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1dmonthlyficroundup · 4 months

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— 1D Monthly Fic Roundup —

Hi, and welcome to the 1D Monthly Fic Roundup for December 2023! Below you’ll find 1D fics that were all published this month and arranged by writer due to the number of fics this month as there were too many tags for tumblr. We hope you’ll check out these new fics! If you would like to submit your own fic, please check this post on how to submit or visit our blog @1dmonthlyficroundup. You can find all our other posts here.

Happy reading!

＊ Heart Beat by @allwaswell16 [E, 33k, Louis/Harry]

Hideaway Haven is the place that Louis has always called home. It's also the place that Harry had tried to leave behind him. When Harry returns to start a music academy in his hometown, he finds himself face to face with his high school crush—and his charming daughter who wants to learn to play the drums.

A 2023 Advent Fic

＊ Daydream [T, 2k, Zayn/Louis]

Every Thursday, Louis nods hello to her fellow regulars at Horan’s Cafe, one of whom is the woman of her dreams.

＊ One [E, 4k, Louis/Tommy Shelby (Peaky Blinders)]

When omega Louis Tomlinson becomes pregnant after an unexpected encounter, he decides his only option is to flee his pack. But Tommy Shelby, pack alpha of the Peaky Blinders, might not be willing to let him go so easily.

＊ to wake up by your side is all I wanna do by @beardyboyzx [G, 1k, Zayn/Niall]

Sometimes, Niall still thinks about the way Zayn’s laugh sounds when they watch TV and Niall makes up fake answers for whatever quiz show they’re watching.

＊ it's a holidate by @disgruntledkittenface [M, 4k, Harry/Nick Grimshaw]

“So you know me well enough to come in my mouth–”

Nick’s head, along with Fiona’s next to him and those of practically every other attendee of the company holiday party, swivels in the direction of the girl in the red dress whose voice has risen enough to be heard over the music being piped across the 17th floor.

“–but not well enough to get me a Christmas present?”

Most of the crowd politely looks away at this point. Nick bursts out laughing.

When Nick meets Harry at his company holiday party, he never would have predicted that he’d met his match. Luckily, he’s been known to be wrong on occasion.

＊ Red [E, 4k, Harry/Louis]

Louis is wallowing after the breakup. He's never felt this kind of heartbreak before. All he wants to do is lie on his couch and listen to Taylor Swift alone. But when the pain is too much to handle on his own, he calls the one person who understands how this feels.

＊ You Don’t Have to Be Lonely Tonight by @neondiamond [G, 2k, Louis/Harry]

Louis is stuck working the Christmas day shift at the coffee shop. Harry is the sad stranger who comes in to spend the day there.

＊ An Annual Affair [G, 1k, Harry/Louis]

One Direction’s annual Christmas dinner, featuring pregnant Harry and his overprotective Alpha Louis, nervous Liam and his calm and collected mate Zayn, and clueless Niall who may or may not have a death wish.

＊ Not Quite Structurally Sound [G, 1k, Zayn/Liam]

Zayn and Liam help their two kids build a gingerbread house.

＊ You’re Family [G, 2k, Louis/Harry]

Louis is a little nervous about meeting Harry’s family for the first time for Christmas. Harry’s Mum shows him he has nothing to worry about. Part 3 of Inner Crisis universe

＊ A Special Bond [G, 1k, Niall & Harry]

Baby Lilah goes to see the Christmas lights with her Daddy Harry and her uncle Niall.

＊ Mistletoe Kiss [G, 1k, Louis/Harry]

A little bit of mistletoe is just the thing Louis needed to let his roommate Harry know he’s got quite the crush on him.

＊ Cookies and Christmas Cheer [G, 1k, Niall & Zayn]

When Niall is feeling a little sad at having to work over the holidays, his fellow nurse Zayn shows him a little Christmas spirit is still possible.

＊ All That Counts [G, 1k, Louis/Harry]

A soft Christmas morning in the Tomlinson-Styles household.

＊ Lonely Cards Club by @hellolovers13 [T, k, Harry/Louis]

Harry's life in Cardiff is rather uneventful. Until he receives a strange Christmas postcard.

It gets even stranger when he finds another one the next day.

An Advent story about missed opportunities and second chances.

＊ It's okay, 'cause you're not alone [T, 896 words, Niall/Zayn]

Niall focussed on Zayn’s steady heartbeat, tried to use it to ground himself.

thump, thump, thump

One, two, three.

He was safe.

Always safe in Zayn’s arms.

＊ tell me that your sweet love hasn't died by punk_pillow_princess / @punkpillowprincess [M, 27k, Louis/Harry]

“Remember when I said that I came out to my parents last summer, and told them we were together, and they took it really well?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, that wasn’t entirely accurate.”

Louis tries to settle better in the seat to see Harry. “They didn’t take it well?”

“No...I didn’t tell them.”

OR Louis and Harry have been in a relationship for a year. While on their way to Harry's parents' house and his family's legendary annual Christmas party, Louis discovers that Harry has not yet come out of the closet to his family, who are also full of secrets, fears and afraid of a bad reputation in town.

A Happiest Season AU

＊ Chaos by @haztobegood [M, 100 words, Louis/OMC]

Against the barricade, it’s complete chaos.

＊ Baking Memories [T, 2k, Louis/Jack Cochrane]

After a long day of songwriting, Jack convinces Louis to bake mince pies together.

＊ Jump! by @reminiscingintherain [M, 15k, Louis/Tommy Longhurst]

He let out a noise of surprise as his arms were suddenly full of a sweaty body, as Tommy threw himself at Louis and held on tightly. “Thank you so fucking much,” he muttered against Louis’ shoulder, squeezing a little. “You have no idea how much this means to us.” Louis softened a little, gently tapping Tommy’s back. “I absolutely know what this means, lad,” he replied, his voice gentle and supportive. “The way you’re reacting to being out there? That’s exactly why I chose you for the support slot.” He gave a reassuring squeeze. “You deserve this, okay?” He pulled back a little, gripping the back of Tommy’s neck and looking him in the eyes. “You deserve this.”

