#HOW AM I MEANT TO WAIT UNTIL DECEMBER FOR THE NEXT

[sonofenki]

song of the crimson nile, chapter 12

#WHAAAAAAAAAAAT #BEST CHAPTER EVER #IM SHAKING ALL OVER #WHAT THE FUCK #HOW AM I MEANT TO WAIT UNTIL DECEMBER FOR THE NEXT #I DONT EVEN HAVE WOOOOORDS #romance club #song of the crimson nile #rc song of the crimson nile #rc sotcn

[whatstruthgottodowithit]

Don't Ask

Fandom: Elvis Presley, American Musician

Pairing: Elvis Presley x Reader

Characters: Elvis Presley, Reader, Billy Smith, Charlie Hodge, Given Time Period We’ll Say Ginger Aldean

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 4483

Summary: All he has to do is ask.

Tags/Warnings: Reader has a name, Addiction, Drug Use, Divorce, Arguing, Crying, Angst, Love, Marriage, Kids, Substance Abuse, Failing Health, Body Issues, Body Image Issues, Weight Gain, Big Daddy Elvis Era,

Notes: okay so this was sadder than anticipated

ELVIS MASTERLIST // TAG LIST

You could hear it, the shrill ring of the telephone just beside your bed, attempting to pull you into consciousness, its calls getting louder and louder as it managed to do so. It only stopped as you threw your hand on the nightstand, fumbling around until your fingers clasped around the receiver. As you placed it to your ear you flopped back, far too casual for someone who was receiving an out of the blue phone call at three am. Then again your life had never run on a normal schedule so nothing really phased you anymore.

‘Hello,’ you yawned, rubbing sleep from your eyes as you waited for the mystery caller to make themselves known.

‘Lor? That you?’ Billy said.

‘Yeah it’s me,’ you said quickly sitting yourself up in bed. Just because you’d become acclimatised to living life at a fast pace didn’t stop ice running through your veins whenever a call like this came it. It didn’t mean that countless scenarios didn’t run through your mind as you tried to keep calm and ask, ‘what is it?’

‘It’s Elvis,’ Billy said as if it could be anything else. As if there was any other reason any of them would even bother with you anymore.

‘What is it? Is everything okay?’ you replied, trying to push the worst conclusions from your mind.

‘He’s fallen. He’s hit his head pretty bad,’ Billy said. It wasn’t exactly great but it allowed your thudding heart to slow as you pushed anything worse from your mind. Injured you could deal with. Injured meant alive.

‘What about the kids have they seen him?’ you asked, getting to your next priority. Making sure nothing terrible had happened was top of the list. Making sure they hadn’t seen it was right behind it though these days that felt like a losing battle.

‘No, no, they’re asleep,’ Billy explained before he paused. You could hear him shift, no doubt trying to think of how to say whatever it was Elvis had told him to. Whatever he had told him to ask, ‘Lor, he’s asking for you.’

‘Bill,’ you sighed.

‘Said he won’t get off the floor but anyone but you,’ Billy said cutting you off. You knew he wasn’t trying to be rude but rather hoping that his explanation would get you on side. After all you could see how possibility of having to go back to Elvis empty handed wasn’t very appealing to him because the idea of telling him you couldn’t come over felt the same way.

‘Bill,’ you said hoping he wouldn’t ask you outright. That you wouldn’t have to peel yourself out of your warm bed and drive to the house to fix yet another mess.

‘Lor please…I don’t know what else to do,’ he said, quietly.

You paused. You shouldn’t go, you knew that. You knew that this wasn’t your job anymore and yet as you thought about him you couldn’t help but wonder. Wonder how bad it was this time. Wonder what they’d do if you said no. Wonder if your kids would see him in whatever state he was in if you didn’t go to help.

‘Give me twenty minutes,’ you sighed.

As your car rolled through the gates of Graceland you felt the nerves you had been fending off the entire drive return. It never failed to amaze you how people could stand outside the gates you had just gone through, watching a house just be. How they could fantasise about the goings on inside and wish to be part of them. But that was because they didn’t know what truly lay behind those gates. They didn’t know the goings on as you did. They weren’t here with you at three am on a chilly December night; not going to a party, not going to frolic by the pool or ride horses around the grounds. No, they weren’t there for this, whatever this was of course.

As you stepped out you wondered if they would be here if they could. That if they knew everything they’d swap places with you in a heartbeat. You wondered if they were in your shoes would they be coming over to the house or would they have never left in the first place? After all, considering all you’d been through your decision to leave your husband, your home, all you’d ever known, had baffled everyone. It made them wonder. What was the breaking point? What was the final straw? And most people wondered, could it really be that bad? Surely all the good bits of Elvis Presley were enough to stay.

They had a point you supposed. Because even after you’d left; packed up your children and whacked the divorce papers in front of him you still came back for the bad bits.

‘You’re going?’ you heard your boyfriend ask as you emerged from the bathroom. You’d promised to head over to the house, to mop up whatever mess Elvis needed you to, but that didn’t mean you were going to rush right over there. It was pointless of course, to make sure you looked at least somewhat presentable, but the idea of having some control over the situation brought you a modicum of self-respect. Even if you were running back home and leaving your boyfriend in an empty bed.

‘I have to,’ you said, not meeting his gaze as you made your way around the room, dressing yourself for the chilly Memphis winter as he climbed out of bed and came towards you.

‘He’s your ex-husband Lori. Emphasis on ex. You don’t have to do anything, let his new girlfriend figure it out,’ he said. He was standing in front of you now, blocking your path to your purse and forcing you to look up at him.

‘It’s not that simple,’ you said trying to ignore that twinge in your gut at the mention of your replacement.

‘Why not?’ he replied.

‘My kids are there Tom. I mean what if they see,’ you said pausing before you let anything else slip out. Even after everything you still couldn’t bring yourself to tarnish his reputation, even if he was doing a damn good job of doing that himself. Instead you steeled yourself and moved past him, picking your purse up from where it rested on a chair by your vanity, ‘I have to go.’

‘You’re just gonna run to him every time he clicks his fingers?’ he said watching you as you headed to the door. You paused at that, your hand resting on the door handle waiting for you to make your decision.

‘What choice do I have?’ you muttered before you ran out of the door.

The house was still when you got inside, the sound of the kids running around or the presence of Elvis’ entourage now gone not that you needed anyone to tell you where to go. You headed upstairs only when you rounded the corner you found Billy sitting at the top of them as though he’d been waiting for you to show up before he dared go and tell Elvis anything. He stood up as you came into view giving you a quick hug before he turned to head towards your bedroom, your old bedroom.

‘He’s in the bathroom,’ he muttered as he walked through the room, ignoring the woman who was sitting on the bed, tears running down her face as Billy’s wife Jo attempted to comfort her. She looked up as you passed, watching you with a scowl on her pretty face that you ignored. It wasn’t that you weren’t sympathetic. After all you knew how she must’ve felt, you’d been there yourself a million times before, left out in the cold whilst he chose someone else. You just couldn’t help it. You knew you shouldn’t be there and yet you couldn’t not be.

Because he’d asked for you.

You heard him before you saw him. Billy had headed into the bathroom first, joining Charlie who was standing by the door, and as suspected he’d been missing a while causing the backlash he’d been hoping to swerve to spilled out the moment he reappeared as Elvis said, ‘and where the fuck have you been?’

‘Makin’ a call like you asked,’ Billy said.

‘That took you half an hour?’ Elvis spat, ‘honestly if I got one competent person around here-‘

‘He was waiting for me to get here. Now can someone tell me what the hell is going on?’ you asked, pushing through Billy and Charlie’s human blockade. Elvis’ angry expression melted away as you broke through the line of defence, disbelief taking over his features as he said, ‘you came.’

‘Of course I came,’ you said bitterly, folding your arms across your chest, ‘they said you were being ridiculous and won’t get up.’

‘And what, you think you can make me?’ he said, a cocky smile coming to his tired face.

‘Don’t test me Elvis,’ you said seriously.

‘Oh come on,’ he said, ‘you used to like me teasin’ ya remember?’

‘You know what forget it. I don’t need this,’ you said turning to head to the door though you hadn’t made it a foot before he spoke again, all teasing gone from his tone as he said, ‘don’t go. I’ll behave…just don’t go.’

You turned around, assessing the situation in its entirety. He was sitting on the floor, his legs out in front of him as he rested against his back the counter top. Apart from being on the floor he didn’t look too bad but it was only when you looked closer did you notice the disarray. The bottles that were scattered along the counter top and the floor from where he caught them on his way down. The discarded towels on the floor beside him, dark in colour which made it hard to notice the even darker spots of blood that had long since dried into them. The deep gash on his forehead that was still crusted with blood but blended enough into his hair line that it wasn’t noticeable at first glance. And the fear in his eyes.

You knew him better than anyone. You’d learned to read every expression that ever came on that beautiful face of his and right now you could see he was scared. He wasn’t doing this to be awkward. He hadn’t called you because no one else could help. Hed called you because you were the only one he wanted to see him like this.

‘Give us a minute,’ you said looking towards Charlie and Billy who were both standing by the door watching the pair of you curiously.

‘But-‘ Billy protested.

‘A minute,’ you said looking at him with the expression you gave your son when he was being just as cheeky as his daddy. Billy glanced between the pair of you and then nodded before gesturing for Charlie to follow him out of the room. You pushed the door shut behind them, taking a deep breath before you turned back to Elvis whose eyes had never left you.

‘So what was so important that you couldn't ask for anyone but me at three am,’ you said, perching on the barbers chair as you stared down at him.

‘I need ya,’ he said simply, colour flushing his plump cheeks as he said, ‘I can’t get up.’

‘Can’t or won’t?’ you challenged.

‘Can’t,’ he said embarrassedly, ‘my legs…I can't feel ‘em. T-that’s why I fell.’

‘We should call an ambulance,’ you said worriedly.

‘Hell no!’ he retorted angrily.

‘Elvis,’ you pressed.

‘No Lor, no ambulance,’ he said tersely though as your worry went to irritation at his tone he noticed he’d overstepped and his expression softened, ‘just please help me.’

‘I don’t know if I can E,’ you said assessing the scene before you. He’d always been bigger than you, in height for one, but over the past few years with his varied state of health his weight had fluctuated leaving him larger than he used to be meaning you didn’t know how you were going to hoist him up off the floor without help.

‘They won't understand,’ he said brokenly, ‘you’re the only one who understands.’

You surveyed him one last time, watching as he kept his gaze ashamedly on his lap, which only made tears sting at your eyes though you blinked them away. As always you couldn’t let yourself cry because he needed you to be strong. And so you sighed and said, ‘alright, let’s see if we can get you up.’

Elvis looked up at that and nodded watching you as you moved to the floor and bent down beside him to assess the situation. You didn’t know how best to get him up, the way he had landed had left him in the middle of the bathroom with only you to grab onto but as you surveyed you noticed the towel rack on the wall not too far away.

‘I’m gonna hoist this side okay? Do you think you can grab the rail and pull?’ you asked, peering into his face that resembled that of an old man and an obedient school boy all at once.

‘Think so,’ he said.

‘How much feeling have you got in your legs?’ you asked.

‘I can feel ‘em now but they’re weak…I won’t be able to hold myself up for long,’ he admitted.

‘Well let’s get you into the barbers chair,’ you said eyeing the distance between it and you. Once he was on his feet it would only be a couple of steps but the feat of getting him upright left you with that uneasy feeling once more.

‘Okay,’ he said reaching out for the gold towel rack and wrapping his hand around it so tight his knuckles turned white.

‘Ready?’ you asked, slipping your arm under his shoulder until you had a grip of him on his other side.

‘Ready,’ he nodded.

‘One…two…three,’ you said rocking him on every beat until you both thrusted forward, using his weight as an advantage to pivot him onto his feet. He was up surprisingly quickly, though his grip on your waist tightened as he stood there, unsure and wobbly on his own feet. You surveyed him looking for any signal he was going to drop but he met your gaze offering you a reassuring smile, well, until the distinct smell of dried urine wafted into your nostrils. He noticed it at the same time, his cheeks going beetroot red as he dropped his gaze to the dark stain on the front of his pyjama pants and muttered, ‘sorry…it happened when I…’

‘It’s okay,’ you said, your heart breaking at his embarrassment, ‘let’s get you cleaned up.’

He nodded and plodded the couple of steps towards the chair, your hands only letting go when he was close enough to sit down though he threw himself into the chair with an oomph and a groan. He looked exhausted. Any energy he’d had thus far vanquished in a couple of steps. And looking at him you felt just as exhausted, your battery running on empty even though you knew he needed you. At that you excused yourself offering the excuse of finding him some new clothes. He didn’t protest though you didn’t give him time to, instead fleeing to the safety of the other room. Everyone was gone now, save for Charlie who was perched on the bed watching as you flitted to the closet.

‘Is he okay?’ he asked.

‘He’s fine,’ you said though both of you knew that was far from the truth. Even holed away, protected by soundproof walls and secrecy, neither of you dared address the elephant in the room.

‘Need any help?’ he asked.

‘Nope,’ you said, tucking the folded silk pyjamas under your arm, ‘I’ve got it under control.’

‘Holler if you need anything,’ he said, watching you nod before you were gone from sight back into the bathroom. He was where you’d left him, his eyes closed as he relaxed back against the headrest though they opened as you entered making your heart squeeze as the peacefulness disappeared replaced by fatigue and worry.

You ignored it, that hurt in your heart, and instead moved to the counter, turning the tap on and running the water until it was warm enough to start filling up the sink. If you couldn’t get him to the shower the shower would have to come to him. Once the warm water was up near the top of the bowl you turned the tap off and moved back to him, your fingers working quickly to unbutton his pyjama shirt. He allowed you to remove his clothes, watching as you worked silently, the only thing offered being a grunt as you made him lift his hips to get his pants off. You moved to grab a wash cloth but when you turned back he was surveying himself, disgust on his face as he took in the body before him. Again you said nothing but this time it was less about trying to hold back your emotions but more because you didn’t know what to say. You’d told him countless times about how handsome you still thought he was. How a little extra timber suited him not that he had ever believed you. But his body now meant something different to you.

It made you sad. Not because you longed for that trim twenty something you married but because you knew that it would only be able to take so much. Because you feared that one day it might not be just his legs or his bladder that gave up on him. Because you feared that one day you might get another phone call in the middle of the night except there’d be no helping that time.

The washcloth glided smoothly across his skin washing away the sweat that had arisen on his skin from the exertion and though you knew he would probably be better with a shower there was no way you’d be able to manage that so as long as he was clean you’d take it. He said nothing, watching as you glided the warm cloth tenderly along every inch of skin, until you got to his thighs, which was when his weary face broke into a smile, his eyes lighting up at whatever dirty quip he’d cooked up in that brain of his.

‘Nice try Presley,’ you giggled handing him the cloth so that he could deal with that part alone.

‘Hey, I didn’t say nuthin’,’ he smirked making you roll your eyes as you busied yourself with getting his clothes ready.

‘You don’t have to,’ you said as you turned back around.

