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lumosinlove · 3 years

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Vaincre

Part ii: August

For the hope of it all

The river was crowded, but the pier was their own.

Happy Birthday Harzy, was spelled out in big balloon letters, turning in the summer breeze, backwards and bumping.

Logan stood at the waterfront and looked at Leo’s—as it was mostly Leo’s—handiwork. Lobster rolls and soft-shell crab buffet, corn bread and iced tea. Chilled white and orange wines. Summer dresses fluttered and crossed each other as people talked, making new patterns, and Logan let himself settle into the laughter. He had a bad habit of taking peace and worrying it away. He didn’t want to do that today. He wanted to watch Finn enjoy himself, his team, his family. Logan had spent every one of Finn’s birthdays with their Harvard team, and then there had been that one, horribly absent year when Finn had been in Gryffindor and he hadn’t—not yet. He wanted to watch the way Leo put his long arms around his friends, in the same way his mother did, warm and strong. Logan wanted to watch without feeling that sharp tug of worry. He couldn’t have even said what he was worrying about. It was vague.

He’d done a lot of watching this summer. He loved it to the point of never wanting to do anything else. Finn and Leo were alike to each other in more ways than Logan would ever be. Whatever rapid-fire conversation they were in the middle of would often quickly leave Logan behind, but Logan didn’t care as long as he got them stumbling and laughing over each other to try and explain it to him—a book, a TV show, some sort of video game. He knew they liked telling him about it, and Logan loved watching them love things—including himself. Logan had never thought of himself as acting as a grounding point before. That had always been Finn or Leo. He always felt too wild in his own head, unsure, reserved. Vague. But Leo had said it to him this summer.

“When me and Finn lived together, we stayed up so late just talking,” Leo had said one early morning on the beach when they had left Finn sleeping. Logan wouldn’t be quick to forget the feeling of just being able to hold Leo’s hand for so long, in such an open space.

Leo had kissed the back of his palm too many times for Logan to think he’d be forgetting it, either.

“And you and I did the same thing, you know?” Leo continued. “On roadies.”

“Playing cards,” Logan smiled. “And our sundaes.”

Leo nodded, and his smile grew a little softer. He stared at his toes digging into the sand. “And I knew how connected you two were. Well, I guess not how connected, but I knew you two were better friends than anyone on the team, even Sirius and James. Even if you didn’t always act like it. I feel like good friends can do that, handle distance and snap back into place.”

“And?” Logan remembered asking playfully. “Which long talks were better?”

Leo just laughed. “No, no. Not better. Finn talking is like…wild. Like wind. Talking to you is stillness. I love both. The point is, that was…that was my connection. To both of you.” He had cleared his throat then, and given Logan’s hand a squeeze. “My mama always says if you can talk to someone forever then—“

“They’re yours forever,” Logan finished. “My maman says the same thing.”

Leo’s answering smile had been blinding.

An arm circled his waist, another pressing right over his heart.

“Nice party,” Finn said softly into his ear, and Logan only had a moment in that warmth before it was gone, wary of prying eyes. It made Logan miss France, and their brief stay at his mother’s family home that summer.

No one had known them there, and Leo had adored the markets, cooking elaborate meals while Finn and Logan had sat on the counter, watching him and loving him. They’d eaten out on the stone patio, overlooking the sea.

Finn looked a little like he had there, cheeks sun-hot. Logan wanted to reach for them, as he had then, cool them with his thumb. Finn smiled, making the sun-kissed skin crease a little.

“What?” he asked.

Logan shook his head. “Remember that picture?” he asked. “The one of us. It was on your wall at Harvard, you were standing behind me, hand on my chest.”

Finn’s mouth quirked, and he nodded. Logan hesitated for a moment, realizing that Finn was wearing his NASA t-shirt, the same one he had worn the day he’d left Harvard for good, leaving Logan behind. Logan stared at the logo, then looked away, back up to his brown eyes. Bambi, the boys at Harvard had called him.

He took a sip of his drink and shrugged. “I don’t know where it went. I know you packed it, took it with you, but I can’t find it. Do you know…”

Logan trailed off, as Finn had taken out his wallet. He set his beer on the pier ledge, flipped the worn leather open, and slipped out a folded piece of paper, thick, and well-loved. He held it out to Logan, biting his lip, and then leaned back against the railing, as if waiting.

Logan let the photo fall open in his fingers, and exhaled a shaky, steadying breath. There was a laugh in it somewhere.

“Oh,” he said.

“Didn’t know you were looking for it,” Finn replied, and trailed his fingers, cold from his beer, over Logan’s wrist, then reached up to fiddle briefly with his necklace.

Logan traced his eyes over the same, gaudy string lights in the photo, their same smiles—the one Logan knew he wore more freely these days.

Logan folded the picture closed again, and slipped it back into its place in Finn’s wallet.

“You want it, Lo?” Finn asked.

Logan shook his head. “I like that you have it.”

Finn stretched out a foot, ankle hooking around Logan’s, pulling him a little closer again, to stand nearly between his legs.

“I had it all that first year,” Finn smiled. “On my own.”

Logan narrowed his eyes. “Don’t.”

Finn grinned, singing off-key. “Pretending he’s beside me—”

Logan groaned, shoving his shoulder a little. “Okay, D’accord, I walked into that.”

Finn laughed loudly, and then swung his arm around Logan’s shoulders. “Let’s go find Le, get more food.”

They strode towards the tables.

“Hey!” Evgeni called out. He was standing with Olli and Jackson, his looming form leaning over the pier. “Ten bucks I jump!”

“Kuns, you don’t want to swim in this river,” Finn said.

“He’s going in whether you pay him or not,” Jackson shook his head. “At some point tonight.” He grinned, the scar that ran down one of his cheeks dimpling when he smiled. “Bet you twenty.”

“Nado,” Evgeni gasped, slapping his arm. “We split. Even.”

“No fucking way.”

Logan let Finn lead him away from their bickering, towards where he could immediately spot Leo, standing with Remus and Thomas. Logan felt everything just—soften.

“Do you ever think you could just find him?” Finn asked softly, the hand around Logan’s shoulders gesturing in Leo’s direction. “I mean, even if you couldn’t see him. You know?”

“Ouais,” Logan said, voice just as soft. “I know.”

Leo was mid-laugh when he spotted them, too.

“I gotta say,” he said as he met them halfway, hand on his hip, sunglasses in his hair. “I did a pretty damn good job.”

Logan huffed out a laugh. “You did. Really good.”

Finn snorted. “Way to take the credit, Nut.”

“He deserves it,” Logan said. “I was just here.”

“Lo’s the gift master,” Leo swung his arm around his shoulders. “And I’m the food master. Sounds about right?”

Logan patted Leo’s chest. “Are you going to jump in?”

Leo raised his eyebrows, squinting out at the water. “Do I want to swim in this water?”

“I’d swim if it was with you two,” Finn said. “I’d risk the murky monsters of the deep.”

“You gotta wait twenty minutes after eating,” Leo said. “And I haven’t tried the soft serve yet. They have swirls, they have mango, I mean, come on. I did so good.”

Finn laughed. “And I’m going to kiss you stupid later.”

“And I’m going to hold you to that,” Leo leaned in a little. “Birthday boy.”

They found Sirius holding a cone out to Remus by the machine, and Remus wrinkling his nose.

“C’est la vanille!” Sirius was laughing. “Quoi? Really? You don’t like vanilla?”

“You do?” Remus shook his head.

“Y’all we’ve caught the couple splashed on the front of every magazine in a, dare I say,” Leo paused, “fight?”

“First it’s pineapple pizza, now it’s vanilla,” Remus reached up, pushing Sirius’ chin length hair out of his eyes. “What did I sign up for?”

“Carrying his hair ties for him, apparently,” Finn reached out and snapped the tie around Remus’ wrist.

Remus rolled his eyes, and Logan thought Sirius might have blushed. When Logan reached up to poke at his cheek, he slapped his hand away and Logan laughed.

Sirius dragged Remus away towards where Julian, Remus’ little brother, was calling them over to the beanbag toss, and, momentarily tucked behind the shade of the soft-serve station, Logan felt Leo pull the both of them closer.

“Pretty good beginning to the end of the summer,” he sighed, licking his own cone.

“It was a damn good summer,” Finn grinned. “Hey, give me.”

Logan watched Leo hold out his cone to Finn, and agreed. It had been more than a good summer. It had been a perfect summer, and something in that made Logan stupidly worried. Sun and salt, and cold wine, and hot bodies pressed together as the moon rose. Logan closed his eyes for a moment, tucked between the two of them, and tried not to ruin this peace by thinking about all the times peace hadn’t been there.

This was Finn’s day. This was their season. Logan tilted his chin up and let the sweet mango of Leo’s ice cream sweeten his thoughts.

Noelle wasn’t at Finn’s party, and Thomas could feel it. He fiddled with the new, thin gold hoops she’d gifted him, barely circling away from his ears, the left one with a pearl strung along.

I’m the lucky one who found you, she’d said.

And he’d had to go and ruin it by trying to be funny, even while tears were pressing up as close to him as she was.

What does that make us, oysters?

She’d laughed, looked happy, but Thomas wished he’d said something else. He wished he had gotten something for her. He wished she wasn’t so far away.

I miss you, he tapped out on his phone, and that felt perfectly honest. Simple. Enough.

The three dots popped up and then went away. Thomas tried not to let it mean anything. She deserved to be busy. She worked just as hard—harder—than he did. Still, something like relief flooded through him when a long string of pink hearts answered him.

I miss YOU, T baby. Good party?? Tell Harzy happy bday for me.

Thomas blew out a breath. Will do. Say hi to the girls for me.

“You look like sad sunshine,” Natalie’s voice came, and he looked up to see her walking towards him, taking a sip from a honey colored beer with a lime wedged into it.

“I’m a little sad, Sunshine, like it or not,” Thomas laughed softly, pocketing his phone. “Where are the boys?”

“Canoodling,” Natalie sighed, hopping up onto one of the stools beside him under the umbrella. She had her long blond hair swept up into two french braids. “We’re both getting in our last drops of Alex, I think.”

Thomas nodded. “Hey, I never really asked, Nat. That just…happened this summer, or what?”

Natalie smiled. “Well, when I met Kasey, he hadn’t made it big yet, still on the Rangers farm team, but Alex had been on the Rangers for…maybe about a year? I can’t quite remember. I think Kase had only gotten called up a few times, so they’d met. But anyway, we start dating, two years later he gets a big boy contract with the Rags, and we get to know Alex. I saw him at team dinners only at first.” She smiled. “I was like, cutie, look at those freckles. But I had Kase, you know? I was pretty confused when I started looking a little closer. I mean, I was so happy.”

She pushed her sunglasses into her hair, leaning an elbow on the table and fiddling with a gold necklace at her throat that had the number 30 strung across the leather cord. Thomas wondered if she was going to add a 28 to that, Alex’s number, or if she’d get another one. He wondered if Noelle would want something like that. Maybe they could wear each other’s. He liked the thought.

“Well,” Natalie said. “I was confused until I noticed Kasey looking, but he wasn’t pulling away from me and I thought, hey…maybe this is something?”

“But that was how many years ago?”

Natalie took another drink. “No, yeah, nothing ever happened. Actually, I think they kissed once or twice. Roadies, you know? But Kasey gets traded, and then Finn arrived and we were like, wow, cruel joke.”

Thomas laughed. “I bet. But it meant Alex comes around again.”

She grinned. “That it did.”

Thomas held his drink up for a cheers. “Guess we owe those Cubs a lot.”

She clinked their bottles together. “Life’s weird. But, yeah, it happened this summer officially. Went to the O’Hara Hampton house, and I think we just loved being together. I forgot a little, how wonderful Alexander is. But,” she was smiling wildly again. “I woke up one morning and the boys had gone on a walk, they got back three hours later holding hands, Alex kissed me, and something changed. Maybe they worked through some history of theirs. We’re his now, he’s ours, whatever you want to call it.” She laughed. “Pretty good for a morning’s work.”

“Pretty good,” Thomas repeated.

“I’m worried it’ll be hard, though,” she sighed, chest rising and falling dejectedly. “He’s all the way in Florida and we’re here, together.”

Thomas glanced back down at his phone. “Yeah.”

“I bet that makes me sound like a snob to you,” she reached out and squeezed his hand.

He waved her off. “No, no, I just…we’re new, me and Noelle. Sometimes I worry that we’re too new for…for this.”

Natalie shook her head. “I think distance is distance. And, if it doesn’t work, it isn’t the physical space between two people. It’s a different sort of far away.”

Thomas tapped his fingers against his glass. “You just have something to say for everything, huh, Nat?”

She grinned. “Pretty mouth, gotta use it.”

Thomas snorted. “You’re not wrong.”

“Come on,” she said. “I’m going to whip your ass a ring toss.”

“Yeah fucking right.”

“Apparently they closed down a bunch of streets,” Remus was saying, still bleary-eyed and waking up as Sirius made the coffee. “That’s awesome.”

“It’s a parade. Of course,” Sirius said as he pushed the lid of their french press down.

Remus looked up to see him smiling and rolled his eyes, laughing, “Okay, sure, but it’s still crazy. They say it’s going to bigger than the Cup Parade was in June.”

That made Sirius’ eyebrows raise. “Really?”

