#I’ll finish this challenge before the end of the month don’t you worry! I know there’s no pressure but this is the funnest challenge ever | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

joelsgreys · 1 year

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We love a writing prompt challenge - I'd love to see what you do with post!outbreak Joel and ❛ what if i hurt you? ❜

smut prompt challenge

Thank you so much for sending this one in to me my darling! <3 I decided to be a little adventurous with this one, I hope you like it. Also, it turned out to be a longer than I meant to, it was supposed to just be a blurb/short drabble and it turned into a 3k oneshot. Whoopsie. I am not at the point where I can write smut with no plot, I have to have at least a teensy bit of plot lmao.

pairing: Joel Miller x Female Reader

warnings/tags: 18+ only, minors dni. explicit. post outbreak, set in Jackson. established relationship. jealous/possessive/slightly intoxicated Joel. reader is just a lil bit toxic too. rough sex, p in v sex, unprotected sex, bit of spanking, praise and pet names. very lightly implied age gap (reader is referred to as kid by an older side character but she’s in her mid to late 20s, Joel is canon age, mid 50’s; purely self indulgent with the age thing tbh) okay, I think I got it all.

word count: 3k

“Alright kid, I’m heading out for the night,” Seth announced, flipping off all of the lights inside of The Tipsy Bison. He made sure to leave one last dim yellow light on for you so that you could finish cleaning up around the bar. He tossed you a set of keys to the building from where he stood near the front door. As he shrugged into his blue denim jacket, he asked you one last time, “Are you sure you’re going to be okay locking up the place all on your own at this hour?”

You couldn’t help but laugh a little. You walked over towards him, twirling the set of keys between your fingers. “Oh please. What could possibly happen to me in a secured, gated community where everybody knows everybody, Seth?” You questioned him, shaking your head slightly. “And besides, it’s not like we’ve got a register full of cash just waiting to be robbed. It’s the end of the world, so I think I’ll be just fine closing up shop.”

“Well, you got me there,” he sniffed. “I suppose I don’t have anything to worry about.” He paused, lowering his voice as he added, “And much less when you have your very own guard dog sitting over there and keeping his watchful eye on you.”

You glanced over your shoulder at Joel. He was sitting at the opposite end of the long bar nursing what had to be his third or fourth glass of barrel aged bourbon; even after all the shit you two had been through together over the last several months while making the dangerous and violent trek across the country, Joel had never, not once, behaved like this with you. He had never been this ridiculously overprotective of you, not until you’d begun working as one of the evening bartenders at The Tipsy Bison. He wasn’t all too fond of your new role in Jackson, and he’d made it abundantly clear by dropping in late at night to make sure the rowdier male patrons who would frequent the bar after evening patrol were behaving, keeping their hands to themselves—and off of his girl.

You turned back to Seth, flashing him a sheepish, apologetic smile. “Look, I know he can be kind of rough around the edges sometimes. But he’s not all that bad, you know?”

“Kind of rough around the edges? One look from Miller can send anyone running for their lives in the other fucking direction,” he remarked with an amused snort as he pushed the door open. “Be sure to turn off that last light before you leave, kid. Oh, and don’t forget that I’m going need you here tomorrow at three for the opening shift, alright?”

“Got it. See you tomorrow,” You said, giving him a little wave as he left. You pulled the door closed and locked it behind him, giving it a gentle tug to make sure it was secure. Shoving the set of keys into the back pocket of your light blue denim cut off shorts, you made your way back across the quiet, empty bar and over towards Joel. You let out a soft sigh, lightly draping an arm around his shoulders. “Joel, please. It’s almost one o’ clock in the morning. I still have quite a bit to do around here before I can leave,” You stated. You reached up, affectionately running your fingers through his graying, dark brown curls. “You have patrol duty in a few hours. Go home and get some sleep. I’ll be fine on my own.”

He scoffed. “Ain’t no way in fuckin’ hell I’d let you walk home alone at this hour.”

You sighed again, withdrawing your hand from his hair as you stepped back.

Joel turned on the bar stool he’d been perched on for most of the night, his dark brown eyes taking the sight of you in; they glazed over your fitted, tight black tee shirt with a neckline that scooped way too low and exposed too much skin for his liking. His lips pressed together into a thin, tight line as his gaze wandered down further, noticing how the frayed hem of your cut offs fell a couple of inches above the middle of your thighs. “You really gotta fuckin’ wear that outfit every night?”

You glanced down at yourself, frowning. “What’s wrong with my outfit?”

“I just don’t fuckin’ like it,” he muttered gruffly, his fingers holding onto his glass of whiskey in a near death grip. “You’re showin’ off way too goddamn much. Every fucker you served tonight got more than a fuckin’ eyeful. I probably watched ‘bout a dozen idiots stare at your tits and openly flirt with you right in front of me, you know that?”

“There’s a reason why this is the uniform I have to wear, Joel,” You teased with a giggle, hoping to ease the tension that was practically radiating off of the man.

“You fuckin’ enjoyin’ this?” He asked bitterly as he glared at you. He drained the rest of his drink and slammed the empty glass down onto the counter with a little more force than what was necessary. His jealousy was seeping out of him, and you’d be a damned dirty liar if you said you didn’t find it so incredibly hot.

“Mm, just a little bit,” You replied with another tiny giggle. You leaned up against the bar and crossed your arms over your chest, your gaze meeting his; you noticed the way the seething anger flashed in his dark eyes. His raw, raging emotions were only exacerbated by the amount of bourbon he’d had to drink that night. “Oh lighten up, Joel! I’m only kidding and you know that. Listen, the outfit and the flirting, it’s just part of my job as a bartender. It’s something that all the girls around here have to do. I’m just eye candy for the lonely and horny patrolmen who have nothing better to do with their free time. Besides, Seth makes it very clear to all the fucking guys around here that they can look but they can’t touch—”

“I don’t give a fuck!” Joel snarled, suddenly rising to his feet. “I don’t give a fuck if they don’t touch you, alright? I don’t want those bastards lookin’ at you, hell I don’t even want any of them so much as fuckin’ breathin’ in your direction!” He drew closer towards you, his voice going so dangerously low it sent a little chill right up the length of your spine. “You’re mine, you fuckin’ understand me? You are mine.”

Your playful smile faded slightly.

His possessiveness should have bothered you. It should have angered you, even. You were a human being, not his piece of property. But as you drank in the sight of him, the way his hands curled into fists at his sides, the way his nostrils flared, and not to mention that all too familiar murderous look in his eye, you couldn’t help the wanting heat that flooded your lower belly.

“Then take me,” You murmured, your voice soft.

Joel sobered up ever so slightly. “What?”

“I didn’t stutter, Joel. I said, take me.”

Joel stared at you, mouth agape. “You’ve lost your damn mind. We’re in a fuckin’ bar—”

“A dimly lit, locked bar with no one else around,” You smirked, pulling your top down to expose the black lace bra you wore underneath. “You say I’m yours, so show me. Right here, right now.”

Joel’s cock twitched behind his zipper, his mouth going dry when he caught a glimpse of the way the soft, delicate lace hugged the delicious curve of your breasts. He opened his mouth to speak, but words failed him as he watched you bite down on your bottom lip and tilt your head up at him, batting your eyelashes innocently—you knew how to play him just like a fucking fiddle.

“Baby, no. Not here.”

You pouted playfully. “Don’t you want me?”

“Not like this,” he rasped, although the continued straining against the dark blue denim of his jeans stated otherwise. “I’m drunk, I’m pissed off—I just don’t trust myself with you right now.”

You smiled sweetly at him and stepped forward to shrink the gap of distance between your bodies.

You slid your hands underneath his brown jacket and pushed it off his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. You placed a hand on his chest, right over his heartbeat as your eyes met his. “I trust you.”

He rigidly shook his head. “What if I hurt you?”

“I trust you,” You reassured him. “Please, Joel. I just need you to fuck me, right here, right now. I need you to show me that I’m all yours. Yours and only—”

Joel didn’t even bother to let you finish.

He reached out for you and pulled your body flush against his, his mouth crashing violently against yours; his tongue darted through your parted lips, dominating your own in a way that made you melt into a submissive little puddle right in his large hands. He wasted no time, moving his lips down to your neck where he started nipping and biting at your delicate flesh with his teeth—hard enough that your silky skin would be covered in discolored marks tomorrow. But any worries about him being too rough had gone out the window. He wanted to mark his territory. He wanted every motherfucker in Jackson to know you belonged to him.

“Joel,” You moaned out his name and clutched fistfuls of his dark green flannel shirt.

He said nothing, allowing his mouth to continue ravaging you as his hands started ridding you of your clothes; he broke contact for as second, just long enough to pull your shirt over your head. You aided him and reached around yourself to unhook your bra, carelessly tossing it somewhere behind the bar. Your shorts and matching lace underwear came off next, along with your tan brown cowboy boots.

Normally, Joel would take his time. He’d kiss and worship his way across every inch of your entire body, but not tonight—no, tonight he was going to take you quickly, roughly. Between all the alcohol and his pent up frustrations, being gentle was the very last thing on his mind.

“C’mere.” Joel yanked you over towards a small, square wooden table just a few feet away from the bar, the same damn table where patrons would enjoy their after work duty drinks. He gripped the back of your neck and shoved you down, bending you right over the table; you let out a little gasp as your warm, naked body hit the cold, laminated wood. His rough, calloused hands glided their way down your smooth back and he took a single step backwards to admire the view. “Open up for me, sweetheart. Let me see you—all of you.”

You glanced over your shoulder at him with lustful, hooded eyes. Biting your lower lip, you did as you were told and spread your legs, your entire body erupting in goosebumps as the chilly air coming from the vents of the building hit your throbbing center.

Joel groaned, noticing the way your inner thighs were slick, coated with your own arousal. “Look at you, my pretty girl. Already soakin’ wet for me and I haven’t even touched you yet.”

Giggling, you turned away from him and pushed your feet apart even wider. You then opened your mouth to speak, but instead let out a loud yelp when you felt him deliver a swift but harsh strike to your ass with the palm of his hand.

He’d never fucking done that before.

Joel began kneading at the spot he’d just struck you with his fingers so aggressively that you were certain you’d find bruises there in the morning.

The thought alone made you drip onto the floor.

“Joel—” You lifted yourself slightly off of the table.

“Stay down,” he commanded, pushing you back down.

You nodded and pressed your cheek flat against the table, your wet, aching walls clenching in pure anticipation as you heard his belt buckle clinking followed by the sweet sound of his zipper coming undone. Seconds later, the tip of his rock hard length pressed against your drenched slit.

You spread your legs even wider, prompting Joel to chuckle.

“You want me bad, don’t you my little darlin’?” he nearly taunted you. “Hm? You want me inside that pretty little pussy?”

“God yes I do—please fuck me,” You pleaded him. “Please, Joel. Please.”

He hummed. “Since you’re bein’ an awfully good girl and askin’ so politely…”

Joel didn’t even finish his sentence. There was a momentary pause and before you could ask him what the hell he was waiting for, he slammed into you, sheathing himself in your tight heat.

No warning. No warmup.

No time for you to think about anything except for the feeling of his thick, hard cock filling you up and stretching you completely.

You gasped out as all the air left your lungs. “Joel!”

Gripping your shoulders, he slid himself out of you entirely before delivering another powerful blow, one that had you seeing fucking stars. He didn’t give your body any time to adjust to him as he began to thrust, picking up a wild pace that you felt would split you in half if he didn’t ease up.

He’d fucked you plenty of times before—but never like this.

Senseless.

You gripped the edges of the table, gasping for a breath—you tried to cry out, but when you opened your mouth, all that came out were quick, pathetic little pants, desperate for air.

It hurt.

But the kind of hurt that felt so fucking good that you wanted more and more of it.

“You look so goddamn pretty, takin’ my cock like that,” Joel grunted out. His hands had abandoned your shoulders in favor of your hips, his fingers bruising the soft flesh there. “What a fuckin’ good girl you are for me, baby. Such a good girl—”

Planting your shaky hands on the table top, you pushed yourself up.

Joel’s hands left your hips. He slid an arm around your shoulders, pulling your naked back against his broad, clothed chest where he held you firmly in place as he continued to fuck you into oblivion with his barbaric, almost animalistic thrusts.

“Who do you belong to?” he whispered into your ear, his other hand resting on your stomach. “Tell me, darlin’. Who do you belong to?”

“You,” You somehow managed to choke out a reply between gasps. “I belong to you, Joel.”

“Yeah? You’re mine? All fuckin’ mine?”

You could only nod your head in response.

Joel’s arm around you tightened. “Say it,” he demanded. “I need you to say it.”

“I’m yours, all fucking yours!”

His hand moved from your stomach and dove between your thighs, two of his fingers finding your clit as swollen and sensitive as it had ever been. His digits circled the bundle of nerves, causing your legs to tremble as you felt the beginning of an orgasm coiling tight in your lower belly.

“Oh fuck,” You breathed out in a moan. “Joel, I’m gonna—”

“Come for me baby,” he encouraged you huskily, his breath hot against your ear. “I want you to come all over my cock like the good girl you are.”

Finally, you managed to find your cries inside of you; they tore themselves from your throat where they had been lodged, echoing throughout the entire, empty bar as you came undone, your walls clenching tightly around him.

“Fuck baby,” Joel released a deep, guttural groan and shoved you back over the table, pinning you down on it with both his hands as he spilled inside of you.

He leaned over you, his body hovering over yours as the two of you took a minute to catch your breath. He gave one final gentle thrust, groaning again when he felt the way you fluttered around him.

“Already wantin’ more sweetheart?” Joel planted a gentle kiss on your shoulder before finally pulling out of you. He stepped back, pulling his jeans back up into place; he stopped for just a moment, noticing the way his cum dripped out of you and slowly trickled down the inside of your thighs. Resisting the primal urge to take you all over again, he zipped up his jeans and buckled his belt. He then realized you still hadn’t moved and a frown tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Baby I didn’t hurt you did I—”

“Shut up,” You told him, lazily waving a hand at him. “Don’t ruin it.”

Joel couldn’t help but chuckle as he shook his head. “You really are somethin’ else, you know that?”

“Mhm, but that’s why you love me,” You reminded him, glancing over your shoulder at him with a tiny little smirk.

Joel leaned over, quickly feathering a trail of kisses down your spine before he started walking around the bar and picking up your clothes. He handed them to you along with his jacket and helped you clean yourself up with a clean rag from behind the bar. As you dressed, he disappeared behind the counter once more, returning just moments later with a glass of bourbon in one hand and another clean, damp cloth in the other. “Sit,” he ordered, pointing to a bar stool and you obeyed. You sipped on the hard liquor watching as he started wiping down the table. Discarding the cloth into a garbage bin, he began putting all the chairs up on the tables for you. Looking around, he asked, “What else do you need me to do?”

Setting the glass down, you stood up and shook your head. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll come in early tomorrow and finish up my tasks before the bar opens.” You smiled tiredly at him. “Let’s just go home, yeah?”

“Yeah, you need to get some rest—” Joel stopped, his dark eyes widening when he caught a glimpse of the marks that had already begun forming on your neck. “Shit,” he muttered as he hurried over to you. He moved the lapels of his jacket out of the way and touched them delicately. “You’re not gonna be able to hide these, baby.”

“It’s fine,” You grinned at him. “At least now, everyone will know who I belong to.”

#smut prompt challenge #Joel Miller #joel miller smut #joel miller one shot #joel miller x reader #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller x female reader #joel miller x you #joel miller x y/n #joel miller x oc #joel miller hbo #joel miller fic #joel miller fanfiction #pedro pascal characters #joel miller angst

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ashleysmessyjourney · 1 year

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22 Months Messing Challenge Update

Okay, so today I learned that 1 cup of coffee helps move things along and helps make me do my thang in my diaper. However, adding a glass of cranberry juice throws my tummy into overdrive and totally clears me out in a way that I don’t like. You ever feel like you totally clear yourself out then your body is like, “Go back to the potty right now cuz you’re gonna poo right now!” twenty minutes later?

Guess how many diapers I went through because of that? Four. Four diapers because each time I thought I was good. I waited in my third diaper after messing to make sure that I was as empty as I could be, then changed. I’ll give you one guess as to what happened next.

Since I have sensitive skin, I used gobs of Desitin rash cream down there so I could practice staying messy for longer and longer periods of time. I want to be able to tolerate being messy for a bit longer than I’m comfortable with because there may be situations in the future that keep me from changing as soon as possible.

I’ve started making notes of places that have bathrooms that are “safe” for me to change in, saving a long list of places on my phone with Google Maps for my local area. I wear plastic panties every time I go out if I’m anticipating a messy accident. Even then, I sometimes wear one just to be safe. Feeling safe, and using things to help me feel safe, have been really helpful in this challenge because it gives me the peace of mind to keep pushing forward. It’s been almost two years and I have not given up.

I know I need to get over myself and stop worrying about changing a messy diaper in public but it’s so nerve-wracking. It’s scary; just as scary as it was getting over changing a wet diaper in public. However, I’ve been searching for single room bathrooms where only one person can be inside at a time. Changing a messy diaper in a stall would just suck and be so scary.

I went out to a local Mexican restaurant with my parents last week. I’ve always loved eating nachos, especially if they’re drenched in queso. I’ve been eating them less and less as of late because I have a near-immediate negative reaction to them now. Yes, I know I’m stupid for eating them but I can’t help it sometimes; I just have a need to eat nachos. After we had finished eating dinner, my stomach was twisting itself into a knot so tight that I knew I was going to make a mess in minutes. With my home so far away, I was glad when they got up to go. I scurried back to my car with a slight waddle, praying that I would be able to make it home in time so I could mess in the safety of my home.

I didn’t make it.

It’s been getting really hard to hold #2 these last several months because I’ve conditioned myself to let my body take care of its needs. It’s what the diaper is for, after all, and I no longer view messing as a negative thing. I was able to make it to the fourth stop light from home before I tried to pass a little gas. I think you can guess what happened. Since I felt so much relief from letting some out, and since the light was still red, I lifted my butt off of the seat and pushed as hard as I could. The relief came almost immediately, though my stomach still churned like it was telling me I wasn’t done yet. I winced as I sat down in the hot mess, trying to keep it from squishing up front where my sensitive bits are. It wasn’t the solid kind of mess that I prefer; it was the complete opposite.

I will admit that the sheer helplessness of the whole situation was a huge turn on. Being unable to keep myself from using my diaper like that, even though I fought hard and valiantly, was all useless in the end. My body knows that I’ve been wearing diapers for so long that it just knows by now that it can do whatever it wants and I’m fine with that.

I showed up to my home with a very full diaper. Thankfully, I had worn a pair of plastic panties, so I wasn’t smelling anything at all. I was super grateful that I didn’t notice any of my neighbors out and about; I would have avoided them like the plague at all costs if they came near me.

Lastly, I've been considering doing challenges to lessen my time since I have so much time left. I'm thinking about doing erotic hypnosis tracks that'll help keep me going in pursuit of my messing goals. Some may include messing on a trigger word, messing at night, and more. I'm still looking around. I was thinking listening twice would take off a week's worth of time and once the effect has taken permanent hold, I'd take off a month's worth of time. I want to keep this challenge fun and interesting.

If you’d like to keep this challenge going, you can send me gifts to add time onto the timer. Check the pinned post for how much time stuff adds.

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Thanks for reading!

Current Ending Time: April 11, 2026 (2 years, 10 months more!)

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sarcasmsweetie · 1 year

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Insecurities

A requested bonus scene for "A Better Life"! And my first request! I had a blast with this, and wound up doing a whole cannonball into insecurities instead of just dipping a toe in. Woops...

Request: would you mind writing about something in the a better life series where the reader is a little insecure and az reassures her?

Word count: 3.4k

Azriel x Archeron Sister

Masterlist

Taglist: On hold until the shadowban is lifted (as no one gets notified when I post with the ban still in place)

When Mor wants something, Mor gets it. Unfortunately, what she wants is to celebrate my visit back in Velaris with a night out at Rita’s. This is my first time back since Nyx was born, so I was hoping for a quieter evening in with everyone. “Quiet,” however, is not a word in Mor’s vocabulary. As Feyre and Rhys stayed home with their son, they promised me they’d spend all day tomorrow with me to make up for their absence tonight.

While I thought I wanted the quiet night, Rita’s proved to be fun as well. Mor hadn’t dragged me onto the dance floor just yet, so I enjoyed sitting in the booth beside Nesta, chatting with her and Cassian about anything and everything. Especially Nesta’s latest book recommendations.

“When you go home, I’ll pack up a few things for you to take back. Don’t think I didn’t notice how bare your shelves were when Cassian and I visited last month.”

“Ah, so what you’re saying is you’re going to send back a miniature library of romance novels, with a spice level no lower than 4 out of 5. Shall I also prepare a journal for my reviews so we can talk in length next time we see each other?” Cassian laughed, thinking I was joking, but Nesta’s eyes brightened in excitement.

“Not just reviews, but I want stream of consciousness. I can’t be there by your side to gauge your reactions, so I need to know everything about what you like and what you don’t so I can strengthen the next haul, ensure every book is to your liking.”

“Then for this first round, throw in a few mystery novels as well if you have them.” She raised an eyebrow and I shrugged. “I like to see if I can figure out the answer before it’s revealed.” Nesta looked to be deep in thought, mentally cataloguing everything she’s read and what could fit the “mystery” criteria.

Grabbing my drink, I noticed Azriel watching with mild interest in our conversation. Varian and Amren were speaking quietly to one another on one side, while Mor tried to convince Elain to try her tequila cocktail on his other.

“I’ve got a few mystery novels I can add to the collection. Maybe in your journal, you can note when you think you’ve figured it out and we can compare who solved it quicker.” I raised my glass to him, and he raised his beer in response.

