#multipart: RPC

[siva3155]

300+ TOP SOAP Interview Questions and Answers

SOAP Interview Questions for freshers experienced :-

1. What is SOAP? SOAP, Simple Object Access Protocol is a communication protocol, a way to structure data before transmitting it, is based on XML standard. It is developed to allow communication between applications of different platforms and programming languages via internet. It can use range of protocols such as HTTP, FTP, SMTP, Post office protocal 3(POP3) to carry documents. Http-Get, Http-Post works with name/value pair which means transferring complex object is not possible with these protocols, whereas SOAP serializes complex structure, such as ASP.NET DataSets, complex arrays, custom types and XML nodes before transmitting and thus allows exchange of complex objects between applications. 2. What is SOAP? Explain its purpose. SOAP is the acronym for Simple Object Access Protocol. XML based messages over a network of computers are exchanged by using SOAP standard, using HTTP. SOAP purpose: A web service needs a combination of XML, HTTP and a protocol which is application-specific. A web service uses XML data for exchanging. The weather service, stock quote service, look up service of postal department are all sending XML messages and receiving an XML reply. This is the pattern that dominates the web services. To perform these web services, SOAP is the reliable protocol. 3. What is the function of SMON? The SMON background process performs all system monitoring functions on the oracle database. Each time oracle is re-started, SMON performs a warm start and makes sure that the transactions that were left incomplete at the last shut down are recovered. SMON performs periodic cleanup of temporary segments that are no longer needed. 4. Give examples where SOAP is used. Remote methods over multiple platforms and technologies are used with HTTP. SOAP is XML based protocol and platform-agnostic. Each application uses different technology. This may cause problems with proxy server and firewalls. SOAP is the solution for this situation. Industries transport the request for finding best route and best cost price. So the application transfers a request to other similar services which uses SOAP. 5. What are the advantages of SOAP? The main advantages of SOAP are given below: SOAP has huge collection of protocols SOAP is an platform and independent. SOAP is an language independent. Most important feature of SOAP is that it has Simple and extensible by nature. 6. Can you explain the role of XML in SOAP? XML use by many large companies due to its open source nature. XML is an standard format than it is accepted by many organization. Their is a wide variety of tools are available on shelves which is use to ease the process of transition to SOAP. Significance of XML is that to reduce the speed and efficiency.Future format of XML is binary XML. 7. How can you explain HTTPS in SOAP? We can say that HTTPS is similar to HTTP But the main difference b/w them is that HTTPS has an additional layer underneath the internet application layer which is use to make encrypted data.HTTPS protocol is much better and widely than other protocols like IOP or DCOM because these procols can filtered by firewalls. HTTP protocol provide us security when we want to transfer secured data by using advocates WS-I method. 8. How you define Transport methods in SOAP? If we wanted to transfer messages from one end to another end using with Internet application layer.Using SOAP we can transport many productsfrom one end to another end.To perform this task without any error we use one of SMTP and HTTP protocols(Used in transfering information). 9. How we can say that SOAP is different from traditional RPC? The main difference b/w SOAP and Traditional RPC are given below: In SOAP we used procedures which has named parameters and order is irrelevant Where as in XML-RPC order is relevant and parameters do not have names. 10. What do you mean by ESB? ESB is stands for Enterprise Service Bus. ESB is standard based which is most important component of Service Oriented Architecture(SOA).Using ESB we can connect applications through service interfaces.

SOAP Interview Questions 11. What is the SOAP? SOAP stands for Simple Object Access Protocol. SOAP is an XML-based protocol for exchanging information between two computers over the internet. It enables you to Remote Procedure Calls (RPC) transported via HTTP. Following are the SOAP characteristics. SOAP is for communication between applications SOAP is a format for sending messages SOAP is designed to communicate via Internet SOAP is platform independent SOAP is language independent SOAP is simple and extensible 12. Where is SOAP used? It is used to exchanges the information between two computers over the internet. For this we used the XML in special format to send and receive the Information. 13. Difference between XML and SOAP? XML is language whereas SOAP is protocol. 14. Difference between JSON and SOAP? JSON is standard to represent human-readable data.  SOAP is a protocol specification for transmitting information and calling web services use XML. 15. What are the rules for using SOAP? 16. What is SOAP Envelope Element? 17. What does SOAP Namespace defines? The namespace defines the Envelope as a SOAP Envelope. If a different namespace is used, the application generates an error and discards the message. 18. What is the SOAP encodings? The envelope specified the encoding for the body.  This is a method for structuring the request that is suggested within the SOAP specification, known as the SOAP serialization. It's worth noting that one of the biggest technical complaints against SOAP is that it mixes a specification for message transport with a specification for message structure. 19. What does SOAP encodingStyle Attribute defines? The encodingStyle attribute is used to define the data types used in the document(s). This attribute may appear on any SOAP element, and applies to the element's contents and all child element(s). 20. What are the Different Transport Protocols? SOAP, REST,  SMTP, raw TCP Socket. 21. What is UML? Unified Modeling Language 22. can we send soap messages with attachments. Yes, We can send photos/Audio/video with soap messages as an attahcment. SOAP messages can be attached with MIME extensions that come in multipart/related. It is used to send messages using the binary data with defined rules. The SOAP message is carried in the body part with the structure that is followed by the message of the SOAP. 23. What is the difference between SOAP and other remote access techniques? SOAP is simple to use and it is non-symetrical whereas DCOM or CORBA is highly popular and usually have complexity in them. It also has the symmetrical nature in it. 24. What are the problems faced by users by using SOAP? There is a problem to use this protocol as firewall is a security mechanism that comes in between. This ock all the ports leaving few like HTTP port 80 and the HTTP port is used by SOAP that bypasses the firewall. It is a serious concern as it can pose difficulties for the users. There are ways like SOAP traffic can be filtered from the firewalls. 25. What is Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP)? SOAP acts as a medium to provide basic messaging framework. On these basic messaging frameworks abstract layers are built. It transfers messages across the board in different protocols; it also acts as a medium to transmit XML based messages over the network. 26. Give an example about the functioning of SOAP? Consider a real estate database with huge data ranges. If a user wants to search about a particular term, the message with all the required features such as price, availability, place, etc will be returned to the user in an XML formatted document which the user can integrate into third party site for additional performance. 27. Explain about Remote call procedure? Remote call procedure is considered as a very important function in SOAP. In RCP a user (node) sends a request to another node (server) where the information is processes and sent to the user. It immediately sends message across the network. 28. Explain about Transport methods in SOAP? Internet application layer is used to transfer messages from one end to another end. Various products have been transported successfully from one end to another end using SOAP. Both SMTP and HTTP are two successful transport protocols used in transmitting information, but HTTP has gained good ground than HTTP. 29. Explain about HTTPS in SOAP? HTTPS is similar to HTTP but it has an additional layer underneath the internet application layer which makes the data encrypted. This protocol is widely used than IOP or DCOM because those protocols are filtered by firewalls. HTTPS protocol advocates WS-I method to provide security for transmission of secured data. 30. Explain about the role of XML in SOAP? XML is chosen as a standard format because it was already in use by many large companies and immensely due to its open source nature. A wide variety of tools are available on shelves which ease the process of transition to SOAP. XML can significantly reduce the speed and efficiency but binary XML is being considered as a format for future. 31. What is the difference between RPC and Local calls? An important difference between Remote call procedure and local call is that remote call can fail often and this occurs without the knowledge of the user. Local calls are easily handled. Another main difficulty lies with the code writing capability because it is written in a low level language. 32. What are the elements which should be contained in SOAP message? Following elements are contained in the SOAP message. An envelope element which identifies and translates the XML document into a SOAP message. A header element is a must as it should contain header message. A body is required which should contain call and response message. Fault element is required which can communicate about the errors occurred during the process 33. What about the SOAP Envelope element? A SOAP message will have the SOAP element as the root element. SOAP element name space should always have the value of : as that defines the Envelope. 34. What about the actor element? A SOAP message has to travel a very long distance between its client and server but during the process a part of the message may be intended to be deployed to another destination which is made possible by the SOAP elements actor attribute which address the header element to a particular location. 35. What about the SOAP body element? This part of the element will contain the message which is intended for the ultimate delivery point. An element can be described inside the body element as a default namespace which indicates about the error message during the process. SOAP element acts just like a code to be processed during the execution of a certain application. SOAP Questions and Answers Pdf Download Read the full article

[lupbiy]

分布式系统设计的求生之路

WeTest导读

分布式系统理念渐渐成为了后台架构技术的重要选择，本文介绍了作者在手游领域对分布式系统进行的种种尝试，并在尝试中制定了对服务的定义、整体框架的构建以及服务内部拆分的流程。

前言

业务规模不断扩大，对稳定性、扩展性的要求不断提高，推动了后台架构技术的不断革新。面对日益复杂的需求，分布式系统的理念也逐渐深入到后台开发者的骨髓。2013年，借着手游热潮我对分布式系统开始尝试。在近三年的摸爬滚打中，踩过不少坑，也从业界技术发展中吸取一些经验，逐渐形成了目前的设计思路。这里和大家分享点心得，不敢奢谈有多大参考价值，权当抛砖引玉吧。

1. 失败的首次尝试

最初考虑使用分布式的出发点很简单：解决端游开发时单点结构导致容灾、扩容困难的问题。一种朴素的想法就是将相同功能的进程作为一个整体对外提供服务。这里简要描述下基本框架：

这种架构提供了三个基本组件:

Client API, 服务请求者API:

从 Cluster Center Server 获取服务提供者地址

向Server集群内所有实例注册，注册成功则认为可用

通过负载均衡算法，选择一个Server实例通信

检测Server集群内各实例的运行状态

Server API, 服务提供者API:

向 Cluster Center Server 上报自己的状态、访问地址等

接收 Client API 的注册，并提供服务

向已经注册成功的Client定��汇报状态

Cluster Center Server, 集群中心进程：

接收 Server Cluster 上报，确定服务集群的结构，以及各实例的状态

接收 Client Cluster 的请求，返回可用服务集群列表

这种架构具备了集群的基本雏形，可以满足容灾扩容的基本需求，大家应该也发现不少问题，我这里总结几点：

1. 服务发现的蹩脚实现 Cluster Center Server 的实现是单点，出现故障时Client请求会异常；没有提供监控机制，Client只能通过定时请求来获取服务的最新状况。

2. CS采用Request/Response的通信方式不灵活 现实应用中，服务往往存在相互请求，一应一答远远不够，全双工 是必须要支持的。

3. 有瑕疵的保活机制 Server对Client定期单边心跳，有两个问题：不同Client对保活要求可能不同，有些5s，有些可能1s，如果心跳发起全部在Server，无法满足差异化要求；服务端作为被动方，承担监控请求者存活的责任不明智。

4. 架构设计的层次不清晰 对架构的层次、模块划分没有作出很好的规划，比如通信底层、服务发现、集群探测与保活等等没有清晰定义接口，导致相互耦合，替换、维护较为困难。

2. 看看外面的世界

上述问题，归根结底还是眼界狭窄，自己闷头造轮子没跟上业界技术发展的步伐。近几年微服务架构发展迅速，相比传统面向服务架构不再过分强调企业服务总线，而是深入到单个业务系统内部的组件化。这里我介绍下自己的调研结果。

2.1 服务协同

服务协同是分布式系统一个核心组成部分，概述为：多个进程节点作为整体对外提供服务，服务可以相互发现，服务关注者可以及时获取被关注者的变化以完成协作。具体运行过程包括：服务注册 和 服务发现。在实现上涉及以下方面：

统一命名 对服务以及其中的节点，进行集中式、统一命名，便于相互区分和访问。

监控 确定服务的可用性和状态，当服务状态变化时，关注者要有途径获知。

访问策略 服务通常包含多个节点，以集群形式存在，Client在每次请求时需要策略确定通信节点，策略目标可能是多样的，比如 负载均衡 ，稳定映射 等等。

可用性 容灾处理，动态扩容。

业界中较为成熟的实现如下表所示：

2.2 消息中间件

亦称消息队列，在分布式系统广泛使用，在需要进行网络通信的节点间建立通道，高效可靠地进行平台无关的数据交流。架构上主要分为两种：Broker-Based(代理)，和 Brokerless(无代理)。前者需要部署一个消息转发的中间层，提供二次处理和可靠性保证。后者轻量级，直接在内嵌在通信节点上。业界较为成熟的实现如下表所示：

2.3 通信协议数据格式

服务间通信，需要将数据结构/对象和传输过程中的二进制流做相互转化，一般称为 序列化/反序列化 。不同编程语言或应用场景，对数据结构/对象的定义和实现是不同的。在选择时需要考虑以下方面：

通用性 是否支持跨平台、跨语言；业界是否广泛流行或者支持

可读性 文本流有天然优势，纯粹二进制流如果没有便捷可视化工具，调试将会异常痛苦

性能 空间开销——存储空间的占用；时间开销——序列化/反序列化的快慢

可扩展性 业务的不变之道就是——一直在变，必须具有处理新旧数据之间的兼容性的能力

实现 序列化/反序列化 的组件一般包含：IDL(Interface Description Language), IDL Compiler, Stub/Skeleton。业界目前比较流行的序列化协议有：XML, JSON, ProtoBuf, Thrift, Avro等。关于这几种协议的实现以及比较，可以参考文章 《序列化和反序列化》。这里将原文中的选型结论摘录给大家：

允许高延迟比如100ms以上，内容变更频繁，且复杂的业务，可以考虑基于XML的SOAP协议。

基于Web browser的Ajax，以及Mobile app与服务端之间的通讯；对于性能要求不太高，或者以动态类型语言为主的场景，JSON可以考虑。

对性能和简洁性有极高要求的场景，Protobuf，Thrift，Avro都差不多。

对于Terabyte级别数据持久化应用场景，Protobuf和Avro是首要选择。持久化后的数据若存储在Hadoop子项目里，或以动态类型语言为主，Avro会是更好的选择；非Hadoop项目，以静态类型语言为主，首选Protobuf。

