#babysitting au

[call-me-maggie13]

Beatrice doubts she’s ever been so nervous. Her head is spinning and she fidgets with the bundle in her hands, brown paper crinkling as she tugs softly on the tiny yellow bow wrapped around it.

She hesitates on the front step, considers tossing the bouquet into the bin closest to her and running the opposite direction. This is possibly the worst decision of her entire life. Completely unprompted. She should’ve consulted Shannon.

"Oh." Ava pauses in the doorway, one foot on the stone steps mere inches away from Beatrice. "Were you…"

Beatrice feels her face burn when Ava’s eyes settle on the red tulips in her arms. Eleven red and a single yellow tulip.

Red tulips. A declaration of love.

"Mama, move it!" Diana pushes through Ava’s legs, stumbling into the daylight like a newborn deer, squinting against the sun until her eyes adjust and she recognizes Beatrice, grinning and leaping into her. "Papa!"

Beatrice can’t look away from Ava, she’s analyzing every micro expression that passes over her face. Ava knows what it means. Perhaps Valentine’s Day isn’t the time for this. Beatrice should’ve waited.

"Papa!" Diana yanks on Beatrice’s coattail, pointing to the brown paper bundle in her arms. "What’s it?"

Beatrice forces herself to thaw, heart pounding against her ribs as she swallows it from the back of her throat.

"It’s a gift. For you and… and your mama." Finally, Ava lifts her eyes, cheeks pink and lips parted. Beatrice fumbles over the flowers, trying to find the yellow tulip to tug free for Diana. But she doesn’t look away from Ava.

Beatrice had really hoped to catch them while Diana was still napping so she would have time to process before attending to the little girl. In fact, she probably had arrived while Diana was napping but she’d spent so long doubting herself that Diana had awoken.

Diana takes her flower from Beatrice, inspects it quietly before extending it for Ava to admire.

Beatrice hadn’t meant to declare her love for Ava in the snowy, winter air. She hadn’t meant for it to be a grand gesture. It was meant for Ava alone. For her and Ava.

She’d had a speech prepared for Ava’s tiny entryway, her stained linoleum tiles, her crayon colored walls.

I’m yours. She had wanted to say. For as long as you’ll have me.

Beatrice offers the remaining bouquet to Ava, extending them for Ava to either accept or deny. Waiting for Ava to either accept her or turn her away.

The next second moves impossibly slow. Ava steps toward the tulips, hand reaching to brush their petals before moving away. Beatrice’s heart falls, sinking deep into her stomach. Ava has been considering the best way to reject her. Beatrice has read too deep into their interactions. She’s misinterpreted and ruined everything and -

Oh.

Ava’s lips are soft and warm against hers, tender and tentative. Beatrice’s mind has barely processed what was happening before Ava is pulling away, apologies clouding the minuscule space between them until Beatrice surges forward and they crash together again.

They haven’t kissed since they returned from Christmas. Beatrice isn’t certain why, not a single moment has passed that she hasn’t thought about kissing Ava. The thought had overtaken her, pulsed deep in her veins until she’d had to pull away, little by little, creating a chasm between them. A chasm flowing with anxiety and worry.

She’s not certain what she’d ever fret over before because this might the only thing Beatrice had ever been certain of in her life.

They’re only pulled apart by a high whine from Diana, a cry of boredom and annoyance. Even then, they linger in each other, noses brushing and breath mixing.

Beatrice still hasn’t found the words she’d rehearsed previously, only four she hadn’t considered tumble past her lips into the shared air betwixt them.

"Will you be mine?" The uncertainty lingers only a moment before Ava pulls away to giggle, nodding rapidly and blushing deeply. She flings her arms around Beatrice’s neck and buries her nose there, effectively knocking the flowers from Beatrice’s hand. Beatrice doesn’t much mind.

"I thought I already was."

Find more here!

#warrior nun #ava silva #sister beatrice #avatrice #warrior nun s2 #bea and ava #warrior nun season 2 #wn s2 #save warrior nun #warrior nun netflix #babysitting au #babysitter au #fic: like the princess

[pockets-full-of-roses-writing]

Can’t Talk Right Now — Babysitting

brief summary: tom riddle wants to be in your presence. you have babysitting duties. he forces you to bring him along. wonder how that'll go..

[(very changed) tom riddle x reader; little to no use of y/n]

divider credits !

Tom Riddle is, at most, the coldest Slytherin you've ever met. He was the House itself. He wore his uniform with pride and passion, striding down the halls in his silver Prefect badge. His favorite part was patrolling down the halls and scolding the younger years. He loved it.

Riddle was very talented with his studies, too. He'd spend every waking moment either in the Library, in his classes, the Great Hall, or his dorm and he'd study. Top marks were all his papers read.

In fact, that's exactly how he met you. Rather, how you met him.

You were perfect. Good grades, a high average, and a good grasp on your subjects. So when you began getting confused in class, you knew you needed a quick solution.

You sought out Tom's help. He, at first, shot you down immediately. He saw you as a lower class. He barely knew you as it was so he didn't know exactly why he wanted to turn you down. After seeing your eyes and your pleading gaze, he gave in.

The two of you were study buddies, until he realized he liked your presence a lot more than he should. So? He quite literally obsessed over you. Spent his time (instead of studying his classes) studying you. He quickly learned all your habits and interests, using that too woo you.

Let's be honest. When a conventionally attractive man likes all the things you do and is wiling to talk about it, it's pretty hard to say no. The two of you have been dating ever since.

Your current dilemma? His constant urge to be by your side. At first, you loved it. Now, you still love it, but its a lot to handle. Especially when you took on the responsibility of babysitting.

"Why can't someone else watch their kids? Why do you have to go?"

"Tom, we've been over this. I'm doing it for my great aunt, she needs it."

"That old hag can call another babysitter. Love, c'mon, just cancel it. Please?"

You gave him a look, nudging his leg with your own. Tom Riddle, the coldest boy known in Hogwarts, was clinging to you like a child. He demanded you cuddle with him before you had to watch your baby cousin.

She was getting older and older. Soon you couldn't even call her a baby.

“Don’t call her that! It’s just three hours, darling. I’m sure you can wait that long for me?”

Tom huffed, crossing his arms. He withdrew his grip on you, pouting childishly.

“Tom!”

He glanced at you, then tilted his head upward. He looked rather posh now, something he had mastered over the years.

You wrapped your arms around him, pulling him to your chest. Sighing, you found a solution. It was a horrible idea, for Tom hated babies.

“Will you stop sulking if I let you come with me?”

Tom grimaced.

“That’s the only way you’ll get to be near me. Just saying~”

He now pondered the thought. He knew that you would never let him go. Especially if there were children around. There was no telling what he’d do. He could seriously teach this kids some bad things.

“Fine,” he hissed, pulling you into his embrace again.

He kissed the top of your head, a slight smile tugging his lips. “You’re lucky I love you, y’know.”

Around 7:30 PM, the two of you politely knocked on your great aunt’s door. To your forceful request, he wore something comfortable and pleasing to the eye. He wore a bright yellow shirt with his choice of black pants. You wanted your baby cousin to feel comfortable around him, not be scared.

Rapid footsteps approached the door. “Who is it?” your great aunt’s voice came from the door.

“Your babysitters for the night!” you called back, smiling at the peephole. There was a sound of locks turning before the door creaked open.

“Oh! Dearie! Thank you so much for- Who’s this fine gentleman?”

Her gaze scanned over your boyfriend, looking at him as if he were a threat.

“This is Tom! He’ll be helping me out with Eliana.”

She kept her eye on him, “Alright then.”

She smiled sweetly over to you, motioning for the both of you to step inside. The house was a mess; toys littered everywhere, stains on all the blankets, and the sound of a baby crying.

“I’ll be back around eleven. Dinners thawing out for you and your.. er.. boyfriend. You know what she likes,” your great aunt smiled tiredly, grabbing her keys and her bag. “Ciao! See you later, loves!”

The door slammed and locked, leaving Tom and you with the messy home. You turned to your boyfriend.

“I’ll get El, can you try to clean this up?”

He nodded, the two of you going to your respective places.

Your baby cousin was adorable, but problematic. She didn’t like the dinner your great aunt had left, demanding dinosaur nuggets. You tried calming her down, but she was so persistent.

Eliana was afraid of your boyfriend, too. Every time she saw him lurking, she was burst into tears. Tom didn’t know whether to rock her or slap her. Of course, you stepped in to make her happy again.

Tom had taken the duty of getting and making things, the home of her great aunt’s already looking spectacular.

“El, honey, do you want sauce with it?”

“Noo~”

“Okay, okay. Just give Tom five more minutes.”

“He’s- he’s taking soooooo long!”

“Honey, patience.”

Tom stifled a scoff, clearing his throat instead. You shot him a look. You, out of all people, knew what that sound meant.

This went on for a while. After dinner, you and Eliana played together. Tom hid himself doing the dishes. Eliana wanted to watch a movie? Tom hastily muttered something about cleaning up.

Your boyfriend was avoiding this adorable child, who was in a way better mood after eating. As soon as Eliana asked to do something she was going to need help with, Tom fled. Oh, that wasn’t going to happen.

“Tom? Love?” you called out, Eliana curiously perking up.

You heard a slight groan, but he answered.

“Yeah?”

“Could you watch Eliana for a bit? I just need to use the bathroom.”

Well, you didn’t have to before. But now you did. This was your way of saying, ‘Your selfish decisions have consequences.’ You smiled mischievously at him, and he knew. He knew what you were doing.

“But-”

“Okay thanks bye!” you quickly yelped, running away. That gave you a laugh from Eliana.

Tom and the young girl stared at each other, the sound of her music faint in the background. Eliana was the first to speak.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Tom.”

“Tom? But that’s not your name.”

Tom quirked a brow. “What’s my name then?”

“Love, obviously.”

She thought his name was love because of you. He smiled, then sat down beside her standing figure.

“Which one do you like best? Tom or Love?”

The small girl thought for a moment, sitting down beside him. “Tom. Love sounds like a dog!”

The two of them laughed and quickly adapted the situation. Tom played with her for about a couple minutes.

Then you came back wearily. “I’m back~!”

The two of them looked up, smiling immediately when they saw you.

It had been a successful plan, you thought, seeing the look in his eyes afterward.

The three of you played till the clock struck 7. Eliana looked down the moment she heard the strikes.

“You know what that means.”

“No!”

“El.”

“No!”

You sighed, looking at her stubbornly. “C’mon.”

Eliana crossed her arms and moved toward Tom. “I want him to help me.”

Tom looked down at the girl in surprise. You looked at your boyfriend proudly. “Sure, show him what you need to do.”

He looked up at you, confused. You just smiled back.

While the two of them left, you tidied the room. Her bed was ready for her, books laid out along her sheets. You laid down in her bed, exhausted.

The little girl ran into her room with a fit of giggles, jumping on top of you. You groaned playfully, holding her in your arms with a grin.

Tom knew, then, that he wanted this life with you. He leaned against the doorframe, watching the two girls that made his day brighter.

“So.. which book is first?”

The three of you went through all ten books, making Eliana laugh and smile. She was very tired afterward, sleepily making you promise that you wouldn’t leave her room.

You smiled, ruffling her hair as her eyes closed. You said nothing in return except, “Good night my darling.”

Pressing a small kiss to her forehead, you climbed out of her room. Tom was laying on the couch, the rooms spotless.

