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drvirgus · 6 months

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The Idol who cant Smile

Minji X Fem! Reader

Description: You are the oldest Member of New Jeans, but Fans Never saw you Smile once. Why don't you Smile? Who's the Person that can bring back a smile to your Face?

Chapter 17:

With a smile on my face, I stood beside Minji, patiently waiting for Lena and her best friend to collect the tickets. I glanced at the taller woman next to me, who had her phone in hand and then directed it towards me.

Hanni had apparently sent a picture of Haerin and Hyein to the group chat. It seemed that Minji had informed them that we were going to the amusement park. I just smiled with amusement. To be honest, I had muted the group chat. Hyein, Danielle, and Hanni posted way too much. I mostly responded with stickers.

I watched as Lena and her best friend, Maria, approached us. Minji immediately put her phone away. Maria and Lena looked at Minji and me. I also turned my attention to their hands and noticed Lena holding the tickets.

"Okay, let's go in," Lena said. Of course, we were now speaking in English as Minji couldn't understand German.

Unfortunately, I couldn't help overhear Maria saying in German that Minji was quite hot. Lena quickly agreed, and I glanced at them, causing both to fall silent. I cleared my throat, but Minji quickly regained my attention.

"Is there... anything dark here?" Minji asked with a mischievous grin. I blushed almost immediately and playfully hit her on the arm, making her burst into laughter. I also chuckled but stopped when we finally joined the line. This roller coaster seemed to be quite fast.

"So, Minji, are you taken, by any chance? And what about you, Y/n?" Maria asked, although Lena looked at her best friend panicking. I looked at Minji, and it seemed like both of us were contemplating whether to tell the truth. Lena sighed and shook her head. "Just don't answer," the blonde said, laughing lightly.

"Why? Is dating prohibited in Korea or something?" Maria asked, appearing confused by Lena's reaction. I smiled gently. She probably wasn't a K-Pop fan. Did she even know that we were from Newjeans?

"It's not looked upon favorably when idols are in relationships. We have to remain single and pure for our fans," I explained, which prompted Maria to give me a skeptical look. She laughed disbelievingly, "But... you also have a private life, right? Do you have to stay single until you retire?"

Minji chuckled somewhat, and I felt like Maria and I were on the same page. "Let's just say that we're publicly single," Minji replied, and Maria nodded in understanding. Then, she started to grin, "And privately?"

I laughed as we continued to move in the line. You could already hear the roller coaster in front of us stopping and starting. The screams of the people made me quite anxious. Lena looked at me with concern, "Are you okay?" My cousin's forehead furrowed. Her eyes widened, "Oh shit. You have a fear of heights, don't you?"

I smiled nervously and chuckled. Soon, I felt Minji taking my hand. Her eyes were fixed on mine, which helped me relax visibly. Maria and Lena observed the situation, and almost simultaneously, both of them made a knowing sound, "Ohhhhhh."

Maria then grinned as she looked at Minji and me, "You know, they have a dark roller coaster here. You can't even see your own hand." She said while Lena nodded vigorously beside her. My cheeks blushed, and Minji looked quite intrigued.

"Really? Is there also a... somewhat slower one? I mean, not a proper roller coaster but... um..." Minji asked, showing interest. However, she hesitated to continue, so I nudged her slightly. That seemed to be the confirmation that Lena and Maria were looking for. Both of them laughed, and the good thing was, they no longer ogled Minji as a piece of meat.

Now they knew that Minji was mine!

We finally made it onto the roller coaster. Minji was right beside me. My mouth dropped open as I noticed that this roller coaster had a real harness. God... did that mean this roller coaster was dangerous?

My leg was nervously tapping as the attendant checked my harness. I turned my head to Minji next to me. The taller woman beamed at me. She reached her hand out to me, and I took it. However, due to my considerable fear, I immediately let go of her hand as I felt the roller coaster slowly starting. My hands clenched onto the safety bars.

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"I want to go on that one," Minji suddenly exclaimed, pointing at one of the roller coasters. We all looked at them, but I immediately shook my head. The roller coaster dangled in the air, causing people to rotate constantly from front to back, sometimes even upside down.

"No, I'd throw up," I replied. Maria, however, was willing to go on it. Minji hesitated, looking at me. I smiled and nodded in the direction of the roller coaster, "Go ahead. Lena and I will wait there and have a little snack."

Minji smiled widely and got dangerously close, almost as if she wanted to give me a quick kiss. When she realized what she was about to do, her eyes widened, and she looked at me with large eyes, as if I had done something wrong.

But I just laughed and playfully hit her on the shoulder. She smiled and chuckled in response and then followed Maria. However, I turned my head toward Lena. The taller blonde woman smiled in amusement and gestured for me to follow her, which I promptly did. We both grabbed a cola and a bottle of water. Minji could share my drink.

We sat down together, ensuring a good view of the roller coaster, and we would notice if Maria and Minji took their seats. I took a sip of my cola and Lena suddenly said in German, "I'm happy for you. You two look happy."

I looked at her in surprise, my eyes wide. Lena, however, just smiled and fixed her gaze on me. She continued, "You don't have to confirm it. I don't really know you for very long, but somehow... I feel a connection to you. Is that what they call cousinly bonding?" She laughed, a bit embarrassed.

A smile formed on my face, and I observed the blonde woman before me. "I feel the same way, Lena," I replied, which made Lena sigh with relief. I grinned and added, "And yes, it's exactly how you think it is between Minji and me." This revelation surprised Lena, and she looked at me with wide eyes. She probably hadn't expected me to tell her.

Lena smiled and nodded her head, saying, "Thank you. I'll keep it to myself. Anything you tell me." My eyes briefly glanced at the roller coaster, and I noticed Maria and Minji taking their seats. I immediately saw Minji waving at me with a broad grin. I waved back with a smile.

"I probably shouldn't ask, as it's already TOO obvious, but does she treat you well?" Lena inquired, looking at me seriously. I smiled immediately, a slight blush on my cheeks as I started to giggle. "Honestly, Minji is too good for me," I replied, and Lena raised her eyebrows.

My cheeks turned a little red, and I started giggling as Lena watched. I took another sip of my cola, and I sighed as I continued, "Honestly, Minji is too good for me. I don't know if you've followed me or Newjeans much, but you may know that I've never really smiled. There was a reason for that, which I'll skip. But Minji was there for me, constantly... She helped me a lot, and she didn't have to. I gave her many chances to break up with me." Lena now smiled satisfied.

"That was crazy," I heard Maria say, and I immediately turned my head. Minji and Maria had just arrived, and they sat down beside us. Lena and I exchanged glances and smiled. Then, I looked at Minji and offered her the bottle of water, saying, "Here, have some water." Minji smiled and took a few sips.

"What were you talking about?" Maria asked us, looking first at Lena, then at me. We both shrugged almost simultaneously. Minji raised an eyebrow and looked at me, making me laugh. I pointed my index finger to my lips and said, "Secret." I winked with one eye.

Minji snorted as she shook her head in amusement and playfully slapped my shoulder. I chuckled and sighed. My head now rested against her shoulder, and Minji asked softly, "Tired?" Her hand applied gentle pressure.

I hummed softly, "We were up late, after all," the younger girl said quietly. Almost immediately, I noticed Lena and Maria's disgusted expressions. This made me raise my head again, and I chuckled, saying, "Not like that!" as I laughed.

"Oh my God!" I suddenly heard, and shortly after, Minji and I recognized that some people were approaching us. It was only a matter of time. At least we had a few hours of peace. The crowd continued to grow. Lena and Maria looked overwhelmed.

However, Minji and I were used to handling such crowds with ease. The downside was that we were currently without bodyguards or managers. Slowly but surely, after taking many photos with our fans, we managed to find a relatively quiet corner.

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Newjeans' Y/n and Minji Spotted at Phantasialand: Just Friends or Something More?

In an unexpected turn of events, Newjeans fans were in for a delightful surprise as Y/n and Minji from the popular K-pop group were recently spotted enjoying a day out at Phantasialand, an amusement park in Cologne. What's intriguing about this outing is that it appeared to be entirely unrelated to work, sparking questions among fans about the nature of their relationship.

Newjeans has captured hearts worldwide with their music and on-stage chemistry, and their fans have been eager to know more about the dynamics within the group. While the group's members share a strong bond, it's Y/n and Minji's recent trip to Phantasialand that has fans speculating about a possible deep friendship or even a romantic connection.

Y/n and Minji, the two members known for their powerful vocals and mesmerizing stage presence, took a break from their busy schedules to enjoy a day filled with thrilling rides and laughter. Phantasialand, known for its enchanting atmosphere and exhilarating attractions, provided the perfect backdrop for a carefree day away from the spotlight.

What's left fans puzzled is the absence of the other members of Newjeans. The group has a strong bond, and they are often seen spending time together during their free moments. The fact that Y/n and Minji went on this excursion without the rest of the members has raised some eyebrows. Could it be that the other members had different commitments or simply needed a day off? Or is there something more to the story?

Fans can't help but wonder if Y/n and Minji's visit to Phantasialand is a sign of a deeper connection between them. The pair has shared the stage on numerous occasions, showcasing their musical compatibility, but this off-duty rendezvous hints at a possible friendship outside of work. Could it be that they are simply the best of friends who enjoy each other's company? Or does this signify a romantic relationship that they've chosen to keep private?

K-pop fans are no strangers to speculating about the personal lives of their idols, but it's essential to remember that celebrities deserve their privacy, just like anyone else. Y/n and Minji's day out at Phantasialand could be simply two friends spending quality time together, exploring the beautiful city of Cologne.

