#53k in a little over a month

[simplyavatrice]

let me photograph you in this light (in case this is the last time) - final chapter

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

 It’s been four months since Ava’s been back, yet she’s still not used to waking up in pain.

 It’s disheartening, to open her eyes every morning and feel the first ache of the day. Like each night might magically make everything go away.

 She can still remember waking up in the morning, twelve years old and forgetting she was paralyzed. She never was in her dreams. She could run, jump, swim, sometimes even fly. She’d dream of playing with kids who had no faces. Riding on bikes and climbing on jungle gyms - laughing and being a child.

 She would wake up each day and for thirty seconds or so, she was still that little girl in her dreams. Happy, healthy and able to do whatever she wanted.

 Then the room would suddenly become familiar and she couldn’t reach up to wipe the sleep from her eyes.

 So many mornings were spent crying. Trying to stay as quiet as she could. So she didn't wake her roommate, so she didn’t get any of the nun’s attention. They would never offer her pity - no. She was lucky, according to them. Fortunate to have their time at all - to have anyone putting in any effort to keep her alive.

 She would cry, then turn her head to brush her cheeks on the pillows and dry her tears.

 If any of them ever noticed how red her eyes were on those mornings, they never said anything.

 Now, she’s here and she isn’t paralyzed, but her body is still not right. It’s different and somehow entirely the same.

 That same thirty seconds exists where she’s okay, before reality sets in and another hard day lies ahead of her.

 At least here she can move, and it isn’t Sister Frances waiting for her each morning.

 Instead, it’s Bea, who is already out of bed and shuffling through their apartment.

CONT on AO3

#avatrice #avatrice fanfiction #warrior nun #warrior nun fanfiction #ava silva #sister beatrice #phew #53k in a little over a month #and i'm exhausted #also i still kind of hate my title choice lmao #it's so long #why is it so long?!

[theyoungeragrippina]

✨ 15 gentlebeard fic recs ✨

i have spent the last month trawling the pages of ao3 for you, dear reader, to find the best ofmd fics. all the works on this list:

are longer-form (generally 40k+)

have no steddyhands (simply not my thing)

are generally, all around brilliant (well-written, had me kicking my feet and giggling, laughing, or crying)

are complete!

part 2 and part 3

A Heart Unsated by roughwinds

48k, explicit

"Stede Bonnet has just moved into Orange Crescent. There’s a house on the corner, opposite Stede’s own, with a garden full of flowers and a gleaming motorbike on the driveway. He’s forgotten to buy sugar.

Edward Teach has his morning disturbed by his new neighbour. Enamoured at first sight, he invites Stede round for a chat, and then another, and then another.

This is the story of them."

man i normally avoid fics with lots of alma and louis in them because its just not for me, but literally every second of the family bonding in this was so wholesome i was forced to change my entire mind.

all you left me was a pearl by @sightofsea

88k, mature

"1717. The Golden Age of Piracy. Stede Bonnet sets about wooing the love of his life through any means necessary.

Things do not go as planned."

every day i wish for a precise memory erasing potion to be invented so i can read this again for the first time. i would devour like 2000k more words of this if it was offered to me. brilliant.

forgive & forget by @fool-for-luv

44k, mature

"It hits him then, like a wave breaking on sand, loud as thunder when it crashes, then trickling away into little rivulets flowing back home, murmuring one word over and over and over. Ed.

The problem is, Stede doesn’t recall ever having met anyone named Ed."

so sweet and wonderful, and i wish there was more.

#gentlebeard is trending! by regional_catastrophe

41k, teen

"In which Stede accidentally convinces the pirating world that Gentlebeard (or Blackbonnet or Stedward; there's a poll) is canon, reunites his crew, and gets his boyfriend back."

hilarious & silly & great, but also the most compelling notes of any fic i've ever read. a proper learning experience.

if music be the food of love (then darling, you're a feast) by @fool-for-luv

107k, unrated

"“Hey, so, those two, right, they get together in the end?” Ed asks.

“I would protest spoiling it, but I think it's rather obvious, isn't it?” Stede says. His nose wrinkles as he smiles. “The tension is certainly there from the beginning. It just takes them a while to get there.”

“Good. Would have been a shit story otherwise.""

i love sassy stede and i love ed who is a grump and i love that they share one single braincell at any given time.

If You Were Mine to Keep by @mysterybees

162k, explicit

"Caught between the gallows and the end of an English sword, Ed accepts the Act of Grace: marry into the aristocracy, leave the English ships alone, and live to sail another day. But who in their right mind would ever agree to marry the mad devil pirate Blackbeard?"

Worth every second of tiredness I felt after pulling an all nighter to finish reading.

It's Only Right by hexuponye

53k, explicit

"A modern AU based on Imagine Me & You, in which Edward is a florist who does the flowers for Stede's wedding."

mary gets to be a little silly sometimes too as a treat.

pliocene by unfortunatelyobsessed

75k, mature

""man, it's just ocean for miles.” Ed motions out to the waves, where there is no sign of any sort of ship, their small dinghy pulled far up on the sand. “I told you when the clouds look like seagulls you take fuckin' cover. Goddamn ocean mutinied me.”"

william golding wishes he did something this brilliant and significant when he wrote Lord of the Flies. the best deserted island story.

quite a career shift by @stedesparasol

157k, explicit

"Stede's been posting book reviews on Youtube for two months now. It's taken him that long to finally get a comment, and the person it comes from is rather unexpected."

rip stede you would've LOVED booktube. furious i can never really watch his content.

Semaphore by komodobits

124k, explicit

"Talking things through as a crew is easier said than done, and honest communication has never really been Stede’s strong suit. When it comes to Ed, he is willing to try."

so good that i was properly and truly laughing and gasping and 'oh no-ing' out loud while i read it.

Such Joie de Vivre by @louciferish

94k, explicit

"Professional thief Edward Teach is tired of hole in the wall apartments, shitty pub food, and skipping town every few months to keep the cops off their tail. He’s well past the age he meant to flee the country and retire, and all he needs is One Last Job to set him up for life. When he hears that some rich bastard outside of town has just the sort of treasure he’d trade his good knee for, Ed sets out in disguise to get the lay of the land."

i (so so foolishly) avoided reading this for a while because i simply didn't think i was one for nanny aus. i was so, terribly wrong. don't make the same mistakes i did. showstopping. incredible stuff.

The Chains of Flowers are Fragile Things by @grandmastattoo

62k, explicit

"Stede can't see the shop he's inherited from his late father as anything other than a burden, another insult added to a life that's going nowhere fast. Then he meets the charismatic man who owns the tattoo studio next door, and Stede finds himself forced to consider the idea of home."

maybe i love tattoo shop owner ed fics, sue me. i love this stede and i love his embarrassing mistake tattoo.

The Love Experiment by karawrites

65k, mature

a married at first sight (aus) au. i didn't know i needed it until i read it.

Water/line by @the-gentleman-mermaid

60k, teen

"During a raid on a smuggler ship, Ed finds a merman named Stede locked in the hold."

So good that I would actually pay the author real person money to do a similar story but where Ed is the mermaid.

Where the Daylight Begins by @xoxoemynn

116k words, explicit

"Modern day AU slow burn featuring a pining Ed, a clueless Stede, found family, roughly a million animals, and a very magical house."

This one sort of gave me House on the Cerulean Sea vibes; it was so much fun and genuinely necessitates a proper use of the word whimsical.

#i will add more as i keep reading!! #pls send me recs too i have brainrot so all the media i consume has to be about pirates rn #hopefully there is at least one thing in here you haven't read before! #thanks for listening #if your fic is on this list know that i love you #our flag means death #ofmd #gentlebeard #gentlebeard fic recs #gentlebeard fanfic #blackbonnet #blackbonnet fic recs #blackbonnet fanfic

[christinesficrecs]

do you have any recs for fics post 3B or post season 4? Thank you!! Love your blog 💜💞

I'm so glad you asked! 🩷 This is my "omg, this was so good" list. 😊

Written in the Scars by dr_girlfriend | 15.3K | Explicit

Stiles stared into eyes that were just a little lighter than even the day before, looking almost beta-gold in the harsh lighting. His nose was just a little less uptilted, the moles on his face not quite where they used to be. The scar on the bottom of his chin from when he fell off the swings in third grade was just gone. He seemed a little bit taller, his shoulders a little bit wider.

With trembling fingers Stiles folded his left ear forward, craning his neck. A wheezing breath escaped him, his legs suddenly feeling weak with relief.

The mark of the Oni was still there, the one that meant self.

Stiles was still himself. For now.

The Walls Are Breathing In by secondstar | 41.8K | Explicit

Nothing could go wrong. It was just supposed to be a safe trip to the Nemeton. But this is Beacon Hills and things are rarely that simple. Welcome to the life of Stiles Stilinski.

Or, that time that Stiles accidentally became a sorcerer against his will.

Someone Else’s Dream by theroguesgambit | 36.6K

Post-3B. Derek has gone missing, and Stiles’ dreams might be the only way to save him.

out of the nightmare, into your arms by  tryslora | 6.4K

Stiles wakes up in the bathtub. It’s the third time sleepwalking this week, and at least this time he’s in the house. Ever since the Nogitsune, he’s had nightmares and nothing, and no one seems to be able to stop them. Until Derek.

Full On Rainstorm by BarlowGirl | 10.5K | Explicit

He catches Derek by the arm and Derek lets himself be turned, surprised when Stiles shoves a small box into his hands. “I don’t know if you still celebrate it or what but… I wanted you to know someone was thinking about you. Happy birthday.”

Then he squeezes Derek’s arm and bolts, gone before Derek can think to stop him.

He opens the box standing there, only to find one singular, misshapen, sloppily-frosted, cupcake, with a candle in the box next to it. It’s kind of squished despite the paper towel all around it to keep it from banging around in the box.

If You’re Going Through Hell (Keep Going) | 48.5K

Stiles thought everything leading up to Allison’s death was hell, but he was wrong. Spending senior year dealing with the pack’s dismissal of him while secretly training to be Deaton’s replacement was hell. Feeling guilty and hating himself for what the Nogitsune did was hell. Being in love with someone who would never love him back was hell. Well, if you’re going through hell, keep going.

Not Quite Lost (Not Quite Found) by alocalband | 25K | Explicit

A year after the nogitsune is defeated, Derek is living a quiet life in the mountains above a small town in Colorado.

Then Stiles shows up.

The One You Choose by Asterekmess (Livinginfictions) | 13.4K | Mature

Stiles hadn’t seen Scott in over a week, except for glances he caught during school hours.

Saturday Night At The Movies by aussiebee | 7.3K | Explicit

After running into Stiles at the late night movies, Derek realises just how badly Stiles is handling the post-nogitsune fallout. He knows the feeling.

Sense of Home by siny | 53K | Explicit

Home can be a place, but it can also be a person.

After the events with the Nemeton, Stiles starts suffering the consequences of their sacrifice. A journey he attempts to make on his own, but only becomes worse with every step he takes. In the process he seeks comfort in an unexpected place and it draws him toward an unexpected person.

Illuminated by ZainClaw | 5K 

“Because I’m falling in love with you and it’s scaring the hell out of me.”

Start Small, Like Oak Trees by SmallBirds | 24.2K

The months following Allison’s death have passed Stiles by in a haze of monotony. He sleepwalks through days that seem to lose their color, an unwilling passenger in a body he no longer trusts. Eventually, he thinks, he’ll just fade away. He isn’t sure anyone would notice. Then, during a spur of the moment grocery run, he stumbles upon Derek Hale attempting to console a lost child, and for the first time in recent memory the world doesn’t seem so awful. He’s not sure what he’d been expecting when he eventually convinces Derek to move into the Stilinski’s spare bedroom, but a newfound passion for weeding and topsoil certainly isn’t it.

Nitesky by  thepsychicclam | 7K

Stiles has trouble dealing with the after effects of the nogitsune, and Derek finds him sitting on his roof.

Honey, Can’t you See (The Bloodstains on my Teeth) by  Loup_Aigre, TroubleIWant | 44.9K

“Mr Stilinski.” Deaton’s usually impassive face betrays a hint of surprise today, maybe even disappointment. “You haven’t changed your mind.”

Stiles tips his chin up, smiling against his irritation. “Nope,” he confirms, so cheerily it bites. They had arranged this weeks ago, yet Deaton was apparently betting Stiles wouldn’t go through with it in the end. Fuck that. He doesn’t know what it’s like out there, not really. He can afford to hold himself aloof and uninvolved, knowing his druid power is enough to keep him safe in this little office. Stiles can’t. Scott’s pack has got to protect this whole town, and Stiles’ spark isn’t enough to protect all of them while they do it.

^^^technically not post-3B but soooo good!

#asks #sterek fics #ficrecs #marnz #tw season 3 #post 3b #post nogitsune stiles

[sunflowervoltwentyeight]

Happy 28th! Here's my June 2023 fic rec, organized in the order I read them. Enjoy!

Sun Means The Sky'll Be Blue by pearlydewdrops / @moonhusbands (91k)

As the only singleton under thirty attending his cousin's five-day wedding, Harry is desperate to find a date, or at least a reason to get people's questions about his love life off his back. So when Louis, Harry's old uni roommate and fellow wedding attendee waltzes back into his life, Harry seizes the opportunity, pretending Louis is his ex-boyfriend and that it's a sore subject not to be mentioned.

If it's a little bit closer to the truth than Harry would like, well, he's a master at living in denial.

So cue a mess of trudged-up feelings, past misunderstandings, a rekindled summer romance and a whole lot of sexually-charged bickering.

