#trying to get my grandparents to watch it is like pulling teeth. they won't stop rewatching boston legal

[gadriezmannsgirl]

Our Ray of Sunshine -P.G

Also known as Gender Reveal (2), feedbacks are appreciated, enjoy! Fun fact: I didn't knew what Helena name meant, when I searched for it, it matched with the title I had already given to the fic :)

Summary: Your babygirl is finally here

After the Gender Reveal, all people surrounding you have been over the moon, including you and Pablo, passing from calling it 'It' or 'Baby' to 'She/Her', coming up with names but never getting one, Pablo already had a nickname for her, her aunties, uncles, godfather and even grandparents (Both by blood and by choice/heart) have bought almost every single pink article of clothing, bib, everything, you name it, possible.

They forgot the fact they had already purchased her, a lot of things.

"She's not even born" You began folding her clothes, you already had eight piles of it "and I think I'm gonna have to give a few of these away to others"

"What? Why?" Pablo asked from besides you, looking up from his laptop

"I have already seen the same 'I'm aunties little girl' onesie five times" You look at him, said onesie in your hand showing it to him. He smiled without showing his teeth recognizing the gift as Aurora's one.

"I helped her get that one" You give him a look

"Helena already has that one" You say "In fact, she has other four like that but in different color"

"Just in case she doesn't like the other colors" You narrowed your eyes at him "Also, she's Paula"

"Helena sounds better" You defend

"I like Paula"

"Pablo, I won't put my baby girl your name in femenine!" He laughed hard at that

"I'm just kidding!" He closed his laptop "Helena's beautiful and it has a beautiful meaning" You smiled seeing him sit on the bed, back against the headboard as he grabbed you by the waist and kissed your 34 weeks tummy. Your shining light.

You gasped feeling her kick, you could never get used to it, it was something amazing and her unique way of letting you know she was also there, that she was good, uncomfortable with any x given position, in the convo and in your lifes too.

Even though she hereditated her dad's hard kick and sometimes hurted you a bit, you loved it.

You moved Pablo's hand towards where she was making herself known watching him smile

"You like Helena, little princess?" He asked speaking softly into your tummy leaving some kisses there with a smile on, seconds later, she kicked as you both smiled at each other widely "Helena is it, then"

Two nights after that, you had a bit of trouble while sleeping, she was moving around a lot and no matter what position you got into, it wasn't enough for her

"C'mon, Lena" You whispered "Mommy's tired" You carressed your lower tummy careful of not disrupting Pablo's sleep but failing.

"Something's wrong?" You heard your husband whisper, voice hoarse still filled with sleep "Can I help you in anything?" You hissed stopping your movements, Pablo instantly woke up "C'mon, mi vida. Let's get you up" Pablo stood up inmediately grabbing your hands and pulling you up

"She's being difficult tonight" You managed to say in between breaths. You were feeling an inmense amount of pain in your lower tummy and lower back too.

You took a deep breath feeling the pain knock it out of your lungs, you tried to calm down and take those deep breaths in and slow breaths out just like your mom and Belén had told you to.

"Amor?" You heard Pablo's voice at distance even though he was centimeters away from you, then you felt it.

You felt water run down your thighs and more pain came in

"Did you just-?" You nod humming cutting him off, your hands gripping his tightly "Joder, me cago en la-"

"Pablo" You said warningly taking deep breaths

"What should I do?" He asked you as you gave him a look still trying to breathe properly "Ok, ok! Don't worry, wait here, I'm gonna search for the keys" You nod humming one more time, not really taking in his words you were just keen on making the pain go away.

He left running as you stabilized yourself in your beside table

"Amor, c'mon, let's go" He came back pulling a hoodie of his over your almost naked frame

That's the little story of how you ended up in the hospital two hours later at 5.30am

"It hurts" You cracked out a bit before letting out air

"I know, mi vida, I know; I'm sorry" He kissed your hairline softly "Wish I could take your pain away" He was sat next to your bed, holding his hand tightly in yours "She'll be here soon" You smiled a bit

"She will" You closed your eyes a bit hissing as another contraction hit you "Our parents?" You tried to take your mind away from the pain

"Mine are on their way here along with Au and Javi, yours the car didn't start, they are waiting for you brother to pick them up" You nod "I already called the guys, Pedri and Baldé are here, they're on the waiting room"

"That really sweet of them" You smiled lightly

"Yes it is. Would you like to see them?"

"Later" You took a deep breath already feeling tired "Not a fan of people looking at me while I'm looking awful"

"You're not looking awful at all" Pablo said shaking his head inmediately "You're looking extremely beautiful, more than you always do. You're about to give birth to our babygirl, bring a new life. You're absolutely gorgeous and I love you so much" You smiled feeling another contraction "Feeling okay?" You nod

You spent seven hours more like that, by the time it was due for Helena to come into the world, everyone was inside the room. The guys, your girl friends and families.

