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wikifuck · 2 months

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Fetcher Bree (he/him), 32 (werewolf)

Overview

Fetcher is a risktaker, never afraid to chase a thrill or accomplish everything in the least convenient way possible. Consequences? Don't know her.

He can turn on the charm if needed but rarely exploits his ability to do so out of a mix of pure incompetence and laziness.

He likes pretending to be a tough guy, dressing in leather jackets and dark jeans even in the heat of summer. He is smart but not smart enough to avoid heatstroke.

When he decides to care about something he could quite possibly take over the world if he wanted to, though due to being easier to distract than a cat in a laser factory he would struggle to get a project that big ever complete.

He has a big family that he lives with, or in his words is stuck with, as well as having a lovely fiance and a bright future ahead of him. The problem is that his fiance is a woman chosen by his parents, and Fetcher is gay. Until something beautiful arrives in the little town he calls home and turns the place upside down as it leaves, fetcher feels stuck and annoyed, having lost hope for an escape.

Like this character? Read his story here! :)

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Genre :: Fantasy, Contemporary Romance

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Name

Chewy Fetcher Bree

Fetcher goes by his second name and only his family calls him by the first. It's too cute for his tastes. Canineshifters from his area often name their pups similarly to how witches (or who we would on Earth call humans) might name their pets.

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Birthday

June 6

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Age

32 years old

Despite being very much an adult, Fetcher seldom acts like one. One might compare him to a bratty teen, especially when it comes to his views on authority figures and healthy coping mechanisms (he has none)

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Zodiac

Gemini

I'm not very good at remembering the western zodiac traits. Still, if communication, wittiness and being funny, curiosity, being outgoing and impulsivity are the traits of a Gemini, then they fit him like a glove.

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Gender

Cis male

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Sexuality

Gay

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Pronouns

He/him

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Personality

Overall Personality

Funny, charming, smart and impulsive, if he wanted to get something done he could get it easily. Even becoming a politician.

Were this to happen, humanity's last hope would probably turn out to be treats, as the way into the heart of this man is indeed through the stomach. His lack of impulse control means he has no idea when to stop and often ends up looking like a golden retriever gorging itself, though luckily with maybe two added brain cells.

He loves to study and throughout his long and fruitful career of living off his mother, he has completed many degrees he never plans to use. He has an interest in science and languages, but due to family pressure, he also has a degree in economics.

The point of that degree was to give him a good understanding of what he would be jumping into as the oldest and therefore the heir. He has spent all of his life up to the events of Puppylove doing his best to avoid having to inherit everything. Being essentially the mafia boss of a small town might sound like a cushy job, but acting as the boss of all six of his siblings, a town of witches and all the clans in neighbouring towns, sounds to him more like torture.

He enjoys the company of animals of all sizes, even the smallest.🐌 If given the opportunity he will meditate alone in nature for hours. I like to imagine that when he does that there is a faint ding every once in a while as his singular brain cell sails around his skull, because there for sure isn't anything profound happening in there.

🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌He hates seeing snails and worms get crushed on the street after it rains and his hobbies include meticulously saving every snail he sees 🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌

In terms of active vs. passive trauma response Fetcher is generally passive but in certain situations, he switches to active. He is more motivated by the well-being of those he cares about than his own thoughts or feelings. He isn't exactly the pinnacle of altruism yet he can go out of his way to help others while expecting no reward.

For such a cynical person, Fetcher is a little naive. His family, as shitty as they are, did accommodate him by being honest with him. However, they probably did exploit his naivety by lying to him about things that they wanted to keep secret. This bad but well-meaning act has left him with a sorely lacking understanding of how neurotypicals or society in general act.]

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Love Language

Since he gets bored easily he is rather hard to please. Food gifts are a reliable way to get through to him how much the giver cares about him.

He was never taught to show love properly so he often devolves into mindlessly doing everything his target of affection asks, be that appropriate or not. This doesn't really make him feel satisfied but he has yet to learn a better tactic. Hopefully being around people who appreciate him will alleviate this.

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Brain

The state of his mental health is mixed. Though he likes to think he is okay and "normal," he has unmedicated AuDHD and plenty of unaddressed issues stemming from his childhood. Thanks to this he never developed healthy ways to accommodate himself and often ends up going along with whatever his lowered impulse control tells him to do. A thrill is a thrill, be that overindulging in treats, drinks or sex under questionable circumstances.

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Habits

Fetcher has a habit of overexplaining when under stress. Even when he manages to hold it back, he often uses run-on sentences while looking like he isn't taking a single inhale in between words.

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Fears

Though I don't know what he fears, I know whatever it is, it is the reason he is so detached and apathetic all the time.

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Flaws

The aforementioned apathy is one of his biggest problems, though it is not so much internal as it is caused by his environment. Once he gets into a healthier place, he starts unpacking why he doesn't care about others if they don't give him something obvious in return or aren't in his face all day due to living in the same household.

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Appearance

Overall Appearance

as described by his love interest

"His presence wasn’t threatening whatsoever, despite his stature, outfit, and the obvious fact he was a shifter.

"He was like a Greek god; just as handsome as his older sister, but in a more masculine way. Alejandro couldn’t help but admire the dark, thick, curly beard and hair, meticulously groomed to follow the jaw, before ending at a rounded point at the chin. It was as if he had climbed from the side of an ancient painted vase, with strong, dark features, and serious, intelligent eyes. He was tall and menacing, and the heavy, brown leather jacket extenuated his broad shoulders. The man was certainly taller than any human Alejandro had seen in decades. He could reach any shelf he wished, that Alejandro knew for sure. Yet, even under the beard, and the jacket that seemed way too hot for the bright summer weather, he looked pale and frail. His eyes were sunken, and his cheeks, almost hollow. He was strong, but something was eating him alive; something no one else seemed to be able to notice."

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Tattoo's

On his right forearm he has an incomplete sleeve tattoo comprised of a prominent collection of bands he listens to for the biker boy aesthetic, peppered with references to media he is actually passionate about. The whole thing looks faded and several years old, indicating that he got distracted and has no intention of continuing it any time soon.

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Piercings

He has two. Not that his ace boyfriend would find them though.

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Clothing Styles

Would he wear a dress?

Absolutely.

In public?

Hell no.

Does he wear makeup?

No.

Would he wear makeup if he knew how to use it?

Yes. Yes, he would. It would be subtle and natural

Everyday style

His everyday style is very rigid, mostly comprised of black leather and jeans in his human form. In beast form, he wears nothing unless it's cold outside. Though he has the money and the wish to look stylish, he often still ends up looking rugged and unwashed after disappearing to who knows where chasing squirrels or something. When he deviates from this look he usually lets others decide for him what he should wear.

Cold weather

Since his coat isn't very warm, in the colder parts of the year he can be seen wearing doggy clothes in his usual colours. This usually looks like A jacket, socks and a hat designed to be easy to put on and remove only using one's teeth and thumbless paws.

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Species

Weremane, a species of human related to werewolves that, as the name suggests, can turn into maned wolves. Unlike the werefolk of myth, these creatures can shift between their human and beast forms at will, without a worry about the full moon. Though maned wolves are solitary, thanks to humans being social animals, weremains can choose between living in packs or alone. Like most canine shifters, they tend to stick tightly to their family unit. Unlike nonsapient (or "normal") maned wolves, weremanes don't smell like weed. Well except for the ones that smoke.

Since even in beast form everyone likes being heard, shifters of all shapes have developed languages to converse with each other with the tools they have. Weremanes are no exception to this, and their language is called Manelish. This language consists of various growls and barks, as well as the famous roarbark.

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Culture

Though different from witches in many ways, shifters don't tend to have distinct cultures from them out of a misguided belief that if they try to meld in they won't be messed with. It's not like racist/speciest people will just make up excuses to be shitty, right?

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Religion

Though raised in the christian faith in a world with magic in it, he isn't very religious. At best, he has a vague feeling that if God exists, it's a cat. He wouldn't worship a God even if he knew one existed.

"No god that makes things work this way deserves any fucking respect"

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Language

Fetcher knows how to speak English and Spanish. English is his mother tongue and he studied Spanish out of boredom from being stuck living at home.

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Setting

Though distinct from Earth in many ways, the planet Puppylove takes place in is based on/inspired by it. Things like countries and languages are roughly the same, though not exactly. The time period is not yet clear but it's roughly speaking contemporary.

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Location

Before the events of Puppylove, Fetcher lived at home in Burneye, an idyllic little town in the countryside, one that his ancestors founded and his family still runs. He lives in the little tower of his family's mansion.

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Occupation

He is a full-time bum, never having worked a day in his life despite being in his 30s. Not that he could ever keep a job down, even with nepotism at play.

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Fact's

Shifters can have a preference for presenting in humanoid or beast form day to day. Though the split is roughly 50/50, most choose to present in humanoid form regardless of preference to fit in better. Fetcher's preference is rather neutral and he fluently switches depending on his mood and the "appropriateness" of the situation

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Theme Song

Animal

Chase Holfelder

It's a banger and it's so his vibe. He would totally put it on a loop on his headphones as he stares out the car window pretending to be the main character in a movie.

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Theme book

The Something Like series by Jay Bell, but he would especially enjoy Something Like Hail

The books are complex and interconnected, which would get him to pour over them looking for every last reference. He would especially enjoy the themes of Hail and in a weird way relate to Noah, the main character, even if their struggles and likes and dislikes are nothing alike. In essence, he would be obsessed with the book but understand it totally wrong.

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Relationships

Family tree

Familial relationships

Chaser Bella Bree(89), father's mother

Though everyone sees Bella as unnecessarily difficult, she isn't malicious. Just selfish. In her eyes everything is fine and she cares for everyone dearly. Fetcher however has gotten the strong impression that if he were to disobay her directly he would be instantly disowned. She is old and as is typical for older people with low self-awareness, she will be appreciated more in death than in life.

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Chewy Bounce Bree(58), mother

A savvy and territorial woman at work and home alike, Chewy is a force to be reckoned with. Due to the death of her husband, she has been co-parenting with her mother-in-law for over a decade now. Though good at masking, those around her with any understanding of neurodivergence know she has ADHD. Coincidentally she is amazing at everything she is passionate about, poetry, combat sports and all social aspects of business. She is probably the worst of everyone in the family when it comes to obsessions with family lines. Someone needs to introduce this woman to the Sims games to get her away from meddling with her kid's love lives.

Though she is strict and at times unreasonable, Fetcher gets along with her fairly well and it is widely accepted among the kids that by being friends with his mother Fetcher has accidentally doomed himself to be the heir.

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Father, unknown

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Straight Call Bree(25), sister

Most would agree that Call would have been the more fitting heir in every aspect over her brother. She is responsible, intelligent and creative in the way she gets things done. Fetcher wouldn't be surprised if she held some resentment toward him for happening to have been born first. He doesn't comprehend the fact that Call thinks he is okay and appreciates his company when he manages to take things marginally seriously.

In reality, their mother and grandmother have been debating the issue for years, Bounce being of the opinion Call should learn the same skills Fetcher has been primed in just in case he messes up, and Bella believes that Call is simply not a leader. She is a follower and would make for an excellent righthand woman for her brother's leadership. "All the boy needs is some motivation," Bella says, "Then it will all work perfectly!"

Has anyone asked Call anything on the matter? Of course not. That would make too much sense. She has resorted not to worry about it for her own sanity.

She married young, as is the tradition in the family, and she had the twins at the ripe old age of 19.

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Dig Bree(24), brother-in-law

Dig is Call's husband and if she is the 2nd in command he is her most loyal general. Dig and Fetcher get along decently but due to a lack of overlapping interests, they rarely interact.

He gets his name from the fact he enjoys digging and has done so from an early age. He uses this passion to help his mother-in-law clean up the backyard... after turning it upside down again.

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Nip Tackle(25), sister

Despite, or perhaps due to them being very similar in both taste and personality, Fetcher and Tackle don't get along and Tackle takes glee in exposing Fetcher's wrongdoings to the whole family. She isn't malicious, she is just acting out in a different way to him against the very same issues. As kids she and Fetcher got along rather well, causing chaos together all around them. Maybe it is better for the safety of society that they had a falling out after Fetcher became a recluse and Tackle found relationships outside the household.

Though her mother isn't a fan of her "arrogance," whatever that means, she is the 2nd in line for the inheritance after Fetcher. She hasn't told this to Tackle however and were she to become the heir, which is likely, it might mess up her plans a bit. She is engaged to someone not currently living in the household. The fiance is approved of by her parents, as far as they know, anyway. It may be that this mystery person has more to them than Bounce and Chaser have ever been told...

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Kid Bree(15), brother

Ordenarily one might call him the evening child since he was born ten years after the others, but Fetcfher was born 7 years before the twins, so does he really count?

Due to being the youngest Kid has the most freedom out of all his siblings and thanks to this has had the opportunity to postpone when they get their new cooler name. Kid is indecisive, you see, and has yet to comprehend the fact that he could change his name later if he wished. No, it has to be perfect!

Out of all his Fetcher is closest to Kid and since Kid gets along with his sisters also acts as the bridge between him and them. Sometimes Kid even manages to get all three to play Minecraft with him with relatively little grumbling.

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The Little Twins(6), niblings

Though probably not the best for a child's psyche, the twins are often referred to as such, the twins. Naming pups later in life, around the time they start developing into their own persons, isn't inherently damaging, but the Bree family isn't exactly known for having their members act sensibly. Dubbed Pup and Dup by their aunt and uncles, these two stick together. Pup prefers her humanoid form, whereas Dup likes presenting themself in canine form. Pup often acts as an interpreter to Dup, with both family and strangers. Pup is more inclined to follow "the way they should act," whereas Dup likes doing their own thing. The Bree family is decent at not shaming its neurodivergent members for acting "weird," but as Fetcher's situation has shown, Dup will most likely have to learn the hard way that most people don't accept their different behaviour.

Fetcher loves these two dearly and is probably the second-best person in the family to understand Dup, right after Pup.

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Friends

Though Fetcher knows many people in Burneye, doesn't exactly have many friends. Or any, really. People want to be his friend, there is no doubt about that, but he is simply too apathetic to put in effort to make meaningful connections.

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Partners

Solid Boogie Pyre (25), (ex)fiance

Until the end of Puppylove, when Fetcher breaks off the engagement, he and Boogie are betrothed to each other by their parents. To Fetcher the relationship is a curse but from Boogie's perspective, it is an opportunity. She likes Fetcher, at least when he acts his age, and generally wouldn't mind starting a family with him. She is by no means in love with the whiny little shit, but her family isn't wealthy and being equally as opportunistic as Fetcher, Boogie originally jumped at the opportunity to marry into this powerful and relatively safe family.

Luckily for her, she isn't too bothered either way, married to Fetcher or not and continues on with her life. Who knows, maybe she will try to get in the pants of another member of the Bree family.

She is a funloving and bubbly person on the surface, but once you get to know her you discover she is actually rather serious about many things. She likes nature just as much as Fetcher and runs a flower-themed Instagram account where she advertises her diner and posts about her garden.

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Sunny Hunter Pyre (27), (ex) brother-in-law

Boogie's brother and the guy Fetcher cheats on her with. To be fair, Boogie doesn't care. The relationship is transactional, Sunny gives Fetcher attention and weed in exchange for sleeping with him. One of many reasons why Fetcher's taste is as spicy as it is.

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Alejandro Ortega, Ali, boyfriend

When Ali shows up it's instantly clear that the town of Burneye is a bit messy. The witches don't really care about his being a vampire but the werefolk are oddly aggressive. Fetcher is the only sensible one of the bunch. Not that he is smarter than everyone else, actually it's mostly because he is very curious and too apathetic to care for the warnings of his family. What a mistake it would have been to listen to them too. Ali is the love of his life and he would do anything to keep him safe. Though most of the time Ali is the one looking after his dumb ass. They save each other from jams and oddly for an immortal, Ali is very quick to fall in love with Fetcher.

Ali is ace, and the agreement the two come to as they start the relationship is that if Fetcher craves something he is free to seek it from others.

Visual aid

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Enemies

As impulsive as he is, Fetcher doesn't have any enemies for the same reasons he has no friends. He simply doesn't care enough about people to hate them. This doesn't stop some from trying.

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Credit to the creator of the wiki template mine is based on: 𖤐_☾ 𝑅𝑜𝑥𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑎 ☽_𖤐

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styxnstars · 10 months

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King Gerard headcanons time, LESSGOOOO 💙💙💙

Tw// murder and abuse

♧ he/him/they/them pronouns

♧ Gay! He likes men!!! :DDD and he's also demisexual 🖤🤍💜🩶

♧ 5'7" (he's a bit taller than Johan but still short for a guy lol)

♧ 18 years old (since he's not a prince anymore when he turned 12)

♧ His birthday is on February 4th 🎂🎉🎊

♧ Has high functioning autism, epilepsy, and PTSD

♧ Besides English, he's fluent in French (the France and Belgium dialects), Romanian, Polish, Bulgarian, and Hungarian 🇨🇵🇷🇴🇵🇱🇧🇬🇭🇺

♧ His last name is Csintalan, meaning "mischievous, naughty" in Hungarian even tho he acts like the exact opposite of that lol

♧ Grew up in Hungary as a child but then moved to England so he could rule his own kingdom and be more independent 🇧🇬🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

♧ He despises his male relatives to an infuriating degree, he sometimes has thoughts of executing them but doesn't give in because he doesn't want the entire kingdom thinking he's a bad king

♧ He has an English-esque accent like Johan, except Gerard's accent is slightly more heavier than Johan's

♧ He likes flowers, going for walks through meadows, being serenaded/sang songs to (as long as it doesn't sound like a cat screeching bloody murder), hanging out with Clockwork Smurf, being generous to others, pastries and cakes, looking for constellations at night, plushes, and visiting Johan when he can! ^^

♧ He dislikes extreme weather, loud and sudden noises, feeling like he isnt capable of doing anything right, cemeteries/crypts, Peewit, blood and gore of any kind (he will have a mental breakdown if he sees it at all), crowded places (except for when hes looking outside his castle window), violence, hard and chewy foods, and seeing people cry and in distress.

♧ His father (Baron Laszlo) was beheaded for treason when Gerard was only 2 years old, and he witnessed the entire thing. This is one of the main causes of his PTSD.

♧ Has a very caring and loving mother (Baroness Boglárka) who lives in Hungary 🇧🇬

♧ Has a 12 year old sister named Dorina who lives with their mother

♧ Gerard is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet. Unlike most kings are, they are usually unjust, brutal, overbearing, and just plain mean. But not Gerard, he is a fair king who loves helping other people in need and offering acts of service to citizens of his kingdom every day. Even though his relatives have treated him like absolute shit for years on end, he surprisingly does not have a reputation for getting easily angered. He's stood up for himself in these dire situations and is very brave to do so.

