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bottlesofrouge · 3 months

Text

on one condition.

harry styles x original character

part four.

word count: 15K (sorrrry)

warnings: talks of alcohol abuse, minor mentions of homophobia, hinting at a past abusive relationship, bleeding, i think that's it

23 JULY 2018

lynn wakes up late.

she slept through a total of three alarms, fifteen texts, and four phone calls from harry. his incessant banging on her front door was what finally got her out of bed, and by that time, she was already twenty minutes late.

so, she literally rolled out of bed, grabbed her belongings and ran to meet harry at his car. she was sporting old, ratty sweatpants and a t-shirt from her high school mathletes club. glasses replaced her usual contacts and she didn't even have time to brush her teeth.

harry's waiting with his trunk open. he's got on slacks and a stupid button-up top that matches his eyes, and she thinks his hair is slicked back in a way that makes it look a little greasy, but when she gets closer she realizes that it's just wet and also all chopped off. he looks so perfect and pulled together it makes her sick.

"rough night?" he's got his mouth turned upwards in a smirk so big, you'd be blind to miss it. it's annoying and obnoxious, and she makes sure at least one of her bags nudges him on the way into the trunk.

"3am manic episode haircut?" she bites back.

"alright," harry pushes the button to close the trunk. "let's go. we're already late."

the two don't talk for the entire car ride. lynn spends it knocked out with her face pressed against the glass, and she doesn't wake up until harry's shaking her shoulder in the parking lot of the westchester county airport.

he's got all of their bags out of the car already, and he doesn't let lynn carry anything besides her purse. really, there's so many bags. she's got three and he's got two of his own, yet he makes carrying all of them look effortless. like he could do it for ten miles without ever breaking a sweat.

once they've got their bags checked in, lynn drools at the sight of the tsa line. she's so tired. she feels like she could fall asleep using one of the scanner belts as a bed.

she can't tell if harry could read her mind or if she just looked that utterly exhausted because he gently pulls on her elbow, letting her put all of her weight on him. he's got his arms wrapped around her center and his head's on shoulder. she thinks that if she wasn't so tired, she'd push him off. they look like the average teenage couple at an amusement park. how humiliating.

she felt so pathetic leaning on him like this, but lynn couldn't bring herself to move. last night was the first night in practically months that she slept for more than ninety consecutive minutes. it was like every hour of missed sleep was catching up to her all at once, and keeping her eyes open seemed like the most difficult task in the world. she was definitely not god's strongest solider.

"s'nice," she hums, opening her eyes enough to look over at him, "your hair. it suits you."

his face flushes, and she can't help the grin that spreads across her face. she loves making him blush. he'd stumble over his words and avoid eye contact while he spoke. it was cute.

he was cute.

she expects some kind of flustered 'thank you' to come out of his mouth, but it doesn't. instead he puts his palm out to her face, "maybe you should have a mint."

her eyes roll when she straightens herself back up, no longer leaning on him. she goes through the line first, and when harry's bag gets pulled, she slips away into the bathroom wanting to brush every square inch of her mouth before he could notice she was gone.

harry talks to the gate agent to get their seats switched so they could have two next to each other. lynn had asked her first, and the girl behind the desk said it was a completely full flight, but then harry went up there with that stupid grin and his shining green eyes, and came back three minutes later with two new boarding passes and a phone number on a scrap piece of paper.

"unbelievable," lynn mutters, and harry laughs, shoving the piece of paper in his pocket.

"sorry she didn't think you were sexy, blondie," he teases. "do you think maybe it's the stained sweatpants or the mathletes tshirt? personally, i'd say the glasses-"

"i'm not in the mood right now, harry. don't piss me off."

he hums, arms wrapping around her shoulders, "you look cute, lynn. very soccer mom."

she gently shoves him away, but not before he kisses her. it was nothing crazy, just a peck and she's not really sure why he does it, but when lynn looks over at the girl behind the counter, she's already looking back.

lynn knows harry was only teasing, but she pretends to be interested in the way the little car is pushing back a plane at a nearby gate to hide the way tears pool in her eyes. maybe it was the sleep deprivation, or maybe she was extra sensitive today, but the way he spoke about her reminded her of kathleen in the worst way possible.

harry asks to take the window since he was the one to get their seats changed after all, but lynn refuses. he was pissing her off so badly today. all she wanted to do was put in her airpods and go the fuck to sleep.

harry taps her shoulder, leaning in again to ask if they could switch.

"i'm not giving you head."

the flush returns to his face as one of the flight attendants passes by, eyes rolling at lynn's words. lynn watches as she looks up at the seat numbers, mentally making a note of where the two were sitting.

"fuck, lynn. are you kidding me?"

"stop bothering me," she replies, taking his sweatshirt off of his lap and shoving the balled up fabric between her head and the wall. "have a good flight, harry."

he scoffs next to her, opening his mouth to say something else, but lynn's already turning up her music and closing her eyes.

✮✮✮

lynn's family wasn't coming in until later. they were all originally booked on a flight at twelve in the afternoon, but once she saw harry's flight confirmation, she changed hers. it would be unfair to have him wake up so early just to sit alone at the airport for hours on end.

so, she forked over the money to change her flight and the time for the rental car reservation, and while she was at it, she put the car under harry's name so technically, he had be the one doing all the driving. it was just another thing to make this trip easier for her.

she's sitting in the passenger seat of a green kia soul, looking at the text from her mother that just came through.

'Selfish as usual Lynn.'

her parents owned a condo in the keys. they had bought it when she was the only child, so it was small, one bedroom and one bathroom. her aunts were supposed to take it while she stayed with her family in a bigger condo in the same resort, but now that harry was coming, aunt cece wanted lynn and harry to be able to have some alone time, and offered it up.

and who was she to say no? kathleen being completely against it was just a bonus.

"what made you cut all your hair off in the middle of the night?" lynn asks, eyes focused on the water outside of her window. she felt better. well-rested. it was like she was a new person.

"just wanted a change," he says. "probably a 3am manic episode or whatever you called it.

she hums, stretching in her seat before looking over at him. she meant what she said. short hair suited him. lynn might even go as far to say that it looked better than his long hair. significantly better, really.

"i dropped out of college," he says. it's random, but he says it with such urgency, like he's been waiting— itching to tell her. "that night you stayed over. i dropped out that day."

"nice!" she holds her hand up for a high five, but he just looks at her with furrowed brows and his lips slightly parted. "are you really going to leave me hanging?"

"sorry i don't want to celebrate me ruining my life." his tone is cold and sharp, and so different from how he's been towards her all day.

she can't help the way her eyes roll. "college isn't for everyone, harry. i'm a drop out, and look at me."

"my point exactly."

"excuse me?" her chest feels hot, and she sits up in her seat to fully look at him. "what is that supposed to mean?"

"mommy and daddy aren't going to fork over thousands so i can open my own art studio," he says. "you don't know what it's like to have parents who would never dream of supporting you. they're going to kill me when i tell them."

"you don't fucking know me, harry," she's cut off my another text coming through.

'Shouldn't have expected anything less.'

✮✮✮

"did you want something with jackie?" lynn's sitting on the couch of the condo, and harry's leaning back next to her in a recliner that probably cost more than the bakery's monthly rent. there's an end table between them which held lynn's nearly empty wine glass and a bottle of ibuprofen so big, it cost her a whopping thirty five dollars. "did i ruin that? is that why you're always so upset with me?"

the two haven't spoken since the car ride from the airport. harry wordlessly pulled in to a gas station, and lynn went inside while he pumped the gas. she came out with two bottles of white wine and her precious ibuprofen to find him in the passenger seat.

their bags were thrown in the single bedroom as soon as they walked in. lynn carried in her purse and gas station wine and by the time she figured out how to unlock the door, harry was behind her with all five pieces of luggage.

she hated how much of a gentleman he was.

"i don't date, lynn." his eyes never leave his phone screen.

"sure you do. if you found the right person."

"you think my right person is someone who screws her best friends boyfriend?" he looks up at her and pops the piece of gum he's been chewing since they got on the plane in new york. the way he's chewing should be a felony.

lynn thinks she's going to need more wine to finish the conversation, so she gets up to refill her glass. she feels a little light on her feet when she walks, and perhaps she should stop while she's ahead.

she contemplates it for a second in the kitchen, but she's had a rough day. lynn tips the wine bottle into her glass until it's empty.

"i get the feeling that you don't really like me," she takes her seat on the couch again. "and i know it's not all unwarranted. i've had my bad moments."

harry looks up, eyeing the way her finger traces the stem of her over poured glass of wine. "i think you should stop drinking."

she nods, not in agreement, but in a way that meant she knew harry would say something like that. "right."

he sighs and sets his phone on the table. "jackie was a friend." his shoulders move up. "she was hot so we slept together."

she brings the wine glass up to her lips, taking a gulp so big, harry could probably see the way it moves down her throat.

"our relationship is so different than that, lynn. you know parts of me that no one else does and i don't even know your middle name."

she waves her hand dismissively, "why don't you just ask?"

"because the one time i was vulnerable with you," he spits. "you threw it right back in my face."

there's so much anger laced in his voice, it makes lynn's stomach hurt. that hot feeling comes seeping into her chest, and she tries to hide the tears brimming in her eyes behind another hefty sip of wine.

"i'm sorry," her voice cracks, and she expects harry to soften up just a little bit. "i shouldn't have. i just-"

"you just what?" his eyebrow's are furrowed when he speaks and lynn looks down to see his fists clenched around nothing.

he was still so mad at her.

"i was jealous of the way that you were with her," lynn admits. they were rarely ever so honest with each other, saying it made her feel like she just stood up and stripped naked in the middle of the room.

"jealous that i was fucking her? because we can fix that."

her eyes close, and she brings the glass to her lips again. she loathes the way harry can turn what feels like the most innocent of conversations into something sexual. maybe one day he'd see her for more than just her body.

"you were kind to her," her voice is quiet and soft, like she was telling him her inner most secrets. "and i wanted you to be kind to me, too."

"because you have been so kind to me?" harry's mouth thinned and eyes narrowed with his words.

"yeah, well. i guess not," lynn laughs a little to hide the way a tear spilled over. "i mean i tried to be when we first met at that stupid barbecue and you hated-"

"i didn't want to be there," he interrupts. "i was having a horrible day and my mom trying to set me up just pushed me over the edge."

"how do you think i felt?" her eyes are pleading with him as she speaks. lynn's not really sure what she's asking for, but she thinks she gets it when he takes a deep breath through his nose and his shoulders fall with his exhale.

"if i hated you, i wouldn't have given you my bed," he speaks without breaking eye contact. "and i definitely wouldn't have spent hours making two different meals for you."

"why did you do that?"

he shrugs. "i wanted to."

"but why?"

"i don't fucking know, lynn."

it's falls silent, and she finishes her glass of wine. when she sets the empty glass down on the table, it almost tips over, but harry's quick to catch it and pull it away from her.

maybe he was being more attentive than she thought.

"my grandma paid for my bakery," she hiccups. "left me all this money in her will with a letter that said to spend it on something that would make me happy."

lynn watches as his face softens and his shoulders slouch over in the chair.

"i know what it's like to do it all on your own. my parents never supported me, harry. not once. and i guess i had the financial support, but it came with my grandma dying which is so fucking devastating because she was the only one to ever want something more for me."

the room starts to feel hotter the more she thinks about it. her jaw clenches and all she can see is red. it was so unfair.

"lynn, i didn't know."

"no one knows because i'm never in that bakery." she seethes. "i opened it because i love to bake, and now i sit an in office and do paperwork and payroll every second that isn't taken up by raising two kids that aren't even mine."

"you don't have to raise them. it wouldn't hurt to take a step back," he looks pained almost when he speaks, and lynn's jaw drops at his words, a stare of blank amazement written all over her face. how could he be so stupid?

"i've lived the life that doing that would give them, and it fucking sucks. i don't want them to ever feel like that."

she doesn't even realize she's crying until it's quiet between them and she can finally hear the quiet sobs that come bubbling up from her chest.

"my parents pay for everything," harry blurts. she's turned so she doesn't have to look at him, but she can hear the frantic sound in his voice. it's like he's scrambling to make sense of what just happened between them. offering her whatever reasoning he can to explain why he just acted the way he did. "i've been so stressed thinking about what's going to happen when they find out, and i took it out on you when i shouldn't have. i'm sorry."

"if you needed help with money, there's always a job for you at my bakery, harry. you have to get it through your thick skull that you just need to ask for help."

"i don't want hand outs."

lynn can't help the way she laughs out loud, "it's a job. you actually have to work for what you make. i know that's probably a foreign concept for you."

a knock at the door interrupts them, and harry stands up to answer it. when the door swings open, kathleen's already walking inside. she's got her sunglasses on and her arms are crossed in front of her and god, lynn knew this was going to break her.

"harry, hi!" she kisses his cheek. "i hope your travels were good. i know how lynn can be."

she hears them laugh, and lynn uses the tips of her fingers to push the tears back into her eyes. she was not going to give either of them the satisfaction of watching her cry. again.

kathleen walks past him, standing on the other side of the coffee table to block the window lynn was pretending to look out of.

"confining your poor aunts to a small bedroom, i raised you better than this, lynn adams."

"aunt cece insisted on trading with us, mom," her words were soft. if she spoke any louder, she knew her voice would waver. "harry would be more comfortable here, and silas would actually have space when he comes."

kathleen looks over to harry who is staring back at the two wide-eyed.

"it was an empty offer, lynn. you of all people should be familiar with those."

lynn wants to scream at her mom because what the fuck is that supposed to mean. she knows her mom's probably upset that she had to watch her own two children on a three hour flight, but lynn doesn't want to push it. instead, she just blinks. she's so miserable.

"breakfast is at 8 tomorrow. don't be late," she goes to leave but turns back after a step. "i hope you can pull yourself together enough to not look like you belong under an underpass."

"i've raised you to take pride in your appearance," kathleen takes a step towards lynn with every hateful word she spews until she's practically in her face. her fingers pinch the sleeve of the t-shirt the girl's wearing. "this is embarrassing for me, lynn."

kathleen stands up, clapping her hands together like she didn't just humiliate her daughter, and turns to harry with the biggest smile on her face.

"sorry, harry. i'm sure you're well accustomed with just how selfish she can be," she kisses his cheek on the way to the door. "we are so glad you could join us. see you tomorrow."

she walks out of the door, and harry stays frozen in place. he's got those same wide doe eyes, and his lips are parted. his eyebrows are drawn together, and lynn can't help but look away. she hated when people pitied her.

there's a watery smile sat on her face, and she forces a teasing laugh, "how's that for being vulnerable?"

"i didn't know she treated you like that," harry says after a moment.

"she's just having a bad day," lynn shrugs. the way she says it is almost convincing, but when lynn finally gets a good read on the look in harry's eyes, she breaks. nasty sobs, ones so big they take her breath away, fall from her mouth, and she buries her face into her hands, wishing nothing more than to never be perceived by the boy standing in front of her again.

harry doesn't say anything, and instead sits down next to her. she feels his hands pressing against her back and fingers squeezing her shoulders, and when it's not enough, he pulls her into him with such force it almost hurts. his lips press against the side of her head before he tucks her head under his chin and squeezes her as tight as he can until she feels like she can finally catch her breath again.

"i don't want to be here," lynn confesses. it's quiet and harry barely catches it, but when it registers, he presses his lips against her hair and rubs his hand up and down her arm.

"i know," she can feel the words vibrate in his chest. "i'd say we go home right now, but i don't think you'd want that."

she shakes her head. "i don't want to leave my sisters here without me."

"you've got me here," he offers. "we can have fun with them."

lynn snorts. "we can't go eight hours without ripping each other's heads off."

she says it like it's a scientifically proven fact. like nothing could ever change that, yet she's holding on to his shirt like he's the only thing keeping her all put together. if he were to let her go, she'd break into a million pieces.

"i'm sorry for earlier," harry says. "i was such a dick."

"it's okay," she hums.

"it's not," his thumbs rub circles against her skin when he speaks. "i never want me treating you like that to be okay."

lynn can't help herself, "i don't think you'd be saying that if you didn't see how my mother treated me."

"probably not," he admits. "i still would've been wrong, though. i don't want to be someone you feel like you have to walk on eggshells around, lynn."

lynn hums and leans into him more, and harry pulls her closer, his grip tightening. there's probably going to be bruises left behind on her skin from just how tightly he's holding her against him.

she wishes the marks would stay forever so she could always remember the way she wasn't left to put herself together all on her own for once. she'd probably press her fingertips into them every time she felt so broken and alone, desperately hoping to feel the way she does now.

"i should be the one apologizing," her voice is raw. "i've been just as terrible to you. probably even worse."

"you're kind, too," harry mouths against her temple. "especially when it matters, s'where i lack. i'm not very good at being kind."

she leans back, scoffing. "not very good at being kind? look at you now."

he loosens his arms, but they still stay around her like he's scared to let her go. harry's cheeks turn pink, and he brings one hand up to use the sleeve of his hoodie to wipe the tears from under her eyes.

"yeah well," he laughs lightly. "i don't like seeing you upset."

her eyebrow raises, and she looks at him skeptically.

"i hate being the one who upsets you even more," his fingers pull her hair away from her sticky cheeks and tucks the strands behind her ear. "i don't know. i think we should've spent some time getting to know each other a bit more before we started all of this."

"would've changed your mind after realizing just how much of a bitch i was, huh?"

she's got a teasing smile on her lips, but harry just frowns. "lynn, no. that's not it at all."

"i was kidding," she chews her lips, looking down to smooth out the collar of his shirt. "kind of. i was a bitch."

"and i've been been a dick so we can call it even. i just— i don't know. this was supposed to make our lives easier, and i feel like we're just constantly hurting or upsetting each other."

"yeah," she hums. "do you want to go home?"

"no. of course not. that's not what i meant." he sighs, and lynn leans back. his hands still loosely sit on her arms, but there's space between them now.

"i think we could use this trip to get to know each other," lynn says. "communicate more, set some boundaries. being more comfortable with each other physically wouldn't kill either. i know my mom would start to have some questions if she constantly walked in on us nine feet apart from each other."

"yeah, i agree."

"are you okay if we maybe just sit here for a minute?" she asks. "together? you know, to get more comfortable with each other?"

"yeah, let me just.." he moves so he's got his back against a pillow propped up on the arm of the couch. harry takes lynn with him, so she's curled up against his side, head resting on his chest. he's got his arm around her and she can feel like way his fingertips trail from her hip to her ribcage and then back down. "there."

they're only like that for a minute before she starts crying again. "m'sorry."

"don't be," his voice matches the intensity of hers. he takes a deep breath, and then, "i've got you, blondie. just like you had me."

"m'not usually this weepy," she says. "haven't been in a while."

harry doesn't say anything at first, and lynn can feel the way his heart beat quickens when he opens his mouth, "does your mom treat your sisters like that, too?"

"i don't think so," she hums. "she's not always that intense either. s'why i stay around so much. i'd rather it be me than them."

maybe it's the bottle of wine, or maybe harry's just made her feel that comfortable. "she's better with them. when i was a baby, i had an au pair. my dad had an affair with her, and moved out before i was even one. i think she blames me for that. like their marriage would be so different if i hadn't been born."

"lynn, i-"

she's quick to sit up on her forearm, pressing her palm to harry's mouth. "i think it's the wine that's got me spilling all my secrets. don't reply to that."

"i just wish you had better," he says, and lynn can't help the watery grin that spreads across her face.

"me too," she hums. he's looking at her in a way she can't really read, and she's looking back with old tears drying on her cheeks and fresh ones pooling in her eyes.

lynn sits up when all the glances and touches start to feel like maybe she'd like to be trapped underneath him, his lips pressed against hers until she couldn't breathe anymore.

she'd blame that last thought on the wine.

"we passed a chinese spot on the way in," she says.

"but we just had chinese."

"but chicken lo mein?" lynn's rubbing her belly like she's absolutely famished. "god, i'm so hungry."

harry laughs, and lynn can't help but stare. his eyes wrinkled at the sides and his dimples came out, and she'd be lying if she said she didn't find it cute.

"let me get the keys."

"perfect. let me go change."

"don't," he catches her wrist. "your mom has to be so fucking miserable. you look fine." he's looking at her with such intensity, it makes her stomach hurt.

"you're not embarrassed by this?" her voice is soft. she's still got her mathlete's t-shirt on, but she swapped the sweatpants for a pair of shorts.

"fuck no," he says. "i was just teasing you at the airport, lynn. you look pretty, really. you always do."

her cheeks warm, and she pretends to fix her hair in the reflection of the t.v. to hide it.

"maybe no more teasing about how i look."

"of course," he moves next to her, doing the same to his hair. "should've punched me in the face and told me to shut the fuck up. m'sorry, lynn."

"s'okay," she laughs lightly, catching his eye in the reflection. "i think we owe ourselves a fresh start.”

