#FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE SERIES ENDED HOW ARE WE FEELIN'

[thruheavenandhighwater]

Pairing: Single Dad! Eddie Munson/ Steve Harrington

Requested By: NA

Word Count: 1,584

Series Summary: Eddie left Hawkins in 1986 with no reason to ever return. But now, a few years have passed and life has changed. Eddie finally returns home and has to deal with everything he left behind, including Steve Harrington. This story starts in May 1991.

Chapter Summary: Eddie's new car needs a lot of work. He finds a mechanic that is willing to fix it up for him.

Stranger Things Masterlist

Steddie Masterlist

Series Masterlist

~~~~~

On Sunday morning Steve showed up at the truck stop for lunch. He timed it just right today, walking through the door only moments after Eddie punched his timecard for the end of his shift. 

"So," Steve started as he took his usual seat at the bar. "How we feelin' about that car?" 

Eddie filled two coffee mugs, sliding them both to Steve before making his way around the counter. He sat next to Steve, wrapping his fingers around his mug. "Will he do $300?" Steve nodded before taking a drink from his own cup. "Then I'm interested." Steve smiled as the two made plans for him to pick Eddie up in a few hours.

The man selling the car was much older than Eddie. He acted a lot like Wayne. No nonsense, all business. He didn't want to make small talk with the boys when they showed up at his house. He counted the twenties Eddie handed him, then handed over the keys and title. 

"Needs new tires," was more or less the only words he said. Steve assured both the man and Eddie that he would make sure that was all taken care of. 

The next morning was Eddie's day off. He had been looking forward to spending time with Lucy and Wayne. He thought maybe they'd go to the park, or just a stroll around town and enjoy the nice weather. But instead today seemed as though it would be full of phone calls. Trying to find the cheapest insurance, the cheapest mechanic, the cheapest place to get new tires since he could put those on himself. 

"There's a kid at Joe's that does good work," Wayne told him after his third phone call of the morning. "Pretty boy, but he's good with cars." 

Eddie knew Joe and his shop well. He'd spent many a day and many a dollar there before he left Hawkins, when he still had the Chevy. He nodded, figuring Joe might be his best bet. Maybe, if he were lucky, he'd let Eddie pay off the repairs over time. 

When Eddie pulled his new-to-him car into the parking lot at Joe's, the dashboard clock had just ticked past 1:15. He'd ended up spending the morning with his family after all and Lucy was now safe with a neighbor. She was a few years older than Eddie and had two kids of her own. She assured him watching her while he ran to the mechanic would be no big deal. 

He put the car into park beside an old Ford pickup that had no hood or tires. A parts car. He looked out over the parking lot and spotted someone with their head firmly planted under the hood of a new looking Cadillac. 

He couldn't see who it was, but they were working hard. The sleeves of their white t-shirt rolled up, exposing toned, muscular shoulders. Sweat and grease gleaming under the early summer sun as he hunched over his work. Eddie couldn't help but to notice that his t-shirt was riding up in the back, exposing a strip of tanned skin just above his jeans. 

Eddie's mind was a million different places as he sat in his car. Would he be able to afford to fix this piece of shit? Is Lucy okay with the neighbor girl? Who was this "pretty boy" his uncle told him about? Was he the one up to his elbows under the hood of the Cadillac across the lot? Would he have to pay his neighbor for watching Lucy if it was less than an hour? Who the fuck is under that hood? 

Just as Eddie was reaching to open the car door, the mystery man turned to face him. Just like that first morning in the truck stop, Eddie was stunned to stillness. Steve Harrington. In all his glory. 

He smiled a soft, uneven sort of smile as he walked towards Eddie. He wiped grease from his hands on an old shop towel that he shoved into his back pocket as he got closer to the car. Eddie was finally able to swing the creaky door open, standing to greet Steve when he reached him. 

"Told ya I knew a guy," Steve laughed. 

"Conveniently forgot to mention that I also knew the guy," Eddie giggled. He was almost nervous, he realized. He shoved his hands deep into the front pockets of his jeans, feeling his cheeks go warm as the sight in front of him. 

Steve Harrington wearing jeans that didn't fit quite right. Covered head to toe in grease and oil. Eddie noticed again how toned his arms were. A few years of fixing cars must have turned him from the soft boy Eddie had known to a hardened, almost chiseled young man. Eddie felt his mouth go dry as he took in Steve's figure. 

"So, uh," Eddie caughed, the silence between them just a few moments past awkward. "How much you think it'll be?" He asked, kicking at the tire with the toe of his shoe. 

"Pop the hood?" Steve asked, but he was already taking steps towards the front of the vehicle. 

Eddie did as he was told. He reached into the driver's side door and pulled up on the small latch near the steering wheel. The hood popped and Steve lifted it over his head, resting it on the strut beneath it. Eddie was entranced by the way Steve's arms moved. He mentally slapped himself for looking at Steve like that when he was trying to help him. Sure, it had been a while since Eddie had gotten any action. But this was Steve. 

He came to stand beside Steve, crossing his arms as he looked over his shoulder. "Good news is the engine is actually in pretty good shape," Steve announced, looking up over his shoulder to Eddie. "Made sure of that before I even told you about it. But everything else seems to be at various levels of fucked." 

Eddie smiled down to him, "Gve me a list." 

"In order of importance; brakes, pads, alternator, and tires first. Have you been having trouble starting it?" 

"I've only driven it twice," Eddie giggled. 

"Right," Steve smiled. "Just asking because John said it would need a new alternator when we talked about it. That's why he dropped the price. But that's a fairly easy fix. Shouldn't take more than a few hours." 

"A few hours and how much money?" Eddie finally asked. 

Steve stood up straight, crossing his own arms to match Eddie's stance. He leaned back against the car, resting his butt against it, his head stopping just in front of the open hood. "I could do it for free," he offered with a shrug. 

"No," Eddie answered. "Not happening. How much?" 

"Look, Eddie, I'm not saying I'll give you a whole new car or anything. But we have plenty of less shitty parts lying around to get you by." 

"Okay fine, but you're not doing it for free." 

"I'm offering," Steve argued. "Just let someone be nice to you for once." 

"I don't need charity, Steve." 

"It's not charity. It's one friend who is able to help another friend. That's kinda what friends are for," he smiled. "Plus, I know you're trying to get on your feet. And I'm no expert, but I hear babies can be quite the money suck." 

Eddie sighed, his gaze falling to his feet. "So, you know about Lucy, huh?" 

"Didn't know her name was Lucy," Steve answered. His lips formed a smile around her name and Eddie felt a pang in his chest. He'd always liked Lucy's name, that's why he picked it from Billie's otherwise awful list of names. But hearing Steve say it with a lilt of affection made him like it that much more. "But even I could put two and two together when you were buying diapers at Melvalds the other day." 

"You don't have to do all this for free," Eddie argued again, a bit less urgently. "Don't think Joe would appreciate you being on the clock and not making money, anyway."

