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atlafan · 4 years

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My Everything - Part Seventeen

A Take it Slow Sequel

What happens with Harry and Y/N after he proposes? How will the two navigate the engaged life while also continuing to juggle their jobs, friends, and families? Let’s find out.

Warnings: fluff and angst. TW: mentions of past abuse!

Words: 6.7K

a/n: This part is a little more serious, with some fun things sprinkled in between.

Masterpost

Many things were the same with this pregnancy as they were with Jack. Harry took a picture of you every week to watch your tummy grow, and he also insisted on doing a maternity shoot. You thought it could be even more fun to have Jack involved too. Harry had set up a nice space in your bedroom. You had a robe on and did your hair and makeup nicely. Jack was coloring on the floor sitting next to Buster.

“Ready babe? Drop the robe.” Harry smiles as he finishes getting his setting on the camera just right.

You take a deep breath and let your robe fall. Harry’s eyes grow wide and he clears his throat as he blushes. If Jack wasn’t in the room he probably would have fucked you before taking the pictures.

“How were you able to shave?”

“I didn’t…um…remember when I was with the girls the other day?”

“Yeah.”

“Well…Rachel bought a home wax kit and she waxed me.”

“The three of you…are a little too close.” Harry chuckles.

“Well at least it looks pretty now!”

“It always looks pretty, hairy or not.”

Harry positions you how he looks, getting a nice side profile. He always took really tasteful photos of you. Jack wasn’t paying much attention until Harry took out some paint. You put on a nude bra and underwear set.

“Jack, wanna come be in the pictures with Mummy?”

“Yeah!” He gets up and gives you a hug.

“Alright, I want you to stick your hands in the paint, and press them gently on Mummy’s tummy, yeah?”

“Okay!”

Jack was really excited, he loved paint, and he loved when you and Harry allowed him to be a little messy. Harry lifts him up and helps him press his hands on your stomach, around your belly button. You hold onto Jack so Harry can snap some photos. The hand prints looked really cool, and Harry was able to get a candid shot of you and Jack giggling.

“Were you able to find that crop top for the family photo? I’ll get this on a timer so I can do the paint too.”

“Mhm, let me go put it on.”

You come back out in a black short sleeve crop top and black joggers. Harry dips his hand on the paint and presses them to the sides of where Jack’s hand prints were.

“There, see Jack, it took all of our love to make this baby.”

Jack beams up at his father. Harry scoops him up and they position themselves to take some family photos. You put your hands in the paint and press one hand on Jack’s stomach, and one Harry’s back, making for a very cool shot. Harry had too many tattoos on his stomach for the hand print to be prominent. You get a shot with Buster too, and you all smile as they look them over.

“Pretty, Mumma.” Jack says.

“You think so? I’d say we’re a pretty good looking family.” You look at Harry lovingly. “Thank you so much for convincing me to do this again, it’s so special.”

“Of course, honey.” He kisses your cheek. “You just look so good, it would be a crime not to document it.”

Time was going by way too fast. You were due soon, and you were freaking out because it was only the middle of April. Someone would have to take over your classes for the rest of the semester. You were hoping to hold on for a couple more weeks, but Jessica Rose had other plans for you. You were in the middle of one of your lectures when you felt something.

“Oh my god.” You gasp, and squat. The whole class gasps. Your water had broken and it was seeping down your pant legs. “I’m fine, everyone!”

“Did your water just break?!” One of them shouts.

“Yes.” You breathe and reach for your cell phone. “I need, shit, to call my husband.” You press your phone to your ear. “Class dismissed, uh, Kelly, can you let the admin know what’s going on?”

“Sure thing!”

A few students hang back to make sure you’re okay.

“Harry?!”

“Hi! Aren’t yeh teachin’? Do yeh miss me?” He chuckles.

“My water just broke in front of my class.”

“What?!”

“Can you get over here? My go bag is in my trunk already, so you just need to, fucking hell, get here.”

“I’m gonna take a cab, I’ll be there in ten minutes. I’ll snatch Jack from day care, just get to your car.”

“Okay.”

A couple of your students help you outside to your car. Before you know it you see Harry running towards you with Jack in his arms. He grabs you by the back of your neck to kiss you.

“Okay, uh, I’ll get him strapped in, get in the car, babe.” He says excitedly.

Harry speeds to the hospital. Jack got a little frightened once you were inside and getting wheeled away. Harry called your mom and had her come pick him up.

“Where’s Mumma!?” He sobs.

“She’s…gone to pick up baby Jessica, Jack. And Daddy needs to go help her. But you’re really lucky, you get to spend time with Mimi. I need yeh to be a big boy f’me, can yeh do that?”

“I’ll try.” He sniffles.

Harry gives him a kiss and a hug before handing him off to your mom. He sprints down to your hospital room where you were chewing on ice chips.

“Is he alright?”

“Yeah, he’ll be fine. You know how he is when he first leaves us. I think he was just scared from all the commotion. I’m sure your mum will calm him down.” Harry takes your hand and kisses it. “How are you feelin’ this time around?”

“Remember when I told you what it was like when I got my nipples pierced? The first one didn’t hurt because of the adrenaline, but the second one hurt because I knew what to expect?”

“Yeah.”

“Welp.” You burst into tears. “I suddenly remembered what it was like to push a giant head out of my vagina, and I’m probably gonna tear open again, and…” You look up at him. “Tell me again, why I wanted to do this?”

“Because you wanted to have another baby around.” He smooths some hair away from your forehead. “And we really like makin’ babies.”

“We do, we really do.”

“It’s gonna be alright, love. I’ve got way more time off from work this go around, and you have the entire summer.”

“What if Jack doesn’t like her? He used to getting all of the attention. He’s only going to be three next month, he won’t understand.”

“Well, he took a liking to those dolls we gave him. Remember how good and gentle he was with the baby? I think he’s excited. He may not like it all the time, but like everything else he’ll get used to it.”

“I can’t wait for them to drug me up soon. I read that sometimes the second kid can come a lot faster.”

“Let’s hope.” He leans in and kisses your forehead.

Thirty-six hours in labor. You had no idea what was going on. Your water had broken, what was the hold up? You were uncomfortable and in pain and you just wanted this baby out.

Dr. Johnson comes in to check on you.

“So…I’d like to talk to you both about a cesarean.”

“You want to cut me open?!” You look at Harry, frightened.

“It’s much less invasive than it used to be, and you’d be in really good hands.”

“I don’t want to have a giant scar across my stomach!”

“You won’t, like I said, it’s not like how it used to be. The recovery time takes a little longer, but your vagina won’t tare open.” She tries to make a joke, but right now you weren’t sure what to say. “It’s up to you, but you’ve been in this hospital for two days.”

“Would I still be able to go in with her?”

“Oh sure! We’ll numb her up, you won’t even feel a thing.”

“What do you wanna do, Y/N?”

“I think I’m ready to meet our daughter.”

“Great, we’ll get everything prepped.”

They let you hold Jessica skin to skin, but Harry wasn’t able to until you were back in the actual hospital room. You felt disgusting. They had to give you a bed pan. You never thought you’d miss the mesh underwear so much. You found yourself crying every few minutes from the pain that was creeping into your body, but Harry would call a nurse and she’d give you some medicine.

You breast fed Jessica just as you did Jack. She was gorgeous. Harry couldn’t stop crying either.

“I just love her so much.” He sobbed as he held her close to him.

Eventually you felt strong enough to use the bathroom, and a nurse helped you through it. After another night of rest you told your mom she could bring Jack in to see you.

“Mumma!” He exclaims as he comes into the room. “Missed you!”

“I missed you too.” You say, tiredly.

“What about me?” Harry pouts at him.

“Missed you too, Daddy.”

Harry scoops him up.

“Come on, we gotta wash your hands. How was he, Lynn?”

“Very good, we had a nice few days together.” She comes over and kisses you on the forehead. “A c-section, huh? Had four of them myself, you know?”

“It’s much different now. I need to stay here a couple extra days, but at least it doesn’t burn when I pee.” You laugh.

“Where’s little Jessica?”

“Down at the nursery. A nurse is going to bring her in soon. We were exhausted.”

A nurse comes in shortly and you take your daughter from her.

“Harry, put Jack on the bed with me.” He does as you say. Jack’s eyes grew wide as he looked at the baby in your arms. “Now, Jack, this is much different than your baby doll. You need to be even more gentle, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Meet your baby sister, Jessica Rose.”

You tilt her towards Jack so he can see her face. He gives a gentle stroke on her cheek.

“Baby.” He whispers.

“God, look at them.” Harry blubbers while he takes his phone out. He takes a picture of the three of you.

“Here, let me get one of the four of you.” Your mom says.

Harry picks up Jack and sits on the bed with you. The four of you snuggle up close. It’s a great picture.

“Once you feel up to it, we can get a real portrait done.” He tells you. “What do you think, Jack? Ready to be a big brother?”

“Yeah, she smells good.”

You laugh as you hand Jessica over to your mom.

“That’s that new baby smell, buddy.” Harry says to him.

You had to spend a couple days extra in the hospital to make sure you were healed up properly. Harry was a saint. You were too weak to do much other than feed Jessica when you got back home. You didn’t breast feed much. You just pumped and put everything into the fridge. It allowed harry to feed Jessica much easier.

Jack soon discovered he didn’t like the sound of the baby crying. He also didn’t like how much attention the baby got over him, especially from you.

“Put baby down, Mumma.” He would whine.

“I can’t right now, honey, I’m giving her a bath.” You were bathing her in the sink.

“Jack, I think Jessica has the right idea. Let’s go give you a tubby.” Harry says.

“No, I want Mumma.”

“You can’t fit in the sink anymore, Jack.” You giggle. “You’re gonna be three years old very soon.” You pick Jessica up and boop her nose. You wrap her in a towel and hold her close. “I’ll put her down and then we can give him a tubby together.”

“You heard her.” Harry says to his son. “I’ll get the water started.”

“Harry?”

“Yeah?”

“Why don’t you lull her to sleep? I think Jack needs some alone time with me.”

“Alright.” He kisses your cheek and goes into the baby’s room.

“Okay, baby boy, let’s get you clean.”

You and Jack play with his water toys, and then you scrub his head. Just like Harry, he loved the way your nails felt while you washed his hair.

“Daddy and I have a big surprise for your birthday.”

“Really?”

“Mhm, it’s coming in a couple of weeks.”

“What is it?”

“Can’t say.” You smirk.

“No fair.” He pouts.

“Just know, it’s going to make summers even more fun.”

You wrap him in a towel and lift him out. You get Jack in jammies and get him tucked into bed. You read him one of his favorite stories until he falls asleep. You kiss his forehead before leaving his room. You let out a tired sigh after you close his door.

You go down the stairs to see Harry making dinner. Just a simple salad. He hands you a bowl.

“Thanks, honey.” You yawn.

“Sorry he’s been so clingy lately. I try to keep him busy most of the day. Buster helps tire him out, but it’s like the second he sees you…”

“He wants his, Mumma, I get it. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t like spending so much time with you though.”

“I know.” He sighs. “How are you feeling?”

“Much better. The extra rest you gave me was much appreciated.”

“Well, you needed it.” He sets his bowl down and wraps his arms around you. You rest your head on his shoulder.

“I’m tired.” You groan.

“Wanna turn in early?”

“It’s only seven.”

“So? I’m happy to go crawl into bed if you are.” He chuckles.

“Alright, yeah. Oh! We could watch something on TV and just relax.”

“I like the sound of that.”

“A pool!” Jack squeals when you let him outside.

You and Harry had saved up for over a year to get an above ground pool built in the back yard. You wanted to give Jack a pool party for his third birthday.

“We’re gonna have a big party here next weekend just for you, honey.”

“Just for me?!”

“That’s right.”

“Thank you, Mumma.” He hugs your legs.

“Go thank Daddy too.”

Jack runs over to Harry who was finishing getting the pool filled. He hugs his legs too.

“When can we go in?” Harry scoops Jack up so he can see into the water.

“Not for another few days. Gotta test it and make sure it’s safe.” Harry comes over to you. You were feeding Jessica. “I picked up a heating pad too, you can lay it across the water to make the water warm, just in case it’s too cold.”

“Good thinking, babe.” You hold your daughter up and pat her back to help her burp. “Jack, would you like Daddy to take you to the store so you can pick out some pool toys and floaties?”

“Yeah! Can we, Daddy?”

“Of course. We can head out soon. We can pick out something Mumma would like too.” He winks at you.

You needed a nap. You were exhausted. Even though Harry was more than willing and able to do the night feedings, you found yourself beating him to it. You bring Jessica up to her room and get her settled into her crib. You crawl onto your bed and close your eyes. Your body was still doing a lot of healing. You had started going for walks on the treadmill in the basement. You wouldn’t be able to go for neighborhood walks with Sarah until June when her school year ended. You’d be back in shape in no time.

You woke up about twenty minutes later to the sound of your phone going off. You wondered if Harry had a question about the pool toys. When you see Dr. Mara’s name pop up, you’re slightly confused. She still prescribed you your medication, but you hadn’t had an actual visit with her in quite some time.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Y/N, it’s Dr. Mara.”

“Hi, yeah, um, is everything okay?”

“Yes, well, there’s an article I saw online today…I think you should see it, but I wanted to call first before just texting it to you.”

“What does it entail?”

“Jake…” Your eyes grow wide. It was a name you hadn’t even thought about in years. “He’s been arrested recently. I know you never came forward with anything, but sometimes…well, sometimes when more people step forward on these things, it helps. Everything is up to you, of course. I’m going to send you the article. Do with the information what you will.”

“Okay, um, thank you for letting me know.”

You hang up and she sends you the article. He had been arrested on domestic violence charges. Apparently he had been divorced, and he had attacked his ex-wife. She was pressing charges, but the article didn’t get into it.

“Oh my god.” You feel tears prick at the back of your eyes. You lose all control and start sobbing.

Jack couldn’t wait to show you the things him and Harry got at the store. He races upstairs to your bedroom.

“Jack, mummy could be sleeping, hold on.” Harry whispers and picks him up. He opens the door to your room quietly. You were sitting on the edge of the bed, shaking, eyes red and puffy. “Y/N?”

“Mumma! We got so many toys.”

“That’s, that’s great, honey.” Your voice was hoarse and just as shaky as your body.

“Um, Jack, could you go color in your room for a bit?”

“But you said we could show Mumma.” He pouts.

“We will, I just need to talk with mummy alone quick.”

He sets Jack down. He grumbles as he leaves the room. Harry sits down next to you. You flinch when he tries to put his hand on you. You hand him your phone to show him the article. He gasps when he reads it.

“How did you even come across this?”

“Dr. Mara called me.” You say quietly. “She said…if I were to come forward…it could help this woman’s case. Get him locked up.” You sigh. “It’s weird, it’s like, I almost forgot I had been through anything.” You start crying again. “If I had just pressed charges back then this poor woman he married wouldn’t be dealing with this.”

“Y/N.” Harry gently places his hand on your back. “It’s okay.”

“I still have everything. I don’t know if the DNA would even still be on there, but I kept everything in a box just in case. I could go to the police station and give my story. I have to help.”

“You’re sure this is something you want to go through? You may end up needing to testify.”

“I made a mistake by not doing this before.” You put your hand on his knee. “We have children now. If something like this ever happened to either of them…I’d, I’d lose my goddamn mind! I can go to the police station this week. I know it’s cutting it close to Jack’s party, but I should do this sooner rather than later.”

“Do you want me to go with you? We could get a babysitter.”

“No, I should go by myself. You stay home with the kids.”

“I’m so sorry this is all being brought back up. Are you gonna be okay?”

“I don’t think I will be until I know that monster is properly put away.”

The next morning you rummaged in the basement for the box you had kept the bags of the sheets and dress in. You sighed when you found it. You weren’t sure what it would do, but you were thankful you kept it. Harry kisses you goodbye before you go. You wanted to leave before Jack woke up.

You drive out to the police department that had arrested Jake. You take a deep breath before walking in. You walk up to a woman sitting at a desk. There were a ton of people walking around, and loud phones going off. You shake all of the background noise away.

“May I help you?”

“Um, yes, I…need to report…a few years ago…you recently arrested Jake Robinson, and he raped me a few years ago.” That was the first time you ever actually said something like that out loud.

“Oh my.” The woman says. “You’re not the first person to come in about this. One moment.” She makes a call and a few minutes later a detective come out.

“Hi, I’m Detective Ruiz.” She says to you. “Would you like to come have a chat with me? I’m working the Robinson case.”

You nod and follow her back to her desk.

“These are, um, the sheets…and what I was wearing when it happened.” You place the bags on her desk. “It happened back in 2018, so I don’t know if they’ll be helpful.”

“They definitely will be. We can send everything off to the lab. They’ll be able to tell us what’s on it.”

“The woman up front said I wasn’t the only one to come in…”

“You’re not. We arrested him last week, and three other women came forward.”

“How’s his ex-wife doing?”

“She’s making it through.” She takes a note pad out. “Can you tell me what happened?”

“Of course. We had been on about four dates. He seemed like a really nice guy. We hadn’t been too intimate, mostly just kissing. On our fourth date, I invited him up to my place. We ended up on my bed. I thought we would just get into, um, some heavy petting, but before I knew it my head was being shoved into my pillows and he was just…well, you know. I didn’t feel safe enough to say no. I thought he might do something even more forceful. I certainly didn’t consent to sex. When he left I passed out from the blood on my sheets and the blood between my legs. My best friend, Niall Horan, came and helped me afterwards.”

“Did you happen to take any pictures?”

“No…the only time I used my phone…oh, wait, um…I do have a picture of Jake and I from our date that night. We had gone for a walk and taken a selfie.” You go onto your Instagram and scroll back really far. You weren’t sure why you kept this picture, but right now you were glad you did. “See.” You show her.

“Are you able to send that to me? He may claim he’s never met you before.”

“Of course. I feel terrible. I should have come forward when it happened.”

“All of the other women said the same thing, don’t worry. The others happened before you. It can be hard to talk about these things. Coming to us doesn’t exactly help make it all go away.”

“I just want to do everything I can to help now. I have a soon to be three year old, and an infant to think about.” You think for a moment. “I went to therapy for years. I know there’s doctor patient confidentiality, but I’ll sign whatever waiver that’s needed if you need more information to support the case.”

“Thank you, we really appreciate that. May I ask who you saw?”

“Dr. Pricilla Mara.”

She nods and writes the information down.

“Alright Mrs…?”

“Um, my husband’s last name is Styles, but legally I go by Y/F/N Y/L/N…I’m a PhD as well, that’s why I kept my name.”

“Kept my own name too.” She smirks. “No need to explain that. So, the lab process will take some time. We’ll be in touch, though.”

“Alright.”

“Thank you for coming in. You’re definitely making a big difference.”

When you get home you find Harry on the couch with Jessica in the crook of his arm, and Jack nuzzled up close in his other side. He was reading one of his books to them. You giggle slightly and take your phone out to take a picture.

“Mumma!” Jack exclaims and gets up to run over to you. “Where were you?” He pouts.

“I had to run an errand, my doll.” You pick him up and kiss his cheek. “But I’m home now. Can I sit there, Daddy?”

“Sure thing, Mummy.” You sit down and Harry throws his arm around you. He kisses your temple. “Jack really liked the story in this book. I pretended it was about a prince and a princess.”

“Ah, well, let’s keep reading then.”

It was a nice family day. You pushed Jack on the swing outside while Harry took Jessica for a walk in the stroller with Buster. Then he grilled up some food for dinner. Once both kids were down, you told Harry about what happened at the police station.

“So, they’ll call you if they need more from you?”

“Yup.”

“You’re being really brave, I hope you know that.”

“Thanks. You had a nice morning with them?”

“It was great. Jack crawled into bed with me and we had a nice snuggle before I had to get Jessica. She was so good for me too. I made Jack pancakes for breakfast after I fed her. We had a nice chat. He misses his friends at day care, but he said he’s excited that we’ll both be home for a bit.”

“Aw, he’s so sweet. We had fun in the backyard earlier. I like that you’ll be home with me a little longer than last time.”

“Me too. Mum and Gem are excited to fly in for the party.”

“They come Friday, right?”

“Mhm.”

“I can’t wait for them to meet Jessica.” You wrap your arms around his neck, and his hands rest on your waist. “We have a nice life.”

“Wouldn’t trade it for anything else.” He kisses you gently.

“Okay, I’m letting go before you think this is an invitation.” You chuckle.

“What?!” He laughs. “I wasn’t even making a move!”

“I could feel your hands sliding down to my butt, I can read you like a book, Harry. I know your moves.”

“Well, as much as I’d love to get my hands all over you, I know we can’t yet.” He rolls his eyes. “Even though my little friend stayed intact this time.” He wraps his arms back around you and pulls you close.

“Yeah, well, my stomach is still healing up.”

“I’m well aware, angel.” He kisses you again. “Doesn’t mean I can’t kiss you does it?” He mumbles against your lips.

“I suppose that’s okay.”

He leads you over to the couch, and lays you down. He hovers over you and sucks your bottom lip into his mouth. You can’t remember the last time you simply just made out with your husband. After the morning you had this was everything you could have needed. He knew that. He always knew what to do.

He deepens the kiss by licking into your mouth, and you have absolutely no problem with it. Your tongue finds his and you just feel like you’re getting lost in each other like you used to. You’re taken out of your intoxicated state when you hear Jessica cry through the baby monitor. Harry sighs into your neck. He slowly lifts off of you.

“I’ll go check her, why don’t you go take a bath or something. You’ve had a long day.”

“Thanks, yeah, maybe I will.”

You both go upstairs. Harry changes Jessica and rocks her back to sleep. He checks on Jack quick to make sure the baby didn’t wake him. He was sound asleep. Harry goes into the bedroom and sees the bathroom door open a crack, you were just getting into the tub. He opens the door and leans against the frame.

“I’d ask you to join, but I’m still a little self-conscious.” You blush.

“S’alright, can I sit against the tub just to be near you?”

“Of course.”

Harry sits down on the cold tile. You drape your hand over his head and mindlessly play with his hair. Times like these you almost forgot you were a parent. When you’d be able to just sit and talk with Harry about things. He’d be home with you through the end of May and for the month of June. You decided that since Anne and Gemma were coming here, that it would be a good idea to not go to England this summer, and to just make your trip longer in January.

“Are you sure you’re okay with not being able to see your friends?”

“You know that’s not the only reason why we go there right?” He turns slightly to look at you. “I love seeing Louis and all, but we go there to see other family. I go there to get some other work done. Besides, since we’re not going we’re making more money off the flat.” He shrugs. “And traveling with Jack and Jessica right now doesn’t sound all that appealing. It would be a lot. You’re still healing too.”

“I’m just saying, if you wanted to go…”

“You’re crazy if you think I’d use the time off from work that I’m supposed to be here helping to dart off to London.” He takes your hand and kisses it. “I’d never do that.”

“I’m really happy you’re taking so much time off. I appreciate it a lot.”

“And then when I go back I’m only doing half days until you go back to work.”

“Jessica won’t be able to go to daycare until she’s six months, so she’ll need to be with you.”

“That should work fine. Can you believe that Jack only has one more year of daycare until he’s at preschool? Time’s flying.”

“I know.” You sigh. “We should probably start looking at places we want to send him. Sometimes you almost have to book your spot a year in advance.”

“I wish the university had a preschool, we’ve been spoiled.”

“I’m gonna start asking around to see where other people have sent their kids. I don’t want pick up and drop off to be annoying.”

“Well, shouldn’t we look around this area? It would be better for him to meet more of the Milton kids that he’d actually end up going to school with.”

“Good point. I’ll talk to Sarah, she probably knows what preschools are good.” You look at your hands and see they’re getting pruney. “Could you hand me my towel? Think it’s time I get out.”

Harry stands up and hands you your towel. You stand and quickly cover yourself with it.

“You know, a few scars don’t scare me.”

You give him annoyed look as you step out of the tub.

“It’s not about you though. It’s about how I barely recognize my body half the time when I look into the mirror. It was easier this time around since I knew what to expect…but…still.”

You throw on a bed shirt and some shorts, hang up your towel, and crawl into bed. Harry gets in only wearing his boxers.

“I have liked just pumping instead of breastfeeding. I’m way less sore since I don’t have a little mouth nibbling on me.”

“Do you miss the bonding at all?”

“Nah, I mean, I still rub my nipple on her face to help with the acne like I did with Jack.” You giggle and roll on your side to face him. He faces you and puts his hand on your back to rub it up and down.

“I know it’s not about what I think, but you have to know I think you look incredible.”

“You also thought the same when I was as big as a house nine months pregnant.”

“I did! You were glowing, babe. You still are.” He leans in to kiss you, and gently slots a leg between yours to get comfortable.

“I haven’t been cleared by the doctor yet. It hasn’t quite been six weeks.”

“I’m not doing anything, just getting cozy. Just wanna snuggle you.” He pulls you in closer to his chest. “You have an appointment next week, right?”

“Mhm, on Wednesday. And then I’ll probably go back a month or so later for the IUD. I’m just not ready for another invasive procedure just yet.”