不想造 RPC 的轮子，Thrift可以考虑。

如果序列化之后需要支持不同的传输层协议，或者需要跨防火墙访问的高性能场景，Protobuf可以优先考虑。

3. 重整旗鼓

调研周边后，2015年开搞第二款手游，吸取之前的教训，这次设计的基本原则是：

系统拆分、解耦，清晰定义系统间接口，隐藏系统内部实现

大框架尽可能通用，子系统可在不同场景替换

下面首先对服务定义，然后介绍整体框架和服务内部拆分。

3.1 服务定义

举个手游的例子，看图说话：

Service Cluster 服务集群，由功能相同的实例组成，作为整体对外服务，是一个集合。比如 Lobby 提供大厅服务，Battle 提供战斗服务，Club 提供工会服务，Trade 提供交易服务。

Service Instance 服务实例，提供某种服务功能的最细粒度，以进程形式存在。比如Club 集群中有两个实例 3.2.6.1 和 3.2.6.2 ，功能一致。

Service Node 服务节点，是服务发现组件管理的基本单元，可以是集群、实例、层次关系或者业务关心的含义。

Service Key 服务节点的Key，全局唯一的身份标记。key的设计需要能够体现出层级关系，至少要能够体现出 Cluster 和 Instance 的包含关系。etcd和zookeeper均支持key层次化的组织关系，类似文件系统的树形结构。etcd有mkdir直接建立目录，zookeeper则通过路径描述父子关系。但不管怎么都可以在概念层次使用路径结构 。

上图中，Service Instance 完整路径可描述为:/AppID/Area/Platform/WorldID/GroupID/ClusterName/InstanceName。有以下特点：

集群路径一定是其中各个实例的父路径

从功能完整性而言，集群是服务的基本粒度

相同功能的集群在不同前缀路径下含义不同，服务目标也可以不同，比如: /Example/wechat/android/w_1/g_1/Lobby 和/Example/wechat/android/w_3/g_2/Lobby 功能上均表示大厅服务，但一个为大区1分组1服务，一个为大区3分组2服务

3.2 服务发现基本流程

先抽象几个基本操作，不同服务发现组件的API可能略有差异，但应该有对应功能:

Create 在服务发现组件中创建 Key 对应的 Service Node，指定全局唯一的标记。

Delete 在服务发现组件中删除 Key 对应的节点。

Set 设置 Key 对应的 Value, 安全访问策略或者节点基础属性等。

Get 根据 Key 获取对应节点的数据，如果是父节点可以获取其子节点列表。

Watch 对节点设置监视器，当该节点自身，以及嵌套子节点数据发生变更时，服务发现组件将变更事件主动通知给监视者。

Service Instance 每次在启动时，按照下面的流程处理：

生成自己的 Service Path，注意这是服务实例的路径。

以 Service Path 为key，通过 Create 方法生成节点，Set 数据：对外开放的地址、安全访问策略等。

生成需要访问的服务集群的 Service Path，通过 Get 方法获取集群数据，如果找不到说明该服务不存在；如果可以找到分两种情况：

该路径下没有子节点。说明当前不存在可用的服务实例，对集群路径设置watcher，等待新的可用实例。

该路径下有子节点。那么 Get 所有子节点列表，并进一步 Get 子节点访问方式和其它数据。同时设置 watcher 到集群路径，检测集群是否存在变化，比如新增或减少实例等。

Service Instance 在关闭时，按照下面的流程处理：

通过 Delete 方法删除自己对应的节点。有些服务发现组件可以在实例生命周期结束时自行删除，比如zookeeper的临时节点。对于etcd的目录，或者zookeeper的父路径，如果非空，是无法删除的。

根据上面的抽象可以定义 服务发现 的基本接口，接口的具体实现可以针对不同的组件开发不同的wrapper，但可以和业务解耦。

3.3 服务架构

所有的架构归根结底还是需要具体到进程层次实现的。目前我们项目开发的分布式架构组件称之为 DMS(Distributed Messaging System)，以 DMS Library 的形式提供，集成该库即可实现面向服务的分布式通信。下面是 DMS 设计的总体结构：

关于Serialize/DeSerialize, APP业务的选择自由度较高，下面介绍其它Layer的具体实现：

3.3.1 Message Middleware

消息中间件前面介绍有很多选择。DMS 使用的是 ZeroMQ，出发点是：轻量级、性能���大、偏底层所以灵活而且可控性较高。由此带来的成本是，高级应用场景需要做不少二次开发，而且长达80多页的资料也需要不少时间。介绍ZeroMQ的文章太多，这里不打算科普，所以直接给出设计方案。

通信模式的选择

ZeroMQ的Socket有多种类型，不同组合可以形成不同的通信模式，列举几种常见的：

REQ/REP 一应一答，有请求必须等待回应

PUB/SUB 发布订阅

PUSH/PULL 流水线式处理，上游推数据，下游拉数据

DEALER/ROUTER 全双工异步通信

看到这里，大家可能会觉得选择PUB/SUB和DEALER/ROUTER应该可以满足绝大部分应用场景吧。实际上DMS只使用了一种socket类型，那就是ROUTER，通信模式只有一种ROUTER/ROUTER。一种socket，一种通信模式，听起来很简单，但真可以满足要求吗？

DEALER/ROUTER 是传统异步模式，一方connect，一方bind。前端如果要连接多个后端就得建立多个socket。在前面描述的集群服务模式下，一个节点既会作为Client也会作为Server，会有多条入边（被动接收连接）和出边（主动发起连接）。这正好就是路由的概念，一个ROUTER socket可以建立多条通路，并对每条通路发送或者接收消息。

PUB/SUB 注重的是扩展性和规模，按照ZeroMQ作者的意思当每秒钟需要向上千的节点广播百万条消息时，你应该考虑使用 PUB/SUB 。好吧，可预见的将来业务规模恐怕还到达不到这种程度，现在先把简单放在第一位吧。

3.3.2 DMS Protocol

消息结构

DMS的协议实现集群管理，消息转发等基本功能。ZeroMQ的消息可以由 Frame 组成，一个Frame可以为空也可以是一段字节流，一个完整的消息可以包含多个Frame，称为Multipart Message。基于这种特点，在DMS定义协议，可以将内容拆分为不同的基本单元，每个单元用一个Frame描述，通过单元组合表示不同的含义。这与传统方式：一条协议就是一个结构体，不同单元组合需要定义为一个结构体的方式相比更加灵活。

下面来看看DMS Protocol的基本组成。首帧一定是对端ID。对端接收后也一定会获取信息发送端的ID。第二帧包含DMS控制信息。第三、第四帧等全部是业务自定义的传输信息，仅对REQ-REP有效：

PIDF有两层含义：所在服务集群的标记，自身的实例标记。这些标记与Service Discovery关于节点key的定义保持一致，有两种形式 字符串 与 整型，前者可读方便理解，后者是前者的Hash，提高传输效率。使用伪代码来描述PIDF，大概是下面的样子：

PIDF中的 ClusterID 和 InstanceID 各种取值，会有不同的通信行为:

在连接首次建立时，还需要将可读的服务路径传输给对端:

协议命令字

DMS协议全部在每个消息的第二帧即Control Frame中实现。命令字定义为：

通信流程——建立连接

通过 Service Discovery 找到server后不要立即连接，而是发送探测包。原因有以下几点：

服务发现虽然可以反映节点是否存活，但一般有延迟，所以从服务发现获取的节点仅仅是候选节点。

网络底层机制差异较大，有些基于连接，比如raw socket，有些没有连接，比如shared memory。最好在高层协议中解决连接是否成功。这就好比声纳，投石问路，有回应说明可以连接，没有回应说明目前连接不可用。

通信流程——业务消息发送

普通消息 若 PIDF 表示对端实例和当前进程直接连接，那么发送消息

路由消息 若 PIDF 表示对端实例和当前进程没有直接连接，那么可以通过直连的实例转发。路由机制 后文会介绍

广播消息 若 PIDF InstanceID为负数，则向指定集群内所有实例广播

路由 和 广播 是可以混合使用的。上述过程 DMS 自动完成，业务不必参与，但可以截获干预。

通信流程——保活机制

建立连接后，请求者会持续按照自己的间隔向服务者发送探测包。如果请求者连续若干次没有收到服务者的PONG回包，则请求者认为与服务者的连接已经断开。 如果服务者收到请求者的任何数据包，认为请求者存活，如果超出一定时间没有收到(含PING)，则认为请求者掉线。这个超时时间包含在READY协议中，由请求者告知服务者。

通信流程——连接断开

任何一方收到 DISCONNECT 后，即认为对方主动断开连接，不要再主动向对方进行任何形式的通信。

3.3.3 DMS Kernel

下面介绍 DMS Kernel 如何根据 DMS Protocol 实现相关逻辑，并如何与业务交互。

SERVICE MANAGER

self 确定自身 服务路径，实现服务注册，以及与目标通信链路的注册，供路由表使用

targets 获取并监控目标服务的数据以及运行状态

ACL 访问控制管理

对服务发现层接口进行封装，不同的 SERVICE DISCOVERY 功能可能有所不同

ROUTER MANAGER

每个服务实例在主动成功连接对端服务后，通过 SERVICE MANAGER 将连接以边的形式写入到 SERVICE DISCOVERY 中，这样就会以 邻接边 的形式生成一张完整的图结构，也就是routing table。比如: Service 1 和 Service 2，Service 3，Service 4 均有连接，那么将边(1,2)，(1,3)，(1,4) 记录下来。SERVICE DISCOVERY 关于路由邻接链表的记录可以使用公共的key，比如: /AppID/Area/Platform/routing_table 。然后所有的服务实例都可以更新、访问该路径以便获得一致的路由表。基础功能有两个：

Updater 用于向路由表中添加边，删除边，设置边的属性（比如权重），并对边的变化进行监控

Calculator 根据邻接边形成的 图结构 计算路由，出发点是当前实例，给定目标点判断目标是否可达，如果可达确定路径并传输给下一个节点转发。默认选择 Dijkstra 算法，业务可以定制。

CONNECTION MANAGER

管理 Frontends 即前端请求进入的连接，和 Backends 即向后端主动发起的连接。Backends的目标来源于 Service Manager。

Sentinel 对前端发起的连接，通过 READY 协议，可以获取该连接的失活标准，并通过前端主动包来判断进入连接是否存活。如果失活，将该连接置为断开状态，不再向对应前端主动发包。

Prober 对后端服务进行连接建立和连接保活。

Dispatcher 消息发送时用于确定通信对端实例。连接是基于实例的，但是业务一般都是面向服务集群的，所以Dispathcer 需要实现一定的分配机制，将消息转发给 服务集群中的某个 具体实例 。注意这里仅只存在直接连接的单播。分配时应考虑 负载均衡 默认使用一致性哈希算法，业务完全可以根据具体应用场景自定义。

3.3.4 DMS Interface

DMS API 是DMS对业务提供的服务接口，可以管理服务、通信等基本功能；

DMS APP Interface 是DMS要求业务必须实现的接口比如：Dispatcher 的负载均衡策略，对端服务状态变化通知，以及业务自定义 路由算法 等等。

3.4 应用场景

下面罗列DMS三大类典型应用场景，其它场景应该可以通过这三个例子组合实现：

无Broker通信

最基础的通信方式——两个集群之间的 Instance 全连接，适合服务数量不多、逻辑不复杂的简单业务。

Broker通信

对于一个内部聚合的子系统，可能包含N个服务，这些服务之间相互存在较强的交互行为。如果使用无Broker模式可能有两个问题：链路过多：通信层的内存占用较大；运维维护困难；服务没有解耦，直接依赖于对端的存在； 这时Broker集群可以承担消息中转的作用，而且可以完成一些集中式逻辑处理。注意这里Broker只是一个名字，通过 DMS Library 可以直接实现。

Broker级联通信

多个子系统相互通信，估计没有设计者愿意把内部细节完全暴露给对方，这时两个Broker集群就相当于门户：首先可以实现内部子系统相互通信，以及集中逻辑；其次，可以作为所处子系统的对外接口，屏蔽细节。这样不同子系统只需通过各自的Broker集群对外提供服务即可。

总结

本文主要介绍了 DMS 的几个基础结构：服务发现、消息中间件以及通信架构。基本思想是：框架分层、层级之间接口清晰定义，以便在不同场景下使用不同的具体实现进行替换。其中 zookeeper，ZeroMQ 只是举例说明当前的一种实现方式，在不同场景下可以选择不同组件，只要满足接口即可。

分布式系统设计的求生之路，首发于文章 - 伯乐在线。

[champhangman]

Recipe for a Perfect Christmas - Part 8

Title: Recipe for a Perfect Christmas Part: 8/12 Theme: Day #8: Fireplace / Stockings Fandom / Character(s): AEW / Nick Jackson x OFC Warnings: Explicit unprotected sex (finally, some people probably say) Word Count: 5,681 Soundtrack: Spotify Previously: Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six | Part Seven | Summary: In the space of six months, Natalie Gibbs lost her fiancé, her job, her apartment, and what little bit of cheer she had. Moving back home after being on her own for years, she hopes to get back on her feet after the holidays. But a nosy best friend, a stubborn coot of a father, and a handsome new neighbor might change her plans, her holidays, and her life. Notes: My entry for day 8 of @12daysofchristmas

The Tag Crew:  @adampage / @cowboyshit / @lilmisswhiskeygypsy /  @bigpixiefoot / @mindofasagittaruis / @kalliravenne / @sadlittlecountess / @baronsbelleevangeline / @brie-mode-activated / @xbreezymeadowsx / @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch / @wardl0w / @hotyeehawman / @waywardwrestlewritingwaif / @drewshoneybadger  / @mysteryoflovve / @knnyomega / @rampagewriting / @hurricanranabaybay / @linziland13 / @bastardkingbrutalizer /  @snarkandsarcasmftw / @rubyred1980 / @champnick / @edgecution / @nething4perfection / (please drop me an ask/send me a message/reply to my post if you’d like to be tagged)

***

Part 8 – And Then I Fell

"The number you have called…"

Natalie groaned and ended the call, scowling as she leaned to plug it into the charger. "He still won't answer."

"I'm sure he's fine," her father said, not looking up from his book.

Turning to scowl at him, she softened when she saw Penny curled up next to him on the couch, her head resting on his lap. During the week she had forced him to stay home and rest, he had discovered he liked stretching out on the couch, especially when the dog came for a visit. He had said the uncomplicated company of the dog had helped him feel better. Natalie wasn't sure if it was Penny or the rest, but he had bounced back to almost normal, resuming his morning duties at the bakery and not being quite as grouchy in the evenings.