"Bring it by after 6 and he won't even know," Steve shrugged again. "I'll work on it for a few hours a night and you can pay with the pleasure of your company." 

"You'd really do that?" 

"I really would." 

Eddie wanted to hug Steve. He didn't, of course. Steve was covered in gunk and they'd never hugged before. But he wanted to. He accepted the offer,  begrudgingly agreeing to be back the following evening at 6 pm. 

When Eddie knocked on his neighbors door fifteen minutes later he couldn't stop smiling. She'd brushed off his offer to pay at first. When he explained that he'd need someone to keep an eye on her for a few hours a night while he got his car fixed, she was sweet and understanding. She finally agreed to let him pay her $10 a week for a few hours of sitting with her in the evenings. She laughed, arguing that he didn't need to pay her to watch his daughter sleep. But he insisted. 

Once the pair got home and he settled into the couch, he let himself think. He looked to Lucy, playing with toys on the floor. He glanced around him at the living room he'd grown up in. He realized in that moment that maybe moving back to Hawkins wasn't a punishment. Maybe he should have been here all along.

~~~~~

previous part // next part

~~~~~

#steddie fanfiction #steddie fan fic #steddie fanfic #steddie angst #steddie fluff #steddie imagine #steve harrington/eddie munson #steve harrington x eddie munson #eddie munson/steve harrington #eddie munson x steve harrington #steve/eddie #steve x eddie #eddie/steve #eddie x steve #single dad eddie munson #girl dad eddie munson

[just-like-playing-tag]

Grace Field Children - Chapter 181: Beyond Destiny

#FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE SERIES ENDED HOW ARE WE FEELIN' #tpn thoma #tpn lani #tpn gilda #tpn phil #tpn don #tpn gf children #tpn #the promised neverland #tpn manga spoilers #tpn ch 181 #tpn edit #my edit #mine #It's all the GF escapees... Except for Nat????? #Why???? That's depressing

[thepilotanon]

gardenia iv

gender reveal/baby shower

I know this has been a long wait, so here it is! I’m excited for you to read this chapter. I hope you will let me know what you think of this chapter and what you hope to see - since this is more of a drabble series, I’m always open for ideas and interacting with readers of the different possibilities to share with Clyde and playing Belle! Please enjoy!!

warning: none!

“Marlene,” Clyde mumbled softly, only to hear his wife’s soft sigh. “That’s alright, I wasn’t feelin’ that name either. Reminds me of that Marley an’ Me movie, n’ I won’t cry with my possible daughter’s name. Was also a name of an old lady who chase me n’ Mellie off her yard as kids.”

“Then, Marley is also out of the question,” a tired, yet amused voice responded, making him chuckle a bit. His right hand busy with their gentle caress against the rounding belly, having pushed the shirt up to below her breasts to feel the soft skin with his bare hand. “What about Eric…”

“Mmm, had a bully in third grade named Eric,” Clyde huffed, and Belle nuzzled closer to him in their bed. “Erica could be alright…”

“Not Eric, then. Erica, maybe,” Belle mumbled with a small smile before yawning. She was tired, Clyde could tell easily with how her pretty eyes were closed and how she clung herself as close as possible to him, but there was a factor in the way of her sleeping soundly. Her belly has been making it difficult for her to find a comfortable position to sleep, even though she isn’t showing to the point she can’t turn properly while laying down. Clyde is always more than awake to tend to her and try and help her get the proper amount of sleep needed for a pregnant woman - especially with the baby shower coming up in the afternoon of that day.

Clyde had found talking to his wife and gently massaging her back and belly helped a lot, as well as just talking to her with his voice low and soft. Something about his accent and the way he hums makes her feel fuzzy on the inside and more relaxed, as she claimed, and Clyde was more than willing to try and practice his conversation skills with his sleepy wife. With her head carefully tucked to his shoulder on the pillow, Belle shivered at the uncomfortable feeling of her large belly and her sore back and pressed her forehead closer to him. Her husband was gentle to comb her hair back and kiss the top of her head, his brows knitting together with genuine concern.

“You alright, baby?” he asked softly, his hand drifting up and down her back before brushing his fingers against her pregnant stomach.

Belle nodded and Clyde cooed gently and peppered little kisses along her hairline and forehead with a feather-like touch. “Poor sweetheart, ya think the baby is jus’ excited for the party?” he teased affectionately, drumming his fingers lightly over the bump and made her smile sleepily.

“I keep thinking it is actually kicking, but it’s gas or just my belly making weird noises,” Belle confessed, somewhat embarrassed and amused by herself just by thinking about it. “I can’t tell you how many times I tense up thinking it’s going to be the little bean kicking, and nothing happens - I think that’s the source of my sore muscles, being all tense and expectant. I’m just being whiney about it…”

“What’s a baby kick suppose to feel like?” Clyde asked, curious of this little secret, but also wondering about the little angel resting against his own stomach inside his wife’s womb. Either of them have yet to feel the baby kick; Clyde has been reading up and researching, constantly asking Belle if there has been any update, yet Belle can only smile sadly and shake her head. They were remaining patient, however, letting the unborn baby take its time. “It ain’t suppose to hurt, right? I don’t want you to be in pain or uncomfortable…”

“I don’t think a little baby can kick hard enough to hurt me. I’m pretty sturdy as they come, believe it or not,” Belle snickered before lifting her chin, asking him for a kiss which he gave her and nudge their noses together. “I’ve asked Bobbie Jo and Mrs. Potter. Bobbie Jo said that it’s like when your muscle spasms for no reason. But, Mrs. Potter said it can feel like someone flicking the inside of your tummy, so I’m not sure.”

“Can’t be that surprising once you tell the difference, right?” Humming, Clyde lifted the blanket up their bodies to keep her warm and cozy, seeing how more sluggish and sleepy his wife was becoming. Looking to the clock hiding behind her, above the shelves of the headboard, Clyde could see it was after the time Belle would usually strain on staying up with him. He knew she was very tired, and only wished he could do something more to help her sleep easier.

“Pretty sure I can… Still, I don’t think they’re ready to be kicking,” she answered softly. “I don’t know. Doctor said it’s very normal…”

“Doctor said you were doing perfect. Very wonderful momma to-be,” he whispered against her hair, his hand continuing their gentle caresses and massages to the small of her back and stomach. “Both you n’ the lil bean havin’ strong heartbeats, both healthy, jus’ what she told us.”

“Mmhmm...” Belle sighed sleepily, her cheek resting against the pillow and on him, her hands curled between them as she started to finally fall asleep.

