#unless its angel getting pregnant in that case lets go

[urproblematicfav-arsonk]

Carmilla finds a way for sinners to have babies so she can start a army of tiny babie spiders and also just Have more kids.

Rosie finds out and decides she wants to participate so she goes to Alastor and says they can just turkey baster it and really dejectedly Al sighs and says "no.....I'll do it myself"

[viking-raider]

Southern Generation - Part VI

Summary: Sy officially moves in with Lily and they go on a road trip to make amends.

Pairing: Austin Syverson/OFC (Lily)

Word Count: 11,965

Warning: PG-13 - Language, Fluff, Angst, Smut, Oral - F Receiving, Drama, Pregnancy Cravings

Inspiration: Syverson is OP

Author's Note: Thanks to the wonderful @wondersofdreaming

Author's Note 2: Make sure to follow and turn on the notifications for my Tag List blog @viking-raider-taglist to stay up to date on this and all my other stories!

“That's the last of them.” Sy smiled, setting the last box of his stuff down.

With Lily pregnant and them making their relationship official, Sy moved all of his stuff from his Austin apartment into the farmhouse with Lily.

“Well, officially.” Lily replied, resting her hands on her hips and looking up at him. “Welcome home.” She smiled, giddy and proud.

“Thanks, Darling.” He grinned back, cupping her face and kissed her.

Lily smiled, as she woke up from her nap, feeling the warm and heavy weight of Sy's body in bed with her, his head in its customary place, on her chest. She usually woke up from her naps with Sy, whether or not he was with her, when she fell asleep or not. Sighing and moaning softly, she lifted her hand to twist the short, curling ends of his hair between her fingertips.

“Hm.” Sy hummed softly, rubbing his scruffy face against her chest and hugging his arms tighter around her middle, thumb stroking her tummy.

“I'm surprised at you.” Lily whispered, still playing with his hair.

“Why?” Sy moaned back, turning his head to look up at her.

“When I first met you, I half wondered what your hair would look like if you let it grow out.” She explained, running her fingers through it.

“Oh?” He chuckled, smirking at her.

“Yeah.” She blushed at him. “But, I just didn't expect the Bear, Austin Syverson, would have curls.” She grinned at him, twisting the ends of his hair between her fingers, she loved his developing curls.

“My hair hasn't been this long in ten years.” Sy laughed, blushing and biting his lip. “I've been thinking about cutting it again.”

“I will end you, Wyatt.” Lily threatened, touching the tip of her finger to his nose.

“Oh, busting out the middle name and everything.” He smirked, taking a playful snap at the tip of her finger. “Lily?” He whispered, biting the inside of his lip as he stared into her eyes.

“What?” She replied, tilting her head at him.

“Have you thought about going back?” Sy murmured, brow creasing. “Back to Middleburg, to see your grandparents. Jak isn't a threat anymore. I'm sure they would love to see you and I'd bet my life, you want to see them again. Especially now, with the baby on the way.”

Lily pressed her lips together, resting her hands on Sy's shoulders. “It would be nice to see them again.” She answered, after a long pause.

“But?” He pressed, sensing it coming next.

“What if they don't want to see me?” She asked, searching his eyes for comfort, and found it. “What if they don't want me in their life anymore?”

Sy took a deep breath, sitting up as he did, and brought Lily up with him. “Then, that's their loss.” He told her, folding her up in his arms and pressing his lips to her forehead. “If they don't want you in their life, then they are missing out on knowing one of the most amazing gals, who can light up a room, simply by walking into it.”

“You're just buttering me up, Austin.” Lily mumbled into his neck.

“Woman, have I ever lied to you?” Sy grinned into her hair.

“No.” She chuckled, blushing shyly.

“I don't intend to now, Angel.” He whispered, kissing her temple. “But, you won't know their reaction, unless you go and see them.” He added, softer.

“I know.” She whispered back, leaning against his chest. “You're right. I owe it to them and myself.”

“Whatever choice you make, I'll support you, every step of the way.” Sy told her, gently tipping her head back and tenderly kissed her.

“I think I want to go see them.” Lily said, later that night, while she and Sy sat at the dinner table.

Sy looked up from his plate of spaghetti and garlic bread, slowly lowering his fork. “All right.” He nodded, straightening his back and giving her his full attention. “When do you wanna go?”

“The sooner, the better, I think.” She mumbled, shifting in her seat, her own dinner mostly untouched.

Sy nodded his head again, quietly regarding Lily from across the table. He could see the worried and fearful anxiety on her face, still mulling over every worst case scenario about seeing her grandparents again, he could almost see every one of them tick by her eyes. Afraid that her grandparents would disown her, the moment they laid eyes on her. Blaming her for what transpired with Jak. Afraid of what their reaction would be, when she showed up at their door, after five years of silence, pregnant with the baby of man they had never heard of or met before, especially since they were incredibly religious.

He reached across the table, just in time to catch the tear that escaped and started to slip down her cheek, then rested his hand over hers. “No matter what happens, Lily. You still have me.” He told her, lovingly.

“You still have us.”

Lily grasped Sy's hand and tried to smile at him and not cry at the same time, which was hard with the way her hormones were starting to really get out of control. “I know.” She choked back.

“Let me finish painting the rest of the house and go to your twelve week baby appointment on Friday, then we'll pack a bag and ourselves into the car and drive out there.” He told her, making a game plan, so her frazzled and tired mind could relax.

“It's only a twenty-ish hour drive.”

“I think, that's a good idea.” Lily nodded, chewing on her lip, taking deep breaths.

Sy smiled and squeezed her hand. “Good.” He chuckled and let her hand go, before picking his fork back up and dug into his spaghetti.

Sy double checked his large, Army issued duffel bag, making sure he and Lily had enough clothing, he had her zofran, nausea medicine, and prenatal vitamin, along with everything else he, Lily and Aika would need for the almost nineteen hour drive from Celina to Middleburg, Virginia, having already put her pregnancy pillow in the car, before tugging the bag closed, slung it over his shoulder and went downstairs.

“Billie promised to keep an eye on the place and pick up the mail for us.” Lily said, meeting him in the entryway hall.

“Great.” He smiled. “Well, I got all our stuff packed.” He said, jostling the duffel bag.

“I already packed some snacks in the truck too.”

“Then, we're all set!”

“No, I have to pee, one more time.” Lily giggled, and rushed into the half bath.

Sy laughed, shaking his head and took the duffel bag out to the truck, dropping it in the back seat with Aika. “All set?” He asked as Lily came out of the house.

“I am now!” She nodded, crossing the yard to the truck and got into the passenger seat.

“Did you lock up?” He asked, getting in with her.

“Yep.”

“You good, Aika?” Sy asked, looking to the German Shepherd, who let out a loud bark. “All right, let's get this road trip underway!” He pulled up Google Maps on his phone and entered the address to Lily's grandparents' place, then set the device on its dock and started the truck.

Sy and Lily laughed, as they sang along to a song that came on Sy's playlist that they both liked, Enemies by Shinedown. But, Sy turned the song down, when Lily suddenly stopped singing and quickly identified the look she got just before she threw up. Quickly popping open the center console, Sy reached inside of it and pulled out a circular, blue and white object and opened it, holding it out to her. Lily took it from him, without question and threw up in it, once or twice.

“Where did you get this?” She asked, looking at it, realizing it was a hospital-grade nausea bag. “Did you rob a hospital?” She chuckled, looking over at him.

“No.” He laughed back at her. “I bought them off Amazon. I wasn't sure if you got car sick on long rides or not. But, I was sure the baby would make you nauseous, at least, once on the drive. So, I wanted to be prepared and make you as comfortable as possible in the process.”

Lily tied the used bag closed, then opened the center console and found another twenty-plus of the blue emesis bags inside. She smiled up at him, shaking her head in disbelief of his utter and complete thoughtful and preparedness.

“You never cease to amaze me, Austin.” She said, sitting back up. “You see how amazing your Daddy is.” Lily grinned, looking at her belly, and making Sy blush.

“Well, I gotta take care of ya, don't I?” He smirked, resting his hand on her thigh.

“Yeah, I suppose.” She sighed, smirking back at him.

“There's some Listerine strips in the center console, by the way.” Sy added, after a few quiet moments.

“I'm sorry, am I offending you?” Lily giggled, opening the console again and fished around for them, before finding the small blue case.

“No, no.” He grinned, chuckling. “Just figured you'd want to get the taste out of your mouth.” He explained, finally getting them on the interstate highway.

“Did you pack my nausea meds?” Lily asked, feeling another wave wash over her.

“Yeah. It's in our bag.” Sy nodded, brow creasing, as he tried to figure out what stupid shenanigans the car in front of them was up too.

Lily twisted in her seat and pulled the worn green bag between the front seats, tugging it open and riffled through it, until she found the little prescription bottle of tiny, white oval tablets, then turned back around. She removed one of the pills and cracked open one of the two bottles of Voss water in the cup holders and downed the pill.

“Why don't you rest?” Sy suggested, reaching behind her seat for her pregnancy pillow. “It's just going to be annoying highway stuff for a while.” He said, giving her the pillow.

“I don't want you to get lonely.” Lily protested, maneuvering and situating the U-shaped pillow into a comfortable position.

Sy smiled over at her. “I'll be fine, Angel.” He assured her. “If I get lonely, I'll talk to Aika and we'll play the quiet game.” He chuckled, looking at the dog from the rear view mirror. “I'll wake you up around one, and we'll find some little place to have lunch.”

“If you're sure.” Lily yawned, she was usually already in the middle of a nap by now.

“Positive, Sweetness.” He nodded, turning the heat on a bit to make sure she was kept warm.

Lily contorted her body in her seat, drawing up her legs and propping her head and the curve of her pillow against the window, wrapping her arms around it and hugging it against her body, before dozing off to sleep. Sy reached out and rested his hand on her leg, gently massaging it as he kept his eyes on the road, just listening to the hum of the tires on the worn asphalt of Interstate Forty fill the silent cabin of the truck; Aika curled up on the backseat. The quiet boredom of the road allowed the devil to whisper into Sy's ear.

He wasn't sure what to do, if Lily's grandparents, the people that raised her, rejected her, and not only her, but their great grand-baby, his child. He knew he had to be strong for Lily, it would crush her, if they wanted nothing to do with her and the baby, but Sy wasn't so sure he would be able to keep himself under control. He had a feeling he would end up giving the couple a very big piece of his mind, before bringing Lily back home to Celina.

“It'll be fine.” He said aloud, glancing over at Lily. “It'll be all right.” He assured her sleeping form, leaning over just enough to lay his hand on her belly.

Sy found a turn off into Memphis just before one in the afternoon, parking at a small riverfront park in downtown Memphis, giving Lily a quiet place to wake up and all three of them a place to stretch their legs, and Aika a place to pee.

“Hey.” Sy called, softly, shutting off the car and leaning across the console. “Lily. Wake up, baby.” He cooed at her, brushing his knuckles against her cheek and tucking her hair behind her ear, kissing the corner of her mouth. “Hey, sweet pea.” He grinned, watching her eyes slowly flutter open, blinking at the bright sunlight glittering off the murky river water.

“Where are we?” She asked in a sleepy voice, rubbing her cheek against the microfiber cover of her pillow.

“The home of the King, Memphis Tennessee.” Sy chuckled, teasingly, and kissed her again. “So, love me tender.”

“I'm all shook up.” Lily chuckled, unfolding herself and sitting up in her seat.

“Well, it's now or never, baby doll.” Sy roared, his head going back.

“Oh, don't be cruel.”

“But, I can't help fallin' in love.” He chimed back.

“What now, my love?” Lily asked, smirking at him.

“I knew there was a reason I loved you.” Sy commented, finding more and more of them every day. “But, I thought we'd get some fresh air and stretch our legs, I'm sure Aika has to pee. Then, we'll find some lunch.”

“I like that idea.” Lily nodded, pushing her pillow into the back seat, then climbed out of the truck, taking the used nausea bag with her to throw away, while Sy put Aika on her leash.

Sy took Lily by the hand and strolled down the little sidewalk along the riverside, watching the various types of boats go by them on the water. The weather was nice and warm with pleasant enough humidity, a few clouds floating in the baby blue sky.

“Are you craving anything specific?” Sy asked as they patiently waited for Aika to do her business in the grass beside them.

“Hmm.” Lily hummed, pressing her lips together and considering if there was something specific she wanted for lunch; she hadn't had any definitive cravings yet, other than the three days she really needed to eat Mac and Cheese.

But, something specific did strike Lily.

“A pretzel.” She purred, already licking her lips at the thought of the salty baked good.

Sy chuckled at her, amused at the expression on her face, eyes closed and dreamy. “All right. I'll get you a pretzel then.”

It was like a ding went off in Lily's soul. “I want a lot of Pretzels.” She said, eyes popping open and looked up Sy, almost manic and desperate.

“Okay.” He replied, brows raised and blinking at her. “I'll get you a pretzel for lunch, then some to munch on.”

“Yeah.” Lily nodded, staring down at their feet, eyes wide. “Pretzels are good.”

“That they are.” Sy agreed, snickering, unable to keep back his amusement.

Lily's eyes snapped up at him, watching him laugh at her, his eyes practically teasing and making fun of her. “Shut up.” She snapped, but started to laugh back at him. “I can't help it.”

“I know you can't.” He nodded, trying to stop, but it only made him laugh harder. “That's what makes it even better.”

“I hate you.” Lily giggled, playful punching him in the arm. “Now, I want my pretzel, Captain.”

“Yes, Major!” Sy replied, saluting her, then quickly cleaned up after Aika and took them back to the truck. “I just need to find a place to get you one.” He sighed, taking his phone off its dock and googled where to get a pretzel in Memphis, Tennessee.

“Okay, there's an Auntie Anne's not that far from us that does pretzels.” He said, saving the directions and setting them in that direction.

Leaving Aika in the car, Lily and Sy went into the shopping center the Auntie Anne's was in, navigating the crowd and line to the counter. Lily chewed on her lip for a moment, torn between getting a regular pretzel or the pretzel bites, before finally deciding on the bites with the nacho cheese dip. With her food, they navigated their way around again and Sy got himself something from the Wendy's the center had as well, before going back out to the truck to eat there; Lily stealing a couple of Sy's french fries and sharing a couple of her pretzel bites.

Once their lunch was finished and they tossed their empty containers away, Sy made a quick run into the Mega Wal-Mart across the street from the shopping center to buy a big bag of mini pretzels and a case of Voss water for Lily, knowing she was going to get very thirsting from devouring them.

“Thank you.” Lily said, when Sy gave her the bag as he got in the car, her eyes glued on the bag.

“Just don't turn into one.” He teased her, chuckling. “All right, let's get back on the road.”

“I don't want you driving all night, Austin.” Lily mumbled around a mouthful of pretzel.

“I know and I won't.” He replied, reaching a hand into the bag. “I'll go until sun down, then we'll find a place to sleep for the night.” He said, then crammed the four or five pretzels into his mouth.

“Good.” Lily smiled, passing back a pretzel to Aika, who quickly devoured it and came back for more.

Reaching Blacksburg, Virginia just after dark, Sy found a drive-thru to order them dinner and a motel for the night, parking out front of the motel's office. Sighing, he rested back in the driver's seat, scrubbing his palms over his tired face and lulled his head to the side to look over at Lily, who had fallen asleep again, twisted around her pillow and her half eaten bag of pretzels clutched to her chest. They were three hours away from her grandparents' orchard, three hours from finding out whether or not they would be in Lily and the baby's life.

“Watch her, girl.” Sy said to Aika, before slipping out of the truck, locking the doors for extra measure, and going inside the office to get a room.

Once he had the room, Sy got back into the truck and parked as close to the room as he could, before going around and opening Lily's door, careful not to let her slip out. Then, gently took the pretzel bag from her and set it aside, unbuckled her seat belt and tried to figure out for a moment how to untangle the mess of limbs and pregnancy pillow, but quickly gave up with an amused chuckle. He just picked up both her and the pillow to carry her into their room and laid her down on the bed, tugging the turned down blankets over her, then went out to get their bag, dinner and Aika.

“Hey, Angel.” Sy smiled, closing the room door with his foot as Lily sat up, rubbing at her face and pushing her hair out of her face. “I got us some food.” He said, holding up the bag.

“You hungry?”

Lily nodded, still sleepy. “Where are we now?” She asked, sitting cross legged on the bed, beside Sy as they ate their food.

“Blacksburg.” He replied, shoving fries in his mouth. “About three hours away from your grandparents' place.”

Lily bit her lip and nodded her head, staring at the half eaten, plain chicken sandwich in her hand, suddenly losing her appetite and set it down. “I'm gonna take a shower, I'm sore.” She mumbled, getting off the bed and headed into the tiny bathroom.

Turning on the light and closing the door, Lily let out a heavy breath and tugged her tank top off over her head, followed by her elephant patterned leggings and underwear, before turning towards the shower, the walls were dingy and discolored, but clean. Spinning the hot and cold taps, then stepping under the shoddy shower-head, she leaned her forehead against the cracked acrylic wall, letting the pleasantly warm water cascade down her back, like a waterfall, with a soft moan. She was starting to have second thoughts about going to see her grandparents. She wondered how upset or disappointed Sy would be, if she told him she wanted to go back home to Celina in the morning, instead of going the three hours to Middleburg to see them.

She wondered how disappointed in herself she would be later on, if she chickened out this close to their destination.

The bathroom door opened and closed, followed by the rustle of clothing, before Sy stepped into the shower behind Lily, resting one hand on her hip and brought the other one around to cup the gentle slope of Lily's belly, pressing his lips to the base of her neck. Gulping down a thicket of emotions in her throat, Lily turned in Sy's arms and pressed herself against his chest, nuzzling her face into his neck. He smiled against her wet hair, gently kneading her hips and lower back, knowing after so many hours in the car and the way she contorted her body to sleep, she must have been in pain.

“Let me take care of you.” He whispered, kissing her forehead.

Sy picked up the little bottle of travel sized, hotel shampoo, broke the seal on it and poured it into his broad palm, then gently massaged it into her hair, stealthily wiping away a line of soap that dripped down her forehead and almost in her eye. Lily closed her eyes, softly moaning at the gentle and pleasurable pressure of Sy's strong and blunt fingers working the scentless shampoo into her scalp, his thumbs moving out to methodically rub her temples, easing the edge off of the tension migraine she had all day. Sy tipped her head back into the spray of the shower, combing his fingers through her wet and soapy strands to rinse out the shampoo. With her hair washed, he found a small wash cloth and bar of soap, and started to wash her body, beginning with her shoulders and applying a little bit of pressure as he did to massage the cramped muscles there.

“God, that feels so good.” Lily sighed, melting under his tender affection, a smile twitching on her face as he rubbed the cloth over the ticklish spots of her sides.

Sy smiled, kissing the bridge of her nose. “Anything for you, Angel.” He cooed back, paying special attention to the beautifully growing bulge of her belly.

“Thank you.” She whispered, relaxed and sleepy, after they got out of the shower, letting Sy dry her off and secure the towel around her body.

“You're welcome, Sweetheart.” He replied, kissing her cheek.

Lily went back into the room and opened their duffel bag, just pulling out the first article of clothing that her hand came in contact with, which was Sy's worn, Jack Daniels, Tennessee Whiskey t-shirt and let the towel slip off her and pulled on his shirt. Sy stood in the bathroom doorway, still naked and dripping from the shower and smiled at her, loving how the black garment hung on her like a dress, her shoulder length hair dripping and making it wet as she brushed it.

He had never seen anyone so beautiful in his life.

Moving over to the full sized bed, Sy situated her pregnancy pillow, then turned towards Lily. “Lay down, Angel.” He cooed at her.

Frowning at him for a moment, but seeing the look in his blue eyes, Lily chuckled and laid down, situating herself with her head and neck propped up on the belly of the pillow and her body comfortably cradled in the middle of it. Sy picked up her discarded towel and used it to dry off some, before turning off the room lights, then crawled into bed with her. Moving between Lily's legs and gently bending up her knees and pushing them apart, Lily's startled gasp filled the dark room as Sy's warm breath wafted over her exposed folds, just before his wide tongue took one long and leisurely lick.

“Jesus H. Christ!” She cried out, gripping the arms of her pillow.

“Just me, Angel.” Sy chuckled, hooking his arms around her legs, so they rested on his shoulders, and pressed his palms down on top of her thighs, to keep her still, before dipping his head back down and pressing an open kiss to her clit, flicking the tip of his tongue against it, melting Lily into a sweet and needy whimper.

Sy licked and suckled at her delicate pussy, slipping his tongue between her folds to tease her entrance and get a deeper taste of her, lewd noises filled the room as neither of them hid the pleasure they were in and having. Lily rocked against his mouth, her hands pressed to the back of Sy's head to hold him in place, eyes rolled and fluttered, her anxiety of not wanting to go to her grandparents' in the morning completely forgotten in the heady peak of her orgasm.

“I love your mouth.” Lily sighed, out of breath, exhausted and pleasantly numb.

Sy roared with laughter, laying down beside her. “Good to know.” He grinned, pulling the blankets over them and draping his arm over her. “Good night, Angel.” He whispered, kissing her cheek.

“Night, Bear.” She mumbled back, starting to drift off.

Sy stayed awake for a little while, his hand slipping up inside the shirt she was wearing to gently caress her belly and stared at the back of her head. “God,” He whispered, careful not to wake or disturb her. “I don't ask much of you. But, for whatever my word is worth, please don't let these people hurt my girl. She needs and wants them in her life, so does our little one.” He said, lifting his hand to gently stroke her damp hair.

“Let this meeting tomorrow go well, for all of us.” He sighed, squeezing his eyes shut and hugging Lily back against him.

Lily took a deep breath and held it, as Sy turned the truck off the main road and onto the dirt road leading onto the Warren Orchard farm, seeing the tall apple tree shaped sign with Warren Apples carved elegantly in its trunk. It wasn't long before they came to the closed security gate, shutting them off from the rest of the farm. Sy rolled the truck to a stop and looked over to Lily, lifting a brow at her, waiting for her to tell him what they should do next, when a voice came to life next to him.

“Welcome to Warren Apple Orchards, what can I do for you?” A deep Southern drawl asked from a mounted intercom box outside the driver's side window.

Sy rolled down his window and leaned closer to the box, spotting the security camera mounted above the one side of the gate. “Yeah, we're here looking for the owners of the place.” He replied, glancing over at Lily again.

“Mr. and Mrs. Warren aren't taking visitors just now.”

Lily huffed through her nose and leaned over the center console and Sy. “Tell them, Liliana wants to see them, Judd.” She called out, biting and pressing her lips together.

There was a long pause with a bubble of tension, before an electric buzz filled the humid air around them and the metal gate rolled out of their way. Lily sat back in her seat and Sy gave her a concerned look, before driving though.

“You know him?”

“He's worked here as long as I can remember.” Lily replied, staring out her window to the immaculate lawn and row of trees beyond that. “Just keep following the road, you'll find the house at the end of it.” She added, picking at the hem of the shorts she was wearing.

True enough, a few minutes later, a massive colonial, plantation house appeared behind ancient weeping willows. Made mostly of white stone with two stories of wrap around porches and ornate black railings, tall marble columns, from the foundation to the roof; what looked like five chimneys, three turrets and an apple tree weathervane. The driveway looped around the front of the house, leading up the stairs onto the porch was double french, front doors.

Sy was in complete awe of it as he pulled around to the front of the driveway. “This place is amazing.”

“Yeah.” Lily gulped, biting her lip and stared up at the house. “Oh dear god.” She whimpered, shrinking her seat, trying to hide.

“What?” Sy frowned, then noticed a whited haired man step out of the house, wearing a pair of light brown khaki pants and a black pull over sweater with the Warren Orchard's logo on it, an apple with an arrow threw it, the front of the arrow's shaft bent in the shape of a W.

“I'm guess, that's--”

“My grandfather.” Lily nodded, peeking over the edge of the door to look up at him. “Yep.” She sighed, squeezing her eyes shut and pressed her forehead to the window.

“Well, you can't hide forever, Angel.” Sy told her, tilting his head at her. “He knows we're here and this is more than likely us, sitting here.”

“I know.” Lily huffed, chewing her lip. “I know.”

“You can do this, babe.” He encouraged her. “I'm right here, Angel.”

Lily looked over at him, looking at him like a lost puppy, before taking a deep breath and fortifying herself. “You're right.” She nodded, leaning over and kissed him.

Taking another deep breath, Lily opened her door and stepped out of the truck, gulping as she looked up the steps to her grandfather. Her heart felt like a war drum in her chest, she was excited to see him again, he didn't seem any different from the last time he had seen him, at least, not from the distance they were at.

But, she was also afraid of what was about to happen next.

“Paw-Paw.” She called out to him, softly, her voice shaky.

“Liliana.” He replied, lifting a snowy brow at her, his honey-brown eyes scrutinizing her.

“I've missed you.” Lily blurted out, sniffling, tears burning her eyes. “I'm sorry I disappeared. I'm sorry I just ran away and I didn't tell either of you where I was going or why. That I stayed away for so long without a word.”

“But, I thought about you all the time.”

He stared hard at her, crossing his arms over his chest. “You scared the daylights out of your grandmother and I, Liliana. We tried looking for you everywhere, but you just vanished into thin air, like you never existed.” He told her, his anger slowly showing on his face.

“We thought you were dead.”

Lily bowed her head, ashamed for what she had put her grandparents through. “I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention, Paw-Paw.” She choked, looking back up at him, breathing hard.

“Then, what was your intention, Liliana?” He barked at her, his eyes glowing with rage. “Who are you?” He hissed, as Sy came around the front of the truck to wrap an arm around Lily's waist, to comfort her.

Sy looked up at him for a moment, his eyes hard at the man. “Austin Syverson.” He replied, hugging Lily against his side and rubbing her back.

“Your relation to my granddaughter is what?”

“I'm her boyfriend.” He replied, narrowing his eyes at the other man. “Look, she's come here, because she misses you both, very much, and has regretted the way she left. But, she had to leave, she had a very valid reason in doing so. In reality, she's an adult, more than capable of making her own choices and doesn't have to answer to anyone as to why she's made them.” He told Lily's grandfather.

“That includes you.”

“But, she's gained the strength to come here to try and make amends with you both, for more than one reason. You can either accept that or you can not. What happens now, is up to you.”

“Davy, who is it?”

A voice called from the double doors behind Lily's grandfather, before it opened to a thin, elderly woman with a short, curly pixie cut, who struggled to wheel herself out of the house and onto the porch. Her dim and pale blue eyes almost instantly found Lily at the bottom of the porch stairs, her hands flew to the front of her flower pattern dress, mouth dropping open.

