#[holding hands with Daphne] “thank you for protecting my wife” | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

whoviancumberbunny · 1 year

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Part Three: Leave A Tender Moment Alone - A Scanlan Fluff Fic

Part one: Tentative Love

Part Two: Small Miracles

Leave a Tender Moment Alone

Scanlan Shorthalt & other Vox Machina Characters Created by Critical Role

Lucy Collins-Shorthalt Created Melissa C. Scraper @whoviancumberbunny

It was their fifth anniversary and Scanlan knew it would likely make his friends mad that he was doing this without asking first. But he had learned this spell from exiled king from another dimension, by the name of Quentin Coldwater. “Damn it, how do the hand motions go again. I remember one of the last hand motions is crossing my fingers and holding my wrist. But it all has to be one smooth motion.” He closes his eyes “This is for my wife.” He mumbles he loved to see her smile he gets the hand motions right and Suddenly Percy and Vax start singing backing harmony for a love song

He grabs his mandolin and thinks back to day they met she was walking few steps behind everyone else because she hadn’t eaten in days and something made him want to look back at her even with sadness in her eyes there was still light around her “I don’t care what consequence it brings I have been a fool for lesser things. You needed me and I needed you too I intend to hold you for the longest time.”

Vex “they are so going to kick his ass later. But it is kind of sweet.” She said “I wonder if she’s told him yet she is pregnant again.”

Kiki “No telling. Grog Lucy keeps telling you not to help daphne get to high spaces she is only three years old.”

They look on top of the book shelf and see giggling half gnome child, who always wore a beret to match her father.

He frowns “it makes her laugh. I like seeing her smile. Most kids are afraid of grog because I am a goliath.” Vex goes over to the book shelf “Daphne go play with my kids okay sweet girl.”

“Okay, Auntie Vexy.” She grabs her bongos off the floor and runs to find the playroom

Pike “Whose idea was it to give her bongos.” She sighs “that’s right. Mine.” It wouldfine if she had the same musical skill as Scanlan. But Daphne was quite adept for three year old.

Meanwhile as Scanlan finishes the song and spell breaks “How the fuck did we end up in the hallway outside your living quarters Shorthalt?” Vax grumbled about to hit him over the head “It is their anniversary isn’t it. We will discuss you shanghaiing us later. You little weasel. Happy Anniversary, Lucy.”

None Quite understood how vax was alive logically he should have died three years before “Thanks, Vax/.go spend time with Kiki.” Percy hated hangovers from magic spells as he went back to the kitchen area to make something to eat.

Lucy “I was thinking about that one time, the first time w made love. Before we rented the room at the inn.”

“Oh when that guy was hitting on you and I used my polymorph spell to make myself a few inches taller than you. It took a while for the spell to wear off. That was the first time in my life I have never needed to use my magic music to convince someone to go to bed with me.”

“that was first time I realized you were willing to protect me. For the few months in Whitestone I always felt like I was not going to find some place to feel safe.” She had never considered the battle with Gabriel them protecting her. She was no fighter. She had always felt blessed that Vox helped in so many ways She he sits next to her “I want you to have this. It is the only thing I have that belonged to my father.” She puts compass on a chain in his hand “I love you Scanlan and gods helo us if either of these twins ends up being like you.”

“Did you say twins?” he places his hand on her stomach after placing the compass around his own neck “Quentin Percival and Elijah Vax’ildan, if they are both boys.”

“They are.” She had had prophetic dreams more like vision of the spirits of her mother and grandmother introducing her to two young boys. Because time wasn’t a straight stream when it came to her dreams

“We’ll need more space.“ she caresses his face to calm him down

“Going into panic mode isn’t going to help. My handsome gnome. You’ve been avoiding Kaylie since she arrived in Whitestone two months ago you know if you don’t speak to her she will just believe whatever her mom may have told her about the man you are.”

The gnome looked down for moment “I Know. But I am just unsure what to say to her.”

“Just tell her the truth. If you had known about her you would have been in her life.” He he looked down at his hand gently placed on her “All I can do is be honest with her.” He laughs when she reaches into his bad of holding takes out his beret.

“You are braver when you have this on.” She put it on his head “Scanlan the revolutionary!” Lucy had Shaun become business partners when she had donated the money to help expand Gilmore’s Glorious Goods. Last time she had gone into town she had crossed paths Kaylie. More like caught the young gnome woman staring at her with Daphne.

He laughed “You always know how to make me smile. You and Daphne are my world. For the longest time I felt alone.” He kissed her “Twins.” He sighed, as he went into town to find Kaylie and when he finally finds her she punches him In the face “If beating me up will make you feel better, I will gladly let you. But I am here to speak honestly with you. I will admit that I don’t remember your mother’s name. I was a selfish asshole before I met my wife.”

“The human with the scars on her neck.” They go to the inn to talk, a after few hours “I am not going to say I forgive you. But thank you for being honest. Why this inn specifically I know there are three in Whitestone.”

“Because every important moment in my life that didn’t happen in front of the other members of Vox Machina, happened here.” It was even because of having family that he drank less when he was spending time on missions with his friends.” Lucy had her reasons she didn’t like alcohol

“What’s the deal with the beret?”

“I wear it when I want to be brave.” He said looking down “You’re welcome in my home. I understand if you never accept the invitation.” His face still stung where the bruises were forming and he knew pike would offer to heal them. But it was Karma for the man he was. He had heard somewhere that it took 20 positive experiences to override one negative one. All he could do was his best to help Kaylie understand that he is not the man he was.

“Why does the kid wear one too?”

“Diedre the hat maker gave it to her as a gift to match mine.” He said grinning, then he winces because the smile had made the bruises hurt

“Geez I am sorry I beat the crap out of you.”

“I deserve it.” He stood up “I need to go it is my anniversary. I will see you around.” went home “Let the bruises heal on their own. She needed to get her frustrations out.” He responded when Pike offered to heal him. Now all they could do was wait and see what Kaylie’s next move would be

“Vax’ildan, Percival I am sorry about casting magic spell on you. Lucy is pregnant with twins and we already decided if they are both male we want to name them Quentin Percival and Elijah Vax’ildan.” He walks into the bedroom and leans against the door “Gods how is someone I only just met so much like me it hurts.” He goes over to Lucy “Thank you for making me talk to her.” And she takes his hands in hers. There was soemthing comforting about how it felt to look as his hand almost disappearing into the gentle caress of lucy’s grip

A few months later the day after the twins are born, Kaylie cautiously enters the house “Hello My name is Kaylie I am Scanlan’s daughter.”

“Welcome to the family. Come say hello to your new brothers.” Pike says as she drags Kaylie over to the bassinettes “It is hard to tell them apart sleeping. Elijah has blue eyes and Quentin has brown eyes.

Scanlan sat in his rocking chair with Daphne asleep in his lap “Before you ask the bruise on my forehead is from tripping over your sister’s bongos.” He looks at them “remember everyone be quiet, Lucy just spent twelve hours giving birth to these little guys. “ he carefully stands up and takes Daphne to put her in her bed. “I think she sees spirits like her mother. she talks to them.”