‘Maybe you should get your mind outta the gutter Mama,’ he retorted.

You ignored him, even when he quirked an eyebrow as you dropped to your knees in front of him, ignoring how pink your cheeks had turned as you tapped his foot to allow you to slip his pants on. He clung onto you as you got to his hips, grunting again as the exertion of moving made him breathless, his belly diminishing the amount of air able to get in his lungs. As you shimmied his pyjama shirt, moving to fiddle with the buttons on the front, his hands found their way to your hips. You knew he probably shouldn’t, that exes should never be this affectionate with one other but like with everything else Elvis was a law unto himself. Even with another girl in the other room he still held you like he would have if you were married. And more to the point you let him.

Once you finished dressing him you grabbed a comb and ran it through his locks, trying to get them into some form of order instead of the disarray they’d been in but the teeth of the comb snagged in the dried blood making him wince.

‘Sorry,’ you murmured moving to grab another cloth so that you could wash it off properly. Except this time he didn’t let you stand, as you dabbed the cloth against his forehead he pulled you onto his lap watching your face closely as you kept your eyes on the task at hand.

‘Lor,’ he said after a moment. You didn’t respond, ‘Lor look at me.’

‘I can’t,’ you whispered, refusing to meet his gaze, ‘I can’t keep doing this.’

‘I know,’ he whispered, ‘I can’t believe you came.’

‘How could I not?’ you asked finally meeting his eyes as tears started blurring your vision.

‘But you can’t anymore?’ he said dropping his gaze to your other hand as he took it in his large one his thumb stroking the back of it gently.

‘No,’ you said honestly, ‘and you have to stop asking.’

‘Honey,’ he sighed.

‘Because if you ask I’ll come. You know I will and this…I left because I couldn’t do this anymore Elvis. You know how much it breaks my heart to see you like this. To think of the kids seeing you like this.’

‘I know, I know,’ he sighed.

‘But you don’t!’ you said climbing out of his lap and brushing the tears away, ‘you don’t seem to get it otherwise we wouldn’t be in this cycle would we?’

He didn’t answer, instead he fiddled with the arm rest of the chair refusing to look up at you.

‘When I go are you gonna call Dr Nick?’ you asked. You knew the answer already but hoped you were wrong. You knew that once you were out of the way, once you’d hid his shame and guilt away he’d be back to the people who caused it in the first place.

‘I hit my head,’ he said earning a scoff. It wasn’t an outright admittance but it wasn’t a denial either. It was a classic Elvis tactic. To make you do the work. To never be in the wrong but never be in the right either. To live in ambiguity until his opponent gave up fighting. Like you had.   

‘Honey,’ he sighed.

‘No Elvis,’ you said folding your arms across your chest.

‘I need him,’ he explained, ‘the pain, the achin’. I can’t take it.’

‘How do you know? You haven’t tried,’ you said exasperatedly, ‘you just pop those damn pills and hope they’ll fix everything.’

‘He’s a doctor,’ he said.

‘He’s a murderer,’ you corrected. You could see the argument building. It had been one you’d had countless times. His use of his so-called doctor ranking somewhere in the middle of worthy topics of debate, smushed in between fighting about the kids, the house, money, the other women, the colonel and work. Yet unlike all those times before you could see he was weaker now. That though he dared to stand by his actions his resilience to do so was waning and if you kept arguing you’d be no better at keeping him from an early grave than that damn doctor.

‘I can’t,’ you sighed, ‘I can’t argue about this again…I just can’t.’

‘Lor please,’ he begged.

‘No Elvis,’ you said, the firmest you’d been all night, ‘I can’t do this anymore. I asked you to choose and you made your choice.’

‘It ain’t that simple,’ Elvis said.

‘And neither was leaving you,’ you replied. The tears had broken free now, silently running down your cheeks as you said, ‘do you love me? Our life? Our babies?’

‘Of course I do,’ he scoffed.

‘So why isn’t it enough,’ you said moving to stand in between his legs. His arms wrapped around your torso, his sad blue eyes looking up at you as you took his face in your hands, dampness coating your fingertips from where his own tears had rolled free, ‘why can’t you choose us for once?’

‘I don’t know,’ he admitted. ‘I don’t know either…’ you sniffled, ‘because I choose you. Every time. Whenever you ask I come running and I just can’t do it any longer because it’s killing me…the way those pills are killing you…and I can’t let our babies end up with no one.’

‘Lor,’ he whispered brokenly.

‘This only gonna end one way baby,’ you said moving to rest your forehead against his, ‘unless you choose not to.’

He stayed quiet, allowing you to kiss his forehead before you broke free of his grasp, his hand only letting go of yours at the very last second before you slipped from the room. Charlie was gone now, replaced by the girlfriend you didn’t know the name of yet. As you wiped the tears from your face she watched you, her expression less hostile now that she could see your distress, whatever favouritism you’d been shown evidently not being a good thing.

‘Is he okay?’ she said as you grabbed your purse from where you’d dumped it by the bathroom door.

‘He’s fine,’ you replied, fumbling for your car keys.

‘Fixed him all up huh?’ she said, her stare cold and unyielding.

‘I did what he asked me to,’ you said flatly, ‘but um he’s asking for you.’

‘Oh really,’ she said sarcastically and though you wanted to argue to fight back you didn’t.

‘Yeah, he uh, he’s gonna wanna get it bed but he might need a minute to get there. Don’t fuss him too much otherwise hell get angry with you-‘

‘I don’t need your help,’ she said snippily.

‘From the way you were sobbing your heart out earlier I take it your initial go at handling him didn’t go very well,’ you bit back, offering the only bit of angry you could muster. She bristled, folding her arms across her chest with a pout on her face which you elected to ignore as if she was one of your children. Given her age she might as well have been, ‘look you wanna feed yourself to the lions go ahead but I’m here to help. More importantly I need yours.’

‘Why?’ she questioned.

‘Because I need to know has got someone. Whether it’s you or the next one who knows,’ you said, the idea of her being replaceable finally seeming to kick her into a cooperative mood, ‘just look after him.’

‘What if I don’t know how?’ she asked.

‘Call me,’ you said.

And before she could ask any more questions you fled the room headed back to your car. As you drove away, fresh tears pouring down your face you wondered again about those people at the gate. Except now you had your answer. Because even knowing everything, knowing how it was going to end, you couldn’t walk away. Even if you had to look like you had.

ELVIS TAGS

@girlblogger2002 @sania562 @caitlin1996 @literally-just-elvis-fics @notstefaniepresley @artlesson8892 @18lkpeters @velvetelvis @jaqueline19997 @elvispresleyxoxo @amydarcimarie @presleyenterprise @everythingelvispresley @elvispresleywife @lillypink @richardslady121 @lettersfromvenus @louisejoy86 @ccab

#my writing #elvis #elvis presley #elvis presley x reader #elvis x reader #big daddy elvis #big daddy Elvis x reader #don’t ask

[gilmore-angel]

you belong with me || steve harrington x reader

swiftmas ♱ second fic for my swiftmas!!! important note is that I'm not following the shows canon, so that's why the timeliness is off. I hope you enjoy this fic. im not the biggest fan of how it turned out, but i still am okay with it lol! if you'd like to see the December 1st fic you can click the first link below!! also SO SORRY this is late!!

summary ♱ you love Steve, but he must be stupid if he doesn't realize you two are meant to be together.

warnings/contains ♱ bit of jealousy, friends to lovers, breakup.

swiftmas ♱ navigation ♱ follow my library account @baysfics !!

it was a tuesday night, you sat in your room on your bed, listening to AC/DC. your pajamas were loose and comfortable as you wrote in your diary.

you suddenly hear a tap, tap, tap coming from your window. you furrow your brows, standing up to investigate. any vit of panic settles down when you see it's just your best friend, steve. but as soo. as panic left you worry took its place. why did steve come here so late while it was snowing?!

he gives a bashful smile as he continues to knock on your cold window. he was thankfully wearing a big jacket, covered with melting snow. you quickly rush over and open the window. he ungracfully climbs through and lands on your floor, getting everything around him wet in the process.

you scoff, shaking your head. "are you insane? like actually? what are you doing here so late?" you grab a random dirty tee you had laying on your floor to wipe some of the water now on your windowsill and floor.

he closes the window and takes off his wet coat. he sighs, tossing it on the ground and flopping onto your bed. "just felt like it."

you sigh, shaking your head. you toss the shirt next to his jacket and sit next to him. you can't help but feel your cheeks warm at his appearance. he's all messy hair, flushed cheeks and pretty smiles. you hate your heart for fluttering.

"I thought you were spending the night with nancy?" you liked nancy, you really did. but she didn't come off as the right girl for steve. he needed someone who fully understood him. his personality, his story, his everything. someone like you.

his smile wavers at the mention of his girlfriend. he shrugs, letting out a forced chuckle. "yea well, I pissed her off again so that didn't happen."

you furrow your brows. it seems like she's always upset with him. "what did you do now?"

he adverts his eyes down, shrugging. "you tell me... but it's fine. we'll move past it, we always do."

"a relationship shouldn't feel like a constant battle, you know." you hate seeing how stressed steve had become. their relationship clearly wasn't working.

"yea, whatever. can i sleep here tonight?" he huffs out a bit of air, his voice low. he looks back at you, effortlessly giving the best puppy dog eyes.

you nod, tossing your diary on your bedside table and pulling back the covers. he wordlessly climbs in, laying his head comfortably against your pillow. you lay down next to him, keeping a good distance still. you turn off your lamp, the room devoid of any light except from the moon.

steve closes his eyes, squirming around until he was comfortable. you turn your head to stare at him. his pouty lips, his long eye lashes, his perfect nose. you can hear his soft breath and feel his warmth. you can't help thinking this is how ought to be. always.

——

you and steve arrive at school together, but he soon gets swept away by nancy, who had apparently needed only one night to once again forgive him. she looked pretty and put together as always. her white button up, her red short skirt, her white stocking and heeled mary janes. seeing her made you notice your lackluster outfit. a tee shirt, jeans and sneakers.

you barely saw steve until it was time to leave, since he was your ride. you got to his car before him, so you leaned against it waiting for him. finally you saw him walking up to the car, a almost confused expression on his face. he doesn't look at you as he gets in the car and turns it on. you get into the passenger seat. you place your hand on his shoulder.

"hey, are you feeling okay?" you furrow your brows. he stares at the wheel, nodding absent-mindedly.

"me and nancy broke up." your eyes widened, looking down.

"shit, I'm sorry... are you okay?" he nods again, turning to look at you. you were surprised at the lack of sadness in his eyes, only seeing realization.

"she never liked my jokes, or my music, or my anything... but you do." you notice him getting closer. your heart rate picks up, feeling your cheeks heat up.

"steve..." he finally makes the big move, pressing his soft lips against yours. you gasp softly but respond by kissing him back, gently cupping his cheeks.

you didn't know what this would mean for your relationship long term, but you hoped he finally understands he belongs with you.

#swiftmas (fayes version) #steve harrington #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x you #steve harrington x y/n fluff #steve harrington fluff #steve harrington fanfic #stranger things #stranger things fanfiction #bay writes🌻

[imbored1201]

Snow&Chills

Master List

Summary: It’s readers first time experiencing the show

Paring: Natasha Romanoff x Reader

Word Count: 877

Warnings: Nothing, just them having fun in the snow

Nat was sleeping peacefully when she was woken up by you jumping on her. She groaned as she opened her eyes and looked at you tiredly. She wrapped her arms around you, "what's wrong my love?" She asked tiredly, "it's snowing!" You exclaimed happily. Nat smiled a bit, you've been excited knowing December was coming up so that meant snow.

"Can we go out and play Nat. Please!" You begged her, "hold on detka, we have to eat first and get into comfy clothes" you nodded as you jumped out of bed, ran to the restroom to get ready and ran to the kitchen where Wanda was serving pancakes. "Woah. Why are you in a rush?" She asked, laughing a bit as she served you your pancakes. "It's snowing Wanda! I've always wanted to experience the snow" you said happily digging into the pancakes. "I'm sure you'll love it" she said as she served Nat pancakes.

"You look like you had a rude awakening" Wanda laughed as Nat sighed and collapsed into the chair. "Slow down detka" Nat told you as you weren't even chewing. She turned to Wanda, "She jumped on me to wake me up this morning, she's really excited but I only give her 30 minutes out there until she starts whining about the cold" Nat told Wanda, you pouted at her and shook your head.

When you finished eating you patiently waited for Nat. You felt like she was eating slow on purpose to tease you but once she finished you jumped up and ran to go outside, "Y/N!" Nat yelling your name stopped you. "You have to wear proper attire sweetheart. Come on" she told you as she took your hand and walked you back to the bedroom.

She took out the winter clothes she bought you and bundled you up. "Nat. I can't even breathe" you mumbled as she made you put on 2 sweaters and a big jacket. "You'll be fine" she said as she zipped up the jacket and put a scarf over your neck and a woolen hat on your head. She then got your pants and boots which you quickly put on. She gave you the gloves which you were about to whine about but with her stern look you quickly put them on.

You came out of that room wobbling and all bundled up. Wanda let out a laugh as you wobbled over to her. "Don't you think this is too much?" you mumbled, Wanda shook her head. "Trust me. It's not" you hummed and waited for Nat. When she came out you raced to the door to get out.

You started making a snow angel once you got out, you always said it was the first thing you would do when you got to experience snow. Nat laid down next to you and watched as you did it. Things escalated more when you started building a snowman, it was almost done but you got a random idea. You've always wanted to have a snowball fight so you made a snowball and threw it at Nat who was distracted on making the 2nd part for your snowman. She froze and gave you an evil smirk that made you run. She chased you and threw snowballs at you. You giggled as you were able to dodge some of them.

It was all going well until that assassin aim kicked in. She hit you square in the face making you fall on your ass. The giggles were cut and now you were both silent and looking at each other. "Shit, detka I am so sorry" Nat told you as she kneeled in front of you and wiped the snow off your face. Suddenly you were cold. "Nat I'm cold" you whined as she helped you up. "Let's go inside then" she told you as she took your hand and led you inside

You were shivering. You didn't know why, you had 2 sweaters and a big jacket. Nat was over here with only 1 sweater and a big jacket yet it didn't even affect her. "How are you not cold?" You asked in a shaky voice, making her smile. "I'm Russian sweetheart. This is nothing to me" she told you as you walked into the room and quickly got out of those clothes that were holding you down.

"How about I make us some hot chocolate?" Nat asked as she got out of her clothes as well. You nodded and watched her quickly get changed and leave to start the hot chocolate as you threw yourself on the bed and curled into yourself under the sheets. After about 10 minutes you decided to get up to be near Nat and grabbed 2 blankets m and walked to the kitchen where Nat was. She laughed at how you were dragging there 2 but blankets and watched as you flopped on the couch and curdled into yourself and put on your favorite movie.

Nat came with 2 mugs of hot chocolate and you two snuggled up to each other wrapped in blankets and enjoyed the movie. It was safe to say you will probably avoid the snow for some time.

