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drghostwrite · 4 months

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A baby for Christmas

Pairing: Jennifer Jareau x reader & BAU x reader

Summary: this is part 2 to the story two hearts collide, long story short Will left a pregnant JJ who has had feelings for you and she falls for you hard. You make the relationship official, but will it stand another challenge when the time for the baby to be born comes around.

******************************************************** You moved around the kitchen hearing laughter fill the air with soft Christmas music in the background., colorful lights flickered outside the window.The warm lights blended with the smells of your cooking. You had invited the team over for a sort of nontraditional Christmas dinner, you had spent the days before prepping for the meal, you had invited the team over one time before and they loved your cooking and begged so here you were an array of dishes covering your large kitchen island.

You quickly ran upstairs to you and Jj’s shared bedroom, changing into something a little nicer than the leggings and Christmas t-shirt you were cooking in, swapping it for nice jeans with a red and white plaid flannel, you let your curls falls down around your shoulders doing one last mirror check before heading back to the kitchen. You made your way down the hallway towards the large staircase stopping at the nursery door that was cracked open, you slipped in opening the top drawer of the changing table and grabbing a red velvet ring box, JJ had gone into full blown nesting mode and completely redid everything but she started with the nursery so you thought it would be great to hide the ring and turns out it worked.

you tucked it in your pocket and returned to the kitchen, only to be met with your pregnant, soon to be fiancé, sneaking some bites.

“Baby what’re you doing?” You smiled at her as she was caught red handed.

“Sampling the chefs cooking making sure it’s suitable for the general public.”

“Mmhmm I see…” you said getting close and pulling her into a kiss her bump brushing up against you, you lingered there before feeling the baby kick, you ran a hand along her 9 month swollen bump.

“only a few more days and we meet the little one.” You said with a smile but she saw it was laced slightly with disdain though you didn’t mean it.

“Our baby, Y/N we meet our baby, as far as I’m concerned its as much you as it is me.” She traced the side of your face gently with her fingers tips, pulling you down to meet her lips.

“Awww, mistletoe kisses.” Garcia cooed at you.

“Mmhmm mama is getting a special present tonight.” Derek said and you watched as Garcia slapped him in the arm for his dirty mind though you did chuckle, as JJ went bright red and turned hiding in your shoulder.

“Okay well please before it gets cold.” You motioned for them to come closer and took a step back, Derek called to the rest of the team and they quickly filled the room plates being made.

———time jump———

2 hours later and you found yourself putting dishes in the dishwasher and sliding leftover casserole dishes into the oven to keep them semi warm, the table had been cleaned and the team found themselves in your living room everyone helped themselves to the bar and had their respective drinks.

You finished drying your hands on the towel you were holding and made your way into the room. You watched as Garcia and Emily, laughed with JJ on the couch while the guys stood around the pool table, you heard Reid rambling about something while Hotch and Derek had a game going, Rossi was at your bar cart pouring a drink.

“Here love, this might help.” You heard Rossi next to you, extending his glass to you.

“Ahh no thanks.” You said as he just raised an eyebrow in protest but then proceeded to shrug and nurse it himself.

“you’re gonna do it tonight right?”

“yep, while we hand out gifts.”

“you ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

“take it from someone with three failed marriages, I’ve seen the way you both look at each other and the way you handle Henry, if I believe anyone can do it it’s you two.” You turned giving him a small smile, it meant something coming from him. “On that note though let’s get these gifts going.” He said chuckling before pulling everyone in around your big tree. You walked over and sat sideways behind JJ letting her lean her head back against your thigh, you ran fingers thoughtlessly through her blonde hair, you all watched as you opened various gifts from each other. A bottle of very expensive Italian wine from Rossi, along with some other things and baby items from the members, now it was your turn you handed out your gifts and then all eyes were on you as you knelt in front of JJ on the couch.

“Y/N, what’re you doing?”

“Well I figured everyone got amazing gifts but I already have the best that I could ask for and in turn I have a question for you…” you slipped the red velvet box from your pocket flipping it open, “Jennifer Jareau will you make me the happiest woman alive and marry me?”

“Y/N I-I… Yes omg yes!” She said leaning down to kiss you, you pulled apart and gently held her hand sliding the ring onto her finger, you stood up and Emily also stood to congratulate you as Garcia leaned over to your new fiancé.

“So how’s it feel Jayge?… your gonna be married to the boss?” He said and you punched your best friends arm as Emily hugged you.

“Oh my god…Oh my God…” she said with a gasp.

“Babe he was just…” you didn’t finish before you saw the look of confusion and fear on her face.

“Oh my God.” She said with a gasp, wincing slightly.

“JJ baby what’s wrong? What’s going on?” You said kneeling next to her.

“M-my water just broke… on the couch, Y/N my water just broke.”

“Okay it’s okay.” You said rubbing a soothing hand up her arm. The team started to scramble but thank God for Derek being your rock he quickly ran upstairs grabbing the bags you had packed and putting them in your car, he came back in and ushered everyone out aside from Garcia who offered to stay and help clean up, leaving you to focus on JJ who was starting to feel contractions.

“Y/N car is packed and started.”you nodded to him looking over her shoulder as a contraction started to come over her.

“Okay love we’re gonna have to get you to the car…” you said turning back to her and in your most soothing voice possible.

“You sure, it could be a false alarm?” She said.

“Yes love I’m sure, you’re in labor your water broke, it’s time to go.”

“Okay.” She said as you helped her up and guided her to the car, Derek and Penelope stood by the front door watching as you pulled the car out of the garage and waved as you quickly drove by.

Meanwhile…

Inside the car JJ had her knee pushed up against the dash a hand gripping tightly at the skin under her bump as she contracted. Her other hand was digging into your bicep. She let out a small moan as she focused on the contraction, for a moment it subsided but the next took her breath away stealing it and the only sound that replaced it was a strangled cry.

“Nnghhh… this hurts.”

“Okay baby breathe just try and take deep breaths.”

“Y/N I can’t do this.” Tears gently rolled down her face as she held onto your arm for dear life, her hand u see her bump trying to soothe the burning muscles.

“Yes you can, I’m right here with you.” You reassured.

“Ugh what did I even do to deserve you, you shouldn’t have to be here.”

“What does that mean?”

“I mean I got pregnant and he left, you stepped in without even missing a beat and now I’m going to marry you but our kids won’t be yours.”

“Jennifer baby that’s okay, we can have more kids and as far as I’m concerned they are my kids because I made a choice to love you everyday for the rest of our lives and that includes them so no matter who’s dna they have I will constantly choose them because I love them as much as you.”

“You’re too good to me Y/N Avery….Unghh, but please babe drive a little faster, this baby isn’t going to wait.”

21 hours later and you held the most beautiful baby girl in your arms, you cooed at her as you sat in the recliner and looked up as you heard JJ stir in her bed.

“Is that our baby?”

Mhmm you said a huge smile pulling across your face, you stood moving over to the bed, she scooted over and you climbed in next to her handing her the baby, “Meet your mommy baby girl.”

“Hi baby, I’m your mommy… well one of them that is because you have a mama who also loves you so much and she’s the strongest and bravest woman I know and I’m going to marry her.” She spoke but she was watching you watch your little girl as she said it, you looked over meeting her blue eyes. You pulled her into a kiss foreheads resting against each other before the baby started to coo up at you.

“Looks like someone approves,” you chuckled pulling them both closer to you letting JJ rest in your arms.

“I think she’s saying she wants another sibling, but next time we have one, you’re carrying.” She laughed nudging into your side.

“A deals a deal.” You both laughed watching as your baby girl fell asleep, this wasn’t how you’d imagined spending your Christmas but here you were holding your soon to be wife and newborn baby in your arms.

#x yn #pregnancy #fluff prompts #giving birth #jj jareau x reader #criminal minds x reader #criminal minds #david rossi #aaron hotchner #derek morgan #penelope garcia #emily prentiss

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nadja-antipaxos · 1 year

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UNDER THE MISTLETOE

Title: under the mistletoe

**Fandom: **Ted Lasso

**Pairing: **Ted Lasso x OFC

Summary: Ted catches a crush one of Rebecca's famous friends, so Rebecca invites her to a Christmas party.

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Swearing, drinking alcohol, kissing

Word Count: 3,501

AO3

Ted settles down in his seat at the Garrick Theatre. He isn’t really sure how people are expected to dress for professional theatre anymore. He sees some people dressed to the nines and others in jeans. He’s glad he went with his trusty khakis. Beard sits down next to him as he takes in the thrum of a live audience.

“Mighty nice of Rebecca to let us tag along.”

“Yeah. Beats staying at home. Have you heard of this show?”

“No. Can’t say I have. Going in blind like those three mice.”

Rebecca and Keeley shuffle in.

“Ted! Beard! Thank you for coming.” Rebecca sits down next to Ted.

“Thank you for the invite.” Ted smiles.

The lights flicker signaling for everyone to quiet down. Ted hadn’t really looked into the show since the invite was so last minute. The only thing the playbill tells him is the title, so he’s excited to see what this is about. A blonde woman sits by herself at a table with a letter in her hand. Their seats are excellent because Ted can see the tears rolling down her face. She laments about someone leaving her and how she felt blindsided. The actress continues to move across the stage removing her wedding ring and wishing she had another chance to see why her husband left her. She has a beautiful singing voice. It sounds familiar, but he knows he’s never seen her before. The lights dim and suddenly a man rushes out on the stage. The music changes completely to something more upbeat with hints of The Fiddler on the Roof (which makes sense when the man explains how dating this woman will hurt his Jewish mother). He’s very handsome with dark hair and green eyes. Full of charisma. Ted can see why they ended up together.

As the story goes on, Ted realizes they’re telling their stories from two different times. She’s the end to beginning and he’s beginning to end. It’s a fascinating way to tell a story and quite frankly, relationships do feel mixed up like that. Even though both of them are very talented, there’s just something captivating about the woman with her big blue eyes and small stature. Her voice is strong for being so tiny. It almost knocks him back when she roars at her husband for abandoning her on her birthday. Her love tries to cheer her up and give her some hope with a story about a tailor who gets to redo his entire life care of a magical clock. Her letter about her time away is very funny and the actress is absolutely enchanting when she details sharing a dressing room with a snake and missing Vietnamese food while stuck in Ohio. The first act ends with them singing onstage together and getting married.

Ted feels a hand on his shoulder at intermission.

“Oh, Ted. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know this was about a breakup.” Rebecca frowns.

Ted shakes his head.

“It’s okay. I’m not a famous author and Michelle’s not an up-and-coming actress. As far as I know.” He chuckles. “How ‘bout you?”

“I’m fine, thank you. It rings familiar, but I’m glad Rupert doesn’t have any creative talents or he would’ve been insufferable. You sure you’re okay, Ted?”

Ted nods. Keeley stands up so she can join the conversation.

“This actress, yeah? I’ve never seen her before, but she’s brilliant.”

“Great voice.” Beard turns towards them. He leans forward. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” Ted nods. “I never got a ‘Dear John’ letter, well, I ‘spose it’d be ‘Dear Ted’.”

Beard rests his hand under his chin knowing better than to press his oldest friend.

The show starts up again and apparently, after the wedding, the husband develops a wandering eye. He ends up being very successful while she struggles to make it as an actress. His shadow grows bigger and bigger while she shrinks into herself causing a lot of hatred to build up between them. She wants to share in his success but feels like a prop. He just wants his muse back.

Before, he was deflecting a bit, but now Ted can confidently say this story is nothing like his marriage. Yes, he and Michelle had problems, but he’s never felt anywhere near this level of bitterness towards her. Their marriage just ran its course to its natural end. The actor gives a wonderfully tortured performance about how it pains him to be unfaithful, but he’s so resentful towards his wife he feels he has no other choice. The show ends with a gorgeous song where he sings goodbye to her and leaves the letter while she’s over the moon about their first date fantasizing about their life together. Ted gets to his feet immediately clapping his hands together. It really was a fantastic show.

“So, what’s next, Boss?” Ted asks.

Rebecca looks down at her phone for a moment waiting for something. She lifts a finger.

“Oh! Good! Come with me.”

Ted follows Rebecca backstage. He knows money opens a lot of doors, but he hadn’t expected this. He watches as Rebecca congratulates the actor on his show. The man (who goes by Jeremy) is very pleasant and gracious, but their conversation gets cut short at the sight of his wife and daughter.

“Becca!” The actress yells out before throwing her arms in the air. She’s actually American like her character.

“Natalie!” Rebecca smiles. “You blonde vision.”

“Ha ha.” The woman takes off the wig revealing dark brown hair. “Did you like the show?”

“Your West End debut was brilliant.” Rebecca gives her a hug before looking back at her friends. “This is Keeley Jones. Ted Lasso. And Beard. Everyone, this is Natalie Warren.”

“Thank you so much for coming.” Natalie waves.

“Absolutely. Quite a set of pipes you’ve got there.” Keeley smiles. “I’ve dated a Jamie that was quite a shit.”

“Oh, thank you.” Natalie flashes a smile so bright it makes Ted a little woozy. “Oh, fuck him then. You’re way better than that.”

“Fuck yeah, I am!” Keeley gives Natalie a high five before pulling her into a hug.“Um, Rebecca, where have you been keeping this gem?”

“She’s usually in the States acting her little arse off and heading up the US branch of Letters to Santa.” Rebecca shrugs and Natalie mimics her.

Her eyes are deep blue like sapphires sparkling under the lights. Ted got so caught up in the story he didn’t realize just how pretty she is. High cheekbones and that smile. He’s never been starstruck before, but now is a good a time as any.

“That Jamie fella shoulda been a lot nicer to you.” Ted stuffs his hands in his pockets feeling too aware of his hands.

“Cathy would agree.” Natalie nods. “Oh, you’re the coach for Rebecca’s team, right?”

“Club,” Rebecca whispers.

Natalie rolls her eyes and looks back at Ted.

“Yes, I am, ma’am.” Ted winks. Wait, why did he wink? That was stupid.

“He rhymes.” Natalie raises her eyebrows.

“Don’t get him started.” Rebecca rolls her eyes.

“So your actual name is Beard?” Natalie turns to face him.

“Yes.” Beard nods and steps closer to her.

“Was that like crazy stressful when you were a kid and couldn’t grow facial hair?”

“You have no idea.” His brown eyes narrow.

“Were you ever scared you couldn’t live up to the name?” She wiggles her eyebrows in a way that makes Ted chuckle.

“Never.”

“Beard’s fearless.” Ted laughs. Suddenly, it hits him like a bus on Regina George. “Princess Cleo!”

Keeley, Beard, and Rebecca stare at him like he might be having a stroke, but Natalie just smiles.

“You’re in the movies about the royal foxes. You’re Princess Cleo.”

“Yes, I am!”

“My son Henry loves ‘em.”

“Is Henry back in the States?”

“Yeah. Kansas.”

“If you’re cool with it, I could say hi?”

Ted jiggles his head doing the math. It’s only 4 pm over there.

“If you don’t mind.”

“Nope.”

He calls Michelle who looks surprised at the call and the fact it’s FaceTime.

“Hey, Michelle. Sorry. I have a little something for Henry. Is he around?”

“Uh, yeah. Henry! It’s your dad!” Michelle hands over the phone and Henry appears on the screen.

“Hey, buddy. I just saw a musical and I think you know this little lady. Close your eyes.” Ted smiles. Natalie pops her head over his shoulder and Ted ignores the tingle from her breath on his neck.

“Greetings and good morrow, Henry of Kansas.” Natalie grins.

“Princess Cleo?” Henry’s eyes pop open. “Dad, that’s Princess Cleo!”

“I know, big guy. Her real name is Natalie and she’s a stupendous actress.”

“Wow. Mom, that’s Princess Cleo!”

“Hi!” Michelle comes back on screen. “Nice to meet you.”

“You too.”

“Is the next Royal Foxes coming out soon?”

“This summer. You gonna go see it?” Natalie asks.

“Yeah! I hope the King finds out she’s the archer.”

“I’m sworn to secrecy. You’ll just have to see. Now, do you remember this?” Natalie begins to sing the big song and snaps her fingers. She does a kick step and Henry mirrors her while singing along. He’s absolutely blown away. Ted’s touched at how kind she’s being to his boy. She must get this a lot.

“…So don’t stop!” Henry throws his arms out and tries to copy her spin.

“You’re amazing!” Natalie claps.”Listen, Henry, can I sign a picture for you and have your dad give it to you?”

“That would be so cool!! Thank you!” Henry bounces up and down.

“Awesome! It was really fun meeting you, Henry.” She gives him a small wave.

“You too, Princess Cleo.” Henry waves back wildly.

“She said her name was Natalie.” Michelle laughs.

“I wish I was as cool as Princess Cleo.” Natalie smiles.

“I don’t wanna keep any more of Miss Natalie’s time, so I’ll talk to you later, big guy, okay?”

“Bye, Dad! Bye Princess—Natalie. Goodbye!”

“Bye, Henry!”

Ted hangs up and puts his phone back in his pocket.

“You just made me Father of the Year right there. Thank you.”

“Oh, sure. Kids are the best fans.”

“Who are the worst?”

“Really old white men. They call me sweetie and pinch me.”

“Sounds like a real nightmare.” Ted shudders.

Before Natalie can answer, Rebecca steps between them.

“You’re a big star, Nat, so I’m certain you’re very busy.”

“Oh, yeah. Steaming my voice and watching Bake Off. More like you’re busy and you wanna go.”

Rebecca only smirks and flags down a tech person outside the dressing room.

“Pile in for a photo everyone and we’ll head out.”

