#Thompson Lake Trail

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Yellowknife residents have been ordered to begin evacuating the city immediately as wildfires approach, N.W.T. officials announced Wednesday evening. While the city is not in immediate danger, Environment Minister Shane Thompson said a "phased approach" to evacuating will allow citizens to get out safely by car or by plane. The evacuation order says residents should leave "according to risk." People living along Ingraham Trail, in Dettah, and the Kam Lake, Grace Lake and the Engle business district in Yellowknife are considered at highest risk and are urged to leave as soon as possible.

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Tagging: @politicsofcanada

#yellowknife #northwest territories #Wildfires #cdnpoli #canada #canadian news #canadian politics

[hopepaigeturner]

I've been thinking about how they could fix the lake scene because it's such an iconic scene that they should keep it in some way. And knowing Bridgerton, they will. I think I'd feel better if they are both in the lake. They should keep Sophie spying on Benedict (oh, no sorry, it was academic curiosity). But instead of her sitting there to enjoy the view, she is on the lake and she notices he's there too and hides behind some branches or something. I don't know something that will ease them get closer in the water... Also it could be a nice parallel to the bath scene later on.

The thing is that I don't want Benedict pulling her ankle, or threatening her with chasing her while he's naked. This woman escaped a gang rape, she doesn't need to be Benedict to be an ass and do that. And he can't blackmail her, again, she just escaped harassment!

And I know someone would think that Sophie watching him is also problematic. I remember Luke Thompson talking about this saying that he wants to do it and that it's not the same to put a man in that position because of the way we have regarded male bodies in opposition to female ones. It would be the same as Anthony's lake scene.

In answer to your thing about Sophie staring at Benedict....well, my version has a bit of both. Also it hopefully shifts Benedict from being an ass. And as for getting them closer to the water....well... 😉

An Offer from an Avid Reader: The Lake Scene

Yeah, I don’t like this. And not just Benedict’s role within it but Sophie’s as well. Sophie punches him, he grabs her ankle. She rightly points out her rejection and he is patronising to her, insults her and then ultimately blackmails her.

Wow. How romantic.

And you are also right to point out that Sophie has just escaped harassment and gang rape. In my previous post I did talk about the MeToo movement and general shifts in female representation meaning that BookBenedict’s behaviour is more problematic and far less ‘redeemable’. Nor would it really fit with the highly emotionally intelligent Benedict Bridgerton set up in the show.

So, as usual, this is an adaption not assignation of AOFAG. So, we just need to tweak some of his actions. For we cannot get rid of the lake scene—as @the-other-art-blog says—it is an inconic Benophie scene.

Here is my idea…

Context:

The viewer does not know Sophie’s backstory. They know she is the Lady in Silver and they know she had a terrible time at the Cavender’s as well as with an ‘old mistress’. The night before Benedict tried to teach Sophie to dance. It is almost mirror for mirror of the masquerade and that is when Sophie realises who Benedict truly is. After that dance scene, Benedict's vivid dream about the Lady in Silver returns after laying dormant for a while. There is a scene where Benedict uses the ever so reliable Bridgerton logic to justify how Sophie is not the Lady in Silver. One of the big indicators being that the Lady in Silver did not have scars across her face (that look like nail scratches). This scene follows the book but Benedict is pacing up and down, vocalising his thoughts. However, such logic does not discount for the wealth of feeling he still feels for Sophie—and how last night he desperately wished to kiss her. *~*~*~*~*

✨The Scene:✨

Firstly, Sophie, trying to sort through her jumble of emotions, is the first one to go to the lake. It is a hot spring morning, and the water looks ever so inviting. So, she shucks off her shoes and stocking, ready to paddle.  

Then she hears a twig snapping.

She turns to find Benedict, stumbling into the clearing, (wishing to clear his own thoughts). They stare at each other, just a moment too long…so, Benedict starts rambling.

“I apologise, I wanted…I just…I shall go…”

“Oh no—I shall leave,” Sophie replies.

“No, no, stay. You were here first.”

“I insist, this is your property.”

“And you are my guest.”

Conversation trails off…

“I suppose the lake is big enough for the two of us. I do not mind if you join,” Sophie says, surprising herself. She still does not know how to act after the revelation that he, Benedict, is the man she has been in love with for the last two years—a man who does not even recognise her.

Benedict eventually sits by the bank—a little distance away from where Sophie sits.

There is an awkwardness that lingers around them, an antithesis to the bliss that the viewer has seen them share during their entire time at My Cottage.

After a while Benedict speaks.

“I wish to apologise.”

“Whatever for?”

“You seemed upset last night after our dance. You must know I never intended to make you feel uncomfortable and I apologise if I did.”

“That was not—you were not. There is nothing to apologise for.”

“Truly, then you do not despise me?” he asks.

Sophie turns to him, the disappointment of him not recognising her not quite overriding her heart.

“No. I do not despise you. I was merely overwhelmed and needed space…” She ten whispers, “I do not think I could ever despise you,” It is not the entire truth, but she needs to say something to release the pressure that has been building all night in her chest.

He continues to sit a couple paces away, respecting her space, when all Sophie wants to do is be back in his arms on that terrace, but also with the comforting banter and company they have shared over the last couple weeks. It is all an infuriating conundrum. So she turns back to the water.

“There is something utterly serene about water,” she finally says, “you could almost pretend that all of this,” she gestures to the picturesque clearing, “is in another world, removed—a fantasy.”

“An escape.”

“Yes.” Sophie smiles at him. “The water an enticing invitation, to sink under the surface and into its cool embrace.”

“Well, why not?”

“I do not understand?”

“We should go swimming.” Benedict’s voice picks up with his energy.

“We?”

“Yes.” Benedict stands up and takes his shirt off. Sophie’s stares a beat too long and he smirks at her blush. “Do not worry Sophie, I know how much you have appreciated my wood chopping skills.”

“Such glances are of analysis and derision rather than appreciation,” she quips back.

“Ouch, Miss Beckett you should not wound a man so,” he bats back.

Sophie can’t help but grin, their usual comfort making a welcome return. She stands and as soon as she does Benedict turns away and goes to the trees to give her privacy. Sophie strips down to her chemise and wades in slightly.

“It is a little bit cold…perhaps we should not…”

Benedict turns around.

“Sophie, do you want to go swimming?”

“Well, yes.”

“Then let’s go!” Benedict swings her up in the air and throws her into the lake as she screams. He knows he should have been a bit gentler but any longer seeing her in that threadbare chemise…

Benedict laughs to himself then pauses. Sophie has not resurfaced. He scans the lake. There are no bubbles.

She did say she could swim? He can’t quite remember because at that precise moment a soul captivating look had possessed her eye making Benedict’s breath catch.

Sophie?” he looks again—nothing. “Sophie!” he cries launching in, spinning around and around in water, heart pounding, voice desperate—

Then a mini wave completely soaks him from behind. He turns to find Sophie grinning mischievously, head-half out of the water.

But instead fo laughing, as she expected, she finds herself dragged into Benedict’s arms.

“Are you alright. I am so sorry—”

“Ben, Ben—I am fine.” She soothes. Then she smirks and flicks him with water. “Payback.”

“You do not wish to start this fight, Miss Beckett.”

“I assure you I do, Mr Bridgerton,” she replies but squeals when he splashes her back.

This continues for a while, splashing and enjoying each other’s company unselfconsciously.

Finally, they calm down and Sophie starts to float on her back, eyes shut. Benedict joins her, their hands drift over one another but due to the current or their own wish, they do not know.

And maybe because of the pictureqsue setting being like that of a fairytale, or how being in the water seems so far away from the world, and Benedict's presence is so comforting...that Sophie starts to speak, staring at the sky,

“I love floating…there was a lake at my childhood home and when I was alone, I would lie back and watch the clouds, feel the water rippling around me and the quiet deafening of my ears in the water. Mrs Gibbons used to scold me, scrub my hair ferociously, but for days the smell of lake water would linger. And in the moments and days when she—” Sophie’s breath catches, “…I could smell my hair and imagine being on that tranquil lake, suspended, untethered…adrift. Those are the only moments I have ever enjoyed feeling adrift."

Benedict entwines their fingers together as they float.

“For many years I felt adrift, ever since…I think ever since my father’s death if I am honest…then after the academy I—I would go from party to party, drink to drink, without direction or purpose or interest... And gradually I felt like a ghost, even among my family and their happiness. Lost. Then my brother sent me here, to this house in desperate need of repairs, and for the first time I felt a little tug back to earth, but even so I still wandered…And then I met you.” They turn to look at each other. “And in this past month, being with you, talking with you, dancing with you…it is as if I have finally found my footing, I have finally found some type of anchor.”

She lifts her head, and they return upright, but do not let go of their hands, something pulling them slowly into one another.

“I have spent my entire life adrift, never knowing where I belong,” Sophie whispers.

Everything seems to hush and Benedict tips her chin up, so they become lost in each other’s eyes.

“Then let me help you. Let me be your anchor.”

And in that quiet hush they kiss.

It is slow, tender, and sweet, with each kiss tumbling into the next. The camera cuts to a wide shot, showing the couple on a still lake, framed by tranquil nature and dappled sunlight. The whole scene could be plucked from the most romantic of fairytales.

And when they finally break for breath, they have their eyes closed, intoxicated by the emotion that encircles them. Therefore, Benedict’s words tumble out of his mouth, he mumbles between kisses;

“God Sophie, I have never met a woman like you…Stay with me...Let me give you comfort, and you will want for nothing...Let me keep you safe and you will never need to fear...Just stay with me...I beg you…”

Sophie has initially been swept up in her emotions, but something pierces her mind, punctuating the moment like a pin to a balloon.

“Sophie, stay with me…”

“As your mistress,” she states.

Sophie pulls back slightly. Benedict blinks as if surfacing from a trance.

“What?”

“You want me to be your mistress,” Sophie repeats. Benedict furrows his brow, mind stumbling to coherence…

“I suppose…that is what makes logical sense.”

Sophie wrenches herself away.

“No.”

“Sophie?”

But Sophie swims away.

He tries to keep up, calling her name.

“Sophie? Sophie—wait!” He calls scrambling up the bank as she bundles up her clothes. “What is wrong?”

Sophie whirls around, eyes hard, stance strong.

“I will not be your mistress.”

“Why not?”

“I will not be your dirty little secret to hide away; I will not be your little toy to pick up whenever it suits you.” Then she starts to leave, Benedict following.

Benedict is utterly confused—how could she ever think that? Did she not hear what he admitted? Did she not feel the inexplicable pull between that went deeper than physical attraction?

“You would not—”

“Oh, do not be naïve!” Sophie cries. “I am sure you have had many mistresses Benedict, you know what you are asking of me.” He manages to catch her hands.

“I am asking us to continue this,” he gestures around the clearing, “what we have been experiencing for weeks. I am asking you to be with me. I am asking you to let me provide comfort and safety for you—”

“I was surviving perfectly well before I met you.”

“What if you find yourself in a situation with a man like Cavender?” (Keynote here: unlike the book, Benedict’s tone is concerned/anxious not condescending).

“If you recall I could handle myself quite well, and I have been surviving for a long time on my own—”

“But you do not have to! I could help you. You would want for nothing, living in luxury and security with me. Do you truly wish to give this opportunity up?”

We see a moment of Sophie considering, but not wavering. With conviction she says,

“I have my boundaries, I have my reasons, and they are ingrained within my very soul. No pretty smile will rub them away.”

“But do you not feel it?” Sophie’s eyes become uncertain, so Benedict closes the space between them. “Can you not feel this connection, this pull we have to one another? I know you feel it.”

“You do not know what I feel.”

“Then look me in the eye and tell me that there is nothing between us.”

(Unlike Anthony in S2, this is not uttered sensually, this is uttered with desperation to show how much Benedict wants this.)

Sophie looks him in the eye and that palpable emotion starts rising as it did last night during their waltz, as it did out there on the lake.

 But sometimes the brain dominates the heart. Sometimes memories are more potent than emotions. So, Sophie takes a deep breath and says,

“I will not be your mistress, Mr Bridgerton. Not now, not ever.”

And then she leaves before she bursts into tears at the cruel irony of it all—that the man of her dreams has proffessed such sweet words in the wrong context.

Benedict stands still, his entire being seeming to churn before it snaps back like a rubber band.

He starts running after her, calling her name. He just needs a little bit more time to convince her, to understand why she would deny what was so obvious…

He sees her exit the forest and halt. He runs up, hands on her shoulder ready to talk—

“Mr Bridgerton?”

Their time is up. The world is no longer suspended.

Benedict turns to find an old couple, hair on the precipice of turning grey, staring at the pair of them with wide eyes.

Benedict puts on his best Bridgerton smile.

“Mr and Mrs Crabtree, welcome back!”

*~*~*~*

Hopefully what I’ve shown here is…

 Benedict being a bit more respectful to Sophie than in the book.

A lack of punching/ankle grabbing (don’t worry, Sophie shall have plenty of opportunities to use her right hook later).

Benedict’s desperation at the rejection--his reposne greater than orevious relationships/

that Benedict wishes for her to be a mistress because of their emotional connection rather than just a physical one.

And as @sophiebernadotte said, (in a previous post about Benedict and Women in S1&2 here) the mistress question can be about revealing Sophie’s character and hopefully this rewrite has. Hopefully the viewer will understand that Sophie is a woman of conviction, principles and one who knows herself. And a woman who will not take the easy path—unlike Benedict…

(Yes, I know Sophie has not agreed to return to London to work for the Bridgertons but that occurs after Benedict visits his Grandma Alexandra sans blackmail.)

