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starrynights-sunnyskies · 4 days

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as the flowers bloom, my heart does too ⋆*·ﾟmisa x putellas!reader, social media au, (6/-)

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when your relationship ends and all you want to do is hide and cry, flowers suddenly start to appear on your doorstep.

or; misa hating to see a pretty girl cry and suffer and going out of her way to cheer her up while staying anonymous

fic: coming

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albaps9: las mujeres más importantes de mi vida. mama, ale y mi chiquita ynn 💘 (pretend you're on here pls 😭) Liked by yourusername, alexiaputellas, marialeonn16 and 703 others

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yourusername 🙈 ↳ yourusername wait, you forgot la nala la mala ↳ alexiaputellas I was about to say! 😝 ↳ yourusername wouldn't be the first time she forgot🤭 ↳ alexiaputellas What do you mean??? ↳ albaps6 sigh i can never do something cute for you guys ↳ albaps6 yn shut the fuck up or i'll tell mami and ale about what happened on your birthday 😴 ↳ yourusername i'll put your moncler blouse on vinted if you do that ↳ albaps6 YOU have it??!!! i looked for that fucking thing everywhere ↳ yourusername 🤩 ↳ alexiaputellas I love you two crazies. liked by yourusername and albaps6 ↳ alexiaputellas But what exactly happened on your birthday? 😟 ↳ yourusername well duh, i turned a year older! liked by albaps6

marialeonn16 And still Yn is my favourite putellas 🤪 ↳ yourusername i like you

bff1 my second family!! 😍 ↳ albaps6 yeah you're the deranged niece liked by yourusername

alexiaputellas My entire world in one picture 😊 ↳ albaps6 minus nala 🤣 ↳ yourusername wtf what about your girlfriend?????? ↳ alexiaputellas She's my entire universe. liked by yourusername ↳ albaps6 🤢

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marisabel_rguez: What's up? 🧤 Liked by sofie.svava, marialeonn16, bff3 and 12,377 other

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yourusername the sky ↳ bff1 i was just about to say that 😭 ↳ bff2 our friend group has four braincells in total, you both sometimes have none of those ↳ bff3 @/bff2 I wholeheartedly think you should give the two of us a little more credit than having only four? ↳ username1 oh hey y'all 🤔

yourusername i love seeing you in dark blue 😍 liked by marisabel_rguez ↳ yourusername oh and i'd say break a leg for the next match, but pls don't ): ↳ marisabel_rguez Everything better than your heart. This comment is no longer available ↳ bff1 yikes no, break her bed instead. This comment is no longer available

jennihermoso Siiiiii

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Text Message

m 💌 And aaaah you know what I love to see you in? Black! (or nothing) 😊 you somehow i knew this crossed your mind the second i commented m 💌 We know each other too well now, jajaja. you quick! think fast! what word am i thinking of? m 💌 Daisies? you ohhh valid, one of my favourites! m 💌 I know. you but no, cannoli of course m 💌 🙃😉🙂 you misa i will actually slap you m 💌 I'm stronger you i'm scrappy and grew up fighting with alba m 💌 Fair 😅 m 💌 I'm glad she forgave us faster than Alexia did. She's scary. you yea she looks all bark and no bite but she BITES. literally. still have a scar on my finger. m 💌 I need you to tell me that story one day. m 💌 So, do you bite too? Because I might be into that. you i think that you should know such things as my girlfriend 👋 m 💌 Aha... well, don't blame me. If we'd lived together I would have known 'such things' and more. you 😔 m 💌 I know. I miss you too. I wish we could live together though. you my work's here, love. i can't leave. and i don't think i can be without my family and friends just yet. i need them close. and you'll be busy all day and i know no one in madrid. m 💌 I know, I would never ask that of you. I just wish I could be around you more. Maybe I'm greedy or dramatic. I don't know. m 💌 I'll take the train to Barça as soon as I can. you no, my love. you already travel and work too much. i don't want you straining your mind and body, you have to take care of it. and you were here last time. i'll come when i can. m 💌 Alright, I know there's no talking you out of it, is there? you nope 😘 m 💌 Promise I'll see you soon? you promise! you i've got to run now. you better wear something dark blue next time i see you, byeeeee, i love you. m 💌 You better wear black or maybe just don't wear anything at all. Bye, querida, I love you more.

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yourusername: missing you 🌼🖤 Liked by marisabel_rguez, sofie.svava, ingridengen and 7,328 others

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bff2 amorrrrrr 🤗

sofie.svava a literal angel!! inside and out <3

janafernandez3 😍

alexiaputellas Muy guapa, laelia 💘

username1 Okay does that mean the anonymous flower sender has been you-know-who all this time? ↳ username2 WHAT, i'd almost forgotten about that! omfg! probably!! ↳ username3 what use does voldemort have buying flowers when he can't smell them

ingridengen Muy bonita 😚

liekemartens Liefie!!

salmaparalluelo The flowers!!?? ↳ yourusername 😇 ↳ ona.battle TELL US

username3 Okay 🔥

albaps9 hotshot 😎

username4 You? Who's you, ma'am?

marisabel_rguez Wearing black? ↳ yourusername yea, i was told i look good in it! ↳ marisabel_rguez Si, pero.... ↳ yourusername 🤫

bff1 ☺️

marialeonn16 My tiny laeliaaa 😊

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albaps9: hola, espwnt's biggest fans have touched down! (ft olga & yn 😗✌️) Liked by alexiaputellas, marisabel_rguez, jennihermoso and 783 others

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yourusername i'm still mad you stole my window seat ↳ albaps9 my luggage was lost for a day, so who wins?

marisabel_rguez 🤗🤝

marialeonn16 Missing you all!

alexiaputellas 🤩

alexiaputellas My favourite cheerleaders!

jennihermoso Oh great, now we'll definitely win with you clowns in the stands 😂 ↳ albaps9 😲 ↳ albaps9 be grateful we're here for you all!!!! ↳ alexiaputellas (They're only here for me, but sshh) liked by marisabel_rguez

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yourusername: 😊🇪🇸 Liked by alexiaputellas, liekemartens, marisabel_rguez and 4,398 others

liekemartens Next time we'll get you 😉🦁 ↳ yourusername you said that the last three times as well 🤭

marisabel_rguez Our good luck charm all day every day!

alexiaputellas My very own lucky charm since day one 🙂

albaps9 just a normal night of wag duties, hm? liked by 12 others

username1 lol ale and misa

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yourusername: 🖤 Liked by begovargas, alexiaputellas, sofie.svava and 1,293 others

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bff1 🖤 ↳ bff3 🖤 ↳ yourusername 🖤 ↳ bff2 🖤

begonavargas ily ❤️

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marisabel_rguez: Do you think it suits👔me? Liked by yourusername, haleyraso, bff2 and 16,352 others

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username1 the dad joke? no. the suit? HELL YES.

username2 🤤

username3 OOOOOh!!!

yourusername joooooder, dios mio! what the fuck!! This comment is no longer available ↳ yourusername WHY am i seeing this NOW? This comment is no longer available ↳ yourusername hostia puta, que es esto misa??? oye?? diga me! This comment is no longer available ↳ albaps9 oh now you've done it, you broke her 🤣 @/marisabel_rguez

↳ yourusername mami chula??? 😩📞 This comment is no longer available liked by marisabel_rguez ↳ alexiaputellas Callate, dios mio! You're embarrassing yourself. ↳ albaps9 you mean embarrassing you? 🤥 ↳ alexiaputellas Hmpf. Misa, I see that like. 🤨 liked by marisabel_rguez

username3 give me a gf who will drool over me like yn 😪

sofie.svava Looking gewd!

username4 Not Yn's fantasy coming to fruition 😂

username5 Yn's one moment away from saying i do lmaooo ↳ username6 At least Misa's already suited up 👀💍 ↳ username7 can you blame her??? ↳ username8 Looks like Alexia won, comments went ✨poof✨

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yourusername: recap of week 69 Liked by begovargas, albaps9, marisabel_rguez and 1,293 others

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albaps9 perdon?? como?? que???? 69-?? fucking hormonal teenager. what's up with you lately 🤣 ↳ albaps9 change the caption before ale sees it and the real fun starts

marisabel_rguez uuff 🤒

marisabel_rguez But don't lie...that was last week, no? ↳ yourusername oh yeah, whoopsies ↳ bff1 🕯escucha las palabras de las brujas de los secretos escondidos de la noche- 🕯

alexiaputellas The age I'll never reach because of the headaches you give me with captions and photos like these. ↳ yourusername disculpe 😇 ↳ alexiaputellas Sigh, you're happy, that's all that matters.

begovargas You cheek 🤣

janafernandez3 Prettyyyyy ✨

bff2 what was even the reason for that caption? 😆 ↳ bff3 It's time to buy a bigger freezer to put her in and help her cool down.

marialeonn16 How was the pizza? ↳ yourusername delish because it was made with love 😊

bff1 wiggle wiggle wiggle ↳ bff1 i still think my butt’s better

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↳ 5h ago: yourusername added to their story

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Direct Message

alexiaputellas Put your phone away, por favor YN. Safe travels, answer me when you get there and not earlier unless you need me ❤️

albaps9 vroom vroom go to your woman!!! 😊

marisabel_rguez Are you serious??? marisabel_rguez Wait if you left five hours ago, you'll be here so soon already?? marisabel_rguez Y/N!!! 😱 marisabel_rguez Fuck I love you so so so much, amor. marisabel_rguez And I love that sweater on you 😭 yourusername i know 😉 marisabel_rguez No, please don't text me until you're here, okay? I'd like to have you as my girlfriend for as long as I can. Be safe. Delivered.

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a/n: happy weekend everyone, here are some flowers to brighten your days! 🌼🌻🌸🌼🌻🌸🌼🌻🌸

#misa rodriguez x reader #misa rodriguez one shot #woso x reader #woso imagine #woso social media au

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taylormarieee · 4 months

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Unspoken Feelings...

Part 2.

social media au: Charlie Bushnell x Fem!Actress!Reader

| Y/N |

♡💬 Liked by Iamcharliebushnell, dior.n.goodjohn, walker.scobell and others

y/n- You guys thought I was done?🤭

↪walker.scobell- ok this one isn't as bad lol😄

leahsavajeffries- AHHHHH! It's meeeeee!

↪y/n- AHHHHHH! Its youuuuuu!

dior.n.goodjohn- I knew you loved me💋

↪y/n- Of course I love you! Your my twin duhh!

↪dior.n.goodjohn- 4 LIFERS!

Iamcharliebushnell- I'm think your just obsessed with me now🤷🏻‍♂️

↪y/n- Then you thought right👀

↪Iamcharliebushnell- I knew it! I'm irresistible I know😉

↪roseyposey- THEY ARE SO CUTE!

loveydoveydove- IKRRR! Like they need to get together already!

↪y/n- OMG Guys! Y'all are too cute. We are just good friends.

↪roseyposey-👀mhmmm ok girl

| Iamcharliebushnell |

♡💬 Liked by y/n, walker.scobell, dior.n.goodjohn and others

Iamcharliebushnell- Me and my boy!

walker.scobell- YESSIRRRRR!

dior.n.goodjohn- You guys looked sooo good!

aryansimhadri- Lookin sharp and fresh my boys!

y/n- You guys looked so cute, that was a fun night.

↪walker.scobell- Thanks!

↪Iamcharliebushnell- Thanks pretty girl

↪y/n- No problem guys!❤️

Iseethestars123- You guys look so good!

roseyposey- SO IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT CHARLIE'S RESPONSE TO Y/N???!!!

Leavemealone25- Girl, you still on about this?

↪roseyposey- I was never off of it! I will continue to e number one stan! Me and loveydoveydove

↪loveydoveydove- You got that right!

Messages between you and Charlie...

My Pookie Charlie💋

Friday, 7:20 pm

Charlie- Hey, have you seen the messages under our posts?

y/n- I mean yea I've seen them, I think there funny!

Charlie- People really ship us huh?

y/n- Well duh when you keep calling me pretty girl!

Charlie- Well you did call me pretty boy first!

y/n- I guess that's true. Oh well!

Charlie- Wdym Oh well!? They think we're dating.

y/n- So? Let them think what they want Charlie.

Charlie- Uhm ok. Wanna go out to eat?

y/n- I could never say no to you Charlie💕

y/n- An food of course!

Charlie- Lol! Ok I'll pick you up.

y/n- Ok! See ya then!

Read at 7:38pm

Taglist: @angelicdanvers @lizziesfirstwife @prettyinsatiable @reader-bookling123 @kneehe-nehar7 @urmomsbananabread @rhydianissuperior @repostingmyfavs @csifandom @angelinajolie0213 @leo-lvr @glorywielder101 @istillremberthefirstfallofsnow @mxtokko

#charlie bushnell x reader #charlie bushnell #luke castellan pjo #luke castellan #social media au #social media fic

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sserpente · 6 months

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So... about this weekend! 😉

I GOT TO HUG EVERY SINGLE COMPANION Y'ALL! 😭

Everyone was so lovely and sweet and kind, I can't believe this weekend was real!

Also, please tell me that you can HEAR the pictures I got with Neil! 🤣 Me just clinging to him like a koala and then losing my shit when he hit me with Astarion's voice and called me his consort. And I will positively never get over him calling me "darling" with Astarion's voice either, thank you. I've met him twice before that so he definitely already knew how easily he can make me fangirl right in front of him. 🤣

I will forever cherish this weekend. 💚

#astarion #baldurs gate 3 #bg3 #neil newbon #lae'zel #devora wilde #wyll ravengard #shadowheart #jaheira #halsin #amelia tyler #karlach #samantha beart #gale of waterdeep #tim downie #theo solomon #emma gregory #minthara

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shiro-s2e2-erukinzu · 4 months

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Anime only watchers and people who aren't caught up with the Manga, BEWARE... Cuz I'm about to discuss Spy X Family Mission 92... You have been warned...! 👌

[SPOILERS AHEAD FROM THIS POINT ON]

IT IS FINALLY TIME, Y'ALL...!!! 👏😆

Today's chapter has brought back some previous plot points that I and many others have been thinking about for quite some time now...!! 😌 So let's talk about it on this wonderful Christmas Eve, shall we...? 😉

Today's chapter begins with something that we knew was coming...:

...THE FINALS...!! 😤

Mentioned all the way back in Mission 42, we learned that if Anya does bad on the finals, she will be separated from Becky (and Damian), so it is extremely important for her to do well them...!! 😲 But she isn't the only one worried about the upcoming finals...