Natalie and Keeley move to the center since they’re the same height. Rebecca goes on her other side. Ted and Beard flank them at the ends.

After the few photos, Rebecca hugs Natalie.

“You were wonderful, darling.” She kisses her cheek.

“Thank you, big sis.” Natalie steps back. “Ted…”

“Yes, ma’am?”

“I’ll give Rebecca the photo for Henry.”

“Thank you, truly.”

“Have a good night, you three. Thank you again for seeing the show. Nice meeting you!”

Ted gives her a small wave before walking out of her dressing room. His cheeks feel hot and he’s a little lightheaded. He isn’t too sure why, but it feels exhilarating.

Almost a week later, Ted arrives at Rebecca’s house with Beard for a Christmas party in a hunter green sweater and his only Santa hat. It contrasts greatly with the button-up swirling in red and green Beard wears. He wasn’t sure what to bring since Rebecca is such a great hostess, so he brings a vegetable platter and Beard has a bottle of whisky. Rebecca looks absolutely stunning in a red jumpsuit with gold glittery accents that flatters her impressive figure. Roy, Keeley, and Nate are already there. Keeley has a green frilly dress on and Roy wears his usual black leather jacket and black jeans. Nate keeps things very business with a burgundy sweater vest.

“Shit.” A voice yelps from the hall.

Ted pops his head around to see Natalie Warren tangled up in her black wool coat and the coat tree.

“Lemme help ya.” Ted zips over to her.

“I have no fucking idea how this happened. Jesus, what a mess.”

“Here ya go.” His finger lifts the fabric free.

“Thank you.”

Her burgundy velvet dress swings with every step she makes. It matches perfectly with her cranberry lipstick. She looks striking. The party starts off with awkward chatting especially since everyone knows each other so well and Natalie only really knows Rebecca. She wasn’t able to make the party with all the famous friends because she had a show, so she was invited as a special guest to the AFC Richmond party. She clutches her mulled wine and politely smiles as Nate tells her about his new game plan for after the holidays. Ted catches her eye, remembering she didn’t seem very enthusiastic about football. She gives him a slight nod causing Keeley and Rebecca to exchange a look.

“We should play a game.” Rebecca announces. “But don’t worry there’s drinking. It’s trivia with a little bit of running around.”

“Seriously?” Natalie stares at her.

“Absolutely.” Rebecca nods.

She wobbles a bit when she slips out of her black heels. Ted offers his shoulder to give her balance and she smiles.

“Yanks versus Brits?” Keeley suggests.

“Fuck the metric system! Yay fractions!” Natalie throws her hands up.

“I love getting smashed, but what’s the prize?” Roy asks.

“Losers have to sing on my karaoke machine. The song that’s never been picked,” Rebecca answers.

“Cool.” Natalie shrugs.

For a kickoff, Natalie out chugs Nate and they get to go first. For half the game, they’re neck and neck which means they drink every other turn. To up the stakes, Rebecca decides the floor is lava and everyone has to find safe purchase on her furniture. Natalie hops up on the ottoman at the same time Ted does. Neither of them makes an attempt to move for the rest of the game even if that means Ted has to catch her a few times. Beard makes a great asset to their team and Natalie knows quite a bit about history. Ted tries to help with pop culture questions. It’s the final question. Natalie versus Roy.

“Explain the offside rule,” Keeley says.

“Like I fucking know. I am in theatre!” Natalie barks at Roy.

“It’s okay. Ted coaches fucking football for a living and doesn’t know what offside is.” Roy rolls his eyes.

“I don’t even know what the fuck you’re saying. Are those real words?” Natalie giggles.

“Stop stalling and answer.” Keeley smiles.

“Um, like one dude is on the other team’s side? And it’s like a penalty?”

“Not quite.” Rebecca puts her thumb down.

“As any of you except Rebecca could hit a high C.” Natalie groans.

“It’s okay. You tried, darlin’.” Ted pats her on the shoulder and completely misses the explanation Roy gives.

“Thanks, Coach.” Natalie doesn’t move his hand.

“The Americans have lost the revolution.” Rebecca sighs with her hands up.

They all come down from the furniture. Ted extends his hand and assists Natalie back onto the floor when Rebecca wheels out her very professional-looking karaoke machine. She plugs into her impressive flat screen and cues up the song.

“Let’s see what we got, huh, team?” Ted says as the music starts. To share the microphone (because Rebecca can’t find the others), Natalie is sandwiched between Ted and Beard. A pop-reggae beat picks up. Ted exchanges a look with Beard whose face is unreadable.

“I don't mind spending some time just hanging here with you. 'Cause I don't find too many guys that treat me like you do.”

Beard begins to swing his hips and it becomes clear to everyone else that the three Americans actually know the song.

“Joke’s on you. It’s a fucking banger.” Natalie rolls her shoulders.

“It’s a good one, ain’t it, Coach?” Ted laughs.

“Best part coming up.” Beard agrees.

“I can make it nice or naughty. Be the devil and angel, too.” Natalie squats down to the floor and pops back up in a perfect slutdrop. Rebecca and Keeley cheer.

With the alcohol taking over, Beard spins her and she’s knocked back. Ted catches her under the arms and she bursts out laughing. He helps her back up and takes her hand in his dancing with the beat while they sing along. Beard gets really into it by the bridge and they share a glance.

“He always gives 100%.”

“Respect.”

The song ends and Rebecca yells out.

“Don’t move, you two!”

“Oi! Look up!” Keeley calls out.

His brow furrows as his eyes travel upward. They’re under the mistletoe because of course they are. Ted raises his eyebrows and Natalie shrugs her shoulders.

“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” Everyone including Beard on the microphone chants.

Ted bends down practically in half because he’s almost a foot taller than her. Their lips meet in a quick peck. She breaks it almost immediately and Ted doesn’t blame her.

“Okay, photos, you fuckers.” Natalie calls out.

They do one of the winners and one of the losers before everyone gets together. Rebecca sets a timer on her phone. Ted lifts her up a bit so she’s not edged out of the photo since she doesn’t have shoes on and is one of the shortest besides Keeley who is latched onto Roy.

“Yes, perfect. Lend me your height, sir.”

As the drinks continue to flow, they all end up crowding around the single microphone for a very loud cover of Darlene Love’s “All Alone on Christmas.” Rebecca pulls Natalie into her as they sing lead for obvious reasons. Ted christens her with his Santa hat while he does a great air saxophone. Even Roy gets into it because “Who doesn’t fucking love Darlene Love?”

In the argument for the next song, Ted notices they’re down one member and finds Natalie in the hall grabbing her purse from the closet.

“You doing an Irish exit?”

“I think they call it a French exit here.”

“When in Rome.”

Ted watches as she puts on her scarf. He grabs the coat off the tree and holds it out for her to slip her arms into. She murmurs her thanks and fixes her lapels. He plucks the Santa hat from her head and puts it back on. She smiles wide.

“It’s kinda my thing, so Rebecca won’t be mad.”

“Your calling card, huh?”

“I hate goodbyes.”

“You waiting on a ride?”

“Yeah.”

“You mind if I keep you company?”

“Nope.”

“All right. I’m in like Flynn then.” He grabs his puffer jacket.

Nora laughs the same infectious laugh he’s heard all night. He follows her out onto the doorstep. It’s not so cold that they can’t wait under the moonlight comfortably. Snowflakes flurry down but don’t stick. It’s a beautiful night.

“I’m real sorry about that awkward kiss.”

“Yeah, me, too.” Natalie turns to face him and a smirk forms on her cranberry lips. That is some impressive lipstick because it has not budged the whole night. “When I thought about kissing you, it wasn’t in front of Rebecca and her guests."

His ears burn and the heat spreads down the back of his neck as he blushes.

“You thought about kissin’ me?”

Her big blue eyes travel up and down his body.

“And you haven’t? Don’t tell me I’m barking up the wrong tree.”

“No, right tree. Great tree. Great dog. I’m the dog not you. You’re—“

“Ted?”

“Yeah?”

“You wanna just kiss me?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Ted leans down and covers her mouth with his. It’s a sweet simple kiss. She lingers on his lips unlike before and he tastes the cinnamon from the mulled wine. Her perfect teeth nip on his lower lip and he gasps. His hand snakes around her waist pushing her closer as their tongues meet. She takes his face in her hands bringing him even closer. They break apart for air and he rests his forehead on hers panting heavily.

“Call the Daily Planet cause there’s a new…”

She just stares up at him, waiting.

“Nope. Nothing. Can I kiss you again?”

“Please, Ted.”

His large hand slips inside her coat as he crushes the red velvet against his fingers. Her nails rake down the back of his neck making him moan. She might be the most skilled kisser he has ever had the pleasure of kissing. A horn honks causing them to jump apart. She laughs and shuffles down the stairs. She takes one look back.

“Merry Christmas, Ted Lasso.”

“Merry Christmas, Miss Warren.”

Ted watches as she gets in the car and slips his hands in his jacket pockets. His brow furrows as his fingers rub over something that wasn’t there before. He pulls out a card. It’s Natalie’s business card. Ted laughs. Hmm…he wonders if she has a date to Rebecca’s New Year’s Eve party.

#ted lasso #ted lasso x oc #ted lasso x ofc #oc: natalie warren #fan fic

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shyvioletcat · 3 years

Note

“I moved in next door a few months ago and had no idea how enthusiastic you are about Christmas, but I mentioned I hadn’t decorated, so now you’re knocking on my door with a box full of decorations and are begging me to let you decorate” — this one seems fitting for rowaelin too! I can see Aelin being the super excited one who wants to help her cute neighbor decorate heh

Day One of the Rowaelin Holiday Celebration. Just some neighbourly fluff to get us started.

~~~~~

It had been just before Halloween when Rowan moved into his new place. It was half of a neat little duplex, small garden and a stone path that led up to his front porch. He knew he had a neighbour but he hadn’t seen her until a few days before Halloween when she had been carting boxes and boxes of stuff out of her house onto her own front porch. Her long golden hair was braided back, grey puffy coat over her body, and she had given him a smile as he trudged up the stairs and it had stopped him in his tracks.

“Do you decorate?” She asked.

“I—what?” Rowan stammered, noting the colour of her eyes. A bright turquoise, all the brighter for the rosiness in her cheeks from the cold.

“For Halloween, do you decorate?” She asked again, leaning over her railing so she could see him better.

Rowan took a step down so he could do the same. “No, not really.”

“I like to go all out,” she told him. “I’m Aelin, by the way.”

“Rowan,” he replied simply.

“Nice to meet you, Rowan,” Aelin said. “Do you want some of mine, I have a lot. I don’t usually get them all out every year.”

“No thanks,” Rowa said.

“Not one for Halloween?” Aelin inquired.

Rowan shook his head. “Or Yulemas either.”

Aelin gasped and looked as though he had personally offended him. “Excuse me?”

This time Rowan shrugged. “Don’t have anyone to celebrate with.”

She grinned at him. “Well, I guess we’ll have to see what we can do about that.” She pushed off her railing and disappeared but called out, “I’ll make sure to keep my decorations to my side.”

Aelin had kept her word, not one strand of fake spider web had trespassed on his side of the building, the border between the properties meticulously outlined. It had made Rowan laugh. The next time he had seen her was as she handed out candy to kids, dressed like a faerie princess from a fairytale, green flowing dress and a flower crown in her hair. She had noticed him staring and lobbed a chocolate at him as Rowan walked up his path and he’d caught it. And just like that she had captured his heart. Sure she was annoying, obnoxious and a bit of a brat sometimes but there was something about Aelin Galathynius that he couldn’t resist.

Now it was the beginning of December, the air was already bitingly cold and Rowan was in his living room thinking of the smoothest way to ask out his neighbour when there was a knock on his door. Startled from his train of thought it took a moment for Rowan to respond and the knock sounded again.

He called out as he got up. “Coming!”

He opened the door and the sight in front of him was not something he had expected to see. It was Aelin, undeniably despite how little of her face was showing, but those were her brilliant eyes peeking above her scarf and under her beanie. Two boxes were by her feet and she held another one in her arms.

“Hey,” she said, her voice muffled.

“Hey,” Rowan replied lamely.

Then Aelin said something he couldn’t catch through the fabric of her scarf.

“Wait, wait, wait,” Rowan said and reached out and pulled her scarf down a little.

Aelin’s mouth was revealed and she smiled at him. “Thanks. I was saying that I know you don’t decorate but yours is like the only house on the street with nothing on it and it looks so miserable and it’s making my place look bad too. So please, please let me decorate.”

Rowan blinked once. “You want to decorate my house.”

“Yes.” There was a long pause before she added, “Please.”

“You really want to?”

“I would love to,” Aelin assured him. “But you’ll have to help me.”

Rowan did, although he made a show of how reluctant he was to actually do so. Aelin had only laughed at him and continued ordering him around. He hung lights, held ladders and did just about anything else she had asked him to. It took them about two hours to get the outside up to Aelin’s standards. She insisted there were a few things missing, but to fix that she would need to go to the store. Rowan noticed that there was still one box left on the porch.

“What is that one for?” Rowan asked, blowing into his hands to warm them up.

“Decorations for inside of course,” she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Inside?”

Aelin didn’t say anything before she ran up the steps, picking up the box on the way and went straight into his home––not waiting for any kind of invitation. If it had been anyone else Rowan would have been pissed beyond belief, but instead he just shook his and followed her in. He found Aelin in the living room, hands on her hips surveying the space. She looked severely disappointed.

“You don’t have a tree, are you planning on getting a tree?” Aelin asked tertly.

Rowan slipped his hands into his pockets and shrugged. “No.”

Now it was Aelin’s turn to shake her head and then she was moving past him, muttering something under her breath. He managed to catch the words Scrooge, despicable, embarrassment and then she was gone. Curious Rowan went to inspect the box she had left behind. It contained various decorations and tinsel and just about every other kind of Yulemas decoration known to man. Rowan went to his kitchen to brew some tea to warm himself up when he heard movement outside, there was the sound of something being dragged up his steps and then a furious banging on his door. The person seemed to think better of it and opened the door themselves, and Rowan went to his entry way to see Aelin dragging in a long rectangular box.

“You are so lucky,” she panted, “that I decided to get a real tree this year.”

“You brought me a tree?” Rowan asked.

“It is indeed what it looks like,” Aelin said, dragging her prize towards the living room.

Rowan just stared. He still couldn’t believe what was happening.

“Well, come help.”

Her demand snapped him out of his shock and Rowan took over the job of hauling the box into the living room. Aelin didn’t waste any time getting the tree set up, passing pieces to Rowan so he could assemble it.

“Okay, move it over there,” Aelin said, pointing to the window.

“What’s wrong with it here?” Rowan asked. He’d put in the corner near the couch.

“Rowan,” Aelin said, her voice exasperated. “I thought we agreed that you would do whatever I saw.”

“I don’t remember agreeing to that,” Rowan replied.

“It was very heavily implied,” she said as she inspected the space by the window. “Now, right here. This way it will light up your window beautifully. The final piece in the puzzle.”

There was no point in protesting, he knew he wouldn’t win this fight, so Rowan shifted the tree to where Aelin said. While she instructed him how to decorate the tree —lights, tinsel, and then ornaments— she asked his questions, about work, his family, did he like living in Orynth. They eventually got onto mundane things and ended up laughing and joking with each other as they decorated the tree. Rowan found himself being scolded quite often about putting a decoration in the wrong spot, he said it didn’t matter, Aelin said it most definitely did.

When it was all done she excitedly turned the ceiling light off and the lights on the tree on. It really was beautiful, but not as beautiful as the smile on her face as she admired her work. Rowan was now very officially gone for his neighbour.

“I should go.” Aelin was moving toward the couch to pick up her coat. “Thank you for letting me intrude like this. It was fun.”

“Yeah, it was,” Rowan admitted truthfully.

Aelin came and stood in front of him, a sly smile on her face. “Are you standing there on purpose?”

“Huh?” His face was the perfect picture of confusion. Then he looked up.

He was standing right under a sprig of mistletoe Aelin must have hung at some point.

“I-uh, I didn’t see it… no,” Rowan stammered.

Aelin just rose up onto her tiptoes, Rowan frozen in place as he kissed his cheek, “Happy Yulemas, Rowan.”

She left him standing there, stunned and skin tingling from the brush of her lips. Then she was gone through his front door. He let her go, but he didn’t waste any time the next day when he knocked on her door asking her out on a date. She said yes.

~~~~~

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ttttaehyungie · 3 years

Text

secret santa | kth x reader

secret santa | kim taehyung x reader

genre | bff2l, fluff

summary | What you thought was an ingenious plan to figure out the perfect gift for your secret santee turns out to take a whole bunch of wrong turns, but with the best outcomes.

rating | NC-17

word count | 6.2k words

warnings | some profanities (it’s like... once LOL), mentioned breakups, it’s Christmas in the context of a pandemic

a/n | Merry Christmas everybuddy 🎄✨ here is a lighthearted (or at least it was until i hit the 6am point of the night while writing slkdjflkjd) lil christmas gift to everyone, but mostly to myself LOL bcos I’m finally posting a fic about the one who owns my heart in its entirety 😌

Christmas without you would just not be Christmas at all

Bright mistletoes up above us, it’s just you and me

-- V, Snow Flower

“C’mon, ____,” Taehyung whines. He plops down on the couch next to you and puts his big, round eyes to good use, giving you the puppy dog eyes treatment.