"He always answers, though," she pointed out. Feeling restless, she crossed to look out the front window. Though it was past sunset, she could see the trees swaying in the increasing winds and the steady fall of snow. The across-the-street neighbors had put their exterior lights up that day and she watched them bounce and sway as the cedar they were wrapped around bent with the wind. The storm was supposed to have only lasted the afternoon but it had stalled after passing Halifax. She could see the cars starting to turn white, as well as the driveway and walk. The sky lit above and she gasped as, seconds later she heard the faint rumble of thunder.

"Thundersnow?" Leonard asked, glancing up from his book.

"Yeah," she said, letting the curtain fall back. The wind seemed to pick up, straining against the windows, and she shivered despite the warmth of the living room. "I hope it ends soon."

"The thunder? Or the snow?"

"All of it." Natalie picked up his empty mug. "Do you want more coffee?"

"Make a pot of tea," he requested, slipping the postcard from Hawaii he'd gotten from his cousin between the pages of his book. He set it aside and reached to rub Penny when she squeezed closer to him. "And you should probably check the soup."

"Right." She should probably check other things, too. If the storm got bad, the power would go out. She wasn't worried about the cold. Years ago when her parents had upgraded their heating from the baseboard propane heaters to central heating, her father had kept the baseboard heat installed and had it regularly serviced to make sure it was in proper working order. They wouldn't freeze. But she had to go down to the basement and make sure the furnace was working, and she had to slip outside to get some firewood for the fireplace in the living room. And she had to get out the candles and kerosene lamps. And—

Her phone began to ring and she nearly threw the coffee mug aside. Grateful it was empty, she tightened her grip on it and rushed to get her phone from the end table. She hated that she sighed, disgruntled, upon seeing it was Ashley and not Nick. Unplugging the phone, she answered the call and headed into the kitchen. "Hey, Ash."

"Just checking in. You guys okay?"

"Yeah, we're fine. Things okay out there?" she asked, setting the mug in the sink and reaching for the kettle.

"The horses are all cozy in their stalls, the barn is battened down, and Adam's pacing like the nervous wreck he is." Ashley let out a soft laugh. "He's really not, he's outside triple-checking the generator."

"Does he think the power's gonna go out?" Natalie filled the kettle and carried it to the stove.

"It's blinked here a couple times, so it probably will. If this stupid storm would just go away…" Ashley groaned. "We'll be fine. Adam said he can come out there if you need help getting Lenny's furnace going."

Natalie opened her mouth to say she was sure it was already working, and sighed when her father called out from the living room.

"Tell Adam the furnace is already on, we won't freeze!"

"Dad said to tell Adam—"

"I heard him. I won't keep you, I just—"

"Have y'all heard from Nick?"

Ashley paused. "I haven't. I'll ask Adam when he comes in. Why?"

"He came by this afternoon with Penny and said he'd be back to get her before dark." Natalie switched on the stove before lifting the lid off the pot of soup she'd made for dinner. "He had to run errands, but we haven't heard from him since he left."

"I'm sure he's fine," Ashley said automatically.

"I know, I am too, I just…"

"Worry about him because you're a little bit in love with him."

Natalie set the lid down with force. "I'm not—"

"Gonna tell me the sun's shining, too?"

"If you guys hear from him can you let me know?" she requested.

"Of course. But I'm sure he's fine. The traffic is probably bad because of the snow so he's being careful. I doubt he has his phone in his hand the whole time he's in the car. Y'know, like I do."

Natalie snorted on a laugh. "How many tickets have you gotten for that now?"

"That's not important," Ashley said quickly. "Okay, I'll – Hey babe, have you heard from Nick?"

She could heard Adam's negative reply, muffled, then Lucas chattering. Deflated a little, she moved to gather mugs and the tea. "I figured he hadn't."

"Adam said don't worry."

"I'm not worried."

"Adam said stop lying."

"I'm not—"

"Adam said yes you are."

"Adam ain't said shit," Adam protested in the background. "All I said was what's for dinner?"

Natalie laughed. "Go feed your husband."

"The feminist in my wants to say he can feed himself, but the realist in me knows he'd destroy the kitchen in the process. I'll call you tomorrow. Give Lenny our love."

The call ended before Natalie could reply. While waiting for the kettle to start whistling, she tried Nick again, worry increasing when it rolled to his voicemail. She thought about texting him, but he wasn't big on texting. Sighing, she typed out a quick one to him anyway, keeping the message short and trying not to come across as a worrywart.

It's getting pretty bad here. Just checking to make sure you're okay. Call me?

After she sent it she realized she definitely sounded like a worrywart. Sighing, she pushed the phone into her jeans and drummed her fingers against the countertop.

She and her father ate dinner in the living room. A rare occasion, but the crackling fire was warming and the old Christmas movie playing on TV was comforting. The soup and rolls were filling, and she brought out the brownies she had baked that afternoon. She whipped together some bland chicken and rice and vegetables for Penny, who had followed her to and from the kitchen with an eager expression on her face.

The winds rose, rattling the windows, and she had just finished the dishes when the lights went out.

"It's okay," she crooned softly to Penny when the dog whined. "Everything's alright."

Still no word from Nick. She hadn't been really worried, just a little concerned, but now she truly began to worry. What if he'd had an accident? What if he were stuck in a ditch, injured and not seen because of the snow falling?

Everything's alright, she told herself while lighting candles and two hurricane lamps in the living room. Her father got up and turned on the baseboard then went upstairs to change into pajamas and take his nightly medicine. Natalie busied herself with getting blankets and pillows for the couches, knowing they would camp out in the living room. She tried to get Penny to go outside but the dog shied away from the gust of wind that sent snowflakes swirling through the back door. Standing there, starting to shiver, she looked out at the dying storm and her worry increased.

"I'm going to see if Nick's at home," she announced when her father came downstairs. She had already added an extra layer of clothes and put on her thickest, warmest coat, her boots, and was wrapping a scarf around her neck.

"Natalie, sweetie…" Her father frowned.

"I won't be able to relax until I do." She jammed a hat down over her head and reached for her gloves. "His phone might have died and he can't call."

Leonard sighed. "Take your phone."

"I've got it. I'll call you when I get there."

He nodded. "And be careful."

"I will." She picked up the thermos of coffee she'd prepared. "Penny doesn't want to go out in this, so—"

"She's a smart girl," he said, smiling fondly at the dog waiting for him in the doorway of the living room.

Natalie rolled her eyes. "There's coffee if you want some. I made a pot right before the lights went out."

"Hurry along," her father said. "Call me."

"I will," she promised, heading for the door.

The winds had died down but the snow was still falling. It hit her cheeks like shards of glass and she realized there was sleet mixed in. Her boots crunched through the snow and she twice considered turning back to the warmth of home, but her worry drove her forward. There was absolute silence, broken only by someone's generator, and she had to use a flashlight to see her way along the two blocks to the yellow Victorian. It and the rest of the houses along Halifax Street were dark, though through some windows along her trek she could see the faint glow of candles or camp lights. Nick's house – Matt's, she corrected – was completely dark. She was relieved to see his truck in the driveway and ignored the light in the back yard of the house next door, climbing the snow-covered steps to the front porch.

Next door she heard a chainsaw roar to life. Looking over while knocking on the door, she saw that the back yard was lit by car headlights, illuminating a tree that had fallen, some of its thick branches crumpled against the roof of the detached garage. Knocking again, louder, she winced as the saw began to grind through limbs, accompanied by the crackling as the heavy limbs and branches fell to the ground.

"Come on," she muttered under her breath when her knocks remained unanswered. There was no way he was asleep. She tried to peer through the beveled windows on either side of the door but could see nothing of the interior.

The saw died and she heard male voices. Recognizing one, she nearly dropped the thermos and spun to face the house next door. Of course he was next door, helping his brother's neighbor. She left the thermos by the door and headed over, suddenly understanding and knowing what he had done.

And when she rounded the back corner of the house and he saw her, grin obvious in spite of the scarf shielding the bottom half of his face, she felt weak with relief.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, breathless, after crossing the yard to her. His brow furrowed with worry. "Is everything okay with Lenny?"

"He's fine," she promised, reaching to brush sawdust from the sleeves of his coat. "I was worried about you when you didn't answer my calls."

He sighed. "My phone died on the way back from Fairview. I don't have a charger in the truck. Then when I got here, the power was out, and then George's tree fell, and—"

"And you were only worried about lending a hand," she finished with understanding.

"We're working to get it off the garage." Nick glanced over his shoulder. "Won't be much longer, then I'll take you home, okay?"

"I can—"

"Can you start the fire in the living room for me?" he asked, pulling off a glove and reaching into his pocket. His keys jangled as he handed them over. "It's already set, you just need to light it."

"Of course. I brought you some coffee."

His eyes crinkled. "Great. I'll be over in a few minutes." His bare hand grazed her cheek briefly. "Get inside and warm up."

She nodded, then waved to George before heading back next door.

She took off her boots after getting inside then felt like a burglar, tiptoeing in her socks through the house in the dark. After lighting the fire she began peeling off her gloves, hat, and scarf, holding her hands close to the flames before venturing into the kitchen. She got a mug, sugar and creamer to carry to the living room, then found a jarred candle to light. Wondering if he'd eaten dinner, she was about to check for something she could warm by the fire when she saw a crumpled fast food bag on the counter, next to his dead phone and a stack of receipts.

There was a thump at the back door and she rushed to open it, stepping back as Nick entered. "The fire's going," she said, taking his scarf and hat as he removed them. "I'll fix you a cup of coffee."

"Thanks," he whispered, unzipping his coat.

He smelled of snow and wood. After he tossed his coat over the back of the old chair near the door the faint scent of gasoline disappeared, and she walked in front of him to the living room.

***

The fire gave off heat that warmed his chilled hands and face. The coffee was still hot, warming his stomach, and he chuckled when she got up to get herself a cup from the kitchen. While she was gone he found the bag of candles Shayna had brought down to go on the dining room table, making a mental note to replace them before she came down again. The silver candelabras were wrapped in bubble wrap and the sound of the plastic ripping sounded obnoxiously loud to his ears.

"You did eat, didn't you?" Natalie asked as she returned, empty cup in hand.

"Yeah, I had a burger and fries." Though he had a standing invitation to dinner at the Gibbs house, his plan had been to stop home and plug in his phone then go pick up Penny before the storm got worse. But he had got caught in the worst of it on the highway, forced to drive at a snail's pace. "I'm sorry. I should have stopped somewhere and bought a charger or—"

"It's fine," she promised, kneeling in front of the fire to fix her coffee. She moved the sugar, creamer, and thermos to the side of the hearth and sat back on her heels. "I'm just glad you're okay."

"Worried I was in a ditch, huh?" He chuckled, intending it to be teasing, but felt her tense from across the room. Frowning, he carried the candelabras to the coffee table and picked up the matches to light the candles. "I'm sorry, Natalie."

"No, it's fine," she said softly, looking at the fire. "I just… Yes, I was worried about you."

He nodded and lit the candles, tossing the spent match into the fire. They gave off plenty of light, but he couldn't let himself focus on how the glow of them made her hair lustrous, or how when she looked at him her eyes were luminous with the flames from the fireplace. Sitting next to her on the plush rug he'd put down that morning, he watched her sip her coffee carefully. "How did your mother—"

"Car accident." Her grip on the handle of the mug grew white-knuckled. "She was on her way to Halifax to do Christmas shopping."

No wonder the holidays were so hard for her. Sighing, he looked at the glowing logs. "I'm sorry."

"Another driver hit a patch of ice and skidded, and…" She looked down, as though the coffee in her cup held the secret of how to not hurt over the memory.

"I shouldn't have joked about being in a ditch," he murmured.

"You didn't know." She lifted her head and he heard her draw a breath. "You know where the interstate goes over the White Beck? And just before you get to it there's the drop-off?"

"Yeah."

"She went through the guardrail right there." She took a sip of coffee then set the mug on the hearth. "I always close my eyes when I drive by that spot."

"I don't blame you."

"The police and medical examiner… They said she was gone before the car got to the bottom. I know they meant it to make me feel a little better or whatever, because she didn't suffer, but…"

"It's okay," he murmured when she broke off into a sigh.

"I miss her. They always say time heals wounds but it doesn't. Like, I know she's gone. I saw her. In the casket. But when I go downstairs in the morning and step into the kitchen a part of me expects to see her there, pouring orange juice or making bread. When I go to the bakery, I wait for her to come out of the back wearing her dirty apron and smiling."

"I do that," he said softly, warmed when she moved closer and he could slip his arm around her. Drawing her to him, he pressed a kiss into her hair once her head nestled against his chest. "My grandma. I loved her. Still do, really. I was close to her, closer than Matt was or any of my cousins. I'd go stay at her house on weekends, even when I was a teenager. It was… Nice there. It was nice at home, too, but just a little bit nicer there."

"Was she one of those grandmas that cooked all day and knitted?" she asked. Her arms tucked around his middle and he felt her smile.

"No." He laughed softly at the memories of his unique grandmother. "She ran a motorcycle shop."

"You're kidding." Natalie laughed. "Nanny's Cycles?"

"Actually it was Sadie's Cycles," he corrected. "Her and my step-grandpa did custom work."

"I'm picturing a total badass older lady in all leather."

"Yeah, that was her. The anti-nanny." Grinning now, he squeezed her close briefly. "She ran the shop and was the queen of takeout. I was a shy, quiet kid, and she taught me everything I know."

"Everything?"

"Everything about engines and plumbing and wiring. Her second husband didn't know how to do anything but the stuff in the shop, and she taught herself how to fix things around the house. She taught me as I got old enough to hold the tools."

"She sounds amazing."

"She was. The point is… I still look for her when I'm back home. I go out to my parents' and wait for her to roll up on her Harley. I drive by her old shop and look for her, even though it's a tire place now. And if I get a pizza, I wish she was there to share it with."

"I wish I could have met her, she sounds amazing."

"Do you knit?" he asked suddenly.

She pulled back, looking up at him with confusion etched in her features. "I do. Not much, usually scarves, and last year I knitted a pair of socks for Dad. Why?"

"She would have loved you." Because she had been fascinated by anyone who could do the quintessential domestic duties. Cooking, baking, knitting, decorating… She really would have loved Natalie for her ability to do all that. She would have loved her for other reasons too, he thought, smoothing a lock of hair behind her ear.