*~*~*~*~*

What do you think?

I know lots of people have lots of ideas for this scene so I would love to hear other people’s thoughts!!

#an offer from an avid reader #an offer from a gentleman #benophie #lake scene #rewrite #hope's asks #benedict bridgerton #sophie beckett #s4 speculation #benophie deserves #peak romance #bridgerton

[thehikingviking]

Table Mountain (N) via Tyee Lakes, 2022 Sierra Challenge Day 8

There are two Table Mountains within in the Sierra Nevada. The southern Table Mountain lies on the Great Western Divide and is a very difficult peak to day hike. The northern Table Mountain lies between South Lake and Lake Sabrina east of the Sierra Crest and relatively speaking is a very easy peak to day hike. Day 8 of the 2022 Sierra Challenge was designed to be an active rest day, sandwiched between the two toughest days of the The Citadel and Mt Torchbearer. Therefore, the northern Table Mountain seemed like a good fit. Bob surprisingly encouraged this selection, as there had never been a Sierra Challenge outing starting from Tyee Lakes Trailhead.

I woke up in my motel room somehow motivated to keep in the running for the Yellow Jersey. I drove through the darkness and arrived at the Tyee Lakes Trailhead as the dawn light began to fill the sky. As with most easy days, we had a big crowd for the day's outing. I was disorganized, rushing and awkwardly reintroduced myself to Andrew Schaper. While I had met him many times before, I had never seen him without his hat and sunglasses. I took the trailhead photo and we set off. I immediately dropped to the back of the pack and maintained a very slow pace with Mike. His Achilles was giving him trouble, but he quickly found that my pace was too slow even for him so let left me. My legs were in great pain following the previous day's outing and I suffered more than I expected. I was at least able to pass 77 year old Ron Hudson and his 68 year old girlfriend Karen Anderson, so I guess my pace could have been slower. After about two miles I reached the first of the Tyee Lakes where I caught up to Iris who was fishing and also nursing an injured knee.

We passed by four lakes that day, with each of them getting more and more beautiful as we climbed.

After 3 miles the trail left the lake basin and began switching back up to the plateau that was Table Mountain.

I spotted a large group on the top. I wished that I could have been part of the fun, but today was not the day.

A couple large snowshoe hares darted across the barren plateau. There were humans approaching from all directions!

I passed some people heading down, and I watched as others made their way to other points atop the plateau. There were some pines in between me and the summit, so I took a roundabout way that lent itself to no bushwhacking.

I found a surprisingly fun summit block. I took a challenging route up and sat on the summit. Emma and Megan were basking on one of the rocks below.

To the southwest were Mt Powell and Point Powell.

To the northwest were Mt Emerson and Mt Humphreys.

To the southeast were Cloudripper and Mt Agassiz.

There was another point to the northwest that looked nearly as tall, so I decided to go visit it. It was about three quarters of a mile away, but it looked closer. Others had already headed that way so I decided to follow. Sandy slopes took me to another interesting set of summit boulders. This peak did not qualify as a bonus peak, but it made for a worthwhile detour. Besides, I'm a purist. Looking back was the first summit.

There were a couple possible high points at this location so I scrambled up both piles of rocks. Again they were fun class 3.

To the south was Thompson Ridge. Some of the more eager participants had continued towards this challenging 13er.

I then continued a half mile southeast to a third and final point on the plateau. Mason had mentioned finding a Smatko register on this summit previously, but not I, nor anyone else, found it.

I headed cross country down sandy slopes back to the trail where I found Zee. We chatted for a bit then I stopped at the lake for a refreshing swim. Iris was out and about fly fishing, a true outdoors woman.

With a mile left to go, I ran into a challenge participant who was just starting. It was almost noon, but he still had plenty of time being that it was an easy day. He immediately asked me if I had any food. I said no, but this was a lie. I wasn't willing to share my dwindling snack reserves with an adult who could easily buy their own. Later that night, that same participant locked his keys in his car at Copper Top in Big Pine. Luckily, I had already left to investigate the Shepherd Pass Trailhead conditions, so I didn't have to waste my energy with that ordeal.

Official Summary:

Active rest day.

A 6am start was a little early following an arduous day 7, but many were at the trailhead on time. Today was a good day for fishermen and lake swimmers. The summit block was a fun class 3 scramble.

I went to all three points of Table Mountain that were marked on the topo. My feet are starting to hurt really bad so I'm worried about tomorrow. Let's see what my body can handle.

[world-naturescapes]

Sawtooth Mountains Idaho in the Rocky Mountains

The Sawtooth Range and Wilderness are home to nearly 400 lakes created by receding alpine glaciers. Not surprisingly, this striking mountain landscape was a favorite playground of Ernest Hemingway, who is buried in the Ketchum area.

he Sawtooth Range is a mountain range of the Rocky Mountains in central Idaho reaching a maximum elevation of 10,751 feet at the summit of Thompson Peak. It encompasses an area of 678 square miles. There are 57 peaks with an elevation over 10,000 feet in the Sawtooth Range, all between 10,000 to 10,751 feet in elevation.

The Sawtooth National Recreation Area (Sawtooth NRA) consists of 756,000 acres of scenic mountain country and includes over 700 miles of trails, 40 peaks rising over 10,000 feet and more than 300 high mountain lakes that add to the spectacular scenery and vistas. Outdoor recreational pursuits include camping, hiking, backpacking, fishing, boating and canoeing, rafting, observing nature, photography and bicycling.

Photo by by Michael Block

#world naturescapes #travel and nature photography #landscape #nature #idaho #usa #rocky mountains

[joshuagarten]

From Music City Magic to Main Street Charm: Unveiling Your Dream Home in Columbia, TN

The name "Columbia, Tennessee" might conjure images of vibrant music scenes and bustling city life, but this gem nestled south of Nashville offers much more. Here, historic charm seamlessly blends with modern amenities, creating a tapestry of communities each with its own unique character. And woven into this tapestry is the thread of opportunity – the opportunity to find your dream home amidst rolling hills, friendly faces, and a touch of Southern magic. Find the best columbia tennessee homes for sale. 

Step Beyond the Square: Unveiling Diverse Neighborhood Gems

Forget the cookie-cutter suburbs. Columbia boasts a kaleidoscope of neighborhoods, each catering to different lifestyles and dreams. Immerse yourself in the walkable, history-rich streets of Downtown, where charming bungalows and converted lofts whisper tales of the past. Or venture to family-friendly havens like Spring Hill and Thompson's Station, where modern houses with inviting backyards beckon laughter and memories. Craving wide-open spaces and starlit nights? Explore Culleoka or Mount Pleasant, where sprawling estates and scenic landscapes offer a taste of rural tranquility.

Symphony of Styles: Finding Your Harmony in Columbia's Housing Market

Whether you're a young professional seeking a cozy haven or a growing family yearning for room to roam, Columbia's housing market plays a beautiful melody to suit your needs. Young urbanites might find their rhythm in modern condos or character-filled bungalows, while families can sway to the tune of spacious single-family homes. For those seeking a luxurious crescendo, executive estates with their grand finishes and resort-style amenities await.

More Than Bricks and Mortar: Embracing the Columbia Lifestyle

Living in Columbia transcends the walls of your home. It's about joining a vibrant community where history whispers from Civil War battlefields and art galleries come alive. It's about savoring farm-to-table delights and letting loose to live music in renowned venues. And for the outdoor enthusiast, it's about harmonizing with nature on miles of hiking trails, pristine lakes, and verdant parks.

Ready to Strike Your Chord?

With its affordability, diverse neighborhoods, and thriving community spirit, Columbia is ready to welcome you into its warm embrace. Partner with a local realtor who understands the unique rhythm of each neighborhood and can guide you towards your dream home. So, start exploring, get in tune with the possibilities, and prepare to write your own beautiful chapter in the story of Columbia, Tennessee.

Remember, finding your perfect home is a journey, not a destination. Embrace the exploration, let the unique character of Columbia guide you, and soon you'll be strumming the chords of happiness in your own piece of Southern paradise.

[rosenkildestewart03]

Lakeview Aspen Seashore Provincial Park

On the more modern side of things, the Stardust Inn and Chalets supply all the facilities of house on the doorstep of the southern Rockies. If you favor to loosen up with a membership in your hand, Pincher Creek Golf Club is just three km away. With 660,000+ square km of rugged land around us, we’re a province wealthy in gorgeous sights and ways to get pleasure from them. And when the time comes to get away from all of it, to take a quick reprieve from the world’s chaos, you, my friend, are spoiled for selection. So we propose you indulge in some new surroundings by road-tripping to a retreat at one of the coolest cabins in Alberta. This distinctive 137-acre property sits at a cross-section of the Canadian north, which includes a small lake, wooded areas, meadows, hills, and marshland. Located in between the Icefields Parkway and Rocky Mountain House is spectacular David Thompson Country, which offers the beauty of the Canadian Rockies with a lot fewer crowds. Home to a few of our favourite cabin rentals in Alberta, it is a great place to spend a few days within the wilderness and to see a few of Alberta’s most stunning waterfalls. Located simply 1 km from Lake Louise, Paradise Lodge and Bungalows offers spacious lodge rooms and totally geared up cabins. The property is surrounded by gardens which include a barbecue and a playground. Parks Canada's frontcountry campgrounds are geared up to make your camping keep as comfy as attainable. Many supply flush bathrooms, showers, potable water, among other services, activities and amenities. We found this campground final 12 months and fell in love with it fast. There is a small seashore as the campsite to take a look at and it’s additionally under half-hour from the Whitecourt River Slides as properly as Hard Luck Canyon which is a enjoyable family pleasant hike. They’re tremendous close to the Hillcrest Mine Disaster Cemetery and Memorial and they’re principally a mini-house with two bedrooms, a full kitchen, a couch, and an enormous TV. Nested in a non-public forested setting, the Folk Tree Lodge provides unmatched artisan-crafted cabins and natural beauty. Located simply 5 minutes from the eclectic buying and dining of Bragg Creek, this 30-acre paradise provides a rustic log cabin expertise with the entire trendy luxuries. Please share your expertise together with your fellow campers and RV'ers. Hubbles Lake is a peaceful, clear, spring fed lake nestled within the rolling country just west of Stony Plain within the County of Parkland. Allan Beach Resort couldn't be extra handy for weekend getaways. Imagine ending work on a Friday and within 1 hour relaxing with your family and friends, watching the solar set over the lake. Been a seasonal camper for two years now, underneath new homeowners this years and so they have carried out so much work to improve the resort. Lots of UTVs, dirtbikes, ATVs, Quads and comparable, out around Birch Lake. glamping near edmonton These models embrace a wooden floor, wood-frame beds with foam mattresses, a small kerosene heater, and an out of doors fireplace pit and picnic table. Banff National Park is essentially the most visited nationwide park in Canada. It’s house to the world-famous city of Banff and Lake Louise, in addition to some unimaginable ski resorts, hiking trails, lakes, and extra.

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[theghostpinesmusic]

Canyon Creek Lakes and Boulder Creek Lakes (2/3)

When I hiked up to the Canyon Creek Lakes last summer, I'd intended to spend my second night at the Boulder Creek Lakes, but it was unclear from what I could find and read online what the trail up to the Boulder Creek cirque was like, so I had a spot further down the Canyon Creek drainage in mind as a backup plan. This turned out to be good, because although I did manage to make my way up to the Boulder Creek Lakes, it was a harder climb than I'd anticipated, and about two-thirds of the way up I slipped and fell while crossing a creeklet and banged both forearms and both shins pretty bad (I have some small permanent scars on all four now).

I made it up to the cirque and was stunned by how beautiful it was up there, but due to the heat and my injuries I wasn't really in a mood to camp up that high and that far away from the car, so I climbed back down same day and hiked downhill to a nice pine barren closer to the trailhead, then finished my trip easily the next morning. But, when this summer finally came around, I prioritized getting up to the Boulder Creek Lakes to camp as soon as possible: as it turned out, this was during the second day of Lindsey and I's trip to the Trinities.

We woke up on the second morning to find the wind had worn itself out during the night and thus both lakes were still as glass. The previous day, I'd thought the view from the granite dam between the lakes couldn't get more beautiful, but I realized I was wrong.

While we were eating breakfast and packing up, a super-friendly hiker and his super-friendly dog ("Summit") hiked past our camp and we all chatted for a few minutes, then we watched as the pair climbed up above us and to our right on the granite slabs east of Thompson Peak, in search of L and Mirror Lakes.

We were not quite as adventurous as all that. After a luxuriously slow start to the day, we packed up and headed back the way we'd come from.

There's actually not a whole lot of story to tell about the hike on this second day. Most of the mileage is simply descending back through places you ascended through the previous day to get to the Canyon Creek Lakes. Don't get me wrong, this is some of the most beautiful country I've ever hiked through, but I covered the details already in my last post, so...

After a few miles of descent, we took a right turn onto the trail to Boulder Creek Lakes. This trail almost immediately crosses Boulder Creek proper, and though this creek was not nearly as deep or as fast as Canyon Creek at the point we'd had to cross it the previous night and then again earlier that morning, it was wide and cold, which necessitated us taking off our boots and fording it. After that, it's just straight-up climbing until you get to the Boulder Creek cirque.