“While I don’t like my odds, Spymaster, I’ll accept this challenge.” We both smiled as we finished the last of our drinks. Taking a glance around the table, I noticed everyone else’s glasses were low. As Elain and I each were on the end of the rounded booth and she was still trying to decline Mor’s invitation to try her incredibly strong drink, I took the initiative to get everyone’s refills. “I’ll go grab us another round.” Amren smiled as she finished the last of her wine as Azriel tried to stand to help. “You’re wedged in, Az. Don’t worry about it. I’ll be back in a minute.” He nodded, though with a slight hesitation, as he moved to settle back into his seat.

I moved around some of the stray dancers on the edge of the dancefloor to get to the bar, thankful there was a space opening up at the bar as I approached. Stepping in quickly before anyone else could, I waved down the closest bartender and requested everyone’s drinks. As the bartender began to make everything, I organized my coin purse to pay for the drinks and leave a hefty tip. I took a few minutes to look around my surroundings, smiling softly at the dancing couples and the groups of people laughing around the bar. A flash of blonde caught my eye, and I watched as Mor made her way to the center of the floor, dancing briefly with everyone she moved past. My smile grew at the image, though my eyes glanced back to our table. Elain was seated bit closer to Az, presumably so she wouldn’t have to move again when Mor came back from dancing. My smile dropped a bit, though I knew things weren’t like they used to be between them. She was writing with Lucien, and I knew Azriel was trying to get to know me better. But I watched the easy way they spoke to one another, the way they engaged so effortlessly. I watched as he chuckled over something she said, and I felt something tighten in my chest. It was easy to guess they were commenting on Mor as they were both watching her dance, a simple and safe topic, but that didn’t wipe away the sting of jealousy I had watching them together.

“Do you think the Shadowsinger will ever make a move on that female?” I tore my gaze from the table to the couple at the bar beside me.

“Who knows? We never see him with anyone, though it would be a shame if he lets this one slip away. They look so pretty together, don’t they? Opposites attract, and all that.”

They provided a bit more commentary to one another about my sister and my mate, suggesting ideas of their relationship simply being more private than others of the Inner Circle, before they collected their drinks and moved somewhere else. I didn’t watch where they went as my gaze fell back on the two in question.

They did look quite attractive. Elain was always light and petite, which I could agree paired well with his darker and larger build. Having always been the tallest of the sisters, I was always closer to the men’s height of our village, never really knowing what it was like to look up to someone or struggle to meet their eye. I also packed on a bit of muscle since moving to Winter due to maintaining the cabin and Fenrir’s stable all on my own. Feyre and Nesta had a bit of muscle themselves, but I always believed they had the build of dancers whereas mine feels… thicker than what they have. Elain, on the other hand, was as feminine as one could be, focusing primarily on “traditional” tasks a female would take on and not anything that could build a strength that could threaten the strength of the male on her arm.

My brain fell down the rabbit hole of thinking back to every encounter I’ve witnessed of the two of them, remembering how there’s always been an easy connection there. They never had to argue in order to be seen, to be on the same side. They never had to fight in order to keep the other’s attention. One simply exists and the other is in their orbit. If Nesta never said anything about the mating bond, would they still be together? Or would he have realized on his own what he had done and stepped away, chose me?

I was brought out of my musings by a bump to my back. Turning, I noticed the bartender sliding a tray holding all of our drinks towards me. I apologized for zoning out, handing over the payment and tip, and headed back to the table. Along the way, Mor caught up with me, sliding an arm over my shoulders while grabbing her drink for herself. She helped me pass out everyone’s drinks before saying she’ll take the tray back to the bar for me.

“You don’t have to trouble yourself with that, Mor! I’ve got it.” She smirked at me.

“Trust me when I say that this is no trouble. In fact, you’re doing me the favor of giving me an excuse to chat up the cute new bartender Rita brought on.” She winked as she sauntered off, and most of the table chuckled.

I tried to at least remain aware to the conversations around me as I nursed my drink, but I kept falling back into the thoughts of not belonging here, of not being enough. Nesta nudged me, brows slightly furrowed, but I tried to shake her concerns away with a smile. “Just tired, is all. Not used to nights out like this.” Nesta didn’t look convinced, but Elain nodded along like she understood.

“I normally don’t come out, either. What would you be doing now if you were still in Winter?” While Elain has been getting better at asking questions since our confrontation last time I was in Velaris, I noticed she never called Winter my home – just referenced it as a place I was currently staying at.

“I’m attempting to knit socks.” I chuckled to myself as I looked back down to my drink. “Right now, I’d be snuggled up on the sofa in front of a large fire, trying to figure out why I just can’t get socks right. Something about the way they curve at the heel is apparently baffling to me.” I shrugged as I thought about what else my nights would entail. “Tomorrow would have been a brunch day with Viv, so when I inevitably get fed up with the knitting, I’d move to the kitchen and bake something for those at the manor. There is a common fondness for ginger biscuits, so I’ve been toying around with some of those flavors. But now that I’m building up my own library, I imagine more reading in my future.” I glanced back up at Elain and she had a small smile on her face, though the same could not be said for everyone else at the table.

Before letting any possible looks of pity settle in my skin at my isolation, I swallowed back the rest of my drink. “And I believe this is where I’ll call it a night. Tell Mor I said good night and thank her for inviting me out, would you?” I kissed Nesta’s cheek in goodbye, squeezing Cassian’s extended hand at the same time, then nodded at Amren and Varian (genuinely shocked they were still here).

Elain stood to hug me goodbye, asking if I could join her in the gardens tomorrow. I agreed with a smile, mentally sorting through a possible schedule with Rhys and Feyre that would allow me time to break away, and we both watched Azriel stand from the booth before Elain could slide back in. “I’ll walk you back.” I was fully prepared to turn down the offer, content to wallow in my own self-pity, but the stern look in his gaze made it clear he wouldn’t accept any arguments. Biting back a sigh, I nodded and followed him out. As we neared the exit, my eye caught the couple from the bar, both of whom looked shocked he was leaving with someone other than Elain as they moved their gaze between myself and my sister, whispering to one another as they watched. Crossing my arms over my chest, I felt myself shrink a bit under their judgments, clearly not impressed with Azriel’s choice of company.

Once we were out the door, I only felt one pair of eyes on me instead of dozens. I kept my gaze forward, not wanting to look at the source of my anxiety. “Thank you for the offer, Azriel, but I can walk back on my own. I don’t want to take you away from your evening.” From my sister.

“Like you, nights out aren’t really my thing. I hope you don’t mind me tagging along in your escape.” Ah, so I’m just an excuse to leave as well. “And while I know you’re still here for a week, I was hoping you wouldn’t be opposed to me stealing you tonight for a bit longer? Walk around the city, just us?” Startled, I glanced up at him to find his gaze intense and locked on my own. “Please?” Doing the one thing I didn’t want to do, I stared into his hazel eyes and found myself agreeing without thinking. The smile he offered in response was so bright, I had to look away.

“Lead the way.” We were quiet as we walked, and I took the time to observe my surroundings. When I lived here, I never came out at night, which I’m learning was quite the shame as it truly is beautiful. Not just the sky, but the people became livelier at this time, all enjoying an evening under a clear, bright night. The moon lit up everything around us, and it’s like the buildings came alive as well under the moon beams. He walked me to a bridge over the Sidra, and I found myself in awe at the clear water reflecting the sky, as if the stars of Night lived in the water as well as the sky. I contemplated reaching out to see if I could actually scoop a star from the water, but decided to save that possible embarrassment for another day.

“This is my favorite place to go when I have something weighing on my mind.” I glanced at him, wondering what he was worried about. Was I so lost in my head that I didn’t even notice he was upset as well? He was leaning against the railing, arms crossed in front of him. His head was facing forwards, but his eyes were focused on me at his side. I felt myself slipping back into old roles, preparing to be a mediator for a possible argument he’s in with someone or soundboard for frustrations in trying to solve a problem. I didn’t know the tells of the Spymaster to know which role he needed of me now, but I’m pretty certain that I have experienced next to every possibility with three younger sisters always needing something.

“Are you alright? Do you want to talk about what’s weighing on you?” He turned himself to face me fully, though his features didn’t change to help me pinpoint what I could do to help.

“I was about to ask you the same questions. You’ve been quiet, in your head. And it’s more than just being tired. I thought maybe a place that helps me sort things out could do the same for you.” I blinked at him, trying to wrap my head around the abrupt change.

“Are you sure?” He raised an eyebrow. “It’s just… I do the listening, I don’t do the talking.” He eased his elbow onto the railing, relaxing into the position as if he was beginning to settle down for a long conversation.

“I get the sense that maybe it’s time for you to do some talking.” His eyes shifted, and he glanced down. “If you want to talk to someone else, that’s fine. I suppose I did just assume you’d open up to me…” I bit my lip, unsure of what to do.

Instead of talking, I moved closer to where he was and mirrored his previous position that allowed me to look over the Sidra instead of looking directly at him.

“I think that’s part of the issue.” I could practically feel his gaze on me, which made me focus more on how the skyline and water blended seamlessly into one another. “I don’t know how to open up to you.” I swallow, wondering if I should say what’s on my mind. “I suppose the only way to open up is to just do it, so thank the gods I have a few drinks in me to keep pushing me forward, but…”

I take a deep breath, closing my eyes only to envision him and Elain next to each other in the booth. Next to each other on the love seat. Next to each other at the dining table. “I wonder what you would have done if Nesta never said anything.” With my eyes still closed, I didn’t see him go still, but I could feel his stillness all the same. Something in the air shifted, and I let my shoulders droop. “It was so easy for you and Elain to be together. You brought her out of her shell, and it was clear to anyone with eyes that she lightened something inside of you as well. It’s why I never said anything when I still lived here. I couldn’t possibly be the selfish one, inserting myself into your narrative because I thought I should be there with no regard to what you and Elain wanted. It wasn’t just me involved in all of this. You cared for her, you chose her. And I wonder if Nesta never said anything, would you still be by her side because it’s so effortless?”

My words echoed around in my head as I continued to see him and Elain together behind closed lids, continued to compare myself to my younger sister in ways I never did before this bond snapped in place. He remained silent, and that tightness in my chest grew stronger the longer he kept quiet. I opened my eyes, vision blurry with tears wanting to spill, and decided it was time to go.

“Thank you for showing me this place, but I should head back – “

“I choose you.” I froze, back to him, when he finally spoke up. “I choose you as I should have from the very beginning. But even if Nesta never said anything, I know I would have still chosen you. You said it seems effortless and easy between Elain and I. In some regard, I suppose that’s true. But that’s because no decisions were ever needed between us. Nothing was ever at stake because we were never supposed to be together. I will continue to grovel for all of our days for the pain that I’ve caused you, but I know now what I should have known then, and that is that I don’t want effortless.” My brows furrowed as I turned to him, and he shook his head. “That’s not what I mean.” I watched him for a moment as he tried to form the words he’s struggling with.

He began pacing, alternating between rubbing his face and pulling at his hair as he tried to explain himself. “I want to be challenged. I don’t want you blindly agreeing with everything I’m saying, but questioning what I say, having different opinions on what I think so that we can have a deeper connection, a deeper understanding of each other. I want someone who asks questions when I’m talking about my day, disagrees with my theories of books, someone who calls me out on my bullshit. I don’t want the ‘easy and effortless’ life you claim Elain and I could have had because that was so… empty. We talked about the most mundane things because we didn’t know what else to talk about.” He turned and looked at me, eyes softening. “I want to read by your side in front of a large fire while you succeed in knitting your first sock. I want to join you in teasing Cassian when we tell him that Fenrir is the superior version of himself. I want to hold you in my arms when we can’t sleep as I take you flying and you tell me about recipes you’re trying out and how they’re different from when you made it in the human lands.” He gave up on pacing to move in front of me, grabbing my hands and holding tight. “I want you to be the one I go to when I’m happy, sad, furious with my brothers and their stupidity, when I’m exasperated with my brothers and their stupidity…” He gently raised a hand to wipe away the tears from my face. “I’ve chosen you, and I’m never going back on that. And I will be here when you’re ready to choose me, too.”

His words bounced around my head as if that would make it easier for me to process what he said. He remained silent, thumb continuing to wipe tears as they fell, eyes moving over my face as if committing this snot-filled moment to memory.

I choose you.

The hand that still encased in his tightened its grip slightly. “I choose dinner.” His brows furrowed and I fought back a smile. “With you. One of these nights while I’m still in town. Maybe we can talk about some of these books and theories you have.”

“It’s a date.”

#azriel x reader #azriel acotar #a better life #bonus scene #bri's writing #request

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the-queen-and-the-king · 3 months

Text

5-A long day

Summary: Some months have passed and Emily is now waiting the end of the day at Quantico when her lover is still working. Their life have changed a lot but no one knows for them. Yet.

Characters: Aaron Hotchner x Emily Prentiss (and a tiny bit of JJ)

Contents: mostly introspective thinking (Emily's pov), mention of sex but it's trully a huge fluffy slice of life.

This text is a part of a "What if?" self-challenge named: Seven days only. The pitch is: "What if Aaron discovered all by himself that Emily was sent to France when she was under witness protection and decided to tell her the truth about his feelings for her?" I limited myself to seven texts for this AU in a nutshell. Hope you'll like it. :)

PS : English is not my mother language so they are necessarily mistakes. Sorry about that.

___

“Shall I take you home?” asked JJ, her bag already slung over her shoulder.

Emily looked up from her screen and, displaying her most sincere pained expression, replied:

“No, I have to finish this report. And since I need to get an answer to my e-mail for that, it's going to take a little longer.”

“Are you sure? I don't think anyone will mind if you return it tomorrow.”

“I know, but I need to get this thing done. Don’t worry. Go home and take care of your little puppy. And of Henry too.”

The former liaison officer laughed before resuming:

“How will you get home?”

“I’ll take a cab.”

The wiry blonde glanced in the direction of the desk that towered above all the others, and her interlocutor concentrated all her strength not to imitate her. Her friend turned her attention back to her and, smiling, wished her a pleasant evening.

“Send me a message to let me know if I should pick you up tomorrow,” she said as we pushed open the glass doors.

“Sure. Good evening, JJ.”

She watched her call the elevator and climb into the cabin, then huffed. It had been five months since the whole team had heard about her pregnancy – and she had received many congratulations for it – and two months since the same scheme had been repeated with the BAU’s new profiler. Since Emily could no longer see her feet, driving had become an impossible practice for her, and more dangerous than ever. Her colleague reacted exactly as she'd expected, taking care of her and advising her as much as she could through this adventure she'd been on before. Elizabeth Prentiss’ daughter appreciated these attentions, but regularly rebuffed them. Because she hadn't been entirely frank with her coworkers.

Indeed, she and Aaron had quickly established that, to avoid waves and preserve harmony within the group, it was best to keep their relationship a secret. So, for all of them, the babies' father was a Frenchman she'd met along the way, with whom she'd had a short – but intense – affair before their paths diverged. She found out afterwards that she was pregnant. And since she hadn't wanted to relive the trauma of her adolescence, she'd made the decision to keep it. Well, them. A story that left everyone feeling sorry for herself and discouraged the most curious from asking any more questions. They all immediately offered to help her in one way or another to face the ordeal ahead. All of them, including Aaron, who had had to play along to keep the illusion.

But it went much further than that. In the months since her announcement to her lover, much had changed for them without anyone at the FBI knowing. Officially, they still lived at their respective addresses – known to HR and Penelope, who kept an eye on the slightest changes in their personnel files – but, in reality, for the past three months they had been living in a larger apartment, much more able to accommodate everyone. They had prospected on their own, made visits in their spare time, and signed the papers in due form without sending them to their joint employer. And, despite the expense involved, they had not terminated their contracts for their primary living quarters, so that no one would suspect a thing. They even had their landlines transferred to their cell phones, so they could be reached even though they were in a different part of Washington DC.

All this had a cost, of course, and not just financial. This required them to perpetually juggle lies and maneuvers to cloud the issue. They'd lost count of the number of times they'd had to justify their absence when one of the agents had dropped in unannounced at their old addresses. Just as she'd lost count of the number of times she'd found herself at the foot of her old apartment building, calling out to Aaron to pick her up and take her to where she really lived. Or, conversely, all those mornings he'd dropped her off there before slipping away for JJ or Penelope to take charge of driving her to Quantico. So many twists and turns that were gradually eating away at her strength.

And then there had been all those convivial moments with the team – birthdays, lunches, dinners, brunches or simply stops at the pub to blow off some steam – when they'd been dying to hold hands, hug, kiss or do some activity together, but had had no option but to restrain themselves. They had agreed not to sit side by side, to watch their partner dance or sing with a third person, to refuse to join forces with their spouse to face the others and, above all, to continue to call each other by name. Every single time. Like before. When they were still guided by their professional conscience and feared that the mention of their first name would cause them to slip up. The few exceptions they had allowed themselves had only been for show and had frustrated them more than ever. Their feelings were incompatible with Bureau policy.

Fortunately, everything else was going well. Jack had known about it, of course, since the very next day, and had greeted the news with shouts of joy throughout the living room. His dream of being a big brother came true, twice. And the fact that it was she who gave him this gift made him very happy, because he loved her "very, very much". The implications of all this went right over his head, and there was something soothing about this viewpoint for the couple. He didn't call Emily anything other than by her first name, but Aaron had reassured her that things would change with the arrival of the little ones, and that one day, without anything announcing it and without it seeming strange to anyone, he would address her differently. She couldn't wait for this day to finally arrive.

Ada Hotchner and Elizabeth Prentiss also knew – and, by implication, so did the director's entire family, with news circulating at the speed of light among those closest to him. The two grandmothers-to-be had begun by reacting more or less positively to their relationship. Ada was relieved and pleased to discover her son's companion – of whom she had a better opinion than the first – while Elizabeth hesitated to express herself, having retained a mixed memory of the ex-prosecutor – efficient, for sure, but endowed with behavior that was strange, to say the least. Then they gave a pinched look when they heard about the surprise pregnancy. Their gaze instinctively turned to the only man in the room at that moment, as if he had been solely responsible. But both were wondering how the profiler could be three months pregnant with his child, while ninety days earlier, she was on a trip around the world for one and six feet under for the other. And that he was normally unaware of the details of her protection. The couple glossed over this aspect of the story to emphasize that the fetuses were doing just fine.

Which was the truth. This is all the more welcome given that twin pregnancies were subject to numerous risks, for both babies and mothers. When Emily had started her Internet research, she had quickly closed her browser to avoid further stress. Between placental irrigation defects, dominant fetuses that starved their roommates, strangling umbilical cords and premature births, she'd gotten her money's worth; something she'd immediately regretted. Especially since, ultrasound after ultrasound, all the tests had come back positive. Their creations flourished in their respective bubbles, pedaling happily in the amniotic fluid, playing with their neighbors, and growing serenely in that warm, protective womb. They now had less room to perform their acrobatics, but they were developing well.

Pleasant news that calmed the lovers, eager to see the newborns in the flesh, but also enjoying the calm before the storm. Because if there was one thing Emily's extra pounds hadn't stopped, it was their desire for each other. By Sunday, she'd moved in with Aaron to be by his side while they found the perfect place for a couple and three kids. And she had tasted the pleasure of this return to her love to unite with him as much as possible. In his own home, but also in others', discreetly slipping away from some informal gathering into rooms and miscellaneous parts of places that weren't theirs to indulge their erotic urges. And if the unit leader had been reluctant to take her out into the field – as he'd once done for JJ – he'd given in to the fact that if he'd bent for the blonde, there was no reason why he shouldn't bow for the brunette. It was a decision he'd taken reluctantly, but one he appreciated every night they had sex in the hotels reserved for their investigations. In turn, they quietly entered each other's rooms, celebrated the chance that had brought them together, or even booked another room at their own expense, away from those of their federal neighbors, to take full advantage of their partner's body. In short, they had fully enjoyed the presence of their accomplice.

And Emily had been waiting too long for the bullpen to empty so she could be reunited with her lover. She'd been looking forward to seeing him since this morning. He'd had to leave ahead of time for a meeting at FBI headquarters and had reappeared only briefly before the lunch break. She had hoped to have lunch with him – and the rest of the team – but he had been harpooned by the manager of an agency three floors below. He then spent most of his time in his den, either on the phone or by videoconference. JJ and Penelope had brought him food and water, but she couldn't wait to admire his figure, breathe in his scent, and feel his warmth beneath her fingers. And maybe that time had come. She scanned the surroundings. All the cubicles were empty, the screens off, and the coat racks bare. With her heart leaping in her chest, she stood up, slowly climbed the banister, and entered the room.

There he was, standing in front of his desk, his back to the entrance. He was absorbed in reading a file. She smiled and knocked on the open door. He flinched and turned around. His closed face immediately lit up with a radiant smile and she felt invigorated as never before. She moved towards him and placed a kiss on his lips. He held her and prolonged the contact, much to her delight.

“Are you all right?” he inquired, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

“Apart from the fact that I have two middle-distance runners in my belly, I'm fine.”

“Thank goodness it's almost over,” he said, his palm pressed against her distended skin.

“Don’t say that. They’re fine where they are.”

“Emily, you're eight months pregnant with twins. It's an achievement to have got this far, but now they'll have to get out.”

She pouted. She was becoming increasingly anxious about the forthcoming birth. So many things could go wrong that she struggled to sleep despite the diminishing activity of her tenants.

“Besides, you shouldn't even be here,” he reminded her, raising an eyebrow that spoke volumes.

“I know, but I don’t want to stay alone at home.”

She had already donated for seven months and didn't want to try again. Especially as the intensity of her contractions increased, it was reassuring to have people around her. To have him close to her.

“Are you almost finished?” she interrogated him, distancing herself a little.

“I still have to send this and then we can go home.”

“I can't wait,” she affirmed, her impatience undisguised.

“You should take this opportunity to finish what you have to do and put your things away.”

“Already done.”

