#and all of them are small / flat / both or mixing bowls

[just-aro]

call for ideas y'all:

does anyone know of a good site/blog/book/idk for recipes that anticipate 1 person is cooking and eating them? and I mean like, not necessarily all single serving meals, but recipes that don't produce more servings than reasonable for one person to eat before they go bad, and recipes that maybe are like "hey we used a cup of cauliflower here, your leftover cauliflower can be used in xyz, or blanched and frozen"

I am so sick of looking for recipes that meet literally any of those criteria. like bro. I am not buying 5 produce items (fresh fruit, veg, and often herbs) for your recipe, do you think I can find uses before they all go bad? I can't even use a whole onion without it going bad.

also, preferably including recipes that don't assume (thank you upper middle class white food bloggers) I own shit. I do not have an air fryer. I do not have a fancy electric mixer. I do have a rice cooker and no, I don't understand why these blogs never use that but anticipate I own ramekins.

#food #recipes #help #like seriously my apartment has a nice sized kitchen for a studio #but i also cannot fit my plates in their cupboards #please do not assume i can use - or store - a giant soup pot #i already play tetris with the baking and cooking utensils i own #and all of them are small / flat / both or mixing bowls #also none of this is even getting into dietary restrictions lmao #like im ovo vegetarian and starting to lose tolerance for dairy #and if i could be bothered id probably do better trying a FODMAP elimination diet to figure out some unknown sensitivity #so i can work around that #why is food so hard #i dont mind eating a lot of the same meals as long as it isnt all in a row but i also really like cooking and baking when i have the spoons #(spoon theory spoons and physical spoons. dishes my beloathed.) #and new foods are easier to feel engaged with while cooking

[ceesimz]

Golden Key To The Sweet Life

There was something intoxicatingly endearing about the way Alexia interacted and whole-heartedly cared for her family and friends' children. Not to say you expected anything less, but you had been addicted to seeing it when you first met her and you are still addicted to it, if not more, now that you were a good few years into your relationship with her. Everytime you saw her with another's child, or when she would visit the Barca youth teams, or simply just talk with a young fan who gazed up at her like she was the Queen of the world, something ignited in your heart. Something strangely akin to the feeling of being homesick.

Over the course of your relationship, you two had had countless conversations about having children in the future. However, it was always ended with you both saying 'one day', it was never a concurrent topic. It was a dream, an ideal, never a reality.

But you just could not get it out of your mind anymore; the thought of her with your own children infiltrated your mind everytime you looked at her.

"Ale, I think I would like to have children soon."

It was blurted out whilst you both manuevered around the kitchen as you made a birthday cake for your friend's son and Alexia prepared some other small dishes to take along to his party. You saw the taller woman freeze in your peripheral vision but you were too nervous to look at her, so you continued mixing the ingredients in the bowl, acting as if you hadn't just said the words she'd secretly been thinking recently too. Then, to your surprise, she marched over, took the wooden spoon from your hand, placed it back in the bowl, and tenderly cupped your face.

"What do you mean?" She asked in an odd tone, scarily similar to the one she used when you would argue. It was hushed, flat, low, and slightly strict.

"I, um... I think we should talk about... us having kids together. Soon." You replied, your cheeks red under her hands. Her nostrils flared and her eyes went slightly wide.

"You mean that?" The look in her eyes was almost pleading, and it gave you a bit of hope.

"Yes, I do." You cover her hands with your own. "I really want to at least talk about it, properly, with you. Not right now, but soon. Please."

She stays silent for a few more moments. You both just look at each other wordlessly, but you are frustratingly unable to understand the countless emotions in her eyes right now. That is until she moves suddenly, picking you up and hugging you tightly, burying her face in your neck and releasing a shaky breath. There are words being mumbled into your skin but you can't hear them too well, too busy focusing on the feeling of her around you and the prospect of the future you'd dreamed of since you were young happening sooner than you thought it ever could.

"Ale, I can't hear you." You laugh lightly, but then your breath catches in your throat when she moves her head back to look at you with tears glistening in her eyes. "Oh, Ale."

"Yes, yes, yes. I want children with you, soon, I really do." Alexia whispers as she presses her forehead against yours, her eyes squeezed shut to keep in her emotions. "Nuestros propios hijos pequeños. No se me ocurrió nada mejor." (Our own little children. I couldn't think of anything better.)

That was the moment that decided it all, the moment that sealed and stamped your future. A few months later and you had gone through the early processes of reciprocal IVF. Your individual health screenings had thankfully given positive results that would ensure your plans for the process could go ahead.

It had been a worry for both of you, admittedly more for you, and there had been multiple sleepless nights and midnight discussions to quell your worries. Your decision to carry wasn't one out of convenience for Alexia's career, it was something you were certain on since you had your first thoughts of being a Mother, but that didn't stop Alexia from worshipping the ground you walked on at the selfless decision.

As Alexia had been there to comfort you, listen to you, and reasurre you when you had appointments and insecurities, you were there for her and squeezing her hand during every injection she had, as well as her egg retrieval appointment. She had been worried for quite some time about it, but in the room, she felt quietly excited. All the moments she'd imagined of herself with children of her own felt within reach now. The tears in her eyes weren't from discomfort or pain, they were from hope and excitement of what was to come.

Unfortunately, the first transfer didn't result in a pregnancy. It was heartbreaking of course. You both knew the chances of it working first time weren't that high, but that didn't soften the blow any less. It took about a week before the melancholy lingering in the air of your home left, but after spending crucial time together to come to terms with the news, you were both ready to begin the process again.

This time around, on the 11th day after your second transfer, you woke up with a strange, knowing feeling in your gut. Alexia had left some time ago for morning training, she had woken you up briefly with softly whispered words and a kiss to your forehead, before you fell back to sleep. But as you properly woke up, a thought immediately washed over you. It caused a little bit of anxiety and you probably should have waited until Alexia got home, but you had to find out before you got her hopes up. You bet that she hadn't properly let you in about her heartbreak the first time so you wanted to do everything to prevent her from feeling how you guessed she did.

So, throwing caution to the wind, you went to the medication cupboard and grabbed an emergency box of hCG urine tests before rushing off to the bathroom. You hadn't checked your phone at all this morning, you hadn't eaten or drank anything, you didn't even know what time it was. There was one thought and one thought only that consumed you.

Once you had prepared it all, you set the strip down on the counter and washed your hands. You sat in unbearable silence for about twenty seconds before you heard the front door open. A shocked gasp left your mouth before your hands could cover it and stop the sound.

"Just me, amor!" Alexia called out softly in case you were still asleep.

She headed straight to the kitchen for a snack, not knowing the huge secret you were harbouring just metres away in the downstairs bathroom. You figured there was no escape now, you just had to bite the bullet.

"Alexia, come here please!" You shouted in an unsure, breathless voice, unable to move from your spot on the bathtub rim with a shaking hand over your mouth still.

Alexia frowned at the slightly panicked voice shouting her, so she quickly made her way to the room you were in, chewing through half a mouthful of banana as she went.

"Sí, bebé, estoy aquí, what's wro-" She cut herself off when she noticed you and the test on the counter. Her eyes widen, causing you to panic.

"I am so sorry for doing it without you, I just had a really weird feeling and-"

Alexia shushes your tearful ramble and sits beside you, wrapping one arm around your back and ushering your face into her chest with the other that she places on your cheek.

"No, no, no apologies, I am here now. No apologies, just calm down." She whispers gently as the hand on your back slowly rubs up and down. Her eyes stay wide and focused on the strip on the counter, unsure of how long it's been there but she dispels her anticipation and focuses on you. "You say you felt weird, in what way?"

"I, I don't know, I... I just woke up with a strange feeling in my stomach, like in my gut. I had to do a test, even just one of these ones and not even a proper pregnancy test, I just had to know." You speak anxiously, moving your face back from her chest to wipe at the tears on your cheeks.

"Okay, that's okay. This feeling, is it like a sick feeling or a thought?" Alexia questions, tucking some hair behind your ear.

"A thought, a gut feeling." You sniffle, resting your forehead against her neck.

"Okay. I want you to know I'm not mad or anything like that. I'm just happy to be here with you for this." She reasurres you, pressing a firm kiss against your hairline.

"I am too. But... if it hasn't worked again, I didn't want to disappoint you." You mumble insecurely, fresh tears falling again.

"Hey, no. Don't think that. I could never be disappointed with you, I would only be disappointed with the world. Not you, never you. Never ever. I promise." Alexia responds in a stern but soft voice, squeezing you tight against her.

"Thank you. T'estimo, Ale."

"I love you too, so much." She smiles at you when you look up at her again. Quickly, she kisses you lightly once, before grabbing the box of tests off the counter. "How do we read this? What number means pregnant?"

You grab your phone and get up the screenshot you'd taken minutes earlier of which measurements meant what.

"Twenty-five means pregnant." You show her the image and she reads it carefully, over and over and over, giving you insight into how desperately she wants this.

"How long has it been going?" Alexia asks, her leg beginning to bounce as the nerves creep in.

"Maybe two minutes or more? But I think we should wait a bit longer to make sure whatever the result is is certain." She nodded in agreement and put the box back down, gently using a hand to tilt your chin to look up at her.

"Remember, amor, whatever this result is, it is still early. It has only been eleven days, there is still a chance, okay? If it's good, that's amazing and we will ring the nurse to try and get an earlier blood test. If it's not good, it's okay. We will deal with whatever happens." Alexia softly reminds you, a reminder for her too, to not get too disheartened (though that it is impossible in such a situation).

"I know. I have to be though." You say the last sentence ever so quietly, but Alexia catches it. She has no more words to say though, still so unsure what the 'right' way to go about this new life experience is.

Silence falls over the room, settling heavy over you both as you hold each other and think through your individual prayers to the world in your minds. It's not until Alexia grows impatient that she stands up and takes a deep breath, standing in between your legs and cradling your head.

"I adore you, guapa. Whatever this little thing says, I will still adore you. I will probably love you more after this no matter what the result is." She states.

You nod, tears still present in your eyes, and stand up beside her. With one arm wrapped around each other, you both smile, before turning your attention to the test on the counter. The air is still in the room, the world paused and faded, all the attention on this tiny strip that held the most important information in the world.

"Twenty-three." You mumble dejectedly. Alexia grabs your phone and gets up the screenshot.

"Mira, bebé, it says anything here is a 'grey area', it's still higher than we would expect and we are doing this early. I think that could be good news." Alexia explains shakily. Once you've read through the information on your phone, your head whips around to look up at her. She meets your gaze, a small and positive smile gracing her face. "I do think we should ring the nurse."

"Really?" You choke out with a quivering bottom lip, desperately trying to suppress the wave of hope that washed over you at Alexia's words.

"Yes, really."

"Oh my." You breathe out, knocking your phone out of her hand carelessly as you hug her tightly. "I might be pregnant."

"You might be pregnant." Alexia repeats in a shuddery voice, eyes stuck staring at the small test on the counter that might just have changed her world for the better.

Thankfully, to prevent days of anxious anticipation, the nurse agrees to carry out a blood test the following day. It's a game day for Alexia but luckily it's at home and later in the evening. She could be going into it with the excitement of an expecting mother, or she could be filled with suffocating disappointment. It's a contrast she doesn't want to think about, the game later that evening the last thing on her mind as her hand holds yours tightly on the drive to the appointment.

Her hand doesn't leave yours unless it's absolutely necessary, and even then she's very hesitant. But, as you lay on the bed with a hand over your eyes whilst the other is still held by Alexia, a heavy feeling of dread and doubt settles. The past 24 hours had been overwhelmingly positive; neither of you allowed a moment to think anything negative. Maybe it was naïve to do that, but the prospect of it all was so utterly exhilarating that you hadn't allowed yourselves to think of the next mental steps if it you weren't pregnant.

Now though, you were drowning under the weight of it all. Alexia had noticed, of course she had, but she was suffocated by her thoughts too. There was nothing either of you could say, it was simply just a waiting game.

Waiting, waiting, waiting, the ticking of the clock on the wall being a constant reminder of the meaningful depth of the moment. Time was a precious thing, of course, but right now it felt like the biggest dampener of all.

Neither of you knew how long you had been sitting silently for, plagued by the scale of the event, but then the nurse walks in and announces she has the results, causing you to snap out of your mindset.

"Are you ready to find out?" The nurse asks, offering no hint of emotion.

"No." You whimper almost silently. Alexia turns to you and goes to comfort you immediately, but she's interrupted.

"It's good news."

Your hand falls from your face as you sit up fully, eyes wide and tearful. Alexia can't tear her eyes away from you until you nudge her, bringing her back into the room.

"I can confirm you are indeed pregnant."

Your body collapses in relief and you fall back against the bed, hands covering your face again as you sob happily. Alexia rolls you onto your side and rests her forehead against yours, tears also falling from her too.

"Tienes un bebé ahí dentro, amor." Alexia cries, almost in relief. One of her hands is on top of your head whilst the other rubs up and down your side comfortingly. "Nuestro pequeño bebé. We are a family now."

You both relish in the great news until you calm down enough to allow the nurse to give you advice on ensuring your health is as best it can be for your pregnancy to go as smoothly as possible.

Later that day, when Alexia scored in her league game at the Johan, you shook your head disapprovingly when Alexia surreptitiously rubbed her hand over her stomach whilst gazing at you in the audience as she walked back to her position. Nobody knew about the news, nobody could know for weeks, and Alexia was pushing her luck with the celebration. You couldn't stay angry for too long, never towards Alexia, and all thoughts of irritation were forgotten when, at the end of the game, she ran up the stands, enveloped you in a tight but sweaty embrace, and whispered the most heart-warming words you'd ever heard her say in your life. People gave you puzzled looks when you pulled away from her with tears in your eyes, but that didn't matter. The bubble that the two of you had was perfect.

Alexia took the advice of the nurse a bit too literally. As if she wasn't doing it already, she did everything possible for you. Cooking meals full of the right nutritions, buying the best pregnancy vitamins, trying to do all the house chores herself (you couldn't let that one slide though), and sometimes literally carrying you whenever she could. On a bad day, did it wind you up? Yes, but she had the best intentions and when the hormones weren't overriding your mind, you appreciated every single act of care and kindness from her.

As you got closer to the 7 week mark when you would have your first scan, your anxiety grew tenfold. You were a stickler for doom scrolling, and varying websites and forums had argued a thought that was the root of your worry: the chance of miscarriage was higher with IVF. Alexia of course tried to dispel your concerns, but unfortunately this was one of them things that you just couldn't get over.

So the relief you felt at the first ultrasound when it was confirmed your baby was growing strong and healthily, was overwhelming. And as soon as you heard the heartbeat, you were a goner. Whether it was the hormones or just how much this meant to you, the overjoyed tears didn't stop all day. Leaving the building with a recording of the heartbeat and a strip of ultrasound photos, neither of you can recall a time where you were happier.