“I see ya gettin’ sleepy now, aren’t ya?” Clyde smirked gently, seeing her take deep breaths and unable to keep her eyes open. “Can see ya startin’ to fall asleep, honey. Jus’ relax an’ I’ll take care of you and the lil baby, okay? I’ll keep ‘em settled down so you can sleep…”

Seeing her grin so sleepily, Clyde knew she was about ready to fall into a deep slumber, allowing her to nuzzle into his neck and carefully cling to his sleeping shirt. Clyde felt his heart throb in his chest at feeling her warm cheek against him, the warmth of her belly underneath the blanket and against his palm making feel tingly by the physical contact. He felt his wife’s small hand curl around his neck and tangle in his hair - her fingertips sloppily attempting her massage before going limp. “Love you so much, and so does the little baby…”

Clyde couldn’t stop his grin as he kissed his wife’s head and listened to her breathing change to a deep sleep. Waiting a while to make sure his wife was out after a few minutes, he gave her forehead a gentle kiss before closing his eyes and rest his head on the pillow with her.

XXX.

“I decided.”

Belle turned around to look at her husband while he busied himself with the hook of the hangar in his mouth to take off his button-up shirt of choice. Seeing she was dressed in a lavender sundress and a violet cardigan pressed to the bedside, Clyde opted to wear his light grey button-up with his white undershirt and brand new jeans to look more clean and somewhat matching with her. It was a fun celebration, after all, and Clyde wanted to look almost as good as he did on his wedding day (minus his many panic attacks and his wild imagination of the many what-ifs). Anything for his lady and baby on the way.

Smiling at him while he shrugged his shirt on, approaching to help with the buttons before he could tuck in the shirt, Belle got on her toes to kiss his chest, next to the wedding band resting against his sternum in a necklace. “What did you decide about, big bear?” she asked, feeling him give her a kiss on the top of her head.

“On namin’ the baby.” Catching her attention, Clyde gave her a small smile and brushing his thumb along her cheek. “If it ends up bein’ a lil boy, I can name him one of the few names we liked n’ listed together. If it ends up bein’ a lil girl, you can name her one of the names we picked out for a girl. Feel like it’s only fair since I can’t think of any good girl names and you like some of the boy names I thought of… And I really like the girl names you told me the other day.”

“The ones we put on the fridge?” Belle blinked. The two had a little notepad with little scribbles of possible names and highlighted different colors, depending on the gender or neutral, whenever they had free time on Sundays and Monday nights together. 

“Yeah, but we’ll still need to agree to it, don’t we, Darlin’? ‘Course, we gotta agree, when the time comes.” Clyde snickered when she raised a brow at him. Once she finished buttoning his shirt, he tilt her chin up and gave her a sweet kiss that made her grin against his lips.

“Yeah, I would hope so,” Belle snickered while he pulled away and busied himself to tuck his shirt into his jean while getting his belt for him off the bed. “I don’t think it would end well with either of us picking a name, and then changing our minds on how we feel about it for the other.”

Taking his belt when his wife offered it to him, Clyde mumbled a thanks before putting the leather strap through the loops with his only hand. “Just as long as we don’t name the boy Junior.”

“Or after an obvious flower,” Belle agreed with a smile, her hands resting on her belly and rubbing carefully over her dress. “As much as I love my job and having my name after one of the most romantic flowers known to man, I think our little angel is too special for that.”

“Could jus’ name ‘em Angel, too,” Clyde suggested.

Belle’s nose wrinkled a bit as she tried to hold back her laugh. “Would it be weird if I thought Angel would be a cute name for either a girl, or boy? It’s unique, but still special - because it will be our little angel. I’m sure there’s variations for it.”

“Well, ain’t Fish’s name actually Fish? Is Fish a cute name?”

“I’m not even related to - you know that their mom isn’t all that…”

Belle sighed and let him pull her into a hug, his facial hair tickling her neck with his little butterfly kisses to her skin. His arms wrapped around her and his hand sliding down to teasingly squeeze her bottom, making her jump. “We’ll figure somethin’ out,” he assured her affectionately, feeling her pulse quicken when he scraped his teeth under her jaw. “Party first, right? You’re gonna be the center of attention with how lovely ya look, Darlin’.”

“Me and my big belly bumping into everything while I stuff my face with food,” Belle taunted. She squealed when her husband blew a raspberry against her neck, tickling her enough to get her laughing.

“Ain’t no matter, yer still the center of my attention,” he shrugged joyfully before kneeling down to give her stomach gentle kisses. “And so will this lil peanut. Hope ya get yer mommy’s tickle spots, ‘cause I’m gonna be ticklin’ and kissin’ ya until you tire yourself out from laughin’. Yer mommy’s the same way, knocks right out when you get her laughin’ for a good five minutes.”

“Shh, don’t listen to Daddy,” Belle grinned while combing back his hair, feeling him nuzzle against her with so much affection. “Your daddy is just trying to tease me to get me flustered enough for him to distract me from going to the baby shower.”

“Is it working?” Clyde asked sweetly, looking up to give her his loving eyes that he knew she couldn’t resist.

“Only a little bit… Just a pinch.”

“Mmhmm? Uh-huh?” Clyde held back his laughter while his wife playfully shoved his face away from her belly. “C’mon, sweetheart, you can’t resist me that easy.”

“Oh, like you can take one look at me when I doll myself up for you and turn the other cheek?” Belle snickered while he stood up on his feet. “Even when I wake up with knotted hair, drool on my chin and unable to form proper sentences, you still say I’m the prettiest lady you have ever seen.”

“That’s just ‘cause you are, Darlin’,” Clyde grinned, taking her cheek in his hand while his metal prosthetic wrapped across her back. He peppered gentle, loving kissing along her cheek before stealing a quick smooch from her smiling lips. “You could be covered in dirt n’ oil and still be the most beautiful girl in my eyes.”

“Even while I’m stuffing my face with sandwiches while pregnant, or get covered in baby spit? Not sleeping for days because I’ll be a reckless and anxious mom?”

“You deal with me shovelin’ plates in my mouth, and you know darn well we’re both gonna be covered in baby spit!” he claimed rather proudly before nuzzling under her jaw, kissing and nipping her skin softly and holding her close carefully while she laughed. “C’mon, Darlin’, pick out some comfortable shoes to wear and I’ll be right out. We got a party to get ya to.”

It was an interesting situation having Mellie and Bobbie Jo argue about the location of the baby shower - since Belle wasn’t even planning on having one in the first place, that just didn’t sit well with either woman while Silvia was more of the middle ground in the fight. Mellie wanted to have it at the park area, where it was outdoors with fresh air and nature surrounding the picnic patios and have a BBQ while Bobbie Jo wanted it at the new fancy restaurant that just opened up in town (where she knew the owner of the business and could get a deal on a party room) and could get a lovely buffet with clean tablecloth and silverware. As much as the mother-to-be wanted to try and find a solution for both ladies to agree with, suggesting the restaurant they had the wedding reception at, it was automatically turned down and thus Belle kindly asked Jimmy’s girlfriend to put her foot down. 

Silvia, as sweet as she is in being a big sister to both Mellie and Belle, and on absolute friendly terms with Bobbie Jo, can also be hard and straightforward in fixing silly situations such as arguing about where to have a baby shower. Thankfully, Silvia suggested either Bobbie Jo or Mellie host it at either house - where there were wooded backyards and easy access to the indoors with an AC available. Before either ladies could bicker which house, Silvia flipped a coin with an actual written agreement on notebook paper that, whoever got the house, the other would be in control of decorations.