As I hinted at earlier, this is a pretty difficult climb, made much more difficult by the degree to which the trail is overgrown by brush. I've realized over the last two years that this is sort of a hallmark of climbing in the Trinities: one of the things I love so much about the area is its (relative) wildness compared to other, more trafficked and thus more maintained and managed wilderness areas. Sometimes, though, this can be a liability, too: unmaintained trails that suddenly disappear for a mile, blowdown for miles with no end in sight, entire miles of trail consumed by brush, and so on. These sorts of setbacks kind of come with the territory of travel through "wild" places like the Alps, but that doesn't mean that struggling uphill through thick brush on trails like the Boulder Creek Lakes Trail, the Big Bear Lake Trail, and the Sawtooth Traverse isn't frustrating.

That said, the views of the cirque and the cliffs below it opening up the higher we climbed certainly helped as motivation.

At just about the point when the heat and the frustration of pushing on through the brush became too much, we topped out (funny how that works). From here, the trail traverses along the eastern side of the cirque a bit to get you to the lakes themselves.

When we first arrived, extremely early in the day by our standards (1pm or so), we were the only people in the entire cirque. We took advantage of this fact to plop our gear down at the best camp spot (in our humble opinion) and then immediately jump into the main lake. My tolerance for cold water is absolutely nonexistent, and I found this to be an almost pleasant experience, despite visible evidence of a huge snowfield melting directly into the lake behind us.

I don't know if it's age or what, but lately I've found that I really enjoy shorter hiking days that get us into camp early, allowing for all sorts of comparatively relaxing shenanigans. In this case, we spent some time after swimming eating lunch, then sleeping on the ground in the sun like easily-sunburned lizards, then setting up and organizing the rest of our camp. With plenty of time still before dinnertime/sunset, we set out on a dayhike of the cirque, just to see what we could see.

Lindsey steered us toward one of the numerous unnamed waterfalls that flow down from the top of the cirque to feed the various lakes, and then we circled around to the west from there until we ran up against the cliff edge of the cirque to the south, and then we walked back to camp. I really enjoyed this little impromptu adventure: though I'd been planning to try to scramble up to the impressively-named Forbidden Lakes earlier that day, the heat and the previous climb had taken their toll and this short, less difficult jaunt felt like the perfect compromise between that bigger undertaking and doing nothing at all.

For the rest of the night, we just relaxed and enjoyed all the free time that our relatively short mileage day afforded us. I even stayed up a bit past sunset to take some more astrophotos, though the near-full moon made it difficult.

Our third day would just be the hike back to the car, but there were still some worthwhile moments and views to share, so I'll save those for next time...

#backpacking #hiking #camping #photos #traveling #mountains #trinity alps #northern california #norcal

[adk-almanack-mirror]

#ADK #Adirondacks #Adirondack Almanack #Adirondack Park

[swkrullimaging]

Video of Rocky Mountain National Park

Video of Rocky Mountain National Park

Finally got around to creating the video of this year’s trip to photograph elk in Rocky Mountain National Park! Six minutes of pure joy, including Trail Ridge Road, fall colors on Sprague Lake with Hallet Peak in the background, the elk rut with bulls bugling and a beautiful elk crossing the Big Thompson River in Moraine Park! CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO!   Also don’t forget to check out my books…

View On WordPress

#autumn #autumn colors #bull elk #canon photographers #Canon Photography #Canon R7 #Elk #elk rut #fall #fall colors #Rocky Mountain National Park #Sprague Lake #Trail Ridge Road

[calyxaomphalos]

The Ghosts of Windy Ridge

Turn #24, three components

location #17 - Windy Ridge State Park (6) neighbor #19 - Black Shuck - spirit that's a cryptid (5) item #1 - clearly broken (find more Alchemy cards?!)

6 April 2022, Wednesday Night

When I got to the intersection of the Thompson Gap road and the road which goes back into town, I turned toward the Windy Ridge State Park instead. I was feeling some sort of spirit. After the encounter with Dave the Tree (never did get a name, but if he's following the original comedy gag, then his name probably IS Dave), it's like I could feel every spirit within a five mile radius. And there was someone in the park, I could just feel it.

The road came to a tee intersection and I turned to the north. All of the land to my right was parkland. I'm not sure how far down the actual park entrance is, but just up ahead there was a good sized turnout on the side of the road, parking for a trailhead. Perfect.

I suppose I should have second thoughts about hiking up some unknown trail at night, with not even a first quarter Moon for light. I checked my phone battery. 47%. It could be worse. I went a few yards up the trail before turning on the light, just in case someone was driving by. The trail went rather steeply up and this was looking less smart by the moment. Turning off the phone's flashlight, I sat down on a rock at the side of the trail. Centering myself again, I tuned into the feelings I had when leaving Foras' Lair, the lively crackle of psychic energy which indicated a being not of the material plane.

The hairs on my arms and the back of my neck began to stand up and a spike of that psychic energy was very close. It was feral in a way, and now very close. Thankfully, it was also familiar. The black ghost dog I saw earlier today by the stream leading from Spring Lake. Its breathing was now audible, just off the left side of the trail not very far up the hill.

Glowing eyes peered out at me from the brush. "Hello again, friend," I said calmly, hoping that we might actually be friends. The dog came out onto the trail, partly stepping and partly an uncanny phase-shifting smoke-like roil. Now I could see the dog was unmistakeably male. "Hiya, fella, you're a nice boy, right?"

He snuffled and made another snort-sneeze-like sound with a shake of his head and took another few roiling smoky steps towards me. I held out my hand, palm down, just like I'd do greeting any other unfamiliar canine. "Friends, right?" I said, as the ghost dog now was close enough to take my arm off, if he wanted. Instead he sniffed at my hand and then gave it a single lick. His tongue glowed a very dark brown, like cooler embers than those of his orange eyes. I wasn't sure I even felt it touch me, a feather-like insubstantial warm motion, more than the slobbery wet tongue of a common dog.

He looked me in the eye then turned to look up the trail. Then he turned back to me and nudged at my hand with his nose. He took two shifting steps up the trail and turned back to me. He made a chuffing sound, like "Come on, let's go!"

I got up and said, "OK, but if it gets too dark, I'm turning my light back on." I climbed a few more steps up the trail and the dog was standing there patiently waiting for me by a tree stump. He pawed at the stump and looked at me. Was I supposed to sit down again? Seemed reasonable, so I went over to have a seat.

The stump was hollow, though, and not a good place to sit. What was there surprised me. It was another dozen of the Alchemy cards! I collected them from inside the stump, after first turning on my flashlight to search. "Thank you, kind spirit!" I said as I tucked the cards into a pocket, but the dog had vanished.

#the ghosts of windy ridge #writeblr #nanowrimo #over the mountain

[uoclimatereport]

Nearly everywhere in Cordova, Summer’s Timekeeper, more commonly known as fireweed, has already bloomed, signaling the end of summer. Admittedly, another sign has been the constant pouring rain. 

As we followed the trail to the Sheridan Glacier, we were greeted with a patch of blooming fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium) near the edge of the lake. Far in the distance, the frosty prominence of the glacier was visible under blankets of mist. 

Taking in the view, we pondered why plants exposed to the frigid glacial winds were flowering later than those in warmer environments? For some plants, warmer temperatures signal summer and time to reproduce. The cooler weather present in proximity to the glacier had caused fireweed to bloom later than plants of the same species in other locations.

In the face of climate change, how differing temperature regimes impact plants is still largely unexplored. Our view of this landscape was improved by the beautiful pink of the fireweed flower. But for other species that depend on consistent timing, fluctuating temperatures may mean the lack of a meal. 

Sally Thompson. 08.18.2022. (Photo courtesy of Isaac Wasserman)

[todaysdocument]

Report of activities at Sequoia National Park, by Superintendent John R. White [p. 1, 6-7], 9/8/1936

“The work of the CCC boys has been uninterrupted . . .” 

File Unit: 207.02 [Monthly Narratives Sequoia], 1935 - 1940

Series: Central Files, 1925 - 1975

Record Group 79: Records of the National Park Service, 1785 - 2006

Image description: A young man without a shirt in a small darkroom, rinsing a black-and-white photo in a chemical bath. 

Image description: A young man sitting at a small desk in front of library stacks, possibly doing some kind of book repair work. In front of him is a pencil, a pot of paste, and a couple of other unidentified items. 

Transcription:

[centered]

UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, CALIF.

September 8, 1936

[/centered]

The Director,

National Park Sevice

Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. Director,

Following is the report of Sequoia National Park for the month of August, 1936:

[u] 000 GENERAL [/u]

[u] 010 - Introduction [/u]. August was an unnaturally busy month in the number of visiting Washington officials.  The list included Assistant Directors Wirth, Tolson, and Bryant, Assistant to the Director Ben H. Thompson, and W.K. Mattingly of the Bureau of the Budget.

Superintendent White, whose left index finger became infected from a bad cut while on a packing trip July 26, was either confined to his home or in a hospital at San Francisco during the entire month. His finger was finally removed on August 21 at Fort Miley Hospital in San Francisco, and he is expected back in the park on September 4.

[u] 021 - Weather in the park. [/u]  August was clear and warm. Thunder showers occurred in the high back country. The weather summary follows:

Ash Mountain   Max. 106   Min. 55   Mean 84.7   Precip. .02   Snow 0  Clear 23   Partly Cloudy 6   Cloudy 2

Giant Forest     Max. 86     Min. 44   Mean 66.22   Precip .15   Snow 0   Clear 21  Partly Cloudy 6  Cloudy 4

[u] 100 ADMINISTRATIVE [/u]

[u] 110 - Status of work [/u]. Work continued at high summer peak. Several seasonal Civil Service jobs were established, and the eligibles selected are now filling jobs previously necessarily but ineffectually handled by CCC enrollees.

[u] 120 - Park inspections by [/u]:

[u] 121 - Superintendent [/u]. During the absence of Superintendent white, Assistant Superintendent Tobin inspected the North Fork, Salt Creek, and South Fork areas, in addition to frequent visits to jobs going on in the Giant Forest, Lodgepole and Lost Grove Districts. He also made two short campfire talks.

[page 2]

The Park Naturalist devoted a profitable day observing the educational program in Yosemite National park, and was permitted to attend a conference of ranger-naturalists called by Park Naturalist Harwell so that Dr. Bryant and Superintendent Thomson could discuss matters pertaining to the naturalist work.  This trip impressed upon Park Naturalist Boen the importance of observing activities in other parks during the height of the summer period.

     The Park Naturalist also attended the recent Wildlife Conference in San Francisco, while representing the Superintendent at the Western Conference of State parks.  He also make observations of park activities in this part of the State and visited the Berkeley laboratories.

       460  -  Birds            All wildlife appears to be in normal condition.  An

       470  -  Animals        American Condor was reported seen in the Kern Canyon.

       490  -  Emergency Conservation Work.  State Forester Pratt devoted two days inspecting work in the park, and enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere of Giant Forest.  Mr. Pratt was hihgly commendatory of our work, particularly with reference to ECW, and mentioned especially the wilderness aspect of Giant Forest.

       The type mapping of the park has been considerably speeded up by the addition of four more men from the Regional Office.

        ECW Administrative Inspector Maurice Thede made routine inspection of ECW projects.

        The work of the CCC boys has been uninterrupted except for about 40 boys loaned to the State for two days on a grass fire outside the park.  With the exception of the work started last year on the Heather lake Trail, the ECW projects for August are progressing as reported last month.  The outstanding endeavor, of course, is the Dorst Creek Campground, the first unit of which will be practically completed for Labor Day occupancy by park visitors.  Water will be piped, fireplaces completed and tables placed for 75 camps.

        500    USE OF PARK FACILITIES BY THE PUBLIC

                510  -  Travel.  All indications point to another record breaking travel year in the history of the park.  Already travel has passed the 200,000 mark, and with an increase of 13.1% for the year and with another month to go (which includes the Labor Day holidays), the previous record of 205,000 visitors should easily be shattered.  Although an increase of 11.9% cars was made for the year, only .2% increase is noted for the month, with visitors even less  - .12%.  An increase of 26% in the total out of State travel over last year is noted.  Approximately 11% of the total park travel for the year was out-of-State.

               530  -  Visitors

     8/2    Mr. Bascemayer, Regional Office, San Francisco, Calif.

     8/7    Family of Superintendent Tillotson, Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz.

Pg 6

[page containing photographs]

Enrollee learning photography- Ash Mt. Headquarter's Dark Room.

Instructor Don S. Mains, Park Photographer.

Enrollee in charge of Ash Mt. Headquarter's Library.

Instructor, Kenneth Flowelling, Forestor.

#archivesgov #September 8 #1936 #1930s #Great Depression #CCC #Civilian Conservation Corps #National Parks #NPS #photography #library

[gravelish]

Anacortes

1 September 2021

Sightseeing by bike. I feel that sort of sums up my strategy to cycling these days. I suppose, like hiking, it’s because I’ve always been more interested in the place and the landscape (natural or built) than in the activity itself. On the other hand, exploring by bike, or by foot, gives you a different sense of the sights than doing it by car. Maybe because it’s slower. Or you feel you’ve earned it. Regardless, it’s fun to visit places I’ve seen many times before, but to do it on the bicycle.

Today’s ride was roughly 30 miles. I parked at Weaverling Spit, which meant my first and last segments were on the Tommy Thompson Trail, which leads directly into downtown. My route basically involved three major highlights of Fidalgo Island (all of which are within the expansive city limits of Anacortes): Cap Sante, Mount Erie, and Washington Park.