Keeping such a huge secret felt impossible. You had told your parents and Alexia had told her Mum and sister a few days after you found out just so you had a support system in case anything went wrong. The senior staff of the team at Barcelona also knew in case Alexia had to put everything on hold in case of an emergency, and it was the same with your work. But other than that, everyone else was none the wiser.

At least, that's what you thought.

"Amor, I have something to admit." Alexia sighed as you both climbed into bed one night during your eighth week of pregnancy.

"Hm?" You hummed, laying down and resting your head on her shoulder.

"Don't be mad." She grimaced, one arm behind her head as she stared up at the ceiling. You frown and hold yourself up on one elbow, your other hand landing on her cheek to turn her face to look at you.

"Tell me. I doubt I'll be mad." You told her softly, and your smile automatically decreases her worries.

"Well, Mapi was the one who helped with my injections whenever I was at training." You nodded affirmatively. "I may have told her... today, at training, that you are pregnant."

"Ale, when are you going to tell me about this geeky smile that hasn't left your face?" Mapi teases her best friend as both of them tidy up the field after training.

"There is nothing, Mapi." Alexia argues, but the aforementioned smile graces her face as she does so.

"Come oooon! Tell me, I think I have a guess, but I want you to say it." Mapi grins, throwing an arm around Alexia's shoulders and nudging her in the ribs.

"I can't tell anyone yet." Alexia mumbles.

"Say it, Ale." Mapi sings in her ear. "I will not tell anyone, I promise."

"You tell anyone and I will kill you, María." Alexia says sternly, standing with her hands on her hips and glaring down at her.

"No, won't tell anyone." Mapi puts on an innocent face as she holds her hands up in surrender.

"Vale." Alexia sighs, looking down at the ground for a moment before turning back to Mapi with the biggest smile she's shown to her. "We are almost eight weeks pregnant."

Mapi screams out of pure excitement and jumps onto Alexia, the taller woman not expecting it which led to them both toppling to the grass in the middle of the empty pitch.

"I knew it!" Mapi shouts, shaking Alexia's shoulders which makes her laugh, pushing Mapi off of her hips so that they lay beside each other. "You are going to be a Mamá!"

"María! ¡Calláte! What did I just say?!" Alexia shushes her desperately, slapping her shoulder.

"You said you're having a baby! I'm gonna be a tía!" Mapi laughs giddily, kicking her legs like a child.

"I should never have told you." Alexia grumbles, crossing her arms over her chest to try and convey a stern, angry look, but it's completely futile.

"I am so happy for you. Nobody deserves this more than you." Mapi rolls onto her side to look at her best friend. "How is she doing?"

"She's so great. So happy. A little bit sick, but handling everything so well." Alexia closes her eyes as she thinks of you and the strip of ultrasound photos hanging on your fridge.

"I have no words, Ale. You both deserve it so much, to be this happy. I'm so proud of you." Mapi states, pushing away her childish side to try and have a proper moment with Alexia.

"I didn't do anything, it's all her." Alexia jokingly deflects, not wanting to get emotional when anyone could walk out and catch them.

"Ay, I didn't stab you at training for nothing." Mapi grins again.

"Sí, I guess." Alexia murmurs with a shy smile. "I am so excited. My own lit-"

"¿Qué están haciendo ustedes aquí?" A voice shouts from the door of the main building.

"Vamos. You both invite me around for dinner soon so we can celebrate and talk more, sí?" Mapi suggests, leaping up and offering a hand to Alexia who nods and stands. "¡Capi va a ser Mamá!"

You tilted your head at Alexia and smiled widely at the adorable story.

"I don't mind, Ale. She's one of your best friends, and she did help us get pregnant, technically." You told her, placing a reasurring kiss to the corner of her mouth. "But that girl cannot keep a secret. I bet Ingrid already knows."

"I knew she would tell Ingrid. But if she tells anyone else I will strangle her." Alexia grumbled with a disapproving look on her face to which you quietly laughed at.

"No you won't. I can't have my baby mama in prison for attempted murder." You joked, poking at her cheek to get her to smile, which you succeeded at.

"You are right. Por supuesto." Alexia whispered, leaning up to meet your lips in a gentle kiss. When she pulled away, she gazed at you so lovingly that it took your breath away. "Venga, lay down and get comfy. You need sleep to look after our chiqui."

You smiled bashfully and lay on your side facing away from her, to which she shuffled up behind you and draped an arm over your side. Her hand settled on your stomach of course, a new gesture you could never get over, so you covered her hand with yours and squeezed it.

"You are going to be the best Mami, Ale." You whispered, Alexia immediately smiling into the back of your neck and placing a few kisses there.

"Tú también." She mumbled, speaking her beliefs whole-heartedly.

Due to Alexia's busy schedule and her understandable defiance to miss an appointment, you both didn't have an aligned day off together for another scan until the fifteenth week of pregnancy. In the past two weeks, you had both told everyone in your life that you were expecting a baby. It was difficult to do since Alexia had to travel a lot, most of the time it was you meeting up with family or friends with Alexia on a FaceTime call, but it was still incredibly special nevertheless.

Today though was an important day; not only a check-up for the baby and yourself, but it would also be the day to found out the gender. You weren't too fussed about finding out or not, but Alexia was not a very patient person, she would plan out every step of her life if she could. So it was an easy decision, you would have the check-up scan, do a blood test, then go about the rest of your day whilst waiting for an email from the nurse.

Seeing the baby much more developed and bigger was of course an emotional moment, nothing in your life so far could compare.

"Míralo, dios mío. Mi bebé." Alexia said quietly, clutching your hand as she gazed at the screen showing the ultrasound. "I am so glad it is just one."

You laughed and shook your head at her comment, but you'd be lying if you said you didn't feel the same.

"They have your legs, Ale." You smiled softly as you watched your baby kick their legs away on the screen. It wasn't possible to feel yet, but you knew in a few weeks time you would be in endless amounts of pain as the aforementioned legs kicked at you all over.

"They better like football." Alexia stated, again making you laugh.

"If they don't, you can't walk out on me." You warned her teasingly, but she took it too seriously.

"No, never, amor." She frowned, lifting your hand and pressing a firm kiss to the back of it. "They will just have to live with their Mami shouting about it every week."

"By the time they're born, it'll probably be the only sound that soothes them to sleep." You said.

The thought of that makes her smile and she falls into a daydream about it - her baby laying on her chest whilst she watches a football game, dressed in matching Barça shirts, desperately trying to keep her running commentary quiet for the baby and for you who was sleeping in the bedroom, and-

"Okay, let's do the blood tests now."

An hour later and you both were walking around Barcelona, looking at the city you love and where your family would grow. It was a waiting game now, you could get any email any second. Your plan was to wait for it to be sent, then go into a bakery and show the worker the email who would be able to give you some kind of baked treat with either blue or pink in it. Simple, yes, but it would be a moment for just the two of you (and the baker, you supposed) that you would remember forever.

So, some time later when Alexia's phone pinged with the email notification and she confirmed who it was from, you both smiled excitedly and immediately began heading towards the bakery. You picked up the small cake, thanked the baker who congratulated you many times, before heading home.

Once you were in the comfort of your own kitchen, you grabbed a fork each and sat down at the island, unable to keep your eyes off each other.

"Whatever it is, I am so happy to be doing this with you." Alexia states softly, taking your free hand and holding it tight on top of the counter.

"There's no one I'd rather do it with." You respond matter-of-factly.

"Me too." Alexia murmurs, raising your hand to her mouth so she could kiss your ring finger. "Ready?"

"Yes, come on, let's do it!" You urge her excitedly, unable to contain yourself.

"Vale, vale." Alexia laughs. "I count down from tres, sí?" You nod, a nervous smile on your face. "Tres... dos... uno."

Both of you dig your forks into the cake, cutting a chunk out to reveal that it's-

"¡Chiquitita!" Alexia shouts, jumping up from her chair. You grin at the news and at her reaction, but rather than reacting like Alexia, you simply eat the forkful of cake. "Bebíta, why are you not excited? We are having a baby girl!"

"I am excited, but I have cake in front of me, I'm not gonna just let it sit there." You say, to which she laughs and comes over to wrap her arms around your neck from behind. "A little girl, hey?"

"Sí, una niña pequeña." Alexia sighs happily, tears in her eyes as she rested her forehead on your shoulder. "I can't believe it. It feels a bit more real now."

"It was very real for me when I was throwing up every morning." You scoff, Alexia laughing again. "I get what you mean though. It feels different now that we know it's a girl. She."

Alexia hums in agreement, smiling when you offer her a forkful of cake. She accepts it and nods approvingly at it, making you grin again.

"What is that thing people say? When they have a baby and they want it to be a footballer? I think it is... project Putellas."

"Well, if she wants to be a footballer, she literally has the best person in the world to learn from." You tease, raising your free hand that wasn't devouring the small cake to rest on her forearm. "You just might want to start off by differentiating between an actual football and the shiny gold ones on display in the lounge. I have no doubt a small and excitable toddler who has a Mami kicking football around the house all day will find a golden ball very fascinating."

"I will make sure. But she can kick them all she wants, I will just get my revenge when she wins one in the future." Alexia grins, making you giggle as you squeeze her arm. "If she doesn't like football, I will only be upset for a tiny bit of time. I would just want her to be happy of course."

"She'd still go to every one of your games and would want to go with you when you aren't playing. Just like you and your Papi." You remind her gently, to which she smiles a little sadder this time, but nevertheless hums in acknowledgement.

"Ah... she. I cannot believe it." Alexia slides one hand down to rest on your ever-growning yet still small stomach. There was a bump, but in the majority of your clothes it wasn't quite visible yet.

"Now we have to start thinking of names." You say, finally turning your attention away from the cake and spinning around in the chair to face her. She groans and pulls you to stand up, then taps the back of your thighs to urge you to jump into her arms, to which you do. "What's up with you?"

"Names is the hardest part." She grumbles, leading you to the bedroom where she places you down gently on the bed before cuddling up next to you.

"Well, get thinking, guapa. We have a little girl on the way!"

At the 24 week mark, you both decide it's time to announce it to the rest of the world. It's been amazing having it be a secret purely between you and the people you love most, but your bump is getting a bit more noticeable now and you want to be able to go out without covering up so much.

Alexia posted a simple picture to her social media of the baby's cot in the nursery, along with a tiny Barcelona shirt in it of course, and tied it off with the most recent ultrasound photos set beside the jersey. She wasn't one for sharing much of her private life, so that's all she gave. No date, no gender, no confirmation of how far along you were, and to some people it wasn't even clear if it was you or Alexia who was pregnant. The media's reaction was funny to sit back and watch as you lay in bed together that night, and it made to be even more entertaining when Alexia told you she had been lightly scolded by the club for the lack of context, but her argument was that people should know she wouldn't be playing if she was pregnant. This social media speculation was followed by a post from Barcelona making it clear that Alexia wasn't pregnant, putting all the rumours to bed at the expense of the Barca PR management who had possibly grown a few more grey hairs after the whole fiasco. But it was funny to watch and it made for a great memory, you wouldn't have it any other way.

Now, the baby has started moving more, so much so that Alexia can feel it when she holds her hands against your bump. From the moment you first told her you could feel the baby moving, she had desperately wanted to feel it too. There was a worry in the back of her mind that she wouldn't bond with her baby like a second parent figure should, considering she wasn't the one carrying. Even though the baby would genetically be hers due to the type of IVF you chose, you would bond with the baby on a whole other level that she wouldn't experience.

So, she was desperate to feel the baby move against her hand because it would be her first chance of physically experiencing the baby, unlike you who had been through that from the early days of pregnancy with the typical early-stage symptoms. When she did, when she felt the first tiny but powerful kick against her, she immediately began to cry. She didn't really clue you in on why she had such an intense reaction, not that you discredited it of course, but you had an inkling that it meant much more to her than she would ever admit.

It was rare for pregnancy to be so smooth-sailing though. As the weeks went on and your baby girl grew bigger and stronger, all whilst the both of you remained healthy, it was like the doubtful and anxious thoughts slowly left. Until you noticed something.

You were sat at dinner with your friends before all of you were due to watch Alexia and the team play a Copa del Reina game at the Johan. You were taking a backseat from the conversation for a few minutes when a frightening realisation hit you. You frowned, holding your hands against various places on your bump, looking for a major sign that you hadn't felt in... how long? You couldn't even remember. And that was when it felt like your heart stopped.

"Chica, ¿estás bien?" Your friend asked quietly from beside you, thankfully nobody else taking notice.

"Yeah. I... I don't know." You answered shakily, hands unmoving from your stomach as you closed your eyes tight to concentrate.

"¿Es el bebé? ¿Qué ocurre?" She questioned in hushed tone.

"I... I can't feel her move." You mumbled, trying to suppress the tears already brewing. "I... she's normally moving all the time. But I haven't felt her move... at all today."

"Vale, vale. You want to go to the bathroom, somewhere private?" She suggested, to which you nodded desperately. "Okay. Let's go."

You both stand up, you still in your panicked daze as she comes up with a reason for you both to be excused, before quickly leading you to the individual bathroom at the back of the restaurant.

"I'm scared." You admitted to her, hands still firmly planted on your lower stomach where the baby normally would kick.

"It's okay, tell me what's wrong, yeah?" Your friend said, her hands on your shoulders to try and keep you grounded.

"I was just sat there and then, then I realised my baby hasn't, I haven't felt her move for a while. And now I can't remember the last time she moved. I was really tired yesterday and normally before I go to sleep she starts kicking a lot, but I don't think she did it last night because I fell asleep really quickly when her kicking usually keeps me up for a while and now-"

"Ay, calm down, chica. Take some breaths, do it with me, you need to calm down." You nodded and began to do as instructed, easing your breathing but not your anxiety. "What would you like to do? Don't feel like a burden, this is your baby you're talking about and if you are worried about her health then you must do whatever you feel you need to do to ensure she's safe."

"I... I need to talk to Ale. But she has an important game, I-"

"Alexia would want you to tell her. Forget her work, this is family. This is her little girl too, she would never play football again if it meant you and your baby were safe. Wouldn't she?" You nodded reluctantly, the tears now falling uncontrollably. "Sí. Will she be at the stadium yet?"

"Um..." You got your phone out to check the time, seeing a text from the woman mentioned who confirmed she was at the stadium without you even asking. "Yes, she's there."

"Okay, chica, I could drive you to the nurse now and you call her in the car, or I drive you to the stadium so you can be with her. Whatever you prefer, sí? Anything."

You forgot the rest of the world around you outside this one bathroom, possible solutions and outcomes passing by so quickly and convoluted it was almost impossible to land on one. Was it serious enough to pull Alexia out of a game? Were you just overthinking? Or could this be a genuine problem with the baby?

Ultimately, this was not a risk you could take.

"I need Ale. I need to talk to her." You decided, focusing on your breathing again to try and quell the nausea your anxiety was causing.

"Okay, I will drive you to the stadium. You take the keys and go straight to my car, I will tell everybody else that the plans are cancelled."