Of course Twilight would be stressing out about whether or not Anya will do well on the finals, but because on of certain goofy spy (last seen being already defeated in a tennis match in Mission 32), Twilight can't even cheat on the test for Anya anymore...:

(*Sniff* I'm so glad to see Daybreak again, even it's just flashback...!! 🥹)

But since Anya did quite well in Classical Language (also mentioned in Mission 42), Twilight wants her to work on that subject and believes that she could even get a Stella for it... Then this happened:

HAHAHA!!! 🤣😂 THIS HAD ME CACKLING!!

After Twilight lost all hope for his daughter to well on the finals, Authens show up and invite the Forgers to have some cookies!! 🍪

While at the Authens' place, we get a lot of interesting information about Authens, but the things that peaked my interest the most are that Mr. Authen taught neurology at the University that he used to work at and that him and Mrs. Authen moved back to Berlint to be close to their son and his family...!! 🤔

I don't know if either these things about the Authens will lead to anything, but I'll still be on my guard about them... (Especially about who might be their son...! 🤔)

Moving on, Sigmund starts to help Anya with Classical Language by *GASP* using something that she loves to help her with her studies...!! 😲 (Yes, I know Twilight to tried to teach Anya using Spy Wars before, but... He didn't do it properly [as seen in Short Mission 9, which was also mentioned in today's chapter as well...! 😄]) AND IT ACTUALLY SEEMS TO BE WORKING!!! 😆

And after some more studying, Sigmund congratulates Anya for all of her hard today:

The Forgers prepare to leave the Authens' place and Anya says that she'll keep coming to the Authens place to study (as long as they have cookies...! 😋) But then, Sigmund asks Anya what's her main goal after becoming an Imperial Scholar, and she says...:

AND SIGMUND GIVES HER A HUG FOR THAT ANSWER...!! 💗🥹💗

(I take back being suspicious of him, at least for now...! 😌)

Anya continues her training (I mean studying) with Sigmund until she ends up looking like Solid Snake...!! 👏🤣👏🤣👏🤣

Anya, you so crazy...!! 😂😂😂

After that, Anya heads off to school (with that permanent marker 5 o'clock shadow on her face 🤭) ready to take the finals...!! 😎 And then...:

WE HAVE TO WAIT & FOUND OUT HOW ANYA DID NEXT TIME ON ANYA BALL Z!!! 🌀

And that was Mission 92, a nice little on Christmas Eve that finally brought back things that haven't been brought up in while (like Daybreak...!! 😆) I loved that Anya was actually enjoying studying for once, thanks to Sigmund!! 😊 And to Twilight, I love you, but... THIS👏IS👏HOW👏YOU👏SHOULD👏HAVE👏APPROACHED👏ANYA👏WITH👏HER👏STUDIES!!!👏😤 My guy Twilight really doesn't understand children AT ALL (especially his own...!! 😌)

I truly don't think that the Authens are bad people after this chapter, but I still believe that they (particularly Sigmund) might have a dark past...!! 🤔 As for the mention of the Authens' having a son has got my theory brain a rolling...! 😵 But, my best guess of who their son could be is either he's Anya's biological father or one of the scientists that experimented on her... 👀

Anyway, I think that's all wanna say about this chapter...!! 😊 And if know me tomorrow is my favorite holiday, CHRISTMAS!! 😆 I probably won't be on Tumblr at all tomorrow, so until December 26th or the next Mission... Take care, be safe out there, be kind to one another, & HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!! 💗😆💗 SEE Y'ALL LATER!! 👋😊

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eleanor-bradstreet · 9 months

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Let Me Be Your Anchor

Chapter 2: The Masquerade

Benedict Bridgerton x Sophie Beckett An Offer From a Gentleman reimagined Chapter rating: G Word count: 8.1k Masterpost Previous chapter Next chapter

Author's Notes: THANK YOU for your incredible patience while I took forever to write this next chapter. It's the most daunting one in the whole story for me (and potentially the longest), and my summer has been full of travel and distractions. But I'm committed to keeping this story rolling! I do need to write chapter 3 which should be comparatively short, and then chapters 4-15 are already written and just need tweaking. Expect more frequent installments soon, though I do need a bit of time to focus on a Halloween fic for y'all 😉

As a reminder, text in italics are quotes from AOFAG and are the work of Julia Quinn.

Lastly, if we're manifesting things for Benophie in the show, the song I imagine them waltzing to at the masquerade is the VSQ cover of Young and Beautiful - it's so mysterious and romantic and gives voice to Sophie's anxieties. Enjoy 💙

Sophie was no stranger to courage. It was courage that had bolstered her through her lonely childhood at Penwood Park. Courage that enabled her to face each morning knowing she would most likely be subject to Araminta’s abuse. But what drove her to sneak into the Bridgerton masquerade was something different. Courage was an element of it, but she also had the odd and wonderful sensation that she was somehow destined to attend. A sort of magnetism pulling her back to Genevieve’s shop then down the street to the wisteria-clad manse glowing with candles in every window under a starlit night.

It had proven surprisingly easy to accomplish her ruse. She had dressed Cressida in her iridescent mermaid costume then helped Araminta into a garish Elizabethan gown. Both of them fussed and snipped at her, demanding assistance and criticizing when it was provided. Lord Cowper kept his ensemble comparatively simple with a black horned mask that Sophie found to be an accurate reflection of his true character. Soon enough all of them bundled into their carriage, leaving her alone for the evening. Sophie knew to make for the modiste’s shop as quickly as she could, and only dithered when it came to selecting the shoes Gen had told her to bring. Neither of her sorry two pairs would suffice for a ball which meant borrowing a pair from her employers. She felt safer using Cressida’s except they all proved too large, to the point Sophie knew she would be tripping over herself. Araminta’s shoes fit comparatively well but her stomach lurched at the thought she may discover they had been taken. She reminded herself that she was the one tasked with cleaning them so she could easily replace them once she returned. Memories of a stinging slap dealt that morning solidified her resolve and she selected a pair of silk slippers in a pale blue-grey with diamond clips that complemented the silver gown she knew was waiting for her.

Wrapped in a cloak, she had scurried to Gen’s door and the proud smile on her friend’s face gave her a burst of excitement for what was to come. The modiste slipped her into the finished gown, somehow impossibly more breathtaking than it had been before. Sophie couldn’t tear her eyes away from the mirrors in the shop, bewitched by how the fabric caught the light. Gen had procured all the trappings, outfitting her with elbow length silk gloves, starry earrings and jewels for her hair which she helped to coif atop her head in an elaborate style. She even swiped rouge on her cheeks and stain on her lips, something Sophie had never tried before, and by the time she was done Sophie didn’t recognize her reflection even before the demi-mask was fitted over her eyes. She was an elegant silver stranger and one who looked every bit deserving of entry to a ball.

With a kiss on the cheek Genevieve sent her out into the night and closed shop to attend a party of her own, the likes of which Sophie could only guess at. Though her heart was pounding as she treaded the cobblestones up to Bridgerton House, she knew it was from excitement as much as nerves, and when she was waved into the main hall without question, it nearly stopped altogether. It was a sight far better than she had imagined. A candlelit scene of ivory grandeur with masked guests milling across the lacquered floor and up the grand staircase, dancers in the center and towers of treats and champagne to each side. It felt as if she had stepped into a dream and she never wanted to wake up.

She was knocked from her reverie by a young lady who appeared at her side, costumed as a Grecian muse. “My, what a beautiful dress!” She commented.

Sophie swallowed, suddenly fearful that her very voice may betray her identity, but instinctively she responded. “Thank you.”

When the girl only smiled and moved away, she breathed a sigh of relief. Who here could possibly recognize her voice aside from the Cowpers? She scanned the room but they were nowhere to be found. The lady who had spoken to her was at a table by the wall selecting a dance card. Not wanting to attract suitors, Sophie moved past the cards and weaved her way toward the nearest refreshments. Her eyes were so fixed on the array of delicacies that she failed to register how many heads turned to watch her.

The tiered display before her boasted a variety of sweets unlike any Sophie had ever seen. Candies and fruits, chocolates and tarts, even ice cream were all for the taking. Until that moment the only treat she had ever eaten was marzipan, a controversial candy that both her father and the Cowpers kept on hand for guests but despised themselves and so were none the wiser when she snuck pieces. Spoiled for choice, she seized a raspberry tart and had to fight from moaning at its rich sweetness. Then she nibbled on a chocolate, then a lemon cake before she stopped herself, realizing it would be unladylike to gorge herself and thereby risk revealing that she did not belong. She switched to a flute of champagne, another luxury she had never sampled before but quite enjoyed, and began to move about the perimeter of the room.

The sea of costumes was so varied and elaborate, Sophie felt confident she did not stand out too drastically. Among the women there were queens and faeries, flowers and creatures of myth, all hidden behind demi-masks or veils. The gentlemen presented as an array of devils and jesters, satyrs and knights if they weren’t simply wearing their tails and a mask. Sophie listened in on their snippets of conversation. Courtship gossip among the women and business among the men. The young ladies whispered their opinions of the bachelors and the bachelors largely stayed silent unless they were mumbling about retiring to the smoking room. Behind them in the center of the hall were the dancers, swishing over a bee motif painted onto the parquet floor. The song was a sprightly one, spurring couples to hop around their partners while grasping hands and looping arms in a complex sequence. Sophie was transfixed, marveling at how it reminded her of a music box come to life. Everything was a feast for the senses: the twinkle of the candles, the strings of the musicians, the bubbles that tickled her tongue and the silk that wrapped around her skin. This was the life she had read about in Whistledown. This was the life she could have had as her father’s daughter if things were ever so slightly different.

A footman collected her empty glass and she felt herself calming. But that calm was immediately shattered when she noticed not one, not two, but three young gentlemen approaching her from various points in the room. It was then she realized that card or no, they would ask her to dance. It was also when she remembered that she did not know how to dance. And it was then that she began to chastise herself for forgetting this crucial fact before sneaking into a ball. She had been so caught up in the thrill of simply observing the masquerade and so used to being overlooked that she had not contemplated the possibility that a man may ask her to dance. If she attempted to, it would immediately become obvious that she was an imposter. Her mind started to race, eyes pinging between the three admittedly handsome gentlemen who drew closer and closer, looking at her as if she were a piece of meat and they were starving lions. There was nothing for it - she would have to hide. Backing away as gracefully as she could, she scurried around a cluster of guests, lifted two more flutes of champagne and darted down a hall where open french doors promised a swift escape.

---

[Shift to Benedict’s POV as written at the beginning of Chapter 2 of AOFAG. He is begrudgingly attending the masquerade, aggravated that he cannot be distinguished from his brothers.

…he sometimes wished he were considered a little less a Bridgerton and a little more himself.

Violet asks him to dance with Penelope who is unfortunately dressed as a peacock. On his way, he is cornered by rude debutantes.

“A Bridgerton!...Which are you? No, don’t say. Let me guess. You’re not the viscount, because I just saw him. You must be Number Two or Number Three.”]

Grimacing his way out of yet another insulting and inane conversation, Benedict tucked himself into a corner under the stairs. He should have pushed forward to go humor Penelope Featherington but he had lost sight of her and he didn’t know if he would be able to bite his tongue through one more chance interception by an air-headed debutante or her mama. All of these ladies simpering over a man who they could not name while their mothers’ half-smiles betrayed that they saw him as little more than a consolation prize now that his titled brother was taken. He pitied them, knowing it was what they were all raised to do. But he also pitied himself for being the focus of their attentions. He supposed it was inevitable that he would find himself playing the marriage mart one day and it was precisely as miserable as he had imagined it would be, if not more. But having failed in his pursuit of art, the one thing that had stirred true and enduring passion within him, what else was he supposed to do? Perhaps a wife would make him feel grounded, grant him a new sense of purpose. But none of the young ladies he had met throughout the painfully long London season had been able to produce any feeling in him that was even a fraction of what he felt when he daubed oils on canvas, or sketched a flower, or studied a Turner sky.

With a rueful smirk he wondered if he would fail at becoming a husband too. He hadn’t the merits to get into the Royal Academy without a bribe; perhaps he didn’t have the merits to succeed at the marriage mart either. As eager as the women were to throw themselves at his feet, he didn’t know if he could hide his true feelings well enough to make it to an altar. Feelings of disappointment, lack of inspiration, and invisibility. The dreadful suspicion that he was not destined for the productive life of artistry he had always imagined. He was only a Bridgerton, one of many, and the most he could hope to achieve was some form of domestic happiness, if any woman would tie herself to such an empty shell of a man.

His stomach sank as he heard his surname giggled in a nearby pack of debutantes. It was all too much, he needed fresh air. As he turned toward the back hall he felt an odd tingling sensation in his limbs and all of his focus seemed to narrow on the french doors. Perhaps he had drunk too much, perhaps it was too hot in the room, but it was not an unpleasant feeling. Rather, it was a feeling of certainty. Certainty that he must go outside and his feet were itching to carry him there. He did not protest and in a moment he was through the doors and in the cool air of the back garden.

On instinct he walked toward the massive elm tree, planning to rest on the swings hanging from its branches. Scattered torches and a pearlescent full moon helped to illuminate the garden, making it a peaceful respite from the crush of people inside. He assumed he was alone but realized he was mistaken when he rounded the rose bushes and beheld an odd sight. It was a woman standing on the paving stones with her back to him. She was dressed in a silver gown, antiquated in style but made of the most mesmerizing fabric that seemed to absorb the very moonlight and make her glow. Her head was turned toward a large window of the house through which could be seen the dancing couples inside. She was mimicking them, slowly, jerkily, raising her arms and stepping to and fro with an invisible partner, stumbling every few steps and then hissing at herself as she tried to match the movements once again. It was clear she was trying to learn the dance and failing spectacularly.

Benedict couldn’t tear his eyes away. Even without seeing her face he could tell she was a beauty. But more than that, she was the most curious creature he had come across at any event of the ton. So many questions immediately arose. Who was she? How atrocious had her dancing master been? Why wasn’t she chaperoned? Whatever the story was, he simply had to know it.

He stepped closer and cleared his throat, hoping not to frighten her.

“Are you in need of a partner?”

“Oh!” Instantly she whipped around and nearly jumped a foot in the air.