♧ He does however have PTSD from his relatives verbally, emotionally, and physically abusing him ever since he was 6. He would be hit if he made a mistake and would get yelled at if he talked about how he truly felt about his relatives. He would get hit so hard that he would bleed or get knocked out, leading to several concussions throughout his life <:(

♧ He used to date Princess Francesca, but he broke up with her because he felt like he wasn't ready for a relationship and that he needed time to mentally heal.

♧ He used to rule a kingdom in England, but then he moved to Scotland to get away from his relatives as far as he could. He lives a much happier and low-stress life now („• ᴗ •„)

#johan and peewit #johan et pirlouit #the smurfs #king gerard #johan #peewit #my headcanons #eclipse rambles #i feel so fucking bad for him omg (｡╯︵╰｡)#if i could i would adopt him as my son ❤️#he didn't deserve to be treated the way he did 😡😡😡 PROTECT HIM‼️

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discoverjoana · 1 year

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Hello! For the ask game: 🐶🍪

Omg! Thank you for the ask! ❤️

🐶 dog person! I have a toy poodle, his name is Milo and he’s 6 months old and a labrador named Rocks and he just turned 1 year old.

🍪 probably the classic chocolate chip cookie with crisp edges and chewy in the middle. yummmmmmmmm

#ask game

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sidetongue · 3 years

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Last week a woman came in to our clinic with a little dog that was unwell. ‘Don’t worry’, the vet told her, ‘it just sounds like gastro. We can pop him on fluids and he’ll likely feel much better tomorrow.’

The woman explained she couldn’t afford the hospital stay. ‘Okay’, the vet said, ‘we can give him an anti nausea injection and some subcut fluids. I’m sure that will perk him up.’

The woman denied this too. ‘He’s unlikely to get better without any supportive care.’ The vet protested.

‘I know.’ Replied the owner. ‘Just put him down.’

What do you do when an owner is flat broke and asks that you euthanise her animal? What more can you offer? You can’t send it home, as it will suffer, but the owner had made up her mind anyway.

The vet brought the 4yr old dog out the back and asked that I help put a catheter in it. He quietly and sadly explained the situation, and expressed how guilty he felt that he couldn’t come to a better agreement.

Being my own chaotic, wilful, naive self - I threw my arms in the air in protest and decided that we were NOT euthanising this dog just yet. He couldn’t go to a rescue as he was unwell and hadn’t had any diagnostics. He couldn’t go home with his owner as she could not afford his care. But he could go home with me.

The owner quickly agreed to surrender, relief thick in her voice, and requested that she could say one last goodbye. After a few moments the little dog was brought back out, put on fluids, and left to get better.

Days passed and he didn’t get better. He refused to eat. He was lethargic, bradycardic (heart rate low) and his temperature was always low; he was so cold all the time. It was like he was suffering with the severest of depressions. I told myself (and my colleagues) that if he did have an underlying condition, if it was something more complicated, that we would let him go.

I have 6 pets of my own and nobody to share the burden - I could barely spare the $$ for fluids, anti nausea and pain relief. It was not feasible to keep fighting for a dog that wasn’t mine - that wasn’t anybody’s - despite how hard it would be to call it quits.

After 4 days in hospital, an additional 2 blood tests and a very sad little dog; we were no closer to an answer, but we were MUCH closer to euthanasia.

I took him home. IV still in, no real plan, I just wanted to get him out of the place where he was abandoned. Within an hour he had found his spot on the couch. Another hour passed and he began eating. After 6 hours I removed his IV as it was clear there was no need for him to return to the clinic; he was bright, lively, inquisitive and almost (not quite, but almost) happy.

Welcome home, Chewie. This is only a halfway house and in due time we will find you your second chance at forever, but for now you are safe and loved and welcome.

This is a happy ending (and beginning) but things could have gone in the other direction, and do on a weekly basis. Chewie was incredibly loved by his owner. She had never skipped a vaccination or a worming tablet, he was well groomed and well mannered, he had a beautiful leather collar with a gleaming blue name tag attached to it. For 4 years she loved and adored him, but because of the current pandemic she had to say goodbye to her little love.

I feel nothing but sorrow for her. I hope she trusts that we will find him another owner who loves him as dearly as her. I hope she doesn’t feel guilty for too long.

As for me, I’m thankful to be in a position where I can help change the life of an animal. I love my job as a vet nurse, but recently it’s become more apparent that my heart will always lie with animal rescue. I miss it, I crave it, it’s what I’m good at in life.

Chewie has fueled my purpose and passion once more, and helped me realise that in a world that’s falling apart, I still have the ability to be good and do good. He certainly helped me just as much if not more than I helped him.

Here’s to a future where we’re both smiling big.

#ive been struggling with my job and my mental health #i work with someone who treats me like they wish i was dead #and each day is a struggle just to walk through the door #on top of that ive been questioning whether or not im even GOOD at my job #whether i even LIKE it #i dont like putting down bird after bird that run into windows and break their wings #i dont like wrestling with old cats to put an IV in thats ultimately going to be the catalyst to their death in the following minutes #i dont like watching dogs walk in with cripping arthritis and scream when theyre touched #and then my heart screams because im reminded that will be harold sooner rather than later #and if its NOT harold #itll be because hes dead #i come home and think of the dead animals #think about joining them some days #thats not a cry for help nor is it anything i would ever act on #but it is a thought that comes to visit now and then #i guess what im saying is #today was a better day #and it didnt feel quite so cloudy

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forestryfae · 2 years

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If you ate every alien ben could turn into, what would be the top 5 and bottom 5 tastiest do you think (any form of cooking or preparing the aliens is allowed)

i dont know if ths is a fetish question or genuine actual question. but im answering anyway because thats a really good question Ripjaws. tastes like cod but a little to the left. no pizza left trout. nothing to brag about but its good. 4/10 im not a big fan of trout XLR8. that is one VERY skinny boi. the muscles are super hard and chewy and your jaws WILL hurt. a steak knife has trouble cutting through a steak. you can boil him but it pretty much just falls apart like an overboiled potato. great for stews, barely any meat tho. 6/10 Rath. 0/10. good steaks, perfect for BBQ, tastes a little bit like spicy lamb or lamb taco. deducting every point at the thought of eating a kitty though Atomic X. this is a tin can filled with radioactive energy. if you eat him your dna unravels INSTANTLY. 10/10 EXTREMELY recommended experience. use a can opener. Grey Matter. this is a frog. we are not french here. 0/10 Bullfrag. contrary to popular beliefs this is not a frog, its a fursona, so hes safe to eat. naturally salty, meat has the consistency of boiled chicken, only use pepper and onions. any onion goes. great for onion soup. 1/10 i dont like onions Liam. hes not one of bens aliens but im putting him on here eitherway. tastes like chicken 10/10. Upgrade. tastes like a spoon actually. wouldnt recommend it. 10/10 the taste is bearable and consistent and you know exactly what to get and its kind of like eating a really thick yoghurt or molten aliminum but weirder. dont eat if you have fillings or holes in your teeth. you know when you get aliminiumin from a candy wrapper inside a filling? dont eat him. uness you have iron deficiencies. Heatblast. ow. no. dont. inedible. pain. third degree burns in your mouth and throat instantly and you die. tastes like charcoal and burnt overcooked sausages anyways so youre not missing out on anything. consistency of charcoal. youre better off using him as a campfire. 0/10 Ditto. 12/10 flesh tastes like a marshmellow, eyeballs and green dots taste like blue raspberry and green energy drinks. the black parts of his body tastes like licorice. you can eat him raw but the moral weight on your shoulders and regret will make you wish you hadnt. you can p much bake, cook, bbq, and boil him but only the white parts. the green parts are great for pie and tart fillings. the black parts have to be eaten raw tho because boiled licorice is gross and disgusting. you CAN make jerky form the black parts and put them in vodka to get alien licorice vodka. if you dehydrate the bones you get something that tastes and feels like crackers and is great for your calcium intake. the whiskers are like pocky sticks with white chocolate :3 Kevin. not one of bens aliens but hes here anyways. dont eat kevin. Shocksquatch. ideally you make a rug and throw the rest away to the worms. tastes like monkey breath. not worth it. 0/10 Goop. tastes like a mix between kiwi and assorted fruits jelly but also tastes kind of like snot and has a slimy consistency that makes it hard to swallow, like an eel. theres this one type of viscous liquid that is essentially self-pouring that i cant remember the name of, but if you pour it from one bucket into another it just keeps pouring itself on its own, even after you tilt the bucket back up. thats the slime im talking about. so like hes tasty if youre 5 years old, but you WILL choke if you try to eat goop. you may eat him. ONCE. 9/10, deducting a point for the very distinctive snot flavour Waybig. you cant eat waybig. im sorry but hes too big. Rook. not one of bens aliens but hes on here anyway. mostly muscle, not a lot of meat on the body tho. kind of like an inner filet but all over. kind of tastes like hog and beef. would be served at fancy resturants. but dont eat him please hes very polite Ghostfreak. you eat air? you want eat fucking air????? AIR??? helium. you could inhale him. perfect for vaping. NRG. same concept as Atomic X but hes spicier. you ever eat chili flakes? tastes like chili flakes and a wrench. you will die. Diamondhead. tastes like a rock. 10/10 Gwen or

any other anodite. not bens alien but dont eat her. same concept as unraveling your dna due to radioactivity except your chakras are unraveled instead. Four Arms. LOTS of meat here, very tasty, tastes like a very juicy hamburger in the forme of a steak. fucking delicious. if you can figure out how to defeat him hes truly worth the effort. Top 5 would def be Ditto, Rook, Diamondhead, Ripjaws, and Upgrade Bottom 5 would be Goop, Upchuck, Ghostfreak, Wildmutt, and Rath

#ben 10 #ben 10 alien force #ben 10 ultimate alien #ben 10 omniverse #omniverse

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whattolearntoday · 2 years

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February 15th is...

Gumdrop Day - Gumdrops are a tasty, colorful, chewy candy that is made with gelatin and then coated with sugar. They come in a variety of flavors and can either be fruity or spicy. These little candy treats make terrific embellishments for decorating gingerbread houses and other baked goods.

International Angelman Day - Angelman syndrome affects 1 in 12,000 to 20,000 people around the world. This rare disease occurs when the UBE3A gene in the 15th chromosome loses function. Most diagnoses occur between the ages of 6 to 12 months. It’s during these ages the symptoms become most noticeable. Common symptoms of Angelman syndrome include: Delay in developmental milestones, Limited speech, Unprovoked laughter and smiling, Hyperactivity, Short attention span, Trouble sleeping or needing less sleep, Limited mobility. These symptoms vary from child to child. Some children with Angelman syndrome have seizures, while others have decreased muscle tone or exaggerated reflex responses. Additionally, many babies experience feeding problems and swallowing difficulties. The symptoms are similar to cerebral palsy, autism, and Prader-Willi syndrome. Due to these similarities, many children with Angelman Syndrome often receive a misdiagnosis. Some symptoms of Angelman syndrome improve as one gets older. However, those with this rare disease need life-long care.

International Childhood Cancer Day - According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 300,000 children between the ages of 0 and 19 are diagnosed with cancer each year. Every three minutes, a child dies of cancer.

Nirvana Day - The event, also known as Parinirvana Day, commemorates Buddha’s death and his entrance into complete Nirvana. Some people mistakenly think that the historical Buddha was a god. However, he was an ordinary person named Siddhartha Gautama. Buddha was actually his title. The word “buddha” means “a person who is awake.” The Buddha is believed to have been born in 567 BC in Nepal. As the son of a king, he was called Prince Siddhartha. He was 29 years old when he encountered his first sick person, old man, and then a corpse. He realized that even though he was royalty, he too, would one day die. To prepare for this day, he went on a spiritual quest. During this time, he renounced his worldly life. Eventually, he discovered that meditation was the only path to a peaceful existence. One day, he sat in meditation beneath a ficus tree until he realized enlightenment. From that time on, he became known as The Buddha. He spent the rest of his life teaching others how to realize enlightenment for themselves. This enlightenment focuses on four noble truths: Life involves suffering, Having desires causes suffering, Overcoming desires can end suffering, Following the Eightfold Path, which is represented by a wheel, can also end suffering. When enlightenment is realized, it is called partial nirvana. Complete or final nirvana is achieved only in death. This is when all want and suffering is gone. The Buddha died at the age of 80. After his death, his disciples established schools in his name.

Singles Awareness Day - There are several benefits to being unattached. Singles can come and go as they please with no regard to a partner’s schedule, wants or needs. Career opportunity? A single doesn’t need to consult a spouse before accepting an offer. It’s also easier for a single to keep up healthy habits. There isn’t anyone to sabotage their efforts to work out and eat healthily. Singles also tend to be more self-reliant and involved in their communities.

Wisconsin Day - Recognizes The Badger State.Rich in copper, lead, forest and fertile farmland, Wisconsin became the 30th state on May 29, 1848.

World Hippo Day - The word hippo translates to river horse in ancient Greek. The giant animal weighs a whopping 8,000 pounds. There is only one continent in the world you can find a hippo. That continent is Africa. Hippos are native to over 30 countries in Africa. These herbivores live up to 50 years in the wild. There are only two species of hippos on the planet. These include the common hippopotamus and the pygmy hippo. Hippos are the most aggressive animals in the world and kill 500 humans a year.

#gumdrop #angelman #cancer #nirvana #singles #wisconsin #hippos

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knight-of-the-thorn · 4 years

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Things the Commander has canonically eaten, ranked

1-Tasty meat, Blazeridge steeps. Self explanatory. It's good meat!! Good enough to give you magic. Eat this. Please eat this.

2- Fragrant Cactus fruit, Silverwastes It's fruit I guess. I know what good meat tastes like but I don't know what prickly pear tastes like so. It says in the description it smells good, so that's promising.

3- Raven Tonic, Snowden Drifts It's booze with a neat party trick, turns you into a Raven! How fun is that! However it is ale that turns you into a raven, so it can't be higher than actual food.

4- Morgan's Orchid, Caledon Forest All of the descriptions surrounding this say that eating it is a transcendent experience. But also that's a flower that you just ate. Why did you eat a flower. What the fuck.

5- Skrittsburgh Special, Brisban Wildlands This is some kind of booze. It's apparently rancid smelling and has some fur in it, and it was made by Skritt. That alone should clue you in to how I feel about everything else on this list, since this is "edible." It's described as a "thick hearty beverage." and really seems like more of an acquired taste, as long as you are a weird goblin rat. The reason it's this high, is until after you drink it, it's descriptions are neutral. The Commander needs to be stopped.

6- Mysterious Elixir, Silverwastes Doesn't go into a lot of detail here. You find it near a corpse in the vinewrath chamber which, frankly, isn't reassuring in the slightest. It's only description is "powerful". Don't drink a mysterious liquid. Even if, you know what, especially if it's "powerful." That's how you die, Commander.

7- Draithor's Lab's Powerfully Weird Meat, Kessek Hills. Okay. I'm sorry. What? What did you call it, Arenanet. Powerfully Weird Meat? What Does That Mean. Why Did You Name It That. You take this from a rack in the liar of a centaur necromancer who seems to be experimenting on human people and then they die. If you eat the meat, a bone fiend appears and knocks you over. Now, this meat bullIEs you, is possibly human flesh, and "a strange odour makes you question where it gets its power" THAT ISN'T THE ONLY THING I'M QUESTIONING, ARENANET.

It has a gamey scent, it's thick and chewy.

8- Toxal Bog Stew, Brisban Wildlands About as bad as it sounds. Described as"Equal parts hearty meal and bug repellent." which I interpret to mean, you just ate literal poison. Supported by the fact that the commander "Doesn't want to think about" the secret ingredient. Given to you by a weird old lady with shadow imps following her. She has weird bog grandmother energies though, so I feel comforted by her presence, and I need anything to put some of these higher than others

9- Sunken Rations, Cursed shore. I guess they were food once. My main problem here is the whole, "underwater for over 250 years" thing, but I'll let it slide. It was kept safe from Zhaitan's corruption by the box it was in, which is weird. This one is really weird. Obviously Draithor's meat is powerful, but why is this ration. Because it's old and somewhat well preserved? Or is it preserved because of it's power. It has to be powerful enough to give you a hero point so you can train magic. But it's just a ration. A ration in a ruined ship. Could the ration hold some unknown significance. Would this ration have been the saving grace of this fleet from the throws of starvation had the Orr not been condemned by its own. Is the significance of this based on the importance it could have had for not the desperation of a madman, willing to do anything to see his people free even at the cost of not only their lives but their history their culture and eventually even their own will as their land turned to rot under that which he could never have forseen, he who thought himself flameseeker, who ripped purpose and meaning from this simple block of food did he destroy it's chance at meaning or did he simply erase a moment that had been there is this tragedy in the lose of what could be or what was the tragedy that would bring power into that which is unremarkable

2/10 really salty

10- Cuatl Tonic, Metrica Province. This one turns you red. It's in the village of some Aggressive Hylek. The description is "Becoming more powerful isn't always pleasant." Now, considering it's labelled a "health tonic" maybe it should be higher, but every description is how much you don't want to eat this, so maybe, just don't eat it.

11- Prototype Ooze Concentrate Tincture, Gendarren Fields This is another weird one, a random Golem gives this to you. I don't know why. It's alcohol, I think. The Golem encourages you to drink it. Who's Golem is this. It says "drink at your own risk." I think it turns you into an ooze actually, and therefore I'm further surmising the Ooze's in the cave were people, and that Golem was trying to fucking make you part of it's ooze farm.

12- Ent's Unguent, Queensdale Okay, you find this in a trolls cave. It turns you green. It promises to let you know why Ent is Green and Angry. I am running out of ways to express my concern for anyone who willingly eats these things. But I need to know why Ent is green and angry. Apparently, it's this.

13- Cold Filtered Wurm Tincture, Wayfarer foothills Ale made through a wurm bladder filtration technique. What the fuck is wrong with norn. What the fuck is wrong with Tyria. Stop making booze out of weird shit. Stop with your craft brewery's. You weirdass fucking hipsters! "An acquired taste" is code for "bad"Why would you even- No! No!!!! Stop! I'm broken at this point just

14- Unidentified Beverage, Malchor's Leap Listen. We've clearly established at this point, the commander doesn't care if they live or die. There's no other explanation. At least it wasn't corrupted but, it was found in a skeleton in Orr. And it Glows. Come on. Please. That isn't. You don't know what it is, where it came from, who that guy was. This may not be even be a beverage! It could be magic cleaning supplies! And you downed it!

15- Mysterious Meat, Lornar's Pass We're in the a-game now. home stretch. Top three worst things to eat in Tyria. So this, is Meat. First of all, Mystery meat, is pretty bad. Second of all, you find this in the layer of some creatures called "flesh reavers." Now fleshreavers are very rare, and their young are just skeletons. They grow by elder flesh reavers taking flesh from other creatures, and building them a meat body! The part you eat, is "the only edible piece on the pile." Which indicates to me, that it wasn't in fact edible. You don't know if this pile is for body building, or eating. I'm not sure if I want to know.