“We can just use condoms if you don’t feel like having it put back in.”

“But you hate using them…”

“I know, but if it makes it easier for you, I don’t mind.”

“I love you.” You snuggle into his chest and sigh.

“I love you too.”

The day of Jack’s party, you pulled out all the stops. It was dinosaur themed because he was very into dinosaurs right now. You put up decorations all throughout the house and in the back yard. The pool was ready to use as well. Harry made everyone a nice big breakfast, and once it was done you both creeped into Jack’s room to wake him up. You both sit on the edge of the bed while Gemma takes her phone out to film everything. You all had gone out the night before to eat, it was nice for Jack to be so excited about his Grammy and Auntie.

“Wake up, baby.” You coo as you stroke his cheek.

“Hm.” He mumbles.

“It’s your birthday, darling.” Harry says.

Jack shoots up in his bed and look at the two of you with a big smile on his face.

“I’m three?!”

“You’re three!” You both say at the same time and tackle him with hugs and kisses. His giggles fill the room and it makes you both so incredibly happy.

“Come on, I got you a new bathing suit.” You tell him and show him the new trunks that had dinosaurs on them.

“Oh, wow!” He gazes at them.

“Gotta go potty first though, son.” Harry picks him up and brings him to the hall bath.

You go into Jessica’s room where Anne was sitting with her in the big comfy chair.

“She’s absolutely precious.”

“She really is.”

“Harry made a nice breakfast, mum, let’s head downstairs.” Gemma says. “He’s just getting Jack washed up for the day.”

You all enjoy the breakfast Harry made. There was fresh fruit, pancakes, vegan bacon, and muffins. Something for everyone.

“When’s my party, Mumma?”

“In a few hours. Mimi and Grandpa are coming, and so are your other aunties and uncles. Some friends are coming too.” You smile as his face lights up. You had invited his best friend, Ryan, and his mother Lisa. “And your cousins of course. Michael and Melissa are very excited to see you.”

“Melissa’s party was fun.”

“You remember it, baby?” Anne asks.

“Mhm, we painted.” He points to the paper with splattered paint on the fridge. “It’s Buster.”

“So it is!” She beams. “It’s nice he has a cousin so close in age.”

“I know, they’ll be great friends I think. And Michael loves being the older cousin. I can’t believe my little man is six! He’s going to into the first grade in the fall.” You shake your head.

“He’ll be over here babysitting before we know it.” Harry chuckles.

“God, don’t even say that. You know my brother lets him text me sometimes. He sends me these funny videos of him dancing or just saying hi.”

“Clearly you’re his favorite.” Gemma says. “So, Jack, how do you like being a big brother so far?”

“It’s okay.” He shrugs.

“He think she’s loud and boring.” Harry says.

“Daddy!” He whines.

“Sorry, was that supposed to stay between the two of us?” He laughs.

“You think she’s boring?” You can’t help but laugh too. You look down at the baby in your arms. “Well, I suppose she is, isn’t she?”

“She just sleeps. She can’t even play.” Jack says.

“But she’ll be able to when she gets a little older. And then you can show her how to play nice with all your toys.” You explain. “Won’t that be nice?”

“How come you had a girl and not a boy, Mumma?”

You and Harry look at each other, then to Anne and Gemma who were cracking up, and then back to Jack.

“Well, buddy, Mummy’s and Daddy’s don’t get to decide.” Harry says.

“Why not?”

“It’s just how it works.” You say. “Are you sad you don’t have a little brother?”

“No, I like having a sister.” He gets up out of his seat and crawls up on you and into your lap. “She’s pretty, just boring.” He gives his sister a kiss on the nose and everyone at the table awes.

Your yard was full of people. Plenty of adults keeping their eyes on the kids in the pool. Jack was having a wonderful birthday. It was the first time your extended family got to meet Jessica as well. You were happy to pass her around. Anne and Gemma were big helps in keeping the food outside stocked up.

Harry tells you to sit down with Jack at the table as he comes out with the large cake. Jack blows out the candles when everyone is done singing. It was very cute. Harry cuts the cake for everyone, while you help Jack open up his various presents.

“What do we say?” You say to your son.

“Thank you everyone!”

Jack gets up and gives hugs to his family.

“I can’t believe how big he is.” Rachel says to you as she digs into her cake.

“I know! Too big if you ask me. Wouldn’t mind if he stayed like this.”

“Oh, but it’s fun to watch them grow.” Sarah says. “I love when my students come back to visit me.”

“Mumma, come swim!” Jack says to you.

“I can’t yet, honey. Why don’t you find Uncle Niall, he’ll swim with you.”

“He’s with Daddy.” He points over to Harry and Niall who were deep in conversation.

“Alright.” You squint over at the pool and see Kyle swimming with Michael. “Uncle Kyle’s in the pool with Cousin Michael, you can go in with them.”

“Okay!” He runs off.

“No jumping!” You shake your head.

“I’m glad you guys got one of your own, but you’re still welcome to come over once my school year is over.”

“Thanks, I’m sure we’ll take you up on that. He loves when Harry jumps off the diving board with him.”

“How have you been feeling?” Rachel asks. “Does it take longer to recover after a c-section.”

“Yes and no. I was in the hospital longer. I mean, it’s a major surgery. My scars are healing up nicely though. It’s just been six weeks, I have an appointment with Dr. Johnson on Wednesday. I’m hoping she’ll be able to clear me. I’m in some major need of loving with my husband.”

“I bet.” Sarah giggles. “Niall said he’ staying home the entire month of June with you?”

“Yeah, he said he wanted to be home to help more. He’s the best. He’s going to do half days after that, and then when school starts he’ll take Jessica to work with him until she can go to daycare.”

“You’re going right back in the fall?” Rachel asks.

“Yup, it’s fine though.” You shrug. “I was sort of spoiled last time. I’ve got the hang of things now.”

“Auntie Y/N.” Michael says coming up to you. “Are there any more juice boxes. There’s none in the cooler.”

“Oh! Sure, give me one second I’ll bring some out, my love.”

“Thank you.”

“Excuse me.” You say to the girls and go inside. Your phone had been sitting on the kitchen counter charging. You check and see that Detective Ruiz had called. “Shit.” You swipe your phone to call her back. “Hi Detective, I’m sorry I missed your call…my son’s having a birthday party.”

“No problem. I just wanted to let you know we got the lab results back.”

“Already?”

“We expedited things. His DNA was on there.” You take a deep breath as she continues to speak. “Thank you for bringing that in, it really helps with the case.”

“What are the next steps?”

“We may need you to come in and testify once the case is brought to court.”

“Will I need a lawyer?”

“You’ll want one, yes, just to help you. We’re hoping to get this moving along quickly. The other women have also agreed to testify. We have a strong case against him.”

“So…he would be there…in the courtroom?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

“I know that it won’t be an easy thing to do.”

“I said I wanted to help the best that I can, and that’s what I intend to do.”

#harry styles #my everything #harry styles imagine #harry styles series #harry styles fic #harry styles fanfic #harry styles x reader #harry styles x y/n #harry styles y/n #harry styles angst #harry styles fluff #harry styles smut #pls dont come for me if the investigation stuff isnt accurate #i only know what i know from shows like svu and csi sooooo #and i know those shows are incredibly inaccturate #hope you like!#pls tag if you reblog

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besanii · 4 years

Note

So in SM Mo Xuanyu always talks about how wwx gets worse in winter and I was wondering if maybe, could we maybe, get a little 🗡 🗡 🗡? as a treat???? Especially if we get any hint about what happened to wwx during the war, please and thank you - bows-

There is something wrong with Wei Wuxian.

He’s not sure what it is exactly, but there is something wrong in the way he holds himself as he stands on the wide landing of the grand staircase at the centre of the room—his fingers tremble ever-so-slightly around the dizi, and his brow is furrowed in more than just concentration. No one else in the room seems to have noticed, lulled as they are by the beautiful melodies he is coaxing from the fine instrument, but the feeling of unease remains with Lan Wangji as he watches the performance from his private table.

It isn’t often Wei Wuxian appears in public like this, without a veil to obscure his face from view, so Caiyun Pavilion is understandably more crowded than usual. Everyone wants to catch a glimpse of Wei Wuxian’s famed beauty without having to empty their purses for it, even if it is only for the scant few minutes it takes for him to play a song, so they cram themselves into the main hall as best they can, sharing tables, sitting on the stairs, leaning over the balconies from the upper floors. The space feels much smaller now, more enclosed, and even Lan Wangji, whose table has been cordoned off from the rest and placed closest to Wei Wuxian, finds it stifling.

The song ends on a long, tremulous note that lingers in the air even after Wei Wuxian lowers his dizi. A soft smile graces his lips as he dips his knee and inclines his head at the audience, but the muscles in his neck are taut and strained. Lan Wangji’s hands curl into fists on the table and he shifts in his seat, ready to head upstairs as soon as Wei Wuxian takes his leave, the disquiet growing louder in the back of his mind the longer they stay.

And then the room breaks into thunderous applause as the audience awakens from the spell of Wei Wuxian’s music. It’s overwhelmingly loud, punctuated by cheers and whistles and calls for more, and Wei Wuxian—

His eyes are squeezed shut, his face turned away to hide its sudden, ashen hue; his knuckles are white around the dizi held to his chest. Mo Xuanyu is at his side in an instant with a hand under his elbow for support as he turns to leave, climbing the staircase with slow, deliberate steps. The audience doesn’t notice the obvious strain in each of his movements, too busy falling over each other to get his attention, but Lan Wangji is out of his seat and heading for Wei Wuxian’s private room the moment the man himself is out of sight.

It’s quieter back here, darker, a stark relief from the bright lights and noise in the main room. One of the maids bursts out from the room at the end of the hall, expression frantic. She almost runs into Lan Wangji on his way past, but catches herself at the last moment, bowing low at the waist.

“Wangye,” she gasps, flustered.

“Is Wei Ying alright?” Lan Wangji asks instead. Her eyes dart back over her shoulder, but doesn’t respond. “Answer me!”

“Gongzi just needs rest,” she assures him. “Please, Wangye, it would be best for you to return to the main hall. I must go to the kitchens.”

And then she’s running past him and down the hall without a backward glance. Lan Wangji quickens his pace towards Wei Wuxian’s room, dread pooling in the pit of his stomach as he reaches the open door and steps inside.

The room is almost completely dark, save for the few candles placed strategically around the room casting just enough light to make out the two figures hovering around the bed.

“Dieyi,” Madam Zhang says without turning around, “put the extra coal on the brazier—”

She turns around and freezes when she sees Lan Wangji, grabbing Mo Xuanyu by the arm. He gasps when he turns and they both hastily sink into low bows, shuffling closer together to block the view of the bed behind them.

“Wangye,” Madam Zhang says, hurrying forward to put herself between him and the bed. “Our apologies, but Xian-er has suddenly taken ill and will not be able to entertain you further tonight. Please, follow me back to the main hall…”

But Lan Wangji easily steps around her—she can only do so much against the Emperor’s brother—and finally, finally sees what’s going on.

Wei Wuxian is writhing beneath the covers, his knees tucked into his chest. His hands grab at his own shoulders, those long, slender fingers bent like claws as he scrabbles for purchase against the fabric, gasping and shivering in the stifling heat of the room. The tendons in his neck are pulled taut, straining against the skin when he throws his head back with a gasp, his whole body twitching and convulsing.

The dread that has been building in him since Wei Wuxian had appeared in the main hall morphs into horror.

“Wei Ying!” He drops down to sit at the edge of the bed, his hands hovering over Wei Wuxian’s body, unsure of what to do. “What is happening to him?”

Madam Zhang and Mo Xuanyu exchange nervous looks.

“Wangye,” Madam Zhang ventures. “Xian-er has been feeling ill these past few days. It is an…old ailment. We can do nothing but wait for it to pass.”

“An old ailment,” Lan Wangji repeats flatly. He turns on the two of them, eyes blazing. “How long has he been like this? How did this happen?”

They drop to their knees, trembling under the force of his fury.

“Begging your pardon, Wangye,” Madam Zhang says. “We are not sure of the cause, only that he has been like this for as long as we have known him.”

Lan Wangji braces one arm on the bed to avoid falling over in shock. Beside him, Wei Wuxian lets out a guttural moan and goes limp; the twitching subsides, but the shivers begin anew, and he huddles beneath the blankets again. When Lan Wangji rests a hand against his cheek, he immediately leans into the touch, subconsciously seeking the warmth his body so desperately craves.

Madam Zhang looks him over carefully, resting a hand on his forehead and taking his pulse, before sighing.

“The worst has passed,” she says, relieved. “He only needs to rest now.”

“Wei Ying…” Lan Wangji whispers, stroking his thumb across his lax cheek. What happened for you to be like this?

“Wangye…” Mo Xuanyu says shakily from where he’s kneeling by the bed. His eyes are wet, and he hastily wipes his tears with the back of his hand. “Xian-ge is really sick. He wouldn’t let us tell you, but—”

“A-Yu!” Madam Zhang snaps. “Don’t!”

“Wangye deserves to know!” Mo Xuanyu protests. “If Xian-ge has agreed to let Wangye take care of him from now on, he deserves to know!”

He turns back to Lan Wangji with a determined set to his jaw.

“We don’t know what exactly happened to Xian-ge,” he says. “He won’t tell us the details. But all the physicians who have seen him suspect he has been tortured, extensively.”

Lan Wangji inhales sharpy. “Tortured...? But this doesn’t—what sort of torture can do this to someone?”

Madam Zhang closes her eyes and turns away.

“He was brought in by Wen soldiers,” she says heavily. “Broken, weak, barely clinging to life. The physicians at the time said that his symptoms are akin to someone who has been in water for too long: muscles wasted, open sores on his skin. But that isn’t all.”

She takes a deep, shuddering breath and looks down at Wei Wuxian, resting a hand on his head in a maternal gesture.

“Poison,” she says, the flintiness of her tone belying the gentle way she brushes the hair from Wei Wuxian’s forehead. “Every physician, without fail, saw these seizures and agreed that they align with the symptoms of qianji poison.”

“Qianji…” Lan Wangji whispers, horrified, sickened. “But qianji poison doesn’t last this long. He should be—”

Dead. The word chokes in his throat, sharp and painful.

Madam Zhang laughs without humour, her face bleak.

“Yes, he should be, if they had been merciful,” she says. “But if it is given in small doses, it will only appear as you have seen here tonight. Spasms, twitches, fits, headaches. Painful, prolonged, but never enough to kill. Whoever it is wanted to prolong his suffering for as long as possible.”

Lan Wangji’s hand tightens where it is twisted on the bedsheets, his other hand trembling where it rests against Wei Wuxian’s clammy skin.

“What about the antidote?” he asks. “Surely there must be—”

Madam Zhang shakes her head.

“We have tried many different antidotes, all designed to treat qianji,” she says. “They have alleviated the worst of the symptoms, but none of them have managed to purge the poison from his body completely. Whoever created it must have added something different, changed it somehow, but none of the physicians we have asked can work out what was changed, what the formula is. Without it, they cannot create the true antidote.”

“Wangye!” Mo Xuanyu cries, grabbing the hem of Lan Wangji’s robe and pressing his forehead to the floor by his feet. “You have been so good to Xian-ge, please help him this time as well! Please help us find the antidote!”

Lan Wangji stares at Wei Wuxian for a very long time, not trusting himself to speak. Wei Wuxian’s breathing has evened out in sleep, but cold sweat still clings to his forehead, his brows furrowed in discomfort. Madam Zhang looks over at him seriously.

“Xian-er was very clear that he did not want you to know, Wangye,” she tells him. The admission sends a sharp pang through his chest. “Please do not mention this to him, nor that we were the ones to tell you. We only ask that you please take care of him in our stead.”

As if Lan Wangji would not have done so regardless.

He nods.

“Thank you for entrusting this information to me,” he says sincerely, his eyes never leaving Wei Wuxian’s face. “I will take care of him now.”

Notes:

There may be some differences in symptoms that WWX demonstrates here compared with true strychnine poisoning. This is in part due to 1) creative licence, 2) qianji poison not only consisting of strychnine, and 3) WQ modifying the recipe under WRH’s orders.

// buy me a ko-fi //

Master Post is here

#wangxian #mdzs #shattered mirrors au #shattered mirrors fic #王爷机 X 花魁羡 #my writing #🔪🔪🔪#surprise! turns out LWJ has known for a while #this is Xian-er arc #just before WWX moves in with LWJ #his 'final performance' at Caiyun Pavilion before leaving #anyway have some knives

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the-last-cuddlebender · 3 years

Note

Since I don't really enjoy character death fics (I'm an absolute crying mess after reading them😂😭) I request a fluffy fic where, a few months after bumi is born, the gaang get together and they all want to carry bumi after not seeing him for so long😂🤷‍♀️

Character death fics chip away my soul I stg (tho I might just make that fic a coming-home fix since I left Aang’s death kindof dubious👀)

This prompt was a lot more fun than I anticipated lol. I’m still a tad loopy from my fever, so grammar may or may not be optional😅. I hope you enjoy my hot mess madness tho!

(Bestuncle!Sokka? Bestuncle!Sokka😤)

Words: 1,023

*******************************************

“Sokka.”

“No.”

“Sokka...”

“No.”

“Sokka—!”

“You just had him! It’s my turn! Besides, I’m his favorite.” Sokka bumped his nose with Bumi’s and tickled his tummy with his fingers. Bumi was hardly as big as a loaf of bread, but his laugh was as loud as Appa’s happy-groan-growl. “Isn’t that right, Boom-erang? Yes, it is. Yes, it is~ Ow!”

Bumi didn’t let go of Sokka’s finger even as Sokka stomped his foot and bit his lip to hold back a curse that would have given Katara more than enough reason to end him. Bumi may not have any teeth, but, Spirits, did the kid have some jaw strength.

“That, Snoozles, is called karma.” Toph simultaneously scooped Bumi from under his arms and bumped her hip to Sokka’s; and though the touch seemed light, the Water Tribe warrior left a dent in the wall as he flew from the blow.

(Zuko winced and probed Sokka’s drooling, almost-broken form. Sokka clung to life...but just barely.)

Maternity suited Toph just as beautifully as Katara, and Bumi smiled a supernova when she cradled him in her arms. His grasping hands reached for her face and patted her cheeks to feel the curve of her smile.

“Awwww, look at you, little warrior,” Suki cooed. She offered her fingers for Bumi to latch onto, and his giggle reached crescendo as she wiggled his little fists. “You are absolutely adorable. You’ve grown so much!”

“He’s heavier, too.” Toph frowned. “And a little cold. Hey, Flames-for-Brains—”

Zuko was a shadow at Suki’s shoulder and already curling his hands under Bumi’s bum and back. It had taken him a while to learn how to hold Bumi just right, but now Zuko accepted the transfer with ease.

Bumi froze, looked shocked, and then turned to bury his face in the little sun holding him.

Suki cooed some more. “Looks like you’ve got some best-uncle competition, Sokka.”

Sokka was on his feet in the next second. He looked at Suki like she just grew a third head. “What?!” he cried, his voice cracking like when they were kids.

They all laughed, Sokka sulked, and none of them thought anything of Sokka’s (or their own) volume until Bumi flinched and sniffled.

Then he started to cry.

And Sokka looked ready to throw himself on a pyre to save his nephew from even one more tear.

“Sokka!” Suki hissed. Zuko looked as ticked as she sounded.

“Oh, nononono, it’s okay Boom-erang. It’s okay. I’m sorry.” Sokka tripped over himself to offer his hands to the babe in a small sign of apology. “It’s okay. Uncle Sokka was just being silly.”

Bumi’s tears thinned to small streams...

...but not before the Avatar tore through the temple to save his crying little world.

Aang turned the corner at such a high speed and at such a sharp angle that he slid, parallel to the ground, into the adjacent wall. He was shirtless, shoeless, and so flushed with panic that he rearranged his facial anatomy with how wide he made his eyes.

“Bumi?” He fell twice before standing. “Guys, where—What’s Bumi—?”

“Calm down, Twinkletoes. Bumi is fine. Sokka is just a moron.”

“It was an accident!” Sokka pleaded in a whisper.

Aang teleported to Zuko’s side. Bumi turned to his father like a sunflower did to the sun—knowing where he was and grasping for him even though his eyes were closed.

Once Aang had little Bumi safe in his arms, his world stopped tilting all crooked. His baby boy’s cry was broken by a comforted sound—content—that muted his next whine into a dull whimper. Smacking his lips, Bumi cuddled into the warm safety that held him, but he squirmed when he found no robe to hold onto.

“Shhh, shhh, shhh...It’s okay, Boom-Boom. Daddy’s here. Shhh…” Aang held Bumi high enough so one of his hands could anchor onto his prayer beads. Bumi’s other hand flailed until it found the fingers of Aang’s free hand, and Bumi finally—finally, bless the Spirits—calmed. He almost looked on the verge of sleep. He curled into his father’s chest, bodily hugged Aang’s hand, and gently gnawed his fingers.

Then it was quiet.

Then Toph smacked the back of Sokka’s head.

Then Suki did, too.

“Ow! What was that for?”

They said nothing, but their glares said everything. Zuko walked up, pinched the bridge of his nose, and flicked between Sokka’s eyes.

“Seriously?!”

“Hehe!”

They all looked over at father and son. Bumi giggled again and held Aang’s finger a little bit tighter.

“There’s that smile,” Aang said. He kissed Bumi’s head and blew a small raspberry that made his son giggle even louder and squirm even more.

Then Aang stopped.

And Bumi looked at Sokka expectantly.

Then Bumi started to cry.

Suki turned on Sokka. “What did you do?!” she demanded in a whisper that shook the room like a shout.

“I didn’t do anything!”

“Sokka!”

“I swear, Zuko! I swear!”

Toph smacked the back of Sokka’s head again.

And Bumi…Bumi giggled.

Toph smiled something evil. “I think Bumi thought that was funny.”

Zuko pinched between his eyes and mumbled a dozen different prayers to a dozen different deities. Sokka backed up like he wanted to do the same, especially when Bumi cried again.

“Now, now, come on, guys, let’s not—Come on, Suki, I know at least you can’t…u-um…”

Katara rounded the corner so fast that a wind like a bite-sized hurricane chased in her wake. The way she slid into her brother should have sent Sokka through the wall, but the Spirits Zuko had prayed to cushioned Sokka’s travel through the air by catapulting him among the sacks of flour and grain.

Bumi laughed like he was born to do nothing else but smile. Katara melted, weighed down by a relieved grin, as she vanished and reappeared at Aang’s side.

She kissed her husband and son, gave Bumi one extra just because, and turned to the others like she was a spirit that demanded a blood sacrifice if she were to remain benevolent.

Katara looked to Suki for an answer. Suki shrugged and pointed to Sokka.

...Toph grinned something even more evil than evil.

...Zuko sighed again but with passion and sulked into a corner to alert the mortal coil that everything was about to go to shit.

Sokka paused his struggle of getting free of the grain bags, shivered from the sudden cold rippling through the weave of the universe, and pulled himself out with a plea at the ready.

“Katara, listen, I don’t know what they said, but it’s not—”

The universe was merciful and Katara was all-knowing, but Sokka didn’t know what to think when his sister dragged him by his scruff to an awaiting Aang and a fitful Bumi.

Then Bumi looked at Sokka expectantly.

And Aang put his baby boy into Sokka’s arms.

Sokka still didn’t know what to do even as Bumi smiled and squirmed, his hands reaching for something.

“I’m sorry, Boom-erang. Uncle Sokka didn’t mean to scare you. He promises not to—Ow!”

Bumi smiled around Sokka’s finger. Spirits, the kid had some jaw strength.

The world got a little lighter as Sokka’s once impending doom retreated back into the form of his sister. Katara was shoulder-to-shoulder with him and making Bumi smile even wider when she brushed the fine hairs on his head.

“...You’re lucky you’re his favorite,” she whispered.

Now it was Sokka’s turn to smile, and he couldn’t care less when Bumi gnawed a little harder.

“That’s my little Boom-erang~” he cooed. “I knew you would come back around.”

*******************************************

I’m still trying to get a knack for writing Sokka. He’s the member of the Gaang I struggle the most with idk why. I would have thought he’d be the easiest for me, but nope

(And, yes, that was a shameless Ice Age reference in there lol)

(Also! I’m trying to do these prompts in order (IM NOT IGNORING ANY OF THEM I SWEAR I LOVE AND APPRECIATE THEM ALL DEARLY), so up next: kataang pilot AU!)

#bumi ii #sokka #katara #suki #toph #aang #zuko #kataang #avatar the last airbender #the legend of korra #bestuncle!Sokka #atla #my eyes are so watery I can’t see my frickin screen someone end my suffering ahhhhhhhhh #cloudfamily #gaang #fic request #answered #myfanfictiontag #post

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me-myself-and-my-fos · 3 years

Text

Mother’s Day

Pairing: Montgomery Scott x Nicole Scott ft. the Scott kids

Word Count: 1.9k

Summary: Scotty gives Nic a relaxing Mother’s Day

A/N: I know this is a day late but I had to write a Mother’s Day fic

Tag List: @hyperionshipping @heavenshipped @dancing-with-skeletons @selfshipfeelings

“Monty, you didn’t have to do this,” Nic protested for what felt like the thousandth time. Scotty shook his head as he helped her out of the car.