He looked at her with undeniable pride and smiled before returning to his keyboard. Emily remained where she was. She still had a few concerns to voice.

“I think JJ is onto something.”

“What makes you say that?” he retorted, looking up at her.

The mother-to-be recounted the dialogue she'd had earlier with her colleague and, above all, the glimpse she'd cast in the direction of his lair.

“Honestly, I'm surprised we haven't been spotted already.”

“We covered our tracks.”

“And they're the best profilers in the country.”

She conceded that the argument weighed in the balance, though she was sure that their secret was still a secret. But a secret that was undoubtedly becoming too much for both of them to bear. We'd have to get to the bottom of this before the consequences of this decision caused major damage to the parents-to-be. They would need all their resources when the tadpole pair appeared.

“When do you think we should tell them?”

They'd had this conversation several times in the months leading up to it but hadn't really settled on an opinion. But, in her opinion, now that the impending birth was fast approaching, it was time to put things straight.

“I think when the little ones get here, it'll be the right time, said Aaron, resting his folder on his desk pad. And I’ll make the announcement.”

She understood that he intended to take all the blame for her and that he would face the flood of questions that would logically follow this revelation. So that she can calmly recover from her emotions – or potential complications – and receive only positive comments from her friends. A tried-and-tested tactic he used every time he wanted to protect his loved ones. She wanted to tell him she was perfectly capable of defending herself, but instead savored the sense of security his Prince Charming side brought her. She grabbed his tie as he returned from her side of the desk and pulled him toward her. He obeyed without reluctance and soon found himself pressed against the furniture, his companion in his arms and her lips pressed to his. Their kiss dragged on for a long minute, and Emily was the first to speak again.

“I want you,” she whispered in his ear.

“Me too, but I think, in your condition, it's inadvisable.”

“Please,” she simpered, running her hands up and down his shirt.

“I have no desire to explain to Strauss how your water broke on my office carpet.”

The young woman's shoulders slumped as she realized he wouldn't give in, despite his obvious excitement. She sighed and tucked her head into the crook of his neck, wrapping her arms around his torso as best she could.

“Cuddle, then?”

“Go for a cuddle,” he agreed, hugging her back.

They stayed that way for some time, soaking up each other's warmth and intoxicating each other with the scent of their beloved. Until:

“One of the kids has just kicked me. I get the impression that cuddling isn't their thing.”

“It reminds me someone else…”

He smiled and kissed her, before taking up his documents behind his back.

“I’ll take care of this, and we’ll be off.”

“Okay,” she adjured, releasing him.

She watched him cross the room, her gaze lingering on his backside under his suit jacket and slim-fitting pants. In the workspace below, Aaron walked in a straight line towards the printer-scanner combo without noticing that one of the screens was still on.

___

Sorry to tell you guys, but don't expect to see more smut with this story anymore. Now, it's just slice of life more or less angsty/fluffy. ^^;

Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy it the same. :)

Next >>

#hotchniss #criminal minds #aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner x emily prentiss #emily prentiss #criminal minds fanfiction #hotchniss fanfiction #seven days only #fluff

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rocknrollbabe14 · 2 years

Text

Rainbow in the Dark (Part 2) (Joseph x Reader)

Rating: 18+ MINORS DO NOT INTERACT! ADULT THEMES HEAVILY DISCUSSED!

Warnings: mentions of pregnancy, labor, etc, smut (p in v sex), and some fluff mixed in. If there are any additional warnings that need added, let me know. Thanks.

So many emotions flooded your mind. You were happy—beyond ecstatic to finally be pregnant again. However, you knew you were going to worry about this baby. Until you were able to hear its first cry and hold it in your arms, you would worry. You stared in disbelief for a few minutes more before leaving the pregnancy test on the counter. You were attempting to regulate your emotions before returning to finish the movie with Amelia. You placed your hand easily on your flat stomach.

You were growing a baby. The idea just baffled you. Amelia’s eyes were getting heavy as she continued watching Rudolph as you climbed on the couch beside of her, taking her in your arms before kissing her head. Amelia was going to be a big sister. You couldn’t focus on the movie. All you could think about was this baby. You wanted so badly just to FaceTime Joseph and show him the test but you wanted to wait until he got home. Part of you was kicking yourself for testing without him.

Amelia dozed off to sleep as the credits rolled on Rudolph. Frosty the Snowman followed as you clicked the television off, scooping Amelia up in your arms. You were going to attempt to get Amelia to sleep in her bed but you didn’t know how well that would pan out. Especially with her daddy being gone. You laid her down in her bed, her barely stirring. You kissed her and told her you loved her before covering her up and turning her light off, leaving her small night light.

You got ready for bed and laid down, covering yourself up. You lay there in silence, trying to estimate how far along you could be in this pregnancy. You lightly placed your hand on your stomach, thinking about what this baby would be. You wondered if it would look like you or Joseph more. Your phone began ringing, bringing you out of your daze.

“Hey, baby. How are you?”, Joseph asked in a sleepy voice on the other end of the line.

“Fine, babe. Just laying in bed.”

“How’s Amelia? Did she perk up?”

Your mind was still reeling from finding out about your pregnancy.

“She did. We watched Rudolph.”

“What’s on your mind? You sound distracted, love.”

“Oh, nothing—just thinking about what I need to do before you get home.”

You hated avoiding the true answer to his question but you didn’t want to tell him you were pregnant over the phone. Christmas was in just five days. The pressure was on to finish decorating, wrapping presents, and cooking. Cooking was going to be a new challenge with your morning sickness. You’d manage it, somehow and someway. You turned over in bed, cuddling into Joseph’s pillow.

“Don’t stress, love. Anything you need help with, I’ll be home in three days.”

“Okay, babe.”

“But I’ll let you sleep, love. You sound tired. I’m exhausted. I miss you and Amelia so much. I love you both. Give Amelia a kiss for me. I’ll try to FaceTime you tomorrow.”

You exchanged your goodbyes with Joseph and assured him you’d give Amelia a kiss for him. You put your phone on charge and drifted off to sleep, imagining how amazing it would be to have a family of four—Joseph, you, Amelia, and this baby. Amelia slept through the night in her own bed much to your surprise. The next few days went alright. Your morning sickness was more so just nausea but faded soon. With Amelia, you were very sick every day for the first few months.

You hoped it wouldn’t snow badly so Joseph would make it home in time. You prayed his flight wouldn’t be delayed. It scared you as it was this close to Christmas. It would devastate you and Amelia to do Christmas without him. His mom and dad called to check on you and Amelia, asking you what kind of food to bring for Christmas. To be honest, you didn’t want to think a lot about food with your queasy stomach.

Three days passed quickly and Joe called you, letting you know he would be boarding his flight soon. So far, there was no snow preventing travel. It was December 23rd, so close to Christmas. You both had mostly finished shopping for Amelia. Christmas was starting to get exciting since Amelia was becoming old enough to understand. Amelia was playing in the living room, watching all the Christmas movies that were coming on, however, her favorite was Rudolph and she’d watch it over and over.

She tried to even cry when the other reindeer made fun of him. It melted your heart. It was little things like that—figuring out each baby’s personality—that excited you. She was also enamored with the Christmas tree, especially when most of the living room lights were off. Hours passed and the day was turning into night. Joseph’s flight had just landed and he would be home as soon as he could. He promised.

You were beginning to become a bundle of nerves. You knew Joseph would be ecstatic to find out he was becoming a dad again. It’s what you all had been working towards. However, it still made you nervous. You and Amelia had eaten dinner and saved some for Joseph when he got home. You decided it would be fun for you and Amelia to bake cookies while waiting on Joseph. Amelia was smiling as you both were waiting for the cookies to cool off so she could decorate them.

It was a tradition in your family to make gingerbread cookies so you decided you would continue that tradition with Amelia. Once you felt they had cooled down enough, you put them on a plate before grabbing icing and giving her some artistic freedom. You knew she’d make a mess but it was going to be so cute and she could go take a bath as soon as you all were finished. You were sure Joseph would be ready for bed after a shower, his jet lag setting in.

You helped her with the icing, Christmas music playing softly in the background. She would smile, admiring her work as you all finished the cookies. All of a sudden, the door opened and you both perked up.

“Honey, I’m home!”, Joseph’s voice carried into the kitchen.

Amelia immediately abandoned her finished cookies to go to her daddy. You easily smiled, standing up and following after her. Amelia had icing on her cheeks and her shirt, but it was cute. Joseph laughed as he saw her, throwing down his bags to pick his daughter up. She giggled, and Joseph took her into his arms.

“Daddy.”, she giggled as she hugged his neck, laying her head on his shoulder.

“Hi baby, did you and mommy have a good time while daddy was away for work?”

She nodded before he kissed her head and brushed through her curly hair.

You leaned against the wall, smiling softly and admiring the sight in front of you. You could just imagine the love this baby would experience. This baby would be born into such a loving family. Amelia was going to be a great big sister, you just knew it. She might experience some jealousy, but she’d love her little brother or sister and be a protector.

“We missed you though, babe.”, you smirked as you came closer to him, his free arm opening wide so he could take you in his arms.

“I missed both of my girls so bad, love. You have no idea.”, he chuckled as he took you in his free arm, his arm rubbing up and down your back while you nuzzled your head into his chest before he kissed your head.

You looked up at him, his brown eyes filled with love before you all shared a kiss on the lips.

After Amelia settled back in, Joe teased her about the icing on her. You told him you’d give her a bath in the guest bathroom while he showered. He ate dinner quickly, questioning you about your gingerbread cookies playfully. You gave Amelia a bath and got her dressed for bed before going upstairs to her room. You sat on the edge of her bed, and the reality quickly set in that in just a matter of a few minutes, you’d be sharing the news with Joseph.

He came into her room, curls damp. The smell of his cologne and aftershave tickled your nose but it made you desire him, a pang in your lower stomach. He was in his pajama pants and t-shirt. Amelia slid under her covers, waiting for Joseph to read a story to her. The book was entitled “The Littlest Reindeer”. Joseph sat beside of you as he read to Amelia, becoming very theatrical and doing different voices for the different characters, causing Amelia to laugh and smile. You could both see your daughter becoming sleepier.

Joseph continued to read as she lay down, cuddling her teddy bear. Before Joseph was completely finished, she was asleep. You both eyed each other as he closed the book. You both leaned down and kissed her before turning her lamp off and exiting her room. Joseph smiled at you in the hallway before you both shared another kiss.

“Joe, can we go downstairs?”

He eyed you slightly confused. “Uh—sure baby. What’s going on?”

“I just want you to come to the living room, please.”, you gave him puppy dog eyes.

He instantly gave in. That’s something Amelia had gotten from you. You held hands as you descended the stairs. You led him into the living room, asking him to sit on the couch. You went under the tree, picking out the present you had just wrapped a few hours before he arrived home. You put it in special wrapping paper to distinguish it from the rest under the tree. He eyed you with his brown eyes as you came over, sitting down beside him on the couch.

“Here, I want you to open one of your presents early.”, you held out the wrapped present for him.

“Baby, no—no, you aren’t going to open one.”, he laughed, being humble about it.

“I insist, Joe. I just can’t wait for Christmas morning.”, you edged it closer to him.

He eyed you before looking down at the package. “Are you sure, love?”

“Absolutely, babe.”, you smiled.

He hesitantly took the present from you, running his hand over the paper. He read the label before tearing into the paper. Your heart skipped a beat. It would be just moments now. You watched him as he finished ripping the paper off, revealing the small brown box.

“Wonder what it could be.”, he smiled at you before he carefully lifted the lid from the box.

You bit your lip in anticipation as he looked back at the box, his mouth dropping and his wide brown eyes looking back at you. You laughed nervously, waiting for his response.

“Merry Christmas daddy.”, you smiled quietly.

Still, in disbelief, he took the test out of the box revealing those two pink lines—the ones he couldn’t wait to see. He brought it closer to his face, eyeing it just to make sure he was really seeing what he thought he was seeing. Tears came into his eyes as he laughed a hearty, merry laugh, eyeing you.

“You’re pregnant?”, he asked, finally.

You nodded. “Just found out a couple of days ago.”

“When did you test? I wish I would’ve been home. Oh, baby—I’m so—happy.”, he choked as a few tears slid down his cheek before you wiped them away, you both sharing a tender kiss.

“I tested the day you left—I was having a lot of pregnancy symptoms. Amelia and I had to go shopping and I needed to know.”, you eyed him easily, smirking.

He nodded, kissing you again, a hand on your cheek as he deepened the tender kiss.

“There’s more in the box.”, you smirked.

He lifted two gingerbread cookies in plastic wrapping, laughing as he sniffled.

“One is a gingerbread man and one is a gingerbread woman since we don’t know what this baby will be yet. Amelia decorated them.”, you smiled as his smile widened, him fighting to keep his happy tears back.

“I love it, babe. God, this is the best Christmas present—ever.”, he eyed you.

“There’s one more thing in the box, baby.”, you rubbed his back, comforting him.

He laid the cookies beside the pregnancy test before unfolding the onesie in the box. This set him over the edge. His lip trembled as he inhaled sharply, the tears returning to his eyes. “Little Christmas cookie in the oven…Baby Quinn….”, he trailed off, sniffling.

You watched as he closed his eyes, covering his eyes as the tears roll down his cheeks and you awed as you scooted closer to him, wiping the tears from his cheek as he laid the onesie down, taking you fully in his arms and holding you so tight. Tears began to form in your eyes as you both pulled back. You both smiled—these were happy tears—something you had prayed and hoped for since your miscarriage just months earlier. Joseph took a turn wiping tears from your cheeks this time, a tender moment between the both of you.

“I love you so much baby.”, he smiled before you both kissed again.

“I love you so much too, Joe.”

You both shared another kiss before he placed a hand on your flat stomach. It wouldn’t stay that way for long.

“And I love you, little Christmas cookie.”, he smiled up at you, still teary-eyed before rubbing your flat stomach gently.

Tears still lingered in your eyes as you both shared another kiss, Christmas starting off right. Joseph and you both had an extra pep in your step as he helped you prepare for Christmas Eve and Christmas. He had a larger family and you all decided just to tell his mom and dad for now. This year, they were staying Christmas Eve in order to be able to spend Christmas morning with you all and Amelia.

The morning was hectic trying to add finishing touches to everything, plus dealing with your morning sickness. You recovered quickly. It was exhausting to get dressed for dinner at your own house, but you did. Joseph put on a red sweater and jeans. You decided on a buffalo plaid skirt and a white long-sleeve tucked down inside. Joseph watched you attempting to zip your skirt, becoming frustrated.

“This just fit last Christmas. I don’t know why it’s so tight.”, you complained, working on the zipper.

Joseph chuckled, coming over to you. He wrapped his arms around you as you gave up for a moment to finish zipping your skirt. The zipper was on the side.

“Baby, you’re pregnant.”

“I can’t be pregnant enough for my skirt not to fit.”, you protested.

Joseph sighed, trying to help with the zipper. “Baby, we don’t know how far along you are.”

“Yeah, but I wanna wear it.”, you sighed.

Finally, Joseph managed to help you zip it and it was a little snug but you hoped it would loosen up throughout the night. You didn’t see yourself eating a lot. You felt Joseph's eyes on you as admired yourself in the mirror.

“What?”, you asked easily.

“Just admiring my beautiful wife.”

You smirked back at him before reminding him there was a lot to do today. You went and got Amelia dressed against her wishes. You put a cute little red long-sleeved Christmas shirt on her, leggings, and a bow in her hair before she took off to the living room. Joseph’s family began arriving—his two sisters and his mom and dad. They all greeted you, his sisters happy to see you before they began making over their niece, Amelia. They carried presents that Joe offered to take and put away.

His mom and dad hugged you and it instantly felt like home. You and Joe were a little nervous to tell his mom and dad you all were pregnant again but you knew they’d be over the moon and share the same worry—they wanted you to have a safe, healthy pregnancy and birth. You all ate dinner, catching up and reminiscing before everyone opened presents. It was hard for you and Joseph to hold in the fact you were pregnant.

Joseph’s sisters left that evening, exchanging goodbyes. Tomorrow night you all would be going to his grandparents. His grandmother loved Amelia and thought the world of her. It was the sweetest. Joseph’s mom and dad went to get ready for bed while Joseph, you, and Amelia left cookies and milk out for Santa. You all were going to sneak back downstairs soon and put all of Amelia’s presents under the tree—some from you both and some from Santa.

The next morning Amelia woke you both up by bouncing on the bed, saying how she was ready to see what Santa brought her. After stretching and convincing yourselves to be awake, you went downstairs and woke up Joseph’s mom and dad. You all ended up in the living room, watching Amelia rip open her presents, smiling ear to ear. She got quite a few things off her list. You drank a cup of coffee, smiling at Joseph. Amelia was preoccupied with her toys when you saved two presents for last—one for Joseph’s parents and one for Amelia.

You handed them both out at the same time, asking them to open them.

“Dear, you didn’t have to get us anything.”, his mom eyed you.

“Not at all. Just being with you all is all we need.”, his dad smiled.

“Just open them together, please.”, you and Joseph smiled at each other.

His mom and dad helped each other undo the ribbon as they eyed each other. Amelia ripped into hers quickly. His mom and dad opened the small white box carefully.

“Oh my gosh.”, his mom’s hand went over her mouth. “You’re pregnant?”

Joseph smirked at you as you nodded.

“Oh my gosh. This is too cute.”, his mom smiled as she pulled out an ornament that said World’s Greatest Grandparents.

They both got up and hugged you both so tight. They were elated. Amelia was a little confused by her baby doll but you explained that she could practice for her baby brother or sister that would be arriving in nine months. Amelia appeared to be excited that she was getting a baby brother or sister. Everything was perfect and right in the world. That night you went to Joseph’s grandparents and told them the news. His grandma was so happy, making your heart swell with pride.

As soon as Christmas and New Year’s were over, you called the doctor’s office and made an appointment to see your OB. Joseph’s mom and dad were watching Amelia. You were nervous after checking in. Joseph held your hand but he could read your body language. You shook your leg nervously. You had every reason to be nervous. He gave your hand a squeeze before you turned to look at him.

“It’s going to be okay, love.”

“Are you sure?”, you asked softly.

He nodded, kissing your cheek. “I’m sure.”

The nurse called your name as you both went back. She took your vitals and told you both that Dr. Bennett would be in soon. Joseph held your hand reassuringly and kissed it as you both sat in silence before Dr. Bennett came in. She asked you some questions and told you she’d do an ultrasound to see and estimate how far along you were. You hoped this was your rainbow in the dark. You silently prayed that the baby was fine as Dr. Bennett put the gel on your stomach, using the transducer to go over your belly.

“There’s your baby.”, she smiled.

It was tiny. Joseph smiled at you widely. You could slightly make out its little head. You felt a relief just being able to lay eyes on it. Dr. Bennett estimated you at seven weeks. She said everything looked great but she wanted you back in three weeks to do another ultrasound. You felt confident. She printed off the ultrasound for you and Joseph to keep, congratulating you both calling this baby your “little Christmas miracle”. It was.

Before you knew it, those three weeks passed by. Your ten-week check-up went well, everything looked good. You and Joseph heard your baby’s heartbeat for the first time—a reassuring sign for both of you. You both let a few tears fall from your eyes. All you did was stare at the baby’s ultrasound pictures on the ride home. You sent it to Joseph’s mom and she was over the moon, saying how she and his dad couldn’t wait to be grandparents again.

You went back each month and everything was going well. Baby Quinn made it past the ten weeks. At your twelve week check-up, you found out you were having a baby boy. Joseph was over the moon, excited to have a little boy to play football with, kick around a soccer ball, or pitch a baseball with. Someone to carry on the Quinn name. You all had a gender reveal for the baby, his parents were excited about a baby boy. Amelia was a little upset she wasn’t getting a little sister, pouting causing you and Joseph to laugh. Before you turned around you were twenty-four weeks and your belly popped. You were showing quickly this time. You lay in bed, waiting for Joseph to finish his shower. You were watching tv, feeling for your baby boy to kick and move around.

He was very active at night, sometimes even keeping you awake. Joseph came into the bedroom just in his boxers. He climbed in bed, his hand immediately reaching for your bump. He rubbed your belly easily.

“Hey little man, it’s daddy.”, he spoke to your bump before kissing it.

You smiled as Joseph laid his head on your bump. You chuckled, running your hands through his curls. Joseph loved to be as close as he could to this baby, especially after everything you both had endured. Amelia was asleep for now.

“Woah.”, Joseph said as he leaned up quickly.

“He kicked you, didn’t he?”, you chuckled.

Joseph nodded. “Yeah, he’s gonna be my little soccer player.”

You smirked before Joseph kissed you again. You all tried to make time to be intimate as much as you could, knowing once this baby came it was going to be that much more difficult. You were feeling tired a lot more lately. Growing a baby was hard work and you’d forgotten how it felt at this stage. Your morning sickness had dissipated completely much to your relief. You yawned as Joseph laid down beside you, taking you in his arms and putting a hand on your belly, feeling your baby boy kick periodically as you both drifted off to sleep.

After hitting thirty weeks, you were going every two weeks. Your baby boy was growing fast. Your back aches became worse, Joseph rubbing it at night trying to soothe you off to sleep. He always praised you, saying how amazing you were doing, how strong you were, and how much he appreciated you carrying his baby. You appreciated his sentiments but still felt huge and so far from sexy, it wasn’t funny. However, Joe managed to show you that you were to him.

You were now thirty-five weeks pregnant and feeling every bit of it. Your OB was seeing you every week, but your baby boy was doing great. Amelia sat on the couch beside you. Her fourth birthday was falling in the thirty-eighth week of your pregnancy and you prayed you wouldn’t go into labor during her party. You didn’t want to make her feel left out since it was her special day. She was due to start preschool in the second week of September. Your family was growing and changing.

“Mommy?”, she asked, her hand on your belly.