"i think so, too."

they share a two top table in the corner of a small hole in the wall chinese restaurant that took forever to get to. harry orders for them, swapping both of their usual meals for something a bit bigger. lynn got general tso’s chicken with lo mein as a side, and harry asked for beef and broccoli with a side of his usual fried rice.

they ate in silence for a few minutes, each being too hungry to talk, but once the hunger pains subsided, harry started to make a list in the notes app of his phone.

“touching’s okay,” lynn says around her fork. “but maybe we should ask before kissing. at least until it’s something we’re both really comfortable with.”

harry nods in agreement, making it the fourth bullet point in the list. it fell behind communicating better, no more sex jokes, and no more pushing each other too far.

lynn hums in contentment at the list. her brain felt fuzzy and focusing on coming up with another bullet point felt like the hardest task ever, so she moved her attention to the chicken in front of her until harry turned his phone around.

stand up for each other when it comes to our parents

lynn grins at him, “i like that one. maybe we can add no more labeling it as an open relationship if that’s okay with you. you can still see other people, just have to be a little more careful with it.”

harry types it out, and then turns his phone around. written under it, “friends are off limits.”

the two stay in the restaurant for an hour making the list. at the end, they’ve gone through six fortune cookies and three pots of green tea and have compiled a whopping forty five bullet points.

on the way back harry makes a wrong turn, or that’s what lynn thinks, and they end up in the parking lot of a 24 hour winn dixie.

"i thought i could get us more wine," he says. "and you could get some things to bake while we're here. we could make jane a birthday cake.”

"harry..."

he shrugs. "you don't have to. i just thought maybe you’d want to.”

she can't hold back her grin as they walk towards the aisle, and it makes harry smile, too. they stay in there for nearly an hour, and lynn can hear him muffling a yawn with his hand every so often, but harry never once complains.

when they’re finally back, harry carries all of the groceries inside while lynn unlocks the door. she changes into her pajamas and harry puts all the groceries into empty cabinets.

later, they’re both sitting in the living room, some random tv show playing quietly in the background. lynn felt like she has lived a hundred different lives today, yet the fact that the two are where they are now made every ounce of anger and every tear she’d worth it.

"drew," her voice is quiet when she speaks, a little scratchy from staying quiet for so long.

"what about him?"

"that's my middle name."

"you're kidding," the corners of harry’s mouth are upturned slightly, unsure if he should laugh or not.

she shakes her head. "my parents wanted a boy."

and really, they never wanted her. lynn was just the starting point of the biggest fuck up in their marriage. she held her mom back in her career, and was probably the only reason her parents even got back together in the first place.

"what's up, blondie?" harry’s looking at her with soft eyes.

"hm?"

"what're you thinking about?"

she hums for a second, debating if she should ruin this good place they just got to with her own mommy issues.

“just how badly i want to crawl into bed.”

harry stands up, and returns back with a pillow and blanket in one hand and a glass of wine in the other.

“go,” he pushes the wine towards her. “i’ve got the couch.”

“thank you,” she takes the glass from his hand, weakly smiling at him, and he returns it with one of those smiles he gave jane that night in her playroom. it's bright and beautiful.

and more importantly, it's all for her.

24 JULY 2018

lynn starts her morning with her face in the toilet bowl. she really shouldn't have had that much wine last night, but she couldn't help herself. she was so incredibly tired, yet nothing was helping her fall asleep.

there's a soft knock at door, and lynn groans. her face is sticky and she's got it pressed against the ceramic of the sink trying to cool herself down.

"come in."

"oh, blondie," harry's pushing the door open. he's got a large cup full of ice water and the container of ibuprofen in his hand. "i didn't think you drank that much."

"had more after you went to sleep," she groans, hunching back over the toilet. "finished the second bottle and maybe half of the third."

"you should've woken me up," he sits next to her on the floor. his hands pull down her shirt to cover her exposed skin, and then run across her back as she gets sick again.

"gross," he reaches up to flush the toilet.

she scowls over at him, "at least you aren't covered in it."

his shoulders draw together, cringing at the thought. "not my best moment."

it's quiet between them as lynn lowers the lid of the toilet. her arms cross on top of it, and she rests her head on her arms, sighing at just how terrible she feels.

"feeling any better?" he reaches for her face, pushing her hair off of her sweaty forehead.

she shakes her head, and harry unscrews the cap of the ibuprofen. a few fall into his hand, and he nudges them past her lips, bringing the cup of water to her mouth after.

"thank you," she takes the cup from him, gulping half of it before setting it back down on the floor.

"why don't you get back in bed?"

"that stupid breakfast," she mutters. "can you start the shower when you leave?"

lynn finds harry sitting on the couch with his feet propped up on the coffee table. he's wearing a pair of black swim trunks and a yellow button up top. his sunglasses pushed his hair away from her face, and the whole room smelled like banana boat sunscreen.

she sighs before sitting in the chair to slip her sandals on. "ready?"

"are you sure you want to go?"

she shakes her head, "but we have to. i just want to get it over with."

the two walk to the resort restaurant holding hands. it feels almost corny to lynn. to be doing this when she's pushing thirty, but maybe that's just because she doesn't think she's ever seen her parents hold hands. they never really show affection.

jane squeals when she sees harry, jumping up from her spot at the table and running to cling to his leg.

"oh, sunflower," he bends down to pick her up, letting her sit on his hip. "i've missed you."

"you saw me the other day," her arms cross like she's mad at harry for forgetting.

"i know," he pinches her side. "i still missed you."

harry wraps his free hand around lynn's back, resting it on her hip and pulling her closer to the two, "no hello, jane?"

the little girl huffs, turning away from her sister. "you left me alone yesterday on the plane."

lynn goes to reply, but harry beats her to it, "m'sorry. i needed lynn to come with me, janey." his voice lowers. "i'm scared of planes."

jane gasps, hand flying to her mouth in a way that's so dramatic it has harry and lynn giggling.

"you're late lynn," her mother is sitting at the head of the table, eyes glancing at her watch.

"that's my fault, ms. kathleen," harry's putting jane back in her chair. "i wasn't feeling my best when i woke up."

kathleen doesn't respond, and lynn wraps her arms around amelia's neck, bending down to kiss her cheek to hide her growing smile.

harry and lynn sit across from each other, with a sister on either side of them. lynn scoots her chair closer to amelia, engaging in conversation about anything her sister wanted to talk about. she felt like the girl was pulling away from her now that she was getting older, and lynn found herself desperately wishing to go back to a year ago when melia would sit under the covers of her bed, spilling her innermost thoughts to her older sister.

she tried to keep her attention fully on amelia as she spoke, but lynn couldn't resist the urge to steal a glance at the two across from her every so often. jane usually had her hand in the air, waving around a green crayon triumphantly while harry had his face in his hands, quietly weeping over another lost game of tic tac toe.

"ugh, you're gushing over him," amelia whines. "you're not even listening."

"am not," lynn brings her mug up to her lips. "you were talking about how mr. fielder was being unfair with your last geometry quiz. he gave you a 72 and you think you deserve an 80."

"it was algebra," she rolls her eyes, turning her attention to her phone.

harry's looking over with furrowed brows and lynn shrugs, not really knowing why her sister seemed so upset with her. the only part she had gotten wrong was the type of math class. sue her.

when they're finished eating, kathleen and peter leave without saying a word, and lynn realizes they're stuck with amelia and jane. it was so like her mother to invite her just to play babysitter.

jane decides she wants to go to beach, so the two older girls follow while harry stops back at the condo to get everything he needed.

lynn's sitting on one of the lounge chairs, rubbing sunscreen into jane's skin when harry joins them again. he's got an overflowing beach bag on his shoulder, two of lynn's water bottles filled to the brim in one hand, and a book from her carry-on and her pair of forgotten sunglasses in the other.

god, he was a dream.

"why don't you rest?" harry sits down next to her, pulling jane's life vest from the bottom of the bag. "i've got them today."

"it's your vacation, too, harry. i can't-"

"please," he says. "take a break. you deserve it."

"okay," there's a small smile on her lips when she speaks, and it grows even more when harry leans in and asks if he can kiss her.

he doesn't though, even when lynn says yes. instead, he focuses on clipping jane's life vest and pulling the tabs to make sure it's tightened properly.

"all set, sunflower. are you coming, amelia?" the girl shakes her head, moving to sit on the lounger next to lynn's instead.

harry leans in and presses his lips against lynn's, just like he did in the parking lot of jane's recital. it's short and sweet and he pulls back just a little before kissing her again. and again. and again.

lynn's leaning back against the lounge chair and harry's chasing her, kissing her face wherever his lips could reach. she's laughing the kind of laugh that pinches in her side as she pushes her palms up to harry's lips, stopping his scruff from tickling her.

he kisses her palms once. twice. and then looks at her over her finger tips, mumbling something about being safe, and then he's gone, running to the water with jane's hand in his.

lynn's palms press against her cheeks, wondering if they were as hot as they felt. god, she was blushing.

she's about to open the bag to see what else harry had packed, but she hears her sister scoff next to her, and when she looks over, the younger girl is glaring.

"something wrong, amelia?"

"you're drinking again," she states. "i can see it. you're hungover."

"i'm twenty seven. i can have a hangover," lynn bites back the snippy remark she has on the tip of her tongue because she knows that what she did to amelia will probably forever be burned into her brain.

after her last relationship, she dropped out of college and moved home. she sat in bed everyday, staring at the wall. all of her friends were states away, and it didn't really matter anyway. he had isolated her so badly, the only thing she had to keep her company were her thoughts.

so she drank. because she needed them to stop. because she'd do anything for a few hours of peace and quiet.

some nights she drank so much she'd sleep throughout the entire next day and other times she'd have to move her mattress into the bathroom. lynn hasn't made herself sick in forever. today being an exception.

however, on her worst night, she blacked out, only coming to the next morning in a hospital bed. she had passed out on the stairs in her parents house, leaving a nine year old amelia to find her.

so if amelia was upset about her drinking, she understood. but lynn wasn't twenty one anymore. she went to therapy, she did the work, and she was better. if she wanted to have a few glasses of wine to unwind she would. she deserved it.

"you've only started drinking after you met him," she points out.

"not true, and this has nothing to do with him, mels. it isn't like last time. i promise."

amelia doesn't say anything. instead, she turns on her side away from lynn.

25 JULY 2018

harry blindly searches for his phone on the nightstand in the dark, his palm sliding against the smooth surface to no avail. he groans and rubs his eyes trying to get the sleep out of them before moving to look under the bed.

he finds his phone plugged into the charger on the bathroom counter, not really remembering how it got there. being in the sun all day had him sleeping so hard, he felt like he was still in a dream.

harry splashes some water on his face and looks in the mirror, suddenly becoming aware of just how thirsty he is. cupping his hand under the bathroom sink wasn't going to cut it. he needed the biggest glass of ice cold water he could find.

he moves into the living area, finding lynn sitting on the couch. the dim glow of the television lit up her face as she focused on reading the subtitles that flashed on the screen.

"hey," his voice is low and scratchy, and lynn jumps at the sudden sound. "can't sleep?"

she shakes her head. "not really. what about you?"

"woke up just absolutely parched."

lynn laughs under her breath and pats the couch cushion next to her. "sit. i've got it."

she's already standing, and harry thinks the long twenty step trek to the kitchen seemed so far, so he sits. there's an old rerun of the office on, and lynn's got the volume so low he can barely make out the words. harry wonders if it's like that because she didn't want to wake or because she didn't want him to know she was awake.

he turns up the volume before she sits down, a glass of water in one hand and what he assumes is a mug of tea in the other. harry thanks her, settling into the comfort of the couch.

"go to sleep. you're tired," she says against the lip of her mug, and harry wants to because he is exhausted, but he knew he wouldn't be able to stop thinking about lynn sitting out here all by herself if he was went back into the room.

"and you're not?" he could tell she was just as tired as he was. probably even more. she spent the whole day soaking in the sun with a book in her hand. never once did he come out of the water to find her with her eyes closed.

"i am," her fingers reach for the remote to turn down the volume again. "i just have trouble sleeping sometimes."

"take the bed," lynn's quick to shake her head in protest. "i'm serious, blondie. i could knock out on the floor with a beach towel for a pillow. take the bed, please."

"m'not gonna sleep either way," she mumbles. "you might as well be comfy."

when she looks over at him, harry notices just how slowly she blinks. it's like she's in a daze, glassy eyes barely focusing when they're open. his hand rests on her ankle, thumb brushing over her skin, and she hums in response. he doesn't think she's slept since the plane ride two days ago.

"why don't we share the bed?" her eyes snap open, and she's looking at him like he's said something absolutely absurd. like he's crazy for even thinking the two of them could fit in the california king. "or we can sit out here and watch office reruns. i'm not picky."

"can we watch tv in bed?" she's got a lazy smile on her lips.

"sure," harry squeezes her ankle before helping her up.

when they get into the bedroom, lynn gets under the covers while harry goes to the bathroom to retrieve his phone and plug it into the outlet near the nightstand.

"shall we build one of those pillow walls or whatever they do in every rom com?" he's standing over the bed, stretching out his sore shoulders.

lynn laughs, head tilting back a little, and harry can't help the wave of satisfaction that washes over him because he has her laughing even though she's clearly miserable.

"are you saying you picture us as the two main characters in a rom com, harry styles?" she pats the spot next to her. "we've shared a bed before. shut out the light and get in."

harry's quick to turn the lamp off, wanting nothing more than to hide the flush of his face from the growing heat to his cheeks. he definitely didn't have a crush on her, but if she asked him to kiss her goodnight right now, he wouldn't really be opposed.

as soon as his face hits the pillow, harry feels his eyelids getting heavy. he's not sure if it was the sun or all the swimming around with jane clinging to his side, but he's certain he's never been so tired in his life.

"sorry, i just-" lynn's turning on her phone flashlight, illuminating the small room. harry hears her soft foot steps as she shuts the bedroom door, the click of a lock following right after. the light turns off, and harry feels the bed dip beside him again. "sorry."

"no reason to apologize, blondie."

it's quiet again, and harry feels himself dozing off even with the tv on. lynn keeps the sound down just like before, and opts for some subtitles instead.

"you can turn it up," he speaks with his eyes closed. "i could probably sleep through an explosion."

"s'for me. not you," harry's back is turned toward her, but he can hear the eye roll in her voice. "can't sleep with the sound on."

"right," because he definitely should've known that. how could he be so stupid?

harry doesn't mean to get annoyed with lynn. he really doesn't, but she is so fidgety. she's tossing and turning and rubbing her feet together under the covers. she bites the skin around her nails, and then drops her hands next to her in a way that has the entire bed moving.

and usually, harry would be able to sleep through every shake of the bed and every sigh that fell from her lips. during his freshman year, his roommate admitted to consistently fucking his girlfriend while harry slept soundly... on the bunk above them.

needless to say, he was a heavy sleeper. at least he thought he was. maybe he was having an off night, or maybe it was because lynn was the one sleeping next to him. he didn't really care to know which.

lynn gets up again. this time she decides to use the glow of the television instead of her flashlight. harry hears the click of the bedroom lock, and then shortly after the click of the deadbolt to the actual front door of the condo.

she comes back to the room, shutting and locking the door behind her, and then she twists the knob twice, ensuring it's locked.

he rolls over to face her, "got everything locked up?"

"yeah, i think so," she hums, and harry expects her to relax. maybe lean into the pillow and close her eyes. instead she bites the side of her thumb, and then, "maybe i should check again."

his arm comes out, pushing her back against the mattress. "i've got it."

harry stumbles out of the room, too tired to hold himself up properly. the weight of him has his shoulders slouching and his half closed eyes have him tripping over literal air. he checks the lock on the front door, and then goes to the kitchen to find the keys to it.

he slips them off of the key ring, and then stops before he gets back to the bedroom, running his fingers along the top of the door frame to search for the small key that usually sits on top of it.

he locks the bedroom door behind him, twisting the knobs twice, just like lynn did, and then he gets into bed and searches for her hand under the covers.

"here," harry presses the keys into her palm. "you've got the keys, lynn, everything's locked and no one's getting in."

"thank you," her voice is watery just like it was when she sat in his lap and fell apart the day prior. "the last time i was here was with him."

and harry doesn't really know who she's talking about. he assumes an ex, and feels a burn in his chest at the realization.

she missed him so much, she couldn't sleep.

he wonders if they've shared this bed before, too. if lynn clung to him with tears in her eyes on the couch. maybe he spent hours with her sisters, just so she could breathe for a second, just like harry did. kathy and peter probably loved the guy. harry bets he got more than a head nod when they all sat down for meals.

harry hums in response, too tired to try and form a sentence that doesn't come across like he's a little pissed off. there's no reason for him to be.

he stays awake for a bit longer, reading the subtitles off of the tv. when he notices lynn's breathing slowing, he looks over to see her eyes shut. harry closes his, melting into the mattress and finally falling asleep.

25 JULY 2018

harry thinks lynn is probably the heaviest sleeper in existence.

she's got her face pressed against the pillow, her mouth is open, and he is definitely watching her while she sleeps. it's not that he means to. really, he doesn't. he just doesn't think he's ever seen someone sleep so soundly in his entire life.

the truth is, if anyone deserves a good night's sleep, it's lynn. she was always so busy running between work and taking care of her sisters, and whatever time she did have left over was spent sitting at a dinner table with his parents or at a bar with gemma and drew. it was almost weird to see her without the little worry wrinkle that seemed to be permanently stamped between her eyebrows.

harry slips out of bed, making sure she's still tucked into the sheets in the process. he stops himself from leaning down and pressing his lips against the crown of her head because even his sleep-dazed brain knew that would be insanely crazy.

the coffee lynn had picked out a few nights prior at the grocery store is sitting on the counter, silently begging to be brewed. harry starts a pot for both of them to share, leaning against the counter as the machine hums and splutters as it starts to brew. a sigh pushes past his lips, and he decides that the ache in his chest was something more than leftover heartburn from last night's dinner.

he misses oliver so much.

maybe it's a little selfish, but he can't help but wish that it were oliver here with him instead. they'd probably spend lazy mornings in between the sheets before harry would reluctantly pull himself away to make oliver his favorite breakfast, hoping to get a hundred thank you kisses in return.

and then oliver would probably come out of their room freshly showered, with a smile so big sitting on his lips, it'd make harry's chest physically hurt just because he loved him so much. he'd press kisses to harry's shoulders and his neck and all the way up to his chin before finally kissing his mouth, parting with a quiet 'thank you'. oliver was always so appreciative, and harry thinks he’ll never love anyone as much as he loved the boy.

his daydream comes to an end when he sees lynn walking out of the bedroom with her hair all messy and pulled away from her face. she's still got her pajamas on and there's sleep in her eyes, evidently still tired from last night.

"how do you like your coffee?"

"just cream," lynn’s voice is raspy. "thanks."

she sits on one of the stools in front of him and he pushes the mug towards her before filling up another one with black coffee and setting it in front of himself.

he takes a sip, and then, "sleep good?"

"really good actually," she offers him a small smile. it's shy, almost like she's trying to hide it and stop it from growing any wider. harry’s decided that’s a tell that her smile is genuine. "i know you wanted to sit out today, but do you think you could sit with me in here for a bit after? just until i fall asleep."

"yeah, of course," he says. "yesterday wore me out. i could use a nap, too."

"perfect,” her mug sits at against her lips. “it’s a date, then.”

if it were up to harry, the two would spend the entire day locked away in the room and underneath all of the covers. he was exhausted, and he knew lynn was, too. she's sitting in front of him, eyes glued to her reflection in the marble counter, and she's not saying a word.

"your aunt cece is going to be at breakfast, right?"

lynn nods around a sip of coffee. "and aunt rosie. they got in last night."

"good," he says. "they're lovely."

"they are," lynn agrees. "it’s crazy to think that cece and my mom grew up in the same house."

and harry doesn't know if he should agree or not, but when they're all sitting at the beach after breakfast, he thinks he definitely does.

aunt cece is sitting on a lounger next to him while lynn plays in the water with her sisters. rosie is on the other side of her and peter and kathy are god knows where. it's quiet between the two at first, each just soaking up the sun, and then aunt cece turns her head to look at him.

"lynn told me that you're queer," aunt cece says. "sorry if that was forward of me."

harry doesn't really know what to say, or where exactly this conversation is going so he just nods and sits up a little straighter in his chair. "i am. it's not something i'm really open about though."

"if you don't mind me asking, i was wondering what your views on sexuality are," the older woman replies. "i'm a human sexuality professor. i'm not sure if lynn told you that, but i've been grading the last of these final exams, and i want to see what you think. would you say sexuality is black and white or more of a spectrum?"

"i think it would depend on the person," harry answers. "for me, i'd say more of a spectrum. when i'm with lynn, i feel more on the straight side. i don't know. it sounds stupid. my queerness is still there, but i feel like it's invisible almost to those around me and i think their perceptions affect the way i view myself, too. when i was with my ex boyfriend, it was the opposite. i don't necessarily think it's a bad thing. i don’t mind either way.”