Benedict’s breath caught in his throat. He had been right about her beauty, it was evident even behind her demi-mask. But it wasn’t simply the trappings of her stunning gown, glimmering jewelry or scarlet lips. It was innate, some kind of light that animated her from within. It called to him like a lighthouse across a stormy sea and he was transfixed. He had never experienced such a powerful sensation upon first seeing a woman. Sophie stuttered, embarrassed to have been discovered tromping around in the garden and nervous that her behavior was about to reveal her as a trespasser. The fact that her inquisitor was tall, dark and handsome was also causing her mind to stall. She offered a meager explanation. “I…I am not familiar with this step, so I was…trying to learn.”

Her voice was the sweetest music Benedict had ever heard. It made him feel weightless, electrified. Akin to how his favorite landscapes left him gaping in awe, but even more visceral. He realized he was staring at her, agog, and snapped himself back to attention. “And you did not want to ask any of the gentlemen inside to teach you?”

“I didn’t want to seem silly. Though I suppose, I have already failed at that.” She dropped her eyes and blushed and Benedict felt heat surge through his own skin at seeing its beautiful hue. What was it about her that made him falter when every other young lady made him want to run? Who on earth was she?

“I don’t recognize you. The same array of people always come to these parties.”

“Ah, then my disguise is working well.” She arched a brow with a mischievous little grin.

Benedict felt his stomach flip with delight. “What is your name?”

Sophie prickled. She would need to be crafty with her answers to maintain her anonymity. The consequences of being discovered were dire, but perhaps that was what gave it an undeniably exciting edge. She had learned to hide herself in plain sight with the Cowpers. Surely this wouldn't be much harder. “Is a degree of mystery not the purpose of a masquerade?”

His lopsided smile set her at ease. He wouldn’t interrogate her; he was amiable.

“Very true. So you are going to make me guess?”

“I think it would be a fruitless endeavor.”

Benedict marveled at the beautiful stranger as the intrigue grew deeper. She was the first debutante who had reacted to him with anything other than fawning desperation. She was playful. She was a breath of fresh air.

He stepped closer, folding his arms as he looked her up and down. “Well, you have already given me a significant clue. A young lady in society who does not know the quadrille. That is unique indeed.” She straightened her mask and he noticed her unadorned wrist. “And no dance card. You are truly committed to remaining as anonymous as possible.”

“All in the spirit of the event.” She turned quickly and walked to a nearby table where two flutes of champagne sat unattended. She drank down the remnants of one a bit too eagerly, betraying her nerves.

“Is someone joining you?” Benedict wondered if he had interrupted the flirtations of another suitor. If so, the man was a fool to take his eyes off such a creature for even a moment.

Sophie followed his gaze to the second glass and felt herself flush at being caught indulging so brazenly. She picked it up and carried it back to him. Now that he knew she could not dance, she could relax and enjoy his conversation at least.

“You have joined me, Mister…?”

He accepted the glass and huffed a laugh. “Oh come now, my disguise is not nearly as good as yours. You don’t have to be so coy.”

The woman continued to stare at him blankly and the puzzle of her grew infinitely more bewildering. Could it be possible that she truly did not recognize him? Even if this was her first event among the ton, she could not have failed to hear his name on every other woman’s lips as they chased him through the ballroom. Nor could she be so ignorant about her hosts. They were at his bloody house after all.

His brow knitted in disbelief. “You truly do not know who I am?”

“There you are!” A voice called out suddenly.

Sophie’s stomach lurched into her throat. She’d been found out. She’d be thrown into the street, and tomorrow probably into jail for stealing Araminta’s shoes, and–

A second man marched around the rose bushes also in tails and a black demi-mask, shorter and broader than the first but also remarkably handsome. He stomped up to confront the other.

“Mother has been looking all over for you. You weaseled out of your dance with Penelope and I had to take your place.”

The taller man smirked. “And did that put you out terribly, brother?”

Sophie looked from one man to the other. Even under their demi-masks, the familial relationship was more than obvious, and she realized in a blinding flash that they must be the famed and coveted Bridgerton brothers. But which brother was her visitor? Benedict. He had to be Benedict. She sent a silent thank you to Lady Whistledown, who’d once written a column completely devoted to the task of telling the Bridgerton siblings apart. Benedict, she recalled, had been singled out as the tallest. Sophie began to assess him anew, the most eligible bachelor in the ton. Remembering that Gen had shared a dalliance with him, she could understand the appeal.

“It was better than any of the alternatives, I must say,” The man who must have been Colin Bridgerton shrugged. “If you flee the party and leave me to that pack of she-devil debutantes, I swear I shall exact revenge to my dying day.”

Benedict laughed and Colin turned to Sophie with a start, realizing that they were not alone. “Oh pardon, present company excluded. I apologize, Miss.”

He bowed politely and she returned her best curtsy.

“No offense taken, sir.”

The annoyance melted out of his eyes - a captivating shade of blue - and his voice grew silky as he stepped toward her. “Might I request an introduction?”

“I doubt you’ll meet with success.” Benedict snickered. “I would like one as well but the lady is committed to the spirit of the event and will not share her name.”

Colin frowned at her playfully. “Not even a false one?”

Sophie grinned, enjoying their little game. She had never received so much attention from any member of the upper class, much less two suave and flirtatious bachelors. It made her bold. “If you really insist, I suppose I could tell you something.”

“But not the truth?” Benedict asked.

“This isn’t a night for truth.”

Colin leaned in with a devilish smirk. “My favorite kind of night.”

Benedict rolled his eyes and tugged his brother upright. “Shouldn’t you be with Penelope?”

At this, the younger grew flustered. “I…well…”

“It would be the honorable thing to do, making sure the young lady is asked to more than just one dance this evening.” At the end of his argument Benedict folded his bottom lip into an exaggerated pout and Sophie felt her insides flutter.

Colin seemed possessed by a new sense of chivalry. “Very well, I’ll take my leave. And fight back through the pack of ravenous wolves…”

“Wolves?” Sophie laughed, turning to Benedict. “Is that what drove you out of doors as well, sir?”

“I suspect it is.” Colin grinned and clapped a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Our mother would like nothing better than to see this one married off.”

“Brother…” Benedict’s grip tightened around the champagne flute.

“Would you take pity on the poor, long-suffering woman and chase him up the aisle?” Colin shot a wink at Sophie.

“Have you been at the tea again?” Benedict grumbled under his breath, staring daggers.

Sophie couldn’t remember being so entertained before. “I believe I shall have to get to know him better first, and take the full measure of his character before any chasing shall commence.”

Her co-conspirator released a loud sigh. “Then alas, I fear he may be found wanting and remain a bachelor forever.”

“Are you quite finished?” Benedict snipped.

Sensing the end of his patience, Colin slapped him on the back and desisted. “I am.” He turned to Sophie with a beaming smile and bowed once more. “Enjoy your evening.” Then he was gone as quickly as he had appeared, leaving them alone in the garden.

Sophie allowed a giggle to escape. “It is charming to see two brothers who get on so well.”

Benedict took a large swig of champagne. “You’d call that getting on?”

“I would.” Sophie smiled softly. “I have no siblings myself but it’s clear the jesting stems from a place of love.” Indeed, Sophie felt herself surrounded by love at this house. A love of family and community that she had always longed for but always been denied. It was bittersweet to be wrapped in it, knowing it would only last for one evening.

He quirked a brow. “Another clue. She has no siblings.”

“That cannot be that rare.” Sophie spluttered, chastising herself for her misstep.

“It certainly narrows the options.”

“Well, it is the last thing I shall share about my identity.” She set her chin defiantly and Benedict found it to be quite the most adorable expression. Now he was determined to know everything about her, however long he had to play her game.

He stepped toward her again, lowering his voice. “Why so many secrets?”

“I told you, this entire night is meant for secrets. Though I believe I have uncovered yours.” Sophie said with an enigmatic smile, truly warming to her role as a mysterious stranger.

“Oh yes?”

“I know who you are.”

Benedict shrugged. “I assumed as much.”

“I didn’t at first,” she confessed.

“What gave me away?” With no discernable parents shoving her in his direction, Benedict wondered how she had deduced it.

Sophie grinned, victorious. “The fact that you are here with your brother. That you look so alike. And are both being hounded by the young ladies.”

“We look alike even with masks on?”

“Even with masks,” she nodded. “Lady Whistledown writes about the Bridgerton brothers quite often, and she never passes up an opportunity to comment upon how alike you look.”

Ah, she was a Whistledown reader, though that didn’t help him parse her identity among the young ladies of the ton. He had never read the scandal sheet himself but was unsurprised that it contained discussions of the Bridgerton resemblance. He had heard it all his life, how similar he was to his two eldest brothers. The three of them were often called by the others’ names, even by their own mother on occasion, with everyone typically defaulting to assuming they were all Anthony, the Viscount. He and Colin had used it to their advantage from time to time, wielding perceived status to get preferential treatment or making handshake deals to embroil Anthony in some ludicrous business venture. He of course could see the clear distinctions between each of them but it seemed society could not. If anything, he knew he most closely resembled his late father and it caused the greatest pain when someone slipped and called Benedict by his name. It was all something he had learned to live with. He loved his family dearly but his visibility as a Bridgerton often made him feel invisible as Benedict.

He steeled himself to be wounded again by this lady in silver. “And do you know which brother I am?”

“Benedict,” she smiled brightly. His heart skipped hearing his name on her lips. In the soft glow she cast, he finally felt seen. “If indeed Lady Whistledown is correct when she says that you are the tallest among your brothers.”

He swallowed to try and hide his excitement. “You’re quite the detective.”

She shrugged. “I merely read a gossip sheet. It makes me no different from the rest of the people here.”

He wanted to chuckle at how she voiced his precise thoughts aloud. Perhaps she was an enchantress with the power to read minds. Whoever she was, dream or reality, he needed to know more. Downing the rest of his champagne, he set the glass aside and moved closer, trying to study the contours of her face and color of her eyes behind her mask.

“And if Lady Whistledown were here and saw you tonight, would she know your identity?”

The woman backed away, playfully but pointedly drifting across the grass toward the elm tree. “I’m so well disguised that no one would recognize me right now.”

He continued his pursuit. “What if you removed your mask? Would she recognize you then?”

“I’m not going to answer that.” She walked backward slowly, always staying paces ahead of him.

He returned her wry smile. “I didn’t think you would, but I had to ask nonetheless. Dare I ask what else you know about me from Whistledown?”

“Are you fishing for compliments?”

Sophie’s nerves were running haywire at being chased with such evident intent by a gentleman. And not just any gentleman, but Benedict Bridgerton himself. She had never planned to flirt nor attract the attention of gentlemen at the ball. She had only wanted to observe it, to soak in the atmosphere, to forget the life of Sophie Beckett for a few hours. But now the most coveted man in the ton - a man far more charming and beautiful than she had presumed - was stalking toward her with hungry eyes. She should have been terrified at being discovered or even compromised, but she wasn’t. She was enjoying this. Perhaps she could blame the champagne for the heated, buzzing feeling throughout her body but whatever it was, it left her heady with confidence and craving more.

Something bumped into the back of her legs and she turned to see that she was standing by a pair of swings hanging from the branches of the looming tree above. He had her cornered. But he was nothing but a gentleman as he held the swing steady and gestured for her to sit. With the volume of her skirt she could do little but perch on the seat and hold onto the ropes to keep her balance. He lowered himself onto the swing next to hers and rocked lightly to and fro with a cheeky glint in his eyes.

“If I cannot know anything about you, at least I might know what you know about me.”

Sophie pondered a moment. Her immediate thoughts were what Genevieve had shared. That he was sensitive, talented and good. But of course she could not reveal that she had learned such things. She had to rely on what had been reported in Whistledown, which had conveniently been confirmed by Colin. “Your name has not been seriously linked with any young lady, and your mother despairs of ever seeing you married.”

The way his shoulders slumped banished her assumption that he simply didn’t want to end a rakish bachelor lifestyle. The burden to marry weighed on him more heavily for some reason.

“The pressure has lessened a bit now that my brother’s gone and gotten himself a wife,” he explained.

“The Viscount?”

“Mmmm,” he nodded. “And anyway, I’m sure at some point I’ll find the lady suitable enough to keep my house and bear my children.” He kicked at the grass, dispirited.

“Among the ravenous wolves?” Sophie chuckled, trying to brighten the mood and coax the truth out of him. “It sounds as if that traditional sort of life would be unappealing to you.”

Benedict shook himself out of his ruminations and sat up straight. He felt so at ease with this mysterious guest that he had let the mask of debonair suitor slip. He must be cautious in revealing his true feelings especially if he hoped to secure her hand, the only one that was making the prospect of marriage seem in any way appealing. He spluttered, “Well…I only…”

She cut him off. “Do not worry about offending me, Mr. Bridgerton. I am not here to find a husband and I’d much rather have your honesty than your flattery.”

Who on earth was this miraculous woman? A young lady who was not scheming for a proposal but rather seeking to know him better. The first and only he had encountered in the marriage mart. He felt as if he had discovered a unicorn and effortlessly opened his heart to her.

“I suppose there are other pursuits in life that interest me. To travel the Continent and see the artworks of the great masters. To seek out beauty in all its forms and capture it. To do something worthwhile with myself, have an occupation. Shocking as that may be, I feel that I would find it fulfilling.”

While his desires may have confused many of her peers, the lady in silver only smiled. “I think it’s admirable for anyone to hold an occupation. It shows a great deal of character, not to mention independence. And in this independent life of yours, there would be no room for a wife?”

“I didn’t say that,” he clarified. “I have never disdained romance, as it appears you do. If you’re not here to find a husband, then what are you here for?”

“To enjoy myself.”

“Simple enough,” he smirked.

“Yes,” she sighed. “If only I knew how to dance.” The pointed challenge in her eyes lit a spark within him. She was a smart little thing, a force to be reckoned with. He would not shy away. He bounced to his feet and stood before her.

“I would teach you gladly but be forewarned, I will teach you badly. I never took to it.”

Sophie laughed. “Have you two left feet, Mr. Bridgerton?”

“Why do you think I find myself still unmarried?”

“Surely your dancing skills cannot be that atrocious. Could it be you have some nefarious personality traits that are driving the women away?”

Benedict sniggered. “Hmmmm. Perhaps I am too rakish. Too predisposed to indulgences.”

“Does that not describe just about every gentleman in the ton?”

“Are you saying that I’m indistinguishable?” His lip folded into a hilarious pout again.

