around the other side of the house and taking aim at Regina. Time seemed to slow down as Robin ran toward David, aiming his own snowball at him. David threw his snowball, Regina turning to the side to shield herself, as Robin hurled his own, taking a flying leap toward David. 

He just missed the snowball David threw, but his aim was true, catching David in the center of the chest. David’s snowball hit Regina on the hip, and Robin tackled David into the snow.

“Gotcha, sis!” David howled, even as Robin rose above him, grabbing the front of his coat. Robin was barely aware of Regina running across the porch and down the steps toward them as red colored his vision.

“What the hell, man?” he shouted at David. “You can’t target the porch! That was safe!” David turned his attention to Robin, his laughter turning into confusion and then anger as he pushed Robin off him and stood up.

“It was just a bit of fun!” he shouted. “It got her on the hip! What’s the big deal?”

Regina got between them, facing Robin. She cupped his face in her hands and begged him to look at her.

“It’s fine,” she said. “I’m fine. It didn’t even hurt. I promise.” 

Robin forced himself to focus on his wife. Her chocolate eyes were filled with worry. For him. He put his hands on her shoulders and matched his breathing with hers. Once he was calmed down, he turned his attention back to David, who stood watching them over to the side, a puzzled and brooding expression on his face.

“She’s pregnant,” Robin snapped, still a little hacked that David had targeted Regina. “She can’t…”

“So what?” David interrupted, confusion now all over his face. “So is Mary Margaret. That didn’t stop her.” 

“What?” Regina exclaimed, turning to her brother, surprised. 

David shrugged sheepishly. “Yeah,” he admitted. “We were gonna announce it tomorrow night at dinner.” Regina released Robin and turned to David, embracing him tightly.

“Congratulations!”

“Thanks,” he murmured, accepting her hug. “And you, too.” She pulled back and glanced at Robin. At his small nod, she turned back to her brother.

“I think Robin is just worried because I’ve had a miscarriage before.”

David’s brow furrowed. “You have? When?”

“Years ago,” she told him. “Not long after I first came to Hollywood.”

“I had no idea,” David murmured. “I’m sorry.”

“It was a long time ago. And I’m fine.” She turned back to Robin. “I do think you overreacted, though.”

Robin looked like he’d rather eat nails than apologize, but after a deep breath and hard swallow, he held his hand out to David who took it.

“Sorry I overreacted,” he said.

“No problem. I probably would have done the same.”

Regina smiled at them. “Let’s go in,” she said, looping her arm through her husband’s. “I need your help decorating the gingerbread house.” Looking back out over the lawn, she hollered for the rest of them to come in. “Come on, guys! It’s time for gingerbread!”

At her call, the other three started making their way to the house, still eyeing each other warily. Killian was the furthest away and couldn’t resist one more throw at his brother as he approached the steps to the house. He cackled as the missile found its target, and took off running toward the back of the house as Liam made himself one last snowball and followed. Regina, Robin, David, and Graham entered the front door to see Killian doing a dance in front of the sliding glass door in the kitchen, taunting Liam.

“I will have my revenge, little brother!” Liam called, an evil grin on his face. “The next time you come out here… revenge will be MINE!” He dropped his snowball into the drifts lining the back porch and climbed the steps as Killian opened the door for him.

“Good luck with that, brother,” he smirked. The brothers turned toward the kitchen where the gingerbread was all laid out on the island and some of the creations were being moved to the table, to give everyone room for decorating the tasty treats.

Elsa’s cake was already in the oven, and the smell was permeating the whole house.

Mary Margaret and David had gone for simple gingerbread boys and girls, and they were hard at work decorating them with royal icing.

Regina was getting their gingerbread house constructed while Robin was laying out the candies they’d soon be decorating with.

Graham joined Ruby in her construction of a gingerbread Christmas tree.

Liam moved into the family room where Elsa and all the grandparents were on babysitting duty, keeping the kids occupied while the others worked on their gingerbread creations. White Christmas played on the TV, and Liam sat on the sofa next to his wife. He put his arm around her and kissed her temple. 

“The cake smells delicious,” he said in her ear. Elsa smirked and looked at her phone. 

“It has about five more minutes. We’re sure to win. Nothing beats just an old fashioned gingerbread cake.” Liam hummed his agreement.

Killian moved to the other end of the island from Robin and Regina to help Emma get their gingerbread church put together. She’d found the pattern on Etsy and was determined to make it, no matter how complicated it might be.

Once everyone was done- well, almost everyone, anyway- Marco, Beverly, Maurice, and Grandpa Nemo came in from the family room. They gathered around Emma and Killian’s gingerbread… something…

“It was supposed to be a church,” Emma said surlily. The four walls were intact, but that was about it. The roof was very crooked and the steeple was completely missing, the required pieces scattered around the island. Everyone laughed good naturedly before Beverly took a bite.

“It tastes good, anyway,” she observed. “But considering it’s not decorated, or even fully constructed for that matter, I think it’s safe to say…” she looked at her grumpy daughter with an amused smile on her face, “y’all are not going to win.”

The judges moved to Elsa and Liam’s cake. It was still warm, having had about twenty minutes to cool, and topped with powdered sugar. They all had a small piece of the cake and declared it absolutely wonderful. Elsa and Liam exchanged smug smirks.

Ruby and Graham’s gingerbread Christmas tree was incredible. Very carefully constructed with royal icing, it was a full tree with every “branch” tipped with the white icing- including the star on the top of the tree- and decorated with red and green mini m&m’s.

“I don’t even want to try it!” Poppa exclaimed. “It’s too beautiful to eat!”

But they did eventually try it, after the requisite photos were taken, and found that it was delicious, as well.

Robin and Regina’s gingerbread house was fully constructed and decorated, but was rather sloppy. Icing was dripping in places, and the candy wasn’t staying on. It tasted good enough, but Regina still scowled as the judges ranked their creation in Fourth Place.

David and Mary Margaret’s gingerbread boys and girls were delicious and impeccably decorated. After unanimously being declared the winner of the bake-off, David spoke.

“It’s my secret ingredient to the gingerbread recipe,” he declared. “Nutmeg.”

Regina scoffed. “How can you call it a secret ingredient if you just told everyone what it was?”

“I didn’t say how much I used,” he said, smugly, crossing his arms over his chest. “So, it’s still a secret.”

After the judging was complete, all the ingredients for personal pizzas were pulled out of the fridge and everyone set to making their own dinner. The big meal would be enjoyed on Christmas Day.

Once dinner was eaten and the kitchen cleaned up, Marco pulled out his banjo and started picking out favorite Christmas carols. Regina sat down at the piano while Ruby, David, and Emma went to collect their violin, flute, and guitar, respectively.

Beverly felt the tears sting her eyes as her family made music together. It had been over a decade since this had last happened and she never realized how much she missed it. With David gone to the ends of the earth, literally, plus their schedule and how rarely they were able to visit with all three of their daughters, she’d had to bury that desire and longing for her entire family to be together in the depths of her heart. And now, the complete happiness and joy threatened to overflow. 

The musicians smoothly transitioned between songs, the chord progressions and accompaniment coming back as if they’d been practicing together for weeks. Beverly had to stop singing, the lump in her throat too big to overcome, and just listen to the blend of voices. Maurice sat beside her on the sofa, Hunter cradled in his arms, and leaned over to whisper in her ear.

“I know what Marco told me all those years ago,” he began, “but I would just about give my eye teeth to get all of you in a recording studio.” He moved away from her with a knowing and speculative gleam in his eye. Beverly laughed and patted him on the knee.

“I think you’d have an easier time setting up a recording studio right here in this room, than getting all these people together again.”

He looked back out over the crowded room. “Oh, I’m not so sure about that,” he mused.

“What do you mean?”

“Look at the smiles on everyone’s faces,” he said. “I know it’s hard to coordinate schedules between this many different families, but I have a feeling this is something everyone here is going to want to continue for many years to come.”

Beverly sighed. “I’d give anything…”

Maurice smiled gently at her and patted her knee. “So would I,” he assured her, his eyebrows rising. “Think about it.”

Taking a deep breath, Beverly joined her voice to the chorus of voices around her. The soft strands of Silent Night accompanied only by David on his flute and Ruby on her violin poured over her, and she closed her eyes and let herself drift on the music. She raised a prayer of thankfulness for this time together and determined to never take it for granted as the song came to an end.

Beverly opened her eyes and surveyed the scene in front of her. The babies were sound asleep in the arms of Maurice, Graham, and Killian, and Dale’s eyes were glazed over with exhaustion while Henry was in the middle of a jaw-popping yawn.

“I believe it’s time for bed, my loves,” Marco said quietly. The boys joined together in a disappointed awwww, but everyone else was smiling or nodding their agreement. Couples rose and joined together as parents gathered the children and began herding them off to bed.

“Christmas breakfast here at 9, and then presents after,” Emma told everyone. “We’ll see everyone in the morning.”

Murmurs of good night, see you in the morning, and Merry Christmas followed everyone out until the quiet of Christmas Eve and the snow-covered landscape outside enveloped both houses as everyone found their beds and fell into the dreams of home, the dreams of love, the dreams of family.

~*~*~

Christmas Day was everything Christmas dreams were made of. Snow still blanketed the ground, Christmas breakfast was delicious and plentiful, and the enormous pile of presents under the tree was utterly demolished- with everyone very pleased with the gifts received. Liam did get his revenge on Killian for his surreptitious ambush the day before when the men and boys engaged in another round of the snowball fight. Then the boys spent the rest of the afternoon engaging in an epic Nerf gun battle since they’d been gifted a veritable arsenal. Now it was time for Christmas dinner. Everyone gathered around the enormous dining room table for the blessing before loading up their plates with the feast that had been prepared by the ladies of the family.

“Before we have the blessing,” David said, standing from his place at the table, “we have an announcement to make.”

“So do we,” Robin said with a smile before nodding at David to continue. David looked down at Mary Margaret, whose cheeks were colored with a pretty blush as she looked at her husband and nodded. 

“Mary Margaret and I are excited to announce that we’re expecting…” Loud cheers from around the table interrupted his words, and David grinned widely before sitting down again and nodding at Robin across the table from him.

Robin rose to his feet as the cheering died down and asked the question everyone wanted to know.

“When are you due?”

“August 6th,” Mary Margaret said.

“Congratulations,” he said, sincerely before looking around the table at everyone gathered. “Regina and I have our own announcement, as well. We are also expecting.” More cheers interrupted his words, as Marco stood from his seat and moved around the table to hug Regina tightly. When the cheers died away again, Robin continued. “We’re due at the end of August,” he said, looking at David. “The 29th.”

Marco stayed where he was, his arm around Regina’s shoulders and asked everyone to bow their heads.

“Father in Heaven,” Marco began, “we thank You for the many blessings You’ve given this family. Material blessings, yes, but so much more. The blessings of how You’ve brought this family back together and expanded it is more than we ever hoped or dreamed. You’ve been so good to us, and we thank You for it. We thank You for the gift of Your Son, Whose birth we celebrate today. We pray that Your hand would continue to be upon us and all those we love. We pray for both these pregnancies, that You would keep Your hand on the mothers as well as the children they carry and bring them to a successful birth this summer. We pray that You will bring us all together again next year, if not before. Now, please bless this food that we are about to receive. May it nourish our bodies and spirits. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

As everyone trooped into the kitchen to dish up their plates, Marco looked over his family and felt like his heart would burst with the blessings that had been showered on him. He didn’t know what the future held, but with the love binding the Swan, Jones, and Humbert families together, there was no doubt the future was a bright and happy one.

The End

~*~*~

Thank you all so much for reading and sharing!!! Merry Christmas!!

[themculibrary]

Nakia/T’Challa Masterlist

and this love came back to me (ao3) - thekiwi_isin G, 1k

Summary: After the events of Endgame, T'Challa reunites with Nakia, and meets his son for the very first time.

Black Panther and Silver Lion (ao3) - The_Unlimited T, 58k

Summary: During a trip to Wakanda, Roxas and Bucky learned from Leon and T'Challa about how Leon had been there before. It turns out, he crash landed on Earth some time back and ended up involved in their attempt to apprehend a vibranium thief, followed by a plot done by T'Challa's murderous cousin invading and briefly taking control of the throne for himself. It's official: their lives will never be normal again...

Countdown (ao3) - nanasekei N/R, 1k

Summary: During his life, T’Challa falls in love three times.

Kandake (ao3) - HerenorThereNearnorFar G, 11k

Summary: Ramonda helps Nakia prepare for queendom, in a very Wakandan way. There are traditions for Black Panthers, and there are traditions for those who marry them, and they both get pretty wild.

Alternate Title: Bachlorette Party In A Graveyard, Talking About Your Dead Ancestors, Getting Wild, and Fighting Your Goddess.

Like an Antelope in Headlights (ao3) - mrs_d G, 2k

Summary: T'Challa has a habit of freezing when he sees Nakia.

moonlight walks / t'chakia (ao3) - valmadeamistake G, 1k

Summary: Sometimes, T'Challa wants to kiss her so badly he doesn't even ask.

Musings of the White Wolf (ao3) - SeleneJessabelle12626 G, 65k

Summary: Wakanda was fascinating place for any outsider, but its people were what interested Bucky the most.

A series of semi-interconnected one shots about Bucky's life in Wakanda.

rhythms of unseen drums (ao3) - lissomelle T, 3k

Summary: King or country, which do you serve?

Nakia passed every test to join the Dora Milaje but one.

Styrofoam (ao3) - Shaylinne nakia/t'challa, okoye/natasha T, 10k

Summary: Okoye is the General of the Dora Milaje, she’s the picture of strength and stoicism; she’s weathered storms greater than her heritage and she’s slayed beasts that the greatest storytellers couldn’t dare conjure up. She’s an instrument of grace and a hand of justice, but she’s also just a woman with a beating heart and she used to be a little girl who ran away from things that scared her.

In the wake of news that sliced Wakanda to the bone, she’s going to need to come to terms with every side of her to continue standing strong by her King’s side in his hour of need. And sometimes, that means a slightly improvised murder road-trip with someone you barely know (Everett Ross) that’s actually not about murder at all, but what you’d order at Subway.

Okoye on T'Challa's death, cancer and staying strong for others.

take my hand (take my whole life too) (ao3) - dreamweavernyx G, 7k

Summary: T’Challa is pinning his campaign poster onto the board outside the music room when someone clears their throat behind him. He startles, and turns around to see an impeccably-dressed girl standing peering at him from behind pink-rimmed glasses.

“Hi,” she says, not even waiting for him to remove the two pins he’s holding in his mouth. “Nakia. Guess we’re enemies?”

T’Challa blinks at her for a moment, and she raises an eyebrow, glancing pointedly behind him at his campaign poster. He turns to look too, noticing how it’s sagged on its side due to only having one corner pinned before the interruption.

“Ah,” he says, turning back to her and nodding. “T’Challa. That’s me.”

Or, T'Challa and Nakia, through the years.

T'Challa's Nightly Patrol (ao3) - LeeMorrigan G, 3k

Summary: Every night, T'Challa takes a walk to calm his racing mind and to check in on his loved ones.

The Long Path (ao3) - NyxEtoile, OlivesAwl M, 43k

Summary: Okoye turned the page of her magazine. "Any closer to figuring out what is your kind of job?”

Glancing over, Nakia said, “You once put the idea of being a spy in my head, and I still can’t shake it.”

"When you tell T'Challa about how you're running off to be a spy, do not blame it on me.”

To Be A King (ao3) - ShootWithIntentToKill G, 2k

Summary: Moments in the life of T'Challa.

To Hold the Oceans in Her Hands (ao3) - YourPalYourBuddy T, 2k

Summary: Now, she pulls T’Challa to his feet and smiles and tugs him after her as she runs to the water. He stumbles and she laughs and he sticks his tongue out and as the water splashes cold to her thighs, Nakia is, quite simply, happy.

The bay water streams off T’Challa’s forehead when he kisses her. Nakia frames his face with her hands, and his lips tastes like the ocean. ______________

Nakia x T'Challa, post Black Panther. Nakia's POV.

wakandan sunrise (ao3) - captainafroelf G, 1k

Summary: a wittle scene of my babies

with all that i am (ao3) - Anonymous T, 1k

Summary: Nakia offered him a smile in the here and now. “You’re up late,” she observed quietly.