Well too bad for Taehyung, having known him for the last decade has granted you immunity against his pouty antics. There’s a couple of things that Taehyung employs in a bid to get what he wants. First, he’ll whine. Next, he’ll attempt to reason it out with you… or as much as he can convincingly reason with the pout still laced thick in his tone. If that fails, he’ll try bargaining. And finally, if none of the aforementioned has managed to sway you, he’ll just pout in silence.

“That’s the thing about Secret Santas, Tae, they’re supposed to be, y’know, secret.”

“Well, I can’t help you if you don’t tell me who your santee is!” he exclaims, throwing his hands in the air.

There it is. Stage two.

You ignore him and return to scrolling through Amazon in what you hope is a nonchalant manner.

“What if I guess who it is?” he tries.

When you don’t reply, he continues, “Is it Hoseok?” He runs a hand through his golden locks in thought. “No, buying for Yoongi is easy because all he ever wants is practical things like planners. You wouldn’t need help with that. Hm… Is it Seokjin?”

He rambles on about different kitchenware that could make a good present for Jin, a ramble that would have been really helpful if only Jin were actually your secret santee.

Taehyung gasps and falls silent, shocking you into finally looking up from your phone. His already round eyes are even rounder, wide as they are in shock. A hand hovers over his mouth as he goes still.

Then, as suddenly as he had gasped, he relaxes into a laugh.

“For a moment, I thought your secret santee was me,” he says, chuckling. A jolt runs through you, and your breath hitches in a way that you pray is unnoticeable. “But you’re too shitty a liar to do that.”

“Hey!” You jab his side playfully and he yelps. “What do you mean? I’m a great liar.”

“That’s a blatant and unconvincing lie right there.”

You fold your arms and turn away.

“I know you’re not actually mad, ____,” comes his sing-song voice, crossing his arms behind his head and reclining into the couch.

Letting out another huff, you turn further away. So when he grabs your hands and pulls you to face him, it startles you a little.

His eyes search yours, and you can’t help yourself from stumbling into their depths. The seriousness in his gaze holds yours intently.

But just as you think he’s about to apologize, his eyes melt into little crescent moons as he grins. “So. Who’s your secret santee?”

His cry comes out muffled under the cushion you hit him with.

An exasperated groan leaves you the moment you close the front door. Tipping your head back to rest against the solid wood, you shut your eyes. You hear footsteps pad closer.

“I take it your plan didn’t succeed?” Irene says, leaning against the wall as she takes in your defeated stance.

“Nope,” you say, picking yourself back up and hanging up your scarf and coat. Your roommate’s still in the same fuzzy pyjamas she was in when you’d left for Tae’s earlier in the day, and honestly, she’s got the right idea. You’re ready to get back into jammies too.

A Lifetime movie plays in the background, and you’d be willing to bet your life’s savings -- not that there’s much when you’re but a struggling student -- that she’s got a mug of hot chocolate to accompany her.

“Another Christmas movie?” you scoff in mock disgust. “How are you not sick of them yet?”

“What else are we supposed to do during a quarantined Christmas?”

“Don’t kid yourself. You’d be doing this even without the quarantine.”

“Hey. If you detest it so much, I heard that Taehyung’s place has many vacant rooms right now.”

You roll your eyes. She got that information from you. Both his roommates were gone from the apartment for the time being, one went back home for the holidays and another had chosen to attend the entire semester from home since everything was online anyway, leaving Taehyung with the luxury of the entire apartment to himself.

Meanwhile, Irene was making full use of the ongoing situation to evade going back home for the holidays. Too much family drama to allow her to binge-watch her holiday flicks in peace, she’d said.

And you? It’s kinda awful, but you’ve chosen to remain in your apartment just slightly off-campus so that you could get a head start on your research for your thesis, the campus library’s offerings much more vast than the local neighborhood library of your small town hometown.

Upon hearing this, Taehyung had offered to stay to keep you company over the holidays. “We’ve spent every Christmas together ever since we were kids, Christmas would just feel too weird without you,” he’d said. “And then we can join the gang’s Zoom Christmas celebration together too! I heard that’s what Namjoon and Jin will be doing since they’re both in the city over Christmas.”

How you’d managed to keep yourself from melting into a puddle of goo at his casual selflessness was a real feat. Taehyung had always been close to his family, and often missed them intensely while you guys were miles apart from home each college semester. So for him to give up a trip back home so you could still have a piece of home with you over Christmas was not a small sacrifice.

“Hellooo?” Irene waves a hand in your face. You jump, jolted out of your thoughts. “Are you actually daydreaming about it? Ooh, staying over at your crush’s place with no one else around… saucy things could happen, ____.”

Although that wasn’t what you were thinking about, you still feel the heat rise to your cheeks at being caught daydreaming about Taehyung. Instead, you give a feeble excuse to get Irene off your back, “I’m just thinking about secret santa gifts again. Ugh, why’d I have to draw him of all people?!”

“Are you sure you aren’t overthinking this because of your feelings? How difficult is it to think of a gift for a guy you’ve been friends with since you were kids? What about his interests?”

“That’s real tough. His hobbies are so whimsical and oftentimes just impulsive. Remember the phase with the film camera? And then the short-lived violin phase? And the piano phase? The only outcome of that phase is him playing the Chopstick Waltz every single time we pass by a piano.”

“Well, what about something that’s been a constant in his life then through all the phases?”

You purse your lips in thought, weighing the thought. It’s not a bad suggestion, but what has been a constant for him all this time?

Coming up with naught, you sigh and turn to head to your room. “I’ll think about it while I get changed back into my jammies.”

When you described Taehyung’s ideas and interests as being whimsical and oftentimes impulsive, this is exactly what you meant.

“Tae, I don’t think it’s gonna fit. Why’d you get such a big one?”

“You just have to believe, ____. We just need faith, trust, and- well actually, maybe just faith and a really good, hard thrust.”

“I feel like there’s so many that’s what she said jokes to be made here.”

“Wasting your energy on that line of thinking is the reason why we haven’t gotten this christmas tree through the door yet.”

With one more solid push, the widest part of the tree finally makes it through the narrow doorway of Taehyung’s apartment, and the two of you go stumbling forward with the extra momentum.

“We did it!” he exclaims, wrapping you up in a hug. “You believed!”

Internally cursing yourself for the way your heart has the audacity to stutter at his touch. The hug is nothing- the warmth that seeps from his body to yours is familiar because hugs are nothing special in your friendship. Even in your grade school memories, Taehyung had always been a tactile person, giving out hugs generously and demanding them in return by simply throwing himself at people to be received in an embrace, coerced or not. As you and your peers grew older, Taehyung became more aware and withheld himself from his sudden hug attacks, especially towards the other girls. But not you. He felt no need to skirt around things with you, and you found a quiet hum of satisfaction in knowing that Taehyung could be his tactile self with you. Hugs were just an expression of your friendship. Nothing more.

That is, until you wanted them to be more.

You shake the thought away. You’ve dealt with this successfully for more than a year now and you can continue on.

Taehyung loosens his hold but keeps his arms around you, leaning back to look at you. The soft puffs in his cheeks and the light creases around his eyes as they bunch up in happiness are just some of the little things you adore about him. The contentment practically radiates off of him. It’s just like him to get this excited over a christmas tree.

“Shall we get to setting it up?” you ask and he nods, releasing you completely then to get to work.

After the two of you find the perfect spot, situating the tree in the corner of the living room by the windows and in reach of a power socket, you grab the bag of decorations.

The oddly small and light bag of decorations.

“Tae?” you ask, pulling out the single box of baubles. “Is this all you got?”

Grinning sheepishly, he nods. “I didn’t have much left for decorations after I chose the tree.”

“Why’d you choose such a big tree then?”

“What’s the point of getting a tiny tree? It’s only nice and festive if it’s large!” he exclaims.

“Well, what’s the point of getting a big tree that will be bare except for six baubles, Tae?!”

“I was thinking we could improvise the decorations.”

You quirk an eyebrow. “Improvise?”

“Yeah, like- wait,” he says, running to his bedroom. His voice floats over from the narrow corridor, “just hang on!”

After a little rustling and rummaging, Taehyung emerges with two shoeboxes and a few scarves thrown over his shoulders. Grabbing one of the shoeboxes from him, you open it to reveal a bunch of keychains. Souvenirs from his friends’ travels and some of his own too. In there, you recognize an eiffel tower keychain you gifted him after your family’s holiday to France.

“Here, look!” He grabs a few and begins hanging them on the tree. “Decorations!”

You laugh. It’s a classic Taehyung move, and honestly it doesn’t look half bad. Picking a few keychains of your own from the box, you join him in placing them around the tree.

“What are you going to do about the tree topper?” you ask.

He smirks. “I’ve already got that all figured out.” Unboxing the second shoebox to reveal his collection of polaroid photos, he rifles around till he finds the photo he wants. Brandishing the polaroid of Yeontan, he grins. “Both an angel and a star. Perfect.”

You can't argue with that logic, and you say as much before vacating the step stool so he can clip the polaroid to the top of the tree with a wooden peg. Eyeing the pile of scarves on the couch, you ask, “What about the scarves?”

“Scarves? You mean ribbons?” he says, and begins draping them across the tree. You giggle and reach for one. The soft material is plush, caressing your skin as you run your fingers over the material. It's much nicer than the other scarves, you notice, and way too nice to be stuck on a christmas tree.

“Hey,” you say, “isn’t this cashmere? Are you sure you want such a nice sweater on your tree?”

Taehyung shrugs. “It was a gift from my ex. It’s not like I’m going to wear it anymore.”

His ex. The words hit you like a punch to your gut.

Taehyung's ex, Samantha, was a pleasant person to be around, easygoing and bubbly with a sunny personality that matched him well. At least, from what you could tell based off the first two months of their relationship that you got to witness firsthand. You're not quite sure who exactly initiated the distance -- whether it was from your own courtesy that you gave them space, or whether Samantha had, directly or indirectly, requested for it -- the memories were all too foggy by now.

What you do remember is that one moment they were happy together, and the next they were broken up, the relationship lasting just a little over six months. Taehyung never spoke much about it and when you did probe, he would brush it off with scant excuses that they just figured they weren't compatible after all.

That had been some time in the spring. Briefly, you wonder how many wears the scarf had gotten, and how much sentimental value it held. The quality of the material hinted towards a relationship that had been going strong.

Yet, you muse over it as you drape the luxurious material over the prickly christmas tree, Taehyung brushed it off with such brashness that spoke otherwise.

“Hey,” Taehyung breaks the silence that has fallen between you, clearing his throat in a self-conscious manner as if he’s feeling guilty over the awkward turn that the conversation had taken. You look at him, half-hidden behind the tree pines, his eyes pensive. Maybe he’ll finally open up about the relationship -- it’s been eight months after all. But then he flashes his usual elfin grin. “Any luck with your secret santee gift yet?”

You groan, partly because no, you’re still clueless and stuck on what to get him, and partly because he’s once again evaded the topic of his ex.

The incessant buzzing of your phone gets ignored, vibrating almost violently in its spot on the tinyass coffee table next to your feet which you’ve kicked up ever so demurely. The consecutive, rapid-fire notifications can only be from an overly enthusiastic Taehyung.

Irene nudges foot with her own socked one. “Aren’t you gonna check your phone? I can pause the movie if you want.”

“Nah, I’ve watched Home Alone enough times to not care about missing anything. And it’s probably just Tae being all excited about secret santa gift suggestions.”

“Ooh, how’s that going? Finally got him to spill what he might want?”

An exasperated sigh escapes you. “No, he’s sending me individualized suggestions for everyone that are so well thought out and personalized that I can’t get them for anyone else.”

Grabbing your still-buzzing phone, you flick through your texts. Just as you’d predicted, Tae’s sent you a bunch of Christmas socks he found on Amazon that he thinks would make a good addition to Jin’s collection of festive socks, a set of really nice paints that would pair well with Yoongi’s newfound interest in painting, and an anthology of time-travel short stories that he thinks would fascinate Namjoon.

“Hm, d’you think he’s called your bluff? Intentionally sending you suggestions that wouldn’t be helpful?”

You shake your head, frowning. “Tae’s not like that. Honestly, it was just a bad move on my part, hoping that he would give some generic gift suggestion that would let slip what he really wants. Tae is too thoughtful to get people generic gifts. He puts his heart and soul into the presents he buys for others.”

Reaching over, Irene pinches your cheek lightly as she coos at you, “Awww, you’re so in love with him. I can feel the cavities forming.”

“Pretty sure those are from the hot chocolate with extra marshmallows you love so much,” you say, tipping your chin in a gesture to the mug in her hands.

Irene sticks her tongue out and takes an extra large sip in typical defiance.

As much as you mock Irene for her love for Lifetime holiday movies and hot chocolate, you do have to admit that there’s a certain appeal to it. Curled up on the lumpy couch in Taehyung’s apartment, cupping the hot beverage in your hands, even the uneven lumpiness of the cheap piece of furniture begins to feel comfortable.

The entire room is dark, save for the glow of the television. Taehyung has always insisted that this is the best way to watch movies. Maybe it’s a good thing your makeshift decorations on the christmas tree -- still standing proudly in the corner of the room -- didn’t include christmas lights after all.

Outside, the snowfall has gotten pretty intense, the temperature dipping significantly compared to the previous few days. It is well and truly winter, the cold showing no mercy to anyone who wasn’t prepared for it. You’re thankful to be inside and with a nice hot drink.

But as the film runs on, you get so engrossed in the plot that you don’t even realize you’ve finished your drink till you drain the last of it. Oh.

Looking over at Taehyung, you could always request for more and you know he’d be more than happy to make you another cup. But the movie is at its climax and the way his eyes are glued to the screen, his mouth slightly agape with how invested he is in the film, you can’t bring yourself to interrupt him now. So you try to ignore the way the cold begins nipping at your fingertips.

Soon enough though, the once warm mug that was a pleasant source of heat became stiff cold ceramic between your equally stiff fingers. Scrunching your toes, you wish you’d thought to bring an extra pair of socks over, especially when you think about the pair of socks you’d stuffed into your boots, soggy and cold with melted ice. A shiver runs through you at the thought.

“Are you cold?” Taehyung asks, and you jump. You didn’t realize he’d noticed.

“Yeah, a little.”

He pouts. “Why didn’t you say something sooner? C’mere,” he says, and lifts the edge of his blanket, revealing his plaid pants and sweatshirt combination.

Crawling in quickly, you tell yourself that you’re only complying because you know he’ll put up a fight if you don’t, and you don’t want the cold air getting into the cocoon of warmth he’s created with his blanket. Not because you’re excited to snuggle up with Tae. Definitely not. But now that you’re here, you may as well make the most of it, you figure.

Taehyung yelps as you press your icy toes to his warm thigh. Your arms wind their way around him, desperately seeking out the warmth of his body heat. Nuzzling lightly into the crook of his neck, you sigh, finally getting some relief from the cold.

The tiniest of groans escapes him. Then, a tight gasp. Stiffening, you peer up at Taehyung carefully.

He’s turned to look at you too, his attention that was once rapt by the movie now focused directly on you with equal intensity. Nervous energy accumulates within you and your heart rate skyrockets, now keenly aware of every hard plane of his body against yours. The logical part of you regrets the way you launched yourself at him and gave no regards for personal space. But you’re only dimly aware of that. The part of you that just wants Taehyung, the part that you’ve kept under lock and key, now fights against the restraints you’ve tied yourself into, unravelling you. You gnaw at your lip unsurely, and you watch as Taehyung’s gaze drops to your lips, heavy-lidded as they linger there, then darting back up to meet yours head-on.

The hand that he has on your hip grips you a little tighter, and you clutch the front of his sweatshirt in response. Your heart is pounding now, and the headiness of it all makes you feel swirly. Is he leaning clo-

Slam!

Both of you jump. The noise from the film startles you both, and you accidentally head butt Taehyung’s chin in the midst of it. He yelps in pain.

“I’m so sorry!” You frantically rub the spot to soothe it. “Are you ok?”

He laughs it off in his usual carefree manner. “Yeah, I’m good.”

“You sure? It doesn’t hurt?”

“It’ll be fine in a bit,” he says, pulling you into his chest, his warmth emanating from his chest to your back in a comforting manner. “Let’s continue watching the movie.”

With his arms wound around you, you wonder if he can feel the way your heartbeat continues to beat erratically. If he does, he says nothing about it. And underneath you, you can feel clearly how his heartbeat matches yours in its stuttering pace. But you say nothing about it. Not for the duration of the movie, not when it ends, not when you stand to leave, and not when he wishes you goodnight at the door.

The next day, you wake up with thoughts of yesterday sending your mind into a spiralling whirlpool. You decide it’s time to make an emergency call.

Also, it’s five days to Christmas and you still haven’t thought of a suitable gift for Taehyung.

“Hello?” comes a chirpy voice over the line.

“Jiminie!”

“____! What’s up?”

“Listen, I need your help. It’s about the secret santa thing.”

“What about it?”

“I need a suggestion for a gift for your best friend.”

Jimin chuckles. “Isn’t he also your best friend?”

“Well, yes, but…”

You take him through your original plan to covertly ask Taehyung what he would like by asking what would make a good gift, and how it got completely derailed, to which Jimin just laughed. And then your discussion with Irene on finding something that has been a constant in his life. Since you’re on the phone with Jimin, you take the chance to rant about your annoyance with yourself at not foreseeing Taehyung’s thoughtfulness and the personalized gift suggestions that he’s been giving you.

“____,” Jimin interrupts you mid-rant. “The answer is right in front of you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Maybe your plan didn’t really fail. If Tae is suggesting personalized gifts, then…” he trails off meaningfully.

You gasp. “Oh. You’re absolutely right, Jimin, you genius!”