OMG, Y/n and Minji are hanging out! My ship is sailing. ❤️

Typical PR stunt. They're probably just friends, but they want us to think otherwise for publicity. 🙄

Hanni and Haerin right now, watching Minji and Y/n having a blast at Phantasialand without them. Jealous level 100! 😂🙈

If Y/n and Minji are dating, can they at least share some cotton candy? That's the real test of true love. 🍭❤️

Why do fans always ship idols? It's none of our business. They're just coworkers and friends. 🤷‍♀️

Hanni and Haerin watching Minji and Y/n at Phantasialand like... 😒

Okay, but the way Y/n looks at Minji? I'm convinced! #Y/njinForever 💕

K-pop idols can't have normal friends without everyone thinking it's a secret romance

Plot twist: Y/n and Minji were just trying to find the best roller coaster for their next music video!

It's nice to see the members taking a break and enjoying some downtime. Everyone deserves a fun day out!

Don't get me wrong, I love seeing Minji and Y/n's friendship shine, but is it too much to ask for a girls' day out with Haerin and Y/n too? 💃👯‍♀️

#Y/nji forever! I've been shipping them for ages. This is just more proof that they're meant to be together. ❤️

#newjeans x reader #haerin #newjeans hyein #newjeans hanni #minji x reader #hanni pham #danielle #newjeans #newjeans minji

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placeinthisworld · 3 months

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I think swifties in a very weird and gross way want joe to have been an absolute ass and emotionally abusive because then they’ll feel that all of Taylor’s friends behaving like that and even Taylor behaving in a very petty and just overtly mean way right after the breakup announcement would be justified. They believe that Taylor isn’t truly fully petty like that so she can’t possibly be doing that just because there just has to be a huge reason for everybody’s behaviour at the time cuz otherwise it makes her look immature. I also think because Taylor presented this image of him being so perfect that now fans that formed a very evident attachment to him feel betrayed so he has to have been horrible and awful all along. I truly don’t understand the she became voiceless part because honestly I know we don’t know alot right now but the info before us makes me feel like sometimes she’s pissed that she was forced to slightly face her morals head on in part because of him. on a side note I honestly don’t believe he’s some poor victim and I know that he might’ve been crappy to her and she might’ve been an ass but right now I just find it weird and icky that so what you’re presenting to us is that he couldn’t handle your fame and after the breakup you’re choosing to literally name your album after a group chat he had so it’s like you’ve kind of sentenced him to being in the headlines perpetually whenever the name of your album is mentioned and it’s like this isn’t just her discussing her feelings in a song which I don’t know others might not feel this way and it’s perfectly fine but like the song stuff sure can make the situation difficult for the other person slightly but I feel like that’s alright ya know you knew she’s a songwriter when you started dating her but this is the actual name of her album. Like she might put a spin on it and now she’s made that title her own which is perfecting fine but you can’t convince that miss marketing queen wasn’t aware that this wouldn’t happen especially because the way she and her friends have acted after the break up really fuelled the feud narrative. This part isn’t a huge offence on her part and I understand isn’t a big deal but it’s just icky to me

yuuuup i agree!!! i feel like joe and taylor had their issues but fully intended to make things work. but life happens, people change. i feel like ive seen a shift in taylor’s personality over the past few years. the thing i liked about joe/ taylor were how private they were, like we didn’t hear every single thought or action they did like we are seeing now. it felt like taylor had her own life and i was so content with that. we obviously don’t know anything more than what *taylor* has written about them in her music. joe doesn’t really say shit about her (and yeah ik that article went around about how he was feeling slighted by the album announcement but like be so fr anyone could have made that statement up- i feel slighted FOR him for gods sake) and he’s been pretty respectful of her their entire relationship publicly at least. he’s always known she’s a storyteller and writer so im sure it wasn’t exactly shocking information to hear about her writing about him, but yeah i do have to say after being so close and private with someone for years and then having them release an entire album less than a year after the breakup, filled with vague LDR rip off song titles that reference you in the slightest bit, therefore triggering millions of Defensive swiffers to openly bully and harass you online for…..ending a relationship you probably were grieving over too- just so fucking petty.

like sure we’re used to hear how taylor feels about her exes/ past relationships, but this was when she was still vague about what songs were about who, and we had at least 2+ years between the. breakups to learn about it. it feels like she rushed to put together another album to just shit on joe specifically…..like it just feels so wrong. imo.

i was sent this reddit thread and it actually made me think A Lot about how taylor works

#answered #anonymous #like i’m not even a joe stan ive never seen a single thing that man has been in but good god yall are acting like he’s re villain????#for breaking up with her?????????#possibly?????? like we don’t even know yall just want to hate a man #if we’re gonna hate on an ex can we PLEASE go back to john mayer????????????? he is so much more deserving of it

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lucysarah-c · 1 year

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Erwin as a friend

My mind tends to imagine a lot of the dynamics between the vets, how are they as a group when protocols drop. And, in particular, I go back a lot to Erwin as a friend.

In a modern setting, because I feel it is easier to get my point across, Erwin would be one of those friends that YOU ALWAYS go to their house to hang out with. He’s those friends who have so much patience and everybody knows it. You may have arrived from a trip and are on the way to his house and you almost break down the doorbell of his house. He opens up, it’s 6 am, he’s frowning at you like “wtf?” still on pjs and you just smile. Because Erwin ALWAYS has tasty stuff to binge on, he always has stuff to make a good meal, his coffees are the best and he has this espresso machine that you like. And you are starting to suspect that Erwin doesn’t use that machine match but he DOES have the latte capsule that you like and those cookies are your favorites. I’m not saying that Levi, for example, wouldn’t be a good friend but Levi is different. Levi sets boundaries, you ring his bell at 6 am and he’s not opening even if he’s awake. If he knows that you and Hange are doing that to piss him off then, you two can freeze outside for a good while until he opens. That will teach you a lesson.

Erwin no, Erwin is that friend who is everybody's driver. He is always driving you somewhere. You live across the city? Fine, just cry a bit on the group chat and the “Fine, I’ll pick you up,” message will appear under Erwin's name. Hange is a disaster driving and driving with Levi is like driving with a military man “don’t put your feet there, no eating, no drinking, I’M THERE AT 8:35 IF YOU DON’T COME OUT FOR 8:36, I’M LEAVING YOU THERE.”

In my head, Erwin is like that tired father who already had too many kids. What's the worst thing that could happen if he spoiled the little one just a tiny bit more? You want that? fine, have it, just don’t cry I don’t want to deal with you.

Levi is more of those strict parents, he teaches you lessons… not sure if they are working but at some point you start to show up on time to events, you have to give him that.

Erwin is a single kid who didn’t have anyone to play with and now values company, he doesn’t care he just enjoys that someone wants to spend time with him. Levi is that older sibling who had to raise himself and his siblings, he values company but knows how to make you do what you have to do. See the difference?

Going back to canon time. God haha I love the idea that Erwin’s office is “everyone’s office” like gravity is heavier there and somehow all vets end up hanging out there. After a long day at work, Levi crosses pathways with Hange on the corridors.

“I’m grabbing some supper, what are you up to?” He would ask, stopping but not fully turning around.

“I’m going to go and bother Erwin,” They simply replied.

Levi pounders around the idea, spins on his heels and walks side by side with Hange. Bothering Erwin is always fun.

“This is not a hotel, you know?” Erwin would complain.

“Do you still have those cookies from the other time?” Hange completely ignores him.

Erwin opens a cabinet, takes the box out and places it on the coffee table “Yeah, here.” He complains but those complaints aren’t serious. On working hours, they follow his orders without much thought. In private?? ‘Party in Erwin's office!” “Yay!!!” “no no, I’ve work tomorrow” “Erwin where did you put the whiskey?”

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juminies · 3 months

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aw hahaha, i wish my were professors were like that! (and true, elizabeth the 3rd does deserve it) also, due to his endearing nature, i like to imagine some of his students feeling a bit sad once they finish up his course, and getting him a parting gift before they move on to the next stages of their lives. and since he talks about elizabeth so much they usually get him cat themed mugs or pens so he’s got a whole stash of them back home and in his office.

omg, i forgot yoosung wanted to be a vet for a hot min! yeah, the animal hospital idea definitely fits more. i’m thinking of yoosung working as a junior vet in one of the local clinics. one day he mentions in passing how he’d like to open up his own clinic in the group chat. jumin messages him privately a little later, mentioning that he’d be more than happy to provide the capital to help him get started.

yoosung suddenly becomes nervous. sure, this is his dream, but dreaming and doing are two separate things. starting his own practice is a big step to take and he’s still relatively young. is he really ready? these kind of thoughts keep circling in his head when:

“i've seen how hard you’ve worked and how much you’ve grown during these past years you’ve practiced under dr. yoo. i believe you are more than capable of starting up and running your own clinic. of course, i, as well as the other rfa members will be there to support you each step of the way.”

and since jumin han isn’t the type of person to give out compliments for free, i’d like to think the sincerity of his words help yoosung feel a bit more confident in the idea of running his own clinic, and yeah, that’s my rfa animal hospital origin story haha <3

i totally agree on the lawyer thing! out of all the professions mentioned, i think jumin fits the lawyer vibe the most. but it’d also be the hardest profession to fit canon jumin into. like it works in theory, but it’s a lot harder in practice haha. but, prosecuting for sure, can’t really picture him as a defense lawyer

first ask | second ask

Oh he 100% would have an impressive collection of cat mugs that were gifted to him!