[sondering]

[      havana rose liu  +  twenty seven  +  non-binary  +  they/she      ]      the  city  of  new  york  welcomes  alberta 'birdie' huang  to  the  social  season  of  1887,  the  cousin  of  the astor family.  known  to  be  effervescent  and  creative,  their  rumored  capricious and  entitled tendencies  might  prove  to  be  their  unmaking.  the  street  musicians  often  string  along  a  tune  that  sounds  like  c'est si bon  by  eartha kitt  whenever  they  are  near,  hoping  for  a  coin  or  two  as  a  reward.  unbeknown  to  their  peers,  birdie  views  the  social  season  as  a playing field  but  when  holding  a  secret  such  as  they have no intention of returning to california,  it  would  be  best  to  keep  their  opinions  to  themselves. 

basic statistics :

full name : xiang huang ( 翔 黄).

alternatively : alberta huang.

nicknames or aliases : they are best known as birdie; they often use the alias robin stanford for their work.

age : twenty - seven.

date of birth : february 10th 1860.

occupation : socialite, heiress, artist.

parents : changyin 'chuck' huang (51), railroad tycoon and executive of the central pacific railroad + bernadette 'bernie' astor (48), daughter of the patriarch of the new york astor family.

siblings : charles (17), john (15), amaranthe (12), iris (10), indigo (10).

other familial relationships : montgomery astor ( maternal cousin ).

marital status : unmarried.

sexuality : bisexual.

the secret :

sacramento means a cage they have no interest in being contained in. they have delayed taking on the mantle of the family business for years, and all they want to is to run away from it - - the perfect escape comes in the form of the astor power in the city, and her own heavy wallet. since last season, they have began to rent a studio in which they receive guests to have their likeliness painted; due to the secrecy of it all, they have worn an alias when showing off their work, but it has not yet risen to the kind of sucess they'd need to convince themselves and their parents that this could be a way of life. this season must change this.

thoughts on high society :

birdie takes nothing too serious, and high society is nothing different. they only see what benefits them - - as an astor cousin, child one of the richest men in america, they have a leeway to their arrogance and indulgence and they use it as they see fit. they adore the socialization aspect of it all, and often search for subjects for their work amongst the people of the ton.

headcanons :

when chuck huang first went to new york, in the 50s, he may have went into the season expecting to land himself a wife, but he certainly didn’t expect to meet and fall for an astor. only the very fresh second generation of an immigrant family made rich by the gold rush, it was unlikely he would be the best fit for an astor daughter, yet bernie would always tell their story as a love story. for why else would she leave new york and go all the way to california? it was a new world, in all senses of the world. she had to acclimate to her husband’s state, culture, life.

thankfully, the affection they had for one another grew into respect and a partnership that would only grow chuck’s prospects though it was for his own self that he gained the one that would make him famous all around america: the central pacific railroad along with three friends, chuck became known to carry the project to build the first transcontinental railroad in northern america, a railroad that would cover from east to west. it was chuck who would hammer in the golden spike along the way; once it was driven in, and quickly removed, it would be returned to the huang home in sacramento, not the first and definitely not the last of their gilded objects around the lavish home.

birdie was born way before their father would come in renown. their home was already lavish and great, however, becoming of the huang name — and so was the child. named xiang, an auspicious name chosen by her grandfather, she was meant to soar high as the heir to such a great fortune. right away, bernie, her mother, refused to ever call the child xiang — she called her birdie, instead. isn’t it all the same? possible insensitivity would be washed away as the name became her own, even before her chinese name, or the english name attached to her school papers. that’s what she was: just birdie. they’ve always liked it better this way.

with so much wealth and influence on the tip of their fingers, birdie grew spoiled and indulged to ridiculous standards. all she wanted, she got; she had the opportunity to try horse riding, learn arithmetics, pick whatever language her heart desired, dance and paint and sing and all of that. to their mother’s dismay, most of the things they did, they did in the most basic of fashions but, at the very least, they did it enthusiastically which, theri father said, was a good thing. one needs to keep their spirits high in this world, even in front of failure, chuck would tell them. and so they did.

the one thing birdie liked above all was art. from finger painting, to sketching, to designing the most intricate paintings with oil, that was their calling in life. yet, the eldest by at least a decade, it was obvious that the huang family name would weight on their shoulders. instead of artistic pursuits, they were encouraged to take on practical ones, learn of engineering and architecture and railroads and all things they did not care about — railroads for them only mattered because it lead them to trains, and trains lead them to trips and trips lead them to wherever they wanted, far from their parents.

from the time they were old enough, they would go to spend the seasons in new york. their debut went splendid — at least four offers of marriage they laughed about; thankfully, their father was picky enough to allow her yet this one another fortune. whenever they’re in the city, they stay with their cousins, the astor, and never fail to enjoy what society has to offer. new york is better in every way to california, that they are certain of, and, as their university studies come to its end even as they try to drag it out, birdie thinks that they may just have to find a way to root them here instead of there, somehow.

connections :

astor acquaintaces, people they have met in former seasons

people who travel around!

muses - people who have sat for her or who have comissioned in the past or will be painted now!!

perhaps someone who wishes to take advantage of them or dislikes their carefree manner?

lovers - they are rather fickle hearted but are drawn to beauty so there's always the possibility of some flings and affairs over the years

[readingforsanity]

It’s Always the Husband | Michele Campbell | Published 2017 | *SPOILERS*

Kate, Aubrey and Jenny first met as college roommates and soon became inseparable, despite being as different as three women can be. 

Kate was beautiful, wild, wealthy and damaged. Aubrey, on financial aid, came from a broken home, and wanted more than anything to distance herself from her past. And Jenny was a striver - brilliant, ambitious and determined to succeed. 

As an unlikely friendship formed, the three of them swore they would always be there for each other. 

But twenty years later, one of them is standing at the edge of a bridge, and someone is urging her to jump. 

How did it come to this? 

Kate married the gorgeous party boy, Aubrey married up, and Jenny married the boy next door. But how can these three women love and hate each other? Can feelings this strong lead to murder? When one of them dies under mysterious circumstances, will everyone assume, as is often the case, that ti’s always the husband? 

A suspenseful, absorbing novel that examines the complexities of friendship, this novel will keep readers guessing right up to its shocking conclusion. 

The story follows Kate, Aubrey and Jenny during their freshman year of college. Jenny, from the college town of Belle River, is a motivated student ready to do whatever she needs to do to succeed. Aubrey, a poor girl who worked hard to earn her scholarship to Carlisle from Las Vegas who just wants to fit in, and socialite Kate, whose father is a trustee at the college. 

These girls cannot be more different from one another, but together they become easy friends. However, things go quickly awry. Aubrey basks in Kate’s shadow, and even starts to take after her in a variety of ways, partying too hard and taking drugs, skipping classes to the point that she is threatened to be thrown out of school. She is also dealing with the loss of her mother due to cancer. Jenny tries to be a good friend through it all, but is dealing with Kate dating her ex-boyfriend from high school who she still can’t get over.

One fateful night, Lucas takes Kate out to the railroad that stands over the river to break up with her. Kate, after doing a line of coke, finds herself enraged and begins hurting him, pushing him to his eventual death in the river. Lucas’ cousin, Tim, tries to save him but injures himself and is left with no memory of what happened, other than that his cousin had passed away. Kate is removed from school and sent to Europe to live with her ex-stepmother and half-sister, and Aubrey and Jenny are pressured to continue the lie that Lucas had ended his own life. 

22 years later, Kate returns to Belle River after her husband’s father is arrested for fraud and they lose all of their fortune. They are left to live in a dilapidated home that is owned by her father in what was once Faculty Row. However, Kate’s return only lasts a few months before she herself is pulled from the river. 

The new chief of police is taken by this case, as he ran into Kate a few months prior while he was interviewing for the position and was immediately taken with her. He begins working feverishly on her case, trying to blame Kate’s husband, Griff Rothenberg, who attended Carlisle with them. After everything that happened with his father, Griff is also having a hard time with the drastic change to his lifestyle. 

Meanwhile, Jenny is now the mayor of Belle River and married to Tim Healy, Lucas’ cousin. They became close after her return to the town after the sudden death of her father and they made his family’s contruction business flourish with his taking care of operations and she taking care of everything else. They have two sons. Aubrey is married to a doctor with three children, and owns a yoga studio in a thriving part of town and her students love her. Except, Jenny and Aubrey are still keeping the terrible secret of what happened to Lucas, and Aubrey is dealing with her husband’s third bout of cheating...which she finds out is happening Kate, her supposed best friend. 

When it becomes apparent that Kate is 10-weeks pregnant with Ethan’s baby, having not slept with her own husband for a year, Aubrey is heartbroken. She also learns that Jenny basically knew, or suspected, of the affair and didn’t say anything. This further breaks her heart. She manipulates Tim into thinking that Kate is going to confess everything, but Aubrey’s hope is that Tim becomes so enraged that he kills Kate. Though, he leaves her there alive. 

After Griff is exonerated for the crime, the chief of police is relieved of duty and Griff thanks his father in law for remaining by his side, he takes off with a new woman named Gemma, an Australian, who becomes his first mate on his boat, where he learn that he was, in fact, the one who killed his wife. 

Discussion Questions 

1. What is it about the college setting that allows three girls as different as Kate, Aubrey and Jenny to bond? What attracts them to one another? What repels them? If nothing terrible had happened at the end of freshman year, do you think their frinedship would have had a future, or would they have gone their separate ways? In college, it’s a place where all walks of life come together to build their futures. It’s not like high school, where it’s cliquey, and you spent a lot of your time with the same friends over multiple years. It’s a chance for teenagers to meet different people. And this is what brings them together in the long run. However, their differences do cause rifts. Jenny is solid, and has plans for her future, whereas the other two are content with riding the waves trying to figure out life. 

2. Kate, Jenny and aubrey come from very different backgrounds. How is each character shaped by her upbringing and family circumstances? Can the characters’ flaws be explained by their difficult childhoods or their complicated relationships with their parents - or is this just an excuse for bad behavior? Kate comes from a wealthy family, and after the death of her mother several years before the start of the book, she is met with stepmother after stepmother, who don’t like her because of what she does, which is normal. She is acting out in defiance of her father who is only trying to help her. Aubrey comes from a poor family, whose father ran on out of her mother when she was 3 years old, has an older sister that wants nothing to do with her and after her mother’s death, takes what she can and runs. Jenny comes from a solid family, though successful but not awfully well-to-do. Aubrey just wants to fit in as she spent her entire childhood not having much of a social life, so she’ll do basically anything that is told to her. Jenny, who is a free thinker, doesn’t like this but comes to love Aubrey anyway in her own right. Kate is easily a huge manipulator, who uses people to get what she wants. 

3. Kate is at the center of two love triangles that shape the book. She gets involved with Lucas despite knowing he was Jenny’s high school boyfriend, and she has an affair with Ethan, who is Aubrey’s husband. What forces compel Kate to behave so badly? Is she simply pursuing these men in order to take them away from her best friends, or do you believe her feelings for them? How does the sense of betrayal Jenny and Aubrey feel when Kate steals their men influence their actions toward her? Kate is deeply troubled. She has spent many years being incredibly unhappy, though she had no reason to be as she was well loved by her father. Her choices led him to take actions against her that she didn’t like. Kate, while appearing confident, is actually really insecure, therefore leans on the attention from men that are otherwise taken: Lucas, though not taken by Jenny, but Kate should have respected her roommate enough to leave that alone and eventually, Ethan, the husband of her supposed best friend. Any attention in her direction is what causes her to act selfishly. 

4. The story cuts back and forth in time between freshman year at Carlisle and the roommates’ reunion twenty year later. Over those two decades, how do the three main characters change? Do they grow up at all? Does marriage, motherhood or career make them wiser, or kinder? At the end the book, which of the three do you believe is the happiest, or best adjusted? Aubrey is still as obsessed with Kate as she was in college, so I don’t think she changes much. Her marriage and homelife cause strife for her, although she tries to overcome this. Jenny, while still holding a massive secret, has grown: she is the mayor of the town she swore she’d never return to, and is married to the cousin of her ex-boyfriend who had died, though this isn’t really relevant to the story itself. They simply fell in love many years after she left and then returned. I think Jenny is the most adjusted, as she has to be. 

5. When Kate meets Owen Rizzo in the bar during the thunderstorm, she tells him her name is Maggie Price. Why? What role does Maggie Price’s suicide play in Kate’s inner life over the years? Do you believe she feels guilt for it? Does she feel genuine guilt for what happened to Lucas at the bridge? Is Kate capable of true remorse? Maggie was Kate’s best friend with whom she had a suicide pact with in high school. Kate chickedn out, but Maggie still went through with it, overdosed and died. Kate does feel guilty, because she backed out at the last second and she had to live with the fact that her best friend had died and she remained. This causes her to become severely depressed, and I think adds a lot to the actions she takes. 

6. When goes Griff love Kate so much? What did you think of his actions toward her throughout the course of their marriage, and at the very end? Throughout the second half of the book, did you believe he killed her? Does he seem remorseful, or not? What do you think his future holds? Much like many of the men in her life, Griff was taken with her the moment they met. She was beautiful, came from a good family and though she manipulated many of the people she was with, this is often overlooked because of how she made the men in her life feel. For much of the book, I beleived that he was innocent, though he did have many motives to end her life. It wasn’t until the end that I realized it really was him, and that he ran because he was afraid he’d get caught and arrested for her murder.  

7. The three roommates wind up in three very different marriages to three very different men. Were the problems in these marriages reflection of the women’s innate character flaws? Were they inevitable? If you had to pick one of the three men to be married to - Griff, Ethan or Tim - which would you pick? I’d pick Tim. He’s the most grounded of them all, and he has spent his entire life in the dark about what happened to his cousin, despite him being there. His injury left him unable to remember, and the people in his life failed him by not telling him the truth. I could never marry Griff, as he sounds just as bad as Kate in many instances and Ethan is a known cheater and liar. No thank you. 

8. Which of the three roommates did you like the best? Which would you most like to have as a friend? Which is most like you - are you a Kate, an Aubrey or a Jenny, or some combination of the three? Honestly, I didn’t like any of them. Aubrey was annoying from the beginning. She was a poor girl given the chance to make things right in her life, but still chose to flourish in the spotlight of someone else instead of forging her own path. Jenny tried to be a good friend, and she was probably the most likeable character of them all, but something about her angered me too. She seemed super ungrateful a lot of the time. As for Kate, she was just a bitchy character from the very beginning. Her choices of using people to get what she wanted were downright disgusting, albeit right for someone of her well-off means. I’m not like any of these people: I’m in a healthy marriage with two wonderful kids, I don’t manipulate the people around me to get what I want, and I don’t let people walk over me like a doormat either. 

[yarnreader]

2020 (1/1/20)

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.- Edith Lovejoy Pierce Happy New Year, everyone! I hope 2019 has treated you well. It was definitely full of highs, and a couple of lows, for myself. I had three new babies born in my life! Two goddaughters and a new cousin, they are so loved and spoiled already. I found a new job that I really love. I got my anxiety and depression under control, finally! And Jordan and I are happy and healthy. There have been some scary medical things in my family, my great uncle has been diagnosed with cancer before Thanksgiving. That has been tough to deal with from this far away. I, myself, had surgery at the end of August. My doctor removed a lot of endometriosis from my left fallopian tube and found that my right tube had spillage, which means that it is open. I've been doing great after the surgery, but still no luck with conceiving and for the time being, we decided to put TTC on hold for a bit. We are going to start the long process of house hunting this year and to save on some stress (and money), we decided to wait a little longer. I have become more self-aware and self-confident this past year. I've learned more about my body this year than any other time in my life and I'm learning how to handle certain things that I'm not too fond of. I've always been one to find something that I don't like about myself and would worry over that thing until I made myself crazy. But now, I feel like I'm handling things differently and coming to terms with the way I am. I do have a few main goals for the year itself that I don't want to share here due to it being more personal things. But I've been giving myself some small goals each month to focus on. This month's being; finish three books and six projects, practice more self-care, and to cut sodas out of my diet. I've done great with cutting out energy drinks, more specifically Red Bulls, last month. I haven't had one since around Thanksgiving. And my goal is just to get my body off these things for a month and then only have them as a once in a while treat. I have had a bad habit of drinking Red Bull and sodas quite a few times a week and I always felt a little sick afterward, so I really need to make some changes. My crafting goals are pretty simple this year. I want to get back into cross-stitching. I want to finish knitting the patterns I like from The Unofficial Harry Potter Knits magazine. I also want to keep up with podcasting and get back into blogging again. Nothing major, so I think I can stick with them. What are some of your goals/plans for the new year? Please let me know in the comments below! Also, if you are interested in what I'm up to day-to-day you can find me on Instagram! Happy 2020! I hope this year is a great one for you all.