“This was your own plan, ____.” He chuckles. “Now as for what has been constant in his life… Do you really not realize?”

Oh.

“Jimin, you’re a genius, y’know that?”

“So I’ve been telling everyone.”

“Ok, I gotta go now,” you say, excitement zipping through you as your mind fills abuzz with different ideas now that Jimin has set you on the path.

“Seeya on the 25th, you dork.”

“See you!”

Belatedly, you realize you missed out on telling Jimin about what had happened the day prior. But you shrug it off, figuring that you could tell him about it another time.

---

But as it turns out, you don’t. The hectic rush of preparations for Christmas keep you and your friends so busy, you’re thankful everyone’s blocked out Christmas night for each other or you’d just miss each other completely otherwise.

Days on from the eventful movie night you had with Taehyung, the distance has already caused the memories of the night to go slightly fuzzy. You wonder if it had really even happened, or if you were just overthinking everything as per usual.

And since Taehyung never brought it up, your friendship carrying on in the easy status quo, it was simple enough to chalk it up to your own imagination.

The rush towards Christmas keeps itself up even till Christmas day itself. You’re huffing a little as you squeeze yourself and your grocery bags through the doorway of Taehyung’s apartment. The lopsided feeling of your beanie sitting askew on your head is just one part of your disheveled state right now.

“Tae!” You set the bags down and replace the spare key in its hiding place. “I’m here!”

He comes bursting out of his room and running over to help you with the bags. “Is it time to bake?” His tone is bright and shimmering with anticipation. Baking Christmas cookies with each other’s families was a tradition the two of you grew up with, and a tradition you both intended to keep even while away from your hometown.

Pulling the cookie cutters out of the bag, you wave them with a grin. “Shall we? We still have to prepare dinner after this and make sure we log onto Zoom on time too.”

The afternoon is filled with a flurry of flour and butter and sugar, cookie cutters and oven mitts, and a whole lot of messy icing. You pipe out a beautiful blue and white star, if you do say so yourself, taking pride in the baking skills you’ve honed over the past twenty years. Meanwhile, Taehyung scribbles Yeontan on a star-shaped cookie of his own. He adds this to his collection of alien cookies and rabbits on the moon.

When you’re both done decorating and the icing is left to set, you get to work on dinner. It’s a simple affair, just some mashed potatoes that you set Taehyung to work on, some lightly roasted veggies, and a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket in place of the usual Christmas turkey your families would normally have.

Grabbing plates to serve up your dinner, you can hear the chorus of hellos from the living room as Taehyung sets up his laptop to join the Zoom call. It fills you with a warmth you didn’t know you were missing, the cacophony of noise from your friends still as familiar as it always is even though it’s filtered through the speakers on the laptop. If anything, it may even be more chaotic than ever, with everyone speaking over each other, the social cues becoming even harder to read over the virtual platform.

When you finally enter the room with your two plates, the noise only gets louder, everyone shouting to greet you. You say a quick hi and slip back into the kitchen to get the tray of cookies to show off to the rest over the webcam.

You take your place next to Taehyung, seating yourself next to him in a similar cross-legged position, your knees knocking together as you both squeeze to get into frame together. Memories of the movie night come back to you, but Taehyung seems unfazed. Feigning calmness, you try to focus on the ongoing exchange instead.

The conversation drives itself, years of friendship and months spent apart from each other fuelling the chatter. With small talk on how Christmas day was for everyone, quick catch-ups on how everyone’s doing, inside jokes and references to shared experiences of the past, the atmosphere feels just like that one year you all went on a camping trip together and sat around the bonfire on the final night, swapping stories and jokes in a breezy fashion.

Just as the conversation slips into an easy placidity, Hoseok suggests you all move on to the secret santa bit of the night.

That’s when you gasp. Amidst the manic pace of the day and its activities, you’d forgotten to retrieve your present from where you’d stowed it in your apartment. In the same way that you treated Taehyung’s apartment like your own, so was your apartment to him. Taehyung could walk into your apartment any moment, whether you were present or not, and you needed to find a good secret place for your present. Stashing your prepared present in an unused cupboard in the kitchen, you remember commending yourself for having found such a great hiding spot. Turns out, it was so excellently hidden that even you had forgotten about it till this very moment.

But your internal struggle and the guilt that plagued you went unbeknownst to the rest, each taking turns to open their presents. A whole range of reactions and sound effects went on, Hoseok thanking Taehyung for his gifted sunglasses with such sincerity that transcended the boundaries of the webcam and screen. Yoongi had bought Jin a new fishing reel, and the boys were in the midst of discussing their next fishing trip.

But it was Namjoon’s reaction and the chaos that ensued that truly had you relaxing a little from your anxious-frustrated-guilty state.

“Snacks? And wet wipes?” Namjoon’s expression is incredulous as he pulls the items out of the brown paper bag. “Who’s giving me all these freebies?!”

“FREEBIES?!” Next to Namjoon, Jin smacks the table, causing him to jump. “I’ll have you know that those snacks were selected after careful observation, and I even went so far as to scout out for the specific brand you like and some even required shipping from elsewhere because the grocery stores near us didn’t stock it, and I got you wet wipes because you’re always spilling things, or maybe you could use them after you’re done snacking while on the go, but you still have the AUDACITY to call it FREEBIES?!”

At the sight of Jin gone red in the face, the snickers that the rest of you had been holding in came bursting out.

“Ok, I think we’re the last two to open our gifts,” Taehyung says, reading the room and moving on quickly before Jin could get even more agitated. “____, this is yours from your secret santa.”

Ripping open the wrapping paper swiftly, you find a brown leather-bound journal with your initials embossed on them in gold.

“Oh! This is beautiful,” you gush. “And since we’re the last two, this must be from Jimin!”

Even through the screen, the sight of your friend’s smile, eyes all scrunched up with the sincerity of it, has your heart swelling.

“And that means… that I’m your secret santee!” Taehyung gasps. “No way. And this whole time I was calling you a bad liar.”

He rambles on, explaining to the rest about your sly method of attempting to discreetly ask him what he might like for Christmas. The whole time, you’re chewing on your lip, trying to find the right moment to interject and explain what’s happened.

“Ok! So,” Taehyung finally pauses, looking at you expectantly, “I’m ready for my present!” His hands are cupped and ready to receive the present… that will not make it to him tonight.

You place your hands in his, lowering them gently and taking in his obvious confusion. “I’m so sorry, Tae, I left your present back at home. I promise I’ll bring it over tomorrow! Or you can come over after this to grab it if you want.”

“Oh,” he says, puppy dog pout hitting you full-force with guilt. “But I still want a gift now, so…”

Grasping your hands that are still in his, he tugs you forward into his chest, and plants a soft kiss on your lips.

Silence. Both from your brain, and from everyone around.

It lasts for two seconds -- your group of friends has never found it easy to shut up after all -- and then it’s an eruption, pulling you back to the reality that the two of you are not alone.

You can hear Jungkook screaming, “GROSS!” and Namjoon yelling in confusion. But Jimin’s tinkling laughter, filled with unmistakable joy, cuts through the noise along with a raspily muttered, “It’s about fucking time.” from Yoongi.

In the background, you hear Jungkook asking, “Waaaait, so does this mean that Seokjin has to give Namjoon a kiss now too?” and Jin’s immediate, “NO!”

The noise jump starts your brain back into motion. You attempt to pull away from Taehyung, highly aware that your friends are subject to witnessing all of this, but he tugs you back, anchoring you to him with an arm wrapped firmly around your waist. The laughter from the laptop speakers turns into cries of outrage and then an abrupt return to silence with a click, and you realize that Taehyung must have closed his laptop, ending the Zoom call.

Looping your arms around Taehyung’s shoulders, you begin to respond to his kiss, eyelids fluttering closed. It’s new, it’s electrifying. But it’s also like something deep inside has finally clicked, like you’ve finally arrived. You’re home.

“Did you know?” you ask. “About me having feelings for you?”

“Yeah,” Taehyung admits. Heat rises to your cheeks at that, and you hide your face in his chest. Now that you don’t have to be seated on the floor to be in frame for the Zoom call, the two of you opted to move to the lumpy but still much more comfortable couch.

The gentle strokes of his hand in your hair is familiar and comforting, reminding you of the infinite patience he’s always shown to you. It’s a reminder that this is Taehyung. The boy you grew up with through thick and thin. Your best friend. And that gives you the boldness to continue despite your embarrassment.

“How? And when?”

“Honestly,” he trails off slightly, in thought, “I think it was Samantha who made me realize it.”

A pang of jealousy hits you. But you’re immediately wondering if it’s even warranted, now that you guys are… Well, what exactly are you? You make a mental note to clarify that.

“She was jealous, y’know,” he continues. “Didn’t want to say it at first, and tried to put up with it because she understood that our friendship is not something she could just expect me to give up.

“But it got to a point where things just couldn’t go on any longer. What she initially saw as discomfort that she would learn to overcome with time, soon became an awareness that the two of us were crossing the line of just friends, even if we hadn’t realized it at the time.”

Taehyung sighs, causing you to look at him. He smiles down at you, and skims your cheek with his thumb affectionately. “Maybe it’s because you’ve been here by my side all my life, that it was such a gradual thing and neither of us really realized it.”

“Yeah,” you mumble. “It was only after you began dating her that I realized how not okay with that I was. I thought it was just me being the possessive best friend trying to get used to having to share you. But then I realized I didn’t just want my best friend back. I wanted what she had.”

Swallowing hard, you remember the bitterness of the jealousy you felt back then, and that still recurs from time to time.

“What about you then? How did you come to recognize your feelings?” you ask.

“Samantha made me face up to them.” There’s a faraway look in his eyes. “One day she laid it all out, about us being more than just friends. And when I denied it, she asked me, would I choose you over her if I were forced into making that decision. The answer very nearly rolled straight off my tongue. And that was when I knew.”

“Is that why you broke up?” you ask. Taehyung nods. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, you silly girl.” He boops you on the nose. “I’m just thankful that Samantha was as understanding as she was about it. I think that’s why it took me a long time to get over it -- knowing that I’d hurt someone as wonderful as she is with my own blind ignorance.”

“And you too,” he says, leaning down to lay a soft peck on your lips. “I hated knowing that I’d hurt you because of my lack of awareness of my own feelings. That’s why I had to take my time this time around, to make sure that I know for sure.”

“Do you know for sure now?”

“Yes,” he says, holding your gaze with seriousness that has you swimming in its depths. “I’m yours now. Purely and fully.”

When you returned to your apartment the next morning, Irene was waiting to grill you on your whereabouts. It didn’t escape her notice that you hadn’t come back to the apartment the previous night, and she joked about how the vacant rooms in Taehyung’s apartment probably didn’t matter because you could always spend the night sharing his bed anyway.

And when you, blushing madly but holding your own nonetheless, informed her that she was right, well, you should have anticipated her squeals of excitement. “Tell me everything!” she had demanded.

You also should have anticipated the endless teasing that she would put the two of you through, especially in the Christmas season. After a trip out to the stores, finally taking a break from her Lifetime holiday movies marathon, she’d returned with copious amounts of mistletoe to hang all around the apartment, insisting the two of you make up for lost time.

But what Irene doesn’t need to know is just how much the two of you agree with her. Stealing a tiny sprig of mistletoe from around the house -- there’s so much that she wouldn’t even notice anyway -- you pack it into one of the clear baubles you’d bought for Taehyung’s Christmas present, nestling it into the box alongside the other clear baubles that were customized with pictures of the two of you.

#ficswithluv #bangtanhq #btswriterscollective #bangtanarmynet #btswritingcafe #bangtanfairygarden #btsbookclub #btswritersguild #taehyung x reader #taehyung fic #taehyung oneshot #bts x reader #bts fic #bts oneshot

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wordsbeyondimagination · 3 years

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Christmas Lego Date

Hey, Hope you all are safe.

I wanted to say that I don't feel any confidence in my writing, and the situation here is also not very good. Everyday we are living like owing time. If you all can suggest any genre or any changes to the themes, then please feel to ask. I will surely reply because writing is something that I love the most.

Take care.

Mama Suh always wanted to see her grandchildren, and play with them but to her disappointment, her son never got time to date, anybody. So, she had to take things in her hand.

She set up a date for Johnny in Chicago when he was home for Christmas. The first date went through knowing each other’s name, interests, and work. And that was like a total clash when an introvert meets an extrovert. He was the one that set up the atmosphere and made you comfortable around him. That was the only thing that made you look forward to your second date with him. He had planned a date at a fancy restaurant but changed it at the last moment and asked you to visit his home.

Johnny had already planned the whole evening. He had brought a Christmas tree and lots of lights and mistletoe. He had prepared the dinner himself. And prepared gifts for you. Well prepared and was only waiting for the doorbell to ring.

He was overwhelmed when he heard the bell ring.

“Good Evening, Y/n, did you have any problem finding my house?”

“No, it’s such a good location, why would there be any problem.”

“I had brought fruits for Uncle and Auntie.” His parents were not in the house that’s why he chose to invite you or else Mama Suh would have asked you about the date of marriage.

“Yeah, I will say her when she comes back.” He took the basket from your hand and escorted you to the couch.

His house had a warm feeling. It sharply contrasted the snow falling outside. Your string was getting stronger with him. With his personality, he was like a fireplace to you. You were always considered cold because of your introverted personality but he understood you. He always made efforts to make you comfortable around him.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Hmm…”, he said arranging the table.

“Why did you choose your house for our date?” Johnny smiled at you. He admired your innocence and curiosity.

“I planned to take you out but Mom said that she is going out with Dad, so, I invited you here, and also I thought a house would’ve different feeling. Don’t you like it?” He asked with fake concern that panicked you.

“No, no, no, it’s not like that. I like quiet places. I like your house very much. It’s warm just like you,” you mumbled the last three words but he heard that and pretended like he didn’t hear anything to make you comfortable around him. It was rare to have someone have feelings from the first blind date but you two were just fools in love.

You noticed the Christmas tree and decorative laying behind the couch.

“Have you tried this?” You asked pointing to the tree.

“Yeah, I wanted to surprise Mom and Dad but I have no idea.” He said scratching the back of his neck.

“Will you help me? You can come up with ideas.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Okay, let’s do that after dinner.”

The dinner was full of laughter. He narrated the 10th-floor stories. Some deadly, some comedic, and some horrific. You almost choked once because of his stories, he hurried to your side with water and patted your back. It was that moment when you realized that you need him in your life, for a lifetime. Both of you settled and again he started with all his stories, his stories didn’t end and your laughter didn’t stop. It was a moment that was going to be memorable for both of you till death.

After dinner, you both settled on the floor for decorating. Although Johnny insisted on sitting on the couch, still you said that it wouldn’t have any feeling of a family. It gave him hope.

“I saw your designs on your Instagram page, how do you get so many ideas?”

“They just come. I don’t do anything for them to come.”

“We also have a bunch of kids in NCT who design, you would love to meet them. You would love to meet them all. We have everyone younger than me except one and trust me even though he is the eldest but he is like a baby. I hope I can take you there.” You just smiled at his words but never replied to anything so he didn’t ask you anymore but little did you that he was asking you to come with him. You couldn’t even ay him that you watched every NCT video at least 10 times to know more about him and you memorized everybody’s name.

You two sat decorating the Christmas Tree, and he was helping you and also narrating the stories when he decorated trees with his groupmates. Unaware of time, you two enjoying your date, a date that you wanted.

“Y/n, I have something for you.” You looked at him and he ran to his room and came out with two folded sweaters for him. When you unfolded it, you saw that it had your initials on it and Johnny had also his initials.

“Wow, I like it. Thanks.” He smiled.

“Well, I also have something else for you.” He again ran inside and came with a wrapped box.

“What’s this?”

“You will know when you open it. Come on open it.” He became excited and started to jump and seal clap and for the first time, anybody’s excitation excited you. You started to unwrap it.

“Hogwarts Castle Lego set! Thank you very much. But how do you know that I am a Potterhead?”

“Oh. I saw your Instagram and you had many drawings of Harry Potter, so…”

“Thank you. I love this.”

Only this! not me! Johnny thought.

“Johnny, it’s getting late, I think I should go. We will meet next time.” He never wanted you to go. You were the one he wanted the most and always treasure you and protect you. He wanted you to stay by his side.

“Okay.” He stood up and went with you to the door but as soon as he opened the door, a chilly gust of wind blew and it was a snowstorm.

“Looks like a blizzard!” You were just about to go inside when he grabbed your wrist.

“Y/n, we are under the mistletoe!” You looked up and indeed a mistletoe was hanging and you both under it.

“When did you hang this?”

“When you were busy decorating Christmas tree.” He said with a shy smile. Yeah, you should’ve known that it's his idea.

“Y/n, I think we should kiss.” He placed his lips on yours. Even though the chilly winds and the snow were cold but you felt warmth under his touch. It was love. When you separated, his eyes were full of feelings for you. A home for you.

“I think I have to stay here. The snow won’t allow me to go.”

“Hmm.” Even nature was on his side.

He closed the door.

“Y/n, I want to ask you something.” You looked at him. He was serious.

“Yeah.”

“Would you…would you like to come with me to Korea and stay by my side? You can carry freelancing there.” You smiled at his confession. That is not only what you wanted but that was what you needed. You were crazy for him, and you needed him.

“Yeah. I would love to.” Johnny was overwhelmed with your response, he hugged you at once. But something came between you two ‘Lego’.

“Johnny, do you want to try this with me.” He nodded.