“Yes, Amelia?”

“He’s not movin’.”, she sighed, pouting.

You laughed. “He’s probably sleeping. He kept mommy up a lot last night.”

Joseph was taking care of dinner this evening as you were feeling how far along you were in your pregnancy. Your legs hurt, your back hurt, the whole nine yards. You and Joseph planned on working on the nursery tonight after Amelia went to bed. Joseph made one of your favorite dinners, a way to show you he loved you and appreciated you. Joseph cleaned the kitchen up before you all moved to the living room, making quality time for Amelia and watching one of her favorite Disney movies.

She cuddled up to her daddy and you understood why. She was very much a daddy’s girl. You all just enjoyed being together and spending family time together until Amelia started yawning. Joseph picked her up as you turned the television off, heading upstairs. You both kissed her and told her goodnight. She had her eyes closed before Joseph could even pull out a book to read her for the night. He chuckled as he closed the door and you all headed across the hall to start the baby’s nursery.

Joseph and his father had worked all day painting the nursery for the baby while Joseph’s mom took you and Amelia out to shop and have lunch. Joseph had surprised you when you came home, paint splattered on his face and t-shirt. It was a pale baby blue but was so fitting. You hugged Joseph, tears forming in your eyes. It meant everything to you. Joseph took you to buy furniture for the nursery, and you both agreed upon a white crib, changing table, and bookshelf.

The most progress you all had made was placing the furniture. Joseph’s mom and dad had gotten you a rocking chair and bought some bedding for the crib. You yawned as you sat down in the rocking chair, propping your feet up on the ottoman that came with it. You began sorting clothes as Joseph began hanging up some of the wall decor. You both had decided on Winnie the Pooh for the theme of his nursery. You both loved it. You sorted his clothes as you rubbed your belly, feeling him kick as you watched Joseph hang up the plaque of his name you had ordered.

You bit your lip easily. At this moment, it was starting to become real that you all were going to have a baby boy in just a little over a month. Joseph stood back, admiring his work as he eyed you.

“Like it, love?”

“I love it, Joe. It’s perfect.”, you smiled.

Joseph smiled, feeling proud of himself. He went on to hang up a shelf, placing the plush Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore on it. Their mute colors matched the nursery perfectly. Joseph went to the closet where you had washed and placed his bedding. You eyed Joseph as he took out the sheets, putting them on the crib bed with ease. He stuck his tongue out, really focusing on the small details. That’s one thing you loved about him. He was very family oriented. He hung the mobile, little honey bees. It was the cutest thing you’d ever seen.

Next, he placed the comforter on the side of the rails. The baby wouldn’t need it nor would be sleeping in here for a while, but he was setting off the aesthetic. You didn’t have to give him much direction. You all had decided on a going-home outfit for the baby already. You were both packing your hospital bag just in case. You never knew when it was going to happen. Joseph stood back, smiling. He was proud of his work. He came over to help you out of the rocking chair. It was hard for you to get up now with your belly in the way.

You groaned softly as he helped you stand up. He wrapped his arms around you.

“What do you think?”

Two and a half hours had passed since you all started working on the nursery, but you all had enjoyed it.

“I love it, Joe. Thank you so much.”, you turned to him, hugging him as best you could with your belly in the way.

He chuckled before kissing your head and instinctively putting a hand on your bump. “You’re welcome, baby. I love you.”

“I love you too.”, you smiled.

Joseph helped you put the baby’s clothes away before you both decided to head to bed. Your nerves were starting to set in, imagining how you both would balance a four-year-old and a newborn. You’d make it work. You all always did. You chuckled imagining how jealous Amelia might be. She was used to having all of her daddy’s attention so you weren’t completely sure how that would pan out. You’d just have to see.

At thirty-seven weeks, you and Joseph had a baby shower for family and close friends. You decided on a baby blue long maternity dress. You had ordered a belly sash with light blue, yellow, and white flowers. You imagined you weren’t going to be showing as much but you were wrong.

You stood in the mirror, admiring yourself.

“You look beautiful, baby.”, Joseph assured, donning a blue suit himself.

You both were over the moon to be having a baby boy. Amelia decided on a pink dress but you both gave her the freedom to choose. Especially if it was going to make her happy. You asked her about baby blue or yellow and she shook her head, clearly not on board with your ideas. Joseph came over behind you, snapping the ‘Mommy-to bee’ pin on your dress.

“Thanks, babe but I feel very big.”, you sighed as you grabbed the other pin, turning to him before snapping the ‘Daddy-to-bee’ pin on his suit.

At times like this when you felt self-conscious, you tried to remember this is what you and Joseph had worked hard for. It was a blessing for you all to be having another healthy baby. Joseph helped you downstairs and to the vehicle. The venue was perfect, decorated exactly for the theme. Yellow and baby blue everywhere. The food was also Winnie the Pooh-themed. You got emotional just seeing how much everyone cared about you all and this baby. Amelia behaved fairly well until she got sleepy near her nap time. Her nan and grandad tried to console her but to no avail.

It was almost time for you and Joseph to open presents. Amelia cried, rubbing her hands over her eyes as she ran to Joseph who was seated with you at the front of the room. He asked her what was wrong but she shook her head, clearly not in the mood to answer him. She rarely got this cranky so it was out of character for her. Joseph easily picked her up, letting her lay her head on his shoulder and rubbing his hand up and down her back, trying to soothe her. She continued to sniffle as Joe told you to go ahead and start opening presents.

You began opening presents and within ten minutes, Amelia was asleep in his arms. He didn’t go to move her, not wanting to wake her up. He held her in his arms as you opened all the presents, thanking everyone for everything. Everyone hugged you both, congratulating you on your new baby. Next week was Amelia’s party and you just prayed you wouldn’t go into labor at least until after her party. You were becoming miserable already just at thirty-seven weeks.

Another week passed and it was Amelia’s birthday party. All the family would be there. She wanted a birthday party at the local park. It was still warm weather and it had turned out to be a beautiful day. You felt like you could barely take a deep breath anymore as this baby was pushing up on your diaphragm. Dr. Bennett informed you he was head down, a sign labor wasn’t too far off. She said there was still a good possibility you’d carry full term but it could happen anytime.

Just not today, not on Amelia’s fourth birthday. Today was about her. You wanted this entire day to be about your oldest baby considering once her baby brother got here, there would have to be a lot of attention on him. Amelia played with some other small kids in the family, some of Joseph’s family overseeing them. Amelia called out for her daddy. He went. Joseph’s mom and dad helped with the food, his dad grilling for everyone. His mom came over asking how you felt before asking if she could feel the baby which you agreed to.

“He’s running out of room, isn’t he?”, she joked easily.

You nodded. “I definitely feel it. He kicks my ribs daily.”, you joked.

His mom admired him pushing Amelia on the swing, laughing and smiling from ear to ear. Amelia was giggling, telling him to go higher.

“When you made him a father for the first time, he was ecstatic.”, she smiled before looking at you.

You smiled.

“It gave him another purpose. He loved you and wanted this with you for so long. This is the happiest I’ve ever seen him.”, his mom beamed at you.

“He’s an amazing dad. We’re lucky—no blessed to have him in our lives.”

You admired Joseph pushing Amelia on the swing, the two loves of your life in one place. Your heart was full as you imagined all the amazing things you would do with both of your kids. Soon, you all eat and let Amelia open presents. She was smiling from ear to ear, Joseph helping her open the more difficult presents. It melted your heart. Amelia had a great birthday party and so far, you hadn’t gone into labor which was a huge plus.

However, when you got home Joseph could tell how miserable and exhausted you were. He told you to go ahead and lay down and he’d get Amelia ready for bed. You changed into your short gown and climbed under the covers, turning on your side and resting your bump on your body pillow. You turned the television on for some noise as you closed your eyes, finally feeling some relief from being so pregnant.

You heard the bedroom door open slowly before feeling Joseph’s weight sink into the mattress. He immediately cuddled up to you, a sigh escaping his lips.

“Love?”

“Yes?”

“How are you feeling?”, he kissed your cheek.

“Miserable.”, you answered honestly.

“What’s bothering you?”, he rubbed his hand up and down your arm soothingly.

“My back, my belly, my legs, and feet.”, you sighed, feeling like you were rattling off a grocery list to him.

“Can I help?”, he asked softly before kissing your neck easily.

You rolled over slightly, making a face as it was becoming more difficult to do simple tasks. “And how do you expect to do that?”, you teased.

“Maybe start with this.”, he smiled as he began massaging your back, his hands kneading and squeezing your skin, instantly beginning to work the kinks out.

You sighed softly, a sign this was helping and relaxing you. He continued kneading your back, rubbing his knuckles occasionally in your back, causing small moans to escape you. It made him desire you and he could feel himself becoming excited as you did this. You arched your back slightly, backing yourself into him. This caused his member to become harder, he bit his lip and sharply inhaled to keep his emotions at bay.

“Is something wrong, babe?”, you asked softly, a slight groan into the pillow.

“Nope, no—not at all, love.”, he dismissed, a nervous chuckle telling otherwise.

“Tell me.”, you pleaded softly.

“Uh—I just—well, if you feel something I’m sorry.”

A smirk came across your lips. “You’re sorry?”

“I mean, I’m not trying to make this sexual, I’m trying to help you feel more relaxed and less miserable.”

You smiled into your pillow, this time purposefully letting a moan escape as he kneaded your shoulders with both of his thick hands. You heard him swallow hard.

“Do you think it’d help you?”, he asked.

You perked up instantly. It had been a week and a half since you all had sex. It was becoming a little more difficult, but it honestly made you relax and go to sleep almost instantly.

“I think so.”, you whispered softly as he kissed your neck again, this time more tenderly. It sent chills down your spine.

“Okay, I’ll take care of you, baby.”, he whispered as he pulled your gown up and over your head, leaving you completely exposed except for your panties.

He instructed for you to lift your hips, allowing him to slide your panties down your soft legs, tossing them to the floor. Joseph had helped you shave your legs since you were having some difficulty reaching everywhere since you are very pregnant. You felt him scoot over, flush against you. There was no space left between you all. You inhaled deeply before releasing it into a sigh. You could feel his warm, soft skin against yours. His arms immediately wrapped around you, going into the space between your breasts and your growing belly. You let out a soft moan as you felt his member poke into you.

His hands carefully went up to your breasts, his right hand was able to gain a little more movement and he immediately took your breast in his hand, beginning to tease your nipple causing you to moan, snuggling into him. He smirked, his beard brushing your cheek. You loved feeling the stubble of his beard brush up against you. He planted soft, sensual kisses along your neck and shoulders, immediately causing goosebumps to appear.

“What can I do for you, baby?”, he whispered in your ear, feeling his breath on your skin.

“I don’t—know.”, you moaned easily as you gripped your pillow as you could not get to Joseph.

“What’s gonna bring you relief?”

“To get this baby out.”, you deadpanned before a chuckle escaped your lips.

He chuckled. “Maybe this will help that process along.”

You felt him brush himself against you, teasing you. You wanted him. Your hormones were all over the place and you knew this would be one of your last opportunities to have sex with your husband before he’d have to leave you alone for six weeks to heal and you’d have a newborn added into the mix.

“Joe.”, you moaned again, gripping your pillow for dear life.

“Yes, baby?”, he cooed as his hands roamed down from your breasts, across your belly, and down to your thighs.

He was very handsy during sex. Physical touch and words of affirmation were his love languages and you loved it with every fiber of your being. You sighed into him, feeling safe and protected in your husband’s arms. You weren’t going to lie—you wish you’d both thought of this earlier.

“Are you gonna put it in me?”, you mewled.

“Are you horny or something, love?”, he teased with a chuckle as his hands came back up your breasts.

“What do you think?”

He laughed again at your sarcastic remark. He had learned some lessons to never disagree with his very pregnant, hormonal wife. You all were in a far better place than you were a year ago. The ache was still there if you sat down and thought about it. However, you had something to look forward—a new baby boy. Joseph continued to place kisses on your neck and play with your breasts and nipples gaining moans and sighs from you periodically—a sound he loved to hear.

You felt his right leg move, wrapping around you. This was a way for him to get closer to you if that was possible. You sighed, loving the feeling of safety and protection all while feeling like he was going to conquer you. The skin-to-skin contact made you feel closer to him than ever. This was different—a breath of fresh air and you both were all for it.

“Ready?”, he groaned softly,

You nodded. “Please put it in, Joe—please.”

He smirked and didn’t argue any further as you felt him brush against you, eliciting a moan from you before carefully shoving himself deep inside of you. You gasped lightly, feeling him still manage to stretch you out. He gave you a minute to adjust to him and this new sex position. He placed a soft kiss on your cheek, before running his free hand through your hair. He took this moment just to take this in—to take you in.

You looked so beautiful. You may have disagreed, especially being nine months pregnant but he loved it and he loved you. You felt him begin to thrust softly and slowly while grunting softly with each thrust into you. You sighed into your pillow. Once he felt you were adjusting to him, he began thrusting deeper and picked his pace up. Your brain was trying to comprehend this and all these new emotions and sensations coming along with this new position. It wasn’t a lot of work for either one of you, ideal this late in your pregnancy.

“Maybe I could——just wake you up like this more often, would you like—that?”, he stuttered.

You nodded. “Mhmmmm.”, was all you could manage to get out.

He ran his hands over you slowly, sensually. It was instantly relieving, your brain and body focusing on something else—him pleasuring you instead of how pregnant you were and how much your body ached. He grunted, his breathing hitching.

“How does it—feel?”

“So good.”, you moaned softly, leaning your head over on his.

He leaned up slightly, making sure he was hitting the right spot. Your moans began to be soft and came every few seconds. He smirked, realizing he was finally hitting the spot that made you forget your name. His groans were longer, you both enjoying this. Ever since you found out you were pregnant, when you and Joe were intimate it didn’t take long for you to near a release. It was the fastest orgasms you’d had. He wasn’t complaining. Your breasts finally weren’t so sore and he could use that to his advantage also.

“Joe….”, you moaned out, gripping the sheets.

“Yes, baby?”, he hummed, continuing to give it to you at the perfect depth and perfect speed.

“I’m gonna—I feel like I’m gonna—no, I need to cum.”, you shuddered with the sensations, he could feel your nipples getting hard under his fingers. One of the signs your orgasm was not far behind.

He sighed softly. “Cum for me, baby. Please cum for me.”, he pleaded, placing a few soft kisses on your cheek and neck.

You breathing hitched as he felt your back arch almost immediately after he spoke his sentence. He felt you tighten up around him, clenching him inside of you. He groaned feeling your juices release on him, one of his favorite feelings. A sign of a job well done. You moaned a long soft moan, feeling the rush of your orgasm wash over your entire body. All pain and discomfort had been forgotten. That was his goal from the beginning. Joe’s thrust slowed down as he grunted with each one, a feral sound you loved hearing from him.

To be completely honest, it turned you on and made you that much hornier for him. If you hadn’t already cum, that would have made you right then and there.

“God—I’m so—I’m gonna cum inside you right now, baby.”, he breathed.

“Please, babe. Please do it.”, you begged, attempting to help him with his release.

He let out a louder groan, trying to soften his tone near the end. His biggest fear was waking Amelia right now. You felt his movements cease. He was pulsing inside of you, spilling his seed inside of you as he softly rubbed your hips. You could feel his chest heaving behind you, trying to recover from this mind-blowing sex. You both breathed in silence as you came off your high.

After he felt he was finished cumming inside of you, he gently slid himself out of you, pulling the covers up over you both. You felt some brush your legs but you weren’t exactly complaining.

“Feel better, love?”, he asked, wrapping his arms around you, and rubbing your belly.

You could hardly focus on him trying to be sweet now and rub your belly. Your brain was still stuck thinking about how deep he was inside of you and how his main focus was to please you and relax you.

“Uh-huh.”, you sighed, groggily.

He leaned up, kissing you. “I love you, baby.”

“I love you too, babe.”

“Goodnight.”

That was the best sleep you had gotten since you were thirty weeks pregnant. Joseph was satisfied, seeing you sleep through most of the night. You only woke up to run to the bathroom before climbing back in bed and snuggling into him. He loved feeling your bare bodies touching one another. It made him feel closer to you. He woke up a few times to check on you and make sure everything was okay. He was so paranoid you’d go into labor in the middle of the night. At times when he woke up, he’d just brush through your hair and admire how peaceful you looked and how he helped you accomplish that serenity.

The next day was uneventful other than you feeling miserable and ready to have a baby. You sat down on the couch and rubbed your belly as Amelia colored on the coffee table. You let her use mess-free paint only. Joseph finished cleaning the kitchen, humming a Beatles song. You smirked easily as he finally finished and came over to sit beside you and feel your belly to see if the baby was being very active. He wasn’t at first. Joseph just rested his hand on your bump, waiting for the baby to move.

He finally did, causing Joseph to smile from ear to ear. That night, you felt uneasy. You tossed and turned a lot. It was three a.m on the alarm clock when you peeled back the cover. The bed felt wet.

“Oh…my God…. Joe—”, you sighed easily, shaking Joseph.

He sat up quickly, rubbing his eyes. “Hm, what’s wrong baby?”

“Joe, I think my water broke.”, you said seriously.

He instantly came to. “You think so, love?”

“That or I pissed myself.”, you breathed as he got up to turn on the light.

Sure enough, it looked clear with a small pink tinge and had saturated the bottom sheet. His eyes widened as he began to rummage through the drawers. He grabbed a clean pair of your underwear before laying it on the clean side of the bed.

“Joe.”

“Yes, love?”, he asked as he began looking through the closet and rummaging through his drawers, picking out his baby blue button-up, a white t-shirt, and blue jeans.

“I’m gonna get up and get dressed real quick.”, you said lifting yourself off the bed, feeling the pain in your back almost instantly.

It hit you like a train. You hissed, deep breathing through the contraction. It was definitely a contraction. You remembered exactly how they felt with Amelia.

“Oh God—I need to time your contractions.”, he breathed, grabbing his watch.

The tight, pulling feeling lasted almost a minute before easing up, allowing Joseph to help stand you up. He helped you in the bathroom to clean up quickly. He bent down, helping you slide your panties off and your gown up and over your head. You leaned against the wall easily. Joseph wasn’t kidding when he said he was going to try and start your labor.

“Do you want to try and shower?”, he asked, looking up at you, his brown eyes full of love and concern.

“Maybe—I feel like it’ll be impossible when we get there.”

He helped you into the shower as he turned the water on. “I’m gonna bring my clothes in here and get dressed while you shower so I can keep an eye on your contractions, okay love?”

You nodded as he went to grab his clothes. The nerves began to set in. You were having your baby boy soon. You prayed everything would go well with this labor and delivery. He had made it to thirty-eight weeks. Ideally, they had estimated you’d go into labor at thirty-nine weeks. You worried about your baby. Until you could hold him in your arms, you’d worry. Your mind snapped away from those thoughts when Joe entered the bathroom.

“What do you want to wear, love?”, he asked as he began sliding his jeans up and over his boxers.

“Um—just get my maternity leggings and a maternity shirt. I won’t get to wear it for long. Is our bags ready?”

“Yes, I’m gonna call mom and dad real fast. Any more contractions yet?”

You shook your head.

He nodded as he slid his t-shirt over his head, quickly throwing his button-up on before taking his phone out and dialing his mom. He explained to her you all thought your water had broken and you were having contractions. Just as that word left his lips, you felt that tight, pulling feeling in your back and pelvis, causing you to tense up, letting out a small groan. Joseph eyed you, picking up you were having another contraction.

“Eleven minutes, lasting a minute.”, he eyed you.

You recovered from your contraction as he hung up with his mom, handing you a towel. He helped you out of the shower and you wrapped up in the towel.

“Are they coming?”, you asked.

He nodded. “Yes, on their way now, love.”

You nodded as he helped you dry off and get dressed. You felt much better. You went out and began pulling the sheets off the bed, Joseph eyeing you wildly.

“Love, don’t worry about those.”

“I’d hate for your mom to have to throw them in the washing machine. It’s no big deal. I’m just in early labor, it’s fine.”, you put them in your arms.

“Okay, but you can progress quicker with the second child, you know.”, Joseph said loudly as you dismissed him, walking down the stairs with a small smile on your face.

You made it to the laundry room, tossing them in the washer and adding detergent. Looking back, you think it was a distraction to keep you from getting nervous about this baby. Joseph came down the stairs with your all’s bags and headed to the car quickly. You sat down on the couch, propping your feet up on the ottoman, eyeing the clock. You put your hand on your belly, rubbing it easily.

Joseph came back through the door, meeting you in the living room. “Any more contractions, love?”

“No.”

“Are you okay? You’re being quiet.”, Joseph sat down beside of you.

“Just nervous. What if something goes wrong?”

Just then, another contraction hit you unexpectedly as Joseph rubbed his hand up and down your back as you closed your eyes easily.

“It’s going to be fine, love. He’s made it to thirty-eight weeks. That’s good—great, actually.”

You nodded. “I just want to hold him—in my arms. I’ll feel so much better.”

Joseph eyed the clock on the wall. Just nine months ago, this is where you told Joseph he was going to be a dad again and now you were about to go to the hospital.

“I know, love. We will get to hold him soon.”, Joseph kissed your cheek.

The contraction left again, and you opened your eyes. It was questionable if they’d keep you this early in your labor, but you felt better going to the emergency room.

“Still eleven minutes, lasting a minute, love.”

You nodded as the doorbell rang. Joseph jumped up from the couch, answering the door. You could hear the indistinct greetings and chatter exchanged between his mom, dad, and him. You heard them all quietly enter the living room.

“Hey dear, are you doing alright?”, his mom asked, coming over and giving you a small hug.

“Other than just being nervous, yes.”

“You’ll do fine, dear. Amelia will be taken care of. Everything’s going to be alright.”, she brushed your hair behind your ear.

“She’ll be fine, don’t worry.”, his father agreed, smiling.