“This is the first Mother’s Day we’ve spent together in five years. If you think I’m not spoiling you for the day then you’re mad,” he told her fondly, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “The boys and I will be fine, you deserve the rest.”

Nic sighed. “I don’t get much rest these days anyway.”

“Next year we’ll get to celebrate with Saoirse, but until then—” Scotty took her hands and pressed another kiss to her head, “—you get treated like the queen you are.”

“Are you sure?” She asked, a little apprehensive of leaving the boys. It came as a habit from not only taking care of them for so long by herself but also as a maternal instinct that had steadily increased over the course of her pregnancy. If it weren’t for her husband, Nic is pretty sure she would’ve ripped the head off of the woman at the grocery store who said Thomas was an adorable little gentleman.

“I’m positive,” he assured her. They looked over to the boys who were busy peering into the window of the spa. “Boys, time to say bye to mum.”

Thomas and James looked over at their parents and rushed over to hug their mother. They gripped onto the fabric of her maternity sundress.

“Don’t go, mum!” James whined.

“Peese mummy!” Thomas begged.

“It won’t be long, I promise my loves,” Nic said, playing with their hair. She leaned down and pressed a kiss to both of their heads. “Besides, you two will have so much fun with dad that you won’t even have time to miss me. And when I get home, we can cuddle in bed and watch tv.”

“Okay!” The boys perked up at the mention of tv. They each gave their mother a big hug before being shooed into the backseat of the car by their father.

“We don’t have a lot of time now, get in the car,” he told them. When the boys refused to move from Nic’s side, Scotty sighed. “I’ll let you have ice cream when we get home if you get in the car.” Quickly the boys scrambled and pushed past each other to get into the car. Nic laughed softly as Scotty smiled at her. “Now don’t you worry about a thing, dear. I’ll take care of everything. The appointment is at least five hours so I’ll be back here at five-thirty to pick you up, okay?”

“Geez, five hours by myself for little ol’ me?” She giggled.

Scotty nodded. “Aye, they’ll give you the best treatments. Now go before you miss the appointment.”

Nic gave him a quick kiss before heading towards the automatic doors. “Don’t set the house on fire while I’m gone, Monty.” She joked over her shoulder. She sent the boys a wave as they watched her leave before disappearing inside.

Nic made a mental note to thank her husband when she got home. He apparently knew everything she needed and already arranged for the treatments. First was a facial—she had been complaining about the acne she was getting from the pregnancy. Then she would get some time in a nice warm bath—something she never got at home, usually a quick shower before dinner while the boys napped or when Scotty was keeping them entertained. Third was the prenatal massage, a type she didn’t know existed but was sure she’d be grateful for. And last came the foot massage, the one she most looked forward to. As she changed into the fluffy white robe in the private room, a glass of water and a bowl of complimentary fruit sitting on an end table, she stared down at her phone. After a minute of debating she decided to leave it on, but tucked away beneath her clothes. She knew that her husband wouldn’t call unless it was an emergency. Nic let out a sigh of relief when an employee came and told her it was time for the facial.

At home, James and Thomas sat at the dining table eating their ice cream. They played with their action figures between bites of ice cream, and Scotty sat on the couch folding laundry. He didn’t realize how much clothes there were. Sometimes he forgot that it wasn’t just his and Nic’s clothes anymore; it was both of the boy’s clothes and soon onesies for Saoirse as well.

Tiny hands covered in vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup came into view as Thomas reached for the pile of clean laundry.

“Oh no you don’t,” Scotty grabbed his son and set him on the couch, away from the clean clothes. “If you get those sticky from ice cream your mum is gonna kill me.”

“I want my shirt,” Thomas whined, pointing at the blue shirt with tigers on it.

“You can put it on, but let me clean you up first,” Scotty picked him up and carried him over to the kitchen. He set Thomas on the counter before grabbing some paper towels. He ran the sink to get the paper towel wet and began to clean the ice cream off Thomas’s face and hands. “You’re as messy as your mother,” he chuckled.

Once Thomas was cleaned, Scotty threw away the paper towels and shut off the sink. Or at least tried to. The water continued to run. He fiddled with the sink handle for a minute before sighing.

“James, can you please bring my tools over here?” Scotty asked, crouching down at the cabinets. He opened it and inspected the pipes as James dragged the toolbox over into the kitchen. “Thank you, laddie.”

Scotty began to inspect the pipes to determine what the problem was. As he did this, James settled on the floor by the toolbox and watched his father. When he reached for one of his tools Scotty realized he had an audience and smiled. He happily worked on fixing the broken pipe, telling James what he was doing when the young boy asked and asking James to hand him a tool every now and again. He was pleasantly surprised when his son knew what tool he needed, and happily showed him the tools James didn’t know. Once the pipe was fixed, Scotty tested it to make sure it was in working order. Satisfied with the results, he put his tools back in their rightful place before going back to the kitchen. Thomas still sat on the counter, kicking his legs as entertainment.

“Can I wear my shirt now?” He asked his father.

Scotty chuckled and put him back on the floor. “Of course.” He went over to the laundry and grabbed the shirt. He helped Thomas change out of the ice cream stained one he had been wearing and into the clean tiger shirt. Scotty sat back on the couch to finish the laundry and Thomas lingered for a moment.

“When is mummy coming home?” Thomas asked.

“In a while. She’ll be home for dinner, I promise.” Scotty told him. As he said that, an idea came into his head. He looked between the boys. “Do you two want to help me bake a cake for her?”

At the mention of a cake both boys perked up. “Yes!” They jumped up and down excitedly.

“Alright, let’s get to it!”

About halfway through making the cake Scotty realized why Nic was the one who always baked. Yes he could cook, but baking? That was her thing. And it didn’t help that he was having to stop Thomas from trying to eat the batter every five minutes. Scotty nearly had a heart attack when he saw Thomas reaching for a raw egg. After the cake was successfully put in the oven, he agreed to play with the boys for a little. But while the cake was cooling Scotty went back to folding the laundry and the boys took their naps. He wanted to at least get the laundry done before she got home. The boys were most excited about icing the cake, and Scotty had to keep the extra icing out of their reach. The cake was covered in the white icing and had “Happy Mother’s Day” written on it in blue icing. Scotty put it in the fridge and checked the time.

“I have time to make dinner,” he mumbled to himself, getting things ready to make dinner. He knew she’d want something simple but he still wanted to spoil her, so he decided on spaghetti. He had just finished plating the food when he noticed the time. It was nearly 5:30pm.

“Boys, let’s go pick up yer mum!” He called to the boys.

He hadn’t been waiting long when Nic exited the spa. She looked much more relaxed than she had when she entered and that made Scotty smile. She stopped in front of him and grinned, reaching up to cup his face and kiss him.

“How was the appointment?” He asked, although sure he already knew the answer.

“It was amazing, thank you for that, honey,” she kissed him again. “How was everything with the boys?”

“We fended for ourselves,” he joked. “They missed you, though.”

“I’m sure they did.”

“How did our wee angel do?” He asked, putting a hand on her stomach.

“She slept the entire time. I think this has been the most relaxed I’ve been in months,” Nic told him.

“I’m glad. Now let’s get you home. The boys are excited to have you back and we have another surprise for you at home.”

Nic hummed softly at that. “Lead the way,” she said. Scotty helped her into the car and closed the door, and Nic looked at the backseat at her sons. “Hi boys, I missed you.”

“I missed you, mummy!” Thomas exclaimed, reaching out for her.

Nic put arm back so he could hold her hand. “I’m here now, baby.”

The family got home and after getting out of the car, Thomas stuck close to his mother. She smiled and pet his hair as they got into the house, the smell of dinner hit her nose. Scotty guided her to the dining table where a plate of spaghetti and garlic bread sat.

“Sweetheart, you didn’t have to make dinner. I would’ve been fine with takeout,” Nic said as she settled into the dining chair. Thomas sat beside his mother as Scotty sat across from her and James beside him.

“Like I said before: I’m spoiling you today.” He told her.

They happily ate dinner, James excitedly telling Nic how Scotty fixed the sink. And Scotty grinned, adding that James acted as his assistant. Nic was happy to listen about how their few hours without her went. Once dinner was finished, Scotty insisted on clearing the plates and cleaning them. But before Nic could push herself out of the chair, her husband came back over with two plates and a cake.

“You didn’t have to make me a cake,” she said, feeling herself begin to tear up. James and Thomas kissed either cheek and grinned.

“We wanted to!” James told her.

“I love you boys.” Nic pulled them into a hug and kissed their heads. She smiled at Scotty as he cut two slices. “I love you, Monty. Thank you.”

He smiled at her and set the plate in front of her with a fork before giving her a quick kiss. “You’re welcome, darling. Anything for you. Happy Mother’s Day.”

#engineering husband #otp: the stars between us #mywriting #scott fankids #self insert community #self insert fic #self insert #self shipping #self ship #self ship community #self shipping community

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bitchardhendricks · 4 years

Text

Well I’ve Never Been to Heaven (But I’ve Been to Oklahoma) pt 17

I know it’s been a terribly long time since I last updated - to be frank, the last couple of weeks have been almost too full to bear. Wife and I foster dogs through a local shelter, and our most recent was a hospice foster whom we had for the last 6 months (aka all of quarantine and beyond). He finally declined to the point that we had to make the call, and we said goodbye to him last weekend and honestly? I’ve been too sad to do much writing or thinking about writing, because this loss, even though it was an expected one, has left a massive hole in my heart. Unrelated, but I am now in the remote wilderness of Colorado in a cabin for Wife’s 30th birthday - essentially sheltering in place, but with a hot tub and mountain views. It finally feels a little easier to breathe and the getaway has done me a lot of good. Here’s an extra-long update of Tulsa fic for an extra-long wait. I hope you all are taking care of yourselves out there and giving yourself breaks where you can. Catch up on past entries here, and come say hi and tell me about the pets that you’ve loved.

***

When Richard opens his eyes on Saturday morning with his face smushed against his pillow he suffers a dizzying moment of time travel - he’s in his childhood bedroom wearing one of his old high school t-shirts and seeing his Ninja Turtle sleeping bags rolled up on the floor. But there’s no Big Head playing N64 at the foot of his bed, and his sheets smell like detergent and some familiar floral scent he can’t quite place, not spilled Red Bull and teen boy sweat.

He flops over onto his back and closes his eyes for a moment, breathes deeply through his nose. Hears his sister’s voice, teasing but not mean: mooning over someone, that’s what he looks like. His mother’s voice. He’s a million miles away, like always. Jared’s voice, hushed in the dark. All I wanted was to find a place that I belonged, where I was wanted. Isn’t that what Richard always wanted too? Jesus, how many nights did he spend in this room, in this bed counting down the days until he could finally fucking escape, trying with all his might to think himself away from this place. “Creation is an act of sheer will,” after all.

And what did you create, Richie?

You made a shitty music player that no one fucking wanted, and you gave away your one good idea to your competition. What does that leave you with - a great company name? Shit, if Jared hadn't seen the potential of the algorithm, you wouldn't even have a company. Jared sparked the idea for middle-out. Without him, you wouldn't have middle-out, you wouldn't be a CEO. You wouldn't have anything at all.

Maybe Jared knows what he's talking about.

***

Diane’s already awake, a coffee cup cradled in her hands at the kitchen table, when Jared carefully and quietly emerges from Richard’s bedroom and shuts the door.

“Mornin’ sugar,” she whispers and gestures for Jared to sit next to her, which he does. "I didn't expect anyone to be awake yet on a Saturday. You must be an early riser, like me. Here, sit you a spell, lemme grab you some coffee. Did you sleep well?” she asks, as she gets up to fetch him a mug of his own. This force of Diane's maternal energy continues to catch him off guard, and he reaches for an answer like a man in an unfamiliar hotel room groping for the light.

“Oh yes, they were all nightmares I’ve had before so I knew my escape routes. I feel fresh as a daisy!”

“Mm, that’s good,” she replies, sounding far away as she rummages through a cabinet and pulls out a mug, then pads over to the coffee pot to fill it. “You take cream and sugar, sweetheart?”

“Black is fine,” Jared says, and gratefully accepts the cup she offers him. It says HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY in comic sans font surrounding a faded photo of the entire Hendricks family, sometime in the mid-90s from the look of the boldly patterned oversize knit sweater on Steven and the perms sported by both Diane and Caitlyn. They’re standing in a verdant field in front of a split rail fence, Steven and Diane in the back, Caitlyn and Richard in front; Richard is a skinny, coltish boy, those auburn curls still a riot around his head, his father’s hand clapped firm over his left shoulder.

“Somethin’ wrong, sugar?” Diane asks him, and Jared startles from his reverie. He shakes his head, quickly takes a sip, “Mm, no. This is good, thank you, Diane.” He tries very hard not to think about his strange, alien presence in the warmth of this woman’s home, with her powder blue terrycloth robe and her commissioned family mugs. They sit in silence for a moment, listening to the birds chirping outside the kitchen window.

“Jared, honey, can I ask you somethin’?”

“Of course,” Jared says, caught off guard. His fingers play with the collar of his plain white t-shirt.

“Richard has always been...sensitive. He acts standoffish, but he - he takes things hard, you know? I thought he might grow out of it. He was such a sweet little boy...used to pick dandelions for me on the way home from school, almost every day. Can you believe that?”

Jared looks at the unabashed grin on 9-year-old Richard’s face, standing in a field and squinting into the sun, laughing with his family. He can believe it. “Yes,” he says, but Diane doesn’t seem to really hear him as she continues.

“But you know, high school and hormones, and my lord did that boy get moody!” She laughs a little, but it sounds sad. “I just...ever since he went off to college, I feel him slippin’ further and further away from me. Does he - well, what does he say about us, exactly? Does he ever talk about us?”

Jared’s expression must reveal more than he intended, because she nods before he can speak. “Ah. That’s what I thought.”

“But it’s not,” Jared hurries to reassure her, “I don’t think it is what you think. Richard doesn’t talk about his past really, or anything altogether personal.” Except this weekend, his mind whispers and he tries not to flush. He’s full of stories this weekend. And those long nights in the garage, in the bathtub, in bathrooms of VC offices; all those fears, all those anxieties. It feels so terribly personal, but listen to what his own mother is telling you and give up all those fantasies that it could be anything else - it’s just business, Donald. He rushes on, “You have to understand, Diane, the tremendous pressure he’s under. There’s not really time or, or room for - “ but he falters, unsure how to proceed when he doesn’t really believe what he’s saying.

“Oh I know, he’s busy, always so busy. Off being a big shot CEO, I get it. I just wish...” she shakes her head, looks down into her coffee mug.

“I know you must miss him terribly,” Jared says, grimly picturing the ragged hole in his chest that would remain if Richard ever left him behind.

“Sometimes I wonder if...does he hate me, Jared? Is that why he won’t come home?”

“Oh gosh in heaven, no!” Heedless of houseguest decorum, he places one of his hands over her smaller one on the table and squeezes in an attempt to comfort her. Her only crime is loving Richard too much, an infraction he is all too familiar with. He can’t help but offer her a balm to soothe, even if it’s not his place. “He misses you, and he loves you. I think...I think Richard is someone who tends to live inside himself a great deal, and doesn’t always pay attention to the effect he can have on other people.” Jared can feel his ears pinking, but he soldiers on. “He’s like a shark, always moving forward, never pausing to rest because he has to attack the next problem and the next. And while that means he can stay focused on creating wonderful things, it also means he doesn’t always notice the little remoras swimming around him, taking care of him so that he can keep on swimming and avoid deadly parasitic infections.”

Diane looks at Jared, her face drawn and tight, an expression so like her son’s face when he’s working out a problem. Her eyes search his, and for a moment, Jared has the terrible urge to shrink before her, a child under scrutiny. “And is there someone,” her voice falters, “takin’ care of him?”

He’s caught, his heart thrumming like a rabbit’s in a snare, but he’s helpless against those wild blue eyes, and he nods.

“And is he happy?” She has turned her hand so that her fingers are now clutching at Jared’s, feverish. A woman holding onto a lifeline.

Jared wants to say yes, wants to say it’s terrifying and exhausting and every day is an uphill climb but we are building something magical together and he wants to say I am doing everything I can to make him happy because he said no to Gavin’s money and I didn’t know people could do that. What he actually says is, “I - I want him to be.”

She searches his face, her expression unreadable, then releases Jared’s hand immediately as Caitlyn pads down the hallway in an oversized OKC Thunder t-shirt and plaid sleep pants, yawning loudly. “Hey, mama, did you make coffee?”

#silicon valley hbo #sv squad #jarrich #jarrich fic #jared dunn #richard hendricks #sv fic #my sv fic #Well I've never been to Heaven

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damfinofanfiction · 3 years

Text

Chapter 8: To the East and The Gold Rush

Waking up in New York City was nothing new for the former Vaudeville performer. Buster was accustomed to whichever time zone he was in. He had gone to the east coast for a business trip/vacation with his wife Natalie and they’re staying at the Biltmore Hotel. The couple had attended the premiere of Seven Chances at the Capital theater. They were accompanied by people more favorable to Keaton such as his father Joe, a friend from childhood, Lex Neal, and Nick Schenck, a brother of his boss Joseph. Knowing that the missus missed their children and her sisters dearly, he held her hand the entire event. The screening had a good reception. Keaton was glad that the movie was well-received, although he remained resentful. Natalie was grateful for his presence, but nothing had changed as they still sleep in different bedrooms based on her insistence. After a few busy days, the real vacation began. Now he will be spending a day with his better half.

Once out of bed, Buster puts on his robe and went to the sitting area of their suite to call room service. He saw that Natalie was already awake and sitting frantically on the couch, he said to her, "Good morning Nate."

The missus stopped what she was doing and replied calmly, "Oh Morning."

Her fingers tapped on her knee as she appeared agitated. Buster had not seen her in this state in a while. Natalie was staring at the door and he shot his eyes at it, "Are you waiting for the letter?”

She quivered when she said, “I haven’t heard from mother yet.” Peg was watching the Keaton boys back in California.

He sat next to her and reassured her, "The boys are gonna be alright. We've only been gone since last Friday."

The tears started to form in her eyes, “This is the furthest I have been from our sons. Robert started babbling.” She wrapped her arms around herself, “What if he says his first word and I won’t be there to witness it?”

Buster patted on her shoulder, “I don’t think that would be likely.” He added, “I’m sure Bobby won’t say a thing until he sees his ma again.” To his surprise, Natalie hugged him in gratitude. Buster hugged her back until she broke the embrace to dry her tears. He went to the phone saying, “I’ll order us breakfast.”

That noon Buster and Natalie had lunch with the folks that went with them in addition to the Governor of New York. Joe Keaton shared stories of performing shows as The Three Keatons, dealing with wife Myra’s absences due to maternity leave, getting in trouble with The Gerry Society, and the times they fled out of burning Buildings. The couple spent the day together except when Natalie went out to buy gifts for the boys while Buster was catching up with Lex and discussing the latest film project. When he returned to their suite the middle Talmadge was already there, rounding out the toys and the clothes. He was going to ask her how much she spent on them, but he didn’t want to start another argument.

She was in a cheery mood, “Got that letter back from mother. The boys are doing fine, they missed me. Dutch came over to cheer them up. She took them to the park for fun.”

Keaton hid his hands in his pockets, “Did that letter said anything about me? Did the boys miss me too?”

Natalie pulled a toy giraffe out of the bag, “It didn’t say anything about you. She usually didn’t acknowledge you in letters. I’m sure the boys miss you too. I can't wait to see their faces when they see what I got them."

What she said of the boys missing their father, Buster knew it might not be true. He wished to be a father, but had little time to spend with them because he was so busy at work. His fear arises with the thought of Natalie divorcing him and taking the sons away. He had to win her over to keep the family together. He asked her, “Nate, do you remember Coney Island?”

Natalie frowned upon taking a trip to memory lane, while neatly folding the boy’s overalls, “Why yes, it wasn’t long after Arbuckle made a short there. You took me because you wanted to include me and I obliged. You got us cotton candy to share, we rode on the carousel, and that one coaster you were begging me to ride along.”

Buster added with a narrow smile, “You were so scared that I held your hand the entire time.” he apologized for taking her to the coaster in the first place.

She concluded, “Then we finished the day with the Ferris wheel where we saw the bright spectacle and you pecked me on that cabin. It was a nice date.”

He sat gingerly on the bed, “I would be happy to take you to coney island again, but back then nobody could recognize me when I’m not with my folks, and then Roscoe and now if anyone took notice of me, that whole place would crumble.”

She looked at him, “If you weren’t able to take me, why bring this up?”

He took her hands, “We were both very happy. I missed the days when you were in love with me. The same woman who proposed to me from another coast. I know the old Natalie is still there when you hugged me this morning.”

She took her hands off him to cross her arms, “That was only because I missed our boys.”

He put his hands behind him, “I missed them too. I can’t imagine life without all of you. I will take back the times I was unfaithful to you.”

“Buster, I don’t care if you embrace another woman behind my back. Please don't entice me to be in bed with you again.” She pointed him out of the door, “Please let me be alone to change for dinner.” Natalie closed the door behind him after leaving her room.

Buster was puzzled about the unusual pairings in his life; his parents, Joe and Myra, Norma and Schenck, and Natalie and himself. None of them shared the same age group except for the latter. He wished that his wife wasn’t a strict catholic so she could be comfortable with taking contraceptives and not worry about getting pregnant again and he wouldn’t have to cheat on her. But that’s the way it has to be. If he failed to win back his beloved, there are still less than 3 weeks of vacation to go.

****************

The hopes of Gail being a screen actress were dashed when production was delayed after Sennett comedian Ben Turpin backed out of the upcoming project due to personal matters. Gail wanted to take his place, but was unable to due to a lack of a contract. Though Sennett knew she wanted prominent roles, he was unable to fill them because too many actresses sought her out. But instead, he had heard his former employee Charlie Chaplin just returned from filming in Truckee to film more scenes in his studio and is seeking extras. So he recommended she find work in Chaplin's upcoming film The Gold Rush, and Gail was fine with it just to gain film experience.

There at the Charlie Chaplin Studio, Gail is in the dance hall scene where Chaplin’s Tramp character dances with his love interest. She was busy dancing with a partner to watch the toothbrush-mustached comedian, but caught the part where he was tied to a dog and it chases the cat. She could laugh at this gag, but didn’t want to ruin a good take. The chestnut-haired woman across the hall seemed familiar. Gail didn't think she’s a famous actress. It must be on a tip of her tongue. Then the realization struck her, that was the same woman who was next to her onset of the seven chances. Their time between scenes was too busy to get them to chat. When everyone gets their lunch break, she located the woman eating with the other female extras in the studio courtyard.

Gail sat at the same table as them, “Hi you remember me?”

The woman paused figuring out, “Oh goodness, we were extras in seven chances. Sorry we didn’t get to be properly introduced.” The woman extended her hand, “My name is Eliza Smith.”

“I’m Gail Anders.” She shook it in greeting, “It’s good to see you again and I never got to thank you for saving me from the ridicule.”

“Don’t mention it. We actresses had to stick together.”

Gail and Eliza were talking while having meatloaf and salad. Their discussion consists of their start on careers, Gail’s experiences as a bathing beauty, Eliza’s acting resume, their celebrity encounters, and then the subject fell to celebrity crushes.

"For me, it's Charlie Chaplin of course. I have a crush on him since I was barely a woman. Hell, if I was a virgin, I'd have saved it for him. Are you a virgin, Gail?”

Gail almost choked on her food being asked that. She replied with a blush, “That’s a very personal question to ask.”

“That’s alright if you don't have to answer.” She raised her eyebrow leaning towards the raven-haired woman. “But tell me this is Buster Keaton the cat’s meow?”, When Gail couldn’t understand, Eliza rephrased, “Do you have a crush on Keaton?”

Gail's eyes were looking both ways as she drank her cup of water to try to avoid the touchy subject, but Eliza noticed the signs. “Please It’s all in your face. Your gaze was fixated on the stone face as if he was the king of England.” She chuckled, “It helped when you “pretended to faint” in front of him.”

Giving in, Gail confessed of the time she started seeing Buster in the Arbuckle films. She thought he seemed charming and took interest in watching his films because of his fascinating past, then when she heard the news of his wedding, she was a bit let down, but was happy for him and then she talked about her two other encounters with Keaton. In conclusion, She asked, “Is it wrong to have a crush on a married man?”

Eliza dropped a bombshell, “Chaplin wasn't married when we dated.” Gail’s eyes widen and her jaw dropped hearing this “Really?!”