I think he would be the type to tell his students not to try and remain in contact with him after they graduate because he doesn't have the time or energy, really, and he wouldn't sugarcoat that. Even so he remembers a lot of them (we know the memory on that man is ridiculous) so occasionally he will come across someone he taught's research in an academic journal a few years after their graduation and he will send them an email to congratulate them on being published and possibly briefly discuss their work. He's also been in the 'thanks to' section of a thesis or several.

Side note I imagine he is very well acquainted with the campus IT department because if ever he stumbles into any sort of technological issue it's very rare he knows how to solve it himself. They're used to it. This applies to C&R in canon too.

Also! The idea of him helping Yoosung fund setting up his own veterinary clinic is lovely and I can definitely see it happening. He might even request that Yoosung be Elizabeth's primary vet once it's all up and running since he knows and trusts him on a personal level. Yoosung kind of fumbles at first because oh god that's a lot of pressure but he ends up accepting after some deliberation. He tries insisting Jumin let him do it for free as a good deed in return for helping him make his dream a reality, but Jumin has absolutely none of it hahaha.

Hard agree on the works in theory, less in practice lawyer thing too. He definitely fits the vibe more than the actual career. He seems like the type of guy who has a slightly odd amount of knowledge on the legal system just because he can, and also who would weirdly enjoy getting called for jury duty. If you told him you dread it he'd be all "I find the whole thing rather fascinating"

#jumin han

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heymacy · 3 months

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Hi Macy! 10, 18, and 25 for the fandom asks please!

KAT!! HI HI HELLO!

10. a blog (mutual or one you follow) that has made your fandom experience brighter: literally every single one of you. every! single! one! but if i had to shout someone specific out it would be @gardenerian and @iansfreckles, for everything they've given me over the last few years. they'll know what i mean 💛

18. a fandom tag that you track: i actually don't track any fandom tags! is that surprising? i check the "shameless" tag sometimes to see what y'all are up to but that's about it! i might start tracking the #chappell roan tag tho bc i'm starting to be really active in that fandom. is that a fandom? it is, right? idk, i just adore her!

25. a piece of advice for taking care of yourself in fandom space: oh GOOD GOD i have so many pieces of advice for this. first, use the block button. i am not kidding. the worst thing someone can do, like the ABSOLUTE worst thing that will happen, is someone making a passive aggressive callout post about you on their page. which like, is not that bad. it's happened to me and i'm still here and kicking! second, enter every situation with zero expectations whatsoever. every interaction, every post, every piece of art you share. expect absolutely nothing to happen so that when things do happen, it's an even bigger joy. i never expect anything i post to get any traction so when it happens, it's even better than it would be if i was jonesing for notes! third, find your people. it can be one person or ten people or thirty, but find them. put yourself out there and be unapologetically YOU and the right people will gravitate. then make a group chat, a discord server, etc. and talk! talk talk talk! all the time! about fandom stuff and non-fandom stuff. share things about your life, bitch and moan, just generally engage as much as you can. i do it and it's glorious. fourth, don't feel like you need to be constantly logged in. if you're worried about not being active but your mental health is suffering, set up a queue and take a step back. do not be afraid to be inactive though, because ultimately fandom should be fun and the second it stops being fun, you HAVE to step back and take care of yourself first. engage in other non-fandom hobbies in the meantime, and if you're like me and you didn't have any when the fixation broke and your life was in shambles, find one! it will be the best form of catharsis and help bring things back into perspective. lastly, remember that IT IS NOT THAT SERIOUS. don't participate in infighting. don't make callout posts or vaguepost about stuff because it will only make things worse. rise above it. if you wanna bitch, bitch to your friends in private and be kind and courteous in public. it will save your skin and your sanity. GOD THIS WAS SO LONG but i have just learned so much and i wanted to pass it on. anyway. tallyho! i love you all 💛

#GOD MACY SHUT UP #macy babbles #ask games

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barbiewritesstuff · 2 years

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Church Encounters: Chapter 15

-- This chapter comes with a mandatory viewing ( https://youtu.be/rNIiO6_o8Gs ) for Coyote's wedding dance lol

This fic was written in collaboration with @lgg5989, who will be uploading this on her timblr and her AO3. She also made the beautiful moodboard you see below!!

(Glen if you see this... do you like it? Are we making you proud lol? Do you have requests)

Reblogs and Comments are appreciated!! We also take blurb requests!!

Previous Part

Taglist: @acarboni21 @unsurebuttrying @dempy @peaches-1998 @bbooks-and-teas @roosterscock @positivelyholland --

“Right you miscreants, we’re off,” Bob shouted over the thirty teenagers chatting around the church parking lot, “I want you walking in a line, watch out for traffic and Michael, this one is specifically for you, we DO NOT push our friends onto the street, even as a joke,” he added, staring Micheal Watts directly in the eyes.

Bob wasn’t supposed to be by himself with all the kids today, but Matt called him to let him know something else had come up, and Jake was busy preparing for his upcoming nuptials. So here he was, standing in the parking lot of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church trying to corral thirty teens on to the sidewalk to walk to the park.

The walk wasn’t far, but there was one intersection they had to cross and Bob just prayed to God that they made it there and back safely, or else he would never be able to do anything like this again.

As the group slowly made its way down the street, towards the park, Bob spotted a familiar Bronco sitting in the parking lot of the Protestant church. The sight brought a smile to his face, maybe Rooster had taken his advice and was trying to get himself right with God.

He was torn out of his thoughts when the group came to a stop on the corner. Many of the kids had already hit the button for the walk symbol and the incessant beeping was still permeating the air around them, “Alright, that’s enough on the walk button, it knows there’s people here,” Bob called towards the front of the group, not surprised in the least to see Micheal Watts’ disappointed face as he was pushed away from the button.

As they waited for a few cars to let them out, Bob noticed Rooster coming out of the church. Before he could turn away and pretend like he hadn’t encroached on the man’s private matters, Rooster looked up, making eye contact with him.

Bob nodded to him with a small smile on his face, holding the kickball up in the air like an offering, he asked, “You any good at kickball Bradshaw?”

Rooster let out a loud laugh, “I was, once. What’s all this?”

“Youth group,” Bob replied, “Another guy was supposed to help me but it appears that he had better things to do with his Wednesday evening. What do you say, you want to join?”

Just then, the group of teens started moving across the road, Bob raised an eyebrow at Rooster in an attempt to hurry up his decision.

“Alright, I’ll join you,” he said, jogging up to Bob and crossing the street with the group of kids.

“How’d you get into this?” he asked.

“Well…” Bob started, not sure how much of his religious journey he wanted to share, “Cyclone really. He encouraged me to join the church and I was feeling in a volunteering mood that day I guess.”

Rooster just nodded, pushing his Ray-Bans further up his nose. As the kids walked up to the kickball diamond painted on the blacktop Bob called out, “Alright everyone, this is my friend Rooster, he’s going to be our second team captain. Now let’s divide up into even teams, and let’s have a respectful game, okay?”

A chorus of voices answered back, “Yes Bob!”

With that, the kids divided themselves into two teams of fifteen, Bob and Rooster making it an even sixteen per team. The game went well, and by the end both men were laughing along with the kids while they played. As they walked back to the Catholic church, Bob turned to Rooster, “Thanks for hanging out with us, I really appreciate the help.”

“It’s no trouble,” he replied, “It was actually a lot of fun.”

Bob nodded, a smile on his face, “Yeah, these guys know how to have a good time, makes me feel a little lighter sometimes you know?”

Rooster nodded, before he could answer, Bob started talking again, “Do you want to grab a beer quick? It’ll be on me, since you helped me out.”

“That sounds good, meet you at the Hard Deck?” Bradley asked.

“See you there,” Bob replied as Rooster split off from the group and headed to his truck.

Once all the teens had been picked up and Bob spoke to Michael’s parents for the third time this month, he left the church. He pulled into the Hard Deck’s parking lot forty minutes later, having seemingly been stuck behind every late night delivery truck San Diego had to offer. He had abandoned the idea of changing roughly ten minutes into his journey and walked into the bar still wearing his bubblegum pink ‘Saint Michael The Archangel Church Youth Minister Of The Year’ shirt and jean shorts, looking dishevelled and exhausted.

Attracting all sorts of looks, Bob slumped onto one of the barstools and raised a hand to Penny, she opened the minifridge below the bar top and pulled out a coke.

“Beer please, Pen,” he corrected her.

“Thought you didn’t drink?” she asked with a smile and a slightly confused look on her face.

“I don’t, Penny, but Michael Watts joined us at youth group today,” he told her, Penny nodded, no doubt having heard about the boy’s legendary lack of common sense from Amelia with whom he shared a school yard. She twisted the top off of a Coors Light and set it down in front of him with a pint glass before her attention was caught by a new group of patrons. Bob ordered two more beers before Penny could spare a minute to talk to him.

“What’s he done today?” she asked, wiping the condensation from another customer’s glass off the bar top.

“He tried, in his infinite genius, to fight a police officer… Lucky Rooster knew the guy because I would NOT have bailed him out. Fuck Matt for leaving me to deal with thirty kids by myself,” he told her, ignoring her slightly confused and highly amused look, “You know there’s a limit on how many kids we can watch right? Like, if the parents heard about it we’d all be in trouble,“ he added, too angry to care that he was swinging the bottle as he spoke, spraying his neighbours with beer, “He’s lucky I’m not ratting him out to Jake --”

“Ratting who out to me? What happened? Youth group go okay?” Jake appeared behind Bob, his footsteps silenced by the song playing on the jukebox, “You drinking beer now Bob?”