“Love, are you ready?”

You nodded as he and his mom helped you stand up from the couch. “Give Amelia kisses from us, mom. Tell her we love her very much and that mommy is going to have her little brother. If she wants to FaceTime us, just text me. We’ll let you know what they say when we get there.”, Joseph hugged her.

“Okay, honey. Be careful. We love you both and can’t wait to see our grandson.”

They hugged each of you as Joseph grabbed you all a jacket. His black and yours grey. He put his hand on the small of your back as he closed the door behind you both. He helped you down the steps and into your SUV. You remembered taking this same drive to the hospital nine months ago and four years ago to have Amelia. However, you reminded yourself this time it would most likely be a happy ending.

Joseph rested his hand on your thigh before grabbing your hand, and giving it a squeeze. His eyes were focused on the road for a moment before looking over to you. The radio played softly in the background. You leaned your head back against the seat as you felt another contraction come on. You inhaled sharply, closing your eyes.

“Another one?”, Joe asked, turning to look at you.

You nodded, eyes still closed.

You were taking it like a champ if he had to admit it. You made it look so easy. He couldn’t imagine the pain you went through before getting an epidural with Amelia. Your mind was made up this time. Epidural as soon as you could have it. The minute felt like an hour before Joe spoke up.

“10 minutes apart, lasting one minute.”, he announced.

He had practically become a pro since Amelia was born. When you both got pregnant with Amelia, you all were kinda clueless to how the process worked. You being a first time mom. You didn’t have another contraction before you all arrived at the hospital. Joseph parked the car in the patient parking near the ER entrance. He helped you out of the car before grabbing your bags. You both registered at the registration desk, explaining what had brought you to the ER. They triaged you, getting you back quickly.

The ER doctor determined based on your miscarriage and after talking to Dr. Bennett, you needed to be admitted to the OB unit. Joseph called his mom and told her they were keeping you. The nurses met you both and got you settled into a labor room. It was the very same one you had given birth to Amelia in, causing you and Joseph to reminisce. The nurse took your vitals before inviting you to get comfortable. You changed into a gown, Joe quickly tying it before they asked you to lay down and let them check you.

Joseph held your hand, kissing it as the nurse checked you, one of the most uncomfortable feelings.

“Three centimeters dilated.”, she smiled as she shed her gloves.

You put your legs down and the nurse asked if there was anything else she could do for you right now. You denied any needs and she said they’d give you a few minutes before they hooked your baby up to the fetal monitor. Joseph eyed you as the door closed, finally giving you both some privacy.

“How are you feeling, love?”, he asked before kissing your head.

“Ready to have our baby.”, you answered, yawning.

Being woken up at three a.m with your water breaking wasn’t exactly ideal to any hormonal pregnant woman, however, your baby boy was getting ready.

Joseph smiled. “Me too. You’re going to do amazing, love.”

“Let’s hear you say that when I’m miserable with contractions.”, you joked with a smile.

Joseph kissed your head. “Baby, I’ll love you through it.”

“I love you, Joe.”

You nuzzled your head in his chest, even dozing off for about two hours before the nurse came back in to assess you again. They checked the baby’s heartbeat intermittently at this stage. You were the same for now. It wasn’t hard to sleep through these contractions. They were pretty mild, but you knew they wouldn’t stay that way. You may have dozed off for another hour before you were woken up by a contraction, feeling it wrap around your body. You remembered this feeling all too well.

Your face scrunched up, letting a small moan of pain escape your lips against Joseph’s chest.

“Getting worse, baby?”, he brushed through your hair before kissing your head softly.

You nodded.

He rubbed your back slowly up and down. It felt good, and relaxing. He held you against him, rubbing his hand up and down your back through the contractions. You felt your contractions becoming closer together. They were now seven minutes apart, remaining a minute in duration. You felt exhausted, wishing you could go back to sleep for a little bit but your body wasn’t letting you rest. You tried turning over, propping a pillow between your legs, lying down almost flat but it wasn’t exactly helping. The pressure was intensifying.

Your nurse came in to check on you again. You’d spent an hour tossing and turning. Five centimeters. She assured you that you were “getting there”. You rolled your eyes as Joseph took you back in his arms, sitting on the edge of your hospital bed. He was calming and relaxing which is exactly what you needed. Joseph eyed the clock on the wall. It was almost eight in the morning.

“Wonder if Amelia has woken mom and dad up.”, he chucked softly.

“I hope she’s doing okay. I hated to leave without telling her goodbye.”, you sighed into his chest.

“She’ll be fine, love. I’ll call mom in a little while and check on her.”, he kissed your head.

At this stage, labor wasn’t too bad. It was manageable. You had your contractions still happening every seven minutes lasting for sixty seconds. They weren’t feeding you in the event that you had to have an emergency c-section which terrified you. Joseph didn’t eat stating if you couldn’t, he wasn’t going to either. You tried to get him to eat but he refused. He said there was plenty of time to eat once the baby got here safe and sound. He was so stubborn sometimes. But you loved him more than anything.

The next several hours consisted of you being super uncomfortable, trying to find a position to be comfortable in. Joseph had concern in his eyes. He always told you the hardest part of Amelia’s labor was knowing you were in pain and there was nothing he could do about it, however, you had reassured him that after the epidural you didn’t feel a thing. Just a little pressure. The nurse said you were still between five and six centimeters dilated. You had always heard that when you had your second baby, labor was supposed to go faster, but that didn’t appear to be the case here.

Joseph’s mom checked up on you often by texting Joe. You had remained about the same. Joseph kissed your head, holding you in his arms and rubbing his hand up and down your back as he noticed you were still uncomfortable.

“I’m so sorry, love.”, he sighed.

“It’s fine, Joe. Just part of the process of having our baby.”, you sighed into his chest.

“I know, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be sympathetic. See, it is truly amazing what you do.”

You scoffed playfully. “Tell me more.”

He chuckled. “Like how amazing and strong you are for doing this not only once but twice?”

You nodded against him.

He smirked before continuing. “I mean—it’s amazing. The fact you’re strong enough to go through this just so we can have our babies. I remember Amelia’s first cry and how you and I both looked at each other with tears in our eyes. It’s one of the best moments of my entire life.”

You pulled away from him easily, looking into his deep brown eyes. Tears were beginning to pool in the bottom of them. He chuckled and blinked them away quickly. “Sorry, love. I didn’t mean to get all emotional.”

“I love you, Joe. It’s adorable that it still gets to you.”

You both shared a kiss before your nurse came back in the room asking if you needed anything. You weren’t going to make a big deal of it but Joseph told your nurse that you were uncomfortable and couldn’t get comfortable gaining a look but he ignored it, advocating for you. You were six centimeters, and your nurse informed you the next phase of labor would be the most intense and was called the ‘transition’ phase of labor.

Your nurse also suggested walking up and down the hall for a bit. Joseph helped make sure your gown was entirely tied to not show anything. He helped you up from the bed, allowing you to stretch a little. You felt huge and couldn’t wait to hold your baby in your arms. Finally, after nine months. Joseph held your IV pump before wrapping another arm around your waist, you both going down the hallway. Ever so often, you’d have to stop due to another contraction. Joseph would immediately take you in his arms before kissing your head and telling you words of encouragement. Your favorite was, “You’re doing amazing, baby. Just think about how amazing it will be to hold our son.”

Without Joseph, you weren’t sure what you would have done. He was an amazing father and husband. You couldn’t reiterate that enough. Joseph and you walked back to your room. Another idea your nurse had was using a birthing ball. She said it would help alleviate your contractions and prepare you for the next phase of labor. Joseph made sure you sat down on it without falling. He was so cute when he was so protective of you. He squatted down beside of you, keeping his eyes on you. He smiled watching you close your eyes and bounce up and down on the ball, occasionally groaning through the contractions. Your nurse had asked you about an epidural but you had declined it.

When you’d take a break, he’d come behind you and rub your back and shoulders before bending down and kissing you.

“Do I look ridiculous?”, you asked Joseph, bouncing on the ball easily.

“No—no, of course not, love. Why would you think that?”, he took your hand.

“I don’t know.”, you sighed.

“Well, I think you look beautiful, baby.”

“Really?”

“Of course, you’re about to have our baby boy. It’s beautiful what you do as a mom.”

You both shared another kiss, Joe deepening this one which caught you off guard.

You did this for half an hour before the nurse came in to check on you again. Getting back in bed felt better since you had been able to get up and move around. The nurse checked you as you looked over to Joseph. He held your hand and with his free hand, crossed his fingers causing you to giggle.

“You’re seven centimeters. From this point on, you’ll be in the transition stage of labor.”, she smiled.

You smiled at Joseph, realizing your contractions would become more intense but that also meant your baby would be here soon. Within thirty minutes, your contractions were happening sooner and only giving you about two minutes of rest in between. It was almost five in the evening. You felt like you had been in labor for days but it had only been about nine hours. Joseph called again to check on Amelia.

His mom and dad were cooking dinner. Amelia had been up and down since she had her nap.. His mom said she was sleeping at the moment, crying herself to sleep for her nap. It was cute to see how worried Joseph was about Amelia. It just made you realize even more so that you had chosen the right man to be the father of your children. His mom said she was worried about you all asking if her brother had been born. You instantly turned to Joe and made a sad face. You missed her so much and couldn’t wait to take her brother home for her to meet him.

From that moment on, things changed quickly. Your contractions were growing longer and stronger, even beginning to overlap. You were laid over on Joseph as the contractions were hitting, with barely any rest in-between them. It was killing him to hear you moaning and groaning in pain. He wished there was something he could do to help. He turned the lights down in the room, leaving a small one on. He was rubbing up and down your back, even brushing through your hair.

“Babe.”, you whined easily.

“Yes, love?”

“I’m so hot—and nauseated.”, you groaned.

“Do you want to take your gown off? It’s just me and you.”

You nodded against him and he easily helped you out of your gown, leaving you in just your grey maternity bra which was super soft and comfortable. You immediately laid back over on him. You were letting him see you at your most vulnerable.

“Still feel sick, love?”

You nodded. “I feel like I’m gonna throw up.”

He easily leaned up and grabbed the emesis basin. He held it for you and he rubbed your back once he heard you begin throwing up. It was so hard to see you like this, but he understood this was part of labor. You didn’t have very much to expel considering you hadn’t eaten since dinner the night before you went into labor. Feeling like you had finished, you told Joe he could put it down.

Your entire face was flushed when you pulled away from him. He easily got up as you fell into a pillow. He rinsed your emesis basin out, your vomit completely not phasing him. He was a dad now. He grabbed a couple of washcloths, running them under the cold water before returning to you. Your face said it all—another contraction hit you and fast. Joseph sat down on the edge of your bed, easily putting the washcloth on your forehead as you laid back on the pillow for a bit.

“Is there anything I can do, love?”, Joseph asked, holding your hand.

You shook your head. Another contraction. It was becoming worse. You didn’t remember feeling like this with Amelia. “I feel like I need to push.”

Your nurse came in during the contraction, giving you a minute to finish it out. She asked to check you. It was six in the evening.

Her face wore a surprised expression.

“What’s wrong?”, you asked easily.

“You’re ten centimeters and fully effaced. It’s time to get Dr. Bennett.”

“What about an epidural?”, you asked quickly.

“I think you’ve progressed too far. You’re ready to push.”, the nurse eyed you.

You looked over to Joseph slightly panicked. “It’s okay, love. You’ve done great to this point without the medicine. Better than I would have.”, he chuckled, trying to make the mood light.

“I’m just scared I’ll tear or something will happen.”

“Everything’s going to be okay, love. Just relax.”

“It’s hard to relax.”, you sighed, becoming tearful.

Joseph immediately cursed himself for making it sound easy before bending down to you. He took you in his arms as a few tears fell from your eyes. He wiped them away with his free hand.

“Baby, you’ve done amazing. Just a little bit longer and we’ll have our baby boy in our arms.”

You sighed into Joseph’s chest. “I can’t do this.”

“Yes, you can, love. You’re doing it right now.”, he kissed your head.

“I can’t.”, you cried.

“You are and you can, baby. You’ve got this. We will get through this together, I promise.”, Joseph smiled.

With that, Dr. Bennett and a few nurses entered the room. She was completely gowned up and gloved up, ready to go. They placed the fetal monitor back on your stomach, allowing you and Joseph to hear your baby’s heartbeat. It made you feel more at ease. This would monitor the baby’s heartbeat during your contractions and pushing. Dr. Bennett took a seat at the bottom of your bed as one nurse held one leg and another held your other leg, giving Joseph a chance to be at the head of your bed.

“Okay, looks like it’s baby time. You’re ready to go.”, Dr. Bennett eyed you.

“Okay.”

“Just push when I tell you, alright? Same routine as the first time.”

You nodded.

“Alright, push in five, four, three, two, and now.”, she eyed you.

Your face crinkled, letting out a small cry. It was hard to do this without an epidural. You felt every contraction coming on, a sign your body was ready to push. Pushing came easier without being so numb.

“Great job. Just breathe for me.”

You went through this process a few times, following her instructions. Joseph eyed you each time, giving you words of encouragement as another contraction come on and you pushed. He could only imagine how hard this was without an epidural. You still managed to look so beautiful to him. He assured you so.

“I need to push.”, you groaned softly.

“Just a minute, dear. Your baby’s head is crowning.”

“Is it, Joe?”, you asked meekly as he patted your forehead with a damp washcloth.

“Mhm, sure is, love. Almost there. You’re doing so good.”

“He’s got a head of hair, mom.”, Dr. Bennett smiled up at you.

Joseph smiled at you before kissing your cheek. Part of you was so ready to be over and done with this. You just wanted to hold your baby. However, part of you felt sad realizing this would probably be your last baby.

“Alright, a few more pushes and we’re done.”, Dr. Bennett smiled, preparing to catch the baby.

You nodded as she gave you another sign to push. You pushed as much as you could before needing a small break.

“Come on, mom. Just a couple more.”, Dr. Bennett encouraged.

You pushed a couple more times with no cry from your baby which concerned you. You looked up at Joseph.

“Keep going, love. Almost there. You’re so close.”, Joseph smiled, tears already pooling in his brown eyes.

“And push for me now.”, Dr. Bennett breathed.

You pushed, giving this last push everything you had. Everything relaxed and you felt the feeling leave you as you heard the loud, full-lunged cry of your baby. Joseph smiled instantly, running his hands through your hair. Tears swelled up in his eyes before he leaned down and kissed you.

“Congratulations mom and dad. It’s a boy.”, Dr. Bennett sing-songed as she clamped the cord, waiting a minute before cutting it.

“Is he okay?”, you asked Joseph immediately.

Joseph was watching for them to cut his cord which Dr. Bennett did before handing them off to the nurses quickly. “He’s perfect.”

They weighed him quickly, wiping him off as much as they could. They assessed him quickly before a nurse brought him over to you, immediately unwrapping him mostly so you could have skin-to-skin contact with him.

“Joe, he’s perfect.”, you smiled, tears in your eyes.

You finally were able to hold your baby boy in your arms. After all the tears and the worrying, he was finally safe and in your arms. Your rainbow baby.

“He is love. He’s amazing.”, Joe sniffled before kissing your head again, his full attention on his son and you.

“Look at him, Joe. I can already tell—he’s got your nose and ears, too.”, you smirked up at Joseph, tears falling down your cheeks.

Joseph wiped them away before chuckling. “He does. Poor thing. I can’t believe he’s finally here.”

You rolled your eyes at him playfully.

“Decided on a name, mom and dad?”, the nurse smiled at you.

You could have cared less about delivering your afterbirth. Dr. Bennett said you didn’t rip thankfully. You were too busy paying attention to your baby boy.

Joseph smiled down at you. “Do you want to tell them, mom?”

You nodded. “Arthur Isaac Quinn.”, you breathed, touching his face gently.

#joseph quinn x y/n #joseph quinn x reader #joseph x reader #dad joe #joseph quinn #eddie stranger things #eddie x reader #eddie munson

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zablife · 2 years

Text

Alfie Winks at You

Part of my Corrupt a Wish challenge.

Request: Winking at someone. Requested by a lovely anon.

Warnings: pregnancy, mention of injury and blood, death, Corrupt a wish reminder: If you think this story has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention. Proceed with caution.

“Well that’s me finished, innit?” Alfie said as he stroked your stomach protectively. You looked up at him with eyes full of hope, but didn’t dare ask if he truly meant it. You begged Alfie to give up his illegal business five years ago when you married, but he seemed forever bound to it. It was a constant source of argument that led you to live in Margate for a time.

Alfie joined you at your seaside home a fortnight ago when a maid rang to inform him you were ill. He was beside himself with worry over your mysterious condition and promised to take a long holiday with you. Perhaps it would be extended indefinitely now that the doctor confirmed your bought of nausea and fainting spells were caused by pregnancy.

You could only hope for such an outcome. The thought of his return to London made your heart clench in your chest and you realized you needed your husband to promise you more this time. You froze suddenly, thinking of a way to word your request.

When he noticed your nervousness he stroked your cheek, imploring, “Breathe, pet. Ain’t gonna do us any good for you to faint again, least of all the babe.” You released the breath you didn’t realize you were holding and nodded slowly. “I know you’re scared, right, that I’m gonna fuck it up like all the other times,” Alfie said moving his large hands to cover yours and holding them to his chest tightly. “But I swear to you, dove, I’ll do it right this time for both of you, I will. Cause nothing’s more important to me than my family.” You buried your head in Alfie’s shoulder and cried tears of joy. He had never spoken this sincerely about retirement and you knew you could trust him as he made this vow to you.

You pulled away and straightened his tear stained shirt asking with a sniffle and a small smile, “No more late night calls from Ollie then?”

“Never want to hear that name again,” he said with a look of exaggerated disgust.

“Not even if we name the baby Ollie?” you said, breaking out in a grin.

“Don’t test me,” Alfie said with a playful wink that always reassured you things would be alright. When the mood struck him, Alfie had a boyish charm to him that belied the grumpy reputation he cultivated at work. Sometimes you struggled to reconcile the two images. You hoped you would see more of this carefree man when he was done with his dangerous work.

Seven months later he looked very different. He appeared to be an old man as he hobbled toward you on his cane with an expression of deep concern clouding his handsome features.

“Alf, you’re scaring me,” you said, holding a hand to your swollen stomach, lowering yourself carefully into the only chair you found comfortable.

“I’m so sorry, pet…” he began and you couldn’t hear properly after that. All you knew was he intended to break his promise to you and the baby. There was to be a prize fight between his nephew, Goliath, and Tommy Shelby’s welterweight, Bonnie Gold. To be fair, you had known about that for some time, however, the news of Alfie’s sudden choice of betraying Tommy to benefit the Italians was new. It was risky and not something you had agreed to. You shouted at him and threw things until you felt dizzy with Alfie catching you before you fell and hurt yourself. Quickly tearing your arm from his grasp with tears stinging your eyes, you stormed out of the room unable to look at him. He had put your entire future in jeopardy.

For the next two weeks, you felt restless all the time, pacing to keep the child within you still. It was as though the sweet babe knew you needed a distraction from their worrisome father. When Alfie walked through the front door after the fight and gave you that sly wink, you knew all would be well, his silent reassurance made it so, and you collapsed into his arms, grateful he had been spared any harm.

You ate dinner that night and took a walk on the beach arm in arm. It felt as though fate was finally smiling upon you. Alfie was out of the business for good and your life together could finally begin. “Do you forgive me for everything I’ve put you through?” Alfie asked as he brushed the wind blown hair from your tired face. You nodded as you pushed on your tiptoes to kiss him softly. The moment couldn’t have been more perfect, as the sun set over the water and the waves crashed behind you. You inhaled a deep breath, smelling the salt air and let it heal all the pain you’d been holding in. “Take me home,” you begged your husband and he wove a strong arm behind your back to guide you. You slept soundly that night in the peaceful slumber of a woman who had the certainty of her future mapped out.

When you awoke late the next afternoon, you asked the maid where Alfie had gone and she shrugged. You padded down the hall and called toward his office. Finding it empty, you furrowed your brow in confusion and searched the rest of the house with a hand to your back. Then you ventured onto the balcony to see if he was taking a stroll along the beach. That’s when you spotted two figures below. Your heart sank as you spied a man in a dark coat and peaked cap standing near Alfie and Cyril. Then, to your horror, Tommy pointed his gun and fired at your husband. Alfie fell to the sand immediately and a scream tore from your throat.

You ran from the house in your nightdress and bare feet. Scrambling down the long drive and around the edge of your property. Holding your large belly with one hand, you tried to run and slipped twice in the sand dunes in the process. No! Please, God, you thought as you rushed to your husband’s side.

When you reached him, Tommy was long gone and Cyril stood at his master's side whimpering pathetically. You rounded Alfie's body nervously in search of the cause of the blood stained sand around him. However, there was no wound you could see. For a moment you deceived yourself into thinking the bullet had missed, until you looked upon his face and saw the left eye and part of his cheek was missing. You let out a strangled cry at the gruesome sight, dropping to your knees by his side and found him with a weak pulse, barely clinging to life.

“Don’t leave me, Alfie. Please, I can’t do this alone,” you sobbed, attempting to pull him up. His weight was too much for you and you fell into the sand beside him, body heaving with sobs as his breathing eventually stopped altogether. As you cradled his head the missing eye winked up at you, mocking you and this cruel twist of fate.