“Wingadium Leviosa ”

“Expelliarmus”

And you two were in a sleepless night, sitting near the fireplace and joining the Hogwarts castle and casting spells on each other treasuring the memories with your kiss and hugs that you shared.

#nct fanfiction #nct fanfic #nct fluff #nct fluffs #nct 127 #nct #nct imagines #nct scenarios #nct johnny #johnny suh #johnny suh fanfic #johnny suh imagines #johnny suh fluff

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lynnsaundersfanfic · 3 years

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Grounded, Chapter 10: Dreams

A Coffee House Fic inspired by a prompt from awesomegreentie.

We started off with a T rating, but who are we kidding here? It’s me. So, the rating has been moved up to M at Chapter 5.

Chapters in Order: Introductions - Invitation - Stroll - Alchemy - Dayspring - Distraction - Lost - Firelight - Monday - Dreams

Or, read it on fanfiction.net here.

Grounded | Chapter Ten: Dreams | by Lynn Saunders

The Tuesday before Christmas dawns cold and grey, and John watches the sunrise as he sits before the shop’s hearth with his morning tea, struggling a bit to meet the day. William looks surprised to find him there quite so early after closing so late the evening before, but he doesn’t comment on the matter. They really must hire someone else on, and soon.

Anna’s over a week gone, and John has scarcely slept since she’s been away. He trudges home late in the evenings, tie askew, and sinks onto the couch in his sparsely furnished flat to doze for a few hours before rising early to do it all over again. His split with Vera did not leave him with much in the way of quality furnishings, and what little he did take with him has mostly been used to lend a personal touch to the tasteful rusticity of the coffee house. The little shop is the first thing he’s truly been able to make all his own. But his apartment feels cold, the freshly painted walls stark and bare, and it’s not yet truly a home for him. It’s pale and blank, a new slate that he hasn't yet gotten around to writing on - not like Anna’s flat, which is warm and cheerful and utterly her.

He’s a bit surprised to find that it’s difficult to sleep without Anna snugged in safely against him. He craves her scent and the warm press of her body in the dark. He tosses and turns in the night, restless and brooding. But when sleep does finally find him, he dreams of a faerie with golden hair, her eyes blue as the sea. She awaits him eagerly in a small hothouse in mid-winter, dressed all in white. In the dream, their meetings are secret, and her love for him is certain. This morning, the taste of the dream maiden’s lips had lingered on his even after he awoke feverish and shaky, lost between worlds for a moment and struggling to remember which was real.

The church bell down the street chimes out the hour, and John rises and stretches. He retrieves his mobile from the mantle and sends Anna a photo of the blazing fire, then tucks the phone into his pocket with a small smile. He doesn’t expect her home for a few days yet, but it’s safe to say she hasn’t forgotten him. Two evenings ago, their goodnight phone call had ended with her breathlessly sighing his name.

I was thinking of the other night, he’d said. Of having you against the door.

He’s never been brave enough to give voice to such delicious thoughts before, never had someone so eager to listen. Her response to his secret whispers in the dark was the definition of unforgettable.

He finishes his tea with a smirk, then readies for the day, tying on an apron and washing his hands. He surveys the stock of pastries and resolves to make more fresh cinnamon buns, but it will have to wait until the morning rush dies down. For the next two hours, the bells on the front door jangle consistently.

Business is good. More than good. He feels utterly blessed to have this place, but beyond that he feels a sense of deep pride in his work. Is this what it’s like to love what you do? He realizes with a start that this is the first path he’s truly chosen for himself, rather than one he pursued out of habit, pressure, or obligation. In his old life, he might be tempted to focus on all the work that still looms ahead, or to wait for the other shoe to drop. He would’ve been too hesitant to venture into business ownership, too pessimistic. But more than anything else, being wounded showed him just how fleeting life is. That’s what made him put down the bottle and start living life again. And Anna? He certainly would’ve never imagined that he deserved the company of someone this lovely or, for that matter, someone this kind. Finally, he’s starting to believe.

Anna dreams of John in a different time. They sit at a long table in a bustling room she doesn’t quite recognize, yet she somehow knows it all the same. The room smells of coffee and warm, brown bread. Breakfast china rattles over bits of conversation. Beside her, John is clean-shaven and polished and proper. This image of him stands in stark contrast to what she knows he is capable of in the dark. He gives her a furtive glance, and she attempts to hide her flush behind her teacup. Her delicate wedding band is hidden safely away beneath her frock, nestled against her breastbone on a simple gold chain. Her cup clinks into its saucer, and she brings a hand up to absently trace the outline of the ring through the fabric of her dress. No one can know, not yet. John’s leg presses against hers beneath the table, out of view of the others.

The others?

But the room is gone now, replaced with the glow of a fire and the slip of fine linens against her bare skin. John’s thick fingers glide along her back as she rests, snugged against his chest. She’s long been sated, and now sleep calls. As her eyes drift shut, her mind flashes on the rustling of willow fronds and the taste of fresh cider, of mistletoe on the arch of an old oak door, of the earthy smell of a conservatory in midwinter and the sound of pottery shattering in the dark.

The company car rocks gently as it pulls onto Anna’s street, and her eyes blink open. Her mind fumbles for the thread of that intriguing dream, but the more she reaches for those memories, the further they slip away. John in an old-fashioned waistcoat and sleeves, she thinks with a grin. Something about a greenhouse… and then a feeling - one of bittersweet, quiet, and steadfast love. It is safe and warm, and… familiar? Anna shakes her head with a confused sigh.

The homes on Anna’s street are cheerful, dotted with wreaths and holiday lights. In the west, the sky is painted purple and crimson in the waning daylight. The car pulls to a stop at her door, and she draws the edges of her coat closed before stepping out into the nipping winter air. She’s so looking forward to being in her own flat and her own bed, to seeing her grumpy old three-legged cat… and her hot barista.

She checks her mobile - still no service. Ah, well. When she’d spoken briefly with John last evening, her plans called for staying in London at least another day or two. However, this morning’s presentation had gone surprisingly well, and when Mary spoke of sending Anna home ahead of schedule, she’d jumped at the chance.

The driver hurries around to help her with her bags, and she tips him generously before climbing the short flight of stairs to her apartment. Even with both bags in hand, Anna unlocks the door to her flat with practiced ease. Castle comes running and leaps onto the kitchen counter with a delighted chirp. She scritches him and shakes some crunchies into his bowl.

Tacked to the fridge is a note from Gwen.

I continue to be Castle’s favorite person to torment. The beggar knocked the treat bag off of the counter and ate half. He then vomited in the hall and stared haughtily as I cleaned it up.

XO, G

Castle blinks innocently from the kitchen counter, and Anna gives him a disapproving look. She makes a mental note to take her friend for drinks ASAP to make up for it.

Gwen has left the week’s mail on the countertop, and Anna sorts the contents quickly while she waits for the shower to run hot. She happily sheds her travel clothes and steps under the spray with a relieved sigh, washing the muck of the day away. Oh, but there’s so much to do. She needs to go for groceries and work on the laundry, to put the finishing touches on a project before the firm closes for the holidays. But as she lingers in the steam of the shower, allowing the heat to sink into the delicate muscles of her neck and shoulders, she finds it impossible to care about those mundane tasks. Her mind drifts instead.

She thinks of last week, of John’s long fingers moving between her thighs, patiently coaxing her pleasure. She had melted into his embrace, her slick back pressed to his front, her head lolled against his chest. He had turned her then, lifting her solidly against the chilly shower tile and marking her neck with his lips as he pushed into her. His strong arms held her fast while she sighed his name and dug her fingernails into his shoulders. His teeth had trailed behind her ear just so. She reaches lazily up to press her fingertips to the spot, daydreaming until the water begins to cool.

Yes, all the trappings of everyday life can wait. She has a very particular craving that only one thing can satisfy.

John rushes to open the shop’s door ahead of William, who is carefully balancing three full pastry boxes, their largest order of the day. He steps out to meet the chill of the December evening, and William follows, passing gingerly through the doorway. They work together to arrange the pastry boxes safely in the floorboards of the waiting car.

The customer is Beatrice, one of John’s mother’s friends from church, and she reaches up to pat his arm affectionately. “Thank you, Dear.”

He smiles down at her. “I hope you enjoy them.”

“Oh, the kids will love them!”

She waves to William as he ducks back through the shop’s front door. The neon ‘open’ sign blinks out shortly afterward, and they watch for a moment as William goes about closing duties without having to be asked.

“He’s a hard worker,” John says. “Thank you for sending him my way.”

“Oh, yes, I’ve known his family for ages, and of course with his mother’s passing he needed something closer to home for a while. He’s all his dad has left now.” She shakes her head sadly. “But, I’m so happy you two get on so well. I hear there was a less pleasant fellow working here who has recently moved on.”

John laughs. “Yes, but that’s fine by me. Better the two of us work harder than have a third who rocks the boat. But if you know of anyone else who needs steady work, please send them my way.”

She thinks for a moment. “I may have just the young lady in mind. She’s young and a bit new to church, but she seems reliable. She was such a help with the bake sale.”

He draws a card from the breast pocket of his button-front shirt. “Please have her come by. William and I are managing, but barely. As it is, he needs a large bonus… and a holiday.”

She chuckles, then takes a conspiratorial step closer. “Now, let me hear all about this Anna. Margaret tells me you two are quite the item.”

John gives a somewhat embarrassed chuckle. His mother definitely cannot be prevailed upon to keep any secrets. “Yes, I suppose we are.”

“You suppose?” She tsks with mock disapproval. “Well don’t you be shy. Bring her ‘round to see us for tea soon.”

He gives a vague promise, and John waves as Beatrice pulls away from the curb. As the taillights fade in the distance, he takes a moment to stand still, to close his eyes and simply breathe in the icy air. There’s been no new snow today, but there’s still a satisfying icy crunch underfoot, and he remembers his first stroll home with Anna, the first brush of her lips against his cheek. That was only two weeks ago, yet somehow this thing between them feels both ancient and new.

It’s a bit odd that he hasn’t heard from her today, and it dawns on him that he’s not been the least bit concerned about what that uncharacteristic lack of contact means for their burgeoning relationship. In the past, he’s had what Vera would have called a jealous streak. But underneath that superficial explanation was truly only worry, a deep-seated fear that he won’t measure up, that he’s undeserving. But he feels none of that with Anna. Everything between them has come so naturally.

He takes one more moment to enjoy the quiet solitude of the winter evening, then turns to help William close up for the night. But he doesn’t quite reach the door. His breath is caught in his throat, and for a moment he stops and stares, blinking in delighted disbelief. Anna. The streetlamps catch her golden hair even through the frozen haze of the December evening. She’s supposed to be miles away, yet here she is on his street instead, making her way toward him with a very particular look in her eye. He sees warmth reflected there, mischief, and an intoxicating, velvety undercurrent of desire. He catches her up in an embrace, and she giggles as he lifts her off of her feet. God, he wants so badly to be the one who inspires that sound from now on. He breathes her in, feels the thrill of it deep in his chest, then remembers himself and returns her gently to the ground.

“Why didn’t you say you were coming?” he asks with a grin.

“I didn’t know until today.” Her eyes dance as she reaches up to straighten his tie. “That, and my mobile has been out of service all afternoon. But… I’ve brought you something that may make up for it.”

At his quizzical look, she reaches into her coat pocket and brings out a sprig of mistletoe, twirling it in her fingers for a moment, raising an eyebrow. He tugs her close in response, kissing her gently in the arch of the shop doorway until she begins to shiver in his arms. Later, as he sifts his fingers through her hair in her bedroom in the dark, she’ll tell him she wasn’t cold, not exactly. It’s the intensity of his touch that’s making her tremble. But he doesn’t know that now, and he ushers her quickly into the cheerful warmth of the coffee house. Muted sounds from the kitchen radio filter down the hall, and he can hear the clinking of silverware as William washes the dishes. He presses another soft kiss to her lips before locking the door and pulling the shades in turn.

“I need to-” he begins, but she places a gentle hand on his chest with a nod.

“Finish your work.” She smiles up at him. “I’ll still be here.”

He brings the back of her hand to his lips for a moment, then turns to join William in the kitchen. Together, the men make quick work of the evening chores. Soon the dishes are dried and the countertops gleam once more. William finishes the mopping while John reviews the checklist for tomorrow, smiling at the sheer volume of holiday orders.

As he pulls on his coat to leave, William glances down the hall toward Anna, then gives John a nod of decided approval. “It’s good to see you happy, Mr. Bates.”

John clears his throat a bit self-consciously, but he’s touched. “I think I am, truly… for the first time in a long while.” He pauses just a moment before adding, “now, run on home. We’ve another early day tomorrow.”

“You two don’t stay up too late,” William says with a wink as he pulls his cap down snug over his brow and disappears through the shop’s rear door.

John only laughs and shakes his head in response.

When he returns to the front room with a cup of cocoa to share, Anna is warming herself by the waning coals of the banked fire. The shop lights are low, and the sight of her silhouetted in the amber glow of the stone fireplace tugs at a quiet, yearning place deep within him. Anna just feels so… familiar, his mind echoes. It’s as if they’ve spent countless evenings sharing a hearth and a bed, perhaps across times and places he will never know or understand, but always - always - with the same indescribable current arcing between them.

She smiles up at him as he passes her the mug, and he eases onto the sofa, drawing her near. She takes a sip and gives a satisfied hum that makes the fine hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. They watch the embers pop and spark for a moment as the kitchen radio plays on in the distance.

“How was London?” He presses a kiss to her temple.

“Good, actually.” She takes another sip of cocoa and passes him the mug. “Well, more than good, I think. It might mean a promotion.”

“Well done!” He squeezes her hand with genuine affection and pride, then adds cheekily, “Will you have a corner office, then?”

“No…” She grins up at him. “And nothing’s decided yet, but… on that topic, there is a favor I need to ask you.”

“Oh yes?”

“You see, there’s this company holiday party. Fancy dress and all that, and I’ll be needing a date…”

“Dancing and cocktails and a suit?”

“Well, probably not dancing… but the rest of it, yes.”

“No dancing? Pity, that.”

“I expect you’ll be relieved.” She taps his chest playfully with the back of her hand, and he realizes she thinks he’s joking.

He imagines Anna in a low-cut gown, his fingers gliding along the curve of her back as they savor the anonymity of a darkened dance floor. “Oh, I wouldn’t say that.”

John smiles conspiratorially and moves their shared mug to the safety of the little coffee table. He rises carefully, then pulls Anna gently to her feet. She smiles shyly at him as he takes her hand and leads her down the shop’s hallway in the dark. The familiar rooms are bathed in shadows, and she clings to his hand like a lifeline. In the kitchen, he pauses to adjust the volume on the little radio, filling the room with the mellow, rolling notes of a jazz piano.

“Come here,” he says, his voice rough and low.

She giggles as he pulls her easily into his embrace, and they sway together in the dark, his right hand perfectly fitted to the small of her back. Thank goodness for heels, she thinks dreamily. Moving together this way, she’s just tall enough to rest her forehead against his broad chest. He tucks her hair behind her ear and tips her chin up to meet him, stooping to graze her lips with his. His large hands slide beneath the hem of her sweater, blazing a path up the curve of her spine. She hums happily, and she feels his answering smile against her temple.

She finds the quiet confidence in his touch intoxicating. She’s enamored with the pleasing stoutness of his body, the thickness of his chest and shoulders, the way he gazes at her so intently as they move together. She’s never been this easily turned on, this revved up. She’s fallen hard and fast, no question, but this thought doesn’t alarm her. Instead, she feels emboldened by her desire. When she rises on tiptoe to kiss him, he tastes not just of cinnamon and chocolate, but of something deeper and richer, a comforting memory she cannot place. And as the song begins to fade, they hold fast to one another, lighting a fire between them as they dance together in the dark.

Author’s notes:

I’ve not written in a long while. I worry it shows. Thank you for being patient while I knock the rust off.

Anna and Bates dance to Turn Me On by Nora Jones.

Thanks to @awesomegreentie and @gelana78 for quick-beta!

#grounded #anna and bates #anna x bates #Banna #downton abbey fanfiction #anna smith #john bates #coffeeshopau #alternate universe #sticky

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kanejdorogaya · 3 years

Text

It's Christmas morning and

Mor walks into Feyre and Rhysand's bedroom without knocking. She yells Happy Christmas, even as Rhys tells her to get out. She ignores him and tells Feyre to get ready because they have a long day ahead. Feyre is smiling and she's already headed to freshen up. Rhys is smiling as he looks at his cousin and his mate. Twenty minutes later Mor and Feyre are headed out into Velaris.

Azriel has taken on the duty to show up with boxes and boxes of decorations, and is making the town house so pretty, Cassian asks him if spends as much time fixing his looks before he sets out for the day. But after Az finishes up, Cassian has to admit that the house looks perfect with strings and strings of fairy lights and streamers and of course, mistletoe.

Rhys brings in the seven foot tall tree which is beautiful in its lush greenness, but Elain has his back. Elain and Rhys decorate the tree and then set up the presents under tree. What makes the tree really special are the nine glass balls. One has a blue stone in it, another has a red one and another has a violet one. One has a vial of a star spirit, one a perfectly preserved flower and yet another an eternal flame. These three are together, sisters and the dresser immortalised in another form. There is a golden ring in one of the last three, a blindingly bright turquoise and gold pendant in another, and the last has a tiny leaf in it, the colour of the setting sun.