Remus hummed in agreement, clicking his phone off and popping his back. “Well. I know Pride is in June, but I’m happy we get to do this, too.”

Sirius nodded, sliding onto the stool beside Remus with two waiting mugs. “Captain gets the Cup last. I don’t make the rules.”

Remus just yawned and let his temple fall against Sirius’ shoulder, closing his eyes as Sirius’ warm palm came to brush over his hair and neck.

“September is in two weeks,” Remus mumbled. “How the hell did that happen?”

Sirius poured their coffee and pressed a kiss against Remus’ hair. “You’ll be fine.”

“Hm?”

“I know you’re nervous for training camp. You’ve seen it a million times, though.”

“Yeah,” Remus sighed and sat up pulling his steaming mug close. “Seen it.”

Sirius laughed, going to the refrigerator for the milk. His hair was in dark, glorious tangles, and Remus vaguely wondered how much time they had before they needed to get ready.

“I meant,” Sirius leaned over the island and poured them both milk before capping it again and going for the brown sugar. Remus smiled when he realized that Sirius had picked that up from Remus’ mom, Hope. “I meant that you know it never comes across like…like some insane competition for spots.”

Remus raised an eyebrow. “It is, though. I mean, not for the Sirius Black, but…”

“D’accord,” Sirius nodded. “Okay, okay. But you know what I mean?”

“I’m not worried about the team,” Remus said as Sirius came to sit down again. “I’m worried I’m not going to make the team.”

Sirius shook his head, set his mug down, and all but pulled Remus off of his stool to gather him close. Remus mumbled something about cold coffee, but smiled as he let himself be kissed good morning, kissed calm, kissed loved.

“I’m not worried,” Sirius whispered, and kissed him some more.

Remus had barely shut his car door—having opened it to cheers—before he was getting an armful of his little brother.

“Oof,” Remus grunted, but squeezed him, lifting him off of his feet. “Nice outfit, Jules.”

Julian jumped back, his Lupin Lions Pride jersey actually fitting him for once. “Thanks, dad found it for me.”

“He insisted on wearing it,” Hope Lupin smiled as she walked up. “But you’re going to roast so tell me when you want your t-shirt, baby, it’s in my bag. Hi, Re.”

“Hi, mom,” Remus let her kiss his cheek a few times.

“Salut,” Sirius grinned from beside him. Remus watched them hug, warmed more deeply than by the heat. Hope patted Sirius’ chest where a faded rainbow twelve was printed on his t-shirt. Remus was going to steal that thing as soon as he took it off.

“What a party!” Hope grinned. “Is someone grilling? Thought I smelled it.”

Remus nodded. “Yeah, they got this restaurant downtown to bring BBQ.”

“Is there ice cream?” Julian said, huffing. “I’m hot.”

Sirius plucked at his jersey jokingly. “Mais, ouais, it’s almost ninety!”

Hope laughed, and put a hand on Julian’s back. “I’ll get him cooled off. Your dad’s around here somewhere with Pascal. Meet you on the float in ten. And make sure you’re wearing sunscreen!”

Remus watched his family wind their way through the colorful, crowded streets, felt Sirius’ fingers lace through his own, and smiled.

The sun did beat down hot, but Remus didn’t mind so much, not when they were filed onto the float that was equipped with a red and gold Lions head roaring at the front and rainbow streamers at the back, like an extension of the mane. The Cup sat on a high pedestal between them, strapped in shining.

The crowd was wild. People were hanging out of the tall parking garage that lined one side. The pavement was painted in thick strips of rainbow in some places, and red and gold in others.

Gryffindor loved their Lions. It almost made Remus want to cry, seeing how happy Sirius was. Half of the team was on their float, some of them walking beside. Remus spotted Logan sporting a rainbow brimmed hat walking with Kasey and returned the peace sign Logan sent up.

“Everyone is decked out, man,” James shouted in Remus’ ear from beside him, Harry on his hip. He and Lily had returned in time for Finn’s birthday. He was wearing a Lions Pride shirt, and Harry had a tiny one to match and a sunhat that practically covered his entire body that Lily kept coming over to adjust. James grinned. “Damn. Good Cup Day.”

“It’s not my Cup Day,” Remus laughed. “But I do sort of feel like this is my day.”

James just smiled, pointing at people for Harry to wave at. “Maybe won’t have to make that distinction next year, eh? Look, Har, see the flags? You want one, bud?”

“Re,” Sirius leaned in, and Remus felt his hand on his back. “Want to walk a bit?”

Remus nodded, eyes finding where Leo, Jackson, Evgeni, and Olli were walking together, keeping time with the floats and talking to the crowd. Leo had a rainbow flag painted on one cheek, Natalie’s work.

Remus felt for his own hat, flipping the colorful brim backwards as he hopped down.

“Hey,” Jackson grinned, throwing an arm around Remus’ shoulders. Evgeni had one of Sergei’s daughters in his arms, chatting with the crowd. He wasn’t wearing Jackson’s rainbow-striped shirt, but it looked like one of the kids had stuck two stickers on one of his cheeks that he wasn’t bothering removing. Remus wondered if he was worried, about his family, or his country, like he had told Sirius. It sent a wave of thankfulness through him, the fact that he was here.

“Nado,” Remus hugged Jackson. “Jesus, seriously, what did you do this summer? You look fit, man.”

“You see him,” Evgeni called over, handing a sharpie back to someone wrapped almost entirely in a flag covered with glitter. “Stare in the mirror, in love.”

“I don’t,” Jackson protested.

Evgeni just shrugged, spinning Sergei’s daughter around. “I’m see you.”

“Well, hand some over,” Remus said.

Jackson just gave him a shake. “You’re going to make the team.”

“Maybe,” Remus groaned out a laugh, knocking him away.

“No maybes,” Sirius said, sidling up to Remus’ side and replacing Jackson’s arm.

“Sirius! Cap!” someone called, and Remus felt Sirius tense a little, as he always did in crowds, or media.

The person calling had short brown hair and seemed to have tailored a loose jersey of Sirius’ into a form-fitting dress. The sleeves were cut and hemmed by the twelves on the sleeves.

“Salut!” they said, accent stiff, and laughed. “I tried.”

That seemed to ease Sirius a little, and Remus tugged him to a stop.

“Salut,” Sirius smiled. “Wow, that’s my jersey?”

They nodded, eyes sliding over to Remus. “It is. My girlfriend was hoping to have a Lupin one so we can match, but…”

The girl beside her, black hair tucked up in a bandana, smiled and threw her hands up. “When are they stocking those! I have two hundred bucks I’m ready to drop, I mean, let’s go before I second guess myself!”

Remus laughed. “Oh man, I’ve been there.”

“With my jersey, ouais?” Sirius grinned was teasing as he signed an autograph and Remus blushed.

“Here,” Sirius took out his phone. “You can give me your phone number, if you’re okay with it, and I’ll get you one? Yeah?”

“Oh…are you kidding?” the girl put a hand over her mouth. “Oh my God, I…yes, Cap, you can have my phone number, sure fucking thing.”

They moved along the crowd easily. Sirius grabbed the Cup at one point, walking it along for people to touch just as their entire team had in June. Remus stayed well away.

“No jinxes here,” an older man in a Lions Pride shirt laughed, his arm around his son. He held out his hand. “My entire family’s been Lions fans for generations. Glad to have you on the team.”

His son, the very image of his father, smiled and tentatively held out a sharpie. “Would you sign my shirt? I’ve seen your tapes and everything, I…you’re my favorite. I was thinking about getting out of hockey before you.”

Remus blinked. “I…” he took the sharpie, swallowing around the tightness in his throat. “I’m glad you’re staying. Are you a defenseman?”

He lit up. “How’d you know?”

Remus shrugged, smiling. “You hold yourself like one.”

“I hope that’s a good thing!” Remus heard Olli call from a little ways down.

He laughed. “How did you hear that?”

Remus signed the boy’s shirt, thanked him, and jogged a little to catch up with Sirius.

“I’ll take that,” Jackson grinned, and plucked the Cup from Sirius’ grasp.

“It’s my Cup Day!” Sirius laughed, but wrapped his arm around Remus instead. “Hi.”

“That was my first signature,” Remus said softly, to Sirius only, and Sirius squeezed his shoulders.

“The first of many.”

It was a bit of a blur after that. Natalie brought them ice cream and cold lemonade, which turned Sirius’ kisses even sweeter when they made it back home, out of the heat and stumbling, happy and sun-kissed. Sirius’ entrance hall was dark to Remus’ unadjusted eyes, and he focused on his palms, splayed over Sirius’ broad back. He yelped when a voice rang out from the living room.

“We’re on the couch!” Regulus shouted. “Just so you know!”

Sirius broke the kiss, looking flushed and dazed. “What…why?”

“I live here!” Regulus’ voice called back.

Remus suppressed a smile, and leaned his forehead against Sirius’ chest, trying to calm his breathing and any flush of arousal that had been beginning to stir up.

“Fuck,” Sirius swore. “How did he get home before us?”

“Who’s we?” Remus called out.

“Howdy,” Leo’s voice came.

Sirius sighed. “It’s my Cup Day.”

Remus gave his hip a short pat before walking down the hallway and rounding the corner to find Leo and Regulus slouched on the couch, AC on full blast.

“Right,” Remus nodded. “You’re suppose to be helping Reg pack for school.”

Regulus glanced up from his phone. “There’s twenty different gifs of you jumping down from the float and turning his hat backwards on Twitter.”

Remus blinked. “What?” He didn’t even remember doing that.

Leo nodded, crunching a potato chip. “And we’ve only been looking for ten minutes.”

“Huh,” Sirius said, turning towards the kitchen. He stopped, hesitated for a moment, and turned back. “Let me see.”

Remus huffed out a laugh. “I need water.”

“Donne-moi!” Sirius demanded of Regulus, grabbing for his phone.

“You have your own phone!” Remus made out Regulus’ reply in French.

Remus filled his glass, downed in, and was filling it again when Leo came into the kitchen, rolling his eyes and smiling.

“Thought I’d leave the brothers to fight. Can’t believe I used to be scared of both of them.”

Remus laughed, too. “Right?”

Remus watched Leo grab a glass, spinning his own slowly around on the counter. “Are you…”

Leo glanced up. “Hm?”

Remus took a breath. “Tell me if I’m overstepping, but I know today must’ve been a little…” he took his hat off, the colorful bill bright against the dark stone of the counter.

Leo nodded in understanding, sliding onto a stool. “It wasn’t…hard. It was actually good to see all of the support. I could see it in Finn and Logan, too. Logan is nervous.” He nodded to himself. “More nervous than me and Finn. Understandably. I mean, you know how long he and Finn…” Leo shook his head. “I was happy he got to see that. And Finn was happy, I know, too. Maybe we’ll start making plans. I mean, this summer was just fucking heaven. Just being together. Like, I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy.”

“Me too,” Remus sat on the stool beside him. They smiled at each other, then laughed. “I’m happy for you guys.”

“I am, too,” Leo grinned. “All right, I think me and Reg have to actually put his clothes in suitcases now.”

“Good luck.”

“That boy owns, like, five t-shirts,” Leo drained his glass and put it in the sink. “Shouldn’t be too hard.”

Remus grabbed a third glass and followed Leo back into the living room where they found Sirius leaning over the back of the couch, squinting at Regulus’ phone. He did a double take when he spotted Remus.

“Hey, where’s your hat?”

Remus snorted. “I’m not a twitter gif. C’mon, I need a shower.”

Regulus raised a teasing eyebrow. “And you need him for that?”

Remus stuck out his tongue. “Yeah.”

Sirius flicked the back of Regulus’ head. “Go pack.”

Remus tugged his t-shirt off on their way up the stairs. “That was wonderful, but fuck do I wish it wasn’t a thousand degrees.”

“I don’t know,” came Sirius’ reply from behind him as they entered their bedroom, followed by his hands on Remus’ hips and his lips against his neck. “When it’s hot, your hair sticks to your neck just…” he kissed just by Remus’ ear gently. “Here.”

Remus bit back a smile. “With sweat.”

“It’s handsome, I think.”

Remus laughed, turning in Sirius’ arms. He was summer tan and happy. Remus didn’t think he’d ever get tired of seeing that grin, one that was more and more present lately. Sirius laughed and made small talk with fans who asked for pictures—even today, he had seemed to almost enjoy the crowds and the media. Remus touched his number twelve necklace. He brought it to his lips. “You’re handsome.”

They stepped into the shower together and stood in the peace and quiet of the beating down water, turned cool against their heated skin. Remus rested his head against Sirius’ chest, and smiled when he felt Sirius lace their fingers together. It wasn’t exactly a new thing anymore, but it still felt new. It had been that way when James, Lily, and Harry had first arrived home and Sirius had done it on the table between them at the restaurant, just as it had been early in June, when Sirius had done it while they waiting in line to board their plane.

Remus looked up, squeezing his hand, and Sirius bent to take Remus’ mouth against his own again. It was softer, but Remus felt just as giddy from the day’s events. A parade. A Cup Day.

He wanted one of his own.

“Love you, mon loup,” he smiled. “Thank you for today.”

Remus ran his hand over Sirius’ broad shoulders. “I didn’t do anything.”

“You did everything,” Sirius whispered back. “You are part of me allowing myself things.”

Remus felt his expression soften.

“Heather explained it that way,” Sirius said. “I thought it was well put.”

