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ugly-crying-over-bucky-barnes · 4 years

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Field of Poppies Part 4

Summary: After being apart for six years, childhood friends Tommy and Amelia reunite under odd circumstances. Tommy is an outspoken young man and Amelia is pregnant and out on the streets. The bond of family can be unbreakable but it is tested often. Especially when Europe descends into war.

Part 4: The Shelbys go on holiday to the summer fair.

With school on summer holiday, Polly was at her wit's end with the children. While they mostly played outside, they’d always be in and out of the house banging around, tracking mud on the floor, coming in with scraped knees, or crying about something being unfair. Meanwhile, Finn was starting to walk and was also wreaking havoc, pulling on everything not tied down and making quick getaways.

So, it was decided they would spend some of the holiday on the road with the Strong family. Of course, Tommy and Arthur weren’t exactly pleased. Seeing as the betting shop was just getting up and started, they couldn’t afford to lose out on money. Polly insisted and said Danny and the other men could handle a few weeks.

Going on seven months pregnant, Amelia was a bit apprehensive about traveling out to the Welsh countryside. However, Tommy assured her that if she were to go into an early labor, she was in capable hands, probably better than any doctor in Birmingham. It was enough to sway her. They all needed a break from the city’s smoke and mud. Some fresh air was bound to do them good.

And oh how sweet the air smelled once they were finally away from the city limits. Amelia had been to the countryside before but had never joined Tommy’s family to see their kin out on the road. Her parents would never allow her to be near other Travelers, especially ones who tended to be more nomadic in nature than the Shelbys were.

But Tommy had told her enough stories as a child to make her interested. He tried to scare her with the stories they would tell around the fires. Try to explain the excitement of spring and summer fairs. It seemed like another world when he described it all. To be out in the Welsh wilderness, sleeping under the stars, riding horses all day, spinning yarns about fairies, it seemed to be a child’s dream.

Now, Amelia was much more aware of the struggles Tommy’s extended family faced. The prejudice and poverty. None of those issues mattered as a child. They had blinders on so they wouldn't see the ugly side of life. All they saw was the fantastical magic the world still held onto. She yearned to have that innocence back but there was no going back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On the second day of traveling to the Black Mountains, Tommy was steering the vardo with Amelia sitting beside him. He held the position naturally, letting the reins be an extension of his arms as he guided the two horses along. Arthur was on another horse, riding along while Polly and the other three children stayed in the back of the wagon.

“Good to be outside, aye?” Tommy struck up a conversation as a lull in the muggy afternoon settled on them.

“Oh yes.” Amelia nodded. “Good to see the clear sky instead of smoke.” She joked. "I forgot how blue the sky could get sometimes."

“Get used to it. ‘Cause when we’ve got everything going with the shop, m’gonna buy a house out in the countryside.”

She smiled. “Is that right?” It wasn’t the first time Tommy made bold claims. Once money started rolling in from the betting shop, he started promising things that sounded outlandish even to Arthur. He promised a brand new luxury car to John, a new five story house for Polly, as many horses as Ada could want, and now a house in the country.

“Like a cottage. Mum, dad, and I used to rent one for the holidays out in Wiltshire.” She recalled. “Cute little place.”

“No.” He shook his head, the cigarette in his mouth practically just a bit of ash. “One of those fucking big ones. Like royals have. Dukes 'n whatever they are.”

“Oh, Thomas, please.” She giggled and nudged him.

“I’m serious!” He chucked the last bit of his cigarette. “Big place, dozens of bedrooms, proper kitchen, riding stables, maids, cooks, everything. We’ll live there with the baby. He’ll have room to run ‘stead of being cooped up in Small Heath.”

It sounded wonderful to Amelia, like the stories he used to tell about traveling. But it was so far-fetched. “Can we focus just on what we’ve got now?” She wondered. “Tommy, I’m okay with making do with what I’ve got…and what you and your family have given me.” She touched his knee.

He glanced over at her, his blue eyes so bright in the summer sun. “You don’t think you deserve more than this?” He wondered. “Wouldn’t you rather a nice big house, proper holidays to places like France?”

“All those things would be nice but if I never get those things then I’ll be fine. I’m okay with what I have now.” She smiled at him to reassure that there wasn’t anything he needed to prove to her or promise.

Tommy sighed and his eyes returned to the grassy path ahead of them. “I know the baby’s not mine but…I don’t want any other kid to go hungry like we did. Ain’t right how we were brought up. And if I can change that for my family and for the baby then, why not?”

Amelia felt she wasn’t in a place to tell if he was right or wrong. So, she leaned over to kiss his cheek affectionately. “You’re a good man, Tommy Shelby.” She said softly. “A very good man.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They met up with the Strongs at their camp and together they moved North to go to the Appleby fair. Ada chattered on to Amelia the whole ride there about how fun the fair was. There were crafts and fortune-tellers and horses, horses, horses. She would see all of her cousins and other distant relatives that they only got to see once in a blue moon. They’d race horses, swap stories, share laughs, and her brothers would box with the Lee boys.

Although the trip took a little under a week, Amelia was in good spirits the whole way there. Tommy was practically a different person out in the countryside. He knew how to survive in Small Heath and knew how to survive outdoors just as well. He let loose a bit, not bothering to dress up and going barefoot a lot of the times. He smiled more and played with his siblings. It was as if he had left all his worries back in the city.

Amelia thought he was so beautiful in the sun. His smile brightened ten fold, his eyes sparkled, and he moved as if he didn't have any stress on his shoulders. It warmed her heart to see him play-wrestling with John, riding horses with Ada, and picking up Finn to spin him around. For a moment, she pictured her child in the scene. A little boy or girl toddling after Tommy, looking for his attention. Tommy scooping them up and holding them close, just as a father would.

All she could do was smile and keep her wide-eyed fantasies to herself. But it was so easy to get caught up in the magic of the forests and fields. It was so easy to get caught up in the smile of Tommy Shelby.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ada was right, there was a lot to be said about the fair. Intricately and brightly painted vardos lined up and many people were milling around. There were people washing their horses in the rivers as children played and splashed one another by the banks.

After a long journey, Amelia wanted to stretch her legs. Tommy walked with her along the river as the rest of the family prepared camp and watered the horses.

“Pol said your feet might be hurting these days.” Tommy’s aunt was his go-to to get any pregnancy answers.

“They’re a bit swollen, the heat doesn’t help,” Amelia admitted. Although getting to walk was nice, she was starting to get flushed in the heat.

“And uh…any word from home?” He kept his eyes to the ground, kicking a stone along their way.

“While we’ve been on the road for over a week?” She raised an eyebrow at him. “I haven’t gotten any messenger birds.”

Tommy chuckled. “I meant when we were back home. I mean, we haven’t talked about it much.” He pointed out.

Her smile faded. “No, I haven’t heard from them. I don’t know if they know where I am but I figured…well, I figured they would’ve thought to try and find me in Small Heath. I don’t know where else I would’ve gone with nothing in me pockets.

“And the father?” They hadn’t broached the subject before because Polly insisted that he leave the matter be. But curiosity was just too damn tough to ignore.

“Tom, I told you…”

“Tommy Shelby!” Someone crowed out ahead of them. Three young men about Tommy and Arthur’s age stopped them.

His face soured when he saw who was calling him. “Will.” He muttered obviously not in the mood to talk to them.

“I heard the Shelbys were coming, how the hell are ya?” Will appeared to be the oldest of the three, a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark hair.

“Fine, fine.”

"And he's got someone up the duff." Will smacked a hand to his forehead when he saw Amelia. "Shelby, Shelby, Shelby. What a shame! You have to learn how to pull out or these things happen, Tommy." He tutted in Shelta. "She is a sight though."

Amelia suddenly felt very self-conscious about the baby bump showing. Of course, she ought to be showing at her stage of pregnancy, but she wasn’t keen on embarrassing the Shelbys. Especially if Tommy wasn’t actually the father.

“Watch your fucking mouth.” Tommy spat venomously.

The Lee brothers jostled each other, pleased that he was fighting back. “Still got that mouth on ya, Tommy Boy, haven’t ya?”

“Fuck off.” He wrapped an arm around Amelia’s waist to steer her away from the brothers. “Fucking lowlifes never know when to shut their mouths..” He muttered under his breath.

“Still got a fight in ya then? Or are ya too scared to step into the ring with me?” Will taunted after him.

Amelia felt Tommy’s arm stiffen and he stopped in his tracks. Her eyebrows knit in worry. “Tom…” She warned.

But he slipped away from her and turned to face the brothers again. “Name a time.”

~~~~~~~~~~

“Ah, it’s never too long ‘til Tommy gets into it with one of the Lees at the fair.” Arthur punched his brother in the arm. “Lucky you got practice with those Birmingham Boys, aye?”

Tommy avoided Amelia’s questioning glance even though he could feel her eyes on him.

Polly didn’t even look like she wanted to get into the matter. Men fought at fairs, that was only tradition and it was in good fun most of the time. Besides, Small Heath was much more dangerous than a bout of boxing.

Around the Shelbys’ camp, there was a buzz in the air of excitement. Music could be heard in a couple of different directions, people laughed and joined each other for a good time around the roaring fires and lanterns. Some girls some yards away were dancing in a circle, their long skirts illuminated by the flames.

“When can I fight, Pol?” John asked hopefully. “I can take the Lees too!”

“Hush.” Polly scolded. “When you’re older and you’ve learned how to box properly. I don’t want to bring you home with a broken hand.”

John grimaced. “I’m old enough.” He muttered.

“Men don’t pout or slouch.” She said and stood up to tend to Finn who was stirring in the vardo.

“You gonna kill ‘im then, Tom?” Arthur smirked. “I heard he was…” He made a subtle gesture to Amelia who was talking softly with Ada. The eldest Shelby wanted to mention about how bad Tommy had it for Amelia. It was blatantly obvious to everyone. But neither of them seemed to want to admit it.

Tommy tossed a twig into the fire mindlessly. “He’ll learn to keep his fucking mouth shut.” He mumbled.

“Shelby!” Someone called.

Arthur grinned and clapped his brother on the back. “Let’s go then.”

“Tom?” Amelia looked worried when they stood up. “Where are you going?”

“Gonna go fight, Mel. Tommy’s gonna show them Lees how to throw a good punch”

“But…” Her stomach went into knots. “Maybe you could stay here and-”

“Won’t be long, Mel,” Tommy promised.

“Fine, then I’m coming.” She wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders and followed them.

“Not really for women.” Arthur tried to show opposition to the idea but Tommy didn’t seem to mind. Maybe if she saw him fight, she would know he could hold his own and she wouldn’t have to worry about the betting shop. No longer was he the stick-thin little teenager who was sometimes more bark than bite. No, he’d found his anger and learned to use it to his advantage.

The makeshift ring was lit by lanterns and nearby fires. A group was already forming to watch the show. The Lees were riling Will up who was already there, waiting for his opponent. But they all seemed to be in good nature, passing drinks and cigarettes, laughing, and cussing.

Tommy pulled off his undershirt and handed it to Amelia to hold. She was a bit stunned to see he had a tattoo on his chest. The sun-like lines were certainly new as far as she was aware. But she didn’t mention the ink.

Arthur was handing his brother a flask, Tommy downing the contents before ducking under the rope.

The crowd of onlookers was a bit rowdy, pleased to see young blood fighting like real men. Bare knuckles, no weapons, how it was meant to be a Romani man. A good show of tradition.

Amelia felt her palms start to sweat. Will was a good head taller than Tommy was and seemingly more muscular by his build.

However, Arthur, standing beside her, looked less than concerned. “He’ll be alright, Mellie. He’s taken down bigger fuckers than this one.” He promised.

Amelia had seen Tommy fight before, but the last time must’ve been when they were only thirteen. The wiry boy had a habit for picking fights and never staying down even when he was bleeding or had a broken bone. She never seemed to mind seeing him fight while they were in school. But seeing him in the ring with someone bigger than him, it made her stomach flip-flop.

And Tommy drew out the suspension. He allowed Will to get in a couple of swings, but he dodged them. His size allowed him to be quicker and more agile on his feet. The two circled around each other, fists up by their faces. Will looked smug with himself, confident that he would win. On the other hand, Tommy had fire in his blue-eyes. He wasn't fighting to have a few laughs.

“Hit ‘im, Tommy!” Arthur roared after his brother dodged a couple more blows.

Something changed in Tommy’s eyes as he threw a punch. Amelia could hear the blow land even over the boisterous crowd. She winced and ducked her head a bit. When had she ever been afraid to watch a fight? She must’ve egged on a few scuffles in her day. Goading Tommy to kick in the teeth of the school bully. But when Will landed a punch and she saw Tommy’s head jerk back, she cringed and hid her face in Arthur’s sleeve.

She could still hear the contact of punches, the sound of the men spurring them on, and the grunts from Will and Tommy as they fought. But she couldn’t bear to watch it.

It only took a few minutes before someone was shouting.“Oi, oi! Get ‘im off!”

“Tom, c’mon, that’s enough!” Arthur moved from Amelia and got into the ring.

She looked up and saw Tommy on top of Will, pummeling his face. Arthur ripped his brother off.

"Got fucking devils in them. Those fucking Shelbys are rabid." Someone nearby remarked.

"Aye, get it from their father. Murder in their blood."

"Do not let me hear you talking about her again." Tommy threatened in Shelta before he finally let his brother steer him away from the ring. He spat on the ground, leaving the Lees to help an injured Will off the ground.

Coated with a sheen of sweat, Tommy was breathing hard. Even in the dim light, Amelia could assess the damage. It seemed Will had taken the brunt of the fight. Tommy only walked away with a bloody lip, a bruise forming on his jaw, and some dirt sticking to his torso.

“Go wash off and calm the fuck down,” Arthur ordered before heading back toward the camp.

~~~~~~~~~~

Amelia followed Tommy to the river so he could wash the blood and dirt away. She lingered behind as he knelt down on the bank and splash cold water over him.

“What did you say to him?” She wondered.

“Nothing.” Tommy shook the water from his hair and wiped his hands over his face.

“Well, you said something, Tom.”

He stood and took his shirt back, using it to dry off a bit. “It was nothing.” He said again.

They stood in silence for a bit. Music still hung in the air as the night wore on. There was an uproar from the crowd, signaling the start of another boxing match.

Curious, Amelia stepped toward him and splayed her fingers out over his tattoo, following the direction of the lines. “This is new.”

Tommy felt like his skin was on fire even after the cold douse of water. He couldn’t find the words for a long moment, simply watching her slender fingers trailing over the inked lines. “I-uh…you can’t tell Pol about it.” He tried to hide his stammer. “She’ll fucking kill me.”

Amelia laughed softly and withdrew her hand. “Alright.” She agreed. “Your secret is safe with me.”

He smiled and threw on the shirt to conceal the tattoo. “C’mon.” He murmured and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

Permanent Tag: @papa-geralt-of-cirilla @giftofdreams @biba3434 @kimmietea @karmezii @enrapturedbythemoon @vampgirl1997

Tag list: @shelbyblinded

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your-rose-highness · 4 years

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Tell Me What Is Love (Ch-6)

note- Feat. JB (Jaebeom) of GOT7.

It was the middle of May when the songs of spring were heard the loudest. Hye hee walked along the Han river, the world seemed a blur in front of her eyes. The crowd seemed to buzz with ecstasy, a sight of the most beautiful sunset lay ahead of them. The golden yellow soft waves of the river mimicked the sun’s dramatic mood, as though pretending to be the same.

I’m a part of you, it seemed to whisper.

Hye hee’s feet stopped suddenly, lifting her head to watch the world gleam. After all these years, Baekhyun was still the sun she glittered for. Something drew them together. Or, she was imagining it all. What did she have? She was left with nothing. At the end of the day, she would have to go back to her empty and dingy apartment, meeting ghosts of her past. Where would she run to getaway? No matter where she went, her heart yearned for something unattainable. It had to be stopped. Like a stern mother who would discipline her beloved child, for the future unforeseen. The laughter around her rang in her ears, as though hurting her physically.

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She walked slowly to her neighborhood, walking the familiar path home. The streets were awfully dark she noticed, at this early hour too. It was hardly 7 pm. Picking up the pace, Hye Hee took longer strides to get to her apartment which was just around the corner. An odd feeling of someone behind her made her quickly look over her shoulder.

Was she being followed?

She had lived in this neighborhood for years now and never had she felt a chill rise in her spine as she continued to walk faster.

She left a sigh of relief when she sighted her apartment.

Hold on, why was there such a huge crowd in the front? Running to the crowd, she found people swarming around a woman on the stairs, who seemed to have fainted.

Jane.

“Oh my!”, hye hee exclaimed, her bag dropping to the floor.

“Here she is!! Ms. Song! A person just drove by throwing stones at this lady as she waited and rang your door!! I saw it with my own eyes!”, exploded the young girl who lived upstairs of her apartment.

“Did you see who it was?”, panted hye hee, hurriedly trying to pick up Jane’s head in her lap.

The right side of her temple dribbled with blood, and jane seemed semi-unconscious, trying to mouth words.

“No! I couldn't! They drove by so quickly! I tried to chase and note down the car number but failed. I couldn't contact your phone and I couldn't carry her inside. I’m so sorry.”, she whimpered.

“No its okay, thank you for being here.”, hye hee said as she tried to call the hospital.

“This is the first time something like this happened in the neighborhood. I thought this was safe! But look! We find stones being hurled!”, complained someone.

“Miss, you better inform the police. This incident cannot be dealt with lightly.”, advised her landlord.

The ambulance arrived soon, and hye hee found herself crying bitterly by her friend’s side.

What if this was because of that tweet? Had the fans found out? It can't be a coincidence that her friend was attacked on the same day that she went to the agency for her interview.

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“Will she be fine? She won't die, right?” wailed hye hee, looking at the paramedic.

The paramedic had a faint smile on his lips, which she missed, as she cried on the side.

“She will be fine, ma’am. It’s just a mild concussion.”

“There’s so much blood! How can this be mild?”

“Oh! Believe you me, this is mild. I’ve seen skulls being broken apart in my career, you can't imagine…”, he trailed off after he looked at hye hee whose face was scrunched in horror, “but you don't need to know that. All I am saying is that your friend will be fine, ma’am.

They reached the hospital soon, dragging away jane on the stretcher. While she waited in the corridor full of white coats, jane was called into the doctor’s cabin.

“Oh, guardian of Lee Jae In?”, he asked, looking up from Jane’s patient form.

“Umm… yes.”

“Are you her family?”

“No. I mean, she’s my best friend.”, hesitated Hye Hee.

“Right! But the official documents can be signed only by the patient’s family members.”, he said, while typing furiously on his computer, “sorry, hospital protocols.”, he continued, nodding at her.

“I see. Is she awake?”

“Not completely. But she will be in an hour. Don't worry, she’s fine, the scans came out clean. It could be worse though. May I ask what happened?”

Should she tell him? What if this converts into something much more complicated?

“She fell down the stairs. There was a lot of water on the floor.”, she finally framed.

The doctor seemed to look at her with suspicion but didn't say anything.

“Alright. Please contact her family. We will observe her vitals for a day and then she is free to go.”, he sighed as he handed her the forms.

Hye hee entered jane’s room after she opened her eyes. Her usually strong and fierce friend seemed so weak, it broke her heart. A smile played on jane’s lips as she spotted her friend in the room full of fear. She extended her hand towards hye hee, as she quickly grabbed it.

“I’m so sorry jane. I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault. I thought I was going to lose you.”, cried out hye hee.

“Not that easy, love. Why are you apologizing for this? God knows why they threw stones at me… I haven’t written a scandalized piece in months…”

Jane wiped her tears away and pinched her hand to lighten the mood.

“I need to call someone to sign your papers. Anyone in town?”

“My brother is here. Mum and dad are in Jeju visiting family. Where’s my phone? Ah, here it is. Call him. I’m going to rest my eyes for a bit. I feel really tired.”, jane yawned.

“Yes, you rest up. I’ll call him. Oh, password?”, hye hee asked.

“00000”, jane mumbled.

“Who puts 5 zeros as their password in this age?”

“Aish. don't come at me now, I’m hurt. You're lucky I remembered. What if I had lost my memory? You could guess it and call my brother. I am now a soothsayer…” she mumbled as she closed her eyes.

Hye hee sat beside her to call Jaebeom. She had never met her brother in person. Occasionally having only heard jane talk to him over the phone, which usually ended with one of them yelling at the other. Classic sibling behavior.

The ring tone rang only for a few seconds before he picked up the call.

“Jae in! You have some courage to call me after two days!!....”, he laughed over the other end.

“Hello, Jaebeom? This is hye hee. Jane’s friend from the company?”

“Oh? What? Is something wrong?”, his boisterous laughter quickly turned into one dripping with fear.

“Jane met with an accident. We are at Severance Hospital…”

“What?! Is she okay? What happened!”, his worried voice boomed.

“She’s fine. Just needs to be under observation for a while.”

“I’m coming. I need 10 minutes.”, Jaebeom hung up.

Hye hee didn't have to wait very long as Jaebeom soon arrived at the hospital.

“Hye hee?”

Hye hee snapped out of her thoughts to look up, “yes. Jaebeom-ssi?”

“Yeah. where’s Jae In?”

“In here.”, she said, guiding him into her cabin.

She stood behind him, letting him absorb the situation. No one could have ever thought that he was jane’s brother. There was no single similarity. Except probably, the fierce eyes.

He was handsome. Well, jane was quite pretty herself. Maybe they have good looking parents?

“How did this happen?”, Jaebeom suddenly turned to ask hye hee.

Before she could answer, the nurse dragged him away to the doctor’s cabin.

What was she going to say? Surely she can't lie. Jane would tell him what really happened and then he’d want an explanation. What if the doctor told him? How was she going to explain?

He soon got out of the doctor’s cabin, looking a little confused. He headed to jane’s bed and placed his hand on her head. Looking towards Hye Hee he whispered, ”Dr.Mark said I can take her home tomorrow morning. Thank you for coming with her. You can leave now. I’ll stay here and take care of her.”

Hye hee had just begun packing her stuff when he questioned again, “how did she end up here?”

Hye hee gulped and felt her lips go dry. Something about Jaebeom told her that she couldn't lie to him.

“She was outside my apartment when someone attacked her with stones.”, she phrased.

“Excuse me?”, he yelled.

“We don't know who it was. Or what they wanted. My neighborhood was particularly safe, I don't know why someone would do this.”

He didn't answer, but his gaze screamed at her. “I'm sorry”, continued hye hee.

Jaebeom let out a sigh before turning his back towards her. Hye hee felt a pit in her stomach, the guilt ate her insides, convinced that this was all her fault.

She slowly moved downstairs and met with a sharp cold breeze blowing at her from the outside. It was pouring rain.

She quickly checked the time- 10 minutes to 1 am.

“Real nice. Thank you universe!” she exclaimed, digging through the bag to find her wallet. It's as if the universe had been conspiring against her today. She didn't have her wallet, nor did she have her card.

Stifling a rising scream, she decided to sit the night at the hospital, when she spotted Jaebeom, at the reception, coffee in one hand, looking at her.

He approached her swiftly wondering why she hadn't left already.

“What?”, he simply posed.

Hye hee couldn't meet his eyes, “I don't have money or an umbrella.”

“Where’s your car?”

“I… sold it.”

He shook his head and went through his pocket pulling it some money. “Here, go get yourself something hot to drink. I’ll get drop you home, wait here till I get my keys.”

“You don't have to. I’ll just stay….”

Hye hee couldn't finish her sentence as Jaebeom once again seemed to glare at her. “Okay.”

Sipping on her hot chocolate, she stood waiting for Jaebeom. The hot liquid seemed to cruise through her spreading warmth, instantly making her feel better.

Instant hot chocolate for instant happiness. The thought made her smile.

Only Jaebeom was looking at her, deeming her crazy to have been standing near the vending machine and smiling like a fool.

The two of them walked to the entrance, ahead lay a night, pitch dark, blurred from the heavy rain. Jaebeom was kind. Pulling up his hoodie he sprinted across the parking lot to make sure hye hee didn't have to get wet. As sorry as she felt, hye hee was overwhelmed with the gesture.

The car ride was quiet except for the faint rain sounds that hit the car, as they drew out of the hospital. He asked where she lived and soon reached. Stopping near the turn, Jaebeom got out of the car grabbing the umbrella. Hye hee just felt bad that he was being this kind despite having hurt his sister. Coming around, he helped hye hee get out of the car, half drenched as he shielded her from the rain.

“You didn't have to do this. I could just run in.”

“Right. Let’s have another one hurled stones at. I thought you said this was a neighborhood. If they’re throwing stones at you guys, I won't be surprised if they’re still lurking around.” he mumbled.

Bingo.