You laid partially on top of him, partially to the side.

“I am exhausted. Do you think she’ll come back any time soon?”

You heard Tom chuckle.

“I hope so. This couch might be my bed in a couple minutes.”

The two of you laid in silence. Then Tom broke it.

“Darling?”

“Mm?”

“.. Do you think we’ll have kids? Like El?”

You smiled, burying your head in his chest.

“I hope so,” your voice came muffled, but he heard it. Then he heard your soft snoring.

He turned the TV volume lower, kissing your head. With a small hopeful smile, he replied softly.

“I hope so too.”

A/N: so sorry this took so long! i was looking for a one-shot just like this but couldn’t find it for the life of me. so i made it myself (i love being a writer)!! hope y’all like it. it’s more on the long side i apologize. so sorry for people who use military time, i’m not quite sure what the time would be for you. (7:30 PM)

#tom riddle #tom marvolo riddle #harry potter microfic #lord voldemort #tom riddle x reader #tom riddle x you #tom riddle x y/n #babysitting au #babysitting microfic #babysitting oneshot

[kittiwittebane]

ANOTHER FIC FOR YALL!

Human, Babysitting AU.

Includes: Human AU, Babysitter AU, Willow’s uncannonical Family.

____

Hunter walked up to the door. What if they don’t like me? He wondered. He knocked on the door nervously. Two older men answered.

“Hello!” They both spoke. Hunter gulped.

“Hello Sirs!” he smiled awkwardly. He scratched his face.

“Come in, Ava is inside.” the men waved him inside. Hunter stepped through the door into a very nice house. Wow. he thought. Though the house was much less fancy than his, (and rightly so, his father was a very rich man) it was pretty aesthetic. Pictures of the family all over the walls, flower pots everywhere and-

Woah.

Hunter had to stop his mouth from dropping. There, next to who he assumed to be Ava was a stubby girl with emerald green eyes, who was undoubtedly very attractive to Hunter.

“So we hear your name is Hunter?” the first man, much stockier than the second with blue hair asked.

“Uhm, uckg.” Hunter failed to speak, still marvelling over the girl. “Yes!” he replied after a hot minute. “Hunter. That is my name.” he smiled, showing his tooth gap, before shutting his mouth again awkwardly.

“Right.” The second man stood, feeling the boy’s uncomfortable emotion. “I am Harvey, and this is my husband, Gilbert.”

Gilbert waved. Hunter waved back.

“This is our daughter, Willow.” Gilbert introduced.

Willow… pretty name. Hunter mused.

“Right,” Harvey continued. “And the one you will be taking care of is-”

“Hi! I’m Willow Park, And this is my little cousin Ava!” Willow grabbed his hand and shook him vigorously in a handshake where the ‘shake’ was way too emphasised.

“Nice- to- meet- you!” Hunter voiced between the aggressive shakes. She finally let go and he took his hand back. She bruised it… wow she’s strong.

“Hi!” The little girl exclaimed. “I’m Ava!”

Hunter instantly loved her. His mind flooded with thoughts of adorableness. Without thinking, he sat on the floor and Ava ran into his arms.

“Good!” Ava declared, turning to her Uncles and her cousin. It took Hunter only about half a second after that to realise what a fool he was making of himself. Harvey and Gilbert sighed in relief, not even caring about the fact he looked a bit stupid.

“Finally!” Willow wiped her forehead. “Ava is soooo picky with her Babysitter. She’s gone through… like six??”

“What can I say?” Hunter said stupidly. “I’m good with kids.” Hunter then cringed at his own words, wishing he had not said that. Good job, Hunter, you fricked it up.

Willow giggled airily, and it made Hunter feel lightheaded. He’d only known her for what?- five minutes? Why was she making him feel like this? What was this?

“Right so you will be staying with her tomorrow, from 8am to 9pm for 100 dollars, yes?” Gilbert continued. Hunter nodded.

“Good.”

___

Hunter breathed out again. He could do this! Just one small child. Hunter knocked on the door.

“Hello!” Willow opened the door very enthusiastically.

“Hi!” Hunter spluttered, attempting to lean against nothing impressively, then falling over.

Titan, kill me now. Hunter thought. He looked up and Willow had her hand out. He took it and she helped him up.

“Are you ok?” she asked worriedly.

“Just a bruised ego.” Hunter muttered. Willow giggled. She thought this was really funny. It wasn’t.

“Hellooooo!” Ava ran up to them, quite impulsively attaching herself to Hunter’s leg. Hunter looked down and then back up quickly, then smiling proudly.

“Well just maybe we won’t have to find a new babysitter.” Willow laughed.

“It would help if she didn’t mind staying at home with Willow.” Gilbert chuckled. “She says Willow isn’t cool enough. Way to down her own cousin.”

“She isn’t.” Ava huffed. “I want Hunter!” the little girl looked back up at Hunter.

“Oh and Hunter?” Harvey started.

“Yes?” Hunter asked.

“I hope you don’t mind but I did forget to mention that Willow will be staying with you.”

Hunter froze.

“What?” he choked.

“Willow can’t come with us, it’s an adults only event.” his voice dropped to a whisper. “And besides, I can’t trust her with the house. The last time I did that, she and her friend Augustus wrecked it.”

“Papaaaaa!” Willow complained. “I was fiiiive!”

Hunter made a small giggling sound.

“It’s not funny!” Willow whined playfully. “It’s not MY fault the babysitter was incompetent!” Harvey and Gilbert just chuckled heartily.

“Ok, Flower, it wasn’t your fault.”

“Anyways, the rules are on the fridge, and you can ask Willow if there is something we didn’t write. See you later!”

Both of them then left.

Oh, Titan. Of course it wasn’t just going to be a little girl. It’s a little girl and a teenager. A girl teenager. A very… attractive teenager.

“Right, so uh, let’s do this?” Hunter mumbled.

Willow nodded. “Let’s do this!”

#hunter toh #hunter deamonne #hunter noceda #hunter wittebane #the owl house #toh #dana terrace #huntlow #willow park #winter #winter TOH #the owl house au #Huntlow au #babysitter au #babysitting au #hunter x willow #willow x hunter #Huntlow the owl house

[cofe-doodles]

calm before the storm💜✨

+ old art :D

#sanders sides #thomas sanders #fan art #roman sanders #ts roman #virgil sanders #ts virgil #prinxiety #roman x virgil #virgil x roman #patton sanders #ts patton #logan sanders #ts logan #baby sides #baby logan #baby patton #baby roman #babysitting au #new profile :D #clouds + flowers #<33 #its such a nice aesthetic

[sonicrainicorn]

really exposing my music tastes with this one

#originally i was going to render this #but my desire to Not Do That was stronger #rtgame #fantasy au #single dad au #babysitting au #seer au #these guys need a tag #tagging their individual AUs is tiring #scribbles by sonic

[immortalsimulacrum]

Percy and Jason babysit Estelle while Sally and Paul are out of town. Cuteness ensues.

#percy jackson #jercy #jason grace #fanfic #my fic #ao3 fanfic #jercy fic rec #completed work #estelle #babysitting au

[squidbulborb]

Cassidy & Charlie

I want to write a "Babysitter AU" where we see Charlie babysitting each of the missing children, exploring each of their personalities and quicks...

Personally, I view Cassidy as a very quick to anger kindergartener!

#fnaf #five nights at freddy's #charlie emily #the missing children #cassidy #babysitting au #the puppet #the marionette #golden freddy #fredbear

[kiankiwi]

Babysitter:

Summary: You had to go on an overnight business trip but Austin's in littlespace so you leave him with your sister. Many tears ensue!

*

You and Austin were just finishing dinner and you were getting ready to have a big talk with him. You needed to go on a trip overnight for work and Austin had been showing signs he had needed to regress so you had asked for your sister to come over to take care of him and stay with him in case he went into headspace while you were away. But this is the first time he'd technically have a "babysitter" so you didn't know how it was going to go. Good hopefully.

Austin was putting the last of the night's dishes into the dishwasher and you sat on the couch, gesturing for him to come over. "Hey babe, can we talk?" Austin eyed you, trying to see if he missed something he needed to remember or if he was mad at him. "What's up love?" You sighed, hoping you didn't make him sad or mad. "Baby... I gotta go do something for work tomorrow and it has to be overnight Aus." Fear flashes in his baby blues. "What if I slip? I-I haven't gone down in weeks and-and I'm s-so tired, mama, I just- what if-" His hands slowly go up to his blonde locks and pull at them, his voice laced with so much anxiety.

You stand and take a step toward him and wrap your hands around his arms, pulling his arms down so he doesn't pull his hair out and take both of his hands in his. "Baby, slow down okay? I figured you wanted to slip so my sister, Angie, you remember her? She's is gonna come and stay here overnight just in case okay? And if you don't slip that's fine too but seeing you stressed out over the last couple of days, I'd rather not have you stay in the apartment overnight alone just in case okay? Angie already knows about your headspace and expects you to drop so you don't have to worry about any judgement okay? She wants to help you and I'll be gone for only 1 day? One full sleep okay? But I have to go, baby." You drop his hands and cup his face in your hands. He sniffs, nodding. You can tell by looking in his eyes that he's already starting to slip right in front of you so it's safe to say he'll be completely down by the time you leave him with your sister.

"Is there something you want from me, bubs?" He reaches up to knuckle at his eye. "C-can I-I slip now? Is that okay?" You rise up on your tiptoes to peck his forehead and Austin drops his head down so it's easier for you to give him kisses. "Of course baby, you know you don't have to ask me to go down, I'll always take care of you, you don't need permission baby." He nods. "'kay mama." You reach down and squeeze his hand. "How should we end this night? Jammies, teefies or a bottle?"

He looks to you, confused because you were giving him a choice even though you knew his bedtime routine. He very much wants his regular routine. You put a finger up, amending your statement. "Sorry, which one do you want to do first?" He nods, looking at his socked feet. "Um, baba please." You nod. "Lay down and I'll get it ready." You say, pointing to the long couch.

You were up very early the next morning, letting your sister into the apartment by 5:30. You had told her to text you when she got there instead of knocking because you wanted Austin to stay asleep for as long as possible because you had a feeling when he woke up and realized that you had left him in head space he'd rain hell down on your sister.

"Hey, thanks for doing this. I was right, he slipped pretty soon after I told him I was leaving last night." Your sister nods, taking her coat off and getting comfy. "Of course! Is there anything I need to know?" You grab your coat and look around the apartment, trying to organize your last minute thoughts.

"Uuuum, let him sleep for as long as he wants today, I imagine he'll be a bit of a terror today when he realizes I let him sleep instead of saying goodbye. Um, it helps keeping him occupied, give him tasks to keep him busy but if shit hits the fan, you guys can facetime me whenever. He's obsessed with Mac and cheese right now so that's probably what he'll want for dinner, you can take him out if you want but he might be scared of paps, uh, bedtime is usually around 7:45-8 but he usually wants snuggles so he's allowed to sleep in my bed tonight and he knows that. After dinner, he's very particular about his bedtime routine; It's always dinner, bath, bottle, story and bed. I ran it all by Austin last night trying to calm him down about it so... if you have any other questions you can always text, call or if all else fails, ask him." Your sister nods, putting her hand up to stop you. "What are his toddler words? So I don't have to decode his language very much." You smiled. You loved explaining his baby speak. You tried to think of toddler words Austin would use. "Let's see, stuffed animals are stuffies, milk is milkies, mac and cheese is just cheese, story is stopies, strawberries is strawbabies, his blankie is manky, pretending is 'tending. Um, sorry I can't think of any more."