#natasha romanoff #natasha romanoff x reader #marvel #black widow

[thisapplepielife]

Written for the @steddieholidaydrabbles December challenge.

Catch Fire

Prompt Day 6: Cooking | Word Count: 1000 | Rating: M | CW: None | Tags: Established Relationship, Idiots in Love, First Home, Cooking Mishaps

"Why was there a fire truck pulling out of our driveway when I got home?" Steve asks, putting his gym bag down on the floor next to the couch. It smells awful in their house right now. Like the remnants of a campfire, all charred and heavy, hanging in the air.

And if he's not mistaken, he's pretty sure it's a little cloudy. Steve opens the window over the sink, and then the front door, just trying to get some air circulating through the house.

"There was a fire truck outside? I didn't see a fire truck," Eddie says sitting on the floor, arms deep in the oven.

"Oh, really? That's an interesting place for them to turn around then," Steve replies, pretending he's not seeing whatever the fuck is happening right in front of him. 

"Totally weird," Eddie says, still scrubbing. "We should complain to the city. Using our private property to turn around? Unacceptable."

Steve smiles, and watches, just waiting to see if Eddie's gonna cave and confess to whatever the fuck he did this time, without Steve asking. He doesn't, and Steve gets impatient.

"You caught the oven on fire, huh?" Steve finally asks, grabbing a bottle of Gatorade from the fridge and planting his ass on the bar stool. He's gonna watch this play out.

"I resent that accusation!" Eddie yells, his voice muffled, since his head is quite literally in the oven right now.

"But it's true, right?" Steve asks, and Eddie's laugh echoes throughout the room, coming from inside the oven.

"Maybe, just a little fire," Eddie says, "more smoke than anything else."

"Are you okay?" Steve asks.

"Embarrassed, but okay," Eddie admits, finally looking at Steve, "I thought I could make s'mores in the oven. Turns out, and really, who could have guessed this, marshmallows can really burn if they fall and hit the coils."

"Nobody ever could have predicted that. Not with how they catch fire, and all," Steve says. 

Eddie laughs.

"How did you lose a marshmallow in the oven?" Steve asks, because he's not sure how this went so awry. It's Eddie, minor disasters follow him like an old friend, but still. This is something, even for Eddie.

"I put the graham crackers right on the rack, because I didn't want to clean melted marshmallow goop off the cookie sheet. Again."

Steve taps his temple, sarcastically, "Smart. Instead you're cleaning out the bottom of the oven, I take it?"

"What didn't burn off and smoke up the whole house, yes, yes, I am," Eddie admits.

Steve laughs, and gets down on the floor next to Eddie, leaning back on his haunches, "Need some help?"

He doesn't want to scrub charred marshmallow off the bottom of their oven. But he'd do it. For Eddie. He's learned that over the last few years. He'll do anything for Eddie. Anything at all. 

"Always," Eddie says, but instead of handing him the scrub brush, Eddie is leaning forward to kiss Steve. Once, twice, until he's pushed Steve flat on his back on the linoleum, mess long forgotten.

That's not what Steve meant, but this will definitely do just fine.

Steve presses his body to Eddie's, happy to be home and touching him. They don't get a whole lot of time home together these days. Eddie works nights more often than not, and Steve has been pulling in extra shifts, and wants to go to the gym at least three times a week. 

Eddie doesn't understand that impulse, not at all, but Steve appreciates that Eddie encourages him to do whatever makes him happy.

It's taken a while to get on their feet. Life wasn't easy to return to, after everything that happened in Hawkins. But as soon as the dust cleared, and the kids had graduated and spread their wings and flew away, Steve had taken Eddie, and Robin, and they'd left town. 

There was nothing left there, anyway. So they packed up, and decided to start anew. From scratch, together. Starting out in a shitty, little apartment with one bedroom. The three of them crammed in, with no privacy. 

But it was great, and helped them start to build new lives. To just be who they are, without any preconceived notions coming their way. 

They worked, and scraped, and clawed their way into better lives.

Now, Robin's in school, and Steve's so proud of her. She's gonna be pissed when she comes home and smells the house, though. She's still in the spare room, and Steve wouldn't have it any other way. These two are his family. 

She might not stay with them forever, but they decided to put down roots, and bought this house. It's not huge, but it's nice, and it's their home.

They're doing fine, but this house isn't going to pay itself off. So, he misses Eddie.

Steve flips them over, and presses his dick against Eddie's. Eddie squirms underneath him, and that always gets Steve going. The reaction Eddie has to them touching in any way. It's the hottest thing.

With that in mind, Steve leans down and kisses Eddie again, before burying his face in Eddie's neck, just laying on him, touching in every place possible. 

"You stink," Eddie finally says.

"Well, I was gonna say the same thing about you," Steve answers with a laugh, pulling his head back to look at Eddie.

He doesn't care though, not really. He'd still want to touch Eddie, even if he does smell a little bit like burning right this second. 

"Wanna take a shower together? Conserve water. Save the planet and shit," Eddie asks, giving him the eyes. 

Those eyes have always been his downfall, and Eddie damn well knows it.

"Okay, I guess we can do that," Steve says, pretending like this is something he's conceding to, and not something that he really wants. 

They get up, and Steve leaves the window open, but closes the front door, and lets Eddie lead the way to the bathroom. 

If you want to write your own, or see more entries for this challenge, pop on over to @steddieholidaydrabbles and follow along with the fun!

If you want to see more of my entries into this month-long challenge, you can check them out in my Steddie Holiday Drabbles tag, right here!

#steddieholidaydrabbles #cooking #silly fluff #steddie ficlet #steve x eddie #steddie #eddie munson #steve harrington #thisapplepielife: short fic #thisapplepielife: steddieholidaydrabbles

[saeiwhat]

- - - > those days… a 정원 drabble

paring best friend!jungwon x reader genre fluff, mutual pining warning(s) it’s really cliche i’m sorry word count 1k

the days where you and jungwon had sat side by side on the train ride home were never taken for granted by you. you had always used that time to admire jungwons soft features as he napped peacefully, his head on your shoulder. you liked jungwon. though, you would never admit that you ever did such thing as you were just a friend to him, and you weren’t going to risk your decade long friendship for such cliche matters. so you sat there, and let him sleep as you kept admiring him.

honestly speaking, you wished that you could muster up the courage to tell jungwon about your feelings. when in reality you could barely even tell him that whilst he was drifting off to dreamland.

jungwon on the other hand used this time to find solace in you. the long hours spent at school and his remaining waking hours spent at a lonely apartment tired him. you were jungwons only close friend, sure he had friends in his homeroom but no one truly knew him like you did. but now, the school days you spent together in elementary and junior high were now mere memories. being high school freshmen, your schedules hadn’t aligned, meaning he couldn’t even see you during lunch. so after school was truly the only time he saw you.

this was your daily after school routine, and you became accustomed to it. sometimes even bringing a book with you to keep you occupied. this carried on for a few more months until december.

“what’s up with you?” you inquired as it was odd for jungwon not to be dozing off by now.

“hmmmm…i thought that i should switch things up y’know?” it may have seemed like a simple answer to you but for jungwon, he had been thinking about it for the past few weeks.

truthfully, you and jungwon had mutual feelings. but, like you, he too wasn’t willing to risk your friendship as it meant the world to him. but when he heard his classmate talking about the feelings he had harboured for you, jungwon couldn’t bare the thought of you being with someone else. “i gotta win them over” he murmured.

“c’mon y/n, let’s go to a cat cafe! winter break starts tomorrow so we should continue to have fun!” the boy said as he dragged you in.

and there it started, jungwon’s fool-proof plan on how to ask his best friend out.

for the next three weeks, jungwon had continuously taken you to cafes and fun little places to visit. you two had gone to places like that before in the past so you didn’t think much of it. unlike your best friend, who had thought about every little detail up until the day he’d tell you about his feelings.

☆ ★

december 21st. this was it. everything he had planned was for this day. ‘will i be rejected?’ ‘am i too early?’ ‘oh my where are they?’ his thoughts were running wild until he felt a tap on his shoulder.

“hey, did you wait long?” you said as you slightly shivered. it was cold that day and it wasn’t going to get any warmer.

“oh nah, i just got here a few minutes ago. wanna go get some cocoa? i heard there’s a good hot cocoa place near here…” he offered, noticing the way you hugged your body in order to feel some type of warmth.

“yea! lead the way!” you said excitedly as you followed the brown haired boy.

after grabbing your drinks, you headed to the ice rink. the place jungwon begged you to come to and where he had planned this special day.

nearing the rink, you could see the countless couples and families there. the warm christmas lights surrounding them, and the love shared between them. you smiled unknowingly, hoping to have that type of happiness one day. but right now, you had jungwon. and that was more than enough for you.

“let’s go get our skates, hm?” jungwon said, tugging on your hand like a child. you chuckled as you nodded.

geared up and ready to go, you set forth and started skating for a good hour or so. it was getting darker and the lights seemed even prettier. people were slowly starting to leave as it was getting quite cold. jungwon took this as his sign.

“wanna take a rest?” he suggested, as he skated towards the benches.

“yea, my ankles are starting to hurt.” you said whilst fake crying. jungwon chuckled at you childlike behaviour. sitting down, and drinking the rest of your not-so-hot cocoa, and looked at jungwon to see him already looking at you. that’s when jungwon realized that he had spent so much time planning the days leading up to his confession, that he never actually planned the confession itself.

“i- uhhh… auhm…..” the poor boy couldn’t form any words to express how he was feeling, and resulted to hugging you.

“won? are you feeing okay…?” you were starting to get concerned as you had never seen jungwon like this. a few moments of silence went on until jungwon let out a whisper.

“ireallylikeyouihaveforyearsandispentsolongplanningeverythingbutiforgothowtoactuallyconfessimsosorry” he said in one low breath. yet you somehow comprehended it all. your grip around him tightened slightly as you tried telling him to not apologize. you didn’t know what to say… you one sided crush was not actually one sided…? you really couldn’t believe it.

“are you rejecting me y/n? you arent saying anything….” he again, said lowly with a pout. you chuckled.

“you’re so cute y’know that?” you said, smiling at the boy. “won, i like you too.” you saw how his eyes lighted up. he gave you a peck on your cheek and asked..

“does this mean…we’re dating…?” again, you chuckled. “yes wonie, it does”

☆ ★

you finally that type of hapiness that you had hoped for, and what you said was true. jungwon was more than enough, and he always will be. those days were the most memorable ones of your life. looking back, you wouldn’t have spent that december any other way.

end.

note this was a lot longer than i had planned…

#﹒〈📓〉┆by saei ┆ ⋆ ݈݇- #enhypen #enhypen x reader #enhypen drabbles #enhypen scenarios #enhypen au #enhypen fluff #enhypen soft hours #enhypen imagines #enhypen fic #enha #enha x reader #enha drabble #enha scenarios #enha au #enha fluff #enha soft hours #enha imagines #enhypen jungwon #enha jungwon #jungwon #jungwon x reader #jungwon drabbles #jungwon scenarios #jungwon au #jungwon fluff #jungwon soft hours #jungwon imagines #jungwon fic

[writtenonreceipts]

Rowaelin Month Day Three: Rowaelin as Teens @rowaelinscourt

This is a prologue of sorts, the rest of the fic will come closer to the holidays, hopefully—unfortunately my fic writing will be slowing down massively here in the next little bit.  But, I’ve had this idea on the brain for a year now, so here we are!  I’m hoping this’ll only be 3 parts total, depending on how part two goes…

Rowaelin Month Masterlist Main Masterlist

Warnings: mild (teenage) angst, references to parental death. 

.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.

Like Best Friends Do—Part One

It was December eighteenth and the first snowfall had finally come to Terrasen.

Usually, the snow was a perpetual problem for the city beginning in late October and not slowing down until mid-April, at least.  This year was different.  And Rowan didn’t know how he felt about that.

He’d never been one for change if he were being honest with himself.  Even at eighteen years old (his birthday only occurring a few weeks ago) Rowan had learned that change incited problems.  Problems led to conflict.  And conflict made way for misery.  He knew the path quite well and was not welcome to any sort of change.  Ever.

Which was why he sat in his beat-up Honda just outside of his best-friend’s house.  Tradition demanded it.

He wasn’t waiting long when a shape dashed across the sidewalk toward him.  With far too much energy and fervor, Aelin Galathynius threw open the passenger door.

“Sorry, sorry!” she said as she tossed a grocery bag across the console at him. “I know I’m late.”

Rowan caught the bag easily and shook his head. He couldn’t be mad, not at her.

Aelin stuck her head in the car and scowled.  She wore a ridiculous winter hat with ear flaps, her blonde hair in a wild mess of waves beneath it.   “I couldn’t find any marshmallows because I live with a bunch of heathens apparently.”

She then eased into the car taking care to balance two steaming thermoses in her hands.  With her blonde hair flying about her face and the pink tint to her nose and cheeks, she looked far more angelic than he knew she felt.  Though, Rowan wouldn’t say anything of course.  He couldn’t.

As Aelin settled the thermoses between her legs, she closed the car door and buckled up.  Then she grinned at him with that reckless abandon he was so accustomed to seeing.

“I am ready.”

For as long as Rowan could remember, he and Aelin had spent their Christmases looking at the lights.  At first, their parents would make a carpool even of it.  Holiday music blaring from the stereo, hot cocoa freshly made, and windows rolled down for the best view.  For the young, impressionable kid in the prime of childhood: it was magic.

Then of course, Rowan’s dad died.  That had taken some magic out of things.  He’d been twelve and an only child.  His mother, brilliant woman that she was, persevered.  She ran the small family farm with grace and dignity, never once thinking about letting it go.  She always insisted that change was just an opportunity to grow and she would grow right where she was, thank-you very much.

Still, Rowan had always hated change.

But even as Rowan struggled with grief over his dad—some things remained the same.

Ever since he’d gotten his license at the tick of his sixteenth birthday, he and Aelin often escaped on adventures of their own.  During the holidays it meant it was just him and Aelin going around to look at the lights.  It was always at her insistence and Rowan found it impossible to say no to her.  The music and cocoa remained even when their parents no longer took them out themselves.

“What is all this?” Rowan asked.  He poked at the plastic bag and sighed.  Sitting on top was a giant bag of chocolate.  Below he could see a baggie of baby carrots.  Just for him.  “Seriously?”

“Snacks!”

“I don’t like food in my car!” He knew it was a weak argument, the weakest of all arguments that could possibly be made.

She blinked at him with her big blue eyes and pouted.  The streetlamps filtered through the windows creating a halo around her.  It was impossible that one person could be so beautiful.  

“Please?  It’s Christmas!”

And Rowan, being in love with his best friend, sighed. “You’re insufferable.”

Aelin beamed at him and leaned across the center console to smack a kiss to his cheek. “I won’t make a mess, I promise.”

It was a lie and they both knew it.  Aelin wasn’t the best at remaining organized even when she did try her best.  To be honest, that combination was one of her most endearing attributes.

“Yeah, yeah,” Rowan said, though he couldn’t help the small smile that escaped him.