[creativeashproductions]

If I Stay Part One // Luke Patterson

Summary: A beautiful day Luke visits a record store to relive the times he would buy an album, but he finds more than memories. He meets you and a connection blossoms between you two and then Reggie and Alex as well. All is well until Julie discovers something.

Warning: Swearing, talk of death and car accident!

Words: 2.6k

A/N: This is based off the movie If I Stay and the movie Charlie St. Cloud. Sorry for not posting sooner, my sister in law along with my three nieces were in a car accident. Thankfully the kids are okay but my sister-in-law in currently in hospital due to minor injuries thus far.

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Masterlist

So, Julie’s life changed dramatically in the lost year and few months, firstly her family lost their mother. Secondly, Julie’s love for music faded until the melody and lyrics were haunting memories. Thirdly, after losing her place in the music program, she had to question her sanity. For in her garage lived three teenage ghosts to her disbelief and horror quite frankly; the ghosts grew on her so much she was in a band with them.

In the hours that Julie was attending school, the boys tended to tour the entire city. They enjoyed seeing the changes that had happened for the two and a half decades. Reggie really enjoyed the western-themed stores, even scaring a little girl with a floating cowboy hat that disappeared once on his head. Alex adored learning about the drastic changes within in the LGBTQ+ community, he had plans for when 2021 LA Pride came in June. Luke, of course, would go anywhere that had music such as music stores, record stores, concert venues and even followed a rock legend once.

“Ooh.” A voice spoke in the record store, “This would be the perfect gift.”

Luke turned to see you gazing at the Rock N’ Roll records with a passion in your eyes and an adorable smile that melted his heart. He couldn’t help but walk closer even if he had no clue if you could see him or not.

“Def Leppard? Definitely one of my favourite bands.” Luke spoke anticipating the usual one-sided conversation. His speculation shattered when you turned to face him with big eyes, “You can see me.”

You nodded your head, pushing your hands into your faded blue jeans glancing around the store, hoping the owner didn’t notice. To your relief the man was oblivious, Luke glanced over before stepping closer.

 “You’re alive?”

“Mhm.” You spoke, removing a single hand to play with your burgundy jacket that cinched at the waist to give form. It was open to reveal a plain black shirt that left an inch of your midsection free, “I always wondered if ghosts were real. I got my answer.”

“This is so cool! My friend is the only person that can see my friends and me.” The grin was breathtaking on the teenage ghost. There was a connection between the two that was immediate and intense.

“At least you’re not alone.” You supplied turning to pick up the record, turning it around to read the tracklist. In the end, you decided you didn’t feel like buying it, replacing it you started for the front door.

A college-aged person walked in glued to the screen of the phone not replying as you mentioned a thank you before the door closed. Luke rushed to follow your steady pace in black hiking boots.

“Where are you going?” Luke questioned coming to the same stride as the girl that had taken his attention quickly. His interest had grown when he found he could hold a conversation with her.

“It’s a nice day. I thought I would go for a walk.” You replied, stopping to look around the street with curious eyes. Luke yearned for those eyes to look in his again because he swore he saw a galaxy in them, “Would you like to join me?”

Luke’s head was nodding in response with a new pep in his step as you walked down the street filled with all different kind of stores. Luke recognized Family Living Grocery store as the one that the Molina got their groceries, he and the guys had joined Julie on a trip once. It was one of his worst memories as a ghost, surrounded by snacks and food he couldn’t indulge in.

“So, what’s your story, Caspar?” You questioned stopping to look as at a beautiful dollhouse, “My cousin had one. We actually renovated it a while back for her unborn niece.”

“Caspar?” Luke teased, watching the nostalgia faded from your expression as you continued on the walk. His hazel eyes, greener at the moment, glittered at the different banter he had with you than the guys or Julie.

“Well, I don’t know your name!” You exclaimed turning the corner at a parlour with gorgeous stencilled artwork on the glass.

“Luke. My name is Luke. Hey! I know this shop!” Luke beamed, stepping back to take in the storefront. In the twenty-five years since he last saw it, the blue faded into a teal, but the door was still the same as it always was.

“You have a tattoo?” You asked, scanning his arms bare in the cut off shirt he wore. You couldn’t see any ink on his skin. Luke couldn’t help the smirk on his face at the blatant heated gaze.

“No. It was 1994. We just played our biggest gig at the time, and Bobby decided we should get tattoos.” Luke’s mouth twisted at the mention of his former friend, “Of course we were sixteen and Alex just about fainted in the shop. The guy took one look at Reggie and laughed at our fake IDs. Told us to come back in a few years.”

One of the few memories that weren’t tainted by the betrayal that Trevor Wilson had gone on to do a year after the tattoo fiasco. It was more than not being credited or his songs being stolen, but it was also that someone he wholeheartedly trusted turned his back on them. Luke frankly didn’t care how Bobby coped after that fateful night. Still, he changed his name and refused any mention of his previous music experience. That hurt a lot.

“So, you’re a ’90s kid.” You raised an eyebrow coming to a stop on the edge of the street, pressing the button to cross.

“Technically a ’70s kid. We died in ’95 a few hours before a life-changing gig.” The mood turned sombre as Luke thought back on that one night that life decided to raise both middle fingers at his dreams, “Death by a hot dog.”

The snicker fell from your mouth before you do anything about it but sobered up quickly in the view of his painful admittance.

“So, you’re seventeen?” You asked crossing when the crosswalk light flickered on. Your attention focused on crossing while listening to the teenager.

“Forever seventeen but I would eighteen physically, but if I had survived I would be forty-three.” Luke mused shoving his hands into his staple black jeans with the chains and his constant accessory of a blue rabbit’s foot.

“Oh, damn. I’ve seventeen as well.” You replied dodging pedestrians before humming a to a song you had heard recently but where you did was unknown. You didn’t want to bump into anyone.

Luke glanced down at his watch, somehow even in death it worked, noticing that it was around the time rehearsal would commence. The thought barely ended before a flash of light preceded Alex’s presence. You slightly jumped in response.

“Luke! Julie’s wondering where you are. We have rehearsal.” Alex was surprised that Luke wasn’t already at the studio. He was always the first one holding his guitar for the rest of them.

One glance at the girl beside Luke cemented a reason for his tardiness. Alex could see that you were the reason and a pretty reason too. Alex wished he had your jacket with such a beautiful colour, but the music was more important.

“Oh, man!” Luke panicked fearing that being late would cause Julie to leave the band after the whole school dance fiasco.

“So, Luke. I like your name by the way. I’m Y/N.” You greeted holding back from offering you a hand, your theory would have been proven correct. Ghosts can’t touch other people, all the movies portrayed that.

“Nice to meet you! I’ll find you soon!” Luke shouted seconds before Alex poofed them both away with a single hand on his bandmate’s shoulder.

A content smile appeared before you continued on your way, unaware of the lack of acknowledgement from people on the street.

The next few days, Luke would find you either in the record store or just out front during his free time. He hadn’t realized how lonely he was touring the music entertainment spots until he had your company. Soon you were joined by Alex and Reggie every once in a while.

The three were planning outings with their new lifer friend as Julie grabbed her songbook from her room. She was amused when the three wouldn’t shut up.

“What are you planning?” Julie questioned scanning their animated expressions, even taking in the slight change in Alex’s appearance.

Alex had a braided bracelet of the rainbow on his left wrist that definitely hadn’t been there yesterday. He even seemed calmer and less anxious, as well.

“What happened to Alex?” Julie questioned with a small smirk, “Did you bump into Willie?”

Alex shook his head, “No, Luke met this girl at a record store and then Reggie and I met her. She’s cool! There’s this app she showed us, and it had videos of anything you could imagine!”

Julie’s teasing smile faltered at the mention of Luke meeting someone before it returned once more. She pushed the feeling away as this girl had brought peace to the drummer.

“What’s her name?” Julie asked, pushing the songbook away to listen intently to the new piece of the boys’ afterlife. The three burst into stories of the girl.

“She took me to this cool place nearby where people store their horses!” Reggie burst out, clapping his head, “I already have a country song started! This is so a hit single for our future country album!”

Alex only released an exasperated sigh at Reggie’s idea that he voiced every single day since the beginning of the band. Luke was just used to finding sheets of songs from Reggie around the studio and often his songbook too.

“She also brought me a bag of clothing she had in her house that she let me go through. Apparently, her house is the place where cousins take their old clothing.” Alex supplied striking a pose in his new white sweater with a rainbow logo on the front.

Julie grinned at the positivity radiating off the two boys.

“Is she a ghost?”

Luke shook his head, “No. She’s alive.”

A spark of happiness flits itself inside of Julie before it dissipated because Flynn had already gently let the girl down about Luke.

“What’s her name! I’m gonna find her Instagram!” Julie took out her phone waiting as Alex supplied her the name. Her thumbs froze before she could type staring down at the black screen.

The name was familiar.

Laying on a bed on San Pablo Street was a girl with her eyes closed and a serene expression. This bed wasn’t just any bed in a home. Instead, this bed was one no one wished to be in. A bed with machines surrounding and right in the middle of those machines was Y/N.

The very girl that had met Luke, Reggie and Alex were in fact in the ICU of a hospital recovering in a coma.

“Why do you look like that?” Luke demanded as the colour drained from the lead singer of their band.

“Are you sure it was Y/N Y/L/N?” Julie gulped dread filling her veins as each boy nodded their head and the girl slumped, “I go to school with her. The thing is she’s been in a coma for two weeks now.”

You were outside the record store once more as the three ghosts appeared in front of you each looking the worst you had ever seen them.

“Did you lie?” Luke questioned stepping closer to the teenage girl that furrowed her brows in confusion, “You said that you are alive. Why did you lie?”

“Lie?” You asked, taking a step back from the odd energy the boys had. A look of distraught on each face, “What are you talking about?”

“Why are you here every day at this exact time. Never late, never early.” Alex questioned sick to his stomach as your brows came together.

“I- walk…” You trailed off thinking of the last week in deep thought paling as you had no recollection of going home or getting to the store. It was like you blacked out each time.

Actually, the last time you remember not being with the guys or at the store was two weeks ago.

“I don’t re…member.” You whispered, “I haven’t seen my family since…oh my god.”

Luke stepped closer, terrified as he reached out, hoping with his entire being his hand would go through you. It didn’t. Luke’s hand rested on your arm, still wearing that burgundy jacket. Your eyes flickered between his solid hand and the same outfit you wore for weeks now. Why would you be wearing a jacket and hiking boots in Los Angeles?

“My cousin had been saving up for a trip for her eighteenth birthday. She wanted to go skiing, so we split the cost between our families.”

As if a wall broke, you realized with horror that the college boy that hadn’t held the for you like you first thought. He hadn’t seen or heard you because in his world you weren’t there. No one had acknowledged you because they couldn’t see you just like they couldn’t see Luke.

“What else do you remember?” Reggie spoke up next, noticing that Luke was getting more upset. His eyes going so light the green appeared to be blue and glittered with tears and his heart dropping.

“My parents, my cousin and I were driving up the mountain in the rented car. There-“

Two Weeks Ago

Your head leaned again Lou’s head sharing the headphones connected to your phone blasting the carefully curated playlist. Lou had been living with your parents and you the last six months as her parents were travelling for work. It was a dream because she was like a sister already and vice versa; Lou as a surprise baby with her older sister being ten years older.

“We haven’t been to the slopes since we first got married.” Dad said glancing over at your mother in the passenger seat, “Didn’t we conceive-“

“Dad! Gross!” You shouted, wrinkling your nose as he glanced in the rear-view mirror to smile at your antics. Your mother’s laugh was probably one of your most favourite sounds in the world, it was warm like hot chocolate on a cold day.

“Did you see that video of the hologram band?” Lou asked, not paying attention to your family’s antics, “It’s super cool.”

“We still have half of our playlist to go through. You should show me when we get to the cabin.” You replied, “We could put it on the projector with the others.”

The others being your extended family, including the surprise of Lou’s parents. Your mother pointed out the snow on the mountain gaining everyone’s attention. It was beautiful compared to sunny Los Angeles.

Lou’s thumb was just about to click the video of Julie and the Phantoms against your wishes. You felt the fear before the yell, snapping your head up you watched as a pickup truck hit ice swerving into your lane. The screech of tires preceded the crunch of the vehicles hitting each other. Throughout the surrounding area, the echoes of the crash bounced off the mountains scaring birds away. Miraculously Lou’s phone survived the crash and played the electric video of ‘Edge of Great’ by Julie and the Phantoms. A song you would hum under your breath during your walks meeting the guys.

The snow turned red under four of five bodies. You lay nonconscious a stark difference in the burgundy jacket and black shirt you had painstakingly chosen that morning.

If I Stay Part Two (Final)

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[legends-live-in-memories]

“How Did All This Happen?”- A Memoire by one Marinette Dupain-Cheng 1

Soooooo I decided to write this. much longer than the other things i posted, also very tonally different. I will definitely continue that other fic tho. I was just brainstorming and now this exists. Yeah.

 without further ado

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8

People Fucked Up and Now It’s All Marinette’s Mess to Clean Up I

This was not how Marinette planned for her night to go. Granted, she also could not envision it going literally any other way. The woes of making a deal with the hell-raiser himself, John Constantine, she supposes. She truly hoped Adrien was having a much better time than her with his cousin in London. After the circus that was the past three years, he deserved some reprieve, even if it was with his bratty doppelganger. Regardless, Marinette. Was. Not. Pleased. No matter how many times she thinks over her plan, recalculates every step and decision, she could not fathom this night ending well for her, or anyone really, but mostly her. And no amount of old Ladybug or Guardian luck could help her. Now, if one were to wonder what kind of tragedy had befallen Marinette on this disgraceful night, a brief history of the last three months could enlighten such a person. Or better yet, let’s start at the beginning. The Real Beginning.

So, things existed. Obviously. First there was nothing, and then, something. And as more things began to exist, as new schools of knowledge and concepts and ideas began to, well, exist, Kwamis formed as well. Each Kwami was the physical manifestation of these ideas or abstracts. Creation was the first, coupled with Destruction. And as more things began to exist, more things began needing to be protected. Thus, the Kwami of Protection. This went on. For a while. Soon thereafter there were Kwamis of all types. Jubilation, Time, Strength, etc, etc, and etc. Now these Kwamis did not linger in one spot. They roamed across the far stretches of existence and interacted with the life they found.

Some Kwamis decided to form a magical pact which intergalactic historians would later dub the Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum. Sounds familiar? The Kwamis themselves were completely blissfully unaware of this title, lest they would have explained to these beings, Maltusians they were called, that they were not in fact, electromagnetic but more so a part of the Powers that Be. Kind of. But this side-story involves the formation of a few universally known Lantern Corps, and that is a barrel of monkeys our exasperated narrator does not want to touch with a ten-foot pole. Or ever.

Other Kwamis, who stuck close to what would become known as the Milky Way, were discovered by a mage who granted them the ability to interact with humans. This mage— and Marinette was silently cursing his descendants, herself included, for if it weren’t for this absolute mad lad, none of the subsequent events of this night would have transcribed—had bound the Kwamis to magical jewelry called Miraculouses. An interesting side effect of these Kwamis being bound to the miraculouses was that the wearer could call upon the powers of the Kwamis for their own usage. The mage feared what could become of the world if this kind of power became so easily accessible, so he created the Order of the Guardians. The Order was dedicated to training young mages to protect, wield and harvest the powers of the miraculouses. The Order swore to true neutrality; wishing not to impose their will on one side or the other, to maintain balance and to not upset the natural order of the world. 

This went surprisingly well for a few millennia, that is, of course, if you ignore the sinking of Atlantis, the extinction of the dinosaurs, the Black Plague, the creation of the Lazarus Pits, Pompeii, to name a few completely egregious instances—not necessarily in order of course—and well, the point stands that it could have been astronomically worse. Until it was.  