＊ don’t let the fire die by @nouies [E, 8k, Harry/Louis]

Harry makes a long trip to take back what is his. Part 2 of burning bright

＊ Ride My Sleigh Tonight by @kingsofeverything [E, 9k, Louis/Harry]

In exchange for free food and drinks at Liam’s office holiday party, Harry pretends to be his boyfriend.

But this is not that story.

＊ “Are there any gays in here?” by red_panda28 / @red-pandaaa [E, 7k, Harry/Louis]

“Maybe you just need a different approach,” Niall suggested, as Louis stopped by to pick up Clifford and was whining about not having met anyone in ages.

“Yeah, cheers. Very helpful,” he replied sarcastically. But as he took Cliff for his evening walk Niall’s words stuck with him.

OR Louis is fed up with meaningless hook-ups, Harry happened to visit Starbucks on a Wednesday, and Clifford is the best

＊ Stuck in Midnight Traffic by LetTheMusicMoveYou / @letthemusicmoveyou28 [M, 2k, Louis/Harry]

The curly haired man sniffles again, but the tears seemed to have stopped for now at least. “I was supposed to spend Christmas Eve with my boyfriend, that is until we got into a horrible fight.” He seems to wince at his own words. “I guess I should start getting used to calling him my ex-boyfriend. But anyways, we just couldn’t stay there any longer. Kevin and I had to get out.”

Louis blinks before looking around the empty tube car confusedly. “Kevin?”

The man nods and then squeezes a little tighter to the little potted plant clutched in his arms. “Kevin is a Christmas Cactus, but he doesn’t bloom.” He quickly adds. “Which is completely fine, because I love him just as he is.”

Louis’ not sure what most of that means. All he does know is that he needs to make sure this strange, beautiful creature is never sad again.

(Or the one where two broken people meet in an empty tube car on Christmas Eve. Can they find a way to heal each other?)

＊ Let Me Inside by @enchantedlandcoffee [E, 286 words, Louis/Harry]

Louis gets a surprise visit from his alpha in the shower.

＊ Feel My Traces [M, 2k, Harry/Louis]

“Oh. You actually have a tattoo gun?" "Yes, Harold, I actually have a tattoo gun. What did you think I was gonna tattoo you with? A cucumber? You do talk some shit sometimes," Louis teased, walking up to Harry with the tattoo gun in his hand. "Right, what do you want?" Harry looked at the device and paled. "Um…" "Not backing out on me now, are you Styles?" Louis teased, a gentle smile forming on his face. "You see, the thing is, I didn't actually think you had a tattoo gun,” Harry chuckled nervously, eyes still fixated on the device.

Or, temporary tattoos, a misunderstanding and a passionate moment.

＊ Do you really want to be all alone? [G, 601 words, Louis/Harry]

Harry, Louis and the kids wake up on Christmas Morning. Part One of Three, Part 6 of The Coach Tommo Universe

＊ hope we grow old but we never grow up [G, 5k, Niall/Harry]

But Niall was convinced that Harry couldn't like him back, that just wouldn't make sense. Both of them couldn't be that oblivious to how the other one felt. …Right? So he did the only logical thing his 17 year old self could think of. He flirted back.

OR Three key moments in Niall and Harry's relationship.

＊ I'm Missing Half Of Me... [T, 233 words, Louis/Harry]

Louis calls Harry after he's shaved his head.

＊ Always You [G, 922 words, Harry/Louis]

“You heading home, mate?” Liam asked as the movie ended. softly nudging Zayn to wake him up. “Is it alright if I just kip here, Payno?” Louis answered, taking a sip of his beer as he stretched his legs out, having been sitting on them for the majority of the movie. “You sure, Lou? You’re only down the hall and I’m sure Harry’d be worried if you didn’t come home?” “Nah, I'm sure he'll be just fine by himself for one night. Besides, I’m pretty sure Nick’s over there.” Louis drawled, finishing off his beer as he searched his pockets for his phone. Liam winced at the bitter tone in his friend’s voice.

Or, Louis calls his ex on Valentine's Day.

＊ Have yourself a larry little christmas [T, 2k, Louis/Harry]

The two of them had planned to exchange presents for Christmas and Louis’ birthday before they separated until New Years and Harry thought it'd be a perfect time to introduce Louis to his cat. However, they’d run into a small obstacle shortly after they'd arrived. That obstacle being British weather. An alert from their weather apps had popped up on their phones, signalling to them the start of a freak snowstorm and advising everyone to stay indoors.

OR A plan to exchange presents lead to more than both Harry and Louis bargained for.

＊ All The Way Home I'll Be Warm by @justanothershadeofblue [T, 2k, Louis/Harry]

Harry & Louis jokingly send out holiday cards together as friends, and now everyone is congratulating them for finally getting together. A 5+1 fic, for Christmas.

＊ Be Merry All [M, 30k, Harry/Louis]

there is a specific sort of oppression that comes with a miserable so-cal christmas, when it’s dark and dirty and rainy or else it's too hot and too bright and everyone’s hustling, and your family is all far away and the laundry machines in your building are broken and you’ve eaten too much take-out and all you want is two seconds of quiet and maybe a morsel of holiday joy.

an advent fic, posting daily (in theory).

＊ Santa Baby (one little thing I really need) by we_are_the_same / @so-why-let-your-voice-be-tamed [T, 3k, Louis/Harry]

When Louis himself had first heard those words - all the nurses at the A&E have a secret line to Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve-, not nearly long enough ago to be considered a child himself, but long enough that he hadn't really felt like an adult all the time, he’d laughed them off. Thought they were sweet, of course, but just a line, something said to appease the kids who ended up having to stay overnight. Something to explain the presents that parents brought to the hospital on Christmas morning, or that were waiting for them at home, if they were lucky not to have to stay any longer.

Something that would allow a little bit of Christmas spirit in the sometimes sterile rooms of the hospital.

But that was before he’d met him.