Pike “whenever I am called upon to pray for someone who is about to go to the clearing, Lucy comes with me to see if the spirits have any messages for the living.” she said , they all wondered how she managed to stay mildly sane when she could clearly view the veil between live and death

To Be Continued…

Saturday, February 4th, 2023

#vox machina au #scanlan shorthalt #fluff #scanlan x oc

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ijustwant2write · 3 years

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‘I want that with you’-Anthony Bridgerton x Reader

(GIF credit to @misskatesharma)

Requested by @elennox03: ‘I’d like to request an Anthony Bridgerton x read imagine. I’m a huge sucker for husband!anthony. Can you write an imagine where Anthony and his wife are visiting the Bridgerton house and he sees his wife with his youngest sibilings and he realizes he wants to be a dad. When they leave and go back to their house he admits to her that he wants a kid and it’s really fluffy and maybe a little smutty? 🥺’

Characters: Anthony Bridgerton x Reader, Bridgerton family x Reader

Meanings: (Y/N)=Your name

Warnings: LOTS OF FLUFF, SMUT

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Anthony sat at the table, newspaper in hand as he waited for his wife to join him for breakfast. The servants were ready to serve the food as soon as the Viscountess sat down. Anthony was engrossed in the headlines of the day, until he heard someone descending the stairs. He hoped it was his wife, smiling when he saw the doors being opened for her in his peripheral.

“Good morning darling.” he greeted.

“Good morning. Sorry to keep you waiting, last time we visited your family I promised Hyacinth I would wear this dress, it is her favourite.” she approached him, kissing him on the forehead before taking her seat, where a servant pushed it in for her.

“No bother, we shall still be there on time.” Anthony put down the newspaper as breakfast was laid out in front of them.

“I am excited to be visiting again. Especially since Daphne’s season is coming up.”

Anthony’s happy expression vanished at the thought.“Don’t remind me.”

(Y/N) giggled at her husband as they started eating.“Here he is, the protective older brother.”

“Well, I have to be. We both know men will come flocking towards her, and she will be so hypnotised by it that she won’t think about getting to know them. And to add to that, I know a majority of the men in this community, they go to my club, and there’s a lot I don’t want near her.”

“Oh darling, don’t get yourself too stressed over these matters. I’m sure you will have no trouble finding someone for her. Now let us eat, I am starving.”

Once they finished, the pair headed to the foyer, their servants already waiting with gloves, coats and capes, as well as a hat for Anthony. They put on everything, (Y/N) taking Anthony’s arm as they walked outside to the carriage. The couple didn’t need to speak to enjoy each others company, still holding hands as they looked out of the windows, the familiar streets passing by, before they both recognised the area in which their family lived in. (Y/N) loved being a Bridgerton, not only because she had fallen completely in love with Anthony, but because he had the most wonderful family. She had many friends who’s families were stuck up, or too strict, with some only just liking their husbands. (Y/N)’s whole body filled up with adoration for Anthony every time she looked at him, and her heart swelled whenever he looked back. (Y/N) knew she was extremely lucky, and she was thankful for that every single day.

When they arrived at the Bridgerton house, they were welcomed in, taken to the drawing room where the entire family was sat. Gregory and Hyacinth were the first to make a move, jumping off of their chairs and shouting out their brother and sister-in-law’s names. Anthony scooped up his younger brother as (Y/N) knelt down to capture Hyacinth in a hug. When the married couple had first started courting, Hyacinth had been in awe of (Y/N), wondering if Anthony was in love with a princess.

The rest of the Bridgerton’s also stood to welcome Anthony and (Y/N). Hyacinth took (Y/N)’s hand and pulled her towards the sofa, sitting down together. She looked over (Y/N)’s dress, thrilled that she remembered to wear that one. As Violet began a conversation with (Y/N), Anthony approached Daphne, intending to talk about her upcoming season, but she beat him to it.

“Anthony, I should like to ask you a few questions regarding my debut.” Daphne started.

“Wonderful, I was just about to bring up the matter. So, in a few weeks, you shall be presented-”

“No, I know how it all works brother. Mama has told me all about it. I wanted to ask you about, well, the more personal side of it. And I think it would benefit me to see it from a gentleman’s perspective.”

Anthony dreaded to think what she would come up with.“Ah, maybe this is a conversation for mama-”

“I was wondering what it felt like when you realised (Y/N) was the one for you. How did you choose her? Was it something that stood out? Something I should be doing?”

Anthony chuckled at his sister’s questions, and how innocent she was. He wished she would stay like this forever.“I believe it is different for everyone sister. I...I don’t know how to explain it, but,” he looked over to (Y/N), who now had Hyacinth cuddled into her side as she and Violet talked,“it felt right. Like when you know the answer to a question, and that feeling of certainty goes through you. You don’t have any ‘what ifs’ about the future, because you know that no matter what happens, they will be the person by your side.”

Daphne smiled as she glanced in the same direction, before looking back to her brother. She had seen that expression of his many times when he was with (Y/N), and she wished someone would look at her that way during her season.

“(Y/N),” Gregory caught her attention. He was sat on the floor,“will we be having a cousin soon? Some of my friends have loads of cousins to play with.”

(Y/N) wasn’t sure how to answer, and Violet sensed that. The older siblings felt a slight awkwardness in the air, knowing it was a touchy subject.

Violet smiled, trying to lighten the mood.“Why don’t we take lunch outside? It is such a beautiful day.”

The eldest siblings all quickly agreed, moving almost immediately. Gregory felt that he had said something wrong, especially wen he saw (Y/N)’s face. Anthony was about to comfort her when Gregory stood up and held her hand, Hyacinth was already holding the other one.

“I’m sorry if I upset you.” he said, pouting slightly.

(Y/N) gave him a comforting smile, kneeling down between the two.“Don’t worry, you did no such thing. Tell you what, why don’t we play outside after lunch? But you’ve got to let me win at least one game.”

The children giggled, knowing that (Y/N) had never been very good at winning whatever games they played. But both nodded, going ahead of her when she gently pushed them forwards. Standing back up, she realised Anthony had been watching her the whole time.

“What? What is it?” she asked.

“Nothing.” he replied, quickly pecking her on the lips.“Come, let us join our family.”

The rest of the afternoon went by too fast for (Y/N)’s liking. Over lunch she discussed Daphne’s debut, giving her advice on how to deduct herself and little ways to flirt when Anthony and Violet weren’t listening. Their giggles didn’t go unnoticed, Anthony scolding Collin and Benedict for not paying attention to the girls.

“(Y/N), can we go play now?” Gregory asked as soon as she was finished eating.

“Gregory, you have only just finished for food too. Wait a while, otherwise you will have a bad stomach.” Violet warned him.

“She is not a toy for you two to play with. Some of us would like to speak with (Y/N) too you know.” Daphne pointed out, only to have Gregory stick his tongue out at her.

“We will play once our food has settled, yes?” (Y/N) nodded to the children, who knew they would be waiting as the grown ups talked.

Anthony had that thought again. Hyacinth and Gregory adored (Y/N), and she had such a way with children. And it wasn’t all smooth sailing with these two, (Y/N) had told them off a few times. It was natural thing that came to her, a natural thing he had put off for so long. Of course, they wanted to enjoy their time together without children, but seeing her like this, and with children of friends started to make him think that perhaps it was time. (Y/N) had only ever expressed her wanting of children once, which lead to an argument. Anthony had always felt pressured to be the one to marry first and produce heirs, so when he found (Y/N), his mama subtly hinted to him about having a baby as soon as possible; just to spite her, Anthony convinced (Y/N) not to dive headfirst into parenthood, something she went along with because she saw how stressed Anthony became on the subject. However, (Y/N) didn’t want to be past her time before it was too late to have a child.

“Alright then,” (Y/N) said as she, the two youngest and Collin stood on the grass,“what game are we playing?”

“Hide and seek!” Hyacinth quickly shouted before Gregory could even open his mouth.