"How did she pass?" she asked in a whisper. "If it's too painful, you don't have to—"

"She died in her sleep. Heart attack." He sighed, recalling the dread and anger and shock that had set in when his mother had called to tell him the news. He couldn't remember telling his boss at the burger joint that he had to go, or the drive home, just walking into his house and into his mother's arms. The subsequent days would forever be a blur of family and friends and flowers. Sadness, but also the joy of sharing memories. "She was probably mad about it. She always said she wanted to go out in a blaze of glory."

Natalie's lips curved. "How long ago?"

"I was sixteen, so it's been almost fifteen years. I wish I could tell you the pain goes away. I know it's not the same – she was my grandmother, you lost your mother. But it gets easier."

"It's been ten years. It's gotten a little easier, but I still want to call her or hear her voice when something goes wrong or I'm excited."

"That doesn't go away," he whispered sadly. Even now, so many years later, he would reach for his phone to call his grandmother to ask her opinion on a job he was doing. Sometimes he got so far as to scroll through his contacts looking for her name before he remembered. Once in a while he would call his mother with the intention of getting his grandmother's number, only to remember when he heard his mom's voice that Sadie was gone.

"Sorry I brought up depressing things," she murmured after a moment. She squeezed his middle. Then leaned up to press a kiss to his cheek. "I just – Oh god, I forgot!"

"What?" he grunted, wincing when she pushed away briskly. Reaching for his coffee, he watched her crawl over to the couch, where her coat was.

"Dad. I told him I'd call him when I got here. He's probably worrying—" Pulling out her phone, she snorted when it began to ring. "And there he is! Hey, Dad, sorry…"

Nick half-listened as she explained the reasons behind his not showing up. He thought she exaggerated a little about the tree on George's garage and lifted his eyebrows when she said they were still working and that she was going to start a fire. Keeping silent as she ended the call with a groan of laughter, he waited until she had tossed her phone back onto the couch. He leaned against the hearth, eyes watching her every move as she unzipped the thick hoodie she wore and shrugged it off, then followed her hand when she reached for the buffalo plaid blanket draped over the back of the couch.

She brought it back over with her, spreading it over her lap after she set, and looked at him with a soft smile. "He's glad you're okay."

"Am I okay? I thought I was still outside helping George," he said, flicking the corner of the blanket towards her.

Her cheeks colored. "Yeah… Sorry about that." She cleared her throat and picked up her cup. "I'm just not ready to leave."

"Oh?" He smiled.

"It's nice. Sitting in front of the fire with you and talking? It's more than nice. And if I told him things were fine he would have started—" Natalie cut off with a brief scowl. "Actually he said…"

"What?" he chuckled when she groaned.

"He said to tell you I like my eggs scrambled," she muttered.

"Well…" He cleared his throat, tongue darting over his lips when she tossed the edge of the blanket over his legs. "…Do you?"

"I prefer them over easy, but he can't cook them that way without busting the yolks." A giggle escaped when he caught her hand and pulled her to him.

"I can do sunny side up," he offered.

"Mm, perfect." She moved into his lap and their sigh was mutual as their lips met in a quick kiss.

"I can't cook bacon worth a damn though," he warned, hands sliding to her waist.

"I'll cook the bacon?" Her fingers swept over his jaw and cupped the back of his neck.

"Perfect," Nick agreed with a grin.

***

She had no idea how much time, exactly, passed as she and Nick kissed. Long enough for the fire to die down just a little. Long enough for her to grow overly warm. Long enough for her to push the blanket away and begin tugging the hem of his plaid flannel from the waistband of his jeans. She slipped her fingers beneath once it was free, nudging them beneath the soft cotton of his undershirt so she could feel the heat of his skin.

"I didn't plan this," he whispered between kisses. Hands sweeping down her sides, he caught her by the hips and brought her closer, sighing against her lips when her arms wrapped around him.

"Neither did I." Her skin was warm but goosebumps rose on her arms as his fingers danced to the small of her back. "I really came just to check on you."

"I'm glad you did." He broke his mouth free of hers and dipped his head to kiss her throat, clutching her to him while he guided her down onto the rug.

She had hoped their first time together would be in a bed, but she was too impatient to wait even the few moments needed to get candles and go upstairs. Later, she decided, fingers finding the band holding his hair back. They could go upstairs later. Pulling the band free, she sighed as his silken hair spilled forward, briefly shielding her from the light of the fire. His lips were on hers again and she forgot about beds entirely, sandwiched between him and the plush rug.

He pulled back, gently shushing when she whined. She stared up at him, licking her lips as the firelight danced on face skin. His left side was in full light, the glow of the candles flickering along his right. She enjoyed the contrast and was about to sit up for another kiss when he began unbuttoning his shirt. She boosted up enough to wriggle out of her sweater and tossed it aside, hands moving to his waist and guiding the long-sleeved shirt he wore up his torso. He yanked it over his head then his lips were on hers, fingers slipping beneath the waistband of her fleece-lined leggings. She reached to push them down, getting them just past her hips when one finger traced the band of her panties.

The kiss grew desperate. Natalie gripped his shoulders, his back, her urgent cries dying against his tongue as he teased and delved. The logs in the fire shifted and she heard them snap and crackle. His fingers dipped lower, and when his thumb began to strum her clit she broke the kiss with a needy cry. "Nick…"

"Off," he whispered, pulling his hand from her pants with a groan. She watched, panting, as he sucked the wet from his fingers, and fell back on the plush rug when he reached for the waistband of her leggings. Her hips lifted and she let out a shaky gasp as they were peeled down then tossed aside. Then he was reaching for his belt.

She sat up, pushing his hands away so she could do it. Her lips met his in a needy kiss and though she wanted to, she found she couldn't pull away to drink in the sight of him after she unfastened his jeans and pushed them down. Settling on exploring with her hands, she hummed into his mouth while her fingers wrapped around his cock, swallowed his little groan as she began stroking him gently. His hands tugged at her bra and she whined when she was forced to let go of him long enough for him to drag the straps down her arms.

"Fuck," he breathed, hands grasping her thighs and squeezing.

"Yeah," she gasped. Her hips squirmed closer. She was slick – his fingers had made sure of that – and when she had wriggled close enough to feel the tip of him glide along her slit, she moaned.

He whispered his name, a faint plea, fingers digging into her flesh as he shifted so she straddled his lap fully. He leaned back, breath hissing between his teeth, his eyes blazing brighter than the fire.

"Oh god," she moaned raggedly as she sank down on him, hands flying to his shoulders. He filled her, stretched her, sending ripples of delight through her that made her toes curl and her thighs shake. Nick didn't rush her, hands gripping and stroking as she shivered through the sensations. She unclenched her fingers from his shoulders and found his lips for a kiss, rolling her hips slowly.

"Yeah, nice and slow," he whispered. His palms glided up her sides, thumbs reaching to stroke the outer curves of her breasts. She watched his tongue dart over his lips as he leaned back slightly. Then his fingers were gently pinching and pulling at her nipples, tugging until she was whining.

"Nick," she gasped, grasping his wrists. Her hips rolled faster and she pushed down hard, need beginning to take over. She felt and heard herself grow wetter, then his low grown that signaled he'd felt it, too. Letting go of him, she focused on keeping her motions slow, ignoring the urge to bounce wildly.

His hands dropped to her thighs, landing heavy, stinging lightly. He squeezed, nails scraping, then pushed her thighs further apart. He released a harsh breath and she waited for him to lie back and continue giving her full control. One hand drifted upward and his eyes lit as the tips of his fingers grazed her clit and she squeezed her thighs together, pushing her hips forward to increase the pressure.

Then, in a blur, she was on her back. He was over her, expression intense and strained, her name a faint growl just as his lips met hers. In the brief moment of clarity she registered the juxtaposition of his tender kiss and the frantic, almost rough thrusts of his hips. Delight ripped through her, lifted her hips from the rug, sent one of her arms straight above her head, fingers clawing for purchase. A shriek tore from her throat, died in his mouth as his hand found hers. His fingers wedged between hers and squeeze, his hips never faltering their rhythm. Strumming her clit, he moaned when she trembled. Following as she shook and squirmed, he pushed harder, lips sliding to her cheek.

"C'mon," he whispered, hot and breathless. "C'mon, honey…"

"Yeah… I'm close," she panted, tightening her hold on his hand. Squeezing her legs around him, she tipped her head back, trying to snatch in a breath.

His hips shifted, sending him deeper, and his resulting moan made her weak. Head tipping back, she rolled beneath him, the faint understanding that it never felt this intense and wonderful before slipping to the back of her mind. The stubble on his jaw scraped her skin as his lips dragged down the side of her neck and she gulped in the bit of air she could manage, drinking in the scent of him.

"Oh my god oh my god oh my god," she whined. Her legs locked, muscles straining, and she heard his small sound of delight as her hips shoved upward. One second ecstasy was just out of reach and the next it was ripping through her, constricting her body then shaking it, forcing her lips to part and yanking a disjointed cry from her throat.

"Oh god," he moaned, low and deep, in her ear as she continued to shake. His thrusts grew irregular, harder, then suddenly he was a bundle of tension above her. She could feel the delight flow throughout his body, felt his cock pulse as he panted and moaned. Humming as he flooded her with searing heat, she parted her lips for his fervent kiss. A whine escaped when his fingers slid, trembling, to her hip, felt the shaking in his arm as it slipped around her, holding her to him.

Once the pulse in her ears slowed, she could hear the crackling of the fire. There was a distant, steady hum, and as the kiss grew tender she realized her ears were ringing. Her body was weak, covered in their sweat, and after his hand released hers she painstakingly lifted it to drape it around him. "Mm," she hummed when he sighed.

Nick lifted up slowly, still panting, hair shining in the glow of the candles and the fire. Moaning as their flesh peeled away, he swept his hand from her hip to her face, thumb tracing her bottom lip. He didn't speak, merely stared into her eyes, and she thought she could read the emotion in his gaze. Licking his lips when she lowered her legs to the rug, he eased his hips back with a soft hiss.

She rolled to face him as he lay next to her, watching the firelight play on his face and highlight the sheen of sweat on his chest. He pushed his hair back, lips tilting into a smile, and she felt her heart skip at least four beats.

"Yeah?" he whispered when she smiled.

"Yeah," she echoed.

"You're beautiful, by the way," he murmured, stretching out his arm to grab the blanket.

"So are you," she said honestly, sighing as he brought the blanket over their bodies. His arm slipped under her, cradling her neck and she wiggled closer, enjoying the sensation of him smoothing her hair back.

"You are staying all night, right?" he asked after a moment.

"Mmhmm." She couldn't move if she wanted to. And she didn't want to. Ever, really, but more urgently, she didn't want to move right then. She wanted to feel the heat of his body against hers. The steady pounding of his heart beneath her ear. His hand in her hair. His lips on her forehead.

"For breakfast?"

She laughed, slow and with a groan, and lifted her head. "For you."

He grinned and it took her breath away all over again.

#aew #nick jackson #aew fanfiction #nick jackson fanfiction #my fics #multipart: RPC #proofread? i don't know her #edit? i don't know her either #12daysofchristmas

[champhangman]

Recipe for a Perfect Christmas - Part 9

Title: Recipe for a Perfect Christmas Part: 9/12 Theme: Day #9: Tree / Decorating Fandom / Character(s): AEW / Nick Jackson x OFC Warnings: None. A little cursing? Word Count: 4,585 Soundtrack: Spotify Previously: Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six | Part Seven | Part Eight | Summary: In the space of six months, Natalie Gibbs lost her fiancé, her job, her apartment, and what little bit of cheer she had. Moving back home after being on her own for years, she hopes to get back on her feet after the holidays. But a nosy best friend, a stubborn coot of a father, and a handsome new neighbor might change her plans, her holidays, and her life. Notes: My entry for day 9 of @12daysofchristmas

The Tag Crew:  @adampage / @cowboyshit / @lilmisswhiskeygypsy /  @bigpixiefoot / @mindofasagittaruis / @kalliravenne / @sadlittlecountess / @baronsbelleevangeline / @brie-mode-activated / @xbreezymeadowsx / @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch / @wardl0w / @hotyeehawman / @waywardwrestlewritingwaif / @drewshoneybadger  / @mysteryoflovve / @knnyomega / @rampagewriting / @hurricanranabaybay / @linziland13 / @bastardkingbrutalizer /  @snarkandsarcasmftw / @rubyred1980 / @champnick / @edgecution / @nething4perfection / (please drop me an ask/send me a message/reply to my post if you’d like to be tagged)

***

Part 9 – Grown A Little Colder

Natalie stared at the long box sitting in the foyer while the UPS driver walked, whistling, towards his big brown truck. Confused, she found enough clarity to shut the front door then turned and continued to stare at the box. Along the side, in bold letters, were the words that told her what the box contained, but she couldn't quite believe it. It was addressed to her father, who hated artificial trees, so there had to be some sort of mistake.

Sighing, she pulled out her phone and checked the time. Just after eleven, which meant he would be leaving the bakery in about an hour. Thursdays were half-days for some reason she had never understood. She wouldn't bother him at work. She would wait until he got home and start questioning him. There had to be a logical explanation. He'd bought it as a gift for someone? He was going to put it up outside? He'd bought it for the bakery – No, that couldn't be it, there was already a tree up at the bakery. She and Kris had decorated the previous day, Kris going so far as to make paper Santa hats to go on the photos on the walls.

She gave her head a shake and pushed the box out of the walkway. Maybe he had bought it because when they'd gone to buy a real tree he hadn't liked any of the ones available. She had thought the plan was that they'd go out to the tree farm outside Fairview and pick one out there. Pushing the boxed tree out of her mind, she went upstairs to get laundry. She was distracted by her laptop, which sat on her old desk mocking her for not opening it but once since she'd gotten to Bells Creek. With a sigh, she picked it up and sat on the bed, ignoring the urge to go to Facebook and take a peek at life in Halifax.

It wasn't as though anyone from there had done more than send her two or three texts in the first couple weeks to see how she was. She had hoped someone would think of her if they heard of a job opening that fit her skills, but either there were none or no one had thought of her. Going to sites with job listings, she began clicking through page after page and grew more and more disheartened. The jobs that were available required more experience than she had, or more education that she'd attained. And all would require her to move to Halifax, Richmond, Charlottesville, D.C., Atlanta, New York…

Did she want to move?

Before she could ponder that question, her phone began to ring. She pulled it out and smiled at the sight of Nick's name.