“Liliana!” She exclaimed, reaching out a hand to her husband.

“Mee-maw.” Lily sniffled back, smiling at her grandmother through her tears.

“Thank the Lord, you're all right, my sweet child.” She cried, pressing a hand to her mouth.

“I am.” Lily nodded, wiping at her eyes. “And, I wanna be part of your lives again. I want to make amends for what I did by running away and disappearing. I'm sorry, I hurt you and Paw-Paw.”

Lily's grandmother looked up at her husband, who was still glaring at Lily and Sy, pressed her lips together, then looked back at them. “Come inside.” She said, letting his hand go and turned her wheelchair around and headed back towards the door.

“Davy.” She called over her shoulder.

Sighing, he turned and pulled the door open for her, eyeing Lily and Sy as they mounted the porch stairs, then followed his wife inside the house, before doing the same. She rolled down the hallway and turned into the private study, motioning to the long leather couch and parked herself in front of it.

“Hello.” She said, looking at Sy as he sat down beside Lily on the couch.

“Ma'am.” He replied, politely nodding his head to her.

“Who might you be?”

“Austin Syverson, Ma'am.” Sy answered with a sweet smile. “I'm your granddaughter's boyfriend.”

“Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Syverson.” She replied, regarding him. “I'm Violet Warren, and this is my husband, Davis.” She said, motioning to him as he took a seat in a chair to Lily and Sy's left.

“Sir.” Sy said, nodding his head stiffly to him.

“You're looking well, Liliana.” Violet commented, turning her attention to her granddaughter.

“Thank you.” Lily whispered, licking her lips. “I just go by Lily now.”

Violet nodded her head. “Very well.” She acknowledged. “Where've you been, Lily?”

Lily drew a deep breath through her nose and slowly let it back out. “It's a long story.” She whimpered, gripping Sy's hand for support, chewing the inside of her cheek to bits.

Davis and Violet glanced at each other, before she leaned forward and took a small hand bell off the coffee table between them and rang it. A moment later, a young lady appeared in the doorway of the room and Violet asked her to serve them some tea. The tension was tight and thick in the room while the tea was being made for them, no one saying a word to each other. The servant returned, carrying in a highly polished tea tray and set it down on the coffee table, setting out teacups for the four of them and filled the cups, before leaving the room again.

“What is your story, Lily?”

Carefully drizzling a bit of honey into her tea with a honey dipper and taking a fortifying sip of it, Lily started her story. “You know that I had been seeing Jak.” She said, looking between her grandparents.

“We did.” Violet nodded, taking a sip of her own tea.

“Well, what you didn't know was Jak had been abusive to me.” She continued, staring into the rich and steamy liquid in the expensive china teacup. “He had been the entire time we were together. But, I was too naive and silly to break it off with him for the longest time. But, after a particularly bad incident, I decided I couldn't take it any longer. So, I packed a bag and went to live with Maggie. I didn't tell you-” She paused, brow creased, she had often thought about why she hadn't told them, but had never really pinned down a specific reason to why she hadn't.

But, she shook that thought off.

“I honestly don't know why I hadn't. All I knew was I was terrified of Jak finding me again and dragging me back into the life and situation I had been living in for so long with him. While I was with Maggie, I changed my name from Liliana Jade Warren to Lily Ana Moore, to make it harder for him to find me, which made it hard for the both of you to find me, and finished university.” She continued on. “After I did that, I moved to a very small town in Texas and started my own company for my Graphic Design and Photography.”

“It's how I've been supporting myself.”

“I was so consumed by my paranoia and fear of Jak finding me, that I never left the house I bought in Texas, five years ago, this is the farthest I've been from it, since I've moved there.” She confessed, looking to Sy, who smiled at her, supportive and proud.

“What's changed?” Her grandfather asked, his own teacup still where the servant set it, ignored and cold. “Why are you here now?”

Lily cleared her throat and set her tea aside. “I left and became reclusive, agoraphobic, because I felt unsafe and afraid. That Jak would end up finding me and hurting me. He did end up finding me, but Austin...” She looked to Sy, her eyes filled with appreciative love and pride. “Austin makes me feel safe again. He's protected me, in more than one way, and he's shown me what real love is. I owe him so much.”

Sy grinned brightly at her, gripping her hand, a bit choked up at her words.

“He's helped me get back to this place, a place I've held onto, wanting to be a productive member of society, to be back in your life and be your granddaughter again. I miss you and I love you both. That never changed and it will never change.”

“That never changed for us either, Lily.” Violet replied, resting her teacup back on its saucer. “You will always be our precious granddaughter and we have always loved you; from the moment you were born to this moment right now.”

“I hope you could find it in your heart, to have a little more love.” Lily whispered, biting the inside of her lip, gulping.

“For what?” Violet frowned, brows drawing together and head tilting at her.

Lily looked to Sy, who nodded his head at her. “Sy and I are expecting.” She mumbled, not meeting either of her grandparents' eyes.

“You're with child?” Violet asked, shocked disbelief in her voice.

“I am.” Lily nodded, whimpering.

“I hope you're not here, thinking this little reunion will get you money.” Her grandfather snapped, coldly.

Lily's eyes snapped over to him, a cold knot of shock, hurt and anger in her stomach, she could feel the tension stiffen Sy's body. “We don't need any of the family money.” She hissed, eyes hardening. “My business alone is quite well off, thank you; and I'm more than offended at the accusation.”

“That's putting it politely.” Sy chimed in, staring daggers into the old man.

“Davis.” Violet barked, offended at her husband's insult as well, she had no feeling that Lily and Sy were there looking for money or assistance with their lives or the baby.

“Excuse me, for the last time I recalled a couple sitting on that very same couch to tell us they were expecting a child, it was our sweet Daisy and that good for nothing, Palmer, and we all saw how that ended.” Davis replied, his voice cold and sharp.

“Austin isn't my father.” Lily barked, her voice mirroring her grandfather's.

Lily and her grandfather glared darkly at each other, before Violet grew annoyed with their childish behavior and clapped her bony hands together, catching the room's attention.

“That is quite enough.” She scolded them.

Sy hid his smirk around the rim of his teacup, already liking Lily's grandmother.

“How far along are you?” Violet asked, looking at Lily.

“Almost thirteen weeks.” She replied, unconsciously touching her belly.

“Do you know what you're having?”

“Not yet.” Lily grinned at Sy, giddy at the thought of finding out the gender of the baby, she didn't care if it was a boy or a girl, she was just excited in general. “We won't know for another five weeks.” She added, glancing over at her grandmother.

“Well,” Violet grinned, her eyes lighting up. “I can't wait to meet my great-grandbaby.” She said, sounding overjoyed at the prospect. “Davy?” She looked to her husband, her eyes still filled with excitement, but outlined with warning.

Davis looked at her for a moment, then over at Lily, before looking down at the watch on his right wrist, then stood. “I have to meet Mac in the south orchard.” He said, tonelessly, and left the room.

Lily let out an uneven breath and painful tears punched her in the chest, turning her face into Sy's collarbone as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her against his side, pressing his lips to her hair. Violet's mouth was pressed into a thin, angry, lipstick red line as she continued to stare out the study doorway after Davis, the rapturous event of finding out about their great-grandbaby being overshadowed by his stubborn pigheadedness.

“I think we should go.” Sy said to Lily, gently wiping away her tears.

“Please, do stay.” Violet chimed in, turning her attention back to them. “There's more than enough room right here.” She said, looking back and forth between Lily and Sy. “Please, it's been so long, Lily. You've been gone and so far away. Town is twenty minutes away and with you here now, two minutes is too far away.”

Lily looked up at Sy.

“It's up to you, Angel.” He whispered, brushing his thumb against her flushed cheek.

She looked over at her grandmother. “Of course, I would love that.” She whispered, wiping her nose on the back of her hand.

Violet smiled at her, relieved to have her granddaughter under the same roof again. “I'll have Clara set two extra places at the table.” She grinned, overjoyed. “I'll even have her make your favorites for lunch and dinner.”

Lily smiled at her, touched at her grandmother's sentiment. “Thank you.”

“You remember where your room is?” She replied, lifting a brow at her.

“I do.” Lily nodded her head.

“Then, I won't keep you any longer. I'm sure you must be tired with the baby and the long journey from Texas.”

“I am.” She agreed, sighing softly.

“Off you both go then, the bell will ring, when lunch is ready.”

“Thank you, Mee-Maw.” Lily said, nodding her head and stood up, Sy standing with her.

“Ma'am.” Sy nodded his head to Violet, then followed Lily out of the room and down the hall to a flight of stairs. “Well, that didn't go as badly as the two of us thought it would.” He commented, mounting the stairs behind her.

“No, it did not.” Lily replied over her shoulder, going up the three sets of stairs. “I just hope my grandfather comes around.” She added, coming to the second floor and going down to a door at the very end of the hall. “This is...was—my room.” She said, turning the vintage, metal and ceramic door knob that had a hand-painted gold floral design on it, and pushed the door open.

The bedroom was spacious and bright with the mid-morning sun shining in through four windows, between one set of windows sat a squat, five compartment, vintage chest of drawers, across from that was a full sized, poster bed, with the doorway to a bathroom to the left and a walk-in closet to the right. There was a bookcase and table against the wall by the door, mostly filled with church and home school related things.

“It's a nice room.” Sy commented, picking up one of the books on the table, a bible.

“Thanks.” Lily smiled, shyly, seeing that her grandparents had left her room the exact way she'd left it, when she moved out.

“Do you wanna rest for a little while?” He suggested, stepping up behind her and resting his hands on her hips, gently pressing his thumbs into the small of her back and massaging them.

“Yeah.” She moaned, her head dropping back against his chest, turning to kiss the underside of his bearded jaw.

“How about a nice warm bath first, maybe a cup of tea?”

Lily chuckled into his neck, grinning. “So dotting, Captain.” She teased him.

“I love you.” He cooed, kissing her forehead, then moved away from her and went into the bathroom, plugging the drain on the ancient claw-foot tub and turned the X-shaped tap handles.

Lily padded into the bathroom, sitting down on the closed toilet seat and pushed down the stress of her grandfather's behavior towards her, to watch Sy fill the bath for her, a soft smile on her face. She stood up for a moment and reached underneath the sink and removed a small bottle and handed it to him. Sy smiled at her and took it from her, uncapping it and getting the strong snap of eucalyptus and sprinkled the Epsom salt into the delicately warm water, before turning off the tap. He grabbed a towel and folded it, then situated it at one end of the tub, to pillow her head, when she started to soak.

“Now, where is the kitchen?” He asked, looking at her.

“Down the stairs, first door to your right.” Lily replied, getting out of her clothing.

“Cool, I'll be right back.” Sy told her, kissing her temple and stepped out of the room to go downstairs to get her tea.

Lily finished undressing and carefully stepped into the pleasantly warm water, leaning back with a soft and satisfied moan, focusing on the warm water enveloping her body easing away her aches and pains, melting away the anxieties that had accumulated during the drive over from Texas and the visit. While Sy found the kitchen and pushed open the swinging door, finding the cook, Clara, inside, who looked up as she heard him come in and wiped her hands on her apron.

“Can I help you?” She asked, lifting a brow at him.

“Um, just need a cup of tea.” He replied, licking his lips and glancing around the kitchen.

“Oh, of course, right away.”

“I'd hate to put you out.” Sy said, alarmed.

Clara chuckled at him, pulling down a cup from a high cabinet. “It's what the Warren's hired me for.” She assured him. “I'm guessing it's for Lily.” She added, moving about the kitchen as she put the things together to make the tea.

“Yeah.” He nodded, then patiently waited for her to finish and took the cup from her. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.” Clara smiled, and returned to what she had been doing.

Sy carefully took the cup back upstairs to Lily, smiling as he stepped into the bathroom and saw her lounging comfortably in the tub. He was glad she could relax and let the stress go, even if it was for a little while. Lily stirred as he sat down beside her, smiling at him and taking the cup of tea from his outstretched hands and let out a pleased moan.

“Feels like a spa day.” She chuckled, handing her teacup back to Sy for him to hold, so she could relax back again.

“You deserve to relax.” Sy replied, softly. “You've got an important job to do.”

“Yeah, I'm growing a Syverson.” Lily chuckled, teasingly.

“Exactly.” He laughed back. “That's no easy feat to bring one of us into the world.”

“Bringing a Syverson into the world is just the start of it, then we have to raise them.”

“Oh, trouble, trouble, trouble.” Sy grinned at her. “Nothing, but trouble.”

“Toil and bubble.” Lily giggled, fully amused and lighthearted.

“Come on, sleepy, out with you.” Sy said, setting her empty teacup on the vanity counter and pulled the towel off the bar and held it open for her.

“Okay.” Lily replied, stifling a yawn with her hand.

Stepping out of the tub and into Sy's arms, she rested her forehead against his chest and let him dry her off. Sy had taken a liking to drying her off after she showered or bathed, since she'd become pregnant, none of which Lily protested to, she was usually very sleepy by the time she got out of them, so having him there to finish up was always nice.

“Oh, fuck.” He barked, after helping back into her clothing. “Your pillow is still in the truck.”

“It won't kill me to have one nap without it.” Lily said, through yet another yawn.

“You were a very cranky mama bear the last time you didn't have that thing to sleep with.” He reminded her. “I'll go down and get it, just sit tight.”

“I'd rather lay tight.” She huffed, starting to get cranky as she shuffled over to her bed and laid down.

Sy rushed back downstairs and nearly collided with Violet. “Oh my god, I am so sorry.” He panted, making sure she was all right. “ Are you okay?”

“I'm fine, where's the fire, Mr. Syverson?”

“Lily's laying down for her nap and I just realized she doesn't have her pregnancy pillow and she always wakes up very cranky, when she doesn't have it to sleep with.” He explained, calming down.

Violet smiled up at Sy, touched and pleased at the plain devotion he had for her granddaughter. “Well, we can't have that, now can we?” She chuckled, rolling back out of his way.

“No, ma'am.” Sy shook his head at her.

“Violet, Mr. Syverson. Just call me Violet.” She informed him as Sy reached the front door.

He paused, hand on the door and smiled at her, remembering when Lily told him to call her by her given name. “Of course, Ms. Violet.” He nodded at her, politely.

Violet smiled back at him and Sy went out to his truck.

“Hey, girl.” Sy said, opening the passenger door of the truck and only to get attacked by Aika's tongue. “I know, I know. I haven't forgotten about ya. I promise.” He chuckled, petting her. “I'll come back down in a couple minutes and take care of you. But first, I have to take care of your mama.” He said, reaching in the back seat for Lily's U-Shaped pillow, pushed Aika back and closed the door again, before rushing back upstairs.

“Okay, pillow.” Sy said, bursting into the room, only to find Lily curled into a ball and sound asleep, making him chuckling. He situated her pillow and gently unrolled Lily from her ball and slipped her between her pillow, before covering her up.

“Sleep sweet, Angel.” He whispered, kissing her cheek softly, then went back downstairs. “Um, do you know where Ms. Violet is?” He asked the servant that had served him and Lily tea when they had first arrived.

“Yes, she's in the private study, right through there.” She replied, pointing the way.

“Thank you.” He nodded, then went down, gently knocking on the door.

“Enter.”

“Ms. Violet?”

“Ah, Mr. Syverson, I'm trusting the pillow crisis was averted?” She asked, an amused glitter in her eyes.

Sy chuckled. “It was, thank you.”

“Then, what can I help you with?”

“I, uh, brought Lily and I's dog with us...” He said, sheepishly, though Lily's grandmother seemed like a very sweet woman, Sy got the vibe she was the authority in this household and crossing her wasn't the way to go. “She's in my truck and I didn't want to take her out without asking first, so I didn't step on any toes and cause any issues with you and your husband.”

“What kind of dog is she?”

“She's a German Shepherd.” Sy replied, licking his lips. “I found her in the war-zone on my last deployment.” He half explained to her.

Violet blinked several times at Sy. “You were in the military?”

“Yes, ma'am.” He nodded, with a deep sense of pride. “I was a Captain in the U.S Army, Special Forces, for more than ten years.”

“What's the pup's name?”

“Aika.”

“Well, Aika is more than welcome here.” She told him. “As long as she behaves herself.” She added, a soft smile on her face.

“She's a very well behaved dog, you have my word.” Sy replied, smiling back at her.

“Good.” Violet nodded. “Just make sure you keep her out of the orchards or Davis will have a never-ending fit.”

“Will do.”

Excusing himself, Sy went back out to the truck and put Aika on her leash, walking her around the front of the property and away from the orchards, making sure to clean up after her, then brought her inside, taking her upstairs to Lily's room, where she curled up on the bed with Lily, before he decided to do a little exploring himself before lunch.

He wandered into the orchards, seeing the short trunks, but wide crowns, light green and shiny apples weighing down its branches and a couple littered the ground. There easily had to be a hundred trees of the same sort for as far as Sy could see in the area he was in, before he moved on. Sy came to a small dirt lane and crossed it into a totally different portion of the orchard, these trees were still squat and wide, but the apples on their branches were medium sized and mostly two toned, a dull red that faded into a yellow-y green color.

He crossed another dirt road and found another orchard of another kind of apple, this one a light yellow color, when he heard voices and then his name and turned, seeing Lily's grandfather, realizing he had wandered into the south orchard.

“What are you doing out here?” Davis asked, approaching him.

“Just looking around.” Sy replied, keeping his tone guarded. “Lily's told me a lot about the place.”

“And where is she?”

“Back at the house, sleeping.” Sy told him, his shoulders stiff. “She gets tired a lot with the baby.”

“Hm.” Davis huffed and turned on his heels.

“What's your problem?” Sy barked after him, unable to hold his temper any longer. “She just wants her grandfather, the man that raised her, back in her life, in her child's life. Not your money or your business, just your love and affection.”

Davis spun around on his heels to face Sy. “I might have raised her, because my Daisy died, and her father was an unreliable scum, but she's making the same mistake her mother did. I won't be part of that again.”

“I won't be there when it kills her too.” He hissed, then stormed off.

Lily woke up to Sy's angry pacing at the foot of the bed and cursing under his breath, and sat up, rubbing at her eyes. “What's wrong, Bear?” She asked, frowning at him.

“Your grandfather is a pigheaded, son of a bitch.”

Her mouth fell open for a moment, then her brows drew together and her eyes narrowed. “Did the two of you get into an argument?”

“Sorta.” He huffed back.

“For the love of Jesus, Austin.” Lily barked at him, pressing her hands to her face. “Why?”

“I didn't go lookin' for it, Lily.” He retorted, stopping his pacing. “I was just checking out the orchards and ran into him. One thing came to another, I asked him what his problem was, all you want is his love and affection back, not his damned money or his orchard, and his reply was you're making the same mistake your mother made and you'll end up dying because of it too.”

“Which you will fucking not!” He added, a panicked fright breaking through his burst of anger.

“Of course, I'm not going too, Bear.”

Lily sighed, shaking her head and running her hand through her hair, before getting up out of bed. “I'll be more than all right. We have a great doctor and an amazing hospital back home. Plus, I have you to take care of and look after me, the whole time. I'll be perfectly safe and sound.” She told him, hugging her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek to his chest.

“Don't listen to him, Sy. He's just a grumpy old man, set in his ways.”

“What's that make me?” He asked, half jokingly.

“My boyfriend and Papa Bear.” She giggled, tilting her head back to look up at him.

“Good to know, Mama Bear.” He teased back, dipping his head to kiss her. “The fuck was that?” He asked as two loud dinging sounds filled the house.

“That is the lunch bell.” Lily replied, pulling away from him. “One ding is breakfast, two is lunch and three is dinner.” She explained to him, finding her shoes and slipping them back on. “Old Virginian hospitality, Syverson. I know you Texans aren't used to it.”

“Oh, you posh and polished Southerners.” He teased back, following her downstairs. “Give me the ringing of a triangle any day and this cowboy will know the way to the dinner table.”

“Remind me to buy one for our house, then.” Lily giggled, showing him into the family dinning room.

“Buy what for your house?” Violet asked, already seated at one end of the table.

“Oh, Sy was making fun of us for being—what did you call it?” She asked, looking at him as he vigorously shook his head at her. “Ah yes, posh and polished Southerners, for having a meal bell.” You grinned at him, impishly. “While, pointing out the Texas Cowboy in him could only find his way home, if he heard the call of a triangle bell.”

“I said, I would be able to find my way to the table. I know my way home, thank you very much.” He spoke up, his cheeks pink underneath the hairs of his beard.

Both Lily and Violet's laughter filled the dining room, but Sy soon joined them. But, the laughter died down as Davis entered the room, taking his place at the other end of the table, practically sucking the air out of the room as he took his seat.

“How is the south orchard doing?” Violet asked, as lunch was being served.

“One of the original York apple trees is starting to fail for some reason.” Davis replied, picking up the salt shaker. “Mac and I were running through a list of things we can do to save it.” He explained, paying closer attention to his food than to the others at the table with him.

“This looks really good.” Sy commented, licking his lips at his plate.

“It's one of Lily's favorites.” Violet smiled at him. “Creamy Shrimp pasta.”

“I used to try and bribe Clara into making it for every meal once for a whole summer.” Lily chuckled, twirling the angel hair pasta around her fork. “Never worked out.”

“Didn't deter you from trying though.” Violet chuckled, smiling fondly at her granddaughter. “I'm more than sure you'll love what Clara is making you for dinner.”

“I have no doubt.” She smiled back.

“Oh, Mr. Syverson, if you'd like a place to park your truck, I'm sure Davis could show you where the garage is.” Violet said, her eyes on her husband.

“Thank you, Ms. Violet.” Sy replied, smiling at her. “And, please, call me Sy or Austin, whichever you might prefer.” He told her, a bit shyly.

“Austin, it is.” Violet answered, giving him a sweet smile. “But, you can do that for him, can't you?” She said, lifting a brow at her husband, with an expression that dared him to object to her request.

Davis stared at his wife, his hard brown eyes holding Violet's stern blues, before his shoulders dropped slightly. “I'll show you after lunch.”

“Thank you.” Sy replied, stiffly.

Lily rested her hand on Sy's thigh, gently squeezing it, trying to keep him calm and relaxed. “How have the orchards been?” Lily asked her grandfather, trying to open any sort of connection with him. “I know picking season is coming up soon in the next few months.” She pointed out, gathering up a forkful of her shrimp pasta.

There was a long silence at the table, each second made Lily's heart clench tighter, fearing her grandfather would just continue to ignore her and pretend she didn't exist. She didn't know how much more of his coldness she could take, before it became too much to bear and she would just want to leave again.

No matter how much it would hurt.

“Other than the York tree showing signs of white rot, the orchards are as productive and fruitful as ever.” He finally spoke.

“What happens if you don't cure the white rot?” Lily frowned, concerned for the tree.

“We lose the tree.” Davis sighed, resting back in his chair and tossing his napkin onto the table beside his plate. “It'll only be the third originally planted tree on the farm we've ever lost. Well, with any luck the rot won't spread and it won't hit us too hard.” He explained, looking at her.

“Just because you lost one, don't mean you'll lose more.” Lily replied, holding his gaze.

Davis dropped his eyes and nodded his head, sighing, then looked up at Sy, noticing his empty plate. “You done?”

“I am.” Sy nodded, wiping his mouth.

“Come on, and I'll show you where the garage is and you can park your truck.” He said, standing up, leaving his half eaten lunch on the table.

“I'll be right back.” Sy whispered to Lily, kissing her cheek and stood, following her grandfather out of the house.

The walk from the house was silent as they stepped off the paved driveway and onto a pea gravel lane that led a little ways away from the house, through a small grove of very ancient looking weeping willows to a large building with several vehicles parked outside of it.

“You can park it here.” Davis said, motioning to the area in front of them.

“Thanks.” Sy nodded to him, then turned back to get his truck.

Bringing his truck around and finding a place to park it, Sy got out and and grabbed their duffel bag out of the back and locked up, heading back up to the house; when Davis stopped in his tracks, noticing the duffel bag slung over his shoulder; the worn military green and the faded, black U.S letters.

“Something the matter?” Sy frowned, turning back to him.

“That's a military bag.” Davis replied.

“Yes, it is.” He nodded, shifting it on his shoulder and tilting his head at the other man.

“It's yours?”

Sy's shoulders slumped and he stared at the old man. “I served more than ten years in the U.S Army as a Captain in the Special Forces.” He explained to him. “I retired almost a year ago.”

“How did you and Lily meet?”

“As I said, I retired almost a year ago and I returned home to Austin, Texas.” Sy replied, sighing. “Even though I could live quite well on my retirement, I don't like not having a job or being idle. So, I went about applying for jobs, mostly jobs I could do with my hands, construction jobs and such. A construction company told me about a contract that they had gotten from a young lady, who needed help fixing her place up in Celina, which is about three hours south of Austin. I called about it and got the job. I'm sure you guessed, it was Lily.” He smirked, chuckling to himself.

“I started fixing the place up for her and we grew close, especially after we helped each other through a few traumatic things.”

“Like, what?”

“I have pretty severe PTSD from my time in deployment and Lily's gotten me through more than one episode.” Sy smirked, blushing slightly and toeing the ground with the tip of his boot. “She's the guiding light to holding them back.” He whispered softly. “As for her, she's been through a lot in the last five years, especially the fear and turmoil caused by Jak.” He said. “There's nothing on this planet, there hasn't been anything on this planet, I wouldn't do to ensure her happiness and safety.”

Sy looked Davis dead in the eyes, a deep seriousness coming over him, even though he had a knot in his stomach. “Listen, your granddaughter isn't a little girl anymore. She's a grown woman, and a beautiful, loving and intelligent one, at that. She's so incredibly caring for the people around her, even when she's been so hurt and her trust in people has been cut deeply. Her work ethic is admirable, she built a company from the reclusion of her own home, that she hadn't left in more than three years, and it is thriving. She's even currently in the process of interviewing people to fill two positions, because she has so many clients, that she's in need of the extra help.”

“You're projecting the fear of your daughter’s mistakes and death on Lily and it isn't fair to her, or to you and your wife.”

“My Daisy Mae's misfortunes aren't the only failures that have me disappointed in the situation.” Davis said, rolling his jaw at Sy.

Sy huffed at him, biting his lip and nodding his head at him. “You think I'd be some, what was it, unreliable scum, like her father?” He asked, lifting a brow at him.