Sophie was enjoying their sparring immensely. “I’m saying it must truly be your dancing that is to blame.”

Then he bent and extended his hand. “Let me show you and you can judge for yourself.”

She rose with a rustle of silver skirts and allowed Benedict to guide her back across the lawn to the paving stones, the two of them walking in comfortable silence. She felt like a princess - a reckless princess - and so when he asked her to dance, she put her hand in his. And even though she knew that this entire evening was a lie, that she was a nobleman’s bastard and a countess’s maid, that her dress was borrowed and her shoes practically stolen - none of that seemed to matter as their fingers entwined. For this moment, at least, Sophie could pretend that this gentleman could be her gentleman. It was nothing but a dream, but it had been so terribly long since she’d let herself dream.

Standing across from the house window once more, they turned to face each other. Sophie swallowed hard, suddenly aware of how tall and how close he was. The moonlight shone behind him, cutting a striking silhouette with glinting pale blue eyes set behind his black mask. Never releasing her hand, he guided it into place.

“Put your hand here on my shoulder. Just a touch lower, there you are.”

Then his hands moved, one to her waist and one to extend their arms to the side. Sophie couldn’t help but shudder at the expanse of his grasp.

Benedict dropped his voice, instructing gently. “Now, listen to the music. Do you feel it rising and falling?”

Drifting out from the house Sophie could hear the musicians’ strings playing something light and hopeful. She concentrated and began to sense its rhythmic pattern.

“I feel it.”

Benedict smiled. “Good. Now watch my feet and let me lead you. One, two, three; one, two, three.”

As if on queue Sophie stumbled after just a moment, tripping over Benedict’s feet. “Oh! I’m sorry!”

His hold tightened around her to keep her from falling but he couldn’t help bursting into laughter. “See? I am an awful teacher. Perhaps you should return to watching the dancers inside. What are they doing now?”

Sophie couldn’t keep the smile from spreading across her own face, realizing she had never met such a good humored man. A nobleman who didn’t scold her for a misstep and even blamed himself instead. He was so playful, so easy to talk to. Despite the outrageous risk she was taking with this entire evening, she had never been more comfortable around a member of the gentry. She turned to peer into the ballroom and watched the flurry of dancing couples moving around one another. Their hands and arms entwined in a series of looping motions, palms meeting to raise over their heads before sliding back down to wrap around the ladies’ shoulders.

Knowing they were entirely unsuited to the task and giggling at each other with mischief in their eyes, she and Benedict attempted to mimic - or rather mock - the dancers inside. They grasped at each other’s elbows and wrists, fumbling to change holds and laughing as they found themselves tied in ridiculous knots and unable to glide into the next motion. Benedict pranced like a peacock and overexaggerated a deep bend of the knee as the men inside artfully swept a leg behind themselves. Next, the ladies twirled, grasping the mens’ hands and floating in a circle to revolve around their backs. Benedict extended his hand with a flourish, Sophie took it and then began skipping like a child around him, skirts bunched in her fist. They were laughing so much she was sure the champagne was to blame, which was practically confirmed when she rounded Benedict’s other side and promptly tripped on her dress, pitching to the ground.

But he caught her, swiftly and easily moving to cradle her in his arms. Their laughter died away as they gazed at one another, catching their breath. For the first time Benedict was close enough to determine the color of her eyes - they were green. A deep emerald green that sparkled as richly as her silver costume. He was nearly overcome with their light and the feeling of how perfectly she fit in his arms. Barely keeping his wits about him, he lifted her gently back to her feet.

“Lord, I never expected to find the one person worse at dancing than me,” he chuckled, trying to tame the maelstrom of emotions swirling within.

The woman returned a shaky smile. “Well I hope it serves as a boost to your confidence.”

The tremor in her voice gave him a glint of hope. Could she be feeling the same way he did? Did she too sense an overwhelming connection between them? Something he was ready to label as destiny. She hadn’t spurned any of his advances. No indeed she had flirted back at him, toying and challenging, matching his wits and his energy. She was not eager to marry him for his family or position, she was able to pick him out among his brothers and she supported his dream to do more with his life than simply wile away in domesticity. She made him laugh, she made him feel alive, she made him feel visible. Everything he had been searching for and had abandoned hope of ever finding, all embodied by a nameless lady in silver who had appeared in his garden like a gift from the heavens. She was a star, and he wanted to pick her up and hang her in his sky to guide him.

He stepped close and wrapped an arm around her waist, just wanting to hold her again. “Shall we try again? In earnest?”

Sophie was transfixed, something blooming inside her chest from the moment he caught her. This already exceptional night had taken so many unexpected turns. She had never expected to speak at length with any attendee of the ball, much less the most prized bachelor in society. And she certainly never expected a private audience with him for the whole evening, nor the feelings it would stir within her. So quickly he had banished her assumptions of what such a man would be like. He was nowhere near as snobbish as she imagined he had a right to be, nor was he the dour figure she had supposed when Gen told her he probably disdained attention. He was passionate, animated, with a comic disposition and a large heart. He disdained attention because he wanted more and felt out of place - feelings she could relate to very well indeed. He was good-natured, forgiving, gentle. And as if that weren’t enough, he was the most handsome man she had ever seen despite that she could only view half of his face beneath his mask. Though she knew the Bridgerton siblings were famed for their looks and she had only seen one brother to compare him to, she knew that Benedict would always have drawn her eye above all.

She was in danger of losing her heart to him. She feared it may have already happened. But there was no happy ending to this story. She could not reveal herself nor enjoy his company for any longer than this one night. But with his arm around her and his blue eyes holding hers so warmly, she could not bring herself to care. The musicians inside were playing a new song, something resonant and soulful, full of longing and magic. She would fit an entire lifetime into this night.

“Alright, one last go.” Bringing one hand to his shoulder and lacing the other with his, she took her position and stared down at their feet again.

“Look up,” Benedict encouraged.

She shook her head. “I will stumble.”

“You won’t. I won’t let you. Look into my eyes.”

She followed his soft command and raised her eyes to meet his. Mesmerized, she couldn’t look away. She could barely breathe. She was dimly aware that they were moving, that he was guiding her through a waltz slowly and fluidly. Suddenly their feet knew precisely how to carry them. Benedict never blinked, determined never to let this silver blessing out of his sight or his arms until she understood how she had enchanted him. Everything around them was bathed in moonlight, making her shimmer like a precious jewel in his hands.

“What do you feel?”

“Everything,” she breathed.

“What do you hear?”

“The music. I hear the music as I’ve never heard it before.” She moved light on her feet, the romantic call of the strings making it seem as if she were floating across the paving stones.

Benedict’s heart was pounding, desperate for her answer to his next question. “What do you see?”

Sophie froze, paralyzed by the impossibility of putting it into words. As their steps gently stopped and they stood inches apart, everything about him was thrown into sharp focus. She saw everything she had never dared to hope for. A man who showed interest, a man who was kind, a man who could free her from her miserable life. If only she was not who she was. Her skin tingled where he touched her, and the air grew thick and hot. This was desire, Sophie realized. This was what she’d heard fellow maids whispering about. This was what no gently bred lady was even supposed to know about. But she was no gently bred lady, she thought defiantly. She was a bastard, a nobleman’s by-blow. She was not a member of the ton and never would be. Did she really have to abide by their rules?

As Benedict’s lips parted and his head lowered toward her, she knew he was moving to kiss her and she would allow it. She craved it. It was enough to ruin a reputation, but what sort of reputation did she have to begin with? She was outside society and she wanted one night of fantasy. One kiss to savor for the rest of her pitiful existence.

Their breaths gusted across each other’s skin, lips barely an inch apart. Sophie was certain her heart was thundering loud enough that he may hear it. The music swelled. She closed her eyes. Then she felt his long, slender fingers cup her face and begin to slip under the ribbon tying her mask.

Alarm bells sounded in her mind and she lurched backward, bringing a hand to press her mask firmly to her face. She could not be discovered. Despite how everything in her body was crying out for him, she would not allow it. In the commotion a lock of her hair fell loose and dangled over her shoulder. After securing her mask she began trying to pin her hair back in place, fingers slipping in her silk gloves.

Benedict stood befuddled, watching her fumble with her gloves and hairpins. She was truly committed to not revealing her identity. A thought flashed through his mind that perhaps she was hiding some kind of deformity. At this point, he did not care. It would not make him feel anything less toward her and he was determined to woo her.

“Blasted things…” Sophie cursed under her breath as her hair continued to slip out of her grasp.

“Allow me.” Benedict reached forward and softly took her wrist, slowly sliding the glove down from her elbow to pull it off. Sophie stood trembling as he kept her hand in his and brushed his thumb across her knuckles, their skin meeting for the first time. Then he bent, keeping his eyes locked on hers as he pressed a deep, warm kiss to the back of her hand. Her breath hitched, feeling an electric current spider out from his lips across every inch of her skin. This was already a bold move but he took it even further, turning her hand over and lavishing her palm with another sensuous kiss - making his intentions clear without a single word.

“Who are you?” Benedict rasped. “I have to know.”

“I can’t say.” Sophie felt torn in two - her heart and body tugging her forward into his arms while her mind and reason held her back.

Benedict felt the heat rising under his collar. He didn’t want to learn her name simply to beat her at her game. He wanted it so that he could know who had stolen his heart so quickly and completely. So that he could keep her in his life and sing her praises. He would not end the evening without making his feelings known.

He gripped her hand tighter, pressing in close, his voice urgent. “I want to see you tomorrow. I want to call on you and meet your parents. Do you understand what I’m saying? I need to know you. I want…”

“Don’t say anything more! Please. Not another word.” Sophie cut him off, tears pricking at her eyes. This was all a mistake, a dreadful mistake. She never should have remained in the garden with Benedict, should never have flirted with him, should never have let it go this far.

“Then tell me your name,” he pleaded desperately. “Tell me how to find you tomorrow.”

The sobs were rising from her throat, anguished at how much pain she was causing them both. At how unfair it all was. “I…”

Her voice was drowned out by a booming clang from within Bridgerton House, followed by the guests inside erupting into cheers and laughter.

“What is that?”

“Midnight. Time for the unmasking.” Benedict explained, turning to her with hopeful eyes.

“Unmasking?” Sophie’s mind whirred, horrified. No one had ever mentioned an unmasking. It wasn’t reported in Whistledown and Gen hadn’t warned her. Perhaps it was something that everyone of good breeding inherently knew about a masquerade. Clearly she was not one of them. She had been so wrong to attempt this, so ill-prepared for what would happen. Now she would be out of place for not revealing herself.

As she panicked over what to do, Benedict pulled off his own mask and her crisis deepened. He was beautiful. Impossibly more beautiful now that she could see the boyish mirth in his face, the inquisitive slant of his brow, the way his crystal blue eyes were framed by the most endearing creases, evidencing a lifetime of smiles.

Benedict’s hope deflated as the woman stared at him, stock-still. “Are you alright?”

“I have to go,” she choked, barely audible. Then she gathered her skirts in her hands, turned and fled into the house.

“Wait!” Benedict leapt after her, feeling like a man possessed. He could not lose her, the only woman who had stirred him to the depths of his soul. The only one who he could be prevailed upon to marry. She held his future. She held his heart. He couldn’t let them vanish.

He tore back through the house, catching glimpses of her silver form sweeping around each corner. She was remarkably fast. He burst into the ballroom and had to scan to find her among the riot of costumes and noise. The candlelight glinted off her dress as she pushed steadily through the crowd, already halfway to the door, and he dove in after her. He abandoned any care of being polite and began shouldering his way past guests, even knocking into his brother Anthony who promptly began to admonish him but Benedict pressed on, deaf to anything but the chanting in his mind. No, no, no. He could not lose her.

Sophie dipped and sashayed around the crush of partygoers, moving as quickly as she could for the exit but not wanting to cause a scene. The genteel crowd proved their manners by parting easily as she passed. She cast glances back over her shoulder, seeing Benedict trying to catch up with her but people were less inclined to clear the way for a man. Her heart was in her throat, unsure if she could escape without being caught by Benedict or the Cowpers or anyone else who found her behavior curious. The large front doors were in sight and she turned one final time to see Benedict’s path blocked suddenly by a severe looking woman with a scarlet costume and a cane. She would make it.

Barely maintaining composure, she slowed her pace as she approached the doors and nodded politely to the footmen who opened them and ushered her out into the cool night. She scurried down the stairs, mask still on her face as she began to soak it with tears. Confused and frantic, she gave over to her instincts which were drawing her away from Grosvenor Square and back to the modiste shop. Though she knew it was her only course of action and she knew she had let the entire evening get out of hand, she couldn’t help but feel fractures splintering her heart with each hurried footfall on the cobblestones.

Tagging: @angels17324 @bridgertontess @broooookiecrisp @secretagentbucky @eg-dr3amer3 @time-to-hit-the-clouds @lyta2323 @autumn-grace @sadprose-auroras @the-other-art-blog @yellowprimrose @colettebronte @heeyyyou @musicismyoxygen84 @faye-tale

#let me be your anchor #an offer from a gentleman #benedict bridgerton x sophie beckett #benedict bridgerton fanfiction #sophie beckett fanfiction #benophie #benophie fanfiction #benedict bridgerton #sophie beckett #bridgerton #bridgerton fanfiction #head canon #masquerade

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missstratford · 8 months

Text

Queen of my heart

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

A/N: chap 2 is finally here!! This one might a bit longer than the previous chap, so enjoyyy. Ofc Y/n and Andromeda being true queens in this one. Also a lil surprise for y'all cuz I promised smtg spicy in the last chap 😉😉

The dare was quite simple according to James, all he had to do was make the first person who walked into the great hall that morning to fall for him. "Oh give me a proper challenge Avery, half of hogwarts is already in love with me." He had scoffed the last night. As the gang of Gryffindors sat, gazing intently at the large doors, James wished Lily would walk by giving him another reason to court her. That's when you happened.

You walked into the great hall, eyes landing immediately on the warm pumpkin pasties at your table. You failed to notice the annoyance marring James' face as you sild onto your seat. "Oh mate, a slytherin" Frank guffawed. "Nevermind, it'll barely take me two days and you'll see her obsessed with me." James quickly recovered from his disappointment. "Isn't she the one from the library?” remus asked between mouthfuls of eggs. " Like i said," James stood up, stretching, "two days" He grinned and made his way to the slytherin table. Let the games begin.