16- Grawl Paint, Timberline Falls This is paint.

17- Toxin Cured Hog, Auric Basin I've talked about this one before. I'll talk about it again.

What the fuck.

You find a dead boar carcass, in the middle of the heart of maguuma, and it seems to be preserved by a toxin cloud. The commander wonders "Is it edible." Which the answer is of fucking course no, but this mother fucker fucking ate bug spray so I guess that doesn't matter. Of all the effects these can give you, changing your colour, disorienting you, this is the only one that ACTIVELY CAN KILL YOU and the commander just fucking "keeps it down" you get a special skill called "keep it down" as you struggle for a minute to not vomit up this rancid ass boar meat of for what? What does this do? What does this prove? Who does this help? Are you proud of yourself for this? Does it give you enough power to take down an elder dragon? Do you win? Does it matter? Is someone gonna ask "You ever had dry aged beef" and you're just gonna go "well I can do one better" what reaction can you gain from that? Admiration? Respect? Delight? You will get nothing but Pity. Pity and disgust. Because deep down you know you didn't need to do this. You never needed to eat these things, Commander. There are more than enough hero points to fully train your magic without opening your mouth once and yet you, you did. It was never to gain power, or to prove a point, or to achieve anything. It was because you wanted to do it. You wanted to eat the toxic boar meat and On one hand I know I can never fathom the curiosity that drove that decision but the fact that you did it makes me need to know. To why, to know how. To know what power if gave you even when it could not possibly have ever been worth it. You horrify me, Champion of Aurene. Someone needs to stop you. Maybe Joko was right all along, Maybe you do need to be stopped. No, you do. But I certainly won't stop you. I just want to see if you'll do it again

#gw2 #Guild wars 2 #I read the flavour text of every single hero point #bear in mind I did this at four am like two months ago so a couple of this things should be higher on the list in comparison to others #But I couldn't reorder them without interrupting the narrative flow of the list

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curioskitty · 3 years

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Happy New Year 2021

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021

Artist: 堀越耕平 ( Horikoshi Kouhei )

Twitter: @horikoshiko || Wikia

Posted: 01.01.2021 at 6:46 AM

あけましておめでとうございます！いつも応援ありがとうございます。今年も宜しくお願い致します！皆さん健康に気をつけてお過ごしください！

Akemashite omedetōgozaimasu! Itsumo ōen arigatōgozaimasu. Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaiitashimasu! Minasan kenkō ni kiwotsukete osugoshi kudasai!

Happy New Year! Thank you for your support. I look forward to working with you again this year! Please take care of your health!

(translation by Google Translate)

Please show your support by following him and supporting his works! Horikoshi-sensei is a pure bean and an amazing artist and deserves all the love we can offer. He's been working tirelessly through the pandemic to bring us all joy every week. Horikoshi-sensei is just so wonderful and we can't thank him enough!!!

Midoriya-kun and Todoroki-kun are eating mochi from their bowls of o-zoni, Japanese New Year Mochi Soup. Look at it stretch, it looks super chewy and delicious!!!

It's a common new years day morning breakfast, so they must be about to head over to the local shrine for hatsumoude, the first shrine visit of the year. Hatsumoude is one of the few occasions in the year where men can be expected to wear a full kimono.

Don't these boys look AMAZING?!

But the girls have still got them beat; their nails are done, their hair is styled and they have lovely floral kanzashi in their hair. On top of all that, look at their gorgeous quirk-themed kimono!!!

Kyouka-chan is sporting a musical note patterned kimono; and is that a lightning bolt on your obi, Kyouka-chan? While Ochaco-chan has a lovely outerspace galaxy pattern. I wonder if there's a certain All Might netsuke hanging from her obi but hidden from sight...

Behind them, Bakugou-kun and Kirishima-kun are playing taiko. Well, Kirishima-kun is playing, but Bakugou-kun is probably a serious master taiko drummer at work. He's giving Hayashi Eitetsu (林英哲) a run for his money!

Kacchan's always killing it on the drums! Murder them all with music!! Aim for that perfect victory!!!

Sfx: かっちゃん (kacchan)

(This joke never gets old for Horikoshi-sensei. Although maybe he just means his name and not the sfx.)

Hang in there Kirishima-kun! The "えい (Ei )" in "Eijirou (鋭児郎)" may not be for "genius (英才, eisai )," but you're still plenty sharp (鋭, ei )!

Kanji: 切島 (Kirishima)

("Kirishima" uses the same kanji "kiri" as kiritaosu (切り倒す), meaning to cut down; to chop down; to fell. I'm thinking Horikoshi-sensei was going for that, but I can't be sure. There were fantastic kanji shenanigans with Hayashi Eitetsu's name too. The connection between Kacchan and Hayashi Eitetsu is pretty clear to me. Either way it's still plenty fun!!!)

Oooh!!! And what's this?

A pair of wild USHI-SAN have appeared!

Katakana: (うしさん, ushi-san); "Mr. Cow"

Mr. Cow are super rare, only appearing once every twelve years for exactly a year during the lunar calendar Year of the Ox. They look like cows but somehow have hands instead of hoofs and hand shaped udders...? Horikoshi-sensei WTF.

(Horikoshi-sensei please don't tell me this is your new self-insert character now, after that last one got burned by Dabi)

The lunar new year doesn't begin until February 12, 2021, so they're a little early. But I hope that's a good omen for the coming of a safer and healthier, better, brighter future!!!

Wishing our Class 1-A Kids, Horikoshi-sensei and ALL OF YOU a wonderful day and a...

PLUS ULTRA HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

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mightydragoon · 4 years

Text

Luke and Leia vs the Galaxy

@silvereddaye

.Our favourite Space Twins against the Empire with varying degrees of success.

1. Legacy ---myrlendi (thehistorygeek)

Three months after the Battle of Endor, Luke Skywalker goes in search of a rumoured Jedi temple in a secluded part of the Mid Rim. He finds within the temple nothing but a strange artifact, which unexpectedly brings him much closer to the Jedi of old than he ever thought he would be.

When Luke fails to return from his mission, Leia goes after him, retracing his steps to the ancient temple — and to the past, to the time of the Clone Wars and the waning years of the Old Republic. Under suspicion by the Jedi Order, the twins struggle to find a way back to their own time while trying to keep their knowledge of the future from affecting the past.

This, however, turns out to not be as simple as it seems.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15221810/chapters/35304947

2. Skywalker Family Values- Ariel_Sojourner

Camp Chippewa is proud to be the Empire’s foremost camp resort for privileged young adults. Located on the picturesque forest moon of Endor, your child will have the opportunity to participate in wholesome outdoor activities and socialize appropriately with their peers. We invite your offspring to join us for the experience of a lifetime and a bright future in service of the greater glory of the Empire.

On opposite sides of the galaxy, on opposite sides of a civil war, Darth Vader and Padme Amidala unwittingly send Luke and Leia to the same camp during school break. Chaos naturally ensues.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14258124/chapters/32883750

3. Back To The Future - PinkEasterEggs

Teenage Princess Leia, heir to Alderaan's throne and her twin, Luke Vader, heir to the Imperial throne, get thrown back in time with the chance to save their parents before it's too late. With the Force finally on their side, they decide to have a little fun whilst they try and save their father's soul.

What could go wrong?

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22217674/chapters/53048092

(Part of the Back To The Future series. https://archiveofourown.org/series/1648657)

4. No Time Like The Present - PinkEasterEggs

In a Galaxy where Princess Leia Organa and Imperial Prince Luke Vader didn't Time Travel to save their father's soul, a deadly discovery by their biggest enemy throws their entire lives upside down. Yet again.

Now on the run from the Empire, the Skywalker Twins find it their mission to bring peace back to the Galaxy once more. And with Darth Vader on their trail, that mission is far more complicated than they originally believed.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/24754825/chapters/59851300

(Part of the Back To The Future series. https://archiveofourown.org/series/1648657)

5. Great as the Sea-- Valkirin

Rescuing the last of Alderaan's survivors was an important duty, not an obsession, and Leia did not need to take a break. She did not have time to think about Darth Vader, the Force, or Luke Skywalker. It’s just her luck that the Force sends her with Luke Skywalker to a time where Darth Vader is about to rise.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11384253/chapters/25491066

6. turn my sorrow into treasured gold - cosmicocean:

“It might be better for you to die,” Obi-Wan muses as she holds her children in her arms. Padmé looks up at him and arches an eyebrow.

“I didn’t mean literally,” he clarifies.

“I know what you meant. I’m thinking about it.”

Padmé survives childbirth, dies as far as the rest of the galaxy is concerned, takes her children with Obi-Wan, and runs.

Pay me back in kind and reap just what you sow.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7435467

7. The Assassin's Blade - LadyVader23

Two years after Order 66, Padme is both an assassin for the Rebellion and a mother of twins. She will stop at nothing to bring democracy back to the Galaxy, even if it means killing Imperials to do it. But news of suspicious assassinations reaches Sidious, who dispatches Vader to hunt down this mysterious assassin. What Vader discovers will change the fate of the Galaxy.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20432867/chapters/48475367

8. anything is possible the second time around cloverblob

Leia Organa is sure that she died. She laid herself down, ready to become one with the Force. Except that she isn't dead--she hasn't even been born. So how did she end up on Tatooine? And why would fate bring her right here, right now?

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21941050/chapters/52364929

9. Influence of Time Cateyes1401 and SkylaDoragon

A freak accident sends Luke, Leia, and Vader splitting off to different points of the galaxy, over twenty years in the past. While Vader is careful to correct any errors his sudden appearance may cause in the timeline, Luke and Leia are not so cautious.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20333248/chapters/48211621

10. Laying Down the Sand - Knitzkampf

An AU set at the time of ESB. Han Solo abandons Luke, Leia and Chewie to settle some unfinished business and sparks a series of events that challenges each one's destiny and the fate of the galaxy. An epic tale of friendship, love, family and lightsabers.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/9921947/chapters/22232960

11. Binary Sunsets, Binary Siblings - Coffeesforcatchers

The projection was as blue as the Tatooinian sky, making it hard for Luke to discern its features. But as the audio began to play, Luke felt his heart seize in his chest.

"Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope."

Luke stared at the droid, his mouth open. "That's my sister!"

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14111466/chapters/32514372

12. Deja Vu - oncomingstorm42

Time travel AU fix-it wherein Luke and Leia are sent back in time to halfway through The Phantom Menace. They proceed to unscrew the timeline and save their parents while also kicking ass.

(note* Private story. To read you must have an AO3 account)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/10408782/chapters/22984893

13. Heralding Home -planningconquest

Family can be what we make of it. It can be lost and found and comes together in strange and amazing ways.

(Note* Modern Au but still same principal applies)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17130767/chapters/40288283

14. Like Fire in Our Bones --- acuteneurosis

With all of the most important things in the galaxy literally exploding around her, Leia is given the chance to go back and help keep a promise she never personally made.

But then, for Skywalkers, saving the galaxy was always a family matter.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19735813/chapters/46710241

15. I am as Strong as the Seas are Stormy (And as Proud as an Eagle's Scream)- RhiannonOfTheRoses

Leia Skywalker is only hours old when the Empire rises.

Leia Organa is twenty-three when it finally falls.

OR: The one in which Leia Organa is explored, and her life is uncovered.

16. Of Queens, Knights, and Pawns chancecraz

I went to sleep on the worst day of my life and woke to find myself in the past on the second worst day of my life. As experiences go, I don’t recommend it.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/8543680/chapters/19586203

(Part of the Of Queens, Knights, and Pawns series https://archiveofourown.org/series/825216)

17. Runaway SilverDaye

Imperial Prince Luke runs away from home to escape his overprotective father Emperor Vader. Jumping from planet to planet he finds himself creditless on Tatooine. While working for more money to leave the planet, Luke meets an old man named Ben Kenobi. But Luke knows he can't stay in one place for long for surely his father is hunting him down.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14630196/chapters/33813027

18. take the spade from my hands (and fill in the holes you've made) A_Different_Type_of_Flower

With her dying father's last request, eighteen-year-old Leia Organa sets out for the Outer Rim to find an exiled Jedi master and a brother she knew nothing about.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/9219026/chapters/20908517

19. Sparks SpellCleaver

Vader had every intention of ignoring that petty—if notorious—burglar on Coruscant, until evidence suggested that this "Angel" had Rebel ties.

Meanwhile, Luke never expected his father to actively hunt him down, and he doesn't like it.

20. the price of forgetting - surabayuh

Vader always thought that epiphany would come in waves; in the middle of meditation, perhaps, or a dream while he was resting, giving him unimaginable glee and satisfaction at its revelation.

He’d never thought epiphany would sledgehammer him here, at cell room number 2187, in the middle of an interrogation session, with an unconscious Alderaanian Princess laying on the floor.

(Part of the the bang the war-drums series)

(Note* Read the rest of this series seriously its so good)

21. heirs of the desert -- surabayuh

There was something about her, something familiar beyond the hairstyle or the attire; It was like a hole in his chest mended back by her presence. They walked closer to one another, slowly, slowly—like a planet realigning to their axis.

Dreams of a different life, a different reality, haunting him for as long as he could remember. Dreams of lush greeneries, of clear blue waters, of a high castle, of a brunette with bright brown eyes crinkling with laughter.

Leia, her name was Leia and he felt like he had known her his whole life, as if he'd known her as old as he had known time.

Around them, the Force sang.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22226950/chapters/53070706

(Part of the the bang the war-drums series)

22. taste the regret (it's bittersweet.) - surabayuh

Han Solo didn't want much, really; he only agreed to pilot his way away from the grips of Jabba the Hutt, and maybe have a little adventure along the way. That was why he said yes to that old man's offer, back in Tatooine, why he came back to aid the Rebellion, back in Yavin.

But then again, who knew that somewhere down the line, he would have to be the middle-man in a galactic family drama that could determine the very fate of the universe?

Well; certainly not him.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22452316/chapters/53646223

(Part of the the bang the war-drums series)

23. Endings and Beginnings, and Everything in Between - ITookTheOneLessTravelled

Dad might be mad at them, but Leia doesn't regret it. Luke and Leia Skywalker might be only fifteen, but they'd never have left their Dad in an Imperial prison cell to rot.

OR: Anakin raises the twins. Everything changes, but also nothing does.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/6757639

24. No Heroes on the High Seas - SpellCleaver

When Luke's aunt and uncle are executed by order of the Emperor's right hand, Lord Vader, he flees his home to search for his sister and the mother he never knew. But then Obi-Wan Kenobi stows away aboard the same ship, Vader gives chase, and Luke is dragged into a conflict that his family are at the very heart of.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17092340/chapters/40194893

25. Ad Utrumque Paratus - obeyingthemuse

It's hard to bring balance to the Force when the only method you've seen is your black-cloaked psychic cyborg sorcerer dad with a severe breathing problem throwing an old man down the Death Star reactor shaft. As much as Luke would like to see the not-yet-Emperor dead, he doesn't want to be arrested by his unusually attractive(?) war-hero dad and spend the rest of his indeterminate time in the past dropping Ewok beats in a jail cell. Also Leia would probably kill him. But not before breaking him out of jail.

So when the twins wake up on Tatooine decades in the past, they play it safe. They take over a planet, reconnect with their adoptive and real parents without weirding them out (too much), and accidentally cause the Chancellor perpetual near-death experiences.

Nailed it.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7168628/chapters/16273712

Tags

Leia Organa & Luke Skywalker

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storytime-with-moth · 3 years

Text

Writing modern teen Dad Sokka (zukka uni)

I wrote this a few months ago, but I ran out of steam and inspiration, so anyone is welcome to take this on and finish it as their own or take it as a prompt and try there own story.

Summer of grade 11, Sokka and Yue spend the whole summer as lifeguards, soaking up the sun, making each other laugh and dreaming of the future.

One night it’s just the two of them in the pool after it’s closed, you can see the full moon through the windows above, Sokka and Yue lay on floaties driving around the pool.

“Hey Sokka?”

“Hmm?”

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Sokka laughs “Haven’t heard that since I was a kid and I wanted to be and otter penguin - and no I have no idea where that came from.”

Yue turns over so she can look Sokka in the eyes. “Seriously though, what do you want to do when you can leave this small town and its small ideas.

Sokka could tell that there was more behind the question but tired answering it honestly “I dunno exactly “What” I want to be, but I think I would like to build things, useful things too. And I’m not really a car guy or a building guy.”

Yue snorts “Ya not a car guy, says the guy who failed to get his license twice!”

“Hey!” Sokka splashes yue playfully. “Okay okay, I have been looking the some of the research into mixing prosthetics with robotics and focusing more on make prosthetics one with the body, I don’t know much about it yet. But I guess I started reading all about them and I kinda became obsessed.”

“what about hockey?”

“I love hockey, and the coaches at school think I’m good enough to get scholarships, so if hockey helps support an actual career for me I’m all for it, but I know I want to do more than catch pucks my whole life, I want to really use my brain and solve puzzles.”

“hmm” Yue turned over and looked back at the moon thoughtful.

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Well as you so gracefully put it, what do you want to do when you can leave this place that’s too small for you and your big ideas and dreams?”

“Well when you put it like that… I want to travel, see places, important places. I want to fall in love, out of love, I want to have enough friends that my house is always filled with good food and loud laughter. I want to be a Mom someday, I think maybe I want to go to school and study philosophy, not sure what kind of job that leads to but I want to ask questions, the big questions like why are we here, what is a life well spent?”

“Whoa”

“Ya… Whoa”

“and have you talked to your dad about that?

“Sort of, and it sort of didn’t go well.”

“he’s still set on you making the Canadian swim team? Duty to country and family stuff?”

“YeP” she said as she popped the P

“That sucks”

“indeed it does”

They floated around in silence for a bit longer.

“Hey Sokka?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you want to have sex?”

Sokka promptly fell into the water, Yue’s laugh echoing around the empty pool.

They did indeed tumble into bed together that night, an awkward interaction for both of them that ended with the laughing covered in sweat. That morning when Sokka woke up Yue was already sitting on his bed looking at his doodles on the walls.

“Sokka I love you, I do, and I honestly thought maybe I loved you like a girl loves a guy, but I think I just love you because you're my best friend.”

“Ookaaay. I think I should add in you’re my best friend too? Because you’re being weird”

Yue looked to her hands in her lap and a tear fell to her hand. “Sokka, think I might like girls.”

She said it so quietly that it took a second for Sokka to understand what she had just told him.

“Whoa, no I mean, Cool! That’s fine. I support you, wait was I really bad last night?”

Yue’s tears quickly turn into laughs “No you idiot! You ere great, it just wasn’t right”

“Okay well cool then…..”

“Cool then”

“promise you won’t tell?”