＊ Snow In Love by @lululawrence [NR, 33k, Harry/Louis]

Harry and Louis are best friends and have been for basically as long as they can remember. For the first time since middle school, they are both single for the holidays leaving them with the brilliant idea to take each other as their dates to work events. To make things easier they will pretend like they’re dating. But then they learn something funny.

People thought they were already dating. Weird.

An advent fic featuring childhood friends, fake dating turned actual dating, really horrible secret keeping, and a winter weather surprise.

＊ Damsel in Christmas Distress [NR, 5k, Louis/Harry/NIck Grimshaw]

Nick's door was open. He didn't leave it that way. Maybe his gorgeous neighbor will help protect him from any possible murderers who have made their way into his flat while he was gone.

Merry Louis' birthday, Happy Stylinshaw.

＊ Step Into Christmas by babyhoneyhslt / @babyhoneyheslt [G, 4k, Harry/Louis]

Louis just wants to celebrate his birthday in peace, without all the Christmas antics.

Instead he wakes up in a strange bed, a confused stranger next to him and a self proclaimed elf calling him Santa. Part 1 of Holidays Are Coming

＊ 'tis the damn season by YesIsAWorld / @louandhazaf [E, 17k, Louis/Harry]

Harry returns to her small hometown over the holiday season and starts to think about the road not taken.

＊ A Christmas at Home by @parmahamlarrie [T, 3k, Harry/Louis]

After meeting his boyfriend in the emergency room, not having Louis home for Christmas Eve (and his birthday) was not a big surprise to Harry. What he didn't expect was just how hard that would be on his six year old son, Arlo.

Or, the one where Arlo wants nothing more than to celebrate Louis' birthday with him, and Harry hates having to be the parent who says no. Part 2 of Arlo's Christmases

＊ Get Out Of My Head (and I'll get out of yours) by Imogenlee / @imogenleewriter [E, 29k, Louis/Harry]

“You really that desperate, are you?” Despite it being a shitty thing to say, Harry didn’t mind too much, as the bitterness in Louis’ tone sounded like music to Harry’s ears. Harry was winning tonight. “Can’t find anyone new to be interested in you, so you try to hit on Zayn.”

“I can’t find someone interested in me?” Harry asked, raising an eyebrow. “You’re having a laugh, mate.”

“Yeah, well, where are they, then? Because from what I’ve heard, you’re here alone.”

“As if I’d bring anyone to somewhere I knew you’d be. I wouldn’t wish your presence on my worst enemy.”

“Aw,” Louis cooed in a way that made Harry want to slap him. “You’re saying I’m not your worst enemy?”

“For someone to be an enemy, you have to give a shit about them. So, no. You’re not even on the list.”

“Oh–kay. Well, it’s been lovely as always, gents,” Zayn said before knocking back the rest of his drink.

Or the one for the Bottom Harry Fic Fest where Harry bottoming is more of a side plot, because angst got in the way--but it doesn't really matter because the fest stopped existing when I was halfthrough.

＊ Oh Christmas Three by @tommokat [M, 1k, Harry/Louis]

A birthday surprise goes awry. Louis doesn’t understand. Harry blames the oven.

— Fic Fests —

＊ Louis Rare Pair Fest / @louisrarepairfest [AO3, masterpost]

A rare pair fest for all Louis rare pairs

＊ The Show Fic Fest / @theshowficfest [AO3, masterpost]

Fics written for and inspired by songs from Niall Horan's third album The Show

— Podfics —

＊ [podfic] Season 2, Episode 13: Oh Little Town of BATHlehem [a fic by ladylondonderry] by podfic_pals / @podfic-pals [G, Louis/Harry]

Louis Tomlinson needs a small pink bathtub.

He needs it.

His fucking family had forgotten to include him in the email chain for Doris for Christmas, with her very carefully thought out Christmas list, until every easy item was gone. Only when he asked Lottie if anyone else had heard from Doris yet, only then did they realise their mistake and forward the email chain to him.

So, it’s either a small pink bathtub or an entire bouncy castle. And if he had the money for a bouncy castle that would be fine, but that fucker costs more than his monthly rent and he simply does not make that much working as an optometrist assistant.

＊ [podfic] Season 2, Episode 14: I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm [a fic by haloeverlasting] by podfic_pals / @podfic-pals [NR, Harry/Louis]

Louis takes a deep breath, and replies very quickly to get it over with, “Well, see, I don’t have any heat in my flat right now and it’s hard enough to go to sleep when I’m bloody freezing—”

“Oh god. And my music’s gone and made it even worse,” Harry cuts in.

“Well, it only went out today,” Louis explains, “So it wasn’t that bad before, erm. Now.”

“Before?” Harry asks, horrified. “How long has this been?”

“Oh, erm,” Louis folds his hands where they hang in front of him and admits, “All week.”

Harry visibly wilts. He looks so sad, it makes Louis feel awful. He’s gone and crushed someone’s Christmas spirit. Some beautiful boy who looks like Danny Zuko is sad now and it’s Louis’ fault, which means he doesn’t stand a chance at being the cute neighbor from the floor below. And now he’s going to have to sleep in his freezing cold flat knowing he may as well have ruined Christmas.

Or, Louis' heat is out, Harry's a terrible upstairs neighbor, and an empty Christmas tree is the perfect excuse to fall in love.

＊ [Podfic] All I Do the Whole Day Through by Panda_Podfics / @pandapodfics [NR, Louis/Harry]

Louis reached up and grabbed the ridiculously thick jumper that had the planets all over it and slammed the wardrobe doors shut. It was only as he turned around that he realized why Harry’s bedroom door had been shut.

There was a nest on Harry’s bed.

But why was Harry using Louis’ clothes and items that probably smelled like him in his nest?

＊ [podfic] Season 2, Episode 15: room for your love underneath this tree [a fic by we_are_the_same] by podfic_pals / @podfic-pals [T, Harry/Louis]

“IwannameetHarryStyles,” Daisy mumbles, and Louis blinks.

“What?”

“She says she wants to meet Harry Styles.” Phoebe pipes up, and Louis blinks again, absently switches the camera to himself because he knows that his followers will want to catch his baffled expression.