Becoming Us by sweariwouldnt (59k)

Married at First Sight is a television show in which hopefuls looking for The One are matched by experts deeming them to be the perfect match. The twist? They meet each other for the first time at the altar. When they exchange their 'I do's'. And get married for real.

One Harry and Louis find each other at the altar. They have five weeks to make or break the set-up marriage.

Say You'll Remember by whisperdlullaby (93k)

au. louis and harry are best mates that are only half aware that they're also soulmates. alternatively, louis goes to university and harry travels the world, and they always manage to find their way back to each other.

takes place over nine years, in which they love and hurt, make mistakes and learn, and above all, grow.

Heading For Limbo by kingsofeverything / @kingsofeverything (100k)

Childhood best friends who’ve fallen in and out of touch with each other since Louis’ family moved away when they were thirteen, Harry and Louis find their paths crossing again and again. Each time, no matter how many miles apart or how many years it’s been, it’s as if no time has passed. They fall back into their easy friendship, until life intervenes and sends them on their separate ways once more.

When Harry discovers some life-changing things about himself, Louis is there for him, however he needs. But it’s all temporary because Louis has plans that will move his life from New York all the way to L.A. and the distance isn’t the only thing between them.

The pieces of their twice broken hearts are scattered from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Flash Forward to Forever by akatomlinson / @mason-conaway (73k)

Louis narrows his eyes, wanting more than anything to tell Liam to go fuck himself, but he can’t be sure, is the thing. As much as he knows for a fact that he would never date someone like Harry Styles, he has months missing from his memory. And it’s scary to think that, in that time, everything he’s come to know about himself could have changed so drastically.

Or the one where Louis loses his memory and Harry just about loses his mind trying to win him back (or something)

Sent by the Sun by etherealbliss / @givesuethemoon (53k)

“I know,” Louis mutters, ghosting his mouth over Harry’s pulse point, “that if you’d stop wasting your time with him, if you’d just let me… I could show you so many things. I could change everything for you. There are ways in which you could be seduced that you haven’t even dreamed of, angel.”

At that, Harry breaks.

 In 1970s Los Angeles, Harry is a groupie who aches to feel alive. Louis is the lead singer of a rock band who aches to know him.

Halfway Home by itsmotivatingcara / @itsmotivatingcara (103k)

Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson were improbable childhood friends, much to Harry's dismay. They were thrown together each summer when Harry was forced to visit Louis' grandfathers' ranch in Black Hills, South Dakota. With each passing year their friendship blossomed into something more. When trail rides turned to stolen kisses, and tragedies turned to confessions, until they could no longer deny the inevitable draw they felt for one another.

Though life and their future plans soon set them on different paths.

Ten years later, Louis is the proud owner of Halfway Home Wildlife Refuge. Harry returns to the ranch to escape the perils of his past in London, and though their memories still haunt Louis, he won't let that deter him from his goals. However, someone has been keeping a close eye on the refuge, and possibly Louis specifically, and Harry's return may have unleashed more that just old passions. There's a hunter lurking in the Hills, someone who's decided they've bided their time long enough.

Not That Gone Series by abrighteryellow / @a-brighter-yellow

Hello My Name is Harry (2k) Louis’s 20-year high school reunion takes a turn when a celebrity classmate – who also happens to be Louis’s long unrequited crush – unexpectedly shows up. A famous/not-famous AU inspired by Chris Evans.

Not That Gone (60k)

Around four in the afternoon on day two, Harry was dropping kisses on Louis' chest and heading downwards when he abruptly stopped. “I can move back here,” he said, propping himself up on the mattress with his hands. Louis' eyes popped open and he looked up at him, totally lost. “What?” “For a while,” Harry continued, the idea taking hold. “Hang out with my mom. Work on my script. Be with you.” Louis had already resigned himself to the fact that this weekend was a crack in the space-time continuum that would soon close, sending him and Harry back to their respective, very different lives. It would be a memory that would keep him warm when he was an old, old man – that time one of People’s 50 Most Beautiful had kept him on his hands and knees for two days straight. He wasn’t so stupid as to hope for more. “You’re crazy,” Louis scoffed. Harry’s eyes shone. “Am I?” A few weeks after Louis and Harry, *ahem*, reconnect at their high school reunion, Harry temporarily moves back home. Louis isn't sure he has the emotional fortitude for a prolonged fling with the man of the dreams. For Ten Minutes Straight (1k) Louis has a ritual for when Harry's away – and a good reason for keeping it private.

#2023 fic rec #june fic rec #larry fic rec #28th appreciation #trackinghappily #hlcreators #trackinghome #read #1dficvillage

[camaro-and-smokes]

Bookmark rec

Thank you @ihni for coming up with this idea and tagging me :)

Rules: Pick (at least) ten fics from your AO3 bookmarks, and post them with links and a note of why you like them or why you picked them (alt. your bookmark comment). Then, as tradition goes, tag ten people. Or something, whatever, I'm not your boss.

So here's my list. I'm horrible in describing WHY I particularly like something because I hate analysing fanfics. But I can assure you that each and every one on this list has risen tons of emotions in me. Happiness, sadness, compassion, pain and so on - all that good stuff. And my god HOW MANY AMAZING FICS I HAD TO LEAVE OUT!!! Check out my whole bookmark list for more.

-----

come a little closer (i want you to stay a while) by hazel1706 (12k / Harringrove/son-ish) I honestly don't know what to say about this fic. Not because it's bland but because I've read this...*checks history*... 30 TIMES OVER THE LAST 7 MONTHS. They wrote this for me as a gift in Harringrove Holiday Exchange 2022 and I've never read anything that matches what I like to read/write so perfectly as this fic does. There's pining and there's lemon and so many things going on inside the heads of the characters and and and... Mostly Harringrove with Harringroveson undertones + genderqueer Billy. It has everything I love and need and it's perfection. 💜

The Flatshare by CallieB (47k / Harringrove) Billy moves in with Steve and there's only one bed. But they haven't even met. The idea is so intriguing and unique that it just drew me in immediately.

First to Burn by boltblum (76k / Harringrove) Au where Billy moves nextdoor to Steve, and they grow up as friends. I'm bad in reading long fics bc I can't concentrate but this one kept me hooked throughout. And in the end made me sob uncontrollably.

Cherry by LazyBaker (58k / Harringrove) Billy has gender issues. That right there is like catnip for me, can't help it.

Hands Off the Merchandise by mounrtheantagonist (3,6k / Harringrove) This was the first fic I read that had Billy in lingerie in it. A new kink (men in lingerie) has never been unlocked so quickly as what it did when I read this.

love me the way you love water by lutes_and_dandelions (23k / Harringrove) Six chapters of pining. No other explanation needed.

Shit-faced by SunshineWarrior (8,3k / Harringrove) I'm a sucker for drunk confessions. And this is all about those.

Running scared by Thei @ihni (1,9k / Billy Hargrove) An embarrassing confession coming up in three, two, one: I love Transformers. *Hey! We don't always choose what we love, okay?* So, this has those vibes and I absolutely love this fic.

If I only Told You by CrossedQuills (68k /Harringroveson) Just. Amazing. I think I've read this too at least twice if not more.

within me, an invincible summer by bigdumbbambieyes (48k [WIP] ( Harringrove) This is just incredible. Billy wakes up after Starcourt with a new heart. So many painful and lovely things in this one.

And one extra because I just can't leave this out:

Like Magnets by Pondermoniums (53k [WIP] / Harringrove, Hellcheer) What if Steve and Billy had teeniest tiniest chibi dobbelgangers... This is so cute in so many levels that you have to read it to understand.

Who to tag... No pressure: @destroya2005 @discodeviant @disdaidal @lovebillyhargrove @shieldofiron @spaceofentropy @dragonflylady77 and anyone else who wants to share!!!

#fic rec list #harringrove #harringroveson #fic rec #I was tagged #long post

[readygetsteddiego]

Ready Get Steddie Fic Rec List

I saw a post a post the other day about how more people should make fic recs lists to support older works so I decided to do one.

Before we start though I should specify that (most) of these fics are between 2K to 100K words. That's just how I filter things. Also, I've omitted fics that are primarily smut oriented. Other than that, these are just in order of when I bookmarked them so make sure to give them all a shot not just the ones at the top/bottom. Thanks!

Anyways, enjoy and feel free to ask any questions!

Take the Money and Run (+143K words | 22 chapters | cu) - https://archiveofourown.org/works/42294414/chapters/106200933

TLDR: A (mostly) U.S. Road trip!

"The A is for Ally" (+27K words | 6 chapters | complete) - https://archiveofourown.org/works/46272049/chapters/116494585

After his friends come out one by one, Steve settles comfortably into his new role as an ally. He moves to the city with Robin, joins groups, attends protests, even takes a gender studies class.

Then in 1991 Eddie comes crashing back into his life.

upon us all, a little rain must fall (+53K | 11 chapters | complete) - https://archiveofourown.org/works/40402749/chapters/101212308

OR: the party defeats Vecna, Eddie lives, Max is fine, and Steve does his best to go back to life as usual, now with the addition of one Eddie Munson, who definitely flirts with him, but it also definitely, positively, for sure, doesn't mean anything. (Except that it means everything.)

it's such a magical mysteria (+19K | complete | 🔒) - https://archiveofourown.org/works/42978492

OR: the one where Steve's trying to figure out his future, his feelings, and one Eddie Munson.

the magic that we'll feel is worth a lifetime (+23K | complete) - https://archiveofourown.org/works/44146344

OR: Eddie and Steve drive to LA together. They fall in love along the way.

nothing our two hearts can't put back (+5K | complete) - https://archiveofourown.org/works/41695809

“Any time,” Steve has said, time and time again. “Any time you need me, just come in. I don’t mind.”

Admittedly, seeing Steve would make him feel better immediately. He needs an image of the younger man that doesn’t remind him of the terror his mind produced while he slept. Just a healthy, perhaps grumpy and sleepy Steve Harrington.

Caring is Creepy (+40K | 11 chapters | complete) - https://archiveofourown.org/works/43108278/chapters/108333348

OR: In which Steve Harrington tries not to fall head over heels for Eddie Munson but fails miserably.

Screaming Birds Sound An Awful Lot Like Singing (+19K | 4 chapters | complete) - https://archiveofourown.org/works/41784447/chapters/104831556

Steve's parents kick him out of the house for two months, and he shacks up with Eddie. Eddie helps Steve realize he doesn't need to be in control all the time.

when i don't touch you it's a mistake in any life, in each place and forever. (+48K | 12 chapters | complete) - https://archiveofourown.org/works/41842533/chapters/104989863

OR: Eddie dies. But then he wakes up next to a sleeping Steve Harrington.

paradise by the dashboard light (+154K | 8 chapters | complete) - https://archiveofourown.org/works/41199483/chapters/103283067

Things were weird in Hawkins. The fields were rotting, there was something in the woods, and Steve Harrington's Beemer had a new problem every week.

Be Kind, Rewind (+90K | 20 chapters | complete) - https://archiveofourown.org/works/40041447/chapters/100278240

OR: Eddie becomes a ghost after he dies and, though he can't communicate through normal channels, tries to find his way back to the Party)

can you feel my love (rising with the heat above) (+36K | 8 chapters | complete) - https://archiveofourown.org/works/41961435/chapters/105333012

OR: the one where Eddie takes Steve on a roadtrip and some things unfurl along the way.

obliterations everywhere (we blaze with scorching heat) (+18K | 5 chapters | complete) - https://archiveofourown.org/works/41543766/chapters/104194956

OR: Eddie can have a little sexuality crisis too, as a treat.

If It Wasn't For Those Meddling Kids (+28K | 9 chapters | currently incomplete) - https://archiveofourown.org/works/40346595/chapters/114267073

OR: the Party knows Steve has feelings for someone and are determined to find out who and set him up

and it all comes down to you (+18K | complete) - https://archiveofourown.org/works/40107396

Eddie Munson’s no hero. Too bad the universe—or whatever’s gonna be left of it—didn’t get the memo.

OR: eddie is going to save himself and his friends or die trying. many, many times.

The Devil You Know (+61K | 10 chapters | complete) - https://archiveofourown.org/works/39717015/chapters/99432336

Steve Harrington didn't hate Eddie Munson; that was a common misconception. One that Steve had never tried to rectify, really, but still, Steve Harrington didn't hate Eddie Munson, and he was fairly sure that Eddie Munson didn't hate him back. So why was it that everytime the other boy gave him that infamous grin, there was a sinister feeling in the pit of his stomach?

sloe gin fizzy, do it till you're dizzy (+6K | complete) - https://archiveofourown.org/works/40355310

[Basically, Steve and Eddie get high, make out, it keeps happening, and then they get together]

honey don't feed me (i will come back) (+21K | 3 chapters | complete) - https://archiveofourown.org/works/40261026/chapters/100844469

Steve kind of hates Eddie.

He’s kind of loud, abrasive, has zero brain to mouth filter and also, Dustin sometimes seems to think he’s cooler than Steve, which is a load of shit. Steve is cool. Steve is fucking fun.

And he hates how Eddie doesn’t seem to know how to listen, because Steve told him not to be a hero. In those exact words, no ambiguity. He fucking told Eddie to not take any goddamn risks.