“Yue, I promise I won’t tell! I can even pretend to be your boyfriend so your dad can’t freak out, and we can totally go to the girls soccer games this year if you want?”

“Sokka I love you, you big dummy”

“Well I love you to, to the moon and back dreamer”

___________________________________

So Sokka and Yue were still best friends and they spent the fall attached at the hip, and when Yue found out she was expecting a baby and her parents kicked her out, Sokka just grabbed her hand and her backpack and walked into his house stating that Yue lived here now.

Hakoda and Bato nodded and welcomed her home, Katara squealed and fawned over becoming an auntie.

And for a while things were good, they were complicated as they prepared to become teen parents, co parenting as best friends, both of them aiming for scholarships and working part-time gigs whenever they could to save up. But life was happy, they were going to have a baby.

But then things went wrong, Yue went into labour 6 weeks early, her pressure dropped, the baby’s dropped, there was blood, there were doctors everywhere, then there was a small shrill cry, more moving and running and yelling. Then there was a lot of quiet.

Yue died in labour, their baby was in the NICU for three weeks to improve her lungs and even then doctors were worried about how premature she was. Finally after weeks camped out in a hospital next to his baby in a box or in his bed in the dark or the shower staring at the wall, he could bring his daughter home. She was going to be okay.

Her name was Juno Kya Last name, and she was perfect, wide hazel eyes like her Mom, and the sharp cupids bow like Kya, it looked like she would have Sokka’s dark hair and complexion. She watched everything with curious eyes, and didn’t cry unless she was hungry or tired which was often the first few months. But Bato and Hakkoda loved their granddaughter to bits and helped with everything. The diapers, the late feedings, the tummy time, the grieving.

The grieving was the hardest. Mostly because he was to busy trying to be there as a Dad and as a student and as a team player. He spent so long being there for everyone else that one night once hockey season was over and Katara took Juno to a girls sleepover he was all alone, for the first time since he was a little boy after his Mom died.

The dam burst and he sat on the floor and cried, he cried until his Dads came home and they wrapped him up in a hug and he cried some more. Then they made hot chocolate and sat on the couch in thick chewy blankets. They talked and talked, Hakkoda speaking about loosing the love of his life with two young children, being a dad by himself, Bato spoke about loosing his best friend Kya so unfairly and traumatically. The spoke about the unfairness of life and the peace in death, and how he will never move on but he will move forward, with one hand holding his daughter and the other pointing him forward to his own future.

When Katara came home the next day, Sokka was already awake and making blueberry pancakes poorly singing ice ice baby. When he saw his sister holding Juno he scooped her up and gave her a million kisses.

They were going to be okay, because they were loved, because Sokka was smart, because Sokka was going to be driven just like his best friend was, he was going to ask the big questions whenever he could, and love and laugh, so much his home was filled with it.

For Juno and for Yue, and for himself too.

_________________________

So Sokka worked his ass off, he won a full ride scholarship to university for hockey to study bio engineering, he was even able to work on family residence on campus, which took a load off his shoulders of trying to figure out travel to and from school with a baby, now he skates, lives and attends school on campus (which even had a daycare)

During the summer leading up leaving for school Bato revealed that ever since Sokka got into school he has been trying to transfer his job to the same city so they could be closer and he had not only done that but he had gotten a promotion out of it too. So Katara was starting at a new high school for senior year and Bato and Hakkoda were moving to be 20 minutes away from Sokka’s school.

He knew he would have to get used to being more independent, as he knew his dads thought he would be annoyed by them following him, or his sister would be upset about changing schools. But no, katara had high hopes for her new adventure and sokka was just relived to not be alone, and that Juno had more than one badly an adult person in her life.

_________________

Little hands grabbed at Sokka’s hair as he hoisted 9 month old Juno up on his hip. “Well June-Bug this is it our home for the next four or so years”

Juno looked up at her dad with wide hazel eyes and replied in noisy baby babble.

From behind Sokka Bato came up and rested a hand on on his shoulder “Deep breaths kid, you’re going to be great.”

Sokka smiled ruefully at Bato as Katara ran up with a stroller full of baby things and his dad struggled with his hockey bags as he tried to lock the car with one hand.

Sokka looked at Juno again and whispered to her and himself “Deep breaths kid”

Later after they had gotten the crib set up in the attached office to Sokka’s room Bato and Katara took Juno for a walk in her stroller to grab some food. While Sokka and his dad finished unpacking.

“Son are you sure you want to stay on campus, are you sure you want Juno to stay with you? We could take her for the weeks mostly and you could come stay with us at the new place on weekends. I know you expected to do this more by yourself, but Bato would move oceans for you kid and got the new position in town, so we’re here, we can help.”

“Dad… Ya I’m going to need help, so thank you, I will take you up on looking after Juno when I need it, but you and Bato are going to be looking after her as her grandparents and not as her guardians. I promised Yue - Juno and I are family, and I’m not going to pass her off whenever I feel like not being a Dad anymore, she’s my kid and I want to be here for all the stuff, the walking the talking everything, and that’s not going to happen if she’s only my kid on weekends.

“Sokka you’re doing just fine son, more than fine really. Okay okay well when Juno wants to see her Great Papa and GB (Grand Bato) you give us a call, or if you need to pull an all nighter for an assignment you call, anything you call and we can be here. And when you get your game schedule, email us so we can make sure one of us can take her to the games, Bato is very excited about the baby headphones he bought her.”

“Okay Dad Okay, Now get out of here ya old man, and Dad Thanks for being here.”

“Of course Sokka”

________________________

Sokka was pretty pleased with his new place, sure it was small, but it was clean and had more room than he expected to get so he was grateful. The suite was in the family/accessible living accommodations which was a small building with elevators to every floor. This suite had two rooms on opposite sides of the small common area which had a worn in couch and a coffee table. There was also a small kitchen and an even smaller dinner table. Sokka’s room had a small attached office space that he turned into Juno’s room, even though she still co-slept with him most nights, it was good to have a crib for naps and a place to put her never ending supply of diapers, blankets and clothes.

Sokka's roommate was a paraplegic kid named Teo who happened to have basically the same schedule as Sokka so they quickly bonded over advancements in the medical and mechanical fields. Teo also seemed pretty chill and took a liking to Juno right away. Which made Sokka endlessly happy because, well they were now living together and babies cry and poop so he was worried about tiptoeing around his new home.

Day care still didn’t open for the next two weeks while sokka would be attending training camp so his Dad would be taking most of the days with Juno, but it happened to shake out where the first day of meet and greet and skate Hakkoda was attending a support group meeting for retired field medics in a new city and Sokka didn’t want his Dad to miss it, plus it gave Sokka an opportunity to introduce everyone to his best girl.

Katara came to hold Juno while he was on the ice excited to get a sneak peek at university life before her high school year started.

“Da da da” Juno babbled as she mushed her fist into Sokka’s mouth, sokka smiled and pretended to gobble up her hand, the baby shrieked and laughed and Sokka adjusted her baby sweater around her neck.

“Sokka she’s fine, I have diapers, formula, and the big blanket you packet in the stroller, if she gets fussy I can take her for a walk to see the birds, and she won’t get cold because you packed a million layers and she will be held by every limbo there so again, she will be fine.”

Sokka checked the stroller again nodding to what his sister was saying. She was right, he was prepared, he had already emailed with the coaches so they knew what was up and he had coffee with the captain yesterday, who looked like a giant holding his baby, but overall seemed like a good guy. Eric “Wooly Mammoth/ Wooly” Woolner seemed like a solid guy, like physically solid and also like the type of guy Sokka could lean on as a leader while figuring out classes, fatherhood and being on a university level hockey team.

Everyone met in a blank sort of room with lots of chairs facing a projector, Sokka thought it was probably to review game footage and make new plays. He settled in with Juno on his lap as the other guys in the room took notice that there was a baby in their midst.

“Sokka you brilliant man!” Shouted a familiar face from across the room as he stood up and ran over.

Haru was taller and broader than Sokka, much bigger at least than when they last saw each other when they played on the same club team when they were 15.

“Haru, dude! You’re here! Awesome!”

Haru took a look at Juno and sized her up, then he stuck out his tongue and did a silly dance, Juno hid her face in Sokka’s shoulder and Haru ran around so she could see him and did it again. This time he managed to get a small smile before she hid her face again, grabbing Sokka’s collar with her hands.

“She’s cute Socks, she yours?”

“Yep, this is Juno.”

“Nice, is she gonna be at the games and shit?”

“Easy up on the potty mouth there dude, and ya I hope so, my dads moved into town so they hope to be there and bring her to them and stuff.”

“Wicked, is the uh - mom in the picture?”

“Nah, she passed when Juno was born so it’s just us.”

“Sorry bro”

“Thanks, anyways we should totally catch up properly later. Let’s introduce the team to our new good luck charm shall we?”

Katara was right, Juno has passed from bro to dude to himbo, once she realized that everyone one here was as big and cuddly as her dad she seemed to warm up and enjoy the attention. Then it was time for everyone to get on the ice to pass around the puck and do some laps getting a feel for the other players on the ice.

Juno sat with Katara smearing her messy hands all over the glass looking at the people on the rink until she fell asleep in her stroller tucked under a whole blanket.

Sokka enjoyed the team, Haru was a great comfort of home, Wooly was a level headed captain that set a tone for the rest of the guys, then there was Lucas “Longshot” Cho, Dennis “The Duke” Cunningham, Sam “Rooke�� Chesterfield, Finn “Pipsqueak” Biggs, and the team manager Suki and the assistant captain Zuko.

All of the guys were loud and boisterous, including Suki, but Zuko seemed reserved and maybe a little prickly.

Then there were coaches Piandao and Bumi. Piandao seemed more serious, the man with a plan. He had coached a lot of different teams and was sought after for his reputation of the coach who turns coal into diamonds, Bumi on the other hand had coached here forever it seemed. He gave Sokka Manic genius vibes that had him thinking that maybe he should let Piandao hold Juno for the occasional practise instead of the ripped crazy old guy who ran around the ice in uggs.

——————

Later when Sokka was packing up and talking to the coaches about potentially bringing Juno with him in case he couldn’t find a sitter last minute working out how that would work, Katara pulled up with a fussy Juno in her stroller.

“Sorry Sokka I have to run, Dad is outside waiting for me and I have to finish unpacking my room tonight”

“All good Kat, thanks again for coming tonight!”

Katara leaned down and kissed her fingers and pressed them to Juno’s head “Love you little bug”

The coaches bid their farewells shortly after and Sokka packed his stuff into the stroller before taking Juno out to settle her and give her a bottle.

Just as he tucked her into his arms and pulled the bottle from the bag someone walked briskly into the locker room where he was sitting.

Zuko and Assistant Captain huffed in and sat down hanging up his phone and tossing it on the bench.

“Uh hi?”

Zuko whirled around looking ready for a fight before spotting Sokka and said baby sucking on a bottle. “Hi Baby.” Zuko said shyly.

Sokka laughed “ Take me on a date before you call me that.” And winked at Zuko.

Zuko looked like a startled deer so Sokka took pity on him.

“Just kidding dude, I mean sort of I am Bi - what a discovery that was and anyways - sorry I wasn’t coming on to you - I don’t know you - I just thought I should make it clear that I COULD come on to you because I like guys, and girls…. Whelp I would start running away in shame now for oversharing but I’m currently a food spruce for this nugget sooo, yep just going to sit here and wish I could time travel to punch myself in the face.”

Throughout the vomit of words coming out of sokka’s mouth Zuko seemed to relax and then smirk at the other man.

“You do know I was talking to your kid right?”

“Yep, yes I did”

“Well see you around Sokka.”

And Zuko grabbed his bag and left the locker room. First impressions for today might be bit all over the place Sokka thought to himself.

____________________________________

Sokka talked to Juno all of the time. What can he say, he is a guy with a lot of words and they can’t all stay in his head.

So Juno has an interesting and advanced vocal for a 9 month old baby.

Of course she can address the people in her life, Dada, Kat, Great Papa, and GB (Great Bato)

She can also ask for milk, to go up, and uh oh.

She loves to say no but can infect say yes (sokka swears he’s heard that one)

But it also means she tries to say things that Sokka often says to varying degrees of baby success

“Stupid gravity!”

"Monkey balls”

“Shoot”

“I love you to the moon and back”

“hockey time.

And her favourite word of all time

Puck

It stopped making Sokka freeze after the first 2o times he thought he heard his baby say fuck. Now its just a cute funny thing his kid has figured out, Dada has to find the puck, and it is her job to hide them.

She hides pucks everywhere, he swears sometimes she is multiplying them on her own because he always finds at least two in the diaper bag and one hidden in her crib.

So very quickly into the season the team dubs the hockey baby with her very own nickname

“Little puck”

Sokka quietly thinks that Yue would have liked that one because her favourite Shakespeare play was midsummer night's dream.

________________________

The team gets Juno and Sokka a fancy running stroller for her birthday/christmas

It was Zuko’s idea

Zuko sometimes comes by to offer to take her for a run when Sokka has exams.

_______________________

Zuko seemed to always be the last to leave the locker rooms, Sokka would usually rush out to pick up Juno from whoever had her unless she had stayed with Couch Dao during practise which she had today.

On days like today Sokka takes his time, cleans and folds his gear, re-tapes his stick for next practise and actually has a real shower. So today he was tucking Juno back in her stroller after changing her as Zuko put the tape away. They were casually talking about the hilarious origins of Pipsqueaks nickname when sokka realized Zuko had a funny look on his face.

“What? Do I have poop on me or something?”

Now Zuko looked even more confused as Sokka looked at his shirt, twisting around to make sure he was free of baby droppings.

“No, you just never look at it, is all. I was trying to figure out what was so -weird about you other than being a crazy goalie, and you don’t look at it.”

“I don’t look at what?”

Zuko gestures to the scared half of his face glumly. “You don’t look at it, you look me in the eyes, always have. It’s weird I guess. You pretending it’s not there.”

“Oh”

“Forget it, sorry.”

“No! It’s just of course I know it’s ther, I’m not pretending its not there, it just seems like whatever happen was probably truamitic, ya know? And - well - okay so tragic backstory time. My Mom was killed in a targeted home invasion by some racists, super fucked up... “

“Holy shit.”

“Yep, anyways everyone knew about it, in the town we lived in, in the next town we lived in, So it was like everyone could see my big truma all the time, it wasn’t up to me to trust people enough to share something that was hard for me and that hurt. It was out of my hands and everyone knew including people I didn’t feel safe with or I didn’t know at all. So I get it, in a way. I see your scar I do, but I get that it maybe comes with a pretty sucky story that’s not mine to make assumptions and judgments on. If I’m worthy of knowing then I will, but I will always look you in the eyes, I’m not going to look at your trauma first because you’re Zuko first.”

Zuko stared at Sokka with his mouth open. Sokka looked away and finished strapping Juno into her stoller before looking back up at the other player. When he did Zuko was looking at the wall, his shoulders turned away from the young father.

“Thank you, and I’m sorry about your Mom… I promise I won’t tell anyone, that scar can stay between us for however long you need.”

And before Sokka could stay anything Zuko turned on his heel and walked quickly from the room.

________________________-

Sokka wasn’t sure what was up with this Zuko guy, everyone else on the team except Haru and Sokka had played with Zuko last year, so they all seemed to have an unspoken understanding of the reserve alt captain. But Sokka couldn’t even get him to smile. Sokka knew he was funny, he was full of 100% organic grass fed dad jokes for goodness sakes! But no, Zuko would not smile, he would not laugh, actually most of the time he seemed to be trying to not talk to Sokka in general. Which was hard considering Zuko was one of the defensemen and it was his job to protect Sokka, you’d think there would be an effort to become friends.

“Maybe he’s uncomfortable with the whole baby thing?” Suggested Teo from the table where he was copying data to a new chart.

“Nahh, I don’t think so, he even said hi to Juno at the first prac - ohhhhhhh” Sokka fell to the floor from where he was sitting with Juno, she took the opportunity of her opponent on the ground and began to climb on her dad.

“What ohhhhhh?”

“I totally flirted with him after that and told him I was queer and he like panic walked out of the locker room.”

“Ugh so do you think he’s homophobic or something?”

“Maybe or something? I don’t get bully vibes from him more like “I act scary so people won’t pretend to like me and then stab me in the back” vibes from this guy. So maybe it’s just a little internalized stuff and he’s not going to beat me up just might not want to talk about it.”

“Well it sucks either way!”

Juno continued to climb around her Dad trying to stuff toys down his shirt and then take them out again. Sokka kept a hand two inches from her back whenever she got close to standing just incase she decided that gravity no longer applied to her and she tumbled over.

“Hey Sokka, do you think he told anyone? Would your spot be in danger if you were outed?”

A cold feeling settled in his stomach “oh shit, I uh, I didn’t think about that… I don’t think I would be kicked off the team. There are policies like that for the school, but I don’t know about how safe I would be from the boys.”

“Oh,” Teo finally looked up from his laptop and set down his highlighter. “You know if you need someone to back you up, I know I can’t take them in a fight but I am friends with some freelance hackers and I could make their lives living hell.”

“Teo, you my man are one scary dude, and the wheels only add intimidation with that tricked out chair. You’re also a really great friend.”

Teo blushed and shrugged “Eh it’s whatever, us queers in engineering trying to change the way people use bionic tech gotta stick together right?”

“Totally, isn’t Uncle Teo awesome June-Bug?” Sokka picked up his daughter and flew her over his head as she wiggled her legs.

“Too too!”

“Uncle Teo?” teo said quietly from the table.

“Oh, well ya, if you want? Juno needs a village right? And one day you and I are going to start a bionics company together, so ya you’re going to be around for a while right?”

“Right.” Teo smiled.

“Toto!” Juno screamed again.

Both of the boys laughed and the night went on.

_______________________________________

Juno was still asleep and Teo was in the house studying so Sokka took the opportunity to go for a run around his building with the baby monitor clipped on his waist band.

It was rare nowadays that Sokka could get a good run in outside, his feet pounding the pavement, a chance to clear his mind.

He was surprised to see that Zuko apparently had the same idea because soon they were matching each other stride for stride around the complex. It was surprising even after weeks of Zuko evading Sokka at any chance they seemed to be in sync.

They were still going strong when Sokka heard Juno fuss from the monitor and slowed to a stop. Zuko halted a few paces ahead and looked confused.

“Are you tired? We can stop-” Zuko started but Sokka quickly waved him off.

“No it’s Juno, I just want to see if she’s going to go back to sleep herself or whether I have to call Teo to pick her up, or if I should go get her. Come on J-Bug settle down,”

Zuko looking curious came to hover over Sokka’s shoulder looking down at the tiny screen which showed Juno in her crib tossing and turning.

“Come on J look your penguin is right there- YES!” Sokka pumped his fist and did a little dance. “My baby went back to sleep, ah I love you!” He continued speaking to the machine and the sky and skipped around before remembering he had an audience.