Bobbie Jo’s house was claimed on tails, therefor Mellie had full control of the decorations and Bobbie Jo couldn’t interfere.

Considering that it was a gender reveal, Mellie picked the color white for the main color-theme and stuck to minimal decorations. There were a few balloons tied to the stairs that everyone knew that the Logan brothers were going to get ahold of later and party streamers decorating the railings in a cute twisting style. With Bobbie Jo’s backyard covered with greenery and trees, the white popped perfectly and Mellie was more than proud of herself with everyone’s compliments as soon as they entered the backyard; more so the only Logan sister didn’t hesitate to rub it in Bobbie Jo’s face once Belle said how much she loved the design of the patio table with a simple table cloth with a bouquet of white roses on top along with the snack plates that Jimmy was helping himself to. Mellie didn’t hesitate to send Jimmy a displeased scowl at him while hugging Belle in greeting.

“Swear, that man thinks every event is for him to stuff his damn face,” she mumbled before kissing Belle’s grinning cheek while laughing. “Bobbie Jo and Sil made those lil sandwiches for you, ya know. We know you’ve been craving ham and cheese, and look what that sasquatch is doin’! Jimmy, you asshat!”

Like a dog getting caught doing something it knew was naughty, Jimmy popped his head up before jumping over the ledge on the other side. Sadie, watching the whole thing happen, laughed at her father’s silly antics while her mother sighed at finally seeing what her ex was doing whilst conversing with Silvia and Mrs. Potter. What bad leg again? Mellie kindly excused herself from the guests of honor before chasing Jimmy after tossing off her nice sandals.

Clyde shook his head over his siblings’ behavior, taking his wife’s hand and guiding her further. Along with Bobbie Jo, Moody, Sadie and Mellie, Joe Bang and his brothers were also currently present with Mr. and Mrs. Potter sitting close together in lawn chairs with drinks in their hand. Sadie, all dressed up in a white tutu and white ribbons, offered a plate filled with different assorted snacks to the guests very politely before coming over to see her aunt and uncle.

“Aunt Belle!” Sadie squealed as she hurried over to the new arrivals. “Uncle Clyde, can you please hold the plate for me? I wanna hug Aunt Belle!”

Clyde chuckled as he took the plate for his little niece and grinned even bigger seeing Sadie press her cheek against Belle’s stomach and hugging her. Giving her tummy a gentle kiss, Sadie pulled back and waited patiently for Belle to bend down to kiss her cheek, which Belle returned by taking her face with both hands and giving her big kisses to each cheek and then her forehead.

“You look so pretty, Sadie! Look at you!” Belle gushed and fondled the girl’s cheek, making her blush and laugh. “You look even more like a little angel!”

“Thank you, Aunt Belle! You look very, very pretty, too!” Sadie sang brightly, waiting patiently for her aunt to release her before going to hug Clyde as tight as she could. “Hi, Uncle Clyde! You look handsome!”

Clyde chuckled softly when his little niece hugged him, kiss his cheek quickly and took off, chasing down her dad and reprimand him for taking the sandwiches her mom and father’s girlfriend took the time to make special for her aunt. “She seems happy to have a party at her house, huh?”

“Well, she must get it from the other ladies in the family. Both Mel and Bobbie Jo throw very fun parties,” Belle said rather fondly. When Clyde offered her something off of the plate Sadie deserted them with, the pregnant woman picked out a little finger sandwich and a cookie before being called over by Mr. and Mrs. Potter. Belle seemed to glow brightly greeting her bosses, patiently waiting for Mrs. Potter to get up from her spot to properly give her a hug while Mr. Potter took Clyde’s plate and shook the father-to-be’s hand.

“How ya doin’, sweetheart? You been eatin’ good for the baby?” Mrs. Potter instantly took charge of looking over Belle with critical eyes, obviously looking for anything that might raise any sort of red flags. It was natural, according to the elderly married couple, considering both Mr. and Mrs. Potter had seven healthy sons throughout their lives together.

“I’m doing really good, thank you,” Belle responded with a happy grin, allowing the stout, elderly woman to nod in confirmation and then hug her. “Clyde is always making sure I’m eating well enough, getting enough sleep and drinking water, all the sorts you’ve written down for us.”

“Good. Don’t need to kick yer man’s ass for not takin’ care of ya properly, knowin’ how stubborn you are.”

“She ain’t a picky eater, ma’am,” Clyde corrected as he came over. Seeing his wife pout a little bit at the accusations, he kissed the top of her head, while his flesh hand reached to gently caress her rounding stomach. “Takin’ vitamins, eating healthy and doin’ wonderful,” he praised her directly, making her instantly grin; kissing her cheek repeatedly while Mrs. Potter rolled her eyes affectionately.

“Yer gonna spoil her too much,” Mr. Potter interjected and his wife smacked his pudgy belly with her hand, making him snicker.

“Oh shush, ya ol’ man. You were three times as bad whenever I had our boys!”

“Sorry, Ma,” Mr. Potter chuckled and Clyde suddenly found himself a bit flustered by the elderly couple’s interaction.

Even though he and Belle had been affectionately calling each other “Momma” and “Daddy” in the privacy of their home to their growing baby, but still, the idea of doing it out in public made him instantly embarrassed. Clyde most definitely wanted to do it in public, show everyone that he was going to be a dad to a little baby growing inside his wife, who will be the perfect mother…

Mrs. Potter eventually let up from her husband and hugged Belle, gently patting the woman’s hand resting on her belly. “It’s good that ya got a good man, like Clyde, to take care of ya both. Knowing you two, yer goin’ to be jus’ wonderful parents. I know yer old grandpops would be so happy for ya.”

Clyde watched fondly as Belle began to glow from that particular comment. Mr. and Mrs. Potter both knew Belle’s grandfather for most of the man’s life, so hearing that obviously meant a lot to his wife, seeing those happy tears. The old woman grinned and pinched the pregnant woman’s cheeks fondly. “And don’t forget, once this lil babe is out in the world, m’gonna pull my famous cheek pinchin’, jus’ like I did with ya and did with yer ol’ man, when he was a young rascal.”

Belle snickered when Mrs. Potter fondled her cheeks in the palms of her wrinkled hands, laughing with her. “I’m just glad that you never pinched so hard,” Belle told her. “But, please make sure to wait until they’re old enough.”

“O’course, honey! I didn’t get to pinch yours ‘til you were ‘bout five - yer gramps never let anyone else hold ya, but him, his wife and Joe Bang. He was such a particular man when it came to his lil Rosabelle,” Mrs. Potter promised affectionately. Then, looking to Clyde, Mrs. Potter took Clyde’s hand and pat his knuckles with a loving, motherly grin. “You’ll be a great daddy, Clyde. I know for certain that ol’ goofball in Heaven would’ve adored ya as a grandson-in-law, and a perfect match for his lil grandbaby. He would be so excited for you two becomin’ parents. His wife would’a thought the same.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Clyde mumbled, unable to stop his cheeks heating up from the kind words from the old lady who helped his wife so much.