One young mage and Guardian in training had caused the downfall of almost the entire Order of the Guardians. All the centuries of history, teachings, artifacts and even the people at the head temple, were lost to the calamity. Dozens of Miraculous Boxes were lost, destroyed in the fray. The Kwamis themselves were relatively unaffected, being immortal and all, but the magical jewelry binding them to the earth were broken, thus those Kwamis were lost to mankind once again. Only one singular box, and the young mage himself, survived. The new Guardian of one miraculous box was left to scour the earth in solitude. Well, about as much solitude one could have with 17 pocket gods as company. The fact that the only box that survived was missing two more miraculouses caused the already stressed guardian to grey further. But that tidbit of information would be a problem for later. And for someone else entirely too. Oh joy.

But before that sequence of events, aptly named “Marinette’s Trial by Fire,” however, the young guardian had a couple more life mistakes to make before he reached his internal quota apparently. Rather than travel to another sector of the Order on the other side of the earth, this young mage stumbled upon another organization, one similar in architecture and hierarchy but a pendulum swing in the total moral opposite. Yes, that’s right, the guardian found himself upon the League of Shadows, led by Ra’s Al Ghul in his endeavor of global cleansing; by acts of ecoterrorism, but who sweats the small stuff, right? There, the young guardian, who adopted the name of Wang Fu, met his first love Ming Hong and they had a son. The son had a daughter he named Mei. Now Mei was only a few weeks younger than Ra’s Al Ghul’s grandson, Damian. Now with an appropriate heir, and someone to procreate with said heir, Ra’s Al Ghul gained a special interest in the small Fu family that originally flew under the radar of the League. 

Now this is where things continue to go downhill, but not until much, much later in this story. Ra’s Al Ghul, despite his radical ambitions, was particularly good at playing the long game and understood when he couldn’t accomplish a task directly. This being said, he recognized that, due to prolonged exposure to the Lazarus Pits, his soul could not bear the strain of being a wielder of a miraculous and so he waited. Waited until a suitable heir was sired and could copulate with an heir to the guardian of the miraculous box, desiring to create a bloodline of genetically suitable successors and wielders who were loyal to him and his cause. 

Ra’s ordered for the Fu family to have a place on his court and ordered for Mei Fu to be trained in mastering the secrets of the miraculous. And master she did. By age 6 she was fluent in the coded language of the magical text, or as fluent a 6 year old can be in any language, and she had mastered 7 out the 17 miraculouses. By age 10 she was as skilled as the grandson of the Demon Head in combat and could handle simultaneous wear of 3 miraculouses. Her training, however, had to be put on hold as somebody thought usurping the Demon Head was of the utmost importance that glorious Tuesday and staged a coup. She wished Deathstroke had lost more than an eye that day, but a girl can dream she supposes. Mei and her grandfather were separated from the rest of the League and journeyed west. Somehow they ended up in Paris, France. After one too many run ins with the authorities, Mei was removed from her grandfather, who was deemed too unfit to support her. It was a miracle he wasn’t deported. 

Mei was put into protective custody where she resided until she was 13. Recently adopted, and thoroughly done with the plebeians of her daily encounters, Mei Fu became Marinette Dupain-Cheng, daughter of the best bakers in Paris. All was well and good for the new Dupain-Cheng until the start of the new school year. 

She met her grandfather again. And apparently he had a job for her and her soon to be new partner.

Hawkmoth, that bitch, had somehow acquired the two last surviving miraculouses and the only surviving grimoire and thought domestic terrorism was on the agenda for the next few years. Why? Because investing in a family therapist was too much of an inconvenience for local recluse, Gabriel McFucking Agreste, Marinette would shortly learn. 

After dealing with all of that and juggling between her reignited guardian training, and ‘normal’ girl life—because her parents don’t know that she’s a magical girl in the making—, Marinette was ready to sleep for a thousand years. Or commit murder. Whichever gave her enough serotonin to complete her current passion project. But, alas, no rest for the totally-over-it or however that saying goes. Because after declaring Paris safe once again, sending off her brother-in-arms, Adrien Agreste, to family in London (marginally decent but anything beats the abusive prick of a sperm donor), in waltz one drunken John Constantine.

Ah yes. Him. That absolute bastard who doesn’t deserve nice things in life. That guy.

This unpleasantry approached Master Fu and Marinette, who has been regulated to errand-girl in lieu of training, with a job that he proclaimed that only one blessed with magic, and specifically NOT connected to the Justice League could accomplish. Apparently, a group called the Cult of the Kobra resided on Santa Prisca and was in possession of a dangerous magical artifact that had been the backbone of their organization for years. Constantine came to them asking them for assistance in retrieving it as the Justice League could not interfere in the Caribbean due to new UN legislation. It was a mission of utmost urgency for he feared the cult leader, Kobra himself, was planning on enacting a ritual that could bring calamity to Earth. Which is just what the doctor ordered. Not. In exchange, he agreed to add to her magical training as while master Fu was good, he was still young when he ran away from his problems the first time and thus was limited in his magical knowledge.

That was three months ago. Three months of planning, training, and convincing her parents that letting her go on an extended retreat for an undetermined amount of time with her mostly absent biological grandfather was totally reasonable for the seventeen year old to do. Like, come on. She’s almost old enough to drink, almost ready for university and has been praised for her independence and self-sufficiency for years. She’ll be fine is what she told her parents and she was almost able to convince herself of that too. She would be perfectly fine. Right?

Wrong.

Marinette was anything but fine. She was stressed, she was tired and she was abso-fucking-lutely pissed at anything that even breathed in her direction. Why? Well that brings us back to the beginning of the story when everything on this mission did not go according to plan. So here she was along what was once upon a time the eastern coastline of Santa Prisca. Oh and look. The Junior Justice League has arrived.

Purrrrfect. 

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[fangirlandiknowit101]

Here's the sad pining sasuke i wrote last night... it's not finished and who knows when/if i'll finish it. university AU, not edited and there's some naru//hina and sasuke//OC bc i couldn't think of a canon character that fit. The texting part is also weird bc i wrote it all very fast lol. i'm sharing bc why not *shrugs*

xxx

It hurts, to look at them.

Sasuke can’t help himself. Naruto is his best friend, after all, and he’s not yet so desperate that he’ll avoid him. It’s worse, somehow, that he can’t even dislike her.

She’s good for him, he thinks, when he’s feeling particularly self-deprecating. Her hair is dark and her skin pale as porcelain, and that’s where the similarities end between him and Hinata.

Sweet, and so patient with Naruto. Soft-spoken, but not a pushover. Impeccably dressed, always, no make-up needed to outshine any girl beside her. A picture perfect couple, that’s what they are. It wouldn’t be so bad if he didn’t have to watch it unfold from the front row.

How her shyness turned to surety, how her eyes would catch on Naruto and look away before, but now – now she looks at him like he belongs to her, soft smile on her plump lips.

Sasuke can’t even hate her, and he wishes he could.

It’s not her fault that Sasuke is the way he is. She doesn’t know, isn’t doing it on purpose. And yet, there’s a stab to Sasuke’s chest every time she takes his hand, every time Naruto tucks her silky hair behind her perfect ear.

Naruto will kiss her cheek and Sasuke will be looking, always looking. His face devoid of emotion, his voice carefully neutral. He can’t be mean to Naruto’s girlfriend, though he wishes he could. Maybe if Naruto got mad at him and pushed him away, Sasuke would be free to move on.

It’s more likely that Sasuke would apologize and do better, and he’d rather spare himself the embarrassment.

Sometimes he imagines that Hinata will find out, that she’ll start treating him with suspicion, watch his every move with her wide eyes. Feel threatened by him. But Sasuke is no threat. He’s tired and hurting, but he’s not a homewrecker. It would be a lot easier if Naruto didn’t keep nudging him in Sakura’s direction.

It’s not Sakura’s fault, either. She’s dreaming of something she can’t have, and the similarities make him sick to his stomach.

Sometimes he thinks he’ll date her, live the lie to the fullest. Give her what she wants, since he’s doomed anyway. He doubts he’d last long, though. If he had even the slightest bit of interest in women – but when he looks at her, there’s just no attraction. He’s not sure how no one’s noticed yet. It’s not like he’s that good of an actor. He thinks the only reason no one’s figured it out is because he’s so deep in the closet, and they’re all so heterosexual. Why would they suspect he’s gay? It suits them better if he isn’t.

“Oh, I didn’t realize it was that late already,” Sakura says beside him, breaking him out of his thoughts.

The bar is lively around them, but the music is at a bearable noise level. She’s looking at her phone, frowning. On the other side of the small table, Naruto pouts.

“It’s not late!” he objects, the beer in his glass sloshing around as he waves his hands around. “We just got here!”

“We’ve been here for three hours, I think,” Hinata says, leaning her cheek on his shoulder.

Sasuke wonders how she manages, the way he moves around so much. Perhaps her body is as soft as her voice, easily following him.

“I told you I have to get up early tomorrow.” Sakura sighs, irritated. She fishes her bag up from the floor, putting her phone inside it. “I really have to get going.”

“I’ll walk you to the station,” Sasuke offers. Not because he particularly wants to, but he’s not in the mood to subject himself to third-wheeling Naruto and Hinata. “I should get going, anyway.”

“What?” Naruto looks disappointed, more disappointed than when Sakura announced her departure. “I thought you were free tomorrow.”

Rolling his eyes, Sasuke swallows down the last of his drink.

“Doesn’t mean I want to stay up all night,” he counters with, easing out of the booth. “I still have to study.”

“You study too much,” Naruto mutters, giving Hinata a smile like an afterthought when she squeezes his arm.

“Maybe if you studied at all you wouldn’t need to panic before every exam,” Sakura nags at him, coming around the table to wait next to Sasuke. “Some of us care about our grades.”

“Nerds.” At least Naruto looks a little happier, and Sasuke hates to think that it’s because he thinks anything’s going to happen between him and Sakura. “Don’t get lost, you two!”

They say their goodbyes, and Sasuke tries to pretend he doesn’t notice how Sakura’s cheeks fill with color when they step outside the bar. She’s put a jacket on, but Sasuke’s fine in his sweater. It’s not cold enough that her blush can be blamed on the weather.

“Thanks for walking me,” she says, hefting her bag higher up her shoulder. She’d joined them straight from the library, researching her latest paper. “You didn’t have to.”

“It’s fine,” he tells her, hands tucked into his sleeves.

He doesn’t want to run the risk of her attempting to reach for his hand. As much as he dislikes her attention, it’s safer if she thinks he’s just playing hard to get. He won’t have to explain, then, why he hasn’t outright told her to give up. He should, he knows. But Naruto would just nudge him towards some other girl, would bother him about it until Sasuke started going on actual dates. It’s touching, how worried he is over Sasuke potentially being lonely.

Too bad Naruto himself is the cause of it.

“You’re not doing anything tomorrow, then?” Sakura asks, stepping aside as they meet a group of half-drunk businessmen. “I’m working until five…”

It would be so easy to invite her out. To suggest a movie, or trying out that new café near campus. To watch her eyes light up with hope, watch her mouth stretch into an excited smile.

“I really do need to study,” he says. “And I’m almost out of clean clothes.”

None of it is a lie, technically. He’s just not sure he’ll actually do either of those things tomorrow.

“Oh.”

She tries to hide her disappointment, and Sasuke is an expert by now at pretending he doesn’t notice. They walk the rest of the way in silence, waving a quick goodbye at the ticket gates as Sakura’s train is due to arrive in just two minutes. Sasuke buys a drink from a vending machine and takes small sips as he waits for his own, mindlessly scrolling through social media. He almost ignores the text Naruto sends.

> Wanna hang out tomorrow?

He contemplates it. On the one hand, yes, of course he wants to. On the other, having an entire day to himself has its appeal.

> I’ll be busy

> Ooh, with sakura?

The train arrives, and Sasuke snags a seat next to a couple too caught up with each other to pay attention to him.

> No

> Got studying and laundry to do

The reply is instant.

> That’s too boring!!! I’m coming over for lunch

> Whatever

He pockets his phone, and stares down at the bottle in his hands for the rest of the trip. It doesn’t help against the warmth rising in his chest. At least he doesn’t do this to Sakura – doesn’t invite himself into her space, ignorant of her feelings. It doesn’t make him feel better.

xxx

Sasuke doesn’t have a lot of friends. He’s got Naruto, and then there’s his small group of friends from high school. Naruto is the only one who still lives nearby. Rather, Sasuke had ended up staying in Konoha like him. It’s a big enough city that most of his classmates are strangers, although slightly less so in their second year. He stayed with his parents for his first year, but when one of his cousins moved abroad for work he took the opportunity to stay at her apartment instead. It’s closer to his university, and if he, potentially, wanted to bring a guy home then no one would know.

He doesn’t think his parents would mind, but there wouldn’t be any privacy. He relishes in it, and Naruto does, too.

“I should just move in with you,” Naruto groans, spread out on his couch. “You wouldn’t believe how annoying my mom was this morning.”

“I think I can believe it,” Sasuke tells him, cleaning up after their lunch. “And just to be clear, I’ve never said you’d be welcome to live here.”

“Stingy,” Naruto grumbles. “How long is your cousin gone, anyway?”

Shrugging, Sasuke dries off the counter just for something to do with his hands.

“A year at least. We’ll see. So it’s not like I’ll be living here forever.”

“But still!”

“Where would you even sleep?”

Naruto happily pats the couch. When Sasuke scowls at him, he simply grins.

“Come on,” Naruto says. “I want to watch a movie.”

“I wasn’t lying when I said I need to study.”

Still, he gives in too easily. Naruto lifts his legs to give him room, dumping them all over Sasuke’s lap once he sits down. It’s things like this that makes Sasuke’s heart refuse to give up. He leans his elbow on the back of the couch, cheekbone pressed to his closed fist. He doesn’t say anything when Naruto picks a drama at random, letting him comment on the plot as much as he wants. Watching movies with Naruto is certainly never quiet, and he winces as Naruto kicks his legs as he shouts his anger at the main character.

When the movie ends, Naruto doesn’t start a new one. Instead he chews on his bottom lip, playing with the remote. Sasuke considers getting up to use the toilet, maybe suggesting going to the corner store for snacks, but then Naruto clears his throat suspiciously.

“What?” he asks, irritated when Naruto takes his time.

“So, how are things going with Sakura?”

He resists the urge to pinch his nose. He still lets out a heavy breath, not quite a sigh but close enough that Naruto frowns.

“I mean,” Naruto continues, “you could just ask her out. She’s definitely going to say yes.”

Sasuke shifts, uncomfortable. Naruto’s legs are still on top of his. His socks have little frogs on them.

“I’ve told you I’m not really into the idea of a relationship right now.”

“Uh-huh.” Naruto rolls his eyes, pushing himself up and finally removing his legs, crossing them at the ankles instead. “Sounds like excuses to me.”

“Just drop it, Naruto.”

“But if you get together things will be so much easier,” Naruto insists, poking at his arm. “We can go on double dates, and stuff.”

Sending him a glare, Sasuke pulls a leg up to his chest. It won’t prevent Naruto if he decides to get comfy on his lap again, but it might make him think twice at least. Naruto’s only wearing shorts, and all that naked skin isn’t good for his heart. It’s definitely too cold for it, but Naruto’s never been one to care about the weather.

“We already go places together.”

“Yeah, but it’s not the same!”

Sasuke pinches his lips, looking away. If he’s not careful, those large blue eyes will convince him to cave in, and then he’ll find himself with a girlfriend. He does a lot for Naruto, but there are limits.

“I’m not going to ask her out,” he mutters, knowing it will only lead to more questioning.

Sure enough, Naruto makes a noise of protest.

“But you haven’t rejected her either!”

“She hasn’t asked me out either.”

“It’s obvious she likes you.”

“That’s her problem.”

Naruto kicks at his thigh, using his heel. He looks properly annoyed now, as if Sasuke is a petulant child, refusing to do what’s best for him.

“If you got over yourself for a minute, you’d realize what a catch she is!”

He doesn’t reply. Let Naruto think he’s just stubborn, or an asshole, or whatever. Let him think Sasuke’s just stringing her along, keeping her attention while refusing to commit. It’s better than the alternative.

“Leave it, Naruto,” he warns, getting up and moving to the kitchen. “We’re not talking about this.”