Mor and Feyre come back when the sun is high in the sky, with bags and bags of food, and they have brought Nesta and Lucien with them. The house smells like spices and sugar, and they are told that Elain is baking. It is time for Christmas brunch, and Amren walks in right on time. It is difficult to recognize Amren right away, she looks more like a medium grey fluffy ball than anything else. There is a lot of food, but it vanishes, along with the several bottles of wine.

Everybody moves to the living room where there is a roaring fire and Amren is quick to claim the seat closest to it. Nesta moves to sit next to her. She has been quiet, but Feyre is glad to see her here, and hands Nesta her present. Elain is talking to Azriel, then they are joined by Rhys. Cassian is missing, everybody notices. But he soon turns up. Very, very red faced. Presents are opened and exchanged, and the evening passes away with lots of laughter and conversation.

That night, dinner is extra delicious. So many different platters, that there are leftovers. Everybody is full of compliments for the cooking, even Amren, who insists that normal food really isn't palatable. Cassian then reveals that that's where he was all day, cooking a special Christmas dinner. There is silence and then everybody demands that he cook more often, because this, quite frankly was one of the best meals ever.

Lucien was watching them all day, these people rumoured to be the darkest and cruellest creatures in the land. Yes, they were dark and cruel, but only when their people were threatened. He could learn to enjoy living here, he thought.

It is almost midnight and they end the perfect day with Elain's cookies and cakes. Feyre and Rhysand kiss under the mistletoe. Multiple times. Everybody groans, but they're all so happy inside, that they wish nothing ever changes.

It is snowing, they see, when they open the door. Too heavily for people to leave. So they bring down mattresses and blankets and everybody camps out in the huge living room, and that is how the Court of Dreams spent their Christmas.

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nightingiall · 3 years

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things i love about you: our rituals

a post-little do you know drabble series // story page

happy december! today marks six (!!!!!!) years since i started the december drabbles, which means it’s moniall’s anniversary! to commemorate the occasion, here’s a special lil something. also, if you want to relive my bad 2014 writing the drabbles that started it all, i will finally be posting them on wattpad. enjoy!

There used to be a time Mona hated the cold.

She couldn’t handle it. It made her feel like all her blood vessels had simply seized, wound up so tightly that she needed to find every single bit of warmth to bury herself under in order to feel like she could function again.

As she watched the tiny flurries of white drift from the sky to delicately blanket the ground in a layer of snow, she smiled to herself, remembering the first time they were here at their little cabin. It was the beginning of so much, of friendship, of love, of rituals they could seek solace in year after year. Four bedrooms, a generously sized dining room, and a roaring fireplace had somehow transformed from a simple husk of wood to a safe place, a home away from home, filled with laughter and jokes no one else would understand.

The snow picked up slightly, very quickly covering the driveway in white, and she realized that she no longer minded the cold. Not when she had this, a winter cabin filled with all the people she loved. There were even several new additions to the family, one of whom now pawed happily at her feet. She scooped the little fluffball into her arms, cradling it like a small child. “Hi, baby,” she cooed, holding the puppy up to see out the window. “Have you ever seen snow before?”

They certainly hadn’t gotten any in the city. And this sweet little pup was only a baby. Mona figured snow must be a new concept to her. She wondered if she’d like to trot around in the white slush tomorrow morning.

Niall had gotten the puppy as a surprise.

They’d arrived back from San Francisco for only a week before it happened. He had it all planned out. It was a Sunday afternoon. They’d devoured their dinner, a bottle of wine popped open, and the radio was turned to a blues station. Mona was washing up their plates in the sink when Niall had slinked up behind her, hands curled easily around her hips as he pressed his warm lips to her shoulder. “I got something for us,” he’d murmured into her hair, his voice that raspy sort of sweetness he took up when he was up to something.

She hummed, his voice a delicious vibrato down her spine. “What?”

When she’d placed the last plate in the dish rack and dried her hands on a towel, he spun her around, hands still a warm weight on her skin. The sun had already started to slink down the horizon, catching on adjacent buildings and throwing warm golden light into their apartment through the kitchen window. Niall’s eyes glimmered with it, bright blue meshing with rich gold sunlight. He was grinning widely at her in that irresistible way of his, and she let herself get whisked along with his excitement. “You’re gonna love it.”

“Okay,” she laughed, because he’d started to tug her towards the front entrance, just as the doorbell chimed. “But what is it.”

He instructed her to open the door and she eyed him suspiciously. “I promise you’re going to adore it!”

With an exasperated sigh, she did as she was told, fingers trembling slightly in anticipation. Waiting outside the door in a chestnut brown wicker basket lined with a soft white fleece blanket was the tiny little pup. Its fur matched the basket, a curly, chocolaty brown, and it was adorably nestled into itself as it slumbered peacefully.

Mona couldn’t help the way she had gasped, hands over her mouth in pure shock. “Is it ours?”

Niall was already smiling when she looked at him. “Yep. All ours.”

The excitement rushed through her like a tsunami, like champagne bubbles gushing when the bottle is opened. She almost wanted to scream but settled for a squeal instead, hopping slightly on her toes before just jumping into Niall’s arms. He laughed as she thanked him profusely, holding her close. She’d been planting the idea of getting a puppy for ages and she honestly didn’t even think he’d been considering it.

As they brought the little ball of cuteness inside, he explained that Duncan’s neighbor’s labradoodle had given birth. They’d taken them all to the vet to get checked and had been looking to give some of them away. This one was female. Like magic, “A Sunday Kind of Love” played softly on the radio, and they decided to name their newest addition to the family Etta.

“What’re you doing?” Niall was asking her now, where she was still standing in front of the window, watching the snow cover the earth.

She shrugged, still cradling the pup. “Etta’s never seen snow.”

He laughed as he leaned against the kitchen doorframe, cheeks flushed with that gorgeous pink that came from gut-busting laughter and too much whiskey. Behind him, the living room was quiet. Everyone else had probably ambled up to bed. She didn’t particularly care. It meant she got this moment all to herself, watching Niall stand there, looking soft and warm in his gray sweats and ugly Christmas sweater. She let Etta run off as she took him in, the light behind him fanning out around his head like a halo, blue eyes watching her with the world of love.

She crossed her arms as she leaned back against the countertop on the far side of the kitchen. “Did you stand there on purpose?”

He was grinning wildly, hands shoved into his pockets. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Really?” She raised a brow. “So you don’t always stand under that very doorframe every year just to get a mistletoe kiss?”

He looked up, feigning shock at the unmistakable plant dangling from the wood. “Mistletoe? I didn’t even notice it there.”

A laugh bubbled out of her, and she couldn’t help herself. She was drawn to him as always, feet pulling her towards him until she was close enough to wrap her arms around his waist, close enough to graze the corner of his mouth with her lips. “You’re lucky you’re cute,” she murmured, blood rushing at the way his breath audibly caught in his throat, his hands pressing hard into her hips. “You’ll be scamming me into these mistletoe kisses until you’re old and wrinkly.”

A grunt sounded from deep in his throat when she pressed closer, still not meeting his lips. “If the implication is that you’ll be the one to kiss me under the mistletoe when I’m old and wrinkly then yes I damn will.”

When she finally let him catch her lips with his, it was like the world fell away. Big bursts of color flashed behind her closed eyelids as he kissed her, slow and searing, arms wrapping around her waist tightly until her feet were swept right off the ground when he straightened. She giggled into his mouth when he started walking towards the living room, her feet dangling helplessly until he finally put her down in front of the couch.

“Home Alone is on,” he said breathlessly, still stealing short kisses on any bits of skin he could find. “Wanna watch?”

She huffed on a laugh. “Are you sure we’ll just watch?”

At this, he laughed too, pulling away completely. “Dunno if I can make that promise, my darlin’,” he teased, sending her a wink before retrieving a basket that was hidden under the dining table. It was only now that Mona noticed he’d moved the coffee table, spreading a sheet in the space between the couch and TV.

“What’s all this?” she asked, taken by surprise.

Niall shrugged, placing the basket down on the sheet and sitting down, tugging on her hand to do the same. “Just…something.”

Inside the basket was a loaf of the homemade bread they’d made today—still a bit warm in its paper bag—cartons of butter and jellies, a thermos, and a platter of chocolate chip cookies. Apparently, he’d put it all together when no one was watching. Her heart surged with affection for all the thought he put into everything.

They lounged about, ripping pieces of bread and pairing it with butter or jelly, sipping on hot chocolate, which was what was in the thermos. They alternated between watching the movie and watching Etta and Fudge, Harlow’s cat, prod at each other. Etta just wanted to be a friend to Fudge, who was not having it, which was quite amusing.

By the time they finished the bread, they didn’t have much room for the cookies, so they split one as they curled into each other, lounging back against the couch, laughing along to the movie. “I love you,” she murmured to him eventually, pressing a kiss to his chin because she felt so full with emotion, so much that she felt like she might just burst. They were here, in the cabin, where it all began. So much was different. And everything was just right.

Which was why, in hindsight, she probably should have expected it. The circumstances were just right, everything falling into place perfectly. She should have expected it, but she didn’t.

Because when she placed a half-asleep Etta into her makeshift bed and turned around, Niall kneeling on one knee, hands outstretched, holding a ring box, was not a sight she saw coming. Her heart stopped for a moment, eyes widened in complete shock. He hadn’t even said anything yet and she already thought she might cry.

“Mona,” he started, clearly fighting back a slew of emotions himself, “Erm, I’ll be honest, I had a whole speech planned, but my brain has just gone completely blank.” They both laughed thickly. Mona stepped closer. “That happens sometimes anyway, when it comes to you. Sometimes you look at me and I forget my own name. In fact, the first time you smiled at me, I tripped on a branch. Remember?”

She nodded, unable to form words at the moment. She remembered. It was college orientation. She had hardly known that in a few months, she’d fall in love with this boy in a log cabin and her life would change forever.

Niall took a deep breath. “The point is, I am head over heels in love with you. Everything just makes sense with you, and I have never met anyone who is perfect for me in every single way.” An inadvertent sob left her lips, just as she noticed his voice wavering. “I want to spend forever with you, doing everything and nothing, though good days and bad days. I love you so fucking much. And it would be the greatest honor of my life to be your husband.” He smiled, eyes sparkling with unshed tears. “So, what d’you say…will you marry me?”

Mona sobbed through her laughter, kneeling on the ground in front of him, caressing his face in her hands and swiping away the tears that managed to slip through his lashline. “Yes. Yes, I would love nothing more. Yes yes yes.” Niall laughed and pulled her into his arms, holding her tight and slipping the ring onto her finger at the same time. “I love you,” she cried into the curve of his shoulder, completely overwhelmed and yet completely at peace. All she wanted was to spend her whole life with her wonderful, beautiful sunshine boy.

It wasn’t until they both calmed down a bit that she got a good look at the ring. And even through her fuzzy eyesight, blurred by her tears, she recognized that opal stone, surrounded by tiny diamonds, as the one her mother wore for years. She had always admired it when she was a kid, always thought it was a timeless piece of jewelry.

She glanced up at him. “Is this…”

“Yeah.” He trailed a finger over the stone, holding her fingers delicately in his.

She was starting to cry again. “Mom gave it to you?”

He brushed away some of her hair from her face, tucking it gently behind her ear. “Yeah. She said you like it, having something your dad picked out.”

Her eyes welled with tears as she hiccupped slightly in her surprise. Of course. Because along with being her mom’s, opal was also her dad’s birthstone. There was a piece of him inside of this ring and she now had the privilege of carrying it around forever. Niall thumbed away her tears and she looked at him, her heart fit to bursting as she wrapped her arms around him again, her movements so intense that he fell backwards against the sheet.

Their quiet laughter filled the room, and when she pulled back, his face was filled with such adoration, such reverence, that she found herself leaning forward to kiss him tenderly. His love spilled from his lips and into her soul. He filled her with sunshine and loved her unconditionally. Sweet, wonderful Niall. He was hers.

All hers.

Mona was flipping a pancake when Niall strolled into the kitchen, all soft smiles and sleepy eyes and messy bedroom hair. He huffed out a laugh at the sight of her, probably because of what she was wearing. His ugly Christmas sweater from the night before.

“Fuckin’ hell,” he mumbled, as he pressed a kiss to her shoulder, fingers trailing on the hem of the sweater, grazing her skin underneath. “How does this look better on you than it ever did on me?”

She giggled at his words. She felt as though she were on cloud nine, woke up with a smile and couldn’t seem to shake it. Every so often, she’d catch a glimpse of the ring on her left hand and grin wildly to herself, sometimes wondering if she’d simply dreamt the whole night up.

But, no, she hadn’t. Because Niall was sidled up to her, chest pressed against her back as he pressed slow and hot kisses all the way up the side of her neck and down her jawline. “Good mornin’, fiancée,” he murmured, smiling wide against her skin.

She flipped her last pancake onto the platter and turned the skillet off, turning towards him to wrap her arms across his shoulders. “Good morning, future husband,” she replied, melting right into him as he kissed her slow and deep, goosebumps rippling across her skin at the words. It all felt a bit surreal.

He hummed, pressing her against the fridge, skimming his tongue along her lower lip. “I love the sound of that.”

They kept the news from their friends for a whole day. There was something fun and whimsical about it, going about their day doing mundane things with everyone, like eating breakfast or bringing Etta out into the snow for the first time, catching knowing looks from each other because no one else knew what had happened the night before. It was nice to be able to soak it all in, to enjoy it for themselves for a while, without anyone knowing.

Finally, on Christmas morning, as everyone lounged about on the couch, opening presents, they spilled. Niall was the one to announce it, telling everyone that they had news to share and pretending to be somber and melancholy. Harlow, Zayn, Liam, and Harry all froze hilariously when they caught the sudden shift in the mood, all of them sitting down and eyeing Niall and Mona carefully.

Harry was the one to ask what was wrong, and he looked so concerned that Mona couldn’t help the way the laughter just bubbled out of her. She looked at Niall, who’d started to laugh too, before holding up her left hand, the opal gem catching the light and glittering.

“We’re getting married!” they said simultaneously, and everyone was stunned into a few moments of silence before erupting into a deafening round of cheers. Harlow started crying as she hugged Mona tightly, and even the boys started tearing up a bit.

Perhaps it had been a long time coming. But it didn’t matter.

They were here now, endlessly overjoyed, popping open a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

They were here now, and they had the rest of their lives to go.

#six years tho....literally what am i still doing on this website 😂#it's been a wild ride #things i love about you #1dff #writings #as i'm formatting this black and white played on a movie trailer and i think it's a sign LOL #bc this whole series started bc of that song #god it feels like so long ago but it's only been a few months...what a year #will i ever stop rambling in the tags #the answer is no asdjfl #also two drabbles in a day!! yay me!

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lightwormsiblings · 3 years

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hi!! hope you're doing well. if it's okay i have a prompt for you: clary and magnus reconnecting after she comes back to the shadowhunters

I wrote this a few days ago and realized it fit today's prompt for the @malecdiscordserver prompt advent calendar so yay!

Day 2: Mistletoe

Magnus drops a large box full of decorations onto the table, dusting his hands off and smiling over at Clary.

Clary doesn’t hesitate, reaching inside and pulling out some tinsel and Christmas lights from the top. When she looks back up at him, it’s with a smile that reminds Magnus of when she was a little girl.

It’s strange sometimes for Magnus to think about the fact that he’d watched Clary grow up. He’d seen the small excited girl with her pigtails and pencil colors and unending amount of stories grow up into the woman who would sacrifice everything to save the Shadow World.

Losing her a year ago had been harder than expected. Magnus had become almost used to hearing about Clary in passing. Whether through Alec’s complaining, Luke telling a funny story, or even Raphael bringing up something Simon had said about her.

He’d definitely become used to Clary coming to him when she needed help. She was a handful, of course, but Magnus had never minded. Even when he’d had to clean up a fair share of her messes. She had spirit and morals and sometimes she reminded him of himself when he was young. Clary undoubtedly knew right from wrong better than he ever had at her age, but sometimes he would see the fire in her and there would be something familiar in it.

Clary had been the catalyst for a lot of the change happening in the Shadow World now. With every step towards something better, Magnus had thought about her. Had wished she had been able to see it.

But today wasn’t for emotional musings. They had Clary back now, and she was here to stay.

Plus, they had a party to set up for. Magnus had hosted a holiday party every year since he’d moved to New York and relocating to Alicante did not kill that tradition.

“Thanks for letting me help,” Clary says, jarring Magnus out of his thoughts, “they still won’t let me go out on a patrol.”

It has only been about two weeks since Clary’s memories have fully returned but she’s Clary so Magnus isn’t all that surprised that she’s ready to throw herself back into the field.

“This is much more important work that hunting demons,” Magnus replies, injecting an air of boredom into his voice over the end of the sentence.

Clary huffs a laugh, waving her hands around pointedly.

“I could magic this all up,” Magnus agrees, gesturing to the decorations , “but I think that defeats the fun.”

Clary nods seriously. “Decorating is the most important part of being a host.”

Magnus can feel himself grin wide, he really had missed her. No one else in his inner circle appreciates the mundane culture quite like she does.

“You, my dear Biscuit, are absolutely correct,” Magnus says, picking up the excessive amount of mistletoe he’d bought and offering it to Clary.

Clary laughs, accepting it with raised eyebrows.

“Hang this up somewhere that ensures maximum drama,” he tells her with a wink.

Clary salutes at him and bounds off into the living room. Magnus watches her go with a small smile on his face.

He’s glad they have her back.

#sh fic #mds event #my writing #Magnus and Clary #also I know this prompt is a million years old #I AM SO SORRY #answered #clarysisabelle

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ahh-fxck · 3 years

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can i have some cute christmassy yenralt? maybe mistletoe kisses? with bonus ciri? :D :D <333

Ok, @geraltsays! *cracks knuckles* Here we go. I hope you like it!

