#then talking about how important it is to mask up THEN going to the noah khan concert with the flu and no mask ❤️

[collapsedglasshouses]

WOULD YOU SAY I'M WORTHY || THREE

PAIRING: Noah Sebastian x OFC ; slight Nick Folio x OFC

DIVIDERS BY @saradika-graphics

SUMMARY: When Eden meets Noah, her life is anything but perfect. Her heart is far more broken than Noah can even guess at this point. Will he be able to mend the wounds he hadn’t caused?

WARNINGS: angst, fluff, eventually smut, mentions of grief/loss, mentions of alcohol consumption, mentions of mental health issues, mentions of illnesses

A/N: I like this chapter a lot, maybe it's the vibe idk. Let me know what you think and please consider reblogging! ♡

TAGLIST: @measuredingold @cncohshit @lma1986 @missduffsblog @cookiesupplier @thescarlettvvitch @bngurngheart @dream-machine-love @arkiliastuff @vinyardmauro @lacktoesandtoddlerants @princessmarshmallowx @circle-with-me @thisbicc @xxkittenkissesxx @malerieee @smoke-in-diamond-shape @thatgirlforever5 @veronicaphoenix @justeli6

If you wanna be added to the story's taglist or to my taglist in general, leave a comment or message me privately!

MASTERPOST || MASTERLIST

Halloween night always felt magical in Eden’s neighborhood. The air buzzed with a sense of excitement and the moonlight painted everything around the houses in a silver glow. A gentle breezed carried the smell of wet leaves and pumpkins. Streetlights made shadows that danced on the sidewalks and most of the houses were covered with cobwebs and spooky decorations.

While Eden was getting ready she heard a couple of leaves crunch under the feet of families wandering the streets and the sound was mixed with the laughter of trick-or-treaters. Even though Eden wasn’t the biggest fan of her birthday, she loved how everything was tinted in a warm orange light by Jack-o’-lanterns. Her landlord had carved four of them and placed them in front of the small apartment building she was living in. The night held surprises around every corner and the air was filled with joyful chatter of kids in their bright and sometimes spooky costumes.

Meanwhile, Eden found herself standing in front of her mirror. Her hand ran over her hips as she admired her costume. The black corset dress hugged her curves seemingly perfect and the white Ghostface mask added a hint of mystery to her appearance. She couldn’t even recognize herself anymore. She normally was pretty reserved and quiet, only letting out her outgoing side when she had to at work, and this also reflected in her style of clothing. However, her skin was adorned with a few different stories. The tattoos that covered her left arm, her hip and her right leg all had their own tales to tell, but she usually kept them to herself.

Today should be different. Her whole arms and legs were exposed. She somewhat felt naked. As if the tattoos would suddenly start to talk. For a second, she thought about covering up but then she remembered something important. No one over there knew her. No one knew what the story behind her tattoos was. No one would question her about the things she desperately wanted to hide and suppress. No one over there knew her.

She could be a completely different person tonight. They only saw the confident woman under the mask. Not the exhausted self she was the rest of the time.

She sighed, pleased with herself, before putting the mask off again. She grabbed her phone and purse and left the house. Right as she reached her car, there was a small group of children running down the street. They were all giggling and showing the candies they had gotten to their parents that waited for them. A sad smile washed over her face for a second, but she decided to ignore the hole in her chest, before getting into her car and driving off.

As she arrived at the venue, the party was already in full swing. The music thumped through the walls of the house and Eden could occasionally hear laughter echoing through the chilly air. She sat in her car for a second, while starring at the building. There was no going back.

She took a deep breath, before grabbing her mask from the passenger seat and putting in on again.

“You got this, Eden.” She mumbled to herself, before getting her purse and then stepping out of her car. She walked reluctantly towards the front door and considered for a second whether she should write to Nick that she was here or simply enter, but then someone was already yanking the door open.

It was a guy, dressed in gray, with a cute racoon mask on his face.

“Woah, sorry.” The man yelped and held onto the door frame in shock but his tone quickly changed to a skeptic one. “And who are you?”

Before Eden could even answer him, a familiar face pushed Racoon-Guy to the side and beamed at her. “Let me through, Matt. This is Eden!”

Eden smiled to herself under the mask. His costume was unmistakable. He was Freddy Krueger, complete with the widely-known striped sweater, hat and glove with fake razor-sharp blades.

“Get in here!” Nick shouted at her over the music and carefully grabbed her hand to get her in the house.

“You look absolutely stunning, Eden! I didn’t even know you had tattoos.” He complimented the girl while leading her to the table where the drinks stood at.

“Thank you. You look great yourself.” She answered him shyly, while eyeing the table.