She wasn't sure she wanted to move.

"Hey," she greeted after accepting the call. "Working hard?"

"Not anymore," he quipped with a chuckle. "I just put in the last strip of baseboard in the master bedroom."

"Really?" The news cheered her. This meant the house was officially finished in time for Matt and Shayna and the kids to move down for Christmas. She knew it would be a wonderful surprise for them, because Nick had said he'd told them it wouldn't be ready until right before New Year's.

"Yep. It's done." He gave a tired, relieved sigh. "I gotta clean and finish getting the decorations up, but it's done. I'll do that today hopefully then surprise them tomorrow when they come down."

"That's great, Nick," she enthused, closing the laptop and shoving it aside. She didn't want to relocate.

"I was thinking…"

"Oh?" she asked when his voice faded and she heard him clear his throat. "You didn't hurt yourself did you?"

"Ha-ha," he muttered.

"What were you thinking?"

"We should celebrate."

"Celebrate what? You finishing the house?"

"Yeah. Maybe dinner? I could cook for you."

"Sunnyside up eggs and toast?" she asked with a grin.

"I can cook more than that," he said. "Nothing fancy."

"I don't like fancy."

"Then I'm definitely your guy." His grin was evident in his voice.

Her guy. She liked that. "Dinner sounds great. What time?"

"You can come over whenever. I'm kinda hoping you'll take pity on me and help me with the decorating."

Natalie laughed. "So dinner's payment."

"And celebration."

"I'll be there in a few hours. Dad will be home in a little bit so I'm gonna make sure he eats a proper lunch and I have a couple chores to do." The laundry mainly. She wasn't sure yet how two people went through so many clothes and towels. Pushing herself off the bed, she went to grab the hamper. "I'll text you when I'm on the way."

After a few more minutes of chatting, during which he hinted that he'd like her to stay for more than dinner, she ended the call and tossed her phone onto her bed. Her steps were light as she went downstairs to start a load of laundry, and she had turned on the old stereo and put on a CD of her favorite Christmas crooners when her father got home. Bouncing into the foyer, she grinned when he shook his bright red knit cap at her in time to the music.

"For I've grown a little leaner, grown a little colder, grown a little sadder, grown a little older," he sang with a nod. "And I need a little angel sitting on my shoulder. Need a little Christmas now…"

She remembered a time when the instrumental break meant he would grab her hands and lead her in a dance. She thought of the appointment made for three days before Christmas, when they would schedule his surgery and run all the necessary preoperative tests. Had she known how to properly pray, she would have prayed that he would be able to dance with her next Christmas. "Hey," she said, moving forward to kiss his cold cheek. "This box came for you."

"Doggone it," he sighed, looking down at the box. "I was hoping it wouldn't come until this afternoon."

"Is it for your second family?" she teased.

"No, I got to thinking…" He took off his coat and hung it up, then reached for his cane. "I don't have it in me to keep up with a real tree this year. Watering and trimming and then dragging it out."

"I would—"

"And, well," he went on, tapping the box with the tip of his cane. "I went to see Tommy the other day and he has one just like this. It's real pretty when it's plugged in and decorated. So I ordered it."

"A fake tree is never coming into my house," she stated. "I'd as soon throw Granny Wilma's old ornaments into the fire than I would have a piece of plastic that doesn't even look like a tree."

"Ah," he grunted with a shrug. "Always got my own words to throw back at me."

"Can we put it up today?"

"You can, I'll sit on the couch and direct."

"I knew you'd say that," she muttered, beginning to push the box into the living room.

Chuckling, he carried the folder he was holding into the living room and set it on the small table next to his chair. "While you get started I'll go heat up some lunch."

"Wait, no, Dad, I'll—"

"I feel good today, sugar."

"Okay," she relented.

She had to move the console table in front of the front window where the tree always went. She had just pushed it into the dining room to deal with later when she heard the microwave beeping. Knowing her father lingered over his lunch if he didn't have to go immediately back to work, she took her time finding places for the knickknacks that had been on the table. The potted plant she carried to the foyer, planning to carry it up to her room later. She put the framed photos of her grandparents on the bookshelf, and carried the small silver-framed picture of her mother to set it on the table next to her father's chair. Reaching into his pencil cup to find the box cutter he kept there, she groaned as several pens spilled to the floor. When she bent to retrieve them her arm brushed the folder, sending it and its contents to the carpet as well.

She shoved the pens back into the cup then gathered the scattered papers. About to push them into the folder, she paused when she saw the letterhead of a lawyer in Halifax. That made no sense. Her father's attorney was based in Fairview. Her eyes dipped and scanned the opening paragraph of the letter.

As per your vocal agreement with my client, Matthew Jackson, during our conference call on November 22, I have had the enclosed contract drawn up. Please peruse at your leisure, and feel free to contact me with any questions. I encourage you to confer with your counsel, Mr. G. E. Jefferson before our meeting to sign, notarize, and transfer the first payment on December 18. I ask that you please note the following points:

Matthew Jackson. Matt. Before she could stop herself, she turned to the next page, heart leaping to her throat at the bolded words that leapt out at her. Her father's name, then Matt's, then Gibbs' Bakery. Struggling to understand, she sat back on her heels and read the page slowly, hand slipping over her mouth to cover her shock as it sank in what she was reading.

Matt was buying the bakery. Not outright, if she understood the wording correctly. Her father was transferring everything into Matt's name after a down payment, then monthly payments of a base amount, a small percentage of sales being added for the first fiscal year. After which time the percentage would be terminated, and the monthly payments would continue until the agreed-upon price was paid in full.

The papers slipped from her hand and she didn't pick them up. Her father was selling the bakery. The bakery, which had been in his family for three generations. The place he had once said he wouldn't close until the day he drew his last breath. She supposed that statement had been true, as it wasn't technically closing. But why hadn't he told her? Why hadn't anyone mentioned it?

"Natalie, sugar, is there anymore of that pie from last night?"

He sounded so normal. As though he weren't effectively ripping her heart in two. As though he hadn't outright lied to her, because hadn't he shrugged off her questions about what business Matt was buying? He hadn't said a word about thinking of selling, and she knew that was partly her fault for not keeping those lines of deep communication open. It hurt, though. It hurt as bad as, if not a little worse, than him keeping how damaged his knee was from her. She had at least known his knee was bad, had known he needed surgery. But to keep this from her completely? To pretend nothing was going on? Why?

Snatching up the papers, she lurched to her feet and went into the kitchen. Her father was at the island counter, dishing up a slice of the pie they'd had for dessert the night before. He glanced up when she sucked in a breath. His brow furrowed, his smile faded, and when he saw what she was holding the pie slice fell to the counter.

"What's this?" she gasped, slapping the papers down across from him.

He looked at them, then up at her. "Sugar—"

"You're selling the bakery."

"I have to."

"Why?" Natalie blinked hard to keep the sting of tears at bay. "Because of your surgery? Because you'll be out for a couple months? I'm here now, remember? I'm not—"

"You're looking for another job. You'll find one. Maybe not right yet, but you will. And you'll get it, because you're brilliant and people like you. And then you'll be gone." He lowered his head. "Again."

"Dad…"

"I'm not doing it because of the surgery. I know it could stay afloat with me having to take weeks off for recovery. I didn't plan on you coming home, but I had talked to Sammy and Kris and they were willing to work longer hours to keep things going until I could get back. And now you're here, and you're doing great. But—" He sighed. "There's no guarantee the surgery will go well."

"Dad, they do millions of joint replacements a year."

"Yeah, but not on my joints. Accidents happen. Doctors make mistakes. Old hearts give out. It's a fact, Natalie."

"Don't talk like that," she pleaded. She couldn't take it. Not right now.

"I'm not being depressing. I'm being honest with myself. Yes, it could go great and next year at this time I'll be dancing on air. But it could go bad. And I'd have to close up the shop."

She opened her mouth to point out that she was with him, that she was helping, that she could obviously do the work needed to keep the bakery running. Then she remembered that she hadn't been at home when those fears and worries had festered in his mind. She hadn't been around when he had made the decision to sell. And he was right. She was looking for another job. And even though she was disheartened, she knew she would eventually find something. She might even leave again, if she had to.

"When you were born, I only wanted one thing for you," he said, haphazardly scraping the dropped pie onto the plate. "I wanted you to be happy. Yes, I wanted to raise you into a baker like me, like my parents were, and my grandparents, and my great-grandparents back in Italy. I knew you would be our only child, and looked forward to the day I could hand the keys to you. But you didn't want that."

"Oh, Dad, I'm—"

"Don't apologize for not wanting what I wanted for you. It was my dream, not yours. You had your own. I knew you didn't want the bakery, and I knew I didn't want to close it down. I hemmed and hawed for months. I couldn't tell Ashley I was thinking of putting it up for sale, because she would have broadcast it over town before I could walk out her office."

Natalie choked on a laugh. Ashley was wonderful, and her truest, best friend, but she did have a bit of a tendency to blab.

"Then one day this young family comes in. It was a slow day, and they were nice, and we got to talking. Matt's always wanted to own a bakery. He and his wife both have always wanted to live in a small town. He knows about running a business, he's got a good head on his shoulders, and he's damned good at baking."

"Is he?"

Leonard picked up a dishtowel and wiped the counter clean. "Him and Shayna came the next weekend and he showed me some of his recipes. After I closed for the day we went to the kitchen and…" His smile was almost one of pride. "He's better than I was at his age. Then they found the Harris place was for sale, and when he showed up to talk to me about getting a job right when I was thinking of calling Ashley to talk to her about selling, I figured it was fate."

"But why didn't you tell me?"

"At first I didn't think you'd care."

"Are you crazy? Of course I'd care."

His eyes steeled. "The day before you moved out to go to Halifax, you said—"

"I know what I said," she whispered. It had been almost ten years but the memory was fresh. Her telling him she'd gotten a part-time job at a magazine, and that she was leaving the next day to get an apartment and have her college transcripts transferred so she could finish her degree in Halifax. Her father asking who he was going to get to replace her at the bakery. And her answer, bitter and cold.

I don't give a damn about the bakery.

"I give a damn now," she said in a small voice. Too little, too late, she knew, but it was true. She did care. She had even then, but she'd been too wired up on the chance to grab her dreams that the words had spilled without censor. Maybe she hadn't cared as much as she did now.

"I have to do it, Natalie." He kept wiping the counter, and she remembered him repetitively kneading the dough he'd been working when she'd announced her sudden move. And the thudding clang when he'd thrown the overworked dough into the trash.

"Who else knows?"

"Tommy. The lawyers. The bank. And a few folks down at the county office, because I went last week to put his name on the license."

"Does Nick?" she asked.

"Of course, he's Matt's brother." Her father stopped wiping. "I thought he would tell you if I didn't."

"He didn't." She wondered why. And, suddenly, she needed to know. Spinning on her heel, she left the kitchen, ignoring her father's voice when he asked where she was going. She went straight for the front door, snatching a coat from the rack and pulling it on while shoving her feet into her boots.

"Natalie."

"I have to go out for a few minutes."

"Don't be mad at him."

"I'm just going to talk to him."

"He's a good man, sweetie. He probably didn't want to get mixed up."

"He should have thought of that before sleeping with me," she snapped, jamming a hat on her head.

"Natalie—"

"I'll be back later. We'll put up the tree." Not that she felt like decorating. Or celebrating. Flinging open the door, she stepped outside and closed it firmly behind her. Fueled by indignation, she ignored the brilliantly colored Christmas flags snapping in the breeze and the vivid red ribbons adorning lampposts and wreaths as she walked up the street. She passed the bakery and felt her heart break all over again. Matt would change everything, she thought, stopping to look at the shopfront. The battered old counter that her great-grandparents had built and installed themselves, where each member of the family had carved their name with a pocket knife. The photos and knickknacks that had been added to over the years, showing how it had changed with each generation. Blinking back tears, she turned and proceeded to the yellow Victorian on Halifax Street.

She barely heard Penny's bark of greeting as she marched up the walk. Stopping short when she saw Nick standing on the porch railing, she watched him stretch out one arm, then caught the multicolored glow of a strand of lights. Something bumped into her leg and she looked down, finally noticing Penny. She gave the dog a distracted head rub, watching as Nick stepped off the railing.

"Hey," he greeted, looking and sounding surprised when he saw her. "What do you think?"

"Looks great," she said flatly, resuming her march up the walk. She saw lights wrapped around the step railings, and saw the sunlight glint off lights in the shrubbery in front of the porch.

"Come on in," he said, opening the door. Penny, panting, darted from her to the door then back again, tail wagging manically, as though Natalie needed an escort. Nick waited until she'd stepped inside before entering, closing the door gently. "Did you forget to text? Not that I'm complaining, but—"

"What business is your brother buying?" she asked, eyes on the stacks of clear bins in the front hall. Each were labeled neatly, and she could see inside to what were countless decorations. Decorations she had agreed to help him put up and arrange. Through the living room doorway she could see a large tree set up in front of the window, and on the couch was covered with boxes of ornaments.

"Oh." Nick's joviality faded.

She turned to face him, anger surging again. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Natalie, let me explain."

"Okay. Explain."

"I knew it was a secret, okay? Matt told me that Lenny didn't want everyone in town knowing. Because there would be a million questions that he didn't want to have to answer every time someone came into the shop."

"I'm his daughter," she reminded him. "You could have told me."

"Exactly. You're his daughter. He should be the one to tell you."

"He didn't."

Nick's brow pinched. "Then how—"

"I saw some papers from a lawyer and…" She huffed. "Okay I knocked them down while getting something then saw what they were. Some contract they're apparently going to sign this Friday."

Nick nodded. "Yeah, Matt wants me to go with him."

"You should have told me, Nick. God, you listened to me go on and on about how I was getting the hang of the bakery stuff. You even let me talk about placing an order for supplies. Supplies!" She groaned, cupping her hands over her head. "Supplies that your brother probably doesn't want or need—"

"Natalie—"

"You knew I was doing everything I could to help Dad! You didn't think to tell me that I didn't have to worry? That by the end of the year it wouldn't be my problem?"

"I thought about telling you. But it wasn't any of my business. It's a deal between Matt and Lenny, I'm not involved."

"Okay, but you're involved with me. That makes it your business," she pointed out. "God, did you have a laugh over how I was staying up late studying paperwork to know what I needed to do while Dad was recovering from surgery?"