#zablife corrupt a wish #Peaky Blinders fanfic #Peaky Blinders imagine #Alfie Solomons fanfic #Alfie Solomons imagine #Alfie Solomons x reader #Alfie Solomons x you #Alfie Solomons x y/n

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benkyoutobentou · 3 months

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31 Days of Productivity Reading: Day One

Before: I’ve been looking forward to this day, March first, specifically for this little reading challenge! I’ve been “saving” my books to read, which is at once a habit that I do often when something like this comes up and something I know I should kick the habit of. It’s not like I’ll run out of things to read. Ever. But to start out, let’s do a quick rehash of my goals for the month (don’t worry, this’ll be the only time I do this):

Finish No. 6 volume 3

Read 憎らしい彼

Read another novel (today I’m leaning towards 独り舞. Tomorrow? Who knows)

Read at least ten volumes of manga

Read at least an hour per day

[I'm putting the rest under a read more because it ended up being unusually long. ごめんね！]

For today’s plans, I’m going to walk to the library and get a bit of studying done. I’m in a huge Mandarin study mood and I think the long walk will be good for me, both mentally and physically. I’ll also probably read a bit at the library after I’ve finished studying. I’m starting off the month with No. 6 and if I still have some left over reading energy at the end of the day, I’ll probably read ウツボラ (下). I read the first volume a super long time ago, and as much as I adore the manga of 中村明日美子 this one was way above my level when I tried it last. I usually find her manga to be on the more difficult side, but I also always find that the stories are worth the effort.

I’ve seen some people on YouTube time themselves reading when they do reading challenges, so I’ll probably try that out, even if I doubt that I’ll actually do it for the whole month… It would also be interesting to have a more accurate idea of my reading speed in Japanese, and to be able to see if that changes over the course of the month.

After: In a series of unfortunate events, I didn’t end up reading at all at the library because I probably spent thirty minutes looking for my hold book and still couldn’t find it (they filed my name wrong, the paper slipped to where you couldn’t see the name on it, and the spine of the book is a completely different color than the cover). And since I walked, I didn’t want to walk home in the dark.

Mildly related notes- I can’t go anywhere without my dog begging for a walk, so I had to take her out before I could walk to the library myself. I also found it mildly amusing that the chapter I started at the library was library themed.

One hour update: My reading pace is (so far), pretty much exactly where I thought it was, which is about five minutes per page, give or take. Luckily, I've honed in to my reading weakness. Unfortunately, it's a big category. Vocabulary. Vocabulary is my weak point in studying and I go through phases in which I study a ton of flashcards or none at all. I know that I need to get back on my JPDB game, but. Ough. I'm just glad that I usually don't find any issues with grammar, and my reading speed when I know the words really isn't all that bad (as far as I'm concerned).

Final report: For the day, I've read about two hours and ten minutes give or take (I accidentally reset the timer eight minutes in) and nearly finished the chapter I was on of No. 6, completing about thirty ages in that time. I didn't get to reading any manga today, but that's fine. I would like to finish the chapter before I go to bed since I only have ten pages left, but that's still another hour of reading (hopefully less, since most of it seems to be dialogue) and it's getting late, hence why I'm updating now and not when I actually stop reading for the day. Night owl problems. Finishing the chapter would also put me at nearly halfway through the book. God I love short books! As usual, this series is wonderful and I always have a great time whenever I pick it up.

#benkyou posting #30 days of productivity #langblr #studyblr #language learning #studying #polyglot #booklr #study blog #check my slatch tote #homemade tote bag for an obscure series check

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marc-spectorr · 2 years

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Ok ok, so... I hope this is gonna be fun for you.💖

I challenge you to write a little fic based on the last 3 emoji you used.

you could also ask your followers for their last 3 used emoji and write something with theirs.

What ya think? (Of course only if you have time and it doesn't bother you)

-- 🌻

wait this actually fun 😭😭 thanks so much sunnie for the idea :))

*** if anyone wants to send me their last 3 used emoji + a character, i’ll write a short little thing for ya!

pairing: santiago garcia x reader

my emojis: 😭😩🎉

“Mission’s expected to wrap up by next week, so after that, I’m all yours.”

Santiago smiles hopefully, the crinkles of his weathered face reaching warm yet tired earthy eyes. While shrouded in darkness from the backseat of a car, his tender, adoring gaze radiates all the love he has for you, making you smile, all soft, silly, and sweet.

Three months away, and this video call had only been the second instance you’ve spoken to him since he left home for an assignment deep in South America. You hadn’t known much of the specifics— only that it would take quite some time, but there’s no need to worry.

Of course, when it comes to Santi, you’d worry no matter what.

“I can’t wait for you to get back,” you reply softly, feeling the slight tears pricking your eyes. “I really miss you, but I’m crossing my fingers that everything goes smoothly and you’ll be home soon.”

“Me, too, baby. Me too,” Santi murmurs with a gentle sigh, his gaze briefly flickering up to the front of the vehicle, nodding. “Listen, honey, I have to end the call now. We just got to the base camp, and I gotta get the rest of the team up to speed. I’ll try calling you again before I leave, okay? I’ll let you know when I’m on my way back.”

“Okay,” came your muted response. “I love you, Santi. Be safe, alright?”

“Always, babe. Love you, too, and see you soon.”

The line quickly disconnects, and a heavy stillness immediately falls around you. You sit there in silence, a small sob escaping your lips as your heart continues to yearn for Santi.

Wiping the tears away, the sound of the doorbell ringing alerts you, and you try your best to fix yourself up before going to answer it.

“Hey…”

Your knees nearly buckle once you swing the front door open, greeted by the sight of your Santi standing outside. He takes a step forward to hold you steady, resting the palms of his hands on the sides of your waist as a gleeful smile blooms upon his face.

“Surprise!” he laughs, though you’re still in shock and unable to bring yourself to speak. “Op finished earlier than expected, and I thought it would be nice to—”

Santi breathes out a soft groan as you cut him off with a kiss, your arms quickly winding around his neck to pull him close. His five o’clock shadow scratches against your cheek as he deepens the kiss, only to break away when you stagger backward and hit the door with a thud.

“Welcome home, baby,” you pant into his neck, chuckling. “We got some catching up to do, don’t you think?”

Stealing another kiss, Santi then guides you back inside the house, kicking the door shut with his foot before leaning into your ear and rasping, “Indeed, we do.”

#ofccc i had to write my new man for this one heheh #asks #🌻 anon #santiago garcia x reader #santiago garcia #triple frontier #oscar isaac #oscar isaac x reader

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xknivesandpensx · 11 months

Text

Like Pieces of a Puzzle

Chapter 7

Summary: What if Harry wasn't the only extra student called upon to participate in the Triwizard Tournament? Far from the most popular candidate, Draco not only has to take on the trials but also deal with his unexpected feelings for Hermione. Will he be able to face the challenges as well as follow his heart?

Chapter length will vary. I'll be referencing both the books and movie versions. Some things from what I've previously written will be mentioned, all of which you can find here.

And for those who asked to be tagged: @dayane245love

When Hermione entered the common room, Harry and Ron were finishing their Divination homework. Two volumes of Unfogging the Future laid open on the table as they spoke back and forth to one another, rattling off random unfortunate events. Only a few students remained hanging around, including Fred and George, who disappeared upstairs upon her arrival.

Crookshanks jumped from Harry’s lap and rushed over to rub against her leg. Hermione greeted him, lowering down to brush her hand over his ginger fur, causing a loud purr to be heard. He took off soon after, deciding to curl up near the fireplace.

Hermione peered over Ron’s chart. Her lips pressed together upon skimming over his work. “Not going to have a very good month, are you? You seem to be drowning twice. Don’t you think it’s a bit obvious you’ve made these up? Then again, Professor Trelawney isn’t very creditable. She’d likely believe you.”

Harry shrugged, silently agreeing per the latter. “She already told me; ‘I fear the thing you dread will indeed come to pass.’ I suppose I prefer that over her predicting my death all year. I think this one is a nice touch, considering.”

She read the answer, raising a brow. “Decapitation? It’s barely better than Ron getting trampled by a rampaging Hippogriff.”

“It’s not easy coming up with good ways to die,” Ron defended as she took a seat next to him. “Besides, we all know she’s a bit of a nutter. If it’s not downright devastating, she’ll think we haven’t tried hard enough.”

“It’s beyond me why the two of you are wasting your time in her class. Everything she says is rubbish,” Hermione mentioned, attempting to maintain her usual self, despite feeling quite the opposite. “You should’ve taken Arithmancy. Professor Vector is strict, but she really gives us a challenge.”

“Well, bully for her,” Ron muttered in return, picking up his quill to write more.

During a lapse of silence, Hermione put the box she carried on the far end of the table. She wanted to talk about S.P.E.W. but the urge of excitement dwindled. For some reason, a sudden awkward feeling buried itself in her stomach. And what for? A single, civil conversation?

She shook her head, as if the motion alone possessed the ability to shake Draco from her thoughts.

Hermione noticed Harry’s slight tensing, how he hesitated to move his hand to his forehead. She ducked down, speaking in a whisper. “Your scar’s bothering you again, isn’t it?”

“It’s nothing.” He wished she didn’t look at him quite like that, with concern pooling in her brown eyes, her features softening by worry.

Somehow, Hermione was the only one who ever noticed.

Ron lifted his gaze after she spoke, now questionably regarding him too, however, where Hermione held apprehension, he took on a puzzled expression.

Harry felt suddenly uncomfortable by their stares and turned his attention elsewhere. “What’s in the box?” he asked, moving to get a better view of the contents. He took out a badge and flipped it over, merely to be interrupted before he could say anything.

Although wise to his tactics, Hermione went along almost automatically. “Before you ask, S.P.E.W. stands for the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare. I was going to put Stop the Outrageous Abuse of Our Fellow Magical Creatures and Campaign for a Change in Their Legal Status, but it wouldn’t fit. After much consideration, I decided to take a practical approach. With both of you helping, think of what we can do for them. Of course, we’ll need more than three members.”

“This again, really? It’s all you ever go on about,” Ron complained. He believed the house-elves were content, happy even, doing as they always have.

She glared at him but otherwise ignored the comment. “I’ve done loads of research. Obviously, we’ll need money. Two Sickles to join seems right to me. You’re treasurer, Ron. Harry, you can be the secretary, so you might want to write everything down I’m about to say.”

As if he’d know the important details to keep track of. He maybe even regretted asking, if not for the fact of it stealing the notice from himself. Harry took another from the box. “What happened to this one?”

“Oh, I forgot to fix it.” Hermione drew her wand out. “I banged into Malfoy on my way here. He stepped on it. I think by accident. Reparo.” It came together in an instant, now identical to the rest.

She started to wonder how he’d be next time they saw one another. To Hermione, at least, she thought something changed or perhaps it was all in her head. Draco being nice didn’t quite mean anything. But in regards to her? Who could say for sure.

She still felt the impression his hand left, how the tingling sensation raced across her skin. To think a single touch had the power to inflict such a sensation. Hermione knew if she vocally indulged in the matter to them, they’d think her as mad as Professor Trelawney.

Possibly, she’d agree given who she often caught herself daydreaming about him. And while a part of her thought it wrong to keep secrets from her friends, crushes were simply excluded from any of their discussions. Although, Harry’s interest in Cho appeared obvious, once picking up on it. His whole face lit up upon seeing her. He forgot how to speak and embarrassed himself on more than one occasion.

Ron, on the other hand, she didn’t see his interest latch onto anyone (because even he hadn’t caught onto his growing feeling for Hermione yet).

“Malfoy again? Strange for him to be roaming the halls, isn’t it?” Harry asked, figuring he may as well take out a blank piece of paper. He smoothed it out by using his forearm, struggling not to wince after he felt another dull sting.

Hermione forced a steady voice, restraining from answering too quickly. “Hardly. He just left Professor Moody’s classroom. Anyway there’s something – ”

“Does that mean he got in trouble?” Ron interjected, his mood lightening. “He deserved it in any case, on the account of Neville, of course. Hasn’t been right ever since.”

She took the badge from Harry and tossed it in with the others. “Laying it on a little thick, aren’t you? I’m sure Neville isn’t upset anymore. And you needn’t look so happy about it either. Points taken away would be the direct approach, not detention.”

She refrained from disclosing the details of Draco’s punishment, considering they’d only see Moody in a higher regard, lacking the true brutality of the ordeal. Telling them greatly differed from seeing the results in person.

“Defending him now?” Rom came across affronted, his gaze quick to find hers. “He did laugh after Pansy pushed you in the mud. Not to mention everything else he’s done over the years.”

“Thanks, Ron. I nearly forgot about that highly mortifying moment.” Hermione turned to the window where a snowy white owl could be spotted, any further words lost. Hedwig tapped her beak on the glass, waiting for entrance.

Harry quickly crossed the room, letting her inside before untying the parchment attached to her leg. His eyes scanned the letter Sirius sent. Both Ron and Hermione moved into the corner, away from the few students who’d possibly overhear them.

“Not now,” Harry remarked to Hedwig, who hooted for attention. He kept his summarily to the overall point. “He’s coming back because he thinks I’m in trouble.” Disbelief clung to his hushed tone. “But there’s nothing wrong, nothing worth him taking the risk.”

Hermione moved to put her hand on his shoulder in hopes of providing comfort. She instantly felt the strain pulling along his muscles. “He cares about you and it is concerning. Of course, he’d want to be closer. Your scar just bothered you.”

“For a few seconds,” Harry snapped, shrugging her off. Her pacifying voice irritated him, yet the negative emotion vanished in a flash after he caught sight of the hurt look on her face. “Sorry… I can’t lose him too.” He grabbed a piece of paper, writing a hurried reply.

Hermione trailed after him, taking it upon herself to read as he wrote. “You’re lying, you didn’t imagine it. He’ll know exactly what you’re trying to do and it won’t work. He’s probably already on his way.”

Harry disregarded her and went back to Hedwig.

“Might as well not bother,” Ron said. He returned to the table, in which Hermione followed, still casting a worried glance. “I get it, though. It has to be hard. Wanting him near but needing him off someplace else.”

Hermione nodded, aware Harry desired nothing more than to leave the Dursley’s and live with Sirius. He talked to her about it in length once, describing how connected they became in a small amount of time.

She watched as Hedwig gave Harry a rather hard nip on the fingers for having to be sent out again, despite complying. Before she managed another sentence, Harry retreated upstairs, muttering about being tired, leaving her to slump in her seat, attempting to sort through her thoughts as Ron quietly went back to his homework.

Hermione managed to talk to Ginny the next day. They left lunch early so she could send a letter to her parents, borrowing Hedwig, for Sirius responded and his answer came that morning, urging his godson to use other owls due to her bright color. And he, as she expected, knew of Harry’s attempts to downplay the pain.

The walk to and from the owlery provided enough privacy to explain the conversation she and Draco shared. A warm breeze swept past as they trailed the bridge, passing Cedric along the way, who gave a nod and light smile in their direction, having met them during summer.

“I mean, you find it odd too, right?” Hermione asked as soon as they were out of earshot. Uncertainty wormed its way inside. She fought to find a rational conclusion in means of putting her heart aside. “I think I’m making nothing into so much more.”

Ginny kept her gaze on her feet, taking a few steps to consider an answer. “Why not simply try talking to him again? Get things sorted out?”

The suggestion came off rather tempting, however, risky. “Even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t get the chance. We have Potions together but only for a half hour today on account of the other schools arriving.”

The excitement over the tournament took over the school in full. Almost every student went on earnestly about the possible competitors and challenges. Hermione, alternatively, possessed no ability to concentrate on the competition.

“It’d be pretty awkward asking to speak to him directly, especially since he’s always around the other Slytherins.” Although Ginny still found her friend’s affection towards him to be surprising, she figured at least one of them deserved a chance.

“I can’t fathom a single thing to say anyway,” Hermione mentioned. “For all my logic, I’m simply lost when it comes to talking to a boy I’m interested in. And given his foul behavior, I’m better off keeping things as they are. I used to handle myself better, whereas now I’m harrowed by the very thought of seeing him again.”

He drove her crazy. Draco came off arrogant, yet it seemed to be more than that, like he was uniquely talented at getting under her skin. (Not excluding the fact of his proficiency at annoying Harry and Ron too).

Sometimes she thought herself too hard on him, given he was no different than any other teenager, blood status aside, and perhaps she didn’t hate his company if caught in a tolerable mood. Then he tended to prove her positive assumptions wrong by keeping to his typical condescending attitude.

“I’m not one to give advice on the subject, but I believe the correct thing to do is to decide. Either take the risk or let your feelings go.” Ginny stated it simply in spite of personally knowing the difficulties of confronting the choice.

“I can’t keep going back and forth, that much I know.” She dug herself too deep already. Hermione started to grow tired of the unknown, wishing to gain freedom from the conflict. “I just need to think it over, is all.”

Once more gratitude for their friendship made itself known. Confiding in Ginny proved beneficial. Plus, their discussions about either of their crushes led them to additional topics. She loved spending time with Harry and Ron, nevertheless she greatly appreciated the company of another girl.

After getting back inside they agreed to head back to the Great Hall so Hermione could walk to her next class alongside her two friends as per usual. Their topic of discussion drifted to a lighter note along the way.

Not only to preserve the privacy of the subject matter in whole, but also to the point of providing Hermione the space she required without rehashing the problem.

They turned the corner and dé·jà vu hit, having run into Draco again. All three of them came to a quick halt. His eyes met Hermione’s surprised, flushed face. A prolonged stare (which sped up her heartbeat so rapidly it fervently thumped against her chest) followed a swift continuation of strides. He walking around like they were invisible to him. His expression appeared unreadable, almost indifferent.

She turned around, losing sight of him along the corridor. He vanished amid a group of students.

“What am I supposed to make of that?” Hermione questioned, perplexed by Draco’s reaction or lack thereof.

“I’m not entirely sure.” Ginny grabbed hold of her arm, forcing her to keep moving. “If we don’t hurry, we’ll miss them. But I must say, he is acting strange.”

#dramione #draco malfoy #hermione granger #harry potter #the goblet of fire #this chapter took longer to write than i thought it would XD #probably because the holiday weekend #and hitting days when i just couldn't write #anyway here's chapter seven #nice comments are always appreciated #sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes

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o5-blackbird · 2 years

Note

📓 + Six

[Not visible in-character/to anons.]

Fun Fact: (don’t you love it when things start with those two words? I know I do.) Did you know that in the event that a [REDACTED]-K “First Kiss” Warhead were to leave Site-06, traveling approximately [EXPUNGED] meters per hour, it would only take only about eleven minutes and five seconds before reaching Site-█ █?

It’s specific. I know. I’m actually not all that good at fun facts. Surprise. I know some good riddles though — I borrowed most of them from a friend I’ve never even met — but here's a special one, just for you.

So there’s this engineer; real awkward but friendly guy. His best trait — however — is his ability to craft some of the most beautiful mechanical shit you’ve ever seen.

So one day, he’s asked to build something off some vague blueprints.

“What is it?” He asks his supervisor.

His supervisor shakes his head and smiles. “You don’t need to know what it is,” the smiling man says. “I’ve seen you rebuild things from the ground up with barely a clue of what you were touching. Just get started and I’ll iron out the other details with you later.”

The engineer nods and gets to work.

Two weeks later, he had built the frame of the mystery item and showed it to his supervisor. His supervisor smiled and told him to start another part.

“Could you tell me what it is?” The little engineer asked again.

“Don’t get so hasty!” The smiler laughed. “You’ve got a good pace going. Telling you would just throw you off.”

So the engineer went back to work.

Two months later, he had installed a large section of what he had been instructed to add. While it was slowly edging on being outside of his comfort zone, he was enjoying the challenge of building without a true understanding of the end result — but he was still just a little curious...

He smiled and showed his supervisor.

“Fantastic. You’re doing great. I have a few more small things I would like you to add before we carry the work on to the next department. I think they’ll be just as amazed by your work as I am,” The smiler said.

“What will they be completing?” The curious engineer asked, trying one last time.

The supervisor merely laughed. “Don’t worry about it.”

So the little engineer, unsatisfied, finished his section of the project before seeing it out. A beautiful but incomprehensible chunk of metal.

Now... With all this in mind... How about the riddle I promised?...

How long would it take to ship this beautiful chunk of metal to it's next destination?

It's a bit of an obvious answer... I'm unfortunately not always as subtle as some of you make me out to be...

The answer? Eleven minutes and five seconds to the dot.

- K

#satisfaction brought it back #[not visible in character]#a blackbird's tale #a faceless fowl #tw mentioned bomb #ask to tag

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josiebelladonna · 2 years

Text

i’ve been getting a couple of questions asking me about one shots, like if i’m going to do them again, and the answer is absolutely yes. it’s just knowing what to write is the thing that’s holding me back. i’m a novelist by trade, i like to write long things so short stuff is admittedly a challenge for me.

one shots pertaining to my big fics, though? not really, no. i’d rather make art instead 😅 i’ve thought about a one shot with eric and belinda in the fever verse but their getting together at the end was the whole point of their arc. fever was long enough as is, too: i’d rather it stand alone with the one shots that it does have and keep on pulling forth with my current universes than rehash it again.

i have my current collection blackened, but that’s just more my saying that nothing is off the table, whether it’s the universes of my long fics or stray ideas. i mention all this because i’ve often found that a whole score of one shots surrounding a big fic is the kiss of death for an author (just from watching companies like disney and pixar churn out spin-offs, sequels, remakes, reboots, and all manner of things while they’re technically in the same universe). i usually think of scenes that don’t really go anywhere and whether or not i’ll put them into one shot form is up to my desire to do so—just to give you an idea, there was a fair amount of deleted scenes from fever (like there were a couple of coney island scenes where alex goes overboard with the funnel cake, and another scene from the ballad where it’s just sam and alex slow dancing to led zeppelin). now it’s dark consisted of the main trilogy, amped and wired (the written parts + the comic), and lots and lots of drawings. there were the spin-offs, the dead trilogy, and also the dead of night, which every now and again i think of finishing because i really liked that one—it was going to have a shoot out between neil and some mounties! and there was another de facto spin-off, the contest, the sex comedy i wrote before fever started taking off. i initially put them under the now it’s dark just because they were all vaguely related to one another. that was pretty much it, though: i put it to bed once i realized fever was calling me. and i went back and took them out of the moniker because they all stand on their own.

but even with the thought of writing now it’s dark through lars’ eyes, there’s really nothing more i can say with it. i did it to introduce blackened and then i realized that was it. nothing more to say.

so, when i see a whole collection of one shots pertaining to a main universe, that tells me one of two things: either the author is out of ideas or they’re lazy. i get it: sometimes you don’t know where a story is going, and you think of a really juicy scene that doesn’t fit in anywhere. i totally get it, it’s happened to me on more than one occasion. but you also run the risk of cheapening the main fic, though. this could just be my desire for a point in a world full of nihilism talking but it seems to me that you wrote the fic for a reason, though. you put your heart into it. you had an idea and so, unless the fic is dead, stick to it (”then commit”, as they say). don’t throw it away just because you wanted to show your adult side.

and being out of ideas is always tragic. i was out of ideas for a couple of years, back in like 2010-2011 (well, and my family life was falling apart and i was swamped with honors classes back then, of course my well ran dry) and i worry about running dry again—i have no clue what will happen this time next year, or even six months from now, or hell, even a week from now. if you’re out of ideas, my love, get out of the fic world and do something else for a bit. go read some books, go do stuff, do something and take care of yourself because you’re stretching yourself thin.

if it’s like a couple of one shots, that’s different. sometimes that’s all you need. sometimes just one is all you need. but a whole collection, though? no, that’s never a good sign.