Your sister nodded. "It's okay, you gotta go, if I need anything I'll just text you." You nodded. "And I'm sorry in advance if he gives you a hard time this morning. He doesn't like being left alone. Especially if I'm the one leaving." She nods and asks, "You got everything?" You look toward the bedroom with a sad look on your face. You don't want to leave.

"Should.. should I say goodbye?" She shakes her head. "No, no, that'll just make it worse. Just let him sleep, now go, go!" You nod and Angie basically shoves you out the door.

Angie decides to nap on the couch until Austin gets up since he runs their day.

And he finally gets up around 9:30 quietly shuffling out into the living room with his blankie or as Austin likes to say, his "manky" clutched tightly in one hand. He looks at Angie who waves, not getting closer to the tall boy unsure of what he's going to do with his big emotions. "Good morning, how'd you sleep buddy?" Austin points to the front door and whispers, "Mama go?" his lip wobbling. Angie nods, walking over to Austin. "Yeah Aus, she didn't want you wake you." Austin starts to cry he sits in front of the front door of your apartment, pulling his knees up to his chest and putting his head on his knees, rocking a bit as he cries out, "Mama didn't even say 'oodbye! Mama! Mama you forgot me! Mama!" Austin screams for his mama, throwing his head back.

Angie decides she has to do something she can't just sit there and watch him unravel. "Oh, I'm so sorry sweetheart. But mama always comes back, oh sweetie." She sits in front of Austin and pushes his head into her chest, letting him lay there, rubbing his back as he lays half on his "aunt" and half on the floor, his legs bent so he doesn't feel as big. "Mama didn't forget you bug, it would be so boring at mama's meeting so she trusted me to hang out with you for a bit, is that okay?" No, Austin decides that is most definitely not okay. He pushes Angie away, rolling away from her. "No, no! You're not my mommy! You're not mommy, I want mommy!" He gets up and runs back into the bedroom slamming the door behind him.

Angie sighs, sitting back on the couch, deciding to just let him have a cry and have his feelings. And he most definitely doesn't want comfort for her so she'll just wait until he cries it out.

Fifteen minutes later, Austin's cries finally quiet down. He reappears in the living room entryway, leaning tiredly on the wall, eyeing Angie. "Hi bubs, want to try this again? What would you like for breakfast?" Austin silently quirks his lips, thinking of his options. "Mickey awfuls please?" Angie smiles nodding. "Sure bud. Here I'll get those started, why don't you come sit down." Austin looks back at the bedroom. "Can.. can my puppy come too?" Angie resists cooing at how cute he is. "Sure bud, go get your puppy." Angie smiles as she prepares the waffles, hearing Austin scampering back into the room grabbing his favorite stuffed blue dog.

"What's your puppy's name buddy?" Austin smiles for the first time today. "He's Pepper." Angie shakes the paw of the stuffed dog just to amuse Austin. "Well nice to meet you, Pepper." Austin snickers as Angie sets Austin's plate of two waffles with pictures of Mickey Mouse on the top, already pre sliced.

"Eat up Mister. Then we'll do something, fun okay?" Angie pours a little bit of syrup on his waffles but Austin looks expectantly up at her as soon as she stops pouring. "No, that's enough for that much bud. Gosh you are gonna be so messy.." Angie whispers as an afterthought as she watches Austin begin to eat, almost opening his mouth as wide as it will go the way toddlers do.

Angie starts cuing up a movie for Austin when she hears him yelp. The tears start again as Angie turns to find out what happened. "What happened buddy?" Austin points to the stuffed dog on the table next to his plate that indeed has syrup splotches on it. "I-I-I just wanted Pepper to try some and his fur got m-m-messy. I'm sorry!" Angie stands behind his chair, running a hand comfortingly through his dirty blonde curls. "Oh that's alright sweetie, I'll wash him for you. It's all okay. But we don't feed our stuffies our food okay?" He nods, pouting at our plate. Angie points to his food. "Finish up and I'll help Pepper okay? He'll be okay I promise."

Austin looks up at her hopefully. "You a stuffy docta?" Angie nods. If that's what he wants to believe, sure. "Of course, And all my patients leave feeling all better. Okay? Now eat!" Austin nods and digs back into his waffles, trusting you with his friend.

After breakfast, Angie starts a disney movie for Austin and he scoots over to his tub of alphabet blocks and looks to Angie, silently asking for permission. He was a quiet boy. Angie nodded. "Yeah, you can dump them out." Austin grinned, happy to cause some destruction and be messy. He looked through all the letters on the wooden blocks thinking of all of the possibilities. Angie leans forward on the couch and taps Austin on the back. "Can you spell... your name?" Austin grins even wider loving the new task he was given and quickly finding the letters to spell out his first name.

"Good job, lovie! Let's send that to mommy okay? Show her what a smart boy you are!" Austin nods, giggling excitedly. Angie snaps a picture and claps, encouraging him. "Now... do you know what momma's name is?" "Y/N." He whispered. Angie highfived him. "That's right buddy. How about you show momma you can spell her name now?" Austin gets to work but he has a different idea.

While Angie is texting you, updating you on the day she and Austin had had, Austin poked her in the knee and pointed to his new masterpiece. His name in blocks was still there. And below it was the word Mommy. Angie laughed, "You silly boy."

Angie then texted you, asking if it was okay to facetime as a nice surprise for Austin. The phone immediately started ringing. "Aus, come up here, mama's on the phone." Austin scampers onto the couch, sitting next to your sister as she accepts the call. Austin waves his large hand in your face. "Hi momma! Hi!" You laugh, laying on the hotel bed in your suite. "Hi baby, you being a good boy for Angie?" Austin looks down, unsure. "Uh..." You give him a stern look. "Austin?" Angie jumps in to defend him. "We had a rough morning, poor baby was sitting by the door wanting you but we fixed it and had waffles, huh bud?" He nods, his finger in his mouth now. "Mmhm got syrup on Pepper." Angie quickly gives him paci that was on the coffee table and you give your sister a thankful look.

"Ah baby, I'm so sorry you were sad but mommy had to go. You wouldn't like it here, I wouldn't get to spend any time with you here baby. And I figured you wanted to stay down longer..." Austin looks far off, trying to process in his kid mind what she's explaining to him. One lone tear falls down his cheek though and collides with his pacifier. "You didn't say goodbye. No hug..." You sigh sadly. "I'm sorry baby. I'm so sorry. I didn't want to wake you, I wanted to let you sleep. Can you forgive me, baby?" Austin thinks for a minute and eventually nods. "Yeah, mama." You smile at him. "Good. What else did you do today?" You ask, hoping to get him on a different subject.

Austin adjusted, curling his legs up on the couch, turning to the side so he can still see you on the phone and laying his head on the back of the couch. It was getting close to his nap and he was showing it. "We watch a movie and I spell with blocks." You nod, grinning proudly. "Yeah, I saw that baby, you're such a little genius." Angie turned the camera so you could see he spelled Mommy too. "This was his next creation." "Oh wow!" You gasp. "I love that baby. You're such an artist." Austin giggles tiredly as Angie turns the camera back so you can see Austin. You frown, you won't be there to tuck Austin in for his nap.

"Gosh baby, you're looking sleepy." He nods, yawning hugely. "Oh wow, so sleepy." Angie puts her head on top of Austin's to lean in. "I think it's time for a nap buddy. You wanna say goodbye to mama?" He whimpers, "No, I don't want mama to go away again!" You sigh. "It's okay baby, I'll call again before you go to bed for the night okay? And then I'll be home so soon okay? Go get cozy in bed and Angie will get you another baba and when you get up you can play some more. Maybe spell me some more words." Austin gives you a soft smile. "Okay mama. I be good and go s'eep." You blow Austin a kiss. "You're always my good boy baby, even if you get sad sometimes. I love you sweet boy." Austin blows you three noisy kisses. "Wuv 'oo mama." You smile as you hang up with him.

Austin gives Angie back the phone and dashes to his bedroom, dutifully getting under the covers, hugging another one of his stuffies to his side and snuggling down into the blankets. You hand him a bottle she had quickly made while he was choosing which friend to nap with. He quickly spits out his paci to replace it with his bottle, sucking greedily at the sweet milk.

While Austin is asleep, Angie gets to work on washing Pepper in the sink. She's just drying him off and thinking she'll get to cleaning up Austin's blocks when she hears him whining from his bedroom. "You okay buddy?" She walks in to see see Austin clutching his bear to his chest and crying. Angie sits beside him, cupping his wet cheek in her hand. "What happened love?" He hiccups on the words, "B-bad d-d-dream...." Angie hugs the sleepy boy to her chest, rocking him until he's just whimpering. "Oh I'm sorry baby, do you want to tell Aunt Angie about it?" He shakes his head, sucking hard on his paci. "Is mama okay?" He asks. Angie is pretty sure you were in the dream at that point and that's what prompted his question. "Yes baby, she's still texting me about all the plans we have for today." Austin's lip wobbles. "Will she be home when I wake up t'morrow?" Angie tsks, sad to give him the news. "No but she'll be home around noon okay? So if you want to sleep in tomorrow, that's totally okay." He nods, looking around his bedroom, seeming to remember what he was doing there before the bad dream.

"You still sleepy bud? You can go back to sleep for a little." Austin immediately lays back down, still holding Angie's hand. "Snuggle please?" She nods. "Of course I'll snuggle with you."

Later that night, Angie was cleaning up the kitchen after dinner while Austin was watching Dora and interacting with it. To be quite honest, he was procrastinating bedtime because he knew you wouldn't be here to put him to sleep. Yeah, Angie was okay but you were his mommy. And damn he missed his mommy. After cleaning up the toys Austin had played with thorough out the day and cleaned up the kitchen from dinner you put Austin's favorite things to sleep with on your big bed and prepared him another bottle with vanilla mixed in, offering it to him as he stood in the middle of the room answering Dora's questions.

"C'mon Aus, it's bedtime buddy." He tapped his foot on the ground, hesitant to go with her. He wondered if he could just snag the bottle and run off to avoid bedtime. "Uh, not yet Angie." But not even ten minutes later, he rubbed his eyes, proof that he was sleepy again. "C'mon buddy I know you're sleepy. Let's go get nice and cozy c'mon and you can have your baba and bed, c'mon." Austin backed away from her a step and whimpered, "Mama..." Angie sighed. "I know bud but the sooner you go s'eepies the sooner you wake up and she'll be back here with you." Austin groaned wanting to cry but not having the energy. "Let's go buddy once you get in bed we can call her again okay?" That did it, as soon as Angie offered his bottle, jammies and another call with you, he was ready for bed.

The next day, Angie doesn't wake Austin up at all, just cleaning up the house and letting him sleep so that he'd spend less time missing you until you were actually here. He stumbles sleepily out the bedroom at 11:30, hair messed up, paci in his mouth and blankie dragging behind him. You were due home in 20 minutes. "Hey sleepyhead." He eyes the door as he shuffles over to the couch and drops onto it and bunches his blankie on his lap. "Guess who's already on her way home!" Austin's eyes light up. "Mama come home? See Ausie?!" Angie nodded, looking through the options for a late breakfast. "Yep! She'll be here so soon! What do you want for breakfast while we wait for her baby?" Austin, excited now toddles over to the kitchen and sits at his usual spot requesting yogurt this morning.