"told you, cecilia," rosie says from next to them. she's looking at her wife with such fondness in her eyes, it makes harry a little jealous.

"whatever," the other woman rolls her eyes, pretending to be annoyed before turning her attention back to harry. "most of my queer students said the same. i was wondering if it was just an age thing."

he tilts his head for a second because he's the same age as aunt cece's college students, but before he can ask what he means, she's opening her mouth again.

"why aren't you open about your sexuality?"

harry's not embarrassed of his queerness, and it's not something he outright hides. he doesn't really like to use the term "closeted" to describe himself, but he did only tell people he was completely comfortable with.

"i'm not ashamed if that's what you think," he replies. "it's my family. it's just easier if i keep that part tucked away."

"i'm sorry to hear that," the older woman is so sincere when she speaks. "there's always room for you in my family, harry. rose and i will always be just a phone call away, even if you and lynn aren’t together anymore."

"it's been forever since she's brought someone around," rosie leans forward. "i don't see you going away any time soon."

there's a burning in the back of his throat, and he's trying so hard not to let tears pool his eyes, "thank you."

aunt cece leans forward to squeeze his hand, and harry thinks it's about to be the final straw. the tears are about to start flooding.

"what'd you do to my boyfriend, aunt cece?" lynn's sitting down on the edge of his lounger. the salt water dripping from her hair feels so good on his skin. "got him all teary eyed."

"your aunt was just telling him how much we love having him around," rosie speaks for her wife.

"we do love having him around," jane joins them, digging in harry's bag to look for her sand bucket.

lynn's thumb brushes away the singular tear he lets fall before anyone else can see, and presses her lips against his temple. "you feeling okay?"

and he nods, leaning his head against her shoulder. he feels more than okay. harry thinks he's never felt so loved in his entire life.

and yet, every part of it is fake.

✮✮✮

"wanna go make out in the water?" lynn giggles at the warmth of harry's words against her skin, and turns her head over to look at him. he's got a lopsided smile on his face, and he moves hand to rest on top of hers, squeezing once. "we don't have to. i'm just kind of bored."

"and making out with me is more exciting than ogling half of chi omega?" she tips her head back, alluding to the group of fake blondes all stretched out across the loungers next to them.

"i'm only looking at you, blondie," she feels his words deep in her stomach and prays to god they don't reflect in her face. the two were laying on their towels in the sand, inches apart. he'd definitely be able to notice if a blush made its way to her cheeks.

she rolls her eyes, pulling her sunglasses down off of her head to let her hair try and hide her probably pink cheeks, and then she pushes herself up on to her knees, "are you coming or what?"

"can i come?" jane's moving in between them, her big, blue eyes looking up at harry. "please, harry."

"not today, janey," he squeezes just above the girl's elbow, the devastation evident in her face. "tomorrow, though. i promise."

jane sighs, but doesn't press further. instead she sulks back over to her aunts, stopping to pick up any seashells she could use to decorate her castle on the way.

they walk into the water together and lynn wets her hair, pushing it out of her face and moving her sunglasses back up to hold it in place.

"alright. how should we do this?"

harry laughs. he's got his sunglasses over his eyes, but the way his dimples pop out has lynn guessing that his eyes are shining, too. it reminds her of luke’s sunshine smiles. harry’s are different though. the warmth and happiness are so obvious across his entire face. he practically embodied sunshine.

"you're making it sound like a chore, lynn."

"am not."

and really she wasn't. she was trying her best to not explode with excitement. she'd never tell harry, his ego was big enough as it is, but he was a good kisser, and she's been thinking about the way his mouth felt against hers ever since that night at his apartment.

"come closer," he reaches for her, pulling her into him. his lips press against her hairline, and then they disappear. "gotta warm up to it."

"i'm a bit out of practice," she admits. "don't laugh if i'm bad."

"never," she rests her head on top of his shoulder, feeling the words in his chest as he speaks. "this is just supposed to be fun, blondie."

"right," she hums. "just fun."

"just fun," he repeats it again, voice barely above a whisper. she leans back so she can look at him, and he's got a small smile sitting on his lips. he kisses her face, right next to the corner of her mouth. "this okay?"

"yeah," she hums, and he does it again. "s'good."

harry trails his lips down to under her chin, kissing along her jaw until he meets the skin just below her ear. then she feels it. the way his teeth gently scrape against the sensitive area.

"alright," her hand pushes his face away, but his arm still keeps her against him. "you're just teasing me, now."

"oh, yeah? bet you've been thinking about this since the last time. haven't you?" the words send heat right to her cheeks, and this time she doesn't care to hide it.

"whatever helps you sleep at night," she pinches his bottom lip between her fingers, soothing the skin with the pad of her thumb when she lets go.

his teeth nip at her thumb before she pulls it away with a giggle, "wait, don't i help you sleep at night?"

"oh whatever," she's grinning so hard her cheeks hurt. it reminds her of when she watched him playing with jane, and the way the little girl was smiling so big. she wishes they could've had this kind of relationship from the beginning.

"y'gonna kiss me already?" he squeezes her hip. "or am i gonna have to do all the work?"

"mmm," she hums. "i am kind of tired."

harry pushes her chin up with his finger before pressing his lips to hers. they're warm, and firm and harry always kisses her like he's trying to prove something.

she feels his tongue on her bottom lip, and she squeezes her mouth together for no other reason than to annoy him. "c'mon, lynn. don't be like that."

"y'taste gross," her nose scrunches, and it's true, he did.

harry opens his eyes, keeping his forehead pressed against hers. "i just had a beer."

"exactly," lynn hated the taste. (but if harry were to keep kissing her like how he is now, she would definitely look past it.)

"sorry my mouth can't be as sweet as yours," he drags his thumb across her lips. "all those rum punches, hm?"

lynn let's harry have his way with her mouth. he's sucking and biting and running his tongue against hers, and she is just taking it. soaking it all up. it's been forever since she's been kissed like this and she feels a little selfish when all she offers him is a few lazy sucks on his lips.

his fingertips press into the back of her thighs, and she pulls away, shocked at the feeling. harry was a touchy person, but he seemed like he knew his limits.

"you're getting a little too handsy," she warns. "don't piss me off and ruin our fun just yet."

he simply lifts his hands, wrapping her legs around his waist.

"m'not trying to feel you up, just wanna make it a little easier f'you,” he kisses her chin. “and for me. that angle fucking sucked.”

she rolls her eyes, arms coming to drape around his neck. lynn's looking down at him now, and she lets her lips lightly brush across his face just to tease him. harry's lips are red and swollen, and she runs her thumb across them, smearing the saliva into his soft skin.

"they're looking," she whispers, looking over at the group of girls they were laying out by before.

"your family? that's kind of the whole point."

"no," she hums. "your new friends."

"yeah," harry rolls his eyes. "and they're watching me put my tongue in your mouth. jealousy is not a very good look on you, blondie."

lynn closes the space between them, actually kissing him with effort. she works his mouth just like he was doing to her minutes ago. she sucks and bites and presses their lips so hard together she thinks that they're going to be bruised in the morning.

she feels a little confident when she lets her hands slide into his hair, tugging just enough to pull his mouth away from hers. there's a groan in his throat when she does, and he tries best to hide it, but lynn's already heard it and now her fun was ruined.

"sorry, what's not a good look on me?"

"marry me," harry breathes out.

lynn laughs lightly, resting over his shoulder and wrapping her arms and legs around him tighter. she sighs, and harry runs his fingers along her back while his lips press into her hair.

"ready for our nap?"

"showers and then a nap," she corrects, silently thanking whatever god would listen that harry could let whatever just happened between them go just as quickly as she could. "im not letting you get the bed all sandy."

"whatever you want, honey," he hums, starting to walk out of the water with lynn still in his arms.

"don't call me that," she leans back to look at him, drawing her brows together like she was annoyed. really, she was fighting whatever urge came bubbling up in her throat that had her wanting to ask him to say it again.

"why not? you're sweet like honey."

"i miss when you hated me," lynn sighs, letting herself fall limp against him again.

"never hated you, lynn." she tries to ignore the way his words make her feel warm all over.

"c'mon," she lets her legs down, standing on the dry sand. "let's just grab our stuff and go. they'll think we're going to have crazy sex and it'll buy us a few hours of peace and quiet."

✮✮✮

lynn wakes up to harry moving her hair away from her face. he's propped up on his elbow, fingers brushing over her skin just as lightly as the way her name leaves his lips.

"hey," harry murmurs. "sleep good?"

"so good," she hums, turning on her side to face him. "please tell me you're not eating crackers in our bed."

"m'eating them on my side," he says. "want one?"

"no." she tries to suppress a yawn, arms coming up over her head to stretch. "c'mon. we've got dinner. make sure there's not a single crumb in these sheets."

the two share the bathroom as they get ready together. lynn braids her knotty hair away from her face while she watches with jealousy as harry does nothing but push a pair of sunglasses into his. when it's time to change, he graciously gives her the bathroom, and waits for her to invite him back in.

he comes in wearing a pair of khaki pants with a blue shirt tucked into them, and lynn feels incredibly underdressed. he always looked so proper and pulled together when they had something to do, meanwhile she always looked like she grabbed the first thing she could reach in her closet and didn’t have enough time to check herself in the mirror before leaving.

she had chosen a yellow sundress tonight. she thought it was cute and flowy when she had bought it a year ago, but now she can't help but think that the way some of the fabric stretches around her body has her resembling what she would assume a freshly plucked big bird would look like after working a grueling twelve hour shift in a sesame street high rise.

lynn's stepping back, fingers smoothing down the fabric when she catches harry's eyes in the mirror. he's got a mouth full of toothpaste and his face is pulled together. "y'look beautiful, lynn," he mumbles around his tooth brush. "always do."

she's not really convinced, but her cheeks warm nonetheless, and she pulls her eyes away from harry's before offering him a smile and the sincerest of thank yous.

lynn moves to the living room to wait for harry to finish up and spends the entire ten minutes debating if she should change. she loves the dress, and really, if she were wearing it anywhere but here, there would be no second thoughts about it. lynn just knew that whatever kathleen had to say about it would be forever etched in her brain and the dress would probably find its way into a goodwill pile when she got back.

harry joins her changed out of his perfect outfit. he's wearing a pair of shorter black shorts and the yellow button up he was wearing the other day instead.

lynn isn't really sure what to say or if she should say anything at all, but he only smiles at her before slipping his shoes on and asking if she's ready to go.

"why'd you'd change?" she caves when they're inside the restaurant.

he shrugs. "thought we could match. i don't know. i felt over dressed in what i had on."

she hums in response, and harry wraps his arm around her waist as they get closer to her family's table. she feels his fingers pinch the fabric at her waist, and then, "plus you look like sunshine in this dress. it would've been a crime to ask you to match my blue."

"oh, knock it off," she bumps her hip into his. "you're so corny today."

lynn expects him to knock her back with double the force, just like he did the first day she met him. instead, he only tugs her closer to him, muttering something about just how serious he is against the shell of her ear before pulling her chair out for her at the table.

"new dress?" kathleen speaks, and the way she's look at lynn makes her stomach twist.

harry only hums, fingers squeezing her shoulders as he stands behind her. "looks absolutely gorgeous, doesn't she, ms. kathy?"

aunt cece coos at the pair, pinching lynn's knee under the white tablecloth, and harry's got his lips pressed against her temple, ignoring jane's pleas begging him to sit next to her from the other end of the table. instead, he asks amelia to switch with him so he can sit with lynn, and the girl is more than happy to, considering that all lynn seems to do is piss her off with nothing but her presence.

aunt cece starts up a conversation with the two, but lynn only keeps herself involved with perfectly timed hums of acknowledgement while harry does all of the talking. she felt bad, but all she could think about was the fact that the boy that reminds her of sunshine happens to think the same about her in her new favorite dress.

26 JULY 2018

lynn’s sitting next to harry in a lounger while her sisters play mermaids in the pool. usually, amelia would do absolutely anything to get out of the game, but it was jane’s birthday and it happened to be her only ask. lynn would have definitely offered to relieve her sister of her duties, but jane currently had amelia sitting on the ledge of the pool while she threw a ball at her, calling it mermaid hunting.

so instead, lynn happily sits with a book in one hand while her other hand lightly traces every line and crease on the back of harry’s, only picking up her finger when it’s time to turn the page. she started doing it just to annoy him, but harry didn’t seem to care. he only reclined his lounger a little and moved his hand to rest on lynn’s so she didn’t have to reach across them.

lynn woke up this morning with harry’s face pressed against the crook of her neck and his palm resting against her abdomen. she’ll blame the next part on the fact that she was still half asleep, but she laid there with her eyes closed, soaking up every second of their closeness before harry woke up and gently pulled himself from her. she thought about mentioning the whole thing over their morning coffee, but she didn’t want him to think she was crazy for letting it happen and more importantly, she didn’t want to ruin the chances of that ever happening again.

she was touch deprived. sue her.

“do you want kids someday?” harry asks. he’s got his free arm over his forehead, blocking the sun from his eyes as he looks at lynn.

“probably not,” lynn answers honestly. “i’ve got these two.”

“but you don’t want any of your own?”

lynn pauses for a second before answering, letting her book fall against her chest. it wasn’t that she didn’t want kids of her own because there is definitely a small piece of her that sometimes daydreams of white picket fences and tiny hand prints on glass doors, but that small sliver is overshadowed by the overwhelming fear of not being good enough. she doesn’t really know how to say i’m scared i’ll never learn to love my children the same way my mother never loved me without ruining their sunny pool day.

so, instead she settles for a, “it’s not really important to me. what about you?”

harry shrugs. “dunno. i’ve never really thought about it until now. i think i’m still too young.”

lynn can’t help but laugh at him for saying he feels too young. nearing thirty had her feeling everything but that, and it was crazy how harry felt the opposite.

he tilts his head to the side as she laughs, and lynn’s about to ask why he’s got that look on his face, but the ball jane has been throwing interrupts them, hitting harry right in the mouth.

“oh fuck,” harry curses under his breath.

"jane!" lynn sits up straight, practically screaming at the little girl. "you have got to be careful."

"it's okay, lynn,” harry’s words are muffled by his hand. “really, i’m fine.”

"what do you say to him?" her jaw is clenched and her fists are balled so tightly in her lap. if she were to open them, there’d be little moon indentations on the bottoms of her palms.

"i'm sorry, harry,” jane looks away when her voice wobbles. “i didn't mean to."

"i know, sunflower. it was an accident, wasn't it?" harry speaks so softly as he gently rolls the ball back to the little girl. lynn can’t understand how he wasn’t absolutely seething.

jane nods as her tears spill over and harry’s quick to tell her not to worry about it. accidents happen.

"let me see," her attention moves to harry, catching the crimson trail that started to flow down his chin. "oh, harry. let me clean that for you.”

she doesn’t give him time to respond before pulling him up by his elbow. lynn makes amelia swear to not let jane out of her sight before she leads harry all the way back to their condo. he sits on the arm of the chair in the living room and waits while lynn retrieves a rag and an ice cube from the freezer.

"i'm so sorry, harry," lynn's voice is soft, just like her touch is when her fingers brush under his chin, tilting it up to get a better look at his lip.

“you didn’t have to yell at her like that, you know?” and she knew harry was right. the contrast between her tone with jane and her tone now was like night and day. she knew it was an accident, but she was nervous that harry would be upset with her for not scolding her sisters when they did something wrong.

harry winces when she adds a bit of pressure to the cut, and when lynn feels him move away from her, she has to blink back the tears that are threatening to spill over.

the last time she was here, lynn had brought her ex boyfriend. their relationship has already been hanging on by a thread, and she thought that a romantic beach getaway was exactly what they needed to save it.

and it worked for the first half of the trip. he was so affectionate towards her. so gentle. lynn felt so loved, and so incredibly safe.

then amelia spilled a cup of water on his lap, and he screamed at her in a way that had his chest heaving and face turning red. he was so upset with her and with lynn. the whole trip was ruined and lynn went to sleep nearly every night with a raspy voice and a raw throat from hours of consoling amelia and crying so hard she couldn't breathe.

"hey," he pulls on her waist, bringing her to sit on his knees. "i didn’t mean it like that. what's got you so worked up over this, hm?"

"i'm not worked up."

"lynn," harry's hand covers her own, rubbing his thumb across her knuckles as she keeps the ice pressed against his lip. "you're all teary eyed and you're breathing funny."

"you're bleeding, harry. i don't know how you're not raging."

"it was an accident," his hands move to wrap around her middle. "and she's six. i wouldn't really care if she did it on purpose either."

"yeah? you promise?"

"i promise, lynn." he's looking at her with such sincerity on his face, it makes her shoulders fall with relief.

“i guess i was just scared that you’d yell at her,” she admits. “i knew she’d take it better from me.”

“i didn’t know you thought so low of me.” she can’t tell if he’s being serious or only joking with her, but she can’t stop the corners of her mouth from turning upwards. that would have been low of him, and she’s glad he agrees.

“forgive me,” she decides to turn it into the latter, a teasing smile on her face. “how can i ever make it up to you?”

"hm,” he bends his finger, signaling for her to lean closer. "maybe a kiss."

lynn quickly decides she doesn't want to point out the fact that her family was nowhere near them. they were alone, and knowing that made her want to kiss him even more. maybe a little part of her wished it was real.

so, she gives in, pressing her lips gently to the corner of his mouth. "feel better?"

"i think the doctor prescribed two.”

"you're pushing it, styles.”

"i know," the pad of his thumb ghosts over her lips. "just missing your mouth."

the words make her stomach turn in way that has her leaning down to kiss him again in hopes of hearing them again. lynn can’t help but wish harry’s lip wasn’t bleeding because she’d definitely let him explore every inch of her mouth with his own.

what had gotten into her?

"consider me healed,” he hums.

"you are," she swipes the ruined rag across his lip one more time for good measure. "no more bleeding."

✮✮✮

"this is so unfair to her," harry feels lynn's words against his shoulder. when he turns to look at her, she's got her eyes focused on jane who's messily eating the chocolate cake he had spent hours decorating to resemble a sunflower.

when he placed the cake in front of her, a huge grin spread across her face, and harry was certain her eyes were glowing brighter than the six candles placed in the center. she pressed her palms to her cheeks, and an excited squeal left her mouth, followed by a hundred 'i love it and i love you's.

"what is?"

"this," her hand moves between them. "us. she loves you, harry."

"everyone loves me," he jokes, but the way lynn's looking at him lets him know that she's not in a joking mood after all.

it’s no secret that harry has an incredibly hard time reading lynn. he failed calculus twice in college, but the course was a thousand times easier than figuring out just how she was feeling inside. she was normally cool and put together, only letting harry see through the cracks of the walls she had built up when everything became a little too much for her to handle.

being here must be hard for her because she lets him see more and more of her everyday. the lynn he met two months ago wouldn't have sat on his lap and cried because his lip was bleeding. no, she would've told him to grow the fuck up and take care of it himself.

now she's sharing an oversized chair with him, knees draped over his. her eyes are misty, and the corners of her mouth are turned upwards into a watery smile as she watches her family from across the patio. he felt so fucking terrible for her.

"i'm not going to be able to walk away from them the way you think i am," his voice is quiet, and he's rubbing soothing circles on her knee. "you shouldn't be worrying about things so far in the future anyway."

"we never talked about any of this stuff, harry," the intensity of her voice matches his, but it’s laced with urgency. almost like the thought of so many unanswered questions has her on the verge of panicking. "when are we going to break up? why are we even going to? how? what's going to happen when jane-"

"blondie, take a breath," he reaches to smooth her hair away from her face, thumbs stretching to wipe away the overflowing tears under her eyes. "we can decide all of that later. why don't we just have fun now?"

"because this is just going to hurt the two people i care about most."

"we'll stay friends," harry decides. "i'll say i realized i'm only attracted to men, and you can get all of the brownie points that come with loving me and supporting me through all of that."

"you're not just going to walk away when all of this is over?"

"of course not," and he wouldn’t dream of it, but he can’t help but think about the fact that if she were to have asked him a month ago, his answer would've been completely different. he's not sure exactly what changed, but harry would be more than a little sad if he never saw lynn again.

"good," she rests her forehead against his shoulder. "i don't think i could handle you going. i care about you too much."

"is that the four dirty martinis from dinner talking?"

"probably, but it’s true," she looks up at him, a smug smile growing on her face. "they’re also telling me that it would be a fantastic idea to have a little kiss right here in front of everyone.”

"oh, we most definitely can’t say no to that, can we?"

nearly every time they've kissed, they've simply just gone for it. maybe they'd warm up with a peck here and touch there, but within a matter of seconds, harry was sucking on lynn's lips like his life depended on it. to be honest, he really couldn't help it. her mouth was always so sweet.

this kiss was different though. lynn had leaned in to him, her fingers pressing into the back of neck to get him close enough to feel her exhales fanning across his mouth.

she stopped there though, not daring to move a centimeter closer for a moment. her eyes fell to his lips before slowly trailing back up to meet his eyes, and then she giggled in a way that sounded so light and happy, harry felt it deep in his stomach.

her lips brushed against his delicately, and he wasn't really sure if they were even there.