"Señora Páez" The doctor came inside with a smile "Ready to bring your little one into this world?" You nod excited as everyone left the room

"Want you here" You whispered to Pablo

"I wasn't going to leave you, mi vida" He kissed your forehead grabbing your hand tightly

"What if I can't do it?" You asked being afraid watching the nurses and the doctor get everything and preparing themselves

"Don't say that. You can and you will do this. You are the strongest woman I've ever met in my whole life, you can do absolutely everything. I love you" He kissed you softly on the lips "You're about to bring the most beautiful thing ever into our lives, mi amor. I trust you, I know you can do this, preciosa"

"Ready?" The doctor asked

"Pablo"

"Get ready, mi amor. I'm here with you. Let's become parents"

When you heard those words come out from his mouth, you pushed, pushed and pushed with your everything. You were going to be a mom, you have waited for this moment ever since you found out of your pregnancy, you wanted to hold you baby in your arms.

And you finally collapsed after hearing the doctor's yell of joy, Pablo's arms catching you and soon you heard her screams and you smiled happily

"Here she is!"

"Preciosa?"

"I'm alright" You breathed out with a smile on "I'm alright" You smiled at Pablo, he smiled back at you and kissed your lips

"Dad, wanna cut the umbilical cord?" Pablo nodded excited hand already out to grab the scissors from the nurse's hand.

Pablo was shaking, he was feeling happier than ever and the excitement he was already a dad was settling in

"Momma, here's your babygirl" One of the nurses passed her to you, she was crying but as soon as you got her into your chest she stopped

"Lena, mi amor" You said softly, one of your fingers going to her little hand, as she gripped it tightly "Mi niña hermosa, we're mommy and daddy" Your voice cracked a bit.

You felt arms around you and saw Pablo hugging you both while crying lightly

"Joder, que es preciosa" Pablo let out and Helena wriggled a little, he put his arm underneath yours and she relaxed again, it was beautiufl how she seemed to understand, sense the voices and touches you had given her through your belly eight months back. Soon Pablo's hand gripped both of yours "Hija mía, we're extremely happy to finally have you here with us" You smiled "You're so loved already and we're going to take so much care of you for the rest of your life" He spoke his voice cracking too, he couldn't stop watching her and neither could you "Mommy and daddy love you so much"

She was gorgeous. She was perfect already.

"Thank you so much, mi vida" He finally looked at you "I can't ever thank you enough for this. You've made me a dad and I'm truly and forever grateful for it. Te amo, mi reina"

"Y yo a ti" You whispered kissing his lips. You gestured him to hold her too and he smiled grabbing her "I think she'll look like you"

"I don't think so. She's too beautiful to have my beauty genes" You laughed lightly

"You're extremely handsome, Pablo"

"But you have the good looks in our relationship" He said looking at you smiling, you blushed as he laughed lightly "I can still make your momma blush, Lena. I haven't lost my touch and I better never do" You shook your head

"You know you won't" He winked ready to keep joking until your moment was cut by the nurse who asked him for Helena to check her out and all.

"We're parents" Pablo said as soon as the nurse left with your daughter. You smiled at him and nodded

"We are" You kissed him and broke the kiss thanks to your yawn, making Pablo laugh

"Are my kisses that boring?"

"Oh shut up" You laughed

"Go to sleep for a bit, mi amor. I'll take care of Helena for now" You smiled

"You need to sleep too, you know?"

"I didn't just pushed a human out of me, you know?" You laughed "Go to sleep. I'll be fine with her and if something happens or if she needs you, I'll call you" You nodded "Te amo"

"Y yo a ti" You said closing your eyes

When you woke up, you woke up by some shushing and a few laughs

"Hijos de su madre, que se callen" You heard your husband say "Y/N is asleep and so is Helena"

"Already in dad mode?"

"I swear to God, I will kick you guys out of the room if you don't stay quiet"

"You'll have to kick yourself too" You replied watching Pablo instantly wip his face towards you, you smiled watching the pink blanket on his arms "you're also being loud"

"Sorry mi amor" He inmediately apologized going over to you to kiss you "How are you feeling?"

"Sore and tired" You laughed lightly watching your babygirl sleep in her dad's chest. You made a bit of space in the bed for him and your baby to sit, which he glady took

"Wanna eat?" You nod kind of forgetting about the bunch of people that were in the room

"Hi everyone" You said softly earning a few giggles

"How are you, my dear?" Your mom asked you as you nod lighty

"Never been this good" You smiled

"Congratulations, momma" Pedri said smiling as you smiled back at him

"Thank you, godfather" He blushed coming over to hug you.