Eliza with a coy smile, whispered to her to avoid having others hear her “I met Chaplin when I started working in California. I took a job here as a part-time receptionist, but when he noticed me, He then hired me as an extra for his previous film, The Pilgrim. After production ended, we started a relationship. Spent countless nights with him,” she then frowned when she continued, “Then we broke up when he was seeing another woman, and another and another and another. But he did come back to me only for one-night stands and one of them happened while he’s married. Last I heard, if it's true, he has feelings for his leading lady."

She covered her face with her hand, trying to comprehend what happened, "Why are men so unfaithful to their wives?"

“Gail,” Eliza explained, “Men and women in Hollywood have unhappy marriages and have taken lovers. If Buster is one of them, you might have a chance.”

Gail stated, “But I have a boyfriend, I think I still do. And besides, I can’t see myself dating a married man.” Adding a final thought, “I would rather wait until he’s divorced.”

"True, but then where is the fun?” Before they finished eating Eliza looked Gail right in the eye and said, “I would recommend keeping this a secret. God knows what would happen to dear Chaplin if word got out.”

Gail returned to Lenore’s around 6 in the evening. Going inside she was surprised to see a finely dressed man talking with Sally and Lenore at the dining table. Upon noticing Gail’s presence, Lenore called, appearing to break away from her niece’s latest paramour, “Welcome home! We saved you fried cauliflower and turkey.”

The man said in his British accent told Sally, “I didn’t know you have a sister.”

The blonde chuckled, “She isn’t, this is my friend Gail Anders. I took her in when she moved from Nevada.”

The man stood up and bowed in greeting, “Sterling Thomas, my pleasure.”

As they shook hands, Gail said, “That accent, you must be British.”

“Yes, Edinburgh very nice place.” Sterling’s dark hair was slicked back.

Lenore brought over her meal, “Gail just came home from work and you should be leaving too, sir.” This prompted Sterling to grab his hat and approached to the front door despite Sally’s protests for him to stay a little longer

He replied, "We can meet again. I'm here quite a while." She kisses him before watching him leave.

As Gail started eating, silence went on between aunt and niece. She later broke it when asking Sally, “How did you two meet?”

“Both of us were in New York City. I went to a nightclub and he was there. Same story, different ending.”

“How did you find each other?”

Lenore added while crossing her arms, “I presume one of your nightly outings?”

Sally glared at her, "Well Auntie, we met somewhere, and I never felt lucky to bump into him again."

“How is Mr. Thomas any different from your last boyfriends?”

“He happens to be rich.”

The aunt gave her a sarcastic look, “Oh, so now you're a gold digger?”

Sally stood up fumed, “How is that any different from you and Uncle Stanley?”

Lenore stood up in retaliation, “Don’t you bring my Stanley-”

Gail also stood up to soothe this out, “Could you not fight? I had a long day.” Sally and Lenore agreed and the table fell into silence for the whole dinner.

After all that was going on around her, Gail would end the day by kindling herself to a good book. After losing interest in the middle of chapter four she switched to another book. It was a journal about her interest in Buster Keaton. She would write down about the movies she had seen and clipped off the news article featuring a movie review of his and just news about him. Gail turned to a page in which the subject was Our hospitality. A news article glued there featured a picture of Buster and Natalie both wearing pork pie hats for a publicity photo. It was interesting to see husband and wife on the screen together, but now it was bittersweet knowing that buster is probably cheating on his wife. If it was truly something that must be wrong between the two.

The next afternoon, Gail was making herself useful in the Sennett studio, modeling the swimsuits for the other bathing beauties. A crewmember notified her of a call from her residence. Gail answered the phone, the voice at the other end was Lenore.

“The telegram came from your mother.”

Gail has already known what was happening around her family; her sister Geraldine is having twins and her father is due to retire from ranch work. Judging from the woman’s sorrowful tone in her voice, it must be bad news.

“It’s your grandmother, she died in her sleep.”

Devastated, She covered her mouth as her tears began to form and a similar lump grew in her throat. Her whole body shook with the realization that the woman who got her to California is gone.

Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin around 1918

#buster keaton fandom #Buster Keaton #actor RPF #rpf fanfic #silent comedy #fanfiction #buster keaton fanfiction

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yanderewhims · 4 years

Note

ohhhh this blog seems interesting! So I have a good idea for Hakubabe! So yandere!hakuryuu has a fem!so during the civil war (either his wife, or lover it doesn't matter) and she finds out she's pregnant with his baby, but since he had fallen in depravity and was being all dark, she felt like it wasn't a safe enviroment to have her child in so she tries to run away- then maybe Judal is able to sense it and tells Hakuryuu, so he ends up catching her? HCS/ or scenario is fine!

Judar you fucking snitch

this was so much fun to write guys, omg

tw: yandere, abuse, implied non-con, manipulation, abusive relationships

word count: 2.9k

The halls of the palace were dark— with only the dim light of the oil lantern she held in her hand to guide her way, [Name] keeps her footsteps as quiet as possible, careful not to make a sound. She didn’t want to alert the guards that patrolled the area at night. If they caught her outside of ‘her’ chambers at night again—well, his chambers, though he had tried many times to insist that it was their chambers now, ever since they had been married—and reported back to the emperor…she knew her ‘beloved’ husband would be far from pleased.

And the punishment she would receive would not be pleasant at all.

She knew she was taking a huge risk— attempting to escape from him again, trying to free herself from his suffocating, possessive grip—but she had to get out of there. Because this time, it wasn’t about her sanity or life being on the line.

It was about the new life that was growing inside of her.

When she first found out she was carrying the newly crowned fourth emperor’s child, she had cried. She had cried and cried until there were no tears left; as soon as the words left the magician’s mouth, she had dismissed her maids from the room with after making them swear not to tell not one soul — especially the emperor— any word of what was discovered, wanting, needing so desperately to be alone. She had spent time pacing around, sobbing and nearly pulling her hair from her scalp, trying to place her thoughts together in her moment of panic.

No. Nononononono—this wasn’t supposed to happen, it had to be some grave mistake, she had thought. She couldn’t be pregnant–not now, not with his child! She couldn’t be, she couldn’t do this…

Not after what he had done to her.

Though their wedding had been a grand and spontaneous ceremony, with her being forced to wear the mask of a dutiful, loving and happy bride, on the inside she was anything but that. She wanted to run far, far away from Kou, away from this war, away from him and his depravity, and have a taste of the freedom and she had been denied. And she was going to do so that night, when all was said and done.

But he had other plans.

That night, just as she was plotting her escape after freeing herself from her ceremonial wedding robes, he had called for her to come to his chambers, not to wish her goodnight and sweet dreams— but to consummate their marriage.

And what kind of wife would she be if she denied her husband and king his husbandly rights?

A terrible one, for sure— but it’s not like she cared about that, none of this had been her choice anyway.

She had refused him; that had been her first mistake.

Because no matter how much she refused, how many times she said ‘no’, he didn’t listen. No matter how she pleaded and begged him not to do what he had done, he still took what he wanted anyways.

Even though he had been gentle, even though he repeatedly told her how much he 'loved’ her, it didn’t make things less horrific for her. She knew this wasn’t out of love, but out of his sick desire to claim her as his own. And now she was truly his, not just in name, but in body as well.

She had felt disgusted with herself and at that point she knew, she had to escape him, no matter what. It had all been too much; at first the possessiveness, the need he had for her to always be by his side at all times, the jealousy, the refusal to allow her near any other man he saw as a threat, how the guard she had befriended mysteriously ended up missing only to be found dead days later, and now this— she had to leave.

Of course all attempts to escape had ended up in failure, with him catching her and dragging her back to Kou kicking and screaming, where he would deliver harsh punishment that was sure to keep her in check.

She had began to grow tired, with each failure. The deeper he fell into madness and depravity, the more her spirit became broken, the will slowly drained from her. This was her fate, to be stuck within the smothering grasp of Hakuryuu Ren. And she began to accept it…that is, until she discovered she was with child.

For some odd reason, be it cruel irony, immediately, despite the way he had been conceived, she had begun to love her child, already forming that maternal instinct to protect him. And because of that, it had led to her where she currently was that moment—on her way to leave Kou for good.

She could not bring a child into such a broken country, torn by violence and war. Hakuryuu had split the country into two the moment he killed Ren Gyokuen and demanded the head of Ren Kouen, and with that depraved fallen magi at his side, the situation was bound to worsen.

Her child deserved better—he deserved to grow up happy and safe under a stable home, without the fear of war and terror. And she would do what she had to do in order to give that life to him.

Even if it meant risking her life, going against her mad husband.

And this time, nothing would stop her. Nothing at all—

“Well,well, look who’s out wandering about so late! Does Hakuryuu know that his precious wife is out of her room without his permission again?” The moment the sly, taunting voice reached her ears, [name] felt irritation trickle at her insides, inwardly cursing. Why? Why of all people did it have to be him? At this very moment?

Taking a deep breath, the empress slowly turns to face the dark magi, who stood in the dark of the halls, toned arms on his slender hips, staring down at her with a wicked smirk across his face.

“Judar,” she spoke coldly, not bothering to hide her disdain for the man. “To whom do I owe the displeasure?”

Faking a dramatic gasp, the magi places a hand on his chest, mockingly looking offended. “Well, that’s not very nice of you to speak to me that way! Most people would be honored to be in my presence! And I came over here to see you after all!”

“If you came for the purpose of pestering me, then I’m afraid your presence is not wanted at all.”

“How rude! Honestly, I just don’t understand why Hakuryuu is so obsessed with you. Well… perhaps I can understand one thing.” At that comment, he shamelessly eyes her form up and down with a rather perverse grin, and [name] can’t hide the look of utter disgust that crosses her face.

"Anyways, I’m bored. And since our beloved emperor is just too busy with all that emperor bullshit, I decided I’d pay my favorite little empress a visit! It’s not like you’d be busy or anything. I mean, Hakuryuu never lets you out your room without his supervision anyways!“ He lets out a cackle, a sound sickening to her stomach. “And that’s when I noticed you weren’t in your room…” He trailed off.

He steps closer, suspicion apparent in his crimson gaze. “Now—what are you doing out so late? Trying to escape again? Are you that dumb or have you not learned your lesson from the last time you tried?”

His question didn’t come out of a place of concern or even curiosity, no, not Judar. Being the twisted individual he is and enjoying other people’s suffering, he did it out of a place of amusement. He was fully aware of what Hakuryuu had done to her in the past, of what he would do to her should he catch her trying to escape him again, knowing of the pain he would cause her.

And it made him gleeful.

She tries to keep her stare steady, because she can’t lose her resolve now, not when she’s so close. “I am simply going out for fresh air in the gardens, not that it is any of your concern.”

“Dressed like that? With a bag?“

Shit. She hadn’t done a very good job of making it less obvious, with the satchel she had packed full of money and extra clothes showing through her dark cloak. But she had to make haste and get out of the palace and quickly as possible. She didn’t pay that detail to mind, and now it would possibly jeopardize her plan.

"Is there a certain way an empress must dress for a simple walk in the garden?”

“There is if she wants to make what she’s planning to do less obvious, idiot.” Judar began to laugh, and if it got any louder he would wake the entirety of Rakushou. “Ah, so you are trying to run away again, ahahaha! You really are fucking dumb! Oh, that’s just rich! Wait til’ I tell Hakuryuu, boy is he gonna be pis—” He suddenly paused as if something had hit him. Narrowing his eyes, Judar tilts his head, closely observing the shaking woman as if he had noticed something odd.

“Huh…the rukh around you is acting really strange for some reason …”

It’s only a few seconds of silence before he speaks again, but to the ever anxious [name], who wanted nothing more than to turn and run straight to the palace doors and out, it’s a long, grueling eternity.

“No way…” his eyes widened with shock, mouth dropping open. “...you’re pregnant? With Hakuryuu’s brat?"

Nonononononono—

Her heart pounding with fear, tears forming in her eyes. Filled with nothing but terror, the empress backs away slowly as the magi’s shocked expression morphs into that of glee.

"Holy shit, you are pregnant! And you were also trying to escape with Hakuryuu’s kid! Ha!” Adrenaline suddenly overtakes her as she suddenly turns and takes off running down the hall as fast her feet will allow her, trying to shut out the sound of Judar’s maniacal laughter from behind her. “Man, he is going to be so pissed! He might actually kill you this time! HEY HAKURYUU, YOU’LL NEVER GUESS WHAT I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT YOUR PRECIOUS WIFE— ”

She doesn’t pay mind to that, and she doesn’t pay mind the servants and guards who cry out in alarm as their empress rushes past them. The doors are right there, so close and in her reach, just a few steps and she—

The fresh air hits her like a wave crashing against the sandy shore. It’s freezing cold, but it feels so good! And as much as she wishes she could sit there and enjoy the night breeze and take in the sight of the beautiful outside world, she didn’t have the time for that.

Rushing to the horse stables [name] mounts her tall, white horse that Hakuryuu had gifted her as a wedding present, and quickly orders it to gallop away, leading it into the deep forests of Kou, becoming masked by the tall trees to where it was difficult for the soldiers that were running after her to keep sight of their empress.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been hours since her escape, and as exhausted, hungry, and anxious as she was, [name] had never felt so relieved in her life.

She was free! Her plan had actually worked for the most part; her last attempt, she didn’t even make it to the outside of the capital before Hakuryuu caught her and dragged her back. But by now, she was far from the capital and had just made it off the border of Kou— where she was going, she wasn’t quite sure, but did know she was going to a place for from the hell that she had been forced to call 'home’. She would find a better one, a new home for her child so she could raise him peacefully.

She pondered her options as she roasted raw meat over a fire she had built. Maybe she could find and meet up with Aladdin and the others and travel with them again? She hadn’t seen them in so long, she had missed them all quite a bit. Or maybe she can go to Sindria and raise her baby there… It was a prosperous and peaceful country, always jolly and never ravaged by any war. It was the perfect place to live and finally be happy, and she would never have to—

A sudden rustling of the trees around the area she rested startled her from her thoughts.

Holding her breath, she scanned the area around, looking for the source of that noise. The forest was rather vacant, she had not seen any type of animal in sight, save for a few squirrels running about, here and there. But squirrels couldn’t have made a noise like that.

Maybe it was just the wind?

Swallowing the bit of anxiety that had stirred, she turns her attention back on her task, but another rustling sound, this one much closer. Then another. And another.

Then, the echo of a familiar, galloping sound. Horses. The crunching of leaves and twigs.

Footsteps.

“I see smoke over there! Scout the area!”

Her heart drops in her stomach, and soon she’s scrambling up to put out the fire and gathering her items as quick as possible, nearly stumbling as she hops on the horse and quietly orders it to move, softly treading the opposite direction of the forest to where they couldn’t hear her.

No. They couldn’t possibly have— he couldn’t possibly have found her already. Not when she had gotten so far, so free. She knew her husband was most likely aware of her escape and the fact that she was carrying his child by now and hot on her trail, but he couldn’t have caught up to her exact location so fast, right?

When she was further away out of sight, she ordered her horse to move faster. Faster and faster until she was zooming pass the trees at a speed that was probably too much for the poor thing, the site behind her as she made her way towards the exit of the forest. Close. She was so close, she couldn’t give up now.

Not when she was so close to freedom.

The horse suddenly began to stop, its quick galloping becoming slow steps, causing [name] great panic. Please, let the gods be on her side this one time!

“No, no, buddy, don’t stop please. You must keep going, we must keep going!” She does her best to gently encourage the animal, unable to keep the tremor from showing in her voice. “Come on, we’re almost there! Keep going, please keep going!”

But the horse lets out a whine, and comes to a halt, it’s strong legs collapsing beneath itself as it falls to the ground from exhaustion, taking her with it.

[name] wanted to scream.

But she couldn’t unless she wanted to give herself away— there was still time to escape! She just had to travel on foot now, and sadly leave the horse behind. It would be fine.

Yet… had she paid close attention, she would have noticed the thick green vines come to life around the horse, wrapping themselves around him tightly, she would have known to give up by then, as it was now fruitless.

'I’m not going to give up.’ She repeated the words of encouragement to herself as she stood up, brushing herself off. ’I’m not going to give up.'

'I’m not going to give up.’

“I’m not going to give-” She turned around, ready to make a run for it, only for a clawed hand to grip her arm tightly and roughly turn her around to where she was met with cold, angry crimson eyes.

She didn’t even have time to react before her world went dark.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Cold.

That was the first thing she noticed when she had awoken, was not just the feeling of the ice, cold room she was in, but the feeling of something cold and hard pressed against her skin.

Where was she? Had she escaped?

Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she attempts to sit up to stretch, but finds herself unable to move— and that’s when she realizes just what that cold and hard feeling was.

Chains.

Heavy, metal chains that were secured tightly around her wrists and ankles, restraining her to the wall of the dimly lit room, preventing any form of escape.

"Ah, so you’ve finally awaken, my love.”

No.

Immediately, she begins to struggle, squirming, crying out and pulling at the chains attempting to break free, but no luck. She keeps her gaze on the ground, refusing to look up at him as his footsteps come closer and closer until they come to a stop. He knelt down to her level, his cold, pale hands reaching under her chin and cupping it, lifting it and forcing her to meet his mismatched blue eyes.

“Struggling will only make it worse, dearest. You don’t want to tire yourself out anymore, do you? After all, we’ve had quite the long trip back.” Though Hakuryuu’s voice held warmth, and his handsome face painted with a soft smile, his eyes told a different story.

It was as if they were pure ice, sending chills down her spine, and beneath that ice was a pure, boiling fury that had not yet reached the surface. She could only imagine what her punishment would be this time— would he hurt her in that way again? Whipping? Torture?

There was no way out of this now. She really was trapped with him, forever.

But why? Why wouldn’t he let her go? Why was he so intent on keeping her here with him? What was so special about her that he wanted only her?

After a long period of silence, Hakuryuu finally spoke, lowly, calmly. “You know, dearest…I hate that we’ve even had to come to this. And you were behaving so well, too. ” He toys with a strand of her unruly hair, twirling it around his finger. She swallows, bracing herself for whatever came next. “…You had finally stopped fighting me, you didn’t try to escape anymore…I thought you were finally beginning to return my love. That you were finally happy with me.”

He stands up and slowly walks over to the corner of the room where she can’t quite see, a place not lit by the oil lantern that hung near the entrance. Her breath was stuck in her throat and her heart pounded wildly against her chest. She had no idea at all what he had in store for her, but she knew this would not end up well for her.

“And just as I was beginning to trust you enough to allow you your freedom, you go and do this.” Now, she could hear the rage in his voice, and it frightened her to the point of tears, already was she beginning to regret her reckless decision. She had been so stupid. “Not only did you try to escape, yet again—” he appears from the shadows, and fear blossoms throughout her body as she notices his metal vessel which he tightly gripped in his hand.

“—but you did so knowing that you were carrying a child—my child.” He was talking through gritted teeth, as if trying to keep his anger down. His other fist was clenched so tightly that blood began to drip down onto the floor.

“Hakuryu—”

“Shut up!” His voice thundered throughout the room, and immediately she did so, not wanting to anger him even further. “ I don’t want to hear your excuses! After all I have done for you—I take care of you, I give you everything your heart desires, I do all I can do to make you happy—and this is how you repay me?”

Tears are falling down her face, shrinking away from his rage, wanting to curl up into a little ball as if she were a small child. “I’m sorry,” she chokes on her sobs, staring up at him through moist eyes. “I’m sorry, Hakuryuu. I promise I won’t try to escape again.”

“I know you won’t.” She jumps when she feels his hand running through her hair, a sickeningly sweet smile on his face, as if the tantrum he just threw never happened. “Because I have a way to ensure that you will stay by my side…no matter what.” With that, the symbol on his weapons begin to glow.

That could only mean one thing.

“No,” she begins to thrash around in her chains, attempting to get away from him. “No, Hakuryuu, please. Please not this, anything but this!”

“I’m sorry, dearest,” he wipes away her tears with his thumb and easily halts her futile attempt to escape. “ You know I hate having to hurt you…but this is the only way I can assure that you never run away from me again.”

He points the blade of his weapon against her head, and she continues to struggle with all the strength she had, until her struggles slowly came to a stop as she fell into unconsciousness.