“You-” he starts, and then stops himself, because he did tell her she could ask for anything she wanted, and how can he go back on his word and tell her that he doesn’t actually have the power to make that happen?

Because Harry Styles is -- he’s next level kind of famous. Louis has two million subscribers on his YouTube, but Harry has eighteen times as many followers on his Twitter alone. He’s had three number one hits in the last year, and his last album had charted at the top spot for a record breaking 27 weeks. He’s a singer, actor and philanthropist, and there is no way in hell that Louis can get him to come meet Daisy for Christmas.

So of course he laughs, even if it’s a little bit breathless, and nods at her. “One Harry Styles for Christmas, coming right up.”

＊ [Podfic] Christmas Special 2023 by Panda_Podfics / @pandapodfics [T, Louis/Harry]

three fics full of Christmas Fluff

All the lights are sparkling for you, it seems written by @thebreadvansstuff

Do you really want to be all alone? written by @enchantedlandcoffee

You Don’t Have to Be Lonely Tonight written by @neondiamond

#28th appreciation #hltracks #hlcreators #hljournal #trackinghappily #trackinghome #1dficvillage #tracksintheam #1dsource

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edgeofmyniall · 1 year

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okay so I am TERRIBLE at math so the flashback dates maybe wrong I will make a post putting them in order lol

The Arrival: Part One

Poppy Horan knew two things: one, life sucks in the manner of doing taxes and avoiding death at all costs, and two, she would rather stick a dull, rusty spoon in her eye than to get out of the car.

Poppy sits in her car as the white crystals fade down on the steaming metal. Even though the heat is set on high, she still feels the biting wind through her car. In reality, Poppy knows her heating system works perfectly fine, but it is the anxiety that makes her bones shiver under the many layers of clothes that she’s bundled in. She had packed light- she never truly intended to stay long, but the fur coat barely keeps her trembling at bay. The steering wheel seems to almost freeze under her gloved hand as she grips it tighter. With her elbow propped on the middle console, her other gloved hand taps her temple rhythmically as she awaits for the dreaded moment to appear. Something she wished never happened. Losing a friend is terrible, but the parts that precede and follow the mourning was something Poppy wished she could resign from. She couldn’t help but feel that her skin was ice- transparent and breakable.

She looks out the window when a pair of headlights pulls onto the snow covered street and without realization, her heart skips. The lump in her throat grows suddenly and her body freezes. She can’t move, but only to watch the approaching car slowly passing her own and that sudden fleeting moment of hope or despair, Poppy didn’t know, went as quickly as it came.

It isn’t often that Poppy is able to sit and enjoy the weather, but as she reflects on her life, everything that has led up to this very moment and the what ifs that follow, and tries to convince herself to go inside where her friends are waiting for the rest of the party to join, she can’t help but to hate the position she’s in now.

A position she never saw herself being in. A position she promised herself from a young age that she would never experience. A promise all too easily broken.

Because if she got an invite, so did he.

That’s what happens when you marry inside the friend group. You get invited to places and events together even if the two parties are, in fact, divorced.

To give her friend’s the benefit of the doubt, Poppy knows that none of them have the slightest clue about the divorce. There were merely rumors and claims floating around news articles and social media. None of them know about the constant fighting and the arguing that ensued all hours of the night when Niall would come home late smelling of perfume that Poppy would never dare wear. The yelling turned into crying which turned into silent treatments that remained until they both signed their names on the piece of paper that quoted irreconcilable differences as the reason why the two should no longer be together.

Irreconcilable differences was only a code phrase for infidelity. An nonchalant word that only covers the icing on the cake when it came to the downfall of their marriage. She tried, at first, to keep the marriage together, but after getting the same excuse and blame constantly, Poppy knew that it would be only a matter of time before she was served. Niall had moved on from her like a bad habit he was quitting. She wanted to work things out: she suggested therapy, time away, anything that would get them to talk, but Niall only wanted to put up a wall, and when the barrier came down, it was nothing but screaming and blaming the other for how miserable their lives had become. As if she was the reason for the loss.

She looks at the text message again, reading it over and over. His name is still the same in her phone minus the red heart next to it, but there in plain English was their invitation to speak at Justin’s funeral. Poppy declined, naturally, as she was only friends with the deceased through Niall, but Justin had helped her through some of the toughest times, even when Niall was nowhere to be found. She would rather stick behind the articles of her interior design magazine than to speak in front of strangers. But were they really strangers? The people inside were the same people she grew with. From the early twenties to now, those people grew together, celebrated together, cried together, and now are grieving together. Even thinking of Justin led to thoughts of Niall and their life together crumbled and spiraled out of control.

Would Niall bring her? The woman he left Poppy for? He couldn’t be that naïve to bring the absolute chaos to Justin’s wake, but it would be like Niall to pop the surprise on every one at a time that they least expected it. It would break the contract that Niall’s lawyer insisted that the two parties sign. She didn’t know the repercussions that would ensue if the contract was breached, but she didn’t want to find out either. Poppy had thought about calling the closest hotel to book a room, but what if Niall had done the same thing? Would he bring the bottle of wine that made Poppy first question the health of their relationship?

Her finger taps on the window trigger, debating if she should at least step out for a quick smoke. She hated the thought of the musky smell lingering where his cologne still hung to the leather almost as if she was ruining the memory of Niall. The Niall that once loved her. She can still see him sitting in the passenger seat singing along to whatever song played on the radio as they traveled across the country. It was her car that they had spent many moments of unwavering love in. Poppy sighs before shutting down the engine and steps out into the winter morning. The quiet suburban street watches Poppy as her car chirps at her, the familiar neighborhood in Hell’s Kitchen that she watched herself grow from a young college student to now the editor and designer of her own interior design magazine and company. She leans her back on her passenger door and lights up a cigarette, breathing in the nicotine. Her body falls into an ease, letting the tense aches of her muscles relax and her hand finds the two silver rings that hang around her neck. She keeps them on a low chain, a secret that only she knows about, not daring to let the world know of her failure and shame that she couldn’t make a love like the romance novels work. They had been picture perfect in almost every way before she gave up the fight. As her fingers play with the cool metal, her mind wanders into a place that is dangerous:

The past.