“Well, I know for a fact that Pops would be crying his eyes out and drinking with the daddy-to-be, until he knocked himself out in a tree,” a familiar voice caught both Clyde and Belle’s attention. Turning around, they saw Dayton White dressed appropriately in a nice, pressed shirt and dress pants.

“Dayton!” Belle yelled with a bright smile, attempting to jump at her childhood friend until he grasped her shoulders to keep her still as possible, then pull her into a careful hug. Belle hugged him back as tight as possible while Clyde came over, waiting his turn to shake hands with the NASCAR racer and a friendly half-hug. “What the hell are you doing here? You’re suppose to be in California, last time we talked to you!”

“How could I miss the babyshower of my best friend? If I missed out on that, that would just put weight on my shoulders for the rest of my life, for every Christmas and birthday,” he shrugged, like it was the most casual thing ever, making Belle smack his arm at his suggestion. Dayton snickered at her before patting Clyde’s shoulder. “Mellie let me in on the shower details so, as long as you don’t tell my sponsors that I’m going to be here for the rest of the week, then there is no problem.”

“Mellie did? How she’d manage that?” Clyde asked with a raised brow, stealing a glance to his sister on the back porch, sipping a drink and keeping her attention on Sadie showing her dad a new dance move. “Mellie ain’t much of a Facebook person…”

“And for the rest of the week? That’s not like you to miss that much of work,” Belle added, although with a hint of knowledge of what could be happening for her friend.

“We exchanged numbers last time I was in town, but that’s beside the point - Belle, you haven’t been submitting to your cravings, right? You know that you can still eat as normal as you have been, but adding vitamins help -!”

Belle didn’t hesitate to reach and gently raise Dayton’s jaw to shut him up. “If you’re implying that it looks like I’ve gained unnecessary weight, you’re already cruisin’ for a bruisin’, Dayton. Just ask Jimmy and Uncle Joe about how I don’t hesitate to still kick some ass.”

Clyde rubbed his hand across his wife’s back, trying to keep her grounded. “I stand witness to that. I wouldn’t try testin’ her, buddy, you know how she is.”

“Never would have suggested anything like that!” Dayton claimed, then breaking the three into amused grins. “But, really, you do look really good, Belle. It’s just so weird seeing you whenever, and how big your belly is with the baby! Are you excited to see if it is a boy or a girl?”

“That, and have some of Mellie’s cake.” One of the foods Belle had been craving was the sweets her sister in-law would make, and Mellie had been more than happy to spoil her best friend with sweets and going out for ice cream, whenever Clyde couldn’t. But, Dayton didn’t need to know about that and keep himself awake at night about it…

Until the rest of the guests arrived - Joe Bang, Sam and Fish, a couple of Mellie’s coworkers who knew Clyde and Belle, and some of Bobbie Jo’s pageant friends who knew Belle through helping Sadie - Clyde was fairly overwhelmed by the amount of attention he was getting alongside with his wife. Normally, he would have sufficed sitting by Belle, his only hand holding her shoulder or rub her back upon reaction, sitting quietly and admire his wife’s radiant smile and happy laughs. Being asked how he was feeling or being complimented on keeping up with the pregnancy plan and all of the appointments with no problem, Clyde felt his cheeks burn most of the time. Jimmy would smack him teasingly on the shoulder, telling him to enjoy the attention before the baby arrived - because then, it would be how the baby has which of his features or how stinkin’ cute the little bundle of joy is. Clyde would only flush deeper and simply nod, refusing eye contact.

“And expect to not get as much ‘lone time with Belle,” Jimmy added in way too casually, grinning like the teasing big brother that he is. He snickered when Clyde jumped and Belle glared at him. “Jus’ gotta let ya know! Ya won’t be havin’ and special time while changin’ diapers and tryin’ to sleep.”

Clyde was thankful that both Sylvia and Bobbie Jo smacked Jimmy to be quiet before Joe Bang and Belle did. Mellie even threatened him to refuse his piece of cake, and that was when Jimmy kept his mouth shut.

When the time did come for cake, they had the parents-to-be stand at the end of the patio table while everyone surrounded them as Mellie came out of the house with the dessert. The cake was frosted white with homemade buttercream frosting and had pink and blue confetti sprinkles; everyone clapped for Mellie’s craft as she set the cake in front of Belle and Clyde, producing two knives and a cake server. Since it was Mellie’s planning, she was strict in instructing them how to reveal the inside contents of the cake. Jimmy had Sadie on his lap and helped her start recording with his phone. Dayton, the Bang brothers stood behind Joe Bang with Dayton, while the older man sat on a chair with a beer in hand. Mr. and Mrs. Potter were seated at the other end of the table, with proper view of the couple and cake and taking pictures.

“Now ya can’t be takin’ the knives out, or you’ll see the frostin’,” Mellie explained, handing each of them a knife. “Like the weddin’, ya each cut a side and will lift the servin’ up. Make some cute pictures!” She waved her hands to them to get started.

“Okay,” Belle nodded and smiled to Clyde. “How big do you want the piece to be?”

Clyde hummed and moved his knife to decide on a piece, Belle held hers still for him until he decided, grinning in patience all while Jimmy and Sadie were whining for Clyde to hurry.

“Sadie, what are you hoping the baby will be?” Belle asked the young girl, who was being bounced on her dad’s knee in anticipation.

The little blonde girl snickered. “I don’t mind either! Boy or girl is good to me,” she claimed. “It’s gonna be my honeybun!”

“If it’s a boy, how’ya gonna dress him up in dresses?” Jimmy asked dramatically, making Joe Bang roll his eyes.

“Ya can dress up, play the prince or the shiny guy,” Joe Bang explained. “Boys look good in pink, too - or be a cool dragon, like I was!”

“Don’t go tellin’ lil Sadie the story of how ya played princess and dragon when Rosabelle was too lil to understand that playin’ with hairspray and lighters were dangerous!” Mrs. Potter snapped, and Joe Bang simply shrugged with a naughty grin into his beer bottle. Thankfully, Sadie didn’t pay much attention to what was going on, more focused on what her aunt and uncle working with the cake.

“Ignore ‘em, cut the cake!” Bobbie Jo insisted, also having her phone out and recording. Belle did her best to hide back her laughter from the whole situation. Now that Clyde inserted his knife down to the cake plate, it was only causing more anticipation and excitement on the patio porch.

Grabbing the serving knife next, Belle held it between herself and Clyde, waiting as he used his right hand to wrap around hers. He snuck in for a quick kiss before helping her dig it under the cake. The ladies, including Sadie, aww-ed and both Sam and Fish performed a drumroll bit on their cleaned jeans when Clyde broke the kiss and pressed their foreheads together, giving her the most excited eyes sparkling to her.

“Ya ready, Darlin’?” he asked quietly, his smile showing his teeth and the cute wrinkle in his nose whenever he was excited. She felt his hold around her hand tighten a bit, his thumb brushing her skin gently. Sam and Fish’s drumming got more intense when Belle smiled back and nodded. 