Walking a few steps ahead, they saw two dark figures, pointing towards the windows, as though speculating.

“What on earth are they doing? These little…”, Jaebeom whispered, about to confront them.

“No please! Let them go away on their own, they might be dangerous.”, hye hee blurted.

“What do you mean? You're going to stay here, while these little jerks lurk around you? How is that safe?”

“Maybe I could stay at the hospital.”

“I would take you to Jae in’s apartment, but seeing this, I wonder who’s lurking outside hers.”

“That’s a great idea. I can stay over at her place!”

“But what if something happens?” he asked, very concerned.

“It’s only me they’re tracking! Her house will be fine!”

They got into the car once again, driving through the familiar route to Jane’s house.

“Care to explain?”, Jaebeom inquired.

Hye hee took a deep breath, laying down a few important parts, obviously skipping the one about being terribly in love with baekhyun.

“Oh, so you're the one Jae in said knows an idol. Haha. I thought she was kidding. Glad to know she didn't make it all up.”, smiled Jaebeom.

Jaebeom was charming. Something about him put hye hee at ease, she felt safe. Quietly watching him from the corner of her eye. If he had dressed in a hurry and looked this good, one can only wonder. She quickly averted her eyes when she felt Jaebeom look in her direction.

He left quite quickly after opening the door with his spare key. Hye hee turned on the lights of the bedroom that she had so frequently crashed in on girls’ night outs. As her head hit the pillow, she let out a huge sigh. Today was quite eventful, and a lot of emotions washed over her simultaneously. It’s not that she didn't love baekhyun, but right now, love simply wasn't enough. There was a lot involved that she couldn't avoid. Alas, if only it was her she had to deal with. Baekhyun was a challenge. From what she knew, he could burn down everything and that was terrifying. Love shouldn't have to be a sacrifice. Sleep overcame her despite her fighting it. Maybe a few hours of peace? The quiet night lulled her to sleep.

#baekhyun #exo scenario #baekhyun exo #baekhyun angst #baekhyun fanfic #baekhyun scenario #exo story #kpop fanfic #kpop fluff #exo fluff #jb #jaebeom #got7 scenarios #got7 jb #exo fanfiction #exo #jaebum

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singledarkshade · 3 years

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One Unanswerable Question

Summary: With nothing to do, travelling back to the TARDIS, the Doctor finally asks Rory about his father. Sequel to The Doctor And The Nurse, A Fishy Tail, Getting To Know You, Kernel Of Stubborness, Home Sweet Home, Party Time, Sewers, Bookshops And Slime. Making Old Friends and And Donna Makes…

Rory ran through the corridors of the ship, the replacement part the Doctor needed to fix the engines gripped tightly in his hands, while several of the mercenaries who had taken over the ship chased while shooting at them.

“Run,” Markis the security guard who was accompanying him snapped when they reached the security door, “I’ll hold them back.”

Rory turned to the older man, “I can’t leave you.”

Markis pushed him forward, “This is my job. Our only chance is for the Doctor to get that and fixes the ship. Go.”

Rory stared at him, trying to think of a way to persuade him not to do this.

“GO!!!” Markis yelled again, pushing Rory through the door before shooting the controls to close and lock it. Helplessly Rory watched the door shut on the other man who continued to fire at the invaders. Knowing Markis couldn’t survive for long, Rory started to run again. Rory was sure he was fitter than he had ever been after all the running since meeting the Doctor.

They had stopped off on the planet Keeridas because the Doctor thought Rory and Donna would find the place fun. They’d landed a few streets away from where the leisure cruiser was sitting. It was massive and the Doctor flashed his psychic paper to get them onboard as visitors so they could join the ‘street festival’ and try the samples all the restaurants had out amongst the entertainment. Typically, the ship was taken over by a group of invaders who started them out of dock, damaging the engines so they were unable to change the heading, meaning they were now somewhere in space far away from the TARDIS. The Doctor somehow managed to persuade the Captain that they could help, which was why he was now sprinting from one end of the ship to the other holding the one thing they needed to take the ship back.

As Rory made his way through the corridors, he hoped not to run into any more of the invaders between here and the engine room. His luck didn’t hold out and Rory was soon dodging laser blasts again. With no other choice Rory continued to run, slamming into the man shooting at him. They both fell to the floor and wrestled about a bit. Rory had no way to win, the man fighting with him was a trained soldier and easily overpowered him. Rory managed to slide his hand into his pocket and pulled out the medi-pen he had, slamming it into the other man’s arm Rory prayed it was a sedative.

Relief filled him when the other man’s eyes rolled up in his head and he dropped unconscious. Rory grunted as he managed to push the man off him, and lay trying to catch his breath for a moment. Forcing himself off the floor, he picked up the engine part again.

Rory pushed his hand through his hair, “Okay,” he sighed to himself, “You can do this.”

Taking a deep breath, Rory started to run again. Finally the engine room was in front of him, and just through the open door he could see the Doctor running around keeping everything going until Rory arrived with what he needed to fix the engines, which would allow the Captain and his people to take over the ship again.

Pushing with his last bit of strength Rory reached the engine room and handed his friend what he’d been waiting for.

The Doctor grabbed it, running over to install the part while Rory slid down the wall to catch his breath.

“Donna,” the Doctor called the moment he finished, “Tell the Captain to hit the button now.”

“Gotcha,” Donna replied and a few moments later the sound of the ship jumping to life.

“Well,” the Doctor slid down the wall to sit by Rory’s side, “We did it.”

Rory laughed, “You did it.”

“You made it through this ships to get me that part despite the man with guns,” the Doctor reminded him, “Stop putting yourself down.”

Shrugging Rory sighed, “I guess it’s my default setting.”

The Doctor stared at him intently, trying to decide whether or not to pry deeper into his friend’s past.

“I’m not used to being the one people reply on,” Rory chuckled, before adding, “Not personally anyway other than Amy. I was always Rory who tripped over his own feet or who stammered his way through any supposed lie.”

The Doctor clapped his shoulder, “From the moment we met, Rory I’ve known I can count on you. Look at everything you’ve done. You’re amazing.”

Rory gave a small smile.

They both looked up as the captain of the ship came over the speakers.

“Attention all. The intruders have been removed from the ship and our engines have now been repaired. We are returning to the Planet Eredis,” the Captain announced, “All facilities will reopen within the next few hours and those who were not planning to be on the ship shall be allocated a place to stay until we make it back.”

The Doctor smiled, “See. We will be back at the TARDIS…” he paused and calculated, “Three days.”

Rory nodded before asking, “How are you going to handle doing nothing for three days?”

“Oy,” the Doctor nudged him, “I can relax.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Rory smiled.

The Doctor clapped his shoulder, “Come on, we should go check in with Donna and get some rooms for the rest of the trip.”

*********************************************

The leisure ship they were on, now it had been repaired and managed to get rid of the intruders, was nice. Rory offered to help the medical team with anyone who had been injured, but thankfully there were not too many people injured so he wasn’t needed after a few hours. Donna had staked out a spot by the swimming pool and threatened them with bodily harm if they disturbed her.

Wandering round the ship Rory found a hydroponics bay. Walking around it was nice, but it seemed to be a spot not many people came to and he didn’t want to be on his own after everything so instead headed to the main thoroughfare. He found a perfect spot on the observation deck which let him watch the other passengers and sat to simply people-watch.

“Alright,” the Doctor said taking a seat beside Rory, “I’m bored.”

Rory chuckled, “That took longer than I thought it would.”

“What are you doing?” the Doctor asked.

“Just people watching,” Rory told him, “I used to do it back in Leadworth when Amy was busy. Watching people going about their lives, seeing families together. I like that.”

The Doctor nodded and they sat in silence for several minutes watching the people below. After a few while, the Doctor sighed, “Do you want a drink?”

Rory chuckled, “You lasted three minutes.”

“I just feel like a drink and something to eat,” the Doctor defended himself, “Thought you might want something too.”

Rory nodded, “Why not.”

Clapping his shoulder, the Doctor headed to the café near them.

The Doctor glanced up to where Rory sat. It was interesting to see how he could simply sit and watch people go past him. Once he was served the Doctor started back up to his friend, pausing as he saw a look of pain in the younger man’s eyes briefly before he shook it away. Following Rory’s eyeline the Doctor saw a little boy sitting with his father, who was reading him a story. Heading back up to the observation deck, the Doctor sat beside Rory again and placed the tray between them.

“Rory,” he said after a few minutes, deciding it was time, “Can I ask you something?”

Shrugging Rory replied, “Sure.”

“Why are you avoiding your father?”

The Doctor watched Rory become very interested in the pastry he was eating.

“Rory…”

“It’s a long story,” Rory tried to brush past it.

The Doctor looked around, “We appear to have plenty of time.”

Rory frowned, “Why do you care?”

“Because I’m your friend,” the Doctor reminded him, “And I saw how the calls you were getting upset you.”

Rory sat in silence and finished the pastry before taking a long drink. Finally, he said, “I was ten and we were going on holiday to France for a few weeks over the summer. My mum had friends living there we were visiting. I caught a stomach bug on the last few days of school, so we had to push our trip a week.”

He paused and the Doctor remained silent waiting for him to continue.

“My dad packed up the car and we started off early,” Rory continued, “I still wasn’t feeling great, so I fell asleep in the back seat. I woke up when…” he took a deep breath and managed to continued, “…when the truck hit us. The guy behind the wheel had a heart attack and lost control, he survived.”

“What about your family?” the Doctor pushed.

Rory took a slow shuddering breath, “My mum was killed instantly, my dad was hurt and I barely had a scratch,” he rubbed his eyes, “While my dad recovered, I was sent to my gran’s to stay.”

The Doctor sat in silence, simply waiting for Rory to continue his story.

“I thought it would only be for a few weeks, a month at the most,” Rory shook his head, “But at my mum’s funeral, he turned me and said that I had to be good for gran. When I asked how long I’d be with gran, he simply patted my head and left.”

“Rory…” the Doctor started, not sure what else to say.

Taking a quick drink, Rory continued, “I thought I’d done something wrong, that my mum’s death was my fault because I’d been sick and had to postpone our holiday. So, I tried to make it up to him,” anger filled Rory’s voice, “The only times I heard from him was my birthday where I got a card and a present, I’m sure my gran bought, and at Christmas exactly the same but I wrote to him every Sunday, telling him all the good things I’d done that week,” He trailed off in memory from a moment before shaking himself and continuing, “I thought maybe if I worked hard enough then he’d know I was a good kid and wouldn’t be any trouble. I managed to skip two years and left school at sixteen because of that thinking. I then started my nursing degree. When I graduated, I sent him an invitation because I wanted my dad there, but he didn’t come. Didn’t even contact me.”

The Doctor rested his hand on Rory’s shoulder in silence.

“He started calling me about a year before I left Leadworth,” Rory said, “I ignored the calls as much as I could, but finally I answered. He wanted to talk to me,” he let out an annoyed laugh, “Now I’m an adult he wants to talk. Where was he when I needed him? I was a kid who’d just lost my mother and I needed him, where was he then?” Rory snapped, visibly forcing himself to be calm, “I told him no and to leave me alone. He tries every few months and we go through the cycle. Amy always says I owe him nothing and she’s right.”

“She is,” the Doctor said softly, “You are amazing, and if he couldn’t see this then that’s his problem.”

Rory gave him a soft smile before he checked his watch, “I promised to help the medical team since they’re short staffed.”

“I’ll meet you for dinner, we can try tear Donna away from her sunlounger,” the Doctor nodded as Rory darted away.

As he watched Rory wander away, the Doctor leaned back. There was one question he hadn’t asked, which was the one question Rory wouldn’t be able to answer.

Why had he not blocked his father’s number?

#fic #doctor who #rory williams #tenth doctor #alternate universe

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saiilorstars · 4 years

Text

The Beginning of Everything

Ch. 26: The Cosmic Butterfly

// Story Masterlist //

Fandom: Doctor Who

Pairing: 10th Doctor x Female OC

~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~

Chapter summary: The truth behind the Cosmic Butterfly comes to light and reveals that it's not the only creature created!

Since everyone was set to go find the Doctor, Rose thought it was high time she did the same. She closed the laptop and got up from her chair. She made a quick call to someone on her phone then turned to Donna and her family. "Right! I'm gonna find him."

"No, we're going to find them," Donna corrected her. "I'm coming with!"

"Donna…" Rose began to shake her head but Donna grabbed onto her arm.

"I'm coming with, blondie! Those are my friends out there too!"

"Donna, you can't go out there," Sylvia got up from the couch, along with Wilf.

"I have to, Mum!"

"You go, sweetheart," Wilf told Donna, just like before when she was leaving after the Sontarans. "You go and find them."

Donna smiled softly at her grandfather. She directed her eyes to Rose, leaving no room for further discussion on the matter. The two then disappeared in a flash of blue light.

~ 0 ~

Gabby whimpered when the TARDIS finally stopped. There would definitely be bruises around her body later on, if there even would be a 'later on'. With a groan, she used her elbows to sit up. "I'm getting really tired of landing like this."

Renata was the only one who had maintained her balance because she'd been the pilot this time. She sent an apologetic look at Gabby and the Doctor. "Sorry, I-I couldn't help myself. That was...that was Davros!"

"He's supposed to be dead…" the Doctor slowly pulled himself up to his feet, still shaken from seeing Davros again.

"I can't believe you actually tried saving him back in the war!?" Renata was still incredulous about the revelation. He actually went and tried saving Davros, of all people! She was naturally furious. "He should've died instead of everyone else! You shouldn't have ever tried to save him! That's stupid, even for you!"

The Doctor kept quiet on that bit. She had every right to be angry about that part but he was well aware that even now, seeing everything that had happened, he still didn't regret it.

Renata saw that clearly. She was not surprised. It was just so him. He was always the better one between them. "We're on Earth now, so let's just save it before Davros ruins it. Gabriella?"

"I'm up! I'm up!" the girl assured. "But please, someone, learn how to drive this box a little better!"

"C'mon!" Renata made the gesture for them to follow her, but the Doctor yanked her back by the sleeve of her blouse.

"What happened to 'check the environment'?" He threw her a look. She always reminded him of that, not that he listened to it but that was beside the point.

"Well, we're on Earth--" she pulled her arm out of his hold, "--and the Daleks have already invaded so safety is pretty much nonexistent. Now c'mon! We've got to find the others."

The trio emerged from the blue box into a solitary street. Gabby felt chills the way the street was upturned. There were cars parked haphazardly on the road, some actually overturned. Scattered rubbish filled their immediate area, but the worst part of it was the silence.

"Absolute silence," Renata whispered. She folded her arms tightly, feeling an unwavering breeze. She hated silence...it was like death.

"Sarah Jane said that they were taking the people. But what for?" The Doctor wished he could just skip the whole 'trying to figure things out' and go straight for the solution because if this is what one street looked like, he didn't want to see what the city was like right now.

"Daleks taking humans?" Renata moved around him, her hands rising as she explained what she thought was so obvious. "It's to hurt them, to kill them. Daleks don't just meddle with humans for fun. They want to kill them."

"Yes but what for?" The Doctor turned to face her. "The Daleks don't just pull planets and submerge them into darkness!"

"They're Daleks!" She exclaimed in his face. "They don't need a reason. We just need to stop them."

Neither of them noticed Gabby's terrified expression due to their thoughts. It was all so normal to them…

The Doctor could concede on Renata's point. "Well, it would be a lot easier if we had everyone with us."

Renata had lifted her shoulders to shrug when she caught something over his shoulder. She shuddered in a breath so faintly that no one caught it. "I think you've overlooked one good thing that came out of this, Doctor," her voice was unexpectedly soft that for a moment, the Doctor wondered if her health was taking a plunge again.

"Yeah, and what would that be?"

An honest, albeit small, smile came to Renata's face. "You'd get the chance to see an old friend." She raised a shaky finger to point at someone behind him.

The Doctor didn't comprehend what she meant but when he turned around to see what she was pointing at, he forgot all about it. It was Rose. Rose Tyler. She stood at the end of the street wearing the biggest smile anyone could ever have. Rose.

Donna had a good sense to move away from Rose and settle her gaze on the Time Lady pulling herself to the TARDIS instead. Donna couldn't even begin to understand how Renata must be feeling. She didn't appear mad, or even jealous, just really sad…

Rose took off, leaving a strong trail of wind behind her. Donna's hair even flipped over her shoulders! But Rose didn't care - she had the Doctor just feet away from her. The Doctor took off in the same force.

"I don't understand who's that," Gabby inched closer to Renata. She noticed the expression on Renata's face and wondered why the Time Lady was so sad.

Renata was about to shake her head and simply go back into the TARDIS, hoping that maybe being on Earth would allow them to search better, when she spotted something rolling in the street adjacent to theirs. Her blood went cold.

"Exterminate!"

"NOOO!" Renata screamed when the Dalek fired and shot the Doctor.

Rose skidded to a forced stop when the blinding blue light passed in front of her. By the time she opened her eyes, the Doctor was already on the ground. She dropped to his side and cradled his head while he convulsed in pain.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" Renata's voice, though still a scream, cracked in the end with her emotions. She ran towards the Dalek, ignoring Gabby's and Donna's collective yells for her to stop. Renata couldn't hear anything but a ringing in her ears and a rush of adrenaline under her skin.

Jack appeared only a few feet from Rose and the Doctor and, taking in the situation, he prepared to fire with his own huge gun...only to see Renata halfway there. "Renata, what are you doing!?"

"Exterminate!" went the Dalek again, shooting straight for the Time Lady.

Renata's face was ferocious and perhaps the new unlocked feeling was what brought out the energy that'd been swirling inside her, bubbling like a soup that wasn't quite ready. It exploded around into a radiating light - more powerful and blinding than the Dalek's laser - and blasted the Dalek into pieces.

"Ren!" Gabby called in terrible fear. When the golden energy died, it left Renata wobbly and in a few seconds she fell to her knees. Gabby ran for her, but Donna and Jack got to Renata first.

Renata's face was pale and her cheeks seemed a bit hollow. "I-I don't know...I don't know where that came from...I dooooon…" her words slurred together until she couldn't form a proper word anymore.

"C'mon, up you go!" Jack pulled her up to her feet but had to do most of the supporting. "Don't tell me you're going to regenerate too…"

"Regen...regenerate!" Renata sniffed in and looked both ways before finding the Doctor on the ground. "N-no! Get...get hiiii...him!" She tried pushing Jack away but her arms actually felt like noodles. She'd heard Gabby use the expression once on herself after being unable to play volleyball at a space beach they visited. Noodle arms, how Renata had laughed at that.

Now she fully understood.

"Don't die. Oh my God, please don't die," Rose was teary-eyed and didn't really know what else to do except hold the Doctor.

"We need to get him to the TARDIS!" Jack called. "Now!"

Donna knew where she could better put her efforts into. She rushed to help Rose pick the Doctor up to his feet. "C'mon, spaceman, we gotta go."

"Renée" the Doctor hadn't seen much but he knew that Renata had expelled a lot of the energy they'd been watching. It was exactly what he'd been afraid of, that one day she would do something her body wasn't ready for and would pay the price with her life.

The group got back into the TARDIS and while Gabby and Jack tried to bring Renata to the Captain's chair, Renata shook her head and clung to the console instead. Her legs were buckling though and she kept breathing in as if she was holding her breath.

"Renata, are you going to regenerate?" Jack had to be straightforwards and ask her so that she wasn't so close to the Doctor who would definitely be doing the thing.

"N-noooo…" Renata lost breath in that one word. She swallowed hard and took in another deep breath. "Jusssst….just too...lots of ener…" For now, her body was just growing tired.

"Lots of energy, got it," Jack backtracked from her cautiously, though pointed Gabby to keep an eye on her. "Doc! How we doing!?"

The Doctor's answer came in a groan. He was laying on the floor, convulsing and feeling more layers of pain. He knew what was coming, but he didn't want it. He really didn't want it.

"Got it. Rose, get back!"

Rose wouldn't budge. She shook her head - how could she leave him again?

"Rose!" Jack's voice hardened with urgency. "You know what happens next! We can't be near him! Donna?"

Donna looked between Jack and Renata, the latter already teary-eyed but stuck in her spot. She sighed and looked down at the Doctor. "You got this, spaceman. Good luck." She offered him her best, encouraging smile then scrambled up to her feet to join Renata and Gabby.

"ROSE!"

Rose sniffed and briefly glanced at the frantic Jack. "But he can't... not now, I came all this way…"

The Doctor turned halfway to the side and raised his hand. It was beginning to glow orange. "It's starting…" The orange light spread to his body in a few seconds.

"Doctor, I'm so...sor...sorry," Renata tried to get close to him by using the console as a support but nearly slipped on one occasion. Despite his pain, he still found a moment to shoot her a soft smile, as if telling her that things would be okay.

She couldn't return the favor. All she knew was that he was about to die and they had resolved nothing. And what was worst, she couldn't even be near him.

"Okay, Rose, dammit!" Jack had enough and went ahead to grab Rose himself and pry her away from the Doctor. "Here we go! Good luck, Doctor!"

"Ren, c'mon," Gabby gently pulled Renata farther from the Doctor as well. Donna came to their side and keep Renata steady.

The Doctor managed to pull himself up on his own but had to use the console as support for a moment. He wanted to say something, to look at his friends, look at…

"I'm sorry, it's too late. I'm regenerating," he felt the energy take him over, forcing his head backwards and his arms to his sides. His explosion of regeneration energy blinded the entire group.

Renata could hear the stream of energy but it all seemed to fade to be replaced by a fluttering noise, like wings. In her distraction she almost missed when the Doctor suddenly redirected his regenerative energy into the jar under the console where his severed hand was. And just like that, he stumbled out of the chaos with his same face.

"Now then…" he took in a deep breath and turned to the stunned group watching his every movement. "Where were we?" his grin wasn't enough to pull the group from their trance.

"H-how…?" Renata was the first one to speak, but in doing so she reminded the Doctor that while he had moved on she was still fighting for her life.

"Renée!" His fond nickname of hers just slipped through his lips. He rushed towards her, arms enveloping around her to keep her steady. "I told you not to use that energy!"

"How the...you jusssst….you…" Renata desperately tried to gesture the fact he'd completely cheated the regeneration system. "You break...every ruuuule known to...known to ma…"

"I get the jist, now please take a seat," the Doctor brought her to the Captain's chair and was mindful of her (still) wobbly legs.

Rose watched the gentle movements between the two and couldn't, for the life of her, figure out how this version of Renata could actually travel with the Doctor. Could she truly be that kind like Donna had promised? Well she did destroy a Dalek, the Dalek that nearly killed the Doctor. That did count for something.

"What was that energy?" Jack had to ask because it definitely had not looked like regeneration energy.

Renata blinked slowly, languidly, and turned her head at Jack. "Do you...do you hear a-a flut-fluterring? I hear fluttering…"

Gabby said nothing but her eyes had darted around the room when she thought she heard a faint snippet of that fluttering. That had to be wrong.

"It's an illness and what Renata just did made it worse," the Doctor shook his head as he straightened up. "It's - well, I don't really know what type of energy it is but it's contaminating her the more she uses it. And she just blew the bloody top off a Dalek for my sake!"

"Yeah, but that Dalek nearly killed you," Rose said, speaking for the first time since their almost reunification outside. "Counts, doesn't it?"

He looked at her not with the same fondness from before, but a more earnest, unhesitating expression. "No."

She blinked in surprise. How could he say that? It was his life on the line!

"Renata could die because of this. I would rather die before she dies for me." His words continued to strike her with shock...and perhaps with a bit of a heartbreak. The way he said it, like he regarded Renata as someone important, maybe more important than a regular companion.

"How-how can we help her?" Jack quickly put himself upfront to do whatever was needed.

"You can start…" Renata began, trying to force herself to stand, "By acting…" her breathing was still short and heavy, "...like I'm stilllll...here. You--" she pointed a finger at the Doctor, "--just wasted...one whole regen...regeneration!"

The Doctor winced. "Yes, but...I have a good reason." Renata raised an eyebrow, asking what he could possibly think was a good enough reason to waste an entire life. "I…" he straightened his tie and grinned, "...quite like my face. Look at me, why would I to change?"

Renata's two hands shook as she rose them just a bit, her fingers curling to air-strangle him. "I...you...you wasted…" she took in another breath, "...whole life for...for…"

"It's best not to even bark up that tree, Ren," Donna couldn't help her smile of amusement. "He's too self-centered."

"Oi," the Doctor straightened himself. "Now you, Renée, sit down!"

"Your hand!" The Time Lady gestured at the severed hand now glowing and bubbling like crazy. "Whole life wasted!"

"But worth it," the Doctor continued to grin. "Lucky for me that my hand was here to send off all that excess energy to, huh?"