Prompt for my 200 follower/100k words celebration

Geralt/Yennefer and Ciri, rating: PG (ish?) Please bear with any typos, I am posting this without beta.

The manor was quiet. Yennefer walked from room to room, turning out the lights as she went. It had been a long day, and she was ready for it to be over with at last. She paused in the kitchen, grabbing two glasses and a large bottle of hard cider in a bucket of ice. It clattered quietly in her hand as she lifted it, striding purposefully down the hall to the living room.

The living room was huge, with a plush white carpet everywhere except the fireplace, which had lovely slate tile in front of it. (The white carpet had turned out to be a mistake, but more on that in a moment.) A long, overstuffed leather couch faced it, and in the far corner by the window was one of the largest trees that Yennefer had ever seen stuffed into a house. She sniffed, walking over to place the bucket and glasses on the low table in front of the couch. Straightening, she stared thoughtfully into the fire.

The carpet had turned out to be a mistake for the same reason that there was now a giant tree in her bloody living room. Of course, she couldn’t have known that when she bought the manor. No, back then she was single, and parenthood had been the furthest thing from her mind.

A small noise behind her caused her to stir. She turned and broke out into an unguarded smile of sheer delight. Leaning against the doorjamb was a towering man with white hair pulled back into a messy ponytail. He was wearing a black t-shirt and black jeans, which were set off very charmingly by the glittery tiara on his head and the fluffy pink boa wound around his neck. There was something that looked suspiciously like a mustard-colored handprint smeared low on his shirt, and there were shadows under his eyes.

“Geralt,” she grinned. “You look like a troll ate you and spat you back up.”

Geralt grumbled under his breath, looking down at the mustard stain on his shirt. This motion caused the forgotten tiara on his head to fall. He cursed and caught it in a practiced motion, tossing it aside into a nearby box of toys.

Yennefer slipped around the side of the couch as he did so, slowly walking over to greet Geralt. It was his first year as a father to his adopted daughter Ciri, and it showed. Not only had he bought a tree so big she’d had to force him to cut part of it off before it even fit in the living room, he had stuffed the place full of presents. The fact that they were mostly from the dollar store made it more charming. At three, Ciri was just happy she got to tear paper. The present inside seemed to exist in her small mind as some sort of odd bonus.

“Is she in bed?”

“She’d better be,” Geralt sighed, starting to peel the boa off as well. “I just tucked her in for the third time.”

Yennefer reached out, pulling Geralt’s hand down before he can take the boa off. She hummed, amused. “Leave it. You look charming.”

“I look like I got tarred and feathered by Sailor Moon,” Geralt complained, but there’s no heat in it. He smiled as Yennefer stepped a little closer, nudging him off of the doorjamb.

“You look like a good father,” Yennefer said, walking him back another step. “It looks good on you.” She walked him back another step, then grabbed him by the boa and halted him.

“Perfect.” Eyeing him, she tightened her grip just a little more. Ever since he’d shown up on her doorstep with a toolbelt around his waist, she hadn’t been able to stop looking at him. He’d been there to replace wiring damaged by a squirrel, but their chemistry had been, dare to say, electric.

By the time he’d rolled off of her, she’d known that she was in love. She’d known it before his back had even hit the bed.

Now, he glanced over his shoulder as he saw her eyes begin to gleam. Up above his head he spotted a sprig of mistletoe. Over by the fire the ice shifted, causing the bottle to settle slightly. He glanced at it, then back at Yennefer. His eyebrow went up. “Yeah?”

“Mm,” Yennefer purred her agreement. “For good luck. Christmas is only two days, we’re going to need it.”

Geralt gave a low rumbling chuckle, pulling her close. “You’re not wrong.”

Yennefer wound the fingers of one hand into his shirt, using the boa to pull him down. “Less agreeing, more kissing,” she murmured teasingly. “Before Ciri wakes up again.”

“Hmm,” Geralt agreed, amber eyes sparking with humor. He studied her face for a little moment; a few heartbeats- less- drinking in her beauty. Then she yanked at the boa around his neck and pulled hard, forcing him down. He went with a willing chuckle, feeling his knees turn to water as Yennefer’s soft lips pressed against his own. The scent of lilac and gooseberries enfolded him and he swayed happily, his eyes fluttering closed. And when her tongue did a wicked little flicker, he felt a surge of heat roll through his body.

He was halfway through picking her up when he realized, too late, that the little noise he’d been hearing was not, in fact, snowmelt dripping off of the roof. It was little feet.

“EWWWWWW!”

Behind them was a wide-eyed toddler with white-blonde hair and emerald green eyes. She wore pajamas that matched the boa around Geralt’s neck, and she carried a little plush horse so worn that it was almost rags. She bit her finger and scowled at Geralt and Yennefer curiously. “Yuck?” she added, hopefully.

Geralt closed his eyes and sighed, carefully placing Yennefer back on the floor. Yennefer just laughed.

“What are you doing out of bed, little cub?” She pushed Geralt aside and gathered Ciri up, giving Geralt a moment to… compose himself. Giggling, she carefully turned with Ciri in her arms to look at the tree.

“Is Santa here yet?”

“Goodness ugly one, no! He’s not going to be here for two more days! You’ll keep him away by staying awake, didn’t you know?”

“I’m NOT ugly!” Ciri crowed. She knew this game.

“Yes you are! My pretty ugly one. My beautiful, ugly duckling.”

“I’m NOT a DUCKLING!” Ciri shouted. Yennefer began to tickle her as Geralt drifted over to join them, a tired smile on his face.

“Oh no? What are you then? Are you a frog?” she teased, her violet eyes alight with happiness as the toddler flailed her chubby limbs.

“No! I’m a PRINCESS!” Ciri shouted with laughter.

“That’s right,” Geralt sighed, coming up and enfolding both of them in his arms from behind. “Our beautiful princess.” He and Yennefer exchanged glances out of the corner of their eye- looks like the cider would have to wait, at least for one more bedtime story.

#yenralt #geralt x yennefer #ciri #the witcher fanfiction #the witcher fic #geraltsays

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pink-bird-30 · 4 years

Text

Mistltoe- Hournite Fic

I saw this idea on a tumblr post from @bethschapel ( and I hope it’s okay that I wrote a story about it *crosses fingers)

The idea was Beth snuck a kiss on Rick’s cheek under the mistletoe, and I absolutely love that idea.

I just thought this was the cutest idea ever and needed to write it. Well, at least some variant of the idea.

You can find the link to this story here on my FF.Net.

Well, here we go

---------------------------

Rick peers around the large grey wall trying to avoid a particular JSA member. Ever since he arrived at Courtney's to help setup for the Christmas party, he's been paranoid he’d get stuck under the mistletoe.

Well, more like mistletoes.

Mike decided to decorate half the house in mistletoe, which made things absolutely difficult for Rick if he were to stand too close to her.

Noticing the kitchen is a mistletoe free zone Rick made a quick dash for the island. He slides across the floor and settles against the dark wooded cabinets before letting out a deep breath. Rick rests his head against the cabinets and closes his eyes for a moment.

How the hell am I going to avoid Beth all night?

Don’t get him wrong, Beth is amazing and things have been going great for them. Ever since the JSA defeated the ISA, Rick and Beth spend more time together attempting to repair her broken goggles. With his new found knowledge on chemistry and a bit of alchemy, he thinks there’s a way to make them work again.

Beth enrolled in a few computer science classes in school in hopes of understanding the coding Chuck used to create the goggles. But every time they get somewhere, whether they get the lenses to read a room or Beth asks it a question and it starts to search, something goes wrong. And Rick hates those moments the most. He sees the light in Beth’s eyes dim each time, and it makes Rick frustrated because he hates seeing Beth sad.

After Chuck’s demise against Icicle’s blast, Beth felt responsible for his death. Ever since, she keeps thinking she could’ve done something to protect him. But after hours of consoling her, and letting her cry while he held her tight, she’d still be sad. But Beth’s ambition to fix the goggles is what always helped her to brush away the tears and do everything to keep Chuck’s legacy alive. Even if it means Chuck isn’t there anymore once the goggles are repaired. Rick thinks that’s the hardest part for Beth. Chuck was someone who understood her and made her not feel alone. Particularly when her parents started to work more and she wasn’t close with the other JSA members yet. He was her friend and she lost him.

Shuffling against the side of the island, Rick peaks out to glance down the doorway to the next room over, where Beth and Yolanda were decorating Christmas cookies. His ears perk at their loud giggles. Curiosity grabbing at him, he crawls across the floor and stands up against the opposite wall to hear the girls' conversation.

He dusts off his green and red knit sweater where a few dust bunnies clung to it, and shifts his head to press against the gray wall.

“So Beth,” Yolanda’s voice drawls. “Who do you think your secret Santa is?”

“I’m not too sure. Maybe Courtney? Ooo or maybe Rick!”

Rick's eyes widen.

There's no way she could’ve known…

Yolanda laughs, “I know who Courtney’s person is. And its not you. Maybe it is Rick.”

The sound of Beth’s giggle rings in the air before she said, “I wonder what he could’ve gotten me?”

The girls’ conversation continues as Rick smiles to himself knowing his gift for Beth is perfect…

Later that night, the party is in full swing and everyone is having a great time. Pat and Barbara are dancing to some upbeat version of ‘Jingle Bells’, Mike is chasing Max around the house trying to get his Christmas hat back, and the four JSA members are trying to make gingerbread houses.

Yolanda and Courtney took it upon themselves to work together on a house, leaving Rick and Beth to make their own. They all fought over gumdrops, licorice and sprinkles to make their houses the best possible. Rick finds himself smiling more and more as the gingerbread house making goes on. Beth catches him laughing at one point and it warms her heart. It’s moments like this she’s glad he can enjoy himself.

After making ginger bread houses, Rick steps outside to cool off from the heated house. He walks across the porch to take a seat on the white wooden swing. He sways back a forth for a while, enjoying the snow fall silently to the ground. From behind him, he can hear the laughter of his friends as they enjoy the party. He’s happy he can take this time and enjoy life for the first time, he wants to relish in the fact that he can be happy.

He chuckles to himself thinking how he was afraid of some mistletoe a few hours ago. Sure he was able to avoid getting caught under it with Beth, but seeing her laughing and dancing with him to Christmas music was the perfect distraction. At this point he wouldn’t care if they got caught, it’d be a great excuse to make the first move.

Rick let his eyes close, letting the brisk winter air calm down his heated body. No sound for miles except the soft hum of Christmas music in the house.

After a few minutes he hears the front door open and close. He doesn’t bother to open his eyes knowing who came looking for him.

“Hi, Beth.” He slowly opens his eyes, seeing her standing in front of him with two mugs and a plush white blanket.

She smiles brightly at him, “How’d ya know it was me?”

He smiles warmly at her, “No one else would have come looking for me.” Her cheek redden at the assumption and glances away from him bashfully. Rick reaches out to take the mugs from her hands, gaining her attention and nods his head to the empty space next to him on the swinging chair.

As Beth gets comfortable on the swing, he notices she moves close to him and drapes the white plush blanket across their laps. She reaches for the red mug in his hands and takes a small sip. She smiles joyously letting out a small ‘Mmm’.

Rick holds his mug between his hands feeling the warmth chase away the cold. He can smell the chocolaty aroma of hot cocoa but is curious by what he sees inside. “Are there sprinkles in the hot cocoa?” he asks.

Beth nods her head enthusiastically, “Sure is! It’s a Chapel family secret. My mom always adds a scoop of cool whip, a dash of cinnamon, and a drizzle of rainbow sprinkles. Isn’t it great?” Rick glances down at his cup again before taking a small sip of the warm beverage. Instantly his senses are overwhelmed by the delicious drink. The coolness of the cool whip melting against the heat of the cocoa, and the spicy sweet mixture of the cinnamon and sprinkles dance in his mouth. Needless to say, it’s Rick’s new favorite drink.

“My god…” He takes another sip and moans. “There’s no way something this good exists.”

Beth giggles besides him and shifts to rest her head against his shoulder. “Yeah, it’s a family tradition.” She takes another sip of her cocoa and settles it on her lap. The dark chocolate swirls around the white cool whip in her mug, mixing together to make a light chocolate. “Usually I’d be spending Christmas Eve with my parents, but they decided to work instead…” Rick picks up on the sadness in her voice, and wishes nothing more than to make her feel happy again. He rests his head against Beth’s and wraps his arm around her to pull her closer into his side.

They stay like that for awhile; sipping their hot cocoa and watching the snow drift softly to the ground. Rick has never been more content in his life; his favorite person in his arms as they slowly swing on the porch. The warmth from each other keeping them comfortable in the frigid Alaska winter. Eventually, an hour passes and the hot cocoa is long gone. The two teens decided to head inside for some warmth when the snow starts to come down a bit heavier. Rick wraps the blanket around Beth and takes the two empty mugs from her hands.

“I could’ve held them.” Beth holds the blanket tighter around her, feeling the chilled Alaskan air rush past them.

“I don’t want you catching a cold.”

Beth smiles to herself, happy with how sweet Rick is being with her. Between the hot cocoa and cuddling while watching the snow…this night is perfect.

But Beth couldn’t help but think something is missing.

Rick opens the front door and gestures for Beth to walk through first. She thanks him and walks into the living room where everyone is exchanging Secret Santa gifts. Rick goes to the kitchen to drop off their mugs into the sink before making his way into the sitting room.

“Beth, this one has your name on it!” Mike hands her a medium sized box in bright yellow wrapping paper and a dark blue bow. Beth smiles happily and takes a seat on the couch next to Rick.

“Ricky, this one is for you.” Rick scowls at the preteen and grabs the box from his hands. He mutters a “thanks” and crosses his arms. He doesn’t like the name Ricky, it sounds extremely douchy.

“Mike,” Beth frowns. “You know he hates when you call him that!”

Mike shrugs, not really caring what they said and passes around the rest of the gifts. Everyone starts to open their gifts one by one, but before Beth could tear the wrapping on her present Rick places a hand on top of hers.

“Hey, umm…” Rick rubs the back of his neck nervously. “Can you open your gift with me in the other room?”

Beth looks at him quizzically wondering why he’s asking such a strange request. But she nods anyways seeing the hopeful look in his brown eyes, “Okay, sure.” He smiles and takes her hand in his, ignoring the glances of everyone in the room.

Pat tilts his head slightly and turns to Courtney, “Court, what’s that all about?”

“Oh, you know. Young love…” Courtney says dreamily and clasps her two hands together while fluttering her eyelashes.

Pat rolls his eyes and mutters, “Teenagers.”

Across the house, Beth and Rick take a seat on a love sofa in the den. Beth cradles her gift in her lap waiting for what Rick has to say.

“Look, I know it’s kinda weird I asked you to open this away from everyone. But I just—” He pauses trying to find the right words. Focus Rick. “I just wanted to be alone with you when you opened it.” Beth smiles softly at the gift in her lap and slowly reaches for the blue bow. She pulls at the ribbon, the coils coming undone and pulling with ease. She lets it flutter to the floor, landing against the hardwood floor without a sound.

Beth tears at the yellow paper, the crunching sound eats away at Rick’s nerves. He knows she’ll love her gift, but the tight feeling in his chest still holds as he watches her open the white box and peer down at its treasure.

Beth’s eyes widen noticing the leathery brown material anywhere, now taking on a new shade of yellow in the lenses and no longer having a strap, but two arms like a pair of sunglasses. Slowly, she reaches into the box to pull the goggles out, letting the box in her lap fall to the ground with a thud.

“Rick…” Beth looks at him expectantly. He can see her eyes gleaming with unshed tears. “Will they—will they work?”

Without a word, Rick reaches out and removes Beth’s glasses from her face and gestures for her to put the new goggles on. Taking a dep breath, Beth lifts the new goggles and slides them onto her face. It was strange at first but then the goggles transformed; no longer were there arms on them but a sleek black band settling the goggles snugly against her.

“Hello, Dr. Mid-Nite. My name is Chuck, how can I be of service to you?”

Beth sniffles as she asks Chuck, “Are you-u,” She takes a deep breath before continuing. “Are you my Chuck? The original Dr. Mid-Nite?”

Rick frowns realizing what Beth is asking. He touches her arm gently, knowing the reply from ‘Chuck’ won’t be what she’ll expect.

“I am sadden to tell you, but I am no longer programmed for the original owner of these goggles.” Beth’s shoulder deflate, upset her friend is gone, but she is still grateful her goggles work again. “But I do have a message from Chuck-aka the original Dr. Mid-Nite.” Beth stares at Rick as her goggles project a life size version of the original Dr. Mid-Nite.

“My dearest friend, Beth chapel. Although my end was abrupt and none of your doing. Do know my knowledge and legacy will remain with you. The new Dr. Mid-Nite.” Beth feels the tears gather at the corner of her eyes hearing Chuck speak to her again. “As long as you keep your friends close, you will never truly ever be alone again. Until we meet again, Beth. Godspeed.”

The image of Chuck fades out and Beth touches the goggles, returning them to their original form with two arms as she pulls them away from her face.

Rick stares at the space where Chuck had occupied at a loss for words. “Um…I don’t remember that feature…”

Beth wipes at her eyes, “Storage memory. Chuck must’ve added it once the basic technology of the goggles was too extensive. Smart.” Her usual enthusiasm is missing in her voice, drawing concern from Rick. He shifts closer to her on the sofa and pulls her into his arms.