"Good morning there sunshine." You heard a foreign voice next to you. Choosing to ignore it, you continued to read your book. "Oo pumpkin pasties, I lo-" You swatted their hand away from your precious breakfast, "Don't. Touch. My. Breakfast" You faced the vexatious human. Your anger morphed to surprise as you saw it was the same boy from the library. What did he want now? "You? What are you doing here?” you asked, brows furrowing in frustration. "Ah-you see, since the time you threatened to hex me, I've not been able to get you out of my mind" He said as his gaze fell to your lips. "And i just wanted to-" "No" you waved your hand stopping him "it's no to whatever you're about to say." You turned back to Andromeda hoping he'd leave you alone. "Oh I assure you, you wouldn't want to miss out on a date with me, I mean, I am James Potter." He said it like it was a fact. How dare he. Your blood boiling, you stood up to face him. "You conceited prick." You spat, now the entire great hall was watching. "You think you're so high and mighty do you? Well guess what jake Or whatever your name is, I don't care. To be honest, no one does. So take your sorry arse away from me. Now" You ended. It was silent in the great hall. Everyone waiting to see how James would take the rejection. "Well-um- no one-you know what? It doesn't matter." James stuttered as he stood up, cheeks heating with embarrassment.

"James- 0, Sirius-1, Avery-3, Me and Frank stand at 2 points." Adrian read out, "no, that's not right." James said, as he played with his snitch. "It is, the slytherin rejected you remember?" Frank said, holding back his laughter. "No, I mean," James sat up, a frown on his face, "according to the rules, each has 2 weeks time to finish their dare, I do too. So it's not counted." He looked up at the boys. "Alright, we'll be watching you Potter. All the best trying to get her to like you mate." They walked out the common room leaving James, sirius ,remus and the sputtering fireplace.

"It's not about the dare is it?” Sirius asked, looking at James, he knew his friend well enough to know what he was thinking. " She didn't even recall my name Padfoot." James said staring at the fluttering snitch. "Prongs, it's not right to be this self obsessed you know. There are people in hogwarts who don't know you, no surprise there." Remus said matter-of-factly. "You don't get it moony. She rejected me in front of entire hogwarts. Lily might have heard of it already!” James argued worriedly. " She's friends with your cousin isn't she padfoot?” he looked at Sirius desperately, "get her to slip in a love potion or something. My reputation, she's ruined it!” James stood up, pacing in front of the duo. "Ah, me and Andromeda don't really talk and it's not that life threatening prongs, relax" Sirius tried his best to make James feel better but all he received was a grunt. "I caught the gryiffindor team laughing when I turned my back today, don't pretend like the two of you didn't catch that." James said defeatedly " Well what now? " Remus asked. "Now, I make her desperately fall in love with me." James answers, "let's pretend that this does happen, what then?" Sirius chimes in, "then dear padfoot," James says with a malicious grin, "I humiliate her just the way she did to me."

"I hate him!" You ranted as andromeda watched. "I knew he was a no good when I caught him bullying snape. I mean, snape isn't the best slytherin but that doesn't mean he should be bullied." Andromeda added. "And he wanted to ask me out? The last thing that'll ever happen is me falling for him." You had made up your mind.

Bonus (what to expect later into the story) :

He kissed your pulse point, "Do you still hate me?" He whispered. "Yes" You sighed, eyes closed. "How about now" He gently bit your earlobe. "Very much" You stifled a moan. "And now?" He said against your lips as he traced his fingers on the curve of your spine. This boy was just on the brink of devouring you.

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pearldog30 · 1 year

Text

The guys reacting to you riding a mechanical bull.

Ghost, soap, Alejandro, Rudy.

As you can tell this is going to be the guys reacting to you riding on a mechanical bull. You and the boys decided to go to a bar/club and you wanted to give it a little ride 😉. (Credit for this goes to @simonsdoll that nasty filthy animal gave me the idea. Also my friends, were going to be reaching 100 followers! soon so there's going to be a special for that)

Other works 👉 Master list

Warnings| I guess this is considered NSFW mentions.

Ghost 👻

You were sitting next to ghost at the bar, listening to him chat up some of the other guys. they were celebrating a victory on a successful mission, and he brought you along. You were getting bored/lost in the conversation, until you see the mechanical bull catch your eye. You've never been on one before, so you decided to give it a try. even if it meant Simon getting pissed off at you.

You were able to get out of his grip without him noticing, or at least you hoped. Walking up to the guy who controlled the bull you asked him for a turn, and he happily let you on. there were already a few people sitting around the mechanical bull ring, mainly men. So of course you knew you were definitely in for a ride. Since this was your first time on the bull it starts out nice, and slow. jolting you forward unexpectedly, catching a loud laugh from you. and this makes ghost and the rest of the 141 turn heads.

He is wide-eyed when he catches you on it. Seeing that there's tons of men cheering you on, it kind of makes his blood boil in a way. But he can't do anything other than watch the show. The whole time he is eyeing you down. maintaining that eye contact, burning right through your soul. and you know you're in trouble. 👀

"damn I guess you haven't been giving her enough rides lately" soap says jokingly, giving him a pat on the back. Simon giving him that classic deadpan stare, making soap shut up right away. He decides to come up to the bull ring to get a better view. but to also give looks that would kill other men eyeing you down.

As soon as you get off it, he grabs you without a word and drags you straight to the car.(I hope you're not too tired from the bull. because when you get home you're going to be getting a good leg workout in, and then some.) May God be with you in your final decisions

Soap 🧼

You and soap decided to go on a night out together. Stopping at the bar was one of the places. and well low and behold soap being The confident, good looking man he is. He was bound to get attention from the ladies. They didn't care if he was taken, they sure as hell were going to try and get your man. soap being a little shit he is, he decides to flirt back with them to piss you off.

As he's chatting away, you knew there was a bull ring at this bar you've have been there a few times. so you decided to wait your turn, and get some attention from the other men back to get at him. When he notice you getting on the bull his mouth drops to the floor. He didn't expect you had it in you, to do something like this. He stops all the chatting with the ladies. and comes up to the bull and decides to cheer you on, Being the support of partner he is.

He is doing the whole nine yards. whistling, clapping, low-key kind of praising you. Every time you catch his eye, he gives you that devilish smirk. When you get off some of the men are lingering towards you, complimenting you. and this makes something in him switch. For the rest of the night he has a tight arm around you. making sure everybody knows you're his little bull rider.😉

When y'all finally decide to leave "might have to show me some of them riding moves when we get home ayy?" he cheekily whispers in your ear. and you know he's not going to let you live it down, until you finally give him the ride he's been dying for.

Alejandro 🔥

You and the rest of the guys were out celebrating his birthday, and since it was all about your big boy. you couldn't help but noticed ladies staring him down, and some of the other men staring you down has well. you knew you guys were a good looking couple, so of course why wouldn't they stare.

Alejandro was too busy chatting away with his friends, this making you get a idea. a devilish smirk, spreading across your face. Since it was his birthday, everybody was dressed in normal civilian clothes. and he decided to wear his cowboy hat for some ungodly known reason. which was perfect for your plan. You take his cowboy hat, to show the other ladies he's yours. he notices but doesn't say anything. then he realizes what you're doing, as you give him a wink behind your shoulder, walking up to the mechanical bull.

Cursing under his breath, as he watches all the men cheer you on. you know he's a jealousy, possessive, lover. You know exactly what gets him going so why not have some fun with him.

You started to struggle holding on to the bull as it got faster, and it started bucking harder. making Alejandro's hat fall off, and you go flying off of it. making Alejandro chuckle to himself, as all the men around the pen, gas. you walk back to the group of men, ashamed almost. you are holding your arm cuz you accidentally landed on it wrong, and it hurts. Alejandro notices "mi amor what happened" he says in his sweet deep voice. You shrug "nothing just hurt my arm" you say in response, hoping he doesn't laugh at you "hmm well I guess I'll have to give you some lessons when we get home" he sweetly whispers in your ear. taking back his hat. " Actually you know what, you should probably keep this. it looks better on you anyway. Hell It'll look even better later tonight" he says. taking the hat off of his head, teasily putting it on you. making you blush at his words.

You know he's going to end up making you give him the ride of his life when you get home.

Rudy🥺

You, Rudy, Alejandro and his partner. all decided to go out for some drinks, on a little double date at a local bar y'all love. When y'all walked in you noticed something that wasn't there before. the new mechanical bull, you and Alejandro's partner giving each other the same smirk thanking the same thing. Rudy noticing the little plan y'all had going "mi amor please don't" he knows what you're up to from the tone in his voice. But before you could protest, your pull away by Alejandro's partner. When you get up to the bull you watch as ales partner go first, and the way he's smirking at them. you know they're going to be in for a time later tonight.

And now it's your turn everybody's cheering you on. and you're a little nervous, before you get on. you catch Rudy's eyes and he gives you a little flustered, cheeks becoming red look. And you decide to tease him. As it starts up and starts going a little bit faster, and faster, rocking you back and forth. you maintain eye contact the best you could with Rudy. making him sink back to where he's standing, almost as if he doesn't exist. he's bright red and you could tell his little mind is thinking of all the ways he's going to get his pay back tonight. You blow him a little kiss, as you ride your heart out on the bull. and this is what makes him snap. Alejandro noticing the intense stare between you two, giving him a pat on the back.

As the random men are looking at you, saying dirty things about you. you could tell the very usually calm demeanor of Rudy change. As soon as you get off. Rudy grabs you so gently, yet strongly. Tugging you away with him in a private area where no one else is. "You have no idea what you do to me sometimes mi niña preciosa" (my precious girl) he whispers in your ear, as your cheeks glow red. he goes down on you, giving you the most possessive, dominant, look you've ever seen. and you can't lie, you love it. "Damn I might have to do this more often" you quietly laugh, and he raises his eyebrows at you, almost as if telling you don't even think about it. it just drives you insane.

You ramped up our poor Rudy so bad. he couldn't even wait until y'all got home, he's such a needy possessive boy in these situations.

I know this is probably short. but like it was a cute little idea, and honestly I loved it. so I hope yall enjoy it. I hope you are having a good day/night wherever you are. reblogs, and comments are always appreciated 🖤

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sequinsmile-x · 1 year

Text

Time Went On for Everybody Else

Despite how much he would miss the place he learnt how to be part of a family again, he found himself kneeling on the ground where his blood had once marked the carpet, his eyes fixed on the spot where he had almost lost his life.

-x-

This all came from a conversation I had with @hancydrewfan about Aaron continuing to live where Foyet attacked him.

Someday y'all will learn if you say something offhanded to me this will happen...or you all know exactly what you're doing. I know what I'd put my money on 😉

-x-

Words: 2.3k

Warnings: Mentions of blood/previous injury. Pregnancy.

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

At first, it hadn’t bothered him.

He hadn’t had time to think about what had happened to him in the place he called home. The pull at his still healing scars on his chest and abdomen enough of a reminder alongside his son’s empty bedroom full of clothes Aaron knew he would grow out of before he saw him next. When he was finally released from the hospital, Emily by his side with his bag slung over her shoulder after she insisted on driving home, the blood stain he knew must have been left behind was gone.

He’d since found out in the years that had passed that Penelope had cleaned it up. She’d come over with bleach and her bright pink rubber gloves and scrubbed the floor until it was as good as new, leaving no physical trace of what Foyet had done to him in the one place he should have been safe.

When Haley died, murdered in the place they had bought together, young and naive and so sure it would be their home forever, he sells the house. He can’t bare the thought of raising his son where he had lost his mother. Aaron couldn’t walk into their old bedroom where he’d found her body without being able to smell her blood in the air or walk past the room where he had killed Foyet. The sound of his facial bones fracturing under his fists echoing throughout the house in the middle of the night, the ghost of it only ever one step behind him.

Aaron knew that he could have moved, that he could have used the money he got from the house sale to buy somewhere new, but his overriding concern was making sure that Jack had some familiarity. His decision to stay, to live in the place he’d been attacked, was solidified when he brought Jack home after Haley’s funeral and he saw his son physically relax as soon as they were in the apartment, his tiny shoulders loosening from stress he never should have been burdened with at his young age.

Jack felt safe there, and that was enough for Aaron to stay.

When he and Emily first started talking about moving in together, something they already did in all but name when the conversation came around, her moving into the apartment he once only shared with his son seemed like the most natural idea. She had no real connection to the apartment she’d moved into on her return from Paris, and she made no secret of the fact she’d never finished unpacking. She told him once, early on in their relationship as they were wrapped up around each other in the bed that was now theirs, that she never fully unpacked. It was a hangover from her childhood when she’d never lived anywhere long enough to have roots. She’d always leave at least one box packed, a way of reminding herself that nothing lasted forever. Something that life had continually reminded her of again and again.

Aaron felt nothing short of pride when she unpacked everything when she moved in with him and Jack. A smile on her face and a thin sheen of sweat on her brow as she collapsed the last of the boxes without saying anything. He’d pulled her in for a hug and a kiss, tasting her smile as he welcomed her home.

Eighteen months down the line they were moving again, into a house she’d bought them but they’d chosen together, her trust fund financing a home that they’d both been looking for longer than either of them would admit. It felt strange for the apartment to be empty, all of their furniture and belongings either already at the new house or about to be on their way in the moving truck. The emptiness of the apartment somehow made it seem bigger and smaller at the same time, leaving him unsure how so many of his memories with Jack and with Emily had taken place in such a relatively small space.

This was the place his son felt safe again after so much uncertainty. It was where Emily had grown close to them and become part of their family. The kitchen was where Emily and Jack had tried to make him breakfast on his birthday, narrowly avoiding having to call the fire department when he happened to get out of bed and find them. The living room was where he’d proposed to the woman he was now lucky enough to call his wife, a simple night in watching a movie turning into more as he realised he couldn’t wait any longer to give her the ring he’d bought even before she’d moved in.

The master bedroom was where she’d told him he was going to be a father again only a couple of weeks ago, their hopes from the last year finally coming to fruition, the timing of the move perfect.

Despite all of that, despite how much he would miss the place he learnt how to be part of a family again, he found himself kneeling on the ground where his blood had once marked the carpet, his eyes fixed on the spot where he had almost lost his life. He’d seen the crime scene photos and could picture the bloom of the stain when he closed his eyes, a grim pattern he knew he’d never quite be free from.