At least Naruto doesn’t follow him, though it doesn’t make much of a difference. The apartment is small, no wall separating the kitchen from the living room. He searches through his cabinets, locating a forgotten bag of wasabi peas. He throws them at Naruto’s head.

“Eat these and shut up,” he says.

To his relief, Naruto does as told.

xxx

He picks up the call from Karin half-distracted, mind still stuck on a question for tomorrow’s seminar. As usual, she doesn’t wait for him to say hi, making her wince with the volume of her voice.

“Do you have any idea how tiring it is to listen to Naruto whine about you?” she starts with, the background noise suggesting she’s outdoors. “Can’t you just tell him you’re gay and put me out of my misery.”

“No thanks.” He drops his pen on his desk, rubbing at his eyes. He regrets not going to the university library, at least then he wouldn’t have been able to pick up the call. “Was that all? I’m kind of busy.”

“You know, this is exactly why I moved away,” she continues, ignoring him. “I thought I could get away from all the high school-level drama. Just get yourself a boyfriend, and go on those stupid double dates my cousin is so desperately yearning for. How hard can it be?!”

He can feel a headache incoming, and he rubs his fingertips between his brows. Naruto had sulked for hours the day before, until Sasuke got sick of it and threw him out. It was definitely backhanded of him to call Karin and complain.

“If you really wanted to be left out of it, why are you calling me? That’s the opposite of not getting involved.”

“Because it’s really painful and I’m morally obligated as the only person with functional brain cells to tell you to move on. Juugo’s too nice to say it and Suigetsu would give you terrible advice and sit back and watch. I’m being nicer to you than you deserve.”

“By telling me to move on,” Sasuke deadpans, wondering why his parents couldn’t have settled down somewhere else.

“Well, someone has to do it! Clearly I’m the gay cousin in the family, so you’re screwed. Might as well get over it and get laid.”

“I really hate you sometimes, you know that?”

She huffs at him, traffic and broken conversations filtering through the phone. There’s the jingle of a shop’s door, and the noise cuts off.

“Your pining is just getting sad,” she eventually replies, distractedly. “Trust me, I know my cousin. He’s not worth it.”

Something unpleasant churns in Sasuke’s stomach. He wants to argue with her that he is worth it, but he doesn’t want to land himself in an hour-long lecture if he can help it. He rolls his neck, making a face. She’s got a point, but he doesn’t enjoy hearing it. His life would be a lot simpler if he could find someone who made him forget about Naruto. He’s just not sure it’s fair to expect someone to instantly replace a lifetime of friendship.

“I don’t think I should have to come out just because Naruto irritates you,” is what he says instead, leaning back in his chair. “What if my parents find out and disown me? You want to be responsible for that?”

“Sasuke,” she sighs, “your brother is literally gay and your parents love his boyfriend.”

“So?”

“Stop. Making. Excuses.”

He bites his cheek, holding back a denial. He’s not worried about his parents, he’s worried about Naruto’s reaction. That things will change between them. That he’ll think Sasuke has feelings for him, which would be correct but would also ruin absolutely everything.

“I’ll… consider it,” he concedes, after a long silence, during which Karin has finished buying whatever it was she needed.

“Really? Because I’m going to hold you to that.”

He sighs.

“Next time I’m not picking up when you call me.”

xxx

A few weeks pass, and not much changes. Naruto still takes up too much space in his head and life, Sakura continues to drop hints but refuses to make the first move, and Hinata is still as lovely as ever. She doesn’t seem to have much of a personality other than being Naruto’s girlfriend, but to be fair Sasuke hasn’t precisely paid attention or tried to get to know her. Naruto’s birthday is drawing closer, and he can’t bring himself to do anything to break the status quo before then.

He’s been considering it, though. It would be a relief to stop pretending. He can’t imagine himself finding a boyfriend, though, because where would he even meet someone? It’s too awkward to use a dating app, and he’s not precisely social. He doesn’t have any experience, either, if you don’t count those childish games they played sometimes when they were younger. And that one time Naruto kissed him by accident when they were twelve.

Because of this, he’s really not expecting it when one day in class, just as the lecture ends, his eyes fall on the messenger bag that the guy next to him has just finished packing. There’s a rainbow pin on it, and Sasuke blurts out his question before he can stop to think about it.

“Are you gay?”

He only lifts his eyes from the pin when the surprised silence stretches out a bit too long. Their eyes meet, and the other boy is staring at him like he’s not sure how to react.

“Uh,” he says eventually, fingers clenching around the bag’s strap. “I mean, yes? But if you’re thinking about the pin it’s just a regular rainbow…”

He trails off, and Sasuke feels his cheeks heat up a bit. He can’t believe he just asked, when he himself has gone to such lengths to make sure no one made such assumptions about him.

“Sorry,” he apologizes. “I shouldn’t have asked.”

“It’s fine.”

Maybe he should know the guy’s name, but he doesn’t. He’s pretty short, hair dyed a light brown and glasses perched on his nose. Cute, but Sasuke’s not sure he’s his type. He’s not sure he has a type, other than Naruto.

“Are you gay?” the guy asks him, eyebrows rising above the frame of his glasses.

Sasuke licks his lips. He could say no, but to what end?

“I am,” he forces out, breathing in a deep breath.

“Oh.” There’s red color blooming on the other boy’s face, his eyes flickering to the side for a moment. “I was kind of hoping, but, um… I mean, hoping sounds weird! Sorry, I just wasn’t expecting you to ask outright.”

When Sasuke stands up, he realizes he’s almost a head taller than him.

“I’m Sasuke,” he offers, clicking his laptop shut and slowly sliding it into his bag.

“I know. I mean! I’m Hiroshi. Nice to meet you.”

Sasuke nods, and awkwardly turns to leave. Hiroshi stops him with a hand to his arm, though, and Sasuke swallows nervously as the turns back. He’s not interested in Hiroshi, not really, but he’s never been asked out by a boy before and the novelty of the situation is getting to him.

“Do you, um, are you busy right now? We could have lunch?”

He weighs the pros and cons in his mind. As nervous as Hiroshi looks, there’s a determined glint in his eyes that sways Sasuke over.

“Okay,” he says, and just like that he’s doing what Karin told him to do.

He’s trying, at least.

xxx

Over the course of a week, including having coffee together and a visit to the aquarium, Sasuke learns a lot about Hiroshi. Or Hiro, as he likes his friends to call him. They don’t have too much in common, but they’re both gay and studying agricultural economics. Once Hiro gets over his initial shyness, Sasuke finds he’s got a great sense of humor and won’t hesitate to poke fun at him.

It’s a breath of relief, to spend time with someone who doesn’t know him from before. He didn’t realize how much he needed it – just being able to be himself, without constantly keeping himself in check.

He can’t fool himself to think it’s enough to replace Naruto, but maybe he doesn’t need to replace him. Maybe it’s enough that Hiro seems to like him. He doesn’t really think about it, when he invites Hiro over on a Saturday night, after they’d had dinner at a nice udon place.

“Oh, wow,” Hiro says as he steps into Sasuke’s apartment, making an impressed face. “Nice place.”

“It’s my cousin’s, so no need to sound so impressed.”

Hiro rolls his eyes, taking off his shoes and jacket and following Sasuke inside.

“Alright, I’ll try to keep it in,” he teases, sitting on the couch when Sasuke motions him towards it. “But it must be nice, to have your own place like this. The dorms are fine, but I can’t exactly bring guys there.”

Humming his agreement, Sasuke grabs two cans of soda from the fridge, handing one of them to Hiro when he sinks down on the couch next to him.

“Want to watch something?”

Hiro nods, and Sasuke brings the TV to life. He’s not expecting anything to happen – they’ve only known each other a week. He’s still coming to terms with having a friend other than Karin he can talk to like this, and she doesn’t really count since there was never the potential for anything to happen between them. Hiro is… potentially someone Sasuke could date. At least there’s nothing wrong with him, not yet, and Sasuke’s easing himself into the idea of getting to know him better.

He finds a movie at random, some sci-fi that doesn’t look terrible. The movie turns into background noise as they talk, Hiro’s eyes watching his face more than the screen. It’s nice, in a new, exhilarating way, to have a guy’s attention on him like this. He’s not sure what to do with it. When Hiro moves closer, knee touching Sasuke’s thigh, hand resting on the back of the couch and occasionally touching his neck, Sasuke can’t find it in him to move away.

It feels like a secret, shared between the two of them. He thinks of Naruto for a long moment, allows himself the pain lacing through his chest as he imagines light brown hair replaced with blond, dark eyes replaced with blue. Then, he pushes it away, tells himself he can have this. The emotions are only his own.

It’s all happening too fast when Hiro grows bold, leaning in to press their mouths together, but he doesn’t care. It’s no one’s business if he spends the evening on his couch with a boy in his lap, a boy who isn’t his best friend.

The pain is easier to swallow if he tells himself that he’s the only one hurt.

[cannibalcreeps]

Biggest Wetlen Post List

Here will be every post I made about the Wetlens from asks, art, random and info, it’s underneath simply due to how long it is. Since I know some of you are very new to the Wetlens I made sure to grab every post that is related to them so you are able to learn more about them 😘

Btw this thing is long enjoy going through it lol

The first post of Slough

Second post of Slough and first post of the twins

Sad Slough

Old post of Slough and Trevor (rip Trevor for being benched) 

First show of Cherri

First sneak peak of the family, my gosh we have go a long way

Slough WIP featuring Creeps

Three brothers WIP

Hog and Slough getting love

First HCs of Cherri

First WIP of the Twins

CherriXReader Lemon

First Slough HCs

Art of Wetlens meeting The Hilliker Brothers 

Anon asking Slough to be their wingman for Cherri art

First sketch of Uncle Edward (Haggon) with Jade and info

The first art of Velvet and Mourge, with Haggon (the parents hadn’t gotten names at this point)

First mention of a Wetlen’s cousin

The start of the Wetlen tree with names!

Anon being a big ass drooling SIMP for Cherri

First upgrade sketch of the Twins

Twin update art post

Simpin’ over Sloughs hairy tum and boobs

Finally the Wetlen Character info sheet ft. Cassy (sadly has spelling errors)

Cherri with his prosthetic on

Hog HCs info

Anon asking Cherri to eat them (poor Cherri looks strangely drawn here haha)

How the Wetlen’s would react to their s/o in Cowboy hat and lingerie 

Anon asking how deformed Lurfi’s kid would be

Anon asking where the Wetlen’s live

Anon imagining Lurfi with a daughter and Slough being a great uncle 

Anon ask where Mourge abd Velvet capable of talking

The reason behind the Wetlen siblings names

Who was smartest between Velvet and Mourge

Anon asking recovery of Velvet and Bonnies births

Anon about Hog and Lurfi being big babies

Pronouncing the Wetlen’s names

Slough is best boi

First vs. Last Wetlen siblings drawn together

Anon asking if the Wetlens only eat people

Anon feeling bad for Velvet (when they shouldn’t lol)

Why the Wetlens came out the way they are anon ask

Anon ask whose best at sex, Saw-Tooth or Mourge

How sadistic were Velvet and Mourge

Anon ask about which Wetlens are Mummy or Daddy parents as well as Cherri being a dad

Wetlen’s and their bad teeth

Anon ask if Siblings would keep the traditions

Can Edward/Haggon talk

What happened to Griff

Are Melma and Paupii alive (but we accidently called her Melmi)

Anon asking about the Twins and Mibbi not having kids

How the family reacted to Haggon/Edward going missing

Anon asking about how Griff became infertile

Anon asking how Velvet and Mourge became their parents faves

Where did Cherri get his prosthetic 

How the Wetlen’s eat their victims

Anon talking about Lurfi being a giant baby and having her own giant babies

Anon needs to remember Velvet deserves everything that happens to her UwU

Anon asking about how Wetlen’s would be with their kids around the victim cages

How long has Cherri been a camp groundskeeper

The Wetlens and sweets

Anon asking about Wetlen’s childrens first words and how the siblings would react

Cherri’s ideal spouse

Can the Wetlen’s read or write

The difficulty of the boys kissing with their teeth ask

Why Hog wont learn to read

The Wetlen’s and boardgames

Anon asking is Wetlens know where babies come from (they mean their Uncle Griff not Gill xD)

 Anon asking where Hog got his cute fancy vest

Hogs ideal spouse

The Wetlen’s do know their birthdays

Melma and Paupii did celebrate Christmas as well UwU

Anon asks if Melma and Paupi would protect their grandkids if they knew what Velvet and Mourge did to them 

Lurfi giving Mum vibes UwU

Anon saying Melma and Paupii sound like cat names

About Melma and Paupii’s marriage 

Anon asking about Griff and Ogie

Anon asking about if Mourge/Velvet and Bonnie/Griff had a wedding

Anon asking  about Melma and Paupii’s family

Cherri with his braids out

Anon saying Cherri’s hair looks like a mullet

First sketch of Adeline (Cherri’s kid)

Meme post of Cherri and Addie

Explaining Addie has Strawberry Nevus on her face

Anon asking what type of deformity the Wetlens have

Anon asking about how they get generators

Anon asking how Cherri mocks victims

Cherri is a thot destroyer 

How much of a whore is Cherri

Cherri getting dunked on by anon for not wearing condoms

Cherri still getting blasted for not wearing a rubber

Cherri’s first sexual encounter ever

Jokes about Cherri being shocked at being a dad

Continues to joke on Cherri, the first sign of Elizabeth’s name

Anon asking who chose Addie’s name

More jokes on Cherri

Anon asking bout Adeline’s height as she gets older

Will Liz live in the swamp or town?

Anon asking bout how Liz must be happy to have a small baby

Anon asking if Addie has a nose

What type of babies were the Wetlens

Anon asks if Mibbi is bitter at being small

Anon asks why Velvet and Mourge didn’t name their kids

Anon ask about the Wetlens choosing names for their kids

What Addie was like as a baby

Anon making cute scene of Slough

Lurfi HCs!

The Twins HCs

What the siblings do on their spare time

Sloughs ideal spouse

Jokes on Cherri and Addie 

Hog and Slough S/O being happy they’re pregnant ask

Ask about Cherri killing a creep camp counselor 

How Cherri is with a smol    and a petite S/O

Cherri having a stripper name lol

About Lurfi being a midwife

Joking of Cherri some more lol  more joking and more jokes yeh we clowning on him lol also the twins ain’t safe

How large is their swamp  yeh their swamp is big

Why Cherri’s hair like that?

Liz and Cherri’s ‘fun’ nights

First design hint of Liz

What if Cherri did have a bunch of kids running around somewhere?

How do shoes fit big bois Hog and Slough

Cherri adores Addie yes UwU

Why Melma and Paupii came out with extreme deformities 

No, Cherri did not learn his lesson about wearing condoms lol

Anon wondering if Melma and Paupii called their first children ‘baby girl/boy’

Melma and Paupii do have good tastes in names 

Addie and Cherri’s relationship

Do they have clean water?

First WIP of Elizabeth

Cherri is a dumbass yes UwU  and so is Liz, a bit

Would Cherri tell Addie about their family history?

Do the Wetlens stink?

Dunking on Cherri and Liz   Lurfi being brutal to Mibbi and the Twins     Lurfi just chucking Mibbi like a basketball

When Liz came to Cherri about her pregnancy (this info may change later tho)

How Cherri is with Addie

How I plan to tell their story, but again this may change in future UwU

Cherri and Velvet having stripper names   but don’t compare Cherri to his mummy

Jokes on you Cherri cant pay child support

They did burn money

Cherri’s hobby is sleeping

Jokes on Cherri’s parents   also no spoilers on what Cassy did to Cherry yet   also more about Cherri’s parents  poor Addie getting too much info now about her family   she will know no peace   Poor Liz dealing with this as well

Anon asking if Lurfi is a bookworm

Teasing Cherri and Addie   Liz picking on Cherri  just bullying Cherri now  Cherri just being clingy   

Paupii teasing the grandkiddies

Final art piece of Elizabeth

Do Cherri and Liz still hook up

Melma and Paupii thinking noseless Cherri is cute

Cherri is a concerning parent really   Cherri the sore loser   Cherri doesn’t know the word consequences   The twins getting told off  Cherri swore around Addie once lol   these siblings can fit a lot of trauma

How old is Liz

Were Melma and Paupii parents good grandparents

Who else has Mourge been with

What happens when Addie is used as a shield by a victim

Reaction of the Wetlen’s kids giving them flower crowns

Sneak peak of Melma and Paupii’s parents as well as names

Velvet does deserve what she gets UwU  though her poor kids being terrorized by her and mourge getting it on  Mourge and Velvet were vile

Where does Bonnie and her boys live?