Davis sighed back at him, scrubbing a palm over his wrinkled forehead and lifted a brow at him. “Come with me.” He said, motioning him back towards the house.

Pressing his lips together, Sy followed him back up to the house and into Davis's private study, setting the duffel bag down by the door as Davis closed it behind him. Davis motioned to a leather and mahogany upholstered chair in front of a cold fireplace, then moved over to a small table of bottles and glasses, pouring them both a drink. He handed Sy a glass and took the seat across from him, taking a long sip.

“Smooth stuff.” Sy commented, licking his lips and admiring the rich, amber liquid.

“Maker's Mark, Kentucky bourbon whiskey.” Davis replied, smirking at his glass, appreciatively.

“Anyhow.” He cleared his throat, balancing his glass on the arm of his chair. “Palmer Hughes. He came to work here in the summer of 1985, he was twenty years old and Daisy was eighteen. I knew the boy was trouble the moment I set eyes on him and knew I should have sent him picking.”

“But, for whatever reason, and against my better judgment, I didn't.”

“He took an instant liking to our Daisy, who was ordinarily a good mannered, well behaved and proper girl. But, as soon as he set his eyes on her, he started corrupting her. He would stop coming to work in the fields to sneak himself and her off the property and go into town or wherever it was they would go to. Daisy started to become more defiant and rebellious. One of our church elders even spotted her and Palmer with a group of their lowlife friends in a questionable area of town, getting high, smoking and drinking.”

“It was such an embarrassment.” He sighed, taking a deep gulp of his drink. “When Daisy was twenty-one, she came to her mother and I and told us she was pregnant. Palmer had split the moment he found out about it. But, I tracked his no good ass down and dragged him back. He and Daisy got married just before Lily was born.”

“What happened?” Sy asked, frowning at him, the burn of the alcohol melting through the knot in his stomach as he thought about it. “How did her mother die?”

“She developed a hemorrhage that the doctor's couldn't get under control, so she ended up bleeding to death.” Davis explained, growing pale at the memory of the doctor's telling him and his wife the news of their daughter’s death, their only child. “For his part, Palmer did seem distraught over her death. But, he blamed Lily for it. So, he spent the rest of her life coming in and out of it, before Violet and I finally just adopted her and permanently took care of her.”

“It was Violet and I that ended up naming Lily, as well. Daisy hadn't picked one, that we were aware of, and Palmer wasn't being cooperative with anyone, us or the hospital staff.”

“Where is her father now?”

Davis sighed and carefully regarded Sy for a long moment, before replying. “He died, some years ago.”

Sy blinked at him, shocked. “You never told Lily this.”

“No.” He shook his head, guilty. “Vi and I thought it would be best that we didn't.”

“That's not really for either of you to decide.” Sy frowned at him, annoyed. “Lily deserves the truth.”

“I know she does.” Davis agreed. “I'll tell her, one day. As for you, Austin.” He met Sy's eyes. “I've unjustly projected my prejudices of Palmer onto you. You are, not even an ounce, the man he was. You are a man I wish my own daughter would have met and fallen in love with. But, I am glad my granddaughter met, fallen in love with and is having my great-grandbaby with you.”

“Thank you.” Sy answered, taking his compliment and finished off his drink.

[sweetlavenderwritings]

um hi! im your first i guess? im up for some angst and fluff rn mmm what about keigo with his girlfriend who got pregnant with his baby so she broke up with him to let him grow as his own person and as a hero then like years later, his ex girlfriend and his chile needed rescuing and met accidentally so like she doesn’t really have an excuse but to explain everything? fluff at the ending pleaze huhuhu ilyyyy :)

Back to His Nest

A/N: You are my first ask indeed! Thank you so much for sending a request, I really appreciate it <3 You didn’t specify what format you wanted so I made a one-shot if you don’t mind. Hope you like it :)

Pairing/s: hawks/takami keigo x reader

Word Count: 1, 762

Tags: angst with a happy ending, fluff, pregnancy, mentions of smut. 

-ꦼ———▸ Part 2

⋅. ♪ .⋅   Loving Keigo Playlist

The test fell on the bathroom floor. You tried to breathe but you just couldn’t concentrate.  Two lines… I can’t believe it.

How on earth were you going to tell Keigo? The number two hero, who’s been your boyfriend for the past two years, he surely doesn’t need someone tying him down. Knowing his situation with the Hero Public Commission, you were pretty sure they weren’t going to like it either, unless they take interest in the child’s quirk…

NO! You jolted upwards, sudden realization dawning over you as you pondered on what your options are. There was no way you were going to let them take advantage of the baby like what they did to Keigo. You clutched your stomach, as if your arms were enough to keep it out of harm’s way. Not my baby…

Hawks, as what the public knows him as, had been a hero for more than 5 years. Even then, he managed to stay on his top ranks. Dropping from his spot in the second place then coming back. Everybody adored him, so did you most of all. He was charming, funny, and was always willing to serve others first instead of himself, a true hero.

You found him at his worst, at a time where he was most vulnerable. His eyes looked so sad you didn’t want to leave him alone. Seeing him curled up on himself with his wings shielding him away from everything, it was a side you thought not everyone got to see. Since then, a string had tied you both. You spent two years loving him, even if your love was unannounced from the rest of the world.

You understood why it had to be that way, for your safety and his image. It bothered you when his fan girls would gush over him in public as if they had claims over him, but you knew Keigo was loyal and faithful, never once giving you a reason to doubt his love for you. But now, everything had to change.

 For both of your sake.

 You hear the jangling of keys near the front door. Shit, was it that late already?

“Baby bird?” You hear Hawks call out as he entered your shared apartment.

“I’ll be there in a sec!” You answered as you rushed to stuff the test kits in your pockets.

“He shouldn’t know,” You muttered to yourself as you removed all evidence of what you just found out. Wiping your tears away, which you didn’t even notice until you took a look in the mirror, you stepped out of the bathroom and plastered a smile on your face.

“Hey baby,” You gave him a peck on the lips, “You’re earlier than usual.”

“They got me off an hour early today since it’s my day off tomorrow.” He pulled you in close with a gentle smile. “They’re probably going to have me work my ass off for the next week but I’ll take what I can get.” He laughed.

The sound of his laughter made you grip his jacket tighter. He looked at you in concern,

“You okay, songbird? Got something on your mind?” I’m thinking about leaving you, but I really don’t want to. I love you so much it hurts.

A nervous laugh slipped through your lips before you even thought about it. “I’m fine, Kei. I just missed you that’s all.” Before you know it, he had you completely in his arms. Not breaking a sweat as he carries you to the bedroom.

“K-Kei! What’re you doing?” You clutched his shoulders in surprise.

“What does it look like I’m doing, Baby bird? I’m making up for lost time.” You laugh along with him, with the words one last time lingering in the back of your head.

When Hawks awoke the morning after, he took his time admiring your sleeping form. You were everything to him, his darling angel. He liked to think he had nothing before he met you. He tucked a strand of your hair away from your face, fingertips brushing against your cheek. You scrunched your eyebrows together, then mumbling a few words before drifting back to sleep. He chuckled as he kissed your forehead before gently nudging your shoulder.

“Muh?” You whispered groggily. You blinked at him a few times before fully gathering your senses.

“Morning songbird, I just thought that we’d spend the morning together.” He said with a smile, “Since it’s my day off, maybe we could spend the whole day outside? We could go wherever; it’s been a while since we’ve had a proper date.” He looked at you sheepishly.

“That sounds great Kei.” You smiled back, trying desperately to ignore the nagging thoughts of leaving him in the back of your head. “Let me freshen up and we can go for breakfast at your favourite diner.”

He gave you one last kiss before he got up. You sat up with growing knots in the pits of your stomach, unnerving sensations clawing its way up to your chest. It’s supposed to be a happy day. Why can’t I just let him have this for once?

“Songbird, shower’s getting cold.” You hear him tease from the bathroom. You stand up, making your way towards him, the words one last time lingering in your head once more.

 ..

You spent the whole day together, going from place to place without any plans whatsoever. Most of the time it was as simple as taking a walk in the park, taking pictures of each other in secret, and laying down in a blanket just looking at the sky. You had to stop Hawks from puffing out his wings every now and then whenever he saw birds nearby because it surprised most of civilians walking in the street. It was a nice outing the both of you rarely got to experience together.

You were walking on the way home when he suddenly stopped to look at a small antique store. “That place looks interesting, wanna go check it out?” You wanted to indulge in him, and who were you to say no? Not when he was looking at you like an endearing child.

You giggled as he pulled you into the shop with a newfound excitement. You both trifled through the shelves with a childlike curiosity, gazing at assortments of abandoned trinkets as if they were lost treasures. They were, in a way, small tokens left behind as people moved on to their lives. You picked up a snow globe and shook it. You were watching the faux snow fall to the bottom when you heard him call your name.

“Come here for a sec.” You followed his voice until you saw him hunched over something. “What’s up?” You asked nervously.  

 “Turn around.” he said gently. You arched an eyebrow before doing so. You felt a cold metal pressing against your neck. “I forgot I went here last week to get this cleaned,” he said as he clasped the necklace, “This belonged to my mother’s. She told me to give it to a special someone once I got older.” It was a simple, silver necklace. A small feather charm, rested right above your collarbones. He smiled at you, looking at you with an adoring gaze that made your heart stop. “I knew I didn’t have to wait to know if you were the one. I just knew it since the day we met.”

Before you knew it, your eyes were brimming with tears. You wiped at your eyes hastily, not wanting to catch unnecessary attention. Hawks looked at you in surprise before holding you close. “Hey, hey, hey.” He cooed. “You don’t like it? I mean, it’s not the fanciest thing I could actually give. I just thought that-“

“You dummy,” You chuckled as you kept wiping your face, “I’m not crying because I don’t like it. I love it. It’s the sweetest thing someone has ever done for me. It’s really beautiful, I’m glad you gave it to me.” You look at him in the eyes, meaning every word you said.

He sighed in relief then hugged you tighter. “You ridiculous goose, crying over the smallest things-ouch! Hey!” He rubbed at the spot on his chest where you punched him. You gave him a pout as he laughed at your puffy face.“Let’s go home, okay birdie?”

You linked your pinky with his, walking along with him in the coldest nights. It felt warm, clinging onto him as you tried to relish every second of this beautiful moment.

..

In the end, they set you up on a trip to a town where they owned a house they never really used. It belonged to your grandmother’s, but nobody wanted to disturb the house so none of your relatives claimed it. You shipped some of your belongings in secret. Hiding the backpack and the suitcase deep in your shared closet where Hawks surely wouldn’t notice. As he expected, he was even busier the next week after his day off. As sharp as he was, he failed to notice you planning your preparations to leave.

It was afternoon, so you didn’t receive any texts or calls from him yet. It would be one of those days where he’d be so busy he’d come home late at night. The thought of him arriving in your apartment tired and hungry, looking for you sent a fresh wave of tears to your face. Stop it, no time for you to be weak.

You see your train come to a stop, its doors opening as people clambered to get off. It was your turn.  You patted your stomach, “I’m doing this all for you, you know.” With a deep breath, you stepped onto the train, every bit of yourself screaming with regret. 

It was time. You dreaded this very moment and here you were, backpack and suitcases in tow. You gripped your train ticket tightly, not knowing where to express your frustration.  The following week after your date, you prepared everything you needed to leave. You called your parents at your hometown, explaining your situation in tears. They listened carefully and asked whatever they could do to help. You merely wanted to explain your situation just in case Hawks would try and call them.

To be continued...

A/N:I tried to fix the formatting of the text but somehow it wouldn’t work?? New to tumblr so apologies ˚‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )‧º·˚sorry it had to be a cliffhanger! I promise I’ll finish this soon as I can, I just needed to put more thought into how the meeting and the ending will be. I promise I’ll make it up with fluff as you requested Σ(･ω･ﾉ)ﾉ！

[imaginesupply]

Homecoming - Chapter Five

(Gif’s not my own.)

Summary: The day has arrived, Captain Syverson is going home. For good, this time. He is going home to a civilian life he can hardly remember and a wife he barely knows, with memories of the war still fresh on his mind. Love might not be able to heal everything on its own, but it’s a good start.

Genres: Romance, drama.

Story warnings: Smut (always fully consensual), mentions of PTSD and nightmares and mental health, angst, hurt and comfort, fluff, mentions of war (minor), mentions of cheating (minor), mentions of pregnancy (very minor), police appearance (very minor), violence (very minor).

Notes:

It’s my first time writing for one of Henry’s characters and I’m unsure I did Sy’s character any justice.

This is a Capt. Syverson x OFC (Ada) story, written in 3rd person POV but OFC’s physical description is very limited so it could also be read as Capt. Syverson x Reader, I think.

English is not my first language, so there might be some mistakes. Proofread, but not beta’ed. We die like men and all that.

Timeline is a little wacky: The movie takes place in 2003 and the U.S. forces were withdrawn from Iraq in 2011, but I never set a precise date because I don’t think it’s essential for this story. However, some elements might not be realistic because if we set this story in 2003: Phone cameras quality was not as good as it’s now, but for the purpose of the chapters, I will need you to imagine you could film great videos with your flip phone haha. Plus, it says Sy is coming back after being deployed for more than three years which makes no sense unless we set this in 2006 or later. I am asking you disregard any time inconsistencies.

Also: I am not American. I only lived in the US for six months and it was in the Midwest, not Texas so please bear with me if I write something stupid.

Finally: This will be a Christmas fic and I intend to post the last chapter (there will be seven in total) on or before Christmas. However, religion is never mentioned in this story and the Christmas-sy elements of this story are limited to family gathering, gift giving and tree decorating.

Chapter Five starts after the cut. (Chapter Four can be found here.) Let me know if you wish to be tagged in future chapters or if you wish to be removed from the tag list.

A/N: I am aware of the neutral, perhaps positive, portrait of the police I painted in this chapter. I am fully conscious of the recent (and not so recent) instances of police brutality happening all around the world, many – if not most – of them motivated by racism and other despicable ideologies. With this chapter, I did NOT mean to express support for the police forces. I simply had this ‘plot’ idea come to my mind and decided to write it. There is no ulterior motive.

While all my personal experiences with the police have been positive, I am aware that my ethnicity gives me privilege and that many people are not as lucky as I am. This both angers and saddens me. It has to change.

Black lives matter. Minority lives matter.

Chapter 5

Chapter warnings: Cockwarming, irresponsible driving (kind of), car accident (not serious), police (but no police violence), very mild violence, language (perhaps a little bit worse than in previous chapters but nothing you don’t hear in real life, I guess), mentions of mysogyny.

Ada yawned with Sy quickly following suit. “You can drive my car if you want, Sy. It’s not that new anymore, you know.” She offered, gracing him with the most angelic smile she could muster. It was the first time she was granting him the opportunity to drive her car.

Sy laughed next to her, his left hand moving over the center console to rub her thigh. He had that stupid grin again, that looking endearing with his current droopy eyes. “It’s your car, darlin’. Besides, you’d kill me if I ever so much as got a scratch on it.” He chuckled, suppressing another yawn. “And I know you’re only offering because you want to sleep.”

His wife gasped, a look of mocking offense on her features. “They’re your nephews!”

“But you were the one who said yes,” Sy countered, his eyes closing again as he made himself more comfortable on the car seat. The drive home was only about one hour and a half, but it was the perfect length for a nap.

“What the fuck was I supposed to say, huh?” Ada laughed, gesticulating wildly as was her habit. “Yes, Joshua, I understand you’re taking my pregnant sister-in-law to the hospital. No, I will not look after your kids for the night. It’s our date night.”

Next to her, Sy grimaced. She did have a point, even if he had been looking forward to going bowling with her: Ada was a sore loser which always ended with lots of fun for him. At least, his sister and the baby were okay. Just a normal case of Braxton Hicks, apparently, whatever that was supposed to mean. Perhaps it was good thing Ada didn’t want children because he’d freak out if she started having contractions four months in. “You fell asleep on Luke’s bed at one in the morning when you tried to get him to sleep for the third time and I had to spend the whole night entertaining them with tea parties because they wouldn’t tire!”

“Hey! That’s not cool!” She protested accusatorily, her eyes on the road as she switched lanes to take the next exit. “I didn’t know you couldn’t give kids sugar after a certain hour!”

Sy huffed, shaking his head. They’d had the great idea to bring donuts because according to his dear wife, sugar always made you feel better when you was anxious or down, and the kids had been aware something was off with their mom. “We suck at this parenting thing.”

“You don’t say!” Ada laughed, before loudly cursing at driver who’d just cut her off, something which never failed to make Sy smile. “The nap’s going to feel heavenly once we’re home.”

Sy hummed in agreement, his head falling back against the headrest as he drifted off, hiding his eyes from the sun with his cap. Ada glanced sideways at him, shaking her head. Part of her wanted to shake him awake. If she had to suffer, so did he. But he was right, she had slept more than him and he looked too peaceful to disturb, especially with some leftover glitter still on his cheeks.

Suddenly, there was a mild thump and the car stuttered before stopping, startling Ada who jumped on her seat.

"Shit!" She cursed. "Did I just...?" She began to panic, her eyes moving to the red car in front of them, too close. She had bumped it while she had been distracted by her husband’s stupid, sleepy face!

"Yes, yes you did," Sy laughed next to her. Ada was a good driver and she loved driving, but she was easily distracted and Sy never failed to tease her about it. This time, however, he could tell she was scared from the way her chest was heaving with her shallow breaths. "Want me to deal with it, darlin'?" He offered, tilting his head at the other driver who had just come out of the red, broken-down car.

"No!" Ada protested all too quickly, taking off her seatbelt and grabbing the necessary documents from the glovebox, accidentally hitting his knees in the process. "I am an independent woman who don't need no help," she muttered, trying to convince herself of her own statement. In the eight years since she’d had her gotten her licence, she had never given any of her cars a single scratch, let alone gotten into an accident.

Sy grinned at her antics but tried to hide his amusement, not wanting to make it worse. "All right. I'm here in case you need me, okay?" With a determined nod in his direction, Ada stepped out of the car and attempted to summon the Annalise Keating or the Olivia Pope inside her, whichever she could find in herself.

The man from the red car, who seemed to be in his early forties and balding, was already inspecting his vehicle for damage – looking mighty pissed as he did so. Ada approached the impact point from the other side, noticing the bump on the man’s old car. It didn't look too bad, she sighed with relief. Her own car barely had anything. Ha! She would have to use this as an argument next time Sy and her started discussing cars. Her black Citroën DS5 was sturdy and not just fancy looking, unlike what he said.

"Hello, sir," she said calmly, the man instantly looking up at her. Damn! He really looked furious, seething even. "I am so sorry for this. I was a little distracted- Anyway, it doesn't matter. My insurance will cover whatever repairs your car may require."

"You stupid little bitch!" The man shouted, out of the blue.

Ada gasped, backtracking. The muscles in her jaw twitched. What the fuck was wrong with him? "I understand your anger, but there's no-"

"What were you even doing behind that wheel?" He snarled, gesturing at her car, her baby. "Who the hell lets women like you drive cars like that?!” The man cursed, aggressively waving his hand in the air.

She just stood there, still in shock. Did... did he just bring misogyny into a fender bender situation?! "Women like me?!" She repeated, quite stunned.

"Aye! Bitches like you have no business driving-”

Ada flinched at the man’s words. He was starting to breech the distance between them, moving too close to her. Ada jumped again when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder before realizing it belonged to Sy and letting herself exhale slowly. Thank God he didn’t listen to her and stayed in the car!

"I get that you’re pissed, but that's no way to talk to a lady. You should to apologize," Sy told the man, making it sound very much like an order and very little like a suggestion. The driver huffed before coming closer, his face about as red as the car as when he started laughing. Ada instinctively hid under Sy's arm, though she aware of the ridicule of the whole situation.

"That's your whore? You let your whore drive your car?!"

Okay, this was going too far. It left her lips before she could help it, "that's my own goddamn car, you wanker!". Maybe it was time to stop borrowing insults from Tom.

Ada could almost hear how his jaw clenched when she felt Sy's whole body tense up against hers. "Call her a whore one more time and you're gonna wish she had run you over instead."

This was escalating. Ada bit her lower lip. She was going to have to be the bigger person here. "Look, I'll just go grab my phone from the car and call the police. They'll deal with this." Ada announced, dislodging herself from Sy’s grip before turning around to get to her car.

Her hand had just wrapped around the car door handle when there was a clouting noise, quickly followed by a loud thump, this time. Ada immediately turned around at the sound. The angry driver was out cold on the ground, blood rushing out of his nose and forehead, with Sy looking down at him, the same blood tainting his fist.

"Oh shit!"

°°°

A lanky guy, smelling heavily of pot, was thrown inside the almost full holding cell by the same officer who had arrested him. Sy was amused at the sight until the guy, after a full survey of the room, started walking him up to him before sitting down on the bench far too close for his liking.

Exhaling through his nose, Sy tried ignoring the smell and closed his eyes again. He didn’t expect the nap he had been looking forward to, to be in a stinky cell with stinky men but it would have to make do. At least, after the man sitting closest to the entrance had commented on the leftover pink glitter that still shone in Sy’s beard, nobody had bothered him anymore – not after he quite literally made the man piss himself with just one stare. That man wouldn’t have survived a single day in Baqubah.

"It's cramped in here," the new guy commented nonchalantly though his eyes were fixed on Sy. Out of politeness - damn Ada and her insistence on good manners! - Sy acknowledged his useless statement with a noncommittal hum.

"Name's Ben, by the way," he said, stretching out of his hand but Sy didn’t move a muscle. What was it in his current posture - crossed arms and spread legs - that made him appear friendly enough for a chat, he wondered, rolling his eyes behind his closed eyelids.

"And you are...?"

Sy groaned out loud time. "Not interested."

Ben didn’t get the hint and proceeded to ramble off about how he got caught selling pot near the university. Sy was actively working on drowning out his voice when the sound of fast and angry clicking heels on the concrete floor caught his attention. He smiled. Ada. Apparently, she hadn’t changed and was still dressed for date night, wearing a dress and stilettos, even though they had only meant to go bowling and eat at a steakhouse.

Somehow, everyone in the holding cell must have been intrigued by the same sound because all conversation suddenly stopped, the men all hoping to eavesdrop.

"I am here for Syverson. I wish to talk to him."

"Ma'am, I apologize but we are not allowed to let him out of his cell."

"Not a problem. Just give me the keys and I'll let him out myself!"

Every person in the holding cell laugh with Sy grinning quietly, amused at how she sounded distinctively more foreign when she was mad. He was used to her accent in more intimate settings, but he was enjoying the sound of it during her current outburst which was followed by an uninterrupted string of curse words and insults alike, all coming from her delicate mouth. First, in English, then French. Spanish. Portuguese. Italian. Sy frowned at the last one, he didn’t recognize it. Was it German? He'd have to ask her.

"What a woman, huh," the guy next to him deadpanned, still not giving up on a conversation.

Silence fell again as everyone attempted to listen to the rest. “I swear to God I’ll hang your heads up in my living room if –“

Sy only huffed, leaning back against the cold wall. "You can't even begin to imagine."

"You know her?" The pothead quipped up.

"Yeah," Sy replied. "She’s my wife." He said it loud enough to make sure everyone was able to hear it.

“Oh,” came the nasal voice next to him just as they heard heavy, resigned footsteps become louder.

A different policeman stopped just behind the door, a colleague just behind him as he fished out the right key from his pocket. “Syverson,” he called out loudly. “There’s a woman here for you.”

Sy got up at once, unable to hide his smug smirk. Ada always got her way.

°°°

“What the fuck were you thinking, Sy?!” His wife blurted out as soon as she was let inside the interview room, the young officer locking the door from the outside. Then, turning around, she caught sight of her husband handcuffed to the table and her shoulders instantly slacked, her anger vanishing almost instantly. “What you did was disproportionate,” she sighed, her voice calmer as she took a seat in front of him, the cold iron table separating them.

"He called you a whore, I just punched him!" Sy protested, leaning back on the chair. "My response was disproportionate - disproportionately small."

"You knocked him out cold!" Ada reminded him, her voice pitching higher than usual but the only response she got from Sy was a smug grin. "He might press charges, you know. It's battery."

Sy rolled his eyes, sitting up straight. "He’s an asshole."

Now, it was her turn to roll her eyes although she knew he hated it when she did that. She took a deep breath, hoping to calm down. Sy was looking entirely unbothered, but she was freaking out at the situation. "I'll try to convince him not to press charges and offer to cover the medical bill on top of the car repairs in return."

"Medical bill?" Sy asked, cocking his eyebrow.

"Yes. After the police took you into custody, he was brought to the hospital. From what I heard, he has a broken nose, needed stitches on his forehead and got a concussion." Sy only huffed with a smirk. "This is not funny, Syverson!"

"It wasn't funny when he called you a whore either," Sy countered. He was right. It was also very pleasant to see that dickhead in pain, but she wouldn’t tell him that.

"Look, my friend, Gale, who's a lawyer, is on her way. I'll get you out of here tonight. He’ll either agree to drop the charges or I’ll bail you out."

The corners of his lips twitched. He moved his hands as much as the chain allowed, to grab hers and squeeze them in his large ones. "Are you worried about me, darlin'?"

What a teasing little shit he could be! Of course, she was worried about him! He was in a cell! Feigning innocence, Ada smiled, running her thumbs over the back of his hands. "I am not. However, seeing what you did to that prick just got me really horny and I would like to have you back in my bed tonight," she whispered, watching as her husband’s smug grin slowly disappeared as she got up and grabbed her purse, heading to the door.

"You better get me out of here quickly!" Sy called after her.

°°°

He was returned to the holding cell, the officer uncuffing his wrists again once the bars closed behind him. There were two new faces, but he also recognized that at least three men had left already. Unfortunately, pothead was still there.

“I saved you your spot,” Ben smiled wildly, gesturing at the vacant portion of the bench next to him. “The guy in the red shirt was going to sit here but I told him it was occupied.”

Sy merely hummed, taking the seat that had so generously been saved for him. Hopefully Ada would get him out quickly because he didn’t know how much longer he could deal with his chatty neighbour.

“Was she mad?” Ben asked, whispering loudly and defeating the entire purpose of a whisper in the first place. “Did she yell at you?”

Despite his closed eyes, Sy could feel Ben’s stare on him as he awaited an answer. “No.”

Ben nodded thoughtfully, shaking the uneven bench as he did so. “If we go to prison, I want to share a cell with you.”

If Ada didn’t get him out of there quickly, he was soon going to get charged for battery again.