Until now, she had simply tried to ignore the crowd of people in the room, but the anxiety was slowly creeping into her bones. She hated crowds, she hated large amounts of alcohol, she hated parties. She asked herself again what she was actually doing there.

“Where is the birthday kid? I wanna at least congratulate him.” Eden mumbled to Nick as he held up a beer, asking silently if it was okay to open it for her. She nodded, while he answered. “I actually have no fucking idea. I lost him an hour ago.”

Eden nodded while taking the beer Nick held to her. She lifted the mask for a short second to take a sip, when she remembered. “I actually can’t drink. I drove here.”

“You can sleep in my room, if you want. I have a spare couch.” Nick smiled at her shyly and she blinked for a second.

“You live here?” She asked him and he nodded. “The boys and I all live here.”

Eden nodded before thinking to herself, if it was a good idea to crash at Nick’s place. It would be the first time in ages that she wouldn’t sleep in the comfort of her own home. But when someone accidentally bumped into her, she realized that she would probably end the evening in a panic attack if she didn't drink. So, she nodded. “Okay, I’ll sleep here.”

Nick smiled brightly at her, before nodding in a direction, signaling her to follow him. They walked to a small group gathered in the corner of the living room.

“Guys, this is Eden.” Nick introduced her to the people, and she shyly waved at them for a second.

“Woah, awesome costume.” One of the men, dressed as cupid, said to her and she thanked him quietly. “I’m Jesse by the way.”

Nick began to introduce the others after that. There was Jolly and Nicholas, dressed as pirates. There was Bryan, dressed as Marty McFly. And there was the raccoon guy that opened the door, Matt.

They all began to chat, while Eden found herself just standing next to Nick, following their conversation. Eden was feeling herself zoning out as the next hour passed. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but she began to notice how little she actually knew Nick and kind of felt out of place for a second.

She lifted her mask again, just enough to take a big sip of her beer, when she heard Jesse next to her exclaim in excitement.

“Oh man! I just thought we could get a glimpse of the girl Nick can’t shut up about.” He joked as Eden let the mask fall on her face again. She noticed how she blushed and was glad she had the costume to cover her face.

“Oh, shut up. I’m not always talking about her.” Nick protested and Eden saw how he tried to cover up his own blushing cheeks while drinking from his beer.

Eden didn’t know what to say, so she blinked for a second, before deciding to cover Nick’s back. “I think that needs to be a mystery for a bit longer.”

The guys chuckled while she patted Nick’s back for reassurance. He smiled at her shyly for a second, before they began to chat again. Eden’s gaze wondered over the room. She had been right, she knew nobody. But that was also relatively normal considering how little she left the house when she didn't have to go to work.

Her gaze lingered on a man standing at the other end of the room who seemed to be looking across the space just like her. He stood tall, with long brown hair falling down his back. Dressed as a vampire, he had this mysterious vibe about him, like he just stepped out of a spooky tale. The darkness of his costume matched his eyes, making him look both charming and a little bit eerie. Eden felt intrigued by him, maybe because he looked like he didn’t want to be there. Just like her. When he smiled at the guy standing next to him, Eden felt herself smiling with him.

Nick snapped her out of her thoughts, when he gently tapped her shoulder.

“Are you okay?” He wanted to know and gave her a sweet smile that she wished she could return to him, but her mask was still hiding her face.

“Yeah… Don’t worry. I just need some fresh air.” With that, the woman ran a hand over his arm and walked away from the group and out the door to the small garden. There was a pool and a couple of cozy benches. She was glad nobody was out there. She sat down and put her mask off.

Right now, she noticed how anxious she had been in there. Her whole body was tense. It had been years at this point since she last went to a party, considering the last years had been tough and definitely nothing to celebrate, but she hadn't realized how hard it actually had been for her to enjoy herself at a party.

She was snapped out of her thoughts, when she heard someone stepping outside. She turned her head and saw the vampire from before. The man stepped close to her and stopped for a second when he saw her sitting there. It took him a second to decide what to do before he pointed to the seat next to her on the bench. “May I?”

Eden nodded.

“I spent the whole evening wondering who was under that mask.” He cheekily exclaimed and ran a hand through his long hair. Eden chuckled, feeling a sense of ease in the man’s company. “Well… The secret is out now.”

After that they fell into a comfortable silence, both deep in their thoughts. Eden was surprised by the easiness that the man next to her radiated. Normally, she would have stood up and went back inside, but he seemed to calm her spirits without doing anything at all.

“Honestly,…” The man began, “I really hate celebrating my birthday.” Eden’s eyes shot to him, realizing he was the only reason she was there that night. “I didn’t know you were the birthday kid. Happy Birthday.” She exclaimed with a sweet smile on her lips.

“Thank you.” He quietly reacted, the corners of his mouth shooting up for a couple of seconds and Eden noticed it made him uncomfortable for a while.