#steddie #steddie fic rec #steddie fic #steve x eddie #steve harrington x eddie munson #steve/eddie #eddie/steve

[vladimpale]

haikyuu fic rec

this mainly consists of rare pairs. these are only the ones i bookmarked in the last few months, because my dumbass didn't think to save the fics they liked before. here somewhere are also series and i highly recommended them, 10/10 would cry again. this got really long so the list is under the cut

bokuto/akaashi/kuroo/tsukishima

Stupid boys talking and maybe some smut by Smokey310

series | works: 9 | 225k

Our own little magic by blueberrytoast19

incomplete(3/?) | 9k | Teen And Up Audiences

"Nature has a way of beautifully reminding us what man seems to have forgotten. We were created out of love, to be loved and to love one another" A magic and madness filled Witch au, in which Tsukishima finds everything he wasn't looking for and more, deep in the woods.

From One Ocean to the Other by insertsomethingwitty, L_E_D

incomplete(10/11) | 53k | Explicit

“He’s cheating! Don’t you care about the—the integrity of the game?” “Oh, I think integrity left this car a long time ago." Or: four pining idiots decide the best way to get over each other is to spend multiple days locked in a car together.

The Devils Downstairs by OhNoItsOikawa

complete(42/42) | 101k | Teen And Up Audiences

The people living below Tsukishima Kei's new apartment just so happen to be godless heathens who are enjoying their twenties maybe a little too much, and he just so happens to be the newest recruit into their cult of Nonsense and Shenanigans. Everyone is a little in love with each other but none of them have realized it yet, and Oikawa Tooru dresses horribly.

It might be crazy (I do it anyway) by normalfault

complete(5/5) | 14k | Teen And Up Audiences

“Can we make out on the beach?” Bokuto asked excitedly. Akaashi groaned, hitting his head against the chair in front of him. The lady in the seat turned around to glare at him, and he apologized profusely. “Why are you asking that now?” Akaashi asked weakly. Kuroo laughed loudly, drawing looks from around them. Akaashi was going to die here. He hoped the plane crashed. --- 4 times Tsukki gets drugged and 1 time it finally happens to someone else

oikawa/kuroo/akaashi

Tales of the Volleyball Sexual as told by Akaashi Keiji by lilvamp23

incomplete(5/?) | 9k | Mature

Keiji questioned a lot of things in his life. What does Crochet and Chill really mean? Was it supposed to include copious amounts of food, sketchy websites, and his entire wardrobe displayed all over his bed? He doesn’t think so. Why did he even let Shirofuku into his home? She’s a menace to his mental health. Does he find Kuroo attractive? Probably, he supposes that he is nice to look at and nice to talk to. Does that mean he wants to have sex with him? He doesn’t know. How is he supposed to know that? He just wants to go back to crocheting his little owls without contemplating the meaning of his life. Please and thank you.

akaashi/bokuto/kuroo

Pyriform Silk by Depths

incomplete(7/?) | 17k | General Audiences

Akaashi had enough trouble just trying to exist as an empath. Going to university and needing a place to stay was just another hurdle. At least the roommate offer he found online wasn't made by humans. He would far rather live with whatever flavor of supernatural his two new roommates were going to be than risk trying to live with a human.

Oh Pretty Baby by avagueidea

complete(13/13) | 23k | Teen And Up Audiences

Akaashi is possibly the only reason Bokuto and Kuroo even managed to get together in the first place. Now he just has to remember that fact while he helps Bokuto balance raising his infant daughter with a long distance relationship. If only he didn't think Kuroo was absolutely perfect for Bokuto, it might not matter that he was in love with him...

sakusa/atsumu

Three Sheets to the Wind by fairycake

complete(16/16) | 117k | Mature

The last place on earth Sakusa Kiyoomi wants to be is on this godforsaken ship sailing across the seas to attend a boring science lecture, but it is a necessary evil if he wishes to avoid attending his grandmother's birthday celebrations. That is, until his ship is boarded by a band of pirates and Kiyoomi finds himself in extremely unwanted company. He can cope with most of the rambunctious crew; though they're armed to the hilt, they're relatively harmless. He cannot, however, cope with human hurricane Miya Atsumu.

a thousand winds that blow by Gray_Herring

complete(1/1) | 18k | Teen And Up Audiences

Motoya is dead, but the Earth keeps spinning. Kiyoomi is alive, and he keeps spinning, too.

Again, until it's perfect by fairycake

complete(1/1) | 18k | Teen And Up Audiences

“Or what about Ushijima?” That catches Kiyoomi’s attention, and he stops in the middle of the street to turn around and scowl at Atsumu. “What about Ushijima?” Atsumu must tilt his head back to smirk up at Kiyoomi from beneath the visor of his cap. “He’s not workin’ on quicks. You’d be a step ahead of him if ya did. He might even raise an eyebrow in surprise or somethin’ equally as scandalous.” Kiyoomi stares at him, narrows his gaze as he scrutinises Atsumu’s face, the challenge in the upturned corners of his lips. “Are you attempting to manipulate me, Miya?” he asks. “I dunno. Is it workin’?” “Kind of.” “Then yeah, I guess.” ______________________ When Kiyoomi and Atsumu accidentally pull off a minus-tempo quick during practice, Atsumu convinces Kiyoomi to practice it for the new season. It's sort of inevitable that he convinces Kiyoomi to fall in love with him too.

yahaba/kyoutani

An Equivalent Exchange by MonkWrites

complete(4/4) | 14k | Explicit

"Years ago, you promised your firstborn to a witch. Since then, despite your best efforts, you can’t seem to get laid. The witch is starting to get pretty pissed."

I (Heart) You by darkmagicalgirl

complete(1/1) | 3k | Teen And Up Audiences

When Kyoutani comes back from the dead, Yahaba is sitting on the headstone the next row over and reading a magazine.

Mixed Signals by snoqualmie

complete(1/1) | 7k | Teen And Up Audiences

Feelings are definitely a thing he’s having. Kyoutani is really sweet. He’s family oriented and he prefers novels with female leads and he’s in all honors classes. He kind of has a big head, totally has a big smile, definitely has a big heart. His eyes are nice, he’s got that dimple. Yahaba groans and rubs his fists into his eyes.

fuel to burn by knightswatch

complete(1/1) | 4k | Mature

Kentarou is coal. Kentarou does not have a diamond inside of him.

meet me at the fucking pit (and let me hold your hand) by anyadisee

complete(1/1) | 5k | Teen And Up Audiences

“Yoo-hoo~ Oh my, why the dark faces, everyone?” Oikawa asks as he walks into the room, Iwaizumi right by his heels. Kunimi, who had been looking bored the entire time, picks up the piece of paper and loudly reads the two sentences written in thick black ink and an angry-looking scrawl across its surface. “Yahaba, meet me at the lot behind the old Humanities building, 6PM. Don’t bring anyone, and don’t be late. That’s what it says.” The room falls silent once more. Then, “Holy shit, Yahaba-chan, who did you cross this time?” [in which yahaba receives a vaguely threatening letter, and kyoutani disappears from practice.]

Presentability by darkmagicalgirl

complete(1/1) | 2k | Teen And Up Audiences

“Oh for— I mean we’ll be in public,” Yahaba said. “Representing our school. We could be on TV. Our old upperclassmen might come to watch.” “Our team, not my face,” Kyoutani had pointed out, feeling very reasonable. “Your face is a part of this team!” Yahaba looked about five seconds away from stamping his heels ineffectually, or, like, putting his fist through the wall. You could never tell with that guy.

Mint and Pine by snoqualmie

complete(1/1) | 6k | Teen And Up Audiences

Yahaba yanks at Kyoutani’s uniform in the club room and ties his tie so tight after morning practice that sometimes Kyoutani thinks he’s trying to fucking strangle him.

bokuto/akaashi

run rabbit run by norio

complete(1/1) | 6k | Teen And Up Audiences

Rule #1: Don't hurt Akaashi. Rule #2: Don't taint Akaashi. Rule #3: Don't involve Akaashi. Rule #4: Don't damage Akaashi. Rule #5 (optional): Try not to destroy yourself.

cotton game by mydamantiumheart

complete(2/2) | 18k | Explicit

It starts out innocent- as innocent as it can be, at least. It only goes downhill from there. It's just that sometimes, Koutarou can't help spinning a million miles per second, and he needs someone to slow him down. Feat. nonsexual bondage + kink leading into (gradually sexual) kink exploration, Keiji helping Koutarou's brain quiet down, and stupid boys falling in love.

kuroo/tsukishima

greek tragedy by ineedmygirl

series | works: 2 | 184k

yaku/lev

Item 37 by invoked_duplicity

complete(1/1) | 2k | General Audiences

Yaku likes to keep lists. His newest list is about all the things he dislikes about a certain, very tall someone.

kuroo/daishou/mika

you can have everything, i give it willingly by eurydicees

complete(1/1) | 12k | Teen And Up Audiences

She and Suguru have been dating since they were seventeen. It’s strange, really, because she loves him, but she’s also not as mad as she should be while she watches Kuroo watch Suguru. She’s not as upset as she should be when she sees Suguru look back at him. In which Kuroo pines, Suguru refuses to acknowledge it, and Mika meddles in places she isn’t quite sure she has the right to meddle. It's not a picture perfect love, but it is theirs.

suga/daichi

in between evenings by thispieceofmind

complete(4/4) | 31k | Mature

Then, those eyes crinkle up with the perfect smile, the one Suga sees on Daichi’s face only sometimes, and Daichi adds, “I like when it’s just us.” Suga can feel it on his face that he’s grinning back, and when he sits up, too, his head spins for a moment. He places a hand on Daichi’s knee to steady himself. His lip quirks when he notes, just shy of teasingly, “It’s usually just us, Daichi.” The thing about falling in love with your best friend is that it happens so slow.

Ice Ice Baby by nastyhobbitsses

complete(1/1) | 2k | Teen And Up Audiences

confessions of a teenage volleyball captain by solyn

complete(1/1) | 14k | Teen And Up Audiences

“Is this better? Am I real enough for you yet? Am I permanent? Can you successfully objectify me, Sawamura-kun?” or: Daichi confesses... but does he really?

kuroo/akaashi

so hot you're hurting my feelings (can't deal) by flickercity

complete(1/1) | 9k | Mature

"And with that his eyes had flickered on Akaashi’s face for just a moment and the idle fleeting thought that Kuroo was maybe....sexy....had crossed Akaashi’s mind." OR Kuroo and Akaashi want to kiss each other and it gets wildly out of hand.

Line thieves by hyugapineapple

complete(1/1) | 1k | Genetal Audiences

“You’re a pain in the ass sometimes, Keiji.” Kuroo whispers with no heat in his voice, pressing his forehead against Akaashi’s. “Isn’t that my line?” “Nope!” Tetsurou chirps happily. “Don’t you know? Research says that couples tend to adopt each other’s habits over years. I have full rights to use that line now.”

Would you rather be with me? by oopsthisisqueertoo

complete(1/1) | 3k | Teen And Up Audiences

“So. Would you rather explore space or the ocean?” Akaashi crumples his eyebrows and looks over at Kuroo in the dark. Their power had gone out at the dorm, so they were laying on the living room floor under every blanket they owned. To make matters worse, it was a holiday weekend and everyone Akaashi knew had gone home, making him stuck alone with pain-in-the-ass-Kuroo-san. In the Winter. With no power. It was every fan-fic writer’s wet dream. Akaashi wanted to die. Or, me needing to get some roommate KuroAka fluff and sass out of my system.

Somehow It Works by helwolves

complete(1/1) | 3k | Explicit

Keiji looks Kuroo up and down, taking in the ridiculous red wizard robe, the knee-high boots, the sharp black lines defining his sharper eyes, the carved foam horns nestled in his wild hair. It really should not be working for him—and yet. Shenanigans behind the scenes of Final Haikyuu Quest, concerning one cameraman and one best supporting demon.

hinata/kageyama/kenma

love fills you out by joshllyman

complete(1/1) | 2k | General Audiences

Hinata bounces upstairs—literally; Kageyama is, for a moment, concerned the floor might give underneath the weight of his excitement—and into Kageyama’s room. “Come with us!” he half-shouts. Kageyama narrows his eyes. “Where and why?” Hinata rolls his eyes and smiles, like he knows Kageyama’s been listening. “We’re going to the sushi shop, Bakageyama. Me and Kenma.” Kageyama frowns. “And you want me to come along?”

#i didn't even know i shipped so many rarepairs tbh #and some of them aren't even here #anyways these are all worth a read #most of them are my favourite fics of all time #there was also a heist bakt fic i could not find #haikyuu!! #bokuaka #bokuakakurotsuki #bakt #kurotsuki #daisuga #oikuroaka #sakuatsu #kyouhaba #yakulev #kuromikashou #kagekenhina #figuring out the format of this post was a pain in the ass

[weeklyreadings]

Week 51

Romp and Circumstance by @wolfpants

Rated E. 36k. Drarry

Since the war, Harry Potter has gone from Saviour to Scoundrel—not that he’s complaining. With a schedule full of gorgeous men, alcohol, and late nights, why would he want to change? Enter Draco Malfoy: beautiful, sharp, and completely untouchable. When Draco comes to Harry with a proposition to help him attract an engagement, Harry’s up for it—after all, how hard can it be not falling for his former nemesis?

Very hard, apparently.

I'll never be your chosen one by @andithiel

Rated E. 15k. Drarry

Draco doesn't know what exactly he’s doing with Potter, he doesn't know how their unspoken agreement even started, and doesn't know where it will end. The only thing he knows is: he's not in love.