Soon you saw the whole team, your close friends and your family fill the room with balloons, teddy bears and some chocolate for you, you smiled widely

"Thank you everyone for being here" You said

"Thank you for giving us the prettiest daughter, grandaughter, niece, friend and babygirl ever" Baldé said winning a few 'aw's' from the guys. You laughed

"She definitely got your beauty"

"Stop with that" You smiled

"Hopefully she got your brains and personality too" Pablo himself said making you laugh, the guys started to talk about something but you shut them off.

You were watching your husband be with your baby girl when she started crying

"Might be hungry" You smiled at Aurora, Pablo passed you Helena as you accommodated her, the guys excused themselves to let you have that first mom-daughter communication but Pablo, both of your moms and Aurora who stayed

"Thank you" Aurora said "For making me an aunt, for giving me the most beautiful niece ever, I wish the two of you as a relation all the greatest things and happiness in the world, and to your little but gorgeous family the same thing" She kissed her brother's and yours temple before coming out of the room

"That might hurt a bit" Belén said making you smile ", but it's the worlds most precious feeling"

"I agree" Your mom said smiling, the two older woman helped you and instructed you om how to breastfeed for the first time before leaving the room, not before both of them thanking you too.

"You can sleep too, you know?" You said to Pablo after a few minutes, he was mesmerized watching the two woman of his life, he shook his head

"Don't really want to" He whispered

"But you have to" You smiled "I'll wake you up if I need anything. It's your time to rest, amor" He smiled giving in after three kisses. He jumped out of your bed towards one that the hospital had put for him.

And with a hand on your thigh he fell asleep. You smiled once more watching the two loves of your lives.

Helena is such a lucky baby, having the most beautiful family by blood and by choice ever. You knew that she would always be taken care of, if you and Pablo couldn't, she was going to be extremely spoiled by them too and she will grow up with so much love, respect and care in every aspect of the words. But you were also lucky to have Pablo in your life and also the guys.

"Lena" You called her softly "You and mommy are extremely lucky" Your eyes shiftened to Pablo "I've got the world's most perfect husband and you've got the world's most perfect dad. That's the man of our lives" You smiled at her as her hand was placed on your chest lightly "I'm sure he'll do anything to see both of us happy, but I'm also sure we only need him to be like that. Am I right?" She gripped your hand and kicked her feet making you laugh, you took it as an agreement of your statement "That's right, my little ray of sunshine"

Helena was in your lives since only five hours ago, but you already loved your little and perfect family of three.

°°° °°° °°° °°°

Taglist: @gaviypedrisbride @elijahslover @stuckinaf4nfiction

[empressofthesunwriter]

Kill La Hero: 01

In the lottery of Quirk’s Michi got on really special and annoying one. A living, sarcastic ribbon named Ares, who puts her into superpowered revealing outfits. But this won't stop the girl from fulfilling her dream of being a hero! Just watch her!

(But not too closely please!)

MHA MEETS KILL LA KILL!

!!!PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!!

So I had this random idea while I finished watching Kill La Kill (I know it’s fucked up but also really funny and entertaining) that having a super suit like Senketsu would be an awesome and funny Quirk.

So Michi and Ares were born.

This is going to be IzukuXOC Pairing, so if you don’t like it, don’t read it!

Enjoy the ride!

Also made Michi outfits!

Chapter 1: The Girl with the Ribbon

Frowning at her reflection, the female fixed her red glasses.

At least the school uniform was black.

It didn’t look horrible on her with her salmon hair colour and her red, spooky (her cousin Lina’s words) eyes.

“You don’t get prettier, looking into your Vanity Mirror, Michi.”, sassed Ares, the bain of her existence from his place on her head.

She looked up at the sentient ribbon.

He looked down.

If his speaking without a mouth, didn’t make clear he wasn’t a normal ribbon, his looks sure would. He was dark maroon, then in the middle dark pink, followed up by red eyeballs, black scalder and yellow pupils.

“And I don’t need your stupid commentary!”, she reminds him. “Especial today.”

“Why because you are going to a new school? It’s not the first time, Whirlwind. You needed to move here so your Mama could care for your grandparents. It’s not that different when you moved school because you broke someone's nose.”, he really had the gall to say.

Huffing she pulled Ares a bit. The ribbon cried out in pain.

Yes, he could feel pain.

“We are in Japan, you idiot. I’m used to moving to our city in Italy, from school to school, but here I’m a foreigner.”

“I thought Michela, La Vendetta, doesn’t care what people think of her and if they want to tease her she just punches them in the face.”, reminds Ares.

With another huff, Michela grasped her new school bag and went to the kitchen.

Did she really though this piece of cloth would get it?