It looked like Zuko was thinking about smiling and Sokka thought that that might be worth celebrating too.

“Hehe whoops, sorry man. I just haven't been able to run in forever, it's like she knows when I grab my runners and demands to see me.”

“No worries, Sokka.”

So the two hockey players started up a soft pace again around the building. It came to Sokka's mind that he shouldn’t poke the bear but he also had poor impulse control so as he thought it the words came tumbling out of his mouth.

“So have you outed me to all the guys and should I watch my back?”

Now it was Zuko’s turn to stop, he looked like Sokka slapped him.

“What.”

“Ugh! You know, like I can not talk about it and we can just play the game but - should I be making sure that Juno is safe? If she comes to a practise and I’m leaving will I get roughed up by the guys? Because I can take a hit, but my daughter is off limits. Nothing has happened yet so, my guess is you haven't told anyone, but are you going to?”

“No!” Zuko still looked scared “ Never - do I come off as someone who would do that?” He followed up quietly.

“I don’t know what to say dude, you looked scared out of your mind when I flirted with you and practically ran out when I told you I was Bi and ever since you have avoided me, I just assumed you were uncomfortable.”

Zuko looked around as if to check for monsters around them, then he looked at Sokka. “I won’t tell anyone, I haven't, I swear to you that I have your back if you ever want to say anything about it. Juno is safe, I swear it.”

“Whoa that’s a serious tone shift, Um thank you then.”

There was an awkward pause as the two men regarded each other for a moment.

“Just out of curiosity why did you avoid me after? Was it the baby thing?”

“No, it wasn't the baby thing.” zuko mumbled and toed the dirt with his shoe.

“Okay… but were good now right?”

“Ya”

Sokka turned and started to jog again, and soon enough Zuko caught up and they continued for a few more laps. As they were cooling down Zuko still looked amped up, Sokka was surprised, running usually calmed him down but Zuko seemed jumpy.

“Well this was fun! If I can ever join again it would be nice to have company, even company as quiet as you along.”

“Why don’t you bring Juno in her stroller or something?”

Sokka rubbed a hand behind his neck “ Well her stroller is a second hand one we got when she was born, it’s not the kind I can take running without it falling apart or bouncing my babies brains out. And her Mom and I both had much to offer in genetic smarts so I would like my babies brain to be perfect so she can run the world or something.”

“Oh and I guess running strollers are expensive?”

“Ya a bit, and I already spend so much on her clothes, she just won’t stop growing!”

“Too bad, it was also nice running with you.”

“Wow a real Zuko compliment, be still my beating heart!”

Sokka grabbed his chest and fell back and rolled in the grass. Zuko’s lips tilted up just a fraction and butterflies fluttered in sokka’s stomach.

Just then Juno started to cry in earnest and Teo’s voice came over the monitor. “Uh Sokka is her bottle the one in the door of the fridge or do I make a new one?”

Sokka sighed a little then pressed the intercom button on the monitor “Don’t worry about it Teo I will be up in two. Just start telling her the periodic table or something.”

“See you later Zuko”

“Bye Sokka.”

_____________

Sokka’s head was pounding and his vision was blurry, as he stumbled in the dark to the toilet and heaved.

“Fuck.”

At some piont after the sweating and throwing up he dragged himself back to his room to fetch his phone. Juno was fast asleep in her crib because he had a headache last night and homework took forever, so he had put her down early.

Back in the bathroom he rested his head on the cool tile and dialed up his dad with shaky fingers.

After three rings Hakkoda picked up in a panic “Sokka, are you okay? Is Juno okay? Where are you?”

Sokka squinted his eyes at the loud voice of his Dad ringing around his skull. “Dad? I think I have the flu.”

“Oh bud, okay. What’s going on, how can I help?”

“I had a headache last night so I put J down for bed early then I woke up with a fever, I keep throwing up, Dad I -” Sokka felt a lump in his throat and tears sting his eyes. “Dad I don’t want to her her, she was just so small, and I don’t want her to get sick. I know I have to do this, but i love her so much and I dont want to fuck up - “

The tears fall down his cheeks to the floor.

“Oh son, okay. One you love that kid more than anything you would die before hurting her this I know. Two people get sick, people also get better with rest and the I think I can help with that.”

“Dad I know I’m grown up ish, but can you tell me what to do?”

Hakkoda chuckled on the other end of the line. “Sokka, Bato and I will come pick up Juno in 30 minutes, we will drop off some crackers and gatorade too.”

“Dad- “

“Nope Sokka, you asked so I am telling you what we are going to do. We will come and get our baby girl and take her for a few days, You will email your profs and get your homework sent to you, you can only go to class when you don’t have a fever and if you do you’re going to wear a mask, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Good you will email your coaches tell them whats what, when you feel better you can go watch practise, the cool might even be good for the fever, but you will not push yourself. This week will not make or break the rest of your life. So you will sleep, rest, do your work form home, and Juno will play at GB and great Papa’s house. And everything will be okay.”

“Okay. Thank you dad”

“We will be there soon buddy”

So Juno went with his Dad’s and he sent his emails and face planted in his bed and passed out for 6 hours.

Later an hour before practise Sokka’s phone pinged, he groaned and grasped around for his phone.

A text from Fire Prince Zuko

Coaches just said you won’t be at practise tonight. Is everything okay? Is Puck good?

Flu bug, don’t want to mess up that pretty ice with my vomit. Juno seems fine she’s at my Dads house until I’m not dying of the plague

A few minutes went by after that and sokka’s eyes started to fall again. “Ping”

I can drop off soup and tea on my way to practise, which suite is yours in family huas?

Dude its fine I can feed myself

Dude. I’m helping at my uncle’s tea shop today. They have soup and tea, it’s no problem. In fact my uncle insists.

14a second floor

And thank you Z

What are Alt Capts for?

Hakkoda was right, everything was indeed okay in the end. Juno had a blast at her grandparents house and sokka managed to get all of his homework done and even managed to watch a few lectures online courtesy of Teo. Zuko was the anomaly he could’t account for but was grateful for none the less. Whenever he could he stopped by with snacks, soup, tea and even weirder sent cute cat and baby videos at random points during the days.

Within 4 days Sokka felt good enough to go to classes and do some dryland training uring practise and after one more day he was back catching pucks on the rink with his daughter sleeping in the bed next to him one hand fisted on his shirt to make sure her dad didn’t leave.

After that week sometimes Zuko would still stop by with a tea, which Sokka had begun to like even when he wasn’t dying. Except now he would occasionally stay and drink his own tea while they watched juno play on the floor.

Sokka was starting to think he might have a new friend after all…

_____________________

#zukka modern au #fanfiction prompt #sokka #zuko #team avatar #modern au

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leiainhoth · 3 years

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Work summary: For so long, Din fought the reality of giving the child up, giving him to the jetii and moving on. He had prepared for it, packed a bag and left it all behind, so his son could have the life he deserved. All until he didn't have to. Or the one where Luke rescues Grogu on Tython, and Din rescues Luke in return.

Chapter summary: Luke, Din and the child continue their journey to Mos Espa, and Din makes a startling discovery

...

The pre-dawn light stirs Luke from a dream, and he rises with a grin. It was the sixth morning of their journey, the sixth day of traversing the desert waste of Tatooine with strangers and friends alike, and he was enjoying it. Surely more than one should enjoy journeying across dunes on the back of a bantha. But he was. He was at peace— true peace— perhaps for the first time since he had left Tatooine in the first place all those years ago.

There was peace to be had, even when Luke thought himself incapable of relaxing outside of his morning meditations, this was it. This was what he had been searching for, this feeling, this realization that his endless searching would never be victorious. That perhaps what he needed was to be still, be still and listen.

The force was like the wind, here. It ebbed and flowed, the energy of all living things tangled in a web, connecting each and every thing to another. It swelled around Grogu, the child small in his father's lap, dipping and swaying around the Mandalorian. Luke looked within, pleased and in awe of the feeling of oneness that the force had always given him. There was still so much Luke didn't know. So many secrets and techniques that had been lost, fallen to time. He wanted to learn, wanted to listen, but his world was so noisy, engines and footsteps and clanging metal. There was no use for the force on Chandrila, on Coruscant, on any of the core worlds. Whatever the Jedi order used to be before the war was gone, now. It was up to Luke to decide how it would continue; if it would continue, the future of the Jedi was in his hands.

It was a lot of pressure, Luke thought with a reflective exhale, a pressure that had been placed on him with the expectation that he would fulfill it. But he was older, now. Not necessarily wiser, but perhaps warier. Less anticipatory, more thankful; not often expectant of good things to come his way. It made him feel old, and Leia had teased him about it when he told her. But he was a Jedi master, damn it. What the order looked like, what it felt like, was up to him. And nothing Leia could say would change his mind.

Luke opened his eyes from his musings and looked around, not that there was much to look at. They were still far enough from Mos Espa that the landscape was unfamiliar. And even if he had, as a youth trapped here, he wasn't focused on the sand so much as the sky. Wishing beyond his wildest hopes that one day he'd be able to pilot something better than a landspeeder or a skyhopper, that he'd join the Academy and never have to step foot on Tatooine again.

It was a dream he had garnered for much of his childhood, unaware of his father's prowess as a pilot beyond what Owen and Beru had told him. Unaware, but still hopeful that there was something greater waiting for him out there.

But that was years ago, Luke thought with a pain of nostalgia, almost ten years. He wasn't a youth anymore, and any great hopes he held for his future were quiet ones. Find more force-sensitive younglings, set up a temple on a peaceful planet. Spend time with his sister, and Han and Lando, try and keep his droids running smoothly and his lightsaber in one piece. He wanted a life for himself that was different than that of a rebellion hero, something…predictable, something still. Something with a garden and a familiar bed, and… if he could be selfish, perhaps a companion. Someone to keep him company, someone to love and cherish and grow old with. Luke wanted that life, a quiet life.

He had spent his years in the rebellion being what the alliance needed him to be; a damn good pilot, a leader, an example: the poster boy for hope and peace across the galaxy. But he wasn't that man anymore. He didn't want to be a hero; he wanted peace . Because with heroism came fame, recognition; Luke didn't want people to come up to him and thank him for his service. He didn't want those he didn't know to shake his hand and congratulate him on what he did for the rebellion. He didn't want the insignia of the damn Death Star painted on the starboard wing of his X-wing, a concrete and constant reminder of what he had done in the name of the rebellion.

A million souls had died that day, and there were still nights Luke woke up in a cold sweat imagining their fiery deaths. Still times when he sat down suddenly in great pain, still moments where he was overcome with the overwhelming swells of grief and loss. Leia tried to comfort him, as did the droids in the medbay after he came to that day. It wasn't your fault, they told him, pressing the personal comm code for the rebellion psychologist into his palm. You did what had to be done. More people would've died, whole systems would have been destroyed had we not done it first.

We , they had said, and Luke remembered. Had not we done it first. But there was no we, was there? There were the half dozen pilots behind him, and later Han and Chewie in the Falcon, but it was Luke who made the shot and ended it all. Luke, who would hold those souls with him for the rest of his days.

And all because Luke wanted to be a hero, all because he wanted nothing more than to leave when all that he had ever truly needed was at hand, sitting on a moisture farm in Tatooine.

It was easy to say it was all behind him; the war was over. He was lucky that so many of his friends had survived, that he still had his X-wing and Artoo and Chewie and Han and Leia, but…something was missing. Of course, he had lost friends; he wasn't the only man to be orphaned and alone. But it wasn't just that; it was companionship that Luke craved. A companion who didn't care that he was Luke Skywalker of the rebel alliance, who didn't mind the lightning scars on his arms and belly, someone who didn't care he had a missing hand and debilitating nightmares; someone who wouldn't ask questions he didn't want to answer. Someone to joke with him, to care for him, someone who would hold him tight and not let him go.

Luke remembered crumbling the comm code in his palm, nodding to the droid so they would leave, promising to himself that he'd never call them no matter how bad it got. He couldn't bear the pity in their eyes, the looks of disappointment when they saw him for who he truly was. As if he'd let them down; as if the great impenetrable Luke Skywalker was a fluke, not a hero, just a kid from Tatooine with strange powers and a good trigger finger. He wasn't all that they thought he was.

And so, for five years, he tried to forget.

And frankly speaking, he was more or less successful. He watched with pride and happiness as Leia, and the other generals in the rebellion became the pillars of the New Republic, stood by their side when Han and Leia wed. He had held his twin's hand and congratulated her on her pregnancy, and when Ben Solo was born with early signs of force-sensitivity, promised to teach him the ways of the Jedi. And others did the same; his friends settled down with partners and friends, started families and adopted orphans from every corner of the galaxy. Started a new life, and Luke watched with a feeling close to loneliness as he failed to do the same.

It wasn't that he wasn't interested; there were more than one pilot and hotshot with a blaster he had taken a fancy to over the course of the war. Luke wasn't the only one to sneak a bedfellow into his compartment after dark, but it wasn't what he wanted. He wanted something deeper, something less desperate, something more than a stolen kiss in a cupboard and fumbling hands in the dark. Luke wanted something, someone , he could hold tightly, someone to comfort him, to stand by him; someone who didn't sleep with Luke Skywalker for the rights to goading brags at sabacc tables and crowded cantinas. As if was a pawn, just another ace in an X-wing with no future and no past and no interest in living beyond the moment.

Leia tried to set him up once or twice, but Luke hadn't taken her up on it. He wasn't interested in senators or state officials, less so in their stories about the war. DIdn't they get it? Didn't they understand that all Luke wanted to do was to forget? Move on? He didn't want to be the grand hero for the rest of his days? Why couldn't anyone understand that all Luke wanted was for others to treat him like a person? Not a legend, not a hero, but just as himself?

And then, out of nowhere, he received the distress call from Tython; and everything changed in a moment. His ill-timed philosophical musings of a better life put on hold for a child calling desperately for help.

The cost had been his X-wing and Artoo, who (no doubt) would have words to share with Luke when they returned to rescue him, but it had been worth it.

Because now, he had friends.

Friends who neither knew nor cared that he was Luke Skywalker of the rebel alliance; Luke Skywalker, the man who blew up the Death Star. Luke Skywalker, the Jedi, the last Jedi in the galaxy, and Darth Vader's son. They didn't know, they didn't mind. They treated Luke as one of their own with no questions asked. To them, he was just that, Luke , and who he was to them was who he was inside. The one with an eye for mechanics, a love of flying, a fair knowledge of desert flora and fauna. He was Grogu's teacher, Scoeeri and Laele's friend. He was Varre's companion as Grogu played with her baby, A'vod and Cor's helper into the underground cave network Luke had definitely not known existed. He was the mechanic who helped Cobb Vanth with his modified speeder when it broke down the night before.

But to the Mandalorian, it was strangely unclear. What was Luke to him?

Surely a friend, Luke thought with careful consideration, trying not to be nosy and look behind him to see for himself. He was intelligent, but quiet, kind. Soft and generous with those around him, despite the thick armour about him at all times. They were friends, right? The man trusted Luke to watch his child, to teach him the ways of the Jedi. All Luke had done was meditate with the child, but so far, Grogu's father had accompanied them every morning, exiting the tent he and the child shared fully armoured with the baby in his arms. It became more difficult to focus with the Mandalorian so near (damn, his thoughts were blinding), but Luke tried. But even as he did, even as he taught the child about the bond he was forming between them, he couldn't ignore the primary strand Grogu had. Luke could feel the golden strands connecting Grogu to his father twist and fold together with time, evolving from strings to cords to bolts, impenetrable. And this man was apparently just that, not force-sensitive at all.

There was something amused in Grogu's consciousness when Luke asked the boy about it. Clearly, the baby knew something Din didn't, but he didn't pry. Whatever it was that had brought Grogu and his father together had been formed in and amongst significant loss. Grogu had told Luke about the day his father adopted him, describing the feelings of warmth and oneness he experienced whenever his father held him close. The warmth the baby exuded through the force when he spoke about his buir was blinding, and when the child asked about Luke's buir, his parents, he deflated with a brush of pain at the loss he had experienced. He didn't want to shock the child, but he told him that his parents were gone, passed on; but they had loved Luke very much.

The child sent a wave of understanding and affection, and Luke felt a small hand grip his own. Together, the baby seemed to say, his eyes wide and open. Even if you have no buir of your own, my family is yours to share.

Luke let his eyes drift shut, a smile widening as a tear slipped down his cheek. What would it be, Luke wondered, his mind struggling to face the impossible, what would it be to take what had been offered? What would it be to have a family of his own?

Luke thought of the baby's father, the warmth Luke felt whenever he considered him. He and the child were so happy together, so content to stay close, and it brought a laugh to his throat when Luke remembered when the Mandalorian tossed his child in the air for his amusement when he carved figures out of tough stalks of grass for the children to play with. More so when he and his companion were alone, but Luke didn't quite know what to think about that.

It was easier to talk when the air was still, and the world was dark, Luke decided, trying not to look too much into his and the Mandalorian's time together. He remembered asking, just that morning, in fact, if his companion could teach him the language of the Tuskens. It had been an innocent enough inquiry, stemming from nothing but good intentions. For the whole time he'd known her, Luke had been using the force to read the baseline level of Varre's thoughts and emotions to communicate with her. He still felt uneasy about it and wanted to speak freely when Grogu and her baby played together. But the Mandalorian had stuttered out something unintelligible, gesturing strangely before Luke got the message. Too far. It was just as well, he supposed he could ask Cobb. Even the basics would be better than nothing.

But there was something to be said for having an excuse to spend more time with his companion. Luke enjoyed his company; it was simple, complimentary. The Mandalorian didn't ask prying questions, didn't seem to want anything of him other than his companionship. In the soft evening light when the day's travel was done, they sat together and watched the suns set, Grogu often lulling in his father's arms. It was in these times that Luke spoke, knowing that the Mandalorian wouldn't mind. He talked about his childhood spent not far from here, his family, his sister. Spoke about how proud he was of Grogu's growth in the short time they had been together, joked about the funny expression on Laele's face when he caught Cobb staring at him.

His companion laughed a little at that. Luke felt his chest warming, the deep tones of his laugh raising a blush to Luke's cheeks. Was that all it took to make him laugh? It had been funny, Cobb's expressions were longing and soft, and it was nice to take the piss out of someone else, for a change. For so innocent a recollection, for so simple a reason, his companion had laughed; and Luke wanted nothing more than to hear him do it again.

When they hitched up their bantha's the next morning to begin, Luke couldn't help but feel an itch on the back of his neck and turned without thinking to see the Mandalorian looking right at him. Luke had never found it difficult to understand his companion's expressions even with the helmet but blushed anyway. Even the implication that the Mandalorian had been looking in his direction was enough to bring a stuttering breath to Luke's chest. The suns were bright; perhaps he didn't notice the flush that had settled across Luke's face. Or maybe he had; Luke thought with a strange lurch in his gut; the Mandalorian didn't look away but tilted his head in recognition instead.