What’s Ogie like   Is Ogie like his whore Cousin UwU

When Bonnie and Griff learn that the Wetlen’s killed their parents  Bonnie and Griff still about the Wetlen’s killing their parents

The Phillips meeting the Wetlens

Ideas about Mourge and Velvet’s final people/victims

Why does Mourge have the head scar

Info about Ogie

The Philips and the Wetlens  More about the Philips and the Wetlens  another joke on Phillips and Wetlens

More asks about Ogie

Where did Bonnie travel   Bonnie and Griff joke  How Liz and Cherri met joke

Do Ogie and his parents stink

Do Bonnie and Griff move around in their swamp

Ogies sexuality

Mourge’s Eyebrows

Did Velvet and Mourge love each other

Cherri as a baby

Velvet with her kids   Some more jokes about Velvet and the kids  also jokes on Mourge

Given the chance Velvet and Mourge would’ve killed Cherri

About Haggon returning home

If Melma and Paupii found out about Velvet and Mourge

Melma was the big one

Melma, Mourge, Hog and Slough sizes

Paupii was tiny

Cherri and Mibbi like Paupii

Melma and Paupii babysitting

Addie with her  first cousins, once removed, joke   Bonnie caring for all the kids joke 

What would happen is Melma and Paupii were still alive

How old is Ogie  Ogie wishing he was Cherri joke  

Anon simping over Hog   continuation of joke post 

Cherri really being the only one who gets it in the swamp

Jokes on Hog’s ‘sex life’  The twins being nutheads  Jokes on Liz and Cherri’s parenting

Is cousin Mitch big boi?

The dangers of either Bonnie’s family or The Wetlen Siblings

Are the twins equally dumb

How did Mourge and Velvet eat their victims

How the Wetlens are in bed

Why did Bonnie not leave for good   Griff and Bonnie joke

About Odin and Bonnie

Does Jade have nicknames for Haggon/Edward

Chad Cherri vs. Virgin Ogie

If Edward remembered his past years

Jade having great taste

Did Melma and Paupii talk

Certain victims they avoid

Anon being thirsty bitches

Griff as a dad

Did Bonnie sleep around

Why Haggon is called Edward

About Hogs  eye  and another post about his eye

Lol teasing Liz  picking on the twins   Hog and Slough being loud fuckers

Have Wetlens been drunk

Addie a healthy baby

The Siblings living far from Bonnie and the fam

Did the Wetlens ever get high

Do the Wetlens own guns

Jokes on Hog being quiet, but loud man in bed

Is Ogie loud in bed   Jokes on Cherri and Liz again   more jokes on Liz  Dilf Cherri

Wetlens sleeping habits 

Was Cherri loud for his first time

Could the Siblings tell their twin kids apart

Anon simping over Slough and Hog again

Info on what Mourge did to Hog

Cherri telling Liz about his scars  More Cherri and Liz joke posts   Jokes about Hog and Slough again

Velvet and a victim of hers

Do the victims go to the cops   jokes on those survivors

About Cherri and Ogies Voices

WIP art of Cherri art

Do they make teeth necklaces

Lurfi gives spanks   How Lurfi is with her kids vs. her siblings  Cherri and consequences    Melma and Velvet about Velvets pregnancies   Cherri and Liz jokes ....again 

Did Malachi or Othelia regret getting together

What if there was a true crime youtbers

Addie seeing the comments on the videos both roasting and simping after her dad

About the people who killed Othelia and Malachi

Velvet and Cherri have Karren hair

Melma, Velvet and Bonnie’s height

Velvet and Mourge joke post    Malachi and Othelia joke post   Liz and Cherri joke post   jokes on Velvet and Cherri

The birth order of Melma and Paupii’s kids

How did Melma and Paupii eat their victims

Does Velvets eye work    Velvets eye joke post

Melma did love her girls UwU   Cherri and Addie joke post

How old were Melma and Paupii with their first kids

Big cannibal ladies good   Baby Velvet joke post

Where Malachi and Othelia good grandparents

Did Malachi and Othelia meet their grandkids

How I came up with Malachi’s name

Who was bigger Malachi or Othelia

Were Malachi and Othelia good parents

Othelia could pick up Bonnie

Anon saying to imagine Cherri having many children and them meeting Cherri

Wetlen’s interact with Alexa

Was Cherri the only one who gave his siblings names

Mitch and Ally (the siblings cousins) joke post  Slough joke post

Nick names with Hog and Slough

Are the siblings afraid of bugs

The siblings fave food

Which siblings have a high libido

More about the Wetlens as parents

Who would be a helicopter parent

Their fave colours

About Melma’s eye

Again Melma, Bonnie and Velvets heights (But Bonnie got taller) 

Lurfi having a bunch of kids idea anon

How old were Velvet and Mourge when Hog was born

Are Aly and Mitch twins

Did Mourge hurt Smock

The Hillikers/Wetlens with family joke post

Teen Addie joke post   Teen Addie more joke post   Addie joins Cherri in dumbass corner    Clown shoes for Addie

Does Addie have Cherri’s mean streak

Info on how cruel Lurfi can be

Cherri, Liz, Addie joke post   Anon wishes Cherri was comfortable going into town    Cherri is 100% bad influence lol

Does Cherri torture his victims away from camp

Cherri has terrible pull out game

First drawing of Cherri vs. Recent

First sketch and view of Cherri new kids (ft. Addie)

Was Delilah planned

Yes the big three are getting kids

Liz and Cherri joke post again   Joke post on Cherri  another joke post

What did Cassy do to Cherri

Another pregnancy!

Will Morgan cause issues

Will the big three have a Morgan-like kid

Lurfi’s kid joke post   more joke post   some more joke posts  

Cherri getting a bunch of Nephews/Nieces  Even more Cherri joke post    Just clowning on Cherri some more

Do they get sick

How would the big three react to their kids getting sick

Anon says cute thing for Lurfi UwU  The big threes kids still being cute

Mibbi and The Twins are not best baby sitters   Lurfi getting some love    Mibbi and Twin are the bad influences    Lurfi joke post

The Wetlen Spouses joke post    more Spouse jokes

Will Addie have same-age cousins   Addie could be baby sitter 

Will Del have same-age cousins

What is Addie and Del like

Cherri and Addie are very alike

Addie saying Hog looks like Peppa Pig

Thinking about the big three sibling spouses

Did Melma and Paupii have a concept of protection

If Velvet lived, would she be nervous of her tall kids

Questions for the Wetlens

More Questions for the Wetlens

Even more Questions for them

Much more Questions

Yep there is still more Questions!

Would Slough share his toys

Do they know about Mother/Fathers day

Would Slough give his baby a gift   joke post after this post

Which siblings are good with naps

Joke post    More joke posts    Hog and Slough joke post   Even more joke posts   Joke post on Cherri again

Mourge and Velvet being terrible parents

How often do the Wetlens get sick

Is Mibbi snarky

Slough the pushover parent

Would the Wetlens try new food

Cherri thinks very highly of himself

Cherri would bully bullies at the camp

Can Griff talk

Hog getting some love

Twins: Are we adopted? (joke post)

[ofmobius]

THE   (   AMY   ROSE   )   BASE   TIMELINE  !

PARTS   MARKED  WITH  A  ★  ARE  SPECIFIC  TO  MAINVERSE   &&.   IN  REFERENCE   TO   @fallenusurper   //   @cravedcombat   //   @chosenfates  //  a friend’s discord-only eggman  DISREGARD   THEM    FOR   THE   TIMELINE   WITHIN   VERSE   IV   //   A   ROSE   OF   ANY   BREED   (   THE  GENERIC   VERSE   .   )​

› Her noble &&. mystic mother, maiden name “O’ Hedge” &&. sister to the King of Mercia, married a peasant man with the surname “Rose.”

› Amy Rose the Hedgehog was born.

› The Empire attacks Mercia. Her parents are Roboticized &&. the King is dispatched. Her cousin, Rob O’ The Hedge, becomes her primary caretaker over the next few years.

› Through rumor, learned about a hero named ‘Sonic’. Began writing him letters that asked for his help. No response.

› Turned to her mother’s Tarot deck &&. pulled the LOVERS card. It gave her a psychic premonition of Little Planet.

› The events of SONIC CD take place. ★ Sonic Mania’s holiday special as well.

› Her cousin finds her. Assured of her safety, he leaves her in the care of the Acorns (much to the King’s distaste). She then is sent by King Max to live on Little Planet, as she’s too young // too weak to travel with sonic   &&. he has no use of a Mercian princess. She’s begrudgingly given a Warp Ring so that she can return to Mobius solely in the event of emergencies. 

› Once that month reached it’s end, Little Planet &&. Amy vanished as it travels across time. She goes on to build herself a house &&. ( secretly ) visits Mobius to get supplies &&. essentials. These visits are few &&. far between due to the Warp Ring’s recharging period.

★ › At some point, Sonic &&. Anti-Sonic met.

› For a year, she’s lonely &&. absent from most events that transpire. Comfort is taken in her artistic abilities. When Little Planet returns to Never Lake, she gets occasional visits from the likes of Sonic &&. co.

★ › Anti-Sonic begins visiting Mobius Prime for the purpose of mischief.

★ › During the last few days of Little Planet’s stay above Never Lake, Amy meets Anti-Sonic - thinking he was Sonic Prime. The pair became surprisingly close because of her unconditional kindness &&. hospitality towards him. By deciding designated times &&. places to meet through the use of her warp ring, she’s no longer lonely. He’s a bad influence, but a good friend who makes her feel safe.

★ › After about three years, the visits suddenly stop. Amy once again turns to her Tarot deck for answers &&. draws Five of Acorns ( The Mobius Equivalent to the Five of Swords. ) She interpreted this as her friend being in some level of danger.

★ › Knowing she couldn’t turn to any other for help, she foolishly took to the Cosmic Interstate to try &&. find her way to Moebius &&. save him herself. Anti Sonic had taken her for rides across the Interstate on rare occasions &&. once pointed out his home Zone, though never actually brought her through for the reason of it being “nothing special.”

★ › Near immediately after stepping through she’s intercepted by her own Anti counterpart,  Rosy the Rascal.

★ › Standing no chance in terms of strength, Amy barely escapes with her life back onto the Cosmic Interstate. She passes out soon after on the road.

★ › Picked up by a patrolling Zone Cop, she’s brought to the No Zone for medical attention. Upon coming to, she’s scolded for leaving her Zone as one so young // weak &&. promptly returned to Mobius Prime. For the first time, her frailty became a source of anger.

› Eventually overcome by loneliness &&. sick of sitting on the sidelines as Eggman’s endeavors become an ever-increasing threat, Amy sought out the Ring of Acorns in secrecy to make a wish on it for the strength to be a hero capable of protecting both herself &&. those in need. This used the last of it’s power &&. overwhelmed her body with a Super Emerald’s worth of chaos energy.  A pair of ring-shaped bracelets appear on her wrists to act as chaos inhibitors, seemingly locked there as she’s clueless on how to remove them.

› Though granted an array of new powers &&. abilities, she’s utterly exhausted &&. on the verge of collapse. Many of her memories were lost in this process. Particularly, she no longer remembers Anti-Sonic or any of her family // fallen kingdom. Powerful but seemingly purposeless aside from the desire to join the Freedom Fighters in hopes of being a hero worthy of Sonic’s love.

› This is the primary difference between herself &&. Rosy. None of Rosy’s memories were lost &&. neither was she granted inhibitor rings when making her wish for strength. Consequently, it shattered her sanity.

› Attempts to force Amy to remember what she’s lost cause intense pain &&. discomfort. Reminders alone make her stressed. 

› The events of multiple main-line sonic games with some archie influences take place.

★ › During the early events of Forces, Scourge was kicked off of Moebius &&. fled to Mobius Prime. Though without memory of Anti-Sonic, she recognizes him from his time as Super Scourge. Given his situation, she was quick to take pity &&. extend an olive branch.

★ › Scourge moves in.

★ › During the events of early IDW, post Metal Overlord, Amy was watching Metal Sonic while Tails went to fetch Sonic. She had a reasonable amount of time to speak “with” him once he woke up + continued to buff out some of his scratches while she spoke about what’s become of Eggman  &&. how he’s capable of choosing his own future. As soon as Sonic entered the room he turned aggressive &&. fled.

★ › Perturbed by his actions ( or lack there of before Sonic’s presence ) she began to stew during her Restoration work.  ★ › Curiosity eventually got the better of her. She set off in hopes of finding Metal Sonic again. Her capture was near-immediate upon stepping foot into the Empire &&. she learned first-hand that Mr. Tinker had reverted to being Eggman.

★ › By sheer miracle alone &&. her mastery in persuasion she avoided becoming the first Mobian patient zero for the Zombot Virus by appealing to Eggman’s interests through praise ( particularly of Metal. ) ★ › Ultimately, the two made a bet with one-another. Failure meant she willingly ( or unwillingly ) joined the empire to crush the hope &&. trust of “Sonic &&. Friends” &&. success simply meant she managed to find flaws in his masterful code that would need to be FIXED. A win-win for him, but he’s utterly sure that Metal’s protocols are soundproof. ★ › Between them exists a solely personal ceasefire for the duration of PROJECT E.D.E.N. The purpose of the project is to teach Metal Sonic’s AI how to comprehend emotions &&. free will // choice. Doing so would hopefully override &&. disable his obedience + suppression protocols.

★ › As of recent interactions ( after months of working with him ), mere weeks before the deadline, Amy was completely successful. Metal Sonic is capable of emotion + free will &&. both protocols have critically failed. Additionally, his newfound understanding of “love” has been directed towards her. Both are petrified at the thought of Eggman’s reaction being to immediately reboot Metal &&. wipe his AI. Neither have reported back to him because of this fear.

[toplinetommy]

13 from list 2 please w matty

Christmas with Matthew and the rest of the Tkachuk clan was the one thing you were looking forward to the second Thanksgiving ended and Christmas started. Last Christmas you had decided to spend the holiday with your respective families, mainly due to the newness of your relationship. But this year, you had gotten a personal invitation from each member of his family, making it an easy decision to say yes and join them in St. Louis. His hockey schedule had somehow allowed him to free just long enough to spend a few days in his family home and he had never been more grateful you got the same time off to join him. 

It was now Christmas Eve, and you all were partaking in the annual Christmas dinner he and his extended family hosted every holiday season. You were sat next to Matthew, one of his cousins on the other side of you. Matthew was dressed in one of his many black suits, the first few buttons of his dress shirt undone since he had foregone the idea of wearing a tie. His hair was freshly cut, the long, untamed curls he once had now long gone. You had been wearing a satin midi dress that draped over your chest. From the moment you slipped the dress on in Matthew’s childhood bedroom, his eyes stayed locked on your figure while one of his hands never left your body.

A few glasses of wine later, you and Matthew’s siblings had made your way home, while Keith and Chantal went out with the rest of the parents. Matthew was grateful for this, wanting to spend the evening with you alone while he could. You had only been in Missouri for a day and a half, your flight getting in the day prior; Matthew had not stopped making comments about the hit this trip was taking to his sex drive. Especially tonight, with all of your curves on display, your chest, and neck exposed from the high ponytail you had styled your hair in. All he could think of was placing his lips across your collarbones and breasts, the alcohol only adding to the mix. 

The four of you had congregated in the large family room, trying to decide what you would all do next. It was starting to get late, but not late enough to warrant any of you wanting to go to bed. Brady had convinced Matthew to let Taryn have a beer since the rest of you were drinking. After a lot of arguing between the two brothers, Matthew let go of his overprotectiveness and agreed that she could have one Bud Light.

Somehow you stayed in the dress you wore to dinner, while Matthew had opted to take off his dress clothes the second he was able to. Once you hit the bottom of your wine glass you made a comment about how you wanted to get dressed out of your dress and into a pair of sweatpants. Matthew, one to never conceal the true meaning behind his words said he’d come with you. Brady scoffed at the comment, Matthew sending a glare over to his younger brother. 