He pulled the car out onto the road and headed down the street to the first neighborhood.  

They were seniors in high school and had spent the last two weeks busy with finals and essays.  This was going to be a fun, easy way for them to relax before Christmas.  And Rowan, knowing Aelin was also stressed out over basketball, wanted to make this the best round of Christmas lights possible.

He’d already done some scouting earlier in the week.  He didn’t care as much about the lights himself, but there was something about watching the joy and wonder on Aelin’s face that sent flutters to his gut and brought a smile to his lips.  

She always found joy in everything.  She was someone who wanted to see good, to be good.  He’d admired it about her for ages now and was on the list of reasons why he loved his best friend.

Not that he actually wrote anything on that list down.  He wasn’t an idiot, anyone could come across it.  But he kept a mental tally of all the things.

“How’s your mom?” Aelin asked as they drove.  She sipped her cocoa and hummed happily. “Is she making it through alright?”

“Yeah,” Rowan sighed. “Summer was a good season, so we’ve got hoards of lavender and honey stored up to sell, so she’s happy about that.”

The farm had a few acres of lavender plants and three beehives which kept them busy during the summer months.  Winter, however, was where the Whitethorn homestead made its money.  Starting in mid-November the farm turned into a certified Christmas Wonderland.  For the last fifty years it had been dedicated to growing Christmas trees.  Something Rowan did not understand, but his mother loved it.  Tradition.  And Rowan was not one to step on tradition.

“You know, it’s kinda funny that you hate Christmas as much as you do,” Aelin mused.

Rowan rolled his eyes. “I don’t hate Christmas. I hate snow.”

“Which is even more funny, you were born on the coldest day of November, Buzzard, you should be thriving in this weather,” Aelin reminded him, as she so loved to do.

There was no arguing with her so Rowan only rolled his eyes and kept driving.  His phone lit up with a text message but he ignored it.  For just a little bit, he wanted to remain in this moment with his best friend.  And maybe then it would imprint upon his mind for years to come.

“Oh, I love this song,” Aelin said suddenly.  She turned the volume on high as Michael Buble began singing one of his famous Christmas songs.  

“You say that about all the songs,” Rowan pointed out.

Aelin grinned at him. “Because it’s true.  All the songs are the best.”

Rowan couldn’t help but return the smile.  

As Aelin hummed along to the music, Rowan turned into the first neighborhood he’d found the other night.

Immediately, they were flooded with bright lights and inflatable machines.  Aelin squealed and rolled down her window so she could lean out and get closer.  She pointed everything out to Rowan as though he couldn’t already see it himself.

But he didn’t care.  Not as she was singing along and laughing as she was.

They continued for over an hour going to as many different neighborhoods as they could.  As it crept closer to ten and some houses began shutting off their lights, Rowan pulled them off in front of Aelin’s house, knowing that her dad would be watching for them.  Best friends or not, the man had firm rules of where his daughter was and who she was with.

“What happens next year?” Aelin asked as a Nat King Cole song came on.  She turned the volume down so it was a low rumble in the background.

“Next year?” Rowan frowned.  Why would next year be any different?

“I’m going to Adarlan, you're going to Doranelle,” she reminded him.

Rowan sighed.  He’d forgotten that.  Different colleges practically at opposite ends of the continent.

“We’ll figure something out,” he said with a shrug. 

Aelin sighed and hunkered down in her seat.  She held onto her thermos, though Rowan was certain she’d finished her cocoa ten minutes into their drive.

“I don’t know,” she murmured. “I don’t like it when things change so much.”

Rowan reached over and took her hand, twining their fingers together. “I know.”

“You’re my best friend, Rowan,” she said looking up at him.  There was panic in her eyes, Rowan could see.  It was strange seeing something so out of control in a gaze that was usually so calm and confident. “And I don’t want to lose you.”

Rowan’s chest gave a painful tug.  “Aelin--”

He cut himself off before he could say what he wanted.  Because really, he knew that he’d never be able to tell her how he really felt about her.  Though, maybe that was for the best.  After all, if it came to having Aelin in his life versus not--he’d always chose the first.  

His phone went off then with an incoming call before he had a chance to debate his inner thoughts further.  Before Rowan could reach for it, Aelin snatched the phone up.  They always shared their phones that it shouldn’t have been an issue.  But Rowan knew who was calling him.

“Cairn?” Aelin asked, looking up.  Her face was illuminated by the pale glow of the screen as the call continued to ring through and the dim green and red that bounced off from the lights on her house. “Why would he be calling you?”

Rowan turned away, out toward the street where snow was beginning to accumulate.  The truth burned like acid in the back of his throat.

“It doesn’t matter,” he muttered, “he needs help in history.”

“Finals ended last week.” Aelin practically threw his phone at him.  He could hear the displeasure dripping from her voice. “Seriously, Rowan?  He’s an asshole.  You can’t be friends with him.”

“We’re not!” Rowan dropped his hands from the car wheel and slouched in his seat. “C’mon Aelin, you know I don’t like the guy.”

“Then why’s he calling you?  You know what he and Erawan said about Elide, what Cairn tried with her.”  Aelin leaned back in her seat, simply staring at him.

“Which is why we’re not friends,” Rowan insisted.

The only reason Cairn was trying to call him was for something stupid, Rowan knew.  They played basketball together which supposedly curated comradery between them.  But Cairn wasn’t a nice kid.  They way he talked about the girls in their class and they had tried to spike Elide’s drink at a party a few weeks ago.  If Chaol Westfell hadn’t been the only sober one that night no one would have known…

But then Rowan had helped Cairn cheat on an exam so he could pass.  If he’d flunked, he wouldn’t have been able to play in the state finals…and…well.  Rowan never said he was a good person.

“Aelin,” he began.

But she was already throwing open the door, grabbing the empty thermoses and stuffing them into the now empty grocery bag.

“I gotta go, Rowan,” she said, not bothering to look at him.

“Aelin!” he yelled after her.  She slammed the door and trudged back up to her house.  

Rowan could only watch.  He waited until she was inside and he saw the shadow of her silhouette pass the front window, followed by the outline of Rhoe rising from the living couch.

Only then did he start up his car and drive away.

It wasn’t thirty seconds later when Cairn called him again.

“What do you want?” Rowan growled.

“Easy Whitethorn,” Cairn said on the other end.  He chuckled lowly and Rowan felt his hackles rise. “I just need a favor.”

“No.”

Another laugh followed by a shout from another person in the background.  Probably Erawan.

“What else are you doing tonight, Whitethorn?” Cairn asked. “Damn, boy.  You just wanna sit at home with your mama?”

The voice in the background spoke up louder. “Punkassbitch!”

Definitely Erawan.  Another, cruder, stream of expletives trailed after.

“It’s almost Christmas, man,” Rowan said.  He pulled his car over again, not wanting to drive and have this conversation.  His ma would kill him if he got into an accident. “So, yeah, I wanna be at home.”

“I’ll bring you a blankie to practice,” Cairn said.  Something clinked in the background; metal against metal that grated just a bit.  “You owe me.”

Rowan cursed to himself.  He wanted nothing more than to go back to Aelin’s, to pound on her door and beg her to let him in.

“Mr. Clark don’t like cheaters very much,” Cairn continued, “be a shame if someone told him what happened.”

“You’d be in as much trouble as me,” Rowan said.  He shut off the radio as his skin grew hot and panic began to swirl in his stomach.

“You wanna bet?”

It took too much effort for Rowan to ease his breathing.  Too much effort for him to calm down.  Hell.

“What do you want, Cairn?”

…

The warehouse seemed familiar to Rowan but he couldn’t quite place it.  They were in the cheaper side of the city, the side where everything was in disrepair and the video cameras were just for show.  The cops didn’t care what happened and the citizens knew their voices wouldn’t actually be heard.

Only recently a few local politicians had been making an effort of improving the area.  A few businesses had even tried moving in to give the lonely streets new life.

Hence the warehouse.

Why was it so familiar?

“Let’s go!” Cairn hissed.  He prodded Rowan sharply in the back.

They snuck down a shadowed alleyway around the back of the warehouse.  There was only one singular lamppost in the distance, but it kept flickering as though it would die at any moment.  Snow fell from the sky in lazy flurries, barely coating the ground.  The one time he would have actually been grateful for a snow storm.  Maybe that would have driven Cairn and Erawan back home.

Rowan gripped a flashlight in one hand and a pair of heavy bolt cutters in the others.  This was not going to end well.  He already knew it.  A chill swept through him in a mix of the actual cold weather and trepidation. 

Erawan led the way to a chain link fence, cutting along one of the poles and yanking the metal back.  Cairn ducked through the opening first, his own flashlight bobbing along.  The two had come prepared for this.  They’d planned it well too given how they moved.  Rowan was just a random extra body.  Someone to potentially blame this on if it all went sideways.

Erawan shoved him through the fence hole when he hesitated.

“Get off me,” Rowan hissed. 

“Then move!” Erawan snapped.  The stench of cigarettes and stale coffee wafted off of him.

Knowing better than to ignore the order, Rowan took off after Cairn.

“What’re we even doing?  You can’t think breaking into a warehouse is a good idea.” Rowan tightened his grip on his flashlight and wondered how much trouble he’d actually get in if he decided to whack Cairn over the head with the bolt cutters.  He was pretty sure he could out run Erawan if it came down to it.

Cairn didn’t answer, only led them to the side of the warehouse.  When Erawan reached them, he dropped the bag he was holding, it rattled with a messy noise of battered abuse.

“Just having fun.”

Which was how Rowan found himself gang tagging the side of a warehouse at one in the morning.  He shouldn’t have come, he knew.  The reality of the situation was beating relentlessly against the side of his skull with each pass he made of the green spray paint.  He should have told his mom what happened.  Should have gone to Coach Brullo who trusted him.  Should have—should have—

Erawan muttered under his breath as he spelled out a curse word in red paint, the c-u bleeding against the wall like a wound.  Cairn was practicing his anatomy skills and doing a terrible job.  And Rowan…Rowan just made splashes and slashes where he could.  That didn’t seem to offend the others, just as long as he did something.

“We should go,” he said after nearly half an hour.  A car drove by on the streets, slow and deliberate.  In the darkness he couldn’t tell the make or model and it only added to his panic.

While this side of the city was sketchy at best—people still talked and eventually the cops would show up.

Cairn scoffed and was about to say something—likely a mockery of Rowan’s want to get the hell out of there—when a burst of red and blue lights erupted across the street.

Rowan dropped the spray paint he was holding.  His mother was going to kill him.  He looked around, desperate for an escape while Cairn and Erawan were already halfway across the abandoned lot.  They didn’t get much further when a few uniformed officers flashed lights and their guns yelling for them to stop.

“On your knees!” One officer shouted.  It took Rowan a moment to realize the order was directed at him.  Coming up on his left was an officer, perfectly poised to take any necessary action.  

Falling to his knees, Rowan’s mind blanked out.  He did everything he was told to do, barely registering anything other than a muffled curse and an exclamation from one of the officers.

“They’re just kids.”

“Damn.  Just get ‘um cuffed.”

It wasn’t until Rowan was hauled to his feet that he managed to catch a look at the messy display of vandalism they’d created.  Only…Rowan finally latched onto the logo he’d noticed etched onto the metal door of the warehouse bay and his heart froze before his entire body seized up.  He knew that logo and he knew the name attached to it.

Galacorp.

Aelin’s father’s company.  That he’d just helped to vandalize.

“Let’s go kid,” the officer next to him said, guiding Rowan to his feet as he began to recite Rowan’s rights.

Rowan hardly listened.  Couldn’t.  Because in just the span of an hour his entire life turned over on its head.  He let the officer guide him to the police cruiser only tripping up when he caught sight of a familiar black SUV with tinted windows and sleek specially ordered rims.

Rhoe Galathynius leaned casually against the back of the car, arms crossed over his wool coat.  He watched Rowan closely with an unreadable expression.  And Rowan knew that nothing would ever be the same after this.

.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.

will reblog with tags. Please consider reblogging so others see it! <3

thanks for reading.

#rowaelin #aelin galathynius #rowan whitethorn #rowan x aelin #rowaelin month #throne of glass #tog

[wowbright]

Fic: Paper Boats

Fandom/pairing: Glee, Kurt/Blaine

Event: December Klaine Fanworks Challenge 2023 (sail)

Words: ~ 1350 words                                        

Rating: Teen and up

Summary: After Kurt returns to the United States, Blaine has trouble adjusting to a new companionship.

Notes: This is part of my Mormon!Klaine universe. It takes place after Out of Eden, which I am still in the process of posting to AO3. It’s among the likely possibilities for their future. Warning for situational depression, but the story ends on a hopeful note. Elder Nixon is Warbler Trent.

* * *

It had started as a beautiful, sunny day at the park, but now enough clouds had rolled in that the sun was blocked and the whole place had a gray, overcast vibe, which was not helping Blaine's mood at all. Just as bad, the floods of people walking through the park had slowed down to a trickle, which meant Blaine couldn't distract himself by striking up a new conversation with a stranger every few minutes.

He sat on a stone ledge a few meters away from the water fountain. There were a couple of kids walking around it, taking turns dragging a toy boat along the edge of the artificial pool by a bright yellow string. Well, he thought, that was one good thing. When the sky grew dark like this, colors grew more saturated. The chalk drawings he and Elder Nixon had made this morning with shades that looked almost pastel in direct sunlight were now full of deep, rich color. He stared at their depiction of the pre-mortal world lit by a rainbow sun. It was almost as bright and beautiful as an actual sunset. Blaine wished he was there now. In the pre-mortal world, he had never had to be apart from Kurt.

This mortal world sucked.

“Did you ever have one of those things?” Elder Nixon asked. He stood next to Blaine, nodding at the kids with their tugboat.

“No,” sighed Blaine. “There wasn't much water in Mesa accept for the reflecting pool at the temple, and I wasn't allowed to play in there of course.”

“We had a game we liked to play in the inflatable pool when we stayed at our summer cabin in Minnesota. Have you ever heard of Viking funeral?”

“I've heard of Vikings having funerals. Didn’t the rich ones get buried in their boats?”

“Maybe? This game may or may not have had its origins in actual Viking traditions. Basically, we’d make paper boats— Hey. Want to make some paper boats? We’ve got plenty of paper.” Without waiting for an answer, Elder Nixon sat down on the ledge next to Blaine and set the flyers he’d been holding in his hand between them. “There's more here than we can possibly give out. You learned to make paper boats, right? Even if they didn't let you float them in the reflecting pool?”

“Yeah,” Blaine said sullenly. “Not sure I remember how, though.”

"Well, I do. Here—" Elder Nixon demonstrated the first fold, and refused to proceed until Blaine copied him, and so on with the next and next, until each of them had a little paper boat with a stout triangular mast in the center. Blaine felt the memory reawakening in his muscles, so he made another one and then another one, each more crisply executed than the last.

“Now we to set them to sail,” Elder Nixon announced.