Heather, the team’s sports psychiatrist. Remus had only actually met her a few times, but Sirius valued her highly, had called her a few times during the off season.

“I like it, too,” he said, and let Sirius pull him close again.

They threw the windows open to let the cooling breeze in once they were back downstairs, and Sirius put steaks on the grill for the two of them.

“Where’d Reg and Nut go?” Sirius asked.

“I think out with some of the boys,” Remus said, and followed as Sirius went back out to the patio. He notched his hip against the door frame. “Hey, do you want to go to the rink tomorrow? All this Cup talk has got me wanting to skate, like, now.”

Sirius tilted his head back and laughed. “With you? Always.”

Remus grinned and padded back over to the counter where the salad was waiting for dressing.

“I’m glad we didn’t end up having everyone over,” Remus said as he tossed it. “As much as I love them.”

Sirius hummed, sliding the screen door of the deck closed. He set the plate and tongs down before wrapping his arms around Remus.

“As much as I love them,” he repeated quietly, lips brushing against Remus’ neck. “I want you all to myself right now.”

Remus leaned back against him. “My thoughts exactly, baby.”

Sirius smiled against his skin. “Glad we’re on the same page. Vanilla hater.”

Remus pinched his arm. “Pineapple hater.”

Cole woke up to the smell of bacon and eggs wafting down to his room from the kitchen—and Katie Dumais curled up at the foot of his bed.

He jumped a little, and then sat up slowly. It took him a moment to realize that she wasn’t asleep, but that she was fiddling with a little charm bracelet, her eyes down.

He cleared his throat. “Uh, hi, Katie.”

She looked up, and a grin lit up her face. “Mom says breakfast is ready. I didn’t want to wake you up, even though she told me to.”

He sat up a little more. “How long ago was that?”

Katie wrinkled her nose. “Maybe four hours?”

Cole blinked, and picked up his phone from his nightstand. It was eight-thirty. He glanced back at Katie.

“Can you tell time?” he asked slowly.

“Not really,” she sighed happily, and kept fiddling with her bracelet. “You still have rainbow paint on your face.”

Cole laughed, rubbing a hand over his cheek, where Lily Potter had painted a flag the day before, for the parade. Where the Stanley Cup had been.

It still all felt surreal to say.

“Okay. Um, tell her I’ll be up in a second, okay?”

Katie nodded. “Okay!”

Cole listened to her footsteps scamper all the way up the stairs before he flopped back down on his pillows and chuckled to himself. He gave his teeth a quick brush and followed.

“Bon matin,” Celeste smiled as she flipped a few more pieces of bacon onto a plate. “How did you sleep? I think that heat yesterday tired everyone out.”

Cole slid onto a stool beside Marc and Louis, Katie to his right. “Really good, thanks.”

“The air conditioner isn’t acting up again?” Celeste asked. “Logan was always having trouble with that thing.”

“It didn’t turn on right away, but I fixed it,” Cole smiled when she set a steaming plate of eggs, bacon and fruit in front of him, and then another plate with toast. “My mom’s big with her tool kit, so, I mean, if you ever need anything around the house, I know some stuff. Just so I can…help out. Thank you for letting me stay.”

Celeste beamed. “Oh, sweetheart, we’re not just letting you stay. We’re very happy you’re here. Someone your age shouldn’t be alone, especially with all the pressure that comes with this job. But I will absolutely take you up on that. You wouldn’t know how to build me some planters, would you? Pascal bought the wood ages ago,” she turned back to the sink, waving a spatula. “Always saying he will take care of it, and yet there it sits!”

Cole laughed softly. “Yeah, I can do that. Sounds good.”

“Well, good,” Celeste smiled, pulling her purse over her shoulder. “Now, Pascal is with Sergei for an ice session—which you’re always invited to, he says, by the way—I’m taking Louis to tennis, and Marc to space camp. Layla will be here soon, but do you mind looking after Katie until she gets here? Adele’s up in her room if you have any questions. She’ll know.”

Cole nodded, trying to swallow the eggs quickly. “Of course. No problem.”

Celeste smiled. “She loves you enough already, she’ll be no trouble.”

“She’s always trouble,” Louis mumbled.

Celeste tisked, but kissed his head. “Come on, up. Cole, you have some of the boys’ numbers, too, right?”

“Um,” Cole thought of Sirius Black’s number in his phone from when he called him. “Yes?”

“Good. I know you don’t have a car yet, and you’re always welcomed to ours when it’s available, but if you ever need a ride anywhere, I’m sure any one of them will drive you.”

Cole, for the life of him, didn’t think he would ever be able to bring himself to call Sirius Black up and ask him to drive him to, what, Target? Jesus.

“Right,” Cole tried for a smile and knew it came out nervous. “Thanks.”

Katie did turn out to be a pretty easy kid. Even if she did seem to switch activities at a rapid pace. She drew, and then she watched half of a TV show, and then she was hungry, but she did all of it herself. After less than 30 minutes she had parked both of them on the couch where they were stringing beads for necklaces.

“I’ll make you Lions colors,” she said seriously.

That had been Cole’s best—and only—idea. He glanced at the multi-colored kit. “What colors do you want?”

“Surprise me.”

Cole smiled. “All right. What’s your charm bracelet?” He nodded to the small silver ring around her wrist.

“It’s from Tremzy,” Katie thrust her wrist forward. “He gets me one every one of my birthdays. There’s a hockey stick, because we love hockey, and an ice cream cone, because we love ice cream, and this is a book because we read together, and—”

There was the ding that told Cole that Layla had arrived, coming in from the garage, and Katie was off again.

“Hi,” Cole said, leaning against the kitchen doorframe.

Layla looked up from trying to put her things down and hug Katie at the same time. “Hey, Cole.”

“How’s it going?” Cole asked, feeling decidedly more prepared this time. Layla was in a green tank-top today, but her same shorts and gold rings.

“Busy,” she laughed. “I actually have my first orientation this evening, at the rink.”

Cole nodded. “Nice. I’ve never actually been inside. Well, not yet, I guess.”

Layla straightened at that. “Well…I’m driving over once Celeste gets home, just to see the place first.” She seemed to take a breath. “Do you want to come with?”

They didn’t have full gear, but the chilled rink was a relief against the sweat they worked up anyway. Remus borrowed a helmet—his own hadn’t been sent out yet—and used his old, worn in CCM skates.

“I can still beat you in these,” Remus panted as he skated backwards, tapping the puck back and forth and trying to gauge which way Sirius was going to dodge first.

“Oh, I know,” Sirius said, then lifted his right foot and went left.

Remus knocked the puck out of his stick towards the boards, and it sent them both chasing it.

“You use that trick too much!” Remus laughed, it echoing across the empty rink, as he shoved Sirius against the glass, the puck trapped between his skate blade and the foot of the boards.

“What about this one?” Sirius said, and turned to press their mouths together. Remus smiled into it, and it was enough to allow Sirius to steal the puck back.

“No!” Remus laughed as Sirius carried the puck expertly across the blue line, winding his stick up and taking a deadly slap shot, notching it perfectly in the upper left corner of the empty goal.

He dropped to a knee, sliding into a celebration before wrapping around the goal with a final whoop and crashing back into Remus for another kiss.

“Wanna run plays?” Sirius asked. “I’ll be your center if you’ll be my winger.”

Remus smiled as they reset themselves, pushing the used pucks towards the boards. “That might not happen.”

“Maybe I have more pull than you think.”

Remus raised an eyebrow. “Not that much, baby. What’s going to happen is I’ll start on the fourth line, go from there. Anything else and every journalist in the city would go batshit crazy.”

Sirius just scooped another puck into the goal, then hooked his arms over his stick, the body behind his neck. “Wouldn’t be our first time causing that.”

Remus smiled. “True.” He nudged Sirius towards center ice. “Face-off.”

Sirius took his helmet off to push his hair back. “Let’s do it.”

Remus was just tugging off his shirt, smiling as he listened to Sirius rattle of plans for the season, when he heard two voices laughing from the hallway. Sirius’ smile dropped, and he narrowed his eyes at the door.

“Don’t know,” Sirius said. “Hey, where are we meeting the guys for—”

“Should we check out the locker room?” one of the outside voices said—higher. “Do you think it’s open?”

“Non,” Sirius mumbled under his breath, grabbing for the back of his own shirt.

The door opened hesitantly at first, then wider, revealing Layla and Cole.

Cole flushed, and Layla’s mouth opened, then closed.

“Oh my god,” she said. “Sorry, we didn’t think…”

Remus glanced at Sirius, but when he didn’t say anything, just pretending to fiddle grumpily with his bag, he waved them off.

“Hey, we were just swinging by for a quick skate. It’s not our locker room,” he smiled. “Well, not only ours. You guys have the same idea?”

“Not skating, maybe,” Layla replied, twisting one of her braids around her finger. She looked up at Cole, who still looked like he thought he was in the wrong place, and smiled. “But neither of us have really gotten to look around yet, so, we thought we would.”

Remus smiled, using his dirty t-shirt to wipe sweat from his brow. “Nice. Well, maybe Cap and I can give you a tour or something some time.”

Sirius glanced up. “Marls does that.”

Remus tried to send Sirius a look with his eyes, but Sirius just glanced mournfully towards what Remus thought might be the video review room.

“Well…” Remus said hesitantly.

“We’ll keep looking around,” Layla said quickly. “See you guys around.”

Remus watched them to make sure the door was closed, then turned and punched Sirius in the arm.

“Quoi?” Sirius asked.

“Grumpy.”

“I liked it just us,” Sirius mumbled. “I thought we could plan plays or—or watch tape.”

Remus laughed, pressing his forehead to Sirius’ chest. “You’re such a baby.”

One corner of Sirius’ mouth raised. “So?”

“You wanted the rookie to stop making moon eyes at you,” Remus said. “Here’s your chance.”

“D’accord,” Sirius’ grin spread as he gathered Remus closer by his hips. “But will you keep making moon eyes at me?”

Remus leaned up for a gentle kiss. “I’m going to ask them to lunch. Wait here, Captain, you scare the rookie.”

“I don’t,” Sirius sighed, and Remus pushed out the locker room door.

“Hey,” Remus jogged to catch up as Cole and Layla turned at his voice. “Us and some of the other guys are planning to get lunch. How about it? You, too, Layla.”

Layla blinked. “Seriously?”

Remus laughed. “Team lunch isn’t a team lunch without the PT. Or, one of them, at least.”

Layla grinned. “Right. Well, I’d love to.”

Cole nodded quickly. “I—yeah. Yeah, cool. That rooftop place again?”

“You’re already picking up on team favorites, I see.”

Cole smiled sheepishly. “Kuny makes us go there every time.”

“It’s the sushi,” Remus laughed. “He’s a man obsessed. Well, cool. Meet you there in twenty?”

Layla jingled her keys. “See you there.”

“Sushi,” Evgeni all but moaned as he picked up a piece of yellowtail.

“Jesus, Kuns,” Jackson said. “You can’t eat all of that by yourself.”

Evgeni was chewing with his eyes closed. “You don’t know.”

“All right,” Thomas leaned forward, folding his sunglasses into his shirt in the shade of their umbrella. “What do we think this season, boys? Predictions, let me hear them.”

They all looked to Sirius first, who leaned back in his chair, one arm over the back of Remus’. He took a sip of his iced tea.

“Rangers,” he said finally.

“Uh-huh,” James nodded.

“Same,” Layla said, taking a spoonful of her miso soup.

“Caps, maybe,” Sirius continued.

“Definitely,” Remus said.

“I’m feeling Avs?” Thomas offered. “And I don’t want to say Snakes, but…yuck.”

“More like Vegas,” Remus said.

The table paused, and Remus just shook his head.

“It’s true,” he said, glancing at Cole and Layla, trying to decide if they’d noticed the shift in the air. He had to be able to talk about this. About him. "They’re deep this year.”

“Yeah,” Cole said softly. “Greyback’s killer.”

Remus felt the entire table tense and felt immediately guilty. Cole didn’t know what he had said, and Remus all but watched him wonder if he’d said something wrong.

“And us,” Thomas grinned, slapping Cole on the back. “We’ve got Lupin now. We’ve got Reyes.”

Remus rolled his eyes, but laughed. He tried to express his thanks silently, and Thomas winked at him.

This felt different. He had known it would. Team dinners would be his dinners now, not a friendly tag-along invite. Driving to practice with Sirius, they would go through almost the same routine, not split off for his office and the locker room. These were his teammates. He’d win and lose with them, and they with him, in a way they hadn’t before. Sitting there, in the sunshine that was going to turn colder, Remus looked forward to a year of this.

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undead-potatoes · 4 years

Text

I found these in my drafts from like 4 years ago, and didn’t want to delete them so I’m just gonna very discreetly post it in the Ryder twins’ tags

This is just a post to gather what I have about this twins so far, so there’s a lot of repetition and random shit under the cut, and this is mostly a ‘memo to self’.

Olive Ryder:

Nickname: Ollie

Engineer / techspert

Has biotic abilites, but doesn’t use them due to health concerns

Aro-Ace NB

Has Fibro / chronic pain

Is missing her right arm, uses a robotic prosthetic

Eldest by 5 minutes

A happy and outgoing person

An optimist, tries to see the bright side of everything

Likes to tease and prank people

Deals with grief through humor

Sometimes she says things without really thinking about them

Loves seafood

Hates olives

Likes yellows and greens

Doesn’t drink

DOES smoke weed

Builds small robots of all types and shapes

Has a quarian extranet friend she discusses tech with

Photography is a hobby of hers

Heavy sleeper?