Kriff, how was he supposed to turn away?

Luke closed his eyes and tried to steady his breathing, turning his head firmly in front of him, refusing to budge his position no matter how much he might want to.

Luckily or not, their journey across the dunes was much the same as it always was, the steps of his bantha slow and lurching, massaging and opening Luke's sit bones and hip joints in a way they hadn't ever been massaged before. A sand crawler appeared in the far north-east, and Luke jerked at the sound of A'Vor, Cobb and the Mandalorian drawing their rifles.

Luke started at the sound of Grogu protesting in the Mandalorian's saddlebag. He turned, catching his companion's eye with what he hoped to be wordless understanding, halting his bantha in his tracks to let the Mandalorian catch-up.

"Can you," the Mandalorian said softly, not wishing the others to overhear. "Can you convince the Jawas to stay away?"

Luke nodded, "If you want me to. Do you want me to take the child? You'll need both hands to use your rifle,"

"Yes," the Mandalorian said, handing Luke the squirming child. Luke sent a wave of calm to the baby and felt him settle in Luke's lap, unhappy and concerned but willing to remain quiet for the time being. Luke took a deep breath, steadying his mind before reaching out across the sand, feeling inside him a flurry of activity. He had never fully mastered the Jedi mind tricks he had seen Ben perform; they felt so invasive, so personal, to actively work against one's will to achieve his ends. Luke didn't think the Jawas would mind, and at the very least, they owed him from the last time he was on Tatooine. He felt only a twinge of guilt in redirecting them to the southwest, far away from their little caravan.

"They seem to be turning," Cobb said from ahead of them, a pair of binocs in his hands. Luke blinked his eyes open with a smile.

"Imagine that," the Mandalorian said, and Luke smiled, pleased. Cobb lowered his blaster, and the Mandalorian did the same, lowering his heavy pulse rifle to its holster on the side of his bantha.

"Can I keep the child for the morning?" Luke asked, looking down at Grogu, calming down now that his father was still. "He could use a change of scenery."

"If you'd like to," the Mandalorian said but then hesitated, fishing in his saddlebag for something. "He's fine in the satchel, but I have a head covering for him."

That was how Luke found himself fixing a canvas hat to the baby's head, laughing at its floppy brim and too wide chin strap as the baby cooed at this strange thing on his body.

"It's a hat, Grogu," Luke said, adjusting the garment so it didn't fall. "It'll keep you safe in the sun; your dad doesn't want you to get sunburnt,"

Luke understood the hesitancy; he had applied a sunblock patch every day of his life before he left Tatooine and resumed the habit now that he'd returned without a hitch. But Luke recalled the Mandalorian's hesitancy in applying on onto the child, unsure if it would irritate his skin or cause a rash. Luke had watched with affection, helping the Mandalorian drape the baby in his tunics so the beating suns would stay off the child's skin. Grogu didn't seem to mind and was fascinated with this strange fabric in front of his face.

"Keep it on, Grogu, that's it," Luke said with a laugh, settling the baby between himself and the saddle horn. "Look, I have one too!"

Grogu turned and smiled toothily at Luke's sun gear, babbling happily about everything and nothing and all of the things around.

Luke felt the Mandalorian's gaze on him for the entirety of the morning, and when Luke turned with the pretence of showing the baby where his father was, Luke flushed, a hesitant smile on his face.

continued

#dinluke #family bonding #din djarin/luke skywalker #din djarin x luke skywalker #IJADIHIM-xXxVioletSkyxXx

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nimsajlove · 3 years

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an old companion

Ahsoka meets an old friend when they crash in a certain desert.

Just a small piece to connect old characters from the films, since the Empire never rose in this AU. Have fun, and my the 4th be with you!

Brothers-AU Ao3

*~*

With narrowed eyes, Ahsoka looked around and took a deep breath when she saw Luke and Fives walking towards her. Good, they were okay. "I can no longer stand this sand!", Echo cursed next to her and adjusted the glove again, in the end nobody wanted to have to get the fine grains of sand out of the prosthesis. "Complain to Jabba then.", she grinned, even if she didn't feel like it. Her first mission on Tatooine had had an interesting turnaround and she wished she wouldn’t be forced to face Jabba again. Sweaty and exhausted, her two other companions stopped by them and Fives wiped the damp sand dust from his forehead with a disgusted face. Luke seemed less bothered by the ubiquitous heat and sand, but he didn't look happy either. "We won't get the spare part here.", he reported and Ahsoka was tempted to throw her hands in the air angrily. With a mad twinkle in her eyes she looked sharply at the boy who wasn’t really a boy anymore. "And what do we learn from it?", she growled and her Padawan shrugged guiltily. Fives sighed. "Oh well, I can count his crashes on one hand so far.", he joked and now received a reproachful look himself. Then the Jedi relaxed a little and shook her head wearily.

"Number 6 doesn't count, so I only got five either.", she huffed with a small smile and turned to get back into the ship. The others followed her and together they began to pack bags and backpacks. "And why not? Your fighter was pretty done after it.", Echo asked and Ahsoka shrugged her shoulders. "R7 flew it at the time." As if on cue, the astromech came complaining from the cockpit, everyone smiled. “It's okay, it wasn't your fault either. Come here.", Ahsoka grinned and tied two bags to the droid, R7 complained again. "There is nothing to be done, we will all have to walk to Mos Eisley.", she explained and then shouldered her backpack herself. Loaded with everything they could carry, the group set off. "Put the hood on.", Ahsoka advised her Padawan, she definitely didn't want to hear the whining like after the last sunburn again. Luke seemed to have a similar opinion and pulled the wide hood over his head down to his face. "He's competing with Kenobi.", Fives hissed grinning next to her and Echo smirked.

Mos Eisley was busier than Ahsoka had expected. On the other hand, neither the Republic nor the Jedi had interfered here since the war. And she personally knew better than to mess with the underworld now. "What exactly are we looking for?", Luke asked skeptically and his Master grinned, an excellent question! "We, my Padawan, are looking for a cheap ride." Echo sighed in agony and Fives shook his head. "What?! Do you have a better idea?“, Ahsoka grinned. "Yes!", snapped her brothers back, but were deliberately ignored. The two clones shuddered at the thought of the last lifts they'd found in such forgotten holes. But Ahsoka always seemed determinded to get home on her own, without any help from the Order. "This is a good opportunity for you to learn something.", she smiled at Luke and that cleared the subject. "And where do we start?" He still sounded reserved, but was no longer a step behind his Master. "Where would you start?", Echo answered with a counter question, now her brothers finally played along! Where would be the fun, if they just let the other Jedi pick them up? "At the port?", suggested the boy and Ahsoka showed them the way. "As long as we don't run back into Ventress.", Fives muttered and Ahsoka suppressed a giggle, she found it extremely amusing how often their paths crossed those of Ventress as soon as she descended into the underworld. The bounty hunter was an interesting contemporary with a strange interpretation of the law. But she shook her head. "She‘s not here, otherwise we would have run into her by now.", she replied just as quietly and pulled her own hood lower over her face as they stepped into the shadow of the port. Jedi were not popular in a place like this and she preferred, not to meet old acquaintances straight away.

As soon as they had stepped into the large place behind the wall, Ahsoka had a dull feeling in her stomach that someone would still recognize her today. She was sure... "There." Luke pulled her out of her thoughts and she followed his hint, a freighter was standing there. YT-1300, but obviously modified. However, these ships were known to be quite reliable. "A good eye Luke, let's go and see if the pilot can be found.", suggested Ahsoka and went straight to i with R7 ahead of her side. The closer they got to the freighter, the more intense the pulling in her stomach became. Somebody was here. With great strides she circled the ship, she wanted to find this pilot as quickly as possible and then leave. In fact, they were lucky. At the top of the ramp, a young man was kneeling on the floor, his arms buried in a narrow flap up to his elbows. He cursed softly before Ahsoka gently patted the ramp with the hard sole of her boots. His head flew up and he gave her a sharp look before he removed his hands from the tangled cables and got to his feet. He seemed older than Luke, maybe by 8 or 9 years? She had always had a hard time guessing the age of people after spending half of her childhood alongside the clones. "What do you want?" Right, that was good. He was direct, meant that this man knew his business.

"We could use a lift.", Ahsoka replied and the man smirked, then shook his head. "Haven't seen Jedi in a while, you don't go outside that often, right?" With a sigh, Ahsoka pulled the hood off her head and crossed her arms. "Okay, what gave me away?", she asked ironically and the man pointed to her figure, while he bent down and picked up his vest from the floor, it had been lying next to him during the repair. “I ran into the last one a year ago and he pulled off the exact same hood-thing. And I don't think I can help you.” Resolutely, he adjusted the vest and glanced behind Ahsoka's group. “There you are at last! We have to go.” Ahsoka followed his gaze and froze. A Wookiee pushed through the crowd at the entrance and saw them. He saw Ahsoka, hesitated, and seemed to be laughing before raising a huge hand in greeting. Ahsoka remembered, even if she didn't like to think back about it. "Chewbacca..." The Wookiee wrapped a huge arm around her shoulders, heartily squashed her back lekku and then patted her lower back. She was grateful for the reserved greeting. Chewbacca looked at the man, went up and asked a question. Ahsoka politely took a few steps back. "What was that?", Luke asked quietly and Ahsoka shrugged. “We worked together once.“ She smiled and slowly thawed again, she had overcome the first shock. A small argument seemed to have broken out on the ramp and Echo laughed softly. "I think he'll have to take us with him now.", he muttered and was proven right. “All right, up with you. I hope you all can handle a gun.” Fives rolled his eyes next to her, but kept his opinion to himself. Together they climbed the ramp and Ahsoka held out her hand to the pilot. "I'm Ahsoka Tano, we won't be a burden to you.", she grinned and the young man returned her handshake. "Han Solo, you already know Chewie." Oh, she had heard the name before! The flight promised to be interesting...

#star wars #Clone Wars #ahsoka tano #luke skywalker #clone trooper echo #clone trooper fives #may the 4th be with you #moving towards a new friendship #chewbacca #han solo #millennium falcon

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morphituu · 4 years

Text

Milagro

Chapter 22: Rehearsals

Ch: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21

“Maaaama, mi amore- say mama,” Callie encouraged, her shirt clasped in Leo’s hold and a wide smile clamped around a melting teething chewy. The round, golden eyes locked on Callie still glimmered with unshed tears after waking from a nap following a sharp tooth breaking through his gums, but now his short legs kicked excitedly when she squealed like he after some numbing gel was lathered across his swollen pads.

“Oh my osito,” she sang, giggling when his staticky voice spiked into an excited shriek after she laid him across her chest. With any luck he'd catch the last of his afternoon nap and not completely derail his schedule the night before they left him. With one hand rhythmically patting his bottom in tune with a gentle song she hummed, the nails of her other dragged down his thick stripe of sandy colored locks, thick and tangled as hers always was.

Leo’s sleepy growls wound down to soft grunts, his little mouth pursing when he sucked on his tongue.

Her bottom lip quivered. To think she'd go four days without kissing this face or hearing his voice almost made her call off their already brief honeymoon despite desperately needing the break, not to mention the alone time she so craved from her husband to be. Quickies were fun in the moment, but when she'd have to walk right back out and balance Leo on her hip and a stack of laundry and dishes in the other arm, the yearn for a quiet, post-sex cuddle session resounded loudly in her bones.

“You know we’ll be back, right Leonardo? You won't even notice us you'll have so much fun with abuela y abuelo,” she smiled, recalling all of the toys Oleg had gone out to purchase in preparation for his grandson's extended visit, excitedly sending pictures to Nick every time he found something new.

Callie giggled, her eyes drifting up. She gasped softly, looking down at Leo. “Guess who's back?”

Her door swung open and Leo’s head craned back to find Nick placing their contribution to the dinner at her feet, a smile spreading across his gummy face immediately.

“What's with those sad eyes?” Nick pouted, reaching for Leo.

“His tooth broke through,” she handed him over, their son rubbing his tired eyes against Nick’s chest after being leaned into the crook of his beefy arm. Nick groaned, rubbing Leo’s back.

“I feel bad we're taking off right when this starts,”

“Me too,” Callie sighed, pushing her messy hair back from her face. “I keep rethinking it,”

Nick’s head lifted with a pout. “You don't wanna go anymore then?”

She exhaled loudly, shaking her head. “I really wanna go but I don't think the guilt will go away so I just gotta suck it up and deal with it,”

“We’ll only be a few hours away,” he reassured, a comforting squeeze left on her knee before he carried Leo to the backseat. Nick wiggled his face between Leo’s round cheek and shoulder to elicit bubbly giggles, his affections unyielding even after his son was safely strapped in his seat again, not until Callie reminded him that they were needed elsewhere.

A final squish of his cheeks, and Nick was off to the drivers seat again.

“Let’s do this,” he chimed, the dark clubmasters hiding the excited glint in his yellow eyes.

The weather was ideal for the windows to stay down, a soft breeze drifting through the cab that neither worried about overwhelming Leo as long as the traffic stayed this slow, but neither minded that, either. Nothing- not even that Callie’s dress had been delivered with a rip in the seam, could dampen their moods that day.

For weeks, more notably the sleepless nights they'd planned this and endless trial and error from music to food to seating, keeping enough excitement alive until their day came, and through rejections from churches that deemed their union unholy to now having a backyard wedding at his parents that a shocking number of family wasn't arriving to, they were here, the day before their wedding, and Callie couldn't shake the warmth that had held in her cheeks all day.

The butterflies fluttered about her stomach, bubbling in her throat when she tried to speak. As usual he held her hand while they drove, but now more than ever he toyed with her singular ring that would soon have it’s pair. When they stood in line to pick up Leo’s fitted outfit, he brought her decorated hand up to his lips to kiss shamelessly before the humans that rolled their eyes in disgust, further stirring the churning excitement before she leaned into his side to hide her blush.

Callie’s head landed against his arm rested over the center console, his big hand landing on her leg. Nick kissed her head while he drove, his thumb tracing the supple skin of her freckled thigh.

Callie grinned then. “I hope this song plays tomorrow,” she noted the raunchy beat bumping softly through the speakers.

Nick snorted. “Someone's uncle is gonna grind on someone's aunt,”

She giggled harmoniously, her face rotating in to hide against his bicep. Nick egged her on, the dirty comments flushing her cheeks and leaving her breathless as they drove leisurely along the backroads. At red lights he made it a point to steal kisses, his hand leaving the steering wheel to hold her jaw when a taste of her tongue became too tempting to refuse. They were honked at a few times, but Nick blew them off, telling his pretty fiancée “this is why we should've put the cans on the truck today”.

Their bantering settled enough to let silence pass between them, listening to Leo babble against his crinkly blanket or exclaim when he caught sight of himself in the mirror.

“Did Ward tell you what you guys are doing tonight?” she asked, pulling her hair over her shoulder when it whipped before her face.

“He won’t even give me a hint,” Nick huffed, endlessly worried they’d end up at a strip bar. “What about Rosie?”

“Just a girls night at her house,” she shrugged, hiding her excitement. A night to kick back with her feet up and gossip? With unproblematic people? It’s fucking paradise, she’d clarified to Nick when he was confused as to why bachelorette parties weren’t rambunctious like the mens. “I’m not drinking until the reception though,”

“Is it the Orkish champagne?”

She moaned, her eyes closing as saliva pooled in her mouth. “Forget the food, just hand me another glass of it when mine is empty,”

“One glass will have you on your ass, mama,” he reminded, peeking at her from over his clubmasters.

“Good thing my husband will be there to carry me away from the judging eyes of the public,” she said, her chin balancing on his shoulder as he pulled into his parents' driveway. The street was lined with their guests, the chatter from the backyard heard over their engine.

“Only because my wife is the fairest in all of LA,”

She pouted. “Just LA?”

“Who even matters outside of LA?” he asked.

“You’re right.” She leaned in for a quick kiss.

The pair went about gathering Leo from his seat and his numerous bags they’d store tonight in preparation for the following day, including a bouncer and swing. He was excited as ever when Callie lifted him from behind the buckles, the teething toy in his grasp. It took only three months for Leo to reach a girth that Callie could carry on her hip like a six month old, his head unwaveringly steady and held upright as he learned the world around him. Their pediatrician warned he’d fly through milestones faster than they could record, so when Leo started angrily gnawing on their hands and crying through the night, it took them some time to figure out he was simply teething when they’d normally not expect it until later. Moments were cherished with greater excitement after they realized how quickly Leo was growing, and how brief this baby stage would be.

It wasn’t until they’d at last received the results of his genetics test were they able to find some peace of mind knowing when he’d hit a year, this rapid aging would slow drastically.

Being seventy-six percent Orc meant doctors felt confident leaning towards the likelihood that Leo’s growth would match that of a full-blooded one, but the moments remained bittersweet for the parents. In the blink of an eye Leo went from being a wiggling newborn to a hefty calf able to sit up on his own and mimic their mouths when they spoke to him.

His yellow eyes tracked and narrow in on objects he wanted, his colored hands able to pick items, and Nick’s ear was always on the menu of items he loved to gnaw on.

At the call of his name he’d turn his head, and a smile would grace his lips when it was either of his parents. Callie would walk from corner to corner with him between her feet, his grasp tight around her fingers and his feet dragging less everyday he built up the muscles of his strong legs. When he’d be done from such an exerting exercise, a frown up at Callie would signal his reluctance to waddle any farther.

The pouts and angry chuffs were Nick’s favorite. He’d gnaw Leo’s thighs and roll him side to side just to see his little face snarl, a sharp cry rattling in his throat before he’d clamp onto Nick’s arm. Now that the sharp fangs were coming in, he found instigating a fight with his vicious little boy wasn’t in his best interest. It had only taken a few times for Leo to learn if he laid over his dad’s head, he was further defenseless, including those ears.

“Ah!” Leo exclaimed, reaching over Callie’s shoulder towards Nick. “Ahh!” he cracked again, looking at Callie.

“He’s comin’, don’t worry,” she assured, his chuff tickling her ear.

The door was cracked open upon walking up to it, and inside the furniture was already being moved around to create more space to linger around in.

“Late to her own rehearsal!” came Oleg’s booming voice, strutting in false intimidation from the hallway, but his angry scowl melted into a wide smile once Leo recognized him and reached.

“Is everyone here?”

“The booze went quickly,” he teased, walking toward the back of the house with Leo excitedly squealing in his grandpa’s arms.

“That’s what happens when you get Orcs and Mexicans together,” Nick commented, grunting his way in with all the bags slung across his arms and shoulders.

“They didn’t drink the champagne, did they?” Callie frantically asked, following Oleg and leaving Nick to topple over with Leo’s luggage.