“Ares.”, she tried again to explain. “In two years I will be finished with Junior High and try to get into one of the big Hero Schools. I can’t risk any more notes in my school records. I want to go to U.A. since Herakles University in Greece is now out of the question. U.A. is the best hero school in all of Japan! Only the best get in. And I intend to be one of them. If I have to play the role of demure school girl I will.”

It was still for a few seconds between them before Ares pointed out: “You have pierced ears, wear large hoop earrings, for your last birthday your parents allowed you a tattoo and your red eyes are creepy. Only your glasses make you look soft. You don’t scream innocent school girl more like Fight-Me!”

Michela could just grit her teeth together.

He wasn’t wrong.

It’s her Italian temperament that always gets her into situations where fist flies.

She wished she had gotten a bit more of the calm nature of her Japanese mother, however besides the hair colour, she came totally after her Italian father.

People never believed her when she told them she was half-Japanese.

In secret, she didn’t believe it sometimes too.

Michela loved her mother and her mother loved her, sadly they weren’t always on the same page.

Her father understood her better.

“Good morning, Michi-Chan.”, greeted her Obaa-San from the kitchen table.

Her grandparents and her father sat already, while her mother was putting the last dishes on it.

She greeted her grandparents back in Japanese, then switched to Italian to greet her parents.

Jiji-San had hearing problems, so he asked what she had said, and she repeated it.

Then she sat down and had to sign.

A traditional Japanese breakfast.

Again.

Since they moved in with her grandparents mother only cooked Japanese, since the two elders were a bit old-fashioned in the food department.

Michela or Michi here in Japan found the red eyes of her father. She saw understanding in them.

They both craved some Brioche with crema.

Father and daughter signed together.

What one endured for the ones you love.

***

Her new school, Aldera Junior High, looked straight out of an anime.

Normally she would enjoy this, but Michi was a tiny bit nervous.

She couldn’t be anymore the tough, fist-fighting girl she loved, so who the heck was she now?

A strange foreigner with a weird ribbon, she heard her schoolmates whisper as she got into the school.

An angry mark formed on her head as she changed her street shoes to indoor shoes.

Just stay calm.

Don’t start swinging.

“You are a bunch of rude kids.”, told Ares a group of a few girls and boys, who were whispering beside her.

This made the little group jump in fright. They didn’t expect that the ribbon could talk.

What Quirk was that?!

The salmon-haired girl just reached up and petted Ares.

“Ares, I don’t care.”, she told him in Italian. “You don’t have to fight my fights.”

“We fight together did you forget?”

It made her smile. When he wanted Ares could be sweet.

Her head holding high Michi walked past the gossiping people, trying to find her classroom.

She found it thankful before the school clock sounded.

“Alright, class, settle down!”, told her new teacher, her new classmates.

He looked at the paper in his hand and turned to her, who was still standing by the door.

“Massaro Michela?”

“Michi is fine, Sensei.”

“Alright, come here Michi-San.”

So she stepped beside him as he shouted into the class.

“Class meet our new student. This is Massaro Michi. She moved from Italy here. Please welcome her with open arms.”

As her mother had explained to her, she bowed in greetings.

“Please take care of me!”

Again the whispers started. Not only her, but she could also feel Ares getting annoyed about that.

“Michi-San, I’m Watanabe-Sensei, if you have a question just turn to me. Now would you like to tell us a bit about yourself?”

Tell this judgemental little bitches something about her.

Oh, she would like to start swinging, however, she got a better idea.

In her thoughts, she thanked again her older cousin Stefano for introducing her to Anime and Manga.

She had the perfect way to introduce herself.

“I’m Massaro Michi. I have no intention of telling you my likes and dislikes. As for my dream…I have a few hobbies.”

The flabbergasted faces of her classmates and the cough-disguised laugh of Watanabe-Sensei were worth it, to not play the demure school girl.

What was she thinking?

She was a rebel through and through.

So she nodded to her Sensei and picked the only free sit in the classroom.

Michi had a feeling it would be a long day.

***

Bored Michi picked at her bento box, while Ares took a nap.

It was finally lunch break and how the girl needed a break!

Here in Japan, they were way beyond the curriculum she had in Italy! It didn’t help at all that she could already speak, write and read Japanese when they were so advanced!

Her mother had insisted on learning Japanese, in the past it had been a pain in the butt, however, Michi was now glad for it.

Maybe she should forget U.A. it was too much work.

“No I shouldn’t think this way.”, she scolded herself. “All I ever wanted was to be a hero. My Quirk is a pain in the butt, but if I don’t use it for good, I would feel so bad.”

Thankful Ares was sleeping or he would hit her for calling him a pain in the butt.

Slowly Michi picked up a piece of salmon with her chopsticks to place it in her mouth when she heard it.

Something hitting someone.

This someone letting out a little quiet hurt sound.

The salmon-haired girl turned around on the bench where she sat.

What she saw made her instantly angry.