#something that’s been on my mind for a while now #fic writing #fanfic #ao3 author #text

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deerblossoms · 17 days

Text

i’m deeply fucking cursed. every pen i’ve journaled with in the past month has died. i JUST bought a new pen, used it once, and it’s already dead the next day. what the fuck??????!? like at first, when this started happening, i was joking about a silly little pen curse during the retrograde. now i think it’s me. this used to happen when i was in high school, too. when i was journaling all the time back then. so fucking weird.

kayla and i are on a week and a half break, not talking until the 18th or 20th or so, and it feels okay on my end. i’ve noticed i’ve completely stopped stressing about the relationship. but i’ve also noticed nobody texts me. kinda sucks! really sucks. i’m trying desperately to find people to go see challengers again with and nobody has the time. jack moves back today, finished their first year of college and i’m so proud of them. they’ll be closer next year which will be great. i am making a quick note here to say i’m soooo over the gabby luna sitch that i don’t even feel like writing about it. detaching myself. other people’s lives aren’t my own. and i certainly don’t need to worry about the lives of people who can’t even text me more than once every few months. jesus!

i don’t know. i feel so weird today. i couldn’t get myself up and at em today and spent all morning doomscrolling and watching SATC. yesterday i came home before leaving for work, sat down on the couch to catch my breath, and immediately started crying. couldn’t even figure out why. still don’t know! i’m not doing amazing, i don’t think. i was for a moment, when the cherry blossoms were out, but now i don’t know what to do with myself. i have the day off and i have no clue how to spend it. i might spend it watching tv all day, which i kind of want to do. could watch eternal sunshine and the social network and binge SATC. maybe i’ll put the footage i captured onto my computer. i need editing software so i can do something with it, though. lol! i did just get paid so i could shell out for FCP but i feel as though that’s unwise. is it? i have no clue. i guess maybe i need to just accept the loneliness i’m feeling, embrace it, stop trying to fill it or replace it. stop keeping myself busy and just be lonely, keep my own company. watch a lot of tv.

it’s funny how little i care about something after its time has passed. i was so excited to go see the barbie movie and then i didn’t, and now i doubt i’ll ever watch it. i have no wish to. i finally realized luna and i would never be real friends the way things stand right now, so i’ve stopped caring. javi doesn’t text me so i don’t text him anymore. everything comes and goes. once i know someone’s not interested in me i lose my crush on them completely. i forget about everything, and once i forget, it stops mattering even after i remember. this is actually a conversation i should be having in therapy because i can hear myself kinda spouting BS a little but i’m not sure how to call it on my own. high school was so awful and now it’s a million years ago. everything passes. life is a river and you never see the same wave twice. it’s probably not good for me that i haven’t written poetry in so long. though i remember i used to always say it was a “bad sign if i was writing poetry again”. truth is though, if i’m doing badly i should be writing about it. i’m trying to convince myself to start making art again. fill up my sketchbook with whatever. rip myself from my phone and put my anxious energy into my art. whatever that art is. i just feel so pathetic lately. so nothing. i feel like i could melt away and i would be as much use to the world as a puddle. sometimes i feel like i’m just here to entertain everyone else and i’m not living for myself. everyone loves me, everyone cares about me, everyone’s happy to see me, but nobody wants to spend time with me. nobody reaches out unless i reach my hand out first. nobody even has the time to go to a fucking movie with me. i’m just the eternal manic pixie dream girl. kayla reaches out, i guess. but that’s something else. we don’t have anything to say to each other. when i’m with her i don’t have any passions or dreams or aspirations. i’m just a body next to hers. old wise man with a guiding light when she needs it. and it doesn’t feel good, and it’s not her fault. it’s completely inexplicable.

anyway i’m sad. obviously LOL this is such a depressive pessimistic entry. i’m trying to quit biting my cuticles and i’m not doing well at it. i keep forgetting until i’ve already got the skin half-ripped between my teeth. and by then, might as well. i’m so over begging for company. people can come to me. people can make plans with me. people can do that or i can do things on my own, like always. maybe i want to be alone because i know every book and therapist and person will tell me this is an awful plan. no good to stop trying with other people. but i want to. i’m tired of trying. and i know i’m loved, i know i’m cared about. i’ve just started to feel like a monkey with cymbals in their hands. everyone’s off doing something important with their life, going somewhere, working towards something, caring and living and i’m the little kid on the couch, just waiting till they come home. i don’t feel like my own person anymore. i keep checking my messages, obsessively, looking for that little red dot. WHAT ever. it’s cold out and i finished my coffee and i feel very small.

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ladywaifuuwrites · 3 years

Text

Pillars reacting to their crush who’s small but strong

Request: male pillars reacting to a really strong female pillar whos like super short like 4′10-5′ and they crush on them.

Pairings: Male pillars x fem! reader

Synopsis: Their crush is a strong smol pillar ^_^

Warnings: manga spoiler

a/n: I smiled at your request since I’m small too. Like I’m 5′0. And I’m kinda scared to do face to face classes since the boys at my school will tease me for not getting taller. Hmph. SO HERE YA GO. You’re the first request! Have a nice day whoever u are!

And I am so sorry this is so long! ASJDAOFHHASK. I got carried away in some of those storylines. I hope this makes sense (wrote this when I was hungry).

This would be a headcanon I assume.

I’m sorry if It’s taking me long to answer requests but don’t worry I’ll write those! I’ll probably upload rules for future requests :)

Giyuu Tomioka

yo this guy is tall not kidding

Giyuu is head over heels for you. He’ll want to protect you since you’re the most precious things he’s ever laid eyes on

Sparkles in his eyes whenever he sees you✨

He doesn’t want to lose you so he’s butting in on all of your missions. You get annoyed and you think he’s looking down on you.

You two get into a fight and doesn’t fix it since Giyuu’s communication is bad. It ends up in you walking away.

Nighttime and demons are lurking around in the forest as you take a stroll to clear your mind. Then a demon launches on you but thanks to your quick reflexes you dodge.

It’s a strong demon, close enough to become one of the lower moons. But nothing you can’t handle.

Giyuu senses a demon nearby and he frantically searches for you. *sim dads reaction when the mother goes into labor lmaooooo*

Lights fill up an area of the forest from the techniques you use. In like 2 strikes the demon dies.

He finally finds you as the demon’s ashes blow away. Your hair is dramatically blowing too.

He’s just staring at you then hugs you “I’m sorry. I’m not underestimating you…I just want to protect you.”

Then all good. He’s amazed by how strong you are despite you’re short stature. You’re going to missions together and sometimes he just watches you finish off the demon. Just happy to see that satisfied smile you have when you kill a demon.

Muichiro Tokito

When he first met you at the pillar meeting, he muttered his thoughts, wondering how could someone be that small? You’re in the same age but you’re small.

Shinobu heard him since she was beside him and said “that’s rude to ask someone”. She’s lowkey offended.

Tengen retorts to Muichiro. “You’re small too…??”

Since it’s rude, he kept his mouth shut. You’re the same age as him when you entered the corps. He thinks you’ll grow up anyway.

Surprise surprise you grew up, 2 inches. But still small.

He gets nervous a bit around you since puberty did you good. Won’t admit it though.

Cue swordsmith village arc

He’s having trouble dealing with Gyokko. (I hate his face. It’s weird and ugly.)

Then minutes later, you show up out of nowhere, giving great damage to the demon.

“Are you okay?” you ask him with concern and you two fight off the fish demon.

He’s in awe because you actually took over the fight. Sure you have injuries but those are minor compared to his and you were very careful.

He’s injured so he couldn’t do much but you saved him and the civilians by defeating the demon. That’s when he realized how amazing you are and you earn his respect.

Days pass by and you two along with the other demon slayers are commended by Oyakata-sama.

He thanks you when the both of you are walking together. He’s very grateful for what you did and you two become closer afterwards.

“Ah young love.” Mitsuri sighs blissfully as she watches you two leave the headquarters.

Kyojuro Rengoku

Kyojuro knows you’re small and he knows you’re strong. You’re one of his trainees along with Mitsuri, so you’ve known each other for a long time now.

You rose to the ranks of the pillars with Kyojuro’s guidance. And now you’re looked up to by the whole organization because of your excellent swordsmanship despite your small figure.

So you’re tasked to train 20 slayers ranked below Tsuchinoto. You take them to a clearing in the forest where training equipment are already placed. You train them by remembering what Kyojuro has taught you over the years. And you smile, seeing your past self in the struggling slayers.

You gave them a 10 minute break and after 10 minutes, you do a headcount to see if everyone is in your proximity.

“18,19…?????”

Oh no. A slayer is missing.

So you set off to find the missing one and there you found him.

Hanging upside down from the arms of a large demon. The boy is muttering apologies for straying faraway and is begging for you to save him upon seeing you.

You are annoyed at the fact that he has disobeyed your orders and is now at the hands of danger. But this was no time to be blaming someone for a boy’s life is at stake here.

You jump into the air and you take down the demon pretty easily with one strike of your sword. And you catch the falling boy bridal style with your annoyed face.

You put the boy down but suddenly a demon comes attacking you both. You kill it but more of it comes at you. They are easy to take down but it keeps coming, making you tired if you have to do this all night. It just won’t stop multiplying.

You think you’ve killed almost all of it but then the slayer screams “(L/N)-SAN!!!!!”. A monstrous looking demon bares its claws at you, but before you could react a flash of flames appears right in front of your eyes.

“Kyojuro…” You whisper in relief as he slays the final demon. The bright flames sparkle in your eyes as you’re once again amazed at the man.

Kyojuro looks at you and comes over. “You’re so amazing.” You manage to say.

He smiles and says. “No. You’re the amazing one.”. You always manage to face whatever challenge and it always ends up in you winning. Kyojuro knows how hard you proved others wrong by becoming a strong pillar.

Super proud of you cause you’re strong. He actually watched you battle those before jumping in to save you.

Sanemi Shinazugawa

He doesn’t really care if you’re short or tall

The important things is that you’re useful to the organization

When someone teases you about your height, you end up feeling down and he’s there to beat that someone’s ass.

He doesn’t like to admit it but he’s a softie when it comes to you. You eventually break down his walls and now you can say you’re friends with the scary wind pillar.

You always tease him though and he’s always annoyed. But everyone thinks you’re both dumb since it’s very clear that you two like each other but you still deny it.

There’s this time where Sanemi is visibly struggling fighting demons as you watch him peacefully on a rooftop. He’s glaring at you and asks you “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”.

You just smile at him sweetly😊

Sanemi pretends his heart didn’t do a flip. But his heart stopped when he saw a demon behind you on the rooftop.

He was about to call your name when another blink and the demon’s head was cut off.

He was surprised since it all happened so fast. You go down to the ground, landing safely as you battle demons that the frozen Sanemi left.

It just took you 10 seconds to eliminate those demons and Sanemi’s mouth is left agape as he watched you.

You weren’t normally like this. So why the sudden surge of power?

“Sanemi hun. Close your mouth.” You say to him with a blank face, but before you could go past him, he gripped your wrist tightly and placed your small body in front of him.

He dragged you so easily lol.

He hugged you with your faced buried on his chest.

It was the comforting kind of silence. Sanemi was scared losing you to that demon but deep inside he knows that you’re strong.

Won’t admit that your moves are amazing.

Gyomei Himejima

This man is the strongest in the demon slayer corps and the tallest

Lmaoooo you would be like a mushroom beside him💀🍄

Gyomei actually gets out of tricky situations easily because he’s that strong

You’re a fairly new pillar who earned her spot 3 months ago. You two were assigned on a mission together. A gigantic demon appeared throughout the village that was between the regions you and the stone pillar were assigned in.

Gyomei knows your capabilities so he trusts you in doing a good job, but he can’t help but worry about you.

He doesn’t care if you’re small, he thinks that height isn’t the basis for an excellent demon slayer. But he’s still worried, so he looks for you. I don’t know how he looks but he looks.

Then he sees you fighting off demons very easily. A determined look is seen across your face. Gyomei feels he’s tearing up because he’s so proud of you. Proud boyfriend here somethin.

You were just a weak mizunoto years ago and now you’re a strong pillar who can fight with him side by side.

When you finish off the demons, you look to see Gyomei smiling at you. This were the fruits of the harsh trainings you went through, it made an excellent swordswoman.

Among the pillars, you stand beside Gyomei in rankings. So you’re powerful like wow. O_O

Obanai Iguro

He’s small but have you seen him fight? He’s a demon slayer with remarkable speed and you won’t know he’s attacking you because his moves slithers secretly like a snake.

You’ve always admired Obanai even you’re now both pillars. And that admiration bloomed into something more.

He’s a strong pillar despite his small stature and that’s what you aim for to be like.

You’re trying to show off your moves to him every time you’re in battle together, to show him what you can do. To which he’s just “meh”.

So you give up on trying to show off and just do it for the sake of the people you’re saving.

You really gave up on showing off, but you can’t help it cause your breathing forms are flashy. Obanai doesn’t show it but he loves that display of power you have when you’re fighting.

Poor man doesn’t realize he’s in love with you even though others point it out.

He’s having trouble dividing his attention on protecting the civilians or fighting the demons. Luckily you were near the area so you came to his aid.

You slay the demons with your sharp and precise movements in just a short amount of time.

He’s like 😲 but when you turn he’s back to 😐😷

He’s one of the guys who won’t admit that you’re amazing and won’t admit that he likes you. You force him to confess though.

Tengen Uzui

If Obanai doesn’t admit he likes you, this guy would shout that he likes you

Would openly flirt with you because why not? There’s nothing to be shy about.

Always takes the chance to compliment and flirt with you.

“You’re cute (y/n)” “Thanks” Tengen finds your height cute because the height difference is HUGE.

Another mushroom like moment💀🍄

He knows you’re strong so he likes to train with you. Always ends up letting you win because he just likes it when he’s pinned down by your smaller figure.

When a demon invasion came in your area,, you fight them off while Tengen is called for backup.

He slays the lesser demons easily and found you fighting a stronger demon while protecting some children behind your back.

He smirks and leans against a tree, arms folded while watching you fight off the demon.

You did it so easily making Tengen’s eyebrows rise.

Then you see him and ask him “what are you doing?”.

“watching you.” He finds you hot and sexy when you have that focused look in the middle of a battle. He won’t say it out loud because you might smack him in the face.

Super amazed at the fact that you’re stronger than the other pillars despite your small figure.(he thinks you’re stronger than him but dismisses that because pshhhhhh).

Will throw you over his shoulder at random times. Thinking that his antics will make you fall in love with him.

And it did…

#kny headcanons #kny #demon slayer #giyuu x reader #muichiro x reader #sanemi x reader #kyojuro x reader #obanai x reader #gyomei x reader #tengen x reader #uzui x reader #giyuu tomioka x reader #sanemi shinazugawa x reader #rengoku kyojuro x reader #iguro obanai x reader #gyomei himejima x reader #uzui tengen x reader #muichiro tokito x reader

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tartglias · 3 years

Text

Xiao, Zhongli and Venti with an immortal s/o

“Sooo 👀 can i request so some fluff hc for venti, xiao and zhongli with an immortal s/o?”

thank you so much for requesting!! this is my first time writing for more than one character at a time so it was a challenge lol thank you sm!!

Xiao

Xiao never understood the importance of time. Days, months, even years feel like nothing when you’re immortal. What a funny thing that is, immortality. He knows normal humans would do anything for it, and he despises them for that. Nothing so great came free, he knew that well. He was freed from tortures, only to get tormented by karma. He could still hear the voices and screams calling for help from tortured souls, these still haunt him daily. But the worst moments come when he sees that figure, that person who he once considered close. So close he could use the human word “soulmate”, if he believed in those, to describe who that person meant to him.

Many centuries back he met you, such a gentle person who got to break down his hard walls. A smile, a touch, a kiss. That’s all it took. So many meaningless years, and he never once encountered a person as kind yet strong like you. Someone who made the daily nightmares cease, with a simple smile and brush of fingers.

He remembers your last words like it was the day before. You were on top of one of the tall stones in Huaguang Stone Forest, Xiao laying his head on your lap and you placing small qingxin flowers on his hair. He wouldn’t allow anyone do that to him ever, but in the end, you were you. And you were different.

“Xiao” you called, once you were done placing the flowers. He opened his eyes and muttered a “hm?” in response. “I have to leave soon. Mondstadt calls me”

He sat up.

“What do you mean?”

“By tomorrow morning, I’ll be on my way back to Mondstadt” you said, quietly standing up.

He stood up too.

“When will I see you again?” he asked, now not being able to look at you.

“I don’t know” you said, reaching out for his hand and taking it. You placed a soft kiss on his knuckles, and he felt himself calm down at the gesture for a moment.

“I meant it when I said I’ll love you forever, Xiao” you said, finally locking eyes with him. You had teary eyes, he dreaded to see you like that. If it were up to him, he would swallow every bit of pain in your body and soul, just to see you smile.

And with that, you disappeared. As quickly as you broke down his walls, you disappeared just as quick the next day. Days, months and years became even more meaningless, but somehow he felt them longer. He missed you every day, he whispered to the moon every night, wishing that some archon would hear and bring you back to him. He knew you were like him, but he never heard from you again. Were you able to finally cross to the other side? He tried to erase those thoughts from his mind.

He later found himself in that very same stone, the one in which he last saw you. New Qingxin flowers blossomed, and they reminded him of you. He sat down, staring at the horizon. But then, he felt a strange swift of wind, and a presence behind him. He quickly stood up, ready to put his mask on and kill whoever dared to interrupt his solitude. But he didn’t. The mask in his hand dropped to the floor, next to the flowers.

“I’m back” you said, with a shy smile.

“You’re back” he said, more to himself than to you. Were you really there?

His question was soon answered, once you stepped closer and pulled him in a hug. He found himself wrapping his arms around you, holding you as close as he could, while trying to hold back his tears.

“I’m sorry I took so long, my beloved” you said as you locked your eyes with his. You grabbed his hand and held it, but you never once let go of the hug.

“I’m here to stay now” you whispered.

Zhongli

“You need to stop playing with people’s hearts” Zhongli said, as he sipped on his tea and looked at you questioningly. You rolled your eyes in response and put your focus back on your potion. A few petals from the most exotic flower in Teyvat, a little bit of juice made from vines and a teaspoon of slime condensate.

“Sometimes mortals need a little push in the right direction” You said, finishing up the mix and transferring it to a small bottle made of glass. “Plus, we’ve been here for centuries, I’m bored and I need a hobby”

“I don’t think that messing with human’s love lives can be considered a hobby. I don’t think it’s morally correct” he said.

“You’re very dramatic. I can feel the true desires of every being that touches the soil in Teyvat, and if I sense that the desire is mutual, I simply work my magic” You said, sitting back on your chair next to the tall man.

“Can’t you let them figure it out by themselves?” He asked.

“That’s no fun Zhongli” You said, finishing up the sweet perfume-potion you were creating.

You and Zhongli have been friends for centuries. You met when you moved to Liyue as the representative of the Dendro Archon, someone you really looked up to. Zhongli was kind enough to make you feel at home, and soon became friends with the Geo Archon. Though you must admit, you always wished it was something more.

Maybe that’s why you picked up this “hobby” of yours. Unrequited love is something painful and mortals only live a short life, you believe they should live it fully, if possible.

“Are you alright?” Zhongli asked, interrupting your thoughts with a concerned look on his face. You didn’t realize you had a sad look on yours.

“Oh? Yeah of course” You said, quickly brushing it off and proceeding decorating the small glass bottle.

“Y/n-“ he started, placing a hand on top of yours in order to get your attention. “I’ve known you for a long time. I know when something is wrong”

It was funny. He knew you like the back of his hand, he knew how to read you since the first time he laid his eyes on you. Yet he never found out how you truly felt about him, how your heart made like a million flips whenever he did something as simple as hold your hand, or brush a hair away from your face. All these little things and gestures, have been making you swoon over your closest friend for years, centuries even.

“Time and love are strange concepts, aren’t they?” You asked, looking straight at him. Here goes nothing, you thought.

“I believe those are rather simple concepts”

“You can spend a lifetime with someone, know every habit and expression but you don’t know how they truly feel about you” You said staring at him, searching for any hint that indicated he knew what you were talking about. But you saw nothing. Who were you kidding? He’s just your friend, has been for a long time.

You let out a defeated laugh, standing up and letting go of his hand. “Forgive me, I don’t really know what i’m saying” you said, grabbing the potion and starting to leave. But you felt his hand on your wrist, stopping your movements.