“Is that how you play Viking funeral?” Blaine asked, following Elder Nixon to the edge of the fountain. The kids were no longer there, having abandoned their toy boat in favor of dragging their grown up to follow a duck with them to the top of a grassy knoll.

“Not exactly. I don't have all the supplies for Viking funeral, and anyway, I'm pretty sure we could get in trouble for playing it here.”

“Oh?” Blaine’s interest was genuinely piqued. It was a feeling that had grown unfamiliar in the preceding weeks. He had managed to feign interest plenty, of course, and a few times he had almost managed to convince himself that he was genuinely engaged in talking to someone or learning something new. But then the black cloud would creep back in, and his brain would get foggy, and everything felt fake and unreal and pointless again.

“You put a birthday candle in the top of each boat and light it,” Elder Nixon said, recreating the motions on one of his paper boats before launching it on the water.

“Oh.” An image of dozens of paper boats floating at night on the same fountain, each topped with a single candle, popped into Blaine’s head. “But that sounds beautiful. Like Japanese water lanterns.” He set two of his own boats on the water.

“It was,” Elder Nixon said. “Except that's not the part we got excited for. Because when the candles burn down, all that's left to burn is the paper. So that was the fun part for us, seeing our entire fleet go up in flames. We would launch our boats toward each other’s to speed the process along. Oh, the beautiful destruction!” Elder Nixon chuckled at the memory.

And, for some reason, Blaine felt himself chuckling, too. He could imagine miniature Elder Nixon and his chubby-cheeked siblings, all looking like little blonde cherubs from the front of an old Victorian greeting card, standing around a poofy plastic pool and cheering on the firy demise of their entire fleet. Maybe it was the incongruity of it. Elder Nixon was so kind and sweet. It was hard to imagine him setting things ablaze for kicks.

“Hey,” Elder Nixon said with a fond smile, “you're laughing.”

“I guess I am,” Blaine said, and stopped.

“Oh no. I ruined the moment.”

“No, you didn't.”

“Yes, I did.”

"No, you really didn't,” Blaine said. There was something inside him that kept tugging him back to a baseline of gloominess, no matter what the people around him did. "None of this is your fault. I mean, I know I have a reputation as a ray of sunshine, but I can't shine all the time. Everything's just been so hard lately.”

“Since I became your companion,” Elder Nixon said.

“Not because you're my companion," Blaine said. “You help make it better than it would be otherwise. You’re patient and kind and you don't judge me. And I want to be more cheerful. I really do. And I thought I would be. But …” Blaine couldn't keep it a secret anymore. It was making everything worse—made him feel like he was sneaking around and had something to hide, and those things felt too close to shame to be any good for Blaine's mental health. He hadn't wanted to put this burden on Elder Nixon—but then again, why was Blaine thinking of it as a burden? Elder Nixon could do what he wanted with it. He could let it bring them closer together as friends, or he could report Blaine to the mission president. It was up to him. It was out of Blaine’s hands. “I just—” Blaine felt tears pushing against his eyes. That was probably a good thing. He hadn’t let himself cry in front of another person since Kurt left. “I miss Elder Hummel a lot.”

Elder Nixon put a hand on Blaine shoulder and gave it a solid pat. “I know. It's tough when a companion you really click with leaves.”

Blaine shook his head. “It's not just that, though. I miss him because I'm in love with him.” And then, because if he was in for a penny, he was in for a pound, he added with urgency, “I'm gay and I fell in love with my companion, and he loves me back, and half the time I just feel really stupid for staying here and not following him to Ohio. And if you need to tell the mission president, you can; I mean, I'd rather it be my own decision, but beggars can't be choosers—and anyway, I don't want to be a burden to you, and I feel like I have been, the whole time we've been working together.”

“You're not a burden, Elder Anderson,” Elder Nixon said, and he hugged Blaine, which was not a thing missionaries usually did in public, but they weren't supposed to have emotional outbursts in public either and, besides, the kids and their grown up were nowhere to be seen right now. “You're my friend. And I'm so glad you told me, because now I can be a better friend to you.”

#december klaine challenge 2023 #day 8: sail #mormon!klaine #wowbright writes fic #klaine fic #klaine fanfic #klaine fanfiction

[vacantgodling]

this year was one of the first years in a long time that i TRULY committed myself to writing any and everything that i thought of and it’s been a really good feeling. so starting from this year, i wanna have a little year in review so i can look back and reminisce on how much i actually did cuz sometimes it’s hard to tell lol.

TOTAL WORDS WRITTEN (january — december 2023)

139,345 (as of 11/30 (google docs only))

i’ve written more probably, but my notes app is harder to keep track of word counts in. this total is also across all pieces of prose and poetry, though poetry isn’t a significant number lol

if this was all in one piece i’d probably have a full novel already lmao 💀

LONGEST SINGLE PIECE

paramour chapter 9 — masquerade, clocking in at 5,894 words

WIP THAT HAS MADE THE MOST HEADWAY BY THE NUMBERS

paramour is sitting pretty at 30k-ish words written overall (including me writing chapter 20 twice lol)

WIP THAT HAS MADE THE MOST HEADWAY BY THE HEART

definitely cage. i’ve had this fanfiction and wip for years and the fact that i’d finished the full outline like last year but didnt start writing it until now and how much headway ive made in such little time… i’m really proud of myself. i can’t wait to actually finish this bitch

TOP PIECES WRITTEN THIS YEAR

Worthless War -> the cherry on top, best thing i’ve written this year and probably in general for a long time.

Come To Bed -> when i lost my mind about buddy daddies earlier this year, this fic really encapsulated everything i felt about the show. i love the narration, i love how it’s fun and playful but also deep, and i remember having so much fun writing it.

Paramour Chapter 20 “Careless Whisper” -> the rewrite of chapter 20 i am UNREASONABLY obsessed with and it’s a shame i can’t post it here without giving so so so much away. i love it so much i am willing to share it with those who don’t care about spoilers lol but its smutty and emotionally charged and everything perfect about amon and hya’s fucked up mess

A Fool’s Errand -> this is in the role swap amon and hya au and tbh this au is So Fun to me. getting to be in amon’s head more often is definitely a treat and the description of the make out is PEAK

Good Feeling -> i will never be normal about hue and jihan and i think i captured their relationship esp in the early days perfectly so i’m just gonna cry about it

Ritual -> i really love this piece and giving life again to some old ocs meant a lot to me. + the smut 🤌🏾🤌🏾

Distraction -> no one knows or cares about these ocs but me and that’s okay i’ll just be feral about them on my own 😭

GOALS FOR NEXT YEAR

reach 150k words written overall

finish cage like it’s GOING to happen i will it

finish the first draft of paramour!!!

#writing in review: 2023 #about renjamin #writeblr

[the-casbah-way]

justin update: justin has had his first vaccination !!!

quite a few people have donated to justin's fundraiser now so i wanted to share an update

around £132 has been raised so far, which was enough to get one of my cats fully vaccinated. thank you so so much if you donated or took the time to share the fundraiser !!

unfortunately the weather here has gotten really bad, and although justin has a hutch with insulation he has gotten even more impatient (understandably) about trying to get inside

as well as this in the uk november is "bonfire night" and people set off fireworks next to our garden and close to justin's hutch which made him really stressed and upset, so we had to let him inside for a few hours until he had calmed down

because of these things i have decided i can't wait any longer to let justin inside. this means i had to use quite a large portion of my university fund to pay for his vaccines, and another chunk

because of these things i have decided i can't wait any longer to let justin inside. this means i had to use quite a large portion of my university fund to pay for his vaccines, and another chunk to get my second cat full vaccinated, which means just over £400 altogether. justin had his first appointment today and it went really well. so the good news is that this means justin only has one more vet appointment until he can come inside, and i only have one indoor cat left to vaccinate. this means justin will be able to come indoors by the 28th of december !!

to get my second cat full vaccinated. justin had his first appointment today and it went really well. so the good news is that this means justin only has one more vet appointment until he can come inside, and i only have one indoor cat left to vaccinate. this means justin will be able to come indoors by the 28th of december !!

the "bad" news is that i had to use my university funds for this, meaning i may not be able to pay for my final year of my undergraduate degree and i won't be able to do a masters like i have been saving up for for years. i don't regret spending my money on justin, but it has meant i will probably have to give up on a pretty big dream of mine

if you can spare any money at all to help me replenish my university fund it would mean so, so much to me. we are still quite a long way away from justin's fundraiser goal but i'm still so so grateful to everyone who donated because it really was the difference between me being able to do this or not, so thank you <3

(lastly: if anyone would like photos of the vet receipts for proof i am happy to send them via dm)

justin's fundraiser is here if you would still like to donate. thank you so so much and i will keep posting updates about justin's appointments and i will let you know how things go once he comes indoors <3

#please don't tag with “boost” or aid tags it makes the post get less reach <3 thank you

[marmixedwithabitofintellect]

The Story of You

There is someone very special I want you guys to meet 🥰🤍

I listened to these songs while writing, I would definitely recommend listening while reading:

Apple

(I'm sorry that one of the songs is a remix, here's the link to the slow version)

Spotify

Part 19: I've Been Waiting For You

December 13, 2021: Week Forty

New York, New York. 1:00 AM

The urge to pee woke me up from my sleep, I turned to see what time is it and smiled, I placed a hand on my bump and whispered, “Happy due date bunny”, I got out bed and waddled to the bathroom, I heard the shower on the guest room which I guess meant Harry was back.

I left the door ajar and while walking the few meters left to the toilet I stopped in my tracks when I felt a pop and some water come out, shit. I screamed for Harry, who appeared beside me in a few seconds, “Baby, what’s wrong?”, I was looking at the floor, hands on my belly and shuddering breaths leaving my mouth, “Baby please”, he walked to her and when he kissed my temple, I was pulled out from my thoughts and could answer to him

“Harry… my water just broke”, he stood up straighter next to me, “What? Are you sure?”, I sniffled before he tilted my head so I could see him, “Hey, deep breaths, okay?”, we started breathing together until I felt my shoulders fall and closed my eyes, “Thank you”, he nodded, “Okay, so are you sure it was your waters and not pee?”

“I am ninety percent sure, I felt a pop, like a balloon and I think I’m leaking”, he nodded, “Okay, let’s do this, I will go put on some clothes and let you change, and I’ll come see you again okay?”, I nodded and he left the bathroom, I sat down on the toilet and felt another streak of water, yep my water definitely broke.

I walked out of the bathroom as Harry came into my room, “So?”, I let out a breathless laugh, “We are having a baby”, he smiled and kissed my forehead, “What can I do for you?”, I rubbed my belly and swayed a little, “We need to let Betty know, and maybe can we call your mom and Gem?”, he nodded

“Still think it’s a boy?”, I smiled, “I do, how about you?”, he squeezed my hand, “I also think it is a boy”, I cleaned my tears, “I’m sorry, I’m very emotional and I cannot wait to meet them”, he shook his head, “Don’t apologize, I am surprised I am not crying too”

December 13, 2021: Week Forty

Harry. New York, New York. 1:15 AM

As I was about to call Betty Y/N loudly exhaled and let out a little moan, I reached for her hands and she squeezed mine, I swayed with her and checked the time on the watch, about forty five seconds later she let go and I opened the app I had downloaded and tracked the contraction, she reached for her water bottle and took a big sip, she then sat down on the bed and patted the seat in front of her so I could sit down.

I dialed Betty’s number who answered very fast, “Hello?”, “Betty hi! Sorry for the late phone call”, she laughed, “No worries, I’m at the hospital checking on some patients, what’s up?”, “We have a baby on the way”, she squealed in excitement, “Really? How are you darling?”, I squeezed her hand, “My water broke about thirty minutes ago and I have had some contractions but nothing too strong yet”

“Okay, how along are your contractions love?”, she started having one so I started the app timer and answered for her, “Every twelve minutes lasting forty-five to fifty seconds”, she gave me a small smile as a thank you, “Okay darling, so we will continue to monitor, and I’ll check in with you in about an hour or two okay? Remember the exercises you learned in your class, and if anything changes, call me”, “Thanks Betty, will do”

I put the phone down and squeezed her hand, “We are having a baby”, she let out a shuddering breath, “We are having a baby”, I kissed her forehead, “Do you need anything?”, she nodded, “Could you make me some tea?”, “Of course, while it is done, I’ll call my mum and Gem okay?”, she nodded and started doing her breathing exercises while I left the room.

The phone rang five times before my mum sleepily answered, “Hi baby boy, what’s going on?”, I let out a shuddering breath, “Hi mumma, how do you feel about becoming a grandma today?”, “What? She’s in labor?”, my heart was beating so fast, “Yeah, labor started a little bit ago, would you mind making your way over here with Gem?”, “Of course darling, give us twenty and we’ll be there”

December 13, 2021: Week Forty

New York, New York. 1:45 AM

I let out a breath after the contraction ended and Harry stopped the timer, “Okay? Want some water?”, I nodded and ran a hand down my belly, I took a big gulp and as he placed my tumbler on the table when there was a knock at the door, we had moved to the living room since it was open and had more space, a few seconds later Anne and Gemma appeared at the entrance of the living room

“Hi lovey, how are you doing?”, I smiled a little and started crying, Anne made her way to hug me, she kneeled in front of me, pulled me into her arms and started swaying a little, “Oh honey, it’s okay yes? Everything will be scary for a while, but in the end, it will be so worth it”

I nodded and pulled back a little, before I could say hello to Gemma, I felt another contraction starting, which had me leaning into Anne and she started swaying and taking some deep breaths with me, during the haze of pain I could feel Harry talking to me, “You’re okay, it will be over soon”

When the contraction ended I pulled back a little and Gemma ran her hand down my back, I smiled at her, “Thank you Gem”, she nodded, Anne then moved and Harry took her place and kissed my lips, “You are so strong, I am so proud of you”, I chuckled and tearily answered, “I don’t feel so strong right now”, he rubbed his nose with mine, “Then let me be your strength yeah?”, I nodded and closed my eyes.

December 13, 2021: Week Forty

Harry. New York, New York. 2:15 AM

I turned to look at my mom and gave her a worried look, Y/N’s labor was progressing a little faster than I have thought it would, and I had a bad feeling about it, right now I was rubbing her lower back while Gemma was helping her take a few deep breaths and ride the contraction, once it ended my mum made her way to her and wiped her forehead, Y/N was crying when she asked my mum, “Why are they hurting so much? I thought it would take hours”

My mum placed a hand on her cheek hoping it would help her focus, “Darling it’s okay but you need to take some deep breaths, I know it feels like it is too much too sudden but you are safe, you have us here”, Y/N nodded, “I’m sorry, I just… I miss my mum”, my heart broke and tears started falling down my eyes, my mum pulled Y/N back to her arms, “I’m here, hey you have me, I’ll always be your mum if you want me to”, Y/N nodded and hugged her back.