There was a small, frail-looking boy with wild green hair that reminded her of broccoli, sitting all alone on a bench, like her and behind him some punks threw paper balls at him.

Oh no, not on her watch.

Like she was fury herself she stood up and raced up to the frail boy before another paper ball hit him on the head. She caught it and threw it right back in one of the bully's faces.

“Hey, you bitchass assholes take someone of your own size!”, she growled.

The bullies were taken aback by Michi's sudden outburst and stood up to confront her. 

But before they could say anything, Ares unfurled himself from Michi's hair and glared at them with his menacing red eyes. 

"You really shouldn't mess with my girl," he warned, his voice low and threatening.

The bullies hesitated for a moment before backing down and slinking away.

“Thanks Ares.”

Her ribbon shrunk to its normal size.

“Anytime, Michi.”

Then Michi turned to the green-haired boy who was staring at her in shock.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

He nodded slowly, still looking a bit dazed. "Th-thank you," he stammered.

"No problem. I can't stand bullies."

“Is...is he your Quirk?”, wonders the boy shy, pointing at Ares. “I...I never saw something like that, it...it’s cool!”

“Thanks, boy!”, preened Ares, puffing himself up. “I’m quite formidable.”

“A formidable pervert.”, deadpanned Michi.

Ares may give her powers beyond imagination, yet the outfit it came in...shudder!

Her ribbon huffed, while broccoli boy titled his head in confusion.

Gosh, he was adorable.

“It’s whatever.”, waved Michi and sat down beside him. He suddenly turned so red, that he was giving competition to tomatoes. “I didn’t introduce myself I’m Massaro Michela but call me Michi, Class 1B. The ribbon on my head is Ares, he is part of my Quirk.”

It took him a while, however, the boy managed to answer her: “I’m...I’m...M-Midoriya Izuku. Class 1A.”

Strange that he didn’t tell his Quirk, but it was none of her business. 

Maybe it was an embarrassing one.

She knows this kind of Quirk well.

“Sucks, that we aren’t in the same class. I would love to know already someone nice there, but we can still be friends.”

Midoriya nearly falls over the bench. Did he hear right?!

“You...You want to be my friend?”

Michi shrugged her shoulders.

“You seem way nicer than anyone I meet today. All think me a freak for Ares and because I’m from Italy. In my eyes, you are a good friend materiel.”

Midoriya couldn't believe his luck. He had been dreading lunchtime, knowing he would have to sit alone again, but now he had made a friend.

And not just any friend, but someone who was brave enough to stand up to bullies and had a cool Quirk to boot.

He felt like he had hit the jackpot.

"I'd like that," he said, smiling shyly at Michi. "I don't have many friends either."

They spent the rest of lunch chatting about this and that.

Midoriya, who became fast Izuku, was curious about Italy and the Italian Superheroes she liked.

So told him all about the amazing Seraphina, who had an Angel-Quirk.

She noted that Izuku wanted to get something out of his backpack and Ares and she encouraged him to just get it out.

It turned out Izuku had such a passion for heroes that he wrote about them in notebooks, all he could find out about them.

Michi and Ares were impressed and Izuku nearly cried that someone (A girl nonetheless! And a nice entity) didn’t mocked him for his hero studies.

On the contrary, they helped him add some things too and described Seraphina in their best quality.

Then they talked about the Japanese Heroes and both found out that they liked All Might a lot. Mirko was Michi’s favourite Japanese Hero, but she owned some All Might Merch as well.

Izuku felt in heaven (Michi was turning into a goddess in his eyes) and Michi felt herself relaxing for the first time since arriving in Japan.

Maybe this new school wouldn't be so bad after all.

They continued to chat throughout the rest of lunch and even walked back to class together.

As it was time to part Michi asked for Izuku's phone number, which he repeated stuttering and sweating, such a cutie, and she gave hers.

How Izuku acted getting her phone number felt like she had given him the Holy Grail or something.

Yes, he was indeed a cutie.

With a hair ruffle, she left her new friend.

Never seeing how he happily freaked out that a girl touched him!

This was the start of a beautiful friendship, no question.

25.05.24: I decide to delete the second chapter and start new with this FF.

I hope you all like the new cover art too. :D

Next

[bluewaterhigh2005]

BAD SISTERS is the show of the year and it's not even close because why did i just wake up so anxious about it that i had to rewatch the latest episode at 6 in the morning just to once again see sharon horgan become a certified hag

[blindspot-repata]

High School Blindspot

Chapter 3

I swear, I tried focus on Jeller, but Repata os everything for me. I promise on next chapter to Focus more to Jeller

Edgar opened the window of his room after hearing a crashing sound. He was home alone because Emma, his mother, was a nurse and most of the time worked at night and his 15-year old sister, Lis, had gone to sleep at a friend's house. The figure waiting for him outside reminded him a few years earlier when they were younger. She always did that, especially when she was in trouble and didn't want to worry about her grandparents, and even if she didn't want to say anything, she would come to him just for company. He always welcomed her, often without asking why, and he just welcomed her. Edgar helped her up and they both sat on the bed. Natasha had a tired countenance that made him feel a twinge of concern.