“I don’t like it but today has not been a Pepsi Max day, Jake,” he said, thrusting his fist into his friend’s chest, the bottle splashing his white shirt, “Shit, sorry man.”

Jake ignored the stain, “Bobby are you drunk?” he asked with a grin.

“Absolutely not, just -- ‘m fine,” Bob replied.

“Right, sure. Who’s lucky not to be ratted out?” Jake insisted, bringing one arm to hold Bob onto his seat.

“Nope,” Bob replied, popping the ‘P’.

“Are you okay man? You haven’t been yourself lately…” Jake asked, worried.

He had noticed how on edge Bob had been as of late, with a temper he didn’t think Bob had. The previous Monday, Jake had walked in on something strange too. Bob had been pacing in the base recreation room, whispering things to himself and checking it against the lines he had written on a piece of paper. When Jake had entered the room, Bob had turned beet red with embarrassment and refused to utter more than a few words for the rest of the workday.

“I miss Maria. ‘Been trying to work up the courage to ‘sk your dad for her hand for a month now,” Bob said, his voice thick with his Oklahoma accent.

“That’s it?” Jake laughed.

His mother had been fishing for information on a possible proposal for Maria for weeks now, annoying him with so many questions that Jake now actively avoided her calls. She had gotten smart in the past week though, stealing Gio or Tony’s phones to call. It had been so obvious to him how much his family liked Bob that he hadn’t thought the man might actually have been worried.

“No, you’re right,” Bob said, “That’s not it. Fuck Michael Watts!” he exclaimed.

“Yeah, Bobby. You’ve had enough for today, Michael is like, fifteen, okay, he’s a kid,” Jake said, wrestling Bob’s beer out of his hand, then, he turned to Penny, “How many beers has he had?” he asked. Penny raised three fingers in response.

“Jesus, Bobby, you’re a lightweight,” he breathed out, moving Bob off of his stool, lifting one of his arms over his shoulders and supporting his weight as they walked towards the door.

“Yeah I was, lightweight wrestling champion for like three years in high school, how’d you know,” Bob asked, looking up at Jake with glazed eyes.

“You are so drunk,” Jake laughed, guiding the smaller man to his truck.

“Please don’t tell Maria,” Bob said, “She doesn’t know that I drink on occasion.”

Jake hummed, helping Bob into the passenger seat of his truck, closing the door as soon as Bob was seated and buckled up. Having lost the support of his friend, Bob fell to the side and knocked his head on the window.

----

When Jake woke up the next morning, Bob was still snoring on the sofa. He’d never seen his friend drunk before and not knowing what kind of stupid stuff Bob could do by himself, he’d decided to bring Bob to your house, calling you on the way back to ask for your permission which you gave while trying to hold in a giggle.

You had already prepared a glass of water and a painkiller and set them by Bob’s side when Jake started on breakfast. He mixed the batter and left it to rest while he showered and drank a cup of coffee, all of it soundtracked by Bob’s gentle snoring. It was only when Jake started on flipping the pancakes that the WSO woke up with a start and a disorientated look.

“Mornin’,” he greeted you with a wave and a wince.

“Good morning sunshine, how are you feeling,” you asked, trying to suppress a giggle.

“Please tell me I didn’t say anything too stupid last night?” he asked Jake when he appeared behind you

“Michael Watts apparently gave you trouble,” Jake said.

“Tried to fight a cop,” Bob groaned, “Ate a bug… You know… As Michael does,” he explained, leaving out the part where the only reason the teen didn’t end up in jail was because Rooster had been there to help because Bob couldn’t find a way to twist it so he wouldn’t be telling on Matt, “Did I say anything else?” he asked, hoping Jake wouldn’t have too much time to think about what he had said.

“Oh, not much… Something about marrying Maria?” Jake replied with a grin. You spun around, looking at him with eyes the size of dinner place, one hand flying to cover your mouth.

“Ah shit,” Bob swore, “Fuck,” he added for good measure.

“Bob,” you breathed out, looking at Jake to be sure you heard him right.

“I haven’t asked her -- your -- dad yet,” Bob replied, raising one hand towards Jake in a ‘don’t get ahead of yourself’ way as he pushed himself off of the sofa with a groan. Bob bent in half, hands on his knees and stayed there for a minute, then, when the stars left his eyes, he stood back up, picking up the pills and swallowing them quickly without touching the glass of water.

“Are you serious about wanting to marry her?” Jake asked him.

Bob nodded, then winced, “Yeah, she’s it for me. Every day I spend without her presence is torture, and when we are together the time flies. She is funny and beautiful, and she is the only one who I’ve ever really felt comfortable opening up to.”

You let out an excited squeal, dancing around the kitchen, “Bob you have to ask her soon then!”

Jake nodded, “Why haven’t you asked dad yet?”

Bob let out a laugh pausing when you and Jake didn’t laugh as well, “Wait, you’re serious? Your dad and your brothers are all like you, man. Massive. I’m nervous.”

“They all know what happened to me at Christmas, what if they think I’m like my old man? What if he doesn’t think I’m good enough for Maria?” Bob said, in a smaller voice than before.

Jake shook his head, “Bob, my mom has been calling me twice a week to try and figure out if I know when you are going to propose. I think they like you.”

“Really?” he asked, his face brightening as he looked to your for confirmation. With a smile on your face, you nodded, you had to sit through the conversations, getting any gossip out of Jake was like pulling teeth and you thought it was funny.

“I had an idea,” Bob said, making his way to the kitchen island, “I wanted to ask in Italian, but as you both know, I can’t speak it.”

“Is that what I found you doing last week?” Jake asked, “You’re trying to practice Italian?”

“Yeah,” Bob confirmed sheepishly as you placed a plate of pancakes in front of him.

He practically inhaled the pancakes while Jake spoke, “I can work with you on the Italian if that’s how you want to do it, then you should just call him. My mother has probably already made him promise to say yes. She says my sister is constantly talking to you at home.”

Bob nodded, “Yeah, we talk. A lot. She’s my best friend, you know?”

Jake looked at you before nodding, “Yeah I know,” he pressed a kiss on your forehead before handing you a plate of pancakes. As you sat down to eat, you thought of how exciting it would be to be a part of Bob and Maria’s proposal in some way.

Later that day, Jake sat down with Bob to work on the Italian for his permission speech. Bob paced the floor, walking around the living room, swinging his arms and downing coffees faster than you could make it.

If you thought you were bad with nerves, you had nothing on Bob. Even without the five cups of coffee he had downed by the time he and Jake had sat down at the kitchen to practice, he had been practically shaking with nerves since telling you about his plan. Then, when Jake had managed to herd him into a chair to look through his script, he twitched his knee so badly he managed to tip over a vase of flowers.

“Shit, I am so sorry,” Bob apologised as you ran to mop up the spilled water.

“Bobby, buddy, I think you just have to bite the bullet,” Jake said, thrusting an already ringing phone in Bob’s hand.

The colour drained out of Bob’s face, “You bastard,” he whispered, bringing it to his phone on time for Giovanni Senior to pick up.

“C'è un problema?” Jake’s father asked, skipping the hellos and immediately asking if there was a problem.

“Signore, sono Bob” Bob introduced himself with a shaky voice that made him cringe.

Jake looked at him expectantly, unable to take any more pressure, Bob walked out of the kitchen and into the living room where he opened the french bay windows and walked out into the sunroom. He closed the door behind him and turned around so neither you nor Jake would be able to see anything he was saying.

Sadly for Bob, the glass doors weren’t as soundproof as he hoped as you and Jake heard Bob make his request in an accented Italian. As he did so, Jake whispered the translation into your ear.

“Maria is a truly remarkable woman. She is gentle, kind, clever, funny and supportive. She is my best friend, the person I want to wake up to in the morning and go to sleep with at night. She is the first person I would call with good or bad news, or just because. She is remarkable and the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. I love her, Sir, and if you’ll allow me, I would very much like to marry her. I promise I will love her, cherish her, care for her, and honour her every day of the rest of our lives. I will support her in everything she wants to do, I will cheer for her when it works out and I will hold her when it doesn’t. I promise sir, that I will do that now and forever. I promise I’ll take care of her sir.” Jake said, quickly standing straight and busying himself when Bob turned around to pretend he hadn’t just been eavesdropping on the most stressful moment of his friend’s life.

Bob stayed quiet for a moment before saying goodbye and hanging up the phone. Then, he slid the glass doors open and walked into the living room.

“So?” Jake prompted.

“I despise you,” Bob laughed, pointing an accusing finger at Jake, “HE SAID YES,” he shouted, throwing his arms into the air and jumping so high he touched the ceiling. You and Jake erupted into cheers, the three of you jumping in each other’s arms in joy.

When the excitement had died down a little, the realisation of what he had done seemed to down upon Bob.

“Oh, God,” Bob said, sitting down on the couch, his smile fading only a little.

“What?” you asked him, confused, “This is great, what’s wrong?”

“I need to get a ring…” he said, trailing off, “What if I don’t get one that she likes?”

And that is how the three of you ended up standing in the jewellers at three twenty-seven in the afternoon on a Thursday. Once the ring was found, Jake and Bob breathed a sigh of relief. Bob’s over the perfect ring now in his possession, and Jake’s for the fact that you had sisters who not only knew what you wanted, but gave it to him free of charge.

----

“Babe?” Jake’s voice rang through the closed door of the room you were getting ready in.