"I would never laugh about something like that," he said, frowning. "If anything it's made me admire you more. Because you told me you used to not care about the bakery. That you were so glad to be gone from it when you got your chance to leave. But I've seen how happy helping Lenny makes you. And how happy it makes him. I know not telling you has been eating at him—"

"Yeah, he's been real torn up," she snorted. "I've been such a fucking idiot."

"You haven't," Nick insisted. He stepped toward her.

"I have. I've been losing sleep and getting headaches trying to take a crash course so I could keep the bakery going for him. I've got so many notes on what gets done when…" Jamming her hands into the pocket of her coat, she felt slips of paper and pulled them out. The notes she had made the evening before, on times and temperatures, and how many folds she had done on the croissants. Crumpling them into tiny balls, she dropped them to the floor. "And for what? Nothing. Because in a couple weeks it'll be Matt's job to do it. He'll do everything differently so he won't need my notes. He'll change everything from the name to the prices to how the inside is decorated—"

"He's not changing anything."

"Yeah, right." Snorting again, she stepped away when he reached for her arm.

"Natalie," he sighed. "He doesn't want to change a thing because he loves how it is now. All he wants to do that's different is put a picture of himself on the wall and add a few of his own creations to the menu."

"First it'll be a picture and a few of his things, then it'll be changing the décor and fazing out all the things my Dad created."

"Honey, please—"

"Don't call me that," she gasped. "You and Matt just breeze into town and take everything, don't you?"

"What?" He made a gurgling sound that sounded like a swallowed laugh. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"The bakery. This house. The dog," she said, though Penny had hurried out when she'd begun her ranting. "Me."

"We didn't – Natalie, you're upset."

"Of course I'm upset! Wouldn't you be?" Staring up at him when he didn't answer immediately, she shook her head. "I'm beyond upset. I'm pissed off. Mostly at you!"

"Why me?" he asked gently.

She wanted to scream because he was being too calm. Did the man never get mad? "God, Nick, I opened up to you! I told you things I've never told anyone. And then I slept with you. Right there!" She flung one arm out to gesture at the living room. "And never once during any of that did it occur to you to tell me what was going on behind my back?"

"It wasn't my business to. I knew it would upset you, and I knew it would strain the relationship between you and Lenny. I couldn't do that to you, not when I've seen how hard you've both been working to rebuild it."

"We were building something too," she whispered.

"Were?" he repeated.

"Yeah. Were." She sucked in a breath, fighting the urge to cry.

"Natalie, don't—"

"Not anymore."

"Please, no, let's talk about this," he said, frowning when she shook her head.

"I gotta go," she gasped. She was going to cry. Her throat was closing up and her nose was burning.

"Can we talk later?"

She turned her head, not wanting to see the sadness in his eyes. And she didn't want him to see her cry. Again. "No," she said dully. "I've said everything there is to say."

"But—"

"Goodbye," she managed, pushing past his arm when he reached for her. Opening the door, she flinched when she heard the clicking of Penny's claws on the floor behind her. She pulled the door shut, heart squeezing at the sound of a little whine. She almost turned back, almost reached to open the door and say that yes, she did want to talk about it. Instead, she crossed the porch and went down the steps, keeping her eyes in front of her. When she reached the sidewalk she quickened her steps. She didn't know where she was going, exactly. She wasn't ready to go back home and see or talk to her father. And she couldn't go back to Nick. Tears escaped and she angrily brushed them away, following the sidewalk to the corner. She heard bells ringing, and a car that drove by had a festive bow on its antenna.

She continued walking, head ducked, ignoring the few people that greeted her. When she reached the tiny building down the next block from the bakery, a block from where Main Street turned back into Route 1110, her steps slowed. She saw the familiar Land Rover parked out front and before she could think of a reason not to she pushed open the glass door and walked past the receptionist, who barely looked up from her magazine, and through the open door of the office at the back.

Ashley's face registered several emotions in succession. Surprise, happiness, shock, worry. "Natalie? Babe, what's wrong?"

Natalie opened her mouth but couldn't figure out which words to say first. Her friend frowned, tossing her phone onto the desk and standing. Then she was walking around to where Natalie stood. Reaching to close the door. And when her arms wrapped around her in a loving embrace Natalie let her tears fall.

#aew fanfiction #nick jackson fanfiction #my fics #multipart: RPC #12daysofchristmas #late omg #but better late than pregnant???

[champhangman]

Recipe for a Perfect Christmas - Part 10

Title: Recipe for a Perfect Christmas Part: 10/12 Theme: Day #10: Baking / Cookies / Gingerbread Fandom / Character(s): AEW / Nick Jackson x OFC Warnings: None. A little cursing? Word Count: 5,053 Soundtrack: Spotify Previously: Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six | Part Seven | Part Eight | Part Nine | Summary: In the space of six months, Natalie Gibbs lost her fiancé, her job, her apartment, and what little bit of cheer she had. Moving back home after being on her own for years, she hopes to get back on her feet after the holidays. But a nosy best friend, a stubborn coot of a father, and a handsome new neighbor might change her plans, her holidays, and her life. Notes: My entry for day 10 of @12daysofchristmas​. ALSO THERE ARE ONLY TWO MORE PARTS AAAHH!!! 

The Tag Crew:  @adampage / @cowboyshit / @lilmisswhiskeygypsy /  @bigpixiefoot / @mindofasagittaruis / @kalliravenne / @sadlittlecountess / @baronsbelleevangeline / @brie-mode-activated / @xbreezymeadowsx / @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch / @wardl0w / @hotyeehawman / @waywardwrestlewritingwaif / @drewshoneybadger  / @mysteryoflovve / @knnyomega / @rampagewriting / @hurricanranabaybay / @linziland13 / @bastardkingbrutalizer/  @snarkandsarcasmftw / @rubyred1980 / @champnick / @edgecution / @nething4perfection / @gabbynorth98 (please drop me an ask/send me a message/reply to my post if you’d like to be tagged)

***

Part 10 – Fix This

Lift the bundle from the crock. Untie and remove cheesecloth. Brush with liquor and syrup mixture. Wrap in waxed paper. Place in box. Seal. Wrap and fasten with red ribbon. Affix tag. Add to stack.

Repeat.

The steady, repetitive task kept Natalie's mind blank. The kitchen reeked of fruitcake and the liquor and syrup. She had purposefully chosen non-Christmas music to play on her phone, though had somehow missed a couple carols on her playlist. Adding another cheesecloth to the pile, she picked up the brush and dipped it into the bowl, sweeping the syrup over the top of the cake then sliding it onto the waxed paper.

She couldn't hear anything above the music playing in her ears but knew the moment the back door opened. She wasn't sure if it was because of the cold air that slipped into the kitchen, or the shadow that moved in her peripheral vision. Pausing in her task, she held her breath, finally turning to see her father washing his hands in the sink. He didn't say a word, even after she removed her earbuds, and she felt the pain in the silence as he took another fruitcake from the large crock.

They worked without speaking. She remembered a long-ago night when they had worked in this fashion. When the air had been thick with the words she had already said and the silence had been painful. The only difference was that they were both a little older.

As he placed the last fruitcake on the counter, she felt a pang in her chest. The last fruitcake was always taken home. It was the only one he allowed himself, even though it was his favorite holiday treat and hers, too. He wrapped it meticulously in the waxed paper, as those for customers had been wrapped, then paused.

Natalie furrowed her brow when he unfolded the paper and reached for one of the knives on the magnetic strip. She wanted to ask what he was doing, but it was obvious he was going to slice into the fruitcake. Despite his self-imposed rule that it wait for Christmas Eve, when it would be enjoyed with his best brandy after getting back from the candlelight service at church. She watched the knife glide through the cake, watched the slices cascade, then watched him set the knife down.

"I don't have my brandy," he said.

"It's not Christmas Eve," she pointed out.

"Are you gonna be here then?" he asked.

Her breath caught, and she thought of her laptop, which she'd left on the kitchen table, browser open and left on the page saying her application and resumé had been successfully submitted. "I think I will."

"Then we'll take another one home for then." He picked up a slice and looked at it.

"Two fruitcakes for yourself?"

"Why the hell not."

Natalie bit her lip, waiting for him to bite into the slice. When he didn't, she frowned.

"Did I ever tell you where I got this recipe?" he asked, still staring at it.

"I don't think so."

"It was in your mother's family. Started as a Christmas pudding with her great-grandmother in England, and when they immigrated they adapted it. Her mother perfected it. It was the one thing I'd never been able to do right, and when we got married, she and your Nana showed me how to do it properly." He sighed. "It was the third-best thing she ever gave me."

"What were first and second?"

"Second was her love and partnership over the twenty-two years we had together." He turned, holding the slice of fruitcake out to her.

She took it, knowing just by touch and smell that it had been prepared perfectly. "What was the first?"

"You."

"Oh, Dad," she whispered, vision blurring with tears. She wasn't a gift. She was a nightmare. She'd left him at the worst possible time, had distanced herself for years, and had only come back because she had no choice. And her knee-jerk reaction when she got upset had been to do the exact same thing. But it occurred to her that if she got the job in Chicago and left, that she wouldn't be welcomed back so warmly. "I think you're wrong."

"I never thought I was."

"Even when I left?"

"Especially then."

"How?" she asked, setting the slice down. She didn't deserve a bite. "How could you still think I was great when I basically told you to take this place and shove it?"

"Because you're my child. And I'll always love you. I'll always be proud of you."

She shook her head. "I'm nothing to be proud of. I've had how many jobs? I either choose a place about to go bankrupt or a company I don't fit in with—"

"That's just bad luck, Natalie."

"How many punches on my bad luck card do I have to get before I get some good luck?" Natalie shook her head again and pushed away from the counter. "Ever since Mom died, I've spiraled like water in a toilet before it flushes down."

"You think you're the only one?" he asked, scowling. "You think you're the only person this world craps on? Grow up. People around the world have it worse in a day than you have in a year."

She gaped at him, not sure if she was insulted by or surprised by his outburst.

"There are folks out there who don't know where there next meal is coming from. Families that have to choose between keeping the lights on or putting food on the table for the week. People get kicked out of their supposedly loving homes because of who they're attracted to or what they do or don't believe in and have to fend for themselves. Kids that are sick and dying but can't get the help they need."

"I know," she said. "But—"

"You've never had to worry about any of that. Because of this place," he said, gesturing around them. "Because my grandparents chose this little spot to settle after they got married, and because they put years of blood and sweat and tears and love into this dump. And then your grandparents stepped in and kept it going. When prices had to go up and sales slacked off, we went without just to keep this place open. Then it was my turn, and when you came along I swore that I would do everything I could to make sure you never had to want for anything."

"Dad—"

"You're allowed to be selfish. I know when you're down how hard it is to see that it could be so much worse. But you don't have it so bad. There's a roof over your head and you didn't have to pay for your schooling." He inhaled then exhaled shakily. "I wanted you to take over for me when it was my turn to hang up my apron, because it's the family business. And yes, it hurt like hell when you told me you'd rather do anything else, but I knew I had to let you go."

"I'm sorry," she whispered. She didn't know what else to say.

"I'm sorry that you're upset because I'm selling the place. But I'm not sorry I'm doing it. You don't want it. Matt does. And he'll be successful, because he loves this almost as much as I do."

"Does he?"

"He does. I told him I'd take down all the old stuff and he insisted it stay. He doesn't want to change it. He said…" Her father paused, closing his eyes briefly. "He said there are lifetimes of memories on the walls and he wouldn't dream of wiping them away."

"He's right." Anywhere she looked she could pull up a memory. The counter, currently stacked with fruitcakes, wiped clean and being dusted with flower so her mother could teach her how to knead. The row of knives on the magnetic strip, which she had taken down once a week so her father could sharpen them. It was a physical rolodex of memories, good and bad, and so was the shopfront, where she had spent the afternoons of her childhood. "I grew up in this building."

"I know you did."

"It was the last place I saw Mom." She stared in the direction of the back door, which her mother had pushed open and then paused, unruly snowflakes floating inside as she reminded Natalie to put the chicken on for dinner. Her own bored reply echoed in her mind and she again felt the flush of guilt and shame.

"Me, too." He finally stepped away from the counter, limping over to switch on the coffeepot near the oven. He stopped, placing one hand on the door of the oven. "She was mad at me."

"She was?" Natalie frowned. She didn't recall her mother being mad. Rushing, yes, and complaining about the weather she had to drive in, but not mad. "What about?"

"I was supposed to go shopping with her. But I had to put in an order, and was running late on getting the work for morning done. She didn't like driving in the snow. I told her to stop being a baby. She told me I was being an inconsiderate ass. It was my fault she was leaving late, and it's my fault she went alone."

"Dad, no," Natalie whispered. "It wasn't your fault."

"I know the accident wasn't. Not really. But… It was. If I'd left the work for morning go until we got back, or told her to wait until the next afternoon… Or if I'd delayed her longer so she was five minutes later. Or had told her to leave earlier…" Leonard drew in a shaky breath. "She wouldn't have been in that spot when that driver hit the bit of ice."

"But it could have happened to her either way. Or it could have been so much worse." The fact that no one else had been injured or died in the accident had at first been a point of anger, but it had shifted into a comfort. Her mother would have been upset at more loss of life. "Or you could have been in the car and died, too."

"I know all that, sweetie. It doesn't make it easier."

"I know," she murmured. She hesitated, then finally closed the space between them.

"I didn't tell her I loved her."

"I didn't either."

He lowered his head and her heart broke for him. She slowly reached forward and placed her hand on his arm. He turned slightly and her breath hitched at the tears in his eyes. "It hurts every day I walk in here, because I always remember that my last words to her were 'hurry home' and not that I loved her."

"She knew you loved her. Dad, she knew."

"She knew you loved her, too." He wrapped his arm around her and exhaled slowly. "She would be so proud of you."

"Sometimes I think so." Natalie squeezed her eyes shut. "She'd hate that I'm single and childless, though."

"Yeah, she did want grandkids," he murmured with a quick chuckle. "But more importantly she wanted you happy."

"I thought I was. Then I wasn't. For a little bit when I first moved back I was. Now I'm not again." Sniffling, she pressed her face into his shirt.

"Have you talked to Nick?"

She stiffened and pulled away, brushing her tears away while turning to put the boxed fruitcakes away. "There's nothing to talk to him about."

"He didn't do anything, sweetie."

"He lied to me."