°°°

Sy stood by the counter, his attention on the ugly Christmas decorations he hadn’t noticed when they brought him in hours earlier. Somehow, he had managed to forget all about it. And fuck, he still needed to get Ada a present!  

“Here are your things,” the young officer told him as he slid over a transparent plastic bag.

With a curt nod, Sy ripped it open and fetched his wedding band first, before looking for his wallet and belt. He was already heading to the door when he turned around at the last minute. “Did Mrs. Syverson post my bail?”

“No, the charges were dropped.”

Huffing with amusement and a hint of pride, Sy zipped up his coat and headed to the front door. He swiftly descended the stairs in front of the precinct, his face illuminating at the sight of her. She was still wearing the black dress and the fancy shoes, her makeup now lightly smudged around her eyes.

As soon as he was close enough, his hands moved to Ada's waist and he leaned down to kiss her, only for her to pull away at his touch. "Not so fast, big guy," she teased, a glint in her eyes as she grabbed something out of her coat pocket he couldn't yet identify. "You're still in trouble."

Sy threw back his head, his laugh booming through the night sky as he finally saw what she was holding up in front of him. Handcuffs, and not the fluffy ones either.

"Now gimme your hands," Ada demanded, making him cock his brow at her authoritative tone.

With a chuckle he obeyed, presenting her his hands. "Yes, ma'am."

Sy watched keenly as she fumbled with the cuffs to get them around his wrists, and then seized the right opportunity to take the upper hand, easily taking the cuffs away from her small hands.

With a shriek, Ada found herself bent over the black hood of her own car, her cheek pressed up against the slick surface and her husband's body pressed up against hers. She could hear the smirk in his voice when he spoke. "Mrs. Syverson, you're under arrest for unlawful teasing back in the questioning room." Ada scoffed, the sound weakened by his heavy weight on top of her. "You have the right to remain silent. Everything you do say can and will be held against you in-"

"Your dick!" Ada suddenly blurted out, a little too loud given where they were, and Sy immediately stopped, clearly surprised, but she quickly felt him laugh against her back.

Before she could join him, Sy smacked her ass, effectively silencing her. "Guess I'll have to fuck that attitude out of you," he grunted before pulling away and fastening the cuffs around her wrists.

Ada kept complaining as he carefully dragged her inside the car. Despite her struggling, Sy easily opened the right backdoor and threw her on the backseat, mindful to fasten her seatbelt before closing the door. Her eyes widened and her mouth went agape when Sy sat down behind the steering wheel and proceeded to push back the driver’s seat and readjust all the mirrors.

“Are you shitting me?” She exclaimed, leaning forward on her seat as much as the belt would allow. He was messing up with all her settings and the grin on her face made it very clear that he was doing it all on purpose just to get her riled up.

“Language, darlin’,” he chided, turning on the engine. “Didn’t you ask me to drive earlier, anyway?”

Ada groaned in response, shutting her eyes tightly before opening them again. “You know very well that was-“

Sy didn’t let her finish, the tires squealing on the tar as he sped out of the parking lot all too fast. Ada involuntarily cringed at the noise. “I’ll make you pay for this!”

“We’ll see, kitten. We’ll see.” He was entertaining by her determination even though her eyes were already closing.

As expected, Ada fell asleep within five minutes despite the handcuffs keeping her arms in an uncomfortable position. Her head lolled before it finally came to rest against the window. He watched her though the central mirror, an adoring look in his blue eyes as she sighed contently the very moment she had fallen asleep. While he had managed to rest while in the cell, though not as much as he had hoped, he knew Ada had been up all afternoon trying to sort everything out and get him out. Sy had noticed her exhaustion as soon as she started fumbling with the handcuffs, her movements uncharacteristically clumsy.

He stopped at a junk food drive thru on their way home – night had already fallen and he hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast. He doubted she had either. Her eyes didn’t even flutter under the bright neon lights and once he parked the car on their driveway and went to carry her inside along with their food, after undoing the cuffs, her body was completely limp in his arms. It was only when he accidentally let her shoulder hit the doorframe as he tried to lead them inside their bedroom, that she woke up again. “Ouch!”

“Sorry,” Sy murmured and kissed her forehead before laying her down on the bed and setting down the bag on the mattress next to her. Her nose wrinkled as she sniffed the air even as he helped her out of her coat and dress, and then the shoes. “Did you get us food?”

“Tenders and fries.”

Within an instant, she had ripped the bag open and was clutching the bucket of chicken to her chest, moaning as soon as she took a bite. He smiled knowingly at her– she had been hungry after all.

Hurriedly, Sy took off his clothes and slid in bed behind his wife, wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her closer to him. They hadn’t slept together the previous night as they babysat the kids and he had missed the feel of her soft body against his. A content hum escaped him as his already partially hard cock nestled against the roundness of her ass.

Ada chuckled at his reaction, the vibrations of her body sending sparks of pleasure to his growing erection. “I have an idea,” she whispered, her voice becoming seductive again as she started rubbing herself against him.

Sy groaned deeply and tightened his grip on her waist, forcing her to still even though he was no longer sure for what he now hungered more; food or his wife. “We’re both hungry and exhausted,” he reasoned with her, his fingers moving some hair away from her neck so that he could kiss her there.

“Let me,” she insisted, a grin audible in her voice. Her hands disappeared under the bedsheets and she slid off her panties before retaking her initial position as the little spoon. Behind her, Sy groaned as her delicate fingers took hold of his cock, giving it a few pumps before guiding him inside her warmth. He muffled a soft moan against neck at the snug feeling of tight her walls, his arm tightening around her again. She let out a quiet gasp at the stretch, it hurt a little despite her still being sufficiently wet from when he had pushed her against the hood of the car. But once he was fully inside, Ada sighed at the pleasure of being again. “Now we can eat.”

°°°

There are two more chapters to go! Next chapter will include Christmas tree decorating. I am running behind on schedule so I cannot guarantee the last chapter will be posted by Christmas but I’ll do my best.

°°°

@colourmeinblue​ @hail-horror-queen​ @youthought-iwasa-nicegirl​ @kmuir1​ @madbaddic7ed​ @coffeebreathy​ @purplelove75​ @summersong69​ @helenaellie​

[atqh16]

Take My Hand (Say You Need Me Still)

A Daredevil Fic (Matt/Foggy, Girl!Foggy. Pre-Slash)

Summary : Look, getting shot is just the New York experience. You haven’t lived unless you’ve been held at gunpoint at least once. And if you save someone doing it? Hey, bonus!

AO3

Foggy will very openly admit that it was actually a really stupid thing to do. Matt will be downright furious when he finds out. If she makes it out of this alive she’s not keen on facing down the utterly hypocritical wrath of her best friend. She’s pretty sure Karen would defend her which is a nice thought to dwell on.

After Karen had told her about what happened with Wesley, it was like a wall had broken down between them. Suddenly she was so much more relaxed, open. She didn’t look like she was going to throw up every time Foggy talked about how ridiculously admirable albeit stupid she was to insist on constantly putting her life in danger to chase a good story (Lois Lane would be proud).

You’d think Foggy would get a break with having to deal with only one dangerously reckless best friend but apparently life felt that she deserved to handle two

She wouldn’t change a thing.

Though she feels that its incredibly ironic how she finds herself to be the one bleeding out from a bullet wound at the Police Precinct after daring to step in front of a mook with a gun. In her defense it was either her or the 8 month old pregnant lady and really was that much of a choice?

Marci would be really pissed at her too if she ever found out about this even if they've split up for almost 6 months now. That is if she ever found out from where she’s staying in Los Angeles. Knowing how much of a tattle tale Matt is, she’d probably find out. No Foggy Bear this time. Probably just an ass whooping in the form of a chilling reprimand that only serves to remind Foggy how much Marci really cares. Especially since this is the third time she’s gotten hurt in almost 5 years. Must be a record. 

Maybe this is the universes way of helping her make up for the fact that she can't be out there in the thick of danger the same way her partners are. She’s not planning on making it a habit because this fucking hurts and the pregnant lady clumsily putting too much pressure on her stomach isn’t helping with that. She bites back a laugh at a sudden random thought that maybe her abdominal fat played a useful role for once and managed to absorb most of the bullets impact as opposed to her vital organs

She’s not brave she knows. Not in the same way Karen and Matt are. She can't even manage to take a bullet without crying because again, it fucking burns. But at the very least she’s comforted knowing neither Matt nor Karen are the ones bleeding out this time.

It’s a soothing thought and it helps that she’s starting to feel numb. There's a faint troubling nudge at the edge of her mine that she's sure is panic at this. Something about how it might be because she’s losing too much blood, she's going into shock. But the feeling is such a welcome compared to the overwhelming sting from before.

Charlotte -the pregnant lady- is saying something. Mouth moving, loud enough that Foggy can register the sound but her brain is filled with too much fuzz to actually tell what she’s saying.

Either way it doesn’t seem to matter. She’s just surprised she doesn’t feel more scared than she is. Her last thought is maybe that’s a cause for concern but really she can’t find it in herself to care. It occurs to her maybe that’s worse

*

*

*

*

*

“What the hell were you thinking Foggy?”

Foggy raises her eyebrows, actually impressed. Matt managed to hold off his furious outburst for five days after she woke up from her short induced coma – “It was two days Matt. Relax”, “You were intubated  Foggy. You were in the ICU. Don’t tell me to calm down” – and really it’s a full five days more than she’d expected.

“I’m confused. Was I supposed to let the guy put a bullet through our very nice pregnant client?”

“You were supposed to let the police do their job”

“Right, the very understaffed policemen on duty at the station that included the guy who put me in the cell with our client in the first place”

“Why were you arrested again?”, Karen interjected and Foggy doesn’t miss how it was a cautious attempt to drain the heat out of the conversation.

“Obstruction of justice, or so the very hot headed rookie claimed. I wouldn’t let him do an extensive drug search on my lovely cellmate and told him to get a female cop to do it.”

“Where was Brett?”

“He was at the drug bust at the pier with me. I called him there”, it’s Matt’s turn to explain. There's a hint of guilt in his voice and while Foggy doesn’t agree for it to be there, she finds it the perfect moment to throw in another excuse.

“To be fair, I did call both of you to bail me out.”

Karen looks a bit red in the face. Coughing loudly before she says, “I was under cover. At the Irish Parlor”

The angry flush in Matt’s cheeks seem to redden even more “The Parlor Mob ?! Karen….”

“I was with Jessica! Relax, Matt.”

There’s a short moment where Matt seems to have more to protest but instead, “At least one of you has some common sense”

“OK, now you’re just being a hypocritical asshole”, Foggy retorts, rolling her eyes.

“You should’ve waited for back up! For Brett or even me-“

“And what? I don’t think you understand when I say this guy had a gun aimed at our pregnant client and was ready to shoot her point blank any second. God knows why”

“I Don’t… Its just… I.. “, words seem to have tied his tongue into a knot and Karen immediately understands it as her cue to leave.

“I think I’m gonna get some coffee. Have to talk to Jess. She actually asked about you Foggy”, Karen says. Providing an entertained smirk.

“Yeah well after all the times I kept her out of Jail I hope she does”, Foggy replies but there's no heat in it. Only a fondness that surprises even her.

“Tell her I said Hi, and tell her she still owes me my retainer”

Karen lets out a laugh but she doesn’t say anything else. She gives a soft peck on the side of Foggy's head before leaving. The sole of her sneakers  pad softly on the linoleum floor until she probably turns a corner after which Matt seems to be satisfied that she’s properly out of earshot.

Foggy raises an eyebrow that she knows Matt can’t see but she trusts her tone conveys her expectation for Matt to continue,“You were saying?”, she prods. Curt.

Matt’s hands are on his hips. A classic Murdock stance the few times he finds his clever tongue has failed him. Shuffling back and forth before taking a deep breath and - “You’re not suppose to get hurt. I know-“ He raises a palm to qualm his best friends protest “- it’s hypocritical of me. I know. But you’re meant to be safe Fog. Karen… I can’t stop her. No matter what I do. I’ve accepted that-“

“Like I’ve accepted the same thing about you?”

“It’s different fog!”, Matts voice is weighted with frustration and he’s gritting his teeth the way he always does when he’s trying to hold back from snapping.

"Matt, breath. I promise I'm not gonna make a habit out of this. I don't think my health insurance can take it. It's going to be hell to get them to cover my third hospital visit in 5 years. I'm pretty sure they're thinking about cancelling my contract at this very moment"

"Leave that to me", there's a challenging snarl in the undertone of Matt's voice - glad to have something else to direct his frustration at - that has something balloon all warm in Foggy's chest.

It's not that Matt has never showed off his protective streak before. She remembers how he reduced one of their classmates to tears in a debate when he found out they'd called her a fat fag at a party a few days before. Which frankly is not the worse she's been called and is just insultingly unoriginal. But it still makes something flutter fondly inside her at the unofficial confirmation of how much Matt still cares.

There hasn't been a lot of that going around lately what with Matt being stretched thin with Daredevil and a new gang trying to claim the territory Fisk had left behind. There hadn't been anything else that could take priority. Which, Foggy truly doesn't begrudge.

But she lost her best friend for months. Thought he was dead. She just got him back. Is it selfish for her to want him for herself for once?

He hasn't just been hers for a very long time now. Which, again, understandable. Matt's a fully independent adult, not an object to own. But she used to be able to hold his attention a lot more than she does now. A part of her knows its not because of her, but years of high school bullying have buried a vindictive voice in her head, constantly trying to convince her that its because she's just not important. Not enough.

Which again is so self-absorbed that she internally cringes every time it comes up. Still, to admit that it doesn't gnaw at her self-esteem would be a lie. Which is why she absolutely refused to raise the issue with her walking, talking lie-detector of a best friend.

She distracted herself with their workload. Both hers and Matts because she hadn't suggested they reopen their firm without knowing exactly what to expect. Not that Matt hadn't pulled his weight. The info he'd gotten for some of their cases as Daredevil was invaluable which is sort of important when their rinky dink little firm absolutely did not have the budget for a private investigator. There's only so many times Foggy can call Jess in for a favor before risking her busting his door down and throwing their office phone out the window.

Which, ok yeah that's not fair. Jess is a drunk asshole but she's not a bitch. Big difference. There would definitely be some empty threats and cussing colourful enough to make a sailor blush. But nothing worse.

So Foggy had done what she could and carried what she could. Which is why when their most recent client had called her from jail in a tearful panic, Foggy hadn't hesitated to rub the lethargy out of her eyes before making her way down to the precinct.

How could she have known that a cop - their clients ex, she'd been told - would pull out a gun on them both? She'd done her best to distract and try to diffuse the situation till one of the other cups could tackle the maniac. But he'd been a lot more trigger happy than any of them expected. Pushing their client out of the way had been instinct. It's not like she had purposely let the bullet hit her. She was just slow. Sue her. Her reflexes aren't that great.

But is it bad that she was having fun basking in Matt's attention right now? Matt mother henning her, from adjusting the position of her bed to chiding her into drinking more water (This is the third glass Matt. Anymore and my bladder is going to burst") to even fluffing her pillow.

Unfortunately she doesn't get to enjoy it for long because despite what waking up from a very long sleep would suggest, she still feels exhausted. The pain-killers are weighing her limbs down and the filter between her brain and her mouth has turned from a sieve to a funnel and she doesn't really want to say anything she's going to regret. Not anything bitter or sharp. Just thoughts. Feelings. Things that she's not ready to face, let alone voice.

But she can't stop the warmth rising in her cheeks when Matt lifts a hand to her temple to push some stray strands behind her ear ("It's growing out", "I like it. It's more you", "Not very professional though", "Avocados don't follow society's idea of professionalism", "Well you got me there"). Or from curling her fingers around his hand when he grips hers between both of his, brought up to his lips as if in prayer.

Matt has never been able properly look at her of course. Hello! Blind! But even with his radar senses, the lack of use of his eyes and the presence of his glasses make it so that he never really bothers to adjust his pupils to give the illusion of eye contact. It took some effort and time but after a while she managed to learn how to read her best friend from his body language and the simple way he moved to communicate what he couldn't or wouldn't say.

From the difference between a fake laugh and a genuine one to the way he tilts his head when you had his full attention. How he stiffens when he's annoyed or pissed. The disparity of a toothy smile and a open lipped snarl.

Foggy knows her best friend. Has spent 10 years collecting bits and pieces of him and while Matt might disagree with the image Foggy has formed of him in her mind, Foggy refuses to budge on it. Matt insists that he's built with the devil under his skin and a fury that burns with it. Contrary to Matt's belief, Foggy has always seen and known that part of Matt existed. Its just, to Foggy, they didn't hide what laid underneath. The empathy and kindness that curled like roots from which all Matt's actions rose from. From pushing an old man out of the way of a speeding truck to starting a firm that barely earned pennies for the sake of helping the innocent to even his need to stalk the night with nothing but a cotton shirt protecting him from harm.

So foggy knows. She knows how Matt acts when he's around his friends. When he's around potential hook ups and even when he was with Elektra. Loath as Foggy was to see it.

But right here, right now, there's something different in the way Matt is moving. Something tender. His thumb swirling circles on the back of her hand. His lips brush over her knuckles. Chapped and rough but the kiss he leaves on them is lingering and hot from his breath.

Even as her eyes droop, Foggy's heart drums a furious beat that threatens to burst through her ribs.

"Matty?", Foggy barely manages to get his name out. So tired, blackness already easing her away from him. She feels more then see's one of Matt's hands gliding down to clasp her wrist while the other pulls hers closer to rest his cheek on the back of it.

"Sleep Foggy. We'll talk when you wake up"

She does and this time, nothing hurts.

[saradathesalad]

read me your life

ao3

For Star Wars Soulmate Month

Anakin has never been a fan of the whole soulmate-book thing. Some people found it romantic to be able to read all about their soulmate’s life before they’d met, but for Anakin it just showcased the worst years of his life; the years he spent as a slave. 

As a child he’d wanted to burn his book, so his soulmate would never have to know that he’d once been a slave (he’d known down to his bones that he’d be free by the time he met his soulmate), but his mother had talked him out of it, telling him he’d never be able to find his soulmate without his book.

Anakin still thought about it.

He never read his book, not because he believed that only his soulmate should ever lay eyes on it like some did, but because every time he tried he felt the hot flush of shame and anger. Even the joy a soulmate was meant to bring was tainted by slavery, the one thing that he thought might be able to help him get through until he was free. 

He hated Watto, and Tatooine, and the whole stupid universe that let him and his mother be slaves.

And then came Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, who freed him and promised him training as a Jedi. Even at nine, Anakin had had some reservations, but the thought of being free, being able to travel the stars instead of being stuck on Tattooine won him over in seconds.

So he wins the Boonta Eve Classic and he gets freed, something he hadn’t known about until it was happening, Qui-Gon’s promise of him becoming a powerful Jedi seems in his grasp. 

But he has to leave his mother behind. It’s the hardest thing he ever does, even later after he’s gone on several missions, even after he fights in a war, even after he has to kill the old man he’d thought was his friend but wasn’t, leaving his mother and not looking back remains the most difficult.

He almost left his book behind then, with his mother. Almost. Even if she couldn’t see the writing on the pages, it was still something to remember him by. But she’d refused, and Anakin had been strangely relieved.

He’s glad he didn’t when later, after the Jedi told him they wouldn’t allow him to be trained, after he blew up a spaceship, after Qui-Gon’s funeral, after being assigned as Obi-Wan Kenobi’s padawn, he checks his book, to read about the past few days, to remind himself that they were real and that he’s really free. 

And he finds blank pages from the moment he climbed aboard the Naboo cruiser that first time. He’d met his soulmate. He’d met his soulmate and he hadn’t noticed. All those stories about sparks flying and knowing instantly were wrong. Anakin should’ve known. Nothing good is that easy.

His first thought is that it’s Padme, the beautiful angel, the Queen of the Naboo, Anakin’s first friend off Tatooine. But the timeline doesn’t add up. He’d met Padme days before his book stopped writing, but maybe that’s how it works? The only person he’d ever been able to talk about it with was his mother, who’d never met her soulmate and would never know unless they showed her their book.

Hers had been burnt when she’d fallen pregnant with Anakin.

Over the years he convinces himself that it’s Padme. He slowly chips away at all his doubts, refusing to back down. It’s Padme, it has to be. Who else had been kind and gracious to him, who else had made him feel like the most important person in the room whenever they spoke to him? No one. It had to be Padme. If it wasn’t Padme then who could it be? He didn’t want it to be anyone else. 

He trains, he gets better, he fights with Obi-Wan and gets scolded by the council more often than not. But Obi-Wan is always there after, to apologize, to be apologized to, to hug and to take him to Dex’s. To reassure him that he’s wanted. 

Anakin is sure he got lucky with his master. His fellow padawans always complain about theirs, and while Anakin and Obi-Wan clash over many things, they work well together and get along very well when neither of them are being stubborn. He’s glad, most days, that he landed with Obi-Wan instead of Qui-Gon. He gets the feeling that the other man had far too many expectations for him he’d never be abe to live up to.

Anakin never speaks about his soulmate to Obi-Wan, for all that he trusts his Master, he’s far too embarrassed to say anything to him about it. He doesn’t want to feel stupid anymore, and after his peers reactions to his inability to read, Anakin is hesitant to admit any gaps in knowledge to anyone at the Jedi temple. 

So he keeps quiet about his questions and silent suspicions. He doesn’t want to be made a fool again. He waits in excitement for the day that he’ll be able to see Padme again and find out whether his decade-long suspicions are true. 

And then he meets her again. He and Obi-Wan are there to guard her from assassins, and as he’s terrified as that time he’d accidentally kicked Master Yoda across the hall and into Master Windu’s face. 

He’d had a rough time during his growth spurts and hadn’t been able to control any of his limbs, okay? He’s sure half the reason Master Windu hates him is because of that day. Anakin maintains that he should’ve dodged. What is the Force for, if not for sensing when a young teen with no control over their newly elongated limbs punts your weird-speaking toad boss at your head?

No, Anakin is not victim blaming. 

In any case, he feels like throwing up, passing out and running away all at the same time. He’s about to meet his soulmate for the first time in ten years. 

He sees Padme, and those feelings fall away. So does the feelings of passion and love he’s been associating with her for the past decade. Instead he just feels nostalgia for those fleeting days of almost-perfection when he’d first met Padme.

Something inside him tells him that Padme isn’t his soulmate. 

He’s right, he finds out later. When they’re hiding on Naboo Padme confides that she’d thought he was her soulmate for the longest time, but had found out it was actually one of her newer handmaidens she’d met around the same time as she’d met Anakin. 

Anakin tells her that he’d also thought she was his soulmate, up until they’d met again, but he doesn’t think so anymore. 

They try to read each others books, but they can’t. They laugh at their childish foolishness and spend a few days fooling around and revelling in their lack of responsibilities. Anakin gets to meet Lorde, Padme’s soulmate and he revells in the way they fit together. Even if Padme wasn’t his soulmate he’s still glad she gets this. 

And then Anakin dreams of his mother again and they leave for Tatooine. Anakin meets his step-father and mother’s soulmate and he rescues his mother. He barely stops himself from slaughtering the whole village, but his mother needs him more. And Obi-Wan would be disappointed in him.

His mother almost dies twice in one night, but Padme’s Naboo cruiser has very good medical supplies. Anakin gets to speak with his mother again, gets to hear all about how her life has gone and how happy she is with Cliegg. When Obi-Wan’s message comes through she encourages him to go help him. 

So Anakin leaves his mother with a promise to visit when he can and he and Padme set off for Geonosis. They get captured, they escape, they get rescued, they chase down Count Dooku and Padme falls out of a ship and Anakin loses his arm. 

The Clone Wars begin. 

Padme gets married to her soulmate and Anakin is there at the small ceremony, hosted at the same place where they’d spent their last war-free days. Padme tells him she wants to keep it quiet, because Padme has a target on her back and has no interest in endangering Lorde

When he gets back to Coruscant Obi-Wan gives him a strangely sad look, but Anakin chalks it up to the loss of his hand. 

The war rages on and Anakin gets knighted, far too soon in his opinion. Despite his chafing against Obi-Wan’s occasionally tight leash, he’s well aware that he still has a lot more to learn. Nonetheless, its still near the beginning of the war and they still get their seven days together after the ceremony, a luxury not afforded to newly-knighted jedi later on. 

The war rages on and Anakin sees Obi-Wan a surprisingly large amount. They become the Team, the face of the war. They’re sent on large scale public missions together more often than not, and Anakin is glad for it. 

The war rages on and Anakin gets a padawan of his own, Ahsoka Tano, though she’s as much Obi-Wan’s padawan as she is his. She’s far to young to be in war, but tragedy doesn’t care about age. It only seeks to inflict itself on whoever is most vulnerable. Anakin teaches her to be a Jedi, but he also teaches her how to deal with her emotions healthily. He wants her to be better than him, he wants her to suffer as little as possible. Obi-Wan shares this desire and helps in whatever way he can.

The war rages on and Satine dies, Obi-Wan’s soulmate dies and Anakin figures that if there’s any time to break their mutual silence on soulmates it would be now. 

“I’m sorry. Losing your soulmate must be hard,” Anakin says, doing his best at trying to comfort his ex-master. He’d never had to comfort Obi-Wan before, if he’d ever got upset he’d always go and meditate. But not this time. 

His comfort doesn’t seem to be very good because it brings a grimace of pain to Obi-Wan’s face and Anakin wishes he could travel back in time a minute to prevent that expression from crossing Obi-Wan’s face. 

“She wasn’t,” Obi-Wan starts, “My soulmate. I was hers but. She was never mine.”

Anakin doesn’t think that makes losing her any easier for Obi-Wan. He wants to comfort him, but instead his stupid curiousity that he’s been suppressing for years comes to the surface. 

“Do you know who is?” he asks and immediately wishes he could just erase this entire conversation. 

Obi-Wan has a lot of issues that he’s repressed over the years. His feelings of inadequacy and fear of abandonment are well hidden to everyone except Anakin. Anakin knows how to recognise that in someone else, he knows those feelings well enough. 

Which is why he notices Obi-Wan withdrawing into those feelings at Anakin’s question. 

“Yes,” Obi-Wan whispers, “I’ve met them.”

Obi-Wan doesn’t say anything else immediately, but Anakin can tell he’s got more to say, so he waits in shocked silence.

“It’s,” Obi-Wan says, faltering. “It’s you, Anakin.”

Anakin blinks once, everything quickly falling into place, and feels like a complete idiot. Of course it’s Obi-Wan. He met Obi-Wan right when his book stops. 