Your venue had fallen through two weeks ago, just as you were finalising the details. In desperation, Jake had called up a friend who had managed to pull some strings. The US Naval Academy had, by miracle, been free for the weekend and you and Jake had almost immediately packed up the truck with everything you had planned for your California Wedding and driven down to Annapolis to tour the place. Jake had been before. He had graduated there and been to a few of his friends’ weddings, but having almost sworn himself to a bachelor’s lifestyle, he hadn’t thought to take a good look.

It had been love at first sight. If the chapel, with its beautiful stained glass windows hadn’t been charming enough by itself, the grounds certainly did the trick. Jake’s friend, an instructor at the Academy had kindly taken the day off to show you around and provided you with a brief rundown of the events. After being married at the chapel, you would exit through an arch of swords, a long run tradition symbolising the military’s commitment to the protection of the couple, and make your way to the reception area.

As much as Jake would have liked an outdoor reception, you had both decided to book something covered as Annapolis could get cold. The Naval Academy Club was the perfect reception venue and they provided catering, so your whirlwind change of plans wasn’t an issue for them. Their catering manager was a Godsend and she helped with every detail.

Considering the short time you had had to plan the wedding at the new location, you were impressed with how it had turned out. Of course, you hadn’t been able to book every vendor and service you had cancelled in California which is why you had stayed up late with Annie, Audrey, Maria, and Phoenix making table centres, bridesmaid bouquets, and your bridal bouquet on the floor of the bridal suite while Jake and his groomsmen set up the Naval Academy Club for the reception. It was also why you were now applying the final touches of the makeup you had luckily thought to practice a few times before the big day.

“Baby?” Jake asked again as you applied your eyeliner, trying to stay as still as possible so as to not smear it everywhere.

You put the pencil down, checking your work with a satisfied smile before answering with a hum. Noticing a trace of lipstick on your front teeth, you wiped it clean with a manicured finger.

“Do you want to pray with me?” he asked, opening the door a crack to pass his hand through.

You stood up from your chair, careful not to step on your dress, and walked over to Jake. You interlaced your fingers with his and squeezed them slightly in excitement.

“Do you mind if I lead?” he asked. You shook your head, forgetting he couldn’t see you. Instead of speaking up, you stayed silent, fairly certain that if you spoke the emotions you felt might bubble over and the happy tears that had threatened to spill since you woke up would ruin your makeup.

You didn’t need to answer, however, as Jake correctly interpreted your silence, “ Our Father, Who art in Heaven; Hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil,” Jake finished.

He paused for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts before speaking again, “Heavenly Father, we come to you on the day of our wedding to pray to you. May you bless this union and fill our marriage with memories to treasure, with love, kindness and children. May we never waver in our faith, or love for one another. May we strive, together, to be better people in your image and may we raise our children to do the same,” he continued.

You raised a hand in front of your face, fanning the tears away as they fell down your cheeks. Jake went on, “Father, thank you for bringing us together, for listening to our prayers and granting us one another. I pray that with every passing day our love grows stronger and the comfort we find in each other grows deeper. May our differences strengthen our bond. May we need one another, but not out of weakness. May we want one another, but not out of lacking. And may we feel the same towards one another on our deathbeds as we do now. Amen,” he concluded. Your body shook with an involuntary sob, your hand flying to cover up your mouth.

“Baby, are you okay?” Jake asked, forgetting yourself again, you nodded in response.

Feeling your hand tremble as you held his, Jake turned around and pushed open the door. He entered the room to find you standing a few feet away from the door, crying into your hands.

“Honey, honey, I am so sorry I didn’t mean to make you cry,” he said, pulling you close to him so he could cup your face with both hands, gently wiping the tears from your cheeks with his thumbs.

“You’re not supposed to see me yet,” you mumbled, your voice thick with tears.

“Oops,” Jake replied with a teary smile. Seeing you cry had made him tear up. He tore his eyes away from your face, letting them roam over your face for a moment, trying not to look down at the dress too much “You’re so beautiful, baby,” he whispered, capturing your lips in a passionate kiss.

You resurfaced a moment later, when a knock echoed through the room and Coyote gingerly walked in, “Guys, 15 minutes.”

“Right, yes. I better go and let you get ready,” Jake said, letting go of you and turning towards the door, “I love you,” he said before exiting the room. You were only left by yourself for a minute before your sisters, the flower girls and your bridesmaids walked in for last minute preparations.

----

The chapel didn’t have much additional decoration besides the few flower arrangements that you and your bridesmaids had prepared the night before. The space was beautiful in its own right, and you didn’t want to take away from that at all. As you arrived at the chapel, they guided you down the stairs into a basement room where you could wait for the rest of the guests to arrive.

Sofia and Catalina were already in the room as well as Phoenix, Maria, Audrey, and Annie. When you came into the room, they all gushed over your dress, “Y/n, you look beautiful,” Annie said, brushing one hand gently over the fabric of your sleeve.

“My brother is going to be speechless,” Maria said, her eyes filled with excitement, you weren’t sure if it was for the wedding or for Jake’s impending speechlessness.

You let out a light laugh, “He was.”

The rest of the room grew silent at your confession, “He’s already seen you? That’s bad luck!” Sofia said, looking at you with wide eyes.

“Well, he didn’t mean to. He stood outside the door and we held hands to pray, but his prayer was so sweet, it made me cry,” you said, tearing up again, “He pushed inside to hug me, but I don’t think he will be any less surprised when I walk down the aisle.”

She nodded, “I think you’re right, you are truly stunning.”

With a blush covering your face, and a quiet, “Thank you,” the girls began helping you attach the veil to your elegant updo, and soon after, there was a knock on the door, a deep voice saying, “It’s time.”

Audrey opened the door and hugged the man on the other side. When she stepped back, revealing Beau in the doorway, you felt yourself tear up. You had seen him earlier at the hotel, but you were overwhelmed with Jake’s heartfelt prayer and you hadn’t thought about your walk down the aisle yet.

Everyone but him left the room, making their way upstairs as the organ started to play. He was dressed to the nines in his dress whites, the heavily decorated man wrapped your arm around his as he stood at your side, waiting to escort you up the stairs and down the aisle.

He pressed a kiss to the side of your head, through the veil before whispering in your ear, “The car’s running if you’ve changed your mind.”

You let out a fully bellied laugh, pulling the man into a hug, “Thanks dad, but no, he’s the one for me.”

“Well alright then, let’s get you to the altar,” he said, squeezing your hand with his before leading you up the stairs and into the chapel.

The organ sounded through the chapel with the traditional Wedding March and all of your family and friends in attendance stood, looking at the end of the aisle. Beau guided you through the flowered archway that Audrey and Annie had put around the doorframe and a smile broke over your face.

As he guided you up the aisle, you only had eyes for Jake. He was standing there, in front of the Catholic Chaplin, chin wobbling and a few tears streaming down his face. As you got closer to him, you heard him clear his throat. Jake pulled a familiar handkerchief from his pocket and quickly wiped his face before you and Beau arrived at his side.

Beau gave you a kiss on the cheek before releasing your arm. He shook Jake’s hand, saying something to him quietly, before Jake’s arm was entwined in yours and he guided you the final feet to the edge of the altar.

As you stood there, in front of everyone you loved dearly, you couldn’t help but think about how similar Catholic weddings were to regular mass. It made you happy to think that every time you went to church now, you would think of this moment.

As the chaplin finished his homily, he turned to the two of you, “Lieutenant Commander Seresin, and Lieutenant Y/ln have decided to read their own vows today,” turning to Jake he said, “Mr. Seresin, the floor is yours.”

Jake took a deep breath, slipping his hand into the pocket of his dress pants to pull out a crumpled piece of paper. Letting out a quiet laugh he said quietly, “I was a little nervous.”

You laughed with him, gripping his hand tighter as he began to speak, “For years I was convinced that this day would never come, that I was destined to be alone. Then you walked into my life, and everything changed.

We were standing on the hot tarmac after a long day of training, and I remember the kindness in your eyes that few had ever shown me during my time in the Navy. You captured my attention, the only woman to show me what peace could be like even in the midst of war. Your callsign should have tipped me off, Dove, the symbol of peace, love, and the Holy Spirit.

When you ran into me leaving mass on that rainy day in September, I didn’t think it would change my life completely. With each date we went on, I found myself more and more enraptured by you. The day your jet went down on that tarmac, I thought my heart stopped. We had only been dating a few months, but I could have sworn in that moment, I knew exactly what you meant to me, you are my other half, the better, nicer half, of my soul. God sent you to me in a time when I didn’t feel like I deserved much of anything, let alone you.”

Jake paused, his voice had grown thick with the emotions he was desperately trying to hold back, “I promise to love and protect you, from now until the end of time. During times of war and times of peace, I will be by your side to face it all together. I do not know where the Navy will send me, but you are my lighthouse in the night, and I will always find my way home.”

You pushed out a shaking breath as the chaplain turned to you, “Lieutenant Y/ln?”

Turning to Phoenix, she handed you the paper with your vows written on it. Unfolding the neat sheet, you took a deep breath before speaking, “Jacob Seresin, you have a habit of leaving me breathless and you have done it again,” you said with a small laugh, “From the moment I saw you on the tarmac, your golden hair and dazzling smile pointed in my direction, you took my breath away.

I was surprised to see you in mass, and for a moment I found myself speechless. I had thought I was the only pilot in the Navy that was Catholic and I can’t tell you how happy I am to have been proven wrong. You cooked me breakfast the next week, and the week after that, and the week after that and I found myself excited with the end of each week, looking forward to seeing you each Sunday. I am so glad that I left my chapel veil in your possession that Sunday in September, it was God’s way of bringing us together.”