“Honey, the truck is ready to go and…”

Emily fades off as she walks into the apartment, the sentence she’d walked in already saying lost as she finds her husband sitting on the floor in a space that was all too familiar to her. She blows out a steady breath, her teeth sinking into her lower lip as she makes a decision on the spot. She turns back to look into the hallway and she smiles at Penelope and Jack who were standing just a few paces away.

“Jack, sweetie, why don’t you go with Aunt Pen and follow the truck, your dad and I will be there soon, ok?”

Jack nods enthusiastically, any usual desire to be wherever she and Aaron were lost to his excitement over the move and his fascination with the large truck that held most of their belongings.

“Ok!” He says, and Emily winks at him, grateful that he is so agreeable and once again, foolishly, hoping that the tiny baby inside of her would one day be the same. Something Aaron told her was absolutely not going to happen because it was half her. Emily looks at Penelope who nods, an understanding smile on her face as she loops her arm around the little boy’s shoulders, not so quietly whispering to him that they’d get a McFlurry on the way.

Emily watches them go and gives herself a moment before she steps back into the apartment that was now empty apart from her husband and she closes the door behind her. She walks over to him and places her hand on his shoulder, smiling as she squeezes it when he looks up at her.

“You ok?” She asks, and he nods before he looks back at the ground, his eyes fixed on the spot her gaze would still drift to on long nights when sleep escaped her and she made her way from their bed to the couch. She sighs and sits next to him, something that seemingly snaps Aaron out of whatever trance he was in for a moment as he reaches out, his hands on her hips as he helps guide her down to the ground.

“Em, you shouldn’t be-”

“Aaron, I am 8 weeks pregnant I can get on and off the floor quite easily,” she says, cutting off his already frequent attempts to help her or try to convince her she shouldn’t be doing something, “As soon as it becomes an issue you’ll be the first to know.”

He smiles and nods, letting her settle next to him without further comment. She wraps her arms around one of his and kisses his shoulder before she rests her head against it, content to sit in silence until he was ready to talk. It was one of the many things they had in common - their need to work through something by themselves before they let someone else in. A side effect of both of their childhoods that they were working on together, each of them becoming the other's safe space.

“Dave asked me once why I never moved after Foyet,” Aaron says, his voice quiet as he continues to stare at the carpet, “I considered it when I was still in the hospital, the thought of coming back here was…a lot.”

“Why didn’t you?” She asks, already knowing the answer but allowing him to talk it through.

“At first the thought of moving also a lot. I’d lost Jack and Haley and Foyet was still out there,” he says, clearing his throat, “Some nights I sat here and waited for him to come back to finish the job.” The mere thought of it makes her freeze, her hold on his arm tightening as her breath catches in her throat. “Then after Haley died and I sold the house…”

He drifts off and she sighs, finishing his sentence for him, “You wanted somewhere Jack would feel at home.”

He nods, turning his head as he finally tears his eyes from the floor so he can kiss her forehead, “Yeah. That felt more important than anything else.”

She tilts her head to look up at him and smiles softly, releasing one of her hands from around his arm to cup his cheek. She pulls him in for a kiss, her thumb pressed into his dimple. When she pulls back she smiles at him, her hand still on his cheek as she looks at the floor herself, swallowing thickly as familiar panic climbs up her throat.

“I’ll always remember just knowing that something was wrong that morning,” she says, chuckling humourlessly as she shakes her head, “I still can’t explain why, Pen likes to say now that it’s because you and I are meant for each other. That some unknown force let me know you were in danger because I love you,” they both laugh at the suggestion, and she looks at him, her eyes shining, “The ridiculous thing is I was completely in love with you at the time I just didn’t know it yet.”

Aaron presses his forehead into hers, “I was in love with you too.”

She already knew that, their long-felt mutual feelings for each other something they had both admitted to in the early days of their relationship, but it still felt good to hear. Good to know that she wasn’t alone in sometimes wondering what would have happened if they’d given in to their feelings long before they had. She liked to think if they’d been together then, if she’d gone home with him that night, that she would have been able to save him.

“When I got here and called you, and heard your cell was inside, and when I realised your door was open. When I saw the blood…” she clears her throat, looking back at the floor again as she blows out a shaky breath, “I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared,” she laughs bitterly, “And I was once undercover as a terrorist’s girlfriend.” He joins in on the laughter, the sound loud and out of place given what they were talking about, but she smiles widely at him, a sure sign that was the response she’d been hoping for, “It’s why I was so insistent on helping you afterwards. Driving you to and from work, paying for your medical bills-”

“You…” he pulls back to look at her, his brow furrowing, “You paid for my medical bills?”

She feels her cheeks flush, embarrassment that she hates flooding her body and making her feel warm, “Yes,” she replies, biting the inside of her cheek, “Who do you think paid for it?”

“I always assumed Dave, I guess,” he says, tilting his head at her, his eyes full of love and wonder “Why didn’t you tell me?”

She shrugs, “I don’t know. It didn’t feel important.”

“Em-”

“It’s just money, Aaron,” she says, a comment that had become a frequent one recently as they finalised everything about the move, “It’s something I have an abundance of, and at the time it was the only way I could love you.”

He stares at her for a moment but he drops it, nodding before he smiles at her, “It isn’t the only way anymore.”

She nods and she rests her head against his shoulder again, “No, it isn’t,” she sighs, her stomach rolling in a way it always seemed to these days, “We should get going though before I throw up on the carpet.”

He places his hand on her still flat stomach, “Baby giving you trouble?”

She hums, “As always.”

He stands up first before he offers her hand, smiling when she rolls her eyes but takes the help anyway, letting him pull her up onto her feet as she grimaces at the way her stomach rolls again. He pulls her into a hug, his arms wrapped tightly around her as he looks at the carpet again, the invisible reminder of the violence he’d survived here flashing in his head.

It wouldn’t be in the new house, a place where they could start afresh. His first home where violence didn’t linger in the background. His father’s anger ever-present in his childhood, Foyet’s ghost in the house he’d shared with Haley and then the one he shared with Emily and Jack. The new house would be free of it. A place where they could raise and add to their family.

A place where they would all be safe.

“You ready to go?” She asks, pulling back and smiling at him, and he knows if he says no, if he says he wants to stay, she will do. But he doesn’t want to.

He doesn’t need to.

“Yeah,” he replies, linking their fingers together as he tugs her towards the front door, “I’m ready.”

-x-

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#hotchniss #hotchniss fanfiction #aaron hotchner x emily prentiss #aaron hotchner #emily prentiss #emily prentiss fanfiction #aaron x emily #aaron hotchner fanfiction #hotchniss fanfic #hotchniss fan fic

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kyokutsu-sama · 1 year

Text

Well, y'all already know about the love I have for this man and I know I'm not the only one. So here's something kinda hot to appreciate😉

Imagine: Shunsui x reader

Tw: nsfw

____________________________________________

You were walking through the corridors of the 8th division barracks. There was nothing to do, so you went for a walk. You passed in front of Shunsui's room door and stopped in front of the door. Was he there?

You then smiled at the idea of made him a "little visit".

You opened the door but he wasn't sleeping like you thought he would be. You saw the bathroom door ajar and you saw a curtain of steam coming out of there. Probably he would be in a hot water bath and you had the idea to join him.

You opened the door slowly, walked in and closed it afterwards. You stopped for a while to stare at him in the bathtub with his back to you. The same broad back you used to leave your marks on. You smiled at the memory. You started to take off your clothes and put them next to his clothes and went to the bathtub. He had his eyes closed but he probably already knew you were there. After getting into the water you sat on his lap and ran your hands over his face.

"Wake up captain" - you whispered next to his ear

He opened his eye and after seeing you he laughed softly.

"Y/n-chan came to visit her dear captain"

"The door was ajar so I thought it was some sort of invitation"

"And you thought it very well"

He started to run his hands along the sides of your body while taking long sighs.

"Don't tell me this is everything to me?"

"If you promise me that you'll take care of it here, maybe" - you said pointing down

"Are you underestimating me?"

"No, I know you can please me" - you said whispering close to his lips as you wrapped your arms around his neck.

You kissed him with passion and desire as your hands roamed his body little by little, going from his neck to his broad shoulders. He ran one hand over your face while the other was wrapped around your waist pulling you to him to keep you close to his chest. His touch was gentle, but hot and intense. The kiss was interrupted by the lack of air from both of you and at that moment you looked at each other for a moment until he started kissing your neck, depositing hickeys there.

You moaned into his ear in reaction to his touch. his right hand that was previously on your waist slid to your breasts caressing them and then also descended his soft lips by your collarbone until reaching to your breasts. He left marks on your chest knowing he would love to see them on another occasion like this. He pulled away from your breasts and slid his fingers down to your slit. The heat that hovered in the air and the heat of the bodies made you dizzy.

"You were wet even before you entered the water"- he said smiling at you

You laughed and then grabbed the back of his neck with one hand going back to kissing him while the other stroked the wet hair on his chest.

He began to penetrate the first finger with slow movements while the thumb made circular movements on your clit. You were moaning into his mouth with all that touch that sent shivers through your body. He put his second finger inside you and you screamed his name. The moans echoed through the bathroom and maybe even the bedroom.

"Shunsui... k-keep going I-I'm so close... fuck"

The movements of his fingers inside you quickened and you were reaching your climax. You buried your head in the crook of his neck to muffle your moans and he withdrew his fingers inside you just after you came.

You were panting and he took a long breath as he ran his hand over the back of your neck pulling your head back to see your flushed and tired face. You leaned into his chest to spread kisses across that area. Your hands went down his hard abdomen until you reached his aroused member. You put your hand on the base and started stroking him from bottom to top passing your thumb over his head. Shunsui was moaning low on your ear with the pleasure you were giving him but he was waiting to get inside you and fast. He held your hand and looked at you.

"Save those pretty hands to grip my back and shoulders for when I'm pushing you to the limit"

"Always at Captain's orders"

You lifted your hips a little and positioned yourself on top of him while you grabbed his shoulders and slowly descended feeling your insides being filled by his large member. It took you a while to get used to the size. You had your hands on his broad chest and started to move slowly and changing speed over time. His hands were on your buttocks while you bounced up and down on his lap. Your movements were fast you were loving taking every bit of him and he was loving having you in his lap. His peak was coming faster and faster, you pressed your forehead to his as your thrusts were becoming erratic

"Shunsui... I-I'm coming..."-you said while marking your nails on his back

"Come... Come to me"

In a short time you had reached the climax along with him. Your breaths were so close you could feel the heat of your skin on his. He kissed you softly and then placed a kiss on your forehead giving you a smile.

"Y/n thanks for the visit"

"Always at Captain's orders"

He chuckled and rested your head on his broad chest, stroking your hair. His chest was your favorite place for sure❤️

#bleach #gotei 13 #bleach fandom #shunsui kyoraku #bleach headcanons #bleach imagines #kyoraku shunsui x reader

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babyharleezy · 2 years

Note

Stink Ima need a fic based of this with jack and reader please do what else u want with it cause I know You’ve got them creative ideas and shit 😉 love ya stink hope u like my prompt /idea let me know if ya like it

https://youtu.be/AlLnmrfvhb4

Paparazzi

(jack harlow x reader)

bloo's notes: okay im writing a lot of stuff and scheduling lots of fics but i wanted to get this one out tonight. enjoy babes!!

link

you and jack were in LA for an important party that was being held by lil nas. of course you were excited to go, it was an excuse to get all dolled up and you loved it. you wore your best outfit and jack wore an amazing suit. "hey babes, how do i look?" you asked your lover as you walked out of the bathroom of your hotel. his eyes trailed up to you, "wow baby you look stunning, i'm sure nas won't mind if we're a few hours late" jack said as he snaked his arms around you. "yeah nas for sure wouldn't mind but i would. let's go handsome" you told jack and he groaned.

thankfully you, jack and urban had made it to the party on time and you mingled with jack and his friends in the industry. you loved seeing him in his element. you were lucky that urban was there because it made you feel a lot more at ease. at least you knew someone other than jack at the party. urban definitely felt the same way about having you around. (bloo's notes: yes i had to write my bby urb in. bite me)

after a few hours of being at this party for a few hours and mingling with many people jack had decided he was tired. at some point you had separated from the boys and found yourself in a conversation with saweetie and megan thee stallion. jack and urban wandered around a bit and tried to find you. they both knew that you were in good hands with saweetie and meg that they didn't worry too much about you. as you were listening to what the beautiful women in front of you had to say, you were interrupted by a familiar voice. "sorry to interrupt you ladies but i was just here to see if y/n was ready to go, we do have a flight back home tomorrow" jack said politely. "oh yeah we should head to the hotel. it was nice getting to catch up with you two" you told the ladies and you all had said your goodbyes.

making your way outside the venue, hand and hand. the paparazzi was insane tonight. jack made sure that both you and urban were close behind him. you three always had a system when going out. jack in front, you in the middle, and urban behind you both. somehow the paparazzi had became too much and got in between you and jack, pushing you away which made you stumble back. you let out a little shriek, getting caught off guard. thankfully urban was behind and didn't let you fall to the ground. he made sure you were all right.

"hey! y'all need to calm down. y'all can't be pushin my girl around like that. i understand y'all are doing your job but i need y'all to calm the fuck down" jack yelled at the paparazzi. you finally made your way to jack and your hands made its way into his once again. as you got into the car you heard many people say "sorry y/n, sorry jack, sorry urban".

"you okay babe" jack asked the minute the three of you stepped into the black SUV. "yeah baby im good. urb made sure i didn't bust my ass" you laughed. "thank you urb for having her back, i fucking hate when they get all up in our personal bubble" jack sighed. the rest of the night the three of you decided to get ready for the flight back to Louisville. the night had already been crazy enough and the only thing on your mind was sleeping in bed, cuddling up next to your lover. you were grateful for urban for breaking your fall and you were grateful that jack was there to defend you and put the invasive paps in their place.

as you got into bed, jack was already lightly snorning, before you turned the light off you placed a light kiss to his temple and admired his sleeping figure. 'god he is gonna be the end of me' you thought to yourself.

#wittyjasontodd #jack harlow #jack harlow x you #jack harlow fanfic #jack harlow x reader #jack harlow imagine #jack harlow concepts #jack harlow fluff

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shiro-s2e2-erukinzu · 7 months

Text

I finally got around to watch episode 27 of Spy X Family and...