“I didn’t know that would happen, I was just excited that I finally got them to work again.” He whispered into her hair. Beth rests her head against his chest and wraps her arms tightly around his torso.

“I love them. Thank you for figuring out how to fix them, It means a lot to me.”

“I’d do anything to make you happy, Beth. Merry Christmas.” He kisses her forehead before pulling away to look down at her. Beth looks up at Rick and smiles but then notices something above him that catches her eye.

Rick tilts his head wonder what she find so amusing. He follows her line of sight to see his enemy from earlier tonight.

Mistletoe.

Rick feels the heat rise to his cheek as his attention slowly drifts back to Beth. By the time his eyes meet hers, they’re already glinting with mischief.

“I do recall you mentioning you’d do anything to make me happy…” her voice is lower than Rick remembers, making him extremely nervous.

He pulls at the neck of his sweater feeling it tighten all of a sudden, “Yu- I mean,” he clears his throat, “Yes.”

Beth’s hands trail up Rick’s chest and make their way around his neck. “Does that include partaking in Christmas traditions?”

Yes, a hundred times yes.

Regaining his confidence, Rick pulls Beth into his lap while wrapping his arms around her waist. He leans in close, letting his lips hover over hers for a moment, “Wouldn’t want to be a Grinch.”

Beth brushes her nose against his and rests her hand against his cheek, “No, we wouldn’t want that.”

With his patience running thin, Rick brushes his lips against Beth’s eliciting a small gasp from her. Hearing that small sound ignited something between them and their lips collided again and again. The soft touches innocent in nature, but eager with heat. Chaste kisses that leave Beth breathless as Rick kisses down her neck and stops at that spot beneath her jawline, making her already blurry vision diminish completely.

Her hands thread through Rick’s hair and gently tugging to bring his mouth back to her for a slow kiss. It wasn’t rushed or hot but passionate and sensual. It’s pure emotion being poured out into this one moment, a moment that has been put off for far too long.

The sound of footsteps heading in their direction is what pulls them apart just in time for Pat to tell them it was time for dessert. But the obvious stern father tone is enough for them to follow him back to the dining room hand and hand. Pretending to ignore the blatant glares they’re receiving from their friends, Beth and Rick spend the rest of the night happy that Mike was adamant about the mistletoes.

Especially when he gets stuck under it with Max.

The End.

#Hournite #Dr.Mid-Nite #Hourman #Beth Chapel #Rick Tyler #Stargirl #ff

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antisocial-af · 3 years

Text

Day 20: Kadir/Maryse

Title: Peaceful Times

25 Days of Pairings: Day 20: Kadir/Maryse

Rating: G

Wordcount: 1588

No Major Archive Warnings

SFW, Fluff, Holidays, Book Timeline, Side Pairings Follow Book Canon, Kadir/Maryse is canon in my heart but not in book...yet.

Summary:

Maryse and Kadir both set up for a reveal and a family meal.

Click Here to Read on Ao3

Story:

Maryse pushed into the large abandoned office, struggling with the large cooked ham she was carrying. She peered inside and stood in awe of Kadir’s work while she was cooking. They had both spent all Christmas morning cooking and sprucing up the old room up for a family meal. Kadir had chosen the room with an out of use fireplace, the reliable Shadowhunter even got working earlier on in the day.

“This looks amazing,” Maryse complimented while making her way to the decorated large meeting table; they had draped a red table cloth with a festive white snowflake pattern and placed some candles down the middle. “Did you get firewood?”

“Yes,” Kadir pointed to a neat pile by the lit fireplace. “I think I am about done as well with the tree. What do you think?”

Maryse set the food down on the table and turned to face Kadir and the tree. She looked at all the ornaments and garland wrapping the pine and smiled. Maryse let her eyes drift up to the shining soft yellow star on top and tried to recall the last time it was peaceful enough to entertain the idea of a shared holiday meal. She had mentioned her thoughts to Kadir in passing after a hunt and was surprised with Kadir’s insistence that maybe it would be a good time for them to ease her children into the idea of their relationship.

Their relationship was still new to them. Maryse wasn’t searching for anyone; they were at a time of constant skirmishes and near death. She didn’t have the time to think of things like that; her children needed her. Still, before she knew it, Kadir had found a place next to her. He was reliable and balanced, a compliment to her sometimes rash nature.

Maryse hadn’t realized when she started to rely on him for things outside of Shadowhunter’s duties. The dance between them was a slow one; they recently had put a label on it themselves. Maryse and Kadir had Blueberry to thank for that. Babysitting the energetic warlock had pulled them closer rather than separate them as Maryse had feared.

She felt Kadir walk up behind her and wrap his arm around her waist. Maryse turned and rested her head against his shoulder. They were both out of their standard Shadowhunter gear and in a pair of odd sweaters Clary had assured her were part of the mundanes’ Christmas traditions to wear.

“They’ll be here soon. I should go get their presents,” Maryse sighed, taking in the decorations Kadir had carefully strewn around the room to make it look festive and welcoming.

“I’ll go get them. It’s better if you are here to greet them, in case they are early,” Kadir volunteered.

“My children early?” Maryse laughed and smiled. “Alright, you can go get them. I’ll finish setting up the food.”

Kadir smiled and pulled away, placing a chaste kiss on Maryse’s cheek before he went off to retrieve the gifts.

She looked around the room and decided she should put up the fireplace protector in place. Maryse didn’t want Max getting any ideas while the get together was going on. She hopped the enchanted train set she had purchased from the Shadow Market would keep the little warlock entertained. Rafe was still a wild card on what to get; she had to question her son-in-law through some drinks on what her newest grandson liked. Magnus had mentioned Rafael’s love for Spanish lullabies and light up sneakers. Maryse resolved to find something in the Shadow Market as well. She was pleased when she passed a Seelie’s booth with music boxes; of course, she got it checked over by Magnus and Catarina, but purchased a light metal box that played the tune of ‘Arrorro Mi Niño.

A fire message shot through the air, snapping Maryse from her thoughts as her hand reached for the small paper.

‘Is portal good, or would you rather we made a Lightwood-Bane entrance? -Magnus Lightwood-Bane’

Maryse sighed with a smile and sent back that a portal would be fine. Her son-in-law had taken pride in using his full last name whenever he could. Maryse could recall how boldly Magnus had written his full name on the Shadowhunter documents.

“Hey, mom, look who we found,” Jace called out as Clary walked in, carrying two presents. Jace behind her had more than ten, and close behind him was Kadir balancing even more gifts. “Wow, you went all out!”

Maryse walked over and pulled Clary into a hug, and greeted them. “Of course, I did. Honestly, Jace put the presents down; you are going to fall or something. How are you, Clary?”

“No fair. How come Clary gets a nice greeting,” Jace pouted and went with Kadir to start putting the presents under the tree. “Is Alec here yet? He’s the one that texted me not to be late earlier.”

“You almost were if he hadn’t texted me too,” Clary reminded him as she smiled at Maryse. “This looks lovely, Maryse. I can’t believe you did this all by yourself.”

“Thank you, but I didn’t. Kadir helped me out,” Maryse confessed with a small smile. “He set up the room whi-”

A portal opening behind her cut off Maryse’s words, followed by a curse from Jace.

“Got it,” Kadir called out before Maryse and Clary could fully see what had happened.

“Sorry!” Max’s voice called out.

Maryse watched as Max was now on his uncle Jace and Kadir was balancing even more gifts than before.

“Maxie! Dad said we couldn’t just run through portals,” Rafe scolded his brother as he passed through the portal.

“But Rafe, I saw Uncle Jace! It was safe!” Max fought back with a pout.

“Dad still says no, Maxie.”

“Boys,” Magnus’ voice follows as the warlock passes through accompanied by Alec, who is shaking his head at his children. “We are here to have a meal with family, no fighting on holidays, remember?”

“Sorry, Ayah.” both boys responded.

“All good boys, just remember good children get hot chocolate and movies before bed,” Magnus added, reminding them of their promised reward if they behave. “Maryse! What lovely decorations, look darling a mistletoe.”

Maryse looked over to Kadir, and both raised a brow; neither remember putting up mistletoe in the decorations.

“Are we late?” Simon called out from the door holding Isabelle’s hand. “Sorry, we had patrol before this, so we had to clean up. I don’t think ichor would be a nice addition to the menu.”

“Si,” Izzy sighed and smiled as she walked forward to hug her mom. “It smells so good in here. I can’t wait.”

“Kadir, are you joining us?” Alec asked as everyone had settled inside.

Maryse walked over to Kadir and stood by him. She looked up at him as her children’s and their partners’ eyes watched them both.

“We actually have an announcement to make,” Maryse answered for them both. “Kadir and I have been seeing each other for some time now.”

“Was it before you babysat Max?” Jace asked first.

“No, we were still trying to figure things out at that point,” Maryse answered as she felt Kadir squeezed her hand in his. The support allowed her to keep going. “It is all still very new.”

“That means,” Simon started and stopped as he looked to be in deep thought. “Clary wins!”

“Wins?” Maryse and Kadir both asked, confused.

“Shame. I was planning to get some free babysitting days from winning,” Magnus chimed in with a sigh. “I was betting it takes you both till New Year’s.”

“Excuse me?” Maryse asked again. She was aware that her children were prone to different types of bets, but she wasn’t aware that some would involve her. “Did you all bet on this?”

Isabelle and Jace looked immediately to Alec, knowing that tone of voice from their mom.

“We want you to be happy, mom,” Alec started as he discreetly glared at his younger siblings. “We knew Kadir was someone worth your time after we picked up Max. I know how many accidents can happen when babysitting Max. Still, he shook it off.”

“So you did bet on this,” Maryse concluded as she sighed. “Please don’t bet on my life events.”

“I don’t think it’s so bad,” Kadir said, wrapping an arm around Maryse pulling her closer.

Maryse looked up slightly and blushed at his words. She heard the not so quiet giggles and whispers from around her and cleared her throat.

“Alright enough about my love life! Let’s get ready to eat before the food gets cold.”

“It’ll be great to have you, Kadir,” Isabelle smiled before hooking her arm around Simon. “My brothers have told me some about you, but it will be nice for us four to have a conversation later. Come on, Si, I think mom made baked macaroni. You have to try it.”

Maryse shook her head, slightly mortified at the idea that her children might attempt to give Kadir the shovel talk.

“This is… not as bad as expected, “ Kadir mentioned to Maryse as they stood to the side watching the festivities take place “not as chaotic,” Kadir smiled, placing a hand on Maryse’s shoulder.

Maryse leaned into the touch, “well, of course, these are my kids.”

“Maryse,” Kadir chided her playfully.

Maryse sighed. “I know, I know, I’m surprised as well all the chaos in our lives, this is nice.”

She took his hand and pulled him to the table where their family awaited.

#antisocialaf #mywork #hmdiscord #the eldest curses #tlbow #kadir safar #maryse lightwood #kadir/maryse #fanfiction #shadowhunters

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wishingupontheskyandstars · 3 years

Text

Our Secret This Holiday ❄️ Chp. 4

Summary: As the Holidays approach, Arya and Gendry are a new couple spending a lot of time together before they reveal to everyone else that they are dating and what better day to reveal that than on Christmas…

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | AO3 Link Here | Rated M

Chapter 4: Ugly Sweaters

The Holiday party was in full swing with modern and classic holiday songs playing in the background. Guests, dressed in themed sweaters, continued to catch Arya’s eye. Some were the ugliest sweaters she had ever seen. She scrunched her nose at someone wearing a bright red sweater with wavy lined gold tinsel and real lights scattered around, sparkling white, green, and blue.

A variety of Christmas lights shined brightly throughout, along with the decorative tree, hanging stockings, beautiful wreaths, and charming gingerbread houses delicately placed on the fireplace mantel. It was a wonder to Arya, with all the decorations, how over thirty guests were able to fit in both the Condo's living room and kitchen.

"Arya, Daenerys told me your last semester is coming up. How are you holding up?" Missandei, Daenerys' co-worker at the law firm, asked.

Arya looked away from the decorations once she heard her name. She felt Gendry's hand placed at her lower back, making her feel warm and want to snuggle more into his arms. She looked at Missandei, beautifully dressed in a shimmery silver-colored sweater dress with a large green ribbon in the center. She held hands with her boyfriend, known as Grey Worm. He was a military officer stationed overseas in Essos and was able to get a few weeks off for the Holidays.

Seeing their hands intertwined effortlessly made Arya smile as she said, "Well, to tell you the truth, I'm ready for school to be over but terrified the day after graduation." She then took a sip of champagne as she felt Gendry's hand over her lower back rub her affectionately as if to put her at ease. It worked.

Daenerys, who was standing next to Missandei's other side, said, "You're going to be fine."

Arya appreciated the sentiment as she looked at her best friend's sweater dress: Three kittens in the present box, all pawing at real ornaments from part of the tree. She smirked. "Of course, your dress would have cats on it."

Daenerys smiled. "You know it."

"Where's the trio? I haven't seen them for hours," Arya said.

Daenerys gave a half-smile. "I knew they would jump on the counters and eat food they shouldn't, so they're in my room, most likely very upset."

Arya chuckled. "Just wait until later..." Referring to a similar incident from months ago when the cats shredded pillows in retaliation.

Daenerys rolled her eyes. "Ha," she said dispassionately.

Just then, a waiter came with a platter of Gendry's fried mash potato balls.

"These are divine," Missandei said, grabbing one.

Grey worm, dressed in a classic patterned sweater with cookies and milk and Santa, munched on his third one and nodded. "Great job, man. I swear if there's still any left, I'm going to finish the Portobello Mushrooms. Those are excellently seasoned."

Gendry, who looked a little embarrassed at receiving such praise, smiled slowly. "Thanks—the seasoning is from Essos. A lot of the spices and herbs from there I use at my restaurant."

Daenerys finished her fried mash potato ball and said, "Thank you again, Gendry, for your lovely food." She smiled at him.

He nods in response and said, "Of course and if you will excuse us..." He pulls his hoodie over his head, showing the antlers, completing his ugly reindeer sweater. He looked at Arya, "Did you want to dance?" He shrugged.

"Sure," She puts her glass on the counter and takes his hand with hers, trying not to laugh at the antlers as they walk toward the Christmas tree where others were dancing. She turned around and saw the antlers again, this time unable to keep it in, and laughed out loud. "Oh, my Gods—you look cute but ridiculous!" The central part of his sweater was the reindeer's chest as if Gendry was a reindeer himself.

Gendry smiled. "And your sweater looks more normal than ugly," he remarked.

Arya looked down at her dark gray sweater with a snow wolf in the middle with a red Santa hat as snowflakes rained all over. She then shrugged. "I don't care.” She then wrapped her arms around his neck, slightly pulling on an antler as Gendry smirked at her, making her laugh as they jumped to the upbeat music together. Watching the antlers bounce, she said, “I'm here, dancing and spending time with you—that's what matters to me." She kissed him on the lips, feeling him respond as they stopped dancing and made the kiss last the rest of the song, leaning against a stocking on the wall.

Daenerys looked around the festive and lively room and saw guests talking, eating, laughing, and dancing. She spotted Meera in the kitchen talking with a young man unfamiliar to her, but as she saw Meera's small smile forming, she knew she was having a good time. She looked around and spotted them, grinning as she said, "You know, I've never seen Arya dance with anybody that wasn't a Stark." Daenerys held on to Margaery, dancing slowly together, two couples away from Arya and Gendry.

Margaery, who wore a light green sweater with a pattern of roses and mistletoe all over, lifted her head from her girlfriend's shoulder and saw the couple kissing and slow dancing to the newly changed song. She gave them a sly grin as she said, "I like them together."

Daenerys nodded in agreement. "Me too. I almost want to go to Winterfell and see everyone's reaction when they reveal they're in a relationship."

Margaery raised her brows. "So, she is going to tell them? I don't know—What I get from Arya is that she wants to keep their relationship a secret as long as possible. I mean, we may have not even known if we hadn't caught them..." She half-smiles, holding Daenerys closer to her.

"Knowing the Starks, I don't think she will be able to keep the secret this holiday, but..." She shrugged. "She can be very sneaky, so she might be able to pull it off." She looked at her girlfriend's headband, which had a small mistletoe sewed into it. She touches the mistletoe and says, "You were so creative with this."

Margaery gave her a sly smile. "Anything to keep doing this," She kisses Daenerys on the lips, her hands feeling the wool material as they landed on her ass, squeezing it.

Daenerys, felt so happy and in love, her hand in Margaery's silky hair as she pulled her closer to her, feeling their lips touch and move together.

As it neared two in the morning, the Condo quieted down. Christmas music continued to play but on a lower volume. About half of the guests remained. Arya opened her bedroom with Gendry's hand in hers and saw a couple of people in her bed, clothed, sleeping. There was even someone on the floor, snoring. She closed the door.

"Well, I didn't anticipate this." She said, leaning against the wall in the hall.

"What are you going to do?" Gendry asked.

"I don't want to kick them out—It just doesn't feel right once people had a good time here..."

"It's your bed—they should have fucking asked," Gendry scoffed.

"I kinda like you're angrier than me about this."

"If it were my bed—they would be out." He said matter-of-factly.

She chuckled. "Well, there is another solution to this." She raised her brow, giving Gendry a small grin as she leaned forward, kissing him, tasting chocolate. She moaned as she felt Gendry's hand on her cheek, pulling her closer, hoping he got what she meant.

"As you wish, Milady," he whispered against her lips before licking the bottom of her lip and kissing her harder.

#gendrya #arya x gendry #ao3 #fanfic #multi chapter fic #inspired by Tumblr prompt #holidays #christmas #my fanfic

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