Knows a little bit about almost everything

Plays video games

Her favorite PJs are a pair of pink Blasto PJs

Had a small cacti that Elliot gave her after she kept killing all the plants in their shared apartment

Glossy JPEG pizza sweater

‘Galaxy’ hair

Favorite flowers are sunflowers

Favorite animals is the sloth

Still has an old, worn sloth plush with long-ass arms from her childhood

Denim Queen of the Future

Can’t drive, so others drive the Nomad and she’s the shotgun messing with the music player

Built a robot dog on board the Tempest named K9 or Key for short

Very flexible

Signed onto the Prothean digs due to fascination with history?

Elliot Ryder:

Vanguard / biotic

Gay trans man

Nearsighted, needs glasses / contact lenses

Fear / phobia of eye trauma

Loves spicy food, especially Indian

Paints on canvas as a hobby

Goes jogging every morning

Likes to read, especially paper books

Likes to bake in his spare time, it helps him calm down

Artisan Beer Trash™

Can catch just about anything with his mouth

Favorite piece of clothing is a worn leather jacket

Had a loooong punk period in his teen years

Owns a decorative skull with sunglasses (needs name)

Can eat his own weight in peanut butter

Coffee addict

Loves to go hiking in the mountains and forests

Wanted to become a tattoo artist before he joined the Alliance

Terrified of space as a kid

Elliot paints Olive’s robotic arm to make it look prettier

Both were in a car crash as kids, where Olive lost her right arm, and Elliot got some nasty lower back injuries

Grew up on one of Terra Nova’s bigger settlements/cities

They watch shitty b-list movies together, and only together (maybe they used to stay up at night as children, and that was the only thing on?)

O: “You have to be the cheeriest goth to ever exist” E: “For the billionth time, I’m PUNK NOT GOTH” (She calls him goth on purpose)

Getting matching tattoos before leaving the Milky Way

Matching planet tattoos, Olive on the back, Elliot on the arm

They used to dress up their mom’s plastic skeleton in her lab when she wasn’t looking, specifically sunglasses and lab coats, maybe a cigarette if they could find one

Olive would draw sunglasses on Elliot’s tattooed sun?

Your mom jokes everywhere

#Sunny Life #OC: Ryder #some of these are a bit corny but I'm leaving them in there as is 8)#not even sure if all of these are true still but whatever