LINK: RIDE WITH GPS

Cap Sante (200’) is a stiff climb, but really it’s just a little warmup for Mount Erie (pretty obvious from the profile). The rocky top provides a great view of the city and the area I’d spend the next few hours exploring. Then it was back through downtown and residential neighborhoods until I picked up Heart Lake Road south of town, where the grade starts to increase.

The road up Mount Erie is a couple of miles each way and climbs around 1000’. This means the average grade is around 10% and some pitches were 15% (it took me about 25 minutes to climb, with a couple of brief stops). But it’s all paved and I think I only saw two or three cars the whole time. The views from the top are always spectacular. The ride down is too steep and curvy to ride without constant braking, but it was still over very quickly.

Rosario Road and Marine Drive were not particularly bike-friendly, but they weren’t crowded and they didn’t last too long. Kingsway through Skyline was wide and empty, but the endless tract homes of that neighborhood have always irritated me. But then there was the wonderful 2-mile one-way loop road through Washington Park, which I’ve driven many times, but never ridden. It’s basically a really fun bike path that just happens to allow cars, but on a weekday there were few of them. The pedestrians (dog walkers, joggers, bird watchers) were a bigger challenge. I was tempted to go around a second time, just because it’s such a perfect ride.

On the way back toward town, I took the Guemes Channel Trail along the water, until it dead-ended at a chain link fence. This is a great little rail trail - and makes a great complement to the Tommy Thompson Trail on the other side of town - but it’s completion has been stymied by property ownership and access. Rather than backtracking to Ship Harbor, I carried my bike up the several flights of steps below Roadside Park and back to the main drag. I stopped for lunch at Dockside Dogs, right on the T.T. Trail near Cap Sante Marina, then headed back to the car. Since I had time, I rode across the bay on the old trestle before turning around.

#bike #bike journal #washington #pugetsound #anacortes #skagit

[notyourdayrdream]

Summer’s Almost Over (So Come Spend it with Me)

Day Thirty-one, Side A: Ostentatious

A/N: the final chapter :( i wanted to thank everyone who read either one chapter or all of them, it means so much. especially when i didn’t update for days at a time lol. i always knew what i wanted to do for the last chapter. this is a sequel to “for as long as you’re with me (or until my mama picks me up)” which takes place ten years after the original story ends. i’m posting it here and separately as an addition to the series. hope you enjoy :)

read it here on AO3

When Kurt was thirty-two, he pulled into a lake house in North Carolina.

Victoria was asleep in the backseat, her tiny three year old body propped up in her car seat. Blaine was asleep next to him, his head resting between the window and his shoulder. Kurt shook his arm lightly without taking his eyes off the gravel road. “Blaine, we’re here. Wake up.”

Blaine rose out of sleep slowly, stretching as much as he could in the confines of the rental car. He sat up and turned to Kurt. There was a reddened print from the seat belt adorably marking his face. “Where are my glasses?”

“Glove compartment,” Kurt said. He made a sharp turn right, which took them a bit closer to the water, where their rental house was.

Blaine smiled to himself and adjusted his frames. “Thank you. Oh, it’s so gorgeous.”

And it was. As they pulled into the gravel driveway, the house and the lake came into view. The sun shone down on the dark blue water and made it glisten. The brick pathway turned into a wooden one the closer it got to the lake, complete with a covered pier. The cottage itself was enclosed by trees and flowers. It seemed big from the outside, far too big for their family of three. There was a deck that swept over an entire side of the house, complete with two rocking chairs. An American flag lapped against the wind by the front door.

Kurt turned the key and practically ran out of the car, walking a bit to stretch his legs and cringing at the loud pops of his bones. God, he was getting old.

He watched from a distance as his husband pulled Victoria from the car, her sleeping body limp against his chest. Blaine seemed to speak softly to her, pointing at the lake and a small swing set. She gave a small nod, and her head lolled back onto his shoulder.

“Should I grab some bags?” Kurt called from his spot. He took a deep breath, and his nose tingled from the husky scent of the wood and water and smoke. Someone was grilling something.

“Let’s just check the place out first!” Blaine whisper-yelled back. “Then we can put this one down for a nap.”

The cottage was a high open concept, so big it shouldn’t even be considered a cottage. Blaine went to lay their daughter down while Kurt wandered aimlessly throughout the house. It was all wood, the same color top to bottom. It was honestly super ugly, but they were only staying a few days. Victoria’s first vacation that wasn’t in New York or to her grandparent’s house.

He was looking out across the water from the deck when he heard the sliding door creak open. “It’s pretty, isn’t it?” He asked without turning around.

Blaine hummed in agreement from behind him. “Tori’s gonna be out for a while. You wanna go on a walk?” He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around Kurt’s middle. When he spoke again, his chin pressed against his shoulder. “Or we could stay inside and do other stuff.”

Kurt turned around so they would be facing each other,

looking at Blaine with a small smirk. “Other stuff?”

“Like sex stuff.” Blaine fumbled with the buttons of Kurt’s open cardigan, looking up at him through his eyelashes.

“Stop looking at me like that,” Kurt’s laugh turned into a soft sigh when Blaine began sucking on the skin just below his jawline. After nearly a decade of being together, Blaine knew just how much that spot drove him crazy.

“Like what?” Blaine asked innocently, taking small kitten licks at his neck. His hands started moving down to Kurt’s jeans, teasing around his belt.

Kurt pulled him in for a kiss, sweet and slow. Blaine completely curved into him, wrapping his arms around his waist. They pressed into each other, Kurt’s back against the wooden railing.

They pulled away, foreheads resting together. When Blaine smiled, Kurt felt his lips curve up against his.

“You should go on a walk,” Kurt whispered practically into his mouth. “I’ll have dinner ready when you get back.”

His husband looked up at him. “You’re sure?”

“Yeah.” When Blaine hesitated, Kurt laughed and pushed him gently forward. “Go ahead.”

Kurt watched him leave and walk down the pebble path that trailed around the entire lake. Far off in the water, a group of teens splashed around in the water, a few of them laying on inflatable tubes. The sun was in the midpoint between setting and bright.

While Blaine was gone, Kurt decided to bring all of their bags into the house. He put their clothes away (it was too hot to wear the few sweaters and pairs of cabin socks Blaine had brought) and slid the suitcases into the closet. Victoria woke up from her nap not much later, full of energy. They swung on the swing set for a while and Kurt looked across the lake for any sight of Blaine.

“You wanna help Daddy with dinner?” Kurt asked, stopping the swing. Victoria whipped her head around, curly brown hair swishing behind her and falling over her shoulder.

“Yes!” She squealed, hopping off the screen and racing back towards the house, completely forgetting about the swing. Kurt chased after her, too concerned that she may fall. The girl was a total handful, and he was already dreading how she would be when she grew up.

Victoria did more dancing and singing than cooking. She and Kurt sang along to eighties hits on the TV, turning the volume up so high it could be heard from outside the house. He was wearing a ‘kiss the cook’ apron he had found in one of the drawers. It was absolutely hideous and stained but Kurt couldn’t help but put it on.

He was spooning broccoli onto a plate when the front door opened and shut, Blaine setting his set of keys in the kitchen counter. He said something, but it wasn’t loud enough to cut through the sound of the Thompson Twins harmonizing.

“Tori!” Kurt yelled. “Turn that off please!” He switched off the gas stove and moved to take off the apron, when Blaine swatted his hand away and wrapped his arms around Kurt’s neck.

“Stop that, it’s cute,” he said, swaying them back and forth.

Kurt rolled his eyes yet smiled. “It’s gross.” He spun Blaine around during the instrumental section of “Hold Me Now” like it was their wedding night. They laughed, hearty and loud.

Blaine leaned forward and kissed him, short and sweet. “Well I like the instructions it gives.” He looked up at Kurt, tracing the words with his finger.

“You’re such a dork,” he shook his head and smiled. And Blaine was giving him that look, the one that made arousal unfurl in his stomach and the blood rush to his face.

And Blaine knew it. He gave him that look all throughout dinner, even sucking the sauce off his finger in a way that was dirty and deliberate. They washed dishes as a family like they usually did, even if it dissolved into a soap war when Victoria splashed Kurt with soapy water.

Blaine cleaned the floors and Kurt gave their daughter a bath quickly. When he closed the door to her room for the week behind him, the lights were off in the living room and kitchen, replaced by various candles that mixed scents in the room. His husband sat on the black leather couch and turned to him, his hair washed from his gel and curled.

“What’s this?” Kurt sat on the couch and tucked his feet under him, accepting the glass of wine Blaine had poured. The gas fireplace sat aglow.

Blaine shrugged. “I just love you is all.” And even after all this time, the three words still made Kurt’s heart swell.

“I love you too,” he murmured, setting his and Blaine’s glasses down and crowding his space, kissing him silent.

Blaine threw himself back onto the couch and pulled Kurt on top of him, opening his mouth so he could lick into the heat of it. It was constant, the rocking of Blaine’s hips under him and the helpless whine that made Kurt’s lips buzz.

He slid his hand under Blaine’s shirt to feel the taut skin underneath, flicking his nipples swiftly and reveling in the moan that followed.

“Kurt…” Blaine’s hands roamed to the curve of his ass, pushing him forward so their erections pressed together in a dirty suggestion of what they could be doing. “Fuck me.”

Kurt groaned and pushed him further into the couch cushions, rocking forward and cupping his cheek with his free hand. The softness of the moment cooled them down, and Blaine curled into the touch. It was only when Kurt heard the sound of his belt being undone that he sat up. The look on Blaine’s face was nearly comical, eyes going wide with confusion.

“I’m not having sex on a leather couch, especially one that isn’t ours.” He laughed. When he led Blaine back to the master bedroom, his back peeled off the couch with a sound like velcro. They’d have to pick up their clothes from the hallway later.

They laid in the hammock after peeling themselves out of bed, laying half on top of each other in their briefs and a thin blanket. The moon shone against the water and the stars twinkled in the black sky.

“The people next door have a Lambo,” Blaine hummed into Kurt’s bare chest. “They parked it right in the front yard.”

“How ostentatious,” he said, chuckling softly. They listened to the quiet sounds of the nature around them; the crickets and frogs in the trees and wind rustling the oak leaves above them. It was still hot, not as much as it had been in the afternoon. Kurt swung them back and forth with his foot digging into the dirt below them.

“Do you have any regrets?” Blaine asked suddenly, causing Kurt’s heart to stop. “I mean, if you could, would you go back and do anything differently.”

Kurt could barely form the question. “What’s this about?” His mind was racing to every possible bad situation; Blaine wanted a divorce, he had a secret lover, he had killed someone. A few of them seemed worse than the others.

“My dad called.”

“Oh,” Kurt felt the fear slip out of his body. “What did he want?”

“He wanted to see Victoria, he said he missed me,” Blaine explained in a quiet voice, edged with apprehension.

“He can see her on Instagram.” Kurt couldn’t help the venom that dripped from the sentence. Mr. Anderson had been nothing but rude to not only Kurt for as long as he could remember, but his own son too. He remembered having to console Blaine the day after his wedding when his dad hadn’t shown up. For all he cared,

Mr. Anderson didn’t deserve to see his granddaughter.

Blaine sighed and sat up a bit further on Kurt’s chest. “That’s not really the point, honey.” His voice sounded thick, and Kurt intertwined their fingers and squeezed his hand.

“He missed me. And, I don’t know, shouldn’t I give him a second chance?”

“But the things he’s said to you Blaine. The things he’s said to me.”

There was a pregnant silence after that.

After they went public with their relationship in their early twenties, David Anderson became even more cold and harsh that he was when they were teens. They didn’t talk about it often, but Blaine would mention how hard it was to live with him. The screaming, the fights, the insults dripping with homophobia. It was a unanimous decision between them and the Hummels to not engage with Mr. Anderson unless it was necessary. Blaine had agreed, but Kurt knew it had to hurt.

“Some people don’t deserve a second chance,” Kurt grumbled after a while.

“He’s my father, Kurt!”

Blaine threw his arms out at that, the force of it tipping the hammock and sending the two of them sprawling onto the hard dirt ground.

“Oh my God, Blaine!” Kurt sat up immediately, ignoring the sharp stab of pain in his side. “Honey, are you okay?”

Blaine was laying still on his side, unmoving. Kurt’s blood ran cold. They had fallen pretty hard from a solidly high distance. Kurt crawled over to his husband, tears threatening to spill from his eyes when he still didn’t move.

“Blaine, please get up,” Kurt cried. It was too late to go for help, and holy shit, he had just killed his husband…

And then he heard laughter, and Blaine moved as if he were shivering.

Blaine sat up, tears spilling from his eyes as he laughed. He touched his head gingerly and winced. “Ow,” he groaned. Kurt could’ve passed out. But he started crying instead.

“Oh, Kurt.” Blaine pulled him closer, holding him in his arms.

In hindsight, Kurt felt a bit embarrassed about crying over a three foot fall. But it was the first time in a long time that he thought he had actually lost Blaine. And the emptiness from it terrified it just as much as it did the first time.

“Shh, Kurt. I’m okay,” Blaine said through a chuckle, kissing him on the forehead. Kurt gripped his shirt like it was the only thing holding him to the earth. “We’re okay.”

Blaine and Kurt went inside shortly after that, with the latter demanding Blaine should hold a bag of frozen peaches to his head. They fell asleep at nearly one in the morning after checking on Victoria and dusting dirt off their pajamas.