He catches her in his arms, cradling her form, leaning and pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead, placing a hand on her stomach—where his child grew. “It is the only way that I can make sure you stay with me...forever.”

~~~~~~

Paperwork had to be Hakuryuu’s least favorite part about being emperor. Everyday he would come into his office and sigh at the seemingly endless stack of papers that lay on his desk, awaiting his signature.

He was halfway through the stack when a sudden knock on his door came. “Enter!”

He looked up to see who interrupted his work, only to smile at the sight of his beautiful wife, who came in carrying a tray of tea and cakes. “Hello love,” she smiled and walked forward, placing the tray down before walking around the desk and placing a kiss on his cheek. “You’ve been working so hard today, I figured you could use a snack. I hope you don’t mind me bothering you.”

Smiling, Hakuryuu reached for her and pulled her into his lap, placing a kiss on her shoulder as she giggled, a sound music to his ears. “Do not worry about it, dearest. You know you could never bother me.” He places a hand on the swell of her swollen belly, growing bigger and bigger with his child each passing day, before pulling her into a kiss.

It breaks after a few seconds, and he pulls away, looking lovingly into her beautiful eyes—her beautiful, vacant eyes— as he grabs a cake off the tray and brings it close to her mouth, and she eagerly takes a bite.

This was one of the things he enjoyed most about his days—his beloved wife to coming to visit him after a long day, carrying a plate of treats and spending time with him. No meetings, no bothersome magi interrupting them, just the two of them together.

He takes a bite out of the cake she had offered to him, running a hand through her long [h/c] locks, mindful of the claw-root that sprouted from her temple.

fin.

#yandere #tw yandere #yandere x reader #yandere oneshot #yandere imagines #yandere magi #yandere hakuryuu x reader #yandere tw

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lynelovespopculture · 4 years

Text

THE CHILLING ADVENTURES OF ZELDA CHAPTER 8-STORM’S BREWING PAY ME IN COMMENTS!!!!!!

CHAPTER 8-STORM’S BREWING

FAUSTUS IS HAUNTED BY 3 GHOSTS WHILE ZELDA WORRIED THAT HE’S FALLEN BACK ON OLD HABITS. THEN GREENDALE IS ROCKED BY A STORM. BY DAWN NOTHING WILL EVER BE THE SAME AGAIN!!!

“I’m so embarrassed.”

Faustus couldn’t help but smile. “Please stop. You have nothing, I repeat, nothing to feel embarrassed about. I mean, you’re not the 1st woman to go into false labor.”

Zelda sighed as she put on her robe. “I’m supposed to be the finest midwife our coven has ever seen but I can’t even tell the difference between real and false labor? Plus, I ruined your wonderful surprise.”

Not even 2 hours before, Zelda and Faustus were deep in the wood, surrounded by family, enjoying the romantic vow renewal Faustus had surprised her with. However, any romantic thoughts turned to panic when Zelda doubled over in pain and announced that she and Faustus’s unborn child was about to make an appearance. Quick as lightning, the family got Zelda home, undressed her, and got her into bed. Hilda checked her sister over and all seemed to be going well but 45 minutes later, Zelda’s contractions had stopped…completely. They waited 15 more minutes before officially declaring it false labor.

“Will you stop it?” Faustus asked after hearing about his wife’s embarrassment. “Yes, you are the finest midwife our coven has ever seen but you have never been pregnant before and you didn’t ruin anything. You have my ring on your finger and I have your name. I call that a win-win. I guess we were never meant to have a reception.”

Zelda laughed out loud and Faustus kissed her smile.

“But that doesn’t we can’t still have our cake,” Faustus continued, “I’m sure Hilda packed it up before she left.”

Zelda knew that she shouldn’t be excited over the mere idea of cake, but damn it, she was! “Cake? Is it?”

Faustus raised an eyebrow. “Chocolate? Why of course, my dearest! Your sister and I have both noticed you craving chocolate like crazy lately. So, why don’t you lay back and relax and I’ll be right back.” Faustus kissed Zelda again and headed down to the kitchen and got the cake, forks, plates, 2 glasses of milk, and some whipped cream. As Faustus gathered up all these items, he saw a shadow pass by him, and then he heard something behind him, close behind him.

Faustus whirled around. “Who’s there?” He looked around the darkened kitchen only to find himself completely alone. Then the sounds were coming from the side. “Sabrina? Ambrose?” Faustus left the kitchen and went into the greenhouse. He looked all around yet still found nothing and no one in the room. The noise started again but he sighed when he found the noise was just a tree branch tapping on a window.

He chuckled. “I swear, Faustus, you’re acting more and more like a mortal every day.” He shook his head, returned to the kitchen, put everything on a tray, and went upstairs to a waiting Zelda.

They were enjoying their cake in bed when Faustus said, “Dearest, this I want to discuss something with you.”

“Of course, darling.”

“Now that we had our 2nd wedding perhaps this is the time to talk about our 2nd honeymoon,” Faustus suggested with a smile.

Zelda swallowed a piece of cake before saying, “That’s sweet, Faustus, truly darling, but I’m in no condition to go anywhere at the moment.” She smiled, patting her bump happily.

“You’re right, of course. However, I didn’t mean now. I meant later, after our child’s birth, and we could bring the baby with us, just like last year when we brought…Judas…with us.” Faustus sighed; his voice was a little sad when he spoke of his son.

Zelda sought to distract him. “When you put it that way, a 2nd honeymoon sounds lovely. Where should we go? To the mountains or to the sea? Where a good place to go in springtime? London, of course, or oh, how about Paris? Or”

“Rome?” Faustus suggested shortly.

Zelda was tempted to lower her eyes but kept them firmly on her husband and her voice even. “Rome? Why Rome? We don’t have to do everything like last year.”

Faustus nodded. “I know but the witches’ council is in Rome. Thinking of it as a working 2nd honeymoon.”

Zelda was puzzled. “I don’t understand, Faustus. This is the 1st time you’ve spoken of having business with the council.”

He shook his head. “No, not me, you. It’s time, Zelda.”

His wife was completely lost. “Time? Time for what?”

“The order of Hecate has been doing well these many months and grows stronger each day with you as its leader. Yet, we both know that it won’t be taken seriously as a religion until it is approved by the council and we still need to ordain you as high priestess.”

Zelda got a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that had nothing to do with the babe inside her. “The council, well the council is going to be tricky because they’re completely in the dark. They still think that we’re the church of night and that you’re still in charge.”

“How can that be?”

“Last year, just as we reopened the academy, they came visiting. Well, Hilda and I panicked! We had yet to tell the schoolchildren or the coven, let alone the council! So, we came up with a plan. I, of course, played my official role as Lady Blackwood, while Hilda used a glamour to fool them into believing she was you.”

“Hilda was posing as me?” Faustus’s eyebrow rose and a laugh escaped his lips. “I wish I’ve been there to see it.”

Zelda broke down and laughed too. “It was pretty funny, actually. Anyway, the council went away thinking everything was business as usual.”

“But it isn’t business as usual, Zelda.” Faustus pointed out. “The coven is not in the church of night and I’m no longer a high priest. Zelda, my dearest, you are ready. I keep thinking of how well you spoke at Hilda’s wedding and how well you handle that crowd. You deserved to be recognized for all your hard work.”

Zelda smiled at her husband. “It’s a lovely dream, Faustus, and I’m so happy you think so highly of me but you and both know it’s only that, a dream. You and I both know that the witches council had never recognized a high priestess in the history of time.”

Faustus considered this. “They say there is a 1st time for everything and I can think of no witch more worthy than you, Zelda Phiona Spellman.”

Zelda simply looked at him. “Why do you believe in me so much?”

“Easiest question I’ve been asked all day. It’s because I love you but I’ve seen a woman, no, scratch that, anyone so strong. Faith and powers destroyed? Find new ones. Mad husband cursed? Move hell and earth to find a cure. Beloved niece becomes queen of hell? Team up with Elizabeth I. Nothing ever stops you, Zelda, or even slows you down, for that matter.”

“But Faustus, still, the council? I don’t know.”

“Alright, forget the council for just a second. This is your last week at the school before you go on maternity leave, right?”

Zelda nodded. “Yes.”

“Well, I know you’re almost finished with that book of Hecate that Sabrina gave you at Yule. If the baby isn’t here by next week, I think you should the extra time to really study, research, write your manifesto.”

“You’re serious about all this, aren’t you?”

“Completely,” Faustus said honestly.

Zelda pushed the now empty plate off her lap and stood up. She walked around the room, considering her husband’s words. Suddenly, she smiled when Zelda got an idea. She turned to Faustus. “Alright, Faustus, I’ll do what you ask. I will study, I will write my manifesto, I ‘ll even go to Rome and speak with the council but in exchange, you will do something for me.”

“Dearest, I already pitched this as a 2nd honeymoon so of course, I’m coming with you.”

Zelda giggled. “No, Faustus darling, I was thinking about something else.”

“Really? What do you want me to do?”

“I want you to take back your magic.”

Faustus’s smile immediately disappeared. “Oh Zelda, no.”

Zelda went back and crawled on the bed to take her husband’s hand. “Faustus, you might think I’ve forgotten with all the chaos that went on around here lately. It’s been months since you asked the dark lord to take your powers away. If my memory serves me correctly, you wanted him to take your power because you didn’t want to hurt anyone. That was in early November and tomorrow is the 1st of March. In all that time, not only have you not harmed anyone, but you are the one who found the spell that saved Agatha. Faustus, you’re a born warlock, we both know that denying magic is denying your own nature.”

Faustus sighed. “How would I even go about getting my powers back? Shall I go begging back to the dark lord?”

Zelda shook her head. “No, of course not. Faustus, no one in our coven owes their powers to Lucifer anymore because everyone was rebaptized in the name of Hecate, or in the case of warlocks, the god Aeete, the husband of Hecate, who he himself is a 3 in 1, the lad, the father, and the old man. To regain your powers, you must be rebaptized too.”

“Well, can I think about it for a while?”

Zelda nodded. “Of course.”

Faustus smiled. “Good, because it is still our wedding night and all I want to do is focus on you.” Faustus turned his upper body to take something out of his nightstand. He turned back to Zelda, smiling and holding a long jewelry case. “Surprise!”

His wife gave him a tender look. “Faustus, thank you, but you need to stop this. You’re spoiling me!”

He gave a mock pout. “But it’s what I live for!” He opened the box and Zelda gasped. “Now I know it’s not much.”

“Not much?! There are Magda’s pearls!”

“What? How did you know- Oh, that’s right, the memory spell. Well then, I don’t have to tell you how special this gift is then. I could never bring myself to give them to Constance, seeing how we barely had a marriage. I would have given these to you last year after our 1st wedding but Blackwood wanted that stupid music box. I thought about giving these pearls to Prudence but I didn’t want her to think it was a bribe.”

“We’ll share it,” Zelda suggested, “and not just Prudence and I, but Letitia too and the new baby too, if she’s a girl.”

“So that all my girls can use the pearls. What a perfect idea!”

Zelda sighed. “This has been such a beautiful night, Faustus, but I’m afraid I have a craving even bigger than pearls and chocolate.”

“What can I get you, dearest?”

“I think it would be better if you guess my craving?”

Faustus wore a huge smile as Zelda gently pushed him down, unbuttoned his shirt before putting some whipped cream on his chest, and then licked it off. Instead of kissing him, Zelda smiled wickedly down at Faustus. “Can you guess what I want yet?”

“Oh, I have an idea.” He cupped her face. “But if I’m wrong, please don’t tell me.” Faustus moaned as he kissed Zelda deeply. They fell asleep in each other’s arms after their lovemaking.

After a couple of hours later, Faustus awoke from a nightmare. These nightmares had continued for months but at least, Faustus has learned not to wake Zelda up anymore. He studied her now, in the moonlight, naked, sleeping peacefully and wearing his wedding ring. As usual, she was glorious. He stroked her cheek and kissed her brow before he got up. Faustus went to the bathroom to splash some cold water on his face before he filled a glass and took a sip.

“Shame on you, Faustus!”

The sudden voice in the quiet night startled Faustus so much that he jumped, as he did, the glass slipped out of his hand and smashed on the floor.

“Damn!”

He picked up the glass and looked up to see the ghost of his 1st wife and she did not look happy.

“Constance?! What are you doing here?”

“Watching you making a fool out of yourself over that tramp, Zelda Spellman!”

Faustus immediately got defensive. “Zelda is not a tramp! She’s my wife! We’re finally married, as it always should have been!”

“She’s a tramp!” Constance insisted “and you’re even worse. Falling all over her like a lovesick schoolboy. Wasting time on stupid things like that ridiculous vow renewal, befriending mortals, helping those weird sluts when you should be looking for our children!”

“I am trying everything I can think of to find the twins! What you’ll ask is impossible, especially when I don’t have magic. I mean, I can’t fix everything all at once.”

“Why not? You ruined everything all at once.” This comment was not made by Constance but Faustus did know the voice it did belong to. It made Faustus rolled his eyes and turned to see her seated on the bathroom counter.

“Shirley Jackson. Forgotten but not gone. To what do I owe this displeasure? No, never mind, I really don’t care. You 2 hens can cluck all night long. I’m going to bed.”

Faustus turned to left the bathroom but a 3rd ghost blocked the door. Faustus had to admit that the first 2 spirits had come as a surprise, a shock even but not the 3rd one. Looking at him now, Faustus wondered what had taken him so long. “Hello, Edward.”

“Hello, Faustus. How are you?

That was it. That simple question was all it took for the blood of Edward’s former mentor to boil. “Better,” Faustus spat at Edward, “Much better, now that the, excuse me, your insanity curse, is no longer on me!” Faustus roughly pushed Edward out of his way and returned to his bedroom. He looked down at Zelda, she was still sleeping but something had changed. Not only had Zelda turned around, but she must also have wakened when the glass broke because she had put her nightgown back on. Faustus was still studying Zelda when Edward came up beside him.

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

“Zelda? Your sister, my wife? Yes, she’s very beautiful.”

Edward looked at Faustus. “You don’t get it, do you? It’s obvious to everyone but you.”

“What is?”

“That Zelda doesn’t really love you.”

Faustus felt his hands ball up into fists. “Once again, it’s the world according to you, isn’t it, Edward? Of course, Zelda doesn’t love me, she just tells me she does all the time and seemed delighted at our vow renewal ceremony tonight but, of course, you know best, Edward.”

The other warlock shrugged. “All I’m saying is to look at the evidence. When I saw my sister in the neither realm last spring, she seemed completely in love with her new girlfriend, Tango Tanya.”

“It’s Mambo Marie.” Faustus corrected.

“Right. Well, I think it’s time for you to do the honorable, gentlemanly thing to do and step aside so that Zelda can be with who she loves.”

Frowning, Faustus shook his head. “You speak as if I tore them apart. I didn’t, if anything I tried to get them back together. I spoke with Mambo Marie and convinced her to set up a romantic lunch but a while later, Zelda told me she loved me and we have been together ever since.”

“But she had to come to you.”

“How do you figure that, Edward?”

“This is Zelda, we’re talking about and Zelda would do anything for her family, even give up her own happiness so that her baby can have its father. You didn’t capture my sister’s heart you just got her pregnant!”

Faustus was on fire with rage. “Now you haven’t just insulted me but Zelda as well! Plenty of strong women are single mothers or do co-parenting and Zelda is the strongest woman of all!”

Edward looked unsure. “Still, if you loved Zelda as much as you do, you would want her to be happy.”

“Why is it so impossible to think that Zelda’s happiness might be with me?” Faustus wanted to know.

“If it wasn’t for you, who knows? This wedding night could have belonged to Zelda and Mambo Marie.”

“Oh, shut up, Edward!”

Zelda stirred and moaned a little in her sleep. Faustus looked down at her and when he looked back up, Edward was gone. He looked toward the bathroom for Constance and Shirley, but they were gone too. Sighing, Faustus got back in bed, turning to look at his wife.

“I don’t care what anyone says. You are my true love and my happy place.”

Yes, but am I hers? Faustus quickly dismissed the bothersome thought and cursed Edward for putting it there.

“You see, Zelds? Nothing really needs to change.”

It was a beautiful March afternoon and Hilda took Zelda out to lunch to celebrate the official start of Zelda’s maternity leave. Meanwhile, it had been a week since the labor false alarm and so far, there was no sign of the baby. During the lunch, the sisters talked a lot about turning their old room into the nursery. Right now, they were walking toward a paint store to look at some samples.

Zelda wore a teasing smile. “I’m still getting over the fact that you completely moved out of the house.”

Hilda sighed. “Not this again, Zelda! I had to move out, I’m married now.”

“Oh Hildie, don’t blame marriage, I’m married and I still live at home.”

“Well, maybe that’s why I moved, there’s no more bloody room!” Hilda stated and then stormed into the shop.

“Hilda, come on, don’t be like that. I was just kidding!” Zelda was about to step into the shop herself but then she noticed Faustus was the other street. Before she could call out or wave him over, Zelda realized that her husband wasn’t alone. He was in the company of a slim, strikingly beautiful blonde.

“Zelda?” Hilda called out. “What’s keeping you?”

“I’m coming,” Zelda disappeared into the store before Faustus could see her.

Although Faustus had yet to decide about his baptism, Zelda decided to go ahead and start studying so she could write her manifesto. When they were told about it, the family was all for it. Since he was working most days at the academy’s library, Ambrose offered up his attic so that his aunt would have a quiet place to work during the day. It was in the attic that Faustus found her 1 afternoon in mid-March. He came bearing a tray that had tea and sugar cookies.

“Hi, I thought you could use a break.”

Zelda put down her pen. “I suppose I could.” Faustus gave her a cup. “Thank you.”

“So, how’s it going?” He asked her.

“Well, I now know why the church of night bans most of these readings. According to Hecate, love is not a sin, it’s not even wrong. Love is a right and natural emotion as well as everything that goes with it, like lovemaking, is perfectly normal.”

“So, all these years of loving you, all the shame and guilt I was made to feel, was all for nothing?”

“Afraid so, Faustus.”

Faustus leaned down and kissed Zelda. “Oh well. Good to know.”

With 1 more sip, Zelda finished her tea so she placed the cup and saucer back on the tray. After taking a bite of a sugar cookie, Zelda picked up her pen and went back to her notes. While she did that, Faustus placed the cookie dish beside her and picked up the tray.

Just leave now! Faustus’s head screamed but he found himself turning back and his mouth formed the question that had been bugging him for weeks. “Zelda? Are you happy with your life with me?”

His wife looked up and gave him a genuine smile that told him even more then her words did. “Of course, I’m happy, darling, I love you.”

Faustus smiled. “I love you too, Zelda dearest.” He got to the door before Zelda called out.

“Faustus, are you happy with me?” She asked.

He answered her honestly. “I’ve never been happier. Aside from Blackwood and the twins, life is pretty much perfect.”

When Faustus got downstairs, he was not at all pleased to see all 3 ghosts waiting for him in the kitchen. For the last 2 and a half weeks, Edward, Constance and Shirley were popping up and disappearing everywhere while Faustus was just trying to live his daily life. He was getting sick and tired of seeing them. Faustus threw the tray down on the island and it made a loud sound.

“If you 3 stooges have something important to say for once, spit it out, will you? Hilda will be here soon to give me my cooking lesson.”

Constance scoffed. “Do you even hear yourself anymore, Faustus? No magic? Cooking lessons? Your father would be ashamed of you!”

“Good!” Faustus spat. “The more distance I can put between me and that old bastard the better! Why are you staring at me for, Edward?” Faustus demanded.

“What are you still doing here?” Asked Edward.

“Easy, I live here,” Faustus said shortly.

“But I told you, Zelda is in love with Mambo Marie.”

“Yes, you did, but you see Edward, I don’t believe you. What you seem to keep forgetting is that I myself, have been in love with Zelda since I was 16 and in all those years, I have learned to read her. Heaven, I probably know Zelda’s face better than she does. In all these months, never once did I sense that Zelda wasn’t happy or wanted to be with someone else. She hasn’t talked to or probably had contact with Mambo Marie in months.”

“Look down.”

Faustus was looking down in a pot of boiling water. In the water, Faustus saw a vision of Zelda’s desk and on the desk was a piece of paper containing Mambo Marie’s change of address and new phone number.

“Still think Zelda and her girlfriend aren’t together?” Edward smirked.

“How do I know you didn’t put that there?”

“You don’t belong here!” Edward replied.

“Edward’s right,” agreed Constance. “You should leave here, never come back and go find the twins.”

“So, you want me to abandon 2 of my children to find my 2 other children. Oh yeah, that makes sense. Besides, you’re a ghost, you can go places I can’t possibly go to. So, why don’t you go find our children, Constance and report back to tell me where they are?”

“Like you even care,” Shirley butted in. “You’re so obsessed with Zelda; you don’t care about anything else.”

“But obsession is not love,” Added Edward. “That’s why he doesn’t even care about Zelda’s happiness.”

“You’re wrong! You’re all wrong!” Faustus barked. “I love my children, all 4 of my children! I also love Zelda. I love Zelda so much that if I thought I was a threat to her happiness in any way”

“You would leave her?” Edward asked, much too quickly.

Faustus nodded. “Yes, I would leave her.”

“Wonderful.”

“But I will only go when Zelda tells me that she wants to be with someone else and not a second before!”

“Was it all worth it?” Asked Shirley.

Faustus sighed. “Was what all worth it, Sister Jackson?”

“Oh, come on, Faustus, don’t tell me you never thought about it. This insanity curse, the source of all your pain, all your troubles, never would have happened if you hadn’t pursued her if you hadn’t married Zelda. If you had married someone else, like for example, me.”

Faustus couldn’t help but laugh. “Marry you?! I don’t even like you!”

“But you slept with me!”

“So what? I was a slut back then, I slept with everyone! 2 nights of sex does not make you my true love!”

“It was 3 times!” Shirley shouted. “We had sex 3 times!”

“I know!” Faustus shouted back. “But the 1st time wasn’t worth mentioning! It’s a moot point anyway because Zelda didn’t cause the curse. He did!” Faustus pointed at Edward. “You haven’t changed at all have you, Edward Spellman? You still expect others to clean up the messes that you made!”

“What do you mean?”

“What do I mean? I was in love with your sister and you denied me her every chance you got. Then you met Diana, your feelings were so much more important than mine or even Zelda’s. So, you married Diana, you got the woman you loved but I got the punishment. Constance, you want to take to task for not knowing where our twins are? Well, I believe if it wasn’t for Edward here, I see no reason why our children wouldn’t be happy plump 1-year-olds toddling all over this house. The same thing with Sabrina, you had to have a child so you made a deal with Lucifer, but you failed to tell your sisters, the 2 women who raised Sabrina.”

“You’re avoiding my question,” Shirley stated. “If you had known about the curse, would you have still married Zelda?”

“If the outcome would be the same, then yes.”

“Really,” sneered Constance “so you enjoy that our children are with a madman.”

“Did I say that? Don’t put words in my mouth! I hate that!”

“Faustus? Who are you talking to?”

He turned to a puzzled Hilda then turned back to see that the ghosts were gone. He sighed. “Nobody.”

Early the next week, Hilda stood in the middle of the new nursey, viewing different baby furniture with the snap of a finger when she heard the front door slam and stomping on the stairs.

“What’s wrong, Zelds?” Hilda asked as her sister went by.

“What are you doing here, Hilda?”

“Waiting for you. Today’s your last weekly appointment before the baby comes.”

Zelda sighed. “Okay then, let’s get this over with then” Zelda took off her coat and lead her sister to her bedroom.

“Well?” Zelda asked 20 minutes later.

“Fine. Fine. Baby’s nice and healthy.” Hilda was smiling however; her sister was not.

“Has it dropped? Has the baby lowered?”

“Well, no, not yet.” Zelda groaned, but Hilda continued, “It’s all normal, Zelds! You know that 1st babies are almost always late.”

“This 1 will definitely be late, seeing how I’m due tomorrow!”

“Okay, Zelda, what’s wrong? You’re so grumpy today.”

“Oh, I’m on top of the world, Hilda. I’m about 1000 years pregnant, this baby seems to be going nowhere fast and I’m pretty sure that my husband is in bed with another woman right now!”

Hilda was expecting the first 2 complains but the 3rd one threw her off. “What?!”

“I was at the bookstore because I was excited to show Faustus the 1st rough draft of my manifesto.”

“But Faustus doesn’t work on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.”

Zelda nodded. “A fun fact is known to everyone but me, apparently. Plus, remember 2 weeks ago when went out to lunch and then to the paint shop?”

“Yes.”

“That was the day I saw Faustus on the street with a strange woman.”

Hilda then got an idea. “The redhead? I saw him talking with her a few times. She’s no threat.”

Zelda looked at her sister. “The woman I saw was a blond! Well, there we have it, 2 afternoons Faustus isn’t accounted for, 2 strange women and a man who doesn’t believe in monogamy. Doesn’t take a scientist to figure this out.”

“What did he say when you confronted him?” Hilda wanted to know.

“Nothing, because I didn’t and I’m not going to. That was Constance’s mistake and he grew to hate her.”

“But if he’s making love to other women.”

“It’s not making love, it’s just sex,” Zelda insisted. “I’m his true love and we’re very happy together. That’s all that matters.”

“How can you be happy if this is bothering you?”

“Who says that this is bothering me? This is not bothering me.” Zelda said in a tone that left no doubt in Hilda’s mind that her sister was very bothered.

The following night, Faustus was toweling off his hair after a shower when he walked into his bedroom and saw all 3 ghosts waiting for him.

“Oh, Hecate, not again! Why don’t you 3 get an afterlife so I can get on with mine? I’m getting mighty sick of this!”

“Then how about this?” Asked Edward “We’ll leave when you leave.”

“As I said on your last visit, I’m not leaving!”

“So, you rather stay on in this fake marriage. Clinging to a woman who allowed you back into her life because of pity for her unborn child than actual love.”

“This is not a fake marriage!” Faustus snapped. “I love Zelda enough for both of us!”

“You should! You put her ahead of your own children.”

Faustus rolled his eyes and turned to face the ghost of his 1st wife. “How many times must I say this Constance? I’m doing everything I possibly can to find our twins.”

“Why don’t you just face it, Faustus?” Edward sneered. “No one wants you here.”

“I can’t believe I going to say this, Edward, but thank you.”

“Thank me? For what?”

Faustus shrugged. “The curse. You see, all my life, I have lived in fear of 1 thing, becoming my father. Yet as hard as I tried, I have found myself slipping into his old habits. I will never forget the innocent people I hurt or the guilt I live with every single day but recently I thought that maybe, just maybe that curse forced me to become the monster I always feared. In other words, your curse forced me to hit rock bottom a lot faster than had I been left to my own devices. In a very odd, very messed up way, you helped me because after hitting rock bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up. Now, I’m becoming the man I want to be. A man that a proud noble family, like the Spellmans, are willing to claim as their own. A man, that for whatever reason, Zelda wants by her side. How can I not thank you for that?”

“I think you should take that thank you, Edward. It probably the nicest thing someone will say to you all night.”

All 4 turned toward the doorway and saw an annoyed Zelda, who had her arms crossed. “What are you even doing here Edward? The last time we talked, I honestly told I didn’t know if I ever wanted to see you again and now, I find you in my bedroom trying to convince my husband to leave me on my due date? Are you serious?”