From that moment on, it's like your mind goes into shock. Everything is a distant blur, even the feeling of Alexia's arms wrapped tightly around you and Eli and Alba's hands on your back when you meet them at the stadium. You give a stuttered explanation to them, which makes Alexia's heart drop and she squeezes you tighter. She whispers words of comfort and reassurance of course, but if someone held a gun to your head and forced you to recount what she said, you'd be screwed. For all you knew, she could have said anything in the world, and you'd have no idea.

Eli and Alba drove you to the hospital whilst you and Alexia sit in the backseat, no words exchanged (or at least that's what you remember). The cityscape passed by fast as you stared blankly out the window, the moment feeling so surreal it felt as if you were living a nightmare. Your hand clutched tightly onto Alexia's, the only feeling that kept you in touch with reality as every memory you have so far of your unborn child played out in your head like a montage straight out of a film.

Images of you and Alexia in the bathroom with the test strip, you both at the blood test finding out you were 100% pregnant, having the first scan, telling your loved ones, finding out it was a little girl-

She doesn't even have a name.

She can't slip away without a name. That's unfair.

She cannot be taken away from you before you have even met her. Is the world that cruel?

"Amor, we are here." Alexia's hand leaves yours to brush away a few tears you hadn't even realised were falling. "How do you feel?"

"How... how am I supposed to feel?" You reply, almost in a whimper, and Alexia immediately understands what you mean.

"I know." Is all she says, unbuckling your belt for you.

"We will wait here." Alba smiles reasurringly at you, squeezing your knee then Alexia's.

"No hay mal que por bien no venga." Eli states, and that ignites a tiny spark of hope inside of you. (Every cloud has a silver lining.)

Hand in hand, you and Alexia walk into the Maternity ward and explain the situation to the receptionist who tells you again and again that the right thing to do was come in for a check-up. Alexia guides you over to some seats, her eyes constantly searching over your face as her arm wraps around your shoulders.

"I love you." Alexia whispers the only words she can think of right now, because what else is there to say?

She kisses your forehead before letting you tuck your face into her neck, and that's how you stayed the whole time waiting. Just in each other's arms, knowing that you had each other no matter the result of the day. The rest of the world went away; the confines of the hospital, the endless electrical sounds of machines and technological devices, people walking back and forth down the corridors, the sound of doors opening and closing, everything slithered away until it was just the two of you. No thoughts about anything else - football, family, media - solely just the two of you in this white sterile room, waiting on news that would shatter your world or paint it gold.

When your name was finally called, some unknown amount of time later, you shared a glance with Alexia, both of you holding an elixir of emotion in your eyes, before following the midwife to a patient room.

Again, you explained the situation to her whilst Alexia sat on a chair in the corner of the small room, the taller woman fidgeting anxiously as she can't be beside you to hold your hand. The midwife explained that she would do a number of tests on you first to ensure you are healthy, before doing an ultrasound for the baby.

Alexia watches with tears in her eyes as your tests are done, feeling somewhat relieved to hear there is nothing wrong with your health. Though her dread increases tenfold when the midwife brings out the ultrasound, and due to it not being a purpose-built ultrasound room, there is no large TV screen for her to see. It's only a small screen for the midwife to view, which makes her feel even more ill if that was possible. She subtly takes a few deep breaths to control herself and the nausea plaguing her whilst the midwife sets up the small machine and spreads the gel on your lower stomach.

The seconds leading up to the probe being pressed against your skin seemed to stretch indefinitely, like the laws of time bent just to purposely suspend the moment more. She held her breath, hands clenching and unclenching on her thighs as her eyes focused on you, her heart poised on the edge of a cliff between joy and utter despair. Every moment of her life so far felt like it had been built up just for this one moment here, like some sick trick of fate, until-

"And there is your baby girl, her little heart beating away happily."

There she was on the sonogram screen, perfectly fine, just getting on with her life like she hadn't caused the single most panic and fear either of you had ever felt, the tiny being causing a whirlwind of emotions before she was even born.

You broke out into deliriously relieved laughter, head thrown back against the bed as tears fell, whilst Alexia put her face in her hands and cried silently.

"Ale, come here." You plead, looking at her broken figure in the corner of the room.

Alexia instantly jumps up from her chair and goes over to you, cradling your face and ushering mumbled and scattered words of affirmation and reassurance. You both break indefinitely more when your baby's heartbeat echoes through the room, almost like her way of announcing herself and saying: 'I'm here to stay!'

The midwife explains that the reason for not feeling her move is because your placenta is positioned at the front of your stomach, meaning little girl is moving against that which subdues the feeling. But, you rest assured, because you both leave the hospital with a new and stronger recording of her heart beat and some updated photos of her. Eli and Alba spot you both heading back to the car with huge, relieved smiles on your faces so they jump out of the car to greet you. You can tell from the way Alexia deflates into her Mother's arms that the day had exhausted her just as much as it had you, and that plants a seed of doubt in your mind.

Alexia notices this as you both sit in the back of the car on the way back to the stadium, a frown forming on her face as she squeezes your hand.

"Why are you sad, amor?" She whispers to make sure only you hear it. You shake your head and look out the window, now a little embarrassed about the whole day. "Tell me, please."

"I just feel ridiculous. I pulled you out of your game for no reason." You mutter, humiliation settling in your chest.

It wasn't just Alexia who you had disrupted, it was her family, your friends, the whole of the Barça team and staff, their fans, and so many other people around the world who had been left disappointed and confused as to why she had suddenly pulled out of the match day squad. You let your anxieties get to you and ruined what was meant to be a good day for you and many other people.

"No. You had every reason to be worried. And I am so relieved you told me so that all three of us could be there for you. It is so important that you did that, no matter if the baby is healthy after all." She raises your hand to her mouth so she could kiss it softly, before placing it on your thigh and covering it with both of hers. "The fact you dropped everything and focused on our daughter is already a sign of an amazing mother. You both are so much more important than any game of football - league game, cup game, champions league final or world cup. I would do anything to make sure you are both safe, and that's what you did. As soon as you noticed something could be wrong, you did everything to keep her safe and find out she is healthy. I could never thank you enough for that."

She squeezes your hand periodically as her wide eyes assisted her in getting her point across - there was layer after layer of love present in them and when she looked at you like that, you could never doubt her.

"I really was worried. For like two weeks straight, she's been moving and wriggling in there constantly. And then all of a sudden she stops, I didn't feel a thing. Not even hiccups. It was terrifying." You say shyly, Alexia nodding in understanding. She goes to say something, but stops herself when Eli starts.

"Trust me, chiqui, I am proud of you. Ale is right, you are already displaying amazing habits of a good madre. You did the right thing and we are all so proud of you and happy that you spoke up about it. We would do anything if it meant my hija en lay y nieta pequeña were safe and healthy."

Is there any higher praise than that from a great mother already? That meant the world to hear from Eli. It almost entirely dissipated the regret you felt. You did the right thing.

"Mami is right. You are part of this family now." Alba adds, Alexia gazing at you proudly.

"Grácies, us estimo a tots." You reply confidently in Catalan, hoping it conveyed how grateful you were for them all.

Unbeknownst to you, that day plagued Alexia for almost two weeks. She thought about it every night before she went to sleep even when you were in her arms, she thought about it during training, when she stepped on the pitch, but she suppressed it. You had so much to focus on and worry about, you were growing a human for heaven's sake, she had to be strong for you and show that you can rely on her when you need it.

But, that all came falling down one night.

She had one bad game, missed one penalty, and it destroyed the demeanor she'd worked so hard on building. They didn't even lose the game, they drew 1-1 with the chance of bettering themselves for the second leg a week later, but no words could be said to make her feel any better.

The moment the final whistle blew, her face remained stoic and free of emotion. It remained that way in the changing rooms, when she met you and her family after the game, on the drive home, and all through her nightly routine. It killed you to see her like this, knowing in her mind she was reducing herself to something so miniscule and inadequate, you had to at least try and get through to her.

"Ale?" You whisper as you lay beside her on your side. She's in the same position but facing away from you, and you know it's another attempt at keeping the world locked out of her mind. "Alexia, talk to me. What do you need?"

"Estoy bien, vete a dormir." Alexia mumbles, lightly squeezing your hand that rested on her waist.

"No. Look at me, Ale." You demand gently, pulling on her hip so that she lays flat. She averts her eyes away from you, but you notice that they are bloodshot red, like she'd been silently fighting off tears. "What's going on in that mind of yours?"

"I... uh, maybe... maybe a lot." She chokes out, resting her forearm over her eyes, her final attempt at fighting this losing battle on her own.

"Let me in." You urge her, taking her wrist and moving her arm away. "Come on. Tell me what's wrong."

"There... there is too much." Alexia says, almost in a whimper. "There is so much happening in my head."

"We can try and unpack it, hey? You're not going to be able sleep like this, you never do, so let's try and sort through some of your worries." You sit up against the head board and move her so that her head rests on your thigh. You recognise that she needs a few moments to collect herself, so you let her do that, silently combing a hand through her hair until she was ready.

"Well, first, I played like shit." She chuckles in spite of herself, making you smile sadly and lean down, despite the awkward angle and your bump, to place a kiss on her temple. "But... I can't change that now. That... it caused me to feel like this, but I'm not really thinking about that anymore."

"What are you thinking about, my love?"

"I... the baby." She sighs, bringing a hand up to her face as she turned to hide in your leg.

"What about her?" You probe carefully, your free hand subconsciously falling to your bump.

"We thought... we thought we lost her."

That statement breaks her, her first time saying it out loud, and now her body shakes as broken sobs rip through her.

"I know, Ale, I know." You shift back down the bed so that you can hold her. She tucks her face into the space between your neck and shoulder as her tears wet the pillow. The arm of yours she wasn't laying on wrapped around her, holding her tight against you, turning to place kisses under her ear. "She's okay, we saw her and heard her, she's healthy. In fact, I can feel her wiggling around in there. Here, give me your hand." She leans back so that she can see you place her hand over where the baby was moving at the side of your stomach. You pause for a few moments, Alexia waiting with bated breath, desperate to feel her daughter once more. "Oh, there she goes!" You smile brightly as a hard kick hits against Alexia's hand, who laughs breathlessly at it. "See? She's alright, isn't she? If you listen closely, you can hear her saying 'Mírame, Mami, I'm okay! Don't cry!'"

Alexia laughs again, though it sounds more like a choked sob, and buries her face back into your neck.

"You..." Alexia breathes out, smiling again when she feels another kick. "You are both perfect."

"Mm, I think you're pretty great too." You tease, nuzzling your cheek against her hair. "Is there anything else you're worried about?"

"Y-yeah." She mutters, her thumb stroking over your skin. "There's just so many worries I have. Not about her, not really, but... what if I'm not good enough?"

You'd be lying if you said you weren't shocked to hear that. And it breaks your heart.

"Ale, look at me." You place a hand on her cheek when she moves away to meet your eyes. "Why do you think you won't be good enough?"

"I can be a mess. I get frustrated easily and I have no idea how to care for myself, how can I care for a tiny, innocent baby?" She spits the words out like she's disgusted at herself and it's almost unbearable to hear.

"Alexia, you are being unfair to yourself." You state, hearing her sigh frustratedly. "I can be a mess too, I get angry too, you're only human, Alexia. You know how to take care of me, you do it so well, no one has ever treated me better than you do. You have so much love to give and I cannot wait to see you become a parent. I wouldn't want to have children with you if I didn't think you were good enough. In fact, I think you're going to be an amazing parent. Every step along the way already, through my pregnancy and the process of getting pregnant, even before that, I knew you were going to be great. And that belief only grows stronger whenever I see you with other children, like Mateo or my friends' kids. I don't have a single doubt about you, not one."

"But what if I don't bond with her?"

"Love." You sigh, holding a firm kiss against her forehead. "You will. I know I'm the one carrying her, but she's your baby just as much as mine. She's got all your genetics, of course you're going to bond with her." You poke her in the side teasingly, pulling a half-hearted chuckle from her. "I know she will adore you so much. She'd be crazy not to. You do realise you're gonna be the cool parent out of us two?"

"What?" She asks humourously.

"You're definitely the cooler parent out of us, think about it! Imagine her seeing you play football on TV every week, people with your name on their shirts, whole stadiums chanting your name, trophies and medals all around the house, she's gonna go to school and be like 'My Mami is famous!'" You grin whilst speaking, delighted to her Alexia laugh like she normally does.

"Stoooop." She groans, but you know it's in good nature. Another sigh leaves her lips, but this time it's a little less heavy and a bit more content. "You will be cool too."

"Thanks." You laugh and from that you feel her smile into your skin. "Do you feel a little better, cariño?"

"Sí. You are magic." Alexia responds, her head a lot less clouded. Now, it's filled with pictures of her little family of three, and it cheers her up more than anything ever has. "I love you. Thank you for... for everything, amor. Seriously."

You roll back onto your side, Alexia doing the same, and your hand falls to her neck. Your foreheads rest against each other, Alexia's hand still lingering on your bump, and you smile at the lighter look in her eyes.

"You don't have to be strong all the time. You can let go- you need to let go sometimes." You remind her, and when she goes to reply to that, you speak before she can as you know what she's going to argue. "Ah, no, I'm not hearing it, I know what you were going to say. And it's not true, it's not fair on you. I'm your partner after all, Ale. Yes, I'm carrying a baby, but that doesn't lessen any of your problems. I will always have time for you, Alexia, whatever you need, whenever you need it."

Alexia finally backs down and allows your words to mend the cracks in her mind, getting rid of that doubtful devil on her shoulder.

"Thank you. Just... thank you." Alexia mutters, seemingly allowing her post-match exhaustion to overpower her.

"Anytime, I promise. Now get some sleep, alright? You've kept me awake past my bedtime, even little one has stopped her night-time kicking now." You joke, glad to see she mirrors the smile you have and her body relaxes, the tension from the match and the past weeks finally leaving her. "Te amo. Siempre."

By the time June came around, Barça had basically wrapped up every single competition, it being yet another clean sweep for the record-breaking team. That included the Champions League, to which you had to almost force Alexia to go out and celebrate with her team, your argument being that it would be the last chance she got before her life was filled with baby bottles and diapers instead of shot glasses and night clubs.

It was fortunate that the team had done what they did when they did, because it was like once the clock struck midnight of the month of June, your baby girl had decided she'd had enough of her comfy little home and wanted to see what the real world was like. One minute, you were using the bathroom in the middle of the evening at home, the next minute you were in a patient gown on a hospital bed clutching Alexia's arm with one hand and some gas and air with the other.

There were thirteen hours between your waters breaking and the first cry of your daughter. Alexia had tears in her eyes the moment you stepped into the hospital room, but that was nothing compared to the tears that fell like a waterfall when your baby was placed on your chest. She rested her temple against yours and gazed down at the tiny being that you both had created. In her mind, she knew there was no better sight.