“So, how old are you turning?” She then wanted to know.

The guy, with a casual grin on his face, replied, “24.” A brief pause hung in the air as Eden nodded at his answer, before she exclaimed, “Birthdays aren’t really my thing either. Parties even less.”

Curiosity sparked in him, Noah asked, “When’s yours then?”

Eden, a touch more shyly than she already was, responded, “Today.”

“Really?” He exclaimed with widened eyes, “Well, happy birthday to you too!”

She smiled for a short second, appreciating the sincerity in his wishes, while he asked her how old she turned.

“26.” She shortly exclaimed and looked straight ahead. She wanted to be normal about this, but her age always reminded her about how fast her young adulthood was slipping through her fingers.

“I’m Noah, by the way.” He introduced himself after a minute of silence. “Eden.”

“Eden? Where does that come from?” Noah asked, intrigued by the girl’s presence. Something about his gaze relaxed Eden. It didn't feel forced to talk to him. It felt like he genuinely wanted to make her feel better.

“I mean it is a really biblically name, but my parents just thought it sounded spooky and since I was born on Halloween and it’s their favorite holiday, they named me that.” She explained to him and felt how she slightly cringed at her statement. She really hated the reason behind her naming. If her parents had been strict religious people, she would have understood, but needing to explain that they just thought it sounded a bit scary, made her feel silly.

“Let me guess, you have siblings called Carrie or Annabelle to round up the spooky theme.” Noah joked, but when he saw her face, he stopped laughing. “Please tell me I’m wrong.”

“I have a younger sister called Raven. So, close.” Eden exclaimed while Noah took a deep breath.

“I think that’s both really pretty names but when I think of your parents, I see two really bubbly people who actually do not even know what the names originally meant.” – “Sounds about right.”

Eden tried to ignore how her cheeks became a slight tone of pink because of his compliment.

Noah noticed how Eden shifted in her seat and decided to change the topic. “Nick was talking about you the other day. Only positive things, of course.” – “Really?” Eden’s face must have been a deep shade of red at this point.

“Totally. He thinks you’re pretty cool.” Noah exclaimed, not telling her how Nick ranted about how beautiful she was the second he came home from that bar the first time.

Eden’s curiosity piqued, but her thoughts held her back from prying further. She wondered what Nick had said about her but decided to keep it to herself for now. Maybe some time she would be comfortable enough to ask Nick himself.

“And?” She asked Noah and he shot her a confused look. “What and?”

“Am I pretty cool?” She jokingly asked the vampire in front of her. He laughed at her question in a sweet tone and Eden also couldn’t help but grin.

“Yeah. I would say the statement ‘pretty cool’ is pretty accurate.” He answered her honestly and Eden felt her cheeks heat up again. She rolled her eyes while smiling and looked away. “You know, you don’t need to lie to me just because I’m sleeping here tonight.”

“I’m not lying, ghosty.” He justified his previous exclaim.

“Ghosty?” She asked him while laughing slightly.

“Yeah, you’re gonna be the sexy ghostface forever in my mind, Eden.” He boldly stated and Eden immediately felt warmth spread in her stomach. Did he really think she looked sexy?

“Maybe, you’re forever going to be the handsome vampire in my mind.” She then answered him, not really knowing where her boldness came from. Now Noah was the one to blush and Eden couldn’t help but feel proud. She didn’t think she would have this kind of effect on anyone with her words.

“So, you’re staying tonight?” Noah then wanted to know, fidgeting with his fingers, to calm his nervousness because of her compliment.

Eden nodded. “Yeah, I’m sleeping on Nick’s couch.”

Noah nodded.

Right as he was about to ask her something, the door to the garden was opened.

“Hey, Eden. I’m heading to bed. Should I show you where you're sleeping tonight?” Nick said to her, and Noah couldn’t ignore his facial expression. He wasn’t too happy to see the two of them alone, so Noah tried to ease Nick’s spirits by standing up and walking towards him.

“I was going to bed anyways.” Noah exclaimed and shot Eden a last smile, before patting Nick’s shoulders and getting back into the house.

Eden also stood up, trying to suppress her disappointment about Noah’s disappearance while shooting Nick a smile.

Nick signaled her to step into the house first, which she accepted. Inside, she noticed that almost everyone had been gone at this point and she wandered how long she had been sitting outside with Noah.

“By the way, don’t worry about your makeup. We have bought some remover because of the Halloween costumes.” Nick said to her after wishing everyone that was still downstairs a good night.

“Really thoughtful of you.” She answered him while trotting behind him to his room. When they entered it, she was met with a sweet view. The room screamed Nick. Some band posters where hanging on the wall, while a fishing rod stood in the corner. Some drum sticks randomly laid around.