“That’s so boring!” her brother whined.

“And aren’t (Y/N) and I slightly too big to be hiding?” Collin pointed out.

(Y/N) mocked offence.

“N-no, I didn’t mean it like that, and you know it!”

(Y/N) laughed at him, much to Collin’s relief.

“Gregory, we do always play whatever you want.” (Y/N) said.“We’ll play hide and seek today.”

Hyacinth cheered, saying (Y/N) was the seeker before running off. Gregory was fast behind her, whilst Collin shrugged at (Y/N), going off to hide too. (Y/N) just rolled her eyes as she smiled, turning the other way and beginning to count. The others were still sat at the table, engrossed in a conversation, but Anthony was still watching (Y/N). She shook her head at him, still counting until she reckoned they were given enough time to hide. She announced she was coming, looking under benches and around trees and hedges, behind statues and pillars. Collin was the first to be found, unfortunately he was right about being too big to hide. They both set out to find the other two, keeping as quiet as they could.

(Y/N) heard rustling behind her, before something moved in behind the rose bushes. She held back for a moment, waking alongside it slowly to not alert the player of her presence. Once they had no where else to go, (Y/N) waited for them to make a run for it, jumping out at them. This caused them to collide as they both yelped out, but ending up laughing as (Y/N) realised it was Hyacinth that she had caught. As they sat up, with (Y/N) checking she hadn’t hurt the girl, Collin came bounding over with Gregory over his shoulder.

Anthony knew what he wanted, and in that moment he had no patience. He wanted to tell (Y/N) about his intentions now, but knew it would be better to have that conversation in private. It was going to happen tonight, he needed to say it.

On the way home, (Y/N) noticed how Anthony’s hand was on her thigh, rather than holding her hand, and he was as close to her as he could possibly be. He kept kissing her too, holding her face in his other hand. Some were gentle and long kisses, other were hungry and passionate. (Y/N) was flustered, wondering why he was acting this way. When they arrived home, Anthony took her hand in his, quickly guiding her upstairs to their room.

“Anthony, what are-”

(Y/N) was silenced as he kissed her again, his hands now holding her waist. She embraced it, gripping onto his biceps as he walked them towards the bed. He pulled away, scooping her into his arms and gently laying her down on the bed. He straddled her, leaning down to kiss her again as she pushed off his jacket, trying to take off his shirt too. He sat up, taking it off, and for a moment, he was content with just looking at his wife.

“Anthony?” she whispered.

His urges drove him forward, kissing down her neck and on top of her breasts, pulling her to sit up with him so he could undo her dress. She told him to stand, as did she, turning around so it was easier to rid of the garment. Once it was off, he pressed his body against the back of hers, taking a second to slow down. He ran his hands from her lower back, rounding her waist and cupping her breasts. She moaned at his touch, purposefully pushing against his crotch. He moved her to face him, knowing he had to tell her what was on his mind now before he completely forgot about them.

“(Y/N).” was all he managed to get out.

“Yes?” she looked back up at him with her beautiful eyes.

“I...I want us to have a family.”

“I do too.”

“No, I mean...I’m ready.”

“You are?”

“Yes. I know I am. After seeing you today with my brother and sister, well, whenever you’re around children, I realised how selfish I have been. I married you because I love you. And love comes in many forms. One way to express our love is by creating a family of our own.”

“Anthony, are you sure? Because, because you know how happy that would make me?”

He smiled.“And that’s all I want to do, make you happy.”

“You do so every day. But this means the world to me. I love you.”

“I love you, so much. We’re ready (Y/N), we know what we both want. I want that with you.”

#anthony bridgerton #anthony bridgerton imagine #anthony bridgerton imagines #anthony bridgerton one shot #anthony bridgerton x reader #anthony bridgerton fanfiction #anthony bridgerton fan fiction #anthony bridgerton fanfic #anthony bridgerton fan fic

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drop-of-infinity · 3 years

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Back at it again with the weirdly formatted Destiel fic! This part is canon compliant with season 7, and it’s kinda short bc Cas is dead for most of that season.

Chapter one is here

Chapter two is here

Chapter three is here

<><><><><><><><>

Chapter 4: season 7

Meet The New Boss

{“I need help.” Even though Cas is clearly not okay, even though they had just been trying to kill each other, even though Dean is so worried about him his throat is closing up, his relief is immense. Cas still cares, which means he’s still Cas which means there’s still hope.

{“I’m sorry Dean.” Cas was ready to accept that this was it. His last words would be trying to fix the harm he had done to the person who meant the most to him. This was it. Cas hoped Dean could understand everything that he still couldn’t say.

{“He’s gone Dean.”

“Cas, you child. Why didn’t you listen to me?” Dean tried to actually get angry, but he didn’t have nearly enough rage to cover the bottomless pit of grief opening in his stomach. But then- Cas opens his eyes with a gasp. The relief almost made Dean’s knees give out, but of course it didn’t last.

{“Dumb son of a bitch.” Again, the rage wasn’t strong enough to cover the grief. As Dean folded Cas’s trench coat over his arm, he realized he was resisting the urge to bury his face in it. Turning around quickly, he headed away from the leviathan infested waters. These feelings... they were stupid. Pointless.

{But Dean kept the coat. He ferried it from stolen car to stolen car, folded carefully in the trunk. Sam saw it once, and gave Dean a look that held more understanding then he had of his own actions. It made him both uncomfortable and strangely relieved. He didn’t know what he was feeling, but it didn’t matter. Dean kept the coat. Part of him stil believed that Cas would come back.

The Born Again Identity

{“Who was that?” Dean stared at the man in front of him. At Cas, somehow, miraculously, alive. He wondered what expression he was making, because he was experiencing so many emotions he thought he might explode. Under the cacophony of deeply repressed feelings, one clear thought managed to form. He’s not wearing the coat. Because I have it. Part of me always believed he would come back... and here he is.

{“Thank you for protecting my wife”

“Your wife?” Dean felt like there was a monster in his chest, squeezing his heart and trying to claw its way out. Trying to kill Daphne, Cas- no Emmanuel’s... wife. That was a perfectly normal thing to feel about your best friend who had just returned from the dead with amnesia right? Well, there was no normal for that. So Dean could feel whatever he wanted, it didn’t mean anything.

{“I don’t remember you, I’m sorry.” It felt like a stab to the chest, even though Dean already knew. To see Cas look him in the eyes and say that... it was a lot.

{“I’m sure it’s just like riding a bike.”

“I don’t know how to do that either.” It was such a Cas thing to say, Dean almost collapsed. He had missed him.

{As the demon screamed, memories rushed in. Castiel remembered who he was, except- who he was wasn’t Castiel anymore. It was Cas. Remembering who he was was just remembering his time with Dean. He could feel that he was thousands of years old, but the memories that built him, the things that made him who he was... he saw himself walking into a barn, lights flashing. The righteous man stabbed him, and he smiled down at the knife. He saw himself rebelling against heaven, against everything he knew... for Dean. Dean, Dean, Dean. After going without his name for so long, his heart seemed to be singing it. He had done... bad things. Cas couldn’t make himself turn back to Dean for a moment. How could this beautiful man with his beautiful soul ever forgive him? He had to leave.

{“Wait.” Dean took something out of the trunk of the car. A folded trench coat. He handed it to Cas slowly, and Cas felt the weight of the gesture. He tried not to obsess over the implications. Why did he want to obsess over the implications? It didn’t matter. There was work to be done.