Kurt awoke with a jolt, sitting up to find the other side of the bed empty. The sun was just beginning to peek out from the horizon, a soft yellow glow in the window.

He slipped on a pair of slides and dragged a blanket with him outside onto the deck, stretching his arms over his head. Most of the lights in the other lake houses were off, and the only other person he saw was a woman walking a small dog. Until he caught his husband’s eye down at the dock.

It sometimes hit Kurt like a wave how handsome Blaine was, even from far away. His hair wasn’t his usual morning bird’s nest, combed down and contained just enough for Kurt to know he had brushed it. His muscles popped out of the thin long sleeve shirt he slept in, and when he smiled, his brown eyes crinkled.

“Awwh, Blaine!” Kurt gasped, looking down at the scene in front of him.

“Okay, okay,” Blaine stepped in front of him and adjusted his glasses. “Remember when we went out on our first date as boyfriends?”

“You mean when we got breakfast after I jumped you in your own apartment? Yes I do,” he grinned, already knowing where this was going.

Blaine nodded. “Right, and we went to that crappy diner and when I got steak and eggs you got—”

“Cheesecake,” Kurt pointed at the New York Style cheesecake sitting on a checkered blanket, raspberries and mint leaf sitting perfectly on top. “You made me cheesecake?”

Blaine’s smile faltered only slightly. “Um. Well about that. I tried to, I had the recipe and everything. And then I forgot the cheesecake dish at home.” Ah, so that was why Blaine seemed so freaked out when he looked through the bag of food after they left. “So I ordered one.”

“It’s perfect,” Kurt whispered and sat down at the edge of the dock, legs swinging over the edge.

“You’re my family, Kurt. You and Tori,” Blaine said as he sat down next to him. “I don’t need anything else. I just need you two.” He pulled a bottle of champagne and two glasses from behind him, pouring way too much.

Kurt opened his arms and wrapped them both in his blanket, cheesecake forgotten. For now. “Here’s to ten years of us.”

“More like twenty-five, if you include those years of pining,” Kurt interjected, much to Blaine’s chagrin.

“Fine, ten years of marriage,” he knocked against Kurt’s shoulder. “And to ten more.”

He looked down, feigning shock. “Only ten?”

Blaine just rocked forward and kissed Kurt’s cheek. “Happy anniversary, Kurt.” he smiled and took a sip of champagne, curling into his side and looking out across the water. There was nothing. more to say, not for now. They had everything they needed.

#tan lines and tan hands #glee #klaine fic #blaine anderson #kurt hummel #this was so fun to write #i missed writing this version of these characters #they’re so cute

[yeah-klave]

The Sexual Awakening of David Joseph Katz - Chapter 8

Link to Chapter 1 || Link to Chapter 2 || Link to Chapter 3 || Link to Chapter 4 || Link to Chapter 5  ||  Link to Chapter 6 ||  Link to Chapter 7

Series summary:  A multi-chapter journey of self-discovery and sexual awakening.

Chapter summary: Dave tries something new.

Genre: Developing relationship, smut. (18+ only, please)

A/N: This is set in a nothing-too-bad-happens modern AU. The characters are all in their early twenties (I’m picturing adult!actor versions of them and Dave as a (younger) Cody Ray Thompson). The siblings are all still living at home, relatively happily, and Dave, Lila, Sissy and Carl are friends who hang out with them at the Academy.

Word length: 5.2k

Disclaimer: I don’t own any of The Umbrella Academy characters or settings.

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It was the weekend. Klaus and Dave had spent the day hanging out with Diego, Ben and Luther.

They’d driven out of the city to a hiking trail and explored for a bit, then set themselves up on a rickety jetty to do some fishing in a nearby lake.

Ben had rolled his eyes at Diego and Luther’s competitive sniping, but all three had ended up blaming Klaus for scaring away all the fish after he got board of sitting quietly and decided to dip his toes in the water and attempt to splash the serious look of concentration off Dave’s face. He succeeded.

Nobody ended up catching any fish.

In the afternoon, they returned to the Academy to chill and – at Dave’s insistence – have a Star Wars movie marathon.

At one point, Five wandered through the living room. He paused to roll his eyes fondly at the slouching heap of limbs they had become, before heading off in the direction of the bar. They heard clinking, them a few moments later he wandered back out, distractedly muttering something about quantum mechanics and clutching a Margarita topped with a little blue cocktail umbrella.

At some point during the second movie, Ben extracted himself and wandered off to a quiet nook to do a little reading and, shortly afterwards, Luther left to go pick up Allison from the mall, where she’d been shopping with some girlfriends.

Bored again from too much sitting, Klaus had come up with a game that involved passing random objects between them without letting them touch the floor, using only their feet.

With the movie still playing in the background, they’d been passing Dave’s balled-up hoodie between them for a solid twenty minutes when Diego’s phone pinged and he missed the pass from Klaus, letting the hoodie fall to the floor.

“Dude!” Klaus exclaimed, hands raised.

Diego shrugged and checked his phone.

“It’s Lila inviting me over,” he said. “Her roommate’s out of town.”

“Booty call,” Klaus grinned, winking at Diego and conspiratorially nudging Dave with his elbow. “Sounds like you’re in there, bro.”

Diego grimaced back. “More like, she’s bored of being on her own without anyone to tease, so she’s calling sparring partners to her.”

“If that really was the case,” Dave said, “and all she wanted was an argument, she’d just text Carl.”

“Ha! True!” Klaus barked a laugh. “He’d definitely take the bait. He’s been in such a pissy mood recently.” Klaus made a lewd gesture, “I don’t think he’s getting any from Sissy.”

“I don’t think you can blame Sissy for Carl’s foul mood,” Dave added sagely.

“Definitely not!” Klaus said, “it’s not her fault her boyfriend’s a prick.”

“To be fair,” Diego cut in, “she’s been pretty busy recently with that volunteering group she and Vanya signed up for. You know, the one with the music therapy for autistic kids.”

Klaus and Dave shared a glance and Dave had to duck his head quickly to hide his smile.

“Yeah,” Klaus said slowly, “Sissy and Vanya have been busy with the… volunteering. Recently, in particular, they’ve both got very… busy. Together.”

Engrossed in his phone, Diego didn’t notice the knowing grin that passed between Klaus and Dave.

“Maybe I shouldn’t go,” Diego mused, “maybe it gives her too much power. Coming when she calls, I mean. I don’t want her to get the wrong idea.”

“Don’t you mean get the right idea?” Klaus smirked.

“Shut up,” Diego scowled, “I’m not her lap dog.”

Klaus caught Dave’s gaze and rolled his eyes. “Honestly, these Straights,” he said with a mock exasperated sigh, “they have such complicated relationships.” He turned to Diego and levelled him a challenging look. “Seriously, brother mine, you need to let that girl peg the toxic masculinity right out of you. You might have a clearer perspective on the whole thing after you’ve let her fuck you ‘till your true bratty bottom personality starts showing. I bet you’d find it quite liberating to let her watch you shake apart while your ankles are in the air and your knees are up by your ears.”

Diego let out a strangled choking sound.

“But if you’re too much of a sissy to let a woman top you,” Klaus added, “I’d highly recommend levelling up and finding a nice guy to fuck you instead. Tits are nice and all that – but you just can’t beat a big, hard dick. So go find yourself one of them. Just not the one attached to him,” Klaus winked at Dave, “because that one’s spoken for.”

Dave grinned fondly, rolling his eyes.

“I don’t even know where to start with that,” Diego said with a grimace.

“Well,” Dave said evenly, “personally, I’d recommend starting with a bit of dry humping. Then, when you finally get your hands around it, you can start working it properly. Maybe fondle the balls a bit.”

“Dave!” Diego said shocked. “That’s… you… don’t say things like that.” He looked between Klaus and Dave, scandalised. “He’s having a bad effect on you, Dave.”

“He’s had an effect alright,” Dave said, catching Klaus’ eye, “a big, prominent, pointed effect.”

“Seriously, dude,” Diego grimaced, “I don’t want to hear this.”

“Oh, quit whining,” Klaus chuckled. “We all know you ship us hard.”

“So hard,” Dave added.

“So, very, very hard.” Klaus giggled. “As hard as we make each other.”

“Oh, dear god!” Diego cringed, covering his ears with his hands. “Mental images! Forcing their way into my brain. Cannot un-think!”

Klaus and Dave both laughed.

“Well, on that note, I’m off.” Diego patted himself down checking for his keys and started towards the door. “I’d rather be at Lila’s beck and call than listen to anymore of this. You reprobates stay safe now. And for God’s sake, don’t cum on anything, please!”

“Don’t worry,” Klaus called after him. “We swallow.”

“La-la-la! NOT LISTENING!” Diego called back, hands over his ears again as he left, the front door to the Academy clicking shut behind him.

Klaus caught Dave’s eye and Dave raised an eyebrow and asked simply, “So, shall we?”

And Klaus barked a laugh. “Hell, yes!” he said, pulling Dave to his feet.

They ran upstairs and stumbled down the corridor to Klaus’ room, laughing and kissing and fumbling, hands pulling off clothes and blindly knocking into furniture in their haste.

“Diego’s really going to appreciate the trail of discarded clothing leading to your room,” Dave smiled, glancing over Klaus’ shoulder.

“Don’t care,” Klaus breathed, his lips pressing kisses along Dave’s jaw. “To be honest, Grace will probably pick it all up before he sees anyway.” Dave’s eyes widened in panic, but Klaus took the lobe of Dave’s ear into his mouth and sucked, and Dave’s mind blanked. He shivered and Klaus grinned, grazing his teeth along the flesh.

The door to Klaus’ room was barely shut behind them before Klaus was sinking to his knees in front of Dave, hands scrambling to unbuckle his pants.

Dave rested his head back against the door and allowed Klaus to pull his pants and boxers down, but before Dave had chance to step out of them, Klaus was leaning forwards eagerly and taking Dave into his mouth.

Dave groaned, long and low, both his hands going to Klaus’ head, fingers carding through the unruly curls, fingernails raking slowly and seductively along the scalp. He then tugged gently, in just the way he knew Klaus loved and Klaus hummed in delight. The vibrations sent a wave of pleasure through Dave and he sighed out Klaus’ name. Klaus hummed again, then started sucking and bobbing his head in earnest, his hands steadying Dave’s hips.

Dave closed his eyes and let the feelings overtake him. Klaus was setting a delicious rhythm, with just the right level of suction. His mouth was hot and wet and perfect. Dave could feel Klaus breathe out as he relaxed his throat and took Dave down deeper.

“Oh, Klaus…” Dave moaned, gently tugging on his hair again. “That’s so good.”

Klaus hummed again and, fighting the impulse to gag, took him down ever further.

“Oh, yes!” Dave sighed. “Oh Klaus, your mouth feels so good.” His brain fuzzy, the praises spilled off his lips, “Yes, oh you’re so good at that. It feels amazing. You feel amazing. You’re amazing.” Dave could feel the pressure building, the knot tightening. Klaus kept bobbing and sucking. “Oh yes, there, like that. Klaus! Oh yes, yes.”

 Dave twitched his hips slightly and Klaus gave an almost imperceptible nod and squeezed his fingers, signalling that Dave could thrust forwards. Dave let out a strangled little sound and – ever so gently – started fucking Klaus’ mouth. Klaus moaned, his pupil’s blown and his chin wet.

Dave let out a low grunt and concentrated on the feeling of the tiny thrusts of his hips – the raw, decadent pleasure of pushing his cock into his partner’s willing mouth. The slightly strangled moans coming from Klaus were needy and wanton and desperate. The act felt so… base. So… primal. To Dave, it felt… unimaginably good.

Dave savoured the feeling, storing it away to be examined and replayed at another time, another place.

Klaus squeezed Dave’s hips again and then took him all the way down into his throat, swallowed, then hummed. And Dave felt the vibrations rumble through him in a heady wave. His fingers twitched and his hips bucked involuntarily.

Klaus chocked. Just a little. “Sorry, sorry,” Dave said, contrite. He only felt slightly guilty for the sudden rush that had surged through him at the sight and sound of Klaus choking on his cock.

Klaus hummed in response, picking up the pace of his bobbing, cheeks hollowed and his tongue working the underside. His thumb ran soothingly over Dave’s hipbone and even in his state of fuggy pleasure, Dave knew it was a sign of reassurance.

Half out of his mind with pleasure, Dave looked down and took in the sight of Klaus; cheeks hollowed, his lips stretched wide around Dave’s cock, the gentle sway of his wild curls as he bobbed his head. His eyelashes were dark fans over eyelids heavy from desire. Dave felt a proprietary surge of pleasure as he noticed the beginnings of dark streaks on the pale, delicate skin under Klaus’ bottom lashes, where the slight wetness around his eyes had caused his eyeliner to run.

Dave gave another low groan. He could feel himself tensing, his pleasure cresting. “Klaus!” he managed to grunt.

 Klaus pulled back and off with a wet pop, a line of saliva still connecting them. He began fisting Dave’s length. He opened his mouth wide, stuck out his tongue and rested Dave’s tip on the wet, pink muscle. He looked up: open and willing and eager. Ready to be claimed, though Dave.