“Let’s see what our baby is going to be,” she encouraged, and they raised the cut piece of cake, slowly revealing the chocolate cake hidden underneath - 

And the bright pink filling inside.

xxx.

Fun Fact: Gender reveal parties became a thing in the late 00s, from inspiration of a couple who struggled to have a child for years and were very excited to know what their baby would be! There is a lot of critical responses to it nowadays, however, I think it’s a wonderful story for a couple’s wish coming true. The couple’s daughter, today, likes to wear suits and break gender-norms!!

taglist: @ayatimascd @kyloxfem @kylo-renne @damndriver @formerly-anonhamster @oh-adam @redhairedfeistynerd @rosalynbair @deliriumdoll @bellaren18

If you would like to be added to the list of this drabble series, please feel free to let me know and I would be very happy to add you!! Please let me know what you thought of this chapter, and see you next time.

#pilotanonwrites #clyde logan x reader #clyde x reader #clyde logan #gardeniaclydefic #pilotanonblerb #reader insert #female reader insert

[imhereforbvcky]

Vivid - Part 1

Masterlist  -  Series Masterpage 

Summary: Have you ever met someone who completely embodies a color? Not an aura, not synesthesia. Just… They walk into the room and when you spot them, you think to yourself, “Wow. That is a walking hurricane.” When Clint Barton serendipitously meets a free-spirited stranger, he sees red.

Warnings: None yet! Just my trash mouth. And my inability to stick to canon.

Word Count: 1285

A/N: I’m not gonna lie, this is practically an OFC. It’s still a reader insert, but... I’ve put more thought into developing the “reader” than the MCU did into developing Clint’s story before End Game. As per my usual, for this one can we all just... pretend AOU didn’t happen? and he doesn’t have a secret family in the country? 👍

Have you ever met someone who completely embodies a color? Not an aura, not synesthesia. Just… They walk into the room and when you spot them, you think to yourself, “Wow. That is a walking hurricane.” Every molecule of air seems to swirl toward them, there’s a smirk or a sideways glance that tells you they’re a little dark, a little dangerous. Trouble in jeans the exact same blue as an angry tide. And then it hits you: they’re a storm. The coolest, murkiest grey you can imagine made flesh. They’re the color of swirling seawater, of darkening storm clouds, of sharp glances and wreckage.

The first time Clint Barton laid eyes on you, he was immediately struck in that way. When he met you? Clint saw red.

For him, it had started off like any other night. He’d filled the coffee maker with water, asking himself if he could still call it insomnia when it was fueled by a deep caffeine addiction as much as the perpetual restlessness. The trouble came when he reached for the aluminum can of grounds and found it practically empty.

That wouldn’t do.

Almost on auto-pilot, he pushed into some worn out tennis shoes that never needed tying and shrugged on a jacket. He was still shoving his wallet in his back pocket while he spun out the door.

“Ow,” he groaned after bashing his elbow against the door jam.

The night air was invigorating. The exact opposite of what an insomniac with a coffee problem should be seeking, but damn, did it feel good. If he couldn’t perch on his rooftop, Clint liked to be moving, to feel the city beat around him. He liked having something to watch, something to pay attention to, something outside himself and the demons in his head. Insomnia loves a distraction.

Ducking into the nearest bodega, he offered a lazy grin and a nod to the man behind the counter. He didn’t waste another second before bee-lining for the same aisle he always started with. Folgers.

“Out of coffee again, Mr. Barton?”

“Always seems to happen in the middle of the night,” he shrugged, waving the can over the aisle. “And I told you, it’s just Clint.”

“Maybe the gods are trying to tell you something.”

“Yeah well, I don’t hear so great.”

But he did hear the humming: sweet and bright, and… loud. People hum to themselves under their breath. It’s a quiet sound, hushed. It’s something people do when they like a song and can’t help it; when they’re self-conscious and don’t want to be heard.

This wasn’t that.

It was brimming, like the sound was barely contained to a hum out of necessity. A distant thought to decorum, maybe. That kind of energy was magnetic, and it immediately drew his gaze.

With a similar need for containment, Clint bit his lip to hold in a deep smile, but it still lit up his eyes and lifted his posture from head to toe as he watched you. Half up, half down, in every sense: sweatpants and a too styled to be accidental t-shirt, a long sleeve button up tied at the waist and sunglasses perched on your nose, despite the darkness outside. One earbud tucked in your ear, the other dangled haphazardly, swaying as you danced your way into the bodega with exaggerated steps and swings.

Decorum be damned when you pointed two finger-guns at the bodega man and playfully shrugged your shoulders to the beat of the music pumping through your ear. The guy was unimpressed, as he seemed to be with everything, including Clint’s support of the coffee shelf.

Clint chuckled to himself as you spun on the ball of your foot and continued dance-walking down the aisle beside his. He decided he needed pizza to go with his coffee. And a better view. So he quietly walked to the end of the aisle with a smirk on his lips and a laugh building in his throat as he watched your spine curl and your hips rock and your head weave followed by your shoulders. It was like your whole body had been ignited by the little white cord in your ear. He was drawn in as much by the silliness as by the sensuality of the movement. Half up, half down.

When you reached for a bottle of coke it hit him: red. You were the living embodiment of the color red: too bright to ignore, too wild to contain, mesmerizing as a red hot fire. He could see it all of a sudden: a red balloon floating through the room, just out of reach.

You held the dark bottle with its bright red label up to your lips, the cap nearly matched the shade you’d painted there. He did laugh now, when you began to sing into it like a microphone.

“If he don’t love you anymore, just walk your fine ass out the dooOOOoor!” you slowly danced your way down the aisle toward him and he froze. It didn’t bother you, not much did, it seemed. “I do my hair toss, check my nails, baby how you feelin’?”

You paused on the line, thrusting your chin toward him as you said it and locking your eyes on his. He seemed frozen, like you’d caught him with his hand in the cookie jar, so you fixed him with a smile, warm and bright… red as the flame licking up his spine.

“I… uhm.”

“Feelin’ good as hell,” you whispered the next line to him and raised the loose earbud up, offering it to him: a perfect stranger.

He held it to his ear and listened as you sang along, absently reaching into the warmer for a slice of cheese pizza. He seemed to have relaxed a little, but that dopey grin still lingered. With the pizza extended in his direction, you flicked your eyebrows in question.

“Uh, pepperoni,” he answered and you grabbed a second slice.

When you began swaying toward the register with him still attached to your headphones, you felt the tug at your ear and spun around. You’d forgotten and laughed. Instead of letting him hand the earbud back, you grinned at him, easy and bright, and grabbed his wrists while shimmying backwards.

It didn’t even shock him when you took his hand in yours, urging him to at least move his shoulders along with you. He knew nothing about you, but he knew it seemed very… you.