Renata's laugh was a small one, but she knew that there was no convincing him that he'd made a wrong choice. On some part, she was a bit jealous of him. He truly loved his life that much. He must be truly happy where he is. She couldn't remember ever living a previous life with that type of feeling.

"So...you're still you, then?" Rose's soft question turned the Doctor towards her. "You're not...you're not going to change?"

"Uh, no...hopefully not," the Doctor smiled at her. "I'm still me."

Rose's face broke into a smile. She hurried up to him for a big hug. He gladly accepted it and took just one brief moment to really process the fact she'd been able to come back.

"You can hug me if you want," Donna bobbed her head at Jack. Gabby's face was comical as she left to be by Renata instead. Jack just laughed, but Donna was in no joking mood. "No, really, you can hug me."

"Can I hug you?" Gabby asked Renata since that was the vibe of the room. Renata chuckled lightly. Gabby turned her head for a moment, eyes lingering on the severed hand. She watched it glow and bubble, the bubbles going big at one point and then so small in the next…

"Gabriella?" Renata noticed the girl had slipped off into a trance.

Gabby blinked away from the jar and seemed confused as she smiled. "Sorry...I thought I just heard…"

Renata watched the girl sort her thoughts with struggle. Rose overheard and when she pulled away from the Doctor, her concerned - yet fearful - expression was not missed by Renata.

"Never mind," Gabby smiled it away, waving her hands that it wasn't important.

Still, Rose didn't look so happy. Renata made her way to the blonde human, more steady now but still having to use the console for support. She ignored the Doctor's plead to get back in her seat.

"Is there...something you knoow...about this?" She asked Rose.

Rose flipped her head in Renata's direction, giving her a quick scan before shaking her head. "No."

Renata raised an eyebrow. "I know we...haven't met...but I'm not an idiot. What do you know?"

Rose kept her mouth shut but she now had the Doctor giving her more or less the same look as Renata. "I don't...why are you looking at me like that?" She frowned at him. All of sudden he was following the Time Lady?

"Because if you know something about Gabby, I'd really appreciate if you told us. I don't feel like losing anyone else."

"I don't know," huffed Rose. "I just met versions of her that...that don't end so nicely, okay? And it starts with fluttering noises." She laid eyes on Renata, almost accusing the woman of something terrible she was yet to do.

Renata knew when she was being accused - previous lifetime gifts - and sighed. "So maybe I'm going to die. That's what the Ood said."

"No, absolutely not!" The Doctor snapped. He wasn't going to let that happen no matter what creature predicted it.

Renata closed her eyes for a brief moment before sighing again. Truthfully, she was too tired right now to argue about it so she just kept going. "He also mentioned something about butterflies, apart from the contamination."

"The Cosmic Butterfly?" Rose asked in a whisper, eyes already glinting with fear.

Renata recognized the look all too well. "You knew about this?"

Rose didn't like much the tone the Doctor was using on her, as if she was at fault for whatever was happening to Renata. "In another world that I crossed! It's those cosmic butterflies!" She turned to the Doctor, almost as if Renata had ceased to exist in that moment. "If she's been contaminated then there's nothing to do. She'll become dangerous, Doctor. She could hurt you!"

"Already done that without wings, I'm afraid," Renata whispered and turned away.

"No, Renée…" the Doctor tried going after her, an action that left Rose a bit shaken, when the TARDIS' power went were left in darkness.

"What's happened?" Gabby fearfully looked around the place.

"Ah, they've got us!" the Doctor turned to the console but saw little to do when everything was out. "Power's gone... some kind of chronon loop!"

The TARDIS gave another jolt, this time pushing everyone to one side.

"Where are they taking us!?" Donna shrieked after yet another tumultuous shake.

"There's a massive Dalek ship at the center of the planets. They're calling it the Crucible. Guess that's our destination," Jack explained. He shot Renata a concerned glance. The Crucible was not the place that would help her health at the moment.

"So these Daleks are at the center of the planets?" Gabby asked slowly to make sure she understood so far. She was choosing to ignore the constant stare from Rose who couldn't look more afraid of her too. It reminded her of the way River Song would look at her in the Library. What could she possibly do to either women - who both seemed more than capable of taking care of themselves - that could earn their fear? "And you said that these planets were like an engine," she turned to the Doctor. "But what for?"

The Doctor wished he had the answer but since Rose was now there, maybe she had it. "Rose! You've been in a parallel world, that world's running ahead of this universe - you've seen the future, what was it?"

Rose went grim. "It's the darkness."

"The stars were going out," Donna added and, realizing that none of them knew about her whole parallel world trip with Rose, she explained better. "I got a parallel universe created around me by some alien fortune teller at UNIT. Remember when you left me?" The Doctor winced at her sharpness and even more so at her glare. "Rose went to that world. It was terrible. You were dead and that caused this whole reaction chain. But I remember the stars were going out."

"One by one. We looked up at the sky and they were just dying," Rose said distantly. It was such a scary thing to watch in person, feeling that with each star that disappeared they were all one star closer to death. But then she gazed at the Doctor and the feeling went away, because she was there with him and he always knew how to save things. "So basically, we've been building this um... this travel machine, this... uh... Dimension Cannon, so I could... well, so I could…so I could come back! Anyway, suddenly, it started to work. And the dimensions started to collapse."

"And did you ever think that maybe it was the that device you built?" Renata didn't mean for her question to be an accusation. She thought it was a fairly logical thought if that was the real story.

Rose felt the accusation, though, and got defensive. "I didn't mean for that to happen!"

"Of course not," Renata's honest agreement made Rose pause for a moment. She studied the Time Lady for any clue of what game she was playing. "No human could know that. Parallel worlds are supposed to be sealed because of...well, what happened to our world, but you didn't know that. But let's think about it that way and see if we can build a solution from that, shall we?"

Rose's suspicion didn't fade completely, but she would go along if it meant putting a stop to the Daleks. "Right. Well, it wasn't just in our world - not just in yours either - but the whole of reality, even the Void was dead. Something is... destroying everything."

"In that parallel world...you said something about me," Donna said as the parts of that trip came back to her for a minute.

Rose nodded. "The Dimension Cannon could measure timelines, and it's... it's weird, Donna, but they all seem to converge on you."

Donna didn't know to laugh at that due to the situation. "But why me? I mean... what have I ever done? I'm a temp from Chiswick!"

The monitor came back to life with the location of where they were arriving at. The Doctor hurried over to see it first. "The Dalek Crucible. All aboard…"

Of course, they landed with a crash.

"Doctor! You will step forth or die!" they began to hear the Daleks on the other side.

The Doctor turned to face the doors, taking a few steps towards it. "We'll... we'll have to go out," he realized. "If we don't, they'll get in."

"You told me nothing could get through those doors!" Rose accused.

"He lies," Renata said just as Gabby was about to say the same as Rose. And like Rose, Gabby seemed like she was betrayed. "Sorry ladies... that's...how he operates when he wants to keep you safe and happy." As if agreeing with her, the Doctor looked over his shoulder at her with a smirk. She did know him very well and that was something neither of them could deny.

"You've got extrapolator shielding," Jack thought a second later.

The Doctor turned around completely to give them the news of how it was, even if it was pretty grim. "Last time we fought the Daleks, they were scavengers and hybrids and mad. But this is a fully fledged Dalek Empire... at the height of its power. Experts at fighting TARDISes, they can do anything." That was enough to solidify their situation. "Right now, that wooden door...is just wood."

Donna had listened to the first part but as the Doctor had gone off, a different noise started taking over her attention. It wasn't like a flutter, no matter what Gabby and Renata said, but more like a heartbeat. She just couldn't figure out where it was coming from.

"Okay, what about your Dimension Jump?" Jack asked Rose, not quite ready to give up completely.

"It needs another twenty minutes, and anyway, I'm not leaving."

The Doctor, following Jack's footsteps in believing in one last shot, asked the immortal man, "What about your teleport?"

"Went down with the power-loss."

"Okay," Renata rubbed circles against her temples. "So we don't have much of an option then. There's no way out so we might as well go out there and see what they want, right?"

"Right," the Doctor gave a firm nod of his head, though he might have been just as scared as anyone else right now. He'd never been this outmatched and the fact he had too many people be cared about with him made it all the more worse. Dying on his own was okay but dying with his friends - their much shorter lifespans - was not what he wanted to see. "All of us together... yeah."

"What are they going to do to us?" Gabby's question was a faint whisper. Renata saw the terrified girl and moved on over to give her a side hug. Her feet seemed to have reclaimed their balance and her cheeks were halfway to looking normal again. But once Gabby felt Renata's touch, she once again knew that the warmth was back and stronger than ever.

"Donna?" the Doctor called once he noticed the ginger had been staring into space. He presumed it was the crippling fear. Like Renata had done with Gabby, the Doctor went for Donna. Soon as he touched her, she snapped out of her trance. "I'm sorry, there's nothing else we can do."

"No, I know," she gave a quick nod.

"Ren, you're really warm again," Gabby said quietly but the others still overheard.

Renata tried playing it off with a small laugh. "I just expelled unknown, possibly toxic, energy. Minor side effect but I'm fine."

The Doctor watched her carefully, knowing she was lying. She did it so easily, so casually, that he wondered when was the last time she didn't have to hide something about herself? When was the last time she had the luxury to be who she was, to always say how she felt? He never thought about that. So far he'd been very focused on his anger for what she didn't tell him. He never stopped to think about the reasons she was accustomed to being so reclusive. The Assessor blackmailing her, threatening her, to choose their family. Her own family planting values that contradicted her hearts. She grew up that way. She never had a choice.

"I'm fine, Doctor, really," Renata presumed his long, silent stare was just concern.

"There's a fluttering noise…" Gabby trailed off beside her, eyes keen on finding out where the fluttering was coming from.

"Surrender, Doctor, and face your Dalek masters!" the Daleks commanded from the other side.

"Daleks," Rose had no idea how to feel about that so she just laughed nervously. "Ha!"

Jack sucked in a breath, mentally preparing himself for whatever was coming next. "Oh, God!" The one thing they could both agree on, however, was that somehow the Doctor would pull it off. He could save them and everyone.

Their unwavered confidence in the Doctor pulled a tiny smile from him. He gazed at everyone in the room. "It's been good, though, hasn't it? All of us... all of it... everything we did…" he specifically looked at Renata for the last part. It was surprising, considering their pending fallout, but he needed her to know that no matter what he never regretted meeting her again.

"It has," she agreed after a long minute of silence. Her only regret was her past choices, but never meeting him at all. "I'm just sorry that I wasn't the best I could be."

Rose's eyes flickered between the pair with a questionable look. There was a twist in her stomach, warning her that she was missing out on something big.

The Doctor took the lead towards the door, albeit a bit slower than usual. He carefully opened the door and slid out.

"Daleks reign supreme! All hail the Daleks!" the Supreme Dalek began the chant as soon as they spotted the Doctor.

Most of the group was out to see themselves at the center of an entire Dalek emporium, all of them collectively chanting their favorite phrase. "Daleks reign supreme! All hail the Daleks! Daleks reign supreme! All hail the Daleks!"

Renata felt like the air in her lungs had vanished. The last time she'd been surrounded by these many Daleks was the Time War, and that was too painful - too traumatizing - to bring back at a time like this. Her legs buckled again, making her bump into Jack's back. "S-sorry," she quickly said.

"What is going on with you, Ren? Apart from the obvious," Jack came to her aid and put one arm around her shoulders to help her walk. She was hot, literally. Her skin might as well be boiling.

The Doctor happened to look back and saw Renata struggling again. Plus, neither Gabby nor Donna had come out of the TARDIS yet. "Gabby? Donna?" he called to them. "It's no safer in there…"

Gabby was on her way out but she noticed Donna was staring at something, perhaps something no one else saw. "Donna? C'mon," she gently called to the woman.

Donna seemed to blink out of another trance. Like the fluttering, the heartbeats wouldn't stop. "Right…"

Gabby nodded and turned to leave, when the doors literally shut in her face. It actually hurt her nose a bit. Her brow furrowed in confusion and, frankly, a bit of anger. "HEY!" Donna rushed over to her side to bang on the door as well. They were not going to stay inside. If they were going to die then they wanted to do it with their friends.

"Doctor!" Donna roared with each bang she hit the door with.

The Doctor had already ran to the TARDIS to pry the doors open. Renata attempted to do the same but nearly fell from weakness if Jack hadn't tightened his hold around her.

"What's happened!?" Renata cried as she watched the Doctor pull the doors in vain. Gabby and Donna were collectively shouting to be freed, even accusing the Doctor of locking them away, but of course he hadn't done it.

"What did you do!?" the Doctor furiously turned to the Supreme Dalek.

"This is not of Dalek origin."

"Of course it's you!" Renata exclaimed. "Now open the doors!"

The Doctor didn't believe a word either. "Stop it! They're my friends. Now, open the door and let them out!"

"This is Time Lord treachery!" the Supreme declared, bringing the Doctor to a momentary pause.

"Me!?" he repeated, frankly incredulous. They didn't have an actual body but they had a stupid eye stalk to see. "The door just closed on its own!"

"Nevertheless: the TARDIS is a weapon and it will be destroyed." As soon as the Supreme Dalek declared it, a trapdoor opened up underneath the TARDIS and swallowed it whole.

Gabby and Donna both fell backwards on the floor with the harsh drop.

"NOOO!" Renata screamed just like before when the Doctor had been struck by a Dalek. She frantically pushed Jack away and tried running, only to fall with her wobbly legs. Golden energy sprang from her body, though, and hit the spot where the TARDIS had just been.

"Detain the Time Lady," the Supreme Dalek ordered.

"Stay back tin-boys," Jack aimed his gun at them. It might not do much but he wasn't going to let more people get taken.

"Now stop it!" the Doctor was enraged as he turned towards the nearing Daleks. He ran to Renata to help her stand but hissed when his hands touched her body. "You stay the hell away from her! And bring my friends back! Where are you taking them!?"

"The Crucible has a heart of Z-Neutrino Energy. The TARDIS will be deposited into the core."

Renata was lucid enough to understand the implication. She used the Doctor as a pillar to stand again and glared at the Supreme Dalek. "You've taken...the defeeeence...down!" She breathed hard but it would not stop her from attacking if she needed to. "You'll killll...them!"

~ 0 ~

Inside the TARDIS, Gabby and Donna cried for dear life. The fall - wherever they were heading - was picking up speed the longer they took. They each held to a rail and watched as the console lights spark and shoot fires as if they were cooking.

And maybe they were…

Gabby gripped her railing as hard as she could, bringing a white shade to her skin in the process, but if she was paying attention to her fingers she would see a light lavender glow. But she was too scared to do anything but scream and cry, and think about the fact she was going to die.

"The jar!" Donna was the first to see the jar with the Doctor's severed hand glowing like mad. It almost looked like it would finally tip over from all the shakes.

"Donna, don't!" Gabby reached for the ginger when she attempted to get to the console.

Donna had heard the heartbeat again and this time she was sure that it was coming from the console. She needed to know what it was. So, however way she could, she wobbled towards the console.

"Donna!" Gabby shrieked when one particular spark billowed a gray smoke over them. She let go of the rail and nearly fell over the other one. Her best bet was following Donna and be near the Captain's chair.

The two made it just before the TARDIS threw them flat on their stomachs.

Donna shook her head then raised it. Her eyes locked on the jar with a new sense of determination. It was calling to her, in heartbeats. She felt like she couldn't turn away anymore. It needed her.

"Am I crazy…" Gabby was squinting from the smoke, "...or do I hear fluttering -- Donna!" She'd caught Donna's arm just as the ginger had reached for the jar. As soon as Donna touched it, the regeneration energy in the jar wrapped around them until the entire jar shattered.

~ 0 ~

The TARDIS appeared on a screen for the group to see. It was being submerged into an oozy energy.

"The females and the TARDIS will perish together! Observe," the Supreme Dalek said. "The last children of Gallifrey is powerless."

Renata was destroyed - more than that but she wouldn't be able to describe it if anyone asked her - when she saw the screen. It was too much like watching her family burn all over again. She gripped the Doctor's arm around her, perhaps squeezing it too tight but he didn't notice. He couldn't feel.

He felt utterly powerless as he watched his friends practically burn to death. "Please. I'm begging you, I'll do anything! Put me in their place! You can do anything to me, I don't care, just get them out of there!"

But the Daleks said nothing.

Renata frantically looked between the screen and the empty spot behind them. That was Gabriella - Gabby - dying in there, the girl who'd been so curious about the world that she took the greatest risk of her life by coming into the TARDIS. It was Gabby, the first girl - the first human - to ever make Renata feel fondness towards them. Martha had done wonders but even after her, Renata was always weary of humans...even poor Donna got a taste of it before meeting Gabby.

Gabby had helped change Renata so much and the Time Lady had only realized it up until now. The intoxicated energy inside her was a result of her trying to keep Gabby safe. Never in her life did Renata ever dream of putting herself in danger for a human. Each person she'd met so far had slowly changed her - no one more than the Doctor - but Gabby was a really close second.

And now she was gone. Dead.

"You are connected to the TARDIS. Now, feel it die," the Supreme Dalek said to the Doctor.

~ 0 ~

The regeneration energy exploded and managed to throw Gabby across the room, her back hitting the rails. The golden energy around her had faded as a strong purple glow took over instead. Donna, however, seemed more immune to the regeneration energy. It merely left her to spread to the severed hand now twitching...spreading more...and more...until it formed the shape of a man.

And then suddenly the Doctor sprang up from the floor.

Donna gawked with a mouth fully open. "It's you!"

"Oh yes!"

Her eyes happened to lower and made her realize he wasn't wearing any clothes. "And you're naked!"

It didn't faze him whatsoever. "Oh yes!"

~ 0 ~

"Total TARDIS destruction in ten rels!" one of the Daleks announced. "Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five!"

~ 0 ~

Gabby slowly blinked awake from her spot and saw the new Doctor trying to reach for something on the console. She ignored the question of how it was possible, but she knew it wasn't the Doctor they knew. "Hey - you get away from there!" She lurched towards him, with a hand forwards and accidentally fired a jet of purple butterflies.

It didn't reach the Doctor in time, for he had pressed a specific button on the console, but it did go over Donna who shrieked in horror and tried swatting them away. Gabby brought her hands to her chest, eyes widened and flickering from side to side.

Had she just done that?

~ 0 ~

"Four! Three! Two! One!" the Dalek said just as the TARDIS faded from the energy.

It struck the Doctor more than he would've thought. He felt empty and yet there was an overwhelming fury that began to spread through him.

"The TARDIS has been destroyed. Now, tell me, Doctor... what do you feel?" the Supreme Dalek asked him. "Anger? Sorrow? Despair?"

"Yeah," the Doctor answered through gritted teeth.

Renata sniffed as it truly dawned on her that Gabby and Donna were gone. She started to scream with the same fury the Doctor was keeping inside, only her fury seemed to bring something else outside. Once again, the golden energy burst from her to strike whatever was in front of her. Jack and Rose had to dive in opposite directions and the Doctor had to let go of her before he was burned. Renata's sobs were painful enough to hear, but it seemed like each time she expelled energy it physically pained her. The only difference now was that there were a few (half) formed golden butterflies in the midst of the energy blasts.

"The cosmic butterfly," Rose whispered in true horror. It was Renata. "She's here."

Jack had no idea what Rose meant but he did see more Daleks coming for them - for Renata - and decided to act. He grabbed his gun on the side and fired. "Get away!"

"Exterminate!" the Supreme Dalek directly shot Jack.

"No!" Rose watched Jack fall to the ground. She was yet to learn about his new immortal abilities - the ones she herself granted him. She rushed over to his side, hoping that they'd gotten just a bit lucky and that he would still be alive. "Jack! Oh, my God. Oh, no…"

The Doctor didn't know whether to go to Rose and keep her away from the leering Daleks or Renata who was still crying and bursting with energy. The Time Lady helplessly cried but the Doctor no longer knew if her tears were for Gabby and Donna or for herself being in physical pain.

"Detain the Time Lady in the Vault, along with the Doctor and their companion," the Supreme Dalek commanded.

Renata could see her surroundings from the corners of her eyes and it looked a lot like Daleks. She groaned and put her best effort to standing up without hurting the Doctor and Rose.

"You need to stop," the Doctor hurried to catch her before she fell forwards.

"I-I can't," she swallowed hard, clearly in pain. "It's-it's just coming ou…" Her body lurched forwards again, onto him in the process. He understood she couldn't control it and it scared him that this was her end as well. If the toxins were in too deep then regeneration wouldn't be possible.

He didn't want to lose her twice.

~ 0 ~

The new Doctor had found himself a blue suit to wear and was making mends to the TARDIS to the best of his ability under the circumstances. "All repaired! Lovely. Shh! No-one knows we're here! Gotta keep quiet. Silent running, like on submarines when they can't even drop a spanner. Don't drop a spanner. I like blue, what do you think?"

Donna was completely awed by the fact there was a literal copy of the Doctor in front of them, but Gabby was a bit more angry.

"You tell me how the hell I conjured butterflies!" She pointed at him as if he was the reason for her new ability, and in pointing at him...she released more purple butterflies that he had to swat away from his face.

"Watch where you point that thing!" he said with a scrunched face.

"How is this possible!?" Gabby stomped her foot. "How are you possible!?"

"Maybe it's what Time Lords do," Donna said after some careful thinking. "Like they lop a bit off and grow another one? You're like worms!"

"No, no, no, no, no, I'm unique!" the Doctor said, sounding incredibly offended. "Never been another like me! Because all that regeneration energy went into the hand - look at my hand, I love that hand…" he wiggled his fingers but that didn't bring any amusement from either woman. "But then you touched it -- WHAM!" he screamed so loud that both women jumped.

"Stop that!" Gabby exclaimed.

"It was an instantaneous biological metacrisis. I grew... out of you," he said to Donna, not appearing to like the reality of things. "Still, could be worse."

Gabby exchanged a look with Donna and without having to tell her to do it, Gabby raised her finger and pointed it at the Doctor. A series of purple butterflies slapped his face.

"Stop that!" He cried.

"Then watch it, spaceman!" Donna snapped. She wasn't going to let some carbon copy tell her off.

"Oi! Watch it, Earth-girl!" the Doctor ended up using the same tone, surprising himself and the others in the process. "Oh!" he was even doing the same gaping mouth expression as Donna. "I sound like you! I sound all... all sort of, rough!"

"Oi!" Donna said, not sure if that was an insult or just something Doctor-y.

"Oi!" went the Doctor in the same exact tone.

"Oi!"

"Would you stop it!?" Gabby shouted at them both. "We need to get back to the Crucible and save the others!"

But as Gabby reminded them of the pending trouble, the Doctor had come to another realization. His hand was over his chest and there was a completely terrified expression on his face. "You are kidding me, no way. One heart...I've got one heart! This body... has got only one heart!"

That definitely got both Gabby and Donna to freeze. "What?" They even said together.

Donna wanted to verify for herself so she put her hand over his chest and felt the one heartbeat underneath. "You're human!"

"Oh, that's disgusting!" cried the man.

"Would you stop that!?" Gabby once more shouted at him. She was finding it hard to believe that this was truly another Doctor when he was being so incredibly rude towards their kind.

"I'm... part Time Lord, part human…" the Doctor scowled and looked at Donna. "Well, isn't that wizard?"

"I kept hearing that noise... that heartbeat," Donna said, beginning to feel like it was all his fault.

"Oh, that was me. My single heart," he said dismissively as he went back to the console. "'Cos I'm a- complicated event in time and space, must've rippled back. Converging on you."

"But why me?"

"Because you're special."

Donna got exasperated with the stupid answer. "Oh, I keep telling you: I'm not."

"Of course you are, Donna." Even Gabby was agreeing with him which just further irritated her.

"Oh…" the Doctor realized something after really studying Donna's shifting response, "You really don't believe that, do you? I can see, Donna... what you're thinking. All that attitude, all that lip, 'cos all this time... you think you're not worth it."

"Stop it," Donna spat and turned her head away from him and Gabby.

"Shouting at the world 'cos no-one's listening. Well... why should they?"

"Do you really think that about yourself, Donna?" Gabby softly asked. Donna wouldn't look at her but she didn't shake her head to deny it either. "Why? I think you're amazing."

"Oh," Donna scoffed. "Please. You're an artist -- you've got your whole life ahead of you and what have I done with mine? Waste it."

"You haven't wasted your life, Donna. It's been a bumpy ride but there's so much you can do."

"We were always heading for this," the Doctor mumbled in thought, getting both women to gaze at him. "You came to the TARDIS on your wedding day--"

"--I was kidnapped!" Donna said, for a moment sounding like Renata that she smiled for just one second.