“You said you felt the desires of every being that stepped foot on Teyvat’s soil, am I right?” he asked, looking at you. You nodded. “Does it work on me?”

“You wanted to get close to me, as a friend”

“My apologies my dearest y/n, but I think your blessing is wrong” he said, standing up and holding your hand once again. “I did want to get closer to you as a friend at first, but not any longer. I’ve been observing mortals for a while as well, on my daily walks through Liyue Harbor, and I think I finally understood my feelings”

You were sure that if Zhongli listened close enough, he would hear the fast beating of your heart.

“I’ve been waiting for you to use your love potion on me, my dear y/n. I’m sure it wouldn’t have worked anyways since I believe it would take a lot of effort to make an effective potion that could work on me. But it would have given me the excuse to tell you how I really feel” he said.

“How do you feel then?” you asked him, looking up at the tall man.

“I think I’m very lucky to have you by my side, and it makes me want to travel to the Dendro nation and personally thank the Archon for assigning you to Liyue. I also want you to still be by my side for the centuries to come, if you’re okay with that” he said, lowering his voice by the end.

You acted before you could process your thoughts. You stood on your tippy toes and kissed his cheek gently, never letting go of his hand. He liked you, he felt the same way about you. It was real.

“I’m okay with that” you replied.

Venti

It was almost noon, almost an hour after the original time you accorded with Venti to meet. You planned a picnic date by the big tree near the statue of the Seven, your favorite spot. The same spot which later, became Venti’s favorite spot as well.

He wasn’t a person who would jump straight to conclusions. You were late. Maybe you fell asleep, maybe you couldn’t find the guitar you promised to bring so you could play a duet. Being late doesn’t mean something bad happened, right?”

He decided to wait a few more moments, but once the sun set, he had enough. He went out to try and find you. He went to your house, but noticed the door was locked and no one was inside. “They left” he thought.

He slowly but surely started to get desperate. Where were you? Were you hurt? Did you get lost somehow? He went to Angel’s Share, and not even Master Diluc had seen you. If Venti wasn’t in such a panicked state, he would have noticed the rare concerned and worried look Diluc had on his face.

If any traveler walked by literally any road in Mondstadt, they would soon encounter a big rush of wind. Venti went from here to there as fast as he could, trying to find you.

He soon enough found you in Stormbearer Mountains, fighting hilichurls and two pyro mages. You looked tired, sweat covering your body and your clothes were dirty. It was obvious that this has been going on for a while. You gripped your sword as hard as you could, and kept fighting. Why didn’t you call for him? With no exception, Venti tells you daily to call for him if you ever encounter a problem. It’s not that he doesn’t think you’re strong, oh no, he believed you were the strongest mortal in Teyvat. But in the end, to him you were still a mortal. Fragile and over-sensitive. He often told you to call his name, that the wind will carry it and he will appear there to help you out. So why didn’t you?

“y/n!” he screamed, once he laid his eyes on you. You turned around and saw a rush on wind, and felt his presence. What you didn’t feel though, was the pyro attack coming from one of the mages. The mage summoned three pyro artifacts that surrounded you, and burnt you. You felt your energy slip away, your head dizzy and your body burning. Then, you felt the cold wind, Venti quickly finishing off the mages and the remaining hilichurls.

Venti thought it was over. You were kneeled down, burnt skin, gasping for air. It was over, you were going to die. He felt his eyes water and fear running through his veins. He wrapped his arms around you, making you lean on his chest.

“Don’t leave me” he begged. “please”

“My dear, I don’t think I can” you said, letting out a short laugh.

“Please stay strong, I think I can carry you to the cathedral but you need to hold very still so-“ he started saying, now fully crying but you interrupted him by putting a hand on his cheek and wiping his tears with your thumb.

“I’m serious, I don’t think I can leave anyways. Venti, I literally can’t die.” you said, with a laugh and slowly standing up.

“You... you’re immortal?” he asked, looking up at you, not being able to leave the floor.

You nodded. “I thought you knew”

“I hate you” he said, standing up and wiping away his tears. “I do”

“No you don’t. But you’re cute though!” you said, grabbing his face and kissing the tip of his nose. “I’m very sorry I’m late though, my commission took longer than I thought but let me compensate you with dinner and a bottle of wine”

“But you’re still burnt?” he asked you, concern still in his face.

“Oh don’t worry about that, it will rip out when I start walking. I have healthy skin underneath” you said, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

“Why do I feel like this is not your first time getting so hurt?” he asked letting out a soft chuckle, suddenly feeling lighter now that he knows you’re okay and will probably be okay for a long long while.

“Eh, been there done that a few times” you simply said, taking his hand and walking back to the city of Mondstadt.

#xiao x reader #venti x reader #zhongli x reader #genshin impact imagines #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact scenarios #genshin impact headcanons #xiao imagines #xiao scenarios #venti imagines #venti scenarios #xiao headcanons #venti headcanons #zhongli scenarios #zhongli headcanons #zhongli imagines

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mypoisonedvine · 3 years

Text

peaches & cream || soft!dark Jake Wyler x reader

for @stargazingfangirl18's 5k challenge! I used the prompt, "the town golden boy isn’t as sweet as everyone thinks."

word count: 3.6k

warnings: smut (noncon), stalking/obsession, some degradation/negging (but lots of praise during the actual smut), kinda yandere vibes?, touch of breeding kink at the end, definitely flirting with the boundary between soft!dark and regular dark but I like to think it’s a fine line

“Sorry, but that’s a seasonal flavor,” the girl at the counter explained in a snarky monotone.

“Well, yeah, but isn’t it still… the season?” you pressed; normally you weren’t the sort of person to argue with a cashier over a milkshake, but the look she was giving you made you feel like she was holding out on you— especially when the promotional poster for the very thing you were trying to order was just behind her head, and said the flavor was available for two more days.

“We’re out,” she answered firmly, but then her face suddenly shifted to a much more pleasant expression as you heard the chime of the front door opening behind you.

You felt his body hovering behind yours just as his hand laid on the counter beside you, caging you in. It was even more unsettling with the context that there was a whole line of people waiting behind you already.

“I’ll get your usual,” the girl promised to the man beside with a flirtatious smile as she disappeared to the back, returning almost instantly with a shake in her extended hand. “Peaches and cream milkshake— extra whipped cream, no cherry. Enjoy!”

Your eyes widened at the reading of your own order. “I thought you were out!” you protested, going completely ignored.

"If you were my girl, this sort of thing wouldn't need to happen."

You recoiled from Jake's voice in your ear, and he smiled in spite of your snarl, bringing the straw to his lips slowly. With a shudder you walked away, deciding it was probably better to forgo a milkshake anyways— especially if it was a chance to avoid everyone’s favorite senior, the football king who basically owned the whole town for no other reason than being good-looking, athletic, and allegedly “charming” or whatever.

Of course, he followed you, sitting across from you in a booth and silently shooing his posse of fellow teammates to go off and give you two some space. If only he would give you space.

“We can share,” he offered as he held the milkshake out towards you. “I know it’s your favorite… it’s mine too.”

“I’ve lost my appetite,” you explained quickly as you pulled a book out of your backpack, intent on ignoring him since you couldn’t physically force him to leave.

He shrugged and returned to sucking on the straw, watching you unwaveringly as you tried to read your book— staring at the page was going well, but you couldn’t seem to actually get any words down. Had you forgotten English as a written language or something?

“Could you leave?” you finally asked as you groaned and looked up from your book. “You’re distracting me.”

“I’m literally just sitting here,” he reminded you.

“And it’s distracting!”

He smirked proudly. “My presence tends to have that effect on people. Nothing to be embarrassed about.”

You rolled your eyes, burying your face back in your book. “You know, you may have everybody else fooled, but someday you’re gonna have to leave this pathetic little town and go into the real world where throwing a ball isn’t a career and nobody fawns over you just because you have the audacity to be attractive.”

He chuckled lightly. “Right, because you have those big city dreams of yours, but believe it or not some of us like this ‘pathetic’ little town.”

“Well, of course you would,” you snorted. “Your dad’s the mayor and your girlfriend’s the head cheerleader.”

“My ex-girlfriend,” he corrected, finally getting your attention enough to make you shut your book.

“What?” you blurted out.

“Yeah, she dumped me,” he explained plainly.

“Why would she do that?” you asked, making him look much too proud of himself again. “Finally snapped out of the brainwashing, huh?” you added, effectively killing his smug expression.

“I guess you could say that. She met some college guy from out of town… I think her parents liked me too much, she needed a bit more rebellion.”

“Well, my condolences to you,” you smiled, “and my congratulations to her.”

“I thought you hated her,” he scoffed.

“Well, now she and I have something in common: a complete lack of interest in you!”

“I mean, I wouldn’t go that far,” he smirked, “she still comes over every now and again to suck my cock.”

You choked on nothing, face getting warm at his crude language. He didn’t talk like that with anyone else; it was so cruel the way he kept everybody in town under his spell except you, the way he let you in on his real darkness with no one else to confide in or believe you.

It was so fundamentally lonely, being the one person who wasn’t in love with Jake Wyler. It was even worse being the one person Jake Wyler loved.

At least, that was the word he used multiple times in his semi-anonymous letters, his incessant calls and emails, his speeches outside your window. He’d actually cooled off lately, you wondered if maybe he had finally let go of this ‘the one thing I can’t have’ obsession and learned to appreciate his girlfriend (who, for all her personality flaws, was objectively gorgeous, and seemed to at least be nice to him if nobody else).

But now that she left him (which you were still trying to process, honestly), you were surprised he hadn’t already moved on to the next best wannabe model and/or reinstated his campaign to win you over.

Then again, the look in his eye kind of made you think you were about to witness the second one.

“You know, when she does come over, I can only ever finish because I’m thinking about you,” he revealed in a low voice. You grimaced and slid out of the booth, stuffing your book into your bag and barely managing to throw him a goodbye before you dashed out.

It wasn’t like you really thought you could get away from him— he had made it clear over and over that you couldn’t— but the idea of being crammed in that booth with him, surrounded throughout the diner by his adoring fans who somehow didn’t manage to overhear him when he said those awful things, made you feel nauseous.

What you should’ve considered was that, fans or not, those people were witnesses, and now that you were running out into the dark streets of the town and he was chasing after you, you didn’t have any. It was just you and him, and when you turned into an alleyway to try to get home faster, even the dim glow of the streetlights couldn’t see you anymore.

“Hey,” he stopped you with a tight grip on your arm, pulling you back into him.

“Let me go!” you whined, trying to tug yourself away but only ensuring that his hand would leave a bruise on your arm.

“I will when you just hear me out, okay?” he hissed, spinning you around to look up at him. "Why don't you just give me a chance? Don't you wanna be popular?"

"I don't want to be anything that requires being within ten yards of you!" you spat.

He seemed bewildered, but you knew he wasn’t actually that stupid. "Why?"

"Because you know why!"

He sighed, slumping his shoulders a little. "Are we still on that, really? I told you, you should take it as a compliment. You know how many girls would kill to catch me jerking off in their panties?"

"You're sick, Jake,” you sighed, “and you're really good at hiding it from everyone else but I know what you really are. You told me you needed help with algebra and I actually believed you, for months you were lying to me to get close so you could perv on me when you already had a girlfriend and two side chicks anyways— god, Jake, you're crazy!"

You yelped when he pinned you to the wall, blue eyes darker than ever. "I really, really hate that word."

Against the wall, your back straightened as you felt the tone shift completely for a moment before he was back to his jovial self again, giving you a somber but almost-genuine smile.

“The only kind of crazy I am is crazy about you,” he defended with a laugh, leaning in a little closer. “Why can’t you see that?”

As his eyes moved from your own to your lips, a renewed sense of fear shot through you. “Jake…” you mumbled, apparently your feeble attempt to ask him to stop.

“Just one kiss,” he bargained, “and then I’ll let you go. Okay? That’s all I need.”

“N-no,” you whimpered, turning your head away as he leaned in even further. “Stop.”

“Come on, it’s just a kiss, baby,” he cooed. “Then you can leave. Hey, you might actually like it. You know, I think that’s what you’re really scared about… and I get it! When I first realized I was in love with you, it was scary for me, too— I mean, I’m the most important guy in town and you’re just some bookworm, it’s sort of social suicide for me so I had a lot to worry about.”

There he went with his negging again, trying to bring you down to his level. Your brain knew that, it saw right through it, but your gut still sank with doubt.

“But I know now that love is nothing to be afraid of,” he concluded.

“No, Jake,” you whispered, feeling tears well in your eyes, “I’m afraid that you’ll hurt me if I don’t do what you want.”

“Well, that is something to be afraid of,” he replied with the coldest laugh you’d ever heard; you didn’t hear any agreement, but the lack of denial was deafening. “So just be my good girl and let me kiss you…”

You swallowed dryly, your eyes wide open and searching for anywhere to look but up at him.

He was so close now that his lips brushed against yours with his command: “say it.”

You stammered over your breath, not sure exactly what he was asking for, and you winced as you felt his grip tighten on your arms.

“Say, ‘kiss me’,” he clarified in a harsh whisper. “Say, ‘please’...”

“Please,” you repeated awkwardly, hearing it in your voice but so clearly not your own words, “kiss me.”

He let his mouth intertwine with yours and your eyes were still wide open as he let his own fall shut, moving his hands to clutch your face gently instead as you gave a weak effort to kiss him back.

Objectively, he was good at this. A lot of things were objectively true about Jake: as much as you forced yourself not to see it, he was handsome; as much as it didn’t really matter to you, a boycotter of all things sports, he was talented; and, as much as no one else realized it, he was completely deranged. For every word of kindness from him there was another of anger. For every love letter in your locker, there was a threat left scrawled on crumpled paper inside your bedroom, just so he could remind you that your parents would let him into the house if he asked and never question it.

Which was why it was extremely important that you did not enjoy this kiss. You needed to hate the way his fingers traced over the pulse in your neck, the way his tongue tickled yours, the way his teeth just barely grazed your lip until your knees went a little weak.

But wow, there was something primally satisfying about melting into his arms, feeling his strength support you like it was nothing when he held your waist and pulled you closer.

You could almost forget that it was him. But then he mumbled your name into the kiss, nearly moaned it in fact, and it pulled you back to reality. With a gasp, you pushed him away and blinked your eyes open, not even realizing you’d closed them; hating how quickly you’d started to give in to him.

“There, one kiss,” you mumbled, wiping your mouth with the back of your sleeve. “I’m gonna go home now—”

“You can’t be serious,” he laughed incredulously. “You’re gonna kiss me like that and tell me you don’t feel this, too? We’re so meant for each other— we even order the same milkshake!”

“That doesn’t matter!” you denied.

“I love you!”

“That doesn’t matter either!”

You turned to leave but he grabbed you again from behind, covering your mouth with his hand when you opened your mouth to scream. “Don’t fucking talk to me like that,” he hissed in your ear, “and don’t walk away from me.”

Fighting against his grip did nothing but exhaust you: he only needed one arm to hold you back as he dragged you deeper into the alley. Your legs swung wildly and landed a kick to his shin, and he plugged your nose while he was covering your mouth so you couldn’t breathe.

“Listen to me, you stuck up little bitch,” he growled. “I’m really sick of this ‘hard to get’ act. I know you want me. So shut up and let me show you what you’ve been missing out on, okay? You gonna be good?”

In that moment, you would’ve agreed to anything for a chance to fill your lungs with fresh air, and so you nodded, the back of your head rubbing against his chest.

“You gonna be nice and quiet so nobody catches you getting fucked like a whore in this alley?”

Another nod, more feverish than the last, ended with a sharp inhale as he let go of your nose. But he was still covering your mouth, his arm around you now feeling less like restraint and more like an embrace.

"I've wanted you for so long, you can't even imagine," he explained softly as he leaned down and kissed your neck, gripping your waist tighter. "You and this perfect body of yours. This smart little head that thinks too much…"

You swallowed dryly as his hand trailed lower.

"This pussy you've been hiding from me for much too long," he added darkly, roughly shoving his hand up your skirt.

You whined behind his hand but he didn’t seem to care; he pulled your skirt up and grinned at the sight of your panties— because he recognized them.

“I remember these,” he purred. “They look good on you, baby, but they looked better covered in my come.”

Your cheeks burned with shame— you already hated yourself for still wearing the pair he’d tampered with, but it was harmless after a few runs through the washer, right? You weren’t going to stop wearing your favorite panties just for him, that would mean he won, in a sense; or, that’s what you told yourself to justify not burning them.

“Don’t worry, they’re gonna be soaked by the time I’m done with you,” he purred, slipping two fingers between your legs and growling slightly. “Well, actually, you’ve already done a lot of the work for me.”

He pulled the fabric aside and explored your pussy instead, tightening his grip over your mouth as you made little muffled yelps. The rough pads of his fingers found and targeted your clit instantly, that megawatt smile pressed against your ear as he started to rub your bud harder.

“Mm, feels good, huh?” he taunted, moving even faster as your hips jolted unintentionally. He stopped only to bring the fingers to his lips, humming at the taste of you which he sucked off of them. “So sweet, babygirl— better than any peaches and cream milkshake, that’s for sure.”

The wet fingers trailed down your body again, finding your entrance that he suddenly pushed into; it was a little too much without any warning and it made your eyes shoot wide open, a squeak barely escaping your throat.

"Just as tight as I imagined, baby,” he sighed, “all those times I used your panties, or hooked up with somebody who almost looked like you from behind. You’re gonna feel so good on my cock, I know you want it so bad.”

He took his fingers out of you to reach back and open his belt with one hand, the sound of the buckle matched in upsettingness only by the sound of his jeans sliding down to his thighs.

You heard your own breath loud and heavy against his hand as you felt his hard cock press against your thigh, a drop of precum smearing on your skin. Your breathing halted suddenly, though, when he slid himself between your legs to rub his cock over your exposed and swollen pussy.

“Oh, babygirl, you really are too good to me,” he grinned, kissing your ear tenderly. “So fucking wet and ready for me, huh? You need it that bad? You’re gonna get it, baby, ‘m gonna give it to you so good…”

Bracing yourself as best you could, you felt the head of his cock push against your entrance before he slammed in all at once, making you hiss in pain.

“Oh god,” he groaned, “fuck, you’re so warm…”

Already he was fucking into you roughly, pumping faster and deeper, paying no mind to your choked sobs of pain from the wide stretch. Even when it stung it felt oddly good, and the underside of his cock seemed to slide perfectly over your g-spot with each movement until your eyes began to roll back in your head.

“So fucking good,” he moaned hoarsely as he braced you against the brick wall for leverage, reaching back down with his free hand to rub your clit again. He chuckled when your legs quivered, and he must have felt your walls tighten around him, too. “I wanna hear those pretty moans, baby, if I take my hand away are you gonna be good?” he asked darkly. You nodded, enjoying the brief feeling of freedom that came from not having his hand over your mouth anymore. But then again, it was humiliating that now he could hear your panting breaths, your desperate mewls that you failed to swallow down.

He made a sound that was almost like a laugh as he watched you squirm in his arms, one more way he had to lord this all over you, as if forcing you to take him in an alley wasn’t enough on its own.

His breath against your ear was hot and strained, each meeting of your hips to his accentuated with a little grunt from him. It didn’t help at all that his fingers were rubbing you just right, with so much skill that you wondered if he’d somehow figured out how you touched yourself when you needed to get off. Honestly, you wouldn’t put it past him to have spied on you before, even if you couldn’t figure out when or how.

The hand that used to cover your mouth slid up under your shirt and pulled your bra down, a large, rough hand groping each breast and pinching your nipples until you bit down on your lip to stay quiet. For all the mocking and teasing he’d done before, he was pretty direct now— like he was trying to make you come as fast as possible, overloading your body with sensation.

And did he have to be so fucking good at it?

“I know you’re close, babygirl,” he whispered in your ear, “just let go…”

“Jake, please,” you sobbed, too far gone to appreciate that no begging would make him stop now.

“Come for me,” he demanded roughly, fucking you even faster as he sucked a mark onto your neck, and finally it all came crashing down with a choked-out cry of his name and a gush of warmth dripping out around his length.

“Ohh fuck, there you go, fuck it feels good when you come for me,” he grunted, thrusting even faster. “You’re gonna milk my cock with that pretty pussy, babygirl— you’re gonna make me come…”

“J-Jake, not inside!” you interjected, getting his hand back over your mouth in return.

“Shh, it’s okay,” he soothed, “waited too long for this to pull out now. Feels too fucking good.”

Behind his hand, the difference between whines of hatred and moans of pleasure was irritatingly subtle.

“I love you,” he reminded you in a voice exhausted yet heavy with desire, “so fucking much…”

A few more erratic, brutal thrusts accompanied by heavy pants and he was gone; you could feel his cock pulsing with each rope of come that filled you, so deep that your head fell dejectedly with the realization you had no hope of washing it out now.

His hand fell from your mouth but he didn’t pull out for another few moments as he caught his breath, gently peppering your neck and cheek in slow kisses. “Baby,” he finally sighed, breaking the crushing silence, “you’re so fucking perfect. I knew you were made for me.”

I hate you, you wanted to cry out, but words escaped you as he hugged you tightly and pulled your panties back into place, soaking them with his come as it leaked out of you just like he’d promised. He stuffed his cock back into his jeans and helped you adjust your clothes back to looking almost presentable, finishing it off by turning you around and smiling at you with serene pride before kissing your forehead.

"You're gonna make such a beautiful prom queen," he cooed, “especially if you’ve already got a nice little bump showing…”

His hand rubbed beneath your belly button for emphasis, making you whimper and force your eyes shut as tears rolled down your cheeks.

"Shh, don’t cry, baby,” he soothed, kissing your cheek softly. “Trust me, you're gonna love being my girl."

#siris5ksoftdarkchallenge #dark!jake wyler x reader #idek how to tag this nobody's looking for jake wyler fics lmao

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