"blondie-"

"you've got a bad lip, harry," and then there was another soft kiss. "gotta be gentle."

harry had every intention of listening to her because she was right. the last thing he wanted was for his stupid busted lip to start bleeding and ruin all of their fun. he thought that maybe they'd share a few short kisses and then join the rest of her family before going to bed for the night.

and that is exactly how it starts. there's a lazy kiss, and then two, and then lynn's pulling away to meet harry's eyes before wrapping both her arms around his neck. he's leaning against her with one arm wrapped around her waist and the other pushing deep into the arm of the chair to support all of their weight.

their kisses are long and eager, and he can feel the warmth from the pit in his stomach travel all the way up through his chest and out to his finger tips with each one. his palms are way too sweaty and it feels like his heart’s beating fast enough to push him through the last four hundred meters of a marathon. god, it's been forever since someone's made him feel this way.

the whole scene is definitely far too inappropriate to be occurring in front of lynn's entire family, but he can't seem to stop and neither can she. she's even greedy with it. every time harry pulls away to catch some air, she immediately follows, bringing his lips back to hers. her kisses are messy and frantic, but harry doesn't think he's ever had someone be so soft and easy with him in his entire life.

lynn breaks the kiss, but she keeps her forehead pressed against harry's, holding him against her like she’s scared he’ll run away. she keeps her eyes closed for a second, and harry shamelessly uses it to let his eyes sweep across her face. her lips are red and messy and kissed, and her cheeks are flushed and pink, matching the warmth radiating from her body.

with a heavy breath, she looks up at him with her big, blue eyes, and the sight would definitely have harry collapsing at his knees if he were standing up right. he can feel the way her chest heaves against his own. the way her fingers slide from his neck to his shoulders. the little puffs of air that come from her when she giggles again. he was so fucked.

“fun, wasn’t it?”

"lynn," it's breathy. he really isn't sure how to word it, so he pauses for a moment, scanning her face for any indication that what’s sitting on the tip of his tongue will ruin the relationship they worked so hard on building. "i-"

"there's the birthday girl," both of their heads shoot up to see silas standing near the staircase to the patio with a duffle bag at his feet and a stack of neatly wrapped presents in his hand.

lynn jumps up to greet him, and silas rushes to her in a manner that seems a little more than friendly. he wraps his free arm around lynn's waist just like harry had been doing seconds prior, and lifts her off her feet to spin her in a circle.

"and my favorite girl," his voice is low and meant for only lynn to hear, but the words fall on harry’s ears, too.

harry watches as lynn grins and wraps herself around silas's arm before dragging him to the rest of her family. jane squeals, her sunflower cake long forgotten just like harry was in the garden chair. the entire family crowds around silas, hugging him and kissing his cheeks, and harry knew that no matter how many times lynn curled up in his lap with tears welling up in her eyes, he would never be able to compare to silas.

✰✰✰✰✰

a/n: okaaay all reformatted :D part five will be posted sunday! (maybe monday)

#harry styles #harry #harry styles fic #enemies to friends to lovers #enemies to lovers #dadrry #if you squint #harry styles one shot #harry styles imagine #harry styles x oc #harry styles fluff #harry's house #fine line #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles au #harry styles angst #artist!harry #fake dating #fake relationship

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eleni-cherie · 9 months

Text

a thief's end ✨ || bts • myg - chapter 0.9

"so eager to be in a headlock again?" "only if it's by you."

he thought he was done with the criminal life and ready for some peace and quiet. but his plans collapsed in the form of a strange girl who was in trouble.

»»»

masterlist: here

— genre: thief au, gangster comedy, adventure, romcom, humour, angst, fluff, sexual tensiON, slowburn, mutual pining, strangers to lovers s2l

ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE. CHARACTERS NOT NECESSARILY LIKE THE REAL PERSONS. ALSO VERY UNREALISTIC PLOT LOL - JUST PRETEND READING A MANGA/COMIC OR WATCHING A FILM, REALLY.

SUGGESTIVE THEMES. MENTIONS OF VIOLENCE & BLOOD (BUT NOTHING TOO GRAPHIC, IT'S STILL A COMEDY!)

»»»

Interpol branch office

Seoul, South Korea

"Jeon!"

Jungkook's head almost slipped from his fist when he heard Skylar call out for him and he jumped up. Blinking rapidly seeing the blonde standing in front of his desk with folded arms and a knowing look.

"What time did you get to sleep again?"

He stretched his arms in front of him, flexing his muscles when a yawn escaped his lips. "Not sure. Couldn't sleep so I just cooked and zapped."

Skylar sighed, shaking her head knowing too well how often that happened, having experienced it first-hand. And she bit her tongue to prevent herself giving him another one of her lectures. Although she was worried for this becoming a regular thing. She placed a task file in front of him then, changing the subject matter. "I need you to check these names. Run them down the data base."

He simply nodded and pivoted, getting to his PC when he saw a new notification popping up on the screen.

A red notice: Location of persons wanted for arrest, prosecution or to serve a sentence.

They hadn't had one of those in quite some time.

Without wasting a second he read through the information and looked through the photos. His brown eyes going round. They were slightly pixelated due to them being zoomed and in lower resolution, but the system had caught onto something. Or rather someone.

"Sky? Sky!" he quickly called out for her. His voice surprisingly holding excitement, "You should see this!"

Frowning, Skylar spun around and made her way back to her colleague when hearing his erratic tone. Curiosity filling her of what could've possibly caused it early in the morning. She went behind him and bent over his shoulder to take a look on the screen he was pointing at. Her eyes widening in shock as well.

"W-where's this from?"

His eyes quickly scimmed over the information. "Munich International Airport."

"Munich?" she repeated. "Germany?"

He nodded.

"What are they doing there?"

"No clue. Why would they risk getting caught if they retired?" Jungkook also wondered out loud. The two exchanging a puzzled glance.

"It's indeed unlogical."

The guy leaned back, his forehead ceasing as he glanced up at his supervisor. "Remember last time they intentionally showed their real faces at an airport?"

Skylar paused, trying recalling which incident he meant. Her lips forming a small 'o' when remembering. "It was back then in Casablanca, right?" Back then when some mysterious organisation had been after them so they had lured interpol there to take care of it for them. "You think they're in trouble again and that's why.."

He shrugged. "They might."

Skylar exhaled deeply, taking her phone out of her backpocket. "Either way, we gotta inform agent Kim." She began dialing while walking to the direction of her desk. Glancing over her shoulder then. "And find out where they were heading to!"

»»»

Florence, Italy

"All you've got to do is go up there and admit that your family member was the thief and that I, Felipe Rossi, was the one finding you and the stolen necklace. That's it." The man stopped pacing around the narrow room, coming to an halt to look at her with an almost excited smile. "Easy, isn't it?"

Soyeon's brows furrowed, not quite buying it. Feeling the rope digging deeper into her wrists. "That's it? And then I can leave?"

"Hm, not sure police would allow that," he smirked, making her instantly frown. Her eyes filling with panic.

"But I wasn't the one stealing it. And I gave it back."

The man hummed, seemingly deep in thoughts. "Yeah, but see.. someone has to pay for all these decades of loss and humiliation. And I could always easily frame you for another theft. Clearly my friends at the police wouldn't even question my word. Especially since you come from a family of thieves. And the fact you're here without any papers.." he shook his head. "Police won't like that either."

Her blood began to boil while listening to his monologue. She didn't know where that newfound courage came from and it was most likely useless considering the circumstances, but she just couldn't help but retort something. "That's only because I got kidnapped!"

He shrugged, unimpressed. "Yeah, but will they believe that?"

"So I don't gain anything by doing what you want," she mumbled scoffing, having enough with this unlogical prattle. She should probably shut her mouth considering she was in a clear disadvantage right now, but she simply couldn't. Perhaps it was the tiredness, perhaps the endorphines. "Why should I do it then? You can say all that on your own after all.."

His smirk grew devilishly larger as he brushed over his white linen suit. "Good question. Excelent question. And the answer is, I want you and your family to get humiliated just like mine was. And for that I need you to step on that stage and admit everything in front of everyone. And if you refuse giving me this satisfaction.. an italian prison would be the least of your problems."

Her eyes widened, an anxious feeling spreading inside her as she watched him pounding around the small room again, sighing dramatically. "I don't like getting my hands dirty. I don't. But I know people. People I do business with occasionally, who don't mind a bit dirt on their hands. I think you met some of their employees already. See, I'd ask them to take care of you again. And you don't want that, believe me."

And with that he gestured for his assistant, the one she'd unfortunately already met before, to open the door and both men left.

The room falling in complete silence. And Soyeon sat there. A lump forming in the pit of her stomach.

He had tried warning her of her naive idea. If she had only listened to him.

It was too late for that realisation now, however. What was done was done. And he wouldn't just magically appear to bail her out of her own mess again. He had already done so enough times anyway. And frankly, neither did she want him to do it. She stood by what she had said, she didn't want him to get any further involved. So whatever was about to happen to her was okay, she'd accept it.

Taking a deep breath, she threw her head back then. An almost cartoonishly wide grin appearing on her lips. And she laughed when all she really wanted to do was cry.

»»»

"Ah, isn't that nice?" Jimin smiled excitedly, pushing his sunglasses up to have a better look at his surroundings. The setting evening sun almost blocked by one of the Renaissance buildings casted a long shadow on the square.

Taehyung slurped on his ice tea, pushing his own glasses further up the bridge of his nose as they had slid down.

"It's alright. Not as nice as Monaco though.. Remember Monaco?" His voice holding a dreamy tone when reminiscing their trip there a few years ago. Jimin huffing a laugh.

"You can't possibly compare these two," he argued, taking a sip from his espresso. "One is by the sea the other isn't."

Taehyung shrugged unimpressed. "See, that's already reason enough why Monaco's better," he grinned. Their little banter was interrupted by Yoongi clearing his throat, slowly getting impatient.

He was forever grateful the two came along on this journey to help him save Soyeon, a girl he barely knew and still held dear. And he couldn't deny having been a bit nostalgic and reminiscing their old advantures in that past year while leading a normal life. But nostalgia had also made him forget how exhausting these two could become sometimes when losing focus.

"I'm sorry to cut this argument short, but shouldn't we begin doing some research on the subject matter?"

"Ah!" Jimin exclaimed upholding a finger as if he just had a great epiphany. He grabbed his phone out then, unlocking it. "No need for that, we already got all the info we need."

The other two exchanged a questioning look. "Since when do you come prepared?"

"Well, Bella did all the work. You know how good she's with getting background info. And she speaks Italian, which is a plus," he smiled fondly while swiping over the screen. Clicking on the link his girlfriend had sent him.

"Letting her do all the work, huh? How mean, she's already carrying your child around," Taehyung tutted jokingly, earning an eye roll from him.

"It was so she felt included in this mission. Poor Bella felt a little left out since I wouldn't let her join us." He put the device down and spun it towards the other two's direction. "Here's what she gathered," he said then, pointing on the screen, "This is the plane that arrived from Tainan at Florence two days ago. It's registered to Emilio Rossi -"

"Is that the guy Seokjin mentioned?" Yoongi asked. His expression collected, yet there was a lingering agitation in his eyes as he stared at the photo. The man looked quite older than he'd expected, but nevertheless sleezy.

"The rich heir who's into art smuggling? No, Emilio is his dad. Our guy's name is.." His finger swiped to the next photo, pointing at a younger but equally as sleezy man. "Felipe Rossi. He's the one."

"But the plane was his dad's, how'd we know it wasn't the dad ordering Soyeon's abduction?" Taehyung asked, pointing with his straw at the photo. A droplet of ice tea hitting the tabletop.

"Great question," Jimin nodded, swiping to the next bit of information. A photo of a man in a suit and a platin watch.

Yoongi's eyes widened. It was him.

"I know him," he stated plainly, "He was there. He was the one holding her captive."

Jimin nodded, giving him a brief look of empathy as he could tell that specific day was still nagging on his friend's mind. He went to the next picture. It was of a group of people. Felipe was standing straight and tall with a wide grin and right next behind him the same man. "That's Tony Sollozzo. According to Bella's notes, he's Felipe's right hand and closest employee. So it's save to say it was indeed Felipe's call."

An invisible weight laid on Yoongi's chest as he folded his hands in front of his face. Processing everything. "Alright, what else?"

"His mansion," Jimin said, drinking the last bit of his espresso at a draught. "It's located in the south-west, outside the city. It's most likely that they brought her there. At least we should check it out as it's our biggest clue.."

"And if she's not there?"

Taehyung shot Jimin a glance before both looked at Yoongi with concern.

"We'll find her, don't worry," Taehyung said then with a small smile, patting his shoulder, "It's not our first rescue mission after all."

It was true, but that didn't really comfort him in this moment. Still, he appreciated their words and nodded. "So we're heading there tonight?"

Jimin nodded. "Yeah, just let me get another coffee real quick."

"You just had an espresso," Yoongi frowned amused, "That's not healthy."

"If you want me to stay awake all night to save your girl, let me have my coffee," Jimin whined and made a hand gesture to the waitress. Not noticing the deeper tint on Yoongi's cheeks as he looked down, silently.

Soyeon wasn't his girl. He didn't know what she was. She was someone to him, clearly. Someone special. Someone who didn't deserve going through what she did because of the fault of someone like them. A thief. Her own grandfather on top of it.

But she wasn't his girl. And he didn't know if she'd ever be.

"Jimin.." Yoongi spoke up then, his eyes slowly lifting, "Arabella didn't happen to do some research on the necklace and it's theft, right? I know pops already found out a lot.. but.."

Jimin smirked lopsidedly. "Nothing against pops, but he doesn't have access to as many sources as Bella."

"That's because pops can't just enter databases without any permit, contrary to her who just accesses them illegally," Taehyung mumbled, faking innocence by letting his eyes wander around.

"You're not wrong," Jimin laughed out and took the phone back to search through the files, "It was stolen in 1983 during a gala held by Felipe's grandparents. It was stolen right from the secured vitrine without any clue. She cross-checked if her grandpa was on the list of guests and he was as a specialist of east-asian art."

"But weren't all guests checked by security or police after the theft?" Taehyung wondered out loud, finishing his ice tea, "Wouldn't they have caught him with the necklace?"

Jimin shook his head though. "You forget something. If her grandpa was indeed my grandpa's friend, then he was one of the best. I wouldn't say better than me.." A smug chuckle escaped his lips. "..but surely close. He certainly found a way to smuggle it out. But that's not the only thing Bella found out. Apparently our guy will throw the annual gala this time. Tonight. The same one his family has been throwing every year. Like the one fourty years ago."

"I bet that's why he wanted the necklace back now," Taehyung sighed.

"Perhaps. But that's better for us, this way it'll be easier to sneak in."

"I get the necklace, but why her as well?" Yoongi eventually spoke up again. His brows furrowed, agonising what they needed her for if they got the object of interest already. Fearing his assumptions of revenge having been right.

"Well, that, not even Bella was able to find out. But we're gonna when getting there."

The waitress came with Jimin's new order, placing it down in front of him with a smile to which he simply nodded, adding a small "grazie". Earning confused looks from his friends as soon as she left. And he rose a brow at them. "W-what?"

"You didn't flirt with her," Yoongi pointed out. "You always flirt with waitresses."

"And she looks pretty and smiled a bit too long at you. So how comes you didn't even smile back?" Taehyung asked with narrowed eyes, finding his behaviour quite suspicious, "That's unlike you."

Annoyed, Jimin rolled his eyes and took a sip from his new drink. "Guys, calm down. I'm about to become a dad, I can't flirt around with random women anymore and besides.. I promised Bella I wouldn't. So I don't."

"Wow, the day has come that I see Jimin finally growing up."

"Yeah, he's finally become an adult."

"Can you two just shut up?" he groaned anew, placing the cup back down rather harshly. "Focus on all the info I just gave you instead."

The cathedral's bells suddenly echoed from further away, behind the buildings of the Piazza Della Repubblica. Signalising it was six o'clock now.

And they simultaneously pushed their chairs back, standing up.

It was time to go.

»»»

next chapter: 1.0 here

Don't forget to like, reblog & leave feedback!♡

It motivates me to keep writing :)

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rhoorl · 8 months

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Week in Review | September 17

Another week in the books! My Sunday started off early and abruptly as my daughter got sick all over herself and her crib 😬 She seems to be in good spirits (even though we're on three outfit changes and counting. We've also gone through a full roll of paper towels and a package of water wipes). Hopefully, she can get over whatever stomach bug this is quickly. Never a dull moment …

I spent the majority of the last week away from home for work. The week went well, for the most part, and I’m glad my big events are finally done.

I didn’t get much writing done, but I got a good amount of reading in!

Fics I read this week:

Frankie Morales

The Pilot and His Girl by @avastrasposts I've sung the praises of this TLOU/TF crossover before and finally caught up on the latest chapters while at the airport!

(Some kind of) addiction by @legendary-pink-dot In a little under 700 words I fell even more in love with Frankie, I just want to give him a hug.

To the Bride and Groom by @linzels-blog An unexpected addition to the Just a Number series, this was such a cute look into the bachelor and bachelorette parties. I don't want to spoil it, but the shirts the boys had made are hilarious and so on brand.

Joel Miller

The Hunted by @patti7dc - Finally got around to reading this which has been on my TBR list for a while. It's a little spooky and a little smutty with a twist I didn't see coming!

Javier Peña

It's Never Too Late by @javierpena-inatacvest I love this series with sweet fluffy Javi. The latest chapter cracked me up because as someone who grew up in the Midwest Osita's family reminded me so much of people I knew growing up.

Marcus Pike

I'm fully entrenched in the Pike Puddle thanks to @secretelephanttattoo and these two fics..

Personal Best Super cute run in with Marcus, a dog, and some jazzy gloves.

Open Mic Night Marcusssss in a band. That it all. That's the recap.

Tim Rockford

Private Dick by @wardenparker and @absurdthirst - I'm pretty sure this was my first Tim Rockford fic and I'm hooked. Tim was so body-positive and supportive in this!

Jack “Whiskey” Daniels

The House by @gemmahale continues to be such a great read. I can't wait to learn more about the history between Andie and Jack.

Dieter Bravo

Destiny & Deliverance by @mysterious-moonstruck-musings My companion in the Dieter Dumpster. I eagerly await the chapter teasers to try and suss out what’s happening next. This is such a great story and I have been hooked since the beginning.

Ezra

Exposed by @maggiemayhemnj Fresh off my watch of Prospect, I was excited to read this beautiful story. I loved the way everything was pieced together…what a great first fic, congrats on posting! 👏

Mr. Ben

Visiting by @ladamedusoif This continues to be such a joy to read. I absolutely love these two and the little world around them.

Benny Miller

How Good It Is by @wildemaven This is a continuation from another fic and it is so good! I love seeing where the relationship between these two is going!

Things I watched:

Like many of us, The Sixth Gun entered my life this week and took it by storm. Agent Ortega is … something. And I promptly added a few fics I saw pop up to my TBR, so expect those in weeks to come. But seriously, how does this man make a bowler hat look this good?

I watched WW84 on the plane – it had been a while since I spent time with Max Lord. When I got home, I streamed Prospect. I recruited my husband to watch it with me. Now that I have Ezra fresher in my brain, I’m looking forward to reading some of his fics.

I also watched The Gentlemen, which has Charlie Hunnam in it among others. If you are familiar with Guy Ritchie movies then you'll like this, it has several tropes from his other films.

Posts from this week:

A big thank you to @morallyinept who has compiled a few master lists of Pedro character fics. I felt so honored to have Working Title make the Dieter list!

Feral corner:

Young Joel continues to run rampant on my feed like here and here - sorry not sorry. Thank you to @trulybetty for being my go-to Young Joel ™️ aficionado.

There were those series of gifs of Javi. And thank you @wildemaven for pointing out how he bites her lip in the third one, my brain short circuited after that realization. Speaking of Javi, this kiss will always make me 🫠

I also had some thots after seeing Tim and his holster again. How cute is Pedro in these Strange Way of Life photos? I see Dieter when I look at them, but then again that fool is always on my mind. This man also is incapable of taking a bad photo, especially if it's in black and white.

And finally, in a late addition, @mysterious-moonstruck-musings brought this video of Oscar Isaac prepping for his role of MoonKnight into my life.

Things I'm excited for:

My husband and I are celebrating our sixth wedding anniversary in a few weeks and we finally made our plans to celebrate. We’re going to be doing a behind-the-scenes tour of the TLOU Halloween Horror Nights house at Universal Studios! I can’t wait to see all of the details and hidden Easter eggs. We’re taking the whole day off of work while our daughter is at daycare. Let the countdown begin!