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girl-gone-crazy · 4 years

Text

Short Story 1

Warning: Kissing

This is my first LGBT+ short that I made in 2017

Word count- 2038

~~~~~

I jumped at the sound of a quick movement to my right. My girlfriend, Riley, pulled me closer to her. I looked up at her with a sigh escaping my mouth as she smiled at me as her brown eyes sparkled in the moonlight. I felt at ease being closer to her, even though I was still a little frightened.

“It was just a cat, silly Lily,” She said with a giggle. “We’re almost home. Do you want a piggy back ride the rest of the way.”

“Y-yeah..” She let go of my hand and I carefully climbed up her back. She put her hands under my butt for support and gave it a playful squeeze. I yelped out of surprise and wrapped my arms around her neck. She giggled again.

“Sorry, sweetie. I just had to.”

I buried my face in her back as we continued on our walk. About ten minutes later I heard a door open and felt light flood around us. We were back at our apartment. She sat me down on the couch. I turned on the TV hoping to find something good to watch at this time of night. The news instantly came on, and since I didn’t want to hear about all the bad in the world, I started searching for any cartoons that may be on.

“You hungry? I’ll order a pizza if so.” Riley hung her coat in the closet as her shoes sat messily by the door.

“Can I get a cheese this time?”

“Of course you can, babygirl. I’ll draw you a bath while I order.” She kissed my forehead and walked out of the room. She soon came back and sat next to me, pulling me into my lap as soon as she was comfy. I blushed a little as she kissed me on my cheek. “You’re so adorable. You know that right?” My face burned a little more. “I’m really sorry about what happened tonight. I didn’t think my friends would get mean. Nor did I expect you to get hurt.” She said examining my wrist, which had been cut by a broken piece of glass.

“I-It happens.” I stuttered out as I pulled my wrist away from her.

“No. Lily, I should of been more careful..” I shook my head and pulled her into a hug.

“I’m fine. I promise.” I gave her a quick kiss, hoping to see the smile that gave my life reason. She gave it to me.

“Your bath is ready, by the way.”

“Thank you, sweetie.” I gave her another kiss before getting up to go to the bathroom. I heard her change my cartoons to the news as I shut the bathroom door behind me. The tub was full with steaming water and my favorite bubble bath solution. I smiled, thinking of how lucky I was to have her, and climbed into the bath.

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I got out of the bath a little under an hour later, just when the water was getting cold. I slipped on my over-sized t-shirt and fuzzy cookie monster shorts. I wrapped my hair in a towel before leaving the bathroom completely.

As soon as I got back into the living room, I could smell that the pizza had been delivered while I was soaking. “Hungry?” Riley asked from the couch, looking as if she hadn’t moved. The pizza was on the coffee table with two pieces already missing from it.

“Always.” I smiled, grabbed a piece and sat next to her. She changed it back to my cartoons knowing how much I hated the news. I loved this woman.

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Riley’s P.O.V.

Dishes were about done when I heard a soft snoring over the sound of the Spongebob Squarepants theme song. I dried my hands off and looked over the couch. Lily was fast asleep with her blanket wrapped around her like a swaddle. I turned the television off, and carefully picked her up to take her to bed. She groaned in resistance but didn’t wake. After she was tucked into bed, I went back to finish the last bit of dishes. All I heard now was the soft patter of rain on the windows.

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It was over. We were graduating. School was over and I had Lily. We already had an apartment together. I was excited. I looked over at Lily as she talked to her friends. She had her blond hair curled, as usual, and I had mine pulled back in a braid. She was everything to me, and today was the day I proved it. She walks onto the stage right after me. We’ve only been together a few months, but I know she is someone I want in my life forever. Her parents already know. The principal has even gave me permission to interrupt the ceremony briefly for it. No, I’m not proposing. Exactly. I’m giving her a promise ring. I know I love her, and I pray she loves me back in the same manner.

I readjusted my cap as my name was called. I walked onto the stage, shook the principal's hand, and had my picture taken with my diploma in hand. Instead of walking off stage, I stood at the other end. Murmurs shuffled among the crowd in confusion. The principal ignored the murmurs and called Lily up on stage. She followed my steps and after grabbing her diploma came over to me and asked me what I was doing. At this time the superintendent handed me an extra microphone.

“Lily Matthews, I know you have only been mine since December, but I need you to know I love you.” I felt my nerves acting up but continued to fight through them. “I love you with all my heart, body, and soul. Sweetie, I couldn’t imagine you ever leaving my life. So here and now…” I bent down on a knee, which was quite complicated in my gown, and pulled a small ring out of my pocket, “I’m asking if you’ll promise to be mine until I can marry you later.”

Lily turned red and took a minute to respond. Oh, God. I blew it. I thought to myself.

Quickly, I was blown back by Lily in a tackle I wasn’t prepared for. “Yes!” she screamed excitedly. I laughed, with excitement shining from my core. I placed the ring on her left ring finger and kissed her with every breath I had left in me. Applause arose around with awes mixed in.

We were back in our seats, both giddy, as more people were called upon the stage. “I love you, Lily.”

“I love you, too, Riley.”

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*Two Years Later*

Lily’s P.O.V.

I woke up to the smell of something being made. Cinnamon rolls? I looked over and realized Riley wasn’t in bed, so she was probably making breakfast. I crawled out of bed and pulled my hair quickly back into a messy bun.

I tried sneaking behind Riley to give her a startle, but she seems to always have high senses. “Don’t think about it, babygirl.”

“Hehe, good morning!” I chirped, acting innocently.

“Morning birthday girl, want to do the frosting?” She offered as she pulled the cinnamon buns from the oven.

“Yes!” I said excitingly as I grabbed the container off the island. After frosting the buns completely, I put some on my finger and went to ‘boop’ Riley on her nose.

“Is that really a battle you want to start this early?” She asked inquisitively.

“Um…” I paused for a second. “Yes!” I ‘booped’ her quickly and threw the rest of the frosting in the trash before she could get me back.

“Smart move.” She said sticking her tongue out at me. “Let’s eat quickly. We don’t want to be late to your parents.”

“Okie dokie,” I said with pep. I grabbed a cinnamon roll and made my way back to the room to get dressed.

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I pulled on my boots as Riley pulled on her high tops to match her flannel top. She had her hair curled and pulled back in a ponytail. “Ready?” She asked as she grabbed the car keys. I nodded and made way out to the car. She always drove anymore because I was scared to after going into a ditch last winter. The snow had white blinded me and slid head first into a ditch across from the supermarket. I plugged my phone into the AUX and played Olly Murs.

After about half an hour of driving, we made it to my parent’s house. Riley’s parents’ car was parked out front as well, which doesn’t surprise me much. My parents and her’s were good friends before we were even dating. They are the reason we even know each other.

As soon as we got inside, I was engulfed in a giant bear hug. Looking up it was my big brother, Travis. I smiled and hugged him back. “Happy birthday, Lil!”

“Thank you, Travis.” I said with a smile as he let me go.

“Hey, honey!” My mom said surrounding me with a hug much like my brothers. “I can’t believe you’re twenty today!”

I shrugged and giggled. “You say the same thing every year, Mom.”

Riley interrupted us with a “Mr. and Mrs. Matthews, can I speak to you in the other room?”

I figured it was about my presents and didn’t think much about it.

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Riley’s P.O.V.

Lily’s parents followed me into a different room and we all sat down. My parents were in there as well, already knowing what was going on.

“Today is the day,” I said, “I want to ask her to marry me tonight when we get home. Our friends are at our apartment decorating for me. But first, I want to confirm with everyone that you guys are still okay with this.” I pulled the ring out of my bag and showed it to her parents. Her mother gasped and I could tell she loved the ring.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” My dad asked me. I nodded.

“More than anything else.”

Her dad spoke up. “Just remember, if you hurt her I will hunt you down.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Protect her with everything you got. She’s as emotionally fragile as much as she was as a child.” Mrs. Matthews chimed in.

“I will.” I put the ring away, and we all joined the party.

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Lily’s P.O.V.

It was late by the time we headed home. Riley loaded my presents into the trunk, which wasn’t all that much. Mom and Dad each gave me a kiss before I got into the car. “Good night, and drive safe. We love you two.”

“Love you, too, Mom.”

I was falling asleep by the time we got home, but Riley seemed to be beaming with energy. She must of ate a lot of cake, I thought to myself as we headed inside.

We walked inside and my breath was swept away by the view that was before me. Colored candles were lit amongst the room and rose petals were spilled across the floor. What was going on?

Riley took my hand, and guided me to the middle of the room.

“I want our future to be us together forever. I love you, and I want to protect you from all the evil that comes your way. You’re everything to me, and I want to prove it for years to come.” She pulled a small blue box from the bag that hung at her side. She knelt down on her knee, just like she did at our graduation ceremony. I began crying softly, tears clouding my vision. “Lily Matthew, will you marry me?”

Without a heartbeat in between our words I said “Yes, yes multiple times over.” She smiled even more than she had been before with a blush coming to her cheeks. She slid the diamond ring onto my finger right above the promise ring she gave me two years ago.

Riley stood and pulled me into a hug. I buried my head into her shoulder, tears of joy still running down my cheeks.

“I love you, sweetie.”

“I love you, too.”

#lgbt+#lesbian #love #shortstory #my oc story #marriage #family #girlfriend #school #friends #dinner

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scornedlove · 5 years

Text

Chapter Fifteen

ROBYN

It’s official. I made my own name in fashion. We were at London Fashion Week again, but this time I wasn’t just watching. I was working alongside some of the fashion greats. The first week of January Adam Selman reached out to me personally. Apparently, the networking I did at the last fashion show paid off. He liked many of my ideas and wanted to collab on the upcoming fashion show, which meant we had about six weeks. He started working on this collection in June but felt it needed something more, so I was included in all the major decisions. It was such an amazing experience, from deciding on how things sit on the models to deciding how the pieces were cut. All the hard work paid off because the show was a success and he wanted me to join him on the autumn and winter collection as well.

“This is going to open so many doors for me” l smiled, thinking out loud. Mel, Frankie, Paige, and I had just made it back to our hotel, shitfaced from celebrating.

“Yeah, you’re finally getting the recognition you deserve!” Frankie agreed. “I knew you would take off any day now. Nobody knows how hard you work like I do. You earned this.”

“I wanna go to Bim and celebrate with my people. I might as well take all ya’ll with me, ya’ll put in just as much work as I do. We all could use a vacation, plus my birthday is coming up” I grinned, excited just thinking about it.

“That’s what I’m talking about! I need to bathe in some island sun” Paige nodded her approval. “The only person who probably wouldn’t come is Meagan, only God knows how pissed she is that she didn’t get to come to fashion week last time and this time.”

“Well, if you don’t do your job right at home, why would you get the privilege of traveling?” I shrugged, feeling no sympathy. It’s a wonder I haven’t let her go yet. She was constantly coming in late, leaving early, and leaving tasks unfinished. I must admit, our customers enjoy her. She’s really good when it comes to customer service, but slacks in everything else.

“Yeah, but you know she’s been feeling some type of way since she saw Dre come in with your purse that day. That would be the real reason she doesn’t go to Barbados.” Frankie chimed in. “That’s my girl and all, but I’m not missing out on Barbados for anybody”

“What do you mean? Megan and Dre had a thing? Wait, you and Dre are hookin up?” Mel asked curiously. She had been in her bubble with J, so I hadn’t even told her about what happened between Dre and I on New Year’s Eve.

“You slut! I thought you said ya’ll vowed not to cross the line?” she asked mimicking my voice, after I gave her the quick, short version of what went down.

“Shit happens” I shrugged nonchalantly.

“I hope you know you can’t be playing with this man’s emotions, especially after what Teyana put him through.”

“It’s just sex. It’s not like this is serious” I explained.

“You can only say that if it happened once, but come to think of it. I’ve seen much less of you lately, that means you’re getting consistent dick” she snickered, making Frankie and Paige burst out in laughter.

“No, I’ve been working bitch” I corrected her while giving her the finger.

“But seriously, be careful. You know I worry about you”

“Well don’t. I feel better than I have in a very long time" I stressed hoping to convince her. I was telling the truth; things were really starting to look up for me. I was content with being single and on top of that, my career was starting to take off, so I couldn’t be happier.

I even went out of my way to make sure I enjoyed Valentine’s Day, even though I spent it alone. I went and saw the movie Silver Linings, bought myself a beautiful bouquet, and had an online shopping spree while eating pizza and cheesecake. It was the perfect day and now I couldn’t wait to get home to my new pair of red bottoms and two new Burberry purses.

“How are you today John” I asked my driver, in a cheerful tone, as he grabbed my luggage and tossed it in the trunk. Dre hooked me up with the car service he’s been using for a couple of years and so far, I was extremely satisfied. It’s nice being chauffeured around and my driver was cool to talk to.

“I’m good, now that my bajan thing is back” he winked, opening the back door for me.

“Happy Birthday” Dre sang as soon as I got in. He had balloons and a massive bouquet of roses.

“What are you doing here?!” I yelled, completely surprised.

“I wanted to be the first to welcome you back. How was your trip?” he asked, pouring champagne into a flute and offering it to me.

“It was fuckin awesome!” I grinned, gladly taking it and gulping down half of it immediately. “I’m ready to leave again so I can celebrate that and my birthday”

“What are we doing for your birthday?” He asked curiously.

“Well, I didn’t have anything planned for today, but I’m taking my crew to Bim for a three-day weekend. We’re leaving tomorrow.”

“Cool, so that means I can steal you away today” he smiled.

“Well I have so much to do in so little time. I have to pick up Ollie and Pepe, stop by the shop for a few things, and so much other stuff” I replied. I didn’t expect him to even want to spend my birthday with me, it would’ve been nice to have a heads up.

“How about lunch before you get started on all that?” he suggested.

“I’m sorry Dre, but I don’t have time to wait a half hour for food and take another half hour to eat it.”

"Well, how about this: I’ll let you take care of everything you got going on, and you can come to my house later. I’ll have a nice birthday dinner ready and we can have a little night cap. I won't keep you out too late” he promised.

“Deal” I replied, realizing he just wasn’t taking no for an answer.

He rode with me for most of my errands and kept my glass full the entire time. By the time I made it to work, I was pretty tipsy so when Jenn started singing happy birthday at the top of her lungs, I started to twerk to the imaginary beat.

“What are you even shaking?” Meagan asked with a frown. “You literally have no ass”

“Dats cool tho, cause what I lack in da back, I pack in da cat” I shrugged with a wink and she rolled her eyes.

“Any who. Not that it compares to that big ass bouquet you have in your hand, but someone literally had a single rose delivered to you today. It’s on your desk” she stated.

“Oh yeah, Chris dropped something off for you last week, it’s in your office too” Jenn added nonchalantly and my heart almost stopped from hearing his name.

“Wow” I whispered in awe when I saw the canvas that brightened up my office. I immediately recognized the painting from last year’s Valentine’s Day and my heart skipped a beat. I was confused though. Was this his way of getting rid of what was left of me, or was this his way of reaching out to me?