Reading is Fundamental

{“Pull my finger.”

“Why?”

“My finger. Pull it.” Dean did, and the lights exploded. So Cas was insane. He giggled at his own prank, and Dean ignored the tiny voice in the back of his head that whispered cute.

{“I followed a honeybee!” Cas seemed so excited. So calm. Dean had never seen a smile even half this big on his face. It made his chest ache. If he couldn’t even make his best friend as happy as he was when he had lost his mind, he didn’t deserve Cas in the first place.

{“The very touch of you corrupts. When Castiel first laid a hand on you in heaven he was lost!” Suddenly, Dean is back at his 17th birthday, his first solo hunt. His dad is explaining what they’re dealing with. Two nuns, who... who fell in love. “They were... corrupted, in life and now in death. Take care of it.” John had said. Dean had burned the bones, trying not to think about the pretty boy in his class with the bright blue eyes. He returns to the present, and tries to remember to breathe.

Survival of the Fittest

{“Sorry, but I’d rather have you. Cursed or not.” And it was true. No matter what crap Cas would get them in to, he was all they had. More then that, he was Cas. I’d rather have you, Dean thinks again, but the meaning is slightly different.

{“Do I seem like good luck to you?” Castiel knew on some level that he was staring but he didn’t care. Dean was good luck in a way. No, he was better, because Dean had had to claw his way to every good thing in his life. Cas felt his heart speed up slightly-human bodies are so strange aren’t they?-as he looked at Dean. He had things to say to this man, things he no longer saw the point of holding back. You are my religion, he thinks simply, and it is not earth-shattering, it is not a revelation. It is a long time coming and his Lucifer-ridden head has somehow broken through to it. He doesn’t say it though, at least not in so many words. “Well I’ll go with you,” he says instead.

{Cas is standing nose to nose with Dean inside Dick Roman enterprises. He counts the freckles on the hunter’s face, making swirly constellations. He’s beautiful, he thinks vaguely. This thought is not new, in fact it is so old it has worn tracks and grooves into his brain. Tracks like the little lines next to Dean’s eyes. Dean, who is looking at him with a silent question, and Cas remembers he is here to be useful, and he needs to get on that.

{“I’m afraid we’re much more likely to get ripped to shreds.” Cas realizes it in a second. They are in purgatory, and he has to leave if he wants to keep Dean safe. He so badly wants to stay with him, help him, protect him, but he knows the best way to keep Dean alive is to get as far away from him as possible.

{Cas feels himself falling into his own head as he goes away. His restored mind is trying to find a way this ends where Dean forgives him. It can’t. He makes himself stop.

{Dean is running so fast it feels like flying, and he doesn’t know where Cas is but he has to find him. He wishes he could keep running, but the only way out of this is through. He makes himself stop.

In that moment, they are united across purgatory, joined by the common goal of keeping each other safe. Neither of them have time to consider what each other-or themselves-want.

#destiel #supernatural #spn #deancas #castiel #supernatural thoughts #spn thoughts #destiel fic #deancas fic #deancas fanfic #destiel fanfic #spn season 7 #supernatural season 7

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psycheswritings · 4 years

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Nothing’s Fair in Love and War - Nine

Title: Nothing’s Fair in Love and War

Fandom: Peaky Blinders

Pairing: Thomas Shelby x Daphne Scott (OFC)

Warnings: Swearing, a little misogyny and a lot of angst.

Word Count: 4795

Author's Note: So, how have you all been? Good, I expect. This chapter is a little, well, angsty. There is a lot of emotions going around and things start to go wrong for everyone. I will post the playlist for the fic soon but I warn you, I'll break your heart there might be some spoilers in the lyrics. The music recommended for this chapter is "Big Guns" by Ruelle. A big, huge thank you for everybody who still reads the fic even after nine ass long chapters. Be prepared for a lot more. As always, this haven’t been proofread, so feel free to report any mistakes back to me; warnings are expecific for each chapter; tags are at the end of the post and if you want to be added, let me know. Also, your feedback is also highly appreciated.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this story. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material. No copyright infringement is intended.

Masterlist

Chapter Summary: Tommy discovers that Arthur and Michael are in prison and confronts Campbell about it. When Daphne discovers the whole ordeal about Arthur's prison, she and Alfie have a discussion that doesn't end all that well.

Nine

Things were going smoothly for the Shelby family - the pubs in London were earning a god profit, the exportation of the alcohol had encountered no hindrance so far and then there was Daphne, that had finally give in to his advances. Tommy should have expected that something would go wrong, because things had always been like that for them. It had been this way when his mom died and his father ran away, it had been like that with the war, this time was no different.

“We had a deal.” He entered the church to find the irishman on his usual spot, reading the newspaper. “Hey! We had a fucking deal!”

“I would think that you would moderate your language in a place of worship.” His tone didn’t conceal the disdain and Tommy has had enough of the attitude, so he rips the paper out of Campbell’s hands and throws it away, pointing a finger to the policeman’s face.

“We had a fucking deal.”

“Mr. Shelby, if you read the papers, you might have seen that the Home Secretary has got himself into a bit of a fizz about certain moral issues. Prostitution, protection, racketeering, drinking, cocaine and, of course, gambling. He has demanded results.” As the Irishman lectures, Tommy starts to pace around, breath uneven, trying his best to not let his anger take over. He had to think of a way to get them out of this situation.

“You offered me protection. You promised me protection.”

“Well, no, you see it was Mr. Churchill that made you that promise. And the Home Secretary outranks him, so…” Campbell observes as Tommy walks around before saying. “And I can hardly be blamed if your demented brother decided to go on some sort of blood orgy during dinner.” The little patience that the gangster had was gone and as he approaches the policeman he is already shouting at him.

“Don't fucking lie to me! Do not sit here in your fucking church and lie to me!”

“You will need to contain your emotions or this meeting is at an end.” Tommy faces Campbell for a moment, his only wish is to put a bullet through his head, has been for a long time, but he tries his best to regain his composure, stepping back from the man and turning his back from him, resting his hands on the benches on the other side of the aisle. “Good. That's better. So, let us review the new situation. I have your brother in a prison cell charged with the murder of Billy Kitchen. The case against him is strong and I have no doubt that his destiny is to hang. And then there is Polly's son, Michael. He has already admitted to helping Arthur burn down the Marquis pub. He was a tough nut to crack, that boy, but crack he did. So I have your brother facing the noose, I have your cousin facing five years for arson. And I have your entire organization in disarray in Birmingham and in London.”

“What do you want?” Tommy asks, facing the policeman again.

“What do I want?!” Campbell looks at the gangster like he is not making sense at all. “I don't understand.”

“I have already agreed to do your fucking killing for you. Now, what is it you want from me?” Tommy’s voice is low and he punctuates every word. Campbell stands up from the bench to get closer to the gangster and the younger man just observes him, trying to conceal his anger.

“There you go, you see. An agreement is not the same thing as an assurance, now, is it? You see, I found I wasn't sleeping so well. It wasn't just the smell and the noise in that room, no. It was the nagging doubt. The knowledge… The knowledge that Tommy Shelby is not afraid to die. Therefore, the threat to your own life might not be enough to make it certain that you will obey me on the given day. I needed also the power of life and death over your family. And that I now have. Your brother, your cousin and your sister. I have known her address in Primrose Hill since the day she moved i, she is safe only as long as I want her to be. I have been ahead of you every step of the way. And, as my father used to say, to make sure your dog obeys you, you have to show it the stick once in a while.” He holds his cane up, as to illustrate his words, before walking out of the church, the echoes of the walking stick filling the air as Tommy stands there, weighing down his options.