Five Years Ago

“And do you, Niall James Horan, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?” The priest looks over to Niall who stands proud in his tuxedo as he looks his bride in the eyes before he answers the easiest question with a smile.

“Yes.”

“And do you, Penelope Jane Myers, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?” The priest turns to Penelope who is glowing from happiness as she looks at the man of her dreams. The world stops turning as she takes in this moment: the way the one curl of Niall’s hair won’t stay in place no matter the amount of gel he uses, the way his blue eyes are shining at her, the small croak of his voice when he read his vows of the crumpled, folded paper- a sure sign that he had rewritten everything he was trying to say. They had spent months planning the wedding: getting the invitations right, the seating charts, the ordering of decorations. Niall insisted that Poppy make the whole idea of the wedding a big deal, but over and over again she told Niall, “I could care less about what it looks like as long as I’m with you. Forever. That’s all that matters.”

In hindsight, she should have known better. She looked at Niall for the last time as a single man before saying, “I do.”

“Then I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Niall cupped Poppy’s cheeks and pulled her in swiftly for a kiss that would seal the promise they both made before the crowd and God. Niall, in his soul, felt that he could die in Poppy’s kiss now as his wife for everlasting life. It couldn’t get any better than this.

Niall had carried Poppy from the altar to the small room upstairs after walking out of the chapel, and when they were alone, they breathed a sigh of relief. They were both nervous to start their lives as a married couple even though for them nothing changed except for the legal matters. Niall never asked Poppy to sign a prenup. She had helped Niall start his business so he felt that she should get at least half of everything that he had because without her support and encouragement, they would not be where they are today.

The dust of the Big Bend desert had traveled with them. Poppy gently knocks off the clay dirt as she looks her husband over. They had been married in the middle of nowhere, and their future was any possibility that they wanted. Niall unbuttons his jacket, sliding it off his arms, and carefully placing it in the chair behind him, hoping the dry desert air cools him down.

“I’ll call Sam in the morning to get everything set up at the office. You just need to come by whenever to sign the papers,” Niall whispered as his hands rested on the crook of Poppy’s hips. “After we come back from Hawaii, of course.” Her heart fluttered as Niall caressed the falling blonde tendril out of her face. His forehead rested on hers, breathing in this moment. Soon, they would be celebrating a lifetime of happiness with their closest friends and family. Poppy was surprised at how well her parents had gotten along on her big day. It was the first day of twenty years that she had witnessed the miracle.

“I don’t need any of that. Just you is all I want,” Poppy breathed, her breath hitched as Niall kisses her fully, his tongue tasting of mint. It was something special, sharing a private moment after being hidden away all day. She only wanted to get her hands on her husband and into bed, but this moment, she was completely satisfied with her husband. They had made it. After all the doubts, they had made it to the point in their lives that forever was at their finger tips.

“I love you times infinity, my darling. Forever.”

Forever came sooner than intended. On the breath of an everlasting promise, the word forever suffocated and shattered all over the hands that tried to keep a marriage from falling apart.

“Jesus, Penelope, you’re still going at it with those things?” A sudden familiar voice pulls Penelope out of the dream she was reliving. Her hand clutches the rings as she throws out the half lit cigarette, her heart racing. “You’ll end up killing yourself with those.”

Niall stood in the snow just a few feet from her in a gray trench coat with snowflakes that had caught in his hair from the short distance he walked from across the street. The week old scruff and dark circles under his eyes were a given sign of no sleep. Stocks had fallen and the business hadn’t been doing so well in the past couple of months. There had been frantic emails that Poppy was still receiving about emergency meetings from the decline of sales. The board of directors, including Poppy, were called to meet in person to discuss options. Niall had always poured his heart and soul into his work so much so that two had become one, and now as he stands in front of his ex-wife, she witnesses the perfect example of an ill fated work marriage. His body seems to want to lunge forward, to wrap his arms around his once best friend, but he stops himself and looks at the woman with the permanent sad face. “How are you?”

“Been better,” Poppy, still clutching the rings in her hand, turns to her ex-husband. His hands were stuffed into the silk pockets of his overcoat as the cloud of breath left his body. He looked irritated at best, like coming to one of his best friend’s wake was an inconvenience to him, but that was no longer Poppy’s worry. “You look like shit.”

It was a lie- a completely false statement that she said aloud to convince herself to stop looking at him in the way she once did. His dark hair was now specked with grey hairs throughout, but his eyes still shined blue and held so much wisdom. He had kept up with his workout regime. It was evident that nothing really changed in his life, except who he came home to. He looks just as good as the day he left her. He looks just as good as the day she met him.

Seven Years Ago

Poppy trudged against the rain, hoping to make it to her professor’s office on time. She had been running late due to the fact that she overslept after pulling an all-nighter to finish the essay that was due only a few minutes from now. Pen and paper, the professor had said, he would not accept anything less than pen and paper. She had only five minutes to cross the muddy lawn and run up three flights of stairs to hand in the paper in person to either her professor or the aide. Her heart racing, she ran as fast as she could across the slippery grass that would only stain her sneakers that she had gotten from her mom on her past birthday. She hated running across the grime, but it was the fastest route to get to the gray stone building that lurked over her, awaiting for her to fail.

Stepping inside the building, Poppy nearly slipped on the mat that was wrinkled on the newly polished floor. Her shoes squeaked as she began the trek upstairs taking one last look at the elevator in hopes that someone had fixed it after all the days it had been broken. The faded paper sign was still hanging on the metal doors as Poppy’s heart lurched forward. Two minutes left and the biggest grade she needed was about to be late.

A group of freshmen descended down the stairs in a form that could only be the walk of shame. They didn’t move over to let Poppy pass so she let them push past her. Her back arching into the railing as she watched the clock tick forward. It was as if time stood still in the final seconds of her deadline. Finally free, she ran as fast as she could, pushing past students and professors, unbeknownst to her she nearly pushed over her own, and left wet puddles on the floor when she reached the darkened office of her professor.