When I removed the canvas from my desk, I found the rose and a note in Chris’s familiar handwriting and my questions were answered. He wanted to talk so he’d left his number.

“Hello” he answered on the second ring.

“Hi Chris” I paused, feeling lost for words. “It’s Robyn. I just got the gifts…This painting…. it’s beautiful. Thanks”

“You’re welcome. I honestly didn’t think you would call, and happy birthday by the way.”

“Thanks”

“I don’t know what you have going on, but I would love to take you to dinner tonight… For old times’ sake”

“Okay, what did you have in mind?” I replied, without missing a beat.

“Your favorite, Gorgio Baldi of course.” He quickly replied.

“I would love that. I’m finishing up a few things at the office, I can meet you there at 6”

“That's perfect”

“Okay, I guess I’ll see you soon” I smiled through the phone. I felt mixed emotions as butterflies tickled my stomach. I’ve been wishing I could just have a single moment alone with him and I was finally getting that chance. I hated to leave Dre hanging so I made a mental note to cancel with him before I left the office.

I worked quickly and was done with everything that was urgent in a couple of hours. I was in the middle of packing my laptop when Jenn rushed into my office.

“Ooh, I'm glad I caught you. There’s a call for you on line one. It’s Jacques, he says it’s urgent.” she announced.

“Hello” I picked up the phone, wondering what he could possibly want.

“Hi Robyn, it’s about Rayven”

“What about her?” I asked, partially irritated. She was always up to something.

“She’s in the hospital. You need to come and see her” he ordered.

“Is she okay? What happened?” I asked, now frightened.

“She’s in the ICU at Kaiser, I don’t know all the details, just get here as soon as you can” he insisted with urgency before hanging up.

An hour later, I was looking at my younger cousin attached to all sorts of machines and couldn’t help but feel guilty. Apparently, she was high on cocaine and had a stroke. She’s been in a coma for 2 days already, and things still aren’t looking all that great for her.

I know her bad choices aren’t my fault, but maybe if I would’ve at least taken her calls she wouldn’t be here. She went from trying to call me several times a day to calling a few times a week, but she eventually stopped trying.

“What the fuck am I gonna tell her mom?” I sighed as my mind raced. I’m the only family she has here and I’m supposed to be looking out for her. Yeah, she’s done some fucked up things in the past, but I wouldn’t wish death on her.

After seeing her like that, I had to wait in the lobby. I felt responsible and every time that monitor beeped, I felt my anxiety raising. On top of all that, I couldn’t stand to be here. All I could think about was the last time I was in the hospital. I knew my anxiety would be off the charts so I took a Xanax before coming in, but it wasn’t helping.

“I know ya’ll aren’t in the best place right now-” Jacques began as soon as he saw me.

“Never mind that dumb shit, what happened to my cousin?” I asked, angrily. “Where the fuck is Jay?”

“He had business to take care of, that’s why I’m here” he stated, trying to calm me down. “I’m sorry this happened to her, but she’s really been spiraling downhill since you guys fell out. She’s been out of control, partying like there’s no tomorrow, and not taking care of herself. It’s like she didn’t care if anything happened to her.”

“Well I guess her boyfriend doesn’t care either, considering he’s not by her side” I fumed.

“They aren’t together anymore. I’m not all in their business, so I don’t know what’s going on, but she’s been running with a new crowd, and none of those muthafuckas are here, but they’re part of the reason she is. Look, we can point fingers all day but I’m just here to help. I think it might be a good idea to get her mom down here, there’s no telling what may happen” he admitted.

“Are you okay? You're shaking.” he asked when I didn’t respond.

“What if she died on my birthday?” I blurted as my eyes finally began to water. “That would be some fucked up shit”

“You can’t think like that. You gotta pull yourself together so you can be strong for her” he continued. "It ain't always about you. Everyone has been through some shit. You just gotta suck that shit up, forgive, and move on.

“Okay” I sighed realizing he was right. I sat down for a minute, after taking another Xanax, and finally I could feel my heart rate slowing. I wasn’t prepared for the call I was about to make, but I dialed my Aunt Jenna’s number and prayed to God she could find a way to forgive me.

The next couple of days were like torture. I put everything I had going on, on hold to be there for Rayven. After calling Aunt Jenna, she was down here on the next fight. She arrived the next day and that’s when hell began. She went from sympathy to pure hatred when she found out why Rayven was in a coma. She kept saying that she shouldn’t have left home, and how she was worshiping the devil out here. Her energy was all bad and after sitting at this hospital for three days hearing her speak ill of my little cousin, I felt like it was unnecessary for her to be here if she hated her own daughter so much.

“Auntie” I called out, interrupting her phone call. I could hear her saying to someone she was in the States because her daughter was a dumpsy and overdosed, and that must’ve been the last straw.

“Hold up” she spoke to whoever was on the phone and pulled it away from her face. “Wuh you want?” she asked, obviously irritated that I interrupted her conversation. No wonder Rayven was so ready to get away from her, she had evil going through her veins. She wasn’t like that when we were growing up, so this was all new to me.

“I don’t mind staying here with Ray. I can get you a room, so you can take a shower and get some rest. I’ll have my driver come get you if anything changes, that way you can be here when she wakes up” I offered in the kindest tone I could. I would hate to disrespect my Aunt, but if I continued to hear the way she spoke about Rayven, things could get ugly fast. Lucky for everyone, she accepted my offer.

Another day came and went with no changes. I was so exhausted and depressed just sitting around and waiting, so when Mel offered to keep watch for a few hours, I was more than grateful.

I went home, showered, and had a quick meal. By the time I made it back to the hospital, Rayven had woken up.

“Rob-?” Rayven’s raspy voice called out when I walked in.

“Thank God! You’re up?! “I smiled, feeling relief rush over me.

“I’m so sorry” she choked out as tears started to fall.

“Shhh. Try not to talk” I replied softly. “You’re alive and that’s all that matters right now.”

“I tried to call you, but your phone is going to voicemail. She just woke up about ten minutes ago. They drew some blood and will be back to get her for an MRI any minute.” Mel stated, checking her watch. On cue, two nurses came in and took her away.

“Thank you for sitting with her. I know how you feel about her, so that really meant a lot” I stated, giving Mel a hug.

“Girl, family is family. I was upset about her holding her lie back, it wasn’t any deeper than that” she shrugged. “But I do have to go, charge your phone so I can check on ya’ll later”

I stayed with Rayven the rest of the day, but I really missed my bed. I decided to leave for the night, and promised her I would be back tomorrow morning. I was so tired that I passed out in the backseat and woke up to John shaking my shoulder. “Ms. Robyn, we’ve arrived” he repeated over and over until I realized where we were.

“This ain’t where I live” I snapped looking around trying to figure out where the hell I was, then I spotted Dre quickly approaching us.

“Don’t curse him babe. Take it out on me. I talked to Mel earlier and she told me you were on the way home. I called and called but you didn’t pick up. John told me you were passed out in the back, so I told him to bring you here” he explained, pissing me off even further.

“I’ve been at the hospital for a week. I just want to sleep in my own bed” I sighed, slapping my forehead.

“I got you girl. My bed is just as comfortable, if not I will take you home myself” he promised. I was irritated but I rolled my eyes and got out the car anyway. When I got inside, I changed into one of his t-shirts, used the bathroom, and went straight to bed.

When I woke up the next morning to the smell of bacon and my stomach growling, I couldn’t help but let my nose lead the way.

“Good morning sleepy head” Dre smiled as he pulled the bacon out of the oven.

“Wow” I grinned, after seeing the feast he’d created. There were waffles, sausage, bacon, and scrambled eggs.

“Sit down” he ordered, pulling a chair out for me. “I miss you, so I’m stealing one hour from you. I didn’t get to treat you on your birthday, so just relax and let me enjoy you”

"How am I supposed to do that when my cousin is alone in the hospital?"

"I know you're used to taking care of everyone else, but you can't take care of anyone if you're not taking care of yourself. Let me take care of you Anna" he pleaded.

“Alright, but you can’t keep hijacking my car. Next time you’re gonna regret it” I shook my finger at him.

“Okay, I won’t kidnap you again. You just gotta figure out a healthy balance between your job and your personal life” he stated, leaving it at that.

After eating, he gave me a full body massage, that led to some great sex. I had a lot of shit to do since I missed a week of work, but it was sweet that he missed me enough to plan all of this. I've never had anyone damn near kidnap me just to make sure I was good. So instead of fighting it, I let him take care of me and I was glad that I did.

#robyn rihanna fenty #ff #fanfic #fanfiction #RiRi #rih

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smkkbert · 6 years

Text

Time for a story - Sorry isn’t good enough

Felicity released a sigh of boredom when she grabbed the remote and started zapping through the channels once more. It had been a while since she had last watched TV in the middle of a Sunday afternoon. The quality of shows offered at this time of the day had certainly decreased over the last years.

For the umpteenth time this afternoon, Felicity shot a look at her watch. It seemed like time refused to pass today. She had only been alone at home for about thirty minutes, but it already felt like it had been hours.

As a mother of five, Felicity wasn’t used to being bored. There was always something to do – whether it was the change of a diaper, drying someone’s tears or just occupying them, so they didn’t take the house apart. With all the kids out of the house, Felicity felt like she had fallen into a deep, dark hole though.

Just when Felicity decided that she could use her free time to write into her journal already, the doorbell rang.

“Thank God.”

Felicity switched off the TV and dropped the remote onto the couch table before she hurried to the door. Emmy had probably decided to end her play date with Rosalie and Deepa earlier than planned. Maybe Felicity could convince Emmy to go to the park with her. A little walk seemed to be the best way to clear her head from the morning at home and-

“Oh.”

Felicity couldn’t prevent that little syllable of surprise to fall from her lips when she opened the door to find that it wasn’t Emmy. Instead, Thea was standing in front of the door. In the baby seat she was carrying over her arm, Robbie was crying heartbreakingly.

“Hey,” Thea said, a nervous smile spreading on her lips. She looked slightly past Felicity with a frown. “Is Ollie home?”

“No.”

“Oh.“ Thea pulled her bottom lip between her front teeth. “And Raisa?”

“She has the day off to meet a friend.”

“Oh.”

Thea’s eyes found Felicity’s again. She looked stressed and tired. Her hair looked like she hadn’t washed it in a while, and the messy ponytail she had tied it up to didn’t make it look any better. Her face was almost white except for the dark shadows under her eyes. Her hands were trembling slightly. It was clear that she wasn’t okay.

Sucking in a deep breath, Felicity pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and bit down on it firmly.

She hadn’t seen Thea since the day Oliver had arrived in the hospital after she and Tommy had saved him from Malcolm Merlyn. There had been silence between her and the rest of the team ever since. They had seemed to respect her need for distance enough to not call or visit her. Felicity had been sure that it had only been a matter of time for one of them to come here after all.

Seeing Thea now, Felicity could see that she was in need of help. If her impression didn’t betray her, Robbie was giving Thea a tough time. As much as she was trying to rock him up and down in his baby seat, the ten-month-old seemed to be unwilling to calm down. Felicity guessed that it had been going like that for a while.

“Uhm, okay.” Thea smiled through the tears that were gathering in her eyes. “I’m sorry for bothering. I will just-“

“Wait!”

Felicity scrunched up her nose, taking in a deep breath. She wasn’t ready to take a step towards Thea or anyone else on the team. The betrayal was still too deep-seated. She didn’t want to refuse helping Thea when she needed the help though, especially since this was about Robbie.

Thea turned around to Felicity, looking at her with wide eyes. She seemed to sense Felicity’s hesitance because she did her best to hide her exhaustion behind a brave smile.

“It’s not that big deal,” she claimed. “Robbie is just teething, and he’s been particularly grumpy these past two days. Roy’s busy in Central City, and I have been alone with Robbie. You know, you don’t have to bother. I am getting along. I-“

“Thea,” Felicity interrupted her gently but firmly, making her sister-in-law look at her quietly. “Come in.”

Felicity didn’t know if Thea was just too tired to reject Felicity’s help once more or if she finally saw that Felicity wouldn’t let her turn away. Either way, she handed the baby seat over to Felicity with a grateful smile.

“Thank you, Felicity.”

“It’s okay,” Felicity assured. “Just make yourself comfortable. You can sleep in the guest room or on the couch or grab something to eat from the fridge. I will take care of Robbie.”

Thea nodded quietly and followed Felicity into the living room. While Thea sat down on the couch, leaning back and rubbing her hands over her tired face, Felicity lifted Robbie out of his baby seat. She started carrying him around in the living room, all the while mumbling soothing words to his ear, rubbing her hand over his warm back comfortingly and rocking him up and down in her arms gently.

Since Felicity had gotten together with Oliver, she and Thea had been very close. Thea had made her feel like a part of the Queen Family from the moment she had been a part of Oliver’s life. She had taken her out for shopping and partying. They had been like sisters. When Oliver had behaved weirdly, making Felicity think that he was planning on breaking up with her when he had actually tried to keep his plans of proposing a secret, Felicity had told Thea about her worries. Thea had been the first person that Felicity had told she believed she was pregnant when she had been late on her period at the start of her pregnancy with Emmy. When Thea had discovered that she was pregnant with Robbie then, she had trusted Felicity’s advice. She had called her again and again, asking for advice during the pregnancy and during those last months with her baby boy.

With them at odds, felt weird even to Felicity. She knew that Thea was probably the one person on the team she should be the least mad at. For Thea, Felicity’s words had at least rose some doubts. She had tried to listen to her and tried to believe in her.

She had given up on those doubts and believed the rest of the team quickly though. No matter how Felicity turned it, at the end, Thea hadn’t trusted her, just like everyone else. She couldn’t forgive the others, and she couldn’t forgive Thea.

Robbie seemed to sense the dark thoughts Felicity was hanging onto. He squirmed in her arms a little bit, making her know that he was discontent. Taking in a deep breath, Felicity pushed those thoughts away and focused on calming Robbie down again.

“I know teething isn’t nice,” she whispered into his ear. “My kids, your cousins, really hated it too. It was particularly bad for Tommy. He was crying so much. Now he has his teeth though, and he have can all the nice food his daddy, your Uncle Oliver, says is bad for him.”

Felicity smiled softly when Robbie dropped his head to her shoulder and snuggled his cheek to it. His hands held onto her shirt tightly. She knew that, if she just continued talking about whatever, he’d eventually fall asleep. His movements were already getting slower, telling her that he was indeed very tired.

“You know, your grumpiness is absolutely understandable. Once you are older, you will see that it was absolutely necessary to go through this pain because teeth are so important. Soon, you will be able to try the first pieces of food too. Maybe mommy and daddy can let you eat French fries. You won’t want to eat anything else if that happens. Then, one day, you will try pizza, and it will be the best food in the world. There are so many delicious meals in the world, and I am sure Uncle Oliver and Uncle Tommy will let you try all of them because, as your godfathers, it’s their duty to spoil you. Your mommy spoilt all of my kids too. I didn’t mind, but your Uncle Oliver wasn’t very happy about it. He wanted our kids to only eat healthily. It was very important to him.”

It took maybe ten minutes for Robbie to fall asleep in Felicity’s arms. She continued walking up and down though. She knew from experience with her own kids that he would wake up the moment she sat down. The gentle movements of walking were just what he needed to stay asleep.