...IT WAS FANTASTIC!! 😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

The animation team really did a excellent job adapting Missions 39 and 40...!! 😁 And though I did initially wonder why they switched the chapters around (Mission 40 was the Bond chapter, while Mission 39 was the Damian chapter for those that don't know...) This isn't the first time that the SXF anime has done this (I mean, just look at last week's episode), so it didn't really bothered me much at all...!! 😉 Also, it finally happened...:

THE SCENE THAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR TO BE ANIMATED!!! 😆

(Sorry about the poor quality screenshot)

I love how they did this scene and the rest of Bond's imagination sequences...!! 👏😂 Though, if I'm gonna be honest, I didn't laugh as much as I did when I first saw this scene in the manga... Probably because I already knew it was gonna happen, but it was still funny regardless!! 😄

Now on to the differences and additions...!!:

And... I only really noticed one this time around...! 😲 That being this dialogue change:

In the anime, Anya says that Yor will kill Bond if he makes her angry; while it the manga, Anya says that Yor will MURDERIZE him if he makes her mad... Now, I'm pretty sure that "kill" is the correct thing Anya says here in Japanese, but I just love that she says murderize in the manga!! 😆 Not only because it's really funny, but it reminds of a certain half human half devil guy that sometimes has a chainsaw for a face...! 😏

I feel like the localization team for the manga probably did this on purpose as a reference to Chainsaw Man, but I don't know for sure...! 🤷

Anyway, that's pretty much all I wanted to say about today's episode!! People who only watch the anime, I'll see y'all next week...!! 😁 And everyone else, I'll be seeing y'all tomorrow talking about the new chapter of Spy X Family (FINALLY!! 😆) And as always everyone, take care, be safe out there and be kind to one another...!! SEE YA LATER!! 👋😄

#spy x family #sxf #spyxfamily #spyxfamily anime #sxf anime #spy x family anime #episode review #spy x family episode 27

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photogirl894 · 8 months

Text

"IronStar"

Chapter 3

"Pillow Talk"

A "Fairy Tail" fanfic

Pairing: Gajeel x fem OC

A/N: My gosh, it's been forever! My writing motivation has been lacking, but it's been helping a little that I'm still rewatching Fairy Tail, so my inspiration for this is still going strong! I've had the dialogue for this whole chapter written for weeks and my husband even helped me with a couple ideas for this one 😊😊

Hope y'all enjoy the next step of Genna and Gajeel's first adventure! 😊 (As well as the picture of Gajeel below 😉😍)

Taglist: @l-lend , @rosechi , @the-bad-batch-baroness , @angrypaperearthquake-tbbb-main

《 Chapter 2

》 Coming soon!

All chapters

Explanation: After a hard battle, Genna, Gajeel and Lily rest for the night before returning home, where Genna and Gajeel begin to bond in the late hours of the night.

Earlier...

Gajeel and Lily had been walking for a while away from the village on Akane Beach after Genna had told them to go back to Magnolia. Gajeel was briskly trudging along, gritting his teeth as he went in frustration. He'd never asked to be put on this job, so why was the girl giving him crap about it? This wasn't his problem and if she wanted to be a brat about it, then fine. He didn't need that extra baggage to worry about it. She wanted to take on the Shadow Wizard on her own, then that was her choice. He'd made his stance on the matter clear, so if things went wrong, she had no one to blame but herself.

On the other hand, Lily walked a few paces behind Gajeel, his head hung with guilt. He saw the sun was setting and was getting close to disappearing on the horizon before he stopped and looked back in the direction they had come from. He didn't like having to leave Genna behind. They had been entrusted to her and this job and it felt like they were letting both her and Fairy Tail down. No...this was wrong. They had no idea how powerful the Dark Wizard in the forest actually was. If things went south and something happened to Genna when they weren't there to stop it...he would never forgive himself.

"Yo, what's the hold up?" he heard Gajeel call out back to him.

Turning back and walking up to Gajeel, Lily replied, "It doesn't feel right leaving Genna behind. We should go back."

His studded eyebrows furrowed and, with a frown, Gajeel spat, "Hey, she made it pretty clear that she didn't want us around, so this is what she gets."

That was something Lily was not going to accept. "No, you made it clear you didn't want to help and she was done listening to you complaining," he fired back.

"What are ya lecturin' me for? I was just bein' honest," Gajeel argued.

Lily folded his arms across his chest and stated, "You can be honest and still know that there's a time and place to say certain things."

"What are ya talkin' about?" Gajeel asked, irritated.

"You got sent on this job with her because you couldn't stop goading her and couldn't keep your mouth shut. You should have kept your complaints to yourself and just helped Genna with the job," Lily told him sternly.

Rolling his eyes, Gajeel just responded, "So what? She told me to leave, so that's what I'm doin'. It doesn't matter now."

"Yes, it does," Lily countered, taking a couple steps closer. Then he stated in a calm yet unwavering tone, "She's expected to do this job in order to get into Fairy Tail and she shouldn't do it alone. Think about where you used to be before you joined the guild. You were lucky, Gajeel, and didn't have to prove anything. They already knew your potential and accepted you into the guild. Look where it's gotten you. Don't you think your life has been better because of it?"

Gajeel turned away. He didn't think Lily would bring him and his past into the conversation like that, but he knew the Exceed had a point. Not that he would admit it. Yes, his life had become a lot better and more meaningful since joining Fairy Tail. It had made him a better person...not that he always felt that way...like in the situation they were in right then. Deep down, he knew leaving Genna was probably a bad idea, but he had been too frustrated in the moment to care.

Lily continued, "We are potentially depriving Genna of that same chance at a better life if we leave her now. Erza trusted you to come here with Genna and evaluate if she's got what it takes to be in Fairy Tail. Do you really want to break that trust she put in you?"

The Iron Dragon's fists clenched at his sides. Why did Lily have to be right all the time?

Crossing his arms again and smirking up at his friend, Lily said in conclusion, knowing this would be the final blow to bring down Gajeel's pride, "Not only that, but you'll have to suffer Erza's wrath if we return without Genna."

"Tch...I hate when you do that, Lily," Gajeel muttered, annoyed, and still refusing to look at him.

"What, be right?" Lily questioned in return. He then sprouted his wings, flew up and moved himself in front of Gajeel, hovering in front of him so he could see his face. "I know you're better than this, Gajeel," he reassured him. "You don't want to do this to Genna, but you're too stubborn to admit you're wrong and go back. Well, now's not the time for that. She's planning to go up against a Shadow Wizard when the sun goes down and we don't know what she'll be up against. If we don’t go back now, there's no telling what might happen."

Gajeel looked over his shoulder back towards the beach and the forest off in the distance, now being just barely lit up by the disappearing sun. Somewhere back there, Genna was getting ready to face down a force she might or might not be prepared for. There wasn't a whole lot of time left.

"Guess we better get movin' then," he declared.

With a pleased grin, Lily cried, "Hang on!" as he grabbed hold of Gajeel by the shoulders and lifted him into the air. The two of them flew as fast as they could back towards the forest, hoping they would reach Genna in time before it was too late.

Now that the battle against the Shadow Shepherd was over, Genna emerged from the forest with Gajeel helping support her, her good arm draped over his shoulder and his arm wrapped around her waist. Lily, still in his large panther form, trailed behind them, carrying the unconscious body of Darius over his shoulder. They saw that members of the village, including Ike and Marcus, were outside waiting for them.

Ike jogged over to them, concern on his face, and declared, "We saw bright flashes of light. Has the Dark Wizard been vanquished?"

With an encouraging grin, Genna answered, "Yep! He's not gonna be a problem for you anymore."

To further prove the point, Lily unceremoniously dropped Darius' limp body to the ground in front of the villagers. They all gasped in astonishment at seeing the source of the problem now laid before them.

Sighing heavily with relief, Marcus, the leader of the village, stated with joy, "Thank heavens! Thank you, Fairy Tail Wizards! You have no idea how much you've helped us. Darius has been a thorn in our side for many weeks. You've done our village a great service and we're in your debt."

Genna heard Gajeel quietly chuckle and she couldn't help but smile at the sound. It was pleasant to hear and the grin on his face was more genuine than any she'd seen from him before.

"Now, the reward that was promised," stated Marcus.

"Reward?" asked Genna.

"Yes. In the job posting we listed, we promised nine-hundred jewel to whoever could rid us of the Shadow Wizard," he explained.

That information was all news to Genna and Gajeel, realizing it too, said, smirking, "Looks like old man Makarov conveniently left that part out."

Genna chuckled herself in response as she was handed a pouch of the money. "We'll split it between the three of us," she suggested, to which Gajeel agreed with a nod of his head.

"Well, now that the matter has been settled, we should take our leave and return to Magnolia," said Lily.

"Nonsense. You all just had quite a fight and are very run-down," Ike replied. "I insist you stay here for the night and then leave in the morning when you've regained your strength. You can stay in the hut we lent you today. There are extra blankets and pillows, too, for you."

"Nah, we should be fine," Gajeel objected.

"We insist," said Marcus. "It's the least we can do to repay after all you've done."

Genna turned her head to look at Gajeel and told him, "I don't think it'll hurt, Gajeel. Plus, I doubt you'll want to carry me all the way back home."

He looked back at her and furrowed his studded eyebrows as he asked, "What makes you think I'm carryin' you? I was gonna hand you off to Lily."

"Hey!" Lily exclaimed in surprise, making Genna giggle.

She turned back to the village leader and stated, "We accept your offer. Thank you."

Marcus bowed his head to her.

"We have a medic who can assess and tend to your injuries, as well," said Ike. "Unfortunately, we don't have any means of healing, but if we can help you in any way, we'd like to."

Once again, Genna accepted the offer made and she, Gajeel and Lily were led to a medical tent by Ike while Marcus and a few others took Darius to prepare him for the authorities. Both Lily and Gajeel were told by the medic that they just had minor cuts and bruising. Genna was told the same, but she was also informed that her arm that had been hit by Darius' crook had been fractured. The medic took care in setting her arm in a sling until she could get proper healing.

Gajeel watched her from the entrance of the tent, his arms folded across his chest, as she was getting her arm wrapped up. Despite having taken a pretty good beating, she was still smiling and in high spirits. It was peculiar to see yet it was almost endearing. It reminded him a bit of Natsu, Lucy or even Levy, who were always so positive about everything, even after getting their butts handed to them in a fight.

"Yeah...she'll fit right in with Fairy Tail for sure," he thought to himself.

Once the medic was finished with her, the three companions returned to the hut the village had lent to them. They had only spent time in the main room earlier that day, so they were both a bit taken aback when they walked into the bedroom and saw that there was only one bed.

"Well, time to get some shut-eye," Gajeel stated, stretching his arms out and already walking towards the bed.

"Uh, what are you doing?" Genna questioned.

He halted in his tracks and looked back at her. "What's it look like I'm doin'?" he asked back.

Putting her good hand on her hip, she replied, "Taking the only bed when there is a girl present."

"What's you bein' a girl got to do with it?"

"Unless you plan on sharing, you could be a gentleman and let me have the bed, especially since I got my butt handed to me in the forest."

Gajeel smirked deviously. "Hey, you snooze, you lose, Genny."

She rolled her eyes and groaned. "Oh my gosh, you know my name, so why don't you just use it?"

He snickered teasingly and his toothy smirk widened even more. "It bugs ya, doesn't it?"

"Well, it would bug you, too, if I called you by the wrong name," she fired back.

"You gotta toughen up, Princess, or you're not gonna make it long in Fairy Tail if you're so irritated by a name," he taunted her. "Maybe sleeping on the floor will do you some good after all."

"In your dreams, metal head," she replied.

As the two of them stared each other down, Lily suddenly spoke up, "Since you two are busy arguing and not reaching a compromise, I'll come up with one for you." When they turned their attention to him, they were surprised to see the Exceed, now back to his smaller form, already snuggling up under the covers in the bed, a smug smirk on his furry face as he stated, "I'll be taking the bed and you both can sleep on the floor."

"What?!" both Genna and Gajeel cried out at what they saw.

"You can't be serious, Lily!" Gajeel complained.

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Lily asked back with a straight face.

Gajeel growled in frustration. "Dumb cat," he quietly muttered.

"I heard that," Lily replied.

Even though what Lily pulled was a dirty trick, Genna couldn't help but be impressed at his ingenuity. Claiming the bed while she and Gajeel argued was a clever move. Her eyes met Gajeel's and she just shrugged, relenting defeat to the cat and silently suggesting he do the same. With a groan, Gajeel turned his back and started removing his fur mantle and then his shirt. Genna blushed and turned away at seeing his bare back, even though most of it was covered by his long, shaggy hair. She didn’t realize he was going to do that. Though, her curiosity got the best of her and she couldn't help but peek back over her shoulder at him, but it was just as he turned back and he caught her gaze immediately.

"Starin' ain't polite, ya know," he said, smirking knowingly.

Immediately, she flipped her head back, her hand covering her mouth. "Sorry," she said.

Behind her, she just heard him snicker and she gritted her teeth. He was enjoying this.

He walked past her to a smaller room, which appeared to be a closet, and pulled out a pillow and a blanket. "Here, you'll need this. It's probably gonna be a bit chilly tonight," he informed her as he handed them to her.

"Thanks," she said, accepting them.

Then he took out another blanket and pillow for himself and walked back to the other side of the bed, throwing them down and immediately laying himself down on the ground. She did the same and laid down on the hardwood floor, ready for some rest after a long day.

However, sleep wasn't coming so easily to Genna and she was still awake a couple hours later. She wasn't used to sleeping on a hard floor, but it didn't help that the floor was also cold and was making her restless. No matter how hard she tried, she was having a hard time falling asleep. That and it seemed her mind was still plenty awake and was moving a thousand miles an hour, the events of the day replaying over and over in her mind. Why couldn't she just shut her brain off so she could sleep? She quietly groaned to herself in frustration.

"Can't sleep?"

Startled to hear a familiar gruff voice on the other side of the room, she gasped aloud. "Gajeel...! I didn’t know you were awake," she responded, keeping her voice down.

"The floorboards squeak every time you toss and turn," he told her flatly.

"Oh...I'm so sorry," she said, feeling bad for apparently keeping him up with her restlessness.

"It's whatever," he replied.

Genna turned over on her side where she could see under the bed and could see Gajeel on the floor on the other side, also looking her way. Though, she could only see half his face as the floorboards of the bed blocked the other half. She couldn't help but giggle at the sight.

"What are you laughin' about?" he inquired curiously.

She answered, "Laying like this, I can only see half your face under the bed. It's just kinda cute and I think it's funny."