“I’m sorry that I dragged you here tonight, Eden.” Nick exclaimed, while Eden sat down on the couch. “Oh, don’t worry. I had fun. Just not a fan of big crowds.”

“Kinda ironic, considering you’re a bartender.” Nick answered her with a sweet smile on his face, while grabbing a blanket and one of his pillows.

“Maybe, but at the bar I have a counter to keep people off of me.” Eden began while getting out of her tights. “And if they are mean to me, I can throw glasses at them.”

Nick laughed slightly, while going to his closet to grab a shirt for her to wear for the night.

“Do you maybe have a hair tie?” She sweetly asked Nick and took the shirt from his hands.

“I think, I’m the only one in this household who doesn’t own one.” Nick exclaimed with a lopsided grin and Eden nodded, realizing there were a lot of men with long hair in this house, but Nick was not one of them.

“Don’t worry, I’ll find one.” She exclaimed, before asking him where the bathroom was, and he gladly showed it to her.

When she entered the room, she locked the door after her and began her evening routine. Sadly, she wasn’t able to brush her teeth, but it was okay for one night.

Right when she was ready and changed, she heard a soft knock on the door and went to open it. The first thing she saw was a tattooed chest, when she lifted her gaze, she was met with a neck, just as tattooed. She felt how her heart began to beat fast.

Soon she looked into dark brown eyes. Noah.

“Sorry, didn’t know you were in there.” Noah excused himself as Eden needed a second to compose herself. She knew he was tattooed but she didn’t know that he had so many.

“Don’t worry, I just finished.” She mumbled and felt like she stuttered the words out. She was about to step away, when she remembered something.

“Do you maybe have a hair tie for me?” She asked him softly and he began to smile. His hair had been up in a bun, but soon he opened his hair to give her his hair tie.

“No, you can’t just give me that.” She wanted to protest but he grabbed her hand and put the elastic in it.

“Don’t worry, keep it. I have enough.” He answered, before they changed places, Eden now staying outside the bathroom.

“Thanks.” Eden whispered, still intimidated by his presence.

“Good night, Eden.” – “Good night, Noah.”

#bad omens fanfiction #bad omens fanfic #bad omens fic #noah sebastian fanfiction #noah sebastian fic #noah sebastian fanfic #noah sebastian x oc #noah sebastian x ofc #nick folio fanfic #nick folio x ofc #nick folio x oc #nick folio fic #noah sebastian smut #bad omens smut #collapsedglasshouseswrites #bad omens rpf

[fridayiminlovemp3]

i neeed to stop obsessively hating on people but like if it’s bad why does it feel so gooddddddddd 🤨🤨

#this girl me and my best friend HATE turned off the ability to reply to her stories so now we just keep screenshotting them and sending #them to each other and it really makes you stop and think 🤔 like maybe i shouldn’t have 20 screenshots of all of her stories from this week #but then like … the shit she posts how am i supposed to not screenshot!!!!!! #shes calling us ableist for not going to her book club 😭😭😭 and then going on a 10 story rant about it #then begging people to support her small business (her reading tarot cards over snapchat 😭😭😭) #then talking about how important it is to mask up THEN going to the noah khan concert with the flu and no mask ❤️ #mari.txt #whatever girl!!!! #everytime she posts something stupid about being an empath or a girls girl i wanna swipe up and ask her why she let her #teenage sister spend christmas at the HOMELESS SHELTER

[naughtyneganjdm]

The Perfect Costume

Summary: Negan goes to a Halloween store with his family in search of costumes to wear.

Characters: Negan & the reader (OC, second person)

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/50991043

Warnings: 18+, Swearing, a little smut (not very detailed), dirty minded Negan, etc

Notes: This is meant to be a sweet little fic with Negan being naughty in the way he talks and the smut is very miniscule and not very detailed. Just a short little Halloween fic. Enjoy!

“Any idea what kind of costume you have in mind kiddo?” Negan questioned following around your five-year-old daughter while she ran down the aisles of the Halloween store you were in. Negan had your eight-month-old son Noah strapped to his chest in a baby carrier while he held onto your hand. “Emma? Baby girl. Are we looking for something that is cute? Scary? Some kind of animal? We’re running on nothing here baby.”

“I don’t know daddy,” Emma exclaimed, stopping in her tracks to look back at Negan with a frown. Tossing her hands up, her dimples sank in looking around the aisle. “There is so much here! When I see it, I just know I’ll know that’s it!”

“Remember we’re looking for all of our costumes baby girl,” you reminded your daughter knowing that she had begged both you and Negan to pick everyone’s costume this year. “So you have four costumes to pick out.”

“I know, I know,” Emma blew off the responsibility of it all causing Negan to snort since she was so lost inside of the store that she really didn’t have a care in the world what either one of you were saying. “Finding a good Halloween costume is…really…really important. It can determine how much candy I get this year. Y’know?”