You were finally home. You expected to hear screaming and crying as you walked through the door but surprisingly Austin didn't even notice you were in the apartment, too focused on his morning cartoons. Your sister does notice you though and points to you. Austin launches himself at you with a squeal of glee. You cuddle him close, squeezing hard until you hear, "Mama.... can't.. breathe." You pull back to notice Austin's eyes are brimmed with tears yet again. "Oh it's okay baby. Mama won't leave again, you're okay." Austin hugs you again, nuzzling into your neck whispering, "Missed you so much!" You put your hand on the back of his head, leaning back a bit to peck his cheek. "I missed you too baby. I was thinking about you all night." You sit with Austin and your sister on the couch. You were prepared for Austin to be clingy for the rest of the day, attached to your hip. Austin climbed into your lap which wasn't an easy task and snuggled into you while you turned your attention to your sister. "Everything went okay?" She nodded, grabbing her shoes. "Yeah, we had some tears and he had a bad dream earlier today but other than that all was good. I'll get outta here and leave you two be. Love you guys." You nodded, carding your hands through the back of Austin's hair as he laid his head on your shoulder as he sat on his lap. "We love you too, say bye Aus." Austin doesn't move from inside your neck as he says, "Bye Aunt Angie." Only caring that his momma was back with him.

After your sister left, you soaked up your baby's cuddles as much as you could. "Do you want a bottle baby?" He nodded but refused to stay back on the couch, he had to be at least holding your hand while you went to the kitchen and made it. Good thing you were used to making bottles one handed.

You settle back on the couch and gesture for Austin to make himself comfy against you before you shake up his bottle and hand it to him. He shakes his head, he wants you to hold it for him, it helps him feel smaller that way. "Oh okay baby, I suppose I can hold it today." He sucks down the yummy bottle, not daring to take his eyes off of you and eventually reaching his hand up and cupping your cheek, tapping his large fingers against your skin. "Yeah I'm right here, love. I'm not going anywhere. You can nap baby, I won't disappear." He nods and finally lets his eyes drift shut

*

My babysitter fic is finally done!! I wanted to post it before I went to bed! I hope you enjoy it. This was just over the span of one night but I may write one where it spans over a week so if you want that let me know <3 Hope you enjoyed! @mooodyblue

#babysitting au #littleaustinfic #austinbutler #austin!elvis fic #fanfic #kiwiswriting

[darkishink]

A few pictures from mine and my siblings Magnus archives AU

#the magnus archives au #the magnus archive fanart #the magnus archives #babysitting au

[cellodoll]

#tmc #mandela catalogue #the mandela catalogue #tmc jonah #tmc mark #mark heathcliff #jonah marshall #babysitting au #transcliff if you squint #they still haven't combed Jonah's hair yet

[call-me-maggie13]

It’s a Tuesday when Lucia calls the first time. Beatrice is leaving her apartment for a run when her phone rings, interrupting her favorite part of the song she’s listening to on her headphones. There’s no caller ID, but Beatrice recognizes the number, so she answers.

"Hello, this is Beatrice." She’s formal. Lucia likes to try to blur the line between a professional relationship and a friendly one.

"Hey, Bea - "

"Beatrice." She corrects, dropping to her knee to retie her laces.

"Yeah, Beatrice." Lucia’s mocking her, Beatrice isn’t stupid, but she lets it go.

"Is there a reason you’re calling?" Beatrice asks after Lucia goes silent.

"Right! Yes! Carlos misses you, I was wondering if we could do lunch sometime this week so he could see you?" Carlos. Beatrice loves Carlos. He’s fun, witty and charismatic and kind. He’s always been one of her favorite kids she’s worked with. Lucia, however, is one of Beatrice’s least preferred parents.

"I don’t know if you remember, but I’m in - "

"In the city. Yes, I remember. Carlos and I just moved here too! Isn’t that exciting?" No. Beatrice thinks. Exciting is not a word I would use. Lucia drops her voice, nearly to a whisper. "He’s having a hard time making friends at his new school, I think seeing a friendly face would make him feel better about the move."

Beatrice sighs, checks the time on her watch and realizes she’s spent half of her allotted running time on the phone with Lucia.

"I can’t do lunch, but I can do an early dinner. Maybe Thursday? I’ll have to - "

"Yes, perfect! That works!" She hangs up before Beatrice can tell her she will be bringing Diana. She could send her a message, but that would mean Lucia would message her back and Beatrice doesn’t want to speak to her anymore than necessary.

Beatrice tells Ava about it that evening, between Diana’s snack and her bath while Ava’s scrambling about looking for the keys Diana hid.

"Who is this again?" Ava looks up from digging through the couch cushions, cheeks flushed and hair tousled.

"It’s a kid I used to work with before I started uni. Him and his mum." Diana giggles around her fingers when Ava looks under the couch, Beatrice bouncing her and asking where the keys are quietly. Ava’s asked her three times, Diana isn’t answering either of them. "It’s okay if you don’t want - "

"No, it’s fine! It sounds fun, just - make her eat something other than chicken strips, please? You always say you will then you cave when she pouts. She needs to try new foods." Ava looks under the coffee table and through Diana’s toy bin. She’s going to be late if she doesn’t find the keys soon.

"Okay. I won’t have her out late, we’ll be back before the sun goes down. Won’t we?" Beatrice tickles Diana who squeals and pushes away, nearly toppling out of her arms. Beatrice grabs her leg to keep from falling and her shoe falls off, jingling when it hits the ground. Diana glances between the fallen shoe and Ava for a moment before she starts giggling maniacally.

"They were in your shoes? Are you serious? Diana, you little…" Ava picks the keys out of the baby shoe, holds Diana’s face between her hands and sighs fondly, shaking her head. "You little punk." Ava laughs and kisses both of her cheeks. "I love you. Be good, yeah?"

Diana smiles and wipes her wet hand down Ava’s cheek. Ava grimaces and rubs her cheek against Diana’s sleeve, earning a full body laugh and a gleeful wiggle. Ava presses a soft kiss against Beatrice’s cheek before she’s gone. 

Beatrice almost considers going after her, almost considers asking her to say no, almost considers telling her she doesn’t want to go. But she doesn’t. 

She doesn’t.

 Read more below the break or here!

Beatrice stops for the third time. Considers turning back. It’s not too late, she can still say she can’t make it. Diana bounces beside her, swings their intwined hands back and forth. She spins, twists Beatrice’s fingers over her head before dropping it and racing around her.

"Let’s go! Let’s goooooo!" Diana whines, taking her hands and tugging her forward. "I wan’ nuggies!"

"It’s want, baby. Try again." Diana pauses to pout, tucks her hands under her elbows and sticks her bottom lip out. Beatrice quirks her eyebrow and fights back a smile. "Try again."

"I. Want. Nuggies." She pauses between each word to huff, spins on her heel to take two steps forward then turn back to Beatrice with her head cocked.

"Okay. But I will have you know, your mama wants you to try something else." They resume towards the restaurant hand in hand, Beatrice’s blunder already forgiven and forgotten. "Like maybe something not chicken?"

"No. I like nuggies." Diana pouts again, gives her tiny chin a tremble to prove her point.

"If you try something else, we can get ice cream on the way home?" Ava would never barter with Diana like this and she would be upset if she knew Beatrice was doing it.

"Sprinkles?" She comes to a complete stop, nearly causing the people behind them to crash into her. Beatrice nods and scoops her up, apologizes quickly to the strangers and hurries down the sidewalk.

It really is unfair, how late they are because she couldn’t decide if she actually wanted to come. Carlos probably thinks they’re not going to show up, the thought stabs her in the chest and speeds her steps. 

"Beatrice!" The boy bolts down the sidewalk and crashes into her legs, nearly tackling her to the ground. Beatrice chuckles and ruffles the boy’s unruly curls.

"Hi, Carlos! How have you been?" The boy steps back and flips her hair out of his face, grinning at her with a gap in his teeth. "Oh! When did you lose that tooth?"

"Last night! The tooth fairy gave me fifteen bucks! Look!" He presses up onto his toes and pokes the empty space with his tongue. Beatrice peers into his mouth intently, inspecting it with the same fervency with which he presents it. "Who’s this?"

"This is Diana! Diana, can I introduce you to my friend Carlos?" Diana shakes her head and buries her face in Beatrice’s shoulder. "That’s okay, you don’t have to talk to him until you’re ready."

"Beatrice, hello!" Lucia steps up behind Carlos, strokes Beatrice’s shoulder, her hand lingers. Beatrice shrugs it off awkwardly.

"Hello, Lucia." Beatrice takes a half step back and a deep breath, forcing a smile and turning back to Carlos. "So, I’m hungry, are you?"

"Yeah, we already have a table, right, mom?" Lucia confirms and leads them to the booth while Carlos launches into a story about his friend’s birthday party. "So then, I told Marley, dude, you can’t just say stuff like that. People are going to think you’re weird. But like. People already think Marley’s weird because she tells everyone she was named after a dog. But it’s okay that she’s weird because it like. It’s not weird when she does it. You know?"

"I do! I know someone like that." Beatrice smiles fondly as she thinks of the last time she’d been to the farmers market and Ava spent twenty minutes deciding which lemon looked the sourest. "Have you ever read Stargirl?"

"Yeah! Marley is just like Stargirl! It’s her favorite book!" Carlos bounces in his seat. Lucia places a hand on his knee to still him.

"Sorry, he’s got a little crush." Lucia winks and Beatrice has to bite her lip not to snap at her. He’s eight. He’s allowed to have friends of the opposite gender. Carlos deflates at her words, sinks into his seat and drops his hands into his lap.

"It sounds like you found a really cool friend. Is Marley a friend from school?" Carlos nods weakly but doesn’t look up from his hands, Beatrice frowns. Diana stops scribbling on her menu to look at him quizzically, dropping her crayon to turn to Beatrice with her head tilted. "Have you decided what you want?"

"Nuggies," Diana whispers and Beatrice grins bemused, Diana rolls her eyes and sighs, pushes the menu to Beatrice and climbs into her lap. "Read, please?"

Beatrice reads the children’s menu to her quietly, answers her questions when asked and offers suggestions when Diana struggles to decide. She settles on macaroni and cheese, with much exasperation and disgust. Beatrice gives their orders to the waiter when he checks on them.

Lucia keeps rubbing her foot up the inside of Beatrice’s leg, somehow finding it even when she moves. Beatrice scoots to the far edge of the booth and silently begs her to stop. Diana seems unamused at every attempt Lucia makes to initiate a conversation and Carlos doesn’t recover from his mother’s comment, it’s truly awkward and uncomfortable and Beatrice can barely contain herself when they get their checks.

"Why don’t we go to the park?" Lucia suggests as they step out of the restaurant, Carlos’s face lights up as he waits excitedly for Beatrice’s reaction. 

"Umm… I don’t know, Diana seems pretty tired, maybe some other time?" Beatrice bounces Diana in her arms, presses a soft kiss against her temple.

"Dada?" Diana whispers and curls into her neck. Beatrice hums and presses their foreheads together. "He sad?" Beatrice nods softly and Diana turns back to him. "We play a little. Okay?"

Carlos bounces and nods, taking the hand Diana offers him.

"Dada?" Lucia asks, bumping their shoulders together. Beatrice takes a step to the side.

"Uh, yeah. I actually don’t like when people touch me, Lucia. So, could you stop, please?" Beatrice’s cheeks burn as she says it and Diana presses a cold hand over the heat.