Closing her eyes, she sighed as she slid down the wall facing the office. Bringing her knees to her chest, she dropped her head in the sanctuary of herself and began to cry softly. She hadn’t made it on time and surely now, she would fail the class she needed the most to graduate.

A small whistle came from around the corner. Poppy peered over her arms with blurry eyes to see the aide coming back to the office. He hadn’t noticed one of his students on the ground when he turned the key. As he turned the lights on in his small office, he quickly grabbed his jacket that he had come back for. It was when he was leaving that he saw the tear stained face of one Penelope Myers.

“Penelope, what are you doing here?” Niall squatted down in front of Poppy and offered a hand to help her up. His touch was gentle as Poppy stood and wiped her tears. “I’m too late, aren’t I? Now I’ll never graduate on time and I’ll have to repeat the class again and hope to God I’ll never oversleep again which is a big, fat lie to you, me and God himself.” Niall cupped Poppy’s arm and gently squeezed.

“Late?”

“The paper. The one that’s worth half my grade? I’m late.”

“Do you have it?” Niall asked as he looked Poppy in her reddened eyes.

“Why does it matter? It’s late. Professor Lawrence won’t approve of it. First rule of his stupid syllabus.”

“Do you have it?” Niall asked again. His blue eyes seemed to flicker as a smile crept onto his face. Now was not the time to laugh at Poppy’s failure.

“Yes, but it’s probably wet from the stupid fucking rain.”

“Let me see it,” Niall smiled. Poppy’s brow furrowed in confusion, but bent down to retrieve the paper anyways. Only the corners seemed to have gotten wet and as she gave her essay to the man who comforted her, her heart raced. He had always been attractive- his dark hair and light blue eyes. Poppy was taken aback by him the first day of class as he sat in front of class playing the drums on the desk with the dry erase markers. He had flashed Poppy a toothy smile as she sat near the back, but that was the extent of their relationship. They hardly spoke to one another, but he was there every day with a smile waiting for her.

Tapping his watch with his finger, Niall says, “By the looks of my watch, it says you’re right on time.” He winked and turned to place Poppy’s essay in the mix of the other essays that had been turned in on time.

“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” Poppy didn’t realize what she was doing until she had done it. She wrapped her arms around Niall and buried her face inside the crook of his neck, taking in the deep musk of his cologne. “You are a lifesaver Niall. I owe you big time.” Poppy pulled away suddenly and straightened her clothes as Niall’s gentle grasp lingered. She hadn’t wanted to let go.

“You can treat me to some drinks later on. My friends and I are going down to the Landing Mark. It’s a local pub near downtown-”

“I know where it’s at,” Poppy smiles, knowing that whatever makeup she had on was now dripping down her face in a dark mess.

“And you buy me a round and we’ll call it even.” Niall extended his hand so Poppy could shake on their business agreement. A smile, wide and eager, spread across his face. Niall bent down to pick up her bookbag, and when she let go of his hand, he wanted nothing more than to grasp it again and never let go.

“The name’s Poppy, by the way,” she said after shaking her newfound friend, pushing her backpack on her shoulder. She pushed her wet, tangled hair out of her face as they begin walking down the hallway. She looked up at him, a smile growing on her face. A thought of what his lips taste like lingered in her brain. “Only my grandma calls me Penelope. It’s too old for me.”

Niall turns to open the door leading to the stairway and smiled, “Old or not, I like it.”

“You might want to put those on,” Niall nods to Poppy’s closed hand. “Still gives the façade.” Poppy swallows the last bit of pride that she has left and nods. Her hands shake, not from the cold, but from the fact that it’s been over a year since she last saw Niall. It was when he had the movers box all of his stuff and take it away in the moving truck that she saw him. He had gotten a tan from his vacation down in Cabo and he had thought Poppy wouldn’t be home.

“Thought you were gone to Amelia’s so I was going to leave this instead.” Niall handed her the wrinkled note and walked to his car without another word. It was when he was pulling out of their driveway that she read the scratchy handwriting.

Poppy entered the house alone and was left with all of their belongings staring at her broken heart. She could hear them laughing at her failure and every vase, picture, and wall decoration dug deep into her soul watching her as she slid down the bare white wall of their living room as she cried with rage filling her body. She never wanted these things, but Niall gave them to her anyways. He always wanted her to have the nice things in life, but Niall had been so consumed with the warped accusations and thoughts that Poppy only loved Niall for the things he gave her that he overlooked the value of their friendship and relationship. Poppy grabbed the blue and yellow vase that Niall gave her for their first year anniversary after their wedding, the one they made in a pottery class in New Orleans, and threw it as hard as she could against the wall that held their wedding picture. The one where he cradled Poppy’s face so delicately that one would assume she was made of glass while he looked at her with life and love, all consuming and enduring, like she was the only person in the world.

It was never the same.

“Can you help me? I can’t seem to get it.” Poppy’s fingers tremble against the cold as the clasp falls out of her grasp.

Niall sighs and walks over to his ex-wife, snow crunching under each step. He could hear his heart roaring against its cage. He had locked his heart away when it came to Penelope, tortured it for still feeling the way he does for her- for her shallow love. “Always something with you.”

“Weather’s supposed to get bad. Heard on the news it might be a storm later on,” Poppy’s voice cracked under the slender touch of Niall’s, ignoring his latest comment. He’s trying to steady his breathing, to keep himself under control, but the smooth skin on the nape of Poppy’s neck brings back too many memories he thought he washed down with alcohol. “But we should miss it after the funeral.”

“Since when do you watch the news, Penelope?” he quips, a small smile growing on his face. She’s trying to make an impression that she’s grown from the divorce- that she is independent, but Niall sees through the façade. She’s always been independent in her own way, and that was one of the many things that Niall loves about Poppy. Loved. He reminded himself. He loved her. He now loves Shelby. “The meteorologists are almost always wrong.”