Once the initial check-ups were done for both you and your daughter, the business calmed down and it allowed for Alexia to hold her for the first time. Your little girl weighed a mere 6 pounds 11 ounces, but those numbers didn't do it justice - she looked miniscule in the arms of Alexia.

"Hi." Alexia croaked out in a tearful voice, making sure her arms were steady and that her little girl was positioned correctly. Yet to have her first sleep, the baby's brown eyes stared widely up at her Mami.

"Suits you." You commented tiredly, thoroughly exhausted but there was no way you could rest right now when this sight was beside you. You wouldn't miss it for the world.

"Bon día, A-" Alexia glances up at you briefly. "Are we still choosing that name? I think it's perfect for her."

"Yes. So perfect." You smile at your two favourite people.

"Bon día, little Anaís." Alexia whispers, using the back of her index finger to run it ever-so-gently along her daughter's cheek.

It's such a sacred moment for Alexia, like it would be for any parent, as she cradles her new little bundle of joy against her chest. Being able to put a face to the name you'd chosen a few months ago now, putting a face to the offender of the brutal blows her Mummy had been subjected to for two months, and finally bonding with her child - it was all overwhelming in the best way possible.

The weight of her daughter in her arms brought a greater comfort than anything in her life. Every tiny feature, from the delicate curve of her little button nose to the hands that fidgeted delicately against Alexia's chest, is a glorious sight to behold. Alexia feels her heart grow impossibly bigger as she traces the outline of Anaís' face with trembling fingertips, already trying to commit every detail to her memory.

You watch along in silent awe, your eyes glistening with unshed tears at the sight you'd been desperate to see for so long. There is so much admiration and wonder in Alexia's eyes, and you felt your love for the two humans in front of you reach limits you never thought it could.

"Come here." You say, shuffling over to one side of the bed and patting the free space now available. Alexia nods, eyes unmoving from the baby in her arms, and moves slowly and carefully to lay next to you. "Oh, look at her, Ale."

"You did amazing, amor. So strong and so incredible. Look what you did." Alexia praises you and kisses your forehead for what must be the thousandth time that day. You smile and lean your head to rest on her shoulder, one of your hands coming to rest on the back of Anaís' head. "Our little chiqui. Dios mío, she is so small."

"I can't believe those tiny feet almost broke my ribs." You say, giggling along with Alexia as she laughs too and holds both of Anaís' feet in the palm of her hand.

"I love her already." Alexia states, able to stroke one thumb over both of her feet.

"Me too." You hum, adjusting the small knitted hat that covered her head. "She has your eyes."

"Mm, those are definitely Putellas eyes." Alexia grins, gasping quietly when Anaís' tiny fist curls around her pinky finger. "Amor, mirar."

"I see." You watch the interaction in awe, feeling so blessed in this moment. "I told you she would adore you. She's so at peace with you."

Alexia smiled tearfully in reply as Anaís' eyes slowly fluttered shut in her arms.

"I adore her too." Alexia whispers, then she turns to look at you. "Thank you for giving me the greatest gift of all. I'm so proud of you. So so proud."

You smile bashfully at her words and turn to hide your face in her shoulder, stifling a yawn. The exhaustion was really hitting you now, but who in their right mind would pass up a moment like this?

"Thank you for being the best partner I could ask for. I wouldn't have gotten through it without you." You mumble into her jumper, wrapping a hand around her upper arm and settling down more.

"We must dress her in the Barcelona onesie when we take her home." Alexia states with a smug smirk, causing you to laugh and shake your head a little.

"There's no point even arguing, is there?" You say, giggling when she hums a polite no. "Fine, I'll allow it."

"We have to teach her early, amor." Alexia argues.

"Of course we do." You say sarcastically, a yawn slipping out of you.

"You can rest now. I will take the first shift, hm? You sleep as much as you can." Alexia suggests, glad to see you nod. "Want me to stay here?" You nod once more, and a content smile settles on her face. "I love you, rest well."

It takes a little while for you to fall asleep, not able to get fully comfortable as you harbour a lot of pain and achiness, but you eventually do and it warms Alexia's heart to see. Anaís had fallen asleep too, taking her first ever nap in her Mami's arms, and Alexia doesn't think she's ever felt such peace.

She takes the opportunity to photograph the occasion with a selfie of the three of you, before sending it to various people: Eli and Alba, your family, your closest friends, and lastly her teammates who were currently at training. They must have all seen it at the same time as her phone immediately started blowing up at the influx of overjoyed messages. Each one is filled with so much love and delight for you both, and that paired with the messages from Eli and Alba cause her to tear up once again. She wasn't sure how she had any tears left to be honest, it had been an emotional day and it seemed like it wasn't ending anytime soon.

The next day, after getting the all-clear, you were allowed to take Anaís home for the first time. Eli and Alba had been there waiting, making sure the house was tidy and cosy so that you and your little family could live as stress-free as possible (if that was a thing with a newborn) whilst you adjusted to your new way of life.

You settled on the sofa beside Alexia's mother as the now-abuela held her granddaughter for the first time. The look on Alexia's face as she placed a sleeping Anaís in her arms was one you'd never forget. It was priceless, there was so much pride present in her eyes and you were so glad for her sake that Alba was filming the moment. Next, it was Alba's turn to hold her, who also shed a few tears when she held onto Anaís for the first time, joking that she was glad she put no makeup on otherwise her mascara would stain the soft white blanket wrapped around the baby. Unexpectedly, as Alba cradled your daughter and conversed quietly with Alexia, Eli shuffled closer to you and hugged you tenderly, whispering the sweetest words you'd ever heard from her into your ear. There were so many core memories being created at once it was near impossible to keep up with everything, but you realised in a quiet moment in the middle of it all that you had finally achieved the life you wanted. This was it; you'd done it.

You stayed in your social media free bubble for a week, until you and Alexia decided it was time to confirm what everyone thought anyway. It was the same day that Barça had their penultimate Liga F game, the first game for the club since Anaís was born. As there would only be more speculation when Alexia wouldn't be named in the match day squad, both of you and the club decided today would be the best day to do it. When you were pregnant, you made an agreement that Alexia would continue playing until the baby was born, where she would take however long she wanted off to be with you and your daughter. And in the end, that agreement worked out perfectly.

So, Alexia posted yet another simple photo to her social pages, this time a selfie of her exhausted smile and the back of Anaís' head as she slept on her chest, the little girl of course adorning the Barça jersey featured in the initial pregnancy announcement photo. She did caption it this time, writing 'Nueva mascota del Barça' meaning Barcelona's new mascot, followed by two red and blue love hearts. You smiled when you saw the online reaction, sitting and scrolling through it whilst you fed Anaís and Alexia napped on the sofa beside you.

Throughout the week that followed, you both thought it was time to allow people outside your immediate family to visit. That meant that almost everyday there were new guests over. The most excitable one was of course Mapi, it was hard to keep her calm and quiet enough to let her hold Anaís but once the baby was in her arms, she immediately fell silent as she simply admired her. You, Alexia, and Ingrid all shared shocked looks at the scene in front of you.

"Buena, Ingrid, there is your solution to her constant talking." Alexia joked with a grin, making Ingrid roll her eyes.

However, Mapi's reply caught everybody off guard.

"Sí, elskling, we will talk about it later."

You had to hold back the laugh that threatened to burst out when Ingrid and Alexia's eyes widened so much that they almost popped out of their head. It would only be a matter of time before those two had children anyway, you secretly knew it. Anytime one of their friends announced they were having children, you could see the desire for the same thing in their eyes grow everytime. Whether they both knew they felt the same or not, you definitely could picture it in their near future.

Alexia missed the final game of the season too of course, but with it being a home game at the Johan, you urged her to go and watch it so that she could be part of the post-game presentations and celebrations. She was reluctant to do so, she hadn't really left your side for long since before you gave birth, but the smile on her face as she got ready to leave let you know you'd made the right decision.

"Say bye-bye to your chiqui." You say quietly, presenting a sleeping Anaís to Alexia where she was waiting to say goodbye at the front door. She smiles brightly and wraps an arm around you, looking down at your daughter's face that seemed to change everyday.

"Adiós mi niña, volveré pronto." Alexia whispers, leaning down to press a very light kiss to her forehead. "And you, I will be back as soon as I can."

"I'll be okay, Ale." You giggle, Alexia grinning and hugging you into her side. "Enjoy it. Promise me you'll make the most of it?"

"Eh, I will, but I don't want to be out too long." She shrugs a shoulder, leaning down to kiss you softly.

"Why not?" You wonder with a frown, and from that Alexia can spot the speckles of insecurity in your eyes.

"Because I just want to be with you and Anaís. I'm not worried about leaving you with her, not at all, but there's nothing better than being with you both at home. I love it." Alexia admits, washing away any doubts you had and replacing them with the most adorable confession. "It's true. I will be gone for only a few hours but I will miss you both so much."

You gaze up at her, your heart so full, and lean up to peck her lips softly.

"We will miss you too." You tell her, watching on adoringly as Alexia raises a hand and gently takes hold of one Anaís' tiny hands. The difference in size is so big that it's absolutely adorable, making you smile and lean your head into Alexia's neck.

"Mi familia perfecta." Alexia murmurs, stroking her thumb over Anaís tiny fingers and kissing your forehead. "I don't want to leave."

"We'll be right here when you get back. Go celebrate you and your team, it was another amazing season and they'll want to catch up with you. We've kept you locked up here long enough." You joke, Alexia smiling and shaking her head.

"They won't want to know about me, I will just get a million questions about you and Anaís."

"We both know you'd happily sit there for hours talking about me and Anaís, it's all you do." You catch her out, but she just shrugs and smirks.

"Why would I want to talk about anything else?" She says smugly, but she means it genuinely. You are the best things in her life. "But fine. I guess I will go. If anything happens, please ring me immediately?"

"Yes, Ale." You roll your eyes and kiss her quickly once more. "Now go. Alba will be here any minute, I'll be okay."

"I know you'll be okay. Love you." Alexia smiles, opening the door but lingering in the doorway as she stares at you lovingly.

"I love you too. You look beautiful." You tell her, smiling humourously when a light blush covers her cheeks.

"This is what I look like when I can shower and I'm not covered in baby sick, if you remember." She winks.

"I remember it very well." You smirk, stifling a laugh when she grins knowingly. "Now go, you'll be late."

She puts on a very dramatic sad frown and steps out of the house backwards, turning around just as Alba pulls up and presses her horn.

"Alba! Anaís is sleeping, are you stupid?" Alexia snaps quietly at her sister who jumps out of her car with a grin.

"She's still asleep, stop stalling and go." You tease, ushering her away with one hand as Alba skips over and completely disregards Alexia in search of you and Anaís.

"Where is my favourite sister with my favourite baby?" She grins, shoving past her actual sister and walking straight over to you.

"Nice to see you too, Alba." Alexia grumbles, though there is a tiny hint of a smile on her face as she watches you three.

"Have fun at your game, Tata." Alba waves behind her dismissively and embraces you carefully, kissing your cheek before turning to Anaís. "Hola, belleza. Oh, she is so cute."

"Alexia, you're gonna be late." You laugh as she comes over to join you, standing behind you and Alba and wrapping an arm each around your shoulders.

"But this is so much better." She groans. "I have been to plenty trophy celebrations, what is one more?"

"That's so humble of you, Ale." You scoff jokingly, grinning at the disapproving look on her face and kissing her cheek.

"Mami will be mad if you stand her up, Tata. Now go. Angry Mami is scarier than you when you are angry."

That seems to shift Alexia into gear as she begrudgingly pulls herself away from the mini group hug and walks with a childish pout on her face back to the door. You wave at her as she walks out and she blows a quick kiss at you before closing the door gently behind her.

Alba kindly offers to look after Anaís so that you can take a relaxing bath before the match kicks off, and afterwards you feel ten times more refreshed and calm. When you're finished, you join her on the sofa and chat with her whilst Anaís sleeps peacefully in the space between you both. You feel completely content there, catching up with Alba whilst your baby snoozes away and Barcelona score what seems like goal after goal. Every so often, the broadcast will show Alexia sat in the stands and you have an inkling that she's overcome with the same feeling you have as she sits there calmly with a hint of a smile on her face instead of the stormy and stoic look she normally wears whilst watching a game.

Once the match ends, the players celebrate on the pitch for a little whilst the ceremony gets prepared. Various awards from the season are given out, Alexia receiving a few as expected, but what you don't expect is the large hamper of baby supplies and other things such as clothes or sweets treats that is handed to her. She laughs at it and holds it up in front of the camera for a photo, but underneath the mask for the camera you can see the pride in her eyes and the utter joy on her face at the acknowledgement given to her.

"Did you know about that?" You ask Alba, who grins slyly at you.

"It was Mapi and Jana's idea." She tells you.

It's a wonderful surprise nonetheless, and from the quick glance you get at it, it looks like it contains genuinely useful stuff along with some treats that you'll devour once Alexia brings it back home.

Shortly after that, the trophy ceremony commences and you beam as Alexia collects her medal before picking up the trophy and taking it over to her teammates. You'd seen her do this multiple times, and of course she obviously seemed overjoyed each time, but as you watch this particular celebration, there's a new, unrefined look on her face, almost like she's letting her happiness consume her instead of dimming it a little to keep her persona.

When she comes home later, an endless amount of gift bags in her arms, she frowns at the unexpected silence of her home. She thought she would walk into the sounds of you and Alba laughing and chattering away like you often did together, so the stillness of the house comes as a surprise. Dropping all her bags off in the kitchen, she wanders into the lounge that was lit up by one lamp in the corner of the room. She squints a little, her eyes adjusting to the darkness, and spots you lay on the sofa with a blanket over you as you sleep.

"Hola Tata." Alba smiles at the sight of her sister in the doorway of the living room. "She fell asleep after the broadcast ended, so I took Anaís to her nursery and stayed in there so she could rest."

"Is she okay?" Alexia asks, concerned, happily accepting a restless Anaís when Alba offers her.

"Sí, sí, she is fine. Just tired. I think chiqui needs feeding, I changed her diaper but she is still a bit unsettled." Alexia nods in agreement and grabs a fresh bottle from the steriliser. "Would you like me to do anything? I have dinner with friends later so I will need to leave soon."

"No, it's okay, Tati. Thank you for coming over today and keeping them company."

Alba watches on in astonishment as Alexia expertly prepares a bottle of formula for Anaís with only one hand.

"Of course. It was so fun spending time with your girls." Alba states, pausing for a moment before walking over to her older sister and hugging her tightly from behind whilst being mindful of her niece.

"¿Tas bien?" Alexia frowns, leaning her head against Alba's when the younger woman rests her chin on her shoulder.

"Sí, simplemente estoy orgulloso de ti." Alba tells her, Alexia chuckling shyly. (Yes, I'm just proud of you.)

"Grácies, Tati." She mumbles, smiling down at Anaís when she mewls quietly.