“It looks so easy when you do it.”

Felicity lifted her gaze to see that Thea had rested her elbow on the backrest of the couch. Her head was propped up onto her hand. She watched Felicity with a tired yet soft smile on her lips. Her eyes were almost a little unfocused like she was going to fall asleep any second.

“He wouldn’t calm down when I carried him around,” Thea said, lowering her eyes. “I am sorry.”

“You were exhausted, and he felt that. That is why he wouldn’t calm down,” Felicity explained. “You don’t have to apologize for that.”

Thea looked at Felicity again, her gaze intent. Felicity regretted her choice of words, biting down on the inside of her cheek. She hadn’t meant to bring up their fallout, or at least she hadn’t tried to do so consciously. Maybe a little snappish part of her had meant to do so though.

“Can I apologize for something else then?”

Felicity’s steps faltered for a moment. When Robbie moved in her arms slightly, she quickly continued walking up and down though. She hummed one of the songs she loved listening to when Oliver sung it for Addie to fall asleep. It gave her the time she needed to consider her answer thoroughly.

The truth was that Felicity knew that she would have to overcome her anger and disappointment eventually. The silence between her and the rest of the team couldn’t continue forever. They were connected too much through their families and their mission. She didn’t want her kids as well as little Robbie or Sara and Connor to grow up in a hostile environment.

“I know what you want to apologize for,” Felicity said eventually, looking at Thea, “or at least I assume to know what you want to apologize for. I am just not ready to hear it yet because, right now, sorry is just not enough for me. No apology, no explanation could be enough right now. I am still too angry with you and the others.”

Thea nodded, lowering her eyes guiltily. Felicity didn’t doubt that she felt bad about this. Oliver was her brother, and she loved him. Thinking that she had lost him must have almost killed her, just like it had almost killed Felicity.

“You know what I don’t understand?” Felicity asked after a moment, frowning deeply. “Why did you give up on Oliver? All those years ago, when he was lost on the island, you never gave up. The first thing you told him when he came back was that you knew he was still alive. You had so much faith in him back then. Why not now?”

Felicity had honestly wondered about this. She remembered how Oliver had told her about seeing Thea again. She remembered how touched he had been when she had told him that she had known that he was alive, especially because Thea had always been with him in his thoughts. How come that Thea had been able to be this faithful for five years back then when she hadn’t been able to be faithful for even just a day this time around?

For Felicity, it was out of all reasons.

Thea seemed to think about her answer thoroughly. She lowered her eyes to her hands, smoothing some invisible wrinkles out of the fabric of the cushions. She puckered her lips, frowning slightly. A single tear was rolling down her cheek when she looked up eventually.

“When I think about the person I was back then, I feel like I have been naïve or innocent at least. I didn’t know about Malcolm being my father or about so many dangers that are surrounding us day in and day out. I had more hope back then.” Thea shrugged her shoulders, taking in a sniffling breath. “I have learned a lot about how cruel this world really is since then. I watched my mother being stabbed in front of me. My own father drugged me and forced me to kill a friend. When I learned that Ollie was dead, I believed it because the world hasn’t been nice to me or my family a lot of times.”

Felicity nodded slowly.

The Queen Family had been through a lot. The Gambit had gone done and assumingly killed Robert and Oliver. Then Oliver had come back, and the Queens’ involvement in the Undertaking had been revealed. Moira had only hardly escaped the death penalty to be killed by Slade Wilson in front of the eyes of her children, sacrificing herself for them. Malcolm coming back into their lives again and again to destroy them hadn’t made anything better.

Felicity understood why Thea had trouble to have hope in the world. She had been through a lot. In so little time, her whole life had been turned upside down again and again. She might have found happiness with Roy and Robbie, but she hadn’t forgotten the pain life had caused her before.

“I understand why you are mad at us,” Thea continued eventually. “You knew Ollie was alive, and we didn’t believe you. If it hadn’t been for Tommy and Nyssa, Oliver would have died and it would have been our fault. I don’t think anyone of us could have lived with that, so I am incredibly grateful that you trusted your heart over your eyes. I just heard that Roy, John and Laurel saw Oliver’s body and believed them. You saw the body, and you still had your doubts. Thank you for saving my brother.”

“I will always save him,” Felicity whispered. “Always.”

Thea smiled at her, wiping away the tears that had fallen. She looked like she wanted to say something else, but the front door being unlocked distracted them before another sound had left her lips.

“It’s probably Oliver,” Felicity explained. “He dropped Millie and Addie at my mother’s place. She asked to spend the afternoon with her youngest grandchildren.”

“I was already wondering why it’s so quiet here today,” Thea replied.

“William is meeting Audrey. Emmy has a play date with Deepa and Rosalie. Tommy started a class at the climbing hall.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, it’s relatively new and-”

“Hey.”

Felicity and Thea both turned their heads when Oliver stepped into the living room. He seemed to be surprised by their guest and maybe cautiously hopeful that things were starting to work out. Felicity knew how hard it was for him to accept that she didn’t get along with his sister or the rest of the team any longer. He wasn’t pressuring her into doing something she wasn’t ready for, but she knew that it wasn’t easy on him to see that split.

“Thea came over because she needed help with Robbie,” Felicity explained hurriedly. She didn’t want Oliver to get his hopes up. “It’s good you’re here, so you can take over.”

She handed Robbie over to him. The little boy released a little sound, but he snuggled up to Oliver’s chest easily until he was comfortable again. Felicity kissed Oliver’s cheek and was about to already go past him, but Oliver put a hand around her hips and kept her from leaving. He looked at her urgently, asking if she was okay without saying a word.

Felicity knew that he worried about her. She also knew that he missed his sister. He wasn’t contacting them out of respect for Felicity’s decision. She had never asked him to relinquish seeing her or talking to her or any of his friends though. All she had asked for was for him to respect her decision that she didn’t consider them family and friends right now.

She smiled encouragingly and lifted a hand, stroking her fingertips through his short stubble. Oliver frowned slightly, continuing to look at her intently. When Felicity didn’t show any sign of doubt, he finally nodded.

“It’s great to see you again,” she heard Oliver say while she was walking upstairs. “I missed you.”

Upstairs, Felicity closed the door of their bedroom behind her and crawled onto the bed. She opened the topmost drawer of her nightstand and pulled the journal out of it. Dr. Rosario was satisfied with the progress she and Oliver were making at therapy though Felicity really couldn’t say where she saw any progress. She felt just as shaken as she had the first day after Oliver’s return.

Still, Felicity continued keeping her journal. She took the task seriously because, otherwise, she knew she could just quit going to therapy all together.

Taking in a deep breath, Felicity started writing.

September, 29th

Thea came over today because she needed help with Robbie. I hesitated because I am still not sure how to deal with her or anyone else on the team. I helped her though. Little Robbie shouldn’t suffer from our fight, and I could see that she needed help.

She told me that her lack of belief in the good of the world caused her to throw all doubts to the wind and believe that Oliver was actually dead. I understand that. She has been through a lot. It��s only natural to give up the belief in good after what happened to her, to her father and to her mother.

Yet, I cannot forgive her. I can’t forgive either of them. I am trying, but I am failing.

I cannot forgive them.

Felicity wrote that sentence again and again until the page was filled with it. A tear fell from her eyes and dropped onto the paper.

She wished she could forgive them. She was sure that life would be easier for her if she did. Yet, she just couldn’t.

She couldn’t.

@just-arrowolicity @promiseyoullbepatientwithme @bytemegeekette @felicity-said-just-in-case @phanseptiic @orangeisorange @mspotatohead14 @whentheheavenfades @emmaamelia95 @smoakingskye @seaolicity @ourwritinginvein @1022bridgetp @felicityqueenforever @leagueofolicity17 @yryssss @myhauntedblacksoul @muslimsmoak @sherlock44 @sinceriouslybea @arrowsalways @olivyflavescentdeer @olicitys-castle @ofnothingcharming @vaelisamaza @smoakedandcharmed @alexisa1206 @mysaudadespt2 @florence-bubbles @addictiontelly @queens-of-arrows @memcjo @hysterical-for-joshifer @oswinelevenforever @olicitylovemaking @bandanab310 @mymusiclove101 @lynslogic @scarletqueen23 @olicityshipper19 @alex-wesley @arrows-4ever @unabashedlynerdypatrol @louehmysoul @ligiapimenta @chattyyana @charlie-leau @coal000 @samcrowleys @ishippolivia @julianegomesqueen @malafle @miriam1779 @charlinert @melaux @ontheolicityship @hiddenchamb3r @myshipperlife @wrightainsley @lexi9515 @ladygreenwood @multi-fandom-crazy-fangirl @morinamel @mje-thomas @kebarry @canadianheartgirl @nannett2307 @almondblossomme @paarti12 @kathrynelizabeth89 @imdfabulous @cutearrowgirl @mrt2501 @mecha1330 @arsipaci14 @mzminx @salasvia @brandis91 @cainc3 @morganmiguess @pr0fessi0nal-fangurl @iamisalima @nessafra @jonhdiggle @niki-is-amazing @universed-posts @hopeful-warrior @senoritaswiftie @bellemmie @green-arrows-of-karamel @iheartarrow @olicityovereverything @oliverfel4 @navyaarsha @fandoms-breathe-life @simone4mcswarek @olicity-in-the-heart @fullychippedcreation @geemarie @everything-but-normal-cat @myarroworld @tjmartinez @pleasantfanandstudent @itsmagnoliagirl @j69confessional2 @scentedcolorpirate @icanica74 @javinancupil @tjmartinez98 @certainmentalityface @tatianadamaceno @ryelew @wildwillowzepplin @missafairy @letsplaymurde-r @lipizette @positivepiper @nuttymilkshakehologram @laksagirl @turnupthemusicandscream @pumpernickle93 @onceuponanolicity @1106angel @jaspertown @fadinglands @morganashimi83 @mochababychristy @omglovechrissie @mariejr88-blog @thetaufactor @onceuponanolicity @speakandseethetruth @bri206 @aglasgo @thats0klaroline @geemarie @pineprincess @nerdgirljen @maudjuliette @peterpanslostgirl666 @eternal-olicity14 @allyouhadtodowas-stay-stay-stay @lovelycssefan @tsseract @flowerandsunshine @dcnmarvelgamergeek @blondeeoneexox @monetsmark @soaring-cities @bb-olicity @mashamarty @rulerofsilence @erika-amber @felicity087 @i-claim-only-emily @pattid1 @westallenandolicityshipper @babyolicityandwestallen @nothingmorethanmyotps @kayleenyc @tonto16 @olicityfluv @olicitea1990 @olicity5ever

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#arrow #olicity #olicity fic #olicity fanfic #time for a story

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thehiccupingbanana · 7 years

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Just Another Day in Paradise

PAIRING: Phan (Phil / Dan) GENRE: fluff WORD COUNT: 1,641 WARNINGS: pre-smut, mentions of sex, but no sex, cute parent!phan stuffs, mpreg SUMMARY: songfic based off of Just Another Day in Paradise by Phil Vassar AUTHORS NOTE: I thought dan and phil having their own kids instead of adoption would be cool. Also yes this is a country song.

[READ ON AO3]

“I want to play with that!” Olly grabbed the building block set out of Jamie’s hands.

“I had it first!” Jamie stomped her foot.

“I was born first!” Olly stuck out his tongue.

“There enough toys in this house, you don’t need to fight this early in the morning.” Dan could feel a headache coming on and he couldn’t do anything about it.

“Daddy! Someones at the door.” Jamie told him breaking him out of his self pity party. How did he not hear the dog barking. He walks over to the door and the phone starts to ring.

“Just ignore the phone! If it’s important they will call again.” Dan yelled, eying the kitchen table with the too many bills for comfort.

Dan opens the door to see a postal man waiting with a box and a clipboard. “Phil Howell-Lester?” he asked.

“Thats my husband...” Dan replied, signing the clipboard being thrust into his hands. Dan shut the door and turned around to see Olly and Jamie sitting at the table with cereal in front of them, and Phil putting the phone back on the hook.

“Good morning baby.” Phil smiled. “How are you feeling?” Phil walks over to the fridge and takes a swig of the orange juice right out of the bottle. The orange juice must’ve been sour because Phil made a very sour face, but it was worth it because Dan laughed harder than he thought he would that day, Phil couldn’t help smiling at his beautiful husband. Phil walked over to Dan to give him his good morning kiss, “I have an half hour to shower and get the kids to school. I’ll be right out.”

“I just have a little headache, but it will leave, and this came in for you this morning.” Dan handed Phil the box.

Phil gave him a concerned look. “Right. Thank you.” Phil walked down the hall.

“Olly. Jamie. Dirty clothes. Laundry room. Now.” the headache residing but still present. He started putting his and Phil’s clothes into the watching machine. It’s not starting – again. The only to get it to start is to kick the washing machine.

“Dan, don’t kick the washing machine.” Phil walked by buttoning up his shirt. “I will fix it.”

“Along with everything else you promised to fix?” Dan smiled.

“Yes. Kids let’s go!” Phil announced walking closer to Dan putting his hands on Dan’s waist. “I know today may not seem like it’s going well, but around us. We our living our dream. Two beautiful kids of our own, a dog that we’ve been talking about since our flat days in London. This is our paradise baby.” Phil placed at chaste kiss on Dan’s forehead.

“Let’s go Papa.” Olly grabbed Phil’s hand dragging him away from Dan, “You and Dad are going to make us late to school.

“Love you guys.” Dan yelled after Phil and their two kids trailing him. This really was a paradise.

“Phil, what time is it? Phil?” Dan opened his eyes. Not seeing a Phil next to he reached for his phone, 10AM. His eyes shot opened as he ran across the hall. Jamie’s not in her room and Olly’s not in his. Dan ran to the kitchen maybe Phil took them in, without letting Dan know. Seeing the box from the previous day sitting on the counter top by a piece of paper.

“The box is yours to open. Wear something nice with it. Meet me at the first restaurant we ate at in London. 6PM. We have the babysitter until 8:30 tonight. So we can eat and the kids will be in bed. I took the kids in to school earlier today, I didn’t want to wake you.” ‘It wasn’t their anniversary,’ Dan thought as he was reading. “You deserve an evening as amazing as you are.” At the bottom of the note it read Phil XOXO. Dan opens the box to see a dark blue tie with white outline hearts on it. Dan remembers why he loves Phil as much as he does.

“Just in case, there is an EpiPen in the cupboard. We have already set out Thor’s food. He can sleep wherever he wants.” Dan was going over everything with the babysitter – for the 5th time.

“Dad. Stop. Go meet with Papa and enjoy your date.” Olly came marching up.

“Yeah go Daddy.” Jamie echoed.

Dan looks at his watch eyes widening seeing 5:55 on his watch. “Emergency numbers are on the fridge. I gotta go.” Dan said his goodbyes and rushed to the nearest taxi. Dan knew they didn’t live far from the restaurant, but when the taxi pulled up at 6:02 seeing Phil sitting outside on a bench, he wanted to cry. Phil wanted Dan to relax and not worry about anything, but of course he had to be overbearing with his children. He remembers the day he found out he was a carrier, happened to be the day he was already a month pregnant with Olly. It was impossible to feel comfortable in his own skin, and when he told Phil, Phil showed him everything he loved about Dan with constant praise. Dan felt really happy until he kept getting sick. Phil thought it was just the flu but Dan insisted on going to the doctor. He knew something was different. As Dan was listing off everything he’s been feeling the doctor made notes.

“Mr. Howell-Lester, have you heard of a carrier?” The doctor looked up towards Dan.

“Sure. That’s when males can carry… Wait.” Dan paused.

“I don’t want to tell you anything for sure, but we’re gonna need to do a pee test to see if for sure.” The doctor pointed Dan to the private bathroom. Phil stood there in shock, the words how and what circulating through his mind, not noticing when Dan came back and the doctor was out of the room.

“So Phil, how do you feel about the fact that we possibly created life?” Dan interrupted his thoughts, “Are we ready to be parents?”

“I don’t think anyone are ever ready to be parents, Dan. But I mean-” Phil stopped when the doctor walked in.

“Mr and Mr. Howell-Lester, you’re going to be parents. You are about 5 weeks along, regular check ups are highly recommended.”

When they got home they celebrated in a way that could’ve put another baby inside Dan if biology worked that way.