Gemma squeezed my hand while she updated Michal and my dad who were still back home, “Harry?”, I made my way to her and kneeled in front of her face, I moved a loose hair that had fallen from her bun and kissed her lips, “What do you need?”, she sniffled, “I need you”

I nodded and pulled her into my arms, she nuzzled into my neck while another contraction began, “I got you”, once it ended she stood up and said she wanted to walk and Gemma went with her while I talked with my mum, “Mum, her last contractions were five minutes apart”, she squeezed my hand, “I know baby boy, I am worried too, have you texted Betty?”, I nodded, “Hasn’t answered, probably busy”, she sighed, “Let’s hope she gets back to you soon”

December 13, 2021: Week Forty

New York, New York. 2:50 AM

I was pacing my room when I felt something shift, this baby was coming. And fast. I stopped in the middle of the room and swayed my hips, “Gemma, I need you to bring Harry”, there must have been something on the tone I used because Gemma sprinted out of the room and a few seconds later Harry appeared beside me and rubbed my back.

After the contraction ended, I stood straight, “Harry, I want to go to the hospital”, he squeezed my arm, “Lovie are you sure? I thought you were set on a home birth”, I turned to look at him, tears in my eyes, “Baby please, I need to go to the hospital”, he nodded and kissed my forehead, we turned to see Gemma standing on the door

“Michal is on his way, he’ll drive the car”, while Anne helped me with managing the contractions, Gemma helped Harry gather the bag we had packed, my notes and the goodie basket we had for nurses, Gemma then disappeared from the door and came back with Michal following her, Harry was putting on my sandals while Anne helped me put on a sweater.

Michal got into the driver seat and Gem on the passenger seat, while Anne, H, and I filled the back, how everything had taken such a turn was still out of my understanding. The only certainty was Harry and his musky manly smell, the smell I was constantly inhaling and exhaling while he helped me during contractions, tears started leaking from my eyes and dropping on his shoulder where I rested my head

“I'm scared”, I gave him a shuddered breath and he kissed my temple while I felt Anne squeezing my other hand and running her hand down my back, he whispered to me, “I'm scared too, but we'll be scared together and everything will be okay, yeah?”, I nodded, and he kissed my temple again.

December 13, 2021: Week Forty

Harry. New York, New York. 3:15 AM

After what felt the longest ride of my life, we pulled up at the emergency room entrance, while Gemma ran to get a nurse and a wheelchair, my mum got the bags and I helped Y/N manage the contraction that was hitting her, “Harry they are coming too fast”, “I know my love, we are here, and the doctors will help you”

When the contraction was over, we got out of the car and started walking to the entrance where Gem met us halfway with a nurse and a wheelchair, the nurse gave me a smile and squeezed Y/N’s shoulder, “How has her labor progressed”, “Her water broke at around one, contractions have been steady every twelve minutes for the first hour but have picked up on the last hour, last ones were three minutes apart”

“And she’s Dr. Olson’s patient, right?”, I nodded, “Okay, she’s currently in surgery but we’ll let her know”, we got into the elevator where another contraction started, Y/N reached in for me and I grabbed her hands, we stood up and swayed and my heart broke when she moaned in pain, I kissed her forehead and she sat down once the contraction was over and we made our way to the room.

December 13, 2021: Week Forty

New York, New York. 3:20 AM

Everything hurt, the contractions where now continuous and I wanted to die from the pain, I couldn’t even properly talk to the nurse who was helping me, along with Anne to settle on the bed in a half sitting position, Anne changed the cold towel I had on my head and I gave her a thankful smile.

A lovely nurse was asking me some questions, “Okay darling, do we want to do skin-to-skin and delayed cord clamping?”, I nodded, “Do we know if we’re having a boy or girl?”, I shook my head, “We want to find out so please don’t tell us”, she nodded, “Sure thing darling, let me write that down in your board”

Gemma was beside Anne holding my hand, “Squeeze as hard as you want”, I nodded and moaned as another contraction ripped through, suddenly something shifted, pressure, God there was so much pressure, I moaned before calling for Harry, “Harry, I need to push”

December 13, 2021: Week Forty

Harry. New York, New York. 3:20 AM

My heart started beating so fast when she said this, one of the nurses let us know she would go get Betty while another did an exam on Y/N, “Oh! Uhm she’s crowning”, I walked to grab her stretched hand while another lovely nurse grabbed some gloves and a receiving blanket.

A squeeze to my hand makes me return it and turn to look at Y/N, “Please don’t let go”, I kissed her forehead, and pressed mine against hers, “I will never let you go”, she smiled a little and nodded before a contraction started, we heard the nurse say, “Okay love, when you feel the urge to push just go with it”

Y/N nodded and just a few seconds later she started pushing, I was on her side grabbing her knee while a nurse grabbed the other, my mum behind her changing her cold rag, when the contraction ended, she let out a breath and I kissed her forehead

“Great job!”, my heart was beating full of love and gratitude for this woman, suddenly she took a deep breath and started pushing again, the nurse on her feet praising on, “Good job! Now, on this next contraction I want you to pant, okay? Let your baby come”, I could see her start to spiral so I tilted her head to so she could see me

“Hey, you’re okay, we’ll do it together yeah?”, she nodded and screwed her face, but before she could push, we started panting together, “Great, now take a deep breath”, the second nurse squeezed my arm, “Are you ready to meet your baby?”, I nodded and felt the tears in my eyes, when Y/N groaned and started pushing I peeked and started crying when I saw their little ears, they were real.

Mitch had told me, that probably the last few seconds before the baby was born were probably going to feel like I was in a slow-motion movie, I thought he was kidding, but as I held her leg and saw her push everything went silent, and I slowly saw the baby come out, before their legs were out I turned to see Y/N’s face when all of a sudden there was a sound, a sound that I didn’t know I needed to breathe and live.

A melody of love, illusion and need. A cry. A cry we have been waiting for, a cry we had dreamed of for the last nine months. A cry that belonged to our baby.

The nurse placed the baby on her chest while I heard her and the other nurse celebrate and my mum and Gemma cry, she started rubbing them while she told us, “Welcome baby to this world at 3:47 in the morning”, I rested her leg on the stirrup and then turned to look at her, she was bawling while trying to see our little baby and I was bawling too.

December 13, 2021: Week Forty

New York, New York. 3:47 AM

The relief I felt right now was a feeling I had never ever felt before, then there was a warm wet weight pressed on my chest and abdomen, when I turned to see I found the most beautiful face scrunched up and crying, “Oh my God, you’re real”, I then placed my hands on their back and cried while I closed my eyes.

I felt a wet kiss being pressed to my forehead, I opened my eyes and found Harry full of tears and a smile so big, a smile I had never ever seen, “H…”, he sniffled, “I see them sweetheart”, I then turned to see Anne and Gemma, tears on their eyes, Anne leaned to kiss my forehead, “You did so good lovey”, I nodded as a thank you and returned to see my baby, “Welcome to the world bunny”, the nurse changed the wet towel for a dry one and helped me adjust the baby in my chest.

A nurse squeezed my shoulder, “You did so good mama!”, I gave her a nod in appreciation. The crying never stopped, Harry was leaning next to me, an arm caressing the head of our tiny baby, “Look at you, you are gorgeous baby”, I sniffled, and he kissed my head, “I will never ever be able to repay you for what you just did”

I turned to look at him and whispered, “What we did”, we stared into each other’s eyes, and before I truly understood what was happening, I reached for his lips and kissed him, he wasted no time answering back, we pulled back after a second and returned to stare at our baby; all of a sudden Randy and Betty appeared in the door with a shocked face, Betty spoke up, “What is going on here hmm?”, she instructed Randy to finish the delivery.

We smiled at Betty, and she walked towards us excitement written all over her face, “Do we know the gender yet?”, Harry and I shook our head and she laughed, Harry moved a little and Betty leaned you see the baby, “Look at that sweet face”, she then ran her finger down their cheek

“Excuse me little one, I have kept your secret for the last thirty weeks and you couldn’t wait for me? I’m offended”, everyone in the room laughed, we stared at the baby for a few more minutes until Betty cleared her throat, “So… are you guys ready to know if you have a little boy or girl?”, I turned to see Harry and we both grinned while nodding with our heads.

My hands were shaking when I reached for the baby settled on my chest, a wail in protest left their tiny lips when I lifted them up from their cozy place on my chest, when we turned to see what was nestled between their legs, I heard Harry start to laugh and bawl while he kissed my head, I couldn’t believe it

“We have a girl”, I could hear Anne and Gemma let out a squeal of happiness while I let the baby rest again and Harry reached to give her a kiss, then she whispered, “Hello tiny miss, I cannot believe it”, he then kissed my forehead before he whispered, “My girls, I feel so complete right now”

“Hi honey, hi little girl”, we then turned to see Gemma and Anne and beckoned them closer, Harry cleared his throat before speaking up, “Mum, Gem, we would love for you to meet your granddaughter and niece, Philippa Robin Styles-Y/L/N”, when he finished speaking Anne started crying again and leaned to kiss my forehead again while Gemma walked to hug Harry

“I love her name darling, I cannot thank you enough”, I tearily smiled at her, “We wanted to honor him, and we thought this was the best way we could do so”, she reached to run her hand down baby’s hand and said, “Hi little one, I’m your Nana Anne”, Gemma appeared next to her and gave her a side hug, Anne pulled back and went to hug Harry.

Gemma leaned down to see the baby, “Oh my god! Look at those lips!”, we both laughed, and she turned to look at me, “So what nicknames have you thought of?”, I turned to see my baby, “Pippa, Little Pip, P”, she smiled, Pippa, I love the sound of it, so elegant and royal”

Betty cleared her throat, “Harry, wanna cut the cord?”, he nodded and walked to where Betty was standing, she showed him where to cut and he smiled when he did it successfully, when he returned next to me Pippa was trying to latch and with the help of Betty, she was able to do so, “Look at that! She has a great latch so far”, Anne and Gemma were talking with Michal and Des.

I scrunched up my nose when I started having contractions again, Betty gave me a sympathetic smile, “I’m sorry darling, this is the last part, I just need a little push for the placenta”, I gave her a small push and felt something smaller leave me, “Perfect! We’ll wait until this little lady finished feeding, do all measurements and meanwhile I’ll see if your room is ready okay?”

We nodded and she left the room, Anne and Gemma also left the room to give us some privacy and to help us take our bags to our other room, Pippa was still very happy latched on feeding, Harry was running his hand down my arm and kissing her head, “She looks so much like you”, he smiled, “Think so?”, I nodded.

December 13, 2021: Week Forty

Harry. New York, New York. 4:50 AM

Pippa had just finished nursing and Y/N had just burped her and the nurse grabbed her, the wail she let out when she was taken from her arms had woken up a need of protection I didn’t know I had, I walked with the nurse to the crib that was in the corner of the room.

She placed Pippa under the warm light and started taking her temperature as well as measuring her head, she then measured her before telling us, “Oh you have a long little miss here, measuring a grand twenty inches”, I leaned to talk to her, “You can’t get any taller little miss”, she then turned on the weight, “So Miss Pippa made her grand entrance weighing eight pounds six ounces”, I reached for her little hand and she latched onto my finger, “Hi little chunker”, after the nurse finished cleaning her and placed a diaper and hat on her head she turned to me, “Dad wanna hold her?”

My heart was beating out of my chest with anticipation when I nodded my head, the nurse smiled and she nudged to the chair beside the bed where Y/N was settled, I sat down and she handed me the baby, I started tearing up again when she was placed in my arms, “Hi Pippa, hi little girl”, I kissed her forehead and laughed when she scrunched her brows

“Oh don’t give me that, I love you darling”, I then turned to look at Y/N, her lazy smile made me fall even more in love with her, “Hi lovie, how are you feeling?”, “Hi you, I am in a little bit of pain, but the lovely nurse said she would get me a mama mocktail and some pills”, we both laughed at that.

Pippa and I stayed on the couch until the nurses came to take us to our post-partum room, I handed Pippa to Y/N and then grabbed the few things still scattered in the room and followed the nurse to the new room, my mum and Gemma had left a few minutes ago so that they could rest.

Once Y/N had settled in the bed we laid Pippa on her chest, “She’s out”, Y/N let out a low chuckle, “Poor baby, she’s so tired of being born huh?”, I ran a hand down Pippa’s cheek and then Y/N’s, when she gave me a smile, I then leaned in to give her a kiss, “Rest my love, you deserve it”, she nodded and closed her eyes.

December 13, 2021: Week Forty

Harry. New York, New York. 8:00 AM

These first hours as parents have been something amazing, Pippa only woke up once to eat and then went back to sleep, I woke up when my mum texted me to let me know they would be coming in about an hour with my dad and Michal, I turned to see Y/N was still asleep with Pippa on her chest.

I smiled before I stood up and kissed her forehead and went out of the room to get a coffee and some tea for Y/N, I sat down in the waiting room because I wanted to make two calls, to Jeff and Mitch, I decided to start with Jeff because he for sure was now awake and running with everything going around.

My hands were shaking when I placed the call, it rang for a few before Jeff answered, “What up H?”, “Hi Uncle Jeff”, “What?! How?! Are they okay? Is Y/N okay?”, I laughed, “Both baby and Y/N are perfect, I am in love Jeff”, it was his turn to laugh, “Oh H, I am so happy for you! For both of you, I will swing by in a little bit, is there anything you guys need?”

I cleared my throat, “We’re not home, she ended up delivering in hospital, I’ll send you the info”, “Oh! Well, I wanna hear that story when I get there yeah? Give my love to Y/N and to my tiny new boss”, I laughed at that, “You’ll die when you meet your tiny new boss”, we hung up and I pressed on Mitch’s contact.

The phonge rang for a few, I sniffled until I could hear Mitch on the other side, “H? You okay mate?”, I smiled and sniffled, “They're here”, he let out a celebratory laugh, “I'm a dad Mitchy”, “You’re a dad mate, how is Y/N?”, I smiled, “She’s doing okay, tired and sore”, “So… is it a boy or a girl?”, “Aaah you’ll have to come meet them”

Mitch then laughed, “Sarah is going to be pissed mate, they literally got the earliest flight to be here”, “Really?”, “Yeah, actually, their flight does not depart for another hour, maybe you should tell them”, I will go see if Y/N is awake and we’ll call them, please come soon Mitch, I want you to meet them”, “I’ll be there in a few”, “See you then mate”

December 13, 2021: Week Forty

New York, New York. 8:15 AM

A whimper pulled me out of my sleep, and I turned to see my tiny baby waking up, I kissed her forehead before whispering, “Good morning, Pip”, we sat up straighter and she opened her eyes, “Oh look at those beautiful blue eyes little girl, I see you baby”, I gave her my finger and she latched on with her tiny hand.