Fic updates:

If everything goes well, I plan on publishing the next chapter of Working Title by Monday 9/18, and then Delta Landscaping sometime during the week (for those who were curious about Santi, we’ll find out what he was up to). I also have a Frankie one-shot I’ve been working on here and there that I may actually post this week. I’ve tossed around the idea of that story being in the Delta Landscaping universe, but we’ll see … it could also just be left as a one-shot separate from that world.

Yay! You made it all the way to the end of my ramblings, thank you for reading! Hope you have a great week!

#rhoorl week in review #pedro pascal fanfiction #pedro pascal characters

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pbandjesse · 1 year

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We have made it to Chicago!! It's been such a beautiful day. So far this trip has been beautiful and I'm having a great time.

I surprisingly slept well really last night. I woke up a little before my alarm and felt fine enough. I have a little bit of nervousness in my belly. But I got up and got dressed. And things were good. It was a little grey out. A little rainy. But it was fine. I gave sweetp many kisses in his sweet little head. And then we were off.

We walked outside with perfect timing because Lane was outside waiting for us.

It was so lovely of her to drive us to the airport. It's like such a cliche, but it meant a lot to me. To both of us.

The drive to the airport I felt more and more nervous. But I also knew that it would be out of my hands. Everything I could do to prepare I did. And so far it has worked out.

We got to the airport and Lane let us know what we would need to take out of our bags. Specifically the switch and my tablet. And then we were saying goodbye.

Our ticket got changed because they changed our aircraft to be smaller because it didn't sell out. So originally we were going to be at the back of the plane. But we ended up getting seats with extra leg room, the first seats after first class. Which was going to be nice. So we went and got our new tickets and went to TSA.

Which was slightly stressful because I had all of our stuff that needed to go in bin and James had to go get patted down because of the hardware in their collarbone but we made it through pretty fast. And then it was just resetting and making sure we had everything we needed where we needed it.

We walked to find out gate. And once we did that we walked down to see the large windows that overlook the planes. But then back to the gate. I would sit and sort some stuff in my bags while James went for a little walk and got a coffee and a cinnabun. I had half of my Danish from yesterday. And tried to cool down because I was terribly overheated.

I saw someone on TikTok bring a pillowcase to put their coat in and I thought that was a great idea. So I put my fleece and jacket in there. But there was enough space for James's fleece and jacket too!! I'm shocked how well it worked because it was great.

Because the plane was smaller they asked if anyone would gate check their bags. So we volunteered. I don't like checking my bag but they gave us an earlier boarding group so it was fine. And then the gate agent liked us a lot. He was a nice guy.

Some people were coming to the desk to offer giving up their seats? Very strange. I'm assuming they were hoping for the money airlines will give people. Still strange.

We boarded our flight and it is probably the smallest plane I've ever been on. I was pleased to be over the wing. That's where I always want to be. Having the extra leg room was not my favorite. I felt like I was so far from my bag. But I was glad James could stretch out. Because they were so full of anxiety. It was palpable. They were squeezing my hand so hard. I felt so bad!! But thankfully the flight was good. I got my soda and pretzels. They got cookies but didn't eat them. I listened to music and played games on my phone. Eventually James did play a game on the switch. But the stress coming off of them made me feel bad.

Thankfully though it was a pretty easy flight. We changed timezones so it was like an hour passed but it was really two. And we landed in Chicago around 1230.

James claims there was bad turbulence. I think it was just a little bumpy but mostly it was calm and we got there in one piece.

Once we were off the plane James seemed a lot better. More secure.

We both would use the bathrooms and then we were off to find out bags. Which thankfully came out super easy and very quickly we were looking for the subway.

They have a neat system here where if you just need the one pass you can tap your credit card. So that was neat and so we didn't have to wait in any lines. And while the subway was filled with loud people, it was a nice ride. Just a little long. Because of our bags me and James sat apart. I enjoyed my music and I texted them some ideas of what we should do. And we picked where we would go to lunch.

When we got off the subway we went straight for the bean. Yes I know the sculpture is called cloud gate. I will still call it the bean. It was about a 6 minute walk and once me and James were out on the street level it was an easy walk there.

I have seen the bean before but James has not so they were excited. And it was fun making all the bean jokes. We also realized we could buy a tiny bean??? We wanted to wait and find the best one though. So we just got some good pictures and enjoyed the beautiful day.

We walked to a diner next for a late lunch. We ended up in a place called the eleven diner which was so stinking cool inside. Just walk to walk interesting stuff but it didn't feel crowded, it felt well designed.

And the food was pretty good! They had small batch root beer and it was bottomless! We both got sandwiches and I also got soup but I didn't love it. Honestly I couldn't finish all the food. It was to much. So I saved half of the sandwich for later. And we were off.

The original plan was to go see the musuem before James's friend Johnathan came to get us. But it was 3 and he was probably coming in an hour so it didn't seem like it was worth it but then I just felt really tired and also anxious and like I was wasting our time. But James said I was okay. And not to worry. So we just went to the lake. Lake Michigan specifically.

And it was beautiful. I was cold and tired so we walked on the water a bit and also just sat on the benches.

The lake is so big and really interesting. Chicago has a surprising amount of beaches?? It was fun to walk around but I was also just really tired. Thankfully soon Johnathan was telling us where to meet him. And we went towards the planetarium.

I probably would have really enjoyed the planetarium. I always do. But it wasn't in the cards today. Instead we got in the car with Jonathan who was so nice. He would drive us around and give us a pretty good tour! Then he said he wanted to take us to the observation deck.

I wasn't in the best headspace at this point. But I wanted to be positive. So I tried to just. Not complain. And while the observation deck seemed way to expensive just to look out windows, I didn't say anything. And honestly it was super cool. I'm glad we went. Even if it was to much money.

We were on the 94tj floor. My ears were popping the whole ride up. And when we came out we were basically over the clouds. It was wild to see. And just super beautiful. We took some pictures. And just enjoyed the view.

And finally found a bean souvenir! We got a Christmas ornament. And it's great. I also got a few squished pennies. The one machine charged me $5 and did not give me my pennies though so I was salty about that. But it's fine. In the grand scheme of this trip it isn't a big deal, but still annoying. I ended up with a bean penny and two hotdog pennies. So I can give one to Jess. After wandering around the observation deck, going outside to feel the wind, giggling over the weird "tilt" ride (?) They had for a $15 upcharge? Very silly.

It was time to go now though. We hw as ded to the north to go to Jonathan and Ellen's apartment. And it was perfect timing because she was pulling up just as we parked.

It was so nice to see her. And it was also nice to catch up. Her and Jonathan recently got engaged so it was fun seeing her ring. And plus their apartment is precious. Super cool layout and excellent decorations. And they have a very sweet kitty.

Soon though we were all out again. We went to a local chain to get deep dish pizza. Ellen's friend joined us. And we also got cheese curds and a salad. And it was all just excellent Midwest dairy products and James finally got it. They understood that it is better here. And the food was really good. The company was even better.

We had great chats and lots of big laughs. And soon we were heading out to go get ice cream.

And ice cream was lovely. James got lemon blackberry and I got birthday cake. Which was super good. James and Ellen worked at the Franklin Fountain back in the day so they have big ice cream feelings. Which was cute to hear about. And it was just a lot of fun. Even if I was tired.

We would head back to the apartment. We watched some trailers. Its fin being with friends. I wanted to get cleaned up before bed though. So I got a shower and pulled out my clothes for tomorrow. And now we are watching a pretty good anime movie called "tales from earthsea" which I'm enjoying. But also I want to sleep soon.

Because tomorrow is another busy day! The hope is to get brunch all together. Then me and James will go to the field musuem. And then we head to the Amtrak station for the next leg of our journey! I'm excited. It's going to be fun. Wish us luck and all the energy. Because we are going to need it!!

Sleep well everyone. Be safe!

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animalexperienceinternational · 9 months

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Flight cancelations and hummingbirds.

Classic story of a girl meeting a guy, falling in love, girl living in a new country for 6 years then having him break up with her over facetime when she is in another country, during a pandemic after they buy a house together.

This is how I found myself back in Birmingham, England after being away and struggling through life for three years. A beautiful and wonderful friend was marrying her beloved and they had asked me to officiate the wedding. I had previously considered the whole country of England to be dead to me but one can not say no to love. I packed my things and wrote one heck of a sermon for the wedding. While writing it I saw a hummingbird. I asked a Qu'wutsun friend of mine if hummingbirds meant anything special on this land. He said it was good luck before a trip. I felt like I had my ancestors on my side and took off to England. The trip was wonderful. Re-connecting with so many people and visiting these old places that felt like they were taken from me- it gave me the closure I didn't think I needed and didn't expect was waiting for me in the west midlands.

Leaving was a bit trickier. There are no hummingbirds in England.

I am no stranger to airport struggles so I try to go into a travel day without too much stress, I know there will be enough coming my way! My generous and gracious friend drove me to the Manchester airport, a 90 minute drive from her lovely river side home in Yorkshire and I have to admit I was sleepy. Tired because we went mountain biking and had a BBQ the day before and it was 8am but also because the two week trip was emotionally exhausting. Connecting with some of my most precious friends for two weeks really was a dream but it had left my social and emotional battery completely flat. I had no charge nor did I have anything left in the tank to even try to start... clearly I don't know how engines work. We talked in the car, soaking up the last little bit of in-person connection that we would get for the next while and in the middle of the ride I got a message from Air Canada saying my flight was 30 minutes delayed. No problem, I thought, gives me just a bit more time for security and a coffee. We hugged good bye and I said farewell to the English sun- something that had JUST come out in my last departing days. Manchester security was a thing to behold. New signs were up around x-rays explaining all the things that were considered liquid: hair gel, lotion, mascara, solid lip balms, solid deodorant.. wait... I have my travel packing to an art and travelled only carry on for this two weeks, but that was only possible because most of my traditionally liquid things are now solid- shampoo, deodorant, moisturizer- and really if something is a solid, how can it be considered a liquid? I was too far in line to change anything and I didn't have enough room in my 1L bag anyway. I assumed secondary screening would be inevitable. But then I noticed a video screen that showed off how many other people either didn't understand the rules or were hoping to get by with a cheeky "whoops!, didn't understand that a solid was a liquid, mate!" The screen said that 90% of bags going through this queues x rays were failing and needing secondary inspection. I looked past the human metal detector and saw lines and lines and lines of bags waiting for security to go through them under the watchful eye of the less than patient Manchester travellers. 35 minutes later I waved to the security agent who lifted up my bag and asked who it belonged to, I went over and he asked if I could open it. I opened up the pocket that kept my solid deodorant and he told me they consider this a liquid. I said, I was sorry and didn't realise that. My purse had also been flagged and he asked if I had a laptop in it. I did not but I did trave with a small collapsible keyboard. I often didn't even take it out anymore at airports because no one seemed to care when I showed them. I took it out of my purse, and he wiggled it, jiggled it, tested it for explosives and said it was fine. I was then allowed on my way. I was still about 90 minutes early for the flight so I went to get a coffee. While in line I heard our Air Canada flight was delayed another hour. Hmm, guess I will get this coffee for here, I thought. Another announcement said it would be delayed another 2 hours. There was really nothing else to do but have a cookie with my coffee so I did that. I then walked to a comfy chair in front of a screen and had a sit down. Listening to a podcast and playing some silly phone game, I glanced up at the screen and apparently the flight was delayed another hour. I took out an ear phone and heard an announcement saying my Air Canada flight had been cancelled and we should make our way to an info desk. A woman beside me remarked to her travel partner that she would be 'fumin!!' if this happened to her. I glanced over and said: jeez, it's annoying, eh? She asked if I was on that flight, I said yes and she sat their stunned that I wasn't melting down. I told her there wasn't much to do, may as well see what they have to say. I walked off and joined a few hundred people standing in line that presumably started at an Air Canada desk. Another announcement told us they had no information but they would in 40 minutes. We looked at each other confused. So do we stand here? or sit down? Or something completely different. I updated friends in England that their country was obsessed with me and it looked like I would be here for a bit longer. 40(ish) minutes later we were told to go to gate 208 to disembark and eventually get our baggage. We didn't really know what that meant but we walked towards gate 208. Some people brushed past each other, racing to who knows what. This got rolled eyes and a few heavy sighs until one woman slipped past the wrong couple. The Northerners had no time for this nonsense and told her there was no point in rushing, we weren't going anywhere. She had no time or his antics and told him to piss off. He told her to piss off even louder. I looked at a stranger beside me and laughed: this is great! We got to the gate and were told to sit and wait. We twiddled our thumbs, muttered under our breathes and generally zoned out. Suddenly an Air Canada agent said we could collect our bags. After that? Who knows. We went to baggage and I promptly left since I didn't have any to wait for. There were no agents waiting for us so I thought maybe going to Departures would make sense? Perhaps there was an Air Canada desk that could help. The Air Canada check-in desk was about to be a ghost town as the agents hurried away, I quickly asked where their info desk was. They told me there wasn't one. ... okay. They said maybe ask a Tui Agent? I waited for the mass of stranded passengers to come upstairs, feeling very accomplished and cool that I would be the first person in line when they got there. I found the Tui desk and honestly I have no idea what was happening but a woman was angrily counting out pence and handing them over to the agent. It was taking ages and I was seeing no stranded passengers so I went to a different desk and asked if maybe it made sense I was up in Departures if my flight was cancelled. Bless Virgin Atlantic because the agent told me she had no idea but if this happened to Virgin they would put us on coaches to bring us to a hotel and those would pick us up downstairs at Arrivals. As I walked back to Arrivals and recognized someone who also came upstairs. She had a cute tattoo of a dog with hearts around it, I decided she would be a safe person to ask wtf. She told me someone told her to come up here and find an agent. We both went back to Tui where the strange interaction was STILL happening and waited in line. We continued to be the only people waiting and I said it was questionable we were the only people who got this right and we should go downstairs. We went downstairs and some Air Canada agents were standing in a circle. "Hi! I don't know what I'm doing" I figured acting like a complete boob would help me get as much information as possible. They asked if I was a stranded passenger and I tried not to be sarcastic. They pointed to two coaches and said we could get on. Where are we going? I asked. They did not know. I went to the first coach and asked if we just get on. The driver asked what hotel I was going to. I said I didn't know. He laughed at me and said I really should know. I pointed to the AC agent and said they told me to come here. He yelled to them that we really should know what hotel we were going to. My mood was wearing thin. Should we just get on? I asked. He walked away to make fun of the situation with the other driver. We got on the coach. England was in it's first full day of a heat wave so the bus was approximately 1000 degrees. As we all settled into the bus we remarked how we didn't know anything other than it was very warm. Would we be paying for the hotel? For food? For the coach even? Who knows?! We start to drive around airport city, past a few okay hotels and stop in the middle of a traffic circle outside the parking lot and hedge around the Delta Marriot. The coach driver opens the door. Someone says- are we here? He says, yes, and gets out to open up the baggage compartment. We all look around at each other most of us letting out exasperated laughter. This is amazing I laugh as I look around at the traffic trying to get navigate around us. We exit while being parked in the middle of this traffic circle and walk through a hole in the hedgerow, through the parking lot and into the lobby. We are welcomed by the staff and told that dinner would be from 6 to 8. I quickly head to my room to lay down and have some alone time. I turn on the TV to find either a reno show or a baking show- the only things one can watch in a hotel room- unless its morning then breakfast news or 24 hour news networks are permissible. I unpack some of my bag and find liquid eye drops, two gel lip sticks, mascara and moisturiser. All things more liquid than my solid deodorant. My phone buzzes and it's a text from Air Canada. I have a new flight! In two days. I laugh out loud.. now people will be fumin! I go to dinner and see my tattooed friend, she has made another friend and we eat together. Burgers for them, curry for me. And a complimentary glass of wine! Spare no expenses, they did! People are on their phones with baby sitters, dog sitters, cruise lines, hotels, spouses, travel agent and anyone else who will hear their pleas. I sip my wine and tell my new friends about my time in England. One is Canadian just coming from from a cruise and the other is English just going to Canada for a visit. We all feel we can take it as it is. A free night in a hotel isn't the worst thing. The next morning I wake up for breakfast, stuff myself to the gills with beans, toast, marmite and coffee. I then go back to sleep for a few hours. This two weeks had taken so much out of me, I didn’t mind this stop in purgatory. I meet my friends for lunch and we discuss our plans for the day. I am happy enough to sleep, read and use the hotel gym. None of us are particularly interested in spending 40 quid to get into city centre. I am so exhausted from my trip I really see this as a nice sleepy get away. I check out the prices in the mini bar. A can of wine is 10 quid, about 20 Canadian dollars. I stick with my free drink with dinner. Wednesday comes and we find out some passengers were sent earlier to Dublin, Europe and America so they could get to their final destinations without clogging up one flight path. It does seem that two nights in a hotel continues to be not a hardship, just weird. I ask the front desk if a coach will pick us up again or if we take the airport shuttle, I'm told a bus at 9am will pick us up for our 12:05 flight. There is a lot of chatter amongst all us stranded passengers about how bad communication is with the airline. No one knows anything unless we talk to the front desk. information trickles down like wealth is meant to. 9am comes and there is no bus. 9:10 we see a bus but it's not coming in, it's idling down the road. While it's not in a traffic circle, it's just as goofy. I go down to see if it's ours. It is. I wave to everyone and say: follow me! There is less frustration in the air but no one seems to trust we will be making it out. At every step we have been confused, left in the dark and forced to ask the poor front desk staff if they know anything. They have been so kind and added the times of the meals at the end of every single one of my queries, clearly they know my heart. My new travel friends both seem nervous about security and timing. I assure them it will be annoying but we will not miss this flight. I pack as well I as I can but my deodorant won't fit in my small clear plastic litre bag so I again am okay with waiting, this time the screen tells me that only 5% of bags are going through secondary screening. The agent asks me to open my bag, I make the same joke about my solid being more solid than liquid and apologise again. This one is as impervious to my charm as the last. Me and my stranded friends are on our way. We get a coffee and head to the gate. We are told our plane is having some issues and will be delayed 30 minutes. Then we are told there is a longer delay. There is then an announcement that anyone who is a stranded passenger should go to another gate as there is another Air Canada flight leaving just after ours. Bewildered, 50 of us walk to the other gate and ask what is going on. The gate agents tell us we are at the wrong gate. We tell them we know, but were told to come here. They tell us we were not. I tell them it's improbable that 50 of us misheard the announcement. They get on a walkie talkie and confirm with our original gate. We wait 5 minutes as there is rapid fire walkie talkie conversations. Then an agent from this new gate stomps to our original gate. After another 5 minutes of what looks like some emotional conversation he comes back and said there was never an announcement we need to go back. We go back and the gate agent loudly tells another passenger she never said that. There are a few remarks about gaslighting but we sit back down. The maintenance something something gets resolved and we start boarding. We all hold our breathes and after another 20 minute delay, the doors close and we start to head to Canada.

And that is the story of why I slept for three days after visiting the United Kingdom in September and why I think we should introduce hummingbirds to every country in the world.

#blog #flight cancellation #humminbirds

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lilacmoon83 · 11 months

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Lightning in a Bottle

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 81: Deadhead, Pt 1

Margaret peered into Olive's room and saw the girl they had taken in.

"Hi," she said, as she offered her a cup.

"I thought you could use some caffeine," Margaret said, as she shifted the baby on her hip.

"Thank you," Angelina replied.

"How are you doing?" Margaret asked.

"I'm fine," Angelina responded. Margaret gently cocked her head to the side.

"It's been less than twenty-four hours. You don't have to be fine, but you are safe," she promised.

"Thanks," she said.

"Just let us know if there's anything you need," Margaret said, as the baby cooed.

"This must be Eden," Angelina remarked. Margaret smiled and kissed the baby's head.

"It is…our little angel," she gushed, as the baby yawned.

"She's perfect," Angelina said. She smiled.

"I like you already," Margaret said.

"Honey…have you seen my glasses?" David asked. Margaret turned to her husband and tried not to laugh.

"They're on my head, aren't they?" he asked, as he put them on.

"Babe…it's okay to relax for a beat. We just got home," she chided.

"No…I have to get Vance out of there," he said.

"I want that too, but didn't he tell you not to interfere? Maybe that's because you're a civilian. He was NSA…he probably has a ton of contacts," she reasoned, but he shook his head.

"No…we can't trust anyone in the government. We don't know who else the Major is working with," he refuted, as there was a knock at their door. They weren't expecting anyone and he looked out the peephole.

"Speak of the devil," he said, as he opened the door and two government officials stood there.

"Can we help you?" David asked. The woman smirked.

"I'm Director Zimmer. This is Secretary Greene, DOD, and Agent King," she said.

"Yeah…we've met," David replied.

"My colleagues and I would like a moment of your time," she requested, though David knew that it was a demand disguised as a request, so he reluctantly allowed them in.

~*~

"How the bloody hell am I supposed to get boots on the ground when you won't approve my overtime?" Killian said into his phone, as he paused to hear what they were saying on the other end.

"It's not what I was told last month. I've got five officers wanting to do graveyard and I don't have the budget," he said, pausing again.