“Solid point baby girl,” Negan snorted, his fingers tightening around yours while you continued to follow your daughter around the Halloween store. It was like she was lost in a toy store and she was amazed with everything often stopping when she saw something that she thought was cool.

“Daddy!” she seemed in awe of something while she stepped before it. It was a monster mask that when you pushed a button, it looked like it oozed blood. An amused bout of laughter fell from her throat when she threw her head back to look at Negan. “It’s so ugly! I love it!”

It made both of you laugh, but her awe didn’t last long before she was running off to go look at something else that caught her eyes, “The interest lasted ten seconds before she’s off.”

“She is my daughter. She can’t focus on just one thing,” Negan snickered at the thought trying to keep up with Emma while she looked over everything. “I will take credit for all this pent-up energy. I have a hard time focusing too.”

“You? No,” you teased Negan, hitting him on his shoulder playfully. “You aren’t like that at all.”

“I notice the sarcasm in your tone,” Negan chuckled, his head lowering down with his lips hovering in over yours. Bringing your lips together in a lingering kiss, you heard the disgusted breath falling from your daughter. Pulling away slightly, you saw her staring up at the two of you with her hands on her hips. It made Negan let out a big belly laugh, his nose nuzzling in against the side of your neck with the anger that she was sharing for the two of you kissing. “I feel like a young boy getting scolded by my parents.”

“What did I tell the two of you about kissing?” Emma folded her arms out in front of her chest in attempts to lecture you. “Dial it back on the kissing. It’s gross.”

“It’s my way of telling your mother that I love her kiddo,” Negan pressed a faint kiss over the side of your cheek before kneeling down, hooking his arm around Noah who let out a small squeal when they were eye level with Emma. “Kisses aren’t a bad thing.”

“The last time the two of you got super kissy, I ended up with a little brother,” Emma blurt out causing Negan to choke and then laugh. Looking up at you with his big hazel eyes, Negan couldn’t help but smile and nod his head. “And while I love Noah, we don’t need another baby in the family. Not now at least. He cries a lot during the middle of the night.”

“That’s because he’s a baby sweetheart,” you reminded your daughter, stepping forward to place your hand in over your daughter’s shoulder in a tender squeeze. “Babies do that.”

“Imagine two babies doing that,” Emma circled her finger around Noah and his big eyes followed the movements of his sister’s finger from where he was strapped to Negan’s chest. “Noah is cute. And I like how he smiles, but the crying? No thank you!”

“You know, you used to cry too sweet pea,” Negan reached out to pull Emma in closer to him, careful enough to keep Noah safe while he peppered kisses over your daughter’s face. At first, she tried to hold it in, but the more Negan kissed at her face she couldn’t help but giggle. Her small hands placed in over the sides of Negan’s face and he laughed along with her.

“Your beard is itchy,” she tipped up on her toes to press a kiss over the side of Negan’s cheek. “I love you daddy, it’s just embarrassing how much you and mommy kiss. At home, okay. But in public, you need to cool it.”

“Got it,” Negan’s nose wrinkled and he gazed up at you again from where you were standing beside them. “We’ll work on it.”

“No you won’t,” Emma sighed gazing between both of you. Throwing her hands up in the air, she dramatically shook her head and shrugged. “I’m just gonna have to get used to babies. So many babies.”

“Emma,” you laughed watching your daughter turn on her heel after she gave Noah a quick kiss on his head.

“I’m okay with lots of babies,” Negan pointed out, letting out a grunt when he got up from his knees. Glancing back at him, you heard Negan laugh and shrug his shoulders. “I like being a dad. And I like what we have to do in order to make babies.”

“What does that mean?” Emma stopped in her tracks making your face flush over with a warmth when you reached for Emma’s hand.

“Nothing,” you immediately answered for Negan hearing his amused chuckle from behind you. “Now let’s find us some good costumes here.”

“Yeah. Maybe we should talk about what we are going to want for daddy’s costume. Maybe a vampire. I’ve got the looks and the charm for a vampire,” Negan suggested trying to keep up with the two of you while you looked through the aisles again. “Or maybe I can be like a zombie baseball player. Or like a wizard or something.”

“A wizard?” Emma stopped walking to look back at Negan. “What’s cool about a wizard?”

“I don’t know, they do magic and what not,” Negan looked to some of the costumes that were hanging.

“You’re not magical,” Emma heard Negan snort and he turned to look back at his daughter. “You’ve never been interested in magic tricks.”

“That’s not true,” Negan held his finger up in the air, his dimples sinking in when he let out a long exhale. “You should see the magic trick I can do when it comes to your mother’s pants.”

“Knock it off,” you groaned out, rolling your eyes noticing the mischievous sound that followed.