“It's all right?” The girl shook her head no. “Are you want to talk?”

Edgar watched in silence as Natasha unzipped and removed her sweter from the cold. The boy was startled by what he saw because he did not expect anything so shocking.

"Tasha..." He felt his voice crack and didn't know what to do. The girl had several bruises on both arms and part of her neck, and the rest was hidden under her t-shirt. “What happened?” He looked at her that remained silent and he knew. Ricky.

"Last night he was different and I didn't want to, because I got scared and he forced me, and..." Natasha couldn't talk about it with anyone, but she couldn't take it anymore.

“Did you go to the police? It can't be like this. We have to stop this guy. This is very serious.” Edgar got very nervous and felt his blood boil. Someone had to stop Ricky.

“Not worth it. I won’t see him anymore. Complaining will only expose me and I don't want that.” At some point he will get what he deserves.

Edgar didn't agree, he knew something had to be done, but showing his anger and nervousness now wouldn't help her, that wasn't why she came to him. She came because she needed someone she trusted, and he was there for her, always. The boy took her hand and gently touched the bruises along her arm. A lonely tear rolled down Natasha's cheek.

“It hurts?” Edgar asked and the girl shook her head.

“It hurt yesterday, but now I'm used to it.”

“You don't have to get used to feeling pain. Come here.” Edgar took her in his arms and comforted her and Natasha broke into sobs. Both remained in this position for long minutes until she calmed down and they lay on the bed. The boy just chose to give her his company and if she wanted to say anything else he would be there.

He watched her until she fell asleep. When he saw that she wouldn't wake up, he covered her with a blanket and brushed the hairs off her face. Her countenance showed the suffering she was bringing, perhaps for some time, and he felt terrible realizing that she hadn’t told him before what was happening because she didn’t want to worry him and that he was involved in other things and he wasn’t there for her. He wouldn’t let that happen anymore. He promised himself that he would pay more attention and try to be closer. She looked so small and fragile lying there in his bed that the looker couldn’t imagine the suffering inside her.

Edgar left the room and did what he needed.

“Mrs Amelia?”

“Hi, Edgar? It's all right?”

‘Yes, don't worry. Natasha is here at my home. She slept, I just called to let her know. I don't want to wake her up because she looked so tired.”

“Is she okay, my son? I didn't see her leave.”

“Now she's fine. She slept a little.”

“Thanks for warning me. Just take care of her.”

“I'm taking care her, Mrs Amelia.”

Edgar hung up the phone and went back to the bedroom. He took an extra mattress from under the bed and made it to sleep because she wanted to make room for her. When they were kids Natasha always did that and often they just watched a movie or played video games. When it was late, Edgar's mother came to his son room and if they were sleeping she would call Natasha's grandmother and let her know that the girl was at her house. Over time they grew and the visits decreased more and more. It had been a while since a few years, so Edgar was surprised to see her.

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

“Dad!? What was it this time?” Kurt addressed his father who was drinking coffee in the kitchen.

‘What are you talking about, son?”

"You must have gotten drunk again and bumped into my car when you went to put your car in the garage." Kurt wasn’t a futile young man attached to material goods, but he was full of his father's drunkenness.

It was this life since her mother left years ago. Kurt was careful that his sister wouldn’t be harmed in all this situation, so he did his best to be a good influence on the 16-year-old sister who had always been a good girl. Now the boy was preparing to pursue a military career, he thought he would make it and would join next year.

Kurt pulled the car out of the garage and stopped for a minute to look home ahead. He could see the little girl running down the ever-cheerful stairs. And he remembered the night she was killed the victim of a brutal killer who was never caught. It was the worst moment of his life when he found her body in the woods, so he remembered Remi, the girl in his class, he didn't know why but Remi reminded him of Taylor, perhaps by the gentleness and the soft look.

The school was busy because it was game day and early on the cheerleaders were getting ready. Kurt had even risked playing for a while, but he didn't want to go, preferring to keep his fitness running, which he did almost daily. Then he saw her entering the school with her brother. She looked toward him and nodded, Kurt grinning at her as he disappeared along with the crowd of students.

When she got to the gym for the game Kurt saw her in the distance sitting with Patty and dared to sit beside them.

“Hello! Can I sit with you.”

The two nodded and prepared for the start of the game. Allie was in the crowd by the field. Kurt and she dated for a while, but they had few things in common and the relationship was getting cold, they still met sometimes but lately he felt less and less like seeing her. He looked at the girl beside him and returned her smile. She was truly beautiful and her bright green eyes seemed to mesmerize him.