You paused for a moment, trying to swallow down the burning in your throat, “You are a proud man, and you should be, a highly decorated Lieutenant Commander, the best pilot the Navy has ever seen, and the most wonderful man I know. Many people only know you as being rather prickly, but you are so much more than that, and I am so glad that I get to see it every day.

During high tides and low tides I will be there, as your anchor or tug to keep you steady and afloat. I promise to stand next to you and face the rough seas and storms that will come in our lives. I will love you on deployments, at home, and anywhere in between. You are the love of my life, soon to be my husband, and hopefully, the father of our children. I only wish you fair winds and following seas as we start our journey together,” you finished, a few tears finding their way down your cheeks.

Looking up at Jake, you were met with red rimmed eyes and his own tears, he mouthed to you, ‘I love you,’ before the chaplain turned to him, “The rings please.”

The man blessed the rings before handing your wedding band to Jake. Jake took the ring in his trembling hand and slipped it on your finger, leaving his hand there he repeated the words that the two of you had practised for days, “Y/n, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Turning now to you, the chaplain offered you Jake’s wedding band. You took it and pushed the cool metal onto Jake’s finger, “Jacob, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

The chaplain nodded before saying, “By the power vested in me by God, the State of Maryland, and the United States Navy, I pronounce you husband and wife. Lieutenant Commander, you may kiss your bride.”

Jake pulled you to him, wrapping his arms around your waist in a tight hug, and pressed a passionate and deep kiss to your lips. The chapel erupted in cheers and whistles and when Jake pulled away from you, you chased his lips for one more kiss before the two of you separated so that the mass could continue.

Jake still held your hand for the Our Father, and he pressed a kiss to your cheek when it was time to exchange peace. You smiled, it was the first kiss he had given you as your husband, well besides the kiss to seal the deal. The lighter than air feeling you had been experiencing all day became overwhelming, and by the end of mass, you could have sworn that you were floating on air.

As the two of you walked out of the church, to the cheers of your family, you were greeted at the doors by eight Marines dressed in their formal dress blues. The men drew their swords and held them in the air above your heads as you and Jake walked under them. Your families followed you out of the chapel, and the photographer you hired started instructing people to pose for pictures.

Finally, when your family and friends had been directed to the Naval Academy Club, the photographer had you and Jake pose for just a few pictures of the two of you. You knew, even before seeing the photos, that your favourite was going to be the one where she had Jake dip you in front of the chapel, the garden visible behind you as he pressed a kiss to your lips.

When she had taken enough photos, Jake led you to the truck, helping you climb inside and driving the short distance to the Club.

“I love you, wife,” he said, pressing a kiss to the back of your hand as he helped you out.

“I love you more, husband,” you said back, leaning up to kiss him properly. Jake pressed you into the side of the truck, his hands wandering up and down your sides gently. Letting out a groan, he pulled away from your lips, “You’re going to kill me darlin’,” he said quietly.

“We have plenty of time for that Lieutenant Commander Seresin,” you said, pressing one last peck to his lips before pulling him into the building. As the DJ announced you for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Seresin, Jake pushed the doors open with his free hand, and the two of you entered the dining room.

----

You stood at the door of the reception area for a moment taking in the scene. It looked exactly as you had discussed with Jake, except for a large projector screen at the back of the room. The tables and chairs had been assembled into an ‘U’ shape around the dancefloor, pointing towards the screen.

“Hope you don’t mind, baby, I took some creative liberties,” Jake whispered into your ear, “I promise though you will love it.”

The purpose of the screen wasn’t immediately obvious to you. It stayed unused through the speeches, and even through dinner. It was only when you stood up to cut the cake that it flickered to life. A home video appeared on screen. Cyclone waved at the camera standing next to Elisabeth in their own wedding clothes, holding the knife together much like you and Jake were doing at that moment.

“Ready?” Someone on screen asked.

“3. 2. 1,” the crowd around Beau and his new wife chanted

A familiar little girl appeared on screen, barely tall enough to reach Cyclone’s hip. She raised her hands up to him, scared by the noise of the people around her. He let go of the knife and picked her up, sandwiching her between himself and Elisabeth, doing his best to wipe the tears away from your face with the sleeve of his dress whites.

“Do you want to help?” Elisabeth asked. When you nodded, she waved over Annie and Audrey. Cyclone bent down slightly so the five of you could grab the knife together.

“Right,” Cyclone said, “Ready… Steady…Cut!”

The five of you cut through the top tier of the cake, removing the slice and setting it aside on a plate. Elisabeth and Cyclone grabbed two small silver spoons and cut a bite of the red velvet cake. After having the first mouthful of cake, Cyclone went back for another spoonful, this time presenting it to you. You opened your mouth, but the camera didn’t capture much more as a guest bumped the videographer and it cut away to a black screen.

You turned to Jake. He winked at you, “Ready,” he asked. You nodded, cutting your own slice and trying the first spoonful before distributing slices to the rest of the guests. He looked over at you when everyone was served, unbeknownst to him you scooped some icing off of the knife and wiped some on the tip of his nose. He let out a laugh before wiping it off with one of the Navy blue napkins sitting on the table.

Before he could respond in kind, the screen flickered to life again. The sound of a song played through the speakers, On An Evening In Roma by Dean Martin immediately recognisable to you. A younger Isabella appeared on screen joining Giovanni Senior, almost unrecognisable without his usual Stetson and salt and pepper beard. Isabella took his hand and he pulled her close. They slow-danced through the song, not for a moment taking their eyes off of each other. As Dean Martin finished his song, the screen faded to black and the music of your own first dance started.

“That certain night, the night we met

There was magic abroad in the air

There were angels dining at the Ritz

And a nightingale sang in Berkley Square”

As Frank Sinatra began his song, Jake wiped his nose and grabbed your hand, gently pulling you to the middle of the dance floor. He snaked his hand around your waist, pulling you close so you stood cheek to cheek.

“I may be right, I may be wrong

But I'm perfectly willing to swear

That when you turned and smiled at me

A nightingale sang in Berkley Square”

Jake whispered the lyrics into your ear, gently swaying you in time with the music. You closed your eyes, resting your head against Jake’s losing yourself to the music, trying to absorb as much of the moment as you could in the hopes of engraving it directly into your brain so you might never forget it.

“The moon that lingered over London town

Poor puzzled moon, he wore a frown

How could he know we two were so in love?

The whole darn world seemed upside down”

The song continued as the two of you danced. Through closed eyes, you saw a flash. The wedding photographer had graciously offered to travel to Annapolis for the wedding instead of making you cancel your session. You were glad of it, she had come highly recommended through civilian friends.

“The streets of town were paved with stars

It was such a romantic affair

And, as we kissed and said goodnight,

A nightingale sang in Berkley Square”

As the song came to the last verse, Jake pulled you even closer, effectively hugging you as you danced. You turned your head to be able to catch a glimpse of him. He did the same when he felt you move and you exchanged excited smiles as the realisation that you were married finally dawned upon you.

“The streets of town were paved with stars

It was such a romantic affair

And, as we kissed and said goodnight,

A nightingale sang in Berkley Square

I know 'cause I was there

That night in Berkley Square”

The song finished and the two of you stopped moving, standing in the middle of the dancefloor by yourselves for a moment more. Eventually, Jake let go of you, backing away to be replaced by a crying Cyclone as Little Girl by Calica started up.

The projector screen that you could see behind Beau’s shoulder flashed with pictures of your and Jake at various points of your life. As the Admiral grabbed your hand, the picture of Jake standing proud in an Indiana Jones costume changed to Cyclone sitting on a couch, shirtless, holding a little baby. You seemed to be less than a week old, covered in a tiny, white baby blanket. Beau was smiling at the camera, cheeks red and hair dishevelled. You remembered the story, Annie had told it for every birthday since you were old enough to understand.

Beau had been stationed in Alaska that month. He had heard of your birth through Annie a few days late. The man had cited an emergency family situation and left for Indiana as soon as he had been able to, hitchhiking the 61 hour trip to Indiana with nothing on him save for a backpack of clean clothes, a toothbrush and a tiny teddy bear to give to you.

Calica finished singing and Mama’s Sunshine and Daddy’s Rain by Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors started. Jake and Isabella joined the two of you on the dancefloor, quickly joined by Elisabeth and Peter, Matthew with the triplets and Giovanni Senior and Nonna. All of you danced to the song, only breaking apart to laugh when Maverick dragged Rooster away from Annie to dance with him. To alleviate Rooster’s embarrassment, Cyclone let go of you with a wink and danced with Bob instead.

The next song started, a gasp went through the crowd as Earth Wind and Fire came through the speakers, September. The trumpets rang through the reception hall and the rest of the guests joined the dancefloor. You elbowed your way to Jake. As you tried to make your way to him in the crowd, you glanced over and noticed Coyote. The man was dancing like his body had been taken over by the beat of the song. He was rocking his whole body to the music, moving rhythmically as he bobbed his head back and forth. His feet danced across the floor smoothly and you were impressed with his moves. He suddenly stuck his hand out and pulled a woman into dancing with him. The dress she was wearing was the same Navy blue bridesmaid’s dress you had picked. You were surprised to see Phoenix laughing at him as she began dancing along with him. The two of them shredded the dance floor with their boogie moves.

----

The music died down as the DJ you hired came over the microphone, “Ladies and Gentlemen, it is time for our favourite part of the night!” Beyonce’s Single Ladies started to play as he continued speaking, “Can we get all of the single ladies out on the dance floor for the bouquet toss please?”