How had it never occurred to him?

And based on Obi-Wan’s sad but hopeful expression, his years of being an oblivious idiot have hurt his master. 

“Oh,” Anakin manages to get out. 

Obi-Wan deflates at that singles syllable, clearly misreading Anakin’s reaction. Before Anakin has time to fix his mistake, Obi-Wan opens his mouth to say, “I know your soulmate is Padme, but, well. If there’s any time to tell you it’s now. I finally understand how Satine feels. Felt.” 

And if Anakin doesn’t feel like absolute garbage. Obi-Wan is already having a horrible day and Anakin has gone and forced him to bare his soul and 

“It’s not Padme, it’s you,” Anakin says. Obi-Wan’s eyes widen. “I thought it was Padme for a long, long time. But. It’s not. Hers is one of her handmaidens. And mine is you.”

Obi-Wan still hasn’t moved, and Anakin decides to continue. “I didn’t realize until now, but I’ve been an idiot. My book finished writing right before I first met you. It never occurred to me until now-”

Obi-Wan hugs him. It’s been years since Obi-Wan has hugged him, but Anakin’s instincts cause him to bring his arms around him almost immediately. Obi-Wan squeezes him tightly to his chest and Anakin knows immediately that they’ll be fine. They’ll figure this out together.

They’ve always been the perfect team.

[starrynite7114]

everything is you: four

A/N: My lovelies! Happy weekend! So, I got carried away and wrote over 8000 words for this update. You all had me so inspired with just the feedback you’ve given this story. I am truly honored by all your comments, reactions, likes and everything. I hope you all will continue to support and like the story! This is just the beginning and it’s going to get better from here! 

All of your reaction to Angel was absolutely amazing! Hope he wins you some of you back on this update!

I hope to post some other content by the end of the weekend! Whether its snapshots or a request, I will try my best to post something!

Requests are open if you lovely peeps would like to make a request!

Love you all! <3

everything is you

one : two : three

Word count: 8466

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CREDIT TO THE ORIGINAL GIF CREATOR

Angel watched as Cruz walked in front of him, trying to not be annoyed with Alena. It was her so called friendly date last night and she didn’t answer her phone and she didn’t come home. Now, Angel wanted to be reasonable that she fell asleep or drank too much after her date, but his irrational side was winning. Did Alena sleep with him? Did he take advantage of his sweet innocent Alena? 

Cruz stopped in front of the door, waiting for his father to open it. Angel unlocked the door letting Cruz run inside. He closed the door and he almost fucking lost it.

Victor was chuckling walking out of Alena’s bedroom, with her following after him, messy hair and giggling. 

“The fuck is this?” Angel let out before he could stop himself.

“Mommy! You had a sleepover without me?” Cruz pouted, running to Alena’s arms. She picked him up, trying not to look at Angel. She knew how bad this looked, but they were binge watching Umbrella Academy and fell asleep.

Completely innocent.

Completely platonic.

But she knew Angel wouldn’t give a fuck.

This was so confusing for her. He was acting like a jealous husband, but he had stated multiple times he wasn’t interested.

“Hey, man, sorry about that. I know your routine but we fell asleep binge watching Umbrella Academy.” Victor explained but he could tell nothing was even registering. “I’m gonna go, I’ll talk to you later sweetheart.” He kisses her cheeks before fist bumping Cruz. He nodded his head at Angel, but his eyes were just on Alena. 

When Victor was gone, Angel just shook his head. “Where’s your phone? Do you not know how to charge your phone?” He was trying to hide his annoyance but he couldn’t.

“I, it was on silent, sorry.” Alena rarely put her phone on silent, just in case Cruz has an emergency. But last night, she really wanted to enjoy her night out with Victor, a pure adult outing that she didn’t know she needed. Carla was right, she gave so much to Angel and Cruz, mommy needs a break too.

“How was your date?” Angel moved past her and into her bedroom. He had to check, make sure there was no fucking condoms. 

Fuck, what if she let him go bare. 

No fuck that.

“We didn’t do anything Angel. We really just watched Netflix.” Alena knew what Angel was doing and she wanted to smack him for even thinking she would sleep with Victor. Their situation was different, which was why she slept with Angel, but not anymore, she had to be strong. No more crossing boundaries. Kisses were acceptable, but sex, absolutely not. 

“I know, I saw Umbrella Academy pop up on my tv.” Angel turned to her, hands on his hips. “This is ridiculous Alena, you can’t just silence your phone. What if there was an emergency?” He was being unreasonable, he knew, but this was bothering him. How could she even go on this dinner with Victor? She was basically entertaining the idea of giving him a chance. 

“Why is daddy mad?” Cruz wrapped his arms around Alena’s neck, whispering it into her ear. 

“Daddy isn’t mad, he’s just frustrated cause Mommy’s phone was off again.” Alena kissed Cruz’s cheek. “You’re not mad, right daddy?” 

Angel wanted to scream. How can she call him daddy with Cruz right there? He knew her meaning right now was obviously different, but she was driving him crazy. He tried to initiate sex with her four times and each and every time, Alena rejected him. She’ll let him kiss her, but as soon as he even tried to take it to the next level? Fucking forget about it. Now, he was sexually frustrated and everything going on with the club, he could just take so much.

“No Cruzito, daddy isn’t mad.” Angel narrowed his eyes at Alena who had a knowing smirk on her face. “But aren’t you mad at mommy? She promised you that she would come home when we called her yesterday and she didn’t come home. She had a sleepover without you.”

It was now Alena’s turn to narrow her eyes at Angel. How dare he try to use Cruz against her. 

“Cruzie, you’re mad at mama?” Alena pouted and Angel groaned inwardly knowing Cruz’s answer.

“I can never be mad at you mama.” Cruz kissed Alena, hugging her, his cheek against hers.

Alena smirked at Angel who rolled his eyes. 

“Cruzito, you’re gonna throw papi under the bus like that?” 

“Mommy’s my favorite.” Cruz continued to hold Alena.

“Cruz, what about all the times you and I spend together? When mommy comes, daddy is thrown away?” Angel crossed his arms over his chest, shaking his head. “Ooh, you two just wait, when we have a little girl cielo, me and her are going to have tea parties and you’re not invited.”

“A little girl? We’re having more kids?” Alena wasn’t aware of this plan. Cruz always asked them for a playmate, to ask the stork for a playmate, but Alena and Angel were always able to weasel their way out of it. At times, Alena was wondering when Angel was going to have another kid. And if he did have another kid, what happened then? Though, Angel always seemed devoted to her and Cruz, but they technically weren’t together regardless of the rings on their fingers. Angel had discussed having another kid with her and he would tell her unless she was the mom, he didn’t want another kid. If she was being honest, with the amount of time her and Angel had sex without a condom on, she was surprised she wasn’t pregnant. She took a plan B a few times and she was currently on birth control. The only time Angel ever used a condom with her was when they first had sex otherwise, he was always bare. 

Which brought them back to Angel’s confusing words. He could be a thesis class in college. One day he was seemingly in love with her then the next day, it was like nothing happened. She was done with it and she was putting her foot down. The more distance she put between them, the better it would be at the end of them. It would be easier to break free.

That was a joke, but Alena had her hopes. 

“Oh, don’t play now cielo, we’re definitely having more kids. Right Cruzito? You want a playmate?”

“Yes!” Cruz cheered. “Halmeoni (grandma) is waiting for us.” 

“Oh, right, let me get ready.” Alena handed Cruz to Angel. 

Before she could step away, Angel pulled her back and he kissed her, making Cruz giggle. “Hi.”

“Hi,” she bit her lip, running to her bathroom and locking the door behind her. 

Angel Reyes was going to be the death of her. 

=============

Angel parked his truck in front of Michelle’s home, making note of Bryan’s car. Alena hated the drive to her mother’s.  Angel gave her the fucking silent treatment after Victor came back to the apartment to drop off her phone. Her skirt didn’t have any pockets and they ended up walking around the beach after their dinner. He held her phone for her and she just forgot about it. She honestly lost herself in her conversation with Victor and that answer didn’t go well with Angel. 

“You’re really not going to talk to me?” She questioned as she unbuckled herself.

“Alena, let’s just get through dinner and we’ll talk later.”

“I don’t understand why you’re so angry, I didn’t do anything wrong. We had a friendly dinner, fell asleep while watching Umbrella Academy. You act like I committed some crime.”

“I told you not to go right? What would people think when they see a married woman out with a man alone?”

“This is the 21st century and it's normal.” She paused, a small smile appearing on her lips. “Are you jealous Angel Ignacio Reyes?” Angel was usually not unreasonable. He was a good guy with a big heart and tough guy exterior. But when it came to her, Alena, and his family, he was a sweetheart. This Angel was new, she’s never seen it before. Well, she has, whenever a guy was too close to her, but nowadays, that was rare.

These confusing feelings were getting a bit ridiculous.

“Yes, yes I am jealous.” Angel huffed and puffed. “You happy to hear that? I’m fucking jealous Alena so quit fucking around and stop seeing him.” 

“Why are you jealous? You said you don’t have feelings for me.”

Angel looked at Alena. He doesn’t, but she was the mother of his child. He just didn’t trust Victor, he didn’t feel comfortable. He fucking hated it that Alena’s attention was being taken by him. So many things were aggravating him, he didn’t even fucking know anymore. Did he have feelings for Alena? He was attracted to Alena, that much he knew, but something deeper than that. 

Fuck. 

No, he wasn’t going to let his jealousy and Victor’s obnoxious presence dictate his feelings.

He didn’t even fucking know anymore.

“Cielo, I haven’t been with another woman besides you for the last five years. I want you to sit on that.” Angel tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I think it’s cute you keep saying no to me, but you have needs too baby, and I’m sure your fingers could never satisfy you like how my fingers can.” 

Alena hated the effect Angel had on her. She wasn’t sure if it was that bad boy aura he had, the swag or whatever the fuck charm he had, but it was so hard with him at times. 

Alena pulled away, exiting the car. She opened the back door and unbuckled Cruz who was asleep. Thankfully their son was a heavy sleeper, he did not need to hear all of Angel’s words. 

She took him and almost gasped when she saw Angel right next to her. He closed the door and shot her a smirk as he took out a cigarette stick. She made her way up her mother’s driveway, the front door opening before she could even knock.

Her mother opened her mouth to greet her, but she saw the sleeping Cruz and quickly shut her mouth. 

“Umma(mother), how are you?” Alena greeted her mother, kissing her on the cheek. 

“I should beat you for avoiding me for four months, but I want to hear about this man you're dating so I will excuse you.” She teased, hugging her daughter. “I’ll take him.” Michelle took Cruz, placing him on the couch, a pillow next to him so he didn’t roll over and off the couch.

“You owe me.” She heard her older brother, Bryan beside her. 

She looked at him and narrowed her eyes. “Compared to the amount of times I’ve covered for you?”

“I’m kidding.” He pulled her into a hug, kissing the side of her head. “Where’s your shadow?”

“Right here.” Angel announced his presence, before giving Bryan a hug. “How are you?”

“Waiting for you two to have another damn kid so my mother can get off my back.” Bryan replies making both Angel and Alena laugh.

“We gave her Cruz, your turn.” Alena walked over to Mina, her brother’s girlfriend of nine years, giving her a hug. “You still haven’t gotten rid of him?”

“I’ve been trying, he always comes back.” Mina laughed. “How have you avoided your umma for that long?”

“I live in San Diego, it makes it much easier.” Alena giggled.

“My favorite son-in-law!” Michelle has such a soft spot for Angel. She remembered him when he was that punk ass fourteen year old who followed around her daughter. And look where they all were now. Still just friends with rings on their fingers. She never tried to understand their situation, it worked, that’s what mattered. And Cruz was so cute. Though she wasn’t on board at first, Alena was giving up her twenties for Angel and a woman’s son who had harmed Alena before. But she couldn’t tell her daughter anything when it came to Angel.

He’s always been her weakness, which has been her downfall.

Now, she’s almost thirty and doesn’t have a potential husband after this whole thing falls apart.

“Hey mom,” Angel greeted Michelle, chuckling at her enthusiasm. He hugged her tightly and kissed her cheek. “You always keep getting younger whenever I see you.”

“It’s called living alone.”

They all laughed. Michelle ushered them to the dining table where she prepared braised ribs, Tteokbokki, fried pork belly, and assorted side dishes. Angel loved coming to Michelle’s home. She always made such amazing food.

Michelle sat at the head of the table with Angel on one side and Bryan on the other. Alena looked over at Cruz who was still asleep. This didn’t bode well for later since that meant he would be wide awake.

“So, you’re dating someone? They got passed my son-in-law?” She pinched Angel’s cheeks. “Or did you wake up and realized you’re in love with my daughter?” She turned to her son. “Is this not odd to you? They’re married but he sleeps around and she’s dating someone? You kids. Aish, giving me heart palpitations.” Pointing at Bryan. “Cruz needs a playmate, you’ve been with Mina for nine years, time to pop one out.”

“Umma, we literally just sat down, can we eat first then you can pester us about our lives?” Bryan whined. He loves his mother, he really did, but he didn’t need to be constantly reminded he needed to have kids. It’s not like they weren’t trying.

“Yah, are you talking back to your Umma?”

Bryan looked at his sister. “Can you just tell her who you’re dating?” He wanted the spotlight off of him.

Alena laughed. She opened her mouth, but Angel beat her to it.

“She’s dating me.”

Everyone at the table gave Angel an incredulous look, in disbelief by his statement. Bryan knew Angel had a soft spot for his sister and one could pretend to be married for so long and not feel something. He never tried to understand their relationship and he still wasn’t.

“You’re what?” Michelle looked at Angel and Alena, unsure of what to make of the situation.

“We didn’t want to say anything until it was serious, but we’re dating.” Alena wanted to slap Angel. How can he tell her mother that? Does he not know her mother? She stepped on his foot, he turned to her and smirked, not even flinching that she stepped on his foot. He gave her a kiss as some type of resounding proof.

“This is amazing! I always knew you two would end up together.” Mina broke the silence between all of them.

“Not say anything until it was serious? You two are married, how much more serious do you two have to get?” Michelle rolled her eyes. “No matter, this is good! I’m glad you finally got your head out of your ass Ignacio.” She picked up the braised ribs, putting some on Angel’s plate. “Now, we gotta strengthen you up, mom wants at least three more grandkids.”

“Umma!” Alena was honestly too flabbergasted to answer her mother. Angel was going to hear it from her. He shouldn’t give her mother false hope like that.

“So no more matchmaking?” Angel was a devious little shit, but he didn’t give a fuck.  

“That’s what pushed you? Should have done it long ago.” Michelle kept placing food on Angel’s plate, making Bryan pout.

“Umma what about me?”

“Ssh, he can get me grandkids, you? That’s a debate. Mina, leave him.”

“Umma!”

Dinner went on without a hitch. Cruz ended up waking up and sat in between Alena and Angel. He eventually moved to see on his grandmother’s lap, loving the spoiling he was getting from her. 

“I’m glad you finally took a chance Angel.” Michelle and Angel were smoking outside on her porch while Alena and Mina cleaned up the kitchen for Michelle.

“Yeah? Sorry for taking so long, you know us men, take a while to realize we have a good thing.” Angel let out a puff. He enjoyed his time with Michelle. Not once did she make him feel like he wasn’t one of them. He was always included. 

“You always knew of your feelings for Alena, but you just didn’t think you deserve her.” Michelle has watched this dance between them. Angel only had serious girlfriends when Alena had a serious boyfriend. But Angel didn’t pull away from Alena, he always made his presence known and strong. He made sure that Alena’s boyfriend knew he was number one and there was nothing he could do to change that. Michelle had to admit, Angel’s lack of movement made her angry, but he also knew how Angel was. At least she knew that her daughter would always be protected but what worried her was, who protected Alena from Angel.

She knew Angel would never physically harm Alena, but emotionally? It was a different thing. Angel didn’t mean it, it was his defense mechanism. Which was why this whole situation worked out well for them. He had something to fall on because they’re married and he knew Alena would remain faithful while he got his head out of his ass.

So she was glad he finally did.

Angel let Michelle’s words sink in. Always had feelings for Alena? Again, he always found her attractive and he was drawn to her, but it was mostly attraction. 

“Naw, I just realized it recently.” Angel reasoned, blowing out smoke from his lips.

“Angel, why’d you date Valeria?”

“She was hot.” He smirked, earning a smack up the head from Michelle. “Okay, fuck. I don’t know, she was there and Alena was occupied by Dante. I couldn’t be single while Alena had someone.” The sadness that overtook him every time he watched Alena with another man was unbearable.

“What kind of reasoning is that? You should want to be with someone because you like them.”

“I did like Valeria, sort of.” Angel didn’t remember much of his relationship with Valeria. He saw her a few times a week. He knew she was married prior to their relationship because she still had their wedding picture on her nightstand. From what he understood, Victor and Valeria were already in the process of divorce but she was making it difficult for him. She was a warm body and entertained him enough when he would become irate with Alena for putting Dante before him.

Angel closed his eyes then, the realization hitting him.

“I dated Valeria because Alena was with Dante.” Angel’s foot began to move up and down then, throwing his cigarette butt and slipping another stick in between his lips. “I was going to ask out Alena and she brought Dante to the clubhouse.”

He decided that night to bury his feelings for Alena. 

It would never be their time he reasoned.

They weren’t meant to be.

So he turned to Valeria. Alena’s friend who hung onto his every fucking word.

“Angel, you are worthy of Alena. You’re the only person that makes my daughter as happy as she is. I’m glad you’ve realized that you’re in love with her too. And I’m glad she realized it too. You two have always drifted to one another and depended on one another.” Michelle threw her cigarette butt. “You’ve always been Alena’s hero, protecting her from the monsters of the real world, just fitting for you two to end up together. You deserve love too Angel, even though you like to sabotage your own relationships, I don’t think you’d survive without my daughter. Good job getting your head out of your ass.” She patted his shoulder. “Remember, grandkid, as soon as possible.”

She left Angel to ponder in his own thoughts.

Fuck.

Angel couldn’t do this. He shouldn’t have told Michelle that.

What does Michelle know anyway? Why would she even say that to him? 

“Fuck. I gotta get laid or something.”

=============

Angel parked his motorcycle under the shaded area, taking off his helmet and hanging it on the bar. He walked over to EZ, Gilly and Coco who were sitting down at the picnic table. Michelle’s words weighed heavy on him. The feelings he had for Alena were always so complicated. Angel had a savior complex, he had to admit that and he always ran whenever Alena called for him. He was this girl who needed his protection, someone he took care of, and they became adults. Alena turned into this beautiful young woman who was too kind for her own good. Someone who didn’t ask questions. She was always there for him and he knew he could count on her. She looked at him like he held the fucking world for her and at first, he thought that’s why he was attracted to her. For once, someone didn’t even look twice at EZ and just stayed on him.

But as the years passed, he quickly realized that wasn’t it. 

Sure, he liked being number one to her, but he fell for Alena because of Alena. He wanted to be the one she ran to always when she had troubles. He wanted to be the one she told all her deepest and darkest secrets to. He wanted to hold her at night and make sure she was safe. He wanted to see her pregnant with his child. He wanted so many things with her. They may have done things unconventionally, but he wanted something with her. 

To be with her forever.

Fuck.

He couldn’t be selfish with Alena, not like this. She wouldn’t be safe with him. She would prosper with him.

But did he really care? He couldn’t push Alena away even if he wanted to do so. 

Cruz loves her so much.

And fuck.

He loves her too, so fucking much that it was fucking suffocating at times. It was easier to be cold towards her because then he didn’t have to acknowledge the ache in his heart whenever she was away from him. He didn’t have to acknowledge the loneliness that seeped in when she wasn’t in his arms. 

This was fucking ridiculous. 

EZ and Coco looked at one another, trying their best to hide the laughter that wanted to come out. They’ve been called Angel for the past five minutes and he was just standing on his own, smoking. 

Fuck it.

Angel deserved some annoyance in his life.

“Angel, you in deep thoughts hermano, guess Alena’s date went well.” Coco teased.

“Did he get it in?” EZ couldn’t help it. If Angel couldn’t realized his feelings, they could push it out of him.

The two men laughed as Angel rolled his eyes at them. 

"Haha, glad you're both having fun. But jokes on you cause I'm fucking happy for her." Angel grinned. "Fucking delighted."

"Oh, absolutely, we can tell." EZ couldn't resist teasing his brother. "So are you gonna be this tense during their wedding or are you gonna blow up before that happens?"

Coco snickered. "Blow up? That would mean he actually recognized he had feelings for Lenny. But he doesn't, right hermano?"

“Fuck you.” Angel lit up another cigarette, sitting down at the picnic table. “He’s not even her type.”

“What is Alena’s type? You?” Gilly joined in the ribbing on Angel. 

“I don’t fucking need this shit right now.” Angel stood up and was just gonna go for a ride out at the desert, just to clear his thoughts. He always buried his feelings for Alena, but as of late, with her reminding him it’s been five years and their agreement was technically to divorce, he couldn’t do it. How could he let Alena go now?

“Hey, settle down there hot head.” Coco blocked his way, gesturing for him to sit down. “So what happened?” Coco was over last night when Angel was having a mini meltdown when Alena wouldn’t answer her phone. He ended up staying over the night to make sure Angel didn’t ride over to her apartment. 

He was looking out for Alena. If Angel wasn’t going to get his head out of his ass then Alena should put herself out there. He was loyal to Angel, but after all the kindness Alena has shown him, the club, how could he not look out for her?

“Nothing, her mother and I talked earlier.” The rest of the night was fine. Angel dropped off Alena and Cruz at home and went to the clubhouse. He was gonna go to Vicky’s but decided against it.

“Did you bring leftovers?” EZ perked up. He loved Michelle’s cooking. 

“Yeah, it’s at home and no, you’re not going to the house. Alena and Cruz are most likely asleep.”

“Why aren’t you with your family?” Coco knew Angel spent the weekends with them since Alena was home on the weekends. He was surprised the Angel decided to come to the clubhouse.

“Can’t hang out with you guys?” Angel leaned back, resting his arms on the table.

“You can, but this time is sacred for Alena, we all fucking know that.” Gilly chuckled. “You two fighting?”

“No, not exactly.” Angel muttered. “I just realized something is all.” He was hesitant to tell his brothers, but he could trust them, he trusted them with his life. “I’m in love with Alena.”

“What?!” They all exaggeratedly replied. 

“No fucking way.” Coco shook his head, feigning his absolute shock. “Can you believe this Boy Scout?”

“Yeah, fucking shocking.” EZ chuckled.

“So what brought this epiphany? Victor?” Gilly wondered.

“No, Michelle.”

“That’s right! Pay up!” Coco clapped his hands at Gilly and EZ. 

“What the fuck?” Angel looked at the three. Gilly and EZ grumbled handing Coco twenty dollars each.

“I told Boy Scout and Gilly that Michelle was going to get to you.” Coco pocketed his money. “Alright, so what happened? Did she smack you with that stick she has?”

“No,” Angel shook his head. “What the fuck did you two bet?”

“I thought Victor would push you over the edge.” EZ answered.

Angel turned to Gilly.

“I just said you’d get your head out of your ass, which I should have known better, but I always thought Alena was a good influence on you.” Gilly shrugged.

“Fuck you guys.”

The three men chuckled.

“We’re not trying to be assholes, but we always knew you were into her. Just about fucking time for you to realize.” Coco shrugged. “Told you hermano, prime real estate. You can keep men at bay here, but in San Diego, who knows what she does there.”

“Alena literally goes to work and back home.”

“Doesn’t Victor live at her building?” EZ knew he was poking the bear, but he could take on Angel. 

Angel just tuned them out, just shaking his head. The fact that everyone seemed to know everything he was trying to hide, it was ridiculous. Though he was awful at hiding his emotions, but just finding out he was in love with you, letting feelings he buried so long ago resurface, it was painful.

Not in a bad way.

He loves Alena, he knew that much.

But the fact he let all of this time just pass, it was ridiculous.

=============

Alena yawned, the light hitting her eyes from the cracks in between the blinds. Looking behind her, Angel was nowhere to be found so she was almost certain that the club had a late night, which was fine. After these last few days and how hot and cold Angel had been, she didn’t mind not having him around. 

A day with just her and Cruz was what she needed.

She checked her phone and she had a text message from Angel.

Angel

Hey, I had to do a run. I’ll be back tonight. 

She quickly replied.

Be safe. 

Short and simple.

She opened another message, this time from Victor.

Hey sweetheart, up for another marathon?

I’m in Santo Padre, sorry. :( 

I’m ten minutes away from your house.

Alena sat up then, looking at the clock. It was noon, which wasn’t awful since it was a Sunday. But at the same time, she debated if she should text Angel and let him know about Victor’s visit.

She paused.

“I own this house, I don’t have to ask permission. I don’t know who he brings home here while I’m not here.” Alena stood up and checked on Cruz who was wide awake, playing with his toys in his room.

Cruz and Alena always thought of how blessed they were since Cruz didn’t do anything mischievous when they weren’t around. He could stay in his room, play with his toys until he needed his parents. 

“Baby, how long have you been awake?” Alena questioned.

“Um, eleven?” Alena tried her best to teach Cruz things. She taught him his ABC’s, how to count and how to read. Cruz was an easy learner so it was a fun thing to do between them. 

“Why didn’t you wake up mommy?” Alena sat beside him.

“You were snoring.” Cruz giggled. “Daddy always says to let you sleep in cause you don’t sleep much.”

“Did you see Daddy?”

“Yes, he told me he has work.” Cruz walked over to Alena, sitting on her lap. “I’m hungry.”

“Uncle Victor is coming, when he gets here we can go and get something to eat?” Alena offered.

“Uncle Victor is coming?” Cruz stood up excitedly. “I’ve always wanted to show Uncle Victor my toys here.”

Alena smiled watching Cruz as he excitedly gathered his toys. She heard the doorbell ring and left Cruz to pick his toys. She opened the door and found Victor holding two bags of what she presumed was take-out. 

“Hey,” he greeted her as he stepped inside her home.

“I can’t believe you drove all the way here.” Alena cleaned out the dining table which had some folders from the research she was doing for Mr. Johnson. Victor chuckled watching her. He placed the takeout on the table. 

“Uncle Victor!” Cruz ran into the dining room, greeting Victor enthusiastically. “You came to our house this time, is mommy going somewhere?”

“No little man, we’re all hanging out today, how does that sound?” Victor picked him up.

“Cool, I can't wait to show you my toys.”