"Ah, but I’m not just people, yeah?" Beatrice barely dodges the arm Lucia tries to swing over her shoulder by leaning to set Diana on the ground. Diana takes her hand and tugs her forward, Beatrice welcomes the distraction and follows her happily to the swing set, offering to push her when she climbs into the seat.

"I can do it!" Carlos volunteers and Diana beams at him, squeezing her fists around the chain and laughing when he pushes her forward. He bounces in place at the response, and Beatrice has to bite her tongue every time he asks Diana. "Higher? Higher?"

She knows her limits. Beatrice tells herself. She knows when she wants to stop.

She stays nearby, just in case. Ready to pounce in and save her if she asks to stop and Carlos doesn’t. She’s chewing on her nail when Lucia sidles up beside her, expensive perfume making the inside of Beatrice’s nose itch. Lucia tries to pull her hand out of her mouth but Beatrice steps away, curls her hands under her elbows and tucks them into her side.

"So how long have you been working with her?" There’s a hint of something else just beneath her words, something burbling and churning and dark.

"Oh, I don’t." It’s true, in a sense. Beatrice has stopped accepting Ava’s money in exchange for her babysitting services. So Beatrice isn’t quite lying when she says it. It’s not the entire truth but she hopes it’s vague enough that Lucia doesn’t press.

Of course, she could be granted no respite because Lucia charges ahead full-steam.

"Oh, so is she like your niece? Friend’s kid? Who is she?" She’s fishing, trying to find the answer to a question Beatrice isn’t ready to face on her own, certainly not with someone the likes of Lucia.

"Mine. Yeah, she’s mine." Diana tumbles out of the swing and Beatrice’s heart stops in her chest. She waits two heartbeats before moving, slowly helping Diana brush he wood chips from her face. She forces her voice to remain calm and level so Diana doesn’t hear how much it scared her as well. "Are you okay?"

Diana bursts into tears, throws herself face first into Beatrice’s chest and squeezes her arms around her neck as her body is wracked with sobs.

"Oh, baby! I know." Beatrice rubs her back and picks her up, smiling sadly at Carlos when he tries to apologize. "It’s alright, buddy, she’s just scared. I’ll see you again soon, yeah?"

The boy nods enthusiastically and Beatrice feels Diana lift her head to wave goodbye to him sadly before she returns to her hiding spot in Beatrice’s neck. Beatrice squeezes her tightly, rubbing her back as they depart, stepping quickly across the street and pausing outside the nearest ice cream shop.

"Do you still want ice cream, my love?" Beatrice’s hand pauses on the door, waiting until Diana shakes her head and burrows herself deeper into Beatrice’s embrace. "Can I check to make sure you’re not hurt?"

Diana sniffles as she pulls away, allows Beatrice to seat them on a nearby bench and check her face and hands for injury. She finds none, despite the overall redness from her fall.

"Does anywhere hurt, baby?" Diana shakes her head and blinks tears out of her eyes. "Hey, it’s okay. You’re allowed to be scared. What happened was scary, it’s okay if you feel like you need to cry. Would it make you feel better if I told you it scared me too?"

"You scared?" Diana’s voice is painfully infantile, reverting to a similar pattern of speech from when she first started speaking. Beatrice kisses her forehead and nods.

"Yeah, kiddo. I thought you were really hurt and that really scared me." Diana tucks her thumb into her mouth and blinks at her slowly. "I get scared a lot, you know?"

"Whens?" Diana curls back into her chest and Beatrice hums in thought for a moment.

"Like when your mama got sick. When you run off and I can’t see you. When I have exams at school. Sometimes I get scared when it storms and the thunder makes the windows rattle. I get scared all the time, my darling." Beatrice hates being scared, she feels like it makes her stupid and irrational. She knows that fear is a valid emotion and it exists for a reason, but she has never quite managed to shake her parents’ voices from her head when she’s scared.

She hopes Diana never has to experience that.

She’ll do her best to ensure Diana never has to experience it. 

"Do you know what helps me when I get scared?" Diana nods against her chest, curling her fingers around the neck of Beatrice’s shirt. "Sometimes I count all the pretty things I can see. Sometimes I sing a song until I feel better. Or sometimes I take some deep breaths. Do you want to try one of those?"

"Count?" Beatrice hums, squints and looks around.

"The sky is very blue today. What about you?"

"Flowers." Diana points to the wildflowers clawing out of the cracks in the sidewalk, then to a pair of birds chasing each other through the air. "Birb."

"You," Beatrice nudges her softly, smiles gently when she lifts her head tearily, "You’re the best thing I’ve ever seen."

"I love you." She stumbles over the v sound, pronounces the word like lub with a tender smile

"I love you too, meu patinho." Beatrice kisses the top of her head. "Did you at least have fun today?"

"Carlos is funny."

"He is. Would you like to see him again?" Diana hums and mumbles into Beatrice’s neck. "I didn’t understand that, darling, could you say it again?"

"Yeah. We go home now?"

"Alright, we can go home now. Are we going to tell your mama about how much fun you had with your new friend?" Diana yawns and shakes her head, Beatrice watches the sun dye the clouds pink and purple. It’s still early for Diana to go to bed, but she’s had an eventful evening so Beatrice could make an exception to their schedule. "Can we at least tell her about your not chicken nugget dinner?"

Diana giggles but nods regardless, twists a lock of Beatrice’s hair through her fingers. Beatrice’s heart swells and her skin warms and she feels like her heart might explode when she looks at the little girl in her arms. Something inside her twinkles. She never expected a love like this. Something that plays her heartstrings like a symphony in her chest, fills her chest with a light no star could ever compete with. It’s endless, she realizes.

It makes her wonder if her parents ever looked at her the same way she looks at Diana.

~*~

Ava does not like Lucia.

She’s not jealous. That would be absurd.

But she can’t deny that her chest burns when she comes home and Diana regales her in their latest adventure with Carlos and Luisa — it doesn’t matter how many times Beatrice corrects Diana, she only refers to Lucia by the wrong name.

Today, they played tag with a group of kids at the park. Two days ago, they saw a movie. Last week, they went to an art class at the library.

Ava doesn’t have a reason not to like Lucia.

Except for every reason Beatrice gives her after every play date.

"So then she kept trying to take my hand, like we’re a couple or something and every time I would pull my hand away and tell her I wasn’t interested but she doesn’t care." Beatrice sighs and kicks her feet over the arm of the couch, stares up at Ava from her lap. "I don’t understand why she keeps trying to touch me. I don’t like when people touch me. I’ve told her I don’t like being touched at least two million times. It’s annoying."

The hand scraping through Beatrice’s hair pauses at her words, Ava barely pulling away before Beatrice whines and drags her hand back to her scalp.

"Why’d you stop?" She doesn’t give Ava a chance to answer, instead continuing her rant. "Regardless, she made a joke about me confusing Diana by allowing her to call me dad. Which is hilarious because last week, she tried to get Carlos to call me dad and I had to respond with my name’s Beatrice, pal, I’m not your dad. Then Lucia was all well, you’re not Diana’s dad either. And I swear, Ava. I swear I almost hit her. Who does she think she is? I mean, seriously."

Ava is certainly not going to ask the difference between her and Lucia, doesn’t ask why she’s allowed to play with her hair nor why Diana is allowed to call Beatrice dad while Carlos is not. She knows, on some level. Ava’s not stupid, she knows she gets a version of Beatrice Lucia will never see. She knows there’s a piece of Beatrice that is reserved exclusively for her. She knows Beatrice would choose her, if she forced an ultimatum between her and Lucia.

Ava knows.

She knows how she feels about Lucia is irrational and unfair.

She also knows Beatrice would never see Lucia again if she asked.

She knows. Right?

"Bea?" Beatrice stops her rant and tilts her head up. "Does it bother you when I do those things?"

"No. Of course not. Why would it?" Beatrice pushes herself upright, shifts until she’s practically sitting in Ava’s lap.

"Because it bothers you when Lucia does it." Ava looks away,

"You’re not Lucia."

Ava doesn’t know how to explain herself. She doesn’t have the words to express why that doesn’t make sense. Beatrice babysat both their children, has spent extensive time with both of them, read both their children to sleep, eaten at both of their tables. Why is she different? Why is she the exception?

Or is Lucia the exception? Is Beatrice like this with all parents except for Lucia?

"Ava." She quirks her head, furrows her eyebrows, ducks to meet Ava’s averted gaze. "I trust you."

It’s not enough. The words make Ava’s heart skip a beat, but it doesn’t smother the smoke in her lungs.

"I like spending time with you. I like when you hold my hand and kiss my cheek and make me laugh. I like when Diana calls me dad. You’re not just the mother of the child I babysit, you’re my friend too. My best friend. I would tell you if you did something that bothers me and I know you wouldn’t do it again.

"I like you." She grins before scrunching her face up in mock disgust and continuing. "I don’t like Lucia."

It makes Ava laugh, Beatrice's pout miserable and nose crinkled. In response to the sound, Beatrice smiles widely, leans back into Ava's chest, and tucks her nose into the crook of her neck.

~*~

She’s doing it on purpose. Beatrice might not be great at reading people but she is certain that Lucia only wants one thing from her. One thing that Beatrice has absolutely no interest in ever giving her.

Diana crawls inside the enclosed slide, tucks her knees to her chest and closes her eyes when Carlos finishes counting. He grins from the top of the playground, peering over the sides and searching for Diana.

"God, they’re so cute. We would be amazing parents." The comment is accompanied with an arm around her shoulders and a soft sigh. Beatrice ducks out from underneath Lucia’s touch and frowns at her, eyebrows sewn together with utter confusion.

"Would be?" Beatrice might not be Diana’s actual parent, but she sure as shit isn’t a bad understudy. 

"I meant like… like together. Both of us."

"I’m doing pretty great with her mother, actually. I don’t think Diana needs anyone else telling her what to do." It makes her stomach twist, the thought of Lucia and her, together.

Lucia laughs at her words, loud and jarring and it makes Diana lift her head from her hiding place on the slide. Carlos sees her move and races to tag her without even acknowledging his mother. Lucia tries to touch her again and Beatrice’s fingers burn when she clenches them into fists at her sides.

"Stop. Touching. Me." She clenches her jaw and takes another step back.

Beatrice doesn’t do anger. She doesn’t do rage. She doesn’t do losing her temper. Beatrice is patient and and forgiving.

Or, as Shannon would say, she’s a pushover.

Either way, Beatrice doesn’t get upset easily. It’s not in her nature.

Lucia seems to take it as a challenge. Like Beatrice’s burning ire is a taunt, like it’s all for show and they’re playing a game.

"Oh, relax, Bea."

"My name is Beatrice."

"Plenty of people call you Bea."

"Only the ones I like." She takes another step back when Lucia reaches for her hand before turning on her heel and storming away. She smiles warmly at Diana when she approaches her, strokes her hair when she tumbles into Beatrice’s legs. "We gotta go, patinho. Your mama’s gunna be home soon."

Diana frowns but wishes Carlos and Luisa farewell, taking Beatrice’s hand and tugging her out of the park.

Beatrice decides not to tell Ava about Lucia anymore. Every time she complains, Ava gets quiet and distant and Beatrice doesn’t like how upset it makes her sometimes. So she decides she will suffer in silence.

~*~

Shannon is easy. She’s easy and relaxed and she goes with the flow. She doesn’t pick fights or start problems.