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“Tommy, Arthur is in solitary confinement. Michael is in the remand wing of…” Lizzie follows him when he enters the office, but he is only partially registering what she is saying to him, the sound of the telephone ringing on the background.

“I already know. Get out, shut the doors.” She does as he says and Tommy sits on his desk, hands resting on the wood, eyes observing the telephone before he picks it up.

“Tommy? It's me. Tommy, can you hear me?” It’s impossible to not recognize the voice and the gangster is not sure about the way it makes him feel.

“Yes, Grace.”

“I think you called. I haven't slept.” He takes a deep breath before answering.

“Grace, this is not a good time.”

“I can call you back.” There is a hint of desperation on her voice, like she is clinging to something, a thread of hope perhaps. He should expect that, between her proposal before she left to America and the letters she kept sending him even when he didn’t answer none of them, even after she married, but part of him still felt a little surprised by her tone.

“No, it's fine. It's all right.”

“Can we meet?” The words had barely left his lips when she talks again and something occurs to Tommy - maybe this is the chance he has to balance things between him and Campbell and find out once and for all how he feels about her.

“Yes. We'll meet.”

“When?”

“Grace, there are some things I have to do first.”

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Tommy entered the Shelby house to find Polly sitting at the table in the room connected to the betting shop, smocking. He walked past her, entering the other room where John, Esme and Finn where waiting. Stooding near the table, hands behind his back, he prepared himself to survey the damage containment. “John?”

“The coppers have lifted ten of our men in Camden Town, the rest of them are on the run.”

“Tom, they've taken Michael.” It was Finn, clearly worried about his cousin’s situation.

“Business first.”Was all Tommy said to his brother to silence the boy.

“They took Michael last night...” Polly got up from her seat, clearly exasperated by the fact that her son was now in jail. All she wanted was a way to get him out, business be damned.

“I said business first.”

“They picked him up…” Tommy didn’t let her finish, raising his voice and looking at her as he said.

“Polly, business first!” She leaned into the doorframe, restless, her nephew ignored that, turning to look at his brother. “John?”

“They took all our whisky, so no doubt they'll be supping that for Christmas. They've impounded all our vans, put their own locks on the warehouse. The Eden Club and all our pubs have been raided by the coppers and handed back to Sabini and Solomons.” He paused for a moment, then continued. “The Black Country boys think it was Arthur that killed Billy because that's what the coppers told them. So there'll be no more free passes for our whisky boats.”

“I don't give a fuck about whisky. I don't give a fuck about Billy Kitchen. I want my son out of prison. Now.” Polly came forward talking directly at Thomas.

“Thomas, I spoke to Johnny Dogs...”

“This meeting should just be family.” The older woman interrupts Esme, not boring herself to look at the girl.

“I can help.” John’s wife protests but Polly directs her answer to Tommy again.

“It's family only, she is not blood, Tommy!”

“Let her speak.” The gangster says, trying to maintain his voice low.

“Or is this a business? Have you forgotten…”

“Enough!” He screams looking at his aunt. “Enough, Polly.” The man turns to his sister-in-law. “Esme?”

“I spoke to Johnny Dogs. The Lees are kin.”

“The bloody Lees!” Polly exclaims, not believing that Tommy is really considering the offer.

“They can give us men!” Esme argues.

“We don't need more fucking men! It's men that have done the damage! It... It... is men fighting like cockerels that have put us here in the first place.” Tommy just ignores his aunt outburst, knowing that she is not thinking rationally because of Michael’s situation.

“Esme, I'll take up their offer. We need men.” He takes a brief look at Polly, who stares at him, shaking her head before taking a step closer to him.

“If Michael ever gets out of prison, I am taking him away from this family. For good.” She marches up to Finn, taking the young boy by the arm, all the while Tommy observes her, quiet. “This life is bad. This life is all bad.”

“Aunt Pol, what are you doing?” The youngest Shelby protests as she forces him out of the room with her.

“Shut up and walk.” There’s just him, John and Esme on the betting shop now. They listen to the door opening and then closing. Tommy leans his hands into fists on the table, before sitting down on the chair in front of John.

“Thomas? Should I go and speak to Queen Mary Lee at the Black Patch?” Esme takes a step closer to her husband, watching as Thomas rests his elbows on the table, hands intertwined together in front of his mouth.

“Yes.”

“She can give us soldiers for a few nights.” She says and he just murmurs.

“Mm, good.” Fingers moving restlessly as he looks down onto the table, mind racing to think of solutions.

“John, go and bring up the car.” The other Shelby looks up at his wife, that just nods her head towards the door. He gets up from the chair, giving a last glance at his brother who is still silent, then he picks up his hat and leaves. Esme walks to the door to certifie herself that he really left before coming back to the table and inclining herself on the table to get closer to her brother-in-law. “Imagine riding away, Thomas. Living the real life, you know? Your Gypsy half is the stronger. You just want to ride away.” Thomas looks up at her, just observing quietly as she talks. “France is the new place for us, they say. Lot of metal lying around still. Guns and trucks and spent shells and things. Then you go south. Saintes-Maries, where the Black Madonna is. My brothers go sometimes for the fair. It's like a home for us. They still let you get lost there.” He lowers his hands to the table and leans closer to her, speaking low and calmly.

“I've been to France, Esme. So has John. Now get your coat and go with your husband.” The gangster just observes her for a moment, before taking her face between the fingers of his left hand. “And if you ever talk about getting lost again, I will cut you from this family.” After he releases her, Esme looks around, as to make a point, before speaking.

“What family?” And then she leaves and Thomas can’t help to think that she is not all wrong.

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Daphne doesn’t see Alfie before going to the bakery that morning, what she finds a little strange, because they usually go to work together, but she brushes it off as overthinking. Yet, things get weirder as she approaches the bakery and all the man go dead silent as she passes then. She ignores it too, like she ignores the little remnants of blood on the floor and the fact that Ollie seems more nervous than usual around her. That is until she has to get out of her office to ask something to Ollie and overhears a conversation between two of their employees - a conversation about the prison of one of the gypsy brothers.

She stops dead on her tracks, the two men see her and look at each other like they’ve just seem a ghost, until Ollie shoo them away, looking back at her with a very frightened expression. It’s then that it all comes weighing down on her - Alfie’s extrange behavior for all these past months, the fact that he wanted her out of the house last night, his cold demeanor towards her since the wedding.

Ollie tries to intercept her when she starts walking again but there is no stopping her as she storms through the corridor to Alfie’s office. Her breath is uneven and she has a hard time recognizing what exactly is the feeling bubbling under her skin - is it anger? Or maybe it’s betrayal but she can figure it out why she would feel that way. When she opens the door, unceremoniously, Alfie immediately looks up from whatever it is he is working on. He nods at Ollie, who is standing right behind her, and the younger man leaves, closing the door.

“You already know then?” There was no reason to pretend he didn’t know why she was there, he had been preparing himself for that all morning. Alfie reclines himself back into his chair, letting his glasses fall to his chest as he looks at her. She doesn’t sit on her usual chair, right in front of him, doesn’t think she can, not in the state she is in and that is his first sign of what is about to come.

“That’s what you’ve been hiding from me all along?” If he didn’t knew her so well, Alfie would think that she wasn’t unsettled by the news. Standing there, in the middle of his office, speaking to him without raising her voice, her speech did not falter, like this was just a normal conversation about the business and not the questioning that he knew it was, Daphne showed few signs of the raging battle roaring inside of her. She had always been good at concealing her feelings even when she was a kid, having been raised to be a proper lady, not letting others know that underneath all that pretense lived a real woman with real feelings.