There was a bit of a commotion as all of the single women made their way to the dance floor. You spotted Maria in the crowd, standing towards the back. She looked eager but like she didn’t want to push any of your sisters out of the way. You tried to give her a small smile, but she seemed to be lost to the moment.

The song got a little louder as you pretended to throw the bouquet a few times, looking over your shoulder teasingly. You saw Jake and Bob standing at the back of the dance floor and you knew that the time was right. Turning around to face the group of women again, you started walking with purpose, the bouquet held out in front of you.

The crowd split in two, and you walked straight up to Maria, placing the bouquet in her grip. As you reached her, the song changed from Single Ladies to Scotty McCreery’s This Is It. Maria looked at you confused before realisation crossed over her face. You pulled her into a hug and said into her ear, “Turn around!”

When you let her go, she spun to see Bob, kneeling on the edge of the dance floor. The room got quiet trying to hear what he was saying to her over the music, but that was between them and God because even you couldn’t hear.

Maria nodded, clearly saying, “Yes!” with her response, Bob pulled her into a hug, spinning her around. Her Navy bridesmaid’s dress spun around their ankles delicately. The photographer was alerted before the wedding that this was the plan, and she captured picture after picture of their joy. Bob’s head was buried in Maria’s neck and Maria was smiling wider than you had ever seen before.

The crowd gathered for your wedding went crazy with Bob’s proposal. As he and Maria split apart, Bob was pulled away from her by Coyote and Rooster, who were patting him on the back and celebrating. Maria was swept up by your sisters-in-law and was proudly showing them her ring, one hand still pressed over her mouth in shock.

You watched as Jake pulled Bob into a hug, saying something to him before shaking his hand and making his way to you. The grin that you had been wearing all night could not be wiped off, and seeing your husband wearing one too made you feel a little giddy.

As the song faded out, the familiar notes of one of Jake’s favourite tunes came over the speakers, he always told you how much My Girl reminded him of you. He pulled you into his arms, starting the slow dancing on the floor. You were soon joined by Maria and Bob, your parents, and, surprisingly, Coyote and Phoenix. By the end of the song almost every couple in attendance at the wedding was on the floor.

Leaning up into Jake, you asked, “What did you say to him?”

“Who?” he asked, feigning innocence.

You rolled your eyes playfully, “Bob!”

“Just big brother stuff, you know, the usual, if you hurt her I’ll hurt you kind of thing,” Jake said quietly.

“What did he say?” you asked, wondering how Bob was taking Jake’s brotherly teasing.

Jake let out a quiet laugh before answering, “He said, ‘If I am stupid enough to hurt her, then I would find you Seresin. She deserves the best.’”

You nodded at his words, “I think she got one of the best.”

Jake pretended to be shocked, “You don’t think I’m the best?”

Your tinkling laugh answered him, as you continued dancing in his arms, “That’s a given, you are always my best.”

#fanfic #top gun fanfiction #top gun maverick #top gun x reader #fanfiction #original fic #hangman x reader #jake hangman seresin #jake seresin #hangman top gun

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damien-mlm · 2 years

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A New Start - Part 1 (The Boy Nanny!OC)

2107 words. Warnings: just Brahms being a little bit of a creep at the end, but it comes without saying.

It had been six months since Maeve had moved back to Manchester. She took life easy and in baby steps. Taking one day at a time.

Her shy and reserved nature made it hard for her to make many friends in the city, but she did make friends online. Percy Jones, Ellie Manson, Merry Ross and Alia Fowl. Maeve had met Ellie from her travel blog, then Percy appeared in the background during one of their video call art sessions. Merry and Alia were fellow readers of Ellie's blog, and friends of Ellie as well! It was quite a nice group she had, and she loved them dearly, despite the big distance between them.

Percy had mentioned her pen pal, Blair. She seemed like a really cool person, but unfortunately she had no access to an internet connection. Percy had given her Blair's mailing address, maybe she would send her a letter once she got to her own new address herself.

Speaking of which, while the life insurance money was nowhere near running out, Maeve felt like she would go insane if she didn't do something with herself other than lie around all day and wait for the next session with her therapist, or the next time her friends texted her. So she started hunting for a job.

First, she thought of teaching music at a local school, but had no luck. She was about to consider giving private piano lessons, until a certain job application fell on her lap.

She had been hired as a tutor and caretaker for the Heelshire's son, Brahms. His parents had been looking for somebody who would be able to care for the boy while they were away, while also maintaining his homeschooling.

It was perfect! Maeve was still scared of being around too many people, so the idea of caring for a single child was a lot more welcoming than giving a class to a full room of kids. She would have to move to the Heelshire Manor for the job, and since she had been renting, she had no problem in bringing her belongings with her. There wasn't much left since the fire…

Twas the night before she was being picked up by the private driver, and she was excited, but also anxious beyond relief. She paced back and forth in front of her laptop while speaking out loud, she was on a video call with Ellie, Percy by her side, and Merry.

"What if the kid doesn't like me? What if he cries, and I don't know how to calm him down? Am I supposed to call his parents back from vacation? OH GOD, WHAT IF HE IS A BRAT AND I LOSE MY TEMPER?!"

Merry held her own forehead as she sighed at her exasperated friend. Percy gave a small chuckle.

"You'll be fine, girlie! You'll see" she said, Merry humming in agreement.

"I'm sure the kid will be fine! It’s you, who I'm kinda worried about, Mae. Are you sure you want to do this?" Ellie chimed in.

Maeve finally sat down in front of her laptop and let out a strong deep breath before answering, "Of course, I need this. I need to have more responsibilities, and you know I always wanted to be a mum, so this will be good practice for that!"

"Alright, just keep us all posted, okay? You are going into the middle of nowhere, please don't disappear on us!" Merry said, "If we don't hear from you within a week, I'm sending Jason out to get you!" she declared, half joking.

"I'll keep in touch, I promise" Maeve said, raising a hand, the other one over her heart, "It's getting late for me. I'll try to go to sleep now, and I'll text you all in the group chat once I arrive at the manor"

"Have a good night, Mae!" Ellie said, Percy joining in while waving at the screen, "Night, Mae! Don't forget to keep us posted!" she said, pointing at the camera. "Try to rest, okay hun? Sweet dreams!" Merry said, waving at Maeve.

Maeve waved at her friends, "Goodnight, me lassies! Ellie, send my regards to Vinny! I hope to see more of his work soon. Percy, make sure Bo doesn't torture his twin too bad. And Merry, say hi to Jason for me! Oh, and tell Alia and Mikey I said hi as well!"

After they all said their goodbyes, Maeve closed her laptop with yet another heavy sigh.

She wasn't able to sleep all night.

The vintage car had arrived in the early morning, and once all her things were ready, she got in the backseat and braced herself for the long ride. Once the initial nerves had died out, she fell asleep, only to be rudely woken up by the driver, who aggressively tapped on the window she was leaning against.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know how else to wake you, miss"

Maeve rubbed her eyes to get rid of the grogginess before stepping out of the vehicle, it had been a very long ride, apparently, since it was already dark outside.

She was previously informed that her trip was paid for in advance, and that the driver would take care of her luggage.

It was a rather cold night, the tip of her nose going red with the chill, and both her and the driver's breath made visible under the dim lighting at the front door, so Maeve rushed indoors and left the door open as courtesy for the driver, who was getting her stuff in the house.

She gazed at the tall ceilings, marveling at the masterfully carved wood on the walls, as well as the beautiful staircase.

"Hello? Is anybody around?" she called out. No answer though.

She wandered around the first floor of the manor, reaching a room full of books, an old record player, and a small piano. She reached for the instrument out of instinct and played a few notes to try out the sound. It sounded a bit like a toy piano rather than the ones she used to play at Uni, I'm glad I have my keyboard with me, she thought to herself.

She turned to exit the room when she heard some footsteps nearby, she walked back to the foyer, expecting to find somebody, only for it to be empty. That's strange, she could've sworn she heard footsteps…

She brushed it off and focused on admiring the paintings on the walls, they were full of beautiful art, and one of them stood out to her.

A family portrait, a picture of Mr. and Mrs. Heelshire, and a small child, whom she assumed to be the one she would be taking care of. She mindlessly reached out to the painting, to touch the boy's face, until she was interrupted by somebody clearing their throat behind her.

She jumped at the sound, and turned around quickly, to see an old lady patiently waiting for her to respond.

"Ah, my apologies, I suppose you are Mrs. Heelshire?" Maeve said, tucking some of her hair behind her left ear, the redness of burn scars on it suddenly visible, unbeknownst to her, "I'm Maeve Sweeney, it is a pleasure to meet you" she said, with a small bow to her head.

The lady noticed the scars, but quickly looked at the young woman's eyes before speaking "Yes, dear. It is a pleasure to meet you, as well." she paused for a second, "I'm afraid little Brahms has been put to bed already, you'll meet him tomorrow. Follow me, now. That was a long trip you had, I'm sure you must be hungry"

Maeve smiled and bowed her head again, "Famished, actually", to which Mrs. Heelshire responded with a hum, before turning and starting to walk towards the kitchen, with Maeve following close.

A kind-faced old man was sat at the small kitchen table, patiently waiting as the two ladies entered the room. There was a plate with chicken roast and mashed potatoes with gravy, along with a glass of wine and silverware set on the opposite seat at the table.