"I was going through some old photos before and I realised that this little chiqui looks just like we did when we were babies." Alba reveals, lightly tracing her finger over the curve of Anaís nose.

"Really? You have to send me them." Alexia says as the timer goes off, telling her that the bottle was ready. "Put your hand out." Alba does as she says and laughs quietly when Alexia tips a few drops of the milk onto her hand. "Too hot? Too cold?"

"Just right, I think." Alba shrugs, unattaching herself from Alexia. The older woman presses the lukewarm bottle to Anaís' lips, a tiny proud smile growing when she immediately settles and starts drinking. Alba can't help but be fascinated again. "I can't believe you're a Mami now."

"Me too." Alexia mumbles, eyes unmoving from her daughter who seems much more content now that she's being fed. She glances up at Alba, a little confused when she sees her eyes have turned glossy. "Tati?"

"Papa would be so proud." Alba blurts out, a down-turned smile on her face due to the array of emotions overcoming her.

"Alba." Alexia smiles sadly, finding herself beginning to react exactly the same as her sister. Her eyes glimmer in the light of the room when she looks back down at the little girl in her arms. "I wish he could meet her."

Alba sniffles and walks back over to Alexia, slinging an arm around her shoulder and kissing her cheek.

"He would have been an amazing abuelo, right?"

"Sí." Alexia whispers breathlessly, looking up at the lights for a moment to blink away her tears. "Go to your dinner, Tati, stop making me cry."

"Vale, I'm going." Alba laughs, giving her another cheek kiss and squeezing her side tightly before stepping away. "Te veo pronto."

"Buenas noches, disfruta tu velada." Alexia follows her to the hallway and watches her leave, smiling brightly as she steps out of her house and closes the door.

That smile stays on her face as she walks silently back to where you slept in the lounge, then sits down carefully next to where your head lay as Anaís carries on feeding. You had your face buried in the couch cushions, a blanket pulled up to your shoulder and your hands tucked under your chin. Alexia sighs contently, maybe a little too loud, as it seems to wake you.

"Ale?" You rasp, leaning your head back a little to glance up at her through one eye.

"Sí amor. You can sleep more if you would like, I have the baby." Alexia whispers. There's a piece of hair that's fallen onto your face that she would swipe out of the way for you if her hands weren't full with a tiny feasting baby.

"When did you come home?" You wonder, rubbing your eyes.

"Not too long ago. Alba left just now."

"Oh god, I can't believe I fell asleep while she was here." You groan, a little embarrassed at the fact you had just abandoned her for sleep and left her with your baby.

"No, it's okay, she was more than happy to look after Anaís. She said she took her up to her nursery and just relaxed in there with her." Alexia tells you as you hide your face back into the sofa pillows. "If you fell asleep, that means you needed it. It's absolutely fine, amor, don't be embarrassed."

You nod and rest there for a few moments, before deciding to sit up and snuggle into Alexia's side. She smiles down at you and kisses your forehead, the pair of you sitting in silence for a little while as Anaís drinks.

"Did you have fun today?" You ask, fiddling absentmindedly with the hem of Alexia's shirt.

"I did, it was very fun. I got a lot of gifts from fans and the staff for Anaís. Also a lot for you, not many for me though." She frowns and you laugh at the sight as well as the disheartened tone to her voice.

"I guess you're just not so popular anymore." You tease, kissing her jaw just as Anaís finished off the bottle. You took it from Alexia's hands and placed it on the floor so that she could burp Anaís, watching on as she carefully positioned her so that she was sat up on her thigh with a hand holding her front to support her and the other gently rubbing up and down her back. "Remember when you thought you wouldn't good enough? You're a pro, Ale."

"Hm. I still worry that sometimes." Alexia admits sheepishly.

"Why?" You wonder quietly, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder and squeezing once.

"I think it is just a general worry. But you do a great job of telling me otherwise. We don't know much about her personality yet but you and her make being a parent easy." She states softly, glancing down at you with a blissful smile on her face.

Out of all the places she's been, all the things she's seen, everything she's achieved and the once-in-a-lifetime experiences she's lived, these moments right here could never be topped.

"That's very adorable of you to say." You murmur, forever enamoured by how soft and affectionate she can be with her words. "I can't wait to see what she's like when she grows up."

"Me too, but she can't do it too fast." Alexia grumbles, once again making you laugh as you quickly wipe a bit of spit-up away from Anaís' mouth. "Before we know it she will be moving out."

It's said with a dejected sigh, and this time you laugh at Alexia instead of with her.

"You do realise she's not even three weeks old? She's not gonna be packing her bags and leaving next week, Ale." You say with a grin, giggling as a small smile breaks onto Alexia's face despite her trying to stop it. "We have at least eighteen years before we need to worry about that."

"I know, I just don't want it to happen ever."

You hum in agreement, before noticing the slight redness to Alexia's eyes.

"Have you been crying?" You ask her, sitting up a little more so you could look at her properly.

"Only a tiny bit, Alba made me cry before she left." Alexia chuckles lightly.

"What do you mean?"

"Ah, she... she started talking about our Papi and... how proud he would be now that I have you and Anaís." Alexia replies, the same feeling from before taking over her. You smile sadly and wrap an arm around her shoulders, kissing her cheek.

"He really would." You whisper.

It falls quiet again, the only sounds being the tiny burps that Anaís lets out every so often, you and Alexia laughing quietly everytime. She grows tired after a little while, so Alexia cradles her back into her arms and you both watch as she quickly falls asleep in the company of her parents. It's a sight you don't think you could ever get sick of; it's perfect.

"It was nice seeing you so happy today." You say quietly to Alexia, not wanting to wake Anaís up.

"I am always happy, amor." Alexia replies in a confused tone.

"I know, but just seeing you at the game earlier, you seemed a different kind of happy."

"Because I have everything I have ever dreamed of now."

You might not have believed her at first - did she not already have that with all she's accomplished with football? But the way she looks into your eyes as she says it with so much earnest and love and a thousand other emotions swirling in her hazel orbs when she gazes at you, you might just believe her.

And two years later as you bake another cake, this time for Anaís' second birthday, a past memory - which seems incredibly distant now - washes over you. You mention it to Alexia, who's eyes light up instantly, though she doesn't immediately say what's on the tip of her tongue. You manage to coax it out of her, and this time around it's your turn to be completely caught off guard.

"I think we should have another soon."

You look up at her, surprised but completely on board with the idea. You say just that to her and afterwards, it goes quiet again as you stand doing your individual baking jobs with shy, excited smiles on your faces about the prospect of being parents again and growing your family. Anaís was such a happy and easy child, of course you'd have another if the next one turned out to be anything like her. And seeing Alexia with a newborn again? Absolutely.

However, you recognise a pattern in your family decision-making process.

"If we only want two kids though, we should probably stop baking cakes."

#alexia putellas #alexia putellas x reader #alexia putellas imagine #alexia putellas one shot #woso #woso x reader

[iceman-soup]

ghost x soap

Of course it's fucking raining now that Soap and Ghost finally on leave. Sure, it's not unusual Scottish weather (they're staying in Johnny's small flat in Glasgow), and it's not like they were gonna do much today anyway, but still. It has them waking up in an already lazy mood, Simon shuffling to cuddle into his boyfriend closer and groaning.

The bed is too comfy and warm to get up, and Si doesn't want to move away from Soap's sleepy embrace. They're both conscious, quietly making incoherent noises of complaint at that fact back and forth at each other. Eventually, Johnny presses his lips to Ghost's forehead and rolls them over, sitting up on Simon's stomach to look out the window like a curious rabbit, then leaning down and littering his unmasked face with pecked kisses.

Simon laughs, running his hands through Soap's mohawk. Raindrops patter against the window as he flips them over again, hugging Soap tight then sitting up opposite him, pulling on a pair of comfy military-issued socks and one of his hoodies. The Sergeant sits up too, also pulling on one of Si's hoodies, and much fluffier socks with little skull prints all over them that Gaz had bought him as a gag gift which he ended up adoring.

"Mornin', love," Soap smiles, voice deep and groggy as he leans forward to rest his head on Ghost's chest, who hums in response and nuzzles his cheek against his hair. After a couple moments just sitting like that, the two reluctantly flop out of bed, padding their way over to the tiny kitchen before realising they barely have a scrap of food in the flat, only just having a few general ingredients and a small selection of tea and coffee.

Simon groans again, scanning the fridge as if something new is about to spawn in, before turning around, picking his boyfriend up and setting him on a counter, then passing him flour, eggs, milk and some oil, and getting out a frying pan for the stove.

"What're we making?" the shorter man asks, swinging his legs and playfully kicking Ghost whenever he gets in range.

"Secret," is the only reply he gets, but it's quickly obvious by the way Si mixes some flour, milk and two eggs together, creating a thin batter which he splashes into the pan, just about remembering to put oil in first so as to not completely fuck it all up. Then Chef Riley takes charge, and suddenly Johnny is being bossed around, ordered to get plates and get cutlery and cut up a lemon and put some caster sugar in a small bowl and set it out all pretty on the tiny dining table. In his own home, he complains lightheartedly.

The first pancake served is happily accepted by the Scot along with a quick kiss. The shit weather had only gotten worse, but that meant a perfect background noise for them to eat (although it did make conversation a little difficult). Once the batter is all used up, Ghost puts Soap on washing up duty, whilst he dries and puts everything away. And then it's essential to curl up on the sofa together, wrapped in one of Johnny's blankets, watching a randomly-selected war film and criticising even the slightest inaccuracies to make each other laugh.

#knawing on coffee tables PLEASE give me some requests #they can be x reader or ships IDC #i need requests pleasepleaseplease #on my knees begging. i'll suck cock if u want #john soap mactavish #simon ghost riley #ghoap #ghostsoap #soapghost #soap x ghost #ghoap fluff #ghost x soap #cod fluff

[najia-cooks]

[ID: First image shows small cookies with cracked surfaces in a silver tin with pointed lid embossed with geometric designs; second image shows the same cookies on an engraved silver tray with a tea glass in the background. End ID]

غُريبة لبهلة / Ghriba l'behla (Moroccan shortbread cookies)

Ghriba l'behla (literally, "strange silly"), a popular teatime cookie, are perhaps so named because of the distinctive cracks that form on the surface of the cookies as they rise. Cookies without these distinctive cracks may be ghriba, but they are not ghriba l'behla. The melt-in-your-mouth, crumbly texture of ghriba is traditionally achieved with a 4 : 1 : 1 ratio of flour : sugar : oil.

Ghriba l'behla are commonly made with a specialized mold that gives them a concave bottom, thins them out around the edges, and causes them to crack more dramatically—the underside of a Dutch pancake pan or a mini idli tray would work for this purpose, but ghriba may also be made with a flat cookie sheet.

Though they may be made plain, ghriba are often flavored with toasted sesame, cinnamon, almonds, orange blossom water, and even lemon or orange zest. This recipe is for sesame-cinnamon ghriba, but you may also press an almond into the center of each cookie, coat them in powdered sugar, or add a couple teaspoons of orange blossom water or brine from a jar of Moroccan preserved lemons.

Recipe under the cut!

Patreon | Tip jar

Ingredients:

About 3 cups (360 - 390g) all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp fresh yeast (optional)

1/2 cup (70g) hulled sesame seeds, divided

1/2 cup (118mL) vegetable oil

1/2 cup vegan margarine or shortening, melted

3/4 cup (150 grams) vegetarian granulated sugar

Pinch of salt

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

2 tsp baking powder

Instructions:

1. In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast sesame seeds until they are fragrant and a shade darker. Coarsely grind about half of the toasted sesame seeds in a mortar and pestle or spice mill. Set aside.

2. Melt margarine or shortening in a microwave or on the stovetop. Add sugar and stir to dissolve.

3. Combine margarine mixture and all other ingredients except for four in a large mixing bowl. Add flour a little at a time to make a dry, crumbly mixture that doesn't quite hold together when pressed; you may need more than 3 cups.

4. Knead the dough by hand, or use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on its lowest setting, for 20 minutes. The dough should appear crumbly, like damp sand, but should now pack into a ball easily when pressed. Add more flour or oil if necessary to achieve this texture, kneading for another few minutes to incorporate.

5. Preheat your oven to 320 °F (160 °C) with the rack in its lowest position. Form the ghriba dough into balls about 3/4” (2cm) in width, packing them together with both hands and then flattening them silghtly between your palms. The edges of the dough should not crack or separate.

If you have a ghriba mold, gently press each ball of dough down over a bump on the mold, pressing down and thinning out the edges slightly to ensure a dramatic, concave bottom.

If you don't have a ghriba mold, place the ghriba on a baking sheet prepared with parchment paper. Make sure to separate them by about an inch, because they will rise slightly.

6. Turn on the broiler and broil the ghriba in the lower rack of your oven for 2-5 minutes, until cracks begin to appear on the surface.

7. Turn the broiler off and move the ghriba to the upper third of the oven. Continue to bake at 320 °F for 3-5 minutes, until very lightly golden brown and not quite firm to the touch.

8. Allow the ghriba to cool for 2 minutes, then transfer them to a wire cooling rack and allow to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

#Moroccan #Moroccan cooking #Moroccan recipe #vegan recipe #baking #sesame seeds

[kedreeva]

After Sark requested "biscuits I can make a breakfast sandwich with," I fiddled with the sourdough biscuit recipe until I began consistently getting biscuits that held their cut shape, came apart into halves (or close to halves) easily, and were sturdy enough for a sandwich. These are the small version; I just made a first batch of bigger ones and froze them, but I'm hoping they hold form as well. I had to lower the butter amount because the original recipe called for a stick of butter in 6 biscuits and was causing them to just fry on the bottom, and butter to leak out into the pan.

I'm quite happy! They freeze well and can be baked straight from frozen. They're also delicious with a drizzle of honey, which is how I eat them!

Editing to add the recipe and instructions under a cut, per request!

Frozen Sourdough Biscuit Recipe:

140-150g all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder (actually a smidge more than 2tsp)

6-8g salt (to taste)

60-113g COLD unsalted butter (to taste)

230g sourdough starter discard

You will need: a mixing bowl, a spatula, a pastry cutter, a 2.25-2.5 inch round biscuit cutter (or bigger if you want bigger, I'm not your mom), a kitchen scale. Flat, clean, surface to freeze biscuits on (I use a piece of cardboard wrapped in tinfoil), and a freezer-safe bag to put them in after freezing. For baking: parchment paper and 2 baking trays, 1 of which can hold water.

If you don't have sourdough starter discard handy, it's basically just flour/water 1:1, so you could PROBABLY make these without it by adding another 115g of flour and 115g water. Don't quote me, I don't know what I'm doing either good luck.

TO MIX:

Add 140g flour, baking powder, and salt to mixing bowl. Stir lightly to combine.

Add butter, and use the pasty cutter to reduce the butter to small crumbles, stirring to powder them with flour.