“Victor you didn’t have to bring all of this.” Alena unpacked the bags and her stomach grumbled, she didn’t even realize how hungry she was.

They sat around the table, enjoying the lunch Victor brought. Once they were done, Alena, Cruz and Victor sat on the couch and watched Umbrella Academy. In hindsight, it may not have been a good show for a five year old, but Cruz was on his iPad the whole time. 

As they were starting the last episode, there was a knock on the door. Victor offered to answer it and Alena heard Coco’s voice.

“Who the fuck are you?” Coco narrowed his eyes at the man who opened the door. 

Alena looked over at Cruz who was sleeping. She stood up and walked over to the door. 

“Hey Coco, this is my friend Victor.” Alena introduced them.

“My bad bro, just weird to have another man open my hermano’s door.” Coco made it a point to remind Victor who the man of the house was. 

“None taken,” Victor waved him off. “I should get going Alena, I have dinner plans with my family.”

“Yeah, not a problem, thank you for coming.” She gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Victor chuckled and waved goodbye to Coco before walking out of the house. They both watched as Victor got in his car and pulled out of the driveway. Once he was out of sight, Coco turned to Alena and shook his head. 

“No wonder Angel is rattled.” He laughed. “I just need to grab something at the shed in the back, is that cool?”

“Sure, I thought you guys had a run?” Alena questioned as she closed the door. 

“We did, Angel is still out with EZ. Asked me to grab something at the shed.” Coco had to get Angel’s stack of guns in case he and EZ needed it. “Does Angel know you had a visitor?”

“This is my house too Coco, I don’t have to ask permission.” 

Coco nodded his head. “Damn right sister. Have you heard anything about my daughter?”

“Letty? No, I asked Victor for help, he knows a few trucking companies so he’s going to check with them. I’ll let you know if I hear anything.” 

Coco gave her an appreciative smile before going to the back to grab Angel’s duffle bag. He gave Alena a hug before leaving. Alena locked the door behind Coco and started the last episode of Umbrella Academy. She had this feeling of dread at the bottom of her stomach, she couldn’t shake it. She hoped Angel was okay, with whatever he was doing.

=============

Angel walked into the house fuming. 

He didn’t mean to be, but with everything that happened earlier, Coco informing him that Victor was at his home was just the fucking icing on the cake. How could Alena let this man into the home they share? She wanted to let him come to her apartment, that’s her, but not at their home, not their family home. 

Angel found Cruz giggling in Alena’s arms as she tickled him. That scene made his anger slightly fade, but it was still there, brimming.

“Cruz, go to your room, daddy has to talk to mommy.” Angel didn’t leave any arguments to his request and Cruz looked up at Alena. 

“It’s okay baby, go get ready for bed, mommy will come tuck you in.”

“Okay, hi daddy, I missed you today.” Cruz stopped in front of Angel, hugging his leg.

“I miss you too Cruzito.” He ruffled his hair, feeling a bit of weight off his shoulder. He actually thought he may not see his son anymore, that he wouldn’t see Alena and it changed things for him. He didn’t mind helping the rebels, but there had to be an end soon, he didn’t know how much more he could risk. 

“You okay? Coco came earlier and he left in a hurry.” Alena stood up, making her way over to Angel. 

He held his hand up, shaking his head. She froze, not walking any further.

“You really had that motherfucker in our house?” Angel’s anger came back and he really didn’t mean for it to come, but he couldn’t help it.

Alena sighed. “Angel, it’s my house too.” She was not in a mood for his poor attitude. 

“I don’t give a fuck. Alena, this motherfucker doesn’t care if we’re married, he’s disrespecting me and you invite him to our home?” It frustrated him that Alena couldn’t see why he was angry. She wouldn’t want him bringing a woman over here. “You wouldn’t want me to bring some woman here, I’m sure that would piss you off.”

“Angel, I don’t care if you sleep with someone, you’re more than welcome to do so.” Alena turned away from him, walking down the hall to her room so she could change and sleep with Cruz. She didn’t want to be anywhere near Angel. 

She went inside the closet and changed, finding Angel standing at his side of the bed waiting for her. 

“I’m not done talking to you.”

“Well, I’m done talking to you.”

“How can you not see why I’m upset here? You’re my fucking wife, act like it!” Angel didn’t mean that, but she had him so riled up. 

“What the fuck have I been doing for the past 5 years? Fuck you Angel. I don’t get why you’re so upset when you sleep that everything that walks.” Alena felt herself getting worked up, her hands closed into a tight fist at her sides. 

“Oh, I’m good Querida because I have you. I haven’t touched any other pussy besides yours.” Angel smugly informed her. 

“What?” Alena took a step back by that revelation.

“I don’t sleep with anyone. I told you last night, before going inside your mother’s house, you’re the only woman I’ve touched in the last five years.”

“I think you should expand your horizons then.”

“Why would I? I have you.”

“You cheated on Valeria all the time!”

“Yes, well, you’re my fucking wife. And I actually care about you. Fuck Valeria, we both use one another as a means.”

“Are you two fighting?” Cruz was by the door, clutching his bunny, looking at Alena and Angel.

“No, we’re not baby. Mommy and daddy are just talking.”

“Can I sleep on your bed?” Cruz asked.

“No Cruz, be a big boy and sleep on your own bed.” Angel didn’t want Cruz in the bed tonight. He was done and he wanted to hash it out with Alena. With Cruz being there, they wouldn’t be able to talk. 

“But I wanna sleep with you and mommy.” He pouted. “And I wanted to show you my drawing, that I made for you with the crayons mommy got.”

“Cruz, stop it. It’s bedtime!” He didn’t mean to raise his voice, but he had a hard day and too much was going on.

Alena frowned, seeing how Cruz’s face scrunched up. She picked him up and he immediately hung onto her.

“Yeah, good job, teach him it’s okay to throw a fit when he doesn’t get what he wants.” Angel rolled his eyes, taking off his kutte and placing it on the armchair he and Alena had in their room. 

“Stop it, you’re being a real jerk right now. Cruz has been waiting for you all night to show you his drawing.” Alena snapped. She had enough of this poor attitude from Angel. If he wanted to be a dick towards her, that’s fine, but he was not going to take it out on their son. “We’ll be at pops.” 

Alena grabbed her purse and walked out the door, slamming it behind her. 

“Fuck.” Angel yelled out before following her.

Alena just finished buckling Cruz and getting in the driver’s side when Angel prevented her from closing the door.

“Alena, please, I’m sorry. Don’t leave.” Angel pleaded, holding the door. 

“Let go of the door Angel.” She tried to pull the door, but he wasn’t budging. 

“Come on, I just,” Angel sighed. “There’s just so much going on with the rebels, the club, I may have bit off more than I can chew.”

“I don’t care. When you walk through that door, it’s about us, our family. You can’t let out your frustrations out on us. We’re here for you, but you will not yell at Cruz for being excited to show you something he did specifically for you. And if he wants to sleep on our fucking bed then he is allowed to do so.” Alena was starting to breathe hard, obviously becoming worked up. Angel frowned, watching as she gripped the steering wheel to try and help her breathing.

“Baby, hey, breathe.” He knew Alena has been feeling under the weather lately. The change of season was always hard on her and her asthma would act up. Top that off with emotional stress and congestion, well, that’s a trigger. 

Alena clutched her chest, rubbing it hoping it would help. She grabbed her purse as her chest was tightening, she was slightly shaking, unable to open it. Angel took her purse from her and took out her inhaler, handing it to her. 

“Mommy!” Cruz began to cry, seeing the obvious distress on Alena’s body. 

“It’s okay Cruz, daddy has mommy.” Angel turned her towards him, cupping her face with one hand and placing a hand on her inhaler. “One more baby, just calm down.”

Alena took one more puff, the tightness slowly going away. She had tears streaming down her eyes, closing her eyes to try and calm her breathing. Cruz unbuckled himself, crawling through the middle console. He maneuvered so he can sit on Alena’s lap, hugging his mother.

“Mommy,” Cruz cried out. 

“Sssh,” Alena managed to say, her chest expanding better. She laid her cheek on top of Cruz’s head. She felt like her heart was hammering, struggling to open and close to let the blood flow. She started crying too and Angel felt his heartbreak.

Seeing the two of them cry, especially when it could have been prevented, was far too much for him.

“Baby,” Angel opened his mouth but Cruz turned towards him shaking his head.

“Bad daddy!” He narrowed his eyes at his father. “You made mommy cry and she got her attacks.” Cruz called his and Alena’s asthmatic episodes as attacks. He turned back to Alena, rubbing her chest to try and help his mommy.

Angel was dumbfounded as Cruz had never scolded him before, but he always knew that Cruz was team Alena. She was his mother and damn anyone who thought otherwise.

“Mi cielo, lo siento.” Angel’s voice was low, but Alena still looked up at him. She held her hand out, making Angel sigh in relief. She intertwined their fingers, pulling him closer. Alena wasn’t hyperventilating any longer, her heart no longer felt like it was hammering.

“Baby, daddy didn’t mean it okay? Mommy isn’t upset with daddy, can you forgive daddy and give him a hug?” Alena told Cruz once she was able to breathe better.

Cruz turned to face Angel. “You can’t hurt mommy, we’re supposed to protect her and make her happy, right daddy?”

Angel’s tears streamed down then, nodding his head. He enveloped Cruz in his arm, one hand still holding Alena’s. He pulled her towards him, placing a kiss on the top of her head.

“Cruzito, daddy is sorry. You’re right, we’re supposed to keep mommy happy.” Angel kissed his forehead. “Come on, let’s go back inside.”

The trio went back inside, Alena immediately going to her and Angel’s room with Angel and Cruz following behind her. She was already in her pajamas and slid in at her side of the bed. Her chest still felt slightly heavy, and all she wanted to do was lay in bed and relax.

“Don’t, you’re gonna trigger it again.” Angel placed Cruz on the bed before he helped Alena sit up. He got her nebulizer, handing her the mask. Her asthma has been awful recently due to the winds, but he was certain the fight they had didn’t help either. 

Angel turned it on, Alena putting the mask on her face so that she could start the treatment. Cruz sat beside her, watching her. Angel quickly changed out of his clothes and slid at his side of the bed. Cruz turned to look at him, still upset at his father. He snuggled closer to Alena, wrapping his small arm around her middle.

He didn’t want to try and force his son to talk to him. Cruz was just like him and was very overprotective about mommy. Angel was the same way with his mother. But he felt fucking terrible, the last thing he wanted to do was upset his girl and Cruz. Him and Alena have been at this in between ever since he realized his feelings for her. He hasn’t exactly told her, but he figured Alena would figure it out. She was a smart girl and Angel has only been attached to her.

When Cruz was only a year old, he did try to sleep with other women since in all technicality, he was fucking single. But the one time he did sleep with a girl from Vicky’s he said Alena’s name. After that, he somehow convinced Alena to sleep with him every now and then, which kept his desires at bay. He was a bastard, but he couldn’t help it. The first time he ever slept with Alena, she was twenty years old and shit just happened. He felt like an asshole for taking her virginity, but fuck did he feel like a fucking champion too. 

You know when people say that whoever your first time was you would always be obsessed with them due to that shared intimacy?

Well it was the fucking opposite.

Angel became fucking obsessed with Alena. Seeing her in the midst of ecstasy. The way she would bite her lips to try to muffle her cries. The way she would reach out to him, just wanting to touch him. The way she would gasp for air, the little noises she would make when he was hitting her deep, fuck he was addicted.

It wasn’t even just sex.

He found himself looking for Alena always. She calmed him down like no one else. If she was in the vicinity, he felt a certain sense of calm just envelop him. 

He was going to do better for his family. Alena was right, whatever happened in his day shouldn’t be taken out on them. 

They were his lifeline. 

Looking over at Alena, he saw how her eyes were closing, Cruz still watching her.

“Cruzito, daddy is sorry for shouting at you.” Angel was never good with apologies, but for his son and Alena, that was nothing.

“It’s okay daddy.” Cruz turned to Angel. “You’re just tired.”

“But that doesn’t make it okay to yell at you.” Angel frowned. The last thing he wanted was for his son to think it was okay to be yelled at. “Daddy loves you Cruz and don’t ever forget that.”

Cruz nodded his head. “I love you too daddy.” He crawled over to Angel, giving him a hug. Angel felt so relieved to gain his son’s forgiveness. Cruz pulled away and went back to Alena, checking on her. She turned to him and smiled. “Mommy, are you feeling better?”

Alena nodded her head and looked over at Angel. He was watching her, waiting for her treatment to finish. She reached out her hand to him which he gladly took, kissing the back of her hand. Angel couldn’t even describe their family dynamics, but he would never trade it for the world.

Once the treatment was done, Angel put away her nebulizer. He came back to the room and Cruz was snuggled to Alena’s side. He finally fell asleep. Angel went back to his side after he turned the lights off, the television was on to provide some illumination since Alena needed background noise to sleep. His eyes was still on her, her back was still against the headboard, a few pillows behind her.

“Stop watching me, I’m fine.” She told him, her eyes closed. She felt Angel’s eyes on her and as much as it was endearing it also made her nervous. Angel always had such an intense stare and the butterflies in her stomach wouldn’t let up due to his stare.

“Nope, you know I can never take my eyes off you.”

Alena laughed, opening her eyes and looking right at Angel. “You shouldn’t have to worry about me. I’m fine.”

“Easier said than done querida, I always worry about you.” Angel was sitting just like Alena. He didn’t plan on sleeping. He wanted to make sure she was good the whole night. 

“Is everything okay? With the rebels and all that?” Alena’s voice was an octave lower as if someone was in their home listening in.

Angel held no secrets from Alena. He couldn’t. Not her. He could never keep one from her.

“Just starting to hit close to home. They kidnapped Emily’s kid.” Angel felt awful cause he couldn’t imagine what he would do if someone kidnapped Cruz.

“Angel,” Alena frowned.

“I didn’t know, okay? It’s not like I wanted this to happen.” Angel watched those two people burn a few days ago and then with the heroin Adelita took from Galindo burning in his mind, there was so much going on. He wanted to get the MC away from Galindo, to not do their bitch work, and to provide longevity to the MC. But sometimes he thought he was way over his head.

“I’m scared.”

“What?” Angel looked over at Alena confused by he words. 

“What if something happens to you? What about Cruz?” She wanted to add herself, but she didn’t matter, at least not in that way.

“He has you.” 

“Don’t say that.” Alena felt the tears well up at her eyes. “Cruz needs you Angel. I know the mission and what you want for the club, but your son needs you too. Just be careful.”

“You don’t need me?” He was a selfish bastard and he wanted to hear Alena say that she needed him, that she needed him alive for her too.

“I don’t matter, Cruz is who matters.” Alena rubbed circles on her chest, helping ease out the tension as she took deep breaths.

“You matter to me. I stay alive for both of you.” Angel hated it when Alena put herself down. She meant the world to him. Without her he would be nothing. Without her he wouldn’t have Cruz. And without her he wouldn’t know what love was, true unconditional love. A love so consuming that it overtook your mind. A love so powerful that it could be in the shadows and still make one act on impulse. He figured he’s always loved Alena but the realization as it hit him.

As he sat there watching Alena hold Cruz, her eyes closed as she hummed a lullaby that his mother used to hum to him and Ezekiel, he was far gone. The way Cruz always hung onto her whenever he was upset because mommy always gave the best hugs. The way she accepted every aspect of his life. The way she took care of not only him but his family including the MC and Vicky’s girls, hell even Chucky. 

He was so in love with her, it wasn’t even funny. 

At this moment he didn’t give a fuck about Victor. About the rebels. About the cartel. About the club.

All he cared about was his family, his little slice of heaven. He only ever wanted a family with Alena, no one else. Cruz wasn’t a mistake, he would never think of his son as such. He was just glad that he was raising Cruz with Alena.

Being with Alena made the pain of being the second thought after EZ go away. Being with Alena showed him that being selfless was not weak, but could be the strongest trait anyone could have.

He’ll be selfless when it came to Cruz and Alena, they came first. But he would always be selfish with Alena. He’s always had her and he intended on keeping it that way. 

He was going to fight for her. 

He’s wasted enough time. 

[dragonshoard]

I have a thing for taking characters and shoving them into the past. This is super self-indulgent so I apologize in advance.  

Basically, Charlastor happens a few years after canon, getting married a decade in, and we start out about 70-100 years in the future. At this point things are going really well (shockingly). 

The hotel isn’t exactly booming for redemption but it, at the very least, is considered a sanctuary for sinners who don’t want to live their existence at the bidding of others or in the general vicinity of hell and want a vaguely “normal life” (without having to worry about turf wars and being shaken down by the local pimp or big boss). Every once in a while, there’ll be someone to ascend but it’s maybe at the rate of 10 sinners a year, if even that? The hotel or concept was never practical for mass production, tbh. 

And at this point, Charlie would actually have matured quite a bit and have created a sort of routine. I’d imagine that she would actually get the equivalent of a therapist’s education and work to help sinner’s through their issues and help them live their best lives. 

(She learns to accept that her pushing for redemption was more of a personal problem than she had initially believed) 

She would be seriously respected by Hell’s lower ranks, but openly mocked by those in power (though grudgingly respected because she did what everyone thought was impossible). They’re not stupid enough to interfere because, by this point, they know not to mess with Charlie. 

I’d imagine her reputation would be similar to her fathers in that case. Not really respected, but seriously feared. Anyone who crosses those under her protection are liable to be set on fire and/or transported into the Bad Lands (wherever that may be; the edges of Hell or the place the worst of people end up). 

So, at this point, she thinks that she’s in a good financial, social, and mental place to have kids though Alastor is hesitant about it (not sure if he would make a good father). Despite this, he goes along with it if it will make Charlie happy. 

Their eldest is... well, they take after their father a lot lets just say that. Their name is Lillian (though sometimes its Louis), but the safest name is generally Lil unless they say otherwise. They have dark red hair (looks almost black) with a lighter red under layer. Their hair goes bright in full demon form (scarlet/pinkish, respectively). Their eyes are a pale blue normally, but are like her fathers in full demon form (yes i’m implying that Alastor had blue eyes as a human). (Edit: I changed it. Lil’s eyes are the same as their mothers. Ada, the youngest child, gets the honor of having her father’s eyes xD)

Personality wise, they are more drawn to violence than say Charlie was at their age and is struggling to figure out when to not pick a fight. However, they are insanely protective of their family and Alastor is very very proud.

The first five or so years go great (with some hiccups, as all first time parents are prone to have) and they decide to have a second child (to Lil’s dismay). That’s when the problems start.

The extermination the previous year had been suspiciously light and Charlie had the fleeting thought that it meant things were getting better. Turns out, no, the following year the extermination was the worst in Hell’s history, wiping out 3/4ths of Hell’s population.

As if it couldn’t get any worse, Heaven comes down with an ultimatum or, well, command really.

All born demons were to be collected and removed from Hell or everyone would suffer the consequences.  

No one knew where they would be taken, but they weren’t stupid enough to think that it was anything good. At first, the angels tried to make it look like they would be taken in for a chance at a better life they should’ve been given in the first place but, again, no one was that stupid. Eventually (somehow) it comes out that they were killing the demon borns and no one was exempt.

Not even the royal family.

Needless to say, war was declared because Lucifer still loved his daughter and his grandchildren and no one was stupid enough to disobey the fallen angel himself.

Now, Alastor is quite literally the most powerful reality bender in Hell’s existence and while Charlie could rival and surpass him in other ways, this was something Alastor excelled at and Charlie simply didn’t have the power to do.

Charlie would have stayed and fought as well except for the tiny problem that she was 5 months pregnant at the time. So it was decided that Alastor would use his abilities to send his wife, his 5-year-old, and their unborn child far far away where the angels couldn’t reach them.

And so starts the adventures of Charlie (also known as Lottie or Harlie) in another world that is over a century in the past.

Dimension Hopping AU, basically.

[ask-joyce-byers]

#40 please!

1962 | 1967

{45 OTP Prompts: “I want a baby.”, and Drabble Prompt List: “I’m pregnant.”}

Christmas, 1962

The everlasting mismanagement of the NYPD meant that half of the deputies promised off on Christmas day had to work after all, and those who had volunteered to walk their beat despite the snowfall and the forfeit comfort and joy got sent home early to spend time with their families. As it was, Jim Hopper received no especial privileges despite his having requested off to spend the day with his wife. You don’t have kids, was the consensus. The deputies with kids got preference to go home and see their progeny, whereas if you had decided not to reproduce or were just otherwise unlucky, you got to work same as any other day. Nevermind the fact that Hutchinson got sent home, and he and his old lady were far beyond the kid-having age. Andrews and Williard too, both of them empty-nesters.

“Damn unfair,” Hopper muttered to himself, stamping through the snow that night, frozen to the bone, icicles having formed in the ends of his hair, stabbing him in the back of the neck and making his eyebrows so he could see them if he looked sharply up. “Diane? I’m home.”

"Merry Christmas, baby,” Diane beamed, a vision in her bright red sweater, blonde hair curled in loose waves, bangs full and just shading her blushing face. The warmth of the apartment’s interior hit him like a heavy quilt, and he let out a long breath, reaching for her and pulling her into a hug against his snowy coat despite her squeal and helpless attempts to swat him away.

“You’ll get me wet! This is cashmere!”

“Cashmere? Really…” He ogled, hands finding her waist, smoothing there as she pecked him on the cheek and twisted away.

“Food first. Then presents, then -”

“Sleep,” Hopper groaned, and Diane pursed her lips.

“If you say so.”

“Unless you had other ideas.” His level of alertness was immediately heightened.

“Food first,” she reiterated, all but dragging him into the kitchen where a modest, but fragrant ham sat, resplendent in its roaster, bordered in seasoned potatoes and bright greens. “And for dessert-” She gestured to the oven and he bent, cracking open the door to reveal a good deal of indistinguishable shadow and the unmistakable scent of apple pie.

“You’re an angel,” Hopper proclaimed, hugging her to him again, and this time she let him as he pressed a resounding kiss to her rosy lips and dragged a freezing hand through her soft hair. “Lemme go get cleaned up.”

“Please,” Diane grinned, and while he rummaged and recuperated, splashed and stomped, she arranged the presents on the small kitchen table, crowned with the bright Christmas tablecloth and overhung with fake evergreen swags. Little things, they weren’t living on big money here, but he was home from overseas, they had their own place, and it was time to start enjoying the little things in life. One present in particular, very light and thin, she placed in the forefront.

Supper enjoyed, one and two word answers to her questions sufficing to explain that the food was too good for conversation, Diane slowly inched the envelope towards him.

“Open this one first.”

“Why don’t you open one of mine? The little square one.” A bracelet, something he’d picked out with help from Mrs. Hutchinson, as he had about as much idea what to get a lady as a grizzly bear knew how to pitch a tent. He was keen to see if he’d hit the mark.

“Open mine first. You’ll like it.”

“Will I?” Tearing into the envelope with impish impetuosity, he pulled out a simple card made of folded stock paper, drawn all over in different colored ink and the curly message OPEN ME. Lifting a brow, Hopper did so and saw, in stark contrast to the elaborate outer portion of the card, the inside was blank save for one, short sentence.

I want a baby.

Blue eyes looked up at Diane, and then back to the card, and then back to Diane, the muscles in his jaw working as he strove to work out an appropriate answer.

Yes. Yes. Right now.

“You want a baby,” was all he managed to echo, voice sounding strange even to his own ears. “You don’t wanna wait another year -”

“Way I see it, we’ve done enough waiting.” Nam. It hadn’t seemed like waiting to him, it had been war, it had been hell, but back home, to Diane it had to have seemed like decades.

“You, ah….” He licked his lips, meeting her gaze at last. “You wanna start workin’ on that now?”

“You don’t want to finish presents first?”

“They get better than this?”

He stood, leaning across the table to capture her lips. The way she slowed into the kiss, her breath catching, fluttering against his skin, his hand going up to cup her cheek, and suddenly the fact that her sweater was cashmere didn’t matter at all, he just wanted it off. On the table, in the floor, anywhere not on her.

A baby. With blue eyes and blonde hair, just like Diane, perfect in every way.

Come September, he was reminding her of that, telling her his dream, their dream as he drove her to the hospital, her breath fast and ragged, forehead beaded with sweat, clenching his hand in a vice-like grip.

“Some Christmas present, huh,” he made the mistake of commenting, turning to her with a forced smile, and she tore her hand away at that.

“Just drive, James.”

James. Ah, he was in trouble, then. She never used his real name unless she was upset at him, or on other very, very special occasions. One like the one that had tears starting to his eyes some hours later as the nurses placed a very small bundle of pink blanket into his arms, tiny breaths shuddering her little body against him, eyes murky and blinking, looking into his own.

“Hey, little one,” he managed, voice hoarse. “Hey, baby girl. What’re you lookin’ at, huh. Big scary man? I’m your dad, little one. Your dad.”

“She’s beautiful, James,” Diane breathed, and reached for him, taking his hand, a faint smile tugging her lips. “Some Christmas present.”

__________________________________

January, 1967

Joyce pressed her eyes shut at the approach of footsteps outside the bathroom and steeled herself for the verbal onslaught. You’re taking fucking forever, what kind of issue do you have, locking yourself in there for hours at a time, hogging the entire goddamn bathroom because god forbid anyone else in this house have to take a piss while you’re in there doing your hair or whatever shit -

“Almost finished,” she called, not waiting this time, hearing his impatient breath on the other side of the door. “You should just go without me.”

“You’re coming with me. I’m meeting a potential agent, and I don’t wanna look like a fool who couldn’t get his wife to go and be social.”

“What kinda agent is this now?” Joyce managed, voice thin, fighting off another wave of nausea and hardly daring to look at the typed report on the counter, courtesy of the doctor’s office in Larrabee. If only there was some simple way of doing the same tests they did there from home, of checking this yourself, then one could avoid the embarrassment, the exertion, the expense…

She’d demanded a copy of the lab report anyway, and irritated, the girl with red nails had typed it up for her and yanked it from the typewriter. It was only because Joyce had proudly gotten an A in biology that she even knew the significance of hGC at all. Why the x-ed out upper-case H irritated her so much before the proper typing of the lab result was something that even good grades could not explain.

“Joyce.” The doorknob rattled and she grit her teeth against the jolt it gave her pulse. She’d locked it; short of forcing the door, he wasn’t coming in, though that had happened before. “Hurry the fuck up. What in the hell is taking -”

“Lonnie, I’m sick. I don’t wanna go.”

“Did you go to the doctor?”

“Yes.”

“What’d they say?”