“What does he mean?” Emma looked up at you with big eyes and you shook your head. “Mom?”

“He’s just being silly,” you responded to your daughter who turned away and you let out a yelp when Negan moved in behind you to pinch your bottom. Emma stopped, giving you a strange expression with the sound you made. “Sorry honey.”

“I think it’s pretty magical how fast I can get your pants off,” Negan whispered in your ear and you rolled your eyes, pushing your hand into Negan’s shoulder to put some distance between the two of you. “I could be a killer clown. I think I’m pretty funny.”

“No,” Emma slurred out her words causing Negan to huff out loud. Emma was denying all the suggestions that Negan was throwing out for his personal costume and you found it amusing how she was ignoring her father’s ideas.

“How about this one for you mama?” Negan called out pulling a costume out that was very skimpy with devil horns on it. “Or, if you don’t like that one…”

Negan pulled out something similar and held it up to show that it was an angel costume, “This one is just as nice and we can use it after the kids go to sleep.”

“That looks cold,” Emma noted after you gave your husband a glare. “It’s going to be cold at night daddy. She doesn’t want something like that.”

“I was just thinking for after we go trick or treating,” Negan gazed between the two before setting the angel costume down and grabbing the devil one. “I think I’ll get this. Just in case.”

“You’re weird,” Emma commented, squeezing her fingers tighter around yours and it made you snicker. “Why would you want to wear a costume when you’re not trick or treating?”

“He’s just being goofy like daddy often is,” you gave Negan a glance and he tipped his head to the side. “Has anything caught your eye yet honey?”

“So many things! That’s the problem,” Emma exclaimed gazing around at everything in frustration. “I love it all.”

“Well you are going to have multiple Halloweens after this honey,” you suggested hearing Noah coo out and you looked back to see that he was curling his fingers around Negan’s index finger holding tightly to it. “I think your little brother is hungry.”

“He will eat soon, we just have to figure this out,” Emma insisted tugging firmly on your hand to pull you toward a section of the store where she had seemed to have the most interest.

“I found two things that I think you should get for me,” Negan’s voice drew your attention when he returned with trophies in his hands. Holding them out to you, you accepted one to see that it said biggest cock on the block and then reached for the other to see that it said pussy eating champion on it. You choked back on your laughter trying not to draw attention to the items that he had grabbed. You were thankful your kids were too small to understand these things at this point. “They fit, right?”

“Did you go out in search of the naughty section of the store?” you shook your head in disbelief hearing his amused laughter follow. “You need to chill.”

“I don’t understand, why would you want to eat cats?” Emma’s voice beckoned the both of you and you saw that she was standing up on her toes to read the trophies that Negan had grabbed. “Daddy, you’re allergic to cats. Your eyes would puff up and that’s just gross. Who eats cats?”

The immediate laughter that followed from Negan when you noticed two other parents staring out at you in disbelief made your face hot with embarrassment but you couldn’t help but laugh too at the situation. Both from your daughter’s innocence and the situations Negan always put you in.

“You’re a dick,” you breathed out under your breath knowing that by the wickedness of Negan’s laughter that he was proud of himself.

“Why is no one answering me?” Emma seemed frustrated, but Negan walked off to go return the trophies. “Why would he want to eat cats?”

“He doesn’t want to eat cats baby,” you assured your daughter with a sigh noticing that Negan was in quite a spunky mood today. “Let’s find those costumes.”

“You both are weird today,” Emma noted and you didn’t disagree with her there. When Emma found something, you saw her eyes light up at the sight of it. “Mommy! I’ve got it! This can be daddy’s costume!”

When Negan returned, he was singing one of the Halloween songs to Noah that was clearly on his mind.

“Your daughter found you something,” you pointed to the outfit that Emma had found for Negan and he looked up letting out a long, lingering groan. “This is yours.”

“Oh come on,” Negan grumbled seeing Emma look back at him at excitement.

“Isn’t it great daddy?” Emma held the costume out and Negan looked to you, his dimples sucking in when he breathed loudly.

“Yeah, honey, it’s just great,” Negan sighed, feigning a smile knowing that he would do anything for his daughter. “I can’t wait to try it on.”

---

“Daddy this is so freaking cool!” Emma boasted running down the driveway from the home she had just trick or treated at with you. The ears from her Tigger costume bounced when she went to give Negan a hug, slamming into him with excitement. “I told you the right costume would get me all the best candy. That woman gave me full sized candy bars,” she pulled back to reveal the candy that was in her bag. “You should go up with me next time so maybe we can get more.”

“I’m super happy for you kiddo,” Negan reached down to pick up Emma while you carried Noah. “You know, I get why you made your little brother Piglet, but is there a reason you let your mama be a pretty witch and I had to be Winnie the Pooh?”