“I knew you would vouch against it if I told ya.”

“Then you just decided that it was better to do it behind my back?” It was already bad enough to think the exact same thing on his head, hearing her said it out loud only made things ten times worse and he kinda hated himself for that.

“Look, love, I’ve told ya we were going to use them to win the war and then get rid of the fucking gypsies, haven’t I?” Rolling her eyes she asked him.

“Sabini is not a problem anymore then, is he?” Alfie almost swore under his breath - she was too damn perceptive, he had been fooling her for far more time than he thought was possible. The Jew took a deep breath before stating.

“We’ve made an agreement.” She laughs, humourless, hands resting on her waist before she traps him in her gaze.

“An agreement.” A pause. “Let me guess, he promised you that our bookies could go to Epsom this year in exchange of your help to get rid of the Blinders?” Daphne waits for him to say something, which he doesn’t, and she caughts herself massaging her temples as she paces around the room. “And like all the other times, he will deceive you.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Don’t I?” She snaps at his tone, walking to his desk, standing between the two chairs and propping her hands, closed into fists, on the wood.

“We have a written deal.” He tries to hold his ground but stops as he hears her laugh again, mockingly.

“A written deal, of course, how haven’t I thought of this before, huh?” Her hazel eyes search for his blue ones. “Tell me, Alfie, this is what you call winning a war?”

“What do you know about winning wars, Daphne?” He regrets the words the moment they left his mouth, specially when she flinches away from him, taking a step back from the desk.

“I know plenty about war, Alfred, you know that better than anyone.”

“Daph…” The Jew almost gets up from his seat but she stops him before he could finish the movement.

“Don’t.” Turning her back to him, Daphne closes her eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply, trying to keep her cool. “What did you do?”

“We’ve taken all of the clubs back and Arthur is in prison.” She looked at him from over her shoulder.

“For what?”

“The murder of Billy Kitchen.”

“That was your plan all along?” She hears him exhale loudly before his voice is heard.

“Not in detail, but yeah, it was the plan since the beginning, aye.”

“And you didn’t told me before… why?”

“Because you’ve turned soft, Daphne.” When she turned to face him his expression had changed, it’s like he was telling her something that is obvious. “I knew that from the moment that that fucking gypsy put foot on this bakery.”

“I don’t get it.”

“I knew you wouldn’t accept the deal with Sabinni because of Thomas.” He leans forward, resting his forearms on the desk, hands intertwined, venon in his voice.

“Tommy has nothing to do with me thinking that this deal is bad for us.” She snaps back at him and this time he is the one who laughs.

“He has everything to do with it, love, because you love him.” He pauses to gauge her reaction. Daphne shakes her head in denial.

“You are out of your damn mind.”

“I am out of my mind?” He stands up, leaning onto his fists, his tone of voice higher than before. “Are you even hearing yourself and how much of a hypocrite you are being, huh? How’s he any different than all the ones we betrayed before him, huh? I will tell you the difference, the difference is that you’ve let yourself fall in love with him, that’s the fucking difference, innit?”

“You know me well enough to know that I would never let my feelings get in the way of the business.”

“You don’t deny it then? You do love him, don’t you?” She doesn’t answer him and that only seems to add fuel to the fire. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you were already sneaking around with him, huh? Opening your…”

“STOP!” Her scream seems to get him out of his trance and the hurt in her eyes is like a knife to his heart. “Don’t say something that you will regret later. Don’t make me hate you, Alfie, because I don’t know if I can come back from that.” They just stare at each other for a long moment before she speaks again. “Why do you keep me around, Alfie? Why do you keep me around if you truly believe that I will betray you at the first opportunity I have?”

“Because I made a fucking promise…” His tone is lower and solemn but she doesn’t let him finish.

“Fuck you and your promises. It’s not me you have to worry about, Alfred, is yourself.” His expression softens and Alfie almost takes a step back at the sheer force of her words. “You push everyone around you away, always have something up your sleeve to try and gain something from everybody. You want to call me a hypocrite, fine, maybe I am, but so are you. Because you stand there, looking at me and talking about fucking promises when you’ve been lying to me for months in a row and even after all these years that I’ve been nothing but loyal to you, you have the nerve to look me in the eye and tell me that you’re afraid I would betray you for somebody else.”

“Daph…” He walks around the table to get closer to her but she steps back, not letting him talk or get closer to her.

“If I really wanted to do that you really think I would choose Thomas? That I would have waited all these years listening from everyone how crazy I was to still be around you, hearing people calling me your mistress and God knows what else behind my back. If I really wanted to betray you, Alfie, I would have done it a hell lot sooner, because that’s all that Sabini has been waiting.”

Silence fills the room and neither of them is really sure how many time has passed when she speaks again.

“I’m going home. I’ll be there tomorrow morning, don’t wait for me.” He reaches for her as she turns to leave, catching her wrist on his hand, forcing her to face him.

“Are you leaving?” There is a certain level of desperation on his voice and there is no mistaking the worry in his blue eyes, she almost caves in.

“Yes, I’m leaving.”

“Where are you going?” Daphne takes a deep breath, holding his gaze.

“To a hotel. I need some time alone. I will still come to work, you don’t have to worry about that.”

“It’s not about the fucking work I’m worried about, innit?” There is silence again and she recognizes the conflict on his face. “And if I don’t let you go?”

“I’m not asking for your permission.” She breaks away from his hold and walks to the door while Alfie waits for her to look back. She doesn’t.

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“Where've you been?” Ada asks her aunt as she enters the room and sees her taking a bath.

“I went to the Spotted Dog in Digbeth for a glass or two of rum.” The younger woman observes her aunt and frowns, asking.

“Was it one glass or two?”

“It was three.” Polly looks around. “Where's the baby?”

“Sleeping.” Ada reclines herself into the couch. “More like five.” The older woman groans lightly, lifting her arms from the water to rest it on the rim of the tub ad look at her niece.

“It was more like six.” She reaches for the cigarette, resting on the ashtray on the table near her. “Did you meet the maid?”

“I talked politics with her, she got bored and went to bed.” They both chuckle at Ada’s statement. “I phoned James. He talked to the lawyer anyway. He said he'd take Arthur's case for free, so we don't need Tommy.” The older woman exhales loudly, clearly disturbed by the topic. “Pol? We'll get Michael free, as well, I promise.”

“There's no need, they're letting him out in the morning.” Her expression changes to something somber and Ada frowns, worried. “Do you still talk to Daphne?” The question sounds strange to the young woman, but she answers anyway.

“Yes.”

“Then tell her that the best thing she can do is stay away from your brother. She is a nice girl, has certainly suffered enough. There is no future for her besides a man like him.”

“Pol, why…”

“If the baby wants anything at night, ring the bell by the bed. She gets paid to work twenty four hours, that girl, she's getting lazy. Well, take advantage if you're nice.” Ada observes as her aunt leans into the tub and concludes that the best think she can do is leave her, so that’s what she does.

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Daphne doesn't sleep that night. She tosses and turns on the bed, restless, thinking about her fight with Alfie and how the Shelby’s might be dealing with all the trouble, until she decides that there is no reason to stay laying down when no sleep will come to her. So she gets up and sits on one of the armchairs by the fireplace, a glass of whiskey on her hands, eyes focused on the fire burning there.