Chasing Dragons by @the-sinking-ship

Rated E. 99k. Drarry

Draco can think of only one way to outclass his pleat-front-khaki-wearing politician ex, and that’s by making headlines with an obvious upgrade. And who better to upstage the cheating bastard than the Saviour of the World, Harry Potter himself? Sure, Potter is a little rough around the edges in ripped jeans, a rumpled tartan shirt, and a permanent scowl. Draco reckons a haircut and a shave wouldn’t hurt, either. But Potter is also in need of a Healer willing to keep his secrets, and Draco is just the man for the job. It’s a perfectly reasonable exchange. They need only attend a couple parties arm-in-arm, smile nicely for the paparazzi, and tolerate each other long enough to convince everyone they’re smitten. In return, Draco will keep Potter alive and in one piece.

A Good League Hence by @eyra

Rated T. 15k. Wolfstar

Remus has always believed that December is the Hall's very best month. It's like the place was built to have boughs of holly and fir strung from every wall sconce and picture rail; like its architect, all those hundreds of years ago, designed it specifically to bear the big, fat garlands he and Lily wind around its balustrades and bannisters, and the jolly wreaths that they hoist into place on every door, and the towering, beribboned tree that stands proudly in the hotel reception and takes four of them a whole afternoon to decorate.

A country hotel in the wintertime. Plenty of snow, plenty of mulled wine, and a feeling that this Christmas might be different.

Thine Enemy is Sweet by @xx-thedarklord-xx

Rated E. 53k. Drarry

"The ex-boyfriend of my ex-fiance is my partner in crime."

A story featuring a ragtag team of morons, bickering enemies that can't agree on anything, a heist that surely won't end well and a connection that neither Harry or Draco can deny.

Fire Meet Gasoline

Rated E. 63k. Drarry

When Draco’s anger management issues land him in St Mungo’s, he thinks his Quidditch career is over. But Harry, A&E Healer and notorious workaholic, is faced with a similar predicament. To save their jobs, the two of them decide to fake a relationship. All they have to do is convince their friends and employers… and not fall in love in the process. Simple, right?

To All a Good Night by @msalexwp

Rated E. 36k. Wolfstar

Sirius Black was supposed to spend Christmas in a luxury Airbnb in Vermont with his best friends. Instead, there's a record-breaking snowstorm, a tiny cabin with no electricity, a viral video, a mysterious last-minute breakup, and sharing a bed with Remus Lupin.

#wolfstar fic #ao3fic #drarry fic #fic recs

[myenemystolvrs]

April 2021

completed fics that i read this month.

~read the tags~

▶ more than 1 chapter

Sasunaru

1. Left in the Past (Rewrite the Future) by Lohrendrell [T, 20K, 2ch]

“By pure chance, Naruto comes across a little book. It has no title, no author, not even a signature, but it does contain long lost memories of a romance that could have been. He can’t help being drawn to the story on those pages, neither could he imagine how much finding the journal would influence his own life.“

2. Idioms and Idiots by cyberflamingo  [E, 53K, 10ch]

“The transfer student is a country hick—which is just a nice way of saying he doesn’t belong in the private boarding school where Sasuke has calculated his life’s trajectory. It’s fine if the idiot steals all his friends, it's absolutely bearable if he’s forced to partner up with him in gym class, and it's definitely not a problem at all that his dorm room is right next door.

But joining the soccer team where Sasuke is team captain? That’s where he draws the line.

And if Naruto could stop calling him a pussy, that would be great.”

3.  A World of Truth by luchia  [E, 23K, 10ch]

“The world is trapped in an illusion which removes anger, hate, and death. It's paradise, giving everyone everything they've ever wanted and reviving anyone they've ever lost. Nearly two years into the illusion, Sasuke snaps back to his senses and must decide whether to keep the world in false bliss, or return it to war-torn reality.”

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

▶ one shots

1. Almost, Not Quite, Us by xxjinchuurikixx [E, 34K]

“Sasuke gets an unexpected heat, and his oldest rival and once best friend Naruto is there for him.

“I promise I won’t… make things awkward.”

“It’s already kinda awkward, admit it.”

He relinquishes his hold on Naruto’s hand and sighs. “Alright, well then, I promise to be a very good omega and not claw your dick off.”

“Do omegas do that?”

“This one will.”

2. A Night of Poor Choices by KinomiAkai [E, 13K]

“Sasuke is sober, tired, and bitterly regretting letting his friends drag him out to a bar. At least he can pet this dog, though.”

3. Underwater by Dae [E, 12K]

“Sasuke didn't really need therapy, but he figured he'd give it a try. It wouldn't have been so bad if the annoying blonde didn't keep showing up with his damn crosswords and magazines and stupidly attractive smile and bright blue eyes.

Whatever.”

4. Adoption by Defenestration; or, A Family Can Be A Fox Demon, Its Jinchuuriki, and Three Dozen Highly-Trained Assassins by elumish [T, 4K]

“He will not be the ANBU who let the jinchuuriki plummet to his death out a fourth story window. Let that be another ANBU’s legacy.”

5. How Naruto and Sasuke Became Friends by prettypriestess [T, 5K]

“The heavens have chosen the accidental kiss as their running gag.”

6. head spinning thinking about this boy by sausegay [T, 10K]

“Sasuke continues, “it’s different when it’s your best friend you’re trying to ask out.”

“You sound like you speak from experience.”

Sasuke takes a moment to respond, gaze shifting to a spot over Naruto’s shoulder then back to his eyes. “Just casual observation.”

or where sasuke has a really bad crush on naruto and he thinks it's unrequited until he finds out it isn't. featuring soccer practices, cheer stunts, a shared bento, and other events taking place over the course of a school term.”

7. on the verge of things like truth, things like love by PurpleClouds_001 [M, 16K]

"Whatever I've done Hinata, I assure you I'm sorry"

She laughed again, bitterly "You must say that a lot" then she caught her cruel tone and blushed "I'm sorry, I mean, you don't even know what you're apologizing for"

"I've done a lot of things I need to be sorry for, I've learned not to ask"

or... Naruto has died, so Hinata and Sasuke talk for the first time.”

8. Funny Way to Fall by Atanih88 [E, 9K]

“Naruto's favourite late night customer has a set of wings. Yeah. Big ones.”

#ficrec #ficjournal #sasunaru #narusasu #naruto uzumaki #uchiha sasuke #april2021

[ellatholmes]

Invitation to gush, accepted?! <3

It feels like all I do is talk about my WIP's so forgive me if I'm repeating myself, but I'm currently falling in love with my OC's Lizzy Hail and Andric Roche all over again.

Changeling is my romantic portal fantasy debut novel, and it has taken me longer to write than I expected it to, twice as long as my epic fantasy manuscript, 'Stolen', but I finally feel like I've gotten a handle on the plot and the character's voices, and their motivations.

A quick run down;

Lizzy, her best friend Booker, and her mother Madeline are all Fey from the realm of Arbaon.

When Madeline travels to the mortal realm, for what should have been a brief two week trip, and doesn't come back, she is declared "Missing, presumed dead." This is standard practice in Arbaon as the Court Ruling is that any fey taking the risk of travelling to the mortal realm is doing so at their own risk.

But Lizzy wants to find out what happened to her mum, and why she went there in the first place.

When Lizzy and Booker get to the Mortal Realm however, they find out that not only are there humans and vampires, but also rabid, monstrous versions of the vampires, poisoned by human blood, called kavians.

Their first encounter with a kavian brings them to the attention of Andric Roche and plot ensues...

My deadline for finishing the first draft of the manuscript, with the intent to publish next year is the end of this month, and I'm making super progress. I'm currently 32k into Nano, and 53k into the total manuscript.

But, the reason I'm falling in love with Lizzy and Andric all over again, and the reason I'm taking full advantage of your invitation to gush, is because my two darling idiots just went waaaaay off script.

I just wrote a scene last night that appears nowhere in my outline.

Even as I was writing it, I just kept thinking; "I'm going to have to figure out how to fit this scene in. I might have to move it to later in the story. Need to check how much plot they've skipped to get to this point in the outline."

And it's made Chapter 19 my biggest chapter in the entire book, but I really liked the end result.

So I finished the chapter. Went and looked at my outline to see what I needed to edit... only to find that my glorious idiots had, by going off-script, solved a plot hole that was about to appear 2 chapters along in my outline, that I hadn't noticed was a plot hole yet!

So I thought they might be moving a little fast, but it turns out I know nothing. At least my characters know what the hell is going on!

Chapter 19 Sneak Peek

Because I can't resist sharing. No impulse control. That's me <3

She was small, but there was an inner strength to Lizzy. He should have seen it that first night, when she'd recovered from her fear quickly enough to stand her ground and argue with him, but he'd dismissed it. Assumed it was due to shock, or the woman simply not knowing how much danger they'd been in.

But even now, even believing that she'd revealed a secret he could wield against her, even after breaking apart just a little, she stood with her chin raised.

Lizzy met his gaze and held it. She was terrified, it was hidden there in the darkest depths of her gaze, but she refused to flinch, and Andric smiled.

"I'm going to guard your vulnerabilities," he said gently, "as per the terms of my employment contract with you," he added, smile widening teasingly. "And maybe, if I'm very lucky, earn just a little of your trust."

"Why?" she asked, and Andric's smile dropped a little as he sighed.

"Because you're clever, funny, and you've got potential... and I don't think I was too far off the mark. Apart from your mum and Booker, do you have anyone back in Arbaon?"

She didn't flinch, or order him to be silent this time, but she went very still. Like an animal startled in the wild, but Andric waited, not pushing her and a second later her mouth tightened and she glanced away, shrugging one shoulder.

"Mia wasn't... wrong. Entirely," Lizzy muttered. "All female fey are supposed to have wings. The fact that I don't... well. Until Booker, I'd only ever had my mum. And now I only have Booker."

Arbaon was, as far as the stories went, a single realm with a small population, but Andric couldn't imagine living your whole life knowing that your entire world thought you lesser because of an accident of birth. That same urge from earlier rose up again, the desire to help, to guard, and to protect.

"Trust me?" he asked, letting just a hint of playful challenge enter his voice and hoping it rallied her stubbornness back to the surface. Instantly, her head whipped back around to study him, her eyes fluttering slightly as she considered his question, but eventually offered a tiny nod, and Andric let his lips curl into a smile.

"Your hands. At least one of them is bleeding," he said, holding out his own. "I can smell it," he added carefully, watching Lizzy swallow hard before she slowly put her hands back in his. Andric lifted them slightly, the motion tugging Lizzy close, just a step, as he inspected her palms, and he hummed.

"It's just the right," he told her, releasing her left hand and cradling her right in both of his, before lifting his eyes back to hers, and letting a smirk creep through his walls, hoping the challenge would keep her focus.

"Vampires have a venom in their teeth that can stop a wound from cotting and closing. It's how we used to feed on humans... but our saliva counteracts it, and encourages injuries to heal over at an advanced rate," he explained, pausing to give her a moment to absorb his words, before he grinned again. "Still trust me?"

"Not as much as before you grinned at me like that," Lizzy muttered, scowling at him, and Andric laughed, prompting her to roll her eyes in response. "But... enough," she added, despite the nervous swallow he caught sight of.

He didn't give her a chance to second guess her decision, or worry about what he planned to do. Instead brought the pad of his right thumb to his lips, and ran his tongue over it, before bringing it down to her hand.

His thumb swept gently across her palm, pressing featherlight across the four crescent shaped wounds where her nails had sliced into her hand, and Lizzy gasped. He hoped it was surprise and not fear, but he didn't look away from her hand, waiting until he could see the small cuts sealing up and leaving only faint red lines in their wake, before he released her.

"There. Good as new."

yoooo this sounds amazing 🤩🤩🤩

I love when scenes just come to you, especially when they prompt some sort of change or resolution of a plot problem 😁 that's so great!

[champagnepodiums]

Why do you think Mick has gained so much compared to the other drivers during offseason? Obviously it's not as much as Lewis and Charles, but still quite a lot more than the majority of the rest. Do you think it's only because he was announced as reserve driver for Mercedes or is there anything else you could imagine?

I've been a little surprised to see him in that third spot when he really wasn't all that active over the break and hasn't been at any big events or had any pr going on either (correct me I'm wrong). Joining Mercedes is pretty much the only thing I can think of, but why would a reserve driver, albeit for a top team, gain that much more than a new full time driver (or generally the other drivers)? Especially considering that he has been an F1 driver for the past two years and not new to the sport by any means.

On that note, will you keep pulling numbers for Mick, Daniel, Seb and Nicky once the new season starts, even if they're not on the grid anymore? Personally I think it would be super interesting to see how reserve drivers and one's that aren't in the sport anymore do compared to the drivers on the grid.

In any case, thank you for always doing the numbers and all the effort you put in, love hearing your views on everything :)

SO I have a partial answer for why I think Mick has gained so much this offseason but I'm actually a little mystified as well.

So there were four events that stacked on each other and I think that is what really kickstarted his gains were definitely being announced as the Mercedes reserve driver. But then he changed his pfp to one of him and his dad and that created a lot of social media buzz. Then there was the anniversary of his dad's accident and approximately a week later, his father's birthday (which Mick did make a post to commemorate). So I think that just kind carried the gains over approximately a month -- the week that he was announced to Mercedes, he gained 53k new followers which is more than what half of the grid has gained the entire offseason so the other 3 events just kind of added onto that, if that makes sense?

But yes! I will be pulling numbers for the four drivers that aren't returning to the grid in 2023. I don't think I'll update more tumblr more than once a month unless they prove to be super interesting but I'll probably pull numbers once a week.

I appreciate your kind words, i apologize that it took me so long to answer this <3

[barbiegirldream]

There are two types of specific people who hate Dream and you’d think they’d want nothing to do with one another and yet. 