Natasha joined them in the stands and was very excited to see Edgar in a great move, she didn’t contain and shouted to the friend who managed to score the touchdown giving the team victory. He was the best person she had ever met and she was very grateful to have him beside her. She had never thought of him as anything but friendship, but sometimes she felt her heart speed up depending on the way he looked at her. The way he welcomed her with his problems was different. Last night he let her sleep in his bed and even warned his grandmother. Her heart filled with his actions.

She didn't hold back and waited for him to leave the locker room after changing and greeted him with a hug. He didn't care because she had always been hugging her friends, but something seemed different and Edgar couldn't decipher what it was. Natasha saw him look sideways and followed her gaze. Sarah The girl was leaving the locker room with another player and she saw Edgar sadden.

“Let's get out of here.” Natasha said through gritted teeth and felt very angry at her friend. How can Sarah do this in front of him?

As they left school she had been approached.

“Natasha, I came for you.” Ricky had addressed her as if he owned it.

"I'm not going anywhere with you. Go away!” The girl tried not to change the tone of voice, because she didn’t want to get anyone's attention.

"I will only if you come with me."

"She already said she won't go with you!" Edgar couldn't hold back and intervened.

“And who will stop me? You, you brat? When will you get out of her foot and realize it's me she wants and you'll always be just the little friend?” Ricky scorned their friendship. Edgar lunged at him and the boy shoved him, knocking him to the floor.

"Go away, man, you're not welcome here!" Roman arrived and decided that he should take sides in the situation.

“Now you have many defenders, Natasha! Increased your little group of friends?”

“I won't talk again. If you don't leave I'll hit you.” Roman was already pushing the edge of irritation.

“She has a lot of friends, yes. Get out of here!” Edgar got up and went to the other boy's side.

"I'm leaving, but it won't be like this. They will not always be around.” Ricky got on his motorcycle and sped off.

Natasha felt so much hatred and humiliation, because she hated drawing attention. She went to her friends who were already there, Edgar, Kurt, Patty, the rookie girl, Remi and her brother, and they all went home without much comment.

[iamknicole]

Home Alone

Family Ties

Haleigh walked out of the bathroom in black shorts and one of Ardian's shirts after a shower. She smiled seeing Carlito where she'd left him-- on their bed with her phone on Facetime with Ardian.

"Oooh, Mommy wear your shirt, Daddy," Carlito giggled.

Haleigh sucked her teeth, laughing at him as she brushed her wet hair up into a ponytail. "Bug! You supposed to keep a secret."

Carlito shook his head. "You tell Mama me pee myself, it was a secret."

Ardian listened to them go back and forth, just smiling. He was away doing press for the New Edition Story for the next couple of days, he didn't want to leave then but he didn't have a choice.

"Look here, lil tattle tell. It's time for bed so tell Daddy you love him." Haleigh climbed into the bed next to Carlito. She pulled him close to her and took the phone.

"Ooh me sing my song for Daddy?" Carlito asked stalling.

His parents laughed at him, Haleigh stopped him before he could start.

"No, sir. Your daddy heard that song three times already today. Save some for when he comes home. Say love you and blow Daddy kisses."

"Papa take me to get seafood, Daddy. The shrimp had eyes," he squealed.

Ardian laughed, "I know, Lil Man. Remember you told Daddy about it yesterday?"

"Oh," he paused tapping his chin, "Simba took me to the park taday. We slided."

Haleigh rolled her eyes laughing and got his attention. "How about this? If you don't go to bed, you don't get to have chocolate pancakes tomorrow and Mommy is gonna give you oatmeal instead."

"Nooooo," he giggled covering his face. "Me go night, night, Daddy. Lub you."

"Love you too, Lil Man," Ardian said then blew kisses back to his son. "I love you too, Pig Tails."

"We'll call you in the morning on our way to see Nonna and Nonno." She told him using her free hand to rub Carlito's back.

"Um, yeah. If I don't answer, I'll call yall right back. We got an interview early tomorrow and I'm not sure when it'll be over."

"Alright, Ardi. See you later. Tell Daddy see you later, Bug," She said turning the phone slightly. Carlito mumbled incoherently as he drifted off to sleep.

After hanging up, Haleigh laid beside Carlito a little longer to make sure he was sleep before going downstairs. She wanted to clean up the toys, he had taken out when Simba came over. Carlito had to show off all the toys Ardian had gotten him since coming home.

Deciding against turning on any music, that would definitely wake Carlito, Haleigh hummed to herself as she cleaned. Once the toys were put away, Haleigh started to straighten Ardian's games that Carlito had gotten into. In the midst of cleaning, Haleigh heard noises coming from their back sliding door. She wished she had the dogs but they were with Rezar so he could take them to their appointments.