I recommend starting with 60-65g and seeing how they taste and feel to you. More butter creates a crustier biscuit, and may result in frying along the bottom. Some people prefer this, I don’t. Using 60g will create a light, fluffy biscuit with a light crust and a soft butter flavor.

In a clean jar, pour the amount of starter you intend to feed (I pour 50g off), and then in your mixing bowl, pour in starter discard and combine with spatula until dough is combined but not kneaded. Dough will be sticky. Any leftover starter still in the original jar can be added to the clean jar for feeding or discarded.

Turn dough onto a floured surface. Using both hands, gently press and shape the dough into a ball WITHOUT folding/kneading (I mean you can, but you'll be making a different biscuit), add flour to board until the ball doesn't stick. Once the ball is fairly seamless and the outside is well-coated in flour, press into a 6-8 inch flat circle about 1 inch tall.

Use the biscuit cutter to cut 5 biscuits. After each cut, tip the biscuits on their side and lightly roll them in flour to smooth the edges. Form the last biscuit by putting the remaining dough into the biscuit cutter and shaping it. Roll in flour like the others. If you want, you can just bake them now. Or if you're making them to freeze, place them on your freezing sheet. Place in freezer for 2+ hours. Stack in baggie once frozen.

TO BAKE:

Preheat oven to 425F.

Place 1 tray (i use a brownie pan, deeper sides) w/ water on lower rack to steam. Biscuits may dry out or become crunchy instead of crusty without this!! BAD!! Do not for get the water!! You will be very sad!!

Put parchment paper on the other tray, and space biscuits evenly on it.

Bake for 20-25 minutes (ovens and taste vary). When done, biscuits will be golden brown on top and bottom.

Let cool and enjoy with topping of your choice!

#biscuits #baking #bread #breadventure #personal #recipes

[the-record]

MARCH.

SUMMARY: even after all that time, she still sees him in everything that she does.

PAIRING: ellie williams x gn!reader

WARNINGS: angsty :((

A/N: new lizzy mcalpine came out and this is what yall get! havent wrote angst in a minute so dont tell me if it sucks!

TRYNA FIND THE LESSON IN IT ALL, BUT I HAVEN’T LEARNED ANYTHING

it’s eerily silent as you walk in at the end of the day.

normally you both head to joels for dinner, a vinyl plays while he cooks, ellie bothering him the whole time. or tommy and joel talking about anything and everything on the couch. ellie learning a new song.

but it’s different now.

the kitchen is empty, a lone bowl on the counter near the sink. the couch ellie begged him dor is empty, but the ghost of him is in the dip on the far side, a pillow propped up neatly. ellie doesn’t say a word, doesn’t make a sound. she’s a lot quieter.

she’s in bed still, staring at the ceiling, mouthing something you can’t decipher. when you sit beside her and run a hand through her hair she tries a smile. it falls flat, not the same.

ellie finds a kind of comfort in the quiet, your fingers gently untangling the knots in her hair. she can’t stand the idea of his music without him, but a tune he hummed constantly is stuck in her head.

you whisper about your day when she asks. tell her the chores you did, about what you’ll have to eat tonight. she hums when need be, content to just listen to your voice fill the room.

ellie goes to joel’s the next day.

the new place is good, though not really new now you’ve been here so long.

ellie likes the sheep, a sweet reminder. she takes good care of them and you. she puts on a vinyl every morning while you eat breakfast. she perfects the songs joel taught her.

she tries her best to understand why, take a lesson out of it. makes the best of a bad situation. she doesn’t tell you whats in her head.

she doesn’t tell you that she sees him out the window talking to the sheep, gone with a blink. she doesn’t say that she can hear his voice mix with yours when you sing while cleaning. she doesn’t say that she feels like time has gone backwards, making her younger instead of older.

ellie watches in silence as you harmonize while doing the dishes, a small dance as you go. its dorky, her staring and you, but she loves it.

her mind is more peaceful than it used to be, he doesn’t haunt her daydreams the same way. ellie finds herself behind you, hands winding around your waist and falling flat against your stomach. she hums as she presses sweet kisses in your neck when you go quiet.

“keep singing,” she says. “i love listening.” and so you do. she grabs a tea-towel and finds her way next to you and dries the clean dishes.

she’s paused, admiring you, when his hum fills her mind. she can almost see him pouring a drink while you chat, the song just background noise.

“els,” she snaps back to reality. you question her, ask if she’s okay.

its too quiet when you wake. ellie’s usual heavy breathing not there to lull you back to sleep. ellie not there at all beside you in bed. it knocks the wind out of you as you move out of bed and down the stairs.

a bag is on the counter in front of her, packed. the jacket around her shoulders is his. the floorboards creaking stops her in her spot. hearing your shaky sigh turns her around, her face sullen and eyes tired.

your hands shake as you move to her, a watery smile and shaking hands grabbing her face. you move into her space, pulling her tightly into a hug. she’s slow to reciprocate, but her hold is tighter than yours when she does. hands rub small circles on your lower back.

she knows what you wanna ask before you do. “i need to go alone.” you’re still, breath stopping for a moment, but you nod.

you breathe her in before pulling back, your hand finds her face again. her eyes slip close as you press your lips to the corner of her mouth.

ellie can’t look back when she leaves.

#! kates babes ! #ellie williams x reader #ellie williams #ellie williams x female reader #ellie williams x you #ellie x reader #ellie williams tlou #🌿 older 🌿

[aarons-corner]

Shifting realities is so fun. Scripting whatever you want is so fun.

In my witchcraft DR, I’m a witch with an infinitely big house that actually flies on a fucking broomstick (it hurts so I don’t do it a lot bc cock) mixing herbs and crystals into a jar with candle wax on top and selling it but also has unlimited supplies bc anxiety makes me scared of running out of supplies, two black cats who live forever, having multiple overpowered abilities like omniscience and immortality, but no one can do anything about it. And I script in whoever I want so I see all my friends and favorite characters.

In one Karate kid DR, Bobby is my brother, I do MMA, I gave Dutch 95% of his tattoos (he said if he ever broke Bobby’s heart I could remove every single one of them in one day), Jimmy is my best friend, I beat up Daniel for being a little brat, Susan and Ali are together and are SO CUTE, Daniel needs to confess to Kumiko already, and Johnny colors in my tattoos sometimes. Scripting relationships happen naturally and letting people get together and not having control over it is so fun. Also scripting that things like racism and homophobia don’t exist so diversity is soooo much more common. Also scripting the world is healthy bc fuck global warming.

In my other Karate kid DR it’s the opposite. Daniel is my cousin and I have a list of things I’ve thrown at Dutch.

1. Apple 2. Scissors 3. Pencil and pen 4. Key 5. His student id 6. Cinnamon (please. Ask.) 7. Someone ELSE’S shoe (is tied to 7 PLEASE ASK) 8. A binder

Even though the cobras are lowkey bitches in that DR Jimmy has given me like four sweaters now??

Being a prince was kinda unwiped ass at first so I scripted some stuff to make it go smoothly.

About the things I’ve thrown at Dutch. I can explain 7 and 8. So basically I’m in a cooking class with that crazy mf and we were making cookies for fall. As I was shaping my cookie he went up to me and said my cookie looked like a registered sex offender. I had a small bowl of cinnamon I was using so I just grabbed a handful and tossed it at his face. He tried to attack me so obvs I ran, like I’m not stupid. I ended up giving someone a flat tire somehow?? Dutch was gaining on me so I just threw the shoe at him. We both got detention.

Should I share my shifting stories and more DRs I have??? Cause this post was really fun to make.

#shifting #shifting realities #shift #shifter #shifters #desired reality #shifting stories

[iceycube]

Nougat/brownie marble cookies!

List of ingredients for nougat cookie dough:

140 g powdered sugar

140 g brown sugar

140 g soft butter (butter can be softened in microwave oven at 100% for 10 seconds)

1 egg + 1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon vanilla (this be sugar or extract. Doesn't matter)

300 g flour (all purpose or cake)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

150 g soft nougat (melted (Nougat can be melted in microwave oven at 50% for 1-2 minutes.))

Brownie cookie dough ingredients:

140 g powdered sugar

140 g brown sugar

140 g soft butter

1 egg + 1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon vanilla

205 g flour

45 g baking cocoa

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

How to cookie:

Start with the nougat cookie dough, as you then won't have to clean as many bowls.

In a stand mixer (just because this is easier, you can use hand mixer or spoon and muscle power) mix sugars and butter until a light beige brown color and creamy consistency (3-4-ish minutes in the mixer). Scrape down at least once roughly halfway through.

Add egg and mix until incorporated. Scrape down and add the yolk. Mix and scrape and mix. (if you use vanilla extract you add it in here with the egg)

Add all the dry stuff and mix until incorporated. (if vanilla sugar you add it in here)

Take 200 g of dough and put in a separate bowl and in the fridge.

Add nougat and mix it in well.

Transfer to a bowl and put in fridge.

Repeat for brownie cookie dough (disregard points 5 and 6 for this one)

After a few hours in the fridge you can start to marble. When marbled you wrap it in cling film and put it in the fridge for a few more hours or freezer until needed. If frozen you want to thaw it completely to fridge temp and then cut it.

Preheat oven to 175 C convection oven.

Unwrap, cut to 1 cm slices (1/4 of the recipe gives roughly 12 cookies), put on baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes at 165 C until center of cookies looks baked. For more even baking set timer for 6 minutes and then turn the baking sheet 180 degrees for the last 2-4 minutes. Most ovens do not bake equally in front and back, so this helps prevent the cookies from being under- or overbaked.

The cookies grow to 1.5-2 times their size prior to baking, so make sure to leave a good amount of space between them on the baking sheet(s).

If you can't have nougat because of nuts you can just add 200 g chocolate chips to the plain dough instead of it.

I have provided some visual guide to marbling below the cut:

Your cookie doughs:

You portion them into 4 portions each. The plain (lightest) one is 50 g, the nougat and brownie ones are roughly 185 g. This is simply to make it easier to handle.

The three in bowls go in the fridge again.

You do not want to flour your work surface. Flour makes the cookie doughs not stick to each other and then you have to do three times as much work. Just make sure the surface is clean, smooth, and easy to clean and that the cookie dough is chilled.

Next you cut the brownie and nougat clumps down to roughly the size of the plain one and then you halve the plain one, like this:

Roll to equal lengths and squish together to form rectangle. Press flat for easier rolling together

Roll up starting at the top and carefully rolling.

Roll long and wrap around itself like a snail shell

Squash and repeat one or two more times depending on how well the marbling looks to you.

At the last snail shell you only roll it to a two hands width wide log. This may include slapping both ends so it doesn't get too long, as you still want the snail shell gaps to completely disappear, so you have to roll for quite a few passes.

Wrap and set cool

Always unique. And if you want small cookies you just make smaller clumps for marbling or you roll the log long shortly ahead of cutting.

This technique can be used for anything you want marbled, be it cookies or clay or marzipan or something else with that consistency. Can be used with as many colors as you like.

#Cookies #Recipe #Marbled cookies #Nougat cookies #Brownie cookies #Please reblog so more people can enjoy these #Also I spent so long writing this post. And putting alt on all pictures

[bokettochild]

Madam Pancake, I would love if you would indulge me so as to answer this simple question:

...

What's your pancake recipe because they look like really good or even just some advice for pancakes. Yours look like really good and the only time I've ever made half decent pancakes were from a box- And I just want to be able to make nice pancakes. Feel free to ignore this ask as I'msure you're busy or perhaps you want to keep your pancake secrets to yourself.

Your truly, Canpake

I'm happy to share!

2 & 1/4 cups of unbleached flour 1/8 cup of white sugar 1 & 1/2 TBSP of baking powder 2 eggs 2 cups buttermilk 1/4 cup oil

I tend to mix the flour, sugar and baking powder in a large bowl before adding the wet ingredients. Rather than using a whisk, I use a fork, but I'm not sure if that does anything for the consistency. I mix them until the batter is smooth, no lumps or bumps or anything, and making sure there's no flour getting forgotten at the bottom of the bowl. this can take a bit but it's worth it!

After it's mixed, I pour it into a saucepan. I use an electric stove and usually have the burner on medium heat. Cover the bottom of the pan in batter, letting it settle and then just waiting. I usually watch until it starts bubbling on top before flipping it over. Don't press on your pancake while it's cooking because you want it to gather air inside. Once it's lightly browned on both sides you are probably good to eat, but it is a practice thing because they can end up doughy in the center, so check them before serving (stab it)

The freshness of your buttermilk and how well you mix it are the key points to making them fluffy, or at least that's the only thing I can find to make sure they end up that way, If all goes well though, you'll have some big fluffers by the end!

They end up flat sometimes, but no worries because they're still filling and tasty! Just keep an eye on it while it's in the pan! (and use a small pan, this does effect the cooking and fluffiness for the better).

Enjoy!

#asks and answers #pancakes

[lovingbarbariancomputer]

Ben part 4

Trevor walked in through the door, wearing his typical work clothes. Cargo pants, boots, and a red flannel, with dust and oil spots. Ben could tell he'd been working in the sun all day.

"bruh I'm starving right now. Haven't eaten anything all day. want to go get some food?"

Ben felt himself get excited. He'd been touching his belly just when Trevor walked in. He was starting to be able to grab his fat. All of his shirts were starting to cling to him. He had no choice but to show his belly off. Even as Ben sat on the couch, he knew Trevor could see it.

"uh, yeah let's go!" Ben said.

"I thought you'd be down to go, big guy!" Trevor eyes glanced at Ben's belly, them looked up at ben, giving a subtle wink.

Ben's dick started to get hard and he had to distract himself to stay composed.

Trevor drove Ben in his pick up, wearing his typical ball cap, tank top, and worn-out denim jeans. Ben, in the passenger seat wore a white Tshirt and some work out shorts with an elastic waist band. Those were the only pants that fit him.

"So where are we eating?" Ben asked

"I'm thinking golden corral" Trevor replied in an almost seductive tone.

"oooh I could go for that right now"

"oh I'm sure judging by the way you been eating lately" Trevor said, with a chuckle. He grabbed a small handful of bens belly and gave in a little shake. Ben felt his new belly jiggle. His dick immediately started to swell. Ben struggled to contain his excitement. To his disbelief, Trevor gave a subtle wink.

Ben and Trevor grabbed their first plates. Ben loaded his plate up with lasagna, garlic bread, fried shrimp, and meatballs. While Trevor grabbed some steak, potatoes, fries, and wings. As they sat down, Ben felt his belly rest slightly on his thighs. They both started digging in. Trevor started with the wings. Ben was already half through his lasagna in just a couple minutes.

As Ben got more full, he noticed Trevor's eyes looking up at him. When Ben looked up, Trevor quickly looked away. After a few plates, Ben couldn’t hide his belly under his shirt. After he finished another plate, Ben groaned.

“I can’t possibly eat anymore” he said, out of breath.

“Oh come on, you can do better than that big guy.”, Trevor responded, giving his signature wink.