“I’m only thinking about your happiness, sister,” Edward defended himself. “But Faustus here can’t seem to get it through his thick head that you’re really in love with Mambo Marie.”

Zelda cocked her eyebrow. “Me? In love with Mambo Marie? Well, let’s see. In the past year that I met Mambo Marie, we’ve shared a few kisses, never went to bed together, fought a lot, broke up twice, once after she gave me an abortion potion, threatened to leave if I left during a lunch date and then did and hadn’t seen her in months. On the other hand, in the last year alone, I married Faustus twice, made a child together, worked hard to undo your curse, prevented his suicide, and told him I loved him. We’ve only grown stronger and closer together ever since. Heavens Edward, I even told you I loved him after swallowing a piece of truth cake!”

“You did?!” Faustus asked. “Edward didn’t mention that at all.”

Zelda frowned. “You don’t say.”

“What about the change of address for Mambo Marie that is still on your desk at the academy?” Asked Edward.

“I was supposed to give to Prudence, seeing how close they became. The fact that I completely forgot about it for a month and a half should tell you how much Mambo Marie crosses my mind.” Zelda replied.

Constance stepped up next up to Edward. “See? I told you she wasn’t the problem, he is!” She looked at Zelda. “Did you think you were special? Did you really believe he loved you? Karma’s a bitch, isn’t it, Zelda Spellman? You didn’t give me a 2nd thought as you bedded my husband when I was pregnant and now the same thing is happening to you.”

“Shut up, Constance!” Zelda ordered.

Faustus looked confused. “What is she talking about?”

Zelda only smiled. “Nothing, nothing at all.”

Yet Constance continued. “She knows, Faustus. She knows all about how you don’t work on Tuesday or Thursday afternoons. She even caught you on the street with your mistress!”

“Constance! I said to shut up!” Zelda growled.

“Mistress? You think I’m cheating on Zelda?!” Faustus asked, dazed.

“Well of course!” Edward spat. “Everyone, even my sister, knows that you can never be faithful to just 1 woman. It’s just not in your nature and even you can’t blame the curse for everything.”

Faustus said nothing, just stalked out of the room.

“No!” Zelda called out and rushed to the doorway, hot tears in her eyes. “Faustus, please! Please come back!”

Edward grabbed his sister by the arm. “Let him go. It’s no big loss.”

Zelda quickly shook free of her brother. “What did I ever do to you, my own brother, to make you hate me so much?”

“I don’t hate you.” Edward sounded hurt. “I did this to help you. Zelda, your marriage is”

“None of your business!” Snapped his sister. Then she advanced to Constance, “nor is it yours,” she said before going to Shirley, “and it’s definitely not yours! What are you even doing here, Shirley? You butted in so much in life that you have to continue to do so in death?”

“Why are you angry with us?” Edward asked. “Now you can be with Mambo Marie.”

“I don’t want to be with Mambo Marie! I want my husband! I love Faustus. I love him with all my heart and now it may too late.” Zelda sat down, hung her head, and started to sob.

“Don’t cry, dearest.” Faustus was back in the room.

“What are you doing back here?” Edward demanded. “We thought you left, for good!”

Faustus couldn’t help but laugh. “What?! It will take a long more than 3 clueless ghosts to make me leave my wife and unborn child.”

“Then where did you just go?”

“You want to play judge, jury and executor, Edward? That’s fine by me but what would the use of defending myself if you think I’ll only lie so I ran downstairs to the kitchen to grab this!”

Edward raised an eyebrow. “A bag of cookies?”

“Not just any cookies, truth cookies! I know it’s supposed to be a truth cake but that’s too complex for me to make but I made sure Hilda showed me the same recipe.”

“Don’t eat it, Faustus,” Zelda advised. “You don’t owe them anything.”

“No, I don’t, but I owe you everything. Plus, I have nothing to hide.” Faustus made a show of eating not 1 truth cookie, but 2. “Now, where were we?”

“We were talking about you cheating on my sister.” Muttered Edward.

“Oh yes. Well, the truth is that I’ve never cheated on Zelda. Not even last year after starting our affair and when my-then wife was in a very rare mood. I turned down Constance, not Zelda. Nor did I cheat on the night after Zelda and I announced our engagement and this one” he pointed to Shirley, “sneaked unwanted and uninvited into my bed-chamber, bare-ass naked. Not even when we were young and we would enjoy threesome and foursome together.”

“Then where are you every Tuesday and Thursday?” Asked Edward.

Faustus lowered his eyes. “I rather not say.”

“Because you were in bed with a hot blonde?” Constance smiled and Zelda had the sudden urge to rip her apart.

“Not in bed, in therapy!” Faustus declared and it felt like all the air was sucked out of the room.

“Therapy? But you don’t believe in it, you said it was only for the weak.” Constance made the statement but both his wives knew this to be true.

“More of my father’s bull. I had to get over it and ask for help to tame my inner demons. Like you said Edward, I can’t blame it all on the curse.”

“But 2 therapists?” Questioned Shirley. “Who’s that screwed up?”

“That is enough!” Zelda frowned.

“I only saw the redhead twice,” Faustus explained. “She was mortal and I didn’t see the point if I had to censor myself.”

“I said enough!” The pregnant witch shouted and got off the bed to face the 3 ghosts. “Faustus may not have the power to banish you but I do!” Zelda spoke quickly in Latin and then all 3 ghosts were lined up at the room’s threshold with 3 lit candles at their feet. Zelda came forward, a bottle in her hand. “For those of you in need of a quick recap, this is black salt. In my mind’s eye, I already poured it before the front door. Now, all I need to do is pour the salt before you and blow out the candles, and never again will any of you be able to enter this house until expressly invited. Constance, I promise you that we will find your children and I raise them as if they were my very own.” Zelda then poured the salt and blew out the candles. When the ghosts were gone, Zelda turned back to her husband. “Therapy, really?”

Faustus chuckled. “Is that so hard to believe rather than me cheating on you?”

“Forgive me, darling, but yes. You told me that you don’t believe in monogamy.”

“I was playing it cool. I wasn’t going to say that I used to dream about you all the time when we were apart and that I’d never been with a woman without thinking about you in some way, shape, or form. It would of freak you out.”

“I don’t know about that.” As they kissed and hugged, a grandfather clock chimed 12. Zelda sighed. “Midnight, my due date came and went. This baby is officially late.”

“Gooooooood morning Greendale! It’s 7:05 on this beautiful April Fools morning. This freak heatwave we’re having continues, making this a great day to spend at the beach. Can you believe this, Mike? April 1st and we’re already talking beach weather.”

Mike didn’t get a chance to answer because Zelda slammed off the clock radio before she turned around in bed. “Why did you set the alarm for 7? It’s Saturday.” Zelda asked Faustus sleepily.

“I’m sorry, dearest. I need to be in town by 8:30. Dr. C and I are doing inventory at the bookstore today.”

The couple got up, dressed, and went downstairs for breakfast. Yet in the kitchen, there was only Sabrina, for Ambrose had already left for the academy. When it came up that Sabrina planned to spend most of the day with her friends, leaving Zelda alone in the house which made Faustus question his decision to go out at all.

“Don’t be silly, darling. I probably just be where I always am lately, up in the attic, working on my manifesto. I mean, you’ve been watching me like a hawk for the past 10 days and nothing. I’m not going to go into labor the moment you leave. This is real life, Faustus, not a television show.”

The forecast was right. Although it was only April, it felt more like August. So, Sabrina and her friends spent the beach. At a little after 3, it began to rain, by 4, it was pouring, winds were going wild, complete with thunder and lighting. The plan was just to drop Theo off first but by the time they got to the farm, the storm was so wild, it wasn’t safe to drive so Sabrina, Roz and Harvey agreed to stay with Theo and his dad. Meanwhile, the all-day inventory at the bookstore was going well. Faustus got distracted when he saw that the storm had started. His first worry was, of course, for Zelda. But Dr. C still needed him at the store so Hilda agreed to teleport to the house to check on her sister. Zelda was fine but she had been working all day so Hilda persuaded Zelda to take a break. It was after 6 when the sisters sat down to a little snack of coffee and cake. They were just finishing up when they heard a thunderclap and then all the lights in the house went out all at once.

Hilda looked up. “Oh, okay. Looks like we have a blackout.” Both sisters got up from the table and Hilda went to a drawer that held flashlights. She got 1 out for herself and then handed 1 to Zelda. “How about I get the candles from upstairs and you get the ones downstairs?”

Zelda nodded and as Hilda headed upstairs, Zelda went to the closet where she knew a box of candles were waiting. Then she made her way down to the morgue and went to Ambrose’s little cubby hole of an office but frowned when she couldn’t find any candles, Ambrose must have moved them. Zelda turned and scanned the room with her flashlight and found the candles on a high shelf. Zelda went to the shelf, stood on her tiptoes, and stretched out her arm to reach the candles. Zelda gasped in shock when she felt and heard the splash.

“Zelds?” Hilda called out. “Zelds, are you down here?” Hilda saw her sister and stepped in water. “Oh no. Don’t tell me we have another flooding problem!”

“No, it’s not a flooding problem, Hilda. My water just broke!”

“What?”

Zelda nodded. “Yes. OW!”

That all it took for Hilda to go into full mid-wife mode. She took Zelda’s hand in hers and put her arm around Zelda’s waist. “Let get you upstairs.”

Once the sisters got to the main floor, the phone rang. At her sister’s urging, Hilda answered the call, while Zelda started up the stairs. She rolled her eyes as Hilda told the caller, Dr. C, that Zelda was labor.

“Sister!” Zelda whispered furiously. “You be sure to tell your husband that he cannot tell Faustus that I’m in labor!”

Hilda covered the phone with her hand. “What? Why?”

“Are you kidding?! He didn’t even want to leave this morning because of the very thought of me in labor. If he learns that I’m actually having the baby, he’ll want to come home now despite how dangerous the storm is getting.”

“Right,” Hilda and Dr. C talked a little more and she learned that blackout was happening all over town. Hilda hung up and ran upstairs and into Zelda’s room. She was amazed to see that the room was ready and prepped. There was water, fresh towels, and the medical items lined up perfectly. Zelda had changed into her nightgown and was only now getting into bed. Smiling, Hilda went to help her sister. She was glad she wasn’t the only mid-wife at this delivery.

Sabrina and her friends spent all night at the farm. After supper and setting up the candles, Theo’s dad went to bed and the kids were hovering around Theo’s laptop, watching horror movies.

“Well, all the girls are finally asleep.”

It was midnight at the Academy of Unseen Arts. Prudence, lantern in hand, entered the head office and flopped down on the sofa, next to Ambrose.

“The boys are, as well.” They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments yet Ambrose sensed something was off. “Are you okay, Prudence? You seem a little…tense.”

“I’m fine.”

But it was when he watched Prudence during the next thunderclap that Ambrose got a fun idea. “Prudence Night, if I didn’t know better, I would say you’re afraid of thunder and lightning.”

“Nonsense!” Then the next round of lighting sent a jumpy Prudence right into Ambrose’s arms. After staring at each other for a second, they began making out. Soon, they were upstairs, making love in 1 of the academy’s private bedrooms. As Prudence screamed in pleasure, Sabrina screamed in fear because of the movie and Zelda screamed in pain as the baby made it’s through her body.

At 1, Faustus looked out onto the town street. He watched as the lightning struck the power lines and a live wire hit the wet road.

“I can’t believe we got this whole store in order in a day! We definitely earned these.” Dr. C handed Faustus 1 of the 2 beers he was holding and the 2 men clinked the glasses in a toast.

“Do you think Zelda’s okay?” asked a worried Faustus.

“Zelda’s fine. She with Hilda, remember?”

“Dr. C, I know I just sound like an overprotective husband that been bugging you all night but the truth is I’m terrified. I want this baby as much as Zelda does, truly I do. But in the back of my mind, I can’t forget that both women, before Zelda, who bore my children, have both died within 24 hours of giving birth.”

“I -I didn’t know that.”

“Why did you just turn so pale?”

Dr. C sighed. “I’m not supposed to tell you this but Zelda is actually in labor right now.”

“What?! How do you know?”

“Hilda told me when I called her when the blackout started.”

“But that was hours ago! I got to go.”

“Faustus, wait!”

Zelda had had enough! She had been in labor since 6 and had been pushing since midnight. 2 hours later, still nothing.

“Okay Zelds, 1 more push!”

Zelda shook her head. “No, Hildie, I can’t, I’m exhausted.”

“But sister, you’re there.” Hilda took Zelda’s hand and guided it low. “Feel that? It’s the head, it’s crowning. 1 more push, Zelda, and we’re done, I promise. Just give me all you have.”

Zelda screamed as she so, and as she collapsed onto her pillow, she heard her baby cry.

“It’s a girl!” Hilda announced with a smile. “Baby girl Spellman, born at 2:08 AM on April 2nd,” A tree branch slammed against the window, making Hilda forget to say the year. “She already has a full head of red hair, just like you.” Hilda passed the baby to Zelda.

“She’s perfect,” Declared her mother, “Hilda? Is it me or is she wheezy a bit?”

“Oh, I think I forgot to suction out her nose and I left the pump in the kitchen. No problem, come with your Auntie Hilda, my darling.”

Down to the kitchen, they went, and just as Hilda finished checking and cleaning the baby, she heard the front door open and closed. Hilda stepped out into the hall and smiled. “Hello, Faustus, I’m glad you’re home safely. Zelda’s upstairs and I’ll be right up.”

Back in the kitchen, Hilda called Dr. C. “I’m not mad that you told Faustus about Zelda, love. I just called to tell you that somehow he got home safe.”

“Um, Hilda, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Yes, I told Faustus about Zelda but I managed to calm him down and convince him to stay here. In fact, I’m looking at him right now.”

“Then who? Oh, Hecate!” Hilda slammed down the phone and ran for the stairs but before she got there, she heard Zelda scream. Hilda forced herself to run back to the kitchen and to the table where the baby lay in her Moses basket. Hilda touched the tiny hand.

“Precious babe, please be as silent as the grave.” Hilda put the basket on a chair and gently pushed it in so that the basket could not be seen. A moment later, Hilda saw Blackwood on the other side of the kitchen, dripping in Zelda’s blood. “You’re not welcome here!”

“Like I care!” Blackwood hissed. “But I must say, I am disappointed. I created this storm so that all you Spellmans would be here, but only you and Zelda are home. Speaking of Zelda, I had no idea she gave birth tonight until I got into her room. Where is the baby?”

“Stillborn.” Hilda lied.

“So, killing Zelda was a kindness, to reunite her with the child. Looks like there’s only 1 more Spellman for me to kill tonight.” He raised his arm and in a spilt second, every knife in the room was pointed at Hilda.

She, however, only smiled. “You forget, dearie, that this was my kitchen for many, many years. Every sharp object is spelled not to hurt me. In fact, they’re antispelled to hurt the attacker.” Just like that, the knives turned on Blackwood.

“You cannot kill me,” he reminded her.

“Kill? No, but let’s see if you can bleed.” Hilda only raised a finger and then a knife slid into Blackwood’s cheek. He reacted in pain and indeed he bled.

“A mere scratch,” Hilda dismissed. “But if you don’t leave this house right now, I’ll cut you to ribbons and cause you so much pain you’ll wish you were dead.”

Hilda and her knives escorted Blackwood to the front door. She was still watching him when he stepped onto the road and got hit by lightning. Hilda smiled. “Well, that will leave a bruise.”

#chilling adventures of sabrina #caoz #chapter 8 #fanfic #spellwood #zelda spellman #faustus blackwood #hilda spellman #sabrina spellman #ambrose spellman #prudence night #edward spellman #constance blackwood #shirley jackson #Dr. c #part 4 my way!

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jcs-writing-hell · 4 years

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@my lovely anon | thanks for requesting & sorry for the delay but when I got your request my app bugged & I couldn’t read what you wanted for like a day

Junior Trio/JL centered | Category: Hurt/Comfort | Keyword: Mishap/Slip of tongue(or so xD) | kinda deep & angsty | Word Count: 2441

Jiang Cheng had tried his best, Jin Ling was completely aware of that.

Other than what most knew of Jiang Cheng, Jin Ling had really started to see how his uncle truly cared for him.

It started almost instantly after Jin GuangYao died, the back & forth & pulling on Jin Ling. At the time he was around 16, his mental state a mess - yet with the mess the Jin Sect, once again, ended up in.. Who cared about his emotions? Well, Jiang Cheng did.

Jin Ling slowly healed, at least on the surface, while his maternal uncle tried his best to cover his back. Making up excuse after excuse, with them ranging from "He has just lost his uncle.", to "He is too young." & if anyone tried to dare say "But you were" Jiang Cheng made sure to clarify that the times had been different, that the youths nowadays didn't have the pressure and experience they had had back in the day.

Jiang Cheng had tried his best, Jin Ling was both thankful and aware of that.. yet sooner or later, of course, things couldn't go on that way. With 17 he had started to take extra lessons, less physical training, just to get the history & knowledge he needed to be the new leader memorized. And then, now, with almost 18 Jiang Cheng also had run out of plausible excuses. The last thing his uncle had managed was to invite his friends before his ceremony where he'd be first shown off as the "new face of the Jin Sect", "the person that'll finally, for real this time, bring a true change",..

Needless to say that Jin Ling was stressed. He felt exhausted, strangely enough growing more lonely by day - just like he'd been in his early childhood.

Even his friends, that were adults by then & had brought Emperors Smile in mass along, couldn't quite drown out the fact that.. Jin Ling felt like a toy & as the most important day of his life so far came closer fast without his parents..

Jin Ling didn't even take note of the fact that his friends had disappeared at first. They were camping out & he had one of his moments again where his heart ached, chest tight & air hard to catch in his lungs. Poking around in the fire, he couldn't help but question again.. If all of that was what he wanted with his life. That he shouldn't think that way, because even if his mind would say "no", he had no right to say so. How he was supposed to lead a sect so wrecked & scary as the LanLing Jin Sect.. If his fate was the same as the crooked one of his ancestors, which honestly scared him to death.

His friends had done a pretty good job over all so far though when it came to both distracting and comforting him - not that he really admitted what was going on, or wrong. Due to that, as Jin Ling finally noticed neither Sizhui nor Jingyi being around he grew understandably worried and got up to search for them. He also managed to find them within no time, yet.. what he heard really.. got his blood to boil.

,,Do you have an idea what we could try still, A-Yi? I don’t think we’re really being of much help..” Sizhui was clearly worried, Jingyi however acted and sounded a bit too much like his “jerk” self.

,,I know we wanted to help him.. I mean, we barely got to meet him for like a year now, but.. Don’t you think he has enough help already? Or in general, what are we supposed to help him with? I mean, you also don’t have parents, but to be frank - Doesn’t he have everything else one could dream off? Money, support from pretty much everyone, a bright future ahead of him.. What are the chances that we’d be able to do for him that he doesn’t have already?”

Sizhui was just about to give his friend a good beating as both of the Lan’s flinched quite hard when Jin Ling stepped - quite literally - out of the shadows, his tone full of betrayal, rage and frustration.

,,Do you think that’s what I want? Do you actually think that I want any of that, after all that our way of living caused? Don’t you think I’d rather have my parents, or just one of them, instead of all the money and maidens and luxury items on this world? You know what? Forget it. Who even cares. Thanks, thanks a lot.”

,,A-Ling-” Sizhui’s try to call out for the youngest lead nowhere; all the latter did was lift up a hand in almost a warning like manner as he had already turned and began to storm off. ,,That was really not necessary, A-Yi.. When will you ever learn to think before you speak?”

,,Stop acting like it’s not the truth that we can’t help him. That we can’t give him what he wants or needs either.” Jingyi snapped back as the oldest glared at him, only to get another glare directed at him before Sizhui walked off as well while saying in an upset tone.

,,What he needs right now are at least his friends with all the things that are missing in his life - that he should have in his life at such a moment in time. You could do at least that much for him without worrying about whether or not it’ll bear fruit before you even properly tried.”

~💙~

It took a while before the Lan’s found the other sitting in front of a lake against a tree. He looked worryingly gone out and upset, in truth though not half as much as he actually was. Pushing Jingyi forwards, the younger Lan spoke up in a tone so awkward and hesitant.

,,Uhm.. I.. I just wanted to say that.. I shouldn’t have said what I did.. not behind your back especially.. I.. I’m sorry.”

,,It’s not even really your fault.. It’s just..” Jin Ling started, only to stop a few words in - causing both Lan’s to exchange a worried look before Sizhui sat down; dragging the other Lan with him.

,,A-Ling.. What’s wrong? You’re not quite.. yourself, or more how you were a few years ago..”

Jin Ling only briefly looked at Sizhui, who spoke in a carefully gentle tone, turning slightly away from them at the end as he stared at his hand that was resting above the leg he had bend at the knee. A bit of time passed before he began to open up, not talking too loudly and with pauses here and there.

,,The problem is more.. What isn’t wrong? The closer my ceremony and 18th birthday come.. I don’t know, there’s just a lot of pressure.. Ever since I can think, even when at the time still both of my uncles sheltered and pampered me.. I was always.. The nephew of, the son of, the future sect leader..”

Both of the Lan’s heads dropped, but especially Jingyi didn’t dare look at either of his friends as he fiddled with a piece of his robe in such an ashamed manner.

,,I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with my sect, already now.. It’s so.. wrecked, cursed.. How am I supposed to lead this complete and utter mess with people around me that don’t care if it keeps running that way or not. Or with the only person I have left still living hours away, in charge of a sect of his own.. And in between they only keep adding pressure and pressure.. The first time someone gave me letters with maidens that would be good for my sect’s sake to marry was years ago, now they really want me to find a wife - if possible yesterday..”

Jin Ling turned his head as he heard a few muffled noises, only to see that Sizhui held his hand over Jingyi’s mouth - more than likely to stop the latter from saying something inappropriate yet understandable like “What do you even want with a wife already?”, or so.

,,And what do you want, A-Ling?”- To both of the Lan’s shock and surprise all the youngest could give as a response for quite a while were empty stares, then shrugging and shaking his head before he said what they could gather already at this point.

,,I don’t know.. There’s a part of me that when I try to think about it.. does its hardest to stop me from doing so.. Even if I would find an answer, what would it change or matter? I don’t even know who I am deep down inside, apart from the son and what not of.. Even looking back now, to how I behaved from early on.. I tried often to run away. And yeh, honestly even I can’t say A-Yi’s misstress nickname doesn’t somehow fit me.. but it wasn’t that, I ran to have some sort of freedom.. Only to ultimately hide behind what everyone always hides and excuses everything with when it comes to me - or even in front of me.. my title, my heritage, my role in life..”

Jin Ling paused, clenching the hand he kept staring at into a rather tight fist. ,,Who am I.. What do I want.. I know neither and I’m afraid to find a answer for both, knowing it doesn’t matter..”

Neither of the 3 knew what to respond to that and Jin Ling couldn’t blame his friends for being at a loss. He was himself, but more than anything he was so.. so incredibly confused and empty deep down inside.

,,Have you tried talking to your uncle before? .. I mean.. Wasn’t he in an even worse situation?”

,,The last thing I want is to sound childish and irresponsible.. even worse: make him worry, A-Yi.” The youngest said as he let out a breath far too heavy for a boy in his age. He didn’t know what to do, and even if Jiang Cheng had changed a lot to the better the past few years since the temple incident.. Jin Ling was still worried about how to approach his uncle, really not wanting to disappoint at the end of the day.

,,There aren’t all too many that know about this, but I was raised to take over the Gusu Lan Sect; just in case… Not that anyone dares to think of a nightmare huge enough to happen for Master Qiren, Zewu-Jun and Hanguang-Jun to die, but.. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is.. If this scenario would happen, and I’d be left with nothing but the ashes of my sect.. I would rebuild it entirely, change the things that are going wrong already in its core..”

,,That’s not a bad idea, A-Yuan.. If I got it right you were trying to say that our little mistress should completely clean up the mess his sect is, right?”

Sizhui nodded before looking at Jin Ling who looked as lost in thought as he was.

,,Maybe I should talk to my uncle after all..” Jin Ling then finally said, hesitantly turning back around so he could look at his friends that wore confused expressions - not that he could blame them. ,,I might not know a lot currently, but I know for sure that I don’t want to lead the LanLing Jin Sect how it is now.. It would be mildly risky, yet..”

,,Stop torturing us and speak properly already!” Jingyi whined, getting nudged in the side from the older Lan for that.

,,It might be quite the gamble, yet I know they won’t be able to disagree.. I will need some help though, definitely.. I think I.. I think I will set up this massive plan where I tell the elders of the LanLing Jin Sect that I will only take it over if it’s under my own terms. Be it the throwing out of disciples and so forth, close examinations of each member so what happened in the past will remain there.. Closer bonds to the other sects, more openness,.. I also have the birthright to decide how I want the relationship with Yunmeng Jiang to turn out..”

As half-confident as Jin Ling might’ve sounded, he could feel his heart race, hands shake and palms grow sweaty from all the nervousness; paired with this weirdly thrilling rush. His mind was going all sorts of places, no dark ones for once - to the point where he needed a minute or two maybe before realising that his friends looked at him.. like he had gone nuts, while they looked like they were in the process of doing so themselves.

,,But what if they-”

,,We will definitely help you, A-Ling! Whatever support you need, I know most sects will be willing to agree.”

Jin Ling felt his own lips and teeth hurt from how hard Sizhui had slammed his hand once again over Jingyi’s lips as the latter had tried to say something rather understandable - that could cause his mood to go downhill again.

At the end they all nodded.. before awkward silence spread between them as none knew what to do or say now.. Or well, at least until Sizhui spoke up again, his tone giving away that there’d be no chance to say "no", or even argue.

,,That calls for a group hug.”

,,Forget it!” For once Jingyi and Jin Ling were in sync, even sharing the same opinion.. just like a moment later when their expressions distorted into both fear and horror as Sizhui’s turned into one so spine-chilling similar to Lan Wangji’s.

,,Group. Hug. Now.” Even his tone was.. scarier than anything Jiang Cheng could manage - For the sakes of their young lives, the two younger ones then simply spread their arms in defeat as Sizhui pulled them together.. In one of the many group hugs he forced them into secretly; usually and mostly when drunk though.

A few moments into the hug Jin Ling glanced down at Sizhui who had turned out to be quite a bit smaller than him over the years.. and as guessed, the oldest looked up at him and winked. Jin Ling only smiled a shy one..

Yet as several minutes later they had returned back to their fireplace it was more than evident that the super glue of their group - Sizhui - had done a pretty good job at comforting him.. And Jingyi had also done his usual small amount, even if it was only provoking Jin Ling until he finally spilled what was going wrong; which Jin Ling couldn’t quite believe was accidental, neither that day or on any other.