Her first thought was Carlito. She had to get upstairs to him. She jogged through the hallways towards the staircase but she locked eyes with the two people at her backdoor. It was then that she remembered Carlito had opened the blinds earlier that day so he could see out. The man trying to open the door smiled creepily at her and she took off upstairs.

By the time she got to the second floor she heard glass shatter making her move faster. Haleigh locked the bedroom door behind her, scooped Carlito up in her arms, grabbed her phone and went into the closet. Thankfully Ardian had put a lock on it. She laid Carlito in a corner out of the east and covered, glad that gee was still sleeping.

"She's a lot cuter in person."

"I don't care of she's cute or not, she's gettin done."

Haleigh was trying not to panic as her encounter with Todd replayed in her head. The doorknob started to jiggle and she panicked. After putting her phone near Carlito's hand she ran to another part of the closet just as the door popped open.

"Where you at, girl? We just wanna talk to you a friend of ours."

Haleigh watched then with get hand to her mouth until she dare them going towards where Carlito was sleeping. She grabbed one of Ardian's watches at them, hitting the bigger one in the head. He yelped and turned to glare at her.

"You raggedy bitch. Get her, Carlos!"

Haleigh tried to run from the closet but Carlos grabbed her. She wasn't trying to leave Carlito, she just didn't want them near him. He drug her by her hair out of the closet with his partner right behind them.

"Let me go! Let go!" She fussed trying to pull away from his hold.

The other man attempted to grab her legs at she kicked wildly at him. She landed once kick to his nose, slowing him down for the moment. Carlos dropped her and she took her chance to run only to be caught just as she got to the stairs being pulled back by her shirt.

"Got dammit, I think this bitch broke my fuckin nose!"

"How the hell you let this little ass girl punk yo ass like that? Laura ain't send us here to play."

The other man laughed a bit, "Yeah she sent us to take something from you since you took her son."

Carlos laughed with him letting Haleigh hit the floor. "Now are you gon let it go willingly or you gon make us take it?"

The two of them attempted to hold her down and take her clothes off but she was fighting much more than they hoped. From the corner of her eye, Haleigh saw Carlito standing near them with the phone in his hand. She couldn't let them do anything in front of her baby

Haleigh kicked at the other man in his nose again making more blood gush out of it and then in his temple. He fell back holding hits nose them passed out. Carlos fought back more than his partner, he got on top of Haleigh trying to hold her down, Carlito started to cry.

"Get off me mommy! Stop that!" He yelled holding the phone tight to his chest.

Haleigh was able to roll onto her side and kicked Carlos down the stairs. She sat quickly and beckoned for Carlito to come to her.

"Come on, Bug. We gotta hurry, just step around him," she encouraged as quickly and nicely as she could.

"Him get me, Mommy."

" I promise he won't, baby but we have to go now. Come on, please, big boy."

Carlito thought for a second then quickly ran pass the man unconscious on their floor. Haleigh picked him up and ran down the stairs as fast as she could. She side stepped Carlos, who laid at the bottom of the staircase morning and groaning.

Grabbing the keys to her jeep, Haleigh ran out if their house to the front seat. She got in, locked the door then pushed Carlito to the back. Her hand shook as she tried to start the car.

"Get in your seat and buckle up, Bug."

"Me can't do it. Me need help," he cried struggling to hold the phone and the seat belt.

Haleigh looked up, finding Carlos in front of the SUV holding his back. She quickly started the engine and pulled out of their driveway, speeding down the street of the neighborhood.

"Mommy, slow down. Me can't not do it."

Haleigh glanced at him briefly trying to figure out how to help him without stopping.

"Aren't you a strong like Daddy, Bug?"

"Mmhm, yes ma'am."

"Well then baby you can do it. Daddy does it. Just please do it so you dont get hurt cause Mommy can't stop right now." She explained constantly looking in her rearview. She didn't see anyone following her but she wasn't taking any chances.

Finally there was a click.

"Me do it, Mommy!"

"Good job," she praised through her tears. "Mommy is so proud of you. Wanna go for a drive, Lito?"

"Yes ma'am. Where we go?" He asked still cradling the phone.

"How about we go to grandpa's farm," she said referring to Kandice's parents.

"Otay, Mommy. Me sleep?" He asked yawning.

"Yeah, just give Mommy her phone. I'll wake you when we get there."

Haleigh grabbed the phone from her son, trying to look at it and drive. She wanted to get it as far away from the city as she could. When she unlocked her phone she found that Carlito had called Ardian, leaving most of what happened on his voicemail. She would call him after she let her grandparents know she was coming.

No shoes, no purse, just pajamas and her son. But as long as she had Carlito, she had one of the two most important things to her.