Except when it comes to Beatrice. Shannon would commit eleven different forms of high treason and treat the Geneva Conventions like a checklist for Beatrice.

"Where are you going?" Beatrice freezes with her hand on the doorknob.

"I’m going with you. You better hurry or we’re gunna be late." Shannon bumps Beatrice carefully out of the way and steps through the door, starting toward Beatrice’s car.

Beatrice doesn’t say anything the entire ride. Diana sings and dances and talks to herself in the backseat while Beatrice grips the steering wheel with all her strength to try to hide the way her hands are shaking.

The house is larger than Shannon had been expecting. An ugly modern, blockish thing with funky shaped windows and uneven roofing. It doesn’t look good or fancy or pretty. It looks like a stain on the skyline.

Like it brings her neighborhood property value down.

There’s a bounce house set up in the front yard, though it’s empty. There are children’s shrieks coming from the backyard, a cacophony of voices and laughter leading Beatrice around the side of the house to the garden gate.

"Hey! Bea! You made it!" Lucia tries to dive into a hug after letting them through the gate, but Shannon intercepts by throwing herself between them and offering her hand to shake.

"I’m Shannon, Beatrice is my sister." She’s silently begging Lucia to say something, to give her an excuse to punch her.

Other than all the reasons Beatrice has given for her.

"Oh. Do you not remember me? We’ve met, years ago." Shannon remembers, it was a scene much alike the one they’re in right now for Carlos’s third birthday. Lucia had annoyed her even then, but she hadn’t made any advances on her baby sister, so Shannon hadn’t really a reason to hate her.

"Sorry, I meet a lot of people in my job, only have the mental capacity to remember a few of the important ones and my personal favorites." If there’s one thing Shannon has learned from her mother, it’s how to make an off-handed comment that slices through someone’s soul. Lucia’s face falls but she doesn’t respond.

"Beatrice! Diana!" A minuscule little girl breaks free of the crowd waving, followed closely by Carlos. He’s older and much taller than the last time Shannon had seen him, and he’s wearing more than a diaper, but it’s certainly him.

Immediately, he’s offering his name and his hand for her to shake, introducing her to his mother and his best friend Marley.

He’s taken Diana to an inflatable slide before Shannon has a chance to ask where to put his present.

"Why don’t you put the gift with the rest and Bea and I can - "

"I’m good. Beatrice can put it with the rest. You and I can do whatever you need her help with, though." Beatrice squeezes Shannon’s fingers when they exchange the gift, a meek nod and tight smile before she’s disappearing into the crowd.

"Oh, I need Bea’s help."

"I taught Beatrice how to do everything she knows. If she can do it, I’ve probably been doing it better for longer." Lucia sighs and shakes her head, rolls her eyes when she turns away and enters the house.

"Hey." Beatrice ducks out from behind a group of young parents chattering loudly over their drinks.

"I don’t like her."

"You don’t have to treat her like that." Shannon laughs and slings her arm over Beatrice’s shoulders.

"When she calls you the right name, I’ll consider being nicer."

"No you won’t." Beatrice smiles and rolls her eyes, presses heavily into Shannon’s side.

"I said consider. I never said I had any actual intention of doing it." Beatrice laughs and searches for Diana in the line for the slide. She can’t deny that her heart stutters when she can’t immediately find her.

"Da!" Diana waves from atop the slide, smiling until she looks down. Beatrice extricates herself from Shannon and moves to the bottom to wait for Diana, who appears to have no intention of moving.

"Are you scared?" Diana nods softly, eyes wide and wet. Carlos crawls beside her and offers his hand, whispering quietly. Diana shakes her head and pushes away from the slope, dropping his hand. "I’m coming up, okay?"

Diana meets her at the top of the ladder, arms raised for Beatrice to pick her up.

"It’s okay. Do you want to go down together?" Diana shakes her head again and balls Beatrice’s shirt in her fists. "Alright, we will have to climb down though. We can’t live up here, can we?"

Diana shakes her head, lifts her head warily and glances to the ladder. "Carlos has cake."

"I can ask mom if we can cut it now." Carlos waves at someone near the base of the slide. "Do you want me to ask? I’m gunna go ask."

And with that, he’s gone.

Beatrice pushes as far away from the slope as possible so other children can go, holds Diana and pats her back until she lifts her head and turns to watch some of the kids jumping and falling down the slide. She blinks slowly, thumb tucked carefully between her teeth.

"Do you want to try again?" Marley bounces and waves while she waits her turn in line. Diana lifts her head slowly and waves back but doesn’t respond to Beatrice’s question. "You don’t have to but if you would like, you can sit on my lap and we can go down together."

Beatrice motions for the girl at the top of the stairs to go, squeezes Diana tighter when she flinches at the girl throwing herself haphazardly down the slide. She watches quietly as more and more kids go and Beatrice is beginning to think she’s going to change her mind when Marley finally emerges from the line. 

"Carlos said they’re gunna do the cake soon, do you wanna climb down with me?" Marley offers her hand but doesn’t try to push Diana, she waits. Diana glances between her and Beatrice warily, fist squeezing tightly around the neck of Beatrice’s sweater.

"We can all go together, but it’s up to you, patinho." Diana nods and makes no move to follow Marley down the steps.

Carlos calls for them from below but neither of them move, Marley offers a cursory glance but doesn’t respond when he calls her name.

"Dada?" Diana buries her head in the crook of Beatrice’s neck, Beatrice hums and squeezes her tighter. "Scared."

"I know. It’s okay to be scared, Diana. Everyone gets scared."

"I’m scared of the dark and vampires and multiplication," Marley chimes, crawling to them. "But the sun still goes down and vampires aren’t real and my mom makes me do my math homework. You can do things that scare you."

"Okay," Diana nods and takes Marley’s hand.

"You wanna go down?" Diana nods and tugs Beatrice’s hand.

"Do you want me to hold you?" Diana nods again and Beatrice agrees, moving to the edge of the slide and letting Diana settle in her lap. "Are you ready?"

"No." Beatrice squeezes her closer and Diana takes a deep breath. "We go now."

For the first time, Beatrice looks down the slide and her stomach drops. Why is a kid’s slide so tall?

"Dada. Now." Beatrice nods and pushes off, squeezing her eyes closed and trying not to scream at the plummet. When they hit the bottom, Diana squirms out of Beatrice’s arms and bounces to the exit when Shannon is standing bemused.

"Was it fun, kiddo?"

"No. Cake?" Shannon laughs and watches her race off to Carlos.

"You alright?" Shannon pulls Beatrice up, helps her out of the slide. "I thought you were going to wet yourself."

"I’m fine. It was great. Ava’s supposed to do the high stuff," Beatrice jokes.

"The high stuff? It was a kid’s slide, bumble Bea."

"I hate you, you can leave." Lucia looks up at her jeer, eyes l alight with something that drains the warmth from the moment. Shannon glances between them and steps in front of her to block Beatrice from Lucia’s view.

"I’m not leaving until I get cake." She says it loud enough for Lucia to hear before turning to Beatrice and dropping her voice. "Let me say something, Bea."

"No. Shannon, it’s his birthday."

"So? You know I wouldn’t say anything to him."

"Shannon." Shannon rolls her eyes and turns back around just in time for Carlos to blow out his candles.

"Why won’t you let me do this for you?"

"Because I remember the last time you did this for me. And we both know you don’t look good in stripes or in orange. If you think about it, I’m actually protecting you." Beatrice watches Diana waiting to get her piece of cake and glances at the back door to the house. "I’ll be back, can you - "

"Is she gunna do a flip?" It’s Beatrice’s turn to roll her eyes, sighing fondly before slipping through the door in search of a bathroom. Luckily, Lucia had the foresight to plaster directional signs on the walls so Beatrice doesn’t have to search hard. 

Lucia is leaned against the wall waiting for her when she comes out.

"Saved you a piece of cake," Lucia straightens and extends a slice of cake.

"Oh. Thank you, but I’m not very fond of sweets." Beatrice smiles politely and waves the cake away, glancing past Lucia in the direction she had come.

"Oh that’s fine. I have something else for you too." Beatrice doesn’t like the way Lucia smiles at her.

"I should really get back to Diana…" Beatrice glances down the hall again, hoping Shannon somehow knew she needed her and materialized to rescue her.

"It’ll only take a few minutes. Diana won’t even notice." Beatrice jerks away when Lucia tries to take her hand.

"No I really - "

"Hey, Bea…?" Shannon. "I think we should go…"

Diana’s holding a racecar napkin over her elbow. It’s stained a deep red.

"Oh my god, what happened?" Shannon slaps her hand over Beatrice’s when she tries to move the napkin. "Are you okay?"

Diana nods and shifts toward Beatrice so she takes her, Shannon fixes her with a look that Beatrice doesn’t understand but she follows her out of the house anyways. They wish Carlos a happy birthday in quick farewells before leaving.

They’re halfway to her car when Shannon speaks.

"I knew she would try something."

"I was gone for two minutes, what happened?"

"I saw her follow you." Beatrice stops and turns to her.

"To Diana. What happened to Diana?"

"Oh. Nothing, she’s fine." Shannon lifts the napkin to prove her point, revealing a red stained, uninjured elbow. Beatrice scoffs and rubs the red dye away with her thumb.

"What did you - "

"Fake blood. You can buy it by the gallon at a Hallow-"

"You just carry around fake blood? Shannon!" Beatrice pauses to reinspect Diana’s skin, double-checking she has no injuries before fastening in her car seat.

"I knew you would need an out and Mary never lets me use the fake blood. Come on, you gotta admit that it - "

"I don’t have to admit anything. Don’t use Diana like that, she’s not a prop." Beatrice closes Diana’s door carefully before turning to face Shannon.

"You wouldn’t have left if it was me bleeding." She right. Probably. Truthfully, it would’ve depended on how much fake blood Shannon was willing to use.

"I didn’t need an out, I was fine." Beatrice starts to storm around the car when Shannon grabs her wrist.

"Fine? Beatrice, you looked like you were going to throw up. Maybe I could’ve gone about things differently but I don’t like her. I don’t trust her."

"You don’t have to like her or trust her, I do."

"Do you?" Shannon drops Beatrice’s arm, watches her walk around the car and climb in the drivers seat.

"Do I what, Shannon?" She knows. It’s answer enough for both of them to know.

Shannon doesn’t respond.

~*~

The next time they see Carlos, Beatrice has taken Diana to the local children’s museum. Diana is shoving colored scarfs into a tube then chasing them when they are blown out the top. She loves it.

"Beatrice!" A small body collides into her back, tearing her attention from the little girl to greet Carlos.

"Hi, Carlos. Diana, do you want to say hi?" Diana waves before returning to her previous task, Beatrice smiles and ruffles her hair before turning back to Carlos. "How are you doing, buddy?"

"I’m good. Marley is here, do you wanna see her?" He bounces in place when he asks, positively vibrating about the edges.

"I would love to see her! Could you bring her here, I don’t think Diana’s quite ready to move on yet." He agrees and disappears into the sea of children.

"Good morning, Bea." Beatrice sidesteps a hug, shrugging off the hand Lucia strokes across her shoulder.

"I’ve told you, my name is Beatrice." She tries so very hard to keep the edge from her tone, but Diana looks up worriedly at the change in her voice. Beatrice forces a smile and she returns to her game. Beatrice searches briefly for Carlos’s unruly curls in the everflowing ocean of children, catching and returning a yellow scarf that falls into her face.