She recalls the words exchanged between her and Alfie that morning and starts to question herself about his accusation. Had her judgment of the situation been tainted by her feelings towards Tommy? Had she really let herself be blinded by love, like Polly had waned her? She, who always had done her best to conceal her feelings from everybody and leave her life dealing with things as rationally as she could?

The burning of the alcohol down her throat brings her back to the present and she hears the banging on the door. Daphne tries to ignore it, thinking that it might be Alfie or one of his man. She doesn’t have the strength or the patience to deal with neither now. Then she hears talking and all of a sudden the doors opens and Harriet comes in - no makeup, loose hair and wearing a simple plain gray dress, a worried expression on her face.

“What happened?” The courtesan closes the door behind her, approaching the other woman, taking a sit on the vacant armchair. Daphne turns her face to look through the windows, noticing that is already dawning, she haven’t noticed how many time she had been there.

Harriet looks around before fixing her gaze on her friend again - the bed is disheveled but just one look at Daphne says enough for her to know that the woman hadn't had a minute of sleep in the past few hours. Her legs are pulled up on the chair, closer to her chest, hair messily tied in, an empty glass of whiskey in her hands.

“Ollie called me in the middle of the afternoon saying that Alfie was beyond himself and that you had left.” There is still no response, the only reaction she gets from Daphne is that she rests her head on the back of the armchair, body relaxing into the armchair as her gaze falls onto the fire. “He keeps saying that he fucked up and that he doesn’t deserves your trust but he refused to tell me the meaning of it.”

“We fought.” Harriet is almost giving up, preparing herself to leave, when Daphne’s voice resounds on the room.

“That much I could tell.” Hazel eyes focus on her and the courtesan sighs. “What about?”

“Thomas.” Daphne pauses, inhales deeply before moving to serve herself another glass of whiskey. “Well, I thought it was about the business, but you can say that the main reason was him.” Harriet says nothing, waiting, because she knows that pressing her right now is not the best of choices. “Did you knew?”

“Knew what?”

“About his plans to serve the Shelby’s to Sabini on a silver plate.” They look at each other for a moment before Harriet answers.

“No. I had my suspicions that he would do something about them soon but he never told me anything.” Daphne only hums in response, taking a sip of her drink. “What did he do?” The other woman sneers.

“He made a deal with Sabini so our bookies could work Epsom this year. They have raided all the clubs taken by the Blinders and Tommy’s older brother is in jail, framed by the murder of one of their men.”

“Oh my…”

“That’s what he had been hiding from me all these months.” Daphne downs the rest of the whiskey, observing as she turns the glass in her hand. “I told him that Sabini was going to betray him like he has done so many times before and he told me that I was being a hypocrite questioning his actions because we have done that before.” She takes a deep breath, looking at the fire again. “And that I was only doing that because I loved Tommy.”

“What the fuck! Alfie is out of his damn mind?!” Harriet gets up from her sit, takes the glass from Daphne's hands and pours whiskey on it, taking it in one gulp.

“He is not.” The courtesan turns to face her friend, who is still sprawled out on the armchair.

“What…”

“He may have said some things that he shouldn’t, but he is not out of his mind.” Daphne’s expression is devoid of emotion and she is calmer than she had been on the previous day. “The thing is... The thing is he is right, Harriet. Alfie is right. The only difference between Thomas and all of the other people we betrayed is that I love him.”

Taglist: @stressedandbandobessed7771

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rauliskafan · 7 years

Text

A Hard Lesson in Perseverance: Chapter 14

Authors’ note: The Barba Family is still in crisis. Might Liv’s visit help? Read on to find out! @vintagemichelle91 and I hope you enjoy!!!

“Barba? Thought we’d find you here”

Looking up from his files, Rafael did not smile at Dodds and Rollins standing in the doorway.

“Are you coming in or what?” he asked when they hesitated. “Thought you had a date with Maggie, Dodds.”

The sergeant’s small smirk was followed by Rollins pushing past him and leaning over the ADA’s desk.

“Came by to tell you that Daphne Carlo might make her way on to you witness list,” Rollins said. At that his ears perked up, and Rafael waited for the rest of the story.

“You were right about one thing,” Dodds cut in.

“Only one?” Rafael asked, his voice weighted with gloom. “Makes sense.” He listened to Dodds tell him that the madam did indeed keep records. On a flash drive recently handed over by a partner in crime without a diamond choker or anything else to purchase her silence.

“Suppose she thought revenge was its own reward,” Rollins continued. “Either Ms. Carlo will take the stand or that little prick will take a plea.”

“Even his lawyers can’t explain away the gloves now,” Dodds confirmed.

A day’s work done. Rafael imagined what that would have meant less than a month ago. A quick phone call. The sound of Natalia’s excited tone as he raced home to tuck Violetta in before taking his wife to bed. He missed the way she turned on her side in her sleep, always sliding closer so he could feel her hair on his cheek, her breath dancing down his chest. Watching her dream was better than drifting off. Yet he always met the morning refreshed because she had been so close.

What was there to go home to now? Quiet rooms. Maggie trying to lift his spirits until he sent her on her way? All he could do was sink into a glass of scotch, try to fall into a stupor.

No real rest if his girls weren’t near.

“Barba?” Rollins asks with a quick snap of her fingers. “This is good news.”

“If you say so,” he said. “Now if there’s nothing else, I---”

“Well look at this! The gang’s almost all here.”

Cringing at the sight of Ward, Rafael stood with clenched fists.

“Are you here to gloat?” Dodds warned. “I’d watch your step.”

“I’d watch yours, Sergeant” Ward said. “Your father can’t protect you forever.”

“You do that kind of homework on all of us?” Rollins asked.

“Have contacts in Atlanta as well,” he told Rollins as her eyes shot daggers. “Now if you wouldn’t mind, I require a moment with my… subordinate.”

His lips curled around the words as it were a savory sweet.

“You want us to hang here?” Dodds asked Rafael out of the corner of his mouth.

��It’s fine.”

What else could the man take from him?

“We’ll be right outside,” Rollins promise, her glare still sharp. “Give a holler if you need a helping hand.”

Closing the door, Ward looked like he had discovered Atlantis and pissed on the prize.

“So you’re going to get your conviction,” he started.

“Sorry to spoil your fun.”

“I’ll bounce back,” Ward said. “Not sure about you.”

“Meaning?” Rafael challenged.

The DA tried to touch the frame holding Natalia’s image, the one piece of her he had left and Rafael batted his hand away.

“Meaning no one by the name of Barba is applying to take in another woman’s bastard.”

“Think you have the market cornered on that moniker,” Rafael seethed.

“And yet you’re not gloating,” Ward said. “But then why would you? Only your principles and nothing else to keep you warm on those long, lonely nights.”

The truth in his words cut to the core. Rafael poured what was bound to be the first in another evening of amber liquor to numb the pain, and Ward’s shadow loomed large as he stared into the glass.

“You’ve made enemies, Cubano. Enjoy your victory while it lasts. Maybe Ms. Carlo can hook you up with one of her girls as a conciliation prize. Or maybe that’s what you’d prefer. A man must get bored by a neurotic who takes off like a thief in the---”

“Shut your fucking mouth, you swine!”

Barreling forward, he drove Ward into the wall. The man was too stunned to fight back, and Rafael pummeled him as Ward scratched at the air instead of the ADA’s face.

“Barba!”

“Counselor! Calm down!”

He hadn’t hollered. But Rollins and Dodds still returned and pried him away from the other man, offering Ward no aid as he struggled to his feet and brushed off the attack with a sneer.