"Then put up some money," he said, as he hung up the phone, as Emma walked in.

"Welcome back, Detective," he greeted. Emma smiled.

"Thank you, Lieutenant?" she asked coyly. He smiled.

"Mmm-hmm," he replied.

"Congrats," she said.

"You know, every time I go away for a minute, I come back and you've been promoted," she added.

"Ah. Yeah. Except, this time, you're the one who's married, so…" he replied, trailing off awkwardly.

"Looks like you got plenty to keep you occupied," she said.

"Look, I don't want to add to your workload. There is a cold case I wanted to talk to you about," he said, as he opened a file.

"This woman came in here looking for you…" he started to say, but she cut him off as one of the messages she was looking through caught her attention.

"I'm sorry, wait a sec," she said.

"What is it? This just came in a couple hours ago," she said, as she showed it to him. He looked confused.

"Why would a fish and game warden be calling you?" Killian wondered.

"I gave my card to the guy who patrols the lake where Henry and the meth dealers fell through the ice. I told him to contact me if there was ever any unusual activity," Emma explained.

"Detective Nolan…my office, please," Graham said sternly.

"Mmm...yeah. Good luck with that," Killian replied. She winced.

"Thanks," she huffed, as she went into the Captain's office.

~*~

David and Margaret sat on the sofa across from their guests from the NSA.

A cargo plane with no registered flight plan landed at a nearby decommissioned airport yesterday," Director Zimmer informed them.

"That's interesting. I'm just not sure what it has to do with me," David replied, with a shrug.

"We know you were on that plane, Mr. and Mrs. Nolan. What we don't know is who you're working for or what they're up to. Maybe you convinced someone in the NSA to help. It wouldn't be the first time," Zimmer said sternly.

"You somehow convinced my old boss, Robert Vance, to work with you, and you got him killed," Agent King accused.

"Excuse me. David did not get Robert Vance killed. That was one of yours. I believe is was known as the Major," Margaret retorted hotly in defense of her husband. Arthur was about to continue his tirade, but Zimmer held up her hand to cease it.

"Enough…just answer our questions and we'll be going," she said.

"No…we know our rights and this sounds like a situation where we're going to need lawyers...and warrants, unless this is just a friendly talk. If it is, then you'll be going. If not, then I think we need to make a call to our attorney. Which is it?" Margaret questioned. Zimmer frowned and they rose from their seats.

"Thank you for your time," she said.

"The truth shall set you free," Arthur mentioned, as he followed and she closed the door behind them.

"So much for going out undetected. Now what?" Margaret wondered.

"Maybe it's time to clue Agent King in on his boss. He was Vance's friend…maybe he'll help," David suggested.

"I don't know David…Vance said not to involve them," Margaret fretted.

"It's my fault that he's rotting in a Cuban prison," he said.

"I know, baby, but you cannot be expected to single-handedly defy the federal government," she reasoned. He sighed.

"I have to get him out. At least... at least I have to try," he said. She squeezed his hand and pecked him on the lips.

"I know you do," she answered, as Olive hurried downstairs.

"Mom…Dad…you need to turn on the news," Olive said. David did so and they saw a sight that was actually welcome.

"It's Cora…they caught her," Margaret said, as she watched them cuff her and put her in the police car. David smiled and put his arm around her.

"All good things," he said, as he kissed her hair. At that, there was a knock at their door and David answered it. He almost slammed it though when he saw that it was Leopold.

"Please…I'm only here to make amends," he pleaded. David sighed and Margaret crossed her arms over her chest.

"I hope that's true for your sake," David replied, as they let him in.

~*~

"Welcome back," Graham said. She nodded.

"When I got suspended, I kind of thought that was it for me," Emma replied.

"It was. The CCRB recommended termination. But someone intervened on your behalf," Graham said.

"You?" Emma asked in surprise.

"And let me tell you, it wasn't easy. But I believe in you as a cop, so I put my ass on the line. You screw it up, I'm out," Graham replied.

"Captain, I would never want you to lose your job on my account," Emma said.

"Oh, I have no intention of losing my job. So you're gonna have to make a choice. You're either gonna follow the rules, no more sneaking around, no more anonymous tips, or quit, right now," he said sternly. She nodded.

"Your rules. Got it," she replied.

"Now, why do you have on your coat? Are you going somewhere?" he asked.

"I got a tip. Not... Not anonymous. Um...the park ranger up by the lake where the Meth Heads disappeared, they have a suspicious video that they want me to look at," Emma stammered.

"This is the case that led to your suspension, and you want to open it back up?" Graham questioned.

"Well, the bodies were never recovered, so technically it is still open...I'm asking permission to take Lieutenant Rogers up there to check it out," Emma answered.

"Rogers isn't your partner. Lucas is. Also, it isn't 1973, no one has to drive anywhere to see footage. Have park services email it," he replied. Emma nodded.

"Got it," she said.

"And if something is there, you and Lucas can go check it out. Nice to have you back, Detective," Graham replied, as Emma exited his office.

~*~

"Why are you here?" Margaret asked. Leopold gestured at the television.

"I felt that I needed to apologize and now that they have apprehended the real culprit in your mother's murder…I thought it was finally safe now," he said.

"She murdered Johanna too…and I know you didn't kill anyone, but you are far from innocent," Margaret snapped. He nodded.

"You're right…I am and I'm paying for it now. The company is in ruins and I was removed from my own company by the board," he replied.

"That must be devastating. The company was always the most important thing to you," she said.

"No Margaret…you are and I was very bad at showing you. There was a time when you were my whole world, but you don't remember. By the time you were five…I had gotten caught up in the world of Wall Street that took a good man and made him into a white collared monster," he confessed. Her stern expression eased a little and she reached for David's hand that was on her shoulder.

"It has taken losing everything for me to find that man again and I will understand if you never forgive me. I am sorry for everything I tried to do to you…and your husband," Leopold said, as he looked at them both.

"You married a good man and that does my heart good. You gave me grandchildren that I don't deserve to know," he added, as he smiled at the baby in her arms.

"I just wanted you to know all of this, before I leave," he said.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"I took what money I have left and bought a small ranch upstate, about an hour from the city. There's a few other houses, but it's a small out of the way neighborhood," he replied.

"I just hope…someday you'll come visit me. All of you," he said, got up from his seat. They saw him out, just as David's phone chimed with a voicemail. He listened to it and Margaret watched the color drain from her husband's face.

~*~

"You're back!" Ruby said excitedly and Emma smiled.

"Yeah…barely," Emma replied.

"So…what are we doing?" she asked, clearly looking for excitement and Emma gave her a look.

"What? They stuck me with Wycoff while you were gone. I learned that I never want to be around a miniature train enthusiast again!" she exclaimed. Emma chuckled and the video loaded.

"You might get more excitement than you want," she said, as she watched in astonishment as the three meth heads literally walked out of the lake.

"Oh my God…are they who I think they are?" Ruby asked. She nodded.

"The meth heads…they're back," she replied.

"Should I even ask how that is possible?" Ruby asked, as Emma dialed her brother. He didn't answer so she left a message.

"David…you need to call me back immediately. The Meth heads…they're alive again," she said.

~*~

"Hey…" Neal said, as he knocked on Regina's office door. She looked up and smiled.

"You're back," she replied, as they shared a hug.

"Yeah…I wanted to see you, especially after that news broke," he said.

"What news?" she asked.

"You haven't seen your phone today?" he asked. She shrugged and picked it up.

"I've been swamped with appointments," she replied, as her eyes widened.

"They found her?" she asked. He nodded.

"I'm surprised she lasted this long. Guess the Major stopped helping her hide," Neal replied. Instant guilt ate at Regina. She was the reason the Major was dead. She hadn't been a good person and Regina never meant to take a life, but the fact remained that she did.

"Well…Mother deserves everything coming to her," Regina replied.

"I don't disagree…but I still wanted to check on you. I know that, despite everything, you do love her," Neal said. She nodded.

"I do…but not like I love my real family. My mother lost her right to be a mother after what she's done," Regina replied. He nodded.

"Agree…and Dad won't lose any sleep over it," he said. She scoffed.

"Knowing him, he's popping the champagne about now," she replied, as he phone chimed.

"Hey honey…" he said, but then frowned at what she was telling him.

"Yeah…I'm with Regina. What do you need from us?" he asked," as he listened to her.

"Okay…we'll sit tight for now," he said, as he hung up the phone.

"You're not going to believe this…" he uttered.

~*~

"David…" Margaret uttered, as he put his phone down.

"That was Emma…the Meth heads are alive," he said.

"What?!" she exclaimed.

"They came back…" he said, as he hurried out to his board to check the date on the newspaper article from that night and quickly did the math.

"They were gone eighty-four days," he said.

"So…we have eighty-four days until their death date," Olive replied.

"That's a long time…does Emma think they're coming after Henry?" she asked.

"They might think he's dead," he reasoned.

"Then we need to keep it that way," Olive said.

"Which means…it's not safe here," David added.

"Where can we go?" Margaret wondered. He looked at her and she shook her head.

"I don't like it either…but he said it's off the beating path and if he's really trying to make amends, he'll welcome us," David replied. She sighed. She'd do anything for their son. Even turn to her father.

"I'll pack…Olive get packed and tell Angelina," she said.

"What about you though?" she asked.

"I have to try and help Vance. Just give me a day or two and then I'll follow you and the kids. I need time to pack up the boards anyway," he said, referring to his research. She sighed and he put his arms around her.

"I don't like the idea of separating," she said.

"Me either…I hate it, but I'll be right behind you," he promised, as he pressed a tender kiss to her lips.

"Why them? They're drug dealer's and one is a murderer," she said.

"I know…it seems that there's no moral compass involved here. Griffin was a cold blooded killer and the passengers are a mixed bag too. This is bigger than just the plane…this is something else entirely," he said. She nodded and reluctantly went to pack.

~*~

Obviously, after seeing a video like that, Graham authorized Emma and Ruby to go up to the lake to find out what was going on and find the meth heads. They briefly stopped the car by the lake and got out to look around.

"Okay, so the lake is over there. In the video, they were walking southwest.," Emma said.

"This seems right," Ruby agreed, as they saw the trail split from there.

"Yeah, till the trail splits," Emma said.

"Which way now?" Ruby asked, as Emma went further onto the trail.

"Hey, what's that?" Ruby asked.

"It's wet. I think we're on the right track," Emma said, as they followed the damp trail and found a campsite, which they soon heard someone calling for help.

"Hello? If you can hear me, please help!" a voice called.

"There," Emma said, as they rushed to help a woman at a ransacked campsite.

"Help! Help!" she called.

"It's okay. We're NYPD," Emma said, as she flashed her badge.

"My husband," she cried, as Ruby knelt down to examine the unconscious male.

"I got a pulse. There's a head wound. I'll call an ambulance," Ruby said, as she took out her cell phone.

"Can you tell me what happened?" Emma questioned.

"These three men, they came out of nowhere, and one of them just kept hitting him over the head with a rock," she cried.

"You're doing great, okay? You're doing great," Emma soothed.

"They, um...they took our RV, and then one of them kept screaming, "What month is it? You have to catch them," she pleaded. Emma nodded, as they waited for the ambulance.

~*~

Olive peered into her room and saw Angelina looking like she had just come out of a Calling.

"Are you okay?" Olive asked.

"I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. Sometimes I see things. Please, don't tell anyone," Angelina pleaded.

"No, no, it's okay. My Dad and Aunt get them all the time, so does Henry. My Aunt Emma, she told me a little bit about what happened to you...and how your parents reacted to...well, we say callings," Olive explained.

"They thought my visions...were a sign that I was gonna bring about the end of days. It won't stop. It keeps coming back," she replied.

"That just means you haven't solved it yet. What did you see?" Olive asked.

"Someone...is stalking me. It has wings and no face. Just before it reached me, it...It transformed into millions of colors and then just shattered like glass," Angelina explained.

"Sometimes, the callings only show you something that you would know. Do any of these details mean anything to you?" Olive questioned.

"Wait, there was a stained glass window... at my old school in Syosset. An archangel," Angelina answered.

"Well, maybe the callings want you to go back to your old school," Olive suggested.

~*~

Margaret grabbed her bags and started to put them in the car.

"Hold on. Let me help. Let me help," David admonished. She smiled, as she loaded them in the car.

"Thank you," she said.

"Did you get a hold of him?" he asked.

"No, voicemail's full, but I'm sure he'll welcome us if he's serious," she replied, referring to her father.

"It'll be good to spend some time in the woods. Henry's gonna love it there," she added. He smiled.

"Yeah. This one's Olive's?" she asked, as she saw another bag by the door.

"No, it's mine. I'm ready to come the minute I'm done," he promised, as Olive and Angelina came downstairs.

"Girls, where are your suitcases? We need to go," Margaret urged.

"Mom, Dad, we're not going," Olive said.

"Excuse me?" he asked.

"Olive, there are dangerous men out there," Margaret added.

"Angelina had a calling, and we just figured out what it might mean," Olive argued.

"I don't want to cause a problem," Angelina said.

"No, no, no, you're not. She's had the same one over and over, and she's finally able to follow it. We can't let her ignore a calling. If Angelina stays, I could help her," Olive explained, as her parents exchanged skeptical gazes.

"You really don't think I can do this, do you?" Olive asked in offense.

"No, that's...no, Olive, it's not that. We're worried," Margaret said.

"I'm supposed to do this with her, Mom. I'm supposed to help her. I know it," Olive insisted. Margaret sighed.

"Our family split up like this before, seven years ago in an airport in Jamaica," she argued nervously.

"And it ended up saving Henry's life. And this is gonna keep him safe, too," David said.

"We'll be right behind you," he promised. She nodded and they shared another tender kiss, before they saw her, Henry and Eden off.

~*~

Since there was nothing they could do yet, Regina insisted on giving Neal an exam while they waited on news from Emma and David. She did the exam and she then led him back to a lab way in the back of the building to examine his results.

You bring all your patients in here?" Neal teased.

"Uh, just the ones who died and came back to life," she retorted.

"This is unbelievable," she said, as she examined his results.

"What? Something wrong with me?" Neal asked.

"No, not a single thing. I see no traces of the frostbite or the gangrenous tissue

that was consuming you three-and-a-half months ago," she reported.

"So, surviving the Death Date gave me a do-over, not just on my life but on my health?" he asked.

"There's more. I see no trace of the ischemic blood marker that all returnees have, that you had," she replied.

"So I'm guessing that…" he started to say.

"Yeah. No more callings," Regina answered.

"I'm a Muggle again," he joked. He noticed her pensiveness and waved his hand in front of her.

"You okay?" he asked. She nodded. She had been keeping the secret for months now. The secret that she had killed the Major and it was weighing heavily on her. Before Neal could press further, David found them in the back.

"Hey…" Neal said.

"Any word from Emma?" Regina asked.

"Not yet…but Margaret is taking Henry and Eden upstate to a safe house. I'm hoping to be following her with the girls tonight," he replied.

"But the Meth heads may not be the only problem," he added.

"What else is there?" Neal asked.

"The new Director of the NSA and Vance's old deputy showed up at our house today with questions. They know we were on that cargo plane," David replied.

"Do you think they know about the tailfin?" Regina asked.

"Could you imagine how the world would react if that got out? The scrutiny we would be under again," she added.

"Yeah. What really scares me is the Major finding out," David mentioned.

"Mmm-hmm. Yeah," Regina said, as she looked away.

"Especially...if she saw this," David said, as he showed them his glowing hand.

"What happened?" she asked in alarm

"I don't know. When I touched the tailfin, it blew me back, like an electrical shock, and then this happened," David explained.

"I've got to take a sample and clean it," Regina said.

"No, no. Later. Right now, I really need you to contact Emmett," David said, referring to Vance's associate that had flown them back from Cuba.

"Hand first, please," she demanded. He sighed and offered his hand so she could take a sample.

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming family #AU #Emma #Henry #Regina Mills #Neal Cassidy #Killian Rogers #Ruby Lucas #Mr. Gold #Belle French #Manifest #with a Once twist #romance #family #mystery #adventure #Lightning in a Bottle

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westjet-anmol · 1 year

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On 9th may, I had my first day at West jet for the role of guest service. It was my training day and it was eight hours shift from 1000 till 1800.

I was travelling through transit so it took me a hour to reach Pearson airport. I started from home at 1100 and reached by 1205. I entered the Terminal 1 and waited for our trainer at star bucks. By the time she came it was me and two other students from my college Seneca. She welcomed us. Firstly, she took us in the break room and there we meet our GSL for that day. Further, she told us about other things present in the room. After that we started to explore other other parts of airport. As we where walking through we saw various types of check in areas for each airline. Each airline had there own check in counters where agents were sitting to assist passengers. There are total of 5 check in zone at terminal 1. Each airline is present in one of these zones as West Jet in Zone 2. than we went downstairs ay arrivals there we saw a department for lost and found items. Along with that there are lots of food franchise there extending from Tim Hortons to Subway and many more. Than our trainer introduced us to the baggage department. Moreover, at very end there where quite rooms to pray. These rooms can be used by any one who needs to have their prayer time. Than we came back to West Jet check-in area.

Here, she told us about our duties. She also told us how to operate the kiosk. Our duties where to help a newly entered passenger navigate the airport and help them to reach till gate. Some of our responsibilities are:

Making sure passenger is checked- in either online or in-person.

Helping them to take out there tags through Kiosk.

Further, direct on dropping baggage.

Tell about security and gate.

Than around 1330 we had our break. During this time I got my tie and ID card. After break trainer gave us live lecture where she introduced us to the other information related to airport and our duties on how to conduct ourselves in best way. Most importantly we also filled a insurance form. It was almost end of our shift with one hour left. So, we went to our airline's check-in area and started to assist passengers. At last we came back to the break room to signed off on the log book. and greeted bye to our fellow West Jeters.

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jetlagadventure · 2 years

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borders III – november 13

Here is the story: A post from the other blog I have got me into the Philosophy and Non-Monogamies conference in Los Angeles. Not quite Los Angeles, but close to Los Angeles: Claremont, one of the many suburban towns glued to the huge city.

I don’t like traveling much. And now, that’s is a way less radical statement than it sounds because what I mean by that, is that I usually like the destination itself (like most people) but hate the process of getting there (again, like most people). Whether or not one likes traveling is usually simple math: Do they love being at the desired place more than they hate relocating? And I don’t. At least not usually. Traveling for me has been an imperative, a way to get money, basically a job, networking, CV points. Over the years of what I would call extensive traveling, my preferred idea of vacation has become hanging in and around Prague, laughing at people who complain about the 30+ degree weather. Anyway, what I hate even more than traveling is winter in Edmonton, and since we fully dived into minus 20 in early November, a week in (almost) L.A. seemed great. I was getting ready for my presentation, but then quite by accident I came across a special ESTA* rule. If you only need ESTA to enter the US, you can stay for 90 days but if you want to renew your 90 days, you are supposed to leave the continent. The rule actually kind of makes sense: they don’t want you to live in the US for three months and then “bounce” to Canada or Mexico to restart those 90 days. The problem however was that this applied to me as well. Because technically, I “bounced” to Canada for six months. I was pretty sure they wouldn’t let me in. After all the interrogation last time, I didn’t believe I could pull it off. If you are a resident of Canada, you can go to the US as you please but the visitor status (although perfectly legal) doesn’t count as residency. For crossing to the US and back, I needed to be in a sort of limbo because I actually had to be without a status to be allowed participation in International Experience Canada (my most recent attempt to stay in the country**) but at the same time, I needed a status to be allowed to enter the US. So I prepared two sets of documents: one to convince the US border officers that I was basically almost Canadian, the other one to show the Canadian border patrol agents that I had no ties in Canada and that my hanging out in their country for the last three years was merely accidental.

I was packing – not packing, because I was sure I would need to call MM to pick me up right after he turned on his computer at work. Oh well, thought I, as I tried to calm down (which I am notoriously bad at), they probably won’t deport me, good thing the border is already in Edmonton. We woke up around 4:00, it was pitch black, about -20C, and I was in the worst mood ever. We were also running a little late, which frankly I hardly cared about at that point. I went through all the annoying airport security (are really all Canadians alright with taking their shoes off, walking around in socks, and then putting the shoes back on???) and straight to the border. As I approached the border checkpoint, I put on my best smile (people think it doesn’t work, well, couldn’t hurt, thought I), and tried to figure out which border agent I was going to get, hoping for the smiling one. Didn’t happen – mine was more like I-have-to-protect-the-United-States-of-America kind of guy.

“Where do you live?”

“In Canada,” said I, getting ready for all the questioning.

“What are you going to do in the US?”

“Going to a conference,” said I, wondering to what extent a conference on non-monogamy was a good reason.

“Are you bringing any fruit?”

“No.” I had noting to eat and I was starving. Most of my friends know I don’t like fruit but at that moment, I would have killed for an apple.

“Have a great day.”

Wow. That’s it. I am going to L.A.

“گفتم,”said MM laconically, when I called him, still pumped on adrenaline.