For a second, he wasn't sure why that was funny, but then he realized that she appeared the same way to him, too, and he let out a small, amused huff. "Well, you look the same way to me, so I guess I should be laughin', too," he said.

"That's fair," she said. For a small moment, there was silence and things Genna had been wondering since earlier in the day came back to her mind. "Hey Gajeel...since you're up...and you don't have to say yes...can I ask you a couple questions?" she asked him.

"You can ask, but we'll see if I wanna answer 'em," he replied.

"Don't worry, they're nothing too personal or anything," she clarified.

With a shrug, he then said, "Spit it out, then."

"Well, first of all...Lily can transform into a jacked panther?" she asked, still astonished that Lily could do that.

Chuckling with amusement, he answered, "Yeah. Only a few Exceeds can do that and he's one of 'em. Pretty cool, huh?"

"I'll say. I was not expecting that, but I was impressed. I'll bet that comes in handy a lot."

"Yeah, it does."

Then that begged another question about something Genna had observed: "Also, you ate Darius' crook. What the heck was that about?"

Grinning proudly, Gajeel relayed to her, still looking at her through the underside of the bed, "I'm an Iron Dragonslayer, so iron and metal helps replenish my magic energy. I eat normal food, too, but nothin' satisfies me more than the good, irony taste of metal."

"That's fascinating," she said, intrigued by this newfound fact about him, and he just hummed in response.

However, there was one more question she wanted to know the answer to, but she was afraid to ask it. Mainly because she wasn't sure if he would really be truthful about it. He seemed like the kind of guy that played his cards close to the chest and wouldn't normally let anyone see any kind of vulnerability from him. Guess it was worth a shot anyway.

"Why did you come back?"

There was a brief pause before he asked back, "Would you rather I hadn't?"

"No, that's not it," she said. "I would be a goner for sure if you hadn't shown up and you helped me out a lot in that fight. I just...don't understand why when you didn't want to be here in the first place."

"I told you: Erza would've given me a lot of crap if I showed back up without ya," he said.

Looked like that was the answer he was sticking with. "Was that honestly the only reason: just so you wouldn't get in trouble? Do you really not care about me that much?" she questioned, a sinking feeling growing in her stomach.

"Don't put words in my mouth, kid. I never said that," he said roughly.

Before she could stop herself, she replied abruptly, "You didn't have to."

For some reason, that response gave Gajeel pause and he didn't respond right away. Why did it almost surprise him to know this girl thought he didn't care? Normally, that sort of thing didn't bother him. Maybe it was because Genna was the first to actually point out how he behaved instead of just tolerating it.

He let out a breath and explained calmly, "Look, it's not that I don't care about you specifically. I still don't really know you. I'm not as friendly a guy as a lot of the others in Fairy Tail. I don't warm up to people very fast. That's just how I am."

"Why is that?" she inquired.

"I thought ya said you weren't asking personal questions?" he asked in return.

Feeling embarrassed once again, Genna turned her eyes to the floor. "Sorry," she muttered softly.

Seeing the guilt in her eyes even from where he was made Gajeel feel bad and his teeth clenched together. The damn kid, why did she make him feel this way?

Then he relented and said, "If you really wanna know, I've always been a lone wolf kinda guy. When ya fly solo, it's a lot harder for other people to hurt you."

She was slightly surprised that she actually got an answer from him and she lifted her eyes up again so she could see him. Hearing that he preferred being alone made her feel sorry for him.

"Sounds like a lonely way to live," she commented.

"It's how I survive," he simply said.

Then she posed the question, "If that's so, then why are you in a guild? Or better yet...why do you have Lily?"

That wasn't the sort of thing he expected her to ask and he was silent for a few seconds. It even made him wonder to himself for a small moment what the answer to that question really was. It wasn't something he'd seriously considered before.

Then Genna kept going, "I can already tell the people in Fairy Tail care a lot about each other. They were all so kind to me upon meeting me. You've got good people around you and I get the feeling they care about you, as well, despite how standoffish you may be. I can also tell Lily cares about you, too, and is a pretty loyal companion."

Listening to her was stirring up a foreign feeling in his chest that he wasn't used to and he said, slightly snapping at her, to try and push the feelings away, "Listen, if I wanted a sappy motivational speech from ya, I would've asked."

That, however, didn't quite deter her as she said in conclusion, "I'm just saying, you're lucky and you shouldn't take that for granted." Then the tone in her voice turned low and sad. "Not everyone's fortunate enough to have people who genuinely care about them."

"You talkin' about your old man?" he asked.

"Yeah," she said, nodding against her pillow.

Curious, he asked her, "What'd he do that was so bad ya decided to cut and run?"

She clutched tightly to her blanket. "If you don't mind, I'd rather not go into specifics," she simply said. "Let's just say he wasn't a good man and was an even worse father. My brother wasn't that much better either."

He grunted back and said, "A brother, too, huh? Sounds like you've got a pretty messed up family."

"That's...putting it mildly," she sighed.

Then, to her astonishment, she heard a second voice from up on the bed; Lily's voice speak up, saying, "If you two don't mind, I'm trying to sleep here."

"Oh sorry, Lily," said Genna, now feeling bad that they'd woken him up.

His cute little round ears suddenly appeared over the edge of the bed and his big eyes looked down at her, a smile on his face. "By the way, Genna...we came back for you because we know you're meant to be in Fairy Tail and we don't leave our own behind," Lily told her.

That explanation made Genna smile up at him.

"Also, I was the one who convinced Gajeel to turn back," he added.

"Can it, cat!" Genna heard Gajeel exclaim on the other side, making her snicker.

"Well, you have my gratitude," she said to Lily.

He bowed his head and then suggested, "If you're having trouble sleeping, I'd be willing to let you both come up on the bed now. As you can see, I honestly don't take up much room."

Genna felt her cheeks go hot at the thought of her and Gajeel in a bed together.

Before she could resist, though, Gajeel spoke up first, "I'll be just fine down here. I prefer harder surfaces anyway."

"Suit yourself," said Lily. "Genna?"

"If...if you don't mind," she said shyly, pushing herself up off the ground and to her feet.

"Not at all," said Lily.

Genna got up, grabbed her pillow and moved over to the open side of the bed, which was right by where Gajeel was lying down. She stayed close to the bed so she wouldn't accidentally step on him and then climbed into the bed, pulling the sheets over her. Lily was now snuggled back up under the covers and had his back turned to her. Genna moved to her side and shifted to the edge of the bed so she could look down at Gajeel, who was lying on his back with his hands up behind his head, his bare chest exposed. Seeing her out of the corner of his eye caused him to shift his head a little to the side so he could glance up at her.

With a sweet smile, she told him, "Thank you for coming back, Gajeel."

"Yeah, don't mention it," he said.

"Before we go to sleep...I have one last question," she said.

"What is it?"

"Do you...do you really believe I'm meant to be in Fairy Tail like Lily said? Do you think I proved myself enough to earn a place in the guild?"

"Technically, that's two questions."

She rolled her eyes. "Okay, yes, but they go hand in hand."

He was quiet for a moment, contemplating his response, and then said, "You've got unique magical skills, but you definitely could use some work on your fightin' and your strength. After what I saw tonight...you’ve got exactly what it takes to be in Fairy Tail."

A tiny, elated gasp escaped her lips and she almost felt she could cry in that moment. That was exactly what she had hoped to hear.

He saw her joy and grinned reassuringly. "You'll fit in just fine when we get back," he said to her.

She smiled gratefully. "That's just what I needed to hear. Thank you."

He waved a dismissive hand and replied, "Yeah, yeah, don't get all mushy on me. G'night, Princess."

She smiled to herself. "Good night, metal head."

With that, she rolled back over on to her back and stared up at the ceiling for a few minutes until she felt her eyelids getting heavy and sleep finally took her.

Genna's eyes shot open. Somehow, something didn't feel right. She felt as though she was being watched. Though, when she sat up, she noticed she was still in the bed and nothing seemed out of the ordinary right away. Lily was fast asleep on the other side of the bed and Gajeel was asleep on the floor, snoring softly. Maybe she was just being paranoid.

"What's up, sis?"

Genna's heart nearly leapt from her chest hearing an unexpected snakelike voice from the shadows. Her head whipped around to where it came from and she found the source. Staring at her from by the door and leaning against the wooden doorframe was a young man with long monochrome hair and crimson eyes that flashed brighter in the moonlight coming in through a window. She knew his face well...a little too well.

This was her brother.

"M!" she gasped, looking between Lily and Gajeel, making sure they didn't get woken up. Then anger quickly overtook her as she climbed out of the bed and quietly demanded, "What the hell are you doing here? How did you find me?"

He grinned maliciously as she stormed over to him and answered, "Did you really think there was anywhere in Fiore you could go where I wouldn't find you?"

Her teeth clenched together, helping her keep her calm. "You shouldn't be here," she warned him. "If you or Father or the guild want me back, you can forget it. I'm not going back. Ever."

M simply twirled a lock of his hair around his index finger. "And here I thought you running away was just a phase," he said nonchalantly. "You would really forsake your own family?"

Genna scoffed in disbelief. "Family...that's using the term very loosely. The way you and Father treated me is not how anyone should treat their family."

"You know he was doing it for your own good," said her brother.

She scoffed again, unamused by that excuse. "Oh yes, torturing me was for my own good," she said sarcastically. Then she shook her head in unbelief. "You've always been twisted, M, justifying everything Father's done, even when you know the things he does isn't right."

With a blank stare, he simply responded, "Our goal has always been to create a better world."

"Keep lying to yourself, if that's what helps you sleep at night. Now, get out of here," she snapped, turning away from him and moving back towards the bed.

"I watched your fight with the Shadow Wizard from the sidelines," he stated, causing her to halt in her tracks. "You were only using a fraction of your power."

Her fists tightened. He had been there? He'd seen her fight?

"And you're hanging out with the likes of Fairy Tail now?" he then asked, a tone of disgust when he said the name "Fairy Tail". "My, Genna, how far the mighty have fallen."

Genna's neck snapped back over her shoulder to glare at M. He had some nerve insulting her like that, given the things he and her father had done.

He went on, his voice softening with almost a touch of regret, "When you were with our guild, you were one of the best of us. Father saw great potential in you. You could’ve even led us one day."

Her gaze hardened. "I would never," she fired back at him. Then, turning her body to face him fully, she declared with conviction, "And I wasn't using a fraction of my magic. The amount of power Father saw in me was not the kind of power I wanted. I'm honing and strengthening my magic in my own way; on my own terms. I'll get stronger the way I want to and Fairy Tail is going to help me get there."

Despite her confidence, M seemed completely unfazed by it. He just simply shrugged and said back to her, "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

Genna's locked eye contact with him didn't waver, showing she was serious and set in her ways.

Then he straightened up, coming off the doorframe and informed her, "Father has a job for you."

Her eyes narrowed in astonishment. He couldn't be serious. "What part of me running away and never coming back doesn’t he understand? I'm not doing anything for him."

"That's why he sent me to deliver the message." M's head tilted down slightly and his gaze turned threatening. "Because if you don't do this job...you know the kind of punishment I can inflict."

She wouldn't back down to him. "I'm not afraid of you."

A toothy grin appeared on his face. "You should be."

Her demeanor didn't change, showing no fear at his threats.

"The bargain is simple:" he explained, pulling out a small, folded piece of parchment from within his jacket and holding it out to her, "do this or I'll take you back to the guild...and to Father."

Those last three words were enough to stir a fraction of fear in Genna's heart and her eyes widened slightly. The thought of going back to her old guild and back to her father was not one she found inviting at all. Even still, she wouldn't give M the satisfaction at seeing her afraid. Instead, she snatched the paper from his fingers, crumpled it up with her own hand and threw it to the ground, keeping her eyes locked steadfastly on her brother. He merely watched her do this and hummed in amusement, lightly shaking his head.

Then, cocking his head to the side and grinning once again, he spoke, a touch of darkness in his voice, "See you around...sis."

With another gasp, Genna's eyes opened and she found herself back in the bed and the inside of the hut was a bit brighter than it had been as the morning sun was beginning to peek through the window. It took her a minute to register that it had all been a dream and she was safe. Lily was still in the bed and Gajeel was still on the floor. Even though it was a dream, she still had a feeling her brother still had a hand in it. His magic could infiltrate dreams like that sometimes. She hated that he could do that. It made her feel as though she would never be safe from him no matter where she went. No matter...as long as he wasn't there, she'd be fine.

She sat up, stretched her arms over her head and her gaze fell down to her lap...and she froze in terror.

Resting on top of the covers in her lap was a crumpled piece of parchment.

"No...no, it can't be!" she thought, panicking. It had just been a dream; there's no way M could've actually been there...but the crinkled parchment in her lap told her otherwise and her heartbeat sped up. How was this possible? M could just appear anywhere she was like that? Would she ever be safe from her messed up family?

Her first instinct was to take paper and throw it in the fireplace...but her curiosity got the best of her and instead, she picked it up and carefully unfolded it. She revealed three words that made her gasp loudly in shock and she clamped a hand over her mouth.

"No...!" she whispered.

"Hey, you okay?" she heard Gajeel's voice ask.

She jumped at realizing he was now awake. Luckily, he was still lying down, so he couldn't see the paper now sitting on her thigh. She was quick to slide it off and hide it under her leg so he couldn't see it.

"Nothing. Just thought I heard a noise," she lied.

Gajeel sat up, eyeing her curiously, but then his eyes darted back and forth as he suddenly started sniffing the air. He stood up, sniffed a couple more times and then proclaimed, "Someone was here."

"Oh crap!" Genna thought, stiffening up.

"Was it one of the one of the villagers? Or Darius?" asked Lily, who got out from under the covers and walked on the bed to the end of it to see Gajeel.

Gajeel sniffed again. "No...somebody different...but no idea who. Somethin' doesn't feel right." He looked back to Genna and Lily. "We'd better get the hell outta here."

"I agree," said Lily, hopping down from the bed.

"Then let's get going," Genna said, slipping the paper into the pocket of her skirt once Gajeel and Lily's backs were turned.

They were quick to pack their things, say their quick farewells to the villagers and get back on the road to Magnolia. All the while, the three words on the parchment ran through Genna's nervous mind; three words she didn't want to obey, but was afraid of the consequences she would suffer if she didn't.

Infiltrate Fairy Tail.

#fairy tail #fairy tail gajeel #gajeel redfox #gajeel x oc fic #ironstar fanfic

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