“Let him blow off some steam,” Ward said. “Only fun he’ll have all night!”

“Rafael!”

Natalia’s voice.

Rafael focused on her eyes as she entered the office with Liv, staring at his bruised knuckles and almost touching him when Ward’s cruel laughter whirled her head the other way around.

“What kind of a man are you?” she demanded.

“Come again, Natalia?”

“I know what you asked him to do. Why make him choose?”

“Why didn’t he put you first?” Ward asked. “Maybe he wanted an out and I simply cleared the path.”

“Say one more word and I will break your neck!” Rafael bellowed as Liv grabbed the DA’s collar.

“Let’s you and I go for a little walk,” she said.

“Mind your manners, Lieutenant. Or I’ll have IAB here so fast---”

“They’ve never impressed me,” Liv said. “And neither do you.”

She rushed him out with Rollins’ assistance. Dodds looked to Rafael’s hand before locking eyes with Natalia.

“Nice to see you,” he said. “It doesn’t seem right for you two to be apart. Makes me think---”

“Thank you, Dodds,” Rafael cut in. Once he was gone, Natalia reached into the ice bucket, her husband’s fingers curling around hers as he inhaled the breeze from the night wafting off her hair.

“How are you?” he asked.

Natalia’s lower lip trembled as he crept closer, desperate to touch her when she shrugged her shoulders, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her over-sized coat.

“I’m alright,” she finally murmured. “Good news about your case?”

“I suppose,” he said, his soul growing a little lighter when she glanced over her shoulder and fixed him with her moist brown eyes lined with dark circles sans makeup. So many questions fluttered through his mind. Why wasn’t she eating? Was she ill? He had no wish to see her sad but still held his breath as she backed away.

“Liv brought me here,” she finally said.

“Natalia, I didn’t make her to do that.”

“I know,” she continued. “I… I sort of wished you’d come on your own.”

“Would you have let me in?” he warily asked. She didn’t flinch. No shake or nod of her head. He wanted to scream and rip the room apart. Or fall to his knees and beg for her return.

“I might have,” she whispered. Hope flooded his heart as she pulled one hand from her pocket to reveal a tiny drawing of a heart. At the center of the misshapen mass was a man with more legs than torso wearing a crayon-colored blue vest and pink tie. Standing proudly as his side a taller version of what had to be Violetta. Both figures had the same green eyes, and Natalia slipped the paper between Rafael’s fingers as he smiled despite the tears threatening to fall

“Our daughter the artist,” he said.

“That’s not even the best one,” Natalia admitted. “She keeps drawing you. She… she doesn’t say it’s because she misses you. I don’t think she wants to upset me.”

“I miss her, too,” Rafael said. “So much.”

“I know,” Natalia replied. “I won’t keep her from you anymore. My mother’s taking her back to the townhouse. You can both have cheesy pancakes for breakfast.”

Never in his life had the idea of a morning meal excited him more, and there was no pain as he tucked the drawing into his breast pocket, ready to defy all caution and embrace his wife when she pressed her palm into the air.

“I… I know we have to work it all out,” she continued. “When I can see her. We’ll work around your schedule.”

“Work around… hermosa?”

Caution be damned. He took a strong step forward and grasped her arms. For a second she tried to break free from his grip, but he would not release her, his heart breaking once more as she nibbled on her lip and shook her head.

“What is there to work around?” he asked.

“Me,” she muttered.

“Why would you say that?”

“Because I took your child from you. Because I wanted another baby so much that I denied you your little girl. Because I said… because I did...”

She couldn’t seem to get a handle on her thoughts, and he had no desire to remember the moments before she sped off into the night. He could only sigh when she pulled away and hid her face in her hands.

“I can’t ask you to forgive that,” she said. “But you’ll have your daughter back. That’s the least I can do.”

“No, Natalia.”

Struggling to keep his voice steady as he eased her back to his chest, Rafael brought one hand to her hair, combing his fingers through the soft threads as he pressed his brow to hers.

“It’s in the past,” he whispered. “Maybe I even deserved it.”

“But, Rafael, you didn’t.”

“I cannot wait to see Violetta,” he said. “And I want you with me when I do.”

Her head remained bowed as she shuddered in his hold. The hand in her hair fell to her back, and his heart hoped that whatever power had brought her this close would let her take one more step…

Natalia tenderly examined the bruises on his fingers.

“You probably shouldn’t have hit him,” Natalia said.

“No. Should have let you do it.”

The joke fell flat and Natalia started to cry again as he folded her into his arms.

“Dumb thing to say,” he said.

“But true,” Natalia replied, not letting him go. “I never wanted to hurt you. I just… so much has happened. I want to be alright. I’m not.”

“And I didn’t help.”

“Please,” he said. “Don’t blame yourself.”

Sniffling as she pulled away from him again, Natalia caught her breath, her speech slow.

“I feel sick. Like... like something’s really wrong with me. I came apart. You should blame me. Why would you even want me now?” she asked through her tears.

“You’re my wife,” he stated simply.

“That’s not enough,” she sobbed, sinking to the floor. Following her descent, Rafael kept her at arm’s length, his hands moving to her face until he cradled her chin.

“No. It’s not.”

He held her, his kisses consuming her cheeks, her hair, her neck. Settling in the warmth of her shoulder, he sighed as his arms circled her slim waist.

“You’re so many things. My wife. The girl I foolishly left in the rain. The person my mother made into a blind date.

“Silly Lucia.”

“And the world’s smartest teacher. And the woman who leaves me breathless whenever she looks at me.”

Natalia made that move now, and he felt his heart beat again as he wiped her tears away.

“I want all of that back and more. Just... please believe that everything I do is because I want to protect... because I cherish all that you are.”

Parting her lips, she kissed him softly, winding her arms around his neck. The air returned to his lungs, her tears calming, as he grinned.

“Violetta’s waiting,” she said.

“Will you please come with me?”

“Okay.”

As Rafael dimmed the lights, Natalia seemed far away again. They were almost at the elevator when she tugged his sleeve and led him into the stairwell.

“I don’t want you to cross that man,” she said. “Forget about me. Or another baby…”

"Let’s not---”

“Please, Rafael? I don’t trust him.”

“No,” he agreed. “But I trust you. We’ll work it all out.”

They took a cab in silence, holding hands. Slowly her head fell into his shoulder and when they reached the townhouse he felt her tremble.

“Hermosa?”

“Maybe… maybe you should just have the night with her,” Natalia suggested. “I’ll go back to my mother’s and---”

“It’s not home without both my girls,” he insisted. “Come on.”

“But it doesn’t feel---”

She wavered at his side as they ascended the steps, and as soon as Rafael opened the door, Violetta was right there, wide awake and beaming.

“Papi! I miss you so much!”

Falling to the floor, Rafael held her, saw Alessia dabbing at her eyes as he cuddled his daughter closer, his own eyes pooling as she pulled on his tie.

“Papi, no cry,” Violetta said. “I home.”

“Yes, you are,” he said, lifting her up and looking back to see Natalia lingering in the doorway. He tried to take her hand; she seemed frozen, unsure.

“Mami? What you doing?”

“I… I don’t know.”

Natalia shuffled her feet as Violetta stretched forward.

“I know,” Violetta said. “Come home, too. Mami, please?”

#raul esparza #rafael barba #natalia barba #mike dodds #amanda rollins #olivia benson #violetta barba #a hard lesson series #a hard lesson in perseverance #law and order svu #svu fanfiction

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