When you made it to the counter and shoved the pizza and coke up onto it, Clint reached for his slice. You pushed his hand away and made a grab for his coffee, plopping it on the counter and nodding to the owner.

“Least I could do,” you winked at Clint. “Not everybody is as good an impromptu dance partner as you’ve been.”

“I’m not sure I’d call that dancing,” Clint laughed, scrubbing a hand over the back of his neck as you handed a twenty over the counter.

“Ouch.”

A mortified blush crept across Clint’s skin and a mischievous smirk lifted your lips.

“No, I – I meant me. Believe it or not, I’m actually pretty coordinated. But I dunno if that even… was dancing,” Clint rambled. “You were… you’re great.

“You were perfect,” you soothed, smoothing a hand down the angular lines of muscle that stretched from his shoulder to hand. Now it was your turn to shy from the heat rising in your cheeks.

Clint truly believed that was the last he’d see of you. A vibrant red balloon, that had drifted into his world long enough to admire, only to be whisked away by the wind with the same haste.

He was wrong.

Part 2 >>

This series is mostly written - yay no delays! I’m going to post new chapters every other Sunday, and try to alternate with another series to get my butt moving on that one. 🙈

Will reblog with tags!

#clint barton x reader #clint x reader #clint barton #clint barton fanfic #avengers fanfic #clint barton x reader fluff #clint x reader fluff

[tomakeitbeautifultolive]

GoT Preferences Tag

tagged by @got-addict @too-much-jonerys AND @geekyfeminist-love ❤️

do you watch the episodes when they air?: If my husband so much as jokes about making plans on a Sunday night during GoT season, I'm filing for divorce. :P

how often do you rewatch it?: Constantly. I write fics so I pull up certain episodes for callbacks, parallels, speaking-style and inflections, settings, all KINDS of things. Oh and gifs. Basically, I still only ever watch GoT. Wow. I'm so sad!

do you rewatch the previous episode before the next one airs?: I watch it again later that night, after my super lame GoT livestreams. (Wow, I wasn't prepared for how cool this questionnaire would make me seem! *coughs*)

do you eat anything while watching? if so, what do you eat?: Omg I was eating ice cream during the greyscale scene this season! I can't do that anymore, though - I'm too invested and too nervous that eating anything upsets my stomach. I might even skip dinner when it returns! :P

one character that everyone seems to like that you don’t care much for:  Melisandre, apparently? Talisa Maegyr? Oh, and Hot Pie. The latter two are alright, I just think Talisa is a bit boring and Hot Pie, well, I can't forget the shit he said to Arya upon their first meeting :P

your 3 favorite pairings:  Jonerys and Gendrya are my OTPs! The third slot is a three-way tie (I know) between Bran x Meera, SanSan & Robbaery

favorite scene:  Jon meeting Drogon. I'm so, so happy I got some Jon & dragon bonding, even though I honestly expected he'd be riding Rhaegal by the end of S7 :P

one character you wish got more appreciation: Probably Grey Worm. Dude is flawless.

fanfic or nah?:  Oh yeah. Boatsex left me so sexually frustrated I had to seek fanfic out for the first time since like, Goblet of Fire, lol. Fanfic saved my life! :P

favorite quote:  "The next time you raise a hand to me will be the last time you have hands!"

do you avoid spoilers?:  I try to, but I'm SURE that since I'm on Tumblr now it's going to be impossible.

favorite house words:  Ours is the fury! (And fury burns!)

one character you’d bring back from the dead:  ALL of the Direwolves!! As for a human - Barristan Selmy for SURE. I disagree with his death SO HARD. JUST, NO!

one character you’d kill, or kill sooner then they were killed:  I would've just left Euron dead in the sand after his 'coronation'. I'd say Gregor or Melisandre, but I like Cersei as the 'big bad' and I like Jon being resurrected, so, Euron - he's useless (show-wise, anyway).

direwolves or dragons?:  Direwolves! 🐺

which was more satisfying: Ramsay dying or Joffrey dying?:  I was honestly sad when Joffrey died, Cersei broke my heart in that scene. Couldn’t wait for Ramsay to die. Thank you, Sansa, you beautiful murderer, you!

wildlings or the dothraki?:  I get that the Dothraki are reformed, but forever burned into my memory is the scene where they pillage and ransack a small village and rape the women, juxtapose that with Tormund explaining sex to our boy Jon, and I'd say wildlings are a little more my style.

favorite lannister?:  Cersei when I'm feelin' nihilistic, otherwise Tyrion.

favorite stark?: Jon, if he counts. If not, then Arya. (Though Benjen ranks pretty high, too)

would you rather be able to be resurrected anytime, but gain scars and all like Beric, or become a faceless man?:  Oh, I'd be terrible at either. Can I be one of those chicks that just peacefully sweeps the floor at the House of Black and White? That's about all I could mentally handle on Planetos.

would you rather have the rebellion tv show or the conquest tv show?: Fucking REBELLION. I do NOT agree that we'll have all the answers we want at the end of GoT. Also, I'm in love with everyone from that time period. I want a WHOLE 10-episode mini-series covering the events of the Tourney at Harrenhall. I want to see ALL of it in excruciating detail. Howland, Lyanna, Ashara, Brandon, Ned, Benjen, Rhaegar, Barristan, etc etc!

I’ll tag... @fourtrishea  @ktwrites   @meisiesmut   @winterfells-targaryen  @maxbetta  and @brandonandmeera 

#tag game #got preferences

[2beautiful2burn-blog]

WWE: Wrestlemania 34 - Not feelin it

With Wrestlemania 34 this Sunday in New Orleans, it's one of the most exciting times of the year for lots of people. For me personally, it's just another weekend. I hate to say that, but it's just an undeniable feeling for me. This is coming from someone who watched WWF/E from the time he was 5 until the time he was 26. It got to the point that I was just waiting around for things to change for the better - or at least, the way I remembered them being when I became a fan. Only they never did. That was likely impossible, as what I was remembering is undoubtedly through the rose tinted filter of nostalgia. Add in 3 hour long slogs of Raw every Monday night, and a lifelong fan was lost.

Not that any of this really matters. WWE is more profitable than they have ever been. Even the people that complain about the product still feed the machine with monthly $10 WWE Network subscriptions. Some of those people will even be in attendance Sunday night, just to voice their displeasure when Roman Reigns inevitably beats Brock Lesnar to become WWE champion. As somebody who was in attendance at Wrestlemania 30 (also in the New Orleans Superdome), I can attest, even the nosebleeds ain't cheap. So that's a lotta coin to drop on something you're unhappy with. 

I remember WM 30 being the first time that a Wrestlemania was taking place at a location within driving distance. Still, I wasn’t sold. I remember feeling like I should be excited, but just couldn’t muster the energy. After all, initially, the original main event was set to be Randy Orton defending the WWE title against Batista, fresh from an underwhelming return made even worse by the fact that he was not Daniel Bryan. Daniel Bryan was the underdog who was undermined by the WWE powers that be (both in real life and in storyline) over and over again. Time and time again. Over and over and over.