"Da!" Diana calls, tugging on Beatrice’s hand before continuing in a whine. "Hungry."

"We were just about to head out for lunch, if you want to join?" Lucia winks when Beatrice meets her gaze, twisting Beatrice’s stomach into a knot.

"Thanks but - "

"Bea!" Beatrice’s head snaps to Ava waving at her energetically, trying to weave through the children racing between them. She smiles reflexively, waves and lifts Diana to see her, setting her back down and watching her race to her mother. Ava captures her, picks her up and kisses her cheek before dropping into Beatrice’s chest. "Hans needed me to trade shifts, I have the day off. I was thinking we could get lunch?"

"I was actually just inviting them with us!" Lucia’s voice is overly saccharine, too bright. Ava lifts her head from Beatrice’s shoulder and stares at the woman curiously, smiling and waving at the children when they greet her.

"This is Carlos, the boy I was telling you about, his friend Marley, and his mother Lucia." Ava twists to meet her eyes when the woman’s name comes out sharper than Beatrice had intended. She asks about it silently, searches for the words Beatrice isn’t ready to say. Beatrice looks away.

"Well, what do you wanna do, Di?" Ava bounces her softly. Diana looks between Beatrice’s tensed jaw and Carlos’s buzzing excitement.

"Go Carlos?" Ava nods once and waits for Beatrice to agree as well before acknowledging Lucia.

Ava makes small talk with Lucia while they make their way to the restaurant next door, Beatrice’s fingers curled tightly around hers. When they are taken to a table, Lucia’s hand presses briefly into the small of her back and she winks when Beatrice bumps into Ava trying to shrug her off. The children elect to sit across from the adults with Beatrice sat between Ava and Lucia. Beatrice prays this meal won’t be as awful as she thinks it will.

Ava kisses the back of her hand before relinquishing it to take Diana to the bathroom. 

"So?" Lucia’s hand scrapes up Beatrice’s thigh until she shoves it off her lap. "Who’s that?"

"She is Diana’s mother, Ava. Please stop touching me." Beatrice tries to fight the rising pressure in her lungs. Lucia smiles coyly and winks when Ava slides back into the seat next to Beatrice.

"Are you alright?" Ava presses into Beatrice’s side, squeezes the hand she pulls into her lap.

"Fine." Beatrice forces a smile and she knows Ava doesn’t believe her, she knows by the wrinkle between her eyes and the little quiver of the corner of her mouth. Carlos shoots a straw wrapper at Beatrice and she laughs brightly, dropping Ava’s gaze to fling the wrapper in his direction. 

Lucia pats her knee and Beatrice suddenly finds she isn’t hungry anymore. Beatrice crosses and uncrosses her legs more times than she can count, trying desperately to listen as Carlos and Ava discuss the best Pokémon and why it’s Mimikyu. Marley disagrees and brings Mew into the conversation but Beatrice can’t focus enough to join, even when they all try so hard to get her involved. Ava keeps pausing to look at her, especially when Beatrice chokes on her drink because Lucia squeezes her thigh.

"I’m going to clean myself up." Beatrice blots the wet spot on her shirt with her napkin, ignoring the stares she receives when she scrapes her chair back and rushes to the restroom.

She stares at her wild eyes and hair in the mirror for only a moment before pulling her shirt off and holding it under the hand dryers, more thankful than ever that she decided to wear a top under her shirt today.

The door creaks open and Beatrice sighs, doesn’t turn from the hand dryer. She waits for Ava’s worried voice to ask if she’s alright, she waits for the light touch on her elbow to silently ask her to turn.

Instead, arms slither around her hips, curl around her stomach and turn her in place. 

"Lucia. Umm, could I… could I just get a minute… I’m not feeling too well." Beatrice takes a step back, hits her elbow on the hot metal of the dryer. She has nowhere to go, Lucia stands between her and the door.

"So Ava, huh?" Is this what a rabbit feels like when a wolf decides to make a meal of it?

"I would really prefer not to do this, please." She hates how her voice shakes, how her hip clips the edge of the sink, how her shoulders press into the cold tile wall.

"It’s okay, we don’t have to tell your girlfriend." Lucia winks and her breath singes across Beatrice’s face. She squeezes her eyes closed and tries to disappear.

Beatrice forgets how to breathe, she feels the world collapse into this single moment as her blood runs cold and Lucia kisses her.

Her stomach turns hard and she freezes, she disappears. Beatrice is certain she’s going to fall through the floor and wake up in hell, that this is some sort of demonic torture method for whatever sins she’s forgotten to ask repentance for. But when Lucia tries to force her tongue in Beatrice’s mouth, she remembers how to move.

Beatrice shoves her shoulders hard, sends Lucia stumbling backward and crashing into the far wall. She makes a beeline for the door, swings it open and wrenches her arm out of Lucia’s cold grip.

"Bea?" Ava’s already on her feet, eyes wide and fingers brushing over the inside of Beatrice’s wrist. She doesn’t try to regain the contact when Beatrice yanks her arm away. "Hey, are you okay?"

"I just remembered I have a thing, I’ve got to go." Carlos watches her dig through her jacket for a handful of cash, dropping it on the table before ducking through the group coming in the door and turning down the sidewalk.

Ava lifts Diana from her seat, hurries to follow Beatrice onto the street, spins in place to try to find her when they emerge. 

Beatrice has disappeared without a trace.

Ava tries calling her, tries sending her messages but she receives no replies. So she makes her way home with Diana, promises to order pizza in exchange for her lunch being cut short.

She’s there.

Pacing in hurried circles and chewing on her thumbnail in front of Ava’s door. Her eyes are red and her breaths are ragged and wet, her nail beds on the opposite hand are raw and bleeding in some places from where she’s torn the skin apart between her teeth.

Ava doesn’t try to stop her movements, doesn’t try to figure out what’s bothering her, she simply opens the door and steps out of the way for Beatrice to enter unimpeded. Beatrice offers no acknowledgment, no explanation as she pushes into the apartment and locks herself in the bathroom.

Ava settles Diana in her high chair with chicken nuggets and broccoli pieces before going to check on Beatrice.

"Hey, Bea." She knocks on the door. "It’s just me. Are you okay?"

"I’m going to take a shower." Her words are rushed and she stumbles over them like Bambi on ice.

"Okay. I can get you some fresh clothes, would you prefer that?"

"Thank you." Ava rests her forehead against the door and sighs, lets her eyes close as she tries to will Beatrice into being okay.

She gathers her softest pajamas, the set Beatrice always steals when she forgets to bring her own. She hears the water screech on, the shower curtain scream closed. Diana whines from her entrapment and Ava lets her down, bribes her with cookies into going down for her nap early before she returns to the door. She knocks firmly and receives no reply.

"Hey, Bea." Ava calls through the door. "I have those pajamas you love. Do you want me to leave them out here or - "

"You can come in." Ava inhales deeply and nods, twists the knob slowly, staring intentionally at her feet as she steps into the steam filled room.

"I’m just going to leave these on the counter, I’ll be in the living room if you need me." She spins back to the door after dropping the clothes where she’d promised to leave them, pausing when she hears a sharp sniffle from behind the curtain. "Bea? Are you alright?"

"Yeah. Just - can…" Beatrice takes a shaky breath. "Can you stay?"

"Oh. Umm yeah. I can stay. Do I - do I need to like… I’m not quite certain what I’m supposed to do." Beatrice makes a coughing sound that resembles a choked sob and Ava wants to wrap her in a blanket and tell her everything’s going to be alright. "Do you want me to sit here next to the tub?"

"It’s fine, you don’t - "

"That wasn’t my question, Bea. Do you want me to sit next to the tub, yes or no?"

"Yes." Her voice nearly gets lost in the water hitting the bottom of the basin, Ava barely catches when she adds infinitely quieter. "Please."

"Of course." Ava presses her back into the cold porcelain tub and hums quietly to herself, crossing her legs and hoping Beatrice will tell her what’s wrong without her having to ask. She’s not sure why she offers, but Beatrice doesn’t seem to be doing much more than standing under the scalding hot water. "I have a bath bomb or bubbles if you would prefer to take a bath."

"I - are you sure?" The curtain shifts and Beatrice’s hair drips water onto the tiles beside Ava.

"Absolutely. I mean, the bath bombs have little toys in them, but if you’re willing to overlook that." Ava stares at the animals on the bathmat.

"Are they good toys?" Beatrice is trying very hard to sound lighthearted, Ava knows she’s trying to wash away the stifling dark clouds that have settled in the room with them.

"Well, Diana loves them." Ava offers a half smile over her shoulder, not quite turning enough to meet Beatrice’s eyes. Beatrice laughs wetly and the water turns off briefly before she starts to fill the tub. Ava digs through Diana’s bath supplies, raising the bath bomb box above her head triumphantly when she finds it. "I have lavender and chamomile, orange and grapefruit, or… well this just says milk. I don’t know what that means."

"I would rather not smell like soggy cereal," Beatrice tries to joke, but the tears in her voice drown the humor. "The chamomile one sounds nice."

The curtain screams as it’s pushed open slowly, Ava stares intently at the door when she turns to hand the bath bomb to Beatrice.

"Thank you." Her voice is softer than it had been before, strained with emotion and Ava wants so desperately to wrap her in her arms and tell her it’s okay.

"It’s just a bath bomb. I think it was like four dollars for the set."

"Not. Not that. For - " Beatrice makes a clicking noise. Ava presses her back into the side of the tub. She doesn’t turn. "For being you. For being here."

"I never left. I’ve always been here, Bea. I always will."

"You can’t promise that." Ava almost turns, for barely a second she starts to. But she stops. She doesn’t want to make Beatrice uncomfortable.

"I can. And I have. And I will." Beatrice’s hand drips water down her neck when she brushes Ava’s hair over her shoulder. The droplet races down Ava’s spine and makes her shiver.

The water sloshes as Beatrice leans to turn it off, Ava can hear the bath bomb fizzing quietly as it dissolves, Diana’s music box slows to a stop. Ava worries Beatrice can hear her heart thumping against her chest. Lavender and chamomile wrap around her like a warm coat, carried by the steam from the broiling hot water.

Ava twists, keeps her head trained on the opposite wall while she extends her hand for Beatrice to take if she wishes. She does, threads her wet fingers through Ava’s and squeezes. Ava squeezes back.

"You can look." Ava’s heart stops and she shakes her head reflexively. "It’s okay, Ava."

"Are you sure?" Father forgive me but fuck you, this is not the time for these feelings. Beatrice’s free hand is gentle as it takes Ava’s chin and slowly turns her head for their eyes to meet. Her smile is soft and sincere, Ava reciprocates it easily.

She’s folded into herself, knees tucked under her chin, arm squeezing around her shins, shoulders curled into her thighs. She looks so small. Small and broken. Eyes red and puffy, nose raw, cheeks flushed. Ava’s never seen her like this, it twists and pulls and stabs her in the heart.

"Are you alright?" She rubs her thumb over Beatrice’s knuckles, watches her throat bob when she swallows.

"Fine." Ava raises an eyebrow but she doesn’t ask again, Beatrice drops her chin onto her knees and sighs, cuts her eyes away. "I’m sorry."

"You don’t have to apologize. You’ve done nothing wrong."  Beatrice shrugs and Ava offers a half smile. "Do you want me to wash your hair? It always makes me feel better when I’m upset."