On one hand you have the alt right freaks who hate that Dream ‘gives into cancel culture’ they don’t think he should apologize for anything. The conservative upbringing and past that Dream is ashamed of and has apologized for and says he will continue apologizing for and growing from is what they want him to celebrate. I have seen them call him a cuck for changing his political beliefs and I have seen them call him an sjw and get pissed when Dream says things like ‘welcome to the boys’ to trans fans that ask him to for example. They hate his fanbase for how inclusive and diverse it is. They hate that Dream is trying his very hardest to make sure everyone feels included and safe. So they do their hardest to make them feel unsafe. 

Every fan of Dream I know has been sent hate by an anti that was targeted at their gender, sexuality, race, religion anything we might have mentioned the antis use to mock. And it is because of how much they hate us for not being cishet white men and they know Dream’s replies will be filled with minorities they could attack. People started intentionally sending an old racist clip to Dream’s black fans and when those black fans pointed out it’s from 8 years ago when Dream was 14 and he apologized and has shown growth they swapped to calling those black fans slurs because they couldn’t hurt them like they hoped to. And you see it in the way they call Dream homophobic and ableist slurs and they try to make it known any discussions of his sexuality are not okay. Dream says he likes women and men and gets inundated with homophobic slurs and threats. Dream’s little corner of the internet is one he is actively trying to shape into an inclusive and accepting place and these circle jerks bigots hate that so much. 

And on the other hand you have radlibs who have never had a coherent political belief in their life. They preach some insane purity of thought culture where if you were not born and raised in a leftist environment and have had modern to 2022 beliefs your entire life you are a horrible human being. They actively undermine any activism that real leftists try and do. Dream is a pretty good example of what we’re trying to do. He was raised in the early 2000s in Florida in a conservative household where he was incredibly sheltered. His beliefs as a teenager reflected this. He started Youtube at 19 going on 20 years old. One thing Dream has said he likes about the internet the most is the ability to speak to and hear from people of all different backgrounds all around the world. He’s even said that what he and his fans can do best is listen to each other and learn from each other. Which is true if everyone stays in their own bubbles there is no learning and growth and there is no chance of social and political reform if everything stays the same. 

By age 21 Dream was speaking out for BLM during the protests and speaking out against racism. He was apologizing and holding himself accountable for his past that he has stated again and again he’s not proud of. Dream wants to be held accountable and for us to bring to his attention anything that might be worth addressing because he wants to do better and be better. Dream wants to make people happy and build a community that is safe and accepting and comforting. In June of 2021 despite a very popular lie he was able to raise 37k over the course of the month with various podcasts where he encouraged people to donate. And with one big charity stream at the end 53k more and he donated 50k himself. $140,000 was donated to the Trevor Project (a suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQ+ kids). And this is brushed aside real lives of queer people are dismissed by these fake activists who just want to hate Dream. The fake activists are the same ones who looked at Dream’s tweet about liking women and men and called him a liar, who told him he is still straight, who said he will never be accepted into the community. And when Dream was hurt by this and responded to this invalidation he was told to shut up and take the homophobia in silence. 

I am not saying if you hate Dream you’re a conservative or you’re a radlib. What I am saying is it is not normal to dedicate so much of your life to negativity because that makes you naturally more vulnerable to radical ideologies. It is normal not to like people. Sometimes you just don’t vibe with them that’s fine you don’t need to justify it. Or maybe you are a minority who can’t forgive Dream’s past and you don’t want to support him that is completely valid and I am sorry for the hurt you faced. There is so much bigotry in this world I understand not wanting to interact with people who previously used to hold these beliefs. Dream himself said if you can’t forgive him or support him then you can’t, he understands too. But there is no benefit in constantly bringing up old things over and over again to try and insist he hasn’t changed when he has so visibly. And spreading around blatant lies and un-fact checked claims isn’t helping anyone either. You will be happier to just ignore him I promise you. 

#long post #discourse

[mousetrap-if]

Mousetrap is now live on itch.io!

Well folks, it happened. Mousetrap was submitted last night to @interact-if's 2022 ranked game jam and is available to play on itch.io. The game is still a work in progress and, at this point, only a demo for the full story. Hope you enjoy it!

Click Here to Play

You're one of the many overworked interns working at Whimsey World. When it was announced that Imogen, a category three hurricane, would soon hit Orlando, Florida, your employers asked for volunteers to remain in the parks during the storm, promising triple pay for at least 24 hours. You and your friend seized the opportunity. After all, Whimsey wouldn't ask its cast members to stay behind if it was potentially dangerous.

That's what you assumed before you were knocked unconscious. Before you woke up in a costume chained to your friend and three strangers. Before Dickey the Rat informed you and your "team" that you get $250,000 for each person you kill. Before the neurotoxins pumping through the park's air system began to loosen your grip on reality. Before nightmares and the real world bled into a horrifying, broken fantasy you can't wake up from.

If you survive the storm (and the things lurking within it), you'll win riches beyond your wildest dreams. But how far are you willing to go? How committed are you to pleasing your guests and satisfying your spectators? The Show will go on. It will always go on. But what role will you play in it?

Twine Word Count: 53,625 with code (maybe like 48-50k without? idk, I write with code so I don't know how to estimate that)

Average Playthrough: 30 minutes (around 12-15k words)

And, is the game finished? Oh, no! Definitely not. This is far from the full story or the finished product (there are literally debug links that I forgot to take out in the very first passage).

Lots of content and features will be coming out in the near future alongside the patching that needs to take place. Details below.

The next update will hopefully be on March 5th (though I'm a university student dealing with midterms so that may change). Further updates will be announced on the Mousetrap blog (linked here).

Truly, from the bottom of my heart. I greatly appreciate all of the interest, support, and feedback that I've received on this project and others. If you're enjoying Mousetrap so far, please consider rating the game or leaving a comment on itch.io, reblogging this post, or sharing the game with a friend (or enemy, coworker, acquaintance, pet, stranger, distant cousin, really anyone/thing who you think might like it).

To read about some of my other projects, check out my personal game dev blog @gamesbyalbie or my project-specific blogs like @hadeskitchen or @zorlok-if.

(PS: The original extremely sleep-deprived version of this post has been preserved under the cut for posterity's sake)

Have a Magical Day!

DEMO | BLOG | INTRO POST | DEV LOG | CAST PROFILES & PORTRAITS | PLAYLIST | PINTEREST: MAIN, COSTUMES, SETS

ORIGINAL POST:

Well, I'm mentally and physically exhausted (literally falling asleep as I'm writing this so, this may be a little loopy too). BUT, Mousetrap was submitted to the game jam and is now live on the Itch.io store.

This is not the finished game (like there are debug links on the very first passage that I forgot to turn off, but I'll be updating this with plenty of fixes and a lot more content as soon as I'm allowed to).

Total word count (with code since I write with code) is over 53k words. Average playtime is about a half hour. For a game that I've conceived and written in just one already busy month, I'm pretty happy with that. (except for the debug links, those are bugging the shit out of me)

BONUS - in case you wanted to know what stress looks like:

Also, color me curious, if you want to and have the time to do so, let me know what choices you made (dream, relationships, role, route, etc.).

Tomorrow I'll be returning to Tumblr and catching up on everything I've missed. Have a great [insert your time here]! I'm falling asleep

asdlkfja kjd

( ^ imagine that was my head hitting the keyboard, that's what it feels like I'm about to do)

Okay, I'm going to sleep.

#mousetrap #mousetrap demo #interactive fiction #interactif game jam #horror #twine game #update #develpoment

[myhockeyworld87]

What Happens In Vegas...Doesn’t Always Stay There - Jacob Markstrom - Part 9

Word Count: 9,670

POV: Reader

Warning: Language, Pregnancy, Smut, NSFW (18+ readers only)

Notes: Well here it is the final chapter of this series. Even if I lost 4K words when I was editing. That’s why it took so long. I hope you guys enjoyed this story as much as I did. I can’t believe that it’s over 53K total! I just want to thank everyone who took time out and read any part of this story. You are all the best and I love you all!! So with that. These two were finally on the right path when we left them. Did it stay that way? Let’s find out.  As always feedback is welcome. Happy Reading!

What Happens In Vegas…Doesn’t Always Stay There Masterlist

Some days you just couldn’t believe how lucky you were to be married to Jacob. Sure, things had got off on a rocky start, but now, here you were eight months into both your marriage and your pregnancy and your life was pure bliss. Though had someone asked your husband that, he may have not agreed with you at the moment.

 “Babe, you need to put that washer on before you screw in that nut.”

 “I know, prinsessa,” he huffed back, however, he still put the screw into the crib without the washer on it.

 “Jacob, the washer?” He blew out a frustrated breath, taking the bolt back out to put the washer on as you told him not even a minute ago. “If you’d just let me help.” He’d insisted that he was going to be the one to put your daughter’s crib together. At the rate he was going though, you should’ve started a couple months ago.

 “You’re eight months pregnant, (Y/N). There is no way that I’m letting you do manual labor. What if you hurt yourself or worse our little honeydew in there?”

 “You know we’re really going to have to come up with a name for her. We can’t call her the name of fruits, the rest of her life. Besides what happens when she gets bigger than a watermelon?”

 Jacob chuckled as he tightened the nut, then moved on to the next one. “What about Beatrice?”

 “Reminds me too much of that movie, Divergent. Her parents weren’t great in that were they?” It was a rhetorical question, so you just kept going. “What about Olivia?”

 “Boring. Everyone names their little girl Olivia anymore.” He had a point, there was a reason that the name had been on the popular girls' list for a number of years. “Elsa is really popular in Sweden.”

 “And have everyone sing ‘Let it Go’ every time they say her name.”

 “Fair point.” He went back to putting that crib together. “Knulla!” Jacob cursed dropping the f-bomb in his native tongue.”

 “What? Are you hurt?”

 “No, but I can’t get that damn song out of my head.” You couldn’t help but burst into a fit of laughter.

 “So, Anna is out then as well.”

 “Oh my god, no we are not naming her that either.” One side of the crib was completely put together and he leaned it up against the wall, moving onto the next. This time putting the washers on the screws before starting. “We can just name her fruit salad, that way it covers all the names we’ve called her.”

 “Absolutely not. We’re not going to be one of those couples that name their child after obscure things, like Coco or Cardboard.”

 A bark of laughter was your answer from Jacob. “Well, hopefully, once we see her, it will just come to us. You know sometimes when you look at someone the name just fits.”

 “I hope so, or our child may end up being Fruit Salad Markstrom. It doesn’t have a very nice ring to it.”

 “No, no it doesn’t.”

 While Jacob continued to work on the crib, you got up and wandered into the office. Pulling out the folder you wanted, you headed back to your husband. “Speaking of names.” He turned giving you his full attention. “I was wondering how you’d feel if I legally changed mine.” Inside the folder, there were numerous documents, driver’s license, passports, bills, all of which had to be changed. You just wanted Jacob’s ok before making it official. The moment you decided to stay married to Jacob, you weren’t one hundred percent sure you wanted to ever change your name. Now, you saw no reason to keep your old one. You wanted the world to know that you were his and that he in turn was yours.

 “I’d be thrilled if you changed it to Markstrom, but are you sure prinsessa?” He abandoned the crib and moved to set on the sofa with you. “I know you how much your independence means.”

 He had taken your hands in his, and you felt him idly playing with your wedding rings. “It was, or is, but you’ve proven I can still have that while being your wife, and that’s not going to change no matter what my last name is. But more importantly, I want us to be a family; you, me, and fruit salad. I’m proud of who you are Jacob and proud of this family. I want to be an official part of it.”

 “You’ve always been an official part of it. There’s no family without you, prinsessa. But nothing would make me happier than you officially being Mrs. Markstrom.” His lips found yours. The kiss sweet as you melted into him.

 “Well, then I guess I need to get this started. At least it will give me something to do while you finish that crib over there.”

 His lips started to trail down your neck and collarbone. “I think we need a little break. Don’t you?” He took the folder and placed it back on the coffee table, then gently laid you down on the couch. It was several hours before Jacob finished the crib. He even went so far as to get inside and prove to you that if it was strong enough to hold him, it would surely hold your baby.

 ***

 As the last couple of weeks of your pregnancy went by, you still hadn’t come up with a name for your baby girl. What did make itself know was your daughter inside you. Your back ached and it felt like she was using your ribs for kickboxing practices at all hours of the day. You were so ready to have her out of you and in your arms instead of pressing on your bladder. The day she was due came and went though. According to the doctor she was in perfect position for you to deliver, yet she didn’t seem to want to make her arrival.

 Two days later, you were on the phone with Lena telling her how miserable you felt. “I just can’t seem to get comfortable,” you whined.

 “Oh darling, I know exactly how you feel. Jacob was almost two weeks late. I tried every trick anyone would tell me to induce labor, but I swear only one thing worked.”

 Fourteen days seemed like an eternity. You waited for Jacob’s mom to say more, but couldn’t keep silent long. “Oh please tell me. I already made Jacob take me for a ride on the roughest road he could find. All that did was make me have to pee.”

 Lena giggled, but if she had only seen you begging Jacob to pull off of the road so that you could relieve yourself, she would’ve laughed even harder. “Oh, you poor thing. I remember it all too well.” Her laughter died down, and she spoke in a softer tone. “Now, I hope you don’t mind me asking this but have you and Jacob…” she trailed off, leaving you guessing as to what she meant. “You know…are you still…intimate?”

 “Oh!” The question made you pause for even though you’d grown very close to Lena; it wasn’t like you were telling her of your sex life with her son. “Well…not for the last week or so. Jacob was worried about me…” It dawned on you then what she meant, as Jacob was afraid that you’d go into labor. Now, that’s exactly what you wanted to happen.