Check out my MDZS Writing Game | Requests open anytime

#mo dao zu shi #mdzs #the untamed #the grandmaster of demonic cultivation #junior trio #jin ling #lan jingyi #lan sizhui #mdzs fanfic #mo dao zu shi fanfic

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avengerscompound · 5 years

Text

Legacy - Chapter 9

Legacy: A Hawkeye Fanfic

Series Masterlist PREVIOUS //

Buy me a ☕ Character Pairing: Clint Barton x F!Reader

Word Count: 2185

Rating: E

Square filled: @clintbartonbingo - Free Space

Warnings: Pregnancy, domestic abuse, post-endgame, angst, developing-relationship, hurt/comfort, smut, Laura and Clint have broken up. Comic Clint/MCU Clint mix.

Synopsis: Nothing is the same after the events of Endgame. When Clint has trouble returning to a life where his family hasn’t changed but he has lost everything, he moves back to the city and tries to move on as a single parent. When Nate finds you bruised and pregnant in the stairwell of his building, he decides that there might be another way that he can make Nat’s sacrifice worth something.

Chapter 9

You had fallen asleep not long after you’d been moved to your maternity room. It was a nice room. Clint putting you on his health insurance meant you got the best. No point risking your life all the time if there weren’t some perks. It had a queen-sized bed. A proper bed too. Not just one of those uncomfortable hospital ones with the wheels. There was a comfortable chair specially designed for breastfeeding. A couch for visitors. A big screen tv. There was a private bathroom that even had a spa, though Clint didn’t quite understand who would want to actually stew in a pool of still water after they’d given birth.

After they’d brought you back to the room you’d fretted about the baby for a while and then passed out exhausted. He’d napped with you, curled around you protectively. It had been a long day and he was exhausted after everything.

He didn’t sleep deeply and woke just a few hours later. He wasn’t sure what exactly was keeping him awake. Perhaps he was just worried about you and wanted to be awake to take care of you if he needed it. Maybe it was that the baby wasn’t in the room with you both. When Laura had given birth Nate he’d just been left with them. Now he had a new baby and they just weren't here.

He got up and went to the hall. It was busier out there with nursing staff moving around, babies crying, people taking little walks, flowers and teddy bears being delivered, and visitors coming to take a look at the new member of their family. Clint made a few phone calls. He called Laura first to check she made it to the kids okay and to let her know the baby was here. He spoke to the kids and told them about their new sister. Then he called Kate to let her know too. Finally, he rang Pepper. You technically weren’t supposed to start your maternity leave for another week and while Pepper was way, way up the chain for who would actually be affected by you not showing up, he thought she might like to hear about the new baby Avenger. He then texted some of the others to let them know too. As soon as he did his phone began to buzz with congratulations.

It was touching that they cared really. That even though the new baby wasn’t technically his, they were all on board with the idea that this baby was his. That after all the death in the world they’d had to mourn, now they had a new life to celebrate.

After he’d made the calls he went for a short walk. First to check on the baby. She was so tiny and fragile looking as she slept in her incubator. With what he knew about the Universe he hoped he was strong enough to protector her. Or at least strong enough to know that sometimes you couldn’t and she’d have to live her own life too. He ran his hand down her back and felt the small rise and fall of her chest as she breathed.

“You get big and strong, little one. We want to take you home as soon as we can.” He whispered.

After visiting with her he went for a walk to the cafeteria, grabbing himself a coffee and a danish. He wanted to bring you back something too but was worried you might not be allowed to drink coffee yet and he also didn’t want to wake you. So he grabbed a bottle of Snapple and a danish for you too before heading back upstairs.

There was a large edible arrangement sitting at the door with a big pink plush duck sitting on top. He looked at the card and saw it was from Pepper. He was glad that he’d organized those few playdates with Pepper. It was good seeing Morgan and Nate playing together and he wanted to keep that bond with Pepper now that Tony was gone. It was too easy to put those things off until the people in your life you considered your family were just a bunch of strangers you tell people are your friends. They’d all been through too much and lost too much to let that happen. He and Pepper had lost more than anyone.

He scooped it up and carried it inside the room, finding you sitting up in bed looking at your phone. “There you are. I was about to text you.” You said.

“Sorry,” Clint said sheepishly. “Didn’t mean to worry you. Just thought I’d check on the baby.”

“Who’s that from?” You asked indicating to the bouquet made from chocolates.

“Pepper sent it. Cool, huh?” He said putting it on the ledge behind the bed. “Got you a drink and a danish too.” He added plopping both in your lap and kissing you on the top of your head.

“It’s awesome.” You said. “How’s bubs?”

“She seems fine. Tiny but some of the babies in there are hooked up to a bunch of things, she’s not. So I take that as a good sign.” He said.

You smiled and took a swig from the bottle before dragging over a pile of paperwork. “Nurse dropped this off while you were gone. It’s the birth certificate stuff. You sure you want to go on this. I can keep the name blank.”

“Will you stop that?” Clint said. “I don’t want her to think my involvement in her life comes with conditions. Okay? I’m her dad.”

You curled into his side and grabbed a pen, writing in Clinton Francis Barton under father. You let out a breath when you did and turned your head up to look at him. He leaned in and kissed you deeply, his thumb caressing your neck as his lips moved with yours.

You pulled back and tapped your pen on the form. “So just the name then.”

“You didn’t have any names you’d talked about before?” He asked.

“I never talked to Richard about them. When I was a kid I guess I had some favorites.” You said. “I just… is it weird that I want to pay tribute to your friends? Natasha particularly. It feels like she’s the reason why we’re together.”

Clint let out a soft breath, tears pricking his eyes. “Nat was always setting me up with people.” He said. “Still doing it, huh?”

You smiled and nuzzled into him. “Feels that way.” You said. “The problem is having a Nat and a Nate would be a little confusing.”

“Her middle name was Alianova,” Clint said. “Maybe we could do something with that?”

You pulled out your phone and started typing into it. “Huh. This says that means her dad’s name was Alian.”

Clint furrowed his brow. “That’s weird. Red Skull said it was Ivan.” He shook his head like he was trying to clear it. He hated thinking about that moment. Where he’d gone from being excited about flying an actual spaceship with his best friend, on his way to get his kids back to having to watch her die. It didn’t matter what her father’s name was anyway. She never knew who it was.

“Ali could be nice.” You said.

“That’s normally short for something though. What would it be short for?” He said.

“It doesn’t have to be. There’s a kid in New Zealand named ‘Number 16 Bus Shelter’. I don’t think there’s anything stopping us from just calling her just Ali.” You said.

Clint choked. “That can’t be true.”

“It is! So… what do you think?” You said.

“About the name ‘Number 16 Bus Shelter’? It’s a bit long.” Clint teased.

You laughed and elbowed him. “No.”

“If we’re just gonna give her a shortened name, why not Tasha?” Clint said.

You looked back up at him and smiled. “Tasha is good. Works better with Antonia as a middle name too.”

Clint pulled you tight and kissed you again, holding you close. He pulled back and looked down at you. “I love you so fucking much, you know?”

“I love you too.” You said, resting your head on his shoulder. “So that’s what it is? Tasha Antonia Barton?”

“Barton too?” He said.

You pulled back from him pulling the papers closer. “Shit. Sorry. I went too far, didn’t I? It can be my name.”

Clint put his hand on yours. It was scary really, but for some reason, he wasn’t second-guessing this at all. “No. I’d love for her to be a Barton.”

You kissed his cheek and filled in the name. “Alright, you just gotta sign it and then we send it off. Then that’s it. She’ll have her name and you’re officially her dad.”

“Good,” Clint said. “We should do that right away then.”

There was a knock at the door and Laura peeked her head in. “You up for visitors?”

“Sure.” You said and she pushed the door open more letting in Cooper, Lila and Nate.

“We just finished naming her,” Clint said as Nate climbed up into his lap.

“What did you choose?” Lila asked as she put the large bouquet of sunflowers next to the edible one from Pepper.

“Tasha Antonia Barton,” Clint said. He noticed a look from Laura but he wasn’t quite sure what it was. Surprise maybe. She didn’t say anything though and he didn’t want to chase it.

“Where is she, daddy?” Nate asked.

“She is very little and needs a bit of extra care so the doctors have her in a special room. Do you want to go see her?” Clint asked.

“Yes please, dad,” Lila said.

Clint got up, lifting Nate onto his hip and pulling Lila into a headlock and kissing the top of her head. “Alright, come on. Are you coming to, hun?”

You got up out of the bed and pulled a robe on. “Yes. I might see if I can feed her.”

Your little group made your way down to the NICU. When you got there the kids were looked over by a nurse, made to wash their hands and you were all led in. “Here’s your little sister, Tasha,” Clint said when they got to the incubator.

“What’s the fings for, daddy?” Nate asked pointing at the wires that were attached to her.

“Just keeping track of her heart because she’s so small,” Clint said.

“She’s really beautiful. Congratulations.” Laura said giving you a rub on the back.

“Thank you, Laura.” You replied.

“Can we touch her?” Lila asked.

“Yes, but gently just on her back,” Clint said.

Each of the kids took turns putting a hand on her back and then Clint, Laura, and the kids were led out while you stayed behind and they put her against your chest to attempt breastfeeding.

Clint and Laura stood watching from the viewing window as you had Tasha tucked in under your shirt. Laura sent the kids down to the vending machine in an attempt to stop them from getting bored.

“Did I tell you how proud I am of you?” Laura said putting his arm around Clint’s waist.

Clint put his arm around her shoulder and she tucked herself into his side. Something she had done a million times before. “Yeah?” He said.

“Yeah. You've really stepped up. You've always been such a good dad. This is gonna be no different.” She said. “Nat would be proud of you too.”

“I hope so.” He said, keeping his eyes trained on you.

“When Damien was killed, I didn't think I'd ever fall in love again. Especially not with another SHIELD agent. Then Nat pushed you at me, and you were such a huge dork but so good. Not perfect but good. You never pushed me faster than I could go. You were always worried about us getting hurt. Not just me, but the kids too. I fell in love with you, and the kids did too in their own way. When they asked if you'd adopt them you didn't even hesitate when you said yes.” Laura said, wiping her eyes.

Clint felt his heart stutter a little and guilt start to creep in, guilt for everything that went wrong that meant he was not the man that could hold that together anymore. His arm tightened around her shoulders. She patted his stomach reassuringly and looked up at him. “No one predicted the blip. It's not your fault we couldn't last it. I'm really happy you've found love again though. You deserve it. It gives me hope too, that I might get it again too. Things can be found after what happened.”

Clint turned and looked at her, frowning slightly. “Of course you can. You're amazing, Laur. You'll get someone who deserves you. Someone who will actually be around.”

“I hope so.” She said and leaned up and kissed him. “Congratulations, Clint. She's beautiful. You are going to be really happy”

Clint looked back in at you, and for the first time in a long time, he didn't doubt that at all.

// NEXT

#clint barton #clint barton x reader #hawkeye #hawkeye fanfic #fanfic #fanfiction #reader insert #fluff #angst #pregnancy #legacy

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chinawof · 3 years

Text

Baby C. Hemsworth | Self-Para

Wyoming was exactly what they both needed it to be: calm.

A break and a moment away from the chaos of Miley, and China’s family fawning over everything. Just them, their pups, and their growing Bean.

At first, Chi had gotten quite used to the idea of maybe just having the baby here in Wyoming. It had always felt like home to them both, and there were hospitals nearby, and some arrangements had been made for that to happen. But with Bean taking her time to arrive, Chi also had talks of inducing the labour to help Bean on her way. As strong and as stubborn as she was; she was terrified of that idea.

A few days before Halloween she had decided. With pleading eyes and a calm exterior explaining to Liam that they should head home for it to happen. At least there her family could support all of them (in case something went wrong), and their Bean had her own room awaiting her, and a million things they hadn’t managed to bring in their haste of leaving Atlanta. Soft reassurances that she’d be fine on the drive, and probably nap most of the way anyway.

China kept up with her bedrest while Liam began repacking things away, setting about for them to leave the next day.

It was just their luck that overnight the snow had come.

Several inches of it covering the ground around the Wyoming house, making it so impossible and unsafe to drive in, let alone get home in.

Delta was thrilled to say the least. Chi spent some time each day on the balcony watching the pup run and play in the mountain of snow Liam had shovelled from the back door so the pups could still go to the bathroom outside. Dora, however, seemed over the cold and the snow pretty quickly.

China didn’t blame the pup, because she was over it the moment she saw it.

No matter how damn prepared she thought she was as October finally arrived, all those feelings were long gone now. There was only nerves and fear. She, despite all her earlier wishes, started to almost pray that Bean would hold off for the snow to clear and for them to get home.

No such luck.

The 30th of October came with back aches more persistent than ever before, China finding herself actually having to be excused from dinner (which was a shock, because she could eat for a whole family right now) to retire upstairs for a nap.

China wished she had managed to rest more, looking back now on what would soon unfold, the extra sleep would have helped, but she’s awoken every twenty minutes by pains and cramping like nothing she had ever felt before.

That was when she realised just what situation she was in.

It was dark out and she could hear Liam outside with Delta barking as she played in the snow, a part of her not wanting to disturb their moment.

There’s a heavy weight against her side. Dora must have nestled close while she had restlessly slept, and big eyes were looking at her very concerned.

“Hey girl,” Chi sat up softly, letting a hand find Dora’s head, “We’re okay, I promise.” There’s a tender kiss to the top of the large dogs head before she’s reaching a hand out to clasp at her phone.

A moment to look at some missed calls and texts before she’s messaging Sisi something nice and simple, ‘So, I think your niece might be on her way.’

And though she expected at least a pause, maybe half an hour or something, there’s the almost instantaneous blank text box with three dots of typing back.

‘OMG.’

Of course she doesn’t have time to reply. Her phone begins ringing a second later.

‘Hi Sisi,’ there’s a breathy laugh in spite of the fact she is half sitting up in the bed in pain with a worried pup not leaving her side.

‘How’re you feeling? Breathe, remember to breathe, do you need anything?’ The onslaught of questions comes with very little air from Sierra.

‘Sisi,’ Chi sighs down the phone, ‘I’m fine.’ Well, she would be anyway.

‘Where’s Liam?’ Sierra is quick to ask now, and is moving around, China’s sure she is slipping on slippers and a robe to go and wake up or disturb the entire household.

‘Playing with Delta,’ There’s a soft moment, a calmness.

Of course it’s interrupted, ‘At a time like this?!’

China is laughing again, ‘Sierra, he doesn’t know, okay? I’m not even sure I know yet. There’s just some pains, and Dora’s really worried.’

‘She’s a smart dog...’

‘She is,’ Chi confirms, another pet to the pups head. She moves now to stand from the bed herself, feet into her own slippers, looking toward the window where the balcony outside lay. So much snow surrounding them.

Dora is hot on her heels, not leaving her side.

‘But you need to tell Liam,’ Sierra interrupts.

Chi’s gaze is caught by watching him in the snow throwing a stick around for Delta, who seems to leap and almost disappear into the thickness of the snow beneath her.

‘I will-’ her voice grows tight with the pain of a contraction that has her moving to hold onto the handles of the balcony door to keep her balance. Breath stuck in the back of her throat momentarily, she’s only vaguely aware of Dora nestling closer to her in worry, or Sierra calling her name a few times before telling her to breathe and relax.

It’s all like a haze, because as much as she tries to remain aware of it, the pain is definitely blinding, and she realises now why telling her to breathe is important: she damn well forgets to. Takes a ragged breath in to right herself.

The pain ebbs away almost as fast as it comes, but as it leaves something new seems to happen: there’s a growing wetness, and she’s suddenly so aware this is definitely happening now.

‘Uh, my waters broke...’ China says, a little stunned to Sierra.

‘Okay,’ there’s a laugh in Sierra’s tone, China glares at it for a second, ‘You’re fine, want me to get someone to call Liam?’

‘Uh-’ Standing there awkwardly, she doesn’t make much movement still pretty shocked at that second in time. Even if she expected it to happen, it still was a surprise, ‘I guess,’ she answers, but her attention is torn by a different, yet familiar bark.

Chi doesn’t know at what point she had become so side tracked with pain and breaking waters that she realised Dora had bolted from the room. And it’s only a second later before familiar steps of Liam and two pups begin rushing up the stairs.

‘Chi?’ she hears called, breathes a sigh of relief as she moves her phone to her ear.

‘He’s here. I’ll call you back, I just... I guess I need a moment.’

She hangs up halfway through the, ‘if you need me you know-’ phone cast aside on the window ledge before brown orbs find panicked blues entering the room.

His own widen at the sight of the patch on the floor. And she wants to laugh, but there’s another pain that takes all of her attention.

At least now, instead of door handles and window ledges, she’s got him to keep her nice and steady.

‘Breathe,’ he whispers into her hair, pressing a kiss to her head as his hand massages her lower back, ‘you’re doing okay.’

Chi would have been annoyed, but it’s actually reassuring for a moment to have the calming voice, and though she knows he’s panicked and worried (because she is too), his calmness is definitely soothing.

‘So good, you’re doing so good.’ Chi lets herself focus on the movement of his hand on her back, and his breathing. He must be consciously taking slow and deep breaths for her to follow, and it helps.

Soon she’s standing more firm, the pain slipping away to a dull ache once again.

‘Some timing she’s got,’ Chi laughs ever so slightly, her hands taut around her hardened stomach, weight still fully leaning into Liam.

There’s something different on his face. A realisation of sorts. The flicker of panic in his eyes makes her heart beat just a fraction quicker. Her hand comes to cup his cheek, pull worried blues to hazy browns.

‘Hey, we’re gonna be okay,’ Chi soothes.

But she hasn’t realised what he has. There’s so much happening around her and with her that the fact outside is hazardous hasn’t occurred to her.

‘I know,’ Liam must snap himself out of it to press a kiss to her lips in comfort, China oblivious to a decision he’s already made in his head. ‘C’mon, let’s get you back to bed.’

She quirks an eyebrow, let’s a smirk tease her face, ‘I don’t think now’s the time for that, handsome,’ but his half-attempt to smile back makes her realise a lot of things all at once.

Like she’s just been dunked entirely in the several inches of snow beyond, Chi soon knows they’re stuck.

She knows Liam must have seen the realisation that dawns on her features, because his hand takes her own, and he’s leading her without much questioning, ‘You’re going to be fine,’ he starts.

China can’t help but suddenly wish to turn back time and be worrying about an induction instead of the prospect of this. What if something went wrong? What would happen?

‘Let’s get you settled, and then I’m gonna call an ambulance who should be here nice and quick.’

It’s delusional. They both slightly know it, but it’s a hope they have to cling onto.

Chi appreciates him taking a towel from a nearby corner, discarded from one of their showers, sets it out on the sheet before he’s moving to help her sit. She’s relatively glad for a moment that her maternity clothes are a size or two too big, because soon enough she’s wearing nothing but a baggy shirt that still nestles nicely around her bump, and he’s helping her lay down and covers her back over with the blanket.

‘There,’ Liam presses a kiss to her forehead, his own hand lingering on the swell of the blanket that covers the curve of her stomach, ‘Give me two minutes okay, I’m just going to grab my phone.’

Of course she isn’t alone, because even though the pups make no effort to clamber onto the bed now, as if they know they shouldn’t be on there at a time like this, they do settle to sit like the good guard dogs they are, eyes trained on China.

That is until Delta spots a distant toy she hidden beneath a chair and makes her way to fetch that and nervously chew on it, anyway. But Dora is almost unblinking.

It’s unnerving, but China doesn’t dwell on it.

‘Hey,’ Her hand reaches out and she can’t help but smile at the movement of the pup moving closer to rest her head beneath her hand so she can stroke her easier, ‘Good job, Dora, thanks for getting us some help. You’re too smart.’

There’s a moment where she’s sighing, looking at the ceiling almost wondering why it had to be today of all days, she hasn’t even processed what day it is, but it was inconvenient nonetheless.

China tries not to eavesdrop, but the house is so still aside from Delta’s chewing of her toy that she can hear his whispered, frustrated words into the phone, ‘What do you mean it could take days to clear?! We don’t have days!’

She’s torn between crying and chastising the little Bean who clearly had terrible timing, but is cut off with another pain, and another whirl of the room becoming more of a haze than something completely tangible. Fists tighten into the blanket as a slight pained groan leaves her lips.

Standing was better, but standing wasn’t much of a choice right now.

When she finds the pain dissipating, her eyes focus fully to see a pup’s head rested right beside her on the bed. Concerned eyes watching, but unknowing what to do.

Catching her breath China quietly strokes her fur. The sound of Liam talking is gone. She assumes he’s either taken the call further away, or he’s hung up out of frustration.

Chi wouldn’t blame him for the latter. What a shitty situation to be in.

She focuses on the feeling of petting Dora’s head, and breathing as calmly as she can. Eventually steps climb back up the stairs, Chi realises Liam’s brought some things with him this time. Water, towels, some other baby things they’d packed.

‘How’re you doing?’ He asks, and she nods ever so gently.

‘You know, I’m great, it’s just a walk in the park,’ she sarcastically jokes. Waits for his chuckle to maybe lift her mood somewhat. When it doesn’t come, she has to sigh softly. ‘Hey,’ China reaches her hand out, waits a moment for him to lock his hand in her’s and settle on the edge of the bed beside her, ‘it’s okay.’

She knows they don’t do secrets. This whole relationship has been built on honesty, and they’ve battled so much together already that it doesn’t surprise her when he eventually sighs, too.

‘They’re... the snow... it’s going to be difficult.’

China squeezes his hand as if that will make the words leave his lips easier. ‘I get it. It’s not safe,’ a small, mustered smile for both of their sakes before she adds, ‘but babies take their time, too. We could still be like this in a couple of days when the snow does start clearing.’

He hopes. She hopes.

Bean Hemsworth? Well she’s got her own plans entirely.

The pains grow in their intensity and the time between them lessens. Between them Liam sets about doing something because China understands he’s nervous and feeling a little useless right now.

A towel to cover the patch on the floor her waters left; so the pups, him, or her don’t slip. Bringing up as much water and ice as China can stomach eating. Hell, by the time he’s finished fussing, the baby even has an outfit set out for her on a nearby chair for when she finally arrives.

It’s all pretty sweet, actually.

If China had much time to focus on anything but the pain she was in.

She did notice, as the night passed by and he busied around, that Liam would just glance to check through the balcony door, or through the window, to see if maybe magic had made all of the snow dissipate, but there was no such luck like that.

The sun rose, and instead of bringing the melting warmth they needed, the sky was as white as ever. More snow flurried and fluttered from the sky to add to the inches of it already on the ground.

They were getting nowhere fast. And it seemed unlikely that anyone would get near them, too.

Around noon it seemed almost impossible for China to fight it off any more. The contractions were so close it was uncomfortable, and there couldn’t be much time left before Bean wanted to show up.

She prayed it didn’t happen like this. That poor Liam could’ve been at her bedside instead of wide eyed and startled at the end of the bed, looking at her in a position she’d rather never think much about again.

‘I can see her,’ he tells her, and China swears he looks nauseous, but maybe it’s just the haze of the room around her.

‘She’s not-’ Chi pants ever so breathless as she lays there.

She feels a grounding set of hands on her knees, blue eyes looking deeply at her.

‘She’s coming now, whether we want her to or not, with or without a hospital. We work to her time right now.’ A moment passes, before China nods reluctantly, because he’s right, and the pain is building again, ‘now push when you’re ready to.’

There’s barely a beat before she does.

And God, the cry of pain is enough to have poor Dora and Delta putting their paws over their ears. Neither pup looks up as Liam counts down from ten. Nor when the scream of pain finally stops.

It’s not until there’s a sound.

A relieved gasp from him.

A deep exhale of exertion from her.

And a cry, so soft and small.

‘She’s-’ Chi glances from where she has collapsed against the pillows now.

‘-Perfect,’ Liam finishes, the squirming little one in his arms. She’s a mess of gunk and nastiness, sure. Face red and screwed up in her crying state. But there’s just a beauty about her. A blend of them both. So much hair like her mama, lips all a part of him.

Theirs.

‘Here you go, mama,’ he forces himself to move now, because as much as he wants to coo over his daughter, there are many other things to see to, and he knows he has a lifetime to fuss over that baby girl now.

China’s thankful, at least, that Liam read so many of those pregnancy books, because it helps now. As the baby is passed to her to lay on her chest, covered with a blanket while Liam cleans up and takes care of other things around the place.

She’s so busy looking at the little one, letting a finger trace over soft features of the now calm and sleeping baby, that she doesn’t notice him cutting the cord, or coaching her through the afterbirth.

Maybe it’s exhaustion. Or just the feeling of bliss.

But everything comes together at last, when a blanket is tucked over her again, keeping her and the baby warm, and Liam moves behind her to hold them both. Two curious faces at the side of the bed, watching, analysing.

They’d need to move eventually. Clean up, shower, change the sheets, get the baby into something warmer to fight the snowy chill of Wyoming.

But they just take their moment. It’s their perfect family, finally all together.

‘Happy Halloween, Bean.’ Liam coos, and that’s when China realises what day it actually is.

Of course. Should she have expected anything else?

‘Best Halloween ever,’ Chi glances back at Liam, a smile, tired and blissful on her face.

He kisses her softly, and let’s his own hand move to stroke the baby’s head gently now, ‘You’re right, best Halloween ever.’

#(the missing piece to my puzzle | liam.)#(their royal duchesses dora and delta.)#(as soon as I saw you; I knew a grand adventure was about to happen | baby c.)

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southwarkcofe · 3 years

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‘Journeys to Ministry’

In this week’s Hearts on Fire blog we hear from three people recently ordained to the Priesthood in the Diocese of Southwark.

Revd Reginald Grant, Assistant Curate at St Mark, Reigate, writes...