Tears clouded my eyes as I stared at the newborn in my arms, the bliss around us was something I never wanted to let go, I kissed her little nose and pulled back a little and sniffled, “You are everything for me, and I promise to give you the life you deserve, a life of happiness, love, laughter, dreams, kisses, hugs”, I laughed a little

“You are so worth everything I went through these last 9 months”, I ran my hand down her face, “And I would do it all over again for you”, I kissed her face and I heard the door click open and Harry walked in, he gave me a smile and a kiss, “How did you girls sleep?”, I smiled, “We slept great, thank you for my tea”, he nodded

“So… I just spoke to Mitch” I nodded, “And well he confessed that Glenne and Sarah are currently at the airport because they wanted to be here as early as possible, so I think we should call them, what do you say?”, I smiled and nodded, “Let me dial her”, I pressed Sarah’s contact and it rang for a few before she answered, “Hi mamma! Happy due date”, I laughed

“Happy due date indeed, think I could FaceTime you and you could help me choose some things?”, “Sure”, we hung up and Harry helped me settle Pippa on my arms, I then grabbed my phone and dialed Sarah’s number again, when she answered her eyes went wide and she brought her hand to her mouth.

Glenne was heard outside the picture, “Sarah? You, okay?”, she started crying and Glenne grabbed the phone, her face also went wide eyed, and she also started crying, “OH MY GOD!”, Harry and I laughed, and I pulled the phone to my face, I could see the two of them now, “Hi guys!”, Sarah sobbed, “Oh darling! I cannot believe it!”, “Let us see the baby!”, I directed the phone to her little face again, “Hi lovey! Oh my god, you are beautiful!”

Glenne then said, “Really? Six hours, we just needed you to labor for six more hours” I laughed before turning the phone so I could tell her, “Babes... my labor lasted from start to finish two hours and forty-seven minutes”, their eyes widened again, “Damnit I want to be there so bad!”, I smiled “We’ll be waiting for you guys to snuggle and love this bean, okay?”, Sarah then spoke up, “We have to board now, but we’ll see you really soon!”, we waved goodbye and ended the call.

The nurse had just brought my breakfast and I was eating it when Anne, Gemma, Michal, and Des arrived, Harry very proudly handed the baby to Anne, who immediately started crying and swaying, Michal and Des gave me a hug before they started talking to Harry, Anne had the biggest smile on her face, she was rocking the tiny newborn in her arms, and came to seat on the edge of the bed, Gemma was on my side brushing my hair

Anne whispered, “I can’t believe we are here”, she then turned to look at me and Harry, before turning back to the baby and sniffling a little, “Thank you”, Harry hugged her side and Gemma hugged me before whispering, “You, okay? Need anything?”, I shook my head, I turned to see Des was standing next to Anne and harry admiring the baby.

Des cleared his throat before speaking, “When Gemma told me her name I started tearing up, I just know Robin would have been enamored by this little girl just how we all are right now”, he gave Harry and I a smile, “Pippa will always know how much Robin loved her dad, aunt and grandma and how important he was to them”

Harry reached in to pull Des for a hug and then his mom, “Let’s get a picture of the grandparents and dad!”, the three of them smiled for the camera, once they saw the picture was how they wanted it to be they took one with Gemma, then he turned to me, “Should we take a picture?”, I nodded and Anne and Des made their way to us, after Gemma took the pic she popped in and  Michal took the photo.

Just as he finished Betty popped in and offered to take a picture for us so Michal could be there, we thanked her for the photo and she smiled, “So, how are we feeling?”, I sighed, “Pretty good, I have a dull ache, but enough that the nurses gave me some painkillers”, “That’s okay, I mean your body did work a lot”, I smiled, “So, if it is okay with you two, we will keep you here tonight and let you go home tomorrow okay?”, we both nodded and Betty smiled

“I’ll pop by later with the pediatrician so she can give us her report”, we said goodbye to Betty and turned to see Anne and Gemma who had a pout on her face, “Come on mum! I wanna hold her”, Anne rolled her eyes, “Please wash your hands”, Gemma washed her hands and then walked back to Anne who reluctantly handed her the baby

“Hold her head Gemma!”, “Mum come on! She’s not the first baby I hold!”, we all laughed at their silliness and Anne sat down at the foot of the bed and started rubbing my legs, to which I hummed in delight, Gemma was smiling, and she sat next to Michal, “She looks so much like you Y/N”

Harry spoke up, “She does, she is a gorgeous baby”, I smiled bashfully, “Oh stop you guys”, Gemma gave me a smile, “I’m serious! She is a beautiful girl”, Gemma then turned to see her dad, “Wanna hold her?”, Des nodded and Gemma helped him hold her, “Well aren’t you a gem?”, Harry was sat next to his father watching over our little girl.

The next hours were spent cuddling Pippa, Anne squeezed my arm and asked me, “Darling, Ella wants to know if we could FaceTime?”, I smiled and she called her, when Ella answered she said, “There she is! The proud Nana! Congratulations!”, Anne sniffled and smiled, “Thank you dear, wanna meet them?”, she then gave the phone to Harry who had a big smile

“Hey Ella! How are you?”, “H! Congratulations! I’m here with my mum, dad, Ryan, Thea, and Matt, they are all ecstatic!”, he sat down next to me, and I waved hello to Ella, “There she is! You look beautiful! Congratulations Mumma!”, “Thanks Ella! How are you guys?”, “We are good, excited to meet our newest family member”

Harry focused the camera on Pippa, who was snoozing on her Nana’s arms, “Well, I would love for you guys to meet Philippa Robin Styles-Y/L/N, or as she is now being called Pippa”, coos and awes were heard from the phone, “Harry… she’s a beauty”, he smiled, “Thanks aunt Dee!”, “Look at Thea’s little friend! I cannot wait for them to meet!”, I answered, “We cannot wait either!”

We talked for a few more before we all said goodbye and Anne walked to me, “They sent you a little gift but I felt it back home”, I gave her a small smile, “They are the sweetest!”, before I could say anything more Pippa started crying, I turned to see the clock and realized she was probably hungry, I turned to see Harry and half whispered, “I think she might be hungry”, he nodded, “Do you need help?”

I shook my head, “Why don’t you guys grab lunch while I feed her?”, he gave me an apprehensive look, “If I need anything I’ll call okay? We will probably nap after she feeds”, he sighed, “H, you have not eaten properly, please? For me?”, he smiled and muttered, “Can’t say no to you”, before they all left Harry made sure I had everything I could need within arm’s reach, he kissed our foreheads and left.

December 13, 2021: Week Forty

Harry. New York, New York. 1:30 PM

We were finishing eating lunch and just sipping our coffee when I heard someone clear their throat behind me, I rolled my eyes hoping that it was someone I knew and not a fan, I turned with a small smile which grew bigger the moment I realized Jeff was standing there, “Jeff”, “Hey mate!”, he pulled me into a hug

“Congratulations H, I am truly so happy and proud of you”, I smiled and gave him a squeeze, “Thanks man”, we pulled back and Mitch appeared from my peripheral vision, “Mitchy!”, he pulled me into a hug, “Welcome to the dad club mate!”, I laughed, “Welcome indeed”, we pulled back and they each gave me a pat on the back.

Jeff cleared his throat and I turned to look at him, “We have a surprise for you”, we turned to see what he was smiling at, and I started tearing up when I saw Sarah and Glenne standing there, they gave me a smile and started running to me, I met them halfway and pulled them into a hug, “Hi girlies!”

We pulled back and I gave them each a hug, we walked to the table where they said hello to my family, we asked about how their trip went and learned that baby Rowland was with his nanny for a while, Sarah was the first to ask, “How’s mom doing?”, I let out a breath, “She is a freaking warrior I swear, she’s doing so good, we left them feeding and taking a nap”, they squealed, “Uhm, we can only have four guests at a time, so-“, my mum interrupted me, “Baby you four can go in, maybe we can sneak Gem and Michal also, your dad and I will go to the gift shop and wait for you guys okay?”, I nodded.

We made our way to the third floor where the maternity ward was, I went in first and found Y/N and Pip sleeping still, as soon as I took out my phone she pulled in some air and gave me a sleepy smile, “Hey you, how was your lunch?”, I smiled and sat down her legs and started rubbing them, “Good morning beautiful ladies, lunch was good”, she nodded and kissed Pip’s forehead

“You guys have some visitors, can I bring them in?”, she nodded, and I let Jeff know they could come, a few moments later there was a knock on the door, and Jeff popped his head in, “Hello, is this where the most badass mom is currently staying?”, Y/N laughed and told him to come in, Jeff and Mitch came in, each one was holding a flower vase, when she saw that both Sarah and Glenne were with Mitch and Jeff she started tearing up

“Wait, let me wash my hands before I hug you”, Sarah went to the sink and Glenne followed her, when they did, they stood next to Y/N and smiled, “Hi honey, how are you?”, Y/N sniffled, “Hi girlies, I am doing okay, are you ready to meet this little bunny?”, Jeff and Mitch went and stood next to their girls, I sat down next to Y/N, and Gemma and Michal were standing beside me

I squeezed Y/N’s shoulder and kissed her head, I cleared my throat, “Any last guesses?”, Jeff spoke first, “Boy”, Glenne was next, “Also boy”, Sarah thought for a little, “Little boy”, Mitch pffted before saying, “It’s a girl”, I smiled, Y/N then spoke up, “We would like for you to meet Philippa Robin Styles-Y/L/N”, Mitch cheered, Jeff smiled, while Sarah said “Sweet girl”, and Glenne went “Shut up”

Glenne and Sarah leaned to have a better view of Pippa before whispering, “What is her nickname?”, Gemma spoke up, “Pippa, Little Pip, P”, Sarah sniffled, “Can I hold her?”, Y/N nodded and handed her the baby, Sarah started swaying, “Well look at you lovey, you are gorgeous”, Glenne kissed her head and then came to hug Y/N, “I’m so proud of you”

December 13, 2021: Week Forty

New York, New York. 2:00 PM

I was so happy that Glenne and Sarah were here, I teared up when Mitch held Pip, he was so impressed by her long fingers, “One day, I’ll show her how to play guitar”, Glenne lost it when she held the baby and was so happy and excited because we were now even in the team gang, as Harry was holding her, Gemma, Glenne, Sarah and I were talking, Sarah asked me, “So… how did everything go down?”

I blew a breath before staring on my story, “So my water broke at around one, I started contracting normally for an hour but all of a sudden everything became so intense, and I really wanted to come to the hospital, literally half an hour later I delivered”, Gemma blew a breath, “She’s a champ, no pain medicine, and she looks so rested”, the four of us laughed at that.

Glenne then asked, “How much did she weigh and measure?”, I smiled, “Eight pounds six ounces, twenty inches long”, Sarah awed, “That’s a good size”, I nodded, “She’s a dream, she’s everything I could have ever hoped for”, Gemma handed me a tissue and I cleaned my tears.

About an hour later they all reluctantly left with the promise of coming back tomorrow, Harry’s family came in for a few hours but left once Pip started crying and showing sings she was hungry, so after Harry walked them out, he took over baby watch so I could eat my dinner and have a shower, which was so needed and appreciated.

When I came out of the bathroom Harry was laying on the couch with our little girl, he gave me a lazy smile, he placed Pippa on her bassinet and came to help me, the nurse had asked us if we wanted to send Pip to the nursery, but my momma heart couldn’t do that, so after a change, a swaddle and a kiss to the head Pippa was off to dreamland

“Are you sure you’ll be okay in the couch?”, Harry nodded, “Now let’s sleep before she wakes up hungry again yeah?”, I nodded, he kissed my temple and then Pippa’s cheek before settling on the couch, before he turned off the light I spoke up, “Harry?”, he turned to see me, “I wouldn’t have chosen anyone else to be her dad”, he smiled and came back to give me a kiss in the lips before pulling back a little, “I wouldn’t have chosen anyone else to be her mum”

Taglist @tinydestinybear @i-got-the-cinema @beachwoodcaferryy @msolbesg @clarawolf22 @harrysficreblog @infinitely-yellow @cherrylovesblog @wherethehellhaveyoubeenharry @harryspirate @kaitieskidmore1 @michellekstyles @qualitygiantshoepsychic @irelilien @futuristicpalacegardenpsychic @shawnsblue @behindmygreyeyes @sunshinemoonsposts @dirtytissuebox @little-freak-satellite @tinydeskwriter @be-with-me-so-happily @watercolorskyy @goldenlouvr @jgoff717 @giveyourheartabreak-xx @tpwkstyles1d @alienorknight @voosa @last-saturday-night @imaginesofdreams

#harry styles x reader #harry styles imagine #dad harry styles imagine #harry styles #harry imagine #dad!harry #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles fluff #the story of you

[bm-blog01]

Between the second part of the crown final season dropping on December 14 and lady Danbury’s actress interview I think it’s pretty clear S3 is coming next year. Do you think it will be split? Maybe January-March?

One thing I know for sure is that waiting two years between seasons seems like such a bad choice. The wait really doesn’t need to be this long. I don’t care about the fact Shonda has put a spin off in the middle. It simply doesn’t make any sense. What a disappointment.

I woke up to find out that the date many of us thought was for Bridgerton is for the release of the Crown. I am not sure if I am more upset at being wrong or the extra delay!

I am not sure if it will be split or not, I think one of the reasons that Netflix splits the release of shows is to retain subscribers, and if the rumours are true that they will be increasing their subscription cost then there is a possibility that they could split it, but I don't think it will be two months between the parts, more like a month, so Jan-Feb or Feb-Mar.

Personally I don't see how they will gain by splitting a show like Bridgerton though, most people who would subscribe, or re-subscribe, for Bridgerton will be more likely to wait until part 2 drops before subscribing for a month to watch it and then cancel again.

I agree that it does seem like a bad move to have two years between seasons, many in the fandom are losing interest which means the general audience / casual viewer has probably completely forgotten about it!

I think the spin off was meant to be treated as if it was a season and keep interest for the following year until season 3 came out, similar to how season 1 and season 2 were still trending and getting a lot of interest in the year or so after they were released. This was a miscalculation on the part of both Netflix and Shondaland because the spin off is just not continuing to generate the hype that the two seasons of Bridgerton did, and interest in the franchise as a whole is fading - even in the fandom. It is very disappointing.

#bridgerton #Bridgerton Season 3 #anon ask

[bripops]

Right now, the northeast is at really high risk for flooding so here's a friendly reminder from someone who learned the hard way:

CHECK YOUR RENTER’S INSURANCE FOR WATER DAMAGE COVERAGE

You will be shocked by how little a standard policy covers when it comes to water and/or flood damage.

Flood insurance almost always requires a completely separate policy managed by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) under the scope of FEMA. You can get it as a renter, but it usually involves calling a local agent because it’s highly regional and takes a lot of different variables into account. NEVER assume the person you’re renting from has adequate coverage. Even if they have homeowner’s insurance, it probably doesn’t extend to renters’ belongings.

While you’re at it, MAKE SURE YOUR POLICY COVERS WATER BACKUP. This is different from flood insurance. A lot of basic policies only cover water damage from appliance malfunctions, like a washing machine overflowing. Coverage for water backing up out of a drain or sewer often costs extra (in my experience not more than a few extra bucks per month) and has to be opted into, it’s not included.

Doing this will save you.

Last December, after three days of nonstop pouring rain, the drainage system outside an entrance to the house we were renting just couldn’t handle the volume anymore and water started pouring in under the door. We used everything we had to try to slow it down, and we were up all night using a wet vac we borrowed from a neighbor to try to contain hundreds of gallons of rainwater. I will never forget the mounting horror as I realized the water wasn’t going to stop until the rain did. It's not like a plumbing issue or dishwasher malfunction where you can cut off the source.