"And you found me again," the Doctor went on, referring to the Adipose Industries event. "Even your grandad...and your car!" he was suddenly so excited. "Donna, your car! You parked your car right where the TARDIS was gonna land, that's not a coincidence at all! We've been blind! Something's been drawing us together for such a long time!"

"Stop spinning your crazy man," Gabby physically went ahead and stopped him from endlessly turning in his spot. "And explain yourself."

"You're talking like... destiny," Donna released a breath. "But there's no such thing... is there?"

"The Cosmic Butterfly is a well known destiny," the Doctor said and looked to Gabby who just blinked response.

"Come again?"

"Well it's what I know, what I heard," he said. "Cos see, the parallel worlds' walls have been crumbling for some time and a lot of these things echo into our world, bleed through it. And since I was a complicated event in the time lines, I heard things. You, Gabby, are the Cosmic Butterfly. You are another fixed point in time. You are…" he seemed to run out of breath just thinking about whatever the Cosmic Butterfly truly was, "You are something that...requires a lot of caution."

"Doctor, you're scaring me," Gabby took a few steps back and swallowed hard. "Rose said the same thing about a butterfly…but she thought it was Renata."

"No, it's you. You're the Cosmic Butterfly. Your finger!" He reached for her hand despite having to fight with her to take it. "Your hands! You're already beginning to express those powers! My regeneration energy kickstarted them! They've been dormant up until now. Sorry about that."

Gabby's head was spinning with thousands of questions but the main thing she wanted to know concerned Renata. For whatever that was happening to herself right now, she didn't feel weak like Renata was. The energy was just coming out of her like nothing. Clearly, it wasn't the same for Renata. "What about Ren? She's worse off than me."

"Because she's not like you," the Doctor said, visibly swallowing hard. Fear had etched across his face, his eyes widening slowly. "Word will travel about her. They have in other worlds. She's...something else, something more chaotic..."

"What do you mean?" Gabby felt her chest constrict. The prediction of death, that's all that came to mind.

"They called her...the Vortex Butterfly in the other worlds."

~ 0 ~

Down in the vault there were few noises, and the few were overpowered by the constant groans and cries of Renata. The Daleks had placed her, the Doctor and Rose in three separate 'prisons' in the Vault room - a spacious room - that looked more like spotlights. The Doctor was in-between Renata and Rose, but despite where they were and what was probably coming next, most of the Doctor's attention - if not all - was on his right.

Renata was sitting over her legs, her body leaning forwards as if she were throwing up, and couldn't stop groaning. Every part of her body ached. Because every few minutes her body would expel more golden energy that inflamed her entire prison - blinding anyone around her - and would then leave her in a more weakened state. And when she wasn't groaning, she cried, because of the pain...and because her friends were dead.

"Interesting child of Time," Davros' raspy voice honestly gave Rose the shivers. Perhaps it wasn't all that bad being trapped inside the prison if it meant keeping Davros from touching her. However, he seemed more focused on the Time Lady on their far right. "I assume this is the Cosmic Butterfly Dalek Caan mentioned."

The Doctor gritted his teeth so hard he actually felt the sting of pain through his jaw. "You leave her alone," he darkly warned.

"It is time we talked, Doctor, after so very long--"

"No, no, no, no, no. We're not doing the nostalgia tour. I want to know what's happening right here, right now, 'cos the Supreme Dalek said 'vault', yeah? As in, dungeon. Cellar. Prison. You're not in charge of the Daleks, are you? They've got you locked away down here in the basement, like, what, a servant? Slave? Court jester?"

"We have... an arrangement," Davros barely finished when Renata's loud, raspy laugh cut through the conversation.

She raised her head a bit, revealing her pale cheeks. "Forrrrgive mee…" she drew in a breath, "...for laughing….ha!" She groaned and clutched her stomach.

"You're the Dalek's pet!" the Doctor spat.

Davros turned his chair towards Rose, and in doing the blonde leaned back as if he would cross the prison. "So very full of fire, is he not? And to think, you crossed entire universes, striding parallel to parallel to find him again."

"Admirable," Renata once again cut in, surprising Rose (and perhaps the Doctor for a moment). Renata wished she could stand but she honestly couldn't even feel her legs anymore. "She's...been brave enough...to do what...some of us couldn't. He had toooo leave her...but sheee...she fought to come baaack…" She tried turning her head in Rose's direction in a way that would cause her the least throbbing. "Admirable. Brave."

For a moment, Rose's face softened at the woman. "I've met a lot of versions of you...but you're the only who's ever complimented me."

Renata smiled weakly. "Yeah, well...I'm not a nice person," she sniffed. "In fact...I'm a liar."

"Enough!" Davros snapped but Renata screamed and let the energy flame from her body.

"If I'm dying then I'm gonna say what I want!"

"Renata, save your energy," the Doctor turned to her desperately. "Please, no more talking, no more moving…"

"Ah, forget it Doctor," Renata swallowed hard and turned her body to face him and Rose instead of Davros. "For once...I want to be honest. And if this is really it...I want people to know that I-I did get better. I tried to."

"Don't-don't talk," the Doctor continued to plead but she had made her choice.

"Rose, you have to understand…" Renata shuddered a breath and placed a palm against the invisible barrier. She was going to try to stand. "I-I'm not, I've never been a good person but he--" she made a small nod towards the Doctor, "--he found something good in me. He tried helping me and I repaid him by breaking his hearts."

Rose didn't know why but she was clinging to Renata's every word. She could feel the woman's pain and regret, making her appear more human than any other version she'd met before.

"I-I made...all the wrong choices," Renata scrunched her face as she struggled to stand up.

"Renée, please," the Doctor whispered for her to stop but she just wouldn't.

"And when I-I realized that I...that I made the wrong choice, I didn't do anything about it. I let time pass me by, centuries, until I felt like I was just...floating through. But you, Rose, you were the opposite. Things pulled you apart...but you wouldn't take it - you did something about it. And now here you are. That...that is admirable. I respect you. I didn't before but...well, that's another thing the Doctor and everyone else on this planet has taught me."

Rose actually felt tears in her eyes. She didn't even know Renata enough to cry over something she said about her, but Rose couldn't help it. It was as if she could feel every last bit that Renata was harboring inside her hearts. "There were rumors about the Cosmic Butterfly that didn't make sense to me," Rose almost smiled at the irony. Some would say that the Cosmic Butterfly was a dangerous creature and yet others said it was known to be emphatic and even made it a two way street. Perhaps this is what Renata was doing unknowingly.

Renata was none the wiser. She had started something and she wanted to finish it before her body prevented her from. "You know what? Right now, I'm 756 years old and I realize that I don't think I've ever truly loved my lives. I've lived, almost had a child, but I was never really happy." She paused for a moment, head hanging low before concluding what she wanted to do. She'd managed to stand up but was leaning entirely against the prison's wall. She met the Doctor's gaze with a sad smile. "I confess that I, Renata, Reneé, might just want to die."

Now it was the Doctor's turn to get ready eyed. With their proper tools Renata couldn't follow the true customs of what a Time Lord did before dying. Her confession dial was non-existent and so she would do it verbally. She would confess the last of her secrets to him, to anyone who would listen.

"Please don't do it," his beg was frail but Renata just sniffed and smiled at him, assuring him things would be okay even when she had no idea if that was true.

"I confess that I made the wrong choice centuries ago because I was scared, because I was a coward. I confess that I never truly moved on. And I confess that meeting you again scared me to the bone because I was afraid of falling again. I was afraid of hurting you again. And I did it. And I am so sorry. I confess that I do love you, that I have never stopped, and that is not a regret."

The Doctor wished he could get to her in that moment and hold her. He didn't even think about their argument, much less his anger. She truly felt like she was dying and what was worse is that she wanted to die. She didn't want to live anymore. Her life was so unbearable that she would rather it end. He pounded a fist against the wall keeping him away from her, frustrated that he couldn't do any of the things he wanted.

Renata turned her head at Davros who'd been nothing but silent for the past minutes. Her expression had gone dark, a new emotion she had yet to display. "And I confess that if I'm truly dying, I am going to take down every last Dalek on this ship. You wanted a child of Time? You got the worst one." The flames of energy danced over her body until, once again, it was released and covered her prison from top to bottom.

"Interesting energy," Davros had to confess himself. "The same energy that Dalek Caan spoke of." He pressed a button on the control panel of his chair and revealed Dalek Caan himself planted on a platform in the room.

"She is the Vortex Butterfly," Dalek Caan said in a sing-song manner. Confusion spread across the Doctor's face but a more fearsome feeling took over Rose. She spared Renata a brief glance with widened eyes.

"That's not - that's…" the Doctor did the same and stared down at Renata. She'd crumpled to the floor again, groaning as new flames of energy prepared to burst. "That's the...vortex!" the Doctor almost smacked himself for being so blind. "Of course!"

"What is he talking about?" Rose asked him, eyes flickering from Renata to Dalek Caan.

"The golden energy is the Time Vortex but I couldn't know that because the toxins have mutated it with the Osiran energy. I completely forgot that the Osiran energy's main function is to heal and that's a huge contradiction to the levels of the Vortex inside Renata, not to mention the Block Transfer energy from Zhe's gallery. It's growing volatile the more it combines."

Rose hated to admit that in times like these, she still could find a moment to appreciate his rambling of light speed.

Renata began to cry again but the burst of energy overshadowed her voice. The Doctor turned to the woman, trying to keep his eyes on her despite the blinding light from her energy. "The Time Vortex, the Block Transfer energy, the Osiran energy...they've created something new. The Vortex Butterfly. The butterflies, Renée."

"The butterflies of death," Dalek Caan giggled, causing a deepened scowl to mark the Doctor's face.

"Shut up!" He snapped.

When the cortex energy dissipated once more, Renata slightly turned her head at him. Her eyes were red and teary from fatigue. She noticed the way Rose was now staring at her. "You-you about this, don't you?"

Seeing who she was talking to, the Doctor quickly turned to Rose, desperate for any information that could help Renata. "Rose? Please?"

Rose didn't want to say anything particularly bad considering Renata had just poured her hearts and feelings out to her just minutes before. It would be wrong but... keeping quiet would also be wrong. "I thought you were the Cosmic Butterfly. The Vortex Butterfly is a far more dangerous creature when it wants to be. I've met many versions of you and...and some of them were like Gabby. These big butterfly creatures...like hybrids."

For a minute, Renata panicked at the idea that perhaps death wasn't coming for her. A space mutation was creeping over instead. "So...so what's going to happen to me?"

"So cold and dark. Fire is coming... the endless flames…" Dalek Caan answered and this time it was Rose who shot it a glare.

"Shut up! I don't understand how you know all that, but--"

"Dalek Caan flew into the Time War, unprotected," Davros explained to her. "He saw Time. Its infinite complexity and majesty raging through his mind."

"And I saw everything," Dalek Caan agreed from the platform. "The Vortex Butterfly draws from the Time Vortex itself and can kill anything in its path. The Cosmic Butterfly can follow in the same path. I saw them and I saw all three of you here, and I know that the Doctor will be here, as witness, at the end of everything. The Doctor and his precious Children of Time! And one of them will die...!"

The Doctor could barely contain his rage, but in the end what was the point of containing it? "Was it you!? kill Donna and Gabby? Why did the TARDIS door close? Tell me!"

Davros was delighted by the sight. "Oh that's it! The end, the fire, the rage of a Time Lord who butchered millions. There he is. Why so shy? Show your companions... show them your true self." The Doctor did not look anywhere but the floor, uneasy. "Dalek Caan has promised me that, too.

"I have seen it. At the time of ending, the Doctor's soul will be revealed," Dalek Caan confirmed, but the Doctor wasn't having it from a ridiculous Dalek that couldn't even move anymore.

"What does that mean?"

"We will discover it together... our final journey," Davros promised. "Because the ending approaches. The testing begins."

"Testing of what?" the Doctor called when Davros turned away from them.

"The Reality Bomb." He brought up a screen for them to see exactly what he was talking about. "Behold... the apotheosis of my genius."

Down in a chamber were dozens of humans crowded into one spot like a herd. The Doctor dreaded what they were planning on doing with the innocent humans, but all he could do was watch.

~0~

"Now you tell me what this whole butterfly thing is all about!" Gabby was rounding on the new Doctor while he madly went around the console, trying to figure out what the Daleks were up to. "Or so help me-" but before she could finish her threat, the TARDIS shuddered and rocked the trio inside.

"It's the planets. The twenty-seven planets!" the Doctor realized once he caught sight of the monitor.

~0~

Renata had raised her head the necessary amount to see what was on the screen. Each stolen planet were bathed in a white glow.

"But that's Z-Neutrino Energy," the Doctor realized first. "Flattened by the alignment of the planets into a single stream - no!" he shouted once he figured out the plan. There were too many lives at stake and they had no care about it. "Davros. Davros, you can't! You can't! NO!"

The planets glowed stronger but inside the chamber the humans were beginning to dissolve into atoms. And just like that, the glows around the planet disappeared, but so had the humans entirely.

~0~

"What...what just happened?" Rose swallowed hard. She could see the Doctor's blind panic - almost feel it herself - and the satisfaction on Davros crusty face meant true horror.

"Electrical energy, Miss Tyler," Davros answered. "Every atom in existence is bound by an electrical field. The Reality Bomb cancels it out - structure falls apart. That test was focused on the prisoners alone. Full transmission will dissolve every form of matter."

"The stars are going out…" Rose quietly realized. It was what was killing the stars, but how could they do it in every world? She turned her head in Renata's direction, tears coming to her eyes. "It was me. You-you were right." Renata met the girl's gaze and, despite bearing no accusation, she confirmed it with silence. Rose felt like her lungs had run out of air once the load truly fell on her. She hadn't created any Reality Bomb, bit her traveling through parallel worlds had cracked the already weakened walls of the world's from the Battle of Canary Wharf. Each time she crossed to a different world, she gave the Daleks access to a new world of experiments. It was HER her fault.

"You couldn't have known," Renata exhaled as if she'd been holding her breath that whole time. "And besides, THEY they-" she narrowed her eyes at Davros, "-are the ones who created this. They stole 27 planets, turning them into one vast transmitter. And they blasted that wavelength…"

"Across the entire universe," Davros finished for her, eager to actually, as if he wanted everyone to know their amazing project. "Never stopping. Never faltering. Never fading. People and planets and stars will become dust. And the dust will become atoms and the atoms will become... nothing. And the wavelength will continue, breaking through the Rift at the heart of the Medusa Cascade into every dimension, every parallel, every single corner of creation. This is my ultimate victory, Doctor! The destruction of reality itself!"

#ocappreciation #doctor who #10th doctor #10th doctor imagines #dw imagine #doctor who fics #10th doctor fics #doctor who imagines #dw fics #10th doctor imagine #oc: Renata Cartwright #fic: the beginning of everything

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theydontknowaboutusimagines · 4 years

Text

Behind The Marriage - Harry Styles Series (Part 36)

Part 35

The sound of a baby’s cry filling the bedroom, caused Harry to shoot up from the bed. He groaned as he felt dizzy from the abrupt movement from his sleep. Once he had a little bit of a handle on things, he got up from the bed and quickly went over to take little Amelia in his arms. Finn was still sleeping, despite his sister’s wails. In order to keep it that way, Harry took Amelia into th nursery across the hall and shut the door.

��What’s the matter, love? Hm?” Harry whispered holding her to his naked chest.

She whimpered as he held her, looking out the window as the moonlight shone inside. The babies were officially over a month old and they were mostly sleeping through the night, only waking up for one or two feedings. Luckily, you were eventually able to start producing enough milk, so you were able to pump in between feedings. That helped a lot because having the extra milk on hand meant you didn’t have to always get up to feed the babies and that Harry could tend to them.

“Are you hungry?” He yawned. “Your nappy’s still dry, so it’s not that.”

She nuzzled her head against him, still cooing and whimpering, but nothing like before. Harry smiled kissing her little head as he walked around the room, swaying her in his arms a little. Fatherhood was everything he had hoped it would be and more. He absolutely loved his tiny humans made up of both you and him. They were both still quite young, but it was getting obvious day by day that Finn looked just like a mini Harry and Amelia looked just like a mini you.

However, their personalities were very much the opposite. After a bit, Harry sat down on the glider, rocking the two of them back and forth. Amelia’s eyes stared up at him, sleepily as he took her tiny hand in his. He started humming as he looked down at her before singing softly. What looked like a smile crossed her lips and her eyes were fighting to stay open. It take long before she finally dozed off.

Harry watched her for a few minutes before quietly walking back into the bedroom. You and Finn were still fast asleep as he placed a now sleeping Amelia back into the bassinet. He smiled kissing her tiny forehead once more before heading over to the bed. He slid in beside you and you quickly wrapped your arms around him. Harry smiled cuddling into you as he closed his eyes.

Later the next day, you and Harry decided to get out of the house and take the babies on a walk around the neighborhood. It was one of the only times you’ve actually gone out of the house with the babies since they were born besides doctor visits. You and Harry were still quite protective over them and the media finding pictures, so you wanted to keep them hidden as much as possible.

It wasn’t that you didn’t want people to know or see them it’s just that you knew how cruel people could be and your babies were innocent. It was a crisp autumn day, so you dressed them in warm onesies and socks with little beanies on their heads.

“Only you would buy our babies matching Gucci onesies,” you laughed.

“Hey! They were a gift!” he defended.

“Well, excuse me,” you joked.

“You have to admit that they’re cute though,” he smirked.

“It’s true,” you nodded. “But I think that has everything to do with me and not the onesies.”

“And what about me? Pretty sure I was there for the making of these adorable babies,” he gasped.

“All two minutes?” You joked.

“Heeeyyy! You’re not being very nice to me!” he whined.

“You know I love you,” you smiled kissing his cheek.

“Yeah and you love taking the piss out of me,” he pouted.

“Oh because you don’t do the same thing to me?” you raised an eyebrow.

“Of course not,” he smirked. “I’d never do such a thing.”

“Glad it’s not storming because I’m pretty sure a bolt of lightening would just shoot through this house,” you joked.

“Anyway,” he rolled his eyes. “Let’s get this show on the road! The babies are ready.”

“The babies are sleeping,” you laughed looking at them in the side by side stroller.

Their hands were intertwined and you quickly snapped a picture. Harry smiled and the four of you headed out the door.

It felt amazing being out of the house. Even if was just for an quick stroll around the neighborhood. It wasn’t that you felt trapped in the house, but you and Harry really had left the house much since the babies were born. Between taking care of them and you healing from the delivery, you really didn’t have a reason to leave. Harry pushed the stroller as you walked beside him, holding onto his arm.

“This is nice,” you smiled laying your head on his shoulder as you walked. “We should do this more often.”

“We should,” he nodded kissing the top of your head. “How are you feeling?”

“Much better,” you said. “I’m still a little sore at times, but mostly when I’ve over done it.”

He nodded, “So, I’ve got something to run by you.”

“What’s that?” You asked.

“You know our Mum’s came over a few times to watch Finn and Eila while we got some rest?” He asked.

“You mean our lifesaver’s?” You giggled.

He laughed, “Yeah.”

“Of course, I do,” you said. “What about it?”

“Well, I was thinking, if you’re feeling up to it,” he said. “That maybe we could have them or Gemma over again to watch them while we went out to dinner. I know it’s been ages since we’ve been out of the house and it’s been even longer since we sort of had some time to ourselves. I’m not saying we go out for this huge night on the town, but if even it’s just a hour for dinner at a pub down the street, it’ll be worth it.”

You smiled, “Aww, do you miss me?”

He laughed, “What can I say? I’m a little jealous,” he joked.

You giggled, “I think-I think that’s a wonderful idea, but can we make it a little nicer than a pub? I kinda want to get dressed up a little bit since I’ve mostly been looking like a hot mess lately.”

“A beautiful hot mess,” he corrected.

You laughed shaking your head, “Anyway, yeah, I think that sounds lovely. We can see who is free soon and then go from there.”

“Sounds perfect,” he smiled.

A few nights later, you and Harry were getting ready for you big date night. Well, it was simply just dinner, but it was something you were really looking forward to. However, now that the time had come, you weren’t sure about leaving your babies. Yes, you trusted your mother and Gemma to take care of them, but it was just something about the act of both you and Harry leaving them behind that was strange.

Before, when your families came over, you and Harry were still in the house in case they needed you for something, but now you two would be at least twenty or so minutes away. But it was just dinner, so you and Harry would mostly be gone an hour to two hours at the most. You really wanted this night to go well and spend time with your husband, so you did your best to push away any negative thoughts about leaving the babies.

You kept your hair and makeup look simply, but still more than what you’ve done in what seems like months. You still weren’t comfortable wearing a dress quite yet due to your body still being in healing mode, so you settled on some black trousers and a nice blouse to match. When you walked out of the closet, Harry smiled as he looked you up and down.

“So fucking beautiful, baby,” he smiled.

You smiled with a hint of a blush at your cheeks, “Thank you, some of my things still don’t fit well yet.”

“You still look gorgeous,” he smiled. “Ready to go?”

“Let’s say bye to the babies first,” you said.

He laughed, “Of course.”

Your Mom and Gemma were in the nursery, each holding a baby in their laps as they played with their toys. They were more active at a month old than when you first brought them home from the hospital, but they also still mostly laid there and did nothing.

“Well don’t you two clean up well,” Gemma smiled.

“Thank you,” you smiled. “Now, you know you can call us if you need anything. We also can text you the name and the number of the restuarant in case you can’t get a hold of us. There are extra bottles in the fridge and there’s a bottle warmer in the kitchen as well as in our room. Feel free to use either. Oh and we have some milk in the freezer as well..”

“Y/N, “ your mom said. “You’re only going to be gone for a couple of hours. If we needed to feed them that many times to get the milk in the freezer than we’ve got a big problem,” she laughed.

“I’m sorry, this is just the first time I’m leaving them and want everything to be perfect,” you said.

“It will be,” she smiled. “Now, go and have fun.”

“Oh, I bought extra diapers in case you need them,” Harry said. “They’re downstairs in the living room.”

“I think we’ll be good,” Gemma said. “Again you two are only going to be gone for a bit.”

“I believe you’re underestimating just how many times the two of them might shit in just a couple of hours,” he laughed.

“It’s true,” you laughed. “We’ve got double diaper changes, so it stacks up.”

“We’ve got it!” Gemma laughed. “Now go before your late and miss your reservation.”

“Fine, fine, we’re going,” Harry laughed taking your hand and pulling you out of the room.

The drive to the restaurant was mostly silent. Only the sound of the radio playing filled the background as you and Harry held hands. It was nice having a moment like that, just being together, not having to say a word. It had been so long since you two shared a moment like this. When you got the restaurant, Harry gave the valet his car and the two of you walked inside.

The hostess sat you two down at a table near the back of the building, so you two could have your privacy. Usually it wasn’t such a big deal, but Harry wanted this to go perfectly and didn’t want either of you to be distracted or interrupted. You quickly grabbed the menu and scanned over it. Over the last month, many of your meals were either takeaway or something that was quick and easy to cook, so you were looking forward to a nice sit down meal.

Once you two placed your order, Harry took your hand in his, “I think we should do this at least once a month,” he smiled. “It’s nice to get away and have some time for us.”

“It is,” you nodded. “Thank you for arranging all this and coming up with the idea. It’s one of those things where you didn’t really realize you needed it until you have it.”

“I know, I’m just happy you were feeling up to it,” he said. “When do you go back to the doctor?”

“Um, two weeks I believe?” You said. “I’ve got in my in phone, but I’m pretty sure it’s soon.”

He nodded, “Do you want me to go with you?”

“If you want,” you said. “It’s mostly just to check everything, make sure everything’s healed and what not. I am probably going to bring the babies this time, so everyone can have a look.”

“I’ll go then,” he smiled. “Help you with them.”

“Thank you,” you smiled.

The waitress brought over some bread and poured two glasses of wine before walking away. You took a piece of bread and quickly took a bite before taking a sip of your wine.

“Can you believe we use to this at least a few times a week?” You asked. “Especially when you were out at the studio and now I can’t really remember the last time we did it.”

He laughed nodding, “I know it’s crazy how much everything’s changed so quickly, but it also feels like it’s been ages.”

“Exactly,” you smiled.

About twenty minutes later, your dinners were brought and you both started eating. Every so often, you two would take a quick look at your phone to check in and so far everything was going well. When it was time for desert, you looked over at Harry, who was acting strangely.

“What’s with you?” You laughed.

“Nothing, nothing at all,” he said simply finishing the last little bit of his wine.

“Right,” you said unconvinced. “I know when you’re up to something, so what is it?”

“Can you ever just let me surprise you?” He laughed pulling something out of his pocket.

It was a velvet box that was quite large, yet still small enough to fit inside of his coat pocket without being seen. He placed it on the table in front of you and you looked up at him.