"And you've never lied?"

"Not about something this important." Picking up two boxes, she carried them to the storage rack.

"I lied, too. Be mad at me."

"I love you too much to stay mad at you," she admitted.

"I was gonna say the same thing." He got his garish mug from its hook above the coffeepot and filled it. "You love him, too."

"No I don't."

"You're lying again."

"I don't!" She set the next two fruitcakes down with more force than necessary. "God, I don't even know him."

"Well." When she glanced over, her father was twirling the coffee in his cup. "You know him pretty well, I'd imagine."

"I'd rather not talk about that."

"You never said how his scrambled eggs were."

"They were sunny side up."

He chuckled. "You do love a runny yolk."

"It takes more than sex and a good cooked egg for love, Dad."

"You know what it took for your mother and me?" He waited until she threw up her hands in silent defeat and smiled. "A laugh."

"A laugh," she repeated, blinking in confusion. "Really?"

"She was visiting her cousin over the summer. They came in one morning for donuts and I shortchanged her." His smile widened and Natalie knew he was lost in the memory. "Wish I could say it was because she was so beautiful I forgot how to subtract, but it was because I was in a hurry so I could go out back and smoke. She came back in a few minutes later and then marched right out back to tell me to give her the three dollars I owed her. Then she took the cigarette from me and threw it on the ground. Hop to it, she said, snapping her fingers. I asked her who the hell she thought she was, and when she said either my dream customer or my worst nightmare, I laughed in her face."

Natalie smiled. She'd heard the tale before, but only that her mother had come in and had thought Leonard was cute. She had only meant to stay in town two weeks to visit her cousin, then had extended her stay to last the entire summer. She'd come back over her Christmas break from college and had never left except to go get her things from her dorm.

"She told me the night I proposed that she fell in love with me right then."

"That's sweet, Dad. But it's more complicated for me and Nick."

"Because you're making it complicated."

"He doesn't even know what he's going to do after Matt and Shayna move into the house."

"So?"

"And I might be leaving."

"And?"

"I don't think Nick's the type to follow a woman to Chicago." She sighed. "He doesn't like big cities."

"There's always a suburb. And the type of work he does he can do anywhere."

"Plus he lied to me."

"Because it wasn't any of his business. It was my job to tell you, and I royally screwed that up. He cares about you."

"How do you know that?"

"I'm not blind, sweetie." He sighed and took a sip of his coffee. "Don't push him away. You know he's a good man."

"He is," she agreed.

"And I guess he's okay looking."

"He is," she said again. He was more than okay looking.

"I'm not trying to push you into a relationship with him, I just want you to patch things up. It's up to you to do that."

"I guess so."

"But do it quick."

"Why?"

"I miss Penny."

***

Nick slid the last cookie onto the platter and tossed the cooling rack into the sink. Baking wasn't his strength, but he had always heard that the scent of fresh-baked cookies made a house smell like home. He knew his brother would be slightly disgusted that he'd bought and baked pre-made dough, but it was the best he could do. Setting the platter on the island counter, he moved to rinse the racks and dried them off before pushing them into the drawer next to the stove. He wiped down the sink, slightly adjusted the platter of cookies, then did a quick look through the house to make sure everything was truly ready.

It was. He'd made up all the beds with the sheets his brother and sister in-law had brought. There was a new puzzle mat waiting for Michael in his new room. For Madison was a set of toy horses, one of which resembled Bonny and her foal. On the dresser in the master bedroom was a vase filled with purple roses and a gift certificate to the town's salon for Shayna. Next to it was the pair of sunglasses he'd purchased to replace the ones of Matt's he'd broken accidentally. Shayna's home office was ready to go except for her computer and whatever little things she wanted to place on the shelves. The bedroom he had been using was clean, his things mostly packed and ready to be loaded into his truck after Christmas when he left. He wasn't sure but he had an inkling it would soon be made into a nursery. Matt's home office downstairs was ready to go, complete with the new computer Shayna had ordered for him. The playroom was organized and neat, all the toys in their respective cubbies. The living room and den and dining room were ready, and he knew without looking that the basement was, too.

He ran his hand along the back of the couch, swallowing as his fingers traced the buffalo plaid blanket. His gaze moved to the plush rug in front of the fireplace and he tried his best to ignore the way his chest squeezed. Turning his attention to the Christmas decorations, he nodded to himself, glancing to the twinkling tree in front of the bow window. Underneath it were two wrapped gifts for Madison and Michael to open that night. Moving into the front hall, he idly adjusted the lighted garland twining down the banister of the staircase.

From the utility room behind the kitchen came a small yip, and he watched Penny come trotting through to the front hall, skidding to a stop at the front door, where she sat, tail thumping excitedly.

"They here?" he asked, bending to scratch behind her ears while he opened the door. She waited, body starting to wriggle, then darted out as soon as Matt's SUV was parked and the engine cut off. Nick leaned in the doorway, smiling, as the dog rushed around in excited circles, then zoomed to greet first Shayna and then Matt.

"Hey!" Matt laughed when Penny leaped through his open door.

"Penny," Nick called, stepping out onto the porch. "C'mon, girl."

A few seconds later she jumped out of the passenger door, and took her time to join him on the porch. Her tail wagged incessantly as Shayna let Madison out, and when they headed across she gave another yip of greeting.

"Hey," Nick greeted, catching Madison when she threw herself at him in a hug. "Good drive?"

"Mommy peed three times," the girl announced.

"Yes thank you, Madison," Shayna sighed. "I'm sure Nick needs to know about my bladder function."

He knew why already, but he had to ask. Grinning, he caught her in a quick hug while Matt carried Michael from the car. "Did Matt make you drink coffee again?"

"He knows better by now." Shayna smiled. The same smile she'd given him twice before. "I've been drinking more water today."

"Why?" he asked, making a face.

"Damned if I know." She moved inside, then turned around and grabbed his arm. "You know, don't you?"

"Know what?" he grunted, stumbling when she yanked on his sleeve. "Shayna!"

"He told you!" She glared at Matt, who was just coming up the steps. "You told him!"

"I didn't tell him a damn thing!"

"Oooo!" Michael's eyes widened. "Bad Daddy."

"Your mother drops the f-word three times a day and I get scolded for saying damn?" Matt shook his head. "What's up with that?"

"Mommy." The boy shrugged as though that were enough explanation, then tipped his head back to look at the lights crisscrossing the ceiling of the porch. "Pretty lights."

"The decorating looks great, Nick," Matt said, nodding with approval. "Your best work."

"Thanks. I had thorough instructions."

"It does look great," Shayna agreed, still holding onto his sleeve. "It looked so beautiful from the street. Did you leave—"

"Room on the main tree for the kids' ornaments, yes," Nick finished for her, nodding. "Can I have my arm back now?"

"Did he tell you?" she asked.

"No, he didn't."

Her eyes narrowed behind her glasses. "You were supposed to ask me what he allegedly told you."

Nick blinked, then slowly turned his head to look at his brother. "What'd she say?"

"You gave the wrong answer." Matt looked at his wife. "I didn't tell him."

"But he knows."

"I gotta nose," Michael announced, jamming his index finger in one nostril. "See?"

"Ew," Shayna groaned. Letting go of Nick's sleeve, she took the boy from Matt and began rummaging in her purse for a tissue. "No boogers, please, Mommy can't handle it today. Do I smell cookies?"

Madison jumped up from where she'd been lying, loving on Penny. "Cookies? You baked, Nick?"

"Uh, yeah, but—"

"Cookies!"

"They're the pre-made stuff," Nick told Matt before he could ask. "Don't judge me."

"I judge you every damn day, it's my right as your older brother." Matt grinned and headed inside. "Wow, you've made a lot of progress. All the floors are finished?"

"Yeah." Nick closed the front door while the kids ran towards the kitchen.

"Oh my god," Shayna gasped, freezing in the archway to the living room. Her hands came up to cover her mouth, and she slowly spun to stare at him.

"Surprise," he said, smiling.

"Babe, the dining room – Whoa," Matt said, joining his wife.

"You said it would be after Christmas," she said.

"I lied?" More than a little touched by their reaction, especially when he saw the glimmer of tears in Shayna's eyes, he cleared his throat. "I didn't want you to have to cram the last of the moving into those few days after Christmas, and… I wanted to give y'all a good gift. Especially with, y'know."

"What?" Matt asked, unzipping his coat.

"You know," Nick said slowly.

"Oh for fuck's sake, we all know I'm pregnant again, stop tiptoeing around it." Shayna flung her arms around Nick and squeezed. "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome," he murmured, hugging her back. "You guys deserve to spend Christmas in your new house."

"The upstairs is done, too?" she asked.

"Beds made, rugs vacuumed, everything already here is put away." He smiled when she headed up the stairs. "I even put a mint on the pillows."

"You're an asshole for not telling us it was finished, but I love you," she called over her shoulder.

"Love you too," he promised.

Matt hung up his coat, then picked up Shayna's from where she'd dropped it. "When did you finish?"

"Couple days ago. I spent yesterday and today doing the decorating and cleaning up." Nick picked up Shayna's purse and set it on the console table. "I figured I could rent a van and start bringing the rest of your stuff down next week."

"That'd be great. Did Natalie help?"

Nick tried to not react to the mention of her name, but knew his brother had caught something when his eyebrows lifted. "No, she didn't."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"She found out about the bakery."

Matt sucked in a breath between his teeth. "Lenny said he was gonna tell her this weekend."

"She found something about it from a lawyer." Moving into the living room, Nick crossed to the fireplace and adjusted the screen. "She was upset. At me."

"Because you didn't tell her?"

"Yeah."

Matt nodded. "It wasn't fair to ask you not to say anything."

"If I'd told her, she still would have been upset," he sighed, staring at the fire. Not wanting to remember what had occurred in that spot the last time the fire had been going, he stepped away, pushing his hands into his pockets.

"Maybe not as bad."

Nick sighed. "Doesn't matter. She's done with me."

"Done?"

"I asked her if we could talk about it and she said she had nothing more to say to me." He shrugged, trying his best to pretend he wasn't as affected by her cold dismissal as he truly was.

"Shit, I'm sorry," Matt whispered. "It's all my fault."

"No it's not."

"I should have told her. I should have made Lenny tell her. I should have told Ashley. I should have—"

"Matt, stop. It just wasn't meant to be."

"You're gonna give up?"

"It wasn't like it could go anywhere."

"Why the hell not? You like her. She likes you. There were hearts in your eyes and music playing whenever you looked at each other."

"It's better this way," he insisted. "I'm leaving after Christmas."

"You're what?"

Nick jerked his head up at the sound of Shayna's voice. Sighing, he nodded. "I'm leaving after Christmas."

"Why? Where are you going? What are you gonna do?" she asked, glancing towards the kitchen. She squatted down, catching Michael when he toddled up to her and thrust a cookie in her face.

"Nick cookies," the boy said proudly, bringing the cookie back so he could take a large bite.

"Where's your sister?" Shayna unzipped her son's coat and struggled to get it off without making him let go of the cookie. "Madison!"

Nick watched his niece appear, coat hanging from her arms. She shook it off then dragged it to the coat rack. And, when her mother told her to go look at her room, she took off upstairs.

"Well?" Shayna demanded, straightening and looking at him.

"I'll figure something out between now and then," he said.

"I thought you were looking at the place on the edge of town."

Nick swiveled his gaze to his brother.

Matt shrugged. "I tell her everything."

"Take Michael up to see his room," she said, eyes never leaving Nick. "I've got to talk to your brother."

"Good luck," Matt whispered before scooping his son into his arms.

***

She wasn't usually one for exercise. But the day was so nice. It was damp due to the rain the night before, and the snow was still in thick drifts, but the sun was shining and it was warm enough she didn't need a thick coat. She had felt closed-up, something she wasn't used to feeling, and had finally thrown on a jacket and decided to go for a brisk walk to clear her head. At first she kept to the side streets, and after going around until she was nearly back home, she headed for Main Street and then followed it along until she reached the outskirts of town.

Stopping to unzip her jacket and consider how she wanted to go back through town, she felt a sudden prickle of awareness. She turned slightly, seeing first the 'For Sale' sign and then the little white clapboard split-level. Mr. Wright's house, she thought, recalling hearing that he had moved to the center of town to live with his sister. Her gaze moved to the truck in the driveway and her chest lurched.

Nick.

As though her presence had conjured him up, the door opened and he stepped outside, laughing. Mr. Wright was behind him, laughing as well, and the two men stood on the small porch, chatting.

Her heart squeezed almost painfully. He didn't see her. Or maybe he did and he didn't care enough to acknowledge? She wavered, unsure whether to call out a greeting or turn and go away before he could look in her direction. She hadn't yet made up her mind what she wanted to say to him, or if she wanted to say anything to him at all. She looked on as the men shook hands, and took a step forward just as Nick started down the steps.

He stopped, so she did as well. Despite the distance she saw the hesitance in his expression, and bit her lip when he pushed his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

Oh, damn it, she had to speak to him. She continued walking forward, sneakers slipping a little on the pile of snow at the end of the flagstone walk. With each step she tried to think of something to say, but then she saw that he was walking toward her. They met halfway and both stopped at the same time.

Natalie pulled her earbuds from her ears, hastily winding the cord before cramming it into the pocket of her jacket. What was she supposed to say? How could she begin to explain her outburst, her irrational anger towards him that had now faded? What could she possibly say to make it even a little bit better? There was an awkward tension between them and even though she couldn't look away from him she knew that Mr. Wright had sensed it when she heard him mutter something and go back into the house.

Nick's eyes looked a little sad and she wondered if that were her fault.

"I'm sorry," she blurted.

"I'm sorry," he said at the same time.

"I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you—"

"I should have told you when you asked—"

"It wasn't fair—"

"It was wrong to keep you in the dark—"

"I dragged you in the middle when you were just a bystander—"

"I just didn't want to upset you—"

"I blew it all out of proportion because I was hurt—"

"Especially when I realized I was falling for you so fast and—"

"I was thinking I might be falling in love even though we just met—"

They both stopped. At the same time.

Natalie blinked. So did he. She didn't know why, but she began to smile. And was relieved when he did, too. A laugh bubbled up when they both took a step forward. Slipping her hand into his when he held it out, she sighed.

"You wanna go for a walk?" he asked.

"I just did, but yes."

They strolled to the sidewalk, and his fingers slotted between hers. "Can we talk, too?"