“No, for real, I’m so fuckin full”

Trevor laughed and got up for another plate. Ben could tell even Trevor’s flat body was straining against his tank top. Ben looked around, and saw a dining room full of men pushing their limits. Almost all of them displayed obvious bellies. Even the few thin guys there were obviously full beyond belief. Lethargic, with barely even a thought in their heads. Then from behind, Trevor’s hairy arm set a plate in front of Ben. A plate full of brownies, and a small bowl of ice cream. Trevor came around and sat down with his own plate.

“I know you can’t resist bro” he said with a mischievous grin.

“Fuck dude I’m going to get so fat eating like this!” He said with a laugh mixed with a groan

“Who cares! This is America! We’re all gonna get fat one day. Eat up!” Trevor said chuckling as he stated eating his dessert plate.

Ben couldn’t believe it. Is this really happening? But he was so full he couldn’t even think. So he started eating. His dick hard as a rock beneath the table. As hard as his stuffed belly, which he could feel touching the edge of the table.

When they got back home, ben fell into the couch and leaned back, his shirt riding up his enormous belly. Trevor shut the door behind him and took off his tank top, exposing his hairy, muscular but bloated body. Both men were completely incapacitated, and lethargic… and secretly horny. Trevor sat next to Ben.

“Damn boy” Trevor said, as he gave Ben a little belly rub. The feeling of Trevor’s rough hand against his full belly was too much to handle and he let out an involuntary moan. And instead of pulling his hand back, he continued, reaching his hand under bens shirt. Feeling the solid round curve, and the black scruff of bens body.

“Mmmm” Trevor moaned, seemingly so full he couldn’t even speak coherently. Bens dick grew harder as it pressed against his work out shorts. Trevor was getting a bit of a hard on as well. With one hand he started stroking his dick through his jeans, and with the other he continued to grope bens belly. Ben started reaching down for his own dick, moaning in ecstasy. His other hand was also rubbing his fattening belly.

“Fuck bro I’m gonna get so fucking fat” Ben muttered. Trevor shifted so he was positioned on bens lap. He started rubbing his dick on bens belly through his jeans.

He put his moth up to bens ear and whispered “I bet you can’t even cum unless that belly is full, fatboy. I’m gonna get you so fuckin huge you won’t even be able to touch your own dick.” He reached down and began stroking bens dick through his work out shorts, already wet with precum. Ben let out a submissive moan. Trevor knelt down and pressed his face into bens belly, letting out gutteral groans as they both jerked off. They both came at once, shooting loads onto bens belly. They both collapsed on the couch, exhausted, dumb, and full beyond belief. Trevor continued rubbing Ben, as he continued to twitch from his continuous orgasm.

Little did they know just how real their fantasy was about to become

[jikjinz]

★﹐take our time ．﹗﹑

cw: bae hoyoung x fem!reader; bath sex, fingering, dirty talk, unprotected p-in-v sex (yall better wrap it up); nipple play, marking, praise, petnames (baby, darling); lmk if i missed something

words: 1 170

a/n: hi hello! this was supposed to be an entrance for this year's kinktober but reality creeped its way into my imaginary bubble and i can't write the whole stuff; that's why yall get some random crumbs i'll manage to puke out and hope it'll be quite consistent. lmk if you liked it and reblog if you did!!! it really helps <333

taglist: @ahncosette @zlueehee

that’s a one hell of a stressful day, you think as you enter your flat. but that’s about to change, all thanks to your boyfriend.

“hoyoung?” you ask loudly so every inch of the void in the flat can hear you. placing your bag on the floor and taking off your shoes, you proceed deeper into the flat. the atmosphere is… intriguing. the dim light of the small lamps in the living room to the nice scent, your favourite one, that’s not thick, nor intense, just enough to tickle your sense in a pleasant way.

“hi, darling.”

that’s when your beloved boyfriend comes out of your shared bedroom, with a sheepish smile, visibly excited to finally see you back. although when he notices your tensed body and the tired gaze with which you look at him, he’s about to fight the world.

“i thought that you’d like a warm bath after such a day, let alone a whole week. i have your favorite wine as well,” hoyoung starts, effectively covering up his worried tone with his words and actions, as he gets closer to you and slowly reaches for your hand. as your fingers intertwine, you smile and try to blink the slowly-forming tears away. having such a boyfriend was like a winning lottery ticket.

“will you wash my hair?”

“sure. whatever makes you happy, darling.”

slowly, you two make your way to the bathroom, where already set candles are waiting for being lit, a bottle of wine is in a small bowl filled with ice, and the bathtub is filled with bubbles, scent of the used salt nicely filling the air. as you undress, you ask hoyoung to join you. though he’s taken aback for a second, he agrees. soon, you two enter the filled bathtub, and the much-wanted and extremely needed relaxation slowly takes over your body.

your back rests on his chest as your muscles slowly give in and relax thanks to the water’s temperature. soon, hoyoung asks if you want a massage and in no time after you saying yes, his hands reach to your shoulders. and that’s when you take him off-track again. because you grab his hands and guide them lower and to your front.

“i want you so bad, baby,” you say when placing his hands on your tits, head turning to the side to look at your boyfriend as much as you can; the desperate look you give him and the way you whisper those words has him in a chokehold. though he smiles and leans forward to meet your face.

“whatever makes my darling happy.” and with a gentle kiss, hoyoung starts to caress your body. his palms go lower and lower your body with each kiss he’s giving you. the thought of a sweet release provided but no one else but hoyoung, your sweet, sweet boyfriend, is already turning your brain into mush. “darling, slow down. it won’t be so fun if we rush things.”

you try to complain but your brain has signed off. all there’s left is mush and desire mixed with lust and sexy thoughts including your boyfriend. he sees how desperate you are, how much you want it, and he understands it. but he also knows that without preparation it’ll only hurt both him and you. so that’s why his hand cups your pussy, caressing the folds with his fingers.

“i’ll make you feel so good, darling. focus on me and i’ll do you so fine you forget that you were so stressed in the first place,” that’s what hoyoung whispers into your lips before placing a long and hasteful kiss, distraction to his finger pushing slowly past your folds. you whimper in content at the feeling, closing your eyes a bit but quickly opening them when you feel his thumb on your clit. “i love those sounds of yours. i love to hear your voice and all those lewd noises you make. it’s so fucking hot, darling.”

every time it takes you by surprise how the sweet hoyoung can say such dirty things… but you love it. it only turns you two on even more, causing you to moan softly against his lips as he kisses you again, and again, thrusting his finger in and out, soon adding the second one.

“can you take another one, darling?” his eyes darkened with lust now are clouded with worry but when you squirm in his embrace, already being a moaning mess, he can’t hold himself for so long. with the other hand, he’s cupping one of your tits, fondling it and playing with your already hardened and incredibly sensitive nipple. “cum for me, darling. you’re doing so great and i’d like to devour you soon but we’ll take our time…”

he’s whispering those words right into your ear. his voice always makes you weak, especially when he’s whispering and breathing right on your neck. because you know that with his whispers he’s about to sloppily kiss his way from your ear to your shoulder, leaving some marks by the way as well. and that’s the final straw to your high.

“my pretty darling, done so well. i’m proud of you.” hoyoung says with a smile that says a lot: he’s in awe, he’s lovestruck, he’s savoring the feeling of your walls clamping on his fingers and how you ride out your ecstasy. as you breathe heavily and fall tired on his chest, you smile at the view of his features; the overly cute smile hiding his eyes clouded with desire for you. you know you’re in for a ride and you’re happy to oblige.

as you whine when hoyoung pulls out his fingers, you know you’ll get the good stuff in a sec because you can feel his hard-on between your plushy ass-cheeks. chuckling at the thought, you grind a bit against his length, whining when hoyoung’s hands grab your hips and keep you in place for a second.

“don’t rush it. we have a lot of time.” but he himself can’t really hold it anymore. you whine again at his words but thankfully that state is not so long, since in a blink you’re being guided on his dick, slowly sinking down on his nicely-filling length. that’s when your mind shuts down completely; all you think about is to get yourself off thanks to the nice feeling of being full, as hoyoung hits all the good spots inside you.

you take his hand to guide it to your tit again, the other one tightly gripping hoyoung’s other hand to keep balance. and so you bounce on his dick, thoughts hazed with a fuzzy desire to cum on his length and to be filled with him for as long as you can. your boyfriend is doing everything he can to help you, nuzzling his face in your neck, pinching on your tits and nipples, thrusting into you as much as he can.

you have to admit, that’s a fantastic way to end a terrible week… or every week in general.

| VERIVERY-MASTERLIST | MAIN-MASTERLIST |

@ jikjinz / @ ness-iness 2023, do NOT copy, translate or repost!

[art used in the header is by ivan aivazovsky and is titled "ship in the stormy sea]

#verivery smut #fics: verivery #fics: hoyoung #bae hoyoung smut #bae hoyoung #hoyoung smut #hoyoung verivery #verivery

[laurfilijames]

Hi! From the WIP Asks, can I ask #7: What is your favorite scene you’ve written so far?

Thank you for sending in this ask @justreblogginfics ! 💗

It was really difficult to choose just one scene from Like My Dreams as I truly love every single part I've written so far, but I managed to narrow it down to this one scene in Part 3 where Pete and reader share their first kiss.

It's all new and exciting and sweet, and I really loved describing Pete's flat and all the things he has in it and the curiosity of them learning more about each other.

Here is the scene if anyone wants to swoon with me:

You loved it from the moment you stepped a foot inside; his flat homey and welcoming, filled floor to ceiling with all the things that held importance to him and helped make up who he was.

West Ham paraphernalia was scattered everywhere, alternating between band posters and shelves and cabinets containing CD's, books and records, the little spaces left fitting in the necessary everyday items, making it clear what held the most importance to him.

Your fingers slid across each record as you scanned over his collection, reading the familiar names of all the same bands you loved and had listened to your whole life, the edges of each sleeve worn from use and time.

"A lot of those were Dad's," he explained, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

You turned your head to look at him, a sort of solemn expression present on his face.

"Steve was pissed that he'd left them all to me, but they wouldn't have gone with that wanker's stuffy, modern decor," he laughed. "It's been close to twenty years, and I still feel close to him whenever I play them."

"That's really nice, Pete," you said, smiling at him before stepping over to one of his book shelves, stooping and tilting your head to see the titles. You pulled one off the shelf and flipped through it, the musty scent a welcomed one, and your heart swelled when you came upon his notes scribbled across some of the pages. Tucking it back in its place, you breathed in and continued to look around, admiring the varied compilation of things accumulated over the years that told the story of him and put on display a physicality of his personality, his character portrayed in all the words in those books and lyrics in the music he listened to.

"Are you hungry?" he asked, watching you from across the counter that he leaned against.

"Hmm? Yeah," you replied, your answer somewhat distracted as you were lost thinking about how perfect he was and how you longed to know everything about him. "Is there anything I can help with?"

Pete frowned and shook his head, unfolding his arms from his chest as he stirred the noodles floating in the bubbling water. "Nah, you're alright. You just stay there and continue to give me something nice to look at."

The wink he shot you went straight to your core, finding yourself unable to do as you were told as you slowly made your way around the counter and into the kitchen with him, standing as close to him as you could get. You picked up the bunch of fresh basil sitting beside the bowl of freshly grated parmesan and began to carefully tear each of the leaves into small pieces, the fragrant herb mixing in with the intoxicating smell of garlic and tomatoes, your arms brushing against each other as you both worked.

"I'm happy you're here," Pete whispered, glancing over at you, licking his lips while his blue eyes held an intensity you hadn't seen in them yet.

"Thank you for having me."

You hadn't noticed your hands halting in their duty, letting the leaves you held fall onto the counter as you turned your body to face Pete while he did the same.

The brightest smile spread across his cheeks, his hands reaching up to cup your face, and still smiling, he leaned into you and gently met your lips with his, a light chuckle sounding from him as he kissed you.

You couldn't stop the soft moan that passed through your mouth as he continued to tease your lips with his, carefully exploring and tasting and feeling you against him, the dizziness you felt when you closed your eyes and let yourself melt into the moment not on account of your lingering concussion.

Pete inhaled deeply, his fingers tightening their hold on your cheeks ever so slightly as he breathed you in, deepening his kiss before pulling away.

The way he looked at you as he licked his lips had you wanting to feel his tongue against yours again, but seeing his satisfied and entirely sweet smile made you hesitant to want to miss such a view in exchange for his craveable kiss.

"I couldn't wait to do that," you admitted, your tone breathy.

He smirked, his thumbs grazing your skin as his gaze dropped to your mouth, "Me neither."

Pete flicked the burners off on the stove and gave the sauce a quick stir before turning his attention back to you.

"Now forgive me, because I don't think I'll be able to stop."

It was your turn to smile and laugh as he captured your lips with his again, more boldly this time, your hands roaming his body as his wrapped around your back and pulled you closer into him.

#asks #WIP asks #pete dunham #green street hooligans #charlie hunnam characters

[goldenraeofsun]

Day 20: Spa Day

“Specialty of clerics, druids and paladins, in Dungeons & Dragons,” Cas reads out loud, squinting at the paper laid flat against the kitchen table. He looks up at Dean, who shrugs.

“Metatron didn’t include DnD in your pop culture download?” Dean asks sympathetically.

Cas shakes head.

“Well, DnD is probably more counter culture if you want to get technical about it,” Sam says as he ferociously attacks the salad with a pair of tongs. Pieces of lettuce spray across the counter, and Sam sheepishly puts them back in the bowl, one by one.

“Nerd,” Dean coughs into his fist as he gives the pasta water a few hearty shakes of salt.

“Says the man who hung up his LARPing sword above his bed,” Sam retorts.

Dean points a wooden mixing spoon at him. “Gotta be ready for anything.”

"Seriously?"

"Did you forget I also sleep with a gun under my pillow?"

Cas shakes his head ruefully. "Your actions would make any gun safety advocate weep."

Dean grins. "Haven't shot myself yet."

Cas shoots him a flat look. "That's not nearly as reassuring as you think it is."

"You just don't know how to live, Cas." He turns back to the bubbling pasta pot. 

"The word you’re looking for is MAGIC," Sam says helpfully. 

"Thank you," Cas says as he writes down the correct answer. "Pastry dough used in crullers and beignets, five letters."

Sam shrugs. 

Dean spins around, eyebrows raised at the pair of them. "Really?"

Both give him blank stares in return.

"I've made you watch the Great British Bake Off five times!" As Cas frowns, no doubt sorting through his millennia of memories for Pastry Week, Dean says, "It's a choux pastry, babe."

Cas dutifully copies it down. "Did you know in French, petit choux is an outdated term of endearment?" At Dean's perplexed face, he adds, "Petit means small."

Dean rubs his chin. "Little dough ball? I guess that's cute. If you're talking about a baby or something, like a real round one." He helpfully mimes the correct shape with his hands.

"I believe it refers to choux as in a cabbage," Cas says.

"Why the hell would you bring cabbage into it?” Dean makes a face. “Fucking frog eaters."