“It was on the radio, meathead. I hope you know that people can change, Niall. They do it all the time.” The way his name hangs on her lips burns her- the taste of yesterday drowning in today. He unclasps the necklace when the front door of the blue townhome opens, letting the roaring laughter and music flood into the quiet snowy street.

“There’s the two love birds. Thought we might have missed you. Come inside before you both freeze,” the olive skinned woman that they both knew as Amelia shouted. The dark curly hair poked out into the white weather. Her shawl was wrapped around her body to hold off the harsh cold wind for the few moments her head had poked through the door. Niall’s smile vanishes as quickly as it came before Poppy turns to look at the dismal face of her ex-husband.

“Put them on quick. And put on a happy face; we’re the love birds, after all,” Niall growls as he picks up his luggage, the leather duffel bag that Poppy bought him for one Christmas- the same duffel bag he used to spend many nights away from his wife and under someone else. Poppy pops the trunk open and Niall quickly takes a hold of her bag, pushing it up on his shoulder. They walk up the front stairs in silence and before pushing the red front door that was left ajar, Niall places his hand on the crook of Poppy’s back and she swears that Niall’s eyes flickered with natural joy when she looked at him. Swallowing hard, Poppy feels as if this weekend is about to be an endless cycle of boxing matches with the odds stacked against her, and with no one in her corner, she is about to step into the hardest round of her life.

Three Years Ago

“Where were you?” Poppy stands at the top of the stairs. Her robe was pulled tight against her body as she looks down onto her husband, darkened eyes sunk in as his hand straddles the white railing. It was three in the morning, and Niall’s head was pounding. “You should have been home hours ago. I called you multiple times. I thought-”

“I went out for a few drinks, Pop. ‘S not a big deal,” Niall takes a step up, but the room is spinning, and he doesn’t remember driving home or how he wound up at the base of the stairs being scolded by his wife, but he remembers her. Her ruby red lips, the perfect pout, as his name fell between them. He could remember her honey brown eyes and black raven hair. He remembered her.

The way her body moved closer to his as the alcohol loosened their guards. He shouldn’t let her get so close, but he couldn’t help himself. It wasn’t toeing a line; it was full on trampling the boundary that he never intended to cross. There’s a thin line between love and lust, Niall knows, but her doe eyes pulled him in faster than he could think.

He thought he had pushed her off. He had a speech ready, and maybe he had said it in his mind and that was supposed to tell her without saying any actual words, but weeks and months of her teasing and wearing tighter clothes, he was in agony.

“A few?” Poppy crosses her arms against her chest, anger bubbling inside her. “You could have gotten hurt or…worse, Niall. Did you drive home?” Poppy starts to take a step down, but she stops herself. She could smell the heavy liquor and cheap perfume. It was like all of the air had been knocked out of her lungs and the filter that is instilled in every person caught flames. “You reek of booze and drug store perfume, Niall. Who the fuck were you drinking with?”

“You ask too many questions at once woman. I- I can’t think straight when there’s three of you,” Niall puts a foot on a step, heavy and with intention. He only wanted to lie down in bed, dreaming away any hangover that would be there in the morning. Niall winces when he hears his wife raise her voice.

“WHO WERE YOU DRINKING WITH NIALL?” Poppy felt the words come out like vile as she projected her anger at her husband. For hours, there wasn’t an answer from him between texts and calls. His location was still at work, and then it was at a bar on the other side of town that Poppy didn’t recognize. She almost drove over there, almost made a scene at Niall’s embarrassment, but she stopped herself. He would show back up...eventually.

“No one,” Niall closed his eyes, the room was swimming. “I just wanted a drink after work. Jesus, do you need to know my every move?” Niall began to make the perilous trek up the stairs. The white carpet reminded him of clouds and he would rather be anywhere but here in his home. He stood in front of his wife, her face red with anger and he noticed the small details of her furrowed brow. He smiles softly and laughs to himself. “You worry too much, darling. No woman will ever take me away from you.”

She thought he would kiss her on the cheek, but he only shuffles toward their bedroom down the hall. He had laughed at her. He didn’t need to answer her questions for Poppy to know the full story. She saw the evidence. A perfect tracing of red lips on the inside of his white shirt collar.

####

@niallsguitarsthings @theresnooneheretosave @niallerlover @niallsguiness @beautyispayno @therealniallgrande @lovelywordsblog @kare38

#Niall Horan fic #niall Horan fan fiction #niall 1d #Niall Horan #niall james horan #niall Horan fanfic #niall horan fanfiction #niall horan angst #1dff #1d

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pink-paw-14 · 2 years

Text

Mr. Try-Hard Rooster x f!reader pt.2

A/N: Part 2!!!! I'm soo excited that people are reading this. I swear it fills me with so much joy. Let me know if you guys have any ideas for this little universe! (this got away from me) Part 3

"It's a new book, same series, and stuff but now it's book 3, and since that I'm in a new place I get to control who sees books 1 and 2."

TW: Drinking (Wine), Mentions of dead parents

Song: Too Much to Ask by Niall Horan

It was currently 6:50 pm and you had told Rooster to pick you up at 7:00 on the dot. You stood in front of your full-length mirror that sat in your bedroom, behind you, you could see all the boxes that took up space in your new apartment. Procrastination had its cold clammy hands clutched to you, so the boxes were honestly there to stay... for now.

You had decided that a long orange-ish red sundress would be a good idea for a first date, it didn't give off the vibes of 'I'll totally let you fuck me tonight' but also gave the vibes of 'I really like you so I tried to dress nicely for you' and that was exactly what you were going for.

After being burned a couple times in college, you decided that taking things slow was the best chance to find someone who you wanted to spend the rest of your life with.

Right at 6:55, there was a knock at the door. You knew it had to be Rooster, it was nice that he was early, you liked it when people were early. Considering you grew up with the phrase 'it's better to be early instead of late' you were always a little too early.

Opening the door, there he was in all of his tanned glory.