In popular British culture, being a minister in the Church of England is often seen as involving riding around the village on a bicycle , usually in a cassock (black robe) and a wide brimmed hat, to visit elderly dowager duchesses , drinking copious cups of tea and sherry, judging jam competition, and cricket matches, and usually being a middle aged white male(vicar of Dibley aside obviously!). The Church of England is probably more diverse than many people realize, in terms of the people who sit in our chairs/ pews on a weekly basis, the styles of worship that attracts people to the church and in the people called to minister to those people. There is still a place for the minister who cycles around the village (hopefully not in a cassock which seems incredibly impractical and unsafe!) and judges the local cricket matches, but today there are many types of ministries and many types of ministers. Ministry is not just in the villages; the urban and suburban churches are experiencing a renaissance in the variety of ministries that are evolving in the Church of England. To meet these differing types of ministries, different types of ministers are being trained and these include people like myself, who don’t cycle, don’t really like sherry and is not familiar with the rules of like cricket!

My journey to ministry started many years ago in the charismatic Anglican Church (Church of England in the West Indies) I grew up in The Bahamas. There was a call on my life, I knew, but I also knew that I wanted to do things other than ministry. I had no frame of reference for this being an option; ministry seemed like an all or nothing deal. I came to England in my early twenties, running away from my calling like the prophet Jonah, to train and pursue a career in healthcare. During my time here, I was blessed with a number of Churches of differing styles and settings from the village church, to suburban churches, from evangelical the mid church, that all nurtured my faith and spirituality. It was in one of these churches, when I was feeling confused about my future in my life and career, that the question of ministry came up again. I think that God was waiting for me to be vulnerable and open to being the person that could minister in the way that he wanted me to.

I wish that I could say that I leapt with Holy joy at the opportunity, but no, I tried to run away from it. I told the very patient Vicar, that no, he must be mistaken. God, calling me? I wasn’t holy enough. I had a career in the NHS that I enjoyed. I was not married as yet as I met my wife during the process of discerning the sort of minister I would become. I could not sing, as anyone who has heard me do Karaoke can attest to! I was not the image that I had in my own head of what a minister should look like.

The Vicar I was talking this process through was a patient man. One could say that like me, he had the patience of a saint and he had probably heard all of these arguments from reluctant future ministers to be, before. What I and probably many other people in my position don’t understand is that no one is born a minister, you don’t come into the maternity ward saying the words to the Eucharist (communion service). People grow into the people who can minister to the people of God and grow into people who can minister in different settings, different ways, and in different styles of Churches. There are many ways to be a minister in the Church of England, and many types of people who are called to minister in this church.

In my training, I met many people just like myself, people who had run from ministry, who had their questions, and doubts. Doubt, I learnt, was not necessarily a bad thing, because it leaves room for God to show you just how powerful he really is.

My seminary training was over three years, which sounds longer than it was. It was in a setting where I could continue to work while I studied. There where sacrifices that had to be made in terms of time for study, weekends away from my family, and time away from my old church. This was a part of the process to prepare you for the challenges that lay ahead in ministry.

I chose the path of self-supporting minister, or worker priest as it is sometimes called. In this path, I continue to follow my career in the NHS, but I also minister in a church in my spare time, which as I have a young family is a challenge. But, one thing that I would say is my church has been very understanding. Some of my colleagues at Seminary choose to wear their clergy-wear at work. This is not something that I choose to do or can do in the context of my job, but in the Church of England there are many ways to be a minister. I keep my work life separate from my church life but some of my patients know about my ministry, as it is something that I am unashamed about. I just don’t minister in my work setting in the same way that I do in my church setting.

In my work setting, I minister by just being there for my patients, caring for them, listening to them in the same way that anyone else in healthcare would. It is a ministry of presence, one where God’s love is shown without you preaching or even mentioning the name of Jesus; a ministry that does not require ordination to do.

My church setting ministry is more varied, especially now that I can officiate weddings, baptisms, and funerals. It is a ministry in which you accompany people all throughout their lives. We are all a part of this ministry ordained, or not, as it is the ministry of all believers. The ministry of a priest is however distinct in a way that can be hard to explain in a simple way.

However, the best way to explain it is to use examples. For instance, the role of a minister/priest is to take ordinary things like bread and wine and to use them to show people the extent of the love of Jesus. He loved us so much that he gave himself completely to us, that he was willing to become like us, even in the extent of taking on all of our humanity, bearing the burden of our flaws and feeling the pain of aloneness, and death. His love for us means that we have a future with him beyond the pain of death, and that he will be with us always and his love is greater than we can imagine. The role of a priest is to take the ordinary splashing of water or putting of oil on the head of a child /adult and show people that this is a sign that God has made us his people. We are part of his family, loved and accepted, warts, flaws and all. The role of a priest is to hold all of God’s people in prayer, to stand in the gap for people who can’t/won’t/are unable to pray.

There are many other examples of what a Minister does, and in many cases these are more or less applicable to each individual Minister. That is the beauty of ministry in the Church of England. There are many roles, each needing a different type of person to fill them. You may not be the sort of minister who cycles around the village in a cassock, but if you feel that God has called you to minister there is a role that you can fill and minister in the church. Whether ordained or not, you can fulfil your calling to serve God in the way that he is calling you to serve him.

Revd Carol Bates, Assistant Curate at St Michael, East Wickham, reflects…

Several weeks before my Ordination, people kept telling me, “You must be getting excited about your ordination.”

Although many were excited for me, it took a while for me to feel the same way. Part of this, I think, was a safety mechanism I’d put in place in case the Ordination didn’t go ahead due to COVID government restrictions. Petertide (July) ordinations had been postponed till Michaelmas (September/October) and I envisaged a repeat postponement. Imposter syndrome was also popping up in my thoughts every now and again - Am I really going to be a Priest?..Seriously God, Me?..Is this all a dream?…

Thankfully my pre-ordination meeting with the Bishop and the on-line ordination retreat programme really helped to put my mind at rest and affirm that God is calling me to actually become more fully myself in the service of God and his people.

I don’t have to be the perfect imaginings of a Priest. I need to be myself. It is easy to develop a persona of being professionally religious. The challenge is to keep a grip on myself and be real and authentic, offering myself so that I can help connect people, on a profound level to God and to one another. So it’s ok to paint my nails bright orange and discuss Strictly come Dancing with my congregation every now and again.

Southwark ordinations were carried out in several churches in the different areas of Kingston, Croydon and Woolwich. It was a blessing to have had my ordination in the actual church in which I am serving- this made it extra special.

On the day of my ordination I walked to church in my cassock. I passed 10 walkers on the way greeting them with a smile and ‘Good Morning’. All of them reciprocated the cheery hello and one of them, Rupert, stopped to ask me where I was going. When I told him I was going to be ordained Priest at the church across the road he wished me all the best and congratulated me. It felt good to be encouraged by a complete stranger.

I arrived at church feeling very happy and peaceful. A number of people were setting up and getting ready -I am so grateful for all the work congregation members put in behind the scenes, so much effort goes into getting a church ready for an Ordination Service, particularly in the area of cleaning. I made sure they knew how much I valued them and their efforts.

It was good to greet family and friends as they arrived, many of whom I hadn’t seen for a long time, but amongst all the brewing excitement, conversations and bustle, I knew I needed to prepare myself. I lit some candles in memory of departed loved ones and focused my scattered thoughts and emotions on God.

The service was live-streamed and went really smoothly thanks to good organisation and the rehearsal beforehand.

When the Bishop laid hands on me, I felt myself physically trembling. There was also a rush of emotion and warm feeling in my head. Now when people ask me, ‘Do you feel any different? The answer is ‘Yes. Something happened when I got ordained. I was very much affirmed in my calling as Priest by family and friends, the congregation, my local priest, a diocesan Director, the diocesan Bishop and even a complete stranger! Most important of all, I felt God’s Holy Spirit rest upon me, affirming me as his precious child and that I am held in his love. The affirmation and love I received, particularly over my Ordination weekend, has given me fresh confidence in the work to which God has called me.

Looking back on the past 16 months as a Curate I am surprised at the amount of Civic duties in which I have been involved. Public speaking at the Greenwich and Bexley Hospice 25th Anniversary and Christmas Carol Services, Giving short talks about Christian Festivals and Hospitality at the Bexley InterFaith Forum, even the services and assemblies for our church school could be seen as a civic role. The role of a Parish Priest encompasses much more than the actual church and its congregation. Who was it that said, ‘The church exists solely for the benefit of those outside of it?’ Or words to that effect?

Serving the church in prayer and worship, even in a different tradition to what I am accustomed, has come naturally thanks to my ordinand training and the supportive training incumbents I’ve encountered along the way. Preaching has also been a natural joy thanks to my Reader training and experience along the way. Lockdown, due to the pandemic, made me deeply thankful for many other useful skills I gained previously as a Teacher of teenagers with Special Needs. The skill I’ve found most beneficial is that of making short videos and uploading them to Youtube. I was always making videos of my autistic students - the only way I could get them to do any work was if it was about them, work had to be relevant! Now I’ve been able to make videos about Good Friday, Pentecost, as well as record songs and sermons. Who would have thought I’d be using these skills again?…Nothing is ever wasted when it comes to serving God.

When I think about future goals, the impact of COVID on the Church’s way of being and purpose, influences much of my thinking. The Church must function outside of its building if it is to share the love of God with others, if it is to enable christians to grow in faith and in relationship to God and others. The building itself and its teaching must be relevant to its community context and finding ways to make church more relevant must be a goal for all of us. Making christian faith relevant for those who attend the church building, those gathering on-line and also for those who do neither, is something I’m working on. I’ve recently set up a public Facebook account, not to live-stream services ( although this does happen from time to time) but to share short messages, encouragements and prayers in order to make christian faith more relevant. It really is a good way to reach all kinds of people and many engage positively and ask questions.

I’ve also become acutely aware of the isolation experienced by those who don’t have access to social media and can’t get to church, much as they would love to. So finding ways for them to stay connected by socially distanced visits and hand delivering newsletters and sermons has become another goal to ensure in my present context. These seem like small steps but they have a massive impact on people’s lives and I would like to find ways of enabling others to connect and stay connected with the christian community.

Curacy is a time for learning, yet also listening to where the Spirit is leading for the future. I’ve been advised to seek opportunities to engage with new experiences and find out what gives me joy, what energises and interests me. These will help me to better discern where God might be leading in the future. One thing I know for sure is that nothing I’m learning, practicing or experiencing as a curate, at this COVID Pandemic time, will ever be wasted and it will all shape, strengthen and equip me into being the Priest God has made me to be 'for such a time as this.’

Revd Nicholas Quanrud, Assistant Curate at St John the Divine w St James the Apostle, Kennington, writes...

‘I am God’s wheat, and I shall be ground by the teeth of beasts, that I may become the pure bread of Christ.’

So said St Ignatius, the Bishop and Martyr on whose feast day I, along with fourteen others, was admitted to the sacred order of priests at the hands of Richard, Bishop of Kingston. Tradition has it that St Ignatius, having been consecrated Bishop of Antioch a mere fifty or so years after Jesus’ death, was eventually arrested and ordered to be taken to Rome, where he would be martyred. St Ignatius was accompanied on this long journey by a band of ten soldiers whom he described as ‘leopards.’ While the journey from St John the Divine, Kennington to All Saints, Kingston can feel like something of an odyssey in itself, it doesn’t take quite as long as it takes to travel from Antioch to Rome, even if you count the obligatory stop at a greasy spoon for a fortifying bacon sandwich. Nevertheless, to have St Ignatius’ words ringing in my ears as I prepared to be entrusted with the great and holy mystery of priesthood reminded me that while such an occasion was, of course, the cause for much celebration and thanksgiving, I was, like the great martyr, being led to a type of death: the death by which Christ transforms each one of us in baptism, the death we all undergo in order to be raised to new life in Him.

Death and suffering have no doubt felt closer to us in this most strange and sorrowful of years. And yet, God is in the midst of things, comforting and sustaining us by His Spirit, and forever offering us hope of new life in Christ. It’s difficult to reflect on my time as a Deacon and not divide it into two sections: before COVID-19 and after COVID-19. I could not have imagined at Petertide 2019 that within nine months churches would be closed for public worship for the first time in over eight-hundred years. I would never have thought that I would have to sing the Exsultet, the ancient proclamation sung by the Deacon at the Easter Vigil, into the lens of a camera in my front room, and not in the beauty and splendour of a church. And yet, God is still in the midst of things. One of the great privileges of my time as a Deacon has been visiting people in their homes: in my first week as Assistant Curate I had been handed a copy of the electoral roll by the Vicar, and off I went. I have experienced extraordinary hospitality, most commonly in the form of jollof rice and rum punch; and I have been inspired by the quiet and devoted faith of the members of our congregation. This is a faith which has not wavered in these times of pandemic, but from which many have drawn the strength to persevere, something which has strengthened and encouraged me. Not being able to visit people in their homes has been a huge loss to me, and we have had to adapt and find new ways of connecting with one another. The reopening of our churches in the summer was a great comfort to many, although, for us, not being able to celebrate occasions with the requisite food, drink and fellowship remains a source of great sadness.

In a famous sermon given at the first Mass of a new priest, Father Austin Farrer asked ‘What distinctive purpose does the priest hold in the mighty purposes of God?’, he continued, ‘The answer is before your eyes. Here is a new made priest, and what does he do? He hastens to the altar: he sets forth the mystery of love, the Body and Blood of Christ in bread and wine.’ Hasten to the altar I did, as I presided at the Holy Eucharist for the first time on the evening following my ordination. What a privilege, to make Christ present to His people in the blessed sacrament, as His priests have done for two thousand years, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, at the beginning of their Christian journey or at its end. What a joy, to fulfil a longing and desire to celebrate the Eucharist, to inhabit my vocation as a priest in its fullest expression at the altar.

And yet, my ordination and first mass do not represent the end of a journey, but rather the beginning. The pandemic has shone a light like a lightning bolt on the sin of racism in our nation and around the world, made most apparent in the killing of George Floyd and subsequent protests. The gap between rich and poor has widened, evident in levels of child hunger. There is much work to be done, both inside and outside of the church. As the Bishop instructed us at the ordination, we are to tell the story of God’s love, a story which our world so desperately needs to hear.

May we, like St Ignatius, be prepared to lose everything for the sake of the gospel.

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catherinestark-hphm · 4 years

Text

The template belongs to @hogwartsmysterystory

IDENTITY

Updated for Year 3 (NEW INFO ABOUT ADRIEN’S FAMILY ADDED)

Name: Adrien Isidore Marius Reyes

Gender: Cisgender Male

Age: 13/14 [currently]

Birth Date: February 11th, 1972

Species: Human

Blood Status: Half-Blood

Sexuality: Bisexual

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Ethnicity: Caucasian

Nationality: British

Residence: Alfriston, East Sussex, UK

Myer Briggs Personality Type: ESTJ-A (The Executive)

THE MAGE

1st Wand: Alder Wood | Phoenix Feather Core | 12 ¼" | Surprisingly Swishy Flexibility

Whilst Alder makes for an unyielding wood, its ideal owner is not stubborn or obstinate, but often helpful, considerate and most likeable, which is strange since Adrien can be the most stubborn person ever.

Whereas most wand woods seek similarity in the characters of those they will best serve, alder is unusual in that it seems to desire a nature that is, if not precisely opposite to its own, then certainly of a markedly different type. When an alder wand is happily placed, it becomes a magnificent, loyal helpmate. Of all wand types, alder is best suited to non-verbal spell work, whence comes its reputation for being suitable only for the most advanced witches and wizards. Alder is also excellent for protection against outside forces, and, when combined with phoenix feather, is a suitable match for a wizard who will "make their mark on this world".

It is most suitable for Defense Against the Dark Arts and will most often choose Light Wizards, especially Gryffindors, but is not uncommon among Ravenclaws.

Alder is extremely rare, as many wandmakers will refuse to take wood from alder wood. The ‘bleeding’, turning from white to red, is considered to be inauspicious.

Phoenix Feather is one of the rarest core types. They are capable of the greatest range of magic, though they may take longer than either unicorn hair or dragon heartstring cores to reveal this. They show the most initiative, sometimes acting of their own accord, a quality that many witches and wizards dislike. Phoenix wands are always the pickiest when it comes to potential owners, for the creature from which they are taken is one of the most independent and detached in the world. These wands are the hardest to tame and to personalize, and their allegiance is usually hard-won.

Animagus: Brown Dog

Misc Magical Abilities: (TBA)

Boggart Form: His parents with their backs on him, whispering about how amazing and talented Jacob was and wishing Adrien never existed.

Riddikulus Form: His parents dressed with clown outfits and shoving a pie in each other’s faces.

Amortentia (What do they smell like?): Burning logs and dark chocolate being melted.

Amortentia (What do they smell?): The sweet scent of chocolate and caramel, the fruity smell of freshly cut oranges, and peppermint.

Patronus: Lince.

Patronus Memory: When he got his Hogwarts letter and finally began having his own life.

Mirror of Erised: Adrien surrounded by a crowd that is cheering him. Even his parents are there, looking at him as if they were looking at Jacob instead.

Specialized/Favourite Spells:

- Flipendo

- Lumus

- Depulso

- Rictusempra

- Expelliarmus

- Alohomora

APPEARANCE

Faceclaim: (I don’t have one lmao)

Game Appearance:

Height: 5ft 4.5in (163.8 cm) Weight: 7st 14lb (50.8 kg) Physique:

- Ever since he started Quidditch, there as been more muscle in his arms and Adrien was shook when he noticed it after showering.

Eyes:

- Baby blue coloured.

- Almond-shaped, just like his mother’s and Jacob’s.

Hair:

- Dark brown

- Short and lazily brushed sideways

- The only time his mom pays attention to him is when she takes him out to cut his hair — she hates long hair on men. Which is ironic, because Jacob has now long hair.

Skin Tone:

- Fair.

- But it gets tanned during summer because Adrien spends his summer days outside. Scarring: N/A Fashion Choices:

Adrien is a casual boy that also leans into sporty wear. But sometimes he likes to dress up just for the compliments.

- His colours of choice are red, golden, blue, white and brown.

Inventory:

- His wand

- Dumbombs

- Peppermint Imps

- Connor (his toad sometimes sleeps inside his robe’s pocket)

ALLEGIANCES

Hogwarts House:

- Gryffindor

Affiliations/Organizations: - Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

- Gryffindor House

- Gryffindor Quidditch Team

- Reyes Family

Professions: (TBA)

HOGWARTS INFORMATION:

Class Proficiency:

Charms: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ Flying: ★★★★★★★★★☆ Herbology: ★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ Potions: ★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆ Transfiguration: ★★★★★★★★☆☆

Electives:

- Care of Magical Creatures

- Muggle Studies

Quidditch:

- Currently a Chaser

- Trying out to be a seeker.

Extra Curricular: - Duelling Club Member

- Ghoul Studies

Favourite Professors:

- Madam Hooch: Adrien likes the way she hurries her students to learn how to fly and he actually likes how strict she sometimes is — it helps him concentrate more on his flying and become a better student during her classes. He knows that she can be caring and gentle as well, and during his process of trying out for Quidditch she gave him lots of advice and encouraged Adrien to challenge himself with his broom. Adrien loves seeing her smiling approvingly at him whenever his team wins a friendly, it’s one of the reasons why he has never lost a friendly to this day.

- Professor McGonagall: Adrien has immense respect for the head of his house. The only time he actually studied for a subject was for Transfiguration. He wanted to prove himself that he could be better at it than Jacob, but then he started doing just to make her proud. She (and Hooch) is the only one that can truly make him feel nervous when he’s caught pranking and even though Adrien tries to ignore her disappointed expression, he feels bad and always ends up apologizing, even when he knows he can’t get out of detention.

Least Favourite Professors:

- Professor Snape: Adrien dislikes him because of how unfair he is towards Gryffindors sometimes. That’s all. Adrien actually likes his dry, sarcastic jabs and when Snape is impatient with Adrien, the brunette purposely puts the wrong ingredients in the cauldron just to peeve him further.

RELATIONSHIPS

Brother: Jacob Reyes. Father: Archibald Reyes. Mother: Matilda Reyes. (neé Longbottom) Other Household Member: (Ezekiel, Lilith, Jacov, and Corbyn belong to @caustic-curses)

- Lawrence Reyes: Adrien’s deceased paternal grandfather. He never met him so Adrien doesn’t have an opinion about him.

- Gustava Reyes (neé Sheridan): Adrien’s deceased paternal grandmother. She died when Adrien was six years old, he doesn’t remember much about her but all he has are memories of him waking up in her house and smelling freshly baked goods. He knows she loved him, and sometimes Adrien finds himself crying whenever he holds on to that memory.

- Ezekiel Reyes: Adrien’s paternal uncle. Adrien really likes his uncle and thinks he doesn’t deserve the wife he has. Ezekiel has always been nice and kind to Adrien and he truly respects and looks up to his uncle more than he does to his own father.

- Lilith Roandre: Hates her. Adrien has never disliked someone so much like his aunt. She doesn’t deserve her kind husband or Corbyn. Adrien thinks she’s just so... shady. He feels like that this mean, awful woman is hiding a dark secret from everyone. Whenever he visits Corbyn, he always stands up to her when she starts showing her hatred towards his cousin--he’s not afraid of her. And he completely hopes she disappears one day to allow his uncle and cousin to be happy.

- Jacov Reyes: Adrien’s cousin. He and Jacov were never close. There was a joke between Archibald and Ezekiel when naming their firstborn sons, but Adrien always thought it was stupid. However, he did like whenever Jacov kept his mom away from Corbyn and him when he was visiting.

- Corbyn Reyes: Adrien’s favourite cousin. The two were always close because of their equal personality to cause mischief and pranks. Even when they were sorted in conflicting houses, the two remained close and always had each other’s backs. Corbyn sees Adrien as a bit of a good mess so to speak. But his cousin’s loyalty and good nature would be what keeps him in good graces. Adrien helps him with the scamming but makes Corbyn promise to never tell anyone, and Corbyn, of course, wouldn't say a word about him helping. He doesn't want anyone to know he needed help in the first place. Adrien is a dog Animagi and Corbyn is a cat. They are Gryffindor and Slytherin. But the two are very close, much like brothers could be. That’s what Adrien sees in Corbyn instead of Jacob, a brother.

- Bernard Longbottom: Adrien’s maternal uncle. Adrien was saddened when he heard that his only uncle passed away. He taught Adrien how to swim and even gave him his first broom on his seventh birthday. Adrien loved his uncle so much that he kept the photo that they took on the lake near his house when Adrien was four years old.

- Augusta Longbottom: Adrien’s maternal aunt. Adrien likes the way she gives mutual attention to both him and Jacob. She can be a little strict and Adrien is always annoyed when she scolds him, telling him to arch his back straighter, but he knows she does it out of love. He does like to see what kind of hat she’ll bring to family lunches – but never makes fun of her. Augusta may be a little severe with her words but Adrien feels wanted around her, so he just sits and listens to whatever she has to complain about – either is the dirt on his shoes or about his messy hair.

- Frank Longbottom: Adrien’s cousin. Not only Adrien was shocked and saddened by what happened to his cousin, but he was also angry and vengeful at the dark wizards and witch who did it. The two might have an age-gap between but that never stopped them from getting along. Frank was always there to give him advice and comfort him through kind words in their exchange of letters. Adrien dutifully visits his cousin and his wife every week during his summer vacation and spends at least two hours with them, talking aimlessly and telling them about his school year.

- Alice Longbottom: Frank’s wife. Adrien liked Alice the moment she met her. She was brave and full of life and Adrien was happy that his cousin had found someone like her. He was saddened by the news of what happened to her, and he always brings a bouquet of flowers for her to keep whenever he visits them in St. Mungus. He has been noticing that Alice does keep the flowers, on a vase near the window. Some of them are already dead but she never allows anyone to trash them.

- Neville Longbottom: Adrien’s second cousin. He hasn’t seen him much, but Adrien promised himself to go visit his aunt Augusta this summer to properly meet the little guy.

Love Interest(s):

- While Adrien technically doesn’t fancy anyone, he has been thinking about Merula a lot nowadays, like how pretty she looked with her usual smug expression or her stupid (not adorable) orange part of her hair.

- He thinks Penny Haywood is very beautiful. Sometimes he has to concentrate not to stutter around her.

- He certainly was caught by Rowan staring at Murphy for too long, Adrien just thinks Murphy’s blabbering is brilliant—and also that his hair is so cool and soft.

Best Friends:

- Rowan Khanna

- Ben Copper

- Penny Haywood

- Tulip Karasu

- Jae Kim

Rival:

- Merula Snyde

- Ismelda Munk

- Jacob Reyes

Enemy: (TBA)

Pets:

- Connor (toad)

- Turner (Cat)

Closest Canon Friends:

- Rowan Khanna

- Ben Copper

- Tulip Karasu

- Nymphadora Tonks

- Penny Haywood

- Bill Weasley

- Skye Parkin

Closest OC Friends:

Closest MC Friends:

- Corbyn Reyes

#adrien reyes #hphm #hphm template #hogwarts mystery #hogwarts mystery mc #harry potter: hogwarts mystery #corbyn reyes #hphm corbyn reyes

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