Matthew followed you up the stairs to his room, squeezing your ass once you hit the landing, eliciting a squeal from your lips. Your hair bounced across your back as you ran away from your boyfriend, hoping to find solace in his ensuite bathroom. But Matthew was quicker, and he pulled you off the ground and into his chest with a giggle. His fingers went to your sides, tickling you. You tried to pull his hands off of you as you laughed loudly at his antics, but he was stronger and just kept you glued to his chest. You accidentally elbowed him, causing him to stop tickling you for a second, and you took the chance to turn around in his arms.

You placed a quick kiss on his lips, thankful that his hands halted their movements. His hands continued to rest on your waist, him squeezing once again, before rubbing your back in a soothing manner.

“I love you,” you mumble against his lips. He smiles, kissing you again before repeating those three words back to you.

Matthew captured your lips in his again, you stand on your tiptoes in order to kiss him comfortably. He continues to kiss you softly, guiding both of you to his bed, before he’s crawling on top of you. Matthew’s hands roam over your body, pushing the hem of your dress up so it started to gather around the tops of your thighs. One hand goes to grapes the side of your neck, holding you close as his lips move slowly against yours. 

The kiss is slow and sensual, something abnormal for your tipsy selves. You whine into his mouth when his hips grind into yours, feeling him growing hard. You pull away from him, knowing that this going somewhere you’re hesitant to go.

“Your siblings are literally downstairs,” you warn, speaking against his lips. “You can fuck me all you want when we get back to Calgary.”

“I really don’t care,” he shrugs, rolling his hips into yours again. “You look hot as shit right now and I’m trying not to fuck you senseless.”

The compliment has your back arching into him. Matthew’s lips trail down to your collarbone and you decide to throw all caution into the wind. His siblings downstairs watching a movie isn’t as bad as them being in their rooms, or his parents being home. You give in, letting Matthew strip your dress off of your frame, him following suit and discarding his remaining clothes.

“If your bed makes any noise we’re stopping,” you warn once more. You would much rather not have a conversation with one of his family members about how if you’re going to have sex in this house, you’re going to have to be quiet or do it when no one’s home.

“We’ll be fine,” Matthew reassures you, trailing his lips down your stomach until he’s eye level with your bare center. He spreads your thighs further apart, putting both of them over his shoulders. He takes his time with you, placing soft kisses on the insides of your thighs, biting down every now and then to keep you on your toes. 

His fingers dug into the skin of your thighs as his lips neared our center. You were getting ready to beg at this point, the hot air of his breath contrasting the cool air from his room causing you to only be more turned on. His lips finally find your clit, a gentle kiss being placed there before he licks a stripe up and down your folds. Your hands fly to the curls on his head, needing to grip onto something in order to keep you quiet. His tongue passes over your folds a few more times, his thumb moving to rub at your clit in a slow manner. His tongue fucks into you, moving much faster than his thumb that was rubbing gentle circles on your clit.

“More, Matty,” you whine softly. “More.”

He pops his head up a little from between your legs, smirking up at you. “I’m just making sure you won’t be too loud.”

“I’ll be quiet, I promise.”

Matthew smirks again, wrapping his lips around your clit as his fingers push through your folds. Your breath picks up as he pushes his finger in you, a second following close behind. His fingers scissor inside of you, stretching you open as he finds your g-spot. The pressure on your g-spot plus his mouth on your clit has you throwing your head back and gripping his hair tighter, biting your lip to stay quiet. His fingers pick up the pace, his other hand moving to link his fingers with yours. 

He holds your hand as your high nears, your hips bucking up against his face. The wet sounds coming from his fingers only make your stomach tighten further. His lips separate from your clit, but only for just enough time for him to spit where his mouth once was. You almost moan out as you watch him do so, but don’t and instead hold on tighter to Matthew’s hand as his lips wrap around your clit again. The tightness in your stomach increases as you start to see stars, your high crashing over you. Matthew licks you through it, his fingers slowing down as they pump inside you.

He removes his fingers once he’s sure you’re done, crawling up your body to place another kiss on your lips. You welcome him, wrapping your arms around his body to pull him further in. You feel the tent in his boxers, your hands traveling down his body to push his boxers down. You pump his shaft a few times as he kisses you, before pushing your hand away and pumping him himself.

“How do you want it?” He asks, resting his forehead against yours. 

“Just fuck me, Matty.”

He doesn’t need to be told twice, entering you slowly and giving you time to adjust to his size. He stills inside of you, before pulling out slowly. He kisses you through it all, picking up his pace as he fucks into you. You wrap your legs around his torso, your heels digging into his lower back. Your lips stay attached to his in hopes that he’ll swallow any of your moans. A few whimpers are let out by both of you, trying your best to stay quiet. 

His bed quietly creaks beneath the two of you but you’re too lost in one another to pay any mind to it. His pace picks up and his hand grabs one of your legs, moving it so it’s over his arm, spreading you open. The new angle has him hitting you harder and deeper and it’s getting harder to stay quiet. Your mouth attaches to his shoulder, in hopes of biting down on his skin to keep you quiet.

All of your senses are heightened with how quiet it is in his room, making you focus heavily on the feelings of his rough hands against your skin and his curly hair falling onto your forehead. His hips stutter, a tell-tale sign that he’s close. His thrusts slow down, making sure your high is close, snaking his hand down to rub at your clit. It’s a race to finish now, both of you whining messes as he pistons into you. Your teeth sink into his shoulder again as you come, your back arching into him as your breaths turn heavy.

He finishes soon after, spilling into you as his thrusts turn slow and long. He falls onto you, your bodies both sicky with sweat, chests heaving as you try to catch your breath. He pushes himself off you, pulling out slowly. His eyes watch closely as he sees some of his come spills out of you before he’s wordlessly scooting back down the length of your body and bringing you to your third orgasm with his mouth.

[amiramorozova]

Dual Summoner x The Darkling pt. 28

I woke up sometime later as I found myself on a bed and I sat up looking around for a minute. I knew I wasn't back at the little palace and I started to get up. Walking towards the door I heard people talking and I put my ear to the door to listen.

"We had no idea General Kirigan was going to do that." Nadia said 

"He did assign us as her guards for her protection." Marie said 

"I appreciate that you girls have followed my daughter this far but you know the risks. You know as long as you follow her you both could be in danger." Father said

"She's our friend, sir. We don't want to abandon her. Not now, not ever." Marie and Nadia said 

"thank you, that being said I think you two should know what could happen if he gets Amira." Father said 

I knew I hadn't mentioned the whole truth to them and if my father told them then they might turn against him. I listened as father chose his words wisely not mentioning that he was the one who made the fold but that he had to hide his identity to protect himself. That it was true that he made an agreement with his mother for me to marry him. I opened the door after he told them and then I walked out seeing them looking at me.

"I can't hide." I said 

"You have to, if he gets you then.." Father started but I sighed, "I am fully aware what he could do but I can manipulate him just as much as he can manipulate any girl..except me." I said 

"No, you're staying here." Father said 

I didn't want to argue with him so for now I gave in but I knew that my Kefta told a lot, so did my jewelry as my father came over and he started to remove my Kefta. I was shocked but he put a regular jacket on me and then he went for the jewelry I had on from Aleksander and I put my hands over me stepping back. I didn't care what he thought I had accepted everything Aleksander had given me and I didn't want to part with them again.

"Amira" Father said 

"No." I said 

"He can track you with them." Father said 

"Then we keep moving till I can't keep running." I said, "I can do this when he finds me. The fact you can't accept that I can handle Aleksander is not my problem." 

"Amira." Father said with a concern look

I walked past him as I said "You lost that right to tell me what to wear and what to do when you dropped me at the little palace." I said as I took my Kefta from him, putting it over my shoulder.

I knew my words would hurt him but the truth was I hadn't been raised by my parents past the age of eight. I was raised in the little palace where I only had Baghra for all that time and their letters to keep me from thinking they abandoned me. I had been prepared for facing Aleksander my whole life knowing I was supposed to kill that stag and I failed. I knew that Aleksander was coming for me and I needed to be ready but here I was in a house with many sun summoners. 

I walked out of the room where I saw my aunt Analise and her son trying to train as I smiled. I walked over and she looked at me surprised to see I was awake.

"Maybe I could help. I had a good trainer."  I said

"Oh uh maybe." Analise said 

Adrian looked at me as I sat by him, having my kefta on my lap as I removed his bracelet, surprising him. My aunt looked shocked too but I assured her it was necessary for what he was going to be doing. 

"Adrian, I'm Amira. Like you I'm a Dual Summoner and I can help you control it." I assured him

"You? You are the one they call Sankta Amira? Ok!" Adrian said smiling

"I am no saint." I assured him 

We started as I was mindful of our surroundings and we started with the tidemaker as he was surprised when I showed him the water. He seemed happy to see that we were alike in that way but then we put our hands together ever so slightly changing our hand positions and we did it again to show our other ability which for me was sunlight but for him was Fire. 

He really is an Inferni and a tidemaker. I thought 

"Oh wow, you have the light to tear down the fold." Adrian said as his inferni fire slipped

"This light can do many things, Adrian. If everyone in this family with the light worked together the fold could be gone but if it is just me I can just make a tunnel for the skiffs to go through the fold." I said

"More resources?" Adrian said

"In a way, but if someone had the idea to use that tunnel to weaponize the fold. Grisha would still be useful to the people and we could get rid of enemies." I said

"Where did you hear such a thing?" Analise asked

I let the light go knowing that there was no hiding that Aleksander Morozova was alive. Every Grisha thought the black Heretic was dead in the fold and the people that were inside of it died too. I stood up as I knew that we needed to start moving and I looked at my aunt.

"The people in the fold when it was created didn't die. The Black Heretic didn't die." I said, "Women, Children, Men became those things in the fold. Lost their humanity to a powerful spell."

"And the Black Heretic?" Analise asked

"I know who he is and I can get him to do the right thing." I said, "I just need the time to get close and get him to see things my way."

"You said Grisha would still be useful but the fold could be weaponized." Analise said 

"The Fjerdan problem could be dealt with, Grisha could live in peace without being hunted if we got rid of them." I said seeing her surprise at my assurance on this, "I am eternal, so I don't have a lot of options but to watch my friends..my family die sometime. If I get close...Once I get married I can gain power and influence in the 2nd army. I can inspire Dual Summoners to come out of hiding. To follow me where I go by marrying my fiance."

"I want to sign up for the 2nd army!" Adrian said excited 

I smiled at my cousin, "Not yet, let me get that officially taken care of but I have a plan." I assured him, "I'm sure Baghra would love to have a new student." 

We started to get on the move, Nico had to travel with us due to abandoning the 2nd army. He also refused to let me even consider running back to the little palace. Marie and Nadia seemed to have decided to follow me anywhere so that was nice. Traveling with family to keep ahead of Aleksander was a first but I knew that one thing he had to be within range with a Durast to track my jewelry and our soulmate link hadn't fully given all the clues to where I was. 

"We could go through the fold." Analise said 

"We are beacons of light just going to lure them and the 2nd army manages the skiffs going through. Zoya would love to rat me out to get her place back." I said 

We needed a plan and we didn't have a lot to work with but getting out of Keramsin was a start for all of us. I looked at my wrist knowing he wouldn't give up, he wouldn't stop looking for me as the letters were faint meaning he was closing in. I led them forward as we ran to get the best distance. We just needed to get to the next village. I didn't care how long it took but I knew he was going either by horse or by carriage when it came to this. I didn't even think about the people who'd helped us escape. Nadia looked at the map as she pointed to the woods to be the best route and we took that path as I led but we had to stop for my grandparents as they were not used to this. 

"How are we doing on distance?" Catalina asked

I looked at my wrist seeing the initials were barely there and that meant he wasn't very close as I smiled. "We're doing good." I assured her, I knew that he was tracking me by my necklace but I was tracking him through the soulmate mark. I knew he wasn't paying that close attention to his wrist, men don't normally think about it as a way of tracking. Baghra had told me to always try to out think him and here I was doing just that. 

When we started to move again we kept going until nightfall when it was cold. We bunked up where we could. My father, my grandmother and I used the sun summoner power to put warmth in us before we decided to rest. Nadia and Marie bunked with me so if anyone tried to sneak up on us we could all three wake up and attack. Mother and Father bunked together, my grandparents stayed together and Aunt Analise stayed with her son. 

By morning we were hungry but it turned out that Father knew how to hunt like Marie so we were able to eat. Adrian and I covered our tracks so that they weren't easy to follow and then we started moving again. Adain was younger than me by five years but it was clear he'd been training or he would have struggled. 

"So what are you looking at when you look at your wrist to know we're ahead?" Adrian asked

"It's called a soulmate mark. When your soulmate is close to you, their first and last initial of their true name will appear on your wrist." I said, as I showed him my wrist where nothing was there right now. "We're far away from mine so we've made good distance." 

This went on for a few days and I was ready for a bath and ready to see Genya again. I missed Genya and how she made everything look better than I actually did. We heard the sound of movement and I had my dagger ready when I saw the tailor who had helped us.

"How did you find us?" I asked

"I know how to track my friend." The tailor girl said as she walked over to each of us and she helped us look a bit better. "It's not much but you all look better." 

I bet he won't let me sleep in my room if he catches me. I thought then slapped myself knowing I was thinking of sharing his bed.

"Amira, why'd you do that?" Mother asked

"Because I am in love with him and I am thinking about him when I need to get ahead of him." I said 

As we made it to the village we had all of our 2nd army stuff in a bag on my shoulder so we wouldn't be found out. We found an inn to stay in for everyone to have a room and I fell asleep there.

[artxyra]

Healing Gotham | Part 1

Prologue 

Tim was having an off day. At first he had thought it was due to him surviving off of weeks’ worth of caffeine, but that was not it—not it at all. When Tim had first arrived at Wayne Enterprise, all of its employees were having a rush. Paperwork was thrown around, gather, shredded within seconds of each other. The young co-CEO couldn’t find it in him to care enough until it was lunchtime. An older employee was going around collecting NDA’s from all the new employees—like that wasn’t an everyday experience. Tim had half the brain capacity to contact Bruce for information, and yet he doesn’t do it.

Then Tim returns to the manor, cars from his extended siblings, and family members parked within the gates. Once again, this was not an unusual sight for the coffee addict. Well, it wasn’t an unusual sight until he stepped into the manor.

On one of the couches sat Steph, Cass, and Damian all looking to the people on the other side of the room. Kate stands leaning against the window waiting for the shoe to drop. Tim didn’t know where to sit. He only had two options: sit beside the mess of his older brothers or sit where there was the least amount of space next to his other siblings.

Finally taking in his environment, he notices something scary. Jason and Dick weren’t in their usual moods aka brooding and dramatic but on the verge of a massive mental breakdown. Jason was clutching his hair staring down at his lap repeating the words, “She’s going to kill me” as if it was the end of the world. Dick was mimicking the words with “Not if she kills me first, I’m too young to die”. This was such a shock, that Tim had to take a long sip of coffee to make sure it was true, and even then he had to pinch himself as a reminder that he was awake.

“Master Tim, the amount of caffeine you are consuming is terrible. Perhaps taking a rest would help.” Alfred offers with little room to negotiate, but Tim swears he is fine to which the family butler did not believe. “Uh-huh…” Taking the thermos out of Tim’s hand, the young co-CEO is left with nothing.

“You’re seeing this too, right? Tim asks his siblings that weren’t in the Wayne family as long as the older two. Steph is simply recording the nature of their situation—probably blackmail material for her and Barbara. Cass simply examines her older siblings wondering what has gotten into their heads. She was sure that Bruce was internally panicking based on his fingers tapping against his suit jacket and constant inching to the couch. Looking beside her, it was obvious that Damian hates being out of the loop and was moments away from exploding. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to sit beside Damian for this family meeting.

“What has gotten you three so worked up?” Kate asks from the safety of her position. Watching the three break down may be fun and all, but she had a life to live also outside of her cousin’s BS.

“Master Bruce now would be the best time to explain our situation,” Alfred suggests coming back into the room with a tray of teacups and a pot of tea. The butler knows the family is going to need it after dropping a bomb like this to the newest Waynes.

As much as Alfred was right, Bruce knew he couldn’t keep this hidden. He can already tell that Damian was seconds away from stabbing Dick or Jason for being in such an off-putting mood. Tim would be forever confused until he gets a good rest, Cass may like having someone other then him to talk to, and Steph—well Steph will just be Steph.

Bruce was so deep in thought that he didn’t acknowledge the peak of Jason’s and Dick’s mental break down.