Eyelids heavy and eyes dark with lust, Klaus gazed up at Dave through his lashes. And, staring down into Klaus’ eyes, Dave’s pleasure crested and his orgasm crashed over him like a tidal surge. He came undone, pulsing and releasing, thick creamy ropes of cum landing over Klaus’ tongue and his lips and his chin and his cheek. Klaus closed his eyes and took it, hand still working Dave’s shaft, helping him ride out his high. And Dave just kept cumming, all over his boyfriend’s face and tongue and a bit in his hair. And it felt so dirty, but also so brilliant. And his brain thrummed: mine, mine, mine…

Dave’s cock gave a final weak pulse and Klaus licked the small trickle of cum off the tip.

Dave looked down and blushed at the sight of Klaus on his knees before him, his cheeks flushed, chin wet, face splattered with cum and his hair sticking up wildly from where Dave had been gripping the dark curls.

“Oh, Klaus” he whispered reverently. And Klaus smiled and gently kissed the tip of Dave’s cock one last time before getting to his feet.

Dave’s thumb came up to Klaus’ bottom lip and smeared a spot of cum across the skin. Klaus’ tongue came out to taste it, but Dave leaned forwards quickly and caught Klaus’ lips in a kiss, tasting himself on Klaus’ skin and in the slow slide of their lips and tongues.

“So, I guess we didn’t do what Diego asked after all,” Dave smiled.

“Pretty sure he meant the sofas, or in the kitchen or something,” Klaus grinned. “I don’t think it counts if the thing you’re cumming on is me.” Dave groaned again. Then reached blindly, grabbed his discarded tee and lightly wiped the mess off Klaus’ face. Then he brought their faces close until the tips of their noses were touching and brushed them together in an Eskimo kiss.

Dave stepped forwards, trying to walk Klaus back to the bed but, forgetting about his pants still pooled around his ankles, he almost overbalanced. Klaus laughed and held his arms steady while Dave toed off his boots and socks and stepped out of his jeans. Klaus’ pants had been abandoned somewhere on the trip from the living room to Klaus’ bedroom.

Dave gently placed his hands on Klaus’ immaculate chest and walked him back to the bed, softly pushing him down onto his back. Klaus shuffled backwards, laying his head on the pillow. He was toned and sun-golden and glorious, his erection a prominent bulge tenting his underwear. He’s gorgeous, Dave thought. Completely gorgeous and all mine. And a thrill ran through him.

Dave got onto the bed and pulled Klaus’ underwear off. And then Klaus was spread out before him: standing big and stiff and proud. A meal Dave wanted to both devour all at once… and also savour for the rest of his life.

Dave crawled over Klaus, propping himself up on his forearms so he could bring their lips together again. Klaus sighed and ran one hand down Dave’s spine, resting the other on his backside and squeezing.

“Ass man,” Dave breathed into Klaus’ mouth.

“Bite me,” Klaus smiled back, and Dave caught his bottom lip between his teeth and nipped lightly. Klaus groaned and pushed his hips up against Dave.

Dave grinned and rolled them over. He slotted his leg between Klaus’, presenting his thigh for Klaus to ride. Klaus propped himself up on his arms and pushed his hips down, grinding his erection into Dave’s deliciously solid thigh. He breathed out a sigh and leaned down to continue their kiss, his hips pressing forwards rhythmically. Dave pushed his tongue into Klaus’ mouth and let the kiss get dirty, his hands kneading Klaus’ ass cheeks as Klaus humped his leg. The room was filled with the sound of Klaus panting and grunting and the dull thunk of the headboard against the wall as Klaus increased the pace and vigour of his rutting.

“Look at you,” Dave breathed, eyeing Klaus’ slack mouth and flushed cheeks, “just look at you. So beautiful.”

“Dave,” Klaus gritted out.

“Oh, is there something you need, sweetheart?” Dave teased.

“Yes,” Klaus panted, a little frustrated and desperate to get off.

Dave raised an eyebrow but made no other attempt to move.

“Oh,” Klaus whined, “Dav-uh!”

Dave grinned wickedly, “Maybe you should ask nicely?”

Klaus’ eyes went wide. For a heart stopping moment, Dave thought he might have gone too far, might have misread the vibe, might have killed the moment.

But then Klaus flushed, blinking rapidly, and whispered, “Dave, please.” Dave squeezed his ass cheeks again and Klaus whined and clamped his thighs around Dave’s leg, grinding his erection down harder. “Please,” he repeated in a small, broken voice, “please do something to get me off.” He brought his lips to Dave’s ear, so close Dave could feel his lips moving, and murmured, “please, Mr Katz…”

Dave swallowed hard. A rush of adrenaline, and also something else – something deeper and more primal – ran through him. He could feel the soft, warm weight of his partner, writhing and rutting against him. Needy and desperate. Needy, for him. Dave was suddenly overwhelmed by an instinctive, primal urge to give and please and protect and provide. Mine, Dave thought again. He’s mine.

Dave hooked his leg around Klaus’ and flipped them over. He pressed one final searing kiss to Klaus’ lips and then worked his way down Klaus’ body, trailing kisses down his neck and chest, his tongue flicking over the hardened nub of a nipple. He teasingly kissed his way down the faint trail of dark hairs that started just below his navel and ended at the base of Klaus’ cock.

Dave could feel Klaus breathing deeply, his chest rising and falling in anticipation. But rather than turning his attention to Klaus’ erection. Dave dipped his head lower, and pressed kisses and teasing licks into the delicate skin surrounding Klaus’ cock. He pressed his nose against Klaus’ balls, nuzzling them slightly, then opened his mouth and sucked as much as he could into his mouth, applying delicious pressure and working the skin with his tongue. Klaus whined above him. Dave repeated the action, then moved onto the other.

“Dave,” Klaus panted. “Dave, please.”

A thought started buzzing in Dave’s brain. It felt electric – live and shocking.

Without quite realising he’d done it, Dave made a decision. He felt wired and alive and empowered.

Dave smiled and rose onto his knees. His hands went to Klaus’ hips. “Roll over,” he said gently.

“What?” Klaus’ head came up, eyes slightly unfocussed.

“Come on,” Dave repeated quietly, “roll over.”

“Dave? What’re you…” Klaus looked confused.

“I want to try something,” Dave smiled. He felt a shy, nervous flutter in his stomach, but he swallowed, caught Klaus’ eye and gave a confident little nod.

Klaus held his gaze a moment, eyes wide, but then he obliged, rolling onto his front. Dave encouraged him to spread his legs and lift onto his knees and elbows. Dave sat back for a second and just took in the sight before him: his boyfriend bent over on his bed, flushed and hard and slightly bewildered, but presenting himself so beautifully for Dave. Dave licked his lips and smiled. He was going to enjoy this.

Klaus’ head hung between his arms and he craned around to look at Dave admiring him and – despite all his previous experience – he still felt a small spike of self-conscious embarrassment. He shifted and started to get up, “Dave, what’s… what’re you doing…?”

“Shhh,” Dave reassured, his hand rubbing soothing circles into Klaus’ lower back and encouraging him back down. “It’s okay. Just relax. I’ve got this. I’ve got you.”

Klaus narrowed his eyes slightly but relaxed back down.

Dave positioned himself between Klaus’ legs and ran his hands over Klaus’ ass cheeks, endearingly pale against the tan of the rest of his skin. He gave the right one a quick pat and squeeze. Lowering his head slowly, he pressed a gentle kiss into the soft, fleshy centre of each cheek. Then, using his thumbs, he spread the cheeks apart, finally revealing Klaus’ pink, furled hole.

“Dave…?” He heard Klaus choke out.

Dave blew a soft stream of warm air onto Klaus’ little rosebud and watched as it clenched slightly.

Then, leaning forwards, he brought his face in close and slowly licked across Klaus’ tight hole.

“Fuck!” He heard Klaus exclaim.

Dave smiled and, tongue soft and wet and wide, he repeated the action.

“Oh, Dave! Oh, fuck!” Klaus panted again.

Dave pointed his tongue and flicked it up and down, and left to right, brushing it quickly over the delicate skin. Dave could feel Klaus’ hole fluttering under his tongue.

“Dave! Oh god, yes, oh yes!” Klaus panted. He shifted his hips and repositioned his arm to take his weight. He brought the other hand down to his cock, which was hanging thick and heavy and neglected between his legs. But before he could take hold of it, however, Dave caught his wrist and stopped him.

“Not yet,” he said. And his face was still so close to Klaus’ most private area that Klaus could feel the huff of air against his wet skin when Dave spoke.

Klaus shivered and groaned, but brought his elbow back down to the bed, resigning himself to the sweet torture.

Dave reapplied his tongue to Klaus’ hole and soon Klaus was panting and sighing and pushing back against him, needy whines and breathy little gasps escaping his throat.

Dave switched up the movement of his tongue from strong licks and fast little flicks, and instead covered Klaus’ hole with his lips and then sucked lightly.

Klaus groaned under him, pushing back, his legs trembling. “Oh, fuuuuuck!” he whimpered.

Dave gave the furled hole another slow lick, then pointed his tongue and – ever so slowly – pushed it against Klaus’ entrance. Klaus’ breath hitched. At first Klaus’ muscles resisted. But then, as Dave wiggled his tongue slightly, he felt the tight ring of muscles begin to relax, allowing him to push his tongue in slightly. Dave pressed his tongue forwards in tight circular motions, then slowly pulled back and pressed in again, fucking Klaus’ hole with the tip of his tongue.

“Oh, fuuuuucck me!” Klaus wailed. “Fuck, Dave! Yes! Oh, fuck I need to cum!”

Dave could feel Klaus trembling under his hands, the erratic twitch of his hips, the desperate, broken edge to his voice.

“Please, Dave,” Klaus pleaded. “Please, please…”

And Dave, his face still buried in Klaus’ ass, finally reached around and gripped Klaus’ leaking erection and started pumping.

And Klaus keened. He was caught between thrusting his painfully hard cock forward into Dave’s fist and pressing back into the delicious wet flicks of Dave’s tongue against his quivering hole. He was so desperately, painfully hard; the desire to cum so strong. And the feeling of Dave finally touching his rock-hard cock was toe-curlingly amazing. And Dave’s tongue, pressing and licking and sucking him – there – was beyond amazing. And for Klaus, time seemed to be caught in one delicious, shining moment of wet, hot, hard, fast, urgent, pleasure, clenching, tensing… and then he was cumming. Hard.

Thick creamy ropes spurted onto the bed and over Dave’s fist and Dave could feel Klaus’ hole twitching and clenching under his tongue as his muscles spasmed in waves. And Klaus was moaning Dave’s name wildly… then breathlessly… then a little brokenly as his trembling legs gave way and he finally collapsed forwards onto the bed.

Dave moved up the bed and lay down on his side next to him. Carefully, he ran his fingers through Klaus’ hair, studying his face, his closed eyes, his blissed-out expression.

Klaus opened his eyes blearily and looked at Dave.

“Dave,” he whispered hoarsely. Dave smiled.

“Dave,” Klaus tried again, “That was just so… thank you. Just, wow! Like really. Wow. It was just… so…” he screwed up his face, trying to find the right words and failing, ending instead on just a low grunt of consonants. “Nngggh,” he finished.

Dave smiled, eyes fond and affectionate. “Well, if I’ve rendered you speechless, I guess it must have been okay,” he teased lightly. Klaus blinked. Dave brought his lips down and tenderly kissed Klaus’ forehead and whispered, “I’m glad you thought so. It felt pretty incredible to do it for you too.” Klaus hummed and his eyes drifted closed.

“Hey,” Dave squeezed his shoulder. “You should have a quick shower before you sleep.”

“Don’t wanna,” Klaus mumbled. “Tired and comfy and no energy.”

“Come on, up you get.” Dave encouraged. “You’re sticky and sweaty and smell like sex. You’re laying in the wet spot and you’ve got cum in your hair. Shower, now.”

Klaus groaned and with great effort pulled himself up and moved towards the bathroom.

“Aren’t you coming?” Klaus asked in a small voice.

“You get in, I’ll be there in a sec,” Dave said. Klaus nodded and padded off.

Dave quickly stripped the bed and put on clean sheets from the cupboard where Grace kept the fresh linen. He bundled the dirty ones up and stuffed then in the laundry basket. He then went into the bathroom to join Klaus.

When they were showered and dry, Klaus in a pair of fluorescent briefs and Dave wearing clean boxers and a soft old tee from the stash of clothes he’d started leaving at the Academy, they crawled into bed. Klaus cuddled up to him and rested his head on Dave’s chest.

“Good call,” Klaus admitted, running his hands over the crisp sheets.

Dave hummed in response. Klaus closed his eyes, listening to the rumble of it against his ear.

“So, power kink, huh?” Klaus smiled into Dave’s chest.

“I guess so,” Dave replied. “Believe me, it took me by surprise a bit too.”

“It was good,” Klaus said. “Different. It looked good on you.” Klaus paused, then added, “I like the idea that we can switch stuff up like that sometimes.”

“Me too,” Dave found himself agreeing.

“You know,” Klaus said tentatively, “we could go further too.”

Dave traced the rim of Klaus’ ear with a fingertip.

“Yeah,” Dave said, feeling bold in the gathering darkness of the room. “Give and take, assertive and submissive, top and bottom… there’s so much we can try together. And that’s just power stuff. Then there’s… well, everything else as well.” He felt Klaus hum his agreement into the skin over his heart.

“You know,” Klaus said after a pause, “when we talked about this the other day, I thought we were going to start with some light fingering. But I guess I shouldn’t have underestimated you, Mr Katz. You just dived straight in tongue first.”