Involuntarily a laugh fell from your throat when you looked to Negan and the costume he was wearing. It was an oversized the Winnie the Pooh costume and you could see his face flushing over with red when a few kids from the school he worked at walked by.

“You always call mommy honey, so I just thought it fit daddy!” Emma exclaimed, clinging tightly to Negan while he made it to the next house. “You tell me I’m bouncing off the walls all the time. So I make the best Tigger. Noah is always hungry and he’s small. So Piglet makes sense y’know?”

“And mama gets to be a pretty witch? Why wasn’t she Eeyore instead?” Negan wondered looking to you knowing that you found amusement in all of this.

“Because mommy isn’t sad like that. She’s pretty and I think witches are cool!” Emma explained with a tiny laugh when she wiggled out of Negan’s arms to reach for his hand to eagerly lead him up toward the door and you followed not far behind with Noah. Once you finished up at that house, when you got to the bottom of the driveway Emma hugged Negan again causing another groan to fall from his throat. “Come on guys.”

“You know, I love her hugs,” Negan began as you followed Emma on the sidewalk as she continued to skip to the next house, “but I can’t wait until she gets a little bit taller. Every single time she runs and hugs me, she headbutts me right in the nuts.”

“Negan,” you couldn’t help but laughed watching him reach down with his big Winnie the Pooh paw to try to adjust himself in a way that wouldn’t draw attention to it, but it looked pretty ridiculous.

“I’m not kidding. I’ve been headbutted in the nuts about fifty times today alone,” Negan informed you with a tiny rumble of a laugh. “And that shit hurts. Even being in a padded chubby bear costume.”

“Come on daddy!” Emma called out reaching for Negan who eagerly stumbled up the driveway with his daughter. Emma was so excited and Noah was really just enjoying the lights and all the costumes, letting out small laughs from where he was strapped to your chest in his baby carrier.

Negan urged Emma to keep going until the very end of trick or treating and by the time you had gotten home, Negan had grabbed Noah and went to the kitchen table to help sort through the candy that they had gotten. You couldn’t help but be in awe of your husband seeing him sitting at the kitchen table with both your son and daughter sitting on his lap still dressed in his Winnie the Pooh costume. The amount of pictures you took tonight were ridiculous, but you couldn’t help how cute you found everything.

At the end of the night, Negan had fallen asleep on the couch still in his costume with both Emma and Noah on his chest after watching movies together. You had taken your costume off and you were cleaning up things, but you couldn’t help but be in awe of the way your husband was with your children. As silly or ridiculous as he was, Negan always showed up when it came to being a dad. He made things fun for your children and he showed them endless amounts of love.

The sound of movement drew your attention seeing the way that Negan carefully moved off the couch to carry both a sleeping Emma over his shoulder and Noah in his other arm, “You need some help there Pooh?”

“I’ve got this,” Negan assured you and you followed him up the stairs of your home to the second floor. Watching Negan put your children to bed helped you to realize how much you truly loved your husband. He was a great father and there was no question that was the sexiest thing about him. After he peppered Emma with kisses, Negan followed you back out into the hallway and threw his hands up in the air. “I need to get this costume off.”

“Let me help you,” you reached for his hand, laughing when the paw accepted your grasp. Leading him to the bedroom, you closed the door and moved around Negan to undo the zipper at the back of the costume. Negan pushed down the head of the costume and grunted when he tugged his arms out of the material. “You know, I thought you were pretty hot when I first met you. Wearing that leather jacket looking like a bad ass.”

“Yeah?” Negan’s eyebrow arched in curiosity, sitting down on the edge of the bed. His hair was wet from being sweaty while he worked to get the legs of the costume off. When he was done, he tossed the costume aside and was sitting before you in a white t-shirt and black athletic pants that he had worn underneath the costume.

“But nothing tops how sexy I found you tonight,” you informed him, moving forward to curl your finger in underneath his chin to get him to look up at you. There was an amused expression over his features while you caressed over his face. “Dressed in a costume you hated, making our children happy being the sweetest father.”

“Ah,” Negan snickered, turning his head to the side to place a kiss over the center of your palm. “You have a Winnie the Pooh kink, huh?”

“Oh stop,” you rolled your eyes hearing his laughter follow and he tugged you down to fall in over his lap. Hooking his arms around you, Negan started to tease you with the idea of kissing you, but it was just a faint brush of his lips over yours. “I just love you. So much.”

“I love you more,” Negan hummed, finally claiming your lips in a kiss. Your kisses grew in strength and before you knew it, you found yourself at the center of your bed with Negan crawling in over you after he managed to strip off the remainder of his clothes. “It’s been a while since we’ve gotten to be with one another like this. We usually have one of the kids with us at all times.”