"Cabbage is a very versatile vegetable," Sam points out. 

"You, shut up." Dean pours in three boxes of pasta into the boiling water. "Cabbage isn't versatile. It's gross."

Sam sets down his completed salad and takes a seat across from Cas at the kitchen table. 

"It's a staple in a wide variety of cuisines," Cas disagrees. 

"You're dead to me too."

Cas rolls his eyes and turns back to the crossword. Even though the answer comes to him in less than a second, he says aloud, "Quadrupedal combat vehicle in Star Wars films."

Dean perks up. "How many letters?"

"AT-ATs," Sam says as Dean glares. 

"I was just about to say that!"

Sam ignores him. "There are some clues that pop up all the time," Sam tells Cas. "Like AT-ATs, arena, Erie, Argo, Eden."

"Words with a high percentage of vowels," Cas surmises. 

"Yup." Sam cranes his neck, tilting his head to read Cas's puzzle upside down. "What's the theme?"

Cas points to the first long row of blank boxes. "Classic Wilson Pickett cover [1966].”

"Mustang Sally!" Dean sings into his wooden spoon, "now baby, guess you better slow your mustang down, oh yeah!"

Cas sits up straighter. "That song was in Miss Congeniality."

Dean groans as Sam's face turns half delighted, half incredulous. "You made him watch Miss Congeniality?"

Dean shakes his head. "It must've been part of Meta-"

Cas says at the same time, "You were hunting a siren with Eileen."

Sam doubles over laughing. 

"What's the next clue, cabbage man?" Dean demands loudly. 

Dutifully, Cas recites, "Top 10 funk hit from War with an iconic bass line [1975]."

Sam's brow creases. "Low Rider?"

Cas tilts his head, the description pinging his memory. "Like my car?"

Over the sound of pasta hitting the strainer, Dean chuckles. "Yeah, just like the pimpmobile."

Sam reads the next one, "Tracy Chapman hit with the line ‘I had a feeling I could be someone’ [1988]."

"Fast Car," Dean grunts as he throws the mostly water-free pasta back in the pot.

Cas dutifully jots down the answer before asking, "Janis Joplin’s final recording, which had an anticonsumerism message [1970]."

“Janis Joplin?” Dean repeats as he overturns the simmering alfredo sauce on top of the fettuccine. 

Sam plucks a tomato out of the salad. “It’s Mercedes Benz,” he says, reaching over to count out the letters. 

“The unifying clue for theme is Modern Music Staple that’s a punny description of 17– , 24–, 38 – and 48 – Across.”

“You got any letters?”

“A U _ O _ U N E”

“It’s Autotune,” Sam says, grinning. “Get it? Since all the answers are car songs?”

“Wordplay,” Cas sighs, wrinkling his nose. 

“You’ll get better,” Sam says bracingly as he reaches over to pat Cast on the arm. “That’s why you’re doing the crosswords, right?”

“What’s left?” Dean asks.

“Close Chica.”

“Amiga,” Sam says confidently. “I haven’t forgotten all my middle school Spanish.”

Dean sets the steaming bowl of pasta on the table. “Whatever you say, hombre.” He takes the dish towel slung over his shoulder and throws it in the direction of the butcher block table. “Put that away, Cas. Let’s eat!”

“I’m almost done,” Cas protests as Dean ladles out servings for everyone. “Outings devoted to relaxation and self care, seven letters.”

“Spa days,” Sam says, grabbing Dean’s plate and placing a portion of salad on the side.

“I’m gonna need a spa day after this,” Dean grumbles, “to wash all the nerdgasm juice off me.”

“You watch Jeopardy! every night, you massive hypocrite,” Sam says without looking up from his pasta.

“Alec always gets a pass.”

Cas frowns. “Just like Swayze?”

“Just like Swayze,” Dean confirms before he dumps half his salad onto Cas’s plate.

#suptober22 #fanfic #destiel fanfic #established relationship #canon divergence #canon au #sam winchester & castiel #fluff #domestic #rae writes fic

[babettes-fancy-diner]

Spicy Black Bean Burgers

1 can black beans

1 cup breadcrumbs

1 egg

1 shallot, grated

Sriracha

Garlic powder

Onion powder

Salt

Black pepper

Other seasonings to taste (I recommend Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute or Anika Georgian seasoning or Tony Chaccere’s.)

Buns

Cheese (pepper jack or Swiss is recommended)

Lettuce

Spicy mayo

Drain the beans in a colander then add to a large mixing bowl. Add the grated shallot. Using a potato masher, the bottom of a drinking glass, or your hands, mash the black beans into a half paste, half bean mixture. Add the egg, a drizzle of hot sauce, breadcrumbs, and seasonings to taste. When a thick paste has been formed, divide into 4-6 balls and arrange them on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper. Cover with a layer of plastic wrap and use the palm of your hand to flatten the balls into discs about ¼ inch thick. Sprinkle the tops with salt and garlic powder if desired, then place in the fridge to firm up for ten minutes while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Toast the flat sides of the buns in a skillet with a small amount of oil or butter, then set aside. In a small mixing bowl, combine 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, two teaspoons of sriracha, a teaspoon of garlic powder, a teaspoon of spicy seasoning mix, and 2 teaspoons of honey. Whisk smooth. (All proportions approximate, adjust according to taste.)

Remove bean burgers from fridge and add to a iron skillet in which two tablespoons of oil have been heating. Cook about 7-8 minutes on medium, flipping every 2 minutes. When the color is right, top the patties with cheese, kill the heat, and place a lid over the burgers to steam melt the cheese. Spread spicy mayo on both buns and assemble your burgers with lettuce, bacon, or other toppings.

#recipes #black bean burgers #vegeterian #liminal diner food

[najia-cooks]

[ID: A sandwich on a ciabatta roll; a plate of tomato sliced and a glass of mint lemonade are in the background. End ID]

Tofu sandwich with garlic-lemon sauce

A sweet, savory, and well-spiced glaze clinging to fried, crispy tofu. The zest and brightness of garlic-lemon mayonnaise complement the depth of the glaze. A great breakfast sandwich or weekend lunch option when eaten with your choice of bread and toppings.

Recipe under the cut!

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Ingredients:

For the sandwiches:

4 ciabatta rolls, or other bread

Bean sprouts or other greens

For the tofu:

1 block (350g) extra firm tofu

2-3 Tbsp potato starch, or cornstarch

Oil to fry

For the tofu slurry:

2 scallions, sliced (optional)

2 Tbsp toasted sesame oil, or olive oil

2 Tbsp soy sauce

2 Tbsp light soy sauce

1/2 Tbsp light brown sugar

1 tsp sriracha or chili garlic sauce

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp Sichuan pepper

Pinch ground fennel

Pinch ground sumac

Pinch ground cubeb pepper (Piper cubeba; kabab chini; كبابة صينى)

Pinch smoked paprika

1 Tbsp cornstarch

Cubeb berries may be found in the spice section of a south Asian grocery store, where they will be labelled "kabab chini." They are sometimes mistaken for allspice, but cubeb berries are smaller and more consistent in size, are darker in color, and have a slightly 'wrinkled' appearance. They have a pungent, camphorous, and sharp aroma. If you don't have any, you may replace them with equal parts black pepper and allspice; or a pinch of ground Indian black cardamom.

For the garlic mayo:

1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise

1 large clove garlic, grated

1 tsp lemon juice

1/4 tsp table salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Water, if necessary

Instructions:

For the garlic mayo:

1. Mix all ingredients except water in a small mixing bowl. Add water or lemon juice until desired consistency is achieved. Taste and adjust salt and pepper.

For the marinade:

1. Pulverise scallion with salt in a mortar and pestle, and mix with other ingredients; or add all ingredients to a blender and combine.

For the tofu:

1. Drain tofu, wrap in a kitchen towel, and press under a flat, heavy object for 20-30 minutes.

2. If your block of tofu is particularly thick, slice it into two thinner slabs; then halve it widthwise to make four pieces. The tofu in the photo has only been halved widthwise to make two, thicker pieces.

3. Coat tofu in potato starch or cornstarch.

4. Heat 1/2" (1cm) of a neutral oil in a skillet on medium. Fry tofu slices, flipping once, until golden brown and crispy on both sides. Set aside.

5. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat (or remove the oil from the one you used earlier). Add tofu and marinade and cook, pushing the marinade onto the tofu slices and flipping occasionally, until marinade is clinging to the tofu.

To assemble:

1. Add cooked tofu to sandwiches along with greens, tomatoes, avocado, or sliced onion as desired. Top with garlic mayo.

#vegan recipe #vegan cooking #vegetarian recipes #tofu #green onion #scallions #tomatoes

[sleepyrouge]

howdy cats! i wrote these quick little ~500 word song-inspired drabbles to celebrate this post of mine getting one or two more notes than i thought it would!! i wrote these quickly for my three bnha faves and as a way to try and challenge myself to be more concise and i really like how they turned out so i hope y'all do too!

please note that some of the song lyrics i chose don't fit the scenarios i wrote exactly but the ~vibes~ are there.

seasoned version. (18+ mdni.)

A I Z A W A / S H O U T A - fade into you (mazzy star)

"a million smiles cover your heart" // (word count: 541) (content warnings: fluff, dadzawa)

sun sprinkled into the kitchen and reflected in a flat puddle of water at the bottom of the stainless steel sink. flour covered the countertops, the stove, your hands, and blanketed your hair. you pursed your lips out lovingly to shush the little girl in the room with you, balanced on a chair as she giggled at the mess she was making.

"eri, you gotta use your inside voice or you're gonna wake shouta up, okay?" you warned easily, wrapping an arm around the small girl's middle and plopping her down until she was sitting safely in the kitchen chair, bowl of pancake mix securely in her lap. inwardly, you cringed when the wooden spoon she held fell to the floor. it didn't make a spectacularly loud noise as it thumped onto the floor but in the still air of the apartment, it sounded all too disruptive. you held your breath for a moment, not hearing your lover stir in the next room before bending down to pick up the spoon and place it in the sink.

"need a new one." eri grinned, kicking her legs back and forth bashfully as she motioned towards the clean dishes.

"i know, i know." you smiled down at her, pulling a new spoon off of the drying rack before handing it to her, watching her for a moment go excitedly back to mixing. you started to step backward out of the kitchen to get a towel to begin cleaning up the mess when you felt a warm pair of arms wrap around your waist and stubble brushing against your neck.

"didn't like waking up and the bed next to me bein' empty. this makes up for it though." you shivered as shouta whispered in your ear, eyes on eri as you both watched her from around the corner.

"how long have you been standing here, sho? you're supposed to be sleeping since you didn't get home unti-" you tried to turn around to scold him and he tightened his hold around your waist.

"don't worry about it. i have the rest of the day to sleep." he burrowed his nose into your neck and with him, you both watched eri happily go about mixing her pancake batter. the mess didn't matter, only the moment did.

eri, realizing that you still hadn't returned from the laundry room, turned around anxiously and started to stand up to come find you and broke out into a grin when she saw you and shouta standing there and watching her. "we were makin' breakfast for you!" eri lisped excitedly, proud of herself.

"you we're makin' breakfast for me?" shouta parrotted in mock surprise and turned back to wink at you quickly. you leaned against the refrigerator, content in watching him with eri.

"yeah! need some help though." eri knitted her brows together in trying to figure out how to reach the stove dials. aizawa chuckled and picked her up, perching her on his hip.

"well, lucky for you, i know just how to make pancakes." he ruffled her hair and grabbed a pan out of the cabinet before sitting it on the front burner. watching the scene before you, you could have sworn you felt your stomach rise in your throat to make room for the way that your heart swelled.

K I R I S H I M A / E I J I R O U - diet soda society (the maine)

"to be honest, i am full of shit" // (word count: 262) (content warnings: simpy!kiri, explicit language)

ejirou knew he wasn't stupid. in fact, he was quite far from it. he was never top of his class, but he knew what was what and could put two and two together with the best of them. and even so, what he lacked in being able to figure out how to split an atom, he made up for in positivity and support and sheer force of will.

and then came you. menacing fuckin' know-it-all that handed him his cup of hot coffee every morning while catching him up on the city happenings. he recalled interviewing you for an assistant position in his agency in the early days and immediately being taken aback by you. by the way you grinned at him and explained something to him like he had just learned to walk. kirishima knew you didn't mean anything by it-you just had the world at your disposal and he was the one that currently had to deal with the fallout. not that he minded, giving you the illusion that you had him wrapped around your smart-ass little finger.

every morning as he got ready, he spent the minute or so it took buttoning up his shirt to think of something to act dense about, just so you'd cock your head at him and question, "oh, you didn't know?" he really didn't know how or why you enamored him so much in this way and maybe he really was full of shit to let you talk down to the red riot the way that you tended to, but he loved it.

B A K U G O U / K A T S U K I - constant headache (joyce manor)

"you hang me up, unfinished, with the better part of me no longer mine" // (word count: 380) (content warning: angst, toxic relationship, explicit language)

bakugou katsuki would never be anything more than all-consuming flames. true to life, his fire waned on occasion, giving way to the easier, less antagonistic side of him but fire would always be fire and you were sick of getting burned. sick of making excuses when he would blow up in public and embarrass you in front of your friends, your colleagues, your parents. there was a time when you thought that he could change, where you thought that he might outgrow the fire. a time where, you thought, your love might have been enough to wrangle his own nature back into his chest. there was no amount of i'm sorry gifts or gentle enough kisses that could make up for this time.

it came to a head in the afternoon. a disagreement had started over something simple-you couldn't even fully remember what the offense was. to begin with, you had started to back down and apologize for getting katsuki all riled up. you even knew he didn't mean anything by it most of the time and it was usually better to just apologize and forget about it, but something had crawled up inside of you this time until the two of you were screaming so loudly at each other that the pictures of you that hung on the walls detailing the highlights of your relationship reverberated the sounds back to you. the two of you screamed and tossed anything that you could find until your throats were hoarse with the recent memories of tears and strained vocal cords.

you left katsuki alone in the living room, leaving to go throw some clothes in an overnight bag. this wasn't home anymore. you didn't recognize the blonde-haired stranger standing on the other side of the wall. when you came out of the bedroom, he was sulking by the front door.

"i don't want you to leave." his words spoken to the floor.

"can't always get what you want." you threw the strap of your bag over your shoulder and pushed with purpose towards the door.

"guess i won't, then." he spat pitifully as he stepped out the way so you could leave.

"guess you fuckin' won't." you mumbled to yourself, stepping out into the night with more tears bathing your cheeks.

#this also just doubled as a reason for me to write more fluffy dadzawa content because whew boy have i started maladaptive daydreaming agai #bnha drabbles #mha drabbles #aizawa shouta x reader #kirishima eijirou x reader #bakugou katsuki x reader #bnha aizawa #dadzawa #bnha kirishima #bnha bakugou #bakugou angst #subby!kirishima #jeni writes #bnha fluff