"Daddy, this is Maeve" Mrs. Heelshire said. The old man stood up, "It's so nice to finally meet you in person, young lady, I'm Mr. Heelshire. It was a shame that you couldn't join us for dinner, but we saved a plate just for you, as per Brahms' request"

Maeve sat in front of the plate, a polite and calm demeanor to her, "Well, the little lad is truly a gentleman. I'll make sure to thank him tomorrow when I meet him. May I?" she asked, to which Mr. Heelshire motioned with his hand and nodded.

The old pair sat across from her at the table as she began eating her late dinner. The food was delicious, and the wine decadent.

"We don't waste any food in this house, all of the leftovers are placed in containers into the freezer behind you" Mrs. Heelshire said, which prompted Maeve to turn her head to look, revealing the bright red scars on the back of her neck.

As she turned her head back to the couple, she noticed a faint apologetic look in Mrs. Heelshire's eyes, as well as a sad, worried look on Mr. Heelshire's. They continued to explain her duties as she continued eating. Once she was finished, she bowed her head once again and thanked the couple for the meal, before standing and moving to wash her own dishes.

Brahms' parents were pleased at the young lady's manners, "Miss Sweeney, you are to expect some help with the house chores every week. On Sundays, the gardener will show, on Mondays, the delivery man will come with groceries for you, along with your weekly pay, and on Tuesdays, a cleaning maid. This house is so big, after all. It would be rather unkind of us to expect you to care for the entirety of the estate by yourself." Mr. Heelshire said, to which the missus added, "We also arranged a monthly nurse to come and draw blood from you, for your blood tests, as you requested. Your medication will be delivered with the groceries"

Maeve had thanked all the creatures above and below for the acting classes she took at Uni, she was afraid the old fashioned couple wouldn't give her the job if they knew she was trans, but she still needed her estrogen pills. So she informed them that she had a rare disorder that caused her body to not produce enough estrogen on its own. Hence why she needed the pills, and monthly blood work done, to keep track of how her body reacted to the medication.

"Thank you, Madam, Sir." she said, regarding the pair, "You are all too generous"

After it was all said and done, Mr. Heelshire excused himself to the drinking room, while Mrs. Heelshire escorted Maeve to her new room.

"Please, keep quiet, that's little Brahmsy's room, right there" she said, pointing at the door across the hallway. Maeve nodded and followed Mrs. Heelshire into her own bedroom.

The interior of the room was just as elegant and beautiful as the rest of the manor. A king sized bed, dressed in silk and linen sheets, along with knitted wool duvets and covers, sat in the room. Maeve could feel herself getting drowsy again, just by looking at it.

"Please, Miss Sweeney, make yourself at home. And make sure to rest, we will expect you to be up and ready at 7 am, tomorrow" Mrs. Heelshire said, standing still at the door.

"Of course, Madam. Thank you." Maeve said, with another small bow of her head, to which the old lady smiled and left, closing the door behind her.

Maeve left her phone on the bedside table and went to the on-suite bathroom to take a quick hot shower, then exited, wearing her antique nightgown. She crawled into the soft bed and relaxed, grabbing her phone again to finally give her girlfriends an update.

There wasn't a signal out in the country, but there was a single wifi connection titled "Heelshire Manor", it had no password.

She connected her phone and sent a message in the group chat they all shared, "Hello! I'm finally at the manor, you should all see this place, it looks like out of a fairytale book! I haven't met the boy yet, but his parents are lovely. I'll send more updates tomorrow! Good night 💕". Sent.

She drifted off to a deep sleep almost immediately after, never noticing the aforementioned "boy"s presence, looking down at her peaceful sleeping form.

A/N: The intro turned a lot longer than I expected, so I decided to divide it into 2 parts. Part 2 will be posted as soon as I finish writting ✨

Taglist: @rottent33th @slaasherslut @the-pinstriped-hood @allthingsblood @moon-of-desire @vincent-sinclair-deserved-better @texaschainsawslvt @angxlslasher @kalid-raven @mr-trick Imma also add @bluecoolr because I admire you a lot and I would love to know your thoughts 💕

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riotstarruika · 7 months

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Ten first lines game

Rules: Share the first line of ten of your most recent fanfics and then tag ten people. Don't have ten? Not to worry, just share what you have. Tagged by @fremedon and then forgotten about in my saved drafts for an indeterminate amount of time 🙃

1) The invitation came first in the form of an email from Courfeyrac – 'An email??' Bahorel had reply-alled, 'What, are we your office colleagues now?' – and, six days later, when the formality of the original invitation had received a sound mocking, an invitation to a group chat, titled 'L'ABC Christmas Reunion', swiftly re-named: 'Courfeyrac's family have got a mansion we can crash let's go lads!' and, one curt reply from Éponine later, amended to '– let's go super-sexy humans!' Epiphanies, ExR, M, 19k (Modern AU does not mean we do away with the nineteenth century sentence lengths entirely :P) 2) It was a common enough occurrence between the three of them, sitting around the fire in Combeferre's rooms of an evening, candles at their elbows atop the piles of books that littered every available surface. Those Who Walk Beside, E/C/C, G, 2k 3) "Let's start with the first conjugation," Enjolras says, taking up the pen beside him and scribbling down a list of words Feuilly is entirely unfamiliar with. The Pursuit of Light, Enjolras&Feuilly, G, 3k 4) At night, the countryside that surrounds them is unnaturally quiet. Beneath Ancient Stars, Ruin, Bahorel/Prouvaire, T, 2k 5) The tavern is busy, bustling with excited patrons here to let themselves loose at the end of a working week. The Libertine, Courfeyrac&Grantaire, T, 2k 6) Courfeyrac has never been in love. The Youth, Courfeyrac&Enjolras, G, 1.5k 7) "Grantaire –"

The sound of his own name – in Enjolras's smooth, even tenor no less – startles him out of his contemplation of the candle in the green glass carafe before him. Little Blue Flowers, ExR, M, 7k (Technically two lines but shh) 8) "What proof is there that there is but one higher power, when there are so many forgotten deities waiting to be dug out of the dirt?" Prouvaire posits to the group, and immediately contradicts himself in the next motion he sets before them: "Or rather, what proof is there that the higher power is not nature herself, and the names and faces we know as gods simply how we describe her many facets?" Apolysis, ExR (ish), G, 3k 9) Joly was used to being a busy man. For four years his weeks had been dedicated to furthering his studies with the eventual aim of gaining an internship; his mornings spent in the hospital wards; his afternoons in the clinics or conducting private study, then his evenings in the hospitals again, if his constitution allowed it. Pas de trois, J/B/M, G, 1.5k 10) "Ah, Enjolras –" Combeferre gasps, thighs flexing against Enjolras's hold as his fair head dips, as his mouth makes contact and begins to work in Combeferre's lap, warm and wet and overwhelmingly present. Alexis, Combeferre/Enjolras, E, 1.5k (Really went straight into the smut with this one huh)

Zero pressure tagging @just-barrow, @thevagueambition, @pumpkinspice-prouvaire, and whoever else would like to do it!

#tag games #my fic

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lgg5989 · 2 years

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Church Encounters Chapter 15

Hey guys! Thanks to everyone for your continued support of this fic, @barbiewritesstuff and I are having a great time writing it. She is posting this on her tumblr as well so jump over and give her a like or a comment. We have had a few requests for side drabbles and stuff about these characters and we will be happy to answer them! Just send us asks :)

You can find the previous chapters on my Masterlist, and you can read the whole series so far on my Ao3! I made the moodboard, I hope you enjoy it! :D

Comment on my post or @barbiewritesstuff’s post to be added to the tag list.

PS. If Glen is reading this, do you like it so far?

Tagging: @roosterscock @sydneyhlove

Bob nodded to him with a small smile on his face, holding the kickball up in the air like an offering, he asked, “You any good at kickball Bradshaw?”

Rooster let out a loud laugh, “I was, once. What’s all this?”

“Youth group,” Bob replied, “Another guy was supposed to help me but it appears that he had better things to do with his Wednesday evening. What do you say, you want to join?”

Just then, the group of teens started moving across the road, Bob raised an eyebrow at Rooster in an attempt to hurry up his decision.

“Alright, I’ll join you,” he said, jogging up to Bob and crossing the street with the group of kids.

“How’d you get into this?” he asked.

A chorus of voices answered back, “Yes Bob!”

“It’s no trouble,” he replied, “It was actually a lot of fun.”

Bob nodded, a smile on his face, “Yeah, these guys know how to have a good time, makes me feel a little lighter sometimes you know?”

Rooster nodded, before he could answer, Bob started talking again, “Do you want to grab a beer quick? It’ll be on me, since you helped me out.”

“That sounds good, meet you at the Hard Deck?” Bradley asked.

“See you there,” Bob replied as Rooster split off from the group and headed to his truck.

Attracting all sorts of looks, Bob slumped onto one of the barstools and raised a hand to Penny, she opened the minifridge below the bar top and pulled out a coke.

“Beer please, Pen,” he corrected her.

“Thought you didn’t drink?” she asked with a smile and a slightly confused look on her face.

“What’s he done today?” she asked, wiping the condensation from another customer’s glass off the bar top.

“He tried, in his infinite genius, to fight a police officer… Lucky Rooster knew the guy because I would NOT have bailed him out. Fuck Matt for leaving me to deal with thirty kids by myself,” he told her, ignoring her slightly confused and highly amused look, “You know there��s a limit on how many kids we can watch right? Like, if the parents heard about it we’d all be in trouble,“ he added, too angry to care that he was swinging the bottle as he spoke, spraying his neighbours with beer, “He’s lucky I’m not ratting him out to Jake --”