Nick and Ward both sipped their beers alongside Matuk and Sergey, the summer sun having been unbearable until Dinara silenced the mens whining and dished out the cold drinks. But the sun still kept glaring down at them even as it drew near sunset, their shirts sticking to their skin and hunger growing. Dura had been the only one to be blessed with a chair at the front, her belly near bursting as her due date approached.

“Pay attention,” Dura hissed at Sergey, fanning her face with her sun hat.

“All I do is stand here-” he hissed back, silencing when Ward elbowed him.

“Can you shut the fuck up she’s about to come down,” Ward growled, jabbing his hand in the direction of the house.

“We’ve done this eight times, why do we need to be quiet?”

“He’s right, there’s no point,” Nick answered loudly, sipping his beer.

Ward glared at him in disbelief. “At your own rehearsal?”

“Look, they’re talking,” he pointed to Callie’s mom who sat beside Dyani and Joaquin, Leo and his mother coming to join them once she’d finished walking down the mock isle.

“Okay music, yada yada everyone stands, then Callie,” Dinara called, tip-toeing around the line of bridesmaids to stand beside Nick at the front.

It was just the rehearsal, and there was nothing to match how spectacular and dreamy it would be the following day, but Nick still smiled watching her walk down like that, a glowing smile on her face and hanging onto her father's arm. Nick tossed a kiss to her before she was even there, tipping his bottle back over his lips to hide a nervous smile when she winked at him.

For the eighth time, Nick shook Diego’s hand and accompanied Callie back to their spot at the front, his actions growing clumsier with every round.

“Pre-gaming?” she asked, smiling at Nick’s loose nod. She was sure his eyes were half-lidded behind his sunglasses.

“Okay dearly beloved and all that, they exchange vows, beads, rings and kiss,” Dinara recited from the front with Leo still in her arms, wiggling towards Nick when he made faces at him. He stopped only to peck Callie sweetly, snatching his son from his mother's arms. “And we’re done,”

There was a collective sigh of approval from everyone placed about in the wide yard, all of which were starved for the cool drinks and savory dinner laid out under the shade of the patio.

Sergey stumbled to Dura’s side and only laughed when she scolded him for already drinking himself into a cloud, but Callie was there to loop her arm around the expectant mother’s and assist in her waddle across the yard. Nick and Ward picked Sergey back up, leaving hard slaps on his back while they teased him over being a lightweight.

“I hope Morn feels better by tomorrow,” Callie pouted, feeling her friend's absence.

“She kicks shit fast, she’ll be good,” Ward answered. It was useless denying they’d become quite cozy with one another, especially when Nick had stopped by unexpectedly to find her wandering around Daryl’s house in his shirt. It was a sensitive topic, but Callie thought it sweet how lovingly he spoke of Morn when she wasn’t around. There was always the hint of a longing sigh somewhere in his words, a hardened pout pushing his mustache up.

“Was it a stomach bug? Daryl wasn’t feeling too good either,” Rosie noted, following her ear into their conversation.

“Was Dejza sick too?”

“Yeah I think that’s where she got the bug from. Grandparents wanted to see her,” Ward explained, finding a spot beside Nick once they all came up to the table. Leo perched on Nick’s thigh, reaching over to tap Callie’s arm so she’d talk to him as the others found their seats. The chatter of Callie and Nick’s chosen family was lively among their friends, the last minute preparations or concerns rising into question and then settling quickly. Food was passed through mouths as fast as the words, the plates filling just to empty minutes later for seconds and thirds. The men of Nick’s bachelor party were ordered to lay off the beer and instead fill up on food before their night of celebration and farewell, waving off their disapproving groans and wails.

By the time they were all dug into their meals, Leo was drifting in Nick’s arms with a bottle balanced on his chest, at last catching a nap to soothe away the throbbing in his gums they’d managed to mostly keep at bay all day with the chaos swarming around them.

When Leo spat out the bottle and rubbed his face, Nick took a final bite of the crispy pork ribs to lean back in his chair and cradle his son closer to his chest, a wide palm patting his bottom. Soft chuffs were the last of Leo’s attempts at consciousness before Nick’s purring did him in, his big eyes finally sliding shut.

Nick was lost staring at his son when Ward suddenly came into view, his ear almost close enough to press against his shoulder.

Ward snapped up, mild disbelief coloring his expressions. “Are you… vibrating?”

Callie laughed out loud, covering her mouth filled with food.

“Does Morn not purr?” Nick asked, Ward leaning away from him.

“P-purring? Y’all… purr?” he looked up hesitantly at the other Orcs around him who were unphased by his discovery.

“Does Morn really not?”

“No! I think I’d know if I heard somethin’ like that!” Ward exclaimed, returning to his meal with a shudder.

“I bet she does n’ it just puts you to sleep,” Sergey added, talking around a corn on the cob.

Daryl looked back to Nick. “Sophia always told me she reminded her of a cat and I thought it was cuz of the ears n’ shit,”

The table chuckled at that, their laughter heightening when Daryl again leaned into Nick’s chest to listen to the rumbles, even placing a hand flat on him to make sure it wasn’t some elaborate prank. The fervent manner in which everyone devoured the food calmed into small pickings here and there and the low rumble of chatter filling the backyard, everyone in their separate conversations or stories until Dinara pulled Nick's attention away from Callie and Rosie who spoke so fast, it only sounded like clicking.

“Ukmall, you’ll need to be here before eight to get Leo,” she informed, and his brows furrowed.

“So early?” he groaned, having fully expected a few hours to sleep off a hangover.

“Callie needs to get her hair done. The fumes are bad for him,” she scolded, and he looked back to his bride.

“You’re changing your hair?” he questioned with big eyes.

“Just a little bit,” she smiled, internally screaming. She’d come to this decision to alter her hair after talking herself out of going entirely blonde despite her curiosity for years pulling her the other direction, but now she wondered if he’d even notice.

“I guess I can get him,” he griped, leaning down to kiss Leo when Callie and his mother sucked their teeth in discontent.

“What time are people arriving?” Callie asked around Nick.

“Three, so we have a lot to do and a lot of cooking before people start showing up. That being said,” she grunted, standing at the head of the table with her glass of sweet tea raised. “I’d like to propose a toast and a thanks,”

Everyone hushed, reaching for their variety of drinks to hold up.

“We want to extend our thanks to Callie’s family who have graciously accepted us in, not to mention our son who came with a reputation,” she gestured at Nick, the table chuckling. “To everyone who’s helped and put up with my screaming,” she admitted to bashfully. “To my son, who I knew would be the father his own raised him to be, and now the husband I always knew he could be,” she smiled lovingly at Nick, his own grin goofy and adoring. Callie rubbed his arm, squeezing his wrist affectionately.

“And to Callie,” she cleared her throat, raising her glass. Callie’s smile dropped when she looked up, her anxiousness kicking into high gear. “It’s because of you my son smiled again, and it’s with your help he’s shown that beautiful baby in his arms such love. You weren’t only a gift in his life, but ours too, and no matter the paths you both might take from here on out, you’ll always have a place in our family. Cheeruk, mausan daughavas. Lat've bleukukun avhiuk famipak.” She finalized, her glass raised and Oleg following suit.

“I’d like to also say something,” Diego stood creakily, his age at last catching up to him after decades of back breaking work. He smoothed his hand down his church shirt, lifting his glass. “Mija, you haven’t always had the best of luck when it came to men, and to be honest I would’ve pulled my hair out if you had brought home another white boy,” he chuckled, the table following suit as Callie hid her face in despair. “But now I can rest easier at night knowing you have a man I would’ve hand-picked for you specially,” he tipped his head at Nick, the orc nodding once in return even though he was inwardly elated.

“I’m sorry the ones you were told growing up were your family didn’t make it here, but it’s their loss, cariña. If they can’t grow as much as you, let them leave. You’ve always been better than them. Nick,” he turned, startling his daughter’s groom.

“Thank you. You’re the standard I raised my daughters to expect, so thank you for taking care of her and Leonardo. I only want forever for you two.” He finished, his free hand resting on Luciana’s shoulder as she looked on at her daughter with watery eyes.

“I second that!” Rosie declared, Santi’s glass following his sister only to spill across the table's surface and onto her plate.

Her cheeks were hidden in her palms when they toasted, Dinara’s words whispered in translation into her ear by Nick after drinking to their parents speeches. He kissed her flushed cheek, promising the sincerity of her words. Her eyes wandered while Nick adored her secretly, watching their parents take turns hugging and speaking with smiles plastered across their faces. It helped ease some of the burns she’d been dealt when her family started RSVPing just to say they wouldn’t attend, and she wondered how much of it was because of Leo and how much was because of their choice to marry. Either way, she knew now who to keep up with.

The couple was dragged from their steamy bubble of secret kisses and whispers when Ward elbowed Nick insistently until he turned, motioning his head toward the door, but his hairless brows drew together.

“Are you okay?” he whispered, noting Ward’s lighter complexion.

He shook his head, waving his hand. “Drank too much,”

“They took our drinks-”

“Man let’s go!”

Nick turned back to Callie, a loose smile curling her lips.

“Is it time?” she asked, and he nodded, leaning in for another lengthy kiss. “If I get a call from Jake that one of his girls is shaking their asses in your face I’m gonna make sure you can’t make anymore babies,” she warned quietly, trying not to laugh when he gagged.

“I hid a nanny cam in the house so if I see a male stripper shoving his junk in your face I’m gonna throw you in the ocean,” Nick cracked back.

“I can’t swim!” she giggled, trying to frown.

“Yeah, you’ve been warned,” he kissed her before she could respond. “I love you, have a good night and be safe,”

“You be good,” she reminded, pursing her lips for another kiss before he lowered Leo into her arms and smooched him goodbye. “No tequila,”

He sucked air through his teeth, pointing at her. “I can’t promise that,” and he was off, following the others into the house after kissing his mom on the head. They grew rowdy once separated from their lovers except Matuk who was as stoic as ever, and they could be heard causing a commotion all the way to the cars until they were off.

“Ten bucks says they don’t make it past midnight,” Rosie announced.

“Make it twenty,” Oleg raised his beer, his bright smile tightening when Dinara elbowed him in the side before making her way over to Callie as the rest of their guests found separate conversations to delve into.

“Callie, I’d like to show you something we picked up today,” she said under her breath, tugging on her elbow.

“Oh?” she piped, tapping Rosie’s shoulder so she could deposit her hefty son into her arms. Rosie doted over him lovingly, endless kisses pressed into his cheeks as he was roused from his nap, but that would be her problem, now. By the time Leo was awake and gnawing angrily into his tia’s cheeks in retaliation, Dinara had led Callie into her room where the bed was lined with pressed and covered clothing, some decorations and linens hung over the small bench at the end. Callie wandered, her hands gravitating towards the colorful flowers protected in plastic boxes.

“Here, look,” Dinara called from the desk at the corner of the room.

The small lamp was flipped on when Callie was at her side, watching as she lifted the lid from a silver box carefully, but upon removing the satin material protecting whatever was underneath, her hands moved even more gingerly than before until a shining, silver plate looked up at them. Orkish letters were carved deep into its face, but the polished grooves were clean, elegant.

“Marriage Armor, it’s called. The bride wears the plate with her new name upon her back and the groom wears the bride's zodiac on his shoulders and chest,” she explained, a smaller pouch that she had in the top drawer of the desk emptying into Callie’s palm. The charms were attached to thin, dainty chains, and carved from a deep, grey metal shaped into bull heads.

Callie smiled, studying their details. “Nick will wear these?”

“Mhm. You’ll both wear the bracelets that are exchanged, but those are kept for the day of. Right now we need to get this on you to make sure it fits,” she explained, opening the pouch so Callie could deposit the charms back inside.

The ‘armor’ had length to it she at first couldn’t see between the satin covers. Her own sparkling chains braided across the shoulders as one long, jeweled piece ran the length of her back, stretching from the plate that spelled Jakoby. When Dinara had it balanced on her shoulders so she could clasp it at her front, she saw where the chains came together into the shape of the Taurus symbol. With delicacy she touched the pieces on her shoulders and at the center of her chest while it was adjusted at her back, her smile beaming. It was heavy- this was definitely some special mineral, for she’d never seen one of such weight be polished finely enough to catch even the smallest glimmer of these dim lights.

“Tomorrow you’ll glow during that sunset,” Dinara smiled, tugging the chains at either side of her shoulders. “Poor Nick will be so blindsided we might have to give his men a heads up,”

They giggled, Callie’s smile wavering when Dinara held her hands tightly, staring at her with glossy eyes. “These plates are traditional. A male’s mother hands them down to his bride if she approves, so these should have come from my own mother in law, but they didn’t,”

Callie’s smile fell. “What?”

“Oleg’s mother hates me. She wanted her boy to have the smiling, waxy wife who pops babies out like rats. So I had these made the day before we were married, and I wore them in front of her,” she grinned.

“Reclaimed the name?” Callie smirked.

Dinara nodded. “It’s a good name despite the reputation that came with it when you met my son,”

Callie only hugged her, their arms tightly wound one another in that moment. “Thank you,” she said, giving her a last squeeze before they both wiped their cheeks of any stray tears.

“Well it fits,” she giggled before the two got her out of the intricate chains and back into the sleek box.

“Come on then,” the orc sniffled, turning the light off. “Let’s finish the night.”

↠

Nick’s hand still hadn’t come down from shielding his eyes, but as long as Ward was emptying his dinner and three beers onto Sergey’s lawn, he wasn’t going to even bother glancing at him. His excitement had drained the entire two hours it took to get here, it’s gradual drip starting as soon as they’d left his parents.

“I’m fine, I just drank too fast,” were the kind of things Ward kept saying to excuse his deteriorating, sweating form, but Nick knew he’d heard him heaving into the toilet after calling Morn to ask exactly what she’d come down with. Still, he insisted he was fine the entire duration it took him to shower and change before they headed to Sergey’s next, but by the time they’d gotten in the car, Sergey was starting to look worse for wear, too.

As soon as the car had come to a stop, both of them were falling out, one running into the house and the other making it to the lawn before he lost his composure. Now, Nick was alone in this filthy mess after Matuk had ditched them, but Nick hadn’t expected him to go, really. Bachelor parties didn’t seem like his thing even though there was nothing to celebrate anymore.

“Juh- just gimme a min-” Ward choked, retching loudly.

“For three months I’ve dealt with puke almost daily,” Nick explained calmly, his eyes still hidden.

Daryl coughed.

“You’ve been hyping me up for this for weeks,”

Ward nodded, spit hanging off his bottom lip. “I’no,”

Nick dropped his hand and sighed when thirty seconds had passed- the longest yet- without him heaving, and he couldn't help laugh a little. Ward wasn’t the kind of person to ever show vulnerability even when he was hurt, so seeing him hunched over and whimpering meant taking a few photos should’ve been his top priority, but Nick showed mercy on his friend while the other was lost somewhere in his house likely calling Dura to cry.

“C’mon,” Nick groaned, lifting Ward’s limp body off the ground.

“I need t’go to Morn's,” he grunted, walking unsteadily beside him.

“She can come get you after I drop you off,” Nick used his lighter voice, clearing his throat when he realized what he was doing. “Sit down,”

Ward instead flopped into the backseat, exclaiming when his head smacked the door panel. He continued to wail when Nick used his foot to push his feet in, flinching at how loudly he protested.

“Jesus now I know why Sherri was such a bitch,” Nick mumbled, closing the door before Ward could scream at him. “Stay there,” he knocked against the window, turning towards the house. “Let me go check the other child…”

What started as Nick’s bachelor party he had looked forward to for weeks, had turned into a mini-pandemic between the parties involved- thank god they left his parents house when they did- and had resulted in Nick getting one giant man baby into bed with clean clothes after he was found on his bathroom floor, and cleaning the puke out of Ward’s car when he voided even more of himself while waiting. It hadn’t come without a cold scolding from Nick, demanding to know why he couldn’t have opened the door beside his head if he had enough power to sit up and spray everywhere, but Ward stopped listening when the words became languages he didn’t know.

He hollered and gagged the entire way back to driving Daryl home, bursting from the car as soon as he was parked, but that only meant helping clean this one up too.

After nearly three hours of scrubbing, and gagging, and screaming, Nick sat on Ward’s porch waiting for his Uber, a cold beer in hand. No amount of air freshener or borrowed cologne would mask the raw stench of vomit under his nails and on his clothes. He’d likely throw these away- his nose was too keen to allow back into his closet. Too bad; he really liked this shirt.

Night had at last crept over LA, leaving only a soft orange glow where the sun had slipped from. The night was humid, but cool, and the woven chair he sat in wasn’t half bad.

He looked at his phone, tracking the driver who was coming down the street.

He’d made the move multiple times to message Callie, but he couldn’t bring himself to halt her night, either. If she hadn’t messaged him about anything, that meant no sickness had befallen them either, right? Maybe they’d been lucky to avoid catching it from Daryl. He texted his mom at least, warning of a stomach bug floating around and to keep a closer eye on Leo.

A compact little sedan rolled up, and Nick groaned. Now he had to squeeze into that.

What am I even gonna do all night… he pondered, walking towards the car. He chuckled. Sleep.

Nick slipped in the open door, closing it noisily behind himself before spinning the bolt shut. His palm popped up just as he smacked his inner arm, his keys flying onto the counter and sliding noisily across its surface.

Never, not even after his most grueling days at the academy or after an even more grueling workout did he ever desire a shower and sleep like this moment, kicking his shoes off excitedly.

“Nick?”

He froze, his head half in the cabinets looking for something to take with him. Nick leaned out of the kitchen entry, his ears twitching. Was that…?

“Cal?” he called back warily.

“Maybe,” she called back, and he was off towards the bedroom he hadn’t even noticed had been shut.

The TV was mumbling lowly with her favorite show, but she wasn’t on the bed like he expected. Instead, sitting on the carpet on a folded blanket surrounded by her phone and wires that made up her headphones and charger with a pre-roll between her fingers, he found her sitting beside the cracked sliding glass door so the smoke could wisp out into the night.

Her eyes were just as wide as his, the pair speechless.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, almost afraid to move. Where’s Leo?

“What are you doing here?” she returned, knowing he’d seen the joint in her hold.

“Ward and Sergey-”

“Got sick?” she interrupted, her mouth tightening. He nodded, snorting.

“The girls too?”

She nodded, relaxing a little bit. “I thought you were off already doing the bachelor party thing so I just came home… and left Leo with your parents,”

“Yeah I didn’t call them either,” he confided softly, licking his bottom lip.

“So…” she looked around. Why was this so awkward!?

Nick watched her, leaned back on his hands after pulling a fresh shirt over his scrubbed skin. His head lolled to the side, watching her at last let out the insane breath she’d pulled in. The smoke from this one smelled foul compared to the scented trails from a cartridge, but he wouldn’t speak out against it.