“That I’m sick.”

More muttered curses. “Of course they did. Tryin’ to get money from you, they’re never gonna turn someone away and say you’re fine now, are they. Use your head, Joyce. You’ve been sick for days, I’m done with your damn excuses.”

“Lonnie.” Joyce steeled herself, eyes pressed shut from her seat on the edge of the tub. “Go to your meeting. I’ll see you later.”

“And leave you to sleep or watch TV while I work to get the pro-ball career that I’ve been after for years? No, you’re comin’. If I have to do this, so do you.” As if she didn’t spend entire weeks working at Melvald’s and coming home to an empty house, cooking actual food every night anyway on the off chance he should come home from whatever dive bar he was in this time, networking and schmoozing, all so he could have the pro-ball career he insisted was still coming to him. As if anyone else paid the bills to this house, as if he’d ever done a single thing for her other than order her around and wear her on his arm like some kind of gaudy watch.

The last jibe had her on her feet, steadying herself and yanking open the door, letting the full effect of her appearance sink in. Dark hair tumbled, face paler than a ghost, she simply stood there and met his eye for a long moment, before thrusting the typed paper towards him. Brow lowering, he grappled it and fumbled it open, peering in the shadow of the corridor before pushing past her into the bathroom to use the light of the high-set window.

“The hell is this?”

“My report from the doctor.”

“Did you get an A,” he jeered, and Joyce didn’t even bother responding, waiting for him to peruse the typed lines and thrust it back at her.  “What’s that supposed to mean anyway. You dying? You have cancer?” Is it gonna be expensive, she could all but hear the unspoken accusation.

“There.” She poked the corrected hGH line, the reading stating simply P. Positive.

“Okay?”

“I’m pregnant.”

Lonnie’s response was immediate, a muttered curse, a long scrutinizing look toward her midsection, and then an accusatory stare at the paper. As if he didn’t trust it.

“And how’s that supposed to prove anything?”

“It’s a hormone,” Joyce explained wearily. “You either have it in your blood or you don’t, and I did.”

“And that means you’re pregnant.”

“Yes.”

“Bullshit.”

“It’s not bullshit, Lonnie, that’s how it works. I’ve been throwing up, feeling awful -”

“This is it, then.” He flung the paper to the bathroom counter. “The gig’s up. How’d this happen?”

She didn’t even bother asking what he meant by the gig being up, he meant, however he decided to express it, that he had to face responsibility now. To at least be present, if not contribute. Somehow she doubted that was gonna happen.

“I figure it happened one of those times you came home drunk,” Joyce drawled and Lonnie fixed her with a warning glare.

“You’re blamin’ this on me?”

“You’re the one running the show when that kind of thing happens, so yeah, I’m blaming it on you.”

The sound of a resounding slap, skin on skin echoed through the hollow of the bathroom, and in the mirror, Joyce saw her own cheek flare red.

“This is your deal,” Lonnie threatened, voice low. “You deal with this, and it better not put you out of a job. That’s all we got until I can land this gig, and this better not derail the whole fucking plan.”

“’S not gonna derail anything,” Joyce mumbled, and her hand, instead of going to her cheek, went to her middle. As if by his blow he’d insulted not her, but one innocent in all of this. “I’ll figure it out. I always do.”

“You better. Lay down, I guess.” The nicety flung over the shoulder was all she got as he made for the front door and grabbed his coat. “I’ll make some kind of excuse for you.”

“Thanks,” Joyce muttered, her voice barely audible as she made her way gingerly to the couch and curled up there.

“And Joyce?” His voice, calling back through the cold air of the open door had her lift her head. “If it’s a boy he’s gonna learn to play ball.”

Then the door slammed, and she was left in quiet. Some say that when you bring a kid into a marriage, it can serve as a saving grace in the eleventh hour, bringing couples back together again. But in that moment Joyce Byers was never more sure – that one day, as soon as she could save up enough money, pay off the house herself and get it transferred to her name – one day,  this was going to be her home, her life. Hers, and the tiny life inside her. And if he didn’t want to play baseball, she wasn’t going to make him play goddamn baseball.

[mrs-spindelle]

Never Work at Victoria’s Secret

Since I’m quitting Victoria’s Secret and have found a new job, let me give you girls some wonderful insight on the pile of dog shit company all us ladies have to shop at to hold our breasts in place.

Shopping there and working there are two totally different experiences, and let me tell you why you should never work in Hell- I mean VS.

1. As a customer, you are allowed to steal. Yes, that’s right! You ladies are allowed to take whatever you want if you can get the sensor off. We employees are NEVER allowed to ask for a receipt, accuse you of theft (even as we stand there and watch you rip the tags off), OR call security! That’s right, we would never accuse our beautiful honest angels of something as horrible as shoplifting. Just don’t take more than $1,000 in merchandise to avoid it being a reportable crime, don’t get caught by mall security and you ladies will have yourselves all the panties and bras you want. Oh, we’re also not allowed to go after you. I was once required to remove a sensor from a bra for a lady because she claimed ‘she bought it and we forgot to remove the sensor’ even though we ALL watched her rip it off a hanger. But by company policy, I cannot accuse her of theft or ask for her receipt. So she got a free bra. If you ever think you’re going to be caught, just accuse us employees of racism and threaten to call HR. We’ll back off. The company is terrified of a lawsuit.

2. You as an employee are punished far more harshly than a customer EVER will be. If they so much as think you’re stealing, your hours are cut, and you are the one who is watched on camera - not the group of girls who just walked out of the front door of PINK with $600 worth of leggings.

3. I don’t have proof, but I’m pretty sure many of their cameras do not work. They say the cameras are everywhere and can spin and zoom to see text so small like on an ID, but its a hoax. If they can’t even catch a thief who looks right into the camera, they won’t catch anything period. They couldn’t even catch the man who stole like, $20,000 worth of panties lmao.

4. You are required to be a customer’s punching bag. Dealing with drunken men at a bar is a blessing compared to working for the middle-low class entitled women of society. Victoria’s Secret has created an atmosphere that makes every woman feel special and sexy, but for a lot of women, it gives them a sense of power they don’t actually have, and they abuse that power by abusing the very employees helping them to find a piece of clothing to hold their tits in. I have been mocked for my thin body, tall height, small breasts and pale skin color. I have been called racist, told to get breast implants, or that I was mentally incapable of helping women with bigger breasts find what they need simply because I had B cups. I never once had an issue with a man while I worked there, but I lost count with how many fellow women abused me there. You would be surprised to see how little support you get, because we cannot verbally defend ourselves or others.  The customer is always right, even when they are outright degrading you like an animal.

5. No one gives a shit about that panty drawer filled with 150+ thongs you just neatly folded. No one. Walk away from it for 30 seconds and come back, I fucking dare you.

6. You don’t get to go home until all panties on top are folded in order. Gotta fold until 12 at night? Guess what, you’re gonna be folding until 12 at night.

7. Closing late but need to be back in the morning for a 5am floorset? Yeah, you’ll be scheduled to close until 10pm or 11pm and HAVE to come back at 5am. No ifs ands or buts.

8. Every company sets aside money to compensate for theft, but Victoria’s Secret has so much theft due to their shit policy that they raise prices. And you honest hard working women have to pay more so thieves can continue doing what they like. Example. Panties are typically 1 cent to make, and are $10.50 a piece. The lingerie panties are $16.50, and their newest lingerie panty is now $40+ A PIECE. They are made the same way as a $16.50 panty, but tripled in price. And you’re a sucker for buying it. I own one since I got one for free, and guess what? Its shit. Don’t put it in the dryer. Ever.

9. Ever wanted to clean up vaginal discharge and period blood? This is the job for you!

10. If you don’t ask for a break, you will not receive a break.

11. You cannot remind a customer that you’re closing in 5 minutes. They’re allowed to destroy the entire store, unfold everything, go in the fitting rooms for as long as they like, and fuck around until THEY choose to leave. The gates are NOT to be closed, not even half way, until that customer leaves - which makes opportunity for late night shoplifters to come in and loot while you’re busy trying to refold what that customer had just destroyed, so you can go home on time. But now, not only do you have to clean, you also will be staying late to file a long ass report about the theft - which Victoria’s Secret will do absolutely nothing about. 

12. Pregnant? Guess what, nobody gives a shit. Reach down at the bottom drawer to shop for a woman who is too lazy to kneel down herself and grab her XL granny panty. Your baby is an inconvenience to certain entitled women.

13. Got this job to avoid baby sitting? Well you’re going to baby sit, and watch as women drag their screaming children into the store meant for adults that’s filled with inappropriate lingerie and open-assed panties with lewd pictures of half-naked women all over the walls. Also get ready to pick up after other people’s children who drop their drinks, food, toys, and destroy store property by playing on shelves, ripping off manniquin arms, chewing on panties (and stealing them, I caught one child stuffing panties into their Else purses), and throwing the biggest demonic hissy fits when they don’t get their way. Think the parents will stoop to OUR level and clean up after their own kids? LOL they’ll go “Sorry” and walk away. You’ll be lucky if they even say sorry. You know they aren’t.

14. You will understand why 50% of marriages end in divorce simply watching how wives boss around their husbands to show off in the store. This goes back to the power the store gives women. When women enter these gates, their true selves show, because the sense of false power makes them act like the bitches that they truly are. I will say that not every woman is like this, but an alarming amount are.

15. The girls who buy boy shorts are the most condescending and judgmental of women - deeming those who wear thongs are sluts, whores and loose and are beneath them. Yet they buy boy shorts with ‘Yummy’ written on the ass. Hmmmmm...

16. If you find a co-worker who is real and takes time out of their day to help train you, stick with them. 9 times out of 10, you won’t get the benefit of training. You’ll be thrown into the chaos like I was and be expected to perform well. Its up to your fellow co-workers to help you. If some help you. Hopefully they’ll help you. I had only 1 help me, and that was during Black Friday.

17. Starting drama is forbidden. Unless you’re a favorite. Then you’re free to shit talk all you want.

18. Women are destructive little shits. They will rip apart anything nice and toss shit around. 

19. You are not allowed to carry any weapons on you for protection. You will be terminated for doing so.

20. Despite not being allowed to carry a firearm, policy has made it clear that in the event of a shooting, you must hide. In the event that the shooter FINDS you, you are encouraged to FIGHT BACK. . . With - what exactly? If you’re not allowed to carry protection on you, yet a man with a gun is shooting at you and killing people, then how in the fucking fuck are you supposed to fight back? You are practically set up to die in the worst case scenario. But consider the alarming rate of shootings today. Public shootings are becoming more and more common, its a horrendous tragedy. And we are faced with either being fired, or being fired at.

Your choice.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Now I will say...not everything about it was bad. There were times where I had fun, I miss those times. I had a good handful of nice customers who made my job easier, and a few I could relate to. I suppose the issue is with the company. If the company had a different way of running things, then maybe the women would have a different mindset when walking into the store and treat their fellow women better. Who knows...

[okaajira]

Oh yeah I never did get the time to gush about Gojira Planet Eater did I? I’ll do it under a cut in case others haven’t seen it yet.

WELL LET ME SAY I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT AND GOD THAT ENDING IS LEGITIMATELY BLEAK AND I HONESTLY LIKE IT? HE DID IT. GOJIRA STRAIGHT UP DEFEATED HUMANS AND OWNS EVERYTHING NOW. AND GHIDORAH WAS HONEST TO GOD HORRIFYING AND THE SHEER CONCEPT OF IT BEING A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SPACEGOD THAT CAN’T BE TOUCHED AND PULLS SOME FUCKING EVENT HORIZON BULLSHIT IS A FUCKING AMAZING TWIST!!!!!!

But in a more constructive manner-

I honestly loved the movie. I got legitimately scared at the Nightmare sequence Haruo had about one of the twins and I have to admit, I did not see that coming, but even more than that, the method of “Summoning Ghidorah” is honestly something out of fucking Event Horizon or Dead Space, like holy fucking shit. I love the massive jump between “Overly scientific” and “Religiously Fanatic”, and the whole grey area which Haruo seems to reside in, then realizing that there’s legitimately nothing anyone can ever do now. It was either “Survive and let Ghidorah consume all life”, or “Let Gojira do it”. 

It was honestly so hopeless from the START that to actually see it END that way too was great, even though the Houtua are replacing humans, it seems. Seeing Haruo kill himself off like that along with the Vulture and what was left of Yuko was pretty emotional too, as I sort of understand his choice, as long as someone existed with that level of hate, peace will never be found. But he did leave behind a pregnant “wife” and honestly that was fucking stupid but hey. Probably for the best.

I will say, however, Yuko’s fate was a little unnecessary, and the relationship between Maina and Haruo going so far as to imply that they had a kid was seemingly out of character for Haruo unless he was so accepting of whatever else befell him he couldn’t resist Maina’s advances. 

That said, the movie was honestly horrifyingly fantastic. The AFTER CREDITS THOUGH.... The implication that of that “wrathful lord” being Mothra is a sort of interesting concept because.... Mothra? Being “Wrathful”? Or hell maybe it isn’t Mothra, maybe the Houtua also believe Gojira to be the Demon to Mothra’s Angel, as it were. Either way that implication of “It’s all just gonna start again some day” is about as fitting as I could expect.

I love this depressingly hopeless view of a series that, despite its origins, always had some level of hope to “find a way to get around it”. As someone who is pretty much a pessimistic nihilist, it’s a good take for a monster that literally can never be killed, and its intergalactic dragon god rival. The vague ominous nature of Mothra, plus the take on Mekagojira being the way it is... those were neat concepts that I do wish I could have seen, but considering the SCALE of Gojira, it wouldn’t have made much sense. Plus, MekaG City gave some potential hope that was torn down with the “betrayal” aspect.

All in all? Damn good shit.

[randxmthxughts]

Time flies | part 5

AU/Imagine series w/Shawn Mendes

‘Time flies’ masterlist

Word count: 1,6K

Original request:  Hello, I was thinking if you could do an imagine wherein reader has a son with Shawn, but he doesn’t know about him, cuz reader left Shawn few years ago without a words (when she found out she is pregnant)? And one day her little son (5 years old maybe?) accidentally bump into Shawn and he is shocked that reader has a son. Sorry if its complicated 

Short description: Shawn finds out that he has a four-year-old son when he accidently bumps into him and his ex-girlfriend Y/N.

Author’s note: The next part is probably going to be the final one! Reblog if you like this part, leave me feedback, tell me how you feel. What are your guesses on the ending?

    Y/N rushed to open the front door when the bell rang, as Tommy sat in the living room, watching Hotel Transylvania, having absolutely no interest in the person who was ringing.

    “Hey,” Y/N said, letting Shawn in, as he looked her up and down, his eyebrows raising, “thanks for coming. I wasn’t sure if you’d be available to babysit Tom.”

    “Sure thing,” he shrugged his shoulders, and watched Y/N close the door, “you look amazing though!”

    “Thank you,” she brushed her hair with her fingers; a habit she had since forever.

    Y/N appreciated the compliment. She had put a lot of effort into her appearance to impress this guy from work whom she was going out with. She hasn’t been on a real date since Tommy was born; only went out with some guys a few times, but it almost always seemed like wrong time, and she eventually had given up on trying to date. But after the day in the studio, something inside her clicked. She wasn’t obligated to sit and reject every single guy coming her way just because she was a mother. She didn’t want to miss on her life when she could meet somebody really great, and maybe with the position she was getting in Chicago and moving to another country would make it better for her and Tommy. She had yet to inform Shawn about the suggestion she got from her boss, but she was so hesitant over the offer that she pushed it to the back of her mind and tried not to think about it too much unless she’s sure.

    “So, you’re going out?” Shawn asked, trying to sound casual, as he rubbed the back of his neck.

    “Yeah. This was the only time both Steve and I were free, so with you agreeing to babysit Tommy it all finally worked out,” she quickly rambled, now fixing her hair in the mirror, as Shawn stared at her through the reflection.

    Her hair was down in loose curls, a tight red dress exposed her collar bones and ankles, black heels, and red lipstick. Y/N looked stunning, and it made Shawn feel some type of way. Of course, he had always been attracted to her; when she saw her and Tommy in the park, he was mesmerized by how angelic she looked in the white flowy dress. But this was different; hot and breathtaking. Y/N whom he hadn’t seen in four years, he almost forgot how good she looked in red.

    “Steve?” Shawn raised his eyebrows, his eyes following Y/N’s figure now moving from one corner of her apartment to another as she collected random things into her small bag.

    “I know him from work,” she replied, now walking up to Tommy, “give mommy a kiss, and be a good boy today, okay?”

    Shawn’s face flushed with red and he wasn’t really sure if it was because of the way Y/N’s body looked from the back in the tight dress or because of the sudden feeling of jealousy. Going out with some guy from work? It sounded like a meeting to him over the phone, but she looked like she was going on a date and it killed him. Shawn was slightly offended; he was here for her all this time, and she still went for another guy. They have a son, god damn it, and she prefers somebody else over him. He breathed in loudly, trying to calm himself down, but the feeling of jealousy wasn’t easing up.

    “Thanks again, Shawn,” she now walked over to him, “you two be good boys, okay?” she smirked, making Shawn break into a smile.

    “Sure thing, ma'am,” he replied, trying to sound silly.

    Loud laughter was heard from the outside of the apartment, and Shawn tensed up his hearing to only confirm his guess at whom it belonged to. He could have sworn it was Y/N just by hearing her giggle, and there was no way he could have been mistaken. Tommy was sweetly snoring on the couch, covered up in a blanket, so Shawn had to tiptoe over to the front door and eavesdrop whatever was happening on the other side. Male voice joined Y/N’s, and the guy said something Shawn couldn’t really recognize, but it sure did make Y/N react with laughter again. He didn’t like it and was fighting every single bit of himself not to open the door and get her in. It wasn’t his place to interrupt them. So Shawn just stood there, waiting for her to finally tell her goodbye and open the door. 

    “Oh, Shawn!” she gasped, putting a hand over her chest, “you scared me.”

    “He walked you home, eh?” Shawn asked, ignoring her words.

    “Ugh, yeah?” she narrowed her eyes at him, confused, “why are you standing here? Where’s Tommy?”

    “He’s asleep on the couch,” Shawn turned on his heel and walked away, leaving her in the corridor.

    Y/N’s mood was certainly affected. Seconds ago she was laughing with Steve after having the most excellent date in a long time, and now Shawn’s tone and behavior were disturbing. She found him right in front of the door, and he was clearly eavesdropping. Shawn didn’t look happy, and for a second she got worried that something had happened to Tommy, but when she found out the boy was safe and sound, asleep, she started to believe that Shawn had another reason to act weird. She followed him into the kitchen, throwing a quick look into the living room to check on Tom.

    “Is something wrong?” she asked finding Shawn looking out of the window.

    “Some woman called from the Coonley elementary. She said she had received your email,” he scoffed, still not looking back at her.

    “Oh,” Y/N let out, her mind quickly trying to come up with a response, but nothing.

    “So you’re actually considering a school in Chicago? What the hell, Y/N?” Shawn went off, not expecting to sound so aggressive.

    “I told you I was thinking about it, what’s your problem?” she knitted her eyebrows together, crossing her arms on her chest in defense.

    “My problem? My problem is that I didn’t know I had a four-year-old son until a few weeks ago, and now you’re considering taking him away from me to fucking America?” Shawn threw his hands in the air, now looking into her eyes, searching for answers.

    “I haven’t decided anything yet. And I’m not doing this to keep him away from you,” Y/N rolled her eyes.

    “You don’t? Cause from what I know you still haven’t even told him that I’m his father.”

    Y/N bit her lower lip, not sure what to tell. He was right; she wasn’t sure if it was a good time to tell Tommy. She had been thinking about moving, and in that case, maybe it would be the best for Tommy not to get too attached to Shawn. 

    “My boss offered me a higher position in Chicago a month ago, and I have to give her my answer this week. The place is better, and the salary is higher. That’s the only reason why I was searching for schools,” she explained, now lowering her tone, and taking a seat.

    Shawn sighed, running fingers through his curls, trying to calm himself down.

    “It’s unfair to me, Y/N,” he let out, now sitting down himself.

    They fell into a long silence, both processing their words, trying to figure out a solution. Shawn couldn’t hold her back, she wasn’t his, and he had no saying in her life. Y/N felt guilty about taking Tommy away again. On the other hand, Shawn was traveling all the time, and as soon as he would start working, he wouldn’t see Tommy often anyway. So moving wasn’t going to make a big difference anyway, would it? But something was telling her that it was a bad decision. Steve, whom she liked and who was also offered a position in Chicago had already agreed, the fantastic offer she’d received seemed perfect. As it all started to work out for her, everything seemed wrong. Letting Tommy know that Shawn is his father and then taking him away felt wrong. But falling back in love with Shawn, when he was clearly moving on, wasn’t right either. Everything was messy and confusing, and all she wanted, for now, was to lay down and forget about these issues.

    “Mommy? You’re back?” Tommy’s voice snapped both of them back into reality, as the little boy walked in rubbing his eyes and dragging the blanket with him, his curls messy.

    “Yeah, baby,” she faked a smile and extended her arms to him.

    Tommy happily wrapped himself up in his mother’s hug and pressed his cheek against her middle, closing his eyes in amusement. Shawn watched them silently, his eyes stone-like.

    “I have to go,” he suddenly stood up from his chair, and both Tom and Y/N looked at him, their eyes wide.

    Tommy freed himself from his mother’s hands and stood in the doorway, waiting for Shawn to join him.

    “I will walk you, Shawn,” he commanded with a grin, and Shawn had to fake one himself.

    “We will talk later?” Shawn only referred to Y/N, and she nodded in response.

part 1/ part 2/ part 3/ part 4

Masterlist

@justmesadgirl

@wigglepotato

@p3rf3ctlywrong 

@illletitgrow

@whenyourereadyjay

@hreader7

@xjustanotherlonelygirlx

@atlas-of-a-human-soul

@quackson-div

@ultimategalaxyprogram

(let me know if you want to be tagged or removed from the taglist :) )

[michaelxrhodes-blog]

Little Jelly Bean || FEDERHODES

WHO: Michael Rhodes and Morgan Federov-Rhodes @morganfrhodes

WHERE: SF General Hospital

WHEN: Sunday, March 17, 2019

WHAT: Mike and Morgan’s daughter arrives.

WARNINGS: birth, nongraphic; hospitals

Mike was in the kitchen, making breakfast. It was a chilly Sunday morning and he was glad he had taken the day off from work. The past week had been exhausting with classes, and preparing for the baby. He was almost ready for their little angel to arrive already. "Morgan! How do you want your eggs? Scrambled?" he asked, as he added a dash of salt to the omelet he was making. He had chopped up some veggies and bacon as well, since he was pretty hungry. He had come home that morning from his run and showered before starting to cook.

Morgan was sat on the couch, she was more than ready for Madelyn to come. Morning sickness was over but she was gassy, so damn gassy and nothing fit, she couldn't reach anything. Hell the last time she showered she had to ask Mike to help her shave her legs. She was determined to paint her toe nails though, so she sat on the couch with paper towels under her feet and she looked up when her husbands voice rang through her ears. "Yes please babe! Be right there." She called out, finishing up her last toe. It may have taken twice as long as it usually would, but she did it. Carefully she waddled through their home with the foam spreader between her toes until she reached the table. "it smells /amazing/ in here."

Mike "Alright!" Mike called back, starting another batch of eggs for her, making them exactly as she wanted them. It wasn't too long before he had finished with the eggs, toast, some hash browns, with some coffee for himself and orange juice for Morgan. "Breakfast is done, babe," he called her over again after setting everything on their dining table. He walked into the living room and sat on the arm of the chair next to where she was. "You good there?" he smirked, giving her an amused look. "Come on, baby mama. Let's feast," he winked at her.

Morgan looked up when she heard her husband coming, she smiled at him when he took a seat on the arm of the chair she was in and gently placed her feet on the ground. "Shush up you, i'm just fine. At least I didn't ask you to pain them for me, hm?" she mused, placing one hand on his shoulder to use it to help herself stand and she holds her hands out to him. "I like it when you call me baby mama." She winked, smacking his ass before she set off for their dining table.

Mike kissed her cheek and hummed. "Well, considering I have no artistic ability, you're probably the lucky one in that case," he grinned and helped her up. "I like it too," he said, and before he could say anything else, she smacked him and he laughed, following after her, wrapping his arms carefully around her, rubbing her belly and he kissed her neck softly. "You're adorable," he mused, before sitting down. "Well, Sunday breakfast... I got a little carried away,"

Morgan laughed softly, nodding her head in agreement. "This is true, you would end up painting the skin on my toes. But that is what nail polish remover is for." SHe mused, grinning as he followed and held her. The blonde stopped, leaning into her husbands touch as he kissed her neck and rubbed her belly. "You see.. you're gonna make me want to take you to our bed and induce my labor early when you do that." she mused, sitting down slowly in her chair. "no, you didn't get carried away. I am /very/ ready to taste it all."

Mike grinned. "Yup, you are probably right about that," he nodded. "Mmm..." he teased her again with another kiss. "Okay, good, because I'm really hungry. So I cooked a lot," he said, helping himself to some of the omelet and toast. "What do you want to do today? Or what do we need to do? I know it's kind of a pain having to run errands now," he wrinkled his nose.

Morgan pouted out her lower lip, she gently poked his chest and she shook her head slowly. "You can't be teasing a pregnant, hormonal woman like this. Not unless you want it back once i'm healed." She hummed, wiggling her brows and she lifted her orange juice and taking a drink before she pulled her plate closer and began to eat from the fullness that was on it. "I was thinking today we could just relax? Maybe watch the horror leprechaun movies?" she asked curiously, biting into her eggs.

Mike "Relaxing sounds pretty good," Michael nodded in agreement. "But I tease you because I love you," he said, and licked over his lips before taking another bite of toast. "Horror leprechaun movies? I almost forgot those were a thing," he laughed softly. "How are you feeling though? Still doing okay? I felt her kicking this morning. She seems pretty excited and wants to escape," he grinned.

Morgan could feel Madelyn moving around, this morning their little babe seemed more active than usual but she figured that was because the due date was coming up sooner rather than later. "I know baby, I love you too." She smiled, then she wiped her lips and tried the hasbrowns he made them, delicious, she thought. "I don't know i guess i feel like since it's St. Patrick's Day we should celebrate in some way, even creepily." Morgan shrugs lightly, one hand dropping to her belly when Mike asked. "I mean.. she is really active today, she keeps moving around and it is a little uncomfortable but honestly? i'm used to the discomfort at this point." she shook her head, continuing on her breakfast.