“What’s this?” you asked.

“Open it,” he smiled.

You smiled as you pulled off the perfectly tied ribbon and opened the box. In side was a beautiful, rose gold bar necklace with the first initial of each of your’s, Harry’s, and the babies names engraved on it. You weren’t sure if it was the fact you weren’t expecting it, the fact that it was so beautiful, or your hormones still getting back to normal, but tears formed in your eyes as you ran your hand across it.

“It’s beautiful,” you whispered. “Perfect.”

Harry smiled getting up from his chair and walking over to you. He took the necklace out of the box and fastened it around your neck.

“Thank you,” you smiled. “I love it.”

You put your hand over the necklace as you tried to control your emotions a bit better.

“You’re welcome, baby,” he whispered kneeling down in front of you.

He took your hand into his and looked up at you. “You’ve made me the happiest I’ve ever been and since you brought our beautiful, amazing, son and daughter into this world, you’ve only made me even happier. I would give you the world if I could because you deserve it.”

You sniffled placing your hand on his cheek, “But you have,” you whispered. “You’ve given me everything I could have ever wanted in this world and more.”

He smiled, “I love you,” he whispered.

“And I love you,” you smiled before pressing your lips to his, pouring as much as your love for him as you could into the kiss.

Should this be the ending??? Don’t get me wrong I hate to see this story end, but I’m not sure how much more I have in me to keep it going without it getting boring! Let me know though!

Or I could try and write up a more clear ending post. If you have an idea on what you’d want me to include!

#One Direction Imagines #Harry Styles Imagines #Behind the Marriage

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bee-kathony · 5 years

Photo

Donuts, Drives, and Dinnertime | Sam & Cait AU

a/n: inspired by this picture of Sam and Caitriona at dinner after work, I love when they hang out sort of personally. thanks @raelovesoutlander for the help!

The past week had been hectic. In all honesty, the past couple of weeks had been a lot to handle. With multiple trips to London, and filming in between, Sam and Cait were both spent. On Sunday, Caitriona had to be on set early in the morning to film a new scene Diana had written. Unfortunately that meant she would be going into work alone — without Sam. But, it was a scene set in the 1960’s which meant one more time to wear Claire’s iconic clothes and don the driving glasses she wore.

Meanwhile, Sam stayed behind in London to work on a few new business projects. He also needed to sign scripts for the Omaze campaign donors. Sam and Caitriona weren’t one of those couples that needed to spend every second together. Especially since they worked together practically every day. But it didn’t make the time and days apart any easier. They were each other’s calm centers.

Tuesday rolled around, and finally, a day off. Well, not exactly a day off. They were filming south of Edinburgh tomorrow and they needed to be at location tonight. It was a two hour drive and they would be there for the remainder of the weekend. Sam and Caitriona decided to drive themselves.

“Should we pick up something to eat on the drive?” Caitriona asked, putting her overnight bag into the back of their Audi.

“It’s only two hours, but if you want,” Sam smiled, sliding into the driver’s seat. He’d gotten in from London just yesterday afternoon. Spending hours in the car with Caitriona after a busy couple of days was just what Sam needed.

Pulling out her phone to check nearby food options, she found a donut shop. “Tantrum Donuts? It’s just a few minutes drive down the road, unless of course you’re staying away from sweets again?”

“I don’t think one donut will be bad,” Sam shrugged. “I’ll leave the other eleven for you,” he laughed.

“You make me sound like a pig,” Caitriona squinted her eyes at him as she buckled into the seat.

“You know I’d be eating at least six donuts with you if I weren’t trying to get back into marathon shape,” Sam said and reached for Caitriona’s hand across the dash. “Which reminds me, I really should go for a run later or something, my schedule has been so out of sorts.”

“I’ll come running with you,” Caitriona said and when Sam looked over at her, surprised she started to laugh. “Just kidding. One marathon was enough for me. I think it’ll be a few more years before I attempt another.”

“But you did so well the last time, babe,” Sam squeezed her hand. “I’m still really proud of you for that, you know?”

Blushing, as she always did when Sam complimented her, she squeezed his hand back. “I know. Just like I’m proud of you for signing up for another. You really are the energizer bunny.”

They drove down a few streets, ending up at the donut shop Caitriona had found.

“I’ll just pop in and pick up a dozen? Too many?” She asked, but not waiting to hear the answer before she closed the door and went inside.

The building was really cool, and she’d never seen it before. They had so many different flavors, it was hard to choose, but she picked out some she liked and a few she knew Sam would enjoy.

“That place is bloody amazing,” Caitriona said and opened the box for him to look. “You would not believe the smell.”

“Alright, maybe two,” Sam laughed and reached for a chocolate frosted donut, pulling out onto the street.

During the car journey, they were mostly quiet, enjoying each other’s company. It wasn’t often that they had a chance to drive long distances together. Caitriona was in charge of the music, switching between her favorite bands and then to classical music which Sam said put him to sleep.

“Should we stop by your mum’s house when we head back to Glasgow on Thursday?” Caitriona asked. “It’s on the way right?”

“Yeah it is,” Sam nodded. “I’ll call her tonight and see if she’s free to meet up, she’d love to see you. She was gutted she missed you at the Stirling graduation.”

Sighing, Caitriona let her head fall back on the headrest. She had to work on the day Sam was receiving his first honorary doctorate. But, that didn’t stop her from keeping the livestream up on set and making sure to see him honored.

“I know, I can’t believe I couldn’t leave for a few hours. But someone’s gotta keep the show running,” she poked her tongue out at him and he grinned.

“How’d your filming go on Sunday?” Sam asked. “I forgot to ask you.”

“It went well,” Caitriona nodded and reached at her feet for the donut box, picking up half a donut she had started earlier. “I do love wearing those costumes, and God, the cars! They’re so cool.”

“Alright, alright,” Sam chuckled and glanced over at her.

“I mean,” Caitriona swallowed. “It was horrible and not fun at all.”

Smirking, Sam moved one hand to settle on her thigh. “But really? It was okay?”

“Oh yeah, the scene will be great. It was sort of weird to be filming those kind of scenes, almost like I was back on season three,” she said.

“When we were apart,” Sam made a frowning face and Caitriona reached up to pinch his cheek.

“Yes, exactly,” she laughed.

Another hour in the car later and they’d finally arrived near where they’d be filming. They would be filming some scenes at the Manderston House and they need to be up early.

“Do you want to go for dinner in,” Sam checked his watch, “Thirty minutes or so?”

“Sure,” Caitriona said, following Sam as he walked into the hotel. It was a small charming place.

“I might try and go for a run later, that is if I’m not too full,” he rubbed his hand over his stomach. Caitriona shamelessly admired him as he stood at the check-in desk. He worked so hard on his body, and she got to reap those benefits.

When they reached their room, they both went into unpacking mode. Only staying for a few nights meant light packing, since they’d be on set most of the time in costume. After changing out of their car clothes and into something not so casual, they both headed out for dinner.

They settled on a restaurant across from their hotel, not wanting to venture out too far.

“How are you holding up?” Caitriona asked him once their food arrived. “It’s been a busy couple of weeks and I know you haven’t really had any time to stop.”

Sam took a big bite of his vegetarian pot pie, a bit of comfort food. “Suppose I’m just stressed and a wee bit tired.”

“Wee bit,” Caitriona smiled softly. “I’m sorry about the Henley festival too,” she said, looking down at her plate. “And about that photo we had to take.”

It had nearly been a disaster. Caitriona and Sam were going to go alone, but then she got word that she had to bring a plus one.

“It’s alright, just for looks,” Sam took another bite. “Managed to spend all night with you anyway,” he said and reached for her hand across the table.

“I just know it stresses you out,” Caitriona said. “Him… being there.”

“We can’t really do anything about it, babe,” Sam stroked her palm with his thumb. “But I appreciate your concern. I do, and,” he smirked. “I know how you can make it up to me later.��

“Is that so?” Caitriona matched his smirk.

They finished dinner and headed back to their room. Sam ended up laying down on their bed and falling asleep. But, he woke forty minutes later, hair messy and eyes puffy.

Yawning, he sat up and looked over at Cait. She was laying beside him, reading a book, her glasses perched on the end of her nose.

“You look so studious,” he smiled.

“I didn’t want to wake you, so I thought reading would be quiet,” she smiled and leaned over to kiss him, running her hand through his hair. It had been growing longer, which she loved — something to hold onto.

“What time is it?” He asked, looking around the room for a clock.

“Almost nine,” she answered.

“Jesus,” he ran his hand over his face. “I really do need to go for a run, I’ve been aching to get out and do something.”

“Go now, the sun’s not set yet,” Caitriona nudged his leg. “You’ll regret it if you don’t.”

Knowing she was right, Sam got up and changed into a blue long sleeve shirt and a pair of shorts. A quick run would be just the sort of thing to get him out of his fog.

“I’ll be back soon, shouldna be a long run,” he said and kissed Cait on her forehead as he left.

Whenever he was tired, or drowsy after lovemaking, his accent always sounded thicker. It was like music to Caitriona’s ears.

While he was out on his run, Caitriona decided to hop in the shower.

She loved being on location and getting to stay somewhere new. Of course, she missed Eddie and her own bed, but it was nice every now and then to get away. Stepping into the shower, she sighed as the water ran over her body, washing away the day. She didn’t bother washing her hair, since it would be hidden under a wig tomorrow.

Lathering up her arms, she rubbed the soap all over her body — down over her stomach and back up over her breasts. She hoped Sam wasn’t too tired after his run, normally he came back energetic and sometimes even aroused.

Caitriona turned off the water, and stepped out into the bathroom. She reached for a white fluffy towel and wrapped it around her body, tucking it in the front so she could use her arms. If Sam was full of energy when she came back, there certainly would be no need for clothes, so she kept her towel on and went back to sit on the bed.

He’d been gone for fifteen minutes, and he said it would just be a quick run. Having nothing else to do, Caitriona grabbed her phone and flicked through her socials. Once she had checked and liked a few photos, she heard her stomach growl.

“I’ll burn this off later,” Caitriona said as she stood up and grabbed a blue icing covered donut from the box.

Just as she went to sit down on the bed, the door opened and Sam walked in. He was covered in sweat, and he laid his phone and keys down on the table.

“Have a good run?” She said through a mouthful of donut.

“Aye,” he grinned, still breathing heavily. “I drove a bit down by the water and ran, twas beautiful. I’m really glad I went and did it.”

“Well, good!” Caitriona grinned and Sam laughed, noticing her teeth were covered in blue frosting.

“You’ve got a little something there,” Sam pointed to her mouth and came to stand in front of her.

Caitriona could smell him. That primal scent of musk and salty sweat. Her face was eye level with his crotch and she thought she saw the slightest bulge. She went to take another bite of the donut, but Sam grabbed it out of her hand.

“You weren’t going to eat this whole thing by yourself were you?” He asked and took a bite. As he did, a glob of bright blue frosting dropped onto her thigh.

“I just showered!” She complained.

“I can see that,” Sam said and set the donut aside. She was about to wipe it off with her finger, but suddenly Sam was getting onto his knees before her. His hand went to her thigh, gripping it firmly.

“I’ll clean it up, babe,” Sam said softly.

Caitriona could still see the light sheen of sweat on his forehead and through his shirt. She watched as Sam bent his head and then his tongue was on her, flat and wet, licking up the frosting. Shivering, Caitriona fell back onto her elbows.

He pushed the towel further up her legs, licking and nibbling her inner thigh as he went. The frosting was long gone, but he wasn’t stopping. Caitriona ran one hand through his hair, gripping onto the back of his neck. He took one long swipe from middle thigh to her groin, earning a quiet whimper from Cait.

Covering her mouth with the back of her hand, Caitriona bit down gently on the skin as he began to part her legs.

“No,” Sam said and pulled her hand away. “I want to hear ye.”

“We’re in a hotel,” she chuckled.

“So,” he shrugged. “Let them hear.”

Reaching up, Sam pulled at the tuck of her towel and it came undone, falling back onto the bed. His hand cupped her breast, kneading and flicking her nipple with the pad of his thumb. He hadn’t even touched her where she needed him most, but she felt fit to explode.

Sam grabbed her waist and pulled her to the bed, lifting both her legs to rest over her shoulders. She was about to say something, but was silenced whenever his tongue touched her pussy. He was holding her against this mouth, not letting her even move her hips.

“God,” she moaned and flexed her legs, her heels hitting his back.

A chuckle came from his chest, and he moved one hand to open her lips, finding her clit with his tongue and sucking on it.

“Fuck,” Caitriona cursed, and grabbed onto his head. His head was bobbing — moving quickly against her and she already felt swollen. One long digit eased into her and she cried out, her body jerking involuntarily.

“That’s it,” Sam said from between her legs. His grip tightened on her thighs and he began move her body against his face. Hot puffs of air touched her skin between every lick and she knew he probably couldn't breathe — not that he seemed to mind.

Caitriona started to grind against him, her hips lifting off the bed as he held her up to his mouth. His tongue flicked out on her clit, causing her to groan. The sound of her, the taste of her — it was driving him mad. One hand left her thigh and when Cait opened her eyes to look at him, she saw he was now gripping his cock, slowly pumping it back and forth.

The sight of him between her legs, taking pleasure from her was all it took to send her convulsing around his tongue and fingers.

“Oh fuck,” she moaned, her body trembling.

He didn’t wait long before pushing her back onto the bed. His shorts were already in the process of falling down his legs and he stepped out of them, reaching behind him to pull off his shirt. As he moved on top of her, Caitriona’s hands came up, running over his sweat soaked chest.

“I do always like it after you come back from a run,” she commented, biting her bottom lip.

“There’s something about seeing you covered in sweat,” her hand moved down over his stomach and finally wrapped around his hard cock.

Sam groaned, his eyes briefly shutting. He had both hands on either side of her head, holding himself up above her. Beneath him was a gorgeous woman, her eyes locked on his and her hand gripping him in only a way she knew how.

“I want you to fuck me, Sam,” she said, emphasis on the fuck.

“I recall ye said ye would make up the Henley festival, no?” He grinned and rolled over onto his back, pulling her to straddle him. His hands were on her waist, pushing her down against his length.

Caitriona began to gently rock her hips, not taking him inside of her yet, but rubbing her pussy over him. Even his cock was sweaty, and she reached between them, squeezing his balls in her hand, and watching as his face screwed up in pleasure.

He liked to watch her ride him, holding her hips and thrusting up into her. Her breasts bouncing and her face contorting in the most delicious ways.

Slowly, Sam slid his hand up and over her stomach, then cupped one breast, squeezing it as she moved her hips. She likes for him to be rough sometimes and so he squeezes hard, pulling on her nipple.

With one hand on his chest and the other between their bodies, Caitriona takes hold of his cock and sinks down onto it. They both simultaneously moan, a feeling of relief washing over them. Caitriona begins to rock because she can’t help it, the feeling of his cock touching her so deeply she can’t think straight.

Sam moved both hands on her ass to help move her, grinding her down on his cock. It’s almost too much — to see her lose all abandon, to lose all senses as she gyrates her hips. He loves watching her come undone, loves being the reason for it.

“Faster,” she begged and that’s when Sam leaned up and grabbed her, turning and pushing her back flat on the bed and thrust into her, making her cry out. Her leg wraps around his hip and then he’s fucking her balanced on one arm. His hand moved between their bodies, massaging her pussy as he slides into her.

He doesn’t know how much longer he can last, and he can feel his balls tightening. He lowers his body, trying not to crush her as he closes his mouth over hers. The kiss is hungry, wet and desperate. Caitriona practically claws at his back, anchoring herself to him.

The bed is moving with every thrust, but he’s not even worried about being quiet. He only wants to see and feel her come around his cock. With every bit of self-control in him, Sam pulls out until just the tip is inside of her. She barely notices before he slams back into her, jolting her body.

Sam kissed her again, their tongues meeting in the middle and then she’s bites down on his bottom lip, close to drawing blood as her body trembles underneath him.

“Shit, shit, shit,” she mumbled and she comes with her whole body, the sound of her moans filling the room. Sam thrust into her one more time, feeling her pussy clench around him and then he comes, fast and hard.

Rolling onto his side, he slipped out of Caitriona, one arm still laying across her stomach. He hadn’t even been breathing this hard after his run earlier.

“I think I’ll need another shower,” Caitriona said and looks over at him, laughing. “You’ve got a bit of blue frosting in your hair.”

“Oh do I?” Sam sighed and reached up, touching it. “I wonder how that got there?”

Caitriona snuggled up close to him, pulling his arm around her and they laid there, feeling safe in each other’s warmth. At some point they fell asleep, only waking hours later to both of their alarms going off.

++++++

The next day was work as normal, filming scenes, waiting for the next shot. Every now and then before the director would call for rolling, Sam and Cait would exchange a look and burst into a fit of giggles. They knew everyone around them hated them for it, always laughing like children.

Once work was over, they changed into comfy clothes and headed in search for something to eat. They found a small pub called Atelier and went in, looking for good food and a few drinks.

“Want to do a cheese board?” Caitriona asked, looking over the menu. She was starving, and they hadn’t eaten too much on set.

“Sure, looks good. Dinna have to drive tonight, so I’ll get some gin too,” he smiled. Sam reached his hand over the table, interlacing his fingers with Cait’s.

“Excuse me?” Came a voice from behind them and Sam nearly jumped, letting go of Cait’s hand. They both looked over to see a man and a woman, holding a phone. “We’re such big fans of the show, would you mind taking a photo with us?”

“Of course!” Sam smiled. “It’s so lovely to meet you, are you from around here?”

“Aye, we live just around the corner, just came from a work meetin’, I canna believe we ran into ye both!” The woman smiled and then they posed for the picture. They all talked for a little bit before parting ways and Sam and Cait went back to their table.

“Well, shit,” Caitriona said under her breath.

Sam laughed and sighed. “We can’t hide forever, Caitriona.”

“I know that,” she said and ran her hand back through her hair. “Any chance they’ll just keep that picture to themselves?”

“Not a chance, Balfe,” Sam grinned. “Let people have their fun, it’s just dinner, aye?”

Caitriona smirked and reached for his hand, squeezing it again. “Sure, just two friends out for dinner after work.”

#donuts drives and dinnertime #samcait #sam heughan #caitriona balfe #sam and caitriona #samcait au #outlander fanfic #outlander fanfiction #samcait one shot #inspired BY THEM GOING OUT TO DINNER SORT OF PERONSALLY

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anthelid-day · 4 years

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A holiday and birthday I’ll never forget.

We went to the coast to visit family despite warnings that we should reconsider our travel plans. There was a free highway with no fires in the area and, as it was Christmas and our families were on the coast, we found our way down the alternative and long route, meeting friends in Cooma along the way. The usual route was closed due to bushfires.

Christmas was a success and we were all having a great time! There was some smoke from the bushfires up north so we stayed inside but anticipated clearer weather to take the kids swimming for new year.

The night before New Year’s Eve, we noticed an orange glow in the sky and smoke. The RFS app showed a fire had started at Badja outside of Numeralla. It looked so far away at the time. We went to bed with the thought of swimming the next day. My birthday was on New Years Day. After we’d go for a swim we’d bake the cake and prepare the food and board games and get ready to do the tradition we do every year. We were to go outside, watch the new year end and the new year begin, start my birthday cheers and a dark male is to walk through the house before we re-enter. So when we went to bed, we imagined that that was going to be our New Years Eve.

The fire looked so far away.

I woke up at about 5am or 5:30am and looked at my phone. The RSF app told everyone in Cobargo and Coolagolite to evacuate towards Bermagui. We had my mums partner in Coolagolite and so I immediately called them to wake them and told them to get out of there. They raced right over to ours. I went to wake my mum to let her know what was happening. Just then a knock was heard on the door. I go outside to find a woman with a hose, she’s frantically waking everyone. “Cobargo is on fire right now. People are coming here. We might have to run next. We just need to wake everyone up.” I looked up to the sky and there was nothing but darkness with a deep, red glow. Burnt leaves and ash fell from its darkness. I open my RFS app to look and the fire had actually grown so much in a few short hours, it was practically at our doorstep.

A new notification comes in at that moment instructing Bermagui to evacuate to the beach. The Surf Life Saving Club was the evacuation centre so we decide to make our way there. We pack up the car and wake the kids. We tell our oldest that we are off to watch a sunrise and that worked well because skies are also shades of red and orange during a sunrise. We didn’t want to freak her out yet. Our son is a baby so his only concern was his bottle. We’d eventually have to tell our daughter the truth when the daylight doesn’t come after the sunrise but for now we had to get them out as calmly as possible.

The streets were lined with cars and people. Emergency vehicles passed by us occasionally. “Look at all the people here to view the last sunrise of the year!” I said. “Why are there nee-naws, mummy?” “Well even emergency services enjoy a sunrise!” I countered. She seemed happy with that answer.

We’d also come to the coast with our guinea pigs as we had no one to babysit them in Canberra at the time. So we were carrying a baby, our bags with the things we needed, a tired toddler, the toys she wanted to bring to view the sunrise with, blankets to keep warm (we had learned that it can actually get very cold when the smoke is so thick it blocks out the sun and it’s warmth like it’s midnight), food for the kids and a giant carry-cage with three guinea pigs. We checked ourselves in with the volunteers and then collapsed on some grass outside, still maintaining that we were “watching the sunrise”. When I told her the truth later, she calmly asked her questions and then went off to play with her new Barbie Ambulance. She dreams of being a doctor one day and the thing folds out into a doctors office. It’s a real hit.

Sitting on the lawn and trying to feed a baby who was suddenly aware that he was in a loud space, he cried while my daughter tried to calm him and my husband and I silently fretted, wondering if other family members were safe. My husbands grandparents live near Batemans Bay and the fires were escalating there. My mother sat in the grass with her partner at another location convinced things would be fine while I’d occasionally yelled at her via text to get up to the SLSC to check in. I just wanted to be sure that everyone could be accounted for. She’d tell me not to worry and we’d see each other later. It had begun to rain lots of ash and leaves so we took the kids, the guinea pigs and all of our stuff inside.

Finding and collapsing on a miraculously free couch inside the centre, my husband settles the kids while I go out to get some space. Crowds in these situations make me feel like I’m in a small space and I had to step out periodically to calm down. On one of my excursions out I took a video of the evacuation that’s blowing up on my TikTok and some photos that ended up being in a news article later that morning. People on TikTok who had family in the area wanted to know the situation and I’d spend the rest of the day informing them of what was going on. There’s something about being on the scene and letting people know the situation that makes me feel like I should have possibly been a reporter. So begins a moment of existential crisis before I notice I’ve got ash and burnt leaves in my hair and I head back in.

We remained at the centre until mid afternoon when we were told that those with residences and accommodation within the town were cleared to go home. We were relieved! So on New Years Eve, mid afternoon, we went home, settled the baby down for a nap and started planning the next day. The baking we could do while we wait this thing out. I plugged my phone in to charge and the power went out moments later. Baking was suddenly off the table.

The fires had knocked out the electricity. But we still had reception. I sat in the car to charge my phone there and was responding to comments to let people know the situation. The sky turned this incredibly dark red and then went black. It was about 5:15pm and we lost reception. That meant no internet as well. I go back into the house. “We have no power and no communications. We have no way to let those worrying about us in the outside world know that we are okay and we can’t check on those who we are worried about in Batemans Bay.” I said. The word at the time was that they may not be able to restore power until the weekend but they actually couldn’t for an entire week.

On top of that, the petrol stations were all closed and our tank didn’t have enough to get to a town an hour away that had no guarantee of petrol. The radio repeatedly told people to leave despite no guarantee of petrol and that wasn’t realistic for us. We were to stay put until the petrol stations open and do our best.

We sat in darkness with some torches, playing scrabble, watching the world outside get darker. The quiet was very unusual. There were no birds singing, no crickets or frogs and the town was closed off. No one could travel so there were no cars. There was nothing. Just silence with an apocalyptic view. When the smoke accumulated enough to create its own thunder storm, it felt like we were dropped right in the radioactive badlands of Fallout 4 with a more reddish hue. The blue skies and turquoise waters we paddleboarded on were a distant memory all of a sudden. It was freezing. Of course, I only packed summer clothes.

New Years Day arrived and my family was trying to celebrate my birthday the best we could but with such wide windows built for a view, the apocalyptic view outside and the reminder that a fire was by our doorstep drowned any feeling of joy. We were scared. I kept thinking about a week earlier, looking at the map and seeing nothing of concern and racing down to see our families. How could we stay away from our families for Christmas? But here we were a week later. There was a road briefly open to Tathra and it was nose-to-nose for hours. Cars slowly lined the main road as frightened tourists and residents fled with their things. Destination - Bega, Cooma, Canberra. And we stayed and watched with our nearly empty tank. “You wouldn’t want to be in that with a baby.” Mum said. She was right.