We were lucky, and the rain tapered off by the next morning. The layout of our living room meant that most of our stuff was away from the door, and we were able to bail water fast enough that very little ended up being a total loss and nothing important was damaged. We did, however, need to take our dog and get a hotel for a week, and ended up having to find a new place to live in five days (the week before Christmas, while recovering from COVID) because the damage needed so much renovation that moving was pretty much the only option.

Our renter’s insurance covered nothing. Even without a NFIP policy, I was able to confirm with the insurance company that our claim would have been approved if we’d opted into the water backup coverage, because the rainwater was coming out of the overwhelmed drain. We could have replaced the stuff we lost, and probably a bunch of stuff we had to work really hard to salvage. That particular policy would have covered some of the moving costs too, and they would have paid for temporary accommodations for us. (once again we were extremely lucky, and the hotel costs got reimbursed as a courtesy because they took longer to make a decision than they were supposed to)

Renter’s insurance is not expensive. The tricked out policy I got for our new place with every add-on they offer runs me less than $30/month. It would have covered thousands of dollars of expenses that we’re still trying to crawl out from under more than six months later. In an ideal world you will never need to use it, but if you do, IT. WILL. SAVE. YOU.

I am by no means an expert, and can really only speak from my experience so if someone who knows more about this wants to chime in, please do! Keep in mind that all of this is going to vary significantly depending on which insurance company you use and your specific policy. Just please, for the love of god, get renter's insurance if you don't have it already, and read every page of the policy so you know what's covered and what you might need to opt into. Do it now, because shit like this

isn't going to wait.

#PSA #literally that week was one of the most stressful and awful things I've ever experienced #it didn't help that our landlord was extremely shady and didn't respond or help because she was out of the country and didn't care #our city isn't coastal and the problem areas for floods are in the neighborhoods that are on the water next to a big river #we didn't live anywhere near it #I now live on the 11th floor of a professionally managed building at the top of a hill #but my fiancée and I are traumatized to the point that she had a panic attack when our washing machine sprung a minor leak #I remember feeling sick when I saw our kitchen floor mat floating around on the water like a pool float

[myselfshipi]

A moment they comforted me and a disagreement we overcame (Dean)

I knew my Mom was dying. It was her fourth bout of cancer and I had moved to the same town until she passed. Dean understood and support me. We talked every day, if not multiple times. I got a two bedroom apartment so when they came through everyone would be comfortable.

When she finally passed away December of 2011, as expected as it was, it was also unexpected. I was in denial and I kept expecting her to beat it.

The first year was the hardest year after she died. I had so many stupid reminders. I got into fights constantly with my older siblings who lived in town as well. I said fuck it and moved. I was so tired of their guilt on me expecting me to do or have done more than I was able.

If my Mother needed me to do more, she knew all she had to do was ask and I was there but she didn’t. I offered so many times and she refused as well as my stepdad. It wasn’t my fault.

My siblings were put their own guilt on me and I was so tired of it.

Dean and I got into a huge argument about me moving and what made it so much more difficult was it was almost Christmas.

I was depressed, being self-destructive and hung up on him then refused to answer his calls from days until he drove to me, except when I said I was moving I meant ASAP. (I did answer Sam’s though.) I had gotten a storage unit and packed up most of my things. So, when he arrived and used the key I had given him, my place was practically empty and I wasn’t there.

I had gone to dinner with friends as a goodbye celebration. They just didn’t know that I didn’t have a job lined up or where I was moving to. I just told them I was waiting for my boyfriend to confirm the location of his new job—not that Dean knew that yet and it wasn’t entirely a lie since they were probably waiting on a new case. They knew about my Mom and siblings but I didn’t even tell them about Dean and my argument the days prior. I just didn’t want to ruin anything.

Christmas was in a week and it was such a hard day. I had gotten into another fight with my siblings and just told them off as well as blocked them from everything I had. I was done with my sister blaming and gaslighting me and my brother supporting her bullshit.

I drove myself home but had to stop when I saw someone drive the same colored Toyota as my Mom and it just got me. I think I sat there for 20 mins in a parking lot of a park. Next thing I knew, Dean was knocking on my passenger window.

I unlocked the car and motioned for him to come in. He got in and pulled me into a hug that I desperately needed. I cried for probably another 20 mins then suddenly remembered his jacket was actual leather.

He laughed at me and shook his head saying “it was all right. It’s a tough old bird that has taken a beating once and can take a few more.”

I actually laughed. I hadn’t laughed since before she passed, probably talking on the phone with him.

“I’m sorry, Dean. I know how much you hate someone doesn’t answer. I’m so sorry. I hate it here. I am miserable and my siblings just make me want to freaking punch and curse them at every turn instead of try to mourn together,” I said through tears and gritted teeth. I did this terrible broken grunt-growl afterwards. “My sister keeps saying how I didn’t do enough to help her. I freaking asked every day if she needed any help or wanted me to do anything at all. My stepdad too.”

He took my hand, “I know, Sweetheart. You did and offered everything you had to do all you could for your Mom. I know you and I know you would do that.”

“She’s putting her guilt on me and my fucking brother agrees? What the actual fuck?” I practically screamed and a new flood of tears washed down my face.

He wrapped me back in his arms and rubbed my back as I cried for who knows how long. I just know that he had turned my car off and had my keys at some pointed. He got me into Baby, his gorgeous and well-taken-care-of Black 1967 Chevy Impalas and held my hand as we drove back to my apartment.

I was exhausted. Dean helped me undress and get ready for bed and then himself. I was sleeping on an air mattress at this point. He got me a glass of water like I always like to have by my bed and cuddled up to me. Once his arm was around me, I fell asleep so quick. It was the best sleep I had in weeks.

The next day, we talked. We talked about so much. It was such a long day of where we wanted to go and how we wanted to be together as well as where we wanted our futures to be. We came to a compromise. He got to decide where I moved to and helped me find an apartment he approved of, and I required he visit me as much as possible with a bi monthly minimum so long as it was in an 8 hour or less driving distance of a case unless Sam was with him and then it could 12 hours. I would make sure to get a two bedroom apartment and they would help me furnish it.

It became a fun project. We even updated Sam on it and he was surprised that Dean had budged on me moving. Dean talked to Sam then about the whole family situation without me there. So, on my laptop we started looking around at his favorite places to visit. Sam helped and emailed recommendations to me. It took a few weeks but it was fun to work together like that.

#self ship community #self ship supernatural #self shipping #romantic f/o poly sam and dean winchester #self ship content #self ship imagine #self ship prompt #self ship #self shipping community #f/o community #f/o imagines #imagine your f/o #romantic f/o dean winchester #self insert #f/o

[norizzsainz]

🌶️ NFY : MCDONALD'S FOR P

[ carlos sainz x singer!fem!reader ] [ wc ] 0.9k words

[ summary ] carlos' and y/n's breakup comes as a surprise to many of their friends. no one ever thought the couple would ever break up, but alas, y/n was always ready to do whatever was best for the love of her life — even if it meant breaking up with him.

[ loki's lines ] this was so much better in my head, contemplating if it should've just stayed there

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━━━━━━━ DECEMBER 03, 2023

max would've burst into laughter on any other day when he saw the way you had arrived at his doorstep.

you wore a hoodie; the strings tightly tied until only your eyes could be seen.

he offered a small smile as your eyes met; brows raised when you lifted a bag to his face.

“mcdonald's for p,” you mumbled. “got you and kelly some food, too.”

max tried not to let his smile fall as he heard your voice, the hoarse tone letting him know you had a really bad cry session — or even multiple of them.

“come on in,” he stated, nodding you inside as he stepped aside after taking the bags from you. “thanks for the food. p will love you forever.”

you only let out a tired chuckle at his words, not adding anything more. max frowned at your lack of response, realizing something was really wrong with you.

you loved p more than anything, and the fact you didn’t say much about max’s words were enough of an indicator as to how bad the situation was.

“aw, babes.” kelly walked towards you with a frown. “what are you trying to do? suffocate yourself?”

“honestly, right now, i'd love that,” you commented with a sigh, wincing as kelly untied the hoodie. “thanks, kels.”

the frown on kelly's face didn't fade; her brows furrowed as she sat you down on the sofa. she observed you well, her gaze softening as she met your bloodshot eyes.

“this isn't like you, y/n. what's wrong?”

max's heart shattered as he watched the way your face scrunched, trying to hold back the inevitable tears that made their way down your face.

you covered your face with your hands, crying harder when kelly pulled you into her embrace, trying to offer any sort of comfort.

“y/n ...” max stood next to you, patting your hair gently as his girlfriend rubbed your back. “tell us what's wrong so we can help.”

“h-he said we had t-to break up.” max frowned, exchanging glances with kelly as you hiccupped over your words.

“carlos? was it his idea to break up?” kelly inquired, confused.

you pulled away from the hug, meeting her gaze. “not carlos.” you shook your head, wiping away your tears with your sleeve.

max tilted his head. “who was it, then?” he asked, waiting for your response.

“his dad. he said we had to break up.”

the couple’s eyes widened, never having guessed your ex-boyfriend’s father would’ve intervened in the relationship and forced you to break up with him.

“what? why the fuck would he do that?”

max sat on the coffee table in front of the sofa you sat on, fisting his hands by his side as he looked at you. 

the man’s frown never faded, staring at you. “why did he tell you to break up with carlos?” he asked, teeth gritted to control his anger.

“he said i was messing up carlos’ focus,” you mumbled, looking at your feet. “told me to break up with him if i genuinely care about his career.”

“so, you broke up with him?!” max raised his voice, flabbergasted by your words. “what the fuck, y/n? why would you do something like that?”

“because i love him, max.” the couple’s hearts shattered as they heard the crack in your voice. “i broke up because i love him.”

“you can’t be serious, y/n.”

“i hate this more than anything, but i’ll have to deal with it. i know how hard carlos has worked to come this far, and i can’t just sit still, knowing i’m the reason he’s fucking up his dream.”

max frowned, shaking his head. “just because he fucks up his races doesn’t mean you are the reason for it, y/n,” he stated, trying to make you understand.

“i am, max. i know that very well.”

“come on, you know–”

“five times, max,” you countered, looking at him. “five times, carlos purposefully did not qualify for the races because he wanted to be there for me,” you confessed.

you watched the way kelly’s face dropped, while max’s expressions remained stoic.

he had noticed too. he knew.

you saw him take a deep breath, biting his lip as he contemplated what to say.

“so, do you think his performance will become better now that you’ve broken up?” max inquired, raising his brows. “because if he doesn't, then this would all be in vain, no?”

“this is what his dad asked for, and i–”

max shrugged. “you are just fulfilling his wishes, obviously. this ‘fucking up his focus’ was just a sad excuse,” he said.

“his dad never liked you, babes,” kelly spoke, patting your back gently. “don't you think this entire thing was just some excuse to get you guys to break up?”

you buried your face in your hands, trying to control your breathing as you sat back on the sofa. everything was overwhelming you right now, and it was sending your brain into overdrive.

these were the moments when carlos would be there for you; listening to your thoughts and sorting them out for you.

but, he wasn't going to be there for you anymore. you had to deal with this on your own.

“whether it's an excuse or not,” you stated, looking at your friends through your teary eyes. “we've broken up now.”

“and that's–”

“and that's that.” you were stern with your words. “i'm tired of all this. i just want some peace and quiet, okay? just wanna forget about this all and go back to living life as i normally do.”

kelly nodded supportively. “if that's what you want, that's what we'll do,” she said, pulling you into her embrace.

“we got your back, y/n,” max added, wrapping his arms around you two. “forever and always.”

you smiled into the hug, utterly failing to keep the tears from falling down.

“thank you for being there for me, guys. i love you both so fucking much.”

#[📝] works #f1 x reader #f1 #carlos imagines #carlos scenarios #carlos sainz imagines #carlos x reader #cs55 x reader #carlos sainz x reader #carlos sainz drabbles #f1 drabbles #f1 imagines #f1 scenarios #f1 carlos #carlos sainz #carlos

[ppinp]

Ismail

I hate that my first reaction was wait for me on the other side of my self-inflicted misery Underneath a freshly bloomed giving tree But that wasn't you, that wasn't for me This experience taught me the kind of love i need - patient

New record a month and a week. From full moon to full moon to fool and then During that time you fragmented my mind, had me questioning what I held as divine, underlined what I already knew as the ultimate truth about myself and the world, almost knocked me off course but thank God I have a higher calling to keep me aligned. When my friends ask, "What happened to you late November thru December" I'll tell them - I had a whirlwind romance Not because we were mad love meant to be, but through some unspeakable tragedy we couldn't But because I don't remember. I don't remember you asking me a single question about me I don't remember you hearing when I needed space yet managed to convince me that I didn't put in effort... But because it was mad tough from the beginning - fights about semantics controlling language And when the few that have seen us two together ask me: Are you still seeing Ismail - I'll tell them no and give you my blessing if you want your experiences negated your mind faded your feelings invalidated your language controlled while you feed his ego and soul

because you don't have casual sex - only have sex with the people you have conquered already, who hope for something more than a spot on the shelf Possibilities, mistaken for toxicity Reading my notes makes me angry how you seeped into my mind so unnoticeably framing me as the one to blame

Your name and last picture made me Smile Dismantled gender conventions, like the last one, I thought Full of never-ending stories lacking any questions masked by "discomfort" then you wonder why you didn't know the last one why you didn't know me, why you won't know the next one. Connect your patterns, I'll make my own conclusions even if we said it's a common decision. You chose for me, and I'm endlessly grateful that you set me free. Early morning, 5C I thought you could be my anchor but you sent me off into the tick January fog. 5 AM the silent ship by Yahya Kemal Beyatlı I think it's funny how you had a poem at the ready Man of polarities things not adding up my body knew it before I could put it together your calm voice vs your violent messages your fidelity promises vs self confessed attempts at cheating

The only time you let me speak was when I was on stage getting to know me thru my craft was my fist to you and although I wanted to take agecy and get to knowyou in my own way you never pause talking at me - I never got to ask my questions you never got to know me you compared my boobs to triangles yet the point you should have hit on repeat you missed and missed no, touch me like this afraid to interrupt your flow a term youused to mask your selfish acts

calling it by another name didnt change the fact that I didn't cum

We could have been the best that ever was But somehow we couldn't be On the daily you brought out the worst in me A million times better than the last guy who yanked my bar clear out of the sky it was so easy to compete when it was flushed to the ground You were so willing and giving I had forgotten how is to be treated well There was something about you that made me vibrate in all the wrong ways perhaps that fear made me hold you at arm's lenght but you lured me in with promises of softness how you wanted to be on my mental journey with me and how everything was together but that was all smoke and mirrors He was to me Who I was to you Always making space always bending time It was nice until it wasn't I shouldn't have hung up I'll admit it but your frequent interruption didn't permit it Funny how all your lasts would not talk at you but from their pasts but when you have trust issues that's suddenly more valid