“Is that a bad thing?” Dave asked a little worriedly.

“Fuck no!” Klaus exclaimed. “I just didn’t think we’d start with rimming. I mean it’s not really the natural place to start.”

“Isn’t it?” Dave frowned. “To me, it kind of just felt right in the moment.”

“I’m glad you did,” Klaus insisted, “it was mind-blowing.”

Dave grimaced. “Promise you’re not teasing my technique?” He asked. “It’s the first thing I’ve done to you before you’ve done it to me first. I didn’t have any previous experience to work from.”

There was silence and Dave frowned and shifted to look down at Klaus’ face. He was surprised to find Klaus’ cheeks pink and his ears a little red.

“Klaus?” he asked, worried.

“You weren’t bad.” Klaus said quickly. “It’s not that. It’s just that, for once, I don’t really have anything to compare to either.” His eyes widened. “Not that I usually compare you with other people,” he said quickly. “I don’t do that. Just, with this, I don’t have a point of reference. So, all I can say is you blew my mind.”

Dave took a moment to process and then asked the obvious question. “Are you saying none of the people you’ve been with before have done that for you?”

“Um… yeah,” Klaus blushed – actually blushed – “yeah, I guess I am.”

Dave swallowed. “Because they didn’t want to? Or because you didn’t want them to?” He swallowed again. “Did I… I hope I didn’t… Klaus, did you want me to do that just now?”

Klaus shifted to press his face into the hollow of Dave’s neck, his nose nuzzling the base of his throat. “Dave,” he said seriously, “I wanted it. I wanted you to.” He paused. “Before now… nobody ever offered. It wasn’t particularly something that was on my radar. I was just happy for them to fuck me. Just that was okay. I didn’t feel like I was missing out or anything. But then you just… did that for me. Because you wanted to. I’ve never been with anyone who put me first like that before.”

Dave’s heart clenched and his chest felt tight. He wrapped his arms around Klaus’ small frame and buried his nose into the curls on the top of his head.

“Klaus” he murmured, “Klaus…”

“It’s okay,” he heard Klaus sigh into his neck, “you don’t need to say anything.”

Dave swallowed the lump in his throat and tightened his arms around Klaus. The warm weight of words that didn’t need to be said just yet, lying like a blanket over them as they held each other in the gathering darkness.

Finally, Dave broke the silence, “I don’t know whether I should be a little bit offended, you know? About not being complicated, I mean.” He grinned.

“What?” Klaus frowned, opening his eyes.

“That thing you said to Diego earlier, about his dynamic with Lila being complicated.”

“Oh,” Klaus settled back down. “That.” He paused then added. “You might play the deep, strong, silent type sometimes, Dave, but you’re not complicated. I mean, not complicated complicated.” Dave ran his fingers soothingly up and down Klaus’ arm. “It’s not like do you confusing things that I can’t work out. You’re easy.”

Dave laughed.

“I don’t mean easy.” Klaus corrected himself. “I mean…”

“I know what you mean,” Dave cut in. He pressed a kiss to the top of Klaus’ head. “You might be a chaotic, eccentric oddball at times, but to me, you’re easy, too.” Klaus huffed a small laugh against Dave’s chest.

“I love that we always seem to be on the same page about stuff,” Klaus said into the quiet stillness of the room.

“Yeah,” Dave agreed. “We click. Always have. And I suppose we trust each other too, so that helps.”

Klaus blinked and swallowed hard.

“We do click, don’t we?” His voice was small.

“Yes,” Dave said earnestly.

“This really is something special, isn’t it?” Klaus said, just as quietly. He wants confirmation, Dave thought. Despite all the bravado, he’s actually a little vulnerable and insecure and wants confirmation.

“Yes,” Dave said, giving him exactly what he needed. “For me, right from the very first moment, this just felt right.”

“For me too,” Klaus admitted softly.

Klaus rolled over and settled on his side, pulling Dave flush behind him; the big spoon to Klaus’ little spoon. Dave’s knees tucked into the crook of Klaus’ legs, his arm coming over, fingers interlacing and hands curled close to Klaus’ chest. Dave’s groin pressed against Klaus’ backside, but in this moment, Dave felt nothing more than tenderness and affection. He pressed a kiss to the back of Klaus’ neck, the spot right between his shoulders, and shifted slightly, snuggling them even closer.

“After everything,” Klaus mumbled into the pillow, voice drowsy and muffled slightly. “After all this time, and everything we’ve been through to get here.” He paused, let out a breath and then carried on. “It’s hard to believe that this is how it could be from now on.”

Dave thought back to how he used to feel about his relationship with Klaus – like his life had turned into a series of moments as precious… and delicate… and fragile as champagne flutes on a tray in the wind. He wondered when he had stopped feeling like the tiniest wrong move or misstep could bring his happiness crashing down in a shower of irreparable shards of shattered crystal.

“Believe it,” Dave replied, and Klaus sighed and relaxed further into his arms. Dave shut his eyes and held him close, his heart beating a rhythm against Klaus’ back: this, just this, just this, just this, just this…

#klave #klaus hargreeves #dave katz #the umbrella academy #klaus x dave #klaus/dave

[allkinds-oftrash]

To Lady Paige, With Love

A/N: Hello everyone! This is my first time writing for Bridgerton and Regency in general so hopefully it's not too OOC and modernized but do let me know if you have tips to make the writing style seem more regency-like.

Main Pairing: Eloise Bridgerton x FemOC! Paige Crane (Past! Marina Thompson x Paige Crane)

Anyways this came to me as an idea because I just could not stand Phillip in the original To Sir Phillip, With Love and big thanks to @ladiesofwinterfell whose Phillip posts only fuelled my need for a new version of TSPWL. So I wanted to try my hand at writing a genderbent version of him who softer and kinder in her approach when with Marina. Instead, I somehow made a completely new character who happens to be his twin sister Paige. I tried my best to follow the book very closely with of course changes to the point of view and how Marina is treated by Paige. Another thing to note is that I used a mix of the show (especially when crafting Marina's backstory it's straight out of S1) and book's background of the characters.

I'm going to stop babbling now, and happy reading everyone!

Content & Trigger Warnings: Mentions/Descriptions of (Postpartum) Depression, Implied Child Neglect, Suicide Ideation, Suicide Attempt, Teen Pregnancy (?? I dunno if this needed to be tagged as tw but Imma add it anyways), Death and Grief.

Part 2 - Chapter 1: Right Where You Left Me

Prologue: Take Me To The Lakes [14th February 1823]

It shouldn’t have been a sunny day. It was far too beautiful of a day for a tragedy to occur.

A tragedy on Valentine’s Day, it was almost laughable.

Paige had asked the servants to open up Marina’s curtains. She knew the sunlight would do her some good. While waiting for the kitchen staff to prepare a delightful breakfast of pancakes - Marina’s favourite - she decided to check on her flowers. She had grown a lovely patch of Eden roses, specially for her best friend.

Ever since her brother Phillip and her were children, they were enamoured with botany. Phil, of course, immersed himself in the science of it. Paige preferred simple gardening. If she needed information on more complex maintenance of their plants, she knew where to find his textbooks. Over the years, Paige had developed a thumb as green as her brother’s. While Philip used botany as an escape, Paige used it as a way to connect. It was the very same type of roses that helped Paige find her way to Marina.

September 1812

Marina Thompson was a sight to behold. Her corkscrew curls were half pinned up, allowing the bottom wave of curls to be free. Paige couldn’t help but be mesmerised at how well suited her hairstyle was. Marina had a side part, almost covering the left side of her face. She donned the most simple of peach day dresses. Yet to the Crane girl, it seemed to be the most beautiful piece of garment she could have worn. To this day, Paige swears she heard music swell around her the moment she saw Marina bent over, smelling the rose bush.

She takes a deep breath. It helped ground her to muster the confidence to approach the beautiful stranger. The Crane twins have always been shy and reserved. It had done nothing good for them. She was tired of letting life pass her by. Philip could hide in the bushes for all she cared. Today, Paige decided to make a choice. A choice that could potentially bring her happiness. She was going to talk to the girl who made her heart sing.

Taking baby steps, she finally reaches Marina and gives her an awkward smile. When she needed it most, words seemed to fail her. Marina felt Paige’s presence hovering and looked up. She smiled kindly at her and handed over a rose she had plucked. Paige looked down at the rose, in a slight panic. She was rooted to the ground, unable to say or move.

“Good evening, Miss…?” Marina kept her eyes trained on Paige. She trailed her greeting off, hoping to get a name. Paige immediately fell for the warmth in her eyes. She felt safe. That definitely helped to ease her up.

“Crane. Paige Crane.” She cleared her throat awkwardly before introducing herself. She takes the rose from Marina and the two girls shake hands. All Paige could think about was how warm and soft her hand felt. Struggling to say more, she turned her focus to the rose. She twirled it around in her fingers and looked at her companion.

“These are Eden roses, also known as Rosa ‘Pierre De Ronsard’ named after the French poet. However, it was far too pretentious of a name for those out of the French border. So it was renamed Eden Climber to convey the idea of paradise was created by the exceptional beauty of this rose.” She was acutely aware she was rambling. It was the way Marina was watching her intently that brought her comfort. Marina gave her a cheeky smile when she was done with the fun fact.

“An exceptionally beautiful rose for an exceptional beauty.” Marina gestured to Paige. The botanist’s cheeks started to turn as pink as the rose.

“Eden roses from the girl who seemed to have fallen from Eden.” She thought to herself...until she heard Marina chuckle. Paige stared at her, horrified. “I thought out loud, didn’t I?”

Marina nodded, laughing with her whole body now. If Paige could have bottled the sound, she would. Marina grinned at Paige as she looped her arm through hers.

“Don’t be embarrassed. That was a lovely compliment. I think we're going to be wonderful friends, Paige Crane.”

They have been inseparable since.

***

With Phillip away on business for the week, Paige made sure to spend extra time with Marina. She carefully cut the stems of the roses to make a small bouquet. She tied them together and brought them straight to the kitchen. She placed the roses by the pancake plate. She picked up the tray and made her way to Marina's room. She balanced the tray on one hand and knocked with the other as she crossed the threshold.

"Marina, are you awake, love?" Paige asked gently. She stepped closer to her and held out the roses. "I brought you your favourite roses too, Eden Climbers. An exceptional beauty for an exceptional beauty." She echoed the line from their first meeting.

It was love at first sight. She remembered how much fun they had together. Oh where had the time gone? She frowned when she noticed the curtains were shut again. She set down the breakfast tray by her nightstand before making herself comfortable next to Marina lying down.

"If you could walk to shut the curtains, you can sit up to have some breakfast. I had the chef make your favourite." Paige attempted to waft the smell of pancakes in the direction of her companion. Marina simply turned away and stared out at the window. Paige reached out to gently stroke her hair.

Marina had her good and bad days come and go. Paige knew she had to give her space and let her heal on her own. It had been 9 years….this was definitely more serious than postpartum. She was sure of it. Paige gave her a few more minutes before digging into the breakfast herself.

"Rina, I will finish all of the pancakes if you don't come get some!" Paige attempted to sound threatening but her meek voice did her no favours. She caught a silver of a smile on Marina's face. That was all she needed that day. They just had to get through this one moment at a time.

"I saw that, love. Would it be easier if I fed you?"

Marina managed a small nod. She detested feeling like this. Like she was constantly drowning. If everyone thought they couldn't understand why she was this way, she hadn't had the foggiest idea either. Most of all, she hated how it affected Paige. Marina knew she didn't deserve this. Paige deserved a whole person not the shell of a woman she had become. She let out a soft sight and did her utmost best to sit up slightly so they wouldn't get syrup all over the sheets.

Slowly and surely, one bite at a time, Marina finished a full pancake by herself. Paige beamed at her proudly after she was done. Marina took the moment to relish in her smile. Paige always made everything better. Marina might have been depressed but she was no fool. She knew what Phillip thought of her. Even if she spent most days unable to leave her bed, she saw the way he looked at her. Like she was a fragile, broken melancholic thing. He didn't see the person underneath. He only saw the shell. Paige… She knew Marina before the twins came along. She knew the true Marina. The one who laughed and smiled and had known joy. The Marina Thompson that loved Paige Crane with all her heart. That should be reason enough to work hard to recover. To retain who she once was. Paige should be enough.

The botanist saw her companion's vacant eyes and knew she was gone for the day. Paige smiled at her comfortingly. "I ought to check on the children. I shall leave you to rest, dearest. Do ring the bell should you need anything at all." She pressed a soft kiss against her forehead before taking her leave.

As she stepped out looking for the children, Miles directed her to Phillip's greenhouse. The children loved to make mischief there when their father wasn't there. She popped her head into the Greenhouse.

"Amanda! Oliver!" She said sharply to startle them. Seeing them jump out of their bones, she couldn't help but laugh. The twins turned to her and frowned.

"Aunt Paige, that's not funny!" They pouted at her. She snorted.

"Well it was pretty funny when you did it to me yesterday. I'm simply returning the favour, my dears." She chuckled, pulling them into her embrace.

Just as she was about to suggest playing hide and seek by the lake, Amanda squeals. "Mother!" She pointed behind Paige. Paige simply blinked at her niece before slowly turning around.

Marina? It couldn't be. She caught sight of a flash of red. Red. Paige smiled to herself as she shook her head. It must be her. Red was her favourite colour. Marina always said she liked it because it was a strong colour and it made her feel strong.