“She’s going to kill me…I would rather face the Joker than be on the receiving end of her anger.” Jason finally speaks something than the mantra he has been chanting for the past hour.

“Here’s how she’ll do it, kill Bruce, then me, and then you. Alfred’s safe because it’s Alfred.” Dick adds pointing to each person he has mentioned, furthering the family’s confusion.  Kate, on the other hand, received the message loud and clear and end up bursting into laughter.

“Good to know you find humor in our incoming deaths, Katie,” Dick says pouting with arms crossed against his chest.

“What is Kane laughing about, Father?” Damian asks with a dangerous intent beneath his words.

“In just a couple of days, the Manor Wayne is welcoming an old visitor…my sister… your aunt.” Bruce finally speaks with a heavy sigh. It was if he was preparing for the mental battle this family is about to go through.

“Sister?” “Aunt?” “What?” Various amounts of reactions echo across the room. Every one of his children that had no clue about the oldest Wayne’s sister was just given a wake-up call.

“Yes, I have a sister. She’s my younger sister, and she’ll be staying at the Manor until she finds herself her own place, and this is if she decides to move to Gotham permanently.” Bruce then adds.

“You mean she’s staying here?” Damian cries out, he already hates the fact that most his siblings typically stay in and out of the manor, but to have a new resident just screams trouble.

“Yes, which also means we all need to keep our nightly activities on the down-low. Marin Etta has no idea that I am Batman or that Dick and Jason were Robin, and I like to keep it that way. This means Jason, no bringing anything related to the Gotham Underground, Dick you do what you’ve always done. The rest you better be on your best behavior.”

“Well this is the best news; I haven’t seen Mars since the wedding and that was five years ago.” Kate pushes herself off the wall and goes to hug Bruce. “Call me when she arrives, it will be nice to have a girls’ trip or something.”

“Katie…” Bruce sighs but the look on his cousin’s face says otherwise and it was best to leave this alone. “I will.”

Once Kate was out of the room, Damian loudly growls. “I don’t like this.”

“For once I agree with the Demon Spawn,” Tim says, though in Tim’s mind he wasn’t sure what was happening. His brain acknowledges Kate leaving but the moments before seem like a dazed.

“Tim, you okay?” Steph asks as the person in question sway. “Better yet when was the last time you slept?” She receives no answer from the in and out of the conscious male.

“Why are we just now hearing about this so-called sister.” Damian questions as if he was the only person sane in the household—which he’s not. It’s not like he’s trying to gain as much information about this aunt of his so that he could look her up and do a background check. That is totally what he will be doing.

Bruce, seeming to ignore Damian’s underlying intent, sighs and reply with, “She and I had a fall out when Jason died, and we barely speak. This is the first time in a while that she’ll be back.”

“Sounds like a you problem.” Cass murmurs under her breath evading all the glances her way. It’ll be nice to have seen someone other than her adopted family, but at the same time just how will this new person fit into their family.

“Better yet why do Grayson and Todd know about her while the rest of us don’t?” Damian asks gesturing to his other siblings. “You have no photos of the woman, so why must I believe that you have a sister.” From this Bruce could feel a migraine coming in the longer this goes on.

“Look, Little D, Mari is like a sister or a mother figure to Jason and I. There are reasons outside of this room as to why she is so well hidden. You know that room that Bruce forbids anyone from going into?” Dick replies instead of Bruce. Both he and Jason need to wrap up this conversation to prep for their incoming deaths by Mari. He was definitely sure that Bruce was about to do the same and Mari-proof the manor’s access to the Batcave.

“Na’am,” Damian says begrudgingly.

“That’s Mari’s room and will forever be her wing until she no longer needs it.” Dick finishes off his statement, which clearly did not do anything for the youngest Wayne. He then turns to Jason who was in less of a panic but in more of a defensive planning stage. “C’mon Jaybird, we have lots of pre-death planning before Sunshine returns to the Gotham.”

“Once again, I rather die by the Joker than by her, B-man you owe us so much for this,” Jason states before walking out the living room with Dick following behind.

Bruce sighs heavily and returns to his remaining children, well those that are still awake. Tim had passed out and will most likely be for the time being.

“Father…”

“Not now Damian. I will answer the rest of your questions later. I have a sister-proofing mission to handle.” With that Bruce takes his leave.

“This family can never be normal could it?” Steph wonders as she picks up Tim and places him over her shoulder.

“I agree with you on that. Need a hand?” Cass responds looking at the failing form of Steph’s body as she lugs Tim over to the entranceway.

“Nope, I’m fine,” Steph replies before she and Tim disappear into the shadows of the manor.

“I still think this is a bad idea,” Damian states crossing his arms and taking his leave also.

Cass stares at the leaving figure of her younger brother and shakes her head. She knows that Damian would not leave this alone until he hits rock bottom. Let that be her mysterious aunt herself or Bruce making his word-final.

A couple days later at the Gotham City Airport, a woman with a concave bob hairstyle stands outside the pickup area with her three suitcases next to her. Bing. She looks down to see the name Alfred popping up against the screen.

“Yes Alfred, I’m here… I’m still at the airport. No, you don’t need to give me a—” She pauses allowing the Wayne family butler to reply. “Alright, I’ll see you in a few.”  With that, she ends the conversation and places the phone in her back pocket.

This person is nonother than Marin Etta Martha Wayne or as the people in Paris, France calls her Marinette Martha Dupain-Cheng Couffaine.

Part 2 >>

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[marquessofbooks]

MY EXPERIENCE WITH GRIEF AND DEATH

I believe that knowing someone else's side of the story can be pretty relieving.

I had four grandparents (now three) my most favourite grandma died about seven years ago but it doesn't mean it is any easier. The day she died I knew I should cry my heart out so that everyone around me knows just how upset I am. In so-called modern, conservative families, like mine and many Indian teens nowadays, Talking about grief is not common so as soon as the rituals ended that terrible September ( F.Y.I in India these rituals last around for about 15 days) everyone started referring to her memories as happy memories only, but there is a painful memory left unsaid about and unsaid feelings can lead to harmful consequences. My story is however somewhat different from the harmful consequences part, but more or less the same. I always had my seven first cousins to talk to who felt mostly the same as me. Now on to the story.

I was around eight or nine when my grandma died it was never easy and it never did got any easy. Honestly speaking it never will get any easy for me. The date was 18th September 2015 my most important exams of the year had started and one or two exams had been completed and a whole bunch was left which were to be completed by end of the second last week of that September. My father and my maternal uncle got me home as soon the exam got finished that day and my parents never really told me the news so I was not sure that they had come to an understanding with the news. Moving on now that I look back I know they did not want me to know until it all got real. I live in different, neighbouring states as my pa's side of the family. About 300km away we rushed to depart from my house from about 11 a.m. Now we reached there at about seven in the evening. Remember I did not know what had happened yet. I reached there and it all got real. My grandma was dead. Now was the time to see how everyone else was doing. Everyone was more devastated than the other. No one really cried or my sister who was in standard seventh did not cry now I knew I had to deal with a lot of undealt emotions later on. Still pinches a nerve to write it all out. Looking back I think that It would be so good if she was here for at least some more years but on the other hand, it feels good that it happened while I was a kid. As long as I live I am never forgetting the memories I have associated with her as a child, festivals like Holi, Dussehra, and most importantly Chaath puja and enthusiasm and warrior spirit. After the completion of Chaath puja, I still go to the ghaat which is at our rooftop like an above ground swimming pool only much smaller, not movable and with a lesser height to touch the water and sing a secret song to her. It sounds so beautiful to say it out loud but it's just simply sad and awful.

Now in my family, only the eldest people do the fasting on Chaath puja and after my grandma, the responsibility to host went to my uncle and aunt which means my paternal uncle or my first cousins once removed. Due to health restrictions, my great aunt does the festival, just for your kind information.

It is the time I say how I fell about it now after about eight years of her death. Honestly speaking it is getting worse year after year but It will get better or I hope it gets better. You see everyone should know true love once in their lives and she was my as I have come to know my I remember her so much.

Now, I want to say whenever I feel lonely or sad in general I can always remember her and believe that she is out there somewhere.

Now for the newbies in the dead grandma club, it will get easier if you let it get easier do not stuff the grief away, just remember it is completely okay to feel sad or even devastated at more than two days a year. You can choose to feel that she is gone without a trace or you can choose to believe that you will reunite with her one day, however far away that reunion may be.

Share your thoughts on the article at snahil30@gmail.com

or if you just need a person to talk to about your mental health I am all in already. Follow me on Instagram at Marquessofbooks.

Thanks for reading

Bye!

See you next time

[zodiyack]

Like Mother Like Daughter

Requested by anon: Hello love! Would you write something about the reader being Polly's lost daughter that finally found her and she goes to her house and Polly of course is insanely happy and they catch up all night ,immediately connected. The next day she gets introduced to the rest of the family and Tommy is super rude to her because he thinks she's there for money,but she's just there for Polly and just as fierce as her mother, putting him in place? :)

Pairing: Shelby & Gray family + Gray!Female!Reader (No romance)

Warnings: Swearing, angst, fluff, probably a trash story that was also probably really horribly written, posting with out proofreading oops

Note: I apologize sincerely for the likelihood of a shitty background story of how reader discovers Pol being her mum. I am also so sorry if this sucks lol, I couldn’t think of good responses for the angsty part sigh. I really hope you guys like this one, again, I’m sorry if I didn’t quite write the situation all too well. However, the more I write, the more I get to know the characters, so this is a start haha

Taglist: @matth1w​, @redspaceace​, @simonsbluee​

masterlist | peaky blinders masterlist

Today was the day. Polly fiddled with her fingers nervously, anticipation for what was to come. Her daughter, Michael’s sister, was just confirmed alive and well, and was being sent to their home. Michael didn’t know he had a sister and Pol had been uninformed of her daughter’s state of health.

It was a surprise, the only person of the family who knew was Polly herself. Y/n was her daughter anyways. The boys could wait until after they caught up; she was eager to reconnect with this girl, who very dear to her heart. Her palms were sweaty, thanks to her nerves.

The news graced her ears just last month. Her lost daughter, alive and well, and pleading with her adoptive mother to let her go and seek out the mystery woman who’s name was with her’s on papers in her father’s office. The girl had no success, getting rejected over and over due to her parent’s hatred for her discovery. Polly, however, found a way to anonymously convince the parents to let her daughter go. Whether it was legal or not, it got it done, and that’s all that mattered.

The door creaked open, the light from the sun shining onto Y/n like a spotlight. Polly’s eyes filled with tears as she scanned her daughter with a small smile on her lips.

“Hi mum...” Y/n smiled back at her, inhaling deeply, not sure if it was real or just a dream. She wished, if it were a dream she could have it every night for the rest of her life.

Polly’s mouth opened slowly, but no words left her mouth. Her hand began it’s journey up to her mouth, stuttering half way, and covered her growing smile. She didn’t know what to do. She was so happy, she could hardly move. True, she was excited to have Michael back, but this was her daughter. A year younger than Michael. More naive than Michael. Lost longer than Michael.

Her words betrayed her, but her body made up for their faults. Pol stumbled towards Y/n and wrapped her arms around her in a bone-crushing hug. “Is that really you? My baby girl?” Her tears soaked into Y/n’s dress clad shoulder, but neither of them cared.

“Mhm.” Y/n too had no luck with her words, too caught up in emotions and snotty tears to give a shit. They chose to make use of their wordless greetings, hugging tightly for a few more minutes. Once they separated, Polly took Y/n’s face in her hands and let her eyes take in the image before her.

“You’re so beautiful... I wonder what you looked like as a child...” More tears fought to escape her eyes. Her breathing was unsteady, like she had just calmed herself from a crying fit, when really, she was doing the opposite, tears greeting her warm cheeks.

“Polly, it’s alright-”

“Mom.” She chuckled softly, “You can call me mum, dear. You are my daughter, after all.”

Y/n didn’t respond. She wracked her brain for words, but they fled at the quiver of her bottom lip. So, she did her plan B. She removed Polly’s hands from her face and quickly surged forward into Pol’s arms. Y/n felt Polly’s arms wrap around her figure protectively, like she was scared that if she let her go she would lose her again.

“Well, mom, we have a lot to catch up on...” They finally separated, but Polly’s hands gripped Y/n’s, the same fear as the hug taunting her heart.

“That is true...and you and your brother have some catching up to do as well, but that can wait until tomorrow.”

Y/n raised an eyebrow with pure curiosity, “Brother?”

. . .

Tommy was walking calmly and sleepily to the kitchen area until he heard laughter coming from a voice that he didn’t recognize. His pace quickened with the need of settling his confusion.

A girl sat next to Michael, laughing at something he said. Tommy felt a slight jab of anger at the sight of a stranger in their home, everyone seeming so comfortable with this new person not even a day into her arrival.

He stepped into the room fully. His brothers and aunt tried to greet him good morning but they were interrupted when he glared at the girl next to Michael. “Who the fuck are you?”

“Might as well as you the same thing, greeting not only a lady, but a relative with a shit attitude like yours.”

“She does have a point. Tom, this is Y/n, Michael’s sister and Pol’s daughter. Which, if you haven’t guessed already, means she’s our cousin.” Ada smirked, astonished at Y/n’s retort.

“Mhm. And she just, somehow showed up over night, am I correct?” 

“Actually she showed up before dark. You boys just didn’t meet her because I wanted to catch up with her as much as possible first. You would too if you had met your daughter whom you thought was dead for seventeen fucking years.” Pol’s attitude seemed to drop from cheery to annoyed.

“So? You chose to believe her?”

“Yes! She’s-”

“She could be a complete stranger who just wants out money or- or- maybe she is your daughter but she also just wants our money.” Tommy turned to Y/n, “Is that it? You’re just lookin’ to take from us? Is that your tactic? Pretend to be our Aunt’s daughter and steal? Or are you not after money? Maybe you work for someone? One of our enemies perhaps?”

Michael rubbed Y/n’s back, he was unsure to why Tommy was acting so shitty today. His reaction was more controlled than this when he met Michael, so why was meeting Y/n any different? Michael furrowed his eyebrows to his older cousin and squeezed Y/n’s hand. She smiled to her brother in reassurance before smiling back at Tommy, not letting his not-so-good-first impression get to her.

Polly, having enough of Tommy’s angsty mood, walked out of the room. She mumbled something about him ruining her day and the reunion.

He grunted and walked past the family, poured himself a shot, leaned against the wall next to the counter, and crossed his arms. Y/n snickered to herself as she viewed his actions. “Oi, what’s so funny?”

“You’re crossing your arms and leaning against the wall in an act of dominance. An attempt to intimidate others, but honestly, your word and argument choices betray your failed claims of top-dog.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well,” she got up from the chair and pushed it back in, walking over to Tommy, “you’re acting childish. Throwing out accusations willy-nilly without reason, acting over dramatic when we could talk like civilized adults, and to top it all off, crossing your arms and pouting when you don’t get your way.” She paused, smiling mischievously.

Her cousin stayed silent. His breathing was a bit off, telling her that she had indeed managed to, if not the tiniest bit, piss him off.

“I came here to see my mother, who I’ve never seen in my entire fucking life, and then I find out I have more family. You can imagine my surprise, happy and finally feeling at home. But now, can you imagine my reaction to the cousin my mum spoke so highly about acting the way you did?”

She didn’t give him time to answer before continuing, drawling out some words and sentences with the intent of mocking the Peaky Blinder.

“You see Tommy, tough guys are what Birmingham sees you, and those of your brothers who are adults, to be, yet I only see two out of the three of you as ‘tough guys’. And now, I’m looking at the missing piece to their ‘tough-guy’ count, but all I see is a whiny child who would rather believe paranoia than his own family. Which, by the way, Polly said you cared most about.”

Tommy’s jaw clenched. Y/n’s face held a victorious smile. “Oh, and one last thing.”

“And that is?”

She swiped the glass from his hands and walked back to her seat, holding Tommy’s shot-glass cautiously. “Trust me or don’t trust me, I don’t care much, but for you and your reputation's sake-” She downed the shot, “you should really man the fucking hell up, cuz.”

Y/n set his glass onto the table, giving him the bird joined with a kind smile before she left the room to chase after her mother. The family, minus Polly and Y/n, sat in silence, processing the personality shift of their newly discovered family member.

“...Yep. She’s Pol’s daughter alright.”