Beatrice nods and Ava grabs the shampoo bottle as she moves behind Beatrice, massaging it into her scalp. Beatrice sighs deeply and leans into the touch, the soap foams and drips onto Beatrice’s shoulder. Ava watches the bubbles race down her back, trail over a freckle on her back.

"It was Lucia." Ava’s head snaps up as Beatrice turns, presses her chin into her shoulder.

"That upset you?" Beatrice nods. "Did you get into a fight?" Ava rinses the soap off her hands, cups water in her hand to rinse Beatrice’s hair.

"We aren’t - it’s not like that. I don’t - " Beatrice shakes her head, turns away. She sniffs and her voice wobbles, she continues barely in a whisper. "Please."

"Sorry. It’s not my business. You don’t have to tell me." Beatrice sighs again. "You can if you want, I just don’t want to pry."

"Ask."

"Uh, what?" Ava pulls back, braces herself on the edge of the tub.

"Ask. Please. I can’t…"

"Did she do something?" Beatrice nods. "Something you didn’t like?" She nods again. "Something you didn’t want?" Another nod. "Did she hurt you?"

Beatrice twists completely, tears in her eyes and chin wobbling. Soap tracks down the side of her face and Ava wipes it away without thinking. Beatrice flinches away.

"Sorry." She pulls away. Beatrice chases her hand with her own, leads it back to her face.

"Please."

"What’d she do, Bea?" Ava holds her face steady, listens to the water drip from the faucet.

"It’s not - it’s not even - I shouldn’t - "

"Hey, hey. Listen to me, you’re safe. You’re safe now. Whatever happened, I’m here." Ava doesn’t think before pulling her into her arms, soapy water drenching her shirt when Beatrice tucks her head into her neck. Ava cradles the back of her head, scratches the foamy skin there softly. "I’m here. You’re safe."

"I shouldn’t feel like this. It was just - it was - it was - "

"It wasn’t just anything, Bea. If you’re upset, it’s not just anything. Don’t invalidate your own emotions." Ava drops her cheek against the top of her head, squeezes her shoulders and rubs a circle on her back. "I’m here. You’re safe."

She holds her while she cries, scratches the nape of her neck and rubs across her shoulders until the tears fade and the sobs stop. She lets Beatrice’s wet hair stick her shirt to her back and trickle water down her spine, resists the urge to press a kiss against her temple. She holds her until the steam stops rising and the water cools and the bath bomb fizz all pops. She holds her until she pulls away.

"Hey. Come on. Let’s get you dressed and into bed, yeah?" Ava rubs the tops of her shoulders and smiles. "Let me rinse the rest of the shampoo out of your hair, then I’ll brush it and braid it, yeah?"

"Thank you."

"Always." Ava guides her back around, tilts her head back and slowly rinses the remaining soap from her hair. Beatrice watches her silently through glassy eyes, Ava’s careful not to splash any soap into her eyes, cups her hands to block the water when she pours it over her scalp. She helps her up, hands her a clean towel from the rack. "I’ll be right outside, if you need me."

"You don’t - you can stay." Ava pauses with her fingers on the doorknob.

"I know. I’ll be on the other side of the door." She doesn’t close it all the way, she stays where Beatrice can see her through the crack in the door. The wet spot on her shirt is cold, makes the skin feel blasted with frigid Arctic air. The door creaks open quietly and Beatrice’s fingers are warm as she grazes down the back of Ava’s elbow to her wrist. Ava turns and watches a water droplet speed down the vein in Beatrice’s neck and spread into the neck of her pullover. She’s holding Ava’s hairbrush and a hair tie. "Bed?" Beatrice nods a single time, chews on her bottom lip until Ava taps her thumb against the flesh. She smiles when Beatrice releases the raw skin from between her teeth. "Come now, let’s take care of your hair."

She’s gentle as she leads Beatrice to her bedroom, as she settles her on the floor beside her bed, as she shifts so Beatrice’s back is pressed into her shins.

"Is this okay?" Her hand hovers over Beatrice’s damp hair. She nods. "I need you to tell me, Bea."

"This is okay." Ava’s fingers sift through her hair, bundle the hair together so she can pull the brush through it carefully. Ava doesn’t speak again while she twists Beatrice’s hair into a French braid, ties the hair elastic around the end and drops it over Beatrice’s shoulder.

"All done. Do you want to lay down? Or I can make tea. Or we can watch a movie. Diana’s down for her nap so we have - "

"Ava."

"Sorry. I don’t want to make you feel like you  - "

"I know." Beatrice presses deeper into Ava’s legs, drops her head over her knee. "I feel safe with you."

And there it is. That’s silly warm feeling that twists Ava’s heart in her chest and squeezes her lungs and makes her body pulse with each heartbeat.

Ava rubs her thumb over a freckle on Beatrice’s neck that’s shaped almost like a heart.

"Diana has one like this in this same spot." Beatrice twists to try to see what Ava’s talking about. "This heart-shaped freckle. She has it right here." She traces the muscle in her neck further up before pressing her thumb into the space Diana’s freckle is. She can feel Beatrice’s heartbeat thrashing beneath her fingertips.

Beatrice lifts her eyes from Ava’s hand to meet her gentle gaze, she turns into her, presses up on her knees to launch herself into Ava’s chest. She knocks the breath from Ava’s lungs as she tackles her back into the mattress, nose pressing into its home in the crook of her neck and arms squeezing tight.

Ava’s shirt is still wet and Beatrice’s breath across the cold flesh ripples goosebumps across her skin.

"You’re wet." She mumbled into the damp cloth, nuzzling closer.

"That’s what she said." Ava responds automatically before freezing. "Shit sorry, that was - "

Beatrice giggles, soft and unsteady. Ava feels her try to bury her smile in her shoulder, the curve of her grin pressed into her collarbone, the warmth of her laughter seeping through her skin and spreading through her chest.

"It’s okay." Beatrice smiles crookedly, face softer than it has been in as long as Ava can remember. She pulls away, rolls off her and pokes her side softly. "You should change out of your wet clothes."

Ava bites back another witty retort in favor of kissing Beatrice on the forehead and following her suggestion, ducking into her closet to shed the shirt and tug a dry one on. Beatrice is sprawled on her stomach across the bedspread waiting when she opens the door. She smiles, soft eyes watching her quietly.

Ava takes the hand Beatrice holds out to her, allows her to be pulled down beside her. She starts to curl against her when she hesitates.

"Is this okay?" Beatrice nods and Ava chews her lip but doesn’t move.

"It’s okay." Beatrice wiggles closer, guides Ava’s arm around her waist and tucks her nose into her neck. "I feel safe with you."

I feel safe with you.

Ava kisses her forehead again, holds her against her racing heart and prays she’ll never forget this moment.

#babysitting AU #Babysitter AU #fic: like the princess #warrior nun fic #warrior nun fanfic #warrior nun #sister beatrice #ava silva #avatrice #warrior nun s2 #bea and ava #warrior nun season 2 #wn s2 #warrior nun netflix #warrior nun season two #warrior nun season one #warrior nun s1 #warrior nun season 1 #wn s1 #angst #someone sent me a request about this but I can’t find it anymore so if that’s you lmk

[crypt1dcorv1dae]

plotting, scheming even

#jason todd #gar logan #dc comics #teen titans #babysitting au #(i guess thats what i'll call it idk) #garjay #technically?? kinda??? like. theyre fake dating to piss off steve. and cus its funny #fanart #crypted creations #theyre trying to piss off bruce too but it doesnt work bc bruce actually likes gar lol #but dick is FUCKING PISSED #hes like no. how dare u. #dont u dare datd my baby brother. not allowed

[humanityinahandbag]

Chapter 23 of 90s Steddie AU is a go! @samthefrank and I have been so excited to drop it!

Summary: In which Eddie's swimming lessons officially begin.

Lots of feelings and waterlogged metalheads await, people!!

(for reference, imagine Eddie Munson if he looked a little bit more like the picture below.)

#steddie #90s AU #babysitting au #Steve Harrington #Eddie Munson #chrissy and eddie #stranger things fic #stranger things fanfiction

[kittiwittebane]

Heyyyy! So y’all, I am in the midst of writing a small Huntlow story (idk if it’ll be a oneshot or two shot or whatever to story works 😂) and it is a babysitting AU.

Won’t spoil it but basically Hunter is babysitting and the one he’s baby sittings cousin is like.. wow.

So yeah. What do y’all think of it? Should I write it??

#hunter toh #hunter deamonne #hunter noceda #hunter wittebane #the owl house #toh #dana terrace #huntlow #willow park #winter #winter toh #babysitting au #babysitter au #willows family #Ava Park #Gilbert and Harvey #gilbert park #harvey park

[nowwhosapunkymonkey]

Bulk and Skull’s adventures in babysitting:

A makeshift extended cut of what two bullies and a baby go through, after Bulk and Skull wind up babysitting Hank’s 3-year-old son Jacob.

#mighty morphin power rangers #mmpr #power rangers #babysitting au #fanfic

[sonicrainicorn]

**as always tumblr compresses the shit out of images so click for better quality**

not that anyone noticed or anything but I finalized the designs for The Gang. ignore the fact that I did Purple's jeans wrong in the last post

also, some notes on each of them because I've gone insane:

I considered not adding Headphones for. obvious reasons. However, no matter how accurate I try to make him he will always just be a facsimile of the real, human RTGame so.

Headphones:

Little shit ™️

Causes problems only if he thinks it'll be funny

Butts heads most often with Daniel (after Cloak)

Closest with Purple

Doesn't really interact with Cloak or Gray but when they do it's mostly just vibing in the same space

He's also a fucking nerd who likes to hear about their magic worlds

Daniel:

Tired and grumpy

Sorta like the ringleader tbh

Argues with Cloak a lot

Finds Headphones annoying at times

Thinks Gray is an innocent angel who could do no wrong

He tries to limit his interactions with Purple because the desire to Get Praise From Dad is strong

He's either the mom friend or an annoying brother there's no in between

Cloak:

The baby of the group

Also a little shit but only if he thinks it'll cause Daniel strife

Absolutely fucking loves lore dumping

It's a good thing Dan is a nerd in every universe because they all love hearing the world building exposition

Almost never answers questions about himself tho

Never understands modern technology or slang

Closest with Gray

Doesn't really get Headphones or Purple but he tries his best

Gray:

The quietest and shyest of the group

Constantly anxious

Tends to use his clothes like a comfort blanket

Speaks the most when one-on-one

Extremely patient with Cloak when it comes to explaining things

Likes hanging out with Purple cuz he's so chill

Finds Headphones a little intense sometimes

He thinks Daniel can be a little intense sometimes too but appreciates that Daniel tries to calm down whenever he's around

Purple Sweater:

He's such a fucking dad

Technically the oldest but also not?

Apart from Cloak (whose world is entirely made up and not just an AU of our own world), he was born before the others

But he's only 25, making him the second youngest

Constantly tired but good at hiding it for the most part

Literally everyone treats him like their father in one way or another

Super sweet and understanding

Headphones tends to follow him around like a lost puppy

Likes to have idle chit-chat with Gray

Let's Cloak talk his ear off

He doesn't understand why Daniel seems so distant but that doesn't change his polite or pleasant demeanor

#yeah ive lost my mind #what of it? #drawing this man five different ways #is going to make me so good at art you guys #yes this is as clean as my sketches get #rtgame #babysitting au #seer au #single dad au #fantasy au #scribbles by sonic