By the time he’d come out of the shower, she had gone through half its length and her eyes were already falling shut. Eight months of sobriety brought her tolerances way down, but this was also the first time in months he hadn’t seen her chewing her inner lips or bouncing her knee. What a wonderful remedy this was, but the stigma attached to it would always leave Nick hesitant.

“That wine is gonna knock you out tomorrow,” he mumbled, grinning when she swatted sleepily at his foot.

“I thought we already agreed you’d catch me,” she reminded, twisting the butt in the ashtray before looking at him.

“Only if I can get really shit faced in San Diego,” he whined, and she laughed.

“Duh, me too,”

He smiled, watching her fidget around on the blanket and fix her hair hanging around her shoulders. She looked down at the ring on her hand, smiling adoringly at its face then clutching her palm to her chest. Soft humming came from her, a soft sway back and forth starting.

“What’re you doing?” he asked, knowing she’d fallen into her dreamy haze.

Callie shrugged, looking up at him. Those balmy eyes were glowing, her cheeks flushing. “I can’t believe we’re getting married tomorrow. It feels like it’s taken decades to get here but it’s only been… pfft three years? And now we have our baby?” she pouted, holding her own face.

“Wow,” Nick mumbled, smiling at her in amusement.

“I shouldn’t have left him there, I need to call your parents-”

“Cal,” he called, catching her frantic eyes. “He’s fine. Take a breath,”

She paused before nodding, sighing instead of taking an appropriate breath.

“I wanna be on whatever planet you’re on,” his words nudged her away from that guilt, a little smile lifting his spirits when he worried about her mental state. Sometimes the break-through anxiety was sneaky.

Her brow perked up, her smile growing devious.

“I can’t,” he reiterated.

“You can,”

“I can’t,”

“It would be out of your system in two days. We’ll be back way after that,” she too reminded him of the miraculous gift that was an Orcs metabolism, but Nick was a faithful worker and had his own, brittling views on the earth-made herb she relied on. “You didn’t get enough that first time,”

“It tastes like ass,” he defended, growing weary when Callie sashayed towards him with the ashtray and lighter pinned under her palm. “It makes my lips dry,”

“I’m not stopping until I hear ‘no’,” she clarified, sitting between his spread legs stretched across the floor and lighting the end of the blunt.

Still, Nick remained silent, watching her suck in her own small hit until the embers were crackling at the end. “I won’t make you do it if you don’t want to,” she told him, sensing his hesitation. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to. If he liked the buzz from drinking, he was sure he’d like the buzz from smoking, but his encounters in the past not to mention the particular one that had left him in a room full of laughing people during a bad trip left bitter emotions.

But he trusted Callie when reminding him she’d never do such a thing, and she trusted her when she said, “You’ll like it,”

“And I’ve seen how jittery you’ve been,” she noted, patting the hand that had moved to rest on her thigh when he sat forward.

“Who wouldn’t be?” he asked, pinching the shrinking joint between his fingers when she passed it. Then she sat back on her bottom, crossing her legs.

“It’s your decision, baby. I want you to have a good time but not if you’re uncomfortable,” she told him, knowing even in her bombed state that despite Nick accepting this more over the years and his own curiosity growing, pressuring someone wasn’t how you did it.

He rolled it a little bit between his fingers, glancing at her with his critical, yellow eyes.

Ugh, he’s so yummy-

“How long do I hold my breath?” his voice disrupted her thoughts.

“As long as you can,”

Nick sighed, looking at it one last time. “Fuck it, why not,”

Callie’s eyes widened every second he kept inhaling, caught between warning him and possibly making him panic or letting him get one huge drag in instead of coughing through a bunch of little ones, but by the time she decided, he was done. Silent, holding his breath, his eyes already watering when he handed it back.

Without looking she snuffed it out, waiting. “Nick?”

He exhaled loudly, a cloud of smoke blowing around her that she swatted towards the cracked door. The coughing started before he even finished his breath, the next one bubbling up his throat before the previous one finished. His throat and nose burned, and he could’ve sworn he felt his trachea vibrating with every ragged cough.

“Cough as hard as you can, it helps,” she coached, rubbing his back when he rolled onto his stomach to smother his teary eyed face in the carpet.

The ferocity of the coughing rang down his arms, his head throbbing when he managed to sit back up, but with the calming of his body came… warmth.

Nick cleared his throat over and over, wiping the back of his hands across his eyes, but the warmth surrounding his head was making it hard to keep his eyes open. They felt like they could fall into a slumber at any moment, but his mind was as wakeful as ever. He glanced down at his body; why did he feel so… floaty? He cleared his throat again of its scratch while rocking side to side, tensing his arms. Upon lifting his hand, he found he still had full coordination.

He snorted, coughing a little.

“Are you okay?” His head snapped around, finding Callie staring at him in suspense. “How do you feel?”

He inhaled. “I feel like there’s cotton in m’head,” he mumbled, an eye closing. “Like fuzzy cotton,”

She repressed giggles. “But are you okay?”

He nodded loosely, looking around their cluttered room. “It’s like being drunk but sober,”

“I’ve never been able to explain it that well,” Callie grieved, her arms throwing up into the air. “Are you gonna be one of those insightful people when you’re stoned?”

Nick blinked, his eyes reflecting when Callie snapped a photo of him. “Who?” he asked.

“Oh my god.” Callie mumbled.

“Damn,” Nick exclaimed under his breath, his face twisted in horror.

“I know,” Callie nodded, her knee draped over his thigh.

“Could you imagine…?

“No. It’s bad enough we have dragons,” she said against his chest. Every blink felt like eternity.

“Imagine if they did that,” Nick pictured, his body shuddering under hers. “What’s this movie called?”

“Princess Mononoke,”

He scoffed; no way he was remembering that. Nick took a final bite of their ordered dinner, chewing slowly as he stretched to rest the bowl on his nightstand. Maybe this would finally calm his voracious appetite, but as long as Callie kept opening that bag of Doritos, he was hopeless.

“I’m gonna gain thirty pounds by tomorrow,” he mumbled into her hair, the both of them chuckling.

“I never lost my thirty,” she pouted comically, stuffing another chip into her mouth.

“Damn, what that mouth do?” he teased around a yawn.

“Yo mama,” she mumbled, giggling when he snorted.

Silence lulled between the two snuggled and surrounded by snacks in the bed, both of their minds lost somewhere in the clouds as they re-watched various Netflix series.

He thought he’d heard her slip in and out of sleep earlier, but truth be told, he could’ve been listening to himself breathe. There had been a few times his reddened eyes snapped open to be in the middle of a completely different episode, but mentioning it would be admitting he was falling asleep which he continued to adamantly deny. With a blind reach, he retrieved his phone from the nightstand.

Just a little past midnight, but way too late. He was enjoying this too much, though. Nick was only selfish in the sense that sometimes he just wanted to snuggle right up to Callie and feel her body against his. The last time they’d had a moment like this without Leo in the way was at the beginning of her pregnancy, and laying like this only made him realize how long ago that was.

“We should be in bed,” Nick mumbled, rubbing his eye.

“We are in bed,” she laughed, sliding her cheek up to look at him.

“You know what I mean. Big day tomorrow,” he looked down at her, reaching to move some of her hair from her cheek so he could better see those big eyes that always sparkled.

“Everytime I think about it I get so nervous,” she whispered.

“Why?”

She shrugged. “I dunno. It feels like that first time I met you at Santa Monica. I stress ate like seven funnel cakes. I was so anxious,” she admitted shyly.

“I changed a bunch of times. Couldn’t decide on anything,”

“Oh you did good, sir,” she winced, biting her bottom lip. “You could’ve drowned in my panties,”

“I would’ve if your sister hadn’t’ve interrupted,” he grumbled, forever bitter.

“Oh hush, it was a sign we would be together forever,”

“How so?” he questioned, twisting in her direction a little.

“I would’ve never called a guy back if that happened with anyone else, but you were so perfect that I swallowed the embarrassment and saved my horniness for another day,”

Nick smiled, a big goofy one. “Shut up,”

“Shut me up then,” she came back with, fast as a whip.

His eyes dropped to her lips, lingering before coming back to her eyes. “Isn’t that bad luck?”

“It was bad luck when we both ended up home,” she whispered, the weight of her hand once on his chest now coming to stretch across his meat.

That was enough convincing for Nick.

Callie was a little slower getting over him, but her heated kisses kept him concentrated on what they both wanted. When she was in her spot sitting in his lap, he could better taste her tongue after pulling her chest flush against his, his strong hands quickly continuing to her round ass he pulled back and forth over his growing dick. A steadying hand against his chest meant he could leave her skin that was marked red where he grabbed, her hips resuming the motions.

With his bottom lip pinched between his teeth, he easily pulled her loose sleeping shorts aside, revealing her plump pussy lips.

He could already feel how warm she was through his sweats, shortening his breaths in anticipation.

“You’re so hot,” he admired, looking up in time for her hair to fan around them when leaning down to kiss him. Strong, sinewy arms wrapped tightly around her waist, grounding himself to the angel that squirmed in his hold deliciously. Silently, inwardly, he thanked those who had blessed him with such a girl, promising to worship more as soon as he was done with this.

A firm tug on the ends of her shirt had it flying past her fingertips, thrown to the floor.

Callie gripped the railing to the headboard when he pulled her chest into his open mouth, a long lick gliding over a hardened nipple that had goosebumps fire up her arms. She snickered when he smacked his lips a few times, moving onto the other side. An old technique had her limp in his hold, her thighs tightening at his sides. He encouraged her hips to keep moving, his cock desperate for attention, but her mind was only a pool of melted pleasure at that point.

A hard gasp fell from her wet lips when he graced her clit with tight circles, hanging off of his neck to look down at his hand flat against her lower stomach as his thumb massaged her into a trance. Gradually her eyes fell shut, hair sticking to her cheeks while she panted softly.

His loose smile made her rock into his touch. “You want it already, don’t you?” he asked quietly, his voice vibrating with growls; Callie could only nod. He pecked her sloppily. “Get naked,”

Callie stumbled off into the center of the bed to kick off her shorts and socks, moving onto the food and remotes and phones that were now being swept onto the floor without a care.

Nick’s shirt and sweats had already been tossed off, but now as he rummaged through the drawer of his bedside table, his excitement was plummeting. Here was the box, but…

“We’re out of condoms,” he announced, looking back at her sat naked at the center of the bed on her knees with her dishevelled hair a mess around her shoulders. It only added to the tragedy of the situation.

“So?” she asked, her fingers drumming against her thighs.

Nick stood straight, his head cocking.

Since she’d been cleared for sex there hadn’t been a session they forgot to use protection, no matter how it dampened the sensation. He’d done it for her, for he wasn’t the one who’d be carrying anymore surprise babies, although it was the memory of her sweet, bare pussy around his unsheathed cock that helped bring him to an end, now. He’d wanted to ask her, even just for one quick slide in, but Nick had always assumed this was the new norm until either of them were snipped.

“Are you- really?” he asked.

“I hate them, Nick. I’m so over using them,” she exhaled, her shoulders drooping. “I’ve been trying to be good but if I have to ride your dick one more time with a balloon over it-”

She yelped, her legs pulled from under her ass and Nick finding his spot between her flailed knees when she realized what happened.

The mood shifted again, and suddenly they were in perfect sync.

Her knees drew upwards when the top of his thighs pressed under her bottom, his hand finding its place at the bend of her leg that was closest to her chest.

She made it up onto an elbow when he spit at his tip pressed against her entrance, her hand hovering against his belly.

“I’ll go slow,” he soothed, meeting her eyes. The first time they’d reunited in bed, his excitement resulted in hurting her, and from that came the need to remind him to be gentle, even this far down the road. A guilt he’d always carry, but he’d work on fixing it.

It didn’t burn this time his head popped in, his thick shaft following until she was filled to his base. Her shoulders fell back with a loud sigh while his eyes slammed shut, pressing to her as tightly as he could. He’d dived into a pool of ecstasy, sending strong shivers up and down his spine as he basked in her heat.

The stinging tug of a condom was at last absent, and there was only Nick’s velvet skin gliding against hers, creating the friction she so wildly desired.

“Baby,” she called, holding the hand at her leg when he stared down at where they were joined. His dilated eyes landed on hers, a low snarl curling his lips when he withdrew only to slip back in.

Her head rolled back in time with her eyes, a loud moan rumbling under the hand that slid up his chest when he rested forward on his hands, her knee hooked around his chiseled arm. He’d draw out until her heat was kissing his head, just so he could feel that delicious pressure before pushing back in. Nick leaned into one hand so he could touch her, dragging his rough hands up and down her body that gravitated towards his caresses. When her pussy bucked into his thrust, a surprised moan came from him, an eager thrust bouncing her.

A low, rumbling growl moved into her when he yanked her hips up in line with his, his nostrils flaring as he scented them together like this.

“Do it,” she smiled, her feet planted into the sheets behind him.

Their eyes locked during the time he adjusted his feet beneath himself, his breaths deep and loud. A few leisure bucks were her warmup, and then came that smirk. She bowed until she balanced on her shoulder blades, his grunts and chuffs nothing compared to the singing made in his name during his fucking. He was a force driven purely by instinct; the need to fill his girl again, to lay claim to what would officially be his that day.

The slapping of their bodies coming together drowned out the TV beside them, Callie’s resounding cries piled atop his raucous moans as he shoved his way into her body again and again, her juices covering them as he pounded that spot hidden deep between her tightening walls.

Her ass was dropped from his hold so he could lean forward for a kiss, her mind spinning when he rolled her on top of him.

With a flip of her head to move her hair off her sticky back, Callie sat straight, her fingertips guiding him back in as her knees slid out until she was sitting flat on him, flinching when his tip found the back of her pussy.

God, she was so small in his hands when he held her cinched waist; if he stuck his thumbs out, they could touch.

A deep moan rang in his chest when she snapped her hips back and forth, her sweet cunt massaging his entire length. When a dip of her center was particularly low, she’d gasp, holding her stomach where it felt he was poking, but a wide smile always followed those overpowering shocks of spine curling bliss.

Nick held steadfast to her hips, guilty in keeping her flat against himself so there was the added friction on his head.

“Oh fuck,” he drawled, his hand landing back into the sheets.

“Nick-” she gasped, her hand flying to his chest. “I’m-”

His last burst of energy was used flipping them again so she was spread below him, his hands hooking under her knees to push back into the bedding beside her ribs.

There was no more words as he poked his way back in, pistoning into her with such power her toes curled, her arms falling limp above her head when her climax came crashing around her. In an instant, she was stiff as a board, her legs strong enough to fight past his hold and stretch straight in tight trembles at his sides as he continued. When she could catch her breath, she shouted, a deep flush blooming across her cheeks and chest. Nick watched with a proud smile as she convulsed under him, her silent mumbles barely words as she came down from her high.

Her limp thighs shook mightily in his hold when he pushed them apart, their bodies touching in a paused moment so he could adore her with soft kisses.

She was still breathless as he brushed his lips across her jaw, her soft throat pulsing with the blood racing through her. Her pussy throbbed dully around him compared to the fist like hold he barely made it through moments ago.

A soft whisper in his ear brought the tempo back up, but Nick wanted to stay like this.

A beauty such as her was only admired best this close, and even though she’d found her climax, she whimpered below him, holding his face as he fucked her sweetly. Her ankles locked behind him, a heady groan to follow before he dropped his face beside hers.

“Should I cum on your stomach?” he panted, his thrusts weakening as the pleasure peaked.

“Inside me,” she kissed into his cheek, tightening the hold with her legs. “Cum inside me baby,”

The hand lost in her hair gripped her roots, a loud hiss coming from between her teeth when his entire body tightened and jerked against her flushed cunt. The screaming engine of Nick’s orgasm overtook him like a wave would at the beach, ringing from every end of his body and back to his center that spilled into his ecstatically beautiful bride to be. He grunted with every thick stream of semen forced into the space they both snuggly occupied, slowly stilling until they were both a heaving pile of sweaty parts and cloudy minds.

He worried he’d crush her the longer he laid over her, but the soft gliding of her hands up and down his back were too good to pass up. He exhaled, his face buried between the mattress and her head. “Fuck,”

Callie giggled, her cheek leaning into his so he’d force himself up to look at her. The urgency was gone in their kisses, but now he could feel how sleepy she was.

“Ready?” he asked against her mouth, only moving when she nodded. Her thighs trembled when he dragged out of her, bringing a thick stream of the nectar he’d left behind.

“Oh I can feel that,” she grimaced, sitting up on her elbows warily. It wasn’t clear at that point if it was the weed or sex that had left her feeling like her head was vacant.

“You should see it,” he smirked, his cocky pride coming through. “How many siblings did you want Leo to have?”

“Ha,” she shouted. “Good luck getting me pregnant ever again. My body said one and done,” she grunted sitting up, scurrying off to the bathroom after Nick had hoisted her up. He didn’t answer, and wouldn’t. Callie adored the idea of having a big family, but the night the topic came up when Leo was two months old, it only ended in her confiding in Nick that she felt she’d never be so lucky again. She wasn’t wrong in saying her body would likely fight off pregnancy for years, maybe endlessly if they ever tried again. Where it once happened so effortlessly, the time following to get where they were now had left them both a little… doubtful.

Nick yanked the blanket off their bed, tossing it beside the door so he could flop into the cool sheets of the mattress after turning off the lights and TV. His arms were already open when she came wobbling back in, her naked body collapsing into his. They rolled and wiggled until they found their spots, her head tucked under his chin and their legs tangled.

“We broke like four traditions,” she mumbled through a closed jaw.

“Thinking about it, I don’t think it applies to us,” he yawned; the sleepiness was at last getting to him. She looked up at him curiously.

“Our whole relationship is taboo. Curses don’t apply to morally incorrect choices,” he explained, laughing when she did.

“Yeah I guess you’re right,” she settled, her soft smile lingering when he rubbed her arm. The soft breeze from their ceiling fan moved her loose hair around his arm, tickling his skin, but the gentle strokes across his chest from her was lulling him into sleep.

“You’re not gonna bail on me tomorrow, right?” she asked suddenly, and his eyes opened.

He leaned away from her so he could better see her face when she looked up. “Why would you ask that?”

“I had to ask, my mind wouldn’t let me put it to rest,” she sighed. “I’m sorry,”

“Hey,” he pulled her chin up, holding her face. “I’ve been trying to get you to marry me for years, remember?”

She giggled, nodding. “What if right when I said yes you were like ‘fuck, she said yes, what do I do now?’”

“Oh my god that brain of yours,” he sighed, laying back down to pull her tight against his chest. “I’ll prove it to you when I’m waiting at the altar,”

“Promise?” she asked, her big eyes already closed. He pushed some hair aside, her lids fluttering a moment.

“Always.”

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did i plant a seed in this chapter? are those church bells in the distance? honeymoon in san diego where they have the best tacos HWHAT?

only 3 chapters left! ;_; thanks for reading, my loves! ❤

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