...he got screwed over and beaten a lot.

Then, without any satisfying conclusion (or any conclusion at all really), he was pushed to the side in favor of the oversized, larger than life returning former champion and current movie star. It didn’t go over well. Luckily, the fans clamoring for Daniel Bryan to be in the Wrestlemania main event became so undeniable that WWE canceled their Orton vs. Batista plans, and made Bryan the focal point.

With this change, I was in. I’d been watching Bryan wrestle since I was in middle school. I had the rare opportunity to follow him from the very beginning of his career, every step of the way, all the way to the main event of WWE’s biggest show of the year. I really doubt I’ll ever experience anything quite like that as a wrestling fan ever again. Win Bryan won the WWE title, I damn near shed a tear, even from my $200 nosebleed seat (I’m serious - it was as high up as you could possibly be in that building). I reminisce on all of this to say - WWE MADE me go to this show. There was no way I was gonna miss it, and it will undoubtedly go down as my favorite experience as a wrestling fan.

Of course, this was also the night that Undertaker’s 20+ year Wrestlemania winning streak came to an end. That’s right, I can say I was there. It was honestly the most surreal thing I have ever seen. My best friend and I looked at each other mouth agape (yeah, like that one guy they showed in the front row). Surely there was a mistake? The ref miscounted. The ring bell rang itself on accident. But, no, we had witnessed history (of a predetermined sport, but still). That, plus seeing Daniel Bryan, who was unequivocally my GUY for 10 years, win the WWE title, I kinda consider WM 30 my series finale as a WWE fan. All those years as a fan had been leading to it, and it blew my freaking mind.

Things also went pretty downhill after that. 3 hour Raws became more commonplace. The Shield broke up and went from being revolutionary performers to pretty run of the mill guys. Bryan got injured and had to retire. CM Punk was gone and not coming back. I went from never missing a Raw or Smackdown, to only sometimes reading results. WM 31 followed a year later, and wasn’t bad, but couldn’t match the year before in my mind. WM 32 followed, and was pretty rough. Royal Rumble leading into WM33 was extremely disappointing, and at that point, I vowed to not be let down anymore. Years of overall general disinterest as a fan mounted, and I gave WWE the deuces. WM 33 was the first Wrestlemania I ever missed. And I haven’t watched a Raw, Smackdown, or PPV since.

WM 34 will be the 2nd Wrestlemania that I’ve ever missed. Not only that, but I could easily be there (hopefully in better seats). I won’t be. Here’s why:

1) Daniel Bryan is back. Now, I’m not totally abject to this. I just personally feel that he accomplished all there was to accomplish. He’s married, and his wife just recently gave birth to their first child. I don’t think pushing his body is the best idea when considering all of these circumstances. Then again, it’s his body, and ultimately, his decision. Of course, I’m (selfishly) elated to see him back. He’s an all time favorite of mine, and he’s still relatively young. I know he can still deliver. Here’s the problem. WWE are not positioning his return as the colossal event that it is. We have been led to believe that he would never wrestle (for WWE at least) again. They buck these expectations by having him tweet out the news that he’s returning. Then they have him get beat up and hospitalized on TV the same night. Sure, it makes you hate the guys that jumped him, and makes you want to see him get even. After all, now that he’s cleared to wrestle again, he CAN get even. But, unfortunately, this is not the point here. The point of Daniel Bryan’s return is so he can team with Vince McMahon’s middle aged, non-wrestler son, Shane. Shane is a Wrestlemania staple, only this year, they didn’t have much planned for him. It’s quite a coincidence that WWE goes from being so against Daniel Bryan’s in ring return UNTIL they need something for Vince’s son to do at Wrestlemania. I hope I’m wrong, but it doesn’t look very good regardless. Bryan’s return (in New Orleans nonetheless) is worthy of a main event position. Instead, we’re getting a lukewarm tag match in the middle of the show. A huge moment totally squandered by WWE. Any long term fan will tell you - this isn’t a rare occasion.

2) The main event is lame and predictable. Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar already wrestled for the WWE title at WM 31. It was actually pretty bad ass. It didn’t end with a legitimate finish (Seth Rollins won the match even though he wasn’t in it, because wresting is bizarre), so it makes sense that they would need to wrestle again to settle the score once and for all. The only problem is, Brock is leaving for a UFC return, and the fans that pay big money to attend WWE events, like Wrestlemania, hate Roman Reigns. This ain’t a good mix. The last time Brock left WWE, he got booed out of Madison Square Garden (at WM 20) and called a sellout - and that wasn’t even the main event. This cannot, and will not end well. Apparently, a lot of people think, “Surely, Vince McMahon won’t send the fans home unhappy from one of the biggest shows of the year?” Only he does - over and over. I’m sure Frank the Clown, Mick Foley, Honky Tonk Man, Jim Cornette, Disco Inferno, Juventud, The Midnight Rambler, Just Joe, plus everyone else and their mama will blog/podcast about how disappointed they are. But nothing will change. So long as WWE fans pay big money to boo, they’ll keep being served the same product they claim to hate.

3) I’ve already seen AJ vs Nakamura. These two already wrestled a few years ago at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s biggest show of the year, WrestleKingdom. And it was pretty awesome. Now, if anything would get me to watch this year, or even get me in a seat in New Orleans, its this match. I’m sure it will be an awesome match. But I just don’t care. I’ve already seen it. More importantly, the build has been practically non-existent. Nakamura’s Rumble win reeks of just throwing internet fans a bone. It’s not the main event, but it will appease fans while they boo Lesnar vs. Reigns. I don’t want to root against either guy, and that’s a problem. I like them both equally, and don’t want to see either lose. In turn, I can’t really get excited. This is a case where I would have preferred a hard heel turn from one of them. Either of them. I mean, give us something. I would have honestly preferred to have seen AJ face someone like Orton, a known awesome heel performer, and, in a perfect world, seen Nakamura face Brock (whether for the title or not). Then, I would’ve been there. I’m sure it will be an amazing match. I’m sure fans watching live and at home will love it. I’ll be sure to catch it somewhere down the line. But I won’t be paying to see it live.

In conclusion, I realize that as a 20 + year wrestling fan, I kinda feel like I’ve seen it all. I’m not very easy to please in that regard. I just refuse to continually consume and be displeased with a product just because I grew up with it. Plus, I can honestly say that in the year and a half that I’ve been watching New Japan Pro Wrestling regularly (via their monthly paid New Japan World service), I’m enjoying it as much as I enjoyed the Attitude Era when I was a kid. Sometimes, maybe even more. It’s important to let go of nostalgia, and move on if you don’t enjoy something. The WWE is not the same company, in any way, that I once enjoyed. They themselves acknowledge that they’re not a wrestling company anymore. And, hey, like I said, they’re more profitable and powerful than they’ve ever been. They certainly don’t need me. And if you’re unhappy with their product, they clearly don’t need you.

#WWE #Wrestlemania #NOLA #Lesnar #RomanReigns #Cena #AJStyles #Nakamura #DanielBryan #wrestling