Dan was shook out of his thoughts when Phil said “Hey Dan, don’t cry.” The only thing Dan could think to do was put his head on Phil’s shoulder hiding his face in Phil’s neck. “Hey, hey. We’ll just improvise. Like when we had to tell our families about a little Howell-Lester joining the world, how did we even do that. We always have our plan B.” Dan smiled.

Babysitter thanked and paid. Over-sized duvet, Domino’s Pizza, Phil with glasses on, and pajama pants with hoodies. Candles lit and anime playing softly in the back ground. Dan and Phil paying more attention to each other than the TV set. After a while Dan rested his hand on Phil’s thigh, he couldn’t help it – Phil wearing glasses was attractive. “Do you wanna take this to the bedroom and make some love that is way overdue.”

He doesn’t have to ask Phil twice. Phil rushes to shove the rest of the pizza in the fridge while Dan is blowing out the candles and grabbing the duvet, both men rushing down to their bedroom like two teenagers. Phil kicks the door closed and pushes Dan down on the bed not even taking a moment to breathe before he’s tackling Dan in kisses. He starts out with playful kisses on his face then he gets down to Dan’s neck and Dan can’t help but wrapping his legs around Phil’s waist.

“You look cute in my old hoodie, but you would look even cuter with it on my floor.” Phil smiled.

Before Dan could get the word dork out of his mouth another sound was in the room. “Papa? Daddy?” Phil immediately plopped off of Dan onto the empty side of the bed. “What’s the matter sweetheart.” Phil asked concern all over his face, seeing his and Dan’s daughter cuddling her teddy bear, Dan no longer in the mood.

“I had a bad dream. Can me and teddy sleep in here tonight?” Jamie asked quietly, almost afraid.

“Jamie come here.” Dan beckoned.

When Jamie crawled inbetween them, Dan couldn’t even be mad. Phil reached over and turned off the lamp and sunk underneath the duvet. “I love you Dan. And I love you Jamie.” Phil smiled poking Jamie’s side making her laugh.

Dan reaches over to grab Phil’s hand giving it a kiss “I love you Phil.” and reaching over to Jamie’s little hand, “I love you Jamie.”

Dan thinks this isn’t how Phil imagined the night to go on, but Dan wouldn’t change it for a thing. They are happy and have anything they could ever ask for. It is his paradise.

Of course Jamie and Olly are in an argument over the fact that they both can not be wearing green shirts. The phone is ringing again, Thor isn’t barking. Phil has 4 bowls of with cereal pouring milk into them. Dan walks behind Phil wrapping his arms around Phil swaying them back and forth gentle enough to not spill any milk. Phil sets the milk onto the counter top next to the bowls, and turns around in Dan’s arms. Phil leans up giving Dan a kiss full of love and adoration.

“Gross Papa!” Jamie laughs.

“Ewwwwww.” Olly groans

“Hush you two.” Phil smiles giving Dan one last kiss. “Eat your cereal so we can go.”

Dan hugged into Phil more just enjoying his own personal paradise.

#thehiccupingbanana #phan #phanfic #phanfiction #parent!phan #phan fluff #phan oneshot #phan songfic #i like country songs. oh whale

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instantdeerlover · 4 years

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Where To Eat & Drink With Your Dog added to Google Docs

Where To Eat & Drink With Your Dog

It’s shocking to think that anyone wouldn’t want your dog around. She’s perfect, hypo-allergenic, and mostly well-behaved. But the hard truth is that only some restaurants and bars in NYC are dog-friendly. So the next time you want to drink or eat somewhere with your real best friend, use this list. It has 29 bars and restaurants with patios where four legs are just as good as two.

the spots N 11th Cookout $ $ $ $ Bar Food , Burgers in Brooklyn , Williamsburg $$$$ 86 N 11th Street

Along with Sunglass Hut and Bed Bath & Beyond, few places have names that say it all like N 11th Street Cookout. In a formerly vacant lot on N 11th Street in Williamsburg, this outdoor-only spot serves burgers, hotdogs, Mexican street corn, and frozen pina coladas. Stop by until 11pm any day except Tuesday, and try the $6 “dad burger” before playing lawn games while your dog hangs out on the artificial turf under your picnic table.

Cookshop $ $ $ $ American in Chelsea $$$$ 156 10th Ave.

Going to Cookshop is like watching a rom-com during a thunderstorm - you know what to expect, and that’s exactly why you choose it. It works for just about any situation thanks to excellent vegetables, a perfectly proportioned cheeseburger, and one of the best roast chickens in NYC. This Chelsea spot also has lots of dog-friendly outdoor seating, which is open for lunch and dinner every day, as well as weekend brunch.

Ollie's Ice Cream $ $ $ $ Ice Cream in Brooklyn , Bushwick $$$$ 158 Irving Ave

If you’re a human, then Ollie’s should be your go-to ice cream spot in Bushwick. If you’re a dog, then Ollie’s will be the second most amazing thing in your life (presumably after your newest squeaky toy). And if you’re a human with a pet dog, then your enthusiasm should lie somewhere in between. Assuming your dog likes dog things, he’ll be a fan of the “pup cup” ice cream with peanut butter and crushed dog treats. And assuming you like human things, you’ll probably enjoy the kettle corn ice cream with salty caramel, or the rich and chunky red velvet. Whatever you order, eat it on a bench in Maria Hernandez Park two blocks away.

Mission Dolores $ $ $ $ Park Slope $$$$ 249 4th Ave

While you’d get strange looks from, well, everyone, wearing roller shoes would help you keep up with your kids, and allow you to get towed around by your dog. Think about the pros and cons while you all hang out at Mission Dolores. This bar on the Gowanus/Park Slope border has a great beer list, which you should explore as you try to decide if you could pull off LED soles.

Bronx Alehouse $ $ $ $ Bar Food , Burgers in Bronx $$$$ 216 W 238th St

We can’t in good conscience recommend feeding deep-fried mac and cheese or spicy double-cooked buffalo wings to your dog. However, we feel good about telling you to eat them, especially if you pair them with some of the hard-to-find microbrews on tap at Bronx Alehouse.

Five Leaves $ $ $ $ American in Brooklyn , Greenpoint $$$$ 18 Bedford Ave.

After you’re done convincing yourself that all of those adoring looks from strangers in McCarren Park are focused on you and not your dog, head to brunch a few steps north of the park at Five Leaves. There will likely be a pretty long wait, but that just gives you more time to bask in your dog’s splendor before you sit down for ricotta pancakes or a burger topped with egg and grilled pineapple.

Barking Dog $ $ $ $ American in Upper East Side $$$$ 1678 3rd Ave

You could go to Central Park, but before long, you’d be drinking lukewarm spiked seltzer while letting your dog drink from the one bottle of water you remembered to bring. Or you could go to Barking Dog two blocks from the park on the UES. They serve brunch every day from 8am-4pm, Happy Hour beers and margaritas from 3-7pm, and they even have a tiled, in-ground watering hole for dogs.

Five Boroughs Brewing Co. $ $ $ $ Bar Food in Brooklyn , Sunset Park $$$$ 215 47th St

The taproom at this Sunset Park brewery is currently open Thursday through Sunday, meaning you can drink hazy IPAs, pumpkin ales, and Belgian tripels a few feet from where they’re made. Whether you know all four “noble” varieties of hops, or you just like trying local beers that haven’t gone mainstream yet, sit around an upright cask that doubles as your outdoor table, and ask the extremely knowledgeable staff which six-packs you should take to-go.

Blondies $ $ $ $ Bar Food in Upper West Side $$$$ 212 W 79th St

In fits of rebellion, kids have a tendency to root against their parents’ favorite sports team. Dogs show no such insubordination. That makes them ideal companions when you’re looking to watch a game, and the ideal place to watch that game is Blondies. Not only does this Upper West Side sports bar show everything from tennis to hockey on their outdoor TVs, but they also serve some of the best buffalo wings in NYC.

Oleg March Ten Hope $ $ $ $ Mediterranean in Brooklyn , Williamsburg $$$$ 10 Hope St

The massive outdoor space at this Mediterranean spot in Williamsburg feels like a parking lot that went a bit overboard at West Elm. It’s covered in hanging vines and string lights, and even the brick walls are decorated with what look like black and white Tetris blocks. Once seated at a bright wood table, you can order jalapeno margaritas and shrimp and scallop ceviche while handing your dog bits of the fried pita that comes on the side.

Bar Primi $ $ $ $ Pasta , Italian in East Village , NOHO $$$$ 325 Bowery

The sidewalk at Bar Primi is the ripest people-watching territory in the East Village mostly because of the fluffy dogs spread out under the outdoor tables and little pups on their owner’s laps. Our favorite time to come to this Italian spot is during brunch, when you can get a breakfast pasta with an egg (and your dog can watch you eat it and plot her eventual revenge involving the shag carpet in your apartment that you love so much).

Cafe Du Soleil $ $ $ $ French in Upper West Side $$$$ 2723 Broadway

The buttery French food at Cafe Du Soleil is exactly the kind of thing you’ll want to eat outside on a sidewalk with sunglasses on and a glass of wine in hand, while you and your beagle named Bruce judge everyone who walks by. This UWS bistro is classic and unfussy, and it’s perfect for a casual weeknight date or hang with your family. Another thing of note: they do a mussel night on Mondays where you can get a beer or a glass of wine with your moule frites for $21 (our favorite comes with a dijonnaises sauce).

Union Pizza Works $ $ $ $ Pizza , Italian in Bushwick $$$$ 423 Troutman St

We once saw a pony-sized Doberman sitting in the front yard at Union Pizza Works in Bushwick. It raised two points. 1) How big is this person’s apartment? 2) Can we feed it pizza? The backyard here is so large, that it could fit the Doberman and all of his Doberman friends and there would still be room for you and a date. We really like the crust on the 12-inch Neapolitan pies here, specifically the one that’s built like a sandwich with melted mozzarella, arugula, and prosciutto di parma between two pies. In addition to your dog, bring a friend or a birthday party. And pray that you see the Doberman.

Klein's $ $ $ $ American in Brooklyn , Williamsburg $$$$ 97 Wythe Avenue

You’ve always said your dog is cuter than the ones in the dog show on ESPN, and while you may never spend thousands of dollars on doggy blowouts and teeth whitening to prove it, you can get a sense of what it’s like at Klein’s. That’s because this all-day spot in the Hoxton Hotel in Williamsburg is slightly below ground, and the outdoor tables are center stage for rows of stadium seating filled with people drinking coffee or mimosas. After you finish eggs benedict with tomato hollandaise or the excellent burger topped with melted blue cheese, take your dog into the stands to meet the fans.

THEP Thai Restaurant THEP $ $ $ $ Thai in Upper East Side $$$$ 1439 2nd Ave

THEP Thai is one of our favorite Thai spots uptown, in part because it has something most others don’t. It’s called outdoor seating. Bring your animal, and take advantage. This place is perfect for a casual weeknight dinner when your dog is starting to resent you for always being absent, and you want some quality khao soi, pad see ew, or crab fried rice.

Lafayette $ $ $ $ French in NOHO $$$$ 380 Lafayette St

In terms of people-watching opportunities, Lafayette is in the top tier of New York restaurants. It’s a massive French restaurant in Noho with plenty of sidewalk seating where you sit beneath a big blue umbrella and keep an eye on everyone walking down Lafayette Street. And your dog will enjoy this just as much as you do, especially if any of those people have tennis balls or shiny objects. As for the food, order some escargot and beef tartare, and use your dog to make friends with someone who has a washing machine or access to a swimming pool.

Harlem Tavern $ $ $ $ Harlem $$$$ 2153 Frederick Douglass Blvd

Harlem Tavern is like most neighborhood bars, except for a few key differences. First off, it has a massive food menu with everything from ceviche and gumbo to a bunch of different burgers and salads. And for such an ambitious menu, the food is actually pretty good. There’s also a huge patio out front that’s about the size of a basketball court - and that’s the main thing that sets this place apart. Bring your dog, grab a table outside, and snack on some french fries while you have a frozen drink.

Shake Shack Shake Shack $ $ $ $ Burgers in Flatiron $$$$ Madison Square Park

As much as you might think you like eating outside at the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park, the dogs of New York City like it more. Mostly because there are trees, and other dog butts to smell, and something humans eat called cheeseburgers. We’re fairly certain they talk about this place like it’s heaven.

Pig Beach $ $ $ $ BBQ in Gowanus $$$$ 480 Union Street

Pig Beach is a huge BBQ spot next to the canal in Gowanus, and the majority of the space here is an outdoor courtyard. Sit at a picnic table, and see how long you can resist before you start slipping Milo pieces of pulled pork and brisket.

Lavender Lake $ $ $ $ American in Brooklyn , Gowanus $$$$ 383 Carroll St.

Lavender Lake is about a block away from Pig Beach, and it has a great, dog-friendly backyard full of picnic tables. It also serves better-than-average bar food like burgers, calamari, and fried chicken sandwiches.

The Mermaid Inn $ $ $ $ Seafood , Raw Bar in Upper West Side $$$$ 570 Amsterdam Ave.

Mermaid Inn is a seafood spot on the Upper West Side with a great oyster Happy Hour from 4:30-6:30pm every day, which includes $1.25 oysters as well as discounted cocktails and glasses of wine. If you stick around for dinner, try the crab cakes or lobster roll. Either way, bring your dog, and sit on the patio out front.

Lucky Dog $ $ $ $ Brooklyn , Williamsburg $$$$ 303 Bedford Ave

Lucky Dog is the premier drinking-with-your-dog destination in Williamsburg. Maybe that’s because of the name, or maybe it’s because this semi-divey bar is on a busy stretch of Bedford Avenue and has a nice backyard. Either way, whether you want to drink a beer with your dog or just pet someone else’s Golden Retriever while they aren’t looking, come here.

The Springs $ $ $ $ Greenpoint $$$$ 224 Franklin St

You struck up a conversation with some other people in the lobby at doggy daycare, and decided you should all get together. Now you need a place that’s big enough so Koda doesn’t have to sit on your lap while you try to find out if the owner of that dachshund is single. This Greenpoint bar has a huge backyard full of tables and couches, and since it’s pretty far north, it rarely gets too crowded.

Anable Basin $ $ $ $ Bar Food in Long Island City $$$$ 4-40 44th Dr

You want to have some drinks on the water, but your options are limited - places serving $19 glasses of sparkling rosé to people in white linen pants don’t tend to be dog-friendly. Head to Anable Basin, an outdoor bar in LIC with great views of Manhattan. There are a bunch of picnic tables right on the East River where you can have some drinks and bar food while your canine roommate barks like crazy at the ferry docking nearby.

Nowadays $ $ $ $ Queens , Ridgewood $$$$ 56-06 Cooper Ave

If you’re looking for space, Nowadays has it. This giant bar in Ridgewood has a park-sized backyard full of trees, picnic tables, and games like ping pong. Your dog technically needs to be on a leash, but will appreciate being outside where it’s at least possible to stare at birds and think about eating them.

The Breakers $ $ $ $ Bar Food in Williamsburg $$$$ 282 Meeker Ave

This SoCal surf-themed bar spot in the space where Battery Harris used to be has a nice patio where you can eat fried chicken sandwiches and drink draft wines while your dog dreams about eating fried chicken, and, just maybe, drinking wine.

LIC Bar $ $ $ $ Bar Food in Long Island City $$$$ 45-58 Vernon Blvd

The ivy-covered courtyard at LIC Bar is a great place to hang out with your dog. Get a shot and beer special, and hang out in the backyard, where there’s live music every weekend in the summer.

Forrest Point $ $ $ $ American in Bushwick $$$$ 970 Flushing Ave.

The outside of Forrest Point in Bushwick kind of looks like a park, so don’t be surprised if your dog immediately starts looking for squirrels to chase. On the weekends this is a good place for an affordable brunch, and it becomes more of a party as the day goes on. It also works well for a casual dinner outside during the week.

Habana Outpost $ $ $ $ American , Cuban in Brooklyn , Fort Greene $$$$ 757 Fulton St

Habana Outpost is at its best in the summer, when people come to eat things like Cuban sandwiches under colorful umbrellas at picnic tables on the big outdoor patio.

via The Infatuation Feed https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/dog-friendly-restaurants-bars Nhà hàng Hương Sen chuyên buffet hải sản cao cấp✅ Tổ chức tiệc cưới✅ Hội nghị, hội thảo✅ Tiệc lưu động✅ Sự kiện mang tầm cỡ quốc gia 52 Phố Miếu Đầm, Mễ Trì, Nam Từ Liêm, Hà Nội http://huongsen.vn/ 0904988999 http://huongsen.vn/to-chuc-tiec-hoi-nghi/ https://trello.com/userhuongsen

Created September 5, 2020 at 05:42AM /huong sen View Google Doc Nhà hàng Hương Sen chuyên buffet hải sản cao cấp✅ Tổ chức tiệc cưới✅ Hội nghị, hội thảo✅ Tiệc lưu động✅ Sự kiện mang tầm cỡ quốc gia 52 Phố Miếu Đầm, Mễ Trì, Nam Từ Liêm, Hà Nội http://huongsen.vn/ 0904988999 http://huongsen.vn/to-chuc-tiec-hoi-nghi/ https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xa6sRugRZk4MDSyctcqusGYBv1lXYkrF

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