 “Ah, so you see what I’m getting at.” You most certainly did. “Keep in mind I had trouble convincing Anders that it was a good idea, but it most definitely worked.”

 “Lena, you’re an angel.”

 “I’m not sure I’d call myself that.” You both chuckled. “Now, I’m going to let you go and hope that the next phone call I get, is you telling me that my granddaughter is here.”

 “I sure hope so.”

 “Love you, darling. Tell my son, I love him as well.”

 “Love you too and same to Anders.” You hung up, right as Jacob walked into the house after his workout. Normally, he would’ve headed back to Sweden by now, but with the baby being due, the two of you were staying in Vancouver. So, he was sticking to his normal routine.

 “I’m back, prinsessa,” He announced as if you hadn’t heard the garage door open. “How’s my baby doing?”

 “Well, if you mean your daughter, she’s still not ready to make her grand appearance yet.” You sighed rubbing your belly. “If you mean me, I’m extremely pregnant and uncomfortable.”

 Jacob dropped a kiss to your lips before sitting down beside you on the couch. “My poor prinsessa, apparently you’ve made it so nice in there our little watermelon doesn’t want to leave.”

 “Well, speaking of that…” Jacob’s eyes lifted up in query. “I was thinking maybe we could speed the process up a bit.” You let your fingers trail down his chest until they rested at his waistband. His raised eyebrows told you that he knew your intent, and you lifted yours in return along with a little smirk.

 Jacob stilled your hand though. “Prinsessa, I don’t think that we should. What if I hurt you or the baby?”

 “You’re not going to hurt either of us. I promise.”

 “But what if you go into labor?”

 “That’s the point, Jacob. I want to go into labor.” You could now see why Lena mentioned she had trouble convincing Anders. The look of concern on his face had you questioning whether or not you were going to be able to pull this off. Let’s face it, you knew that being nine months pregnant, wasn’t any man’s ideal temptation, though you had to admit that Jacob hadn’t seemed to mind your rounded belly. In fact, he always told you how sexy you looked, and up and until about two weeks ago, he couldn’t seem to keep his hands off of you. Maybe if you used some of your feminine wiles, you could somehow tempt him, though at the moment you felt anything but sexy.

 You were somehow able to finagle your wrist free that Jacob had captured, though his grip was never that tight. This time instead of going to his waistband, you went straight for what you wanted. His cock. To say that you were surprised to find him semi-erect, was an understatement. Apparently, your husband did still find you sexy. “Please baby.” You stroked up the length of him, your touch causing him to get harder. “You know…once I have our little blueberry, there won’t be any of this for a while. Like six whole weeks.”

 Jacob groaned. He’d done the research and knew that your body needed time to heal. He wasn’t a cad, that couldn’t wait the six weeks that you needed, though he knew that time would prove difficult, for he couldn’t seem to keep his hands off of you. When your thumb brushed back and forth over the tip of his cock, he was done for. He growled in frustration with himself, for wanting you so bad, before capturing your mouth. The kiss was rougher than he intended at first and he had to remind himself to be gentler with you, even though you craved his manhandling. “You win, prinsessa,” he finally managed to breathe out once he tore his lips from yours. “But swear to me, that if you feel even the slightest hint of pain, you’ll tell me.”

 “I swear,” was your hurried answer before he could change his mind. Jacob got up off the couch, then grabbed your hands to help you up. “We can just stay here.”

 “I’m not fucking my very pregnant wife on the sofa. We’re going upstairs.”

 “Yes, sir.” You stated in mock salute. Jacob shook his head, covering up his laughter as he led you up the stairs. It was definitely not the intimate little chase that the two of you had done so many times when you’d first moved in. Your body just didn’t move as fast these last couple of weeks, as your back was always aching, just as it was now. You’d just made it up the first few stairs when you felt this weird twinge. You told yourself it was nothing, but it stopped you for a moment and had Jacob looking back to make sure everything was ok. It passed quickly and so you went to take the next step. That’s when you felt it. It was sort of just an intense amount of pressure and then before you knew what was happening there was fluid leaking out of you uncontrollably. “Jacob,” you exclaimed and he quickly turned again. “I think my water just broke.” His eyes went from your face to the floor then back to your face again.

 “Oh my god.” Jacob’s face went white, for even though you both knew this moment was coming, it was still a bit shocking now that it was finally here. “Where’s your bag? We should call the doctor? I’ll go get the car.”

 “Slow down,” you coaxed, brushing your hand against his cheek. “Let’s see how far apart the contractions are before we start rushing. Besides, I need to clean this and myself up.”

 “But prinsessa…”

 “I’m fine, Jacob. Really. That was only my first contraction.” At least you thought it was your first. Your back had been hurting off and on all day, but you’d just chalked it up to carrying the baby. “Let’s just wait and see when the next one comes.” Heading back to the kitchen, you grabbed some paper towels to clean up the small mess on the floor. Jacob took them out of your hands before you could even attempt to stoop down.

 “I still think we should call the doctor.”

 “Fine. If it’ll make you feel better.” It couldn’t hurt to keep her informed. “Ouch.”

 “Was that another one?”

 “Yes,” you answered rubbing your overgrown belly.

 “That was less than five minutes, prinsessa.” He was already dialing the phone, as you headed upstairs to change. You weren’t sure how fast your labor would progress but you wanted to be prepared should you need to leave for the hospital right away. By the time you got out of your soiled clothes, another contraction hit. It definitely came on quicker than the last and lasted longer than the other one as well. You changed clothes as quickly as possible.

 Jacob came running up the stairs right as you were throwing on your shirt. “Are you having another one already?” You tried to mask the pain but nodded as the last twinges of it subsided. “The doctor said we should head in, with your water breaking, and the look on your face tells me we should’ve left a couple minutes ago.” Jacob ran into the closet and grabbed the bag of stuff you had packed as well as the diaper bag. “What are you doing, prinsessa? You should be downstairs by now.”

 “I just need a hair tie.”

 “Babe, you have at least six packed in this bag. Can you not use one of them?”

 You were already in the bathroom digging for the one you wanted. “Not the same, this one is my favo…ugh.” The rest of the word was lost as yet another contraction hit.

 “That’s it we’re leaving right now.” Jacob grabbed several hair ties and threw them in his pockets before taking your hand and leading you out of the bathroom and down the stairs. “We are not having our daughter in this house.” He scolded, taking the stairs as quickly as possible.

 You were in the car and out of the driveway before the next contraction hit. It freaked Jacob out, even more than before and you felt the car speed up. He had to be going well over the speed limit, but you were not going to complain as it felt like your labor was going at the same pace as the car. As you hit a red light, you saw Jacob’s knee starting to bounce as his anxiety raised waiting for it to turn green. You reached over and threaded your fingers through his. “We got this, hun.”

 He squeezed your fingers back, right as the light turned green. “I should be reassuring you.” You chuckled lightly as the car continued on.

 It was exactly 11:24 when you entered the hospital. Jacob made his way to the registration desk, letting them know you were here. From there, things became a whirlwind. You were taken to a private room and hooked up to all kinds of monitors. Approximately thirty minutes later, they were telling you that you were in full active labor. Duh, you could’ve told them that, as your contractions seemed to be coming at a rapid-fire pace.

 “Aren’t first-time births supposed to take longer?” You inquired of the nurse that was checking the fetal monitor.

 “On average, yes, but everyone is different. Trust me most women would kill to be progressing this fast.”

 It wasn’t lost on you that just a couple hours ago you were begging for your daughter to be out of you, but now that the time had come you had to admit you were having second thoughts. “I don’t know if I’m ready.” It was a thought that had been echoing in your head the moment you hit the doorway to the hospital.

 “Oh, you’re definitely ready.” The nurse commented even though you hadn’t been talking to her. “I’ll be back with the doctor in a few minutes. If you need anything just ring the bell.”

 “What about the epidural?” She must have not heard you as she headed out the door. You turned to Jacob, who hadn’t left your side. “I don’t think I can do this Jacob.”

 “Sure you can, prinsessa.” His hand soothingly caressed your cheek, brushing back some stray hairs at the same time. “Everything will be fine.”

 “But what if I suck at this whole parenting thing….” Another contraction hit, and it felt like there was a vice grip on your uterus.

 “Just breathe.” Jacob mimicked what you’d both learned in child birthing class and you found yourself breathing with him through the pain. Once, you finally had it under control, Jacob continued. “You’re going to be the best mom ever prinsessa. Our little girl is going to be lucky to have you.”

 You smiled weakly, hoping that he was right. “Well, at least she’ll have the most amazing dad.” Jacob leaned down and kissed your lips sweetly, right before the nurse came back in.

 “Ok, looks like you’ve got another one coming (Y/N).” She informed you as she checked the monitor. You’d barely caught your breath from the last one, but you prepared yourself for the next as the doctor came into the room with few other nurses.

 “So, they tell me this little girl is ready to make her appearance.” She advised as she got in position to deliver the baby. You nodded through gritted teeth as the contraction hit. You squeezed Jacob's hand, no doubt cutting off the circulation, but he never said a word. “Definitely ten centimeters.” The doctor proclaimed, peeking her head back up. “Are we ready mom and dad?”

 Jacob smiled at you and suddenly you felt a confidence that only moments ago you didn’t possess. “So, ready,” you answered.

 “Ok dad, if you want to get behind mom as we talked about.” Jacob slid in behind you as you scooted all the way to the edge of the bed. His arms hooking under you to support your body as you were in a squatting position. It was all quite different from the way movies portrayed giving birth, but the doctor had told you that gravity was your friend during this moment and you were all for what would make things go smoothly. Once you were both in position, the doctor took her place. “Ok, here comes another one. I want you to push this time (Y/N). Can you do that for me?”

 “Yes,” you somehow managed to mumble out through the ball of nerves that was going through your body. You bared down when the contraction hit, letting Jacob support most of you.

 “That’s good.” The doctor told you.

 “You’re doing great, prinsessa.” Jacob encouraged you, dropping a kiss to your temple as you rested for a minute.

 “Ok, this time I need you to push for a count of ten, ok?” You grunted your response, then pushed again as the doctor counted you through the contraction. “Great. I can see the head. Just relax a second and then this next one I’m going to need you to really push, (Y/N). Just one big one and then your little girl is going to be in your arms.” You could feel Jacob smiling against you, as you relaxed against him. “Ok, here we go.”

 “Push, prinsessa. You can do this.” It seemed as though Jacob no sooner said the words than you felt an intense amount of pressure and a mild burning sensation, but then it was over. In that split second you knew you’d delivered your daughter and you held your breath waiting to hear her cries. While it was probably mere seconds, it felt like a lifetime before you heard her lungs cry out. It was honestly the best music you’d ever heard in your life.

 The doctor wrapped her in the towel she used to basically catch your daughter in and then laid her up on your chest. “Here’s your baby girl. We’ll give you a minute with her, while we get ready to cut the cord. Dad, you still up for it.”

 Jacob had been gazing down at his beautiful daughter and had a hard time answering her, but finally managed to mumble out a yes. “She’s so beautiful, prinsessa.” She really was, even though she was still tinted a little blue. Your birthing classes had made you aware that this would happen, and that she would ‘pink up’ within a few minutes. “She really is our little blueberry,” Jacob added, his hand caressing her little back while you held her to your skin.

 “She’s perfect.” Tears streamed down your face, happy but also somewhat sad, that you’d not wanted this sooner in life. The happiness you were experiencing at that moment was so much more than any job could ever give.

 “Ok, Dad your up.” The doctor informed Jacob, who reached around to cut the umbilical cord. His hands were shaking with both excitement and nerves. It took all of two seconds to do and then your daughter was officially her own little person, no longer needing that connection to you. It was both sad and thrilling at the same time, for you truly did enjoy being pregnant with her, well up until these last couple of days. “We’re going to take her for a few minutes, get her cleaned up, and check her height and weight.”

 “Go with her, please.” You told Jacob, not wanting to leave your daughter alone, even if it was only across the room. His long legs made it easy to scoot out from behind you and trail behind the nurse that had your baby girl.

 “Ok, (Y/N), let’s see if we can get the placenta out while they're taking care of your cute little blueberry over there.” It took about fifteen minutes to push the afterbirth out. Which was too long in your opinion as you wanted to see your daughter again. As soon it is was over, you glanced over to where Jacob was holding your little girl. She looked so tiny in his large frame, but what you couldn’t get past was the look of awe and utter elation on Jacob’s face. It had been a long road to get to this moment, but all you needed to do was look at your husband and your daughter and know that it had been worth it.

 “We’ve got a healthy little girl, prinsessa. They said she weighs six pounds and two ounces.”

 “Though I think she may end up being tall like her dad here.” The doctor chimed in. “She just a little over twenty-two inches long.” You couldn’t see her legs as she was cuddled up in a blanket on Jacob’s chest. “Since you both seem to be doing well, we’ll let you three get in some bonding time. Feel free to ring for the nurse if you need anything.”

 You scooted over on the bed, as the last of your nurse left closing the door behind him. Jacob gently sat down on the spot you’d made then handed over your newborn daughter. “She’s so perfect, (Y/N).”

 You nuzzled your cheek next to hers and you had to admit that Jacob was right. She was absolutely the most perfect thing on this planet. “I can’t believe we did this,” you whispered gazing down at your little girl.

 “You did this, prinsessa.” Jacob’s arm slipped easily around you to hold you both.

 “I’m pretty sure I couldn’t have done any of it without you.” Your lips found his easily, the kiss sweet and tender, matching the moment. “I love you.”