* ESTA is the American visa waiver program for citizens of some privileged countries, European Union countries included. It means that you can stay in the US without a visa for 90 days in a row.

** Now that I am editing this text, it’s not even the most recent one.

#jetlagadventure #toffeemaky #traveling #borders #L.A.#USA #immigration

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izzy-b-hands · 2 years

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Fun/terrifying modern AU one shot idea that refuses to be written rn: airport. Just, all of them, getting to the airport for a trip. why? don't think abt it rn, this is abt The Airport Experience solely.

The chaos of it all. Stede and Izzy are there entirely too early, like my levels of early to the airport (Three to four hours early so I can deal with the pre flight horrors period with my anxiety in a timely fashion prior to take off.)

Those two are a guaranteed mess themselves once on the plane because they've been fucking chugging coffee from the airport coffee shop while they wait. This means the misery of an airplane restroom at least once, but what else could they do, they ask.

Not show up so fucking early, per Ed, who despite spending his nights with either or both of them, managed to still be there juuuussst before it would be risking not making the flight. Izzy swears he was awake before he left for the airport, he specifically told Ed to try and stay awake to not be late.

Naturally, and understandably, Ed went back to bed lmaooo.

Jim and Olu arrive the recommended amount of time early, and they're a smooth running machine: bags are already paid for via airline app, dropped off, and e-boarding pass ready to be scanned, with back ups in the form of actual printed boarding passes.

Buttons calls about this time. He got on an earlier flight last night just to see if he could, so he's already at their destination, much to Stede's overall confusion. He understands how, but not why Buttons wanted to do it. But he sounds happy, so.

Everyone else trails in more or less on time, all glad they weren't the last one there (everyone loves Ed but are well aware that crown is his. The man just likes sleeping in, that's not a crime.)

Finally they should be boarding but no, now we're delayed. Fuck the plane needs to be refueled. How much longer?!

asked by Stede who is attempting to wrangle his crew from the airport shopping center, and failing. and also realllly wants to go look himself tbh, it's killing him that he can't go and has to take care of the flight nonsense. But as their leader, he knows he should. However as soon as Izzy volunteers to take over there is a Stede and Ed shaped set of dust as they shoot towards the stores together

Eventually Izzy wanders to them and casually mentions the delay might be longer. a lot longer. Could they just try a different flight tomorrow? (as if Stede's stubborn ass would ever say yes to that)

But no, so it's night time at the airport for everyone. Ed bemoans the idea of being so stuck, because yeah he could go elsewhere in the airport now and at least be slightly entertained, but Stede insisted they go through security after shopping, and he doesn't want to have to do that twice (v valid)

The endless argument over when and what to eat (is anyone willing to get food and then see if security will let them bring it back? the answer from all is No), if at all in case they get called to board asap (this will not happen.) The scrounging together of a meal from the various vending machines. Izzy and Stede finally crashing from the lack of coffee (coffee shop was only set up before security), out cold somehow on the uncomfortable airport seats. Everyone else pondering what if they just carried Stede out really carefully and quietly and rescheduled for another flight.

Then, an option: If they're willing to sit in different sections from one another, they can get everyone on this other flight.

They fucking run to that gate, Stede waking up in confusion tossed over Ed's shoulder. Izzy is not even remotely aware of what's happening either, just yanked up by Ivan and dragged along by the hand lmao. Frenchie and Wee John have everyone's phones and/or paper passes, scanning them in front of the befuddled desk agent before everyone else is even there (do not ever actually do this, this will only work in fiction im like 90 percent sure. I think if they did this irl security would tackle them or some shit)

They're fully in the air before Stede is awake enough to ask if anyone grabbed the pile of carry on bags they'd set near their seats.

Nope. In all the excitement, they did not.

#text post #ofmd ficlet #kind of lmaoo #idk this is v silly but just. they're so wonderfully chaotic and airports and flying is it's own Thing #what a mixture ya know?#also had to end it where i did because i literally have no idea what they could do them #and accidentally losing or leaving my carry on behind is one of my worst flying fears aksnfkgn

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gabbysurpblog · 2 years

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I have only been here for a couple of hours and I already feel so loved, protected, and cared for.

Flight situation had its bumps, but getting switched from a window seat to a middle seat (so a family could sit together) left me with more leg room, a $100 voucher, and complimentary snack for the first leg from LAX to HNL. I had a two hour layover, had quiznos and then walked around to get my grandma the pineapple shaped shortbread cookies. Sat at the little cultural garden for a bit, taking in the scenery. Sad I couldn’t see Sarah, but maybe I’ll make time to see my other Ishizu cousins on way back once I check in with them. Second leg went by pretty fast, only annoying part was the guy sleeping on me almost the whole way. Got some reading in, watched a good portion of Minari, decent flight meal (tofu pasta, roll, chocolate covered macadamia, etc.). Getting my checked bags was easy because the first flight was so full they checked in my mini luggage, and I was one of the first people through customs.

The man asked if I was coming back home, I said yeah, after a couple years in reference to my last trip. He was so sweet and supportive, told me to move back home and run for senator lol. The other customs agent also said congrats on UCLA; felt really welcoming. Then Nina and Uncle Eric picked me up from the airport, took a picture in front of the Jamaican Grill wall mural, drove me to Scotty’s. He is so kind and so is his girlfriend, he offered for me to stay with him and use the car until his parents get back. Debating if I should, don’t want to overstay.

Read first chapter of the Chamoru diasporic routes dissertation by Jesi Lujan Bennett; pretty good. Makes me wonder how my thesis will fit into this emerging and ongoing world of Pasifika academia. Wish me luck. More updates to come.

Also spoke on the phone with my grandma, can’t wait to see her and be more intentional (and of course safe) in terms of my time with her. Also hope to see my friend Olivia before she leaves.

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roadkings · 2 years

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Milan 2022 (5 of 5)

After five drives of 4+ hours, we were all happy for our short 90 minutes from Varenna to Milan. We returned our rental car and started exploring. I didn’t have high hopes for Milan. In 2017 we were there for just a few hours, a quick stop on our drive from Lake Como to Verona, not long enough to really get a feel for the city. This time, we were all hungry so our first stop was NAME, for fried pizza. The dough was incredible, light and chewy despite being fried. With full tummies, we rounded a corner and there was the Duomo! It is magnificent, like something out of a movie. We had seen it in 2017 and did the terraces walk, so we just enjoyed it from the outside this time. We got checked into our super fun hotel just blocks from city center, and were delighted to see that our room went out to a balcony on an interior courtyard where I could walk next door to knock on the window of the kids’ room. I used that to deliver coffee to Alex the next morning without having to get out of my robe.

Our time in Milan was dominated by food and shopping, with just the right amount of culture interspersed. Dinners were at LuBar, the family run Oseria del Treno with their pistachio-pepper gelato, and the Japanese restaurant Gastornomica Yamamoto. All good and each memorible in its own way—LuBar for its cocktails and interior, Osteria for its family feel and fun service, and Yamamoto for serving unexpected Japanese food in Italy. We also had breakfast at the spectacular Marchesa 1824, a pistachio colored jewel box of pastries and confections, owned and run by Prada. We also went window shopping among the street after street of couture brands, and actual shopping in the Brera Design Disrict (Benheart, Santa Maria Novella, and Rick Owens); we even found a street wear resale shop for Alex, called Slam Jam.

Thanks to Fritz for getting up in the middle of the night for tickets to see The Last Supper, we did that on the morning of our last day in Milan. Out guide was excellent, and I have such a greater appreciation of the mastery of Leonardo daVinci after seeing the paining and hearing her speak about it with such adoration.

Though I didn’t have high hopes for Milan, it is now one of my favorite places I’ve visited. The size is great, a bustling city, but not over crowded, good food, great shopping, nice people, and surprisingly calm and orderly (other than Malpensa airport, that place makes Hartsfield look orderly). I look forward to getting back there, as do we all.

Now we are on a plane headed home. Ella and Alex are sitting together watching movies, and José’s head is in my lap while he catches a nap (thanks to the gate agent for moving us to a row with an open middle seat!). It has been three years since we all traveled internationally. The world has been through a lot. We saw more Americans on this trip than any other we have taken, I think this is due to everyone being essentially forbidden from traveling internationally for the last two summers. This is also why we covered so much ground on this trip, seeing so many places. The kids are now three years older, which makes for different dynamics, and we are keenly aware of how few of these trips we have left with them. Despite the ups and downs, and covering so much in so little time, I hope they remember this one fondly; I certainly will.

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evanjinx · 3 years

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alternative universe buddie fics recs :)

note: the links weren't working the first time i wrote the post but i edited and they're okay now!! if it still isn't working for you is probably because you're trying to open from a reblog from before i edit it, so try open directly from the original post on my profile.

Blind Date by @sassypopstar [complete | teen and up audiences | 3.8k words]

Buck feels a little ridiculous dressed in a jacket and a shirt. But Maddie had insisted on him dressing up for the occasion and even Chimney had quipped that it’s the right thing to do. So Buck, who never went on a blind date before in his life, listened to his big sister and her boyfriend because apparently that’s who he is now. Or the one where Buck goes on a blind date with someone called Eddie.

Buckley's Bouquets by awashleyno [complete | teen and up audiences | 23.4k words]

A world where Buck owns a flower shop and manages to develop a huge, massive, ridiculous crush on a handsome firefighter that comes in for a visit one day. Or, 5 times Eddie gives flowers to other people and the 1 time he gives them to Buck.

Call It What You Will - Fate? Destiny? (A Tsunami) by @abow123456 [complete | mature | 20k words]

Evan Buckley's day of relaxation is cut short when a tsunami hits the beach he was relaxing at. He has to fight to keep himself and a lost little boy safe from the water, as well as anyone else he finds. After, he meets the boys father and family, and it causes a snowball effect of good things for him, for once.

Capuccino with extra, extra sugar by buckbng [complete | teen and up audiences | 2.7k words]

Buck is the cute barista and Eddie is the grinch that hates coffee. Until, he doesn't. Because if Buck says he looks like the kind of person that would love a cappuccino, who's Eddie to disagree with him? OR Eddie really doesn't like coffee but pretends he does just so he has an excuse to see the cute barista at the coffee shop.

Confirmation Bias by strifechaos [complete | mature | 31k words]

After the fallout with his ex-wife, Eddie believed he could only trust his family with his son. He hadn’t imagined falling for his son’s sweet-hearted nanny, Buck. With his own family so distant, Buck never considered that he’d be lucky enough to find a home for himself, let alone people he could count on. Not until he meets the Diaz boys. AU: Buck was never a firefighter, and becomes Christopher's sitter when Shannon's job takes her away from Eddie and Chris for the summer. Eddie tries to not fall for his son's nanny, he's not very successful.

dream of some epiphany by extasiswings [complete | mature | 7.3k words]

Evan Buckley is lost. It’s happenstance that he wanders into the navy recruiting center—he’s been in San Diego for a few weeks, bartending late nights and weekends, living in a house with three other guys not because he needs the roommates but because he doesn’t want to be alone, and the military is…respectable. Stable. So Buck thinks maybe and opens the door. Buck leaves ten minutes later with a set of printed instructions for sending his first letter, assured that he can drop it off whenever he’s ready, and a name. Staff Sergeant Edmundo “Eddie” Diaz.

Frequent Flyer by red_to_black [complete | mature | 13.4k words]

In his entire time being a firefighter, Eddie has never met anyone as accident-prone as Evan Buckley. And Buck - well, he's quickly becoming the 118's best customer. (Or - the one where Eddie is a firefighter, Buck isn't, and Eddie finds himself rescuing Buck from increasingly sticky situations. Sometimes literally.)

Gave me no messages, gave me no signs... by @reallysmartladymariecurie [complete | teen and up audiences | 7.4k words]

"Buck is beyond nervous, and he’s really trying to convince himself that the familiarity of the situation is not some sort of bad omen. Just because there are parallels of the start of his relationship with Eddie to that of his relationship with Abby doesn’t mean that this new adventure is destined to end in the same miserable fashion. He hopes it won’t, has to believe it won’t. Because even with Abby, he hadn’t fallen this hard for her before their first official date. With Eddie, everything is already intensified by a thousand." Or, Buck covers a shift for a firefighter at the 136 and it leads to a budding relationship through text messages.

Gotta Find My Corner (Of the Sky) by doctornineandthreequarters [complete | general audiences | 31.3k words]

It was the last day of 2016 and two lost souls found themselves in a quiet dive bar, as the loud noises of the city celebrating New Year’s Eve buzzed around them. Most people chose loud, flashy bars with DJs and entrance fees and promises of champagne for New Year’s Eve. But both occupants of the dive bar preferred the quiet. They both didn’t need the added chaos when everything around them already felt chaotic. --- Or, Buck and Eddie meet on New Year's Eve, 2016, a meeting that sets of a series of events that changes the trajectory of both of their lives.

I Didn't Know I Was Lonely 'Till I Saw Your Face by @hmslusitania [complete | general audiences | 10.4k words]

After the ladder truck and the blood clot and the tsunami, Bobby makes Buck go to therapy before he does something stupid (like sue the city). Buck's not totally comfortable being alone with a therapist, but fortunately he makes a friend and ally who's willing to help him out - Eddie Diaz from the 136 who's just been caught in an illegal fight club. OR Total strangers Buck and Eddie go to couple's therapy together to get out of the therapy requirements their captains have placed on them.

i want your midnights by allyasavedtheday [complete | teen and up audiences | 36.3k words]

In which Eddie decides to rent out his spare room to help with mortgage repayments right around the time Buck decides to move out of Abby's place after some not so gentle prodding from Maddie. It's a coincidence. Or serendipity. Or maybe just really good timing.

i wanna be know (by you) by @starlightbuck [complete | general audiences | 12.5k words]

“I didn’t mean to do it.” Hen glances down at Eddie’s phone then back up at him in disbelief.

“How do you ‘not mean’ to download a bunch of dating apps but still have them on your phone?”

Or In which Eddie delves into the intimidating world of online dating.

if i got locked away (would you still love me the same?) by @firefighterhan [complete | general audiences | 3.7k words]

Buck gets accidentally thrown in jail after meddling in a fight outside of a grocery store. There, he meets an unexpected guest, famous music artist Eddie Diaz, who is being suspiciously quiet about how he ended up here in the first place.

if only in my dreams by @buttercupbuck [complete | general audiences | 5.4k words]

Years before Eddie joins the 118, Buck meets him at an airport bar on Christmas day.

in a week by @buttercupbuck [complete | explicit | 78.9k]

in which Eddie joins the U.S. Forest Service and in the meadows of California, finds the things he thought he lost and the things he thought he'd never have.

It Started With A Bang And A Hostage Situation by JayJay__884 [complete | general audiences | 6.6k words]

Buck goes to the store one late night to buy food because of Maddie's pregnancy cravings. Whilst at the store, Buck accidentally gets caught in the middle of a robbery and gets knocked out. After waking up in the backroom, Buck finds himself as a hostage with a handsome and caring stranger.

Leading with the Left by @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels [complete | explicit | 84.7k]

When Buck said he was a "bartender" in "South America" what he actually meant was "stripper" in "Mexico." And when Eddie said, "What's your problem?" what he actually meant was, "Is this about the time you gave me a lap dance?" In other words, there's a few things the 118 doesn't know about Buck. Or Eddie. Or Buck and Eddie's relationship.

Lift me up by @captain--sif [complete | teen and up audiences | 5.5k words]

Buck gets stuck in his apartment building's broken elevator with his good-looking neighbor from the sixth floor.

Love and Bullets Both Shatter Hearts (But Only One Can Put You Back Together) by @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels [complete | explicit | 11.2k words]

Agent [Redacted] Diaz is the best at what he does. Usually. But lately there's this real pain in the ass* who's been ruining his missions: Code Name "Buck."

*stupidly handsome and annoyingly talented rival spy

Mr. Buckley's After Hours Detention by aresaphrodites [complete | mature | 11.4k words]

It’s not like Eddie Diaz planned on this. Really, there was no scenario in his mind where he would ever be bringing his son’s teacher a freaking goody basket to class; a homemade goody basket, no less. Then again, Christopher has never had a teacher quite like Evan Buckley.

MukbangsWithBuck by @reallysmartladymariecurie [complete | teen and up audiences | 19.3k words]

After growing tired of eating alone in his loft, Buck decides to start a YouTube channel where he records himself eating dinner and telling stories about crazy things his team has encountered on calls. He eventually gains a substantial fanbase, and he is led to the channel of another LA firefighter who uploads informational videos and also casual vlogs with his ten-year-old son. It isn't long before the two start a friendship through messages, both of them secretly hoping it will turn into something more. Or, Eddie and Buck are both firefighters/YouTubers and they end up falling in love.

Objects in the Mirror by SevenSoulmates [complete | explicit | 139.1k words]

The voice had always been around, Eddie remembers it, like a stream of consciousness that babbled incoherently to the point where Eddie just tuned it out. But then the voice started speaking directly to him. Conversing like he was a whole person standing right in front of him. Like he could see what was happening around Eddie. Eddie shook his head. No one was talking to him, and Eddie most certainly was not talking back. He wouldn’t talk to the boy in his head ever again. There was no boy in his head.

Passive Aggressive Flirting by @starlingbite [complete | general audiences | 4.5k words]

Buck and Eddie have never met. They both work at the 118 but just on different shifts. That's all about to change when Buck finds a sticky note message, signed E.

String of hearts... by @reallysmartladymariecurie [complete | teen and up audiences | 11.1k words]

“Now. Eddie is this incredible presence. He’s funny and smoking hot, and he has a son who sounds wonderful. And he’s serious and vulnerable at times. But so enjoyable to be around, every single second that he’s there. And how can I put myself out there when the expectation is so high? When the thing I might lose is so beautiful?”

In which Buck owns a plant shop in LA, and Eddie becomes his new favorite customer. Pining ensues.

check out my post of buddie fics with dad!buck

#i will probably do a part two of this because i have more but this post its already way too big #buddie #buddie fic #buddie fic rec #fic rec #911 #911 fox #911 on fox #buck x eddie #evan buckley #eddie diaz #otp: you act like you're expendable but you're wrong #tv: 9-1-1 #*

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weirdos-am-i-right · 3 years

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Fuck Traveling// Pete Davidson x reader

Request from @annalayton19

Hi! I’m a new follower and I really like your stuff! Could I request a Pete Davidson x reader (angst to fluff) where Pete is on tour or filming away from home and the reader is left behind. After like 6 months of being apart Pete starts to get tired of the long distance and basically like done with it. And then he realizes his mistake and comes home to make it up to her! I’m sorry if that’s super long! Also if this imagine doesn’t interest you, then no sweat! Thank you so much in advance 💕

A/n: This took so much less time then I thought it would. Anyway, here you go, I really hope you like it!

Warning: angst, swearing, like one cigarettes

€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€

Six months. Six months was an extremely long time to be away from someone you loved.

Y/n sat on the couch, a small pout on her lips. She looked at Pete—her boyfriend of a year—and frowned. “I wish I could go with you.” Pete frowns too, and sits down next to her.

“I know. I wish you were coming with me too. But hey, it’s only a couple of months, all right? I’ll be back before you know it.” He kissed her cheek.

“I just wish my contract would let me. You have no idea how annoying it is to not be able to do things because of freaking Marvel.” She groans, falling on her back with a slight ‘plop’.

“Well, because of freaking Marvel, you are one of the best actresses out there. And I know you’re going to kill it with filming. My tour isn’t even that cool. It’ll broke you to death.” He jokes, leaning back on the arm of the couch.

“Babe, you’re a comedian.”

“Oh right, I forgot.” He grabs her arm, and pulls her up into his chest. “I love you, okay?” He lifts her chin up, and kisses her. “So fucking much. We’ll face time everyday, I’ll call you every evening and wish you goodnight.”

“Okay.” She looked over a the clock, and sighed. “We have to go. Your flight is leaving soon.” He brushes hair behind her ear, bringing her eyes back to him.

“I love you. It’ll be over before you know it.”

“I love you, too.”

********

The car ride to the airport was long, and quiet. Pete was driving, he had one hand on the steering wheel, and one hand on Y/n’s leg, rubbing small circles into the center of her thigh.

She knew she was going to miss him so much, but she also knew she was going to be extremely busy with filming, so it wouldn’t be as bad.

Once they were at the gate, they tearfully hugged, and she kissed him. “All right, now get out of here. We’re not doing that rom-com turn back at the last second goodbye.” She laughed at him, tears steaming down her face a bit. He wiped one with his thumb, and kissed her again. “Love you. Now go, so I get to watch you walk away.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” She turns around, and starts walking back to her car. She knew he hated leaving her too, but he was a lot better at hiding emotions then she was, that was one of the only things she learned while dating him.

She got in her car, and put her head on her steering wheel.

She groans, and leans back. Starting her car, she pulled out of the airport, and drove home.

**********

The first few months were the worst. Y/n hated going to bed alone, the left side of the bed always cold.