"I think we should." She stopped, frowning. "You're just gonna leave your truck?"

"I can walk back and get it."

Resuming her steps, she squeezed his hand. "I'll walk back with you."

#aew fanfiction #nick jackson fanfiction #my fics #multipart: RPC #12daysofchristmas #late late late #also I have hit 50k with this fic now (counting bits of the next 2 parts) #and i am super proud of myself for that

[champhangman]

Two More

Title: Two More Fandom / Character(s): AEW / Matt Jackson x OFC Warnings: A little suggestive language, but really nothing. Word Count: 2,650 Notes: This is my (belated) birthday and (early) Christmas gift for my beloved @wardl0w. Sister J, you’re simply amazing and I can’t even begin to get into how much you mean to me. This is also a tie-in to my multipart Christmas fic, Recipe for a Perfect Christmas, and features Matt and Shayna (aka J... it’s really her OC that I totally stole without permission borrowed). Hope you enjoy! More Notes: My entry into @12daysofchristmas for Day 10 (baking/cookies)

The Tag Crew:  @adampage / @cowboyshit / @lilmisswhiskeygypsy /  @bigpixiefoot / @mindofasagittaruis / @kalliravenne / @sadlittlecountess / @baronsbelleevangeline / @brie-mode-activated / @xbreezymeadowsx / @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch / @wardl0w / @hotyeehawman / @waywardwrestlewritingwaif / @drewshoneybadger  / @mysteryoflovve / @knnyomega / @rampagewriting / @hurricanranabaybay / @linziland13 / @bastardkingbrutalizer /  @snarkandsarcasmftw / @rubyred1980 / @champnick / @edgecution / @nething4perfection / @gabbynorth98 / (please drop me an ask/send me a message/reply to my post if you’d like to be tagged)

***

"Here you go."

Shayna pulled her gaze from the TV screen and eyed the cup Matt was holding. The aroma of spices wafted under her nose and, sitting up, she reached for the cup. "What is it?"

"Some of the Christmas tea from your mom."

"Mm." She took a sip and sighed. "Tastes like apple pie."

"You want to try a treat?"

"The last time you asked me that we bought a house." She smiled at the memory of a slightly musty smelling basement, cold brick, and the heat of Matt's lips.

"I thought it was when you were cleaning out the closet."

"I did that before the house." She paused before taking another sip of tea. She hoped she had. Otherwise, the little surprise she'd gotten had occurred in that cold dark basement… Pushing that thought away, she took another sip. "What's your treat?"

"I made some of those Peanut Butter Surprises."

"Sure, I'll take one." She considered herself a woman of simple tastes, and preferred plain sugar cookies, but anytime Matt worked in the kitchen she was inundated with flavors. She could have blamed the few extra pounds she'd gained on his ramped up baking in recent weeks, but she knew the true reason. "Are there sugar cookies?"

"Of course." He grinned and disappeared into the kitchen. When he returned he was holding a small plate.

"I smell chocolate," she sighed. The cookies were large, nearly the size of her palm, and were domed. They didn't look particularly breathtaking or scrumptious, but she knew from experience that some of the best things Matt created in the kitchen were presented plainly. She could feel the warmth of them and breathed in the smell.

"This one has chocolate, this one doesn't," he said, indicating which was which. "I'm thinking of doing a drizzle design on top."

"Mm," she murmured thoughtfully. Picking up the one without chocolate, she hissed at the heat. It was going to be good. She knew it. Over recent weeks he had taken over the kitchen both day and night, going over the recipes he had been given and first working to perfect them then adding his own twists. Snickerdoodles with swirls of cinnamon sugar twisted into the dough, substituting different nuts for pecans or walnuts. She had tried them all, encouraging when he was doing well and being honest when his attempts needed more work. Her sweet tooth was being satisfied and then some.

There was just one small problem.

"Matthew."

"Hmm?"

"I can't taste test it if you're breathing down my neck."

"I'm not breathing down your neck."

"You're hanging over me."

He huffed out a sigh and took a large step back. "Better?"

She squinted at him, then turned her attention back to the cookie. Lifting it to her mouth, she took a large bite, eyes drifting shut as baked deliciousness exploded on her tongue. The cookie itself was lightly flavored with peanut butter, and the center reminded her of the peanut butter balls he made each Christmas. "Mm," she moaned, wanting to chew slowly to savor it but also wanting to eat the rest. "Oh my god."

Before she could take another bite, she heard his sigh of relief.

As much as she wanted to devour the remainder, she also needed to try the chocolate one. It tasted as good as the first and she moaned again, tongue darting out to catch the filling that clung to her bottom lip. "Oh my god, Matt, these are great."

"Yeah?" he asked.

Shayna glanced at him and saw the smug smile starting to form on his face. His cheeks bulged as it spread further, into a grin, and she felt her own grin forming. "Yeah. I love it. What are you gonna call them?"

"I think I'm gonna stick with Peanut Butter Surprise."

"How many did you make just now?"

"Three of each, why?"

"I want to see how they taste cooled. You can't drop everything to make them fresh if someone orders one, right?"

"Right." He nodded, still grinning, and turned to go into the kitchen. "I'll bring you some iced tea."

"Thank you." Settling back, she pulled her blanket over her legs and sighed happily while eating the rest of the cookies. When he brought her the glass of iced tea she smiled up at him. "What else are you working on?"

"Sugar cookies. I'm trying Lenny's recipe." He took the empty plate. "You need anything else?"

Shayna shook her head and reached for the remote. "I'm perfect."

"Yeah, but do you need anything?"

Laughing at the sentimentality, she shook her head again. "No, really, I'm fine. You don't have to wait on me."

"Babe, you fell."

"I slumped," she corrected.

He set the plate down and sat on the couch. Within seconds he had pulled her feet into his lap. By the time the commercial playing had finished, he had scooted across and shifted her so she rested in his lap. "You sure you don't want to call the doctor?"

Groaning, she let her head rest on his shoulder. "Matt. I'm fine."

"But why did you fall? I'm sorry, why did you slump?" he asked, frowning.

"I'm exhausted? I'm working all day, then I'm spending the evenings packing and wrapping presents for the kids or cleaning, and on weekends we're down in Bells Creek—"

"We can stay home this weekend," he said.

"No," she protested, sitting up. "You've got to meet with Lenny about the recipes. And there's the church thing."

"I can video chat—"

"And get distracted by me or the kids. I'll be fine." She kissed his cheek. "And I do want to go to church."

"We don't even go to church here," he muttered, throwing up his hands.

"I know, but it's Christmas." Smiling when he rolled his eyes and sighed, which she knew meant the matter was settled, she reached for the remote again. "Don't burn the cookies."

"Damn it," he sighed, slipping a kiss to her cheek. "Be right back."

"Mmhmm." She turned her attention back to the TV after he got to his feet. Grunting as he reached to tuck the blanket over her legs, she turned her head to look at him. "What are you doing?"

"I'm fixing the blanket for you."

"Matthew."

"Hmm?"

"What is with you lately?" She gave up on watching TV and switched it off, tossing the remote to the coffee table. "You've been smothering me."

"I have not." He straightened, hands on his hips. "You think I'm smothering you?"

"For the past week you've been flapping around me like a mother hen." If she didn't know better, she would think he'd figured out she was pregnant again. But the man was oblivious about that sort of thing. When she had learned she was going to have Madison she hadn't wanted to tell him too soon, fearing his reaction if she lost her like she'd lost what would have been their first child. So she had held the news back, expecting him to figure it out as the weeks slipped by. When, just after twelve weeks, he had slipped his hand over her middle and joked that she had gained a little weight, she had been too amused that he was truly that unaware to be mad. With Michael it had been the same thing, though she hadn't really worried about suffering another loss. Because she had known from the start that the baby would come, healthy and robust. She had left her obstetrician appointment cards and prenatal vitamins on the kitchen table and counter, she had bought maternity bras and left the tags on the bathroom counter, and Matt had merely nudged those things aside. Finally she had taken the first ultrasound printout and tucked it in a card, writing Pretty sure this one's a boy? inside and leaving it on his nightstand. And she would forever remember his joyous hoot when he'd discovered it the next morning, coming to hug her while she showered.

No, he didn't know. There was no way he knew. If he'd found the positive test stick in the bathroom trash he would have brought it out to her wherever she was and asked if it meant what he thought it did. If he'd seen her obstetrician appointment on the family calendar he would have asked what was up. Either he hadn't noticed, or he was keeping quiet. And she knew her husband. He didn't keep quiet about anything with the people he loved. Which meant he hadn't figured it out.

"I'm just trying to make up for all the time I've had to be away lately," he said. "I know you've had to do so much extra around here since I'm always going back and forth to meet with Lenny—"

"I don't mind," she promised. "When I was doing those classes last year you had to do extra."

"I know, but it's the worst time of year for me to make you carry more weight on your shoulders."

"That's what marriage is," she reminded him. "We pick up the slack, we even it out. At the end of the day as long as the kids are good and things are taken care of, it all works."

The buzzer sounded from the kitchen. Matt looked ready to say something but just nodded. "I just love you, babe."

"I just love you, too."

Smiling now, he headed into the kitchen.

The sugar cookies were delicious. Perfect, and just the way she loved them. She ate more than she should have, encouraged by his obvious delight that she was enjoying them, and washed them down with the iced tea. Then, stretching, she checked the time and groaned. "What time are you leaving?"

"I'm not."

"The kids."

"They're staying with Nick tonight."

"Why?" she asked. Not that she was complaining. She was so tired she knew she wouldn't have the energy to do more than flop on the couch with them and watch a movie or Christmas cartoons. Michael would get bored then want to play, Madison would drag out a million toys and games, and Matt would be in and out of the kitchen. Just thinking of the resulting mess exhausted her. Not that they wouldn't clean up, but the messes gave her anxiety.

"Date night?" he suggested.

"Date night. It's four o'clock, any place we'd want to go is already gonna be packed, I'm wiped out from my fall—"

"Slump."

Rolling her eyes, she lightly nudged his thigh with her foot. "It might have been a little fall."

"I was thinking we could stay in," he said, dropping onto the couch and pulling her legs into his lap. One hand slid to her ankle and began to rub.

"Perfect," she murmured.

"We'll order in and you can find something sappy to watch on TV." His fingers slipped up her calf.

"Good idea, since you've probably destroyed the kitchen."

"I cleaned up as I went," he defended.

"Anymore plans for this date night?" she asked, giggling when he scooted over and half-lay over her.

"It's been a while since we made love," he murmured.

She snorted. "This morning didn't count?"

"I mean in bed."

"Wait." She shifted so she lay on her back, sighing. "People can make love in a bed? You're kidding. I thought they were just for sleeping."

He laughed, and his kiss was gentle. "I hear a lot of people have sex in beds. Like, all the time."

"No way. Is that legal?"

"I think it's more legal than the things we've done."

"Because you get off on the idea of getting caught," she murmured.

"And you don't?"

"I just get off on you."

***

They didn't order in. They stayed on the couch, being sweet and a little sappy and sharing kisses. When he dragged himself away to throw together dinner, she headed for the bathroom for a quick shower. And, seeing her reflection in the mirror, she sighed and wrapped herself in her robe and went to rummage in the closet for the gift she'd planned to give him on Christmas Eve. It wasn't fair to make him wait, to hold onto the knowledge like a secret she didn't want to share. After dressing in her matching shirt and a pair of leggings, she threw the robe on again and headed into the living room. It was corny, she knew, but she also knew he would appreciate the humor.

"Hey," she said when she stepped into the kitchen. She glanced to the sink and saw it was empty. The counters had been wiped down. He had cleaned and she smiled with relief as he turned from the stove.

"What's that?" he asked when she held out the gift box to him.

"An early Christmas present." She waited for him to say he hadn't gotten her anything yet, just so she could quip that he had. But he didn't, grinning as he ripped the paper from the box.

"Thanks, babe," he said, barely glancing into the box before stepping close to give her a kiss.

"Did you even look at it?" she sighed.

"It's a black t-shirt with some writing—"

"Matthew, read it."

Rolling his eyes, he popped the lid off the box again, letting it hit the floor. He pulled out the shirt and held it up, and she saw his eyes squint then the box hit the floor so he could hold the shirt with both hands. "I Put Buns in the Oven," he read softly. "Babe, what… Buns?"

Opening her robe so he could read her shirt, she laughed when his eyes widened. I've Got Two Buns in the Oven.

"Twins?" he whispered, gulping.

"Yeah."

"You sure?"

"Positive. Two little dots on the ultrasound, two heartbeats." She pressed her lips together, needing him to do more than stare at her as though she had told him she were an alien high priestess.

"Twins," he breathed.

"Are we happy about this? Or are you just still in shock?" she asked.

"Definitely shock. I knew you were pregnant, but not with twins—"

"You knew?!"

"Yeah, I figured it out last week. When Nick pointed out I only put on a few pounds when you get pregnant. I looked at the calendar and had to do some math, and…" He grinned, sheepish. "I've been waiting for you to tell me."

"Is this why you've been smothering me?"

"Yeah…" He rubbed the back of his neck. Then his grin widened and he tossed the t-shirt onto the table, reaching to pull her to him. "We're happy about this."

"Absolutely," she agreed.

"How far along are you?"

"About ten weeks."

He was silent for a long moment, then pulled back, grinning. "The basement."

"No! The closet."

"Are you sure? Because the basement was hotter."

"But the closet was almost poetic," she murmured, leaning to kiss his cheek. "Making two babies while our kids were rattling the door…"

"It was hurried and you got a cramp in your leg," he grumbled. He wrapped his arms tighter around her.

"Yeah but it was still great."

"It's always great."

"Yeah, it's always great," she agreed. A giggle bubbled up when he leaned into her for a deep kiss.

"Two more," he whispered a few moments later. Resting his forehead against hers, he sighed.

"Yeah," she murmured. "Thanks for that."

"I'm so sorry."

"This is it," she said. "Four is more than enough."

"Good thing we're moving into a big house."

"New business, new house, new babies…" Shayna couldn't help but grin. "Nobody can say we do anything half-assed."

"Nope, we are definitely whole-assed."

"I love you, by the way."

"Love you too," he sighed, squeezing her close.

"Love you more."

"Love you most."

#matt jackson #matt jackson fanfiction #my fics #not a multipart omg #universe: RPC #12daysofchristmas #for J :)