 “I love you too and our little blueberry.” His large hand cradled her head as his thumb gently caressed her cheek. “Speaking of which, we need to give her a name.”

 “True, we can’t call her our little blueberry forever.”

 “Actually, I was thinking we could.” You turned your nose up at him, not wanting your daughter’s name to be Blueberry Markstrom. “Hear me out. I was looking at names the other day and found one, Morelia.” You turned the name over a few times in your head, seeing if you liked it or not. “It means little blueberry in Polish.”

 “Morelia,” you said out loud this time, testing it on your tongue. “Morelia Markstrom, I like it, but I have one small adjustment.” Jacob looked down at you in question. “I want her middle name to be Andrea after both you and your dad.”

 “(Y/N)…”  

 Tears started to well in Jacob’s eyes and you knew that yours had them as well. “Back when we didn’t know what we were having, and I thought she,” you looked down at the sleeping little girl laying on your chest. “I thought she might be a boy and I wanted to name him Anders after seeing you with your dad. Anders doesn’t quite sound right for a girl, but what do you think of Morelia Andrea Markstrom.”

 “Morelia Andrea,” Jacob breathed out, a note of awe in his voice. “It’s kind of a mouthful, but I love it.”

 You laughed at your husband for he was right. “She’s going to hate us.”

 “Probably at some point.” Jacob chuckled. “But then don’t all kids hate their parents.”

 “Well, Morelia Andrea Markstrom, welcome to the family.” You kissed the top of your baby girl’s head. “Now, take off your shirt,” you ordered Jacob.

 “Excuse me, you just had a baby. I know you were all about sex a few hours ago, but it’s off the table for a while.”

 You rolled your eyes at your husband. “Not for that. So that you and Morelia can have some skin-to-skin contact. The first few hours are crucial.”

 “Which is why you have her,” Jacob insisted.

 “I had her for the last nine months. I think you can have the first hour. Besides, I’m right here.” Jacob took his shirt off then while you unwrapped Morelia from her blanket. She whimpered when you passed her to her father, but then snuggled down on his bare chest. You took the blanket and covered her back up so that she wouldn’t catch a chill.

 “I know I’ve said it before, prinsessa but she’s perfect.” The arm that wasn’t cradling his little girl wrapped around you and he curled you next to both himself and the baby. “Thank you, (Y/N).” You wanted to question him further but he went on. “I know you’re going to tell me it took both of us, but thank you for bringing our little girl into the world.” He kissed her little head. “But most of all, thank you for being my wife and the love of my life.” The tears were flowing freely now and you turned your head so that your lips could connect with Jacob’s. The kiss was passionate and sweet at the same time, bespeaking the love you both shared.

 “I love you,” you whispered, too choked up for words.

 ****

 It was four weeks later that you were on a plane headed to Sweden. You were nervous that Morelia wouldn’t do well on the flight, but she seemed to have the same easy-going temperament as her father. She was the happiest and most content baby. She also happened to be spoiled rotten by both her father and her mother, and once she got to Sweden by her grandparents as well. It was rare that she wasn’t being held, even when she was sleeping. You only hoped that once you returned to Canada, and her father was back training, that she would still be just as easy to care for as she was now.

 Summer in Sweden was simply amazing. There were long hikes with Morelia strapped to you or Jacob, which she simply loved. Days where he would drag you both to the golf course with him, solely because he didn’t want to be away from either of you longer than necessary. Time was also spent out on the water, Jacob teaching you how to fish. Which honestly was futile for you enjoyed having your husband’s arms wrapped around you more than you did waiting for a fish to bite. However, the best time had to be those spent with his family. Jacob’s place wasn’t far from his parents and you spent as much time as possible with them. Soaking up every family moment that you could, as Ander’s health seemed to be failing.

 As your trip neared its end, Jacob finally broached a subject that had been weighing on his mind for months. “Prinsessa, can we talk?”

 You had just put the baby down for the night and were joining Jacob around the fire that he had going in the backyard. “Of course.”

 He had a serious look on his face, which concerned you somewhat, but that thought vanished as he pulled you down on his lap and kissed your lips. “Do you remember back a few months ago when I asked you to marry me again?” How could you forget? The memory was etched in your brain and not because the two of you had fought before the moment, but because he had given you a choice then. A choice you didn’t think you had, once you found out that you were married and then pregnant with his child.

 “Yes, I don’t think I’ll ever forget. It was some of the sweetest things you’ve ever said to me.”

 There was a glow on his cheeks and you couldn’t tell if it was from the firelight or a blush. “Oh, well, every word I said was true.” You knew this but you weren’t exactly sure why he was bringing this up now. “Especially the part where I want to marry you again.”

 “I want that too.”

 The two of you were grinning like fools at each other. “Good,” Jacob finally breathed out. “I was thinking we could do it when we go back.” That was literally only a few weeks away. “On our one-year anniversary. I want to do it with all our family and friends around; with you in a beautiful white dress and our daughter up there with us.”

 “Jacob, that’s literally just a couple weeks away. How are we supposed to pull something like that off?”

 “It doesn’t have to be fancy, prinsessa. I’m just afraid…” He trailed off and you knew what he feared without him voicing his concerns. That his father wouldn’t be there.

 You stopped him before he could say more. Hands on his face, looking directly into his eyes, you told me, “Of course, I’ll marry you then. We’ll figure it out. Are you sure you just don’t want to do it here? We could have a simple ceremony right here in the backyard.”

 “I’ve thought about that, but what about your family. I know we have time, not as much as I’d like but we can do this.” You nodded your agreement, then kissed his lips once again.

 “Of course, we can. I can pull my resources together and we do something in our backyard at home or there has to be a venue in Vancouver we can rent out. It doesn’t have to be elaborate.”

 “I was thinking about that as well.” It seemed as though he’d been doing a lot of thinking without you on the subject. “I want to go back to Vegas.” This took you a bit by surprise. It was honestly the last place you would’ve thought of. “Hear me out. We can do something at one of the fancier hotels, and you can wear a beautiful long white dress and I know you’re going to tell me that I can do that anywhere, but Vegas is where I first fell in love with you. It brought us together. It’s where Morelia was conceived. I just think it would be this full circle thing, only this time we’ll both be sober, and we’ll have more than just a couple of pictures to remember it by.”

 The excitement on his face told you that you had no other choice but to agree, though the picture he painted did seem perfect. “Alright! Let’s get remarried in Vegas.”

 “This is going to be perfect, prinsessa.”

 The week and a half you had left in Sweden was chaotic, to say the least, as you tried to book a venue and invite all your friends and family to your Vegas wedding. Thankfully, Lena and Anders helped with Morelia. They were soaking up every second they could with their granddaughter, making your life much easier. Finding a dress, however, was proving to be a challenge. You were still working on shedding the last few pounds of baby weight that you’d tacked on, and were unsure of what your dress size was. Plus, let’s face buying a wedding dress wasn’t really meant to be done online. You knew that it would need to be altered when you got, so you made sure you had a seamstress ready to go once you were back in Vancouver, and after scouring thousands of websites you finally found the perfect one. It had a detachable skirt which would allow you more freedom as the night of festivities went on. By the time you were back in Vancouver you pretty much had things under control. It surprised you how much time and effort Jacob had put into helping, wanting to make it perfect, not only for your friends and family but for the two of you as well.

 As the big day drew near, you flew out to Las Vegas to have a little fun but also make sure plans were running smoothly. It seemed everyone had that idea, as many of your friends and family came a few days early as well. It was all so reminiscent of a year ago, only this time you had your daughter in tow and there was a lot less drinking going on, at least by you and Jacob. Everyone else on the other hand, well, they were enjoying themselves immensely.

 The night before the ceremony everyone insisted that you and Jacob spend the night apart, though, for the life of you, you couldn’t see why. You’d been married for a year and if the trials of that year hadn’t broken you apart, you figured some lousy tradition wouldn’t as well. However, you both relented to your family’s wishes and stayed in separate suites; Morelia staying with Jacob’s parents for the next couple of nights.

 You were just getting into bed when you heard a knock at the door, so you padded across the floor and peered through the peephole, only to see what look like several dozen white roses staring back at you. To your shock, those same flowers were attached to your husband. “What are you doing here?”

 “Bringing you these,” he declared stepping inside and handing over the delicate blooms. He planted a kiss on your lips that made your head spin.

 “They’re beautiful but totally unnecessary.”

 “I beg to differ, as I’m using them as an excuse to sneak into your room for the night.” All you could do was laugh at him as he placed the do not disturb sign on the door handle then firmly shut the door.

 You set the flowers down on the table, as Jacob followed you inside the room. It was the one that you’d been sharing for the last several nights. He thought it would be easier for him to just move his one suitcase, instead of the three that you ended up packing. “You know you’re not supposed to see the bride before the wedding. It’s bad luck and all. Besides I’m pretty sure our families would throw a fit if they knew you were here.”

 “Pft. Seeing as we’re already married, I’m going to take my chances.” His hands were on the silk of the nightgown you’d chosen to wear to bed, sliding up and down your hips. “Is this new?” You nodded. “Mmm, hope you weren't planning on saving it until tomorrow?”

 “No, I have something else for our ‘wedding night.’”

 His brows knitted in question. “Then who was this for?”

 “You. I knew you’d be in my room tonight.” Jacob gave a bark of laughter as your hands slid up and around his neck. “Or I’d be in yours.” You went up on your toes to kiss him. It was heated and filled with passion, just like it was every time your lips touched his.

 “So how long was I going to have to wait until you headed to my room?” Jacob asked as he maneuvered you both towards the bed.

 “Not long, though I knew you’d give in first.”

 “Oh? So sure of yourself, wife.” His hands were skating over your ass now, raising the nightdress with each caress.

 “You’re here aren’t you?”

 “True and I don’t plan on leaving until the morning.”

 You bunched the fabric of his shirt up until Jacob released you to rip it off. “Hopefully, before our parents know.”

 “Mmm,” he hummed as his lips ghosted down your neck. He slid the thin straps easily off of both shoulders. “This is gorgeous, but I think I like what’s underneath better.” The gown fell effortlessly to the floor and you stood there naked in front of your husband. “Mmm, yes this is so much better.” He kicked the garment away, then turned his full attention to you.

 “You know that cost a lot of money.”

 He simply shrugged. “I’ll buy you hundreds more, though I’d prefer if you just went like this all day long.”

 “Oh, I’m sure that will go over well the next charity event.”

 “You talk too much, prinsessa.” Just when you went to chided him, he continued. “Don’t get me wrong I love that, but just not right now.”

 You slid your hands up his long torso. “Then maybe you should make me…” anything else you would’ve said was lost as his lips pressed hard and demanding against yours. He eased you down onto the mattress, never breaking the kiss, which was making you dizzy with want.  His body loomed on top of yours, a delicious feeling that you would crave until the end of time. Jacob’s hands wandered all over you. His long fingers tweaking your breasts and nipples before stealing down to find you dripping with need.

 Jacob felt as if you were made for him and he would never get over the awe that struck him each time he touched your body. You were his prinsessa, more like a goddess that was made specifically for him and he worshipped every part of you. He slid his fingers between your folds, to find your wet and it took his breath away. He toyed with you for a few minutes, savoring the feel of your body squirming under his ministrations.

 “Jacob,” you panted out with desire. He knew what you wanted and he craved it as well. He wanted to see your shatter, to see your fall apart within his arms. Knew you were close by the way your body trembled and the way your hips bucked into his hand. You were so close. With just the press of his thumb against your clit, you were there, a loud moaning falling from your lips as your mouth tore away from his. He watched that blissful state wash over you. Treasured the look in your eyes and the smile that graced your face as you came down from the high that he had brought you. He would never tire of it, not today, not tomorrow, and not in a million years.

 You didn’t even register the fact that Jacob had discarded the rest of his clothing until you felt him widening your legs to accommodate him. Once you did, you moved into a position that you knew would bring you both pleasure. His piercing blue eyes never left yours, as he took himself in hand and started to enter you. You may have not remembered much from that first time together, but you knew that feeling of him inside was one you’d never tire of. Only when he was buried deep inside your body, did his lips come back down on yours. From there the two of you moved together, setting a pace that would bring you both pleasure. It wasn’t hurried, for there was no rush. You knew that the two of you would be together forever, and it had nothing to do with the vows that would be exchanged tomorrow or those said a year ago. You weren’t sure how long you made love like that. It could’ve been hours or it could’ve been minutes. All you knew was that when you both finally did cum, it was like your souls were being joined together. Almost as if it were more sacred than the words you would speak tomorrow.

 Jacob snuck out of your suite in the early morning as the sun just began to rise. Most of the day was spent getting ready for the ceremony that would take place later on in the day in gardens at the Bellagio. Hair and makeup people came to your suite to get you ready, but you insisted that you be the one to get Morelia in her little dress. She looked like a little princess and you had a feeling you’d be relinquishing that title of prinsessa to your daughter, which was perfectly fine. There were so many pictures snapped of the two of you getting ready, that you felt bad Jacob wasn’t in any of them. Lena must have read your mind. “Would you like me to take her to Jacob for a few?”

 “Would you? I can't bear it that he’s not seeing her right now.”

 She took the little bundle from your arms, then kissed you on the cheek. “You look beautiful, my dear. I’ll see you downstairs. Now let’s go see daddy.” She said to Morelia as the two of them left. It only took you a few minutes to slip into your dress, but then there were more pictures taken. Your first wedding all you had were barely five photos to really remember the occasion, today there would be well over five hundred it seemed.