Our baby is bottle fed and so we’d make the trips up to the SLSC to get boiled water to make bottles with and for some coffee. I found a spot of reception and quickly let my friends know we were okay via Facebook before it dropped out again. They had been worried. Without communication, no one knew the full extent of the situation. Night time was hard because the baby wakes and the bottles had to be heated with whatever hot water was left in the hot water system and it barely warmed a bottle. We couldn’t shower or only jumped in for 30 seconds so we could save the hot water.

Without power we couldn’t cook and our fridge wasn’t going to refrigerate anything. We kept cool some milk the best we could and stocked up on canned goods. We ate baby corn and sardines, fruit and anything else we could get from the supermarket. The supermarket remained open with shelves that were emptying fast. It reminded me of abandoned supermarkets in Fallout. A lot of Fallout happening, I thought to myself. The staff worked while not knowing if their houses were still there. In a neighbouring town they had to close the supermarket as people began walking off with trolleys full of stuff and looting upon hearing that there was a problem with transaction processes. “People have got to eat” a friend later would say. People were trapped and scared with limited food to give their families. Things were bound to take a turn. Some days later the supermarket in Bermagui would be closed due to being understaffed as people fled or staff defending their homes. Thankfully the SLSC has donated food to give out.

The day after New Year we were all on edge. The smoke stayed thick, the kids were scared, the toddler hated being stuck inside and the baby was scared from the smell of smoke. Our throats and eyes hurt. Coffee was limited. My husband and I went to get some hot water when a neighbour said there’s a line at a petrol station. As we went past we saw the tanker. Oh my gosh there’s a tanker!! We got some hot water, I passed a bird in a cage, dropped the hot water off at home and raced to the line.

We were around the 100th car in line. My husband waited in the car while I went up to grab us coffee while we waited. I passed by the bird again. It had a note that it belonged to a Cobargo resident and the person who had dropped it off couldn’t find the owner and couldn’t fit it in her car so begged that someone feed it and give it water at the centre. It sat there with it’s cover and a box of its food, tweeting at anyone who passed it. I took the coffee back to the car and raced up to the centre a final time. I was going to evacuate with that bird. The volunteers didn’t really know how to look after it and, with everything going on, couldn’t have the time to give it what it needed.

A news station had found its way into Bermagui to show the line to the petrol station in their segment and had reported that the petrol was free. People began getting news that they had free petrol as those who overheard the report started to tell the line of cars. It wasn’t free though, and you had to pay in cash. Thankfully we did have cash on us, a rare thing for us. We wondered about those who had none, what they’d do if they were told they had free fuel only to find that they had to pay - and had no cash on them. I later corrected the news channel on my Twitter, disgusted at the irresponsible reporting.

It took 3 hours to get fuel while we waited for the generator to work at the station, then raced home to grab the kids, who mum was watching. There was a window of opportunity to escape and we were taking it. Mum took the opportunity too. She grabbed petrol before the pumps ran out and then fled to my brothers place in Bega. She’d stay there several days until she was allowed to go home.

Our drive home was slow. There were jams at several points and the smoke was so thick we had to close the aircon entirely. We watched as small fires still burnt so actively under trees and people cried outside the smouldering rubble that used to be their home. Animals sat in paddocks with burnt legs and we knew they’d likely be shot later. A lone alpaca sat on blackened paddocks and I hoped it wasn’t burnt, it’s fluffy face looking on to the distance as if it already knew its fate. Our baby cried for his bottle but they went cold in the traffic jams. There was nowhere to heat it until we met up with our friends in Cooma, the ones we met on the way down a week earlier. We fell through their doors looking worse for wear as they made us coffee and gifted us shortbread. We fed the kids and stretched our legs. We got home after 9 hours. My husbands family didn’t want us to worry and filled our shelves and cupboards with food and turned the aircon on to give the house clean air. We sat on our bed in an unchaotic house and wondered if we really did just go through all of that.

Mum was able to go home this past Wednesday and they switched the power back on. Mum was glad the place wasn’t looted as there were looters in the area. The fires brought out the best and the worst in people. While we were raising money and donating, others looted the cars of those who had already lost everything. When in Bega my mum, at one point, hid under a bridge with my brother for hours while it rained live embers. An old colleague of my brothers took them in until they could go back to my brothers place.

When we got back home to Canberra, I started the search for the birds owner and found her after a big community effort. She had gone to Melbourne for Christmas to see her daughter and her neighbour looked after the bird. The owner had lost everything. Her house and all her belongings and important documents. It would take a while to get back on her feet and so I’m watching her bird for her while she does so. I felt so sad to hear that she lost everything. What we went through was so small in comparison. We had a home to run away to and my mum got to go home to her house. But this bird and his owner have lost everything but each other and their dog. The bird gets along with our guinea pigs. They all chirp together while sitting inside waiting for the smoke in Canberra to die down. It’s really very cute.

It’s been very emotional. I have been crying at odd moments. We’ve seen a lot. This past week my husband and I have been struggling with how everything was supposed to be normal again. He’d go to work and I’d look after the kids and do my hobbies except it’s smokey outside and we have P2 masks on whenever we went out and the house is taped up to keep smoke out.

We are still processing a lot but I think typing it here helps in that process. Thank you if you read all of this. I will be resuming the bug photography soon. There’s no real conclusion yet and that’s because the fires rage on. There won’t be a real conclusion for a while yet. I guarantee it’ll remain devastating. We’ve lost lives and wildlife. We’ve lost treasured places and homes. Pets die from respiratory distress from being left outside. Stock are being put down from being injured in the fires. So we all cry from time to time while trying to do our best daily.

Much love,

Anthelid-Day

#nsw bushfires #bermagui #cobargo #evacuation #australia #australian bushfires #nsw #south coast #fires

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prettywordsyouleft · 5 years

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Through His Eyes - Part 1

Summary: Losing your sight after your accident was traumatic, and Jaebum’s guilt of knowing it should have been him instead creates an intricate bond between you both, as you overcome adversity and try to find your way in life again.

Genre: angst / romance

Characters: Im Jaebum x female reader

A/N: This story is emotional and raw compared to some of the content on my blog. It is in no wayan attempt to glamourise or undervalue the lives of those who suffer from something similar. This story is purely fictional.

Through His Eyes will be posted every Tuesday at 10am NZST starting 2nd April.

Index: Prologue | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 [M] | 13 - FINAL

“JAEBUM!”

He jolted up, his breathing erratic as he darted his eyes around the darkened area searching for you. He didn’t see you anywhere and realised he was within his private studio and not on the stage that had almost killed you. Glancing to the calendar on the wall, Jaebum sighed, noting it to be almost three weeks since it happened. Shaking his limbs awake, he stared at the screen in front of him, still blank as it had been before his unwanted nap.

“Coffee,” Jaebum muttered to himself and got up, grabbing his wallet from the desk and then walking out of the small studio that he normally lived and breathed in. He took the automatic path to the exit of the entertainment building, unaware whether the people he passed were talking to him or not. Jaebum was relieved to see no one was waiting for him on the outside, and stopped, feeling that emotion turn into frustration. All the flashing lights and reporters that had been hounding him for a single sentence in the days after the accident had now forgotten about what happened; satisfied with the generic statements released by JYP’s media team, as well as from MBC Station. Jaebum wasn’t though, and he wanted to scream to the heavens, wondering how everyone could still move on. How anyone could forget about you lying in the hospital unconscious.

Failing to follow his original plan for the coffee shop across from his agency, Jaebum headed into the subway, soon finding the platform he required and waited for the train. He felt in his pockets for his mobile, wishing the normal jingle of his car keys were there as well. Jaebum knew given his state of mind, having them wouldn’t be of any help to him, but his rationale wasn’t exactly dictating how he was living right now.

It was almost ironic that no one seemed to notice who he was, given that when Jaebum most wanted to be invisible, he could never get any peace. Right now, more than ever, he wanted to hear it was going to be okay from someone on the street, anyone who could give him the comfort that he couldn’t seem to receive from all those close to him. Jaebum’s frazzled thoughts fell back onto you laying in the hospital and he sighed, wondering if only your comfort would settle him now.

Boarding the train, he took a seat near a door, tapping his foot mindlessly as he watched the stops fly by. Soon, the station he required came into sight and Jaebum followed the masses of afternoon passengers out and made his way to the nearby hospital, taking in a deep breath before going inside.

The hospital seemed to be his second home these days, and Jaebum was grateful that everyone was too busy being injured, sick or going about their business to realise how often he was walking the halls. Taking the elevator to the eleventh floor, he stepped out and greeted the nurses politely as he entered the ward, walking down to the room Jaebum knew every single detail of extensively. The door that was normally closed was uncharacteristically ajar and he peered around the corner, his eyes widening at the chaos happening within.

It was the first time in the last sixteen days that Jaebum had seen your eyes open. Without any regard for the medical staff or family, he shifted forward for a closer look, his chest tightening with a pain he couldn’t describe fully. Your body seemed to be wrestling against the others, and you were making odd gurgled screams, making tears well up in his eyes at your panic. Jaebum hesitated briefly before reaching for your right arm, connecting with your hand like he had so many times over recent visits. He smiled, feeling your hand grip onto his and then slowly relax.

Jaebum’s emotions overwhelmed him, and he wiped them aside, clearing his throat enough to splutter out a feeble apology, feeling his knees grow weak with relief. He fell to the ground beside the bed but didn’t let go of your hand, the staff working around him as you both remained connected with one another. Jaebum felt another hand upon his shoulder and glanced up to see your mother there, nodding her head softly. The chaos he walked into seemed to diffuse and soon there was only the three of you in there. He moved his head to look up at your pale complexion, your eyes still open and silently crying. He then stared at the difference, seeing the tube now away from your mouth.

You were finally awake.

Jaebum waited for an immeasurable time outside of your room, the doctors evaluating the damage. Your body was wheeled back and forth from the room, and as the sky outside changed from dusk to pure darkness, he wondered just how dark the world would be to you now.

He already knew that they hadn’t been able to save your eyesight, the faulty beam holding up the stage lights and sound system had swung the edge of a light shutter right into your face. But he had been hopeful all the same, right up until the stillness had come and the blank look within your eyes. He knew you couldn’t see anyone then, and his stomach had dropped lower than it had when he had seen you crumpled on the ground the day it happened.

Jaebum squashed down his self-hatred when he noticed your mother come out into the hallway, straightening up in the plastic seat. She smiled and sat down beside him, picking up his hand within hers.

“You promised me three days,” she said softly, and Jaebum couldn’t tell if she was exhausted or just being gentle with him.

He nodded, unable to speak.

“They said she will walk again. Her bone within her cheek has healed really well so far as well. She will be able to talk soon and return to normal activities too. You need to stop worrying so much.”

“Normal activities,” Jaebum repeated, but without the hopeful tone your mother had used. Looking at the woman, her eyes diverted and fell to her lap. “How can someone who is blind return to their old life?”

“With adjustments, Y/N will be able to do everything she used to do.”

“Except see,” he concluded and both of them sat there quietly, unsure of how to respond to each other anymore.

“You need to return to your normal activities too. I called your manager and-”

“It should have been me.” Her sharp inhale made Jaebum look towards the tired mother. He hadn’t spoken the words aloud to her yet, not having the courage before. Jaebum stared at her in earnest, grabbing her other hand as well. “Y/N shouldn’t be suffering like this. It was me who was in the firing line. It was my position to be up on that stage, not hers.”

She didn’t say anything and he got up, running a hand through his hair agitatedly and paced the hallway. Jaebum finally stopped and he held his gaze on the older woman. She was torn by the grief of her now disabled child, and the remaining shred of rationale that he had lost, telling her this was an accident. She sighed and finally shook her head, looking at him as his own mother had been during all of this.

“Y/N made her choice, Jaebum. Now we all need to live with it. Won’t you just accept it as it is? Her medical bills have all been paid for by MBC and they have paid us already for the faulty equipment. Y/N won’t have to suffer any more to get what she needs to help her return to living outside of this hospital. You can’t do any more than you have. Don’t you need to return to where you belong?”

Jaebum laughed hollowly, wondering where that was now. He looked in through the small window of your room, watching you sleep in amongst all the white. Jaebum had met thousands of fans in his line of work as an idol, and you were someone who he remembered over the years from fan signings and concerts. It wasn’t until recently that Jaebum had a name to the face, you had won an exclusive pass to follow GOT7 around for a day. Shaking his head, he wondered if you would feel that was a curse instead of a blessing now.

“Jaebum, please. Unless Y/N calls for you, can’t you move on now?” Your mother’s voice entered his thoughts and Jaebum snapped his focus to her plea. She smiled gently. “You’re only hurting yourself more.”

“Not until she speaks to me. Then I’ll go.”

Jaebum hesitated outside the door, peering inside the room before sliding the barrier open. The two people within the room were alerted to his presence, and he smiled weakly as he bowed, the older woman frowning lightly but expressing no desire to kick him out either. Jaebum took this as approval to move into the room further and smiled at you in the bed sitting up.

“Who is it?” your small voice asked, tilting your head towards your mother and then angling it as if your ear could decipher who he was.

“Who do you think?” the woman replied, clucking slightly under her breath and then got up. “Y/N, I’m just going to get some lunch. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes. That’s all you’re getting too, young man.”

Jaebum nodded and bowed again, watching the woman leave the room, and then turned back to you. Your hands were fumbling to check that your hospital clothing was presentable and he grinned as they then moved to find your head.

“Your hair looks fine, and you’re not being indecent in any way. Do you want me to help you reach your head?”

“Didn’t my Mum tell you to stop visiting? I thought there was some rule you both agreed upon.”

“What was that?” Jaebum feigned innocence, sitting down on the vacated chair by the bed and looked at you. Your face seemed to brighten with his presence and Jaebum felt his own mood lighten. “Though maybe you need to clean your face.”

“What, why?!” you exclaimed, clumsily reaching for your face and smacking your chin in the process. “Ouch!”

Jaebum cringed and gently reached over to flick the small remnants of your breakfast from your face. He could tell his action seemed to infuriate you, and he sighed heavily by getting it wrong again. He just wanted to help you. All the same, Jaebum quietly retreated and cleared his throat. “When do you get to go home?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Are you excited?” You didn’t answer and so he watched your expression, having found over the last few days that it would showcase more than your words would. You seemed nervous. “I heard that your Mother has had a lot of handy things installed in your apartment.”

“Including herself,” you replied, defeated. Your head turned away from him and Jaebum looked away as well. He knew you were living with your university friends before the accident. Now you would have to return there but live with your mother instead, your friends politely making room for her by moving out entirely. Jaebum couldn’t tell whether they had gone only because of your mother though.

“You’ll have to give me your address sometime.”

You smiled lightly, tilting your head again towards his sentence. He was relieved to see you not look so troubled. “Why, so you can stalk me there too?”

“Stalk?!”

“How many other Ahgase’s out there could say they get visited by the leader of their favourite idol group, huh?”

Jaebum grinned. “Isn’t it nice to be special?”

“Special, that’s one way to put it.”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he faltered, inwardly groaning at how his words had reminded you. You were right; Jaebum wouldn’t be so invested in a fan’s wellbeing like he was of yours naturally. You had become special in many ways, and you were both trying to find your way through this nightmare.

He watched as you completely retreated into your head, your blank stare letting him know there would be no more talking in today’s visit. Jaebum sighed, hoping that the journey you were both on now would not remain as undecided as each day went by.

_________________

[Part 2]

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mirkwoodshewolf · 5 years

Text

Rekindling the bond, and forging new ones; Freddie Mercury x reader

*Author’s note*

Alrighty gang, here we go with yet another Rock Angel chapter. Now first I want to thank to the few that helped me with song choices for what Freddie should dance to with the Rock Angel. And I appreciate all that you’ve given me but I came across a song that would work perfectly, plus it’s also a personal song that my brother in law danced with his grandma at his and my sister’s wedding. So I hope you all enjoy reading this :)

Taglist:

@psychosupernatural

@plethora-of-things

@ixchel-9275

@waddles03

@onebigfangirlworld

@geek-and-proud

@queendeakyy

@coolcxt

@mrbadguymercury

@queens-rose-garden

@naturalswifty89

@starswin

@dj-lowkey

@labessieisallama

@5sos-wdw

@isabella-bby

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It was two day after Live Aid. I was sitting down on the couch working on some song lyrics while Jack was cooking breakfast. I was humming to myself the tune for one particular song. Before I go on my maternity leave, I wanted to get all the songs for my next album done before I go into labor. As I hummed, I felt baby Kline kicking my belly once more.

“Ohh you’re a kicking machine now aren’t you? You gonna be the next Rock Angel?” I talked down to it while pressing my hand to my belly.

“They kicking again?” Jack asked from the kitchen.

“I tell you this baby’s gonna be the next singer of the family. If not then a dancer. They’re treating my tummy like a bloody stage.” It was then we heard the doorbell ring. I groaned out “God the paps just don’t know when to quit. This stress is not good for me!”

“Don’t move I’ll get it.” Jack said.

“No, no don’t you let the breakfast burn. We’re renting this place and we can’t afford to damage it. I’ll get it.” I set my notebook aside and that’s when I looked up to see Jack standing beside me holding his hand out to help me out. “Jack, I’m 5 months pregnant, not incompetent.” I stood up on my own and raised my brow at him before shooing him back to the kitchen.

I walked over to the door and opened it up to reveal the man, the legend Freddie Mercury.

“Do you have any idea how hard it was to finally track you down?” I smirked and said.

“Well we wouldn’t want any creeps to come lurking around.” He grinned at me. “How’ve you been Freddie? I thought you and the boys would be in Munich by now?”

“Well Deacy’s on holiday with Veronica and the kids so he’ll be late to the recording, but I told Brian and Roger to go ahead and just get some things done. I made things up for the other three, but there’s still one member of the family I need to gain back.” I tilted my head at him and said.

“So Live Aid wasn’t enough?”

“Not nearly enough for you. May I come in for a bit?”

“Sure, we were just about to have breakfast, hope you don’t mind.”

“None at all.” I allowed him inside and when Jack looked up he said.

“I thought I heard your voice.”

“Hello Jack darling, taking care of the missus I see.”

“Always.”

“Good man. You really snagged yourself a gentleman (y/n) darling.”

“Indeed I did.” I said with a smile as Jack looked at me with a wink as he finally put the pancakes onto a plate. We all gathered around the small dinner table and Jack offered.

“We’ve got some extra pancakes if you’d like some Freddie.”

“Oh no thank you darling, Jim and I already had breakfast back at my place.” As Jack and I proceeded to eat, I then asked him.

“So, what exactly did you have in mind Fred?”

“Would you and Jack like to take up the offer and come to and have tea and lunch with us?” Jack and I looked at each other and I said.

“Well I’ll have to see if anyone needs me at the studio.”

“No need for that darling, I called in and told them you had other plans today.” I just looked at him and said.

“You weren’t gonna take no for an answer, we’re you?”

“Nope.” he popped the “P”.

“Do you always get what you want?”

“Most of the time. C’mon love. What do you say? My treat after all.” Jack and I looked at each other and he shrugged telling me he was game for anything.

“Alright Fred, we’ll take it.”

“Oh wonderful my darlings.” After breakfast was done as Jack was taking away the dishes, Freddie hands me a small piece of paper with an address on it. “You and your husband come to this house at 10am sharp, otherwise we’ll have tea without you. So don’t you be late darling.”

“We’ll meet you there, but Fred. What is this place?”

“Spoilers darling, just bring your pregnant tummy and loving husband to this address and all will be explained soon enough.” He pecked my cheek and let himself out giving us a ‘cheers’ and a see you soon comment.

“So where does he want us to meet him at?”

“17 Kensington Street. I’ve sorta know where it is but all it is a bunch of apartment buildings, why would Freddie want us to meet him there?” he shrugged and said.

“Maybe there’s a café near there.”

“Maybe.” I muttered. I sat up and set down my journal and walked up the stairs to the bedroom and decided to get around. Since Freddie didn’t give me a dress code I decided to just be as comfy as possible.

And since it was still pretty hot I went with a basic flowery tube dress with no sleeves. It was decored with cheery blossoms and was a baby blue color that went past my knees. I brushed my hair and gave it some volume with some mousse and very light hairspray. Doing my makeup to the most basic foundation, blush, mascara and lip-gloss.

As I was doing my lip-gloss I felt Jack’s arms wrap around me and he said.

“How is it that you can look so beautiful while you’re doing your makeup?”

“Ronnie says it’s because of the pregnancy glow.” He shook his head and lightly kissed my neck and said.

“No. You’re just beautiful all on your own. This,” he moved his hands specifically over the baby bump as he whispered in my ear, “Is just an added bonus. God I can’t wait to meet our little one.”

“Neither can I. I just hope I get the recording done before they’re born.”

“I’m sure you will.” He kissed my neck again before removing himself from me and proceeded to get around himself. Once we were ready it was about 9:25, so we decided to try and find this place now because it was a bit of a drive to get to where Freddie wanted us to be.

We got into the car and since Jack was still not used to the way we drove, I took over the driving and he was my navigator and he gave me the directions to the place.

By the time we reached there, it was 10 o’clock on the dot. We arrived on the street and Jack was looking through the townhouse apartments trying to find the exact house we needed to find.

“Right here.” He pointed.

“Here?”

“Yes, park right over there.” I then slowly got over. I slowly drove forward and managed to park behind another car. I turned off the engine and Jack and I stood up.

“Is this the house?”

“That’s what it says on the paper Freddie gave you.” Said Jack.

“Well this is definitely no coffee house.” We walked up to the door and I pressed the doorbell and we waited there for a few seconds till the door opened.

There was a woman around Jack’s age who stood there. She had shoulder length dark brown hair and brown eyes. She wore a simple t-shirt and pair of denim blue jeans.

“Can I help you?” she spoke softly.

“We’re—we’re looking for Freddie Mercury, but we must have the wrong address…..”

“No, no he’s here.” She turned around and called out, “Freddie!” I could hear the sounds of footsteps racing toward the door and the woman said, “Two people here to see you.” Once Freddie came up to the door he proclaimed.

“My darlings you finally made it. And right on time too, well just a couple minutes late.”

“Well be thankful we didn’t pull you or Roger’s move of being hours late.” I teased. He grinned and turned to the woman and said.

“Kash, this is a very good friend of mine. Remember how I told you of the Rock Angel.” Kash’s eyes soon widened as she turned to me and said.

“Ohh yeah, I can’t believe I didn’t recognize you. Hi!”

“Hi.” I softly said.

“(Y/n), Jack, this is my annoying but reliable little sister Kashmira, or as I like to call her Kash. Kash, this is (y/n) and her husband Jack.” Kash teasingly and playfully shoved her older brother’s shoulder before turning around and shook both mine and Jack’s hand as we greeted her.

“Well come in. Mum’s just finishing up the tea.” She walked back inside and Freddie held the door open for me and both he and Jack allowed me to enter first. When I walked in, it was a quaint little home with light wallpaper, pictures hanging around everywhere, a small TV set, a piano up against the wall and old but antiques and other beautiful décor items.

“You must be the Rock Angel Freddie has told us so much about.” I turned to see an elderly woman. Her short hair at this point was starting to whiten, she wore glasses over her face had the same brown eyes as Kash.

“And you must be Freddie and Kash’s mum.” I said with a soft smile.

“Jer Bulsara. It is so wonderful to meet you (y/n). I cannot tell you how long I had waited to finally meet you in person. And I see you are about to embark on the journey I once did.” I smiled and we both shook hands as I said.

“Yeah, first one actually.”

“Do you know the gender?” she asked me.

“No, we decided to keep it a surprise. No sense in buying clothes that may end up being the wrong gender in the end. At least that’s what my mother in law Kelly told me when she was pregnant with my husband. Doctors thought he would be a girl.” We both laughed and that’s when I heard Jack say.

“Oh god please tell me you didn’t tell her about what the doctors thought I was going to be at first. God why does my mom always share that story?”

“Because it’s funny and cute. No c’mon stop pouting love we’re in front of the hostess herself.”

“And you must be Jack Kline. Freddie has told me a lot about you too.”

“Jack this is Freddie’s mum Jer.” My husband shook hands with her and that’s when coming from the backyard was an elderly man with short greying hair and those big framed glasses on his face.

“This is my husband Bomi. Bomi, Freddie’s friend and her husband have finally arrived.” Jer said. He walked over to us and he extended his hand out for me and I took it and he gave it a nice but firm shake.

“Pleasure to meet you.” He said with a soft smile.

“Believe me, the honor is mine. Thank you for allowing Jack and I into your lovely home.”

“Thank you dear, now please sit. I know how tired you must be.” Jer said as she guided me over to one of the living room chairs and helped me sit down.