Go figured he had a Hawaiian shirt on with a plain white T-shirt underneath it and that stupid mustache right under his nose. You were secretly hoping that it would be gone the next time you saw him in person. However, you sure as hell weren't going to tell him to shave it, this was your first date and you didn't want to be a controlling bitch. Ever.

"Hi," you say in a shy yet excited voice.

"Hey," He responds with a small wave. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, just let me grab my purse real quick, come on in." you usher him in and run to grab your purse off the kitchen counter, where it was packed and ready to go.

"Okay, I'm ready," you say once you make it back into his line of sight with a smile on your face.

"Awesome," Rooster smiles back. He places his hand on the small of your back and ushers you into his old Ford Bronco, and of course, opens the door for you.

"Thank you," you immediately respond, you hadn't expected him to open the car door for you. It seemed like a thing of the past for couples to do.

You just get a bright smile back. He starts the Bronco and pulls out of your driveway. You two just sit in silence, you are unsure of what to say and how to start a good conversation.

Then it hits you, you have no idea where you are going.

"Soo, Rooster, where are you taking me?" You ask, trying to sound casual.

"Oh, you know, just out to the middle of nowhere so that I can murder you and no one will hear you scream," he says with a straight face, his eyes never leaving the road.

"I'm sorry, what?" is all you can muster to say back.

He lets out a laugh. "I'm sorry, I saw that you had this sticker on a water bottle while you were going to get your purse and it said 'Wine and Crime' and one of my friends is also into true crime stuff too so I had to make the joke. I'm not actually taking you to the middle of nowhere, in fact, we are going to a public beach."

Your shoulders sag in relief and you let out a little laugh. "Wow, um, I was not expecting you to say that. Thanks for the mini heart attack."

"No problem." He responds with a laugh, pulling into a parking spot by the beach. There were still plenty of people around, walking their dogs, playing games, or just sitting watching the waves.

You both get out of the Bronco and he goes into the back seat and grabs a picnic basket, a blanket, and a bottle of wine.

"I can help you carry something." you offer and he just shakes his head.

"Don't worry, just sit and look pretty, it won't take me long to set up."

Your cheeks start to heat up, and you instinctively look down at your sandal-clad feet. Rooster quickly picks a nice spot and lays down the blanket. he sets down the basket and holds his hand out.

"Ready when you are Snowflake," he says in a casual voice.

You take his hand and he helps you get comfortable on the blanket, he sits down right next to you.

"Alright, so I've got some deviled eggs, pigs in a blanket, some chips with salsa, and two wine glasses. I was hoping we could watch the sunset and chat for a while, if you are still hungry then I know a great Ice cream place a short walk from here that is open pretty late into the night." He explains, looking at you.

You give him a smile and respond, "Sounds great."

"Good enough to get your first name?" he asks with a teasing smile.

"I thought we agreed to stick to Snowflake and Rooster? I quite like the sound of that. Don't you?" you answer, sending him a teasing smile back

"Got me there Snowflake, so, judging by your accent you are not from around here." Rooster claims.

"Well aren't you Mr. Try-Hard tonight, first you spot my love for true crime podcasts and now you figured out that I am not from Florida." you look at him and admire how the sun shines on his face. "I was born and raised in Minnesota. I graduated college a year ago and starting next week I'll be a second-year teacher. So still a baby according to most." you continue.

His eyes never left yours as you talked about what brought you to Florida, however, once you were done he opens the picnic basket and pops open the wine. You pick up one of the wine glasses and hold it out for him to fill.

"A teacher," he states. "Let me guess, high school. you teach either math or... history."

You smile and shake your head. "English actually. I love words and I suck at math. Plus 9/10 historical events make me sad. What about you? What brought you to Pensacola Florida?" you ask genuinely curious.

"I'm in the Navy. I joined right out of high school, I finished basic a couple years ago and now I'm in my last month of naval aviator flight school."

"Wow, What's next for you then, deployment?"

"Yeah, and then I'm hoping to be sent to Top Gun." He responds, reaching for a pickle wrapped in cream chees and ham ie: Pigs in a blanket.

"Top Gun? What's that?" You ask, you had never heard of it before.

Rooster lets out a laugh, "You are the first person to ever ask me that question. it's a school for the best pilots in the Navy, very cut-throat, my dad went back in his day so I'm hoping to do the same."

"Wow, generational. Your dad must be proud of you then," you respond.

"I like to think that he would be, yeah... mom too." Rooster says in a quiet voice.

"Oh," you say quietly, looking out at the sea, the sun is half showing at this point.

"God, sorry, I totally just ruined the vibes didn't I? Fuck." He says, clearly trying to change to mood.

You put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, it's okay. if it makes you feel any better, I lost my parents too. I guess we can be sad orphans together." you try and laugh it off. You know it's a shitty joke.

"Is that why you moved to Florida?" Rooster asks looking you in the eyes.

You let out a sigh, "Partially, the job I was offered is really good and pays well for a teacher, but no matter what I always knew I wanted to get out of Minnesota. I love traveling and seeing the world, my parents supported that, but now that they are gone no one is holding me back. So I said 'fuck it' and took the job." you respond.

"Do you have anyone in Minnesota, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Siblings?" Rooster asked.

"No, not really, no one worth it. But I do have an old swim coach who took me under his wing. God knows if I ever stopped texting him he would hunt me down." you laugh at the thought.

"Swim coach?" he questioned.

"Yeah, competition swimming, I did it for, I don't know, fourteen years? Maybe more, that's how I got into college. Did you do any sports?" You ask, it seemed like it was just you answering the questions.

"Yeah, I played Baseball and Football in high school. I didn't do any of that stuff in college though, I wasn't that good." he laughs.

You both sit in silence for a while and watch the sun finally disappear from view. Both of you are drinking your wine and eating some of the snacks Rooster brought, just enjoying each other's company.

Once it was dark, the stars were out, the food was all gone, and the wine was drunk. You looked at Rooster.

"Rooster, I'm glad you are here for book three."

#rooster bradshaw #bradley rooster bradshaw #top gun maverick #rooster fanfic #bradley bradshaw #rooster #rooster bradshaw fic #bradley bradshaw x reader

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