Paige was filled with joy. Marina had finally gotten the strength to step out. She grabs the children's hands to bring them over to their mother. It would do them good to spend time together outside of her room. The trio was halfway across the field when Paige worked out exactly why Marina had come out. The horrifying epiphany clicked when she saw Marina slip rocked into the pockets of her dress. She immediately turned to the children. They did not have to witness this.

“Children, I need you to do me a favour.” She put on her most calming smile. She kept looking back at Marina to see how far she was away from the lake. “Could you be dears and please fetch Miles for me? Then I need you to go and play in your room. Your mother and I need to speak privately.”

“Why is she walking to the lake?” Amanda questioned. Paige tried to keep her composure. If the children kept questioning, she wouldn’t be able to reach Marina in time.

“I will explain later, please get Miles. It’s urgent.” Paige sent them off running while she sprinted in the other direction the moment they were out of sight.

“MARINA, STOP!” She bellowed at her best friend. She skidded across the field and fell face flat just yards away from the lake. Marina was completely oblivious, submerging herself into the depths of the lake. It was just her and the magnetic pull of the lake. It was like Paige wasn’t even there. She quickly recovered. She didn’t waste time undressing and dove straight into the icy waters to rescue Marina. She’ll be damned if she was going to let the love of her life go without a fight.

She couldn’t find her. Marina had dropped off to the deep end and Paige felt like she couldn’t breathe. She could never forgive herself if Marina succeeded. A glimmer of hope shone through when she caught sight of Marina’s ruby red cloak floating to the surface. Before it could get sucked into the depths of the lake, Paige screamed Marina’s name one last time as an attempt to snap her out of it. Of course, Marina couldn’t hear her. Paige set her sight on the flash of red and swam to it.

Paige did the math; Marina had been under barely a minute. It was probably not enough time to drown, but every second it took her to find Marina was one second toward her death.

She remembered swimming in the lakes with Phillip when they were children countless times. While he still swam and knew the lake better than she did. She had a vague idea where the bottom dropped off. She felt relief when she quickly found the critical point with swift, even strokes. The main obstacle was her dress working against the drag of the water, slowly her down. She cursed, not having stripped before she went in. She did her best to overcome it. Saving Marina was far too important.

She told herself she could find her. She had to find her. Before it was too late.

She found herself diving further down the murky waters. She struggled to keep her eyes open with some of the sand from the bottom swirling around her. Marina must have kicked it up as she went down. The opaque clouds of sand were making it difficult to see. Eventually, relief washed over Paige again when she spotted Marina’s red dress.

She didn’t hesitate to shoot through the waters, down to the bottom where she saw the red of her

cloak floating through the water. Paige felt her heart slow down the moment Marina was in her arms. While they were both petite women, Paige did struggle initially to swim up with Marina. Slowly but surely, she forged their way to the surface. Once she had pulled her onto the grassy knoll of the meadow, she had already lost consciousness and was nothing more than a dead weight in Paige’s arms. She took a moment to take big gasps to fill her aching lungs once again. She made sure she was okay herself before turning to save Marina.

Paige tried shaking her awake, rather violently to get the water out of Marina’s system. Just as she started chest compressions, Miles came running over.

“What happened?”

“She...fell in.” She didn’t even look up at him. She hated how her voice trembled as she said that out loud. She couldn’t bring herself to admit that Marina had gone in on purpose. Marina had chosen to leave her. She knew it was hard on her love but she refused to think about it presently. She was too busy trying to revive her. When the chest compressions felt like a failed task, Paige turned to mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. She blew the air into her mouth, hoping the water would come up her throat.

“Marina, please.” Paige pleaded as she finished her set of resuscitation. All she could do was wait. She finally turned to look at Miles, “Miles darling, could you help me send someone to fetch the doctor.” She requested, exhausted clear in her voice. He nodded swiftly and set on his task. Just as he turned to head to Romney Hall, Marina coughed up the water and started rasping. Paige gasped and squealed in surprise, launching herself into Marina’s arms. She called Miles back to help her guide Marina back home.

“You came back to me.” She whispered with relief, starting to softly sob against Marina’s chest. Marina was tired and she could barely keep her eyes open. Her head lulled against Paige’s.

“It’s okay, we’re going home.” Paige continued and Marina stirred, frowning.

“No…” Now it was her turn to sob, “Please don’t. Let me go, Paige. I don’t want...I don’t….” She struggled to get the words out. As much as she felt guilty for putting Paige through this whole ordeal, her pain outweighed that. The pain outweighed everything: her love for Paige, the children, even Phillip - as much as he misunderstood her. It outweighed her will to love.

Paige watched her flounder helplessly. She hated seeing Marina in so much turmoil. She didn’t want to say anything to make it worse. She just held her close and brushed her hair soothingly. “It’s alright. Let’s just get you warmed up first.”

“I can’t.” She whispered with the last ounce of energy before passing out in Paige’s arms. Paige looked down at her sadly for a moment before looking up at Miles. She shot him a sheepish look and gestured for help. Miles carried her in his arms easily while Paige just watched her with worry the whole walk back.

Once they reached Romney Hall’s foyer, she instructed Miles to send a telegram to Phillip informing him of Marina’s condition. She also called for their housekeeper, Mrs. Hurley. After she had gotten Mrs. Hurley to help her strip Marina of her drenched clothes, the older woman practically shoved Paige to her own room to change into dry clothes. She argued with her, refusing to leave Marina alone for even a moment.

“Go on, dear, I’ll be with her until you return.” Mrs. Hurley shooed Paige out of the room. She huffed and obliged. She dashed to her room to quickly change out of her own icy clothes.

She found one of her old dresses, it was a yellow floral one that Marina loved so much. Marina used to tell her that it brought out the golden flecks in her brown eyes. Paige never liked her brown haired-brown eyed look and found herself to be plain looking. It was only when Marina came along, she felt seen. Maybe being plain didn’t matter when someone loved you in spite of it. Hopeful the dress would stir up old memories, Paige stepped into Marina’s bedroom nervously. She said a silent prayer for her to be well. That the 7 minutes didn’t do that much damage.

Marina was sleeping soundly when Paige entered the room. She couldn’t help but smile at how at peace Marina looked. At that moment, she understood why Marina spent so much time hiding away and sleeping. This was probably the only place in the house that brought her peace. Sleeping brought her peace.

She had Miles check on the twins before she settled into staying by Marina’s side. She wanted to be there every step of her recovery. Then after, they could get her some real help. The twins were plenty occupied with their playtime for the day. While waiting for the doctor, Paige slipped into the bed by Marina’s side. She cradled her head against her chest and prayed. Even though she was a woman of science and was the type of Christian that only attended church during Christmas, praying was one comfort of her religion she allowed herself. She prayed for all her wishes for Marina. For her happiness, recovery...for the good times to hopefully return. As she wished, hoped and prayed, she found herself falling asleep.

When the night came and brought the doctor along with it, Paige woke with a start at the feverishly warm body beside her. The panic set in and the doctor did his best to soothe her. He coaxed her out of the bed so he could check on Marina. Paige was more than happy to oblige but stood hovering over the doctor’s shoulder the whole time.

When he diagnosed her with pneumonia, Paige’s heart sank. That was definitely going to finish the job Marina set out to do in the lake. He saw her expression and comforted her by saying she could very well recover. Essentially, it was a waiting game. Paige made peace with those odds, she would gladly take all the time in the world with her. She spent the rest of the night and the next three days nursing her. She dabbed wet cloth after cloth against her warm forehead. Made sure she had the fluffiest pillows and duvet. She specially had the cook make all of her favourite dishes to go with the broth Marina detested.

Paige wanted to tell her to fight but she didn’t want to push her. Instead she spent the last few days together, helping Marina remember the woman she once was and could be again. Paige wanted her to remember to fight for herself.

The morning after, she sat by Marina’s bedside and smiled tenderly at her.

“Do you remember our first season together?” She asked, her elbow propped against the mattress, her face resting on her palm.

Marina turned to her and looked straight into her eyes. For a moment, she was lucid. “Of course,” She said, coarsely. Paige smiled, that was the best response she had gotten from her in the last few months.

“Best and worst year of our lives, I’d reckon. I was so certain I finally had the courage to tell you how I felt. Only for me to find out you were besotted with George and was pregnant with his child!” She could chuckle about it now but she remembered feeling so awful.

Paige Crane has always known she was different in that aspect. None of the boys growing up ever caught her attention. When she became a woman, out during her first season, she couldn’t relate to the way other girls had talked about their suitors. Nothing about the male species ever stirred anything romantic within her. They were just really good friends to her. Women, on the other hand, gave her all the feelings the human emotional spectrum allowed. She wanted to love them and worship them forever. When she met Marina at Romney Hall for the first time smelling the rose bushes, it had confirmed everything she already knew. She loved women. A regular Anne Lister.

She spent a few years loving Marina until her father had sent her away to stay with her London cousins, The Featheringtons. When she heard Marina was moving, she immediately sought out her mother.

“I couldn’t bear to part with you so I convinced Mother to let me debut that season in the city.” She chuckled, recounting the lengths she went to be close to her.

“I’m glad you did.” Marina croaked, the water still hurting her lungs. Now that she felt like speaking to Paige, her body was failing her. She managed a small smile and slipped her hand into hers. She definitely remembered their first season together. It was the best time… til everything quickly went downhill with the news of George’s death, being pregnant with the twins and feeling so alone. Paige was the light in all of that darkness, she had helped pull her out of the loneliness.

Paige grinned back wildly. "I think that's the first full sentence I've heard you speak in the last few months." She nudged her teasingly.

"Oh hush." She attempted to be annoyed but started coughing violently. Paige immediately shot up.

"I'm going to fetch the doctor."

"I just need some water, darling." She coughed once more. Then took a deep breath and managed a smile to show she was fine, despite her exhaustion. Paige nodded and went to fetch her a glass.

As Marina watched Paige walk out the door, she thought back to how much everything had changed in the last 10 years. It only felt like yesterday they had debuted and Marina had tried to marry Colin Bridgerton. Oh, what a mess that was. She was so consumed by her love and grief for George, she missed what was right in front of her.

It took Marina a long time to realise it but she loved men and women the same. Paige was definitely the first woman to stir up romantic feelings within her. It also took her a while to realise loving Paige doesn't count the love she held for George. He would always be the father of her children. Paige was the love of her life.

She never expected to be like this. She always thought she would be a good mother, full of life and happy. Happy was such an overrated emotion, Marina thought bitterly. It's not something that happens, it's something you work for. You make happiness for yourself. She knew that all too well. She spent the better part of the last decade fighting off her grief and postpartum with no success.

Paige reminded her to take comfort in the good days. It was rather jarring to Martina how she was experiencing a somewhat good day after all these months. Especially the day right after she made an attempt on her life.

"Penny for your thoughts, darling?" Paige asked, handing over the glass. Marina gulp it down quickly and set the cup aside.

"Just...how we got here. I thought it would be…" she ponders over the word, "different."

"Hmm," Paige hummed, "You're telling me. We could have had quite the life if I was a man. I could have married you instead of Phillip." She wrinkled her nose. She really does love her brother, Lord only knows. And Paige is pretty sure it's a crime to hate your twin. But she absolutely despised the way Phillip treats Marina. Or rather not - he completely abandoned her in the last few years.

It's no secret that Phillip and Marina's marriage was one of convenience, security and protection for Marina. Of course, Romney Hall needed heirs and so two birds. But, he could at least pretend to care for her.

"I could have become a spinster like you. We could have been the two crazy spinsters that lived in Romney Hall together." Marina chuckled. Paige beamed at her. It had been so long since she had heard that wondrous laugh.

"I'm not a spinster!" She clasped Marina's hands in hers. "We may not be married on paper but I couldn't imagine spending my life with anyone else. I can't imagine...loving anyone else." Paige looked deep into her eyes. Marina shivered slightly. Her lover had a way of looking directly into your soul.

Paige knew what the doctor had said. That Marina could possibly recover but her gut was telling her something else. She was hit with the sudden realisation that she could lose her. The love of her life.

"Please fight this, Marina. I know you can. Look at today, it was a good day. You just need to survive the pneumonia and you can start over. We'll erase the last 7 years. Slowly but surely, we can manage your melancholy. You're so much more than it, my love. You know that. Your children deserve to know that."

Paige didn't realise how increasingly desperate she sounded until she began pleading with her. She found her face wet with fresh tears. Marina reached out to wipe the tears of her face.

"I'll try." She said quietly.

"That's all I ask, thank you. I love you, Marina." She leaned over to kiss her. Kissing her back, Marina sighed against her lips. "I love you too."

That night Marina lied awake, watching Paige's chest rise up and down. Marina smiled at her little snores. Just as she felt a glimmer of happiness laying beside her love, the guilt washed over her. She didn't want to promise anything. While today reminded her of the hope she felt to feel alive, deep down she knew it was temporary. She couldn't see herself living past tomorrow.

Sure enough, she was dead in two days.

****

[Read Part 2 Here]

#Bridgerton #TSPWL Rewrite #Bridgerton AU fic #Bridgerton fic #OC: Paige Crane #Marina Thompson #Eloise Bridgerton #Paige Crane #Phillip Crane #Eloise x Paige #TW Depression #TW Postpartum Depression #tw teen pregnancy #TW Implied Child Neglect #TW Suicide Ideation #TW Suicide Attempt #TW Death #TW Grief #Eloise Bridgerton x Fem!OC #Spotify