She was filming almost every day, and seeing her co-workers and friends always cheered her up, after all she had been working with the same people for quite some time now, so she felt comfortable around them.

The fourth month was slowly becoming easier. She got use to coming home to no one there, and making dinner for herself. She still talked to Pete every day, texting him good morning, and Goodnight, and FaceTiming him a lot during the day.

Though she knew he loved her, she felt as though he was slightly pulling away. The FaceTime calls were short, and he never texted her back right away like he use to.

“And so, we we’re almost done with the shoot, so close I could practically taste the coffee in my trailer waiting for me, and then Kevin calls cut, and he makes us do the whole scene over again! I swear, I was about to strange that man. Ugh, I can’t wait til you come home. Only two more weeks, I can’t believe we made it.” Y/n rants, talking to Pete on the phone.

“Uh huh. Cool.” He wasn’t looking at her, instead his attention was somewhere else. Y/n frowns, tilting her head a bit.

“Pete…are, are you okay?” That seemed to catch his attention, and he finally looked at the screen.

“What? I’m fine.”

“Okay…you just seem so…different lately. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, but you seem like you don’t have time for me anymore. Or if you do, you don’t like talking to me.” Pete scoffs.

“Of course I don’t have time for you right now. I’m in between shows, I’m driving to one as we speak. I mean, god forbid I get a minute to myself without my agents or you calling me.” Pete snapped.

“Wha-I’m just talking to you. If you didn’t want to, you could have said something.”

“That’s bullshit you would have thrown a fucking hissy fit or something.” He rolls his eyes.

“That’s not true. I understand when people are tired, believe me I would know.”

“Would you?”

“Yes!” She had tears stinging her eyes. “Of course I do, you’re forgetting what I do for a living. I work from 6 am to whenever we finish which most of the time is in the middle of the night. I have to re-do the same scene about ten times because RDJ won’t stop making jokes in the middle of the scene!”

“Oh, sorry, I forgot about your super-star actress life.”

“Why are you being so mean to me? I was only concerned about you.”

“Mean? What are you, five? I can’t-I can’t do this anymore.” She huffs, crossing her arms.

“What do you talking about? Are you breaking up with me?”

“Wh-”

“Because then fine. If you don’t want to be with me, I don’t have to take this shit. I’ll be with someone who, oh, I don’t know is actually here.”

“Oh that’s fucking rich, you know I can’t be there, don’t even do that.” She scoffs.

“I don’t care. You want to act like a petty bitch, I have no problem doing it right back.”

“No, I think you’re just a petty bitch.” She wipes her eye, and he laughs dryly. “Oh of course you’re crying.”

“Shut up. If you don’t want to be with me, fine. Go enjoy your show, Pete.” She hung up the phone, and turned off the ringer. She plugged it into her charger, and went into the bathroom, turning the shower on.

********

Pete rubbed his eyes, and took a drag of his cigarette. He knew he shouldn’t have snapped at her, it wasn’t her fault he was cranky, and needed to take it out on someone.

“I’m a dick.” He mumbles to himself, and bangs his steering wheel.

His phone rang again, and for a good second his heart leaping out of his chest, thinking it was his girlfriend, calling him back. He checked the phone, seeing it was Colson. He answered the call.

“What’s up, man?” Pete asks.

“The shows starting soon. You almost here?” Colson questioned. Pete looked at his google maps, seeing he was supposed to be there in ten minutes.

“I’m a good ten minutes away. I’ll be there.”

“You sound weird. What the fuck did you take without me?” Colson asks, trying to lighten the mood.

“Uh…Y/n and I just broke up. I think.” The line was silent for a few seconds.

“Why the fuck would you do that, you idiot? Are you kidding me?” Colson scoffs. “Man, what the fuck?”

“Shut up, man. I can’t stand talking on the phone with her. I’m busy, she’s busy, she plays a superhero for fuck’s sake. I didn’t even expect it to last this long to be honest.”

“Man, you fucking dumbass. That girl was probably the only good thing you had going for you. Get her the fuck back.I thought you loved her.”

“I did-I do. I do love her. I’m just so stressed right now, and excuse me for not wanting to hear about fucking Kevin Feige being a shitty director.”

“Hey, fuck-shit, you ever think that maybe this is more hard on her? Acting is fucking hard, you should know that, especially for a company like Marvel.

“Man, who’s side are you on?” Pete turns into the parking lot, and grabs his phone.

“You think I’m on your side here? You’re forgetting that we were friends before I met you. I can not believe you just fucked up the best thing in your life. Fix it, man. You’re going home in a week, fucking fix it.” And with that, Colson hung up, and put his phone away.

He kicked a rock across the pavement, and cursed under his breathe.

********

The worst thing about breaking up with someone you live with, who so happens to be long-distance is that their stuff fills the apartment with an existential amount of regret.

Y/n laid on her couch, flipping through the channels of the TV. She had called off work for the next few days, not feeling up to put on a performance for anyone. She knew she would get shit for it later, but she didn’t care.

Her head perked up when there was a knock on the door. She sighed, and got up, going over to the door. She really didn’t feel like company at the moment, and was sure she was going to send away whoever it was.

When she opened the door, her breathe caught in her throat. Pete stood in the doorway, looming over her. He looked like shit. She could tell he hadn’t slept, and probably didn’t eat anything, but she knew he didn’t look much better.

“Why-why didn’t you use your key?” Y/n asks, opening the door a bit for him.

“I uh, didn’t want to barge in on you. You also probably weren’t expecting me.”

“I wasn’t. I thought you didn’t get back until next week.” She says. It took every ounce of her not to jump into his arms, and kiss his face until she was sure she kissed every part of it.

“I took off early. Can we talk? Please. I was a dick. I was such a dick. I’m sorry, I know we grew apart in the last few months, and I promised we wouldn’t but we did, and I’m so sorry for that, baby.” He grabs her hand, and she slightly pulls it back, but let’s him grab it. “Please, forgive me. I love you, so much, okay? So fucking much, you’re the best thing that’s happened to me.”

She felt tears welling up in her eyes, and she looked away from him. “What you said really hurt.”

“I know. And I’ll spend every day trying to make it up to you.” She quickly wrapped her arms around him, pushing her face into his chest. He didn’t hesitate to hug her back, leaning down and kissing the top of her head. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. Fuck traveling.”

“Fuck traveling.”

#pete davidson #pete davidson x reader #pete davidson fanfiction #machine gun kelly #mgk imagine #angst

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the-bau-quinjet · 3 years

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Secret's Out

Summary: Request! Reid and Y/N are secretly dating, but their business doesn't stay their business for long.

Warnings: Criminal Minds level violence

Word Count: 2974

a/n: Thank you for the request! I hope you like it :)

Sorry this took forever! It took me a while to think of case details that I liked and then I kept rewriting parts. I think I'm finally happy with it though!

Masterlist

"Spencer!" You pushed him away. "The doors could open at any moment! How are we supposed to keep this a secret if Morgan walks in on us kissing in the elevator?" You raised a brow at him.

"On average, elevators travel at a speed of 200 ft/min or about 4 seconds per floor. Being on the fifth floor means we have about 20 seconds to ourselves." He smiled triumphantly.

"Yeah, until someone surprises us on floor 3." You rolled your eyes, stepping out of the doors once they opened.

"I can't help it. I'm just... really happy with you." He whispered softly.

"I'm really happy too." You smiled at him. You were about to lean in when the elevator doors opened once again to reveal JJ and Emily.

"Hey guys, ready for another case?" Emily glanced between you suspiciously, but thankfully didn't ask any prying questions.

"Yep, let's go!" You turned quickly, walking into the round table room without so much as a glance back at the three agents by the elevator.

"What's with her?" JJ questioned.

"Said she didn't sleep well last night. Must be all the caffeine." He held his own cup off coffee up in solidarity before also walking to the round table room.

"Alright, we've got 3 dead in Billings, Montana. All three were law enforcement, and all three were found this morning around the city." You listened as Penelope introduced the details of the case.

"Could be someone who feels the police didn't do a good enough job protecting a loved one?" You threw out a theory.

"Or someone who feels wronged by the criminal justice system as a whole." Rossi added on.

"Either way, they likely won't stop until we catch them. Wheels up in 20." Hotch rose from his seat as he spoke, wasting no time in preparing for take off.

You all dispersed briefly to grab your go bags, meeting back at the SUVs to head to the jet.

Once boarded, it didn't take long for the conversation to start up again.

"When we land, L/N go to the morgue. Dave, Prentiss take the first and second crime scenes, they're only a mile apart. Morgan and Reid, check out the third scene. I'll head to the precinct with JJ."

With Hotch's instructions set, you took what little time you had left on the flight to go over the causes of death.

"Anything stand out to you on the bodies?" You asked the ME after going over the blunt force trauma and bullet wounds.

"There's tape residue and bruising on the wrists and ankles. Based on the state of bruising, they were likely held for about 3 days before they were killed."

"Thank you for your help." You shook hands, pulling out your phone to call Hotch.

"Hotchner."

"Hotch, they were held for days before they were killed. How did nobody notice they were missing?" There was nothing in the reports that indicated the victims were reported missing prior to being found.

"We just found the same pattern. They all used vacation days for various reasons in the days leading up to their deaths. Meet us back at the precinct and Reid can explain the whole pattern."

"Okay, I'm leaving now." You hung up just as you reached the SUV. Throughout the drive, you couldn't stop thinking that something wasn't adding up.

The victims were taken in the same day. It didn't make sense for the unsub not to escalate. So, why aren't any officers unaccounted for?

Suddenly, a truck crashed into your SUV, sending you flying off the road. A figure dressed in black opened the door and dragged you from the car.

"Agent L/N, it's so good to see you again." A male voice spoke, but you couldn't place it.

He hit you over the head with a handgun before dragging you to his own vehicle.

"Where's L/N?" Emily questioned when her and Rossi returned from the second dumpsite.

"On her way back from the ME." Hotch answered. "Did you find anything useful?"

"They truly are dumpsites. Both bodies were found by dumpsters, sending a pretty clear message." Dave replied.

"Same for the third site." Derek added on.

"All three victims were single and took time off leading up to their death. Nobody would've notice that they were missing until it was too late." Reid supplied the final bit of information gathered.

Hotch's phone rang before anyone else could comment. The frantic sound of Garcia's nails clicking against her keyboard echoed through the phone. She was talking before anyone could greet her.

"You need to see this, check your tablets."

Confused glances were exchanged as everyone, barring Reid, opened their tablets. Reid glanced over Morgan's shoulder to observe as well.

A seemingly live video that Garcia received a link to was streaming to the tablets.

A single woman sitting in a chair could be seen in the frame. Her wrists and ankles were bound to the chair with thick, gray tape and a bag was over her head.

"Garcia, what is this?" Hotch asked almost immediately.

"I was emailed the link just now. It's not streaming anywhere else online." Her reply came quickly, the sound of typing still filling in the silence.

"Can you trace it?" Rossi questioned.

"I'm trying, but it's being routed through multiple proxy servers."

"Did the email say anything?" Emily chimed in.

"No, it was just the link- Wait. I just got another email." She paused as the new email loaded. "It's addressed to Reid."

Every set of eyes in the room turned to Reid.

"What does it say?" He felt the nerves beginning to grow waiting for Garcia to read the words aloud.

"Dr. Reid,

I hope you remember me. What am I saying, of course you do. I've got something of yours that you might want back. You see Dr. Reid, you and your team ruined me. My family, my career, all of it, just gone. I thought I'd return the favor. A person's phone can be so informative. Tell me, does your team know about your girlfriend? I've so enjoyed getting reacquainted with her.

Happy hunting."

Spencer's face went white as he looked at Morgan's tablet again. His thoughts were racing. How did he not recognize you before? Even with the bag over your head, he should've known it was you.

"It's her." His words were barely a whisper.

"This is your girlfriend?" Morgan gestured to the screen again. Spencer could only nod in reply, his mind unable to focus on anything except you.

"Reid, listen to me. You've got to tell us everything you know about her. We'll have to split up. You can go back to Quantico with Emily and Morgan, the rest of us will stay here to work on our current case." Hotch was already devising a strategy to work both cases.

"There's no need." His words made sense to him, but sounded cryptic to the rest of the team.

"Kid, of course there is. We'll help you get her back." Morgan placed a hand on his shoulder, effectively shocking him back to the present situation.

"There's no need to split up because she's here. She's in Montana." Before he could continue, everyone was asking questions.

"Give me a phone number and I'll get you a location." Garcia was already typing away again.

"Are you sure she's here?" JJ's brows furrowed. She did her best to hide the hurt of her best friend hiding his girlfriend from her, again.

"Why would she be here?" Rossi added.

"How did she get here? Maybe we can track the transportation and figure out means of abduction." Emily was the only one thinking about the case.

Like ripping off a bandaid, Spencer blurted out the truth.

"It's Y/N."

He was met with silence in the room as everyone absorbed the information.

Garcia caught up first, a sudden gasp sounding through the phone.

"So, then that's Y/N... in the video..." Her voice wavered.

As if a switch was flipped, the team was back on the case.

"Garcia, get me a list of anyone who would have a grievance with the team." Hotch ordered.

"Go through anyone who was falsely accused. Start with cases in or around Montana. He would want to keep this close to home." Rossi specified.

"We've only had one case in Montana since Y/N joined the team." Reid supplied the knowledge as it came to him. "A name, I need a name." He muttered to himself, pulling his hair as he roughly ran his hands through it and over his face. "Garcia, look into Jameson Braddock."

"Got it." She immediately began a background check, searching through case files and news articles for additional information. "i'll get back to you with locations." With that, she hung up.

"Fill us in, kid. Who is Jameson Braddock." Morgan lead Reid to a chair, gently easing him into it.

"Our last case in Montana, Emily and I went to interview a witness." Emily nodded, the memories slowly coming back to her.

"He wasn't very forthcoming, and then he tried to run." She added on.

"Exactly, except he didn't make it very fair. We arrested him, but it turned out he was only guilty of selling alcohol to minors. When word of his arrest got out, the whole town thought it was for the serial rapes and murders we were investigating even though it was never confirmed."

"By the time we corrected the media, it was too late." JJ supplied, also remembering the man.

"So, he killed three officers just to draw us out back out here?" Morgan refocused the conversation on the current case.

"It looks that way now. The media knew we were coming, so he must have as well." Emily theororized. "If he followed us from the airport, he would've seen Y/N leave by herself."

"He likely didn't know about your relationship until he abducted her and went through her phone." Hotch paced the room.

"He's flaunting his power over us." Rossi chimed in just as Hotch's phone rang again.

"Garcia, what've you got?"

"Three addresses in Billings, Montana. Jameson Braddock has been on a downward spiral since your last trip there. His entire life fell apart, like he said. Divorced, his wife moved to Nebraska with their two kids. He lost his job at the high school, and was evicted from his house when he could no longer pay the bills." She listed the information quickly.

"He has ties to three addresses. Nobody has moved into his previous house, so it's vacant. He's got a small apartment in the northern part of the city which he pays for through working odd hours at Taco Bell. Finally, he briefly worked security at a now abandoned warehouse."

"An apartment wouldn't be enough space to hold her without the chance of someone hearing. She's not there." Rossi eliminated the location as an option.

"We'll split up to cover the warehouse and the house-" Hotch began, but Reid cut him off.

"No, we shouldn't split up. She's got to be at the house. The warehouse has no connection to his previous life. He wants revenge for our perceived wrongdoing, he wouldn't make his last stand at a new location." Reid was already putting on a bullet proof vest. Despite how his mind was racing, he refused to show how afraid he was.

"You're sure?" Morgan asked, on the fence about committing to one location.

"Absolutely." With that, Reid was out the door heading for the SUVs.

"Rossi, Emily head around back. I'll take the front with Reid. JJ and Morgan, the side door." Hotch instructed the team to split up upon arrival at the house.

Reid wasted no time in approaching the house. He was confident you were inside, but he didn't know what was happening to you.

The main floor was cleared quickly. Again, the team split up to cover the upper level and the basement.

Knowing you were likely downstairs, Reid immediately started that direction, JJ and Hotch following him.

It wasn't hard for him to find you. You were still tied to the chair in the middle of the room, bag over your head.

Before anyone could stop him, Reid lowered his gun and ran to you. He gently maneuvered the bag off your head, stopping his movements only when he felt something press into his back.

"Dr. Reid. So kind of you to join us." Braddock spoke maniacally, pressing the gun against Reid's head.

"Drop your weapon." Hotch commanded, but the man only cackled in response.

'Y/N... Y/N." Reid gently shook you in an attempt to wake you up.

"She can't hear you." Braddock singsonged.

"What did you do?" Reid tried to turn to him only to feel the gun press further into his head.

"Like I said in my email, you people ruined my life. They took everything from me, so I thought I'd try to return the favor." During his short speech, Braddock shifted just enough for JJ to get a clean shot.

He fell to the ground, gun clattering across the floor.

Reid moved quickly to remove the tape binding you to the chair while Hotch called for a medic in the basement.

The entire team watched as you were wheeled into the ambulance, still unconscious, none more scared than Spencer.

"She's going to be fine, Spence." JJ tried to reassure him, nonetheless his pacing continued.

"You don't know that. We don't even know what he did to her." He had one hand anxiously running through his hair, the other pinching the bridge of his nose in distress.

Just then, a doctor emerged from behind closed doors.

"F/N L/N." She called into the waiting room, slightly taken aback when the group of agents rushed to her.

"It was touch and go for a while, but she got here just in time." It was visible to even the least qualified profiler how relieved the team felt. Their previously tense shoulders relaxed, frowns turned to small smiles, wide eyes and raised brows pinched together with joy.

"What happened?" Emily posed the question everyone was thinking.

"In short, she was drugged. It's not clear what exactly was used, but it was likely a mix of drugs that attempted to stop her heart."

"Can we see her?" Morgan spoke next, cautiously eyeing Reid.

"You may, follow me." The doctor lead them through a series of hallways to your room. "She should be waking up soon."

With that the doctor left, allowing the team to file into the room. You looked strangely peaceful for someone who almost died.

"So..." JJ glanced between you and Spencer. "Girlfriend, huh?"

His eyes went wide. Instinctively, he turned to you for help, but you were still asleep. He opened his mouth to answer, but no words came out.

"Relax, kid." Morgan grinned. "We're happy as long as you two are happy."

Spencer smiled gratefully, looking at you with an adoring gaze. "We are happy."

"How long?' Emily gestured to your joined hands. Just before Spencer could answer, you groaned.

"I want to hear your guesses first." Your voice was raspy, but there was a clear smile on your face. "Also, what happened?"

The quickly explained the email Garcia received and the events that followed.

"Now that that's cleared up, do tell us how long you think we've been together. I know you've got a bet going." You narrowed your eyes, playfully glaring at each team member.

"4 months." Hotch begrudgingly admitted. JJ followed with 3 months, Derek and Rossi both betting 10 weeks, and Emily going with 6 weeks.

"Ha, you're all wrong." You smiled triumphantly, leaning closer to Spencer.

"Wait, we haven't heard from Garcia." Derek smirked as he rung her on speaker phone.

"Oh, my beautiful crime fighters. Y/N, are you okay?" Your smile widened at the concern in her voice.

"I am indeed, but I have a very important question for you." You glanced as Spencer briefly before continuing. "How long do you think Spence and I have been together?"

"Oh, I know this one!" Her excitement caught everyone but you off guard. "7 months, 2 weeks, and 3 days."

Spencer's jaw dropped as he stuttered out, "that's exactly right..."

"How'd you figure it out?" The group of profilers wore matching expressions of surprise as Penelope explained.

"Well, we had just finished testifying in the Bigelow trial. The whole team went out for drinks, and I could just see it in Y/N's eyes the next day that something wonderful happened. At first I just thought that she got some, but then I saw her and the good doctor in the kitchen getting coffee and I knew." Penelope's voice held a mixture of smugness and pure excitement.

"Babygirl, you didn't tell me?" Derek sounded genuinely offended.

"Y/N asked me not to." Even though you couldn't see her, you knew she punctuated the statement with a shrug.

"You knew, she knew?" Spencer turned to you in shock.

You nodded. "I could see it on her face the second I walked out of the kitchen. But she promised not to tell, so I didn't either."

"The two of you, thick as thieves." Rossi lamented.

"I love you so much." Spencer whispered into your ear as he pulled you in for a hug.

"I love you too." You whispered right back.

"Honestly, I'm glad the secret's out." You smiled at Spencer before looking at the rest of the team. "Although, I wish I didn't have to be kidnapped to tell you."

You spent a few more hours in the hospital before being cleared to go back to the hotel.

The next morning, you smiled to yourself as you were finally able to cuddle with Spencer during the flight home.

Permanent taglist:

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Criminal Minds taglist:

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#spencer reid x reaader #spencer reid x you #spencer reid x y/n #spencer reid angst #spencer reid fluff #spencer reid fic #spencer reid one shot #criminal minds fic

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