As the tea was being placed out as well along the coffee table as Jer’s very own Mithai. I sipped my tea before placing it back on the cup and setting it back down on the table.

“So (y/n), how did you meet Freddie?” asked Kash.

“Well it started off with the internship that Jim Beach, Queen’s manager proposed to my University at the time. He was looking for someone to help out with this guy and his insane friends. At first I thought nothing of it, no way would I ever get it because I was like one in a million music students who signed up for it. That was until I received a letter from Jim himself telling me I had gotten the internship. It was a five month internship and one day one as I was playing the piano and sang an old song my mum used to sing to me.”

“It was like hearing an actual angel from heaven. I knew I just had to figure out just who it was that was singing. And that’s when the lads and I found her.” Freddie continued on with the story.

“And the rest has been history.” I finished.

“And how did you meet your husband Jack?” Jer asked me. I turned to Jack and said.

“Should you tell them, or shall I?”

“I can tell it.” I began to reach out for a Mithai piece of sweet fruit but Freddie beat me as he held up the plat and held it closer to me. I smiled at him and nodded in thanks as I took a piece of fruit and I ate my sweet treat as Jack told them the story of how we met through his perspective.

“Such a gentleman.” Jer said by the end of Jack’s telling of our first encounter.

“I couldn’t ask for a better husband.” I said as I took Jack’s hand and he smiled at me as he lifted our intertwined hands and kissed the back of my hand.

“Has….Freddie helped you with your career?” Bomi asked.

“Your son has been my biggest mentor not only in my career but in life. I wouldn’t be the person I am without his help.”

“Good thoughts, good words, good deeds. As I have always taught him in order to strive in life.” He answered.

“That’s a good motto to live by.”

“And you have made a name for yourself. Your parents must be so proud.” Jer spoke with a warm smile. But hearing the mention of my parents was still a sore subject. Before I could answer, Freddie spoke up.

“We are mum. Brian, Roger, Deacy and I couldn’t be more proud of her. She’s become like family to all of us. And her in-laws is also very proud of her, aren’t they Jack darling?”

“Very much so. My mom sometimes even refers to her as her daughter, not daughter in law.” I smiled at my two boys and the rest of the morning was spent getting to know Freddie’s family.

“We have to go now mum.” Freddie said. “We promised Jim to meet him during his lunch break.” Both Jack and Freddie helped me stand up and she said.

“Love you beta.”

“Bye mumma.” He kissed her cheek and she then turned to me and handed me a small piece of paper and she said.

“If you ever need some advice or help, please do not hesitate to call me.” I smiled softly and said.

“Thank you Jer.” Seems like I’ll have five experienced mothers to help me out with this little munchkin. Jack and I thanked the Bulsara’s for their warm hospitality and we finally left the house and all gathered into the car.

“So what did you think of my family?” asked Freddie as he sat himself in the backseat.

“They were really sweet, I just wonder what they thought of me.”

“They loved you, especially my mum.” He answered.

“You really think so?”

“Absolutely darling. Anyone who doesn’t is blind or stupid.”

“So Freddie, where are we going now?”

“Alejandro’s Italian pizza and sub, it’s near where Jim works at the flower shop.” I turned the car on and as I drove on, Freddie told me exactly where to turn to get to the restaurant.

When we got to there, I parked in the parking lot and we all left the car and walked inside the restaurant.

“Freddie, over here!” we heard Jim’s voice. I saw Fred smile and he walked up to Jim. Knowing how people would react if they should any sign of affection towards each other, I saw them take each other’s hands and saw the love in their eyes. “(Y/n), Jack. I’m so glad you two could come.”

“Thanks for allowing us to come here with you guys Jim.” Said Jack as we all sat down.

“So I assume the tea session with Freddie’s family was a success?”

“Big success.” I said. It was then our waiter came over and took our drink order as well as food order. While we waited for our food, I asked Jim, “So Jim, how did you and Freddie meet?”

“Well love….I was out in a club. I was sitting at the bar when Freddie came up and started to try and flirt me up.”

“I asked him how big his cock was.” At hearing that Jack choked on his soda while I held in my laugh.

“Wow very brazen of you Fred, no better pickup line than that. Hopefully you didn’t fall for it too soon Jim.”

“Not quite yet. At first I turned him down but the next month we met again and soon we just got to talking. Soon one thing lead to another and he invited me to Live Aid.”

“And would you believe it my darlings, Jim’s never been to a rock concert till Live Aid.”

“Really?” we both said astounded.

“It’s true. And it was amazing to see so many performers all at once. But it was an honor to see not only Queen play but you two out on that stage. Have you two always played together since you’ve known each other?”

“Well he started midway through our tour 2 years ago. Had to help build his confidence for performing in front of thousands of people.”

“Biggest crowd I played before that was just a school size with my old band my friends and I tried to build, but of course egos got in the way and we all said stupid things, the typical band breakup sob story.” Jack explained.

Throughout the lunch it was us talking and getting to know each other. Once we got done, I said to Freddie.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?” he nodded and the two of us headed towards the backroom where the bathrooms and phone were at.

“What is it darling?”

“I just wanna tell you…..I approve.” He looked at me confused for a brief second until he understood what I was getting at.

“You mean you…..”

“Freddie I’ve had my suspicions about your sexuality for a while ever since I first met you. But I knew it wasn’t any of my business to ask or demand any conformation, nor did I need the press getting on your ass about it even more.” He hummed a laugh and said.

“So you approve of…..me dating Jim?”

“Freddie, my belief is that love is love. No matter who it is. If you’re happy, I’m happy.”

“Oh my darling you have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that.” He embraced me and whispered in my ear, “Thank you.”

“There’s no need for thank yous. I’m just happy you’ve found someone who makes you happy. Next to Mary, you’ve finally found someone to help you out and be your rock.”

“And he is that indeed.” We separated from each other and when we returned to the table Jack teased.

“What were you two girls gossiping about?”

“Oh you needn’t worry your pretty little head about that Jack darling.” I playfully pinched his nose before bobbing it. Freddie took care of the check and he said as we all headed out of the restaurant.

“How about at around 6:30ish you two join us for dinner at my place?”

“Dinner would be great, plus it’s been a long time since I’ve seen those furbabies of yours.” I said.

“Perfect so I will see you two at my place then.”

“You will indeed, thank you again for tea and lunch Fred.”

“Anytime Jack darling, take care of yourselves and see you later tonight.” We bid each other a see you soon and Jack and I got back in the car and we headed back to the apartment.

As the day went on and I finally got all my songs that I wanted to have on my next album ‘Mother love’. After letting out a heavy sigh and finally setting my journal aside, I felt Jack’s hands rub my shoulders.

“You work so hard love, I can’t wait till you finally have a break.”

“Oh you don’t know do you, once this little munchkin is born, there won’t be a break. They’ll need our constant attention.”

“There’s always a break during their naptime and of course in the evenings.” He kissed my shoulder and I turned to him and he leaned forward and captured my lips with his. We would’ve gone deeper had it not been for the kick to my spleen. I hissed in pain and he asked me worriedly, “You okay?”

“Yeah, kid just kicked the wrong place.” He pecked my temple and he said.

“Think it’s time we headed out anyway. It’s 10 minutes till five o’clock. I’ll drive.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, don’t want you behind the wheel in case junior kicks like that again. Don’t want any of my girls to be harmed.”

“What makes you think it’s a girl?”

“I just have a feeling.” He said with a grin before pecking my cheek and as he grabbed the keys I said.

“Hold on Jack.”

“What is it?”

“Can we stop by somewhere really quick before we head on over to Fred’s?”

“Sure, where to?” I softly smiled at him.

After making the pitstop we finally arrived at Garden Lodge. Jack helped me out and we walked up to the gate and we got buzzed in after announcing our arrival. We walked along the familiar trail but I took notice of the added roses along the front garden, probably Jim’s handy work. We stood before the door and Jack knocked on it and that’s when Freddie answered the door.

“Hello my darlings.” He allowed us in and he said. “You both are right on time, Jim’s just getting the food prepared so we’ve got about 45 minutes to just talk before it’s all ready.”

“Perfect because there’s something I want to show you.” I said. I turned to Jack and he nodded allowing us to have some privacy and even help Jim out with setting up for dinner.

“What is it (y/n)?”

“Before we came here, I asked Jack to stop by Roger’s place and I asked Dominique for something that was given to her, as well as a few other people.” I turned on the TV as well as the VCR. The screen went from the normal picture program to the bright blue screen.

I put the tape into the VCR and rewind it first of all since it looked like it had been watched recently.

“What is it that you wish to show me?”

“If I told you Fred it’d ruin the surprise.”

“Darling you know how impatient I am right?”

“Yes, and I hope Jim will help teach you some manners about patience.” I teased. Finally the tape stopped and I knew it was now at the beginning. I sat down beside Freddie as Delilah came up and as soon as she sniffed me, she immediately curled up beside me and purred against my stomach. Freddie took his VCR remote and pressed play.

The video soon went from black to an immediate shot of Jack’s backyard and across the screen it read.

JULY 12TH, 1984

The Wedding of Jack and (Y/n) Kline

The camera panned across the empty archway of the stand where Jack and I would stand under. Freddie turned to me in shock and I looked at him and just smiled softly. He turned back to the screen and soon the editing changed to people coming in and taking their seats before showing the bridesmaids walking first then the groomsmen.

Soon Jack walked down the isle and stood before the priest. Then it showed me walking with Brian, Roger and Deacy. I turned to look at Fred and he was just in awe.

“Oh darling…..you look so beautiful.”

“Thanks Fred.” We turned back towards the screen and just watched the wedding unfold.

Since he had missed his chance at seeing the wedding in person, I figured in order to full makeup and see that I had now finally forgiven him, he should at least get to see the wedding for himself.

So thanks to a good friend of Jack’s from high school that he remained in touch with. He filmed our wedding since he worked in Hollywood to become a filmmaker, he knew the basis of working a camera and editing pictures together like a real film.

And anyone who wanted to purchase a copy of the film had to pay 10 dollars on their own since this wasn’t free to make.

Since I knew Roger was the first to reserve a copy, I had went over to their place and knowing Dominque had the day off of work, I asked her for a copy of the tape so that Freddie could see for himself the wedding he was denied.

He watched in awe at the entire ceremony before it cut to the reception in the barn. He fell in love with the song I had written for Jack and he fell in love with our dance. Seeing me dance the ‘father-daughter’ dance with his bandmates brought tears to Freddie’s eyes.

“God I can’t believe my drug-fueled mind made me miss this beautiful ceremony. And my chance at getting this dance with you.” He choked out. I took his hand and squeezed it with my left hand while my right softly rubbed the back of it.

“It wasn’t the same without you Fred. I want you to know I was thinking of that the entire day. I wish I could go back in time and just fought harder to get you away from him. And let you be a part of the most important day of my life.” It was then he suddenly stopped the tape and went over to his collection of vinyl records. “Fred what are you doing?”

“You’ll see darling.” He wouldn’t let me see which record he had gotten but he took it out of the sleeve and dashed over to his vinyl player and set the record in place. He turned it on and took the needle and placed it at a specific place and soon coming through the speakers was Louis Armstrong’s, “What a wonderful world”.

I smiled softly and he pushed the coffee table aside as well as wheeled the TV back a few feet before standing before me with his hand extended outward to me.

“My darling bride, will you allow me the last Father-Daughter dance?” At that point tears came running down my face as I smiled and took his hand and he helped me stand up. He placed his hand on my waist while his other one held my hand. “I’m not one for slow dances but—”

“I’ll lead, just don’t step on my toes okay? Cause this time I’ve got extra baggage here.” He smiled and I led us in a gentle sway. We softly smiled as we stared up at each other.

“I can already see you back in that wedding dress. And darling you are a radiant star.”

“Oh Freddie.” I leaned my head against his shoulder and tried to stop the tears from falling but damn these pregnancy hormones for making me so emotional.

*Jack’s POV*

Jim and I watched in secret Freddie and (y/n) finally having the father-daughter dance they didn’t get to have at our wedding.

“Seems they’ve finally mended their bond.” Jim said next to me.

“Yeah.” I muttered happily.

Finally after over a year they were back together again. Live Aid was a professional mending. Letting the public see that Queen and the Rock Angel were finally back together again. But right here right now; seeing Freddie dance with my wife, his niece and protegee, I knew that they had finally mended the personal bond with each other.

And were finally a family once again.

71 notes · View notes

hystericalrogertaylor · 5 years

Text

Reconnecting (Chapter One)

Pairing: Ben Hardy!Roger Taylor X Reader

Word count: 1683

Summary: (Y/n) and Roger have been friends since the cradle. When they’re suddenly pulled apart and reconnected years later, they both can tell that the relationship has evolved. They lead very different lifestyles now. Can they continue what they had, or go for something more, with this gap between them?

Warnings: Mild cussing

A/N: Okay so this is my first fanfiction I’ve written for Tumblr so some things are probably going to look weird while I work things out. I apologize in advance!

Masterlist in my profile description!

~~~

One year old

There are romantic soulmates, and then there are platonic soulmates. Those are two people who are destined by God and the stars to be friends for life. They are two peas in a pod, two leaves on the same twig.

Such were you and Roger.

Your families had been friends since school. They lived near each other and dreamed that their kids would be best friends for life. Which worked out miraculously well.

Baby you and baby Roger sat on the floor, fiddling around with a toy with your flimsy, chubby baby hands. Both sets of parents watched, beaming with pride.

Until Roger took the toy and just began to repeatedly whack you in the head with it.

Mrs. Taylor quickly jumped up, pulling her child away from you. You had begun to cry out of confusion. The toy was a fluffy stuffed animal, so it didn’t hurt, but you were still bewildered.

Roger had been released from his mother’s grasp and was now being scolded. Noticing your tears, Roger stood up and hobbled over to you before sitting back down and clumsily wrapping his arms around your shoulders in consolation. You stopped crying and began to giggle a little bit, which made Roger and the parents smile as well.

Five years old

“Roger, you’re gonna fall!” you yelled upwards. “Come down from there!”

“No!” he shouted back. “I said I was going to climb to the top and that’s what I’m going to do!”

Trying to convince Roger to not do something dangerous or stupid, even when he was a little child, was difficult. At this moment, he was trying to reach the top of this really tall tree in your yard for literally no reason.

“Why don’t we go get some cookies or something?” you suggested.

“Nope. Tree.”

You facepalmed. Roger’s affinity for stupid and/or violent stunts had not changed since infancy. For example, trying to fit himself down a laundry chute (hospital stay), trying to examine a bee’s nest (several bee stings), and random bursts of childish anger (“How was I supposed to know the window would break?!”).

“When you need to stay in the hospital again, I’m not going to visit!” I shouted, crossing my arms.

“I’ll be fine!” He grabbed a flimsy brach, which promptly snapped. He tumbled down, letting out a terrified scream. He landed with a thud, knocking you down and pinning both his and your arms to the ground with his body.

“Roger!” You yanked your arm out from under him, letting out a cry of pain. You were sure your arm was broken. Roger just lay there, face down, groaning. “Roger? Are you okay?”

“Can you go get my mum?” he mumbled. “I think I broke my arm.”

“Uh oh. Don’t worry, I’ll get help!” Trying to ignore your own pain and cradling your arm to your chest, you made a beeline down the street towards the Taylor household, wincing with every step.

Both of you were at the doctor’s office for a while, getting casts put on opposite arms, respectively. Both were a plain, boring white color. Until you both took your markers to them and made each other’s casts beautiful.

Ten years old

“(Y/n), truth or dare?” your friend, Dawn, asked.

“Dare!” you exclaimed. The group of five sat in a circle in the back of the classroom during free time.

“I dare you to... stick your head in the waste bin!”

A chorus of “eww’s” and “grosses” came from the other kids. You shrugged. “It’s not that bad.” You stood up, walked to the nearest waste bin, and shoved your head in just enough for your hair to miss touching the trash. You went back to the group and sat down. Some made disgusted faces, others were laughing, Roger loudest of all.

“Okay,” you started, looking around the circle, “...Roger! Truth or dare?”

“Dare.”

You looked around the room. How could you embarrass Roger…?

“I dare you to...ask out Gayle!”

“Ooo!” Everyone in the group knew Roger had this huge crush on a girl in your class named Gayle. She had really short black hair and bright blue eyes and was constantly picking at her fingernails.

Roger looked at you and rolled his eyes. “That’s easy.” He got up from the floor and made his way over to Gayle. The rest of your group hid behind some desks to watch without being seen. Roger, being fairly smooth for a ten year old, started the conversation while Gayle stood there, picking away at what was left of her nails.

“He probably complimented her nose or something,” Dawn chuckled. You snorted, covering your mouth with your hand.

Roger and Gayle continued to talk for a few minutes, laughing occasionally with a lot of awkward silence. Then, they shared an even more awkward side hug before Roger headed back over to your group.

“She’s my girlfriend now,” he said, beaming proudly. You all shouted with excitement. He did it!

Their “relationship” was interesting. They’d hang out by the slide during recess and people watch, judging most of the class. When Dawn or you or any of his other friends would try to get them to play make believe, Gayle would spit out some snarky response and make you leave. After a few days of this, Roger began to look miserable and desperate for a way out, which everyone noticed but Gayle.

She “broke up” with him a couple of days later because she decided she didn’t like blond boys. He was upset, she was his first “girlfriend” after all. But, he also felt relief because he could finally hang out with his friends again. Gayle moved schools two months after the whole ordeal.

Seventeen years old

“All I’m saying is the movie could’ve been written better.”

“(Y/n), stop being critical of everything and just enjoy things for once.” Roger stuck the keys in his car’s ignition, laughing at you.

“Hey, you thought it was terrible too!” You jabbed a finger into his shoulder.

“True, but I still had fun.” He backed out of the parking space, looking around diligently to make sure he didn’t hit anything.

You rolled your eyes. “Yeah, okay, me too.”

Roger turned to smile at you and, in that moment, neither of you saw the other car pulling out of a different spot. The cars collided with a jolt.

“What the hell?” Roger removed his seatbelt and threw open the door, stepping out towards the other car. “Why can’t you watch where you’re going?!”

“Hey man, you’re the one who backed into me!”

Sensing the tensions building, you jumped out of the car and moved to stand next to Roger. “Guys, it’s gonna be okay, we can fix thi--”

“This is a brand new car!” the other man shouted. “I have half a mind to beat you up for that!”

“You don’t stand a chance.” Roger fixed the man with a death glare, pushing up his sleeves.

“Okay!” You moved in front of your best friend and pushed him back towards his driver’s side door. Surprisingly, he let you. “We’d do better to just wait for the cops to show up so we can get this guy’s insurance info and get both cars fixed.”

Roger took a long deep breath. “Yeah. Yeah, probably.” He flexed his fist, trying to relax.

“You have to work on that temper,” you joked.

He chuckled. “I feel like I’ve heard you say that before. Can’t imagine why.”

Both of you stood there, laughing, while the other guy called the police, shouting profanities across the parking lot. The humor you and Roger were able to see made the whole situation seem a lot less terrible.

Eighteen years old

“What?” Roger stared at you in shock. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“He took the job. I tried my hardest to persuade him not to, but he says it’s great money and amazing opportunity.” You quickly swiped a tear off of your cheek.

“But it’s a whole ocean away! You can’t move to America!”

“I don’t know what choice I have.” You tried not to look him in the eye. “I can’t move out and be completely independent yet because I need their help with school and they don’t want me staying in England for that, so they told me to start looking at American universities, but I can’t bring myself to do it because then the move will seem real and I really just want to stay here and--”

“Hey.” Roger grabbed you by the shoulders, causing you to stop in your tracks. “It’s okay. We can talk on the phone and see each other during the summer. It’s not like one of us is dying or anything.”

You sniffled, wiping your nose on your sleeve. “Okay. Yeah. True.” You let out a giggle. “Remember when you tried to eat that worm, and I said not to, but then you did anyway and threw up?”

He laughed. “Yes, but you can’t start reminiscing about the fun we’ve had when this isn’t goodbye.” He pulled you towards him, wrapping you up in a big hug.

You patted his side, which was the only place you could reach. “I’m not even leaving for another month.”

“Further emphasizing my point. We still have time to enjoy each other’s company.” He let you go. You could see some tears beginning to form in his eyes. His best friend since birth was moving away. If there’s anything Roger Taylor would get sappy and emotional about, it’s something like that.

“Of course,” you agreed, smiling. “This won’t be a goodbye.”

A month went by. You spent a lot of time packing, and most of your spare time was spent with Roger. Once you moved, the two of you talked on the phone when it was convenient in both time zones and when neither of you were busy. But, that window of time started to grow smaller. And smaller. And smaller. Until the only communication you had with Roger Taylor was in your daydreams.

~~~

A/N: Thank you to @bentaylorrogerhardy for giving me inspiration for this fanfiction! You guys should go read what she’s written because it’s amazing. Okay, bye!

#ben hardy #roger taylor #ben hardy roger taylor #ben hardy x reader #roger taylor x reader #queen #queen band #brian may #freddie mercury #john deacon #bohemian rhapsody #x reader #rami malek #gwilym lee #joe mazzello

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idkthisisjustforfanfic · 5 years

Text

Harry takes care of his sick girlfriend

A/N: for @ofpeppermintbay :) 1.5k of fluff about Ellie being embarrassed that she’s sick in front of her new boyfriend

As far as I was concerned, there wasn’t anything worse than the flu. Ask me three days ago, and I would have told you that rush hour traffic, obnoxious co-workers, and ferris wheels were up there with terrible things. But now, with my head spinning and my body constantly switching from hot to cold with no warning, the flu had definitely taken the number one spot on that list.

I opened my eyes momentarily, letting my hand reach around on the couch for the remote. If I were going to die here in the living room of my flat, at least it would be with some dignity and the sweet sound of netflix as background noise.

“Ellie?” I heard his voice as the doorknob turned. Harry--my boyfriend of just about two months--was certainly in for a surprise when he took a good look at me. I sat up quickly, a rush to my head made me lay back down as he made his way towards the couch. “Baby, you look terrible,” he said, a grimace on his face as he took in the sight.

There were tissues on the floor, DayQuil on the end table, and just about six blankets strewn over my near lifeless body.

Harry and I had met through mutual friends, and after a night at an adult arcade with endless rounds of gin and tonics, I was pretty smitten. He lived four blocks away from me, and while he had a spare key to my apartment because he one time watered my plants when I went to my mum’s for the weekend, he’d never just shown up like this.

We’d had our first fight, we’d had our first make up, but we had not yet seen each other groggy and dazed from cough medicine. While a part of me was grateful for his presence (if only so he could call an ambulance when I inevitably croaked), I was also extremely embarrassed about the state of my flat.

Dishes in the sink, a dirty pot on the stove, my bed unmade from feeling like complete shit for the last two days. I don’t think he’d ever seen so much as a sock on my floor.

“Thanks,” I mumbled out, sarcasm intended. “I feel fantastic.” He let out a quiet laugh and sat on the edge of the couch. His face, which was marked with concern and care, felt too close for comfort. I probably reeked of sweat thanks to the fever that couldn’t make up its mind, and I probably had a puffy face and red nose from all the tissues.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were this poorly?” He muttered, his hand coming to cup my cheek. His hands were cool from the winter, providing much needed relief for my hot face.

Why didn’t I tell him? Well--there were a few reasons, really. For one, while I hadn’t been dating Harry very long, I’d definitely learned that he was the type of guy to overreact. Not in a bad way, necessarily, but if I told him that I had a fever or the chills or any type of illness, I wouldn’t have put it past him to show up unannounced (like this), but likely with a medical team or soup or strap me into his car to take me to the doctor.

Secondly, I hadn’t been dating Harry that long, and so having him see me in this type of state was definitely not too high up on my list of ways to impress him or make him fall in love with me.

But, of course, I wasn’t going to say all of that--nor did I have the energy to utter more than a few words at a time. “I’m okay,” I told him, forcing a small smile on my face, which only seemed to make my entire body hurt more.

“Ellie,” he said, a sigh escaping his lips as he stood from the couch. I didn’t reply, instead, I just watched as he removed his wool coat and the scarf that was around his neck. He tossed it to the armchair beside us and moved my legs to position himself seated beneath me.

“What are you doing? Don’t you have plans with Alex tonight?”

He ignored my question as he fixed the blankets, making sure the covered me completely, up to my neck and down to my toes. He tucked them in on the sides and smoothed out any wrinkles, looking over me once before deciding he’d done a good job. “No,” he said, “I’ve got plans with you.”

“I’m sick,” I reminded him, unsure of what he meant.

“I’m aware,” he nodded, a smirk crossing over his lips as he reached for the remote on the coffee table, flipping back to the home screen of netflix. “But I’m obviously not going to leave you here to deal with this on your own.”