 As the last one was snapped before the photographer headed down to the gardens, butterflies started to flutter in your stomach. Which was really silly considering that you were already married. But you weren’t really nervous about marrying Jacob, you’d do that a hundred times over. It was simply that last time it had been a folly really. A joke between two drunk people that turned out to be the greatest thing of your life. Today you’d make that commitment again, solidifying your relationship in front of all of those you loved. It was something you never thought you wanted to do or get to do, yet here you were.

 “It’s time, (Y/N),” Kennedy said handing over your bridal bouquet. “I can’t believe we’re both married women.”

 “Me either, Kenny.” You swiped at an errant tear that threatened to ruin your makeup. When Kennedy started to head to the door you stopped her. “Kenny,” she turned back to look at you. “I’m sorry for being the biggest jerk about you getting married a year ago. I can’t take it back nor would I want to because then we wouldn’t be here today. I just want you to know that if I would’ve known then what I know now, I would’ve supported you and Ryan in any way that I could. So while I’m so sorry for being an ass, one year ago. I’m so very glad that things ended up the way they did.”

 It was Kennedy’s turn to wipe the tears from her eyes. “I am too, (Y/N). I wouldn’t change a damn thing.” She enveloped you in the biggest hug, both of you shedding a few more tears. “I love you, but let’s get you remarried.”

 “I love you too.”

 There were a few stares from hotels guests as you made your way down to the gardens. You even heard one little girl ask her mother if you were a real princess. You certainly felt like one and in Jacob’s eyes, you always would be. You took his breath away as you made your way down the staircase, then finally through the garden path that led you directly to him.

 “You look breathtakingly beautiful, Mrs. Markstrom.” He whispered as he grabbed your free hand and brought it to his lips.

 “You look quite dashing yourself, Mr. Markstrom.” You couldn’t stop gazing into his eyes, it was like only the two of you existed at that moment in time. That was until you heard the gurgle of your daughter. You looked over at her to see her smile as her Farfar held her just a short distance away. Both you and Jacob smiled as Anders turned Morelia so that she could see you both. “I feel like I’m dreaming,” you admitted to him as the moment just seemed magical.

 “Definitely a dream come true, prinsessa.”

 The officiant coughed discreetly, then whispered, “If you two are ready?”

 You both turned back to him then. “Sorry,” you said in unison.

 “Not a problem.” He told you with a smile plastered on his face. “Welcome everyone,” he started. “There is nothing more romantic than to stand in front of your family and friends and declare the love you have for each other, and today we get the privilege of witnessing (Y/N) and Jacob do just that.” The officiant went on, most of it was a blur until it was time for you to say your vows. They were something that you were never going to forget.

 “Jacob,” you started as he now took both your hands in his and gave them a little squeeze. “It’s hard to believe it’s only been a year since I first met you and repeated some mundane words that would make us man and wife. Today is so much more than that. Today I pledge my love for the man that I met that day. The same man that has stood by my side this entire year, through all the good times,” as you said the words you both looked over at your daughter. “And through the bad, and promise to remain by your side through all the rest, until the end of time. I didn’t believe in love or marriage before I met you, but now I can’t see how I could spend another day without you in it. You are my life, my love, and my soul. I promise not only to love you but cherish each and every moment that we have on this earth together.”

 Jacob teared up a bit during your words, just as you had to push past yours to say them, though you had a feeling you wouldn’t be able to keep them at bay when Jacob spoke his vows to you. He cleared his throat, then began. “(Y/N),” again there was that squeeze to your hands. “Who would’ve thought that a year ago a few drinks by the pool would lead to one of the best decisions of my life? I can’t say what was going through my head at that moment, but I do know marrying you that day was the greatest day of my life.” He looked over at Morelia and you followed his gaze. “Well until a few months ago. You’ve given me things that I didn’t even know I wanted; a baby, a family of my own, and most of all love. You’ve made me happier this past year than I’ve ever been my whole life. I mean that prinsessa. I’m the luckiest man in the world because you are by my side and I promise to never take that for granted. Today, I promise to love you more than I have these past three hundred and sixty-five days, for you are my future, my life, and my love, and I want nothing more than to show you this for the rest of our lives. I love you, prinsessa.”

 You gazed at your husband through glistening tears as they streamed down your face. Never in your life had you felt so treasured by one human being than right now. The only logical thing to do was to go up on your toes and kiss him. It wasn’t long, but you tried to pour all the love you had for him into it. “You two are a little early on that,” the officiant teased while the crowd of onlookers just chuckled.

 “Sorry,” you both muttered once you separated.

 “Now that you have both declared your intent, let’s make this official.” He continued on with the ceremony. “(Y/N) will you continue to have Jacob as your husband and continue to live in marriage? Do you reaffirm your love for him, cherish and honor him, care for him in both sickness and health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, and forsaking all others' promise to be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?”

 It was honestly the easiest answer of your life. “I do.”

 “Jacob, will you continue to have (Y/N) as your wife and continue to live in marriage? Do you reaffirm your love for her, cherish and honor her, care for her in both sickness and health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, and forsaking all others' promise to be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?”

 “I do,” Jacob said loud and clear with a huge grin on his face.

 “Then by the power vested in me by the great state of Nevada, I pronounce you both once again husband and wife.” The two of you waited with bated breath for him to say that you could finally kiss, even though you already had. “Well go ahead and kiss your wife again,” the officiant chuckled. Jacob’s lips locked with yours as cheers from your family and friends erupted. The loud noise startled Morelia, who started to cry. Anders quickly handed her off to you, and both you and Jacob lulled your daughter back to sleep. From there it was tons more pictures and a night of celebration.

 This wedding was everything your first wasn’t. You got to have your first dance, and cut the cake, as well as feed it to each other. In the end, you knew that for as long as you lived, you would never forget your second wedding day.

 It was seven weeks later that you got another reminder as to why you wouldn’t forget it. “I’m late,” you told Jacob as soon as he walked through the door from a short road trip.

 “Did I forget you had an appointment? Traffic was a bit bad, but I didn’t think I was too late getting back here from the airport.”

 “Not that kind of late. I’m late, late.” Jacob’s eyes widened as realization dawned on him. Your periods had been off a bit but that was normal after having a baby, and while you planned on having an IUD put in after Morelia, you’d completely forgot about it once you got back from Sweden. It wasn’t that big of a deal as Jacob had been using condoms most every time, except that once.

 “How…or when?” he asked still a bit stunned by the news.

 “I’m pretty sure it was the night before our wedding or the night of? I just realized it when I went to make an appointment to have the IUD put in.”

 “Have you taken a test?”

 “No, I thought I’d wait for you.” You weren’t sure how he was going to react as another baby wasn’t quite in the plans that you two had worked out. You’d both agreed that you wanted to enjoy Morelia and take in all her firsts before having another. Once she was two, you’d planned to give it another go, but apparently, someone higher up had other plans for you. “I have an appointment in an hour at the doctor’s office. Figured there was no point in peeing on a stick as I need to go there one way or another. If it’s negative, they’ll put the IUD in, and well if not…”

 “And what if it’s not, prinsessa?”

 You shrugged. You’d already made the decision that you weren’t going back to work. It had been a long talk with Jacob as he knew you had dreams for your career, but your dreams had changed. You no longer saw yourself wining and dining big names clients all to get them to fall in love with an ad campaign. The only thing you wanted to love was your husband and your baby, well children maybe. “Two under two is going to be a challenge,” you finally told him. “But I think we’re up for it. That is I am if you are?”

 “Of course,” he said sweeping you up in his embrace. “I want to have dozens of babies with you.” You gave him that look. “Ok, not dozens…maybe half?” All you could do was shake your head at this man. You loved him so much how could you not want to give him more children.

 “Well, we should probably get ready to head to the doctor’s office.”

 Forty-five minutes later you were sitting on the exam table waiting for the results of your blood and urine tests, as Jacob held your five-month-old. When the door opened, he jumped up to be at your side. “Mr. and Mrs. Markstrom we have your results.” The doctor announced. “Looks like you’ll be welcoming another little bundle in nine months.” Jacob smiled and you did as well before kissing him. “I was thinking we could do a quick ultrasound to get a date for your new arrival.”

 By your calculations, the new baby would be arriving close if not on Morelia’s birthday. “It should be close to June nineteenth,” you told the doctor.

 “So, you two were planning this?” she asked.

 “No,” you both said in unison causing her to laugh.

 “I think there’s something in the water in Las Vegas,” Jacob joked, but in all seriousness, there seemed to be something about that place for you two.

 The doctor started the internal sonogram, something you didn’t have to prepare Jacob for this time, as he was used to your appointments after Morelia. It took her a few moments and then you saw a little blob on the screen. “There we go, right there’s your little one.”

 “We have another blueberry again,” Jacob announced before leaning down to kiss you, Morelia trying to grab at your necklace at the same time. “Easy little one. See that,” he told her. “That’s your little brother or sister in there.”

 “Oh,” the doctor exclaimed and both of you turned to her. You’d only known for a solid three minutes that you having a baby and already you loved him or her just as much as Morelia. If something was wrong you didn’t know what you were going to do. “Hold on one second.” Jacob grabbed your hand instinctively with his free one. Both of you silently saying a prayer as you waited for the doctor. “Yes, yes it is.” The doctor explained more to herself than to either of you. “It looks like this one here, " she said looking at Morelia. "Is getting a two for deal.” Not quite understanding her meaning you gave her a curious look. “Oh sorry, I should’ve said that better, but you’re having twins.”

 “Oh my god!” Jacob exclaimed, eyes round as silver dollars. It was the same look that you had. He looked down at you, almost expecting you to run. “We can do this.” He reassured you but you didn't need him to, for you already knew that together you could tackle anything.

 “Oh I know,” you told him, for you were truly happy about both the babies. You couldn't wait to be Marskstrom party of five. “But we are never going to Vegas again.” You both erupted into laughter before finally letting your lips connect once again. It seemed as though some things were never meant to stay in Vegas and that was just fine with you. 

.

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[larrydoinglaundry]

Rec list of my favorite mpreg fics, featuring pregnant Harry <3 Please read tags of every work before you read, some of these contain kinks that are not for everyone. Not in any particular order.

I get to love you by lovelarry10 (83K, E)

A one night stand leaves Harry with a permanent reminder of the night he spent with a stranger.

Louis has no idea who the handsome stranger he took to bed is... until his friends make a shocking discovery.

The sunshine stays by QuickedWeen (15K, E)

It's three years after One Direction got back together, and Harry and Louis have just come off a world tour. They're enjoying a much more relaxed schedule the second time around, allowing themselves to bask in married life. Until, one day, Louis surprises Harry on vacation, and there are some surprising consequences.

Yes, you make my life worthwhile, Orphan account (9K, M) 🔒

Louis' a pediatrician, Harry's a preschooler teacher, and they're having a baby.

Goodness gracious (I can't seem to stop) by ANNECY (9K, Not rated but I'd rate it T)

“What – Oh.” Louis' cold hand touch the warm skin of Harry's stomach and his eyes flew open. He stared at his hand, his fingers splayed out over the skin of the small bump forming. His hands looked tiny in comparison with the pale skin and Harry's massive body. He felt nothing but warmth, knowing the baby was still too small to move, but Louis' heart almost leapt out of his throat, then Harry's hand covered his and slipped his fingers between Louis'.

Glitter in the sky, glitter in our eyes by softfonds (59K, E, A/B/O)

What happens when a Duke who will only marry for love and a courtesan who only sells it create a public ruse? Well, nothing boring for sure. An Edwardian AU.

Note: Pregnancy is really not the "main thing" in this story, but it's there and I want to rec this fic. I wasn't able to reblog the fic post when it came so I think the author has me blocked but I hope they won't mind.

The Nearness of You by theweightofmywords (2K, M)

Harry and Louis' baby is due any moment. Harry just wants pretty toenails, and Louis just wants to help.

Resolutions and lovers in the kitchen, Orphan_account (10K, E, A/B/O)

Harry teaches little kids and louis writes sports articles. they're trying for a baby.

Note: This one is more focused on making the baby but isn't that one of the vital steps in having a baby?

I hope you dance by wickedarcher_08 (83K,E)

Louis and Harry have been struggling with infertility for over a year. After many failed attempts, they decide to seek a specialist, but they end up with more than they ever dreamed.

Fine Lines by lsforever (11K, E)

Harry gets the surprise of a lifetime and decides it’ll be the perfect Christmas present.

I'll make this feel like home by zouisclimax (49K, E)

the one where Louis' hopelessly in love with his best mate... who just happens to be pregnant with another man's baby.

This Chemistry like Candy to me by CuckooTrooke (35K, E)

Harry is 8 months pregnant with a poor balance and traitorous nipples. Unfortunately for him, that is precisely when he meets a beautiful alpha in a packed London Tube. Fortunately for him, the said alpha might just be the best thing he has ever come across.

Note: This one is mine and yes I am shamelessly promoting it.

Needing you more and more, let's give love a try by supernope (33K, E)

When Harry gets pregnant after a one night stand, Louis helps him get everything together, from buying pregnancy clothes to taking him on a babymoon. Somewhere along the way, they realize that their feelings for each other are more than platonic.

Sun still rises by Chelsea Frew (53K,E)

Harry and Louis are expecting their first baby with great excitement when things go wrong, and they lose their baby. With the help of family, friends, and time, they work to fight their way through their grief to try to find happiness once again.

Note: Please be aware their first baby is a stillborn. There is LOTS of angst but they will get their eventual happy ending and peace with what happened.

#fic recs #mpreg