Mike "That works," he nodded. "Well, since we can't really drink beer, at least we have leprechaun movies right?" he grinned. "It would be fun. Maybe we can make some of those copycat shamrock shakes? That could be a fun addition, right?" he hummed. "She's been moving around lately," he chuckled. "I wonder which one of us he gets that from," he grinned again, before taking a sip of his coffee. "Both of us are coffee lovers and neither one of us knows how to keep still," he laughed softly.

Morgan "See, now this is why you are the love of my life. You know my milkshake addictions well." She said, smiling at him and she easily polished off more of the food sitting on her plate. "She really has, makes me wonder if she's trying to run a marathon in there." she muses, raising a brow at her hsuband when he mentions who she gets it from. "I wish I could have coffee, i've been jonesing for a cup but I won't touch it until after our baby girl is here." She tells him, shifting back a little in her seat and she wrinkled her nose. "She is really moving around." Her hand rubs her tummy gently, looking down at it while she feels a pressure. For a moment she was in shock, looking at the floor as it now was wet as were the pants she was wearing. "Babe...." she said, looking up at him. "I...I..." she swallowed. "Madelyn is coming."

Mike "Hey, I love sports, but I have never ran a marathon, I'll admit it. Running is not my thing," he wrinkled his nose. "Don't worry, you can get some coffee sooner than you think," Mike said, continuing to eat his breakfast. Suddenly Morgan was quiet and he looked up. "Wh-what?" It took him a few moments to wrap his head around what was happening and he nodded. "Oh, shit..." he said, going over to grab their overnight bag that they didn't use last time and he helped Morgan up. "Okay, just breathe, we got this," he nodded. "Oh my god... she's coming..."

Morgan knew they had been through the classes, but nothing she did could have prepared her for what was coming. She tried to breathe the techniques they showed her but she was so damn scared, anxious, and knew the pain would soon follow. The blonde looked at her husband, her expression a mixture of terror, happiness, and shock. "I.. I don't know. I've felt weird all day but i assumed it was my gas pains, clearly i was wrong." She said, trying to breathe properly as he helped her up and she kept one hand on her stomach. The first contraction was coming on and she winced, gripping her husbands arm and she let out a breath she was holding. "We need to get there.." She said, trying to waddle as fast as she could, not even caring that she didn't have shoes on as she went for the part of their house that connected to the garage. "We can call everyone from the hospital."

Mike nodded, getting into a breathing rhythm with Morgan. It was something they learned at the lamaze classes and it was good they had already finished the series by now. "Hey, hey, I got you," Mike kissed her cheek. "I've got your slippers in the bag, don't worry, babe," he said, helping her into his car and setting the slippers on her feet before tossing the bag in the back and climbing into the driver's side. "You're going to be okay," he reassured her, even though he was probably equally as nervous. He quickly drove to the hospital, to the labor and delivery unit where they were admitted right away by one of the nurses.

Morgan was grateful mike was so attentive and helpful to her. So many women she knew? Their husbands were nowhere near as dedicated as him and she knew she was lucky for that. The blonde nodded, following the breathing that he was doing as they got out and settle into his car. Her pants were wet, soaked from when the water broke and she leaned on her husband figuratively and literally as he helped her in and put her slippers on. “Thank you baby.” She said, trying to keep calm but another contraction was on its way and she clenched her teeth slightly as he began the drive. He was fast, getting them there in under twenty minutes and she was quickly greeted with a whee chair waiting for her as another contraction came on. “Don’t leave me.” She asked, looking up st her husband. She knew they needed to do paperwork but that could wait for now.

Mike "I won't leave your side," Michael promised and squeezed his hand. He meant it this time and they were wheeled to a room in little time at all. The nurses knew exactly what to do and helped prep Morgan for Madelyn's arrival. He was even given scrubs too, as they had allowed him to stay in the room with her. He had sent out a couple of texts to their friends about Morgan being in labor already. Mike squeezed her hand again. "I'm right here," he smiled at her while the nurses did their part.

Morgan felt like her head was spinning from the start. This was all new, no matter how many books she read or how hard she prepped? She never could have been ready to bring life into the world. Her contractions were growing closer and closer together and she was changed into her gown before she was able to lay in the hospital bed and begin the birth giving process. When she saw her husband she looked up, taking a hold of his hand and just then another contraction came - this time is was long, hard, and painful so she squeezed his hand very tight while a small groan left her lips. “How much longer do we have to wait?! She clearly wants out /NOW/.” she said, looking up at the nurses then Michael.

Mike raised an eyebrow and winced. "Okay... okay... ow?" he grumbled a little. "Babe... ow..." he was surprised by her hidden strength as she squeezed his hand. He had always teased her about it but now he really felt like she could break his hand. "You are at six centimeters," one of the nurses replied. "More than halfway there," Michael rubbed the back of her hand gently. "Do you want anything? Ice chips? Oh, and your parents are on their way. I think everyone else is coming soon, too," he said. "My mom is about to leave," he said as he pulled his phone out with his free hand.

Morgan knew she probably squeezed Mikes hand a little too tight, but she couldn’t help it. She could feel the pain radiating through her body and she knew when she had to push? It would be ten times worse.hed grip on his hand loosened a little and she took in a deep breath. “Only six?!” She asked, sighing heavily. Maybe she was being a little much, but she was about to push a human life into tnt world and that was a huge deal. She closed her eyes, only to look up at Michael when he rubbed her hand and she slowly nodded her head.”yes to the ice chips please.. and thank you for calling each of our families.” Morgan said softly, closing her eyes again tightly as the next contraction came and she tried to refrain from squeezing mikes hand so tight this time.

Mike "It's okay," Michael chuckled, still surprised by the amount of brute strength in Morgan's tiny body. "You'll get there soon," he said. One of the nurses left to get some ice chips for Morgan and Mike smiled at his wife. "You're welcome," he said. "So we'll be seeing them soon," he nodded, a bit grateful that she didn't crush his hand again this time. He kissed her cheek. "Just breathe," the nurse said, bringing back a cup filled with ice chips for her. Mike's phone bleeped again. "Your mom is at the lobby while your dad is parking and she is on her way up right now... your mom really loves emojis, doesn't she?"

Morgan watched as the nurse left to get her ice chips, she was thankful that they were so attentive. She had heard horror stories of what it was like in the hospital, but for her? So far it had been anything but, aside from the actual birthing and labor process. "I need soon to be now." She grumbled, feeling very cranky. She knew it wasn't Mike's fault, they wanted a baby and they were having one. She couldn't have been happier. But at the same time her body had never been through something like this and it was taking a toll on her. She rolled her head up to look at him when he kissed her cheek and she took a hold of the cup of ice chips that were brought back to her. "Perfect. I don't know how they got here from New York so fast but i am grateful, knowing my mom shes been hold up in a hotel since march 1st just waiting for Maddy." She said, a faint smile settled on her pale face. "God. She does love her emojis, that woman is a nut." she mused but now she felt another contraction coming and this time it was only ten minutes after, as opposed to the twenty and then fifteen that it had been.

Mike kissed her head in an attempt to make her temper cool down a bit. "You're going to be okay, I promise," he nodded at her. He knew she was stressed out and by now it would be nice for Maddy to just show up already. He chuckled. "Knowing your mom... you're probably right..." he said, chuckling at the idea of his mother-in-law waiting in town for her granddaughter to arrive. "Does she know what the eggplant means?" he chuckled, showing Morgan his screen. "Your mother is very interesting, babe," he grinned. Scooting closer, he let Morgan squeeze his hand, ultimately squeezing it back again. "Mrs. Rhodes? I believe your mother is here," one of the nurses said from the doorway.

Morgan tried to control her breathing and her temper, she knew Mike didn't deserve it but she was in serious discomfort that she knew was going to be followed by pain. The blonde closed her eyes when her husband kissed her head, she rolled her head into the kiss and nodded her head slowly. He was always good at keeping her focus when something wasn't going right or she was upset, hurt, whatever the case may be. Michael was a godsend. Her nose then wrinkled when he showed her the phone with the eggplant and she shook her head. "Probably not, i think she just likes to use them no matter what they are. She thinks it makes her 'hip'." Morgan said, the pain becoming more intense as the contraction continued and she squeezed her husbands hand to get through it. When she was told of her mothers arrival she simply nodded, taking in a breath to steady herself. "Send her in."

Mike watched as a couple more nurses entered the room, saying something about how she was almost ready. He smiled at her. "I still find it very amusing," she said. A few moments later, Naomi was in the room. "Hi, Morgie, sweetie!" the woman walked up to her daughter and son-in-law. Michael kissed his mother-in-law on the cheek with his hand only loosely interlinked with Morgan's. "She's about ready," the nurse told them with a nod. Mike looked at Naomi with a smile, then at Morgan. "Ready to meet our little princess?" he asked as they were wheeled into the next room, with Michael and Naomi following behind the nurses pushing Morgan out of the room.

Morgan overheard the nurses saying she was almost ready. The blonde took a breath, finally she was going to meet her daughter and also give birth. She moved Maddy, every so fiercely. But she was ready to have her out, nine months had been a long time and she was ready to be a mother. Her own mothers voice rang in her ears and she looked up to see the other blonde woman and she smiled lazily. "Hi mom." she said, chewing on some more ice chips while she still kept hold of her husbands hand. "So ready. I've been ready since we found out i was pregnant." She says, holding the cup in the bend of her arm while her hand sat on her stomach as they were wheeled into the next room. Morgan was helped into the bed, she lay back and put her feet up on the bars that she was instructed to an she was so thankful for the hospital socks otherwise her feet would have been frozen against the metal. First she looked at her mother and then her husband. "I'm nervous." She admits softly.

Mike "We are going to be right here," Michael assured her and Naomi nodded as well. He let Morgan's mom take over the coaching now and he returned back to her side, holding his wife's hand. It was all going so fast, but it was as if the moment couldn't come soon enough. "Me too," he whispered. Once they were in the other room, he gave her hand a squeeze. A couple more minutes and the doctor came in, giving them instructions as they were all ready for Madelyn's arrival. He still couldn't believe it. They were still moments away from their daughter arriving. Even if it was so filled with emotion and all sorts of pain, it would be worth it. "Ready, Morgan?" the doctor asked as the she got herself ready.

Morgan was in shock still. This wasn't supposed to happen for eleven more days, but Madelyn had other plans. She kept a hold of one of Mike's hands and one of her mothers, each of them on her sides while the doctor was in front of her getting ready to aide her in the birthing process. "If i break your hand.. sorry in advance." She teased lightly, but just as she was a contraction came on and she felt it even worse than the others had been and she groaned while her eyes close tight and she nods at the doctors question. "I want her out." She mumbled, taking a deep breath and she looked at the doctor.

Mike raised an eyebrow as he felt Morgan squeezing his hand, nodding through the pain in his own hand. The doctor looked at Morgan, telling her that the next steps were extremely important and she had do do her best for Maddy. "I'm going to need you to push, she's just about ready," she told her. "One... two..." she counted. "Three..." she coached Morgan, and Naomi squeezed Morgan's hand, as did Mike, encouraging her to bring the little one into the world.

Morgan knew she needed to push, it was the only way to get Madelyn out aside from c-section but she wanted to be as natural as possible for their little girl. Nodding her head she leaned slightly forward and began to push as she was directed. A searing pain shot through her entire body, causing her eyes to close and a wild scream to leave her lips as she kept the push going until her body gave in and she fell backward against the bed to take a few breaths. She knew she wasn't done yet, this was the first of multiple pushes to bring their baby girl to the world.

Mike squeezed Morgan's hand, encouraging her along with the doctor and Naomi to push. "We're almost there, babe," he kissed her hand. "We're so close," the doctor said, checking how far along Madelyn was. "Okay, Morgan, let's do this again. "Want you to push harder, and we'll get there. Your little girl is going to be here, we just have to push more," she said, talking her through everything. Mike kissed the side of Morgan's head. "You've got this. She's almost here," he said softly.

Morgan was in so much pain. Never in her life had she felt something like this, she always thought people were exaggerating over birth but they weren’t. Not by a long shot. She was exhausted, in pain, and read her for their daughter to be there. She appreciated the encouragement but it was so hard to do, her mother had to know she had four kids of her own. Her eyes watered with pain, she leaned forward once more and she could feel the baby coming as she was pushing but it hurt so badly. “FUCK.” She screamed, normally it would have gotten a look and a reprimand in Russian but right now her mother didn’t dare. Morgan hope she was almost done, the pain was radiating through her entire body.

Mike "Almost there, Morgan," Michael said, continuing to encourage her. Within the next few minutes, even if it felt like a lifetime, there was a high pitched cry and he let out a happy sound. "She's here... oh my god..." he whispered, looking at their daughter as one of the nurses got her ready to put into Morgan's arms. "She's beautiful..." he whispered. "Hi, Maddy..." he said softly, still in awe of the little girl who was now in their world. He loved her so much already and it was just too good to be true, but completely amazing and altogether the best feeling in the world. He knew since even before he married Morgan, probably when they talked about getting married, he wanted kids with her. And here they were.

Morgan was trying her best to tough it out, she knew she had to so she could bring maddy the into the world but she was in so much pain. Finally she was on her last push, she squeezed her mother and mikes hands once more and she screamed a little herself as the last bits of Madelyn were being pushed out. After her cord was cut and she was cleaned and being handed to Morgan, the blonde instantly started to cry as her baby girl was laid in her arms. “She’s here..” Morgan couldn’t believe it. She was small, but she was real and she was laying on her chest right now. Morgan’s own mother was crying, her hand covering her mouth as she saw her first grandchild. “We have a little girl.” Morgan whispers to Michael, tears still free falling.

Mike kissed Morgan's head, his own tears running down his cheeks. "Our little jelly bean..." he whispered, watching as she Madelyn cried and the nurses took her vitals. Everything looked good, and Michael couldn't stop smiling. He wiped his eyes before checking his phone. "I-I think everyone's already there in the waiting room," he chuckled, more happy tears coming.

Morgan didn’t want to let go of her baby. The blonde watched as Madelyn was taken, her vitals all making sure she was alright. The blonde waited until they were done and she reached back out for their baby girl, smiling down at her beautiful face as tears still streamed down. “Do you want to hold her baby?” She asked her husband, then nodded her head at what he said. “We can have them come down in a few minutes.”

Mike nodded at her. "Y-yeah," he whispered. He took Madelyn into his arms and he smiled, looking at how tiny and beautiful she was. After everything that happened, she was finally here. Maddy who was now their pride and joy, a tiny miracle. "She's absolutely perfect," he said, still in awe of the little girl. Mike turned his head as Morgan's dad came in and so did his parents. Naomi waved to them, still in tears as they all excitedly cooed over Maddy.

Morgan smiled as she watched her husband take their daughter in her arms. She always loved her husband dearly, but now? Seeing him hold and love and fawn over their daughter? She had a whole new level of love for this man she didn't even know existed or was possible, she was sure she couldn't love him more than she did before today but she was wrong. "I agree." She said softly, gently she touched the little foot the was poking out of Mike's arms. She looked up when her dad and Mike's parents came in, she had a smile on her face and all of them each took turns holding Maddy for a few seconds.

Mike nodded at Morgan and Maddy stirred a little in his arms. "Did you think of a name yet?" one of the nurses asked, smiling at them. Michael grinned at her and at his wife and their families. "Madelyn," he said. "Love you, little Maddy," he whispered to the girl, and kissed her head, before turning to Morgan's parents and his mom to let them have a chance to hold their granddaughter. Hearing a familiar voice, he heard his dad arriving and he smiled acknowledging the man with a nod.

[buffster]

Expecting (ATS 1.12)

This is part of my ongoing Buffyverse Project, where I write notes/meta for every episode in an attempt to better understand the characters and themes of the shows. You can find the BTVS list here and the ATS list here. Gifs are not mine.

Expecting is signature season one Angel: the plot is something you can follow even if you’ve never seen another episode and it’s not very interesting to rewatch. To each their own, but season one is usually my least favorite of any given show (or at least down there). I like when we really get to the meat of characters and plot doesn’t do as much for me. So let’s get through this.

There’s a barely-noticeable subplot in Expecting where Wesley has his doubts about Cordelia’s role on the team. He was trained to be very focused on the mission, and watching Cordelia’s sporadic filing, flexible timing, and constant social life throws him. 

Angel: She’s had a lot to deal with. I mean, Doyle’s death, inheriting his visions, she’s young. She’s still trying to find her way in the world.

Wesley: But we’re not in the world. Demon hunters like us have a higher calling.

Wesley is so relieved she’s alright by episode’s end he drops the subject. I can’t remember if it picks back up again or not.

Cordelia is going out with two new friends: Emily and Sarina. She hints that Angel has taken on a dad-like quality with her lately and so she avoids telling him much about her social life. I would say this is probably a result of Doyle’s death and realizing how vulnerable she is now that she has visions but no means of defending herself. She’s more interesting and valuable than a normal human but no more powerful. 

Cordelia is still very much treating her life with Angel and her visions as a temporary side job. She has a vision, gives Angel the details, and runs off with her friends. Wesley is all too happy to be the new wingman. 

One of my favorite moments was when Angel and Wesley walked in the wrong door and nearly attacked an innocent old couple. Cordelia didn’t write down the correct address.

Meanwhile, Cordelia brings home the guy she met at the club and sleeps with him. I thought it was interesting Dennis tried to get in the way; did he sense something wasn’t right or was he really just jealous?

The next morning the guy is gone and Cordelia is hugely pregnant. This episode is a point of major discussion in fandom. Combined with what happened to Buffy after her first time, the AR, and Cordelia’s season four storyline, people are seeing major sex-is-bad-for-women messaging. But you could also just claim sex-is-bad in general per the show’s ideas. That’s literally stated by Cordelia at the end of the episode and let’s not forget Angel’s forced celibacy. 

The first time I saw Expecting I felt Cordelia’s reaction to waking up pregnant was a little over the top. It was obviously supernatural and she should have been solution-focused. But having now been pregnant (three times) myself, I think it makes sense. Once you reach the end it starts to feel very invasion-of-the-body-snatchers, so suddenly waking up like that would be super freaky. 

Wesley: Hmm, a demon who can only reproduce by implanting a human woman with its seed.  Yes, I’ve heard of such entities. - The human mothers...

Angel:  Rarely survive labor, and the ones that do, wish they hadn’t.

It’s revealed that Cordelia is pregnant with multiple babies and her amniotic fluid is toxic. It’s at this point that she begins to hear the babies and have an attachment to them. She’s completely taken over and even drinks blood from Angel’s fridge. 

What happens to the human demon-worshipers? They’re committing all kinds of evil but I guess this is another case of “dealing with humans is not our job”. I think that’s a more difficult question than presented. Is it really reasonable to leave these guys to the human police? How would they possibly handle that?

Wesley: Cordelia! Come out of there this instant! All of you please!

Cordelia:  We don’t expect you to understand. 

Wesley: I understand. You’ll die unless you come with me, and that is the most vile smelling filth I’ve ever had the displeasure of inhaling.  Now don’t make me come in there after you.

Wesley is still convinced people will respond to authority even if supernaturally possessed. Authority was everything when he was growing up.

Together he and Angel take down the demon in a pretty cool action scene (though Cordelia gets to finish the job). Crisis averted.

Cordelia: I learned something, too. I learned, uhm, - men are evil? Oh, wait, - I knew that. I learned that LA is full of self-serving phonies. No, - had that one down, too. Uh... sex is bad?

Angel: We all knew that.

Cordelia: Okay. I learned that I have two people I trust absolutely with my life.  -  And that part’s new.

Character Notes:

Wesley Wyndam-Pryce: Cordelia’s friends compare him to Hugh Grant (i.e unsure of himself but somehow charming). I think Wesley is much cuter than Hugh Grant...but not until later seasons when he get’s all rough-looking, so fair enough. 

[tornadorojo5]

Most Stupid Laws in the World-Funny Laws Around the World

I bet you might not now that nowadays a bunch of potentially harmless activities can land you in trouble with the long arm of the law, although, laws of the land that probably made lots of sense when first brought about, just don't work as they use to anymore. Since past and useful things such as old laws, have the tendency to stick around even if they have no place in today's society. Additionally to the old laws, a few newer and pretty bizarre laws of the land that have found their way into the law books. So with this in mind, let's go ahead and explore the rules of the land that have taken the pole position for being the most useless, dumbest, weird asses, stupid, and antiquated in today's world. Top Weirdest Laws in the World-Strange Laws that still Exist Great Britain The G.B has some of the most strange laws in the world, some of which are broken every single day. Did you know it was illegal to be drunk in a pub in the UK? well, yeah sir, that is "in any highway or other public places whether a building or not or in any licensed premises" (Section 12 of the Licensing Act, 1872).

Kind of makes you think, how many Brits brake that law every day? Now if you went a little happy on the Guinness to the store and buy a salmon, hell, you are in trouble 2 times as fucked as you were by just being drunk. According to the law, you are guilty of a crime if you are handling a Salmon in "suspicious circumstances" (Section 32 of the Salmon Act, 1986)

It is also illegal to carry a plank of wood along the pavement (Section 54 of the Metropolitan Police Act, 1839), especially, one would imagine, after getting drunk in a pub with a Salmon in your back or front pocket.

Not so bizarre is the stipulation that members of the parliament in jolly old England are not allowed to wear a suit of Armour in the Parliament (Statute Forbidding Bearing of Armour, 1313). It is my humble opinion that this law could have been updated by the lawmakers themselves while in Parliament.

It is also an offense to beat or shake a carpet or rug, except if it is a doormat before 8 am (Metropolitan Police Act, 1839). If you are Englander, forget about dinning on an exotic waterfowl, that is of course if you are the Queen or King of England, then it is OK to supper a swan. Check it out.

Should you be pregnant in England, it is perfectly legal to spend a penny in a policeman's hat or in fact, anywhere else, should be an emergency.

Now, in order to be fair, there does not appear to be a specific exception for pregnant women to urinate anywhere they chose to, but discretion no to charge may be exercised if a pregnant woman was caught short in public. However, it seems highly unlikely that a policeman officer would offer his helmet or hat for this purpose (Public Order Act. 1986)  On a similar note, and on the subject of toilets, in Scotland, if someone knocks on your door asking to use the bog, you must by law let them inside and relief him/herself. It is also related, the moral fares to be charged if someone is caught in short doing the following somewhat bizarre acts. In Scottland (again), that bizarrely colorful land of haggis and bagpipes, there may be more than a folk tale about Scotsmen and their kilts. Have you ever wonder what hides underneath that colorful and hard to stand skirt? According to ancient legend...they are butt-naked.

No underwear should be worn under a kilt, and according to the urban legend, if a Scotsman is found wearing underwear beneath his kilt, he is to be charged 2 beers by whoever had the courage to uncover his non-commando status. The United States of America The U.S.A also has its fair share of quirky laws, let's take for example: Arizona: Allowing your pet donkey to sleep in your bathtub is against the law since 1924.

 Alabama: Placing salt on the railway is an offense punishable by the death penalty, that is if you are in Birmingham, Alabama.

Although it seems kind of...fuck that's harsh...it has a good explanation. If you place salt on a railway, a train might get derailed or the salt may attract cattle onto the track, in which case, it most definitely will derail. California: It's against the law to play a game of frisbee without acquiring the permission of a lifeguard in Los Angeles.

Georgia: It is against the law to let your chickens roam around unattended in this state. So, guess what happened to the chicken that crossed the road?...yeah, its owner got arrested.

Hawaii: It is against the law for twin brothers or sisters to work at the same company. Talking about dumb ass laws...

Idaho: It is illegal for a human being to live in a dog kennel. It kind of gives a brand new meaning to sleeping in the doghouse.

Vermont: By law, if a woman wants to get herself false teeth, she needs first to obtain permission from her husband. Mainland Europe And here it comes the strange world of the laws in Europe. Greece: It is illegal to go sightseeing around the ancient ruins wearing high heels France: You can't name your pig Napoleon. In fact, the French government is constantly vigilant for creative names, especially if it involves the name of your kids. Some names that have been denied by a court of law to the creative parents of children in France are: Megane Renault (Mr. and Mrs. Renault were forbidden from naming her daughter Megane, because of the car's name) Tietuf (Tietuf is a children's comic book hero) Joyeux (Like Happy in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) Babord and Tribord (like port and starboard in a ship) The list goes on and on, just one thing to say though. I kind of agree with the French not to let ignorant parents put dumb ass names to their children that will embarrass them for life. Italy: In Rome, it is illegal to keep a lone goldfish in a Fishbowl, it is considered animal cruelty, but if you have more than one in a bowl, it is considered acceptable, since fish are sociable creatures. Poland: In some parts of Poland, children are not allowed to walk outside their houses with any Winnie the Pooh memorabilia, that is, T-shirts, Lunch Boxes, Back Packs, etc, for this cartoon character is considered "non-gender specific inappropriate hermaphrodite" without the decency to wear a pair of pants. So, for some Poles, Winnie's lack of genitalia is very offensive and against their good ways. Now...Let's go to Asia Phom Penh, Cambodia: The sale and importation of water pistols are prohibited during the new year festivities. Thailand (you are gonna love it): It's illegal to step on money, to leave home without underwear, to hold your hand out in tribute to "The Hunger Games", or to publicly criticize a fellow countryman. India: Apparently, in some parts of India, if a man is in debt, he can legally offer his wife as a down-payment, that is until the debt is settled. Japan: It is against the law to be fat, with the government setting a maximum waistline of 33.5 inches (85.09 cm) for men and 35.5 inches (90.17 cm) for women, that is if you are 40 years old or older (that excludes Sumo wrestlers). China: Buddhist monks are banned from reincarnating unless they have specific government permission. Oceania is Up Now... Samoa: It is found illegal to forget your wife's birthday. Australia: It is against the law to disrupt a wedding. This act is punishable by a fine of AUS$ 10,000.  Across the world, while laws are there to help to protect us all, and to keep society out of the constant threat of anarchy, some decisions made by lawmakers make us think of the extreme complexity that surrounds the human being.

https://ift.tt/2noN4G6

[mikaltom53]

As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.” As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?” And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will mislead many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. “But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. The gospel must first be preached to all the nations. When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. The one who is on the housetop must not go down, or go in to get anything out of his house; and the one who is in the field must not turn back to get his coat. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! But pray that it may not happen in the winter. For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will. Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days. And then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Behold, He is there’; do not believe him; for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance. “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven. “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. Therefore, be on the alert⁠—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning⁠— in case he should