He wasn’t even looking at me--his eyes were on the TV as he searched for something to watch. And what got me was that he said it so matter-of-factly--like there wasn’t anything else he’d rather do than sit with me on the couch and watch a movie while I tried to take enough medicine to stop my head from pounding.

He’d been like this from the day I met him--kind and caring and sweet. Willing to go out of his way for someone if it meant that they’d feel better.

“Documentary or comedian special?” He asked, his eyes still on the screen as I stared up at him lovingly.

“Okay,” he came out of the bathroom and had the box in his hands. He stared down at the tiny print as I pushed myself up on the couch. It’d been four whole hours since he arrived, and I’d yet to feel any better despite the most recent dose of DayQuil. “I think you can take two of these on top of it,” he said.

I swallowed and rubbed at my eyes. The last thing I wanted to do was take more medicine, but if it meant I’d maybe feel a bit better, I was willing to try it.

Harry made his way back towards me in the living room, still looking over the box. When he got back to the couch, he looked at me and offered a smile. “Want a glass of water?”

I nodded pathetically, not bothering to hide the frown on my face. I didn’t get sick often--I barely ever caught a cold and I never even needed Advil. So this was something new entirely. Having Harry here to monitor and administer my meds felt somewhat relieving.

He tossed the box to me, it landed on my lap as he headed towards the kitchen to fetch me a clean glass. He’d already done the dishes I’d left from the night before and he went to the pharmacy down the street to get some gatorade and soup.

“Alright,” he cooed, reappearing with a tall glass of water and a smile on his face. “You have to drink at least half of this.”

“Why?” I asked, taking it from him carefully so as to not spill the liquid. I set it on the end table as he reached for the box to take out the correct dose.

“Keep your fluids up,” he said with a shrug, obviously. “The more hydrated you are the better your body will work.”

I let out a short laugh, “okay, Dr. Harry.”

“Sarcasm is a good sign,” he leaned forward to kiss my forehead, extending his arm to give me the two pills in his hand. “Means you’re healing.”

I rolled my eyes, plopping one pill in my mouth and taking a swig of water. “Doesn’t feel like it.”

He furrowed his brows at me, a serious look coming over his face. “Maybe Dr. Harry could do something else to make you feel better,” he said.

I had to squeeze my lips together to not expel my second sip of water directly into his face. He let out a hearty laugh and shrugged. “Can’t blame a man for trying.”

“You can when I’m sick!” I defended. He licked at his lips and turned his head back to the telly--we’d been in the middle of a show when I complained that my head was still throbbing. I let it go, mostly because I didn’t have the energy to bicker, but also because I was feeling slightly better.

I don’t think it was the medicine, I think it was just Harry.

#harry styles blurb #harry styles imagine #harry styles fluff #harry styles concept #harry styles fanfic #harry styles story #harry styles one shot #harry styles drabble #harry styles fiction #harry styles writing #harry styles #harry styles girlfriend #harry styles takes care of sick girlfriend

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wistfulcynic · 6 years

Text

Both Are Infinite

Summary: Busy single mother Emma Swan relies on her best friend, Royal Navy Captain Killian Jones, far too much to ever ruin things by acting on the crazy lust she feels for him. The boundaries between them are firmly set... until they're not, and suddenly Emma and Killian are forced to confront the feelings they've been suppressing for far too long.

a/n: Chapter 1 of a new story I'll be focusing on once I've finished Raised With the Fume of Sighs (which will happen soon!). This one will be a friends-to-lovers slow burn (or at least as slow as I can make it, I do like writing smut). I hope you enjoy it!

Also on AO3

Art by @rouhn

Tagging @teamhook @resident-of-storybrooke @kmomof4 @wellhellotragic @rouhn because you’ve either been awesome and supportive of my earlier work or because you asked for it ;). Anyone who’d like to be tagged in future chapters please do let me know.

Chapter 1:

Emma and Henry arrived at the airport an hour early. Technically, this was Henry's fault as he had for once in his life been ready to go not only on time but well before it, and had stood at the door vibrating with excitement and shouting “C’mon, Mom, c’mon!” until Emma relented. Emma had to admit however that she was no less eager then her son, just perhaps slightly better at concealing it. Henry had bounced at the door of their house as Emma gathered her bag and keys, he had bounced in the backseat of the car on the way to the airport, he had bounced in the booth of the airport café as Emma tried to get him to drink the babyccino she’d bought to distract him while she kept an anxious eye on the arrivals board. He was bouncing now as they stood behind the ropes at the arrivals area. Anticipation was humming through Emma like a swarm of frantic bees, and she wished she had the freedom of her five-year-old to hop up and down and shout "Is that him?!" whenever the door opened.

Finally, it was him. "Killiaaaaaan!!!!!!" screamed Henry, pulling his hand from Emma's to dart under the ropes and fling himself at the tall, uniformed man who had just stepped through the doors.

"Whoa, there, lad," he replied, laughing, dropping his duffel to catch Henry and swing the boy up into his arms. "Where's your mum?"

"Over there," said Henry, pointing. Killian turned and Emma's heart tried to beat itself free from her chest. Every damn time, she thought with hopeless frustration. Every time she saw Killian after a long separation she coached herself beforehand, reminded herself how stupidly handsome he was, with his blue eyes and his damned perfect face, so she could be prepared for it, be calm and in control. It never worked. The face in question lit up with a warm grin and waves of heat rolled over her. She hoped like hell she wasn’t blushing.

Killian bent down to pick up his duffel, still holding Henry on his hip, and she swallowed a sigh at the competent grace of his movements. Henry was chattering a mile a minute and Killian was making appropriate responses. He caught her eye and with a small jerk of his head indicated that she should meet him at the end of the roped-off area. She scurried over, knowing that it was undignified to hurry but unable to wait.

Then he was there in front of her, his blue eyes bright with pleasure at seeing her after six endless months away. “Hello, love,” he said.

“Hi,” she replied, cursing the breathlessness of her voice. “How was your flight?”

“Long,” he said wryly. “The next time I come to Boston remind me not to go via Hong Kong.”

“Where’s Hing Hong?” piped up Henry, and Killian chuckled, returning his attention to the boy.

“Hong Kong, lad, and it’s in China. Do you remember where China is?”

“Yes! And I can find it on the globe!”

“Good lad. When we get home you can show me and I’ll show you where I’ve been.”

Emma’s heart skipped a beat at hearing him refer to her house as “home,” although there was no reason for him not to call it that. He always stayed there with her when he was on leave, and had done for the past five years. Hell, she’d purposely bought a three bedroom house rather than a much more affordable two bedroom so that Killian could have a room of his own and wouldn’t have to sleep on the couch. Or in her room, where she’d far rather have him.

Stop it, she told herself firmly. You know better than to start thinking about him like that. He’s not here to play house with you, he’s here to relax and to see Henry.

But damn it, she wanted to play house with him. Or doctor, or nurse, or whatever game she had to play to get him naked and under her. She just wanted him. Had done for five long years.

Five years since the night they had met, when after a brief flirtation at a local bar she’d grabbed him and kissed him senseless, and would have done so much more had she not been interrupted by a frantic call from her babysitter, saying six-month-old Henry had a dangerously high fever and she was taking him to the hospital.

Emma had been nowhere near sober enough to drive, and she’d nearly panicked, would have panicked, but then Killian had stepped in and taken control of the situation with all the calm authority of the Royal Navy commander he had been then. In minutes, they had been in a cab, racing to the hospital, where Killian had somehow managed to get them to the front of the emergency room waiting list. He had stayed with Emma, holding her hand and repeating calming platitudes until the doctor had returned to say that Henry had a respiratory infection but that it had been caught before it became too serious, that his temperature was down below the dangerous range and he was going to be okay.

Emma had burst into tears of relief and Killian had held her, letting her drench the front of his uniform coat until the nurse brought Henry out and Emma had clutched her baby to her with desperate arms.

He’d returned to her apartment with them to make sure they got home safely, and Emma had offered him the sofa for the night. It was the least she could do, she thought, as it was already three am and she could hardly kick out onto the cold morning streets the man who had been there for her, keeping her calm and managing everything throughout the most trying ordeal of her life.

When they awoke the next morning, they discovered that they had become friends. Somehow, sharing that ordeal had formed a bond between them, a bond that Emma rapidly came to rely on, to need far too much to jeopardise it by ever acting on the powerful attraction she still felt for him. True friends had been all too rare in her life, and she needed to ensure Killian remained one more than she needed to fuck him. Though it was sometimes really hard to remember that.

Fortunately, Killian had never given any indication that he wanted more than friendship from her. He hadn’t even wanted to kiss her, she reminded herself, that move had been all hers. She was probably lucky that he hadn’t immediately written her off as a crazy person, particularly after the way she’d then freaked out talking to the babysitter. His friendship was the most important thing in her life, after Henry, and she was grateful for it. It was enough. It has to be enough.

For the remainder of his leave, Killian had visited them every day, spending hours playing with Henry and talking with Emma, getting to know them, going with them for walks and taking them to the zoo. He watched Henry when Emma had to go to work, sparing her the expense of the sitter, insisting each time that No, Swan, I don’t have anything ‘better’ to do, truly. I’m quite happy to look after the lad. She believed him. He’d formed a bond with Henry as strong as the one he’d formed with her. Mother and son had both cried three weeks later when his leave came to an end and he left to rejoin his ship.

Killian had cried too, though he would have died before he let her know that, would cheerfully die a million times before he let on how he had fallen in love with her under the harsh fluorescent lights of the emergency room waiting area. He knew all too well how foolish that sounded, to make such a declaration about a woman he’d known only a few hours. Of course he’d tried to talk himself out of it, tried to tell himself he was being ridiculous, that he hardly knew her. No one could fall in love that fast, not really. And yet he had, and despite his most diligent efforts his feelings would not be denied. For three weeks he’d kept going back to her, looking for something, anything to douse his absurd ardor, some annoying habit or abhorrent opinion, but to no avail. After those three weeks spent with her and Henry, getting to know them under the auspices of a friendship that did not even come close to being enough for him but was still far more than he could reasonably expect from a single mother he had just met, Killian had finally faced the truth.

The truth was that he’d been lost from the moment she’d kissed him, her lips hot and demanding under his, her hands fisted in his coat, the taste on her tongue intoxicating. That kiss had knocked him sideways, sending his world careering off its axis and obliterating everything he’d thought he knew, then crushed him when he realised she’d never meant it to be more than a one-night stand, a one-time thing. The memory of it had twisted his heart to the breaking point when he came to understand that she sought nothing more from him than friendship, taunting him with everything he’d ever wanted held just beyond his reach. Over the years he’d tried his best to move past it, to get over her. He had dated other women, had slept with them, had forced himself not to pine for what he couldn’t have. But the truth was that he’d loved Emma so deeply and for so long that he couldn’t remember what it felt like not to love her, couldn’t imagine himself without that constant, low-level yearning that rose to a fever pitch during those too-rare times when he was with her again.

Now, sitting in her car, Henry dozing in the back seat finally worn out by his excitement, he took advantage of the quiet moment to watch her out of the corner of his eye. She looked tired, he thought, though with a demanding career and an energetic young son that was hardly surprising. It did nothing to detract from her beauty.

She was so bloody beautiful, he marvelled, for what must have been the millionth time. It hit him like a fist to the gut every time he saw her, and he had to consciously restrain himself from grabbing her and pulling her close, kissing her as she had once kissed him, blurting out his feelings and begging her to be his. Killian cringed a bit at this last thought. He liked to think he was as much of a feminist as any man could be —he respected women, supported their right to autonomy over their bodies, to equal pay and equal rights, and to freedom from objectification and harassment— and the primitive, caveman-like possessiveness of his feelings for Emma disturbed him. He wanted all of her, completely, with a desire so fierce it terrified him, and he lived in dread of the inevitable day when she fell in love with another man and finally shattered his heart beyond repair.

Thank goodness that today didn’t seem to be that day. Emma turned briefly to smile at him, a warm, affectionate smile that caused his heart to clench painfully in his chest.

“So, Captain,” she teased. “How’s life in the higher echelons of the Royal Navy?”

He returned her smile, knowing that his cheeks and ears were turning red and helpless to prevent them. His promotion was only a few months old and his pride and delight in it were still very fresh.

“It’s taken some adjusting, but I’m getting into the swing of it,” he replied. “It’s quite a bit more administrative than I had anticipated, but nothing I can’t handle.”

“I’m sure you can handle anything,” she murmured, almost too quietly for him to hear, then more loudly “I bought you a cake, to celebrate.”

“Swan, you—”

“I know, I didn’t have to, I shouldn’t have, et cetera et cetera,” she said, keeping her hands on the steering wheel but waving her fingers in a dismissive manner. “I wanted to. I’m really proud of you, and I’m willing to bet that you didn’t celebrate properly by yourself.”

He hadn’t. Just a quiet drink with some friends from his Naval Academy days. She knew him too well.

“It’s that chocolate raspberry torte thing from that bakery we went to the last time you were here,” Emma continued. “I think we may have to wait to eat it until Henry’s gone to bed, it’s a bit too rich for him.”

Killian’s mouth watered, less from the prospect of a gooey dessert and more from the prospect of enjoying that gooey dessert alone with Emma. In those small moments when they were alone together in the house he regularly tried and failed not to think of as theirs, sharing a meal or a film or just talking about their lives, in those moments he could allow himself ever so briefly to pretend that they were really together, that she loved him back, and that after the food was eaten or the movie finished he could take her to bed and spend the rest of the evening showing her just how much he treasured her.

Because he was a fucking masochist, who loved to torture himself.

He smiled at Emma, pleased that she would take the trouble to do something nice for him, even though he knew that such little thoughtful things were characteristic of her. “That sounds delightful, love, thank you,” he said, and she flushed faintly under his gaze.

They pulled into Emma’s driveway a few minutes later. Henry woke up a bit grumpy, and insisted on Killian carrying him inside, pushing Emma away when she went to unbuckle his car seat. Emma reminded herself not to be upset; Henry always clung to Killian during the first few days of his visits, and she could certainly understand that inclination. Henry wanted reassurance that Killian —the only man who had ever been a constant in his life— was still there. He was also the only man who had ever been a constant in Emma’s life, sticking around far longer than Henry’s own freaking father had, and she often wished she could curl up against his chest as her son so naturally did and feel his arms tight around her. Once again she found herself wishing for some of Henry’s freedom.

Killian took Henry inside and got him a glass of juice, which perked him up enough that Killian was able to distract him with his globe and with stories of China and Southeast Asia while Emma made dinner. The globe had been a present from Killian for Henry’s fifth birthday, and the boy loved it. He was able to find dozens of countries on it, and knew all the places Killian had been.

Her two boys shared a thirst for travel and adventure, Emma reflected, before giving herself a mental slap and a stern reminder that Killian was not hers. Nor was he a boy, that was for damn sure.

An hour later when they sat down to eat, Henry ignored his chicken bites —his favourite meal— for fully ten minutes while he apprised Emma of everything Killian had been up to since they’d last seen him.

“Kid, are you ever going to stop talking long enough to eat?”

“Sorry, Mom,” Henry shoved a piece of chicken into his mouth. “But Killian said that—”

“Henry! Chew your food and swallow it before you talk!”

Henry looked mutinous, but he chewed and swallowed and then opened his mouth to start chattering again when Killian cut in.

“You’d best eat up, lad, we have a busy day tomorrow, and there’ll be plenty of time then to tell your mum what we talked about. Meanwhile, your poor chicken’s getting cold.”

Henry ate the rest of his meal in relative silence.

Emma tried not to pout.

“It’s just because he sees me so rarely,” said Killian as they cleared the table, reading her mind as he always did. “I’m a novelty. I’d wager if I were around more often he wouldn’t listen to me any more or less than he does to you, love.”

Emma sighed. “I know that, and I really don’t mind that he listens to you, I love that you two are so close. It’s just that it’s hard to share him, even with someone I— someone who cares about him the way you do.”

“Aye, I get that. I felt the same way about Liam’s first girlfriend.” His eyes widened when he realised what he’d said. “I mean, not that it’s the same, not that we’re—”

“Yeah, I know,” she said, amused at the appearance of his second blush of the day. “I know what you meant.”

At Henry’s insistence, Killian supervised his bath and then read him a bedtime story. Emma took advantage of the opportunity to clean up the kitchen and pick up the toys that always seemed to be scattered around the house. Despite what she’d said earlier, it was really nice having Killian around to take up some of the burden of parenting. Too nice. The kind of nice she could really get used to, if she allowed herself.

“He’s ready for you, love,” said Killian, coming out of Henry’s room and picking up his duffel from where he’d left it in the hall. “I’m going to wash up and get changed.”

“Okay,” Do not think about him wet and naked, damn it, “I’ll see you in a bit.”

She went into Henry’s room to tuck him in.

“Mooom,” said Henry, in the wheedling voice he used when he wanted something.

“Yeah, kid?”

“My dad’s gone, right? He isn’t coming back.”

Emma wondered where this could be going. “No, he’s not coming back.”

“So I don’t have a dad.”

“You have a dad, Henry, he’s just not here. But he’s still alive, I think, so you do have one.”

“Yeah, but if he’s never going to be around then I don’t have a dad, not really.”

“Um, well, I suppose not,” said Emma, somewhat unsure of what Henry wanted to hear.

“So can Killian be my dad?”

Yep, I should have seen that coming. “Do you…” Don’t ask, Emma, seriously, don’t, “Do you want him to be?”

“Yeah. Sometimes I pretend he is.

Well, shit. “Henry, Killian has his own life. Maybe someday he’ll have his own kids.” The thought made her want to hit something.

“But he loves us, Mom, I know he does!”

Emma’s heart began to pound. “Did he—” she cleared her suddenly constricted throat. “Did he say that?”

“No, but I know he does!” Henry’s voice rose, threatening tears. “I know it!”

“Oh, sweetheart, of course he loves you,” Emma soothed, trying to head off the tantrum.

Henry allowed himself to be placated. “He loves you too, Mom!” he said, eyes wide with five-year-old earnestness, and Emma suddenly wanted to cry.

“Honey, things like love are different for grownups. Killian and I are friends and he cares about me, but it’s not the same as how he cares about you.” Please, please don’t ask me any more questions about this, kid.

Henry flopped back on his pillows and stifled a yawn. “Grownups are weird.”

“That’s definitely true, kid. Now please go to sleep, we’ve got a lot to do tomorrow.”

He nodded, his eyes already drifting closed. “Okay. ‘Night Mom.”

She brushed his hair back and kissed his forehead. “‘Night, sweetie.”

Emma went from Henry’s room directly to her own, closing the door and resting her forehead against it. Killian was the only father figure Henry had ever known, it made sense that her son would think of him as his dad. She had tried to be prepared for it, had honestly tried to think of what she would say when he started asking questions, how she would explain the situation to him, but her own feelings for Killian were so tangled and confused that she simply didn’t have the wherewithal to deal with Henry’s too. At least Henry’s feelings were simple: He loved Killian and wanted him to be his dad. Emma suspected she wanted that too, but she also wanted much, much more, so much that she couldn’t bear to contemplate it. All she was able to deal with was the fact that she needed Killian in her life, and she doubted that the best way to keep him there would be to let him know that she couldn’t look at him without simultaneously wanting to snuggle him and jump his bones.

Pushing herself away from the door, she went over to her dresser and took out a clean sweatshirt and pajama shorts. Later, she promised herself. You can deal with all this later.

When she arrived back in the living room, Killian was waiting for her, dressed in plaid pajama pants and a t-shirt of the same shade of blue as his eyes, his hair still damp from his shower. He smiled at her, and her stupid heart fluttered again.

“Is Henry asleep?”

“Yeah, thank goodness. I thought he’d never shut up long enough to manage it, but we got there in the end.”

He chuckled, then raised his eyebrow at her. “So, Swan, where’s this celebratory cake you promised me?”

She brought the cake out, and he laughed again at the sight of the words “Congratulations, Captain” that she’d piped on it herself using red icing. Their sloppiness contrasted sharply with the professionally glossy chocolate glaze, but she was pleased that they were legible. She cut a slice and handed it to him. “I really am proud of you, Killian,” she said. “I know how hard you’ve worked for this.”

He took the plate from her, his eyes warm. “Thank you, Emma,” he said softly, and leaned in to press a kiss on her cheek.

She stifled a gasp, her head spinning at his nearness and the softness of his lips and how damn good he smelled. Her eyes drifted shut and she dug her fingernails into her palms to stop herself from running her hands up his chest and twining her arms around his neck and pulling him in for a real kiss. He stepped back after mere seconds, but it was enough to rock her to her core. Her eyes were huge as they met his, their expression unguarded, and for a moment she thought she saw an answering flash of heat and lust in his gaze, but then he looked away and the moment was lost.

They ate their cake in the kitchen, chatting companionably.

“So is everything set for your brother’s wedding?” he asked.

“Yeah, we leave next Friday and come back on Monday night. It’s usually about a three hour drive, so we shouldn’t be back too late.” She watched him carefully. “Are you sure you don’t mind coming with me—”

He gave her a look that was very carefully not exasperated. “Swan, we’ve been over this, of course I don’t mind. I like your brother and am looking forward to meeting his fiancée, —what’s her name again?”

“Mary Margaret. I don’t know her too well, and since she and David moved back to Storybrooke I feel like I never see them. But she seems nice. She teaches fifth grade at Storybrooke Elementary. Oh, and David’s the sheriff now, he took over the job almost a year ago. I don’t think I told you.”

“No, but he mentioned it,” said Killian offhandedly.

She blinked in surprise. “You talk to my brother?”

“We text occasionally.” He grinned at her look of alarm. “Nothing about you Swan. Masculine one-upmanship, mostly. He’s a sheriff, I’m a captain, which version of football is better, that sort of thing. Now tell me about Storybrooke, When was the last time you were there?”

“Gosh, it must be three years now. I don’t have much reason to go back since Ruth died. David likes to come down here, and of course I work for Jefferson, and there aren’t really that many other people left that I have a burning desire to see again.”

“Though presumably a lot of these people will be at the wedding?”

“Yeah, probably.” She sounded disgruntled.

“Never mind, love, I’m sure they’ll all be suitably impressed by your success.”

“I don’t care about—”

“Of course you do, darling, it’s only natural.”

“Oh yeah? And how often do you see your high school friends?”

“Quite regularly, actually. Several of them are fellow Navy men, and the ones that aren’t I speak to often.”

“Well aren’t you well-adjusted,” she sneered.

“Oh, I wouldn’t go that far. But I boarded with those chaps, they were my family during some very difficult years for all of us. That’s a bond you don’t break. Ever.” He looked grim for a moment, then grinned. “And yet I still want them to be impressed by my success. I made a very deliberate point of calling one or two of them when I got promoted.”

She laughed. “Okay, I admit I wouldn’t mind people in Storybrooke thinking I’m a huge success. But everything I have is tied to Jefferson, and we all knew he was going to make something of himself. No one could be that smart and that weird for nothing.”

“Jefferson may be ‘an eccentric billionaire genius’” —Emma rolled her eyes; part of her job was ensuring that any reference to Jefferson in the media used that exact expression to describe him— “but if it weren’t for you, he’d just be an eccentric genius. You’re the one who makes him marketable, who translates his ideas into something people want to buy. Don’t sell yourself short, love. Jefferson owes you a great deal.”

“Damn straight he does, and he pays handsomely for me.” She thought with satisfaction of her healthy bank account. Having a comfortable income was not something she’d ever imagined for herself in the difficult years before David’s mother Ruth adopted her. She owed Jefferson a lot as well.

They discussed a few more details of their upcoming trip to Storybrooke and of the activities they had planned for Henry the following day, and before they knew it, it was past midnight and time for bed. Together, they rinsed their cake plates and loaded them in the dishwasher. Emma bit the inside of her cheek as she always did to stop herself from saying something stupid, like come to bed with me and let me ride you like a stallion.

Killian ran a hand through his hair, and offered her a small smile. “Well, I guess I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow, then. Good night, love.”

“‘Night, Killian.”

And they both went off to sleep in their respective rooms and dream about each other.

A note or two on ranks in the Royal Navy: Unlike on the show, the modern Royal Navy ranks don't go directly from Lieutenant to Captain, and not everyone who commands a ship is technically a captain. It goes Lieutenant-->Lieutenant-Commander-->Commander-->Captain, and an RN Captain is the equivalent to an Army Colonel. So Killian in this story has just been promoted to a senior officer position, and at 32 he is one of the youngest officers to hold that rank. When he met Emma, he was a Commander and had command of his own ship, hence his ease at taking charge and handling crises.

#cs #cs au #cs au ff #slow burn #friends to lovers #mutual pining #both are infinite

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