“Then we better take advantage,” you suggested, brushing your fingers through his wet hair drawing him to your lips again letting out a soft moan when he entered you. The rolling of his hips was slow over you while he took time to pamper you. “Negan.”

“We should have grabbed that devil costume before we did this,” Negan hummed against the side of your neck making you both laugh. Dropping his forehead against yours, Negan’s winces grew louder with every thrust he made over you. “Fuck.”

“Yes,” you purred in his ear, curling your fingers into the curls at the back of his neck.

“Yeah?” Negan breathed out, his hazel eyes locked on yours when every move he made grew in strength. The sound of crying filled the air over the baby monitor and Negan let out an overwhelmed sound, his head burying against the side of your neck. “No, no. Fucking, shit.”

Amusement flooded your veins when you stroked your fingers through Negan’s wet hair realizing that you weren’t going to be able to finish with Noah crying, “I can get him.”

“No,” Negan groaned out, pulling his hips back and away from you with a wince. Reaching for his athletic pants, he pulled them up and over his hips adjusting himself when they were on. “I’ve got this.”

“Maybe Emma was right. We should stop at two,” you teased watching Negan swiftly crawling back in over the bed to pepper kisses over your lips.

“Nah. I want a fucking baseball team,” Negan slurred against your lips and it made you chuckle against his flesh. “I got this, but when I’m done with the little dude, I’m coming back in here and we’re finishing this up.”

“Sure we are,” you mused knowing that it would probably take a while to get Noah settled again. Negan held his finger out and pointed at you which made you laugh. Even if you didn’t get as much romantic time as you may have wanted with Negan, it was all worth it to you. Because living your life with Negan was better than anything you could have hoped for.

----

Tags: @slutlanna976 @fuckthis-and-fuckthat @jennydehavilland @de-gabyconamor​ @ibelongtonegan @smallsadjellyfish @labyrinthofheartagrams  @msjamesmarch @thebeautysurrounds @hotfornegan​ @redmercysugar @caprithebunny​ @tuttifuckinfruitty @emoryhemsworth​ @a-girl-interupted @akumune​ @stoneyggirl2 @xsarcasticwriterx​  @insertneganhere​ @haleygreen23​ @xhannahbananax03​ @sanctuaryforthelost​ @burningredaffair @killaweiser @dead-of-niight  @ayumi-wolf @hollyismentallyillhelp @promiscuousbarnes​ @tone-stark @lanadelnegan

#Jeffrey Dean Morgan #Negan #Negan fanfiction #negan x reader #The Walking Dead #twd fanfiction #Negan x you #Halloween #Halloween fic #Negan Smith #Negan Imagine

[lazyrants]

Sleepless in LazyTown (prod 111)

Original airdate: August 19, 2004

Story by Adam Peltzman, Magnus Scheving

Written by Noah Zachary, Cole Louie, Magnus Scheving

Directed by Steve Feldman, Magnus Scheving

Executive producers - Magnus Scheving, Ragnheidur Melsted, Raymond P. Le Gue, Mark Read, Brown Johnson, Kay Wilson Stallings

Starring Magnus Scheving, Stefan Karl Steffanson, Julianna Rose Mauriello

Puppeteers - Ronald Binion, Gudmondor Thor Karason, Jodi Eichelberger, David Matthew Feldman, Julie Westwood, Amanda Maddock

Sleepless in LazyTown covers the importance of sleeping at the right time. In this case, if you don't sleep for long enough, maybe Robbie Rotten will make a deal in a game of baseball that if he wins that a superhero leaves town.

The episode begins with.. Sportacus going to bed, thus resulting in a night-time title card. What a great way to start an episode, with the end of the day! Well, foreshadowing..

Everyone in the town is well asleep, excluding Pixel who is staying up late to play his new video game. Robbie is of course TRYING to sleep, but he fails to do so, and he starts.. crying? He is also wearing cushions as an alternative to noise cancelling headphones. Stefan Karl is hilarious.

Anyways, it's morning in the town and Pixel is still playing his video game. Robbie hasn't gotten any sleep, so he decides to sleep outside, using pieces of his.. fluffy couch as headphones. However, a fly starts bugging him and plays one of the most hilarious sequences in LazyTown history. After he falls off the couch, tries to catch the fly and gets stung in the butt, he starts fighting with the fly, using a bin lid as his shield and.. nothing as his sword. He finally manages to get that fly in the bin, and he can sleep now.. or can he? Stephanie and Ziggy are teaching Sportacus to play baseball (Sportacus hit a home run for Sportacular Spectacle Day 2 years before this episode, so either he wants to see how good she is at it or he forgot how to play.) and Robbie starts whining about the noise.

Sleeping outside and whining about the noise is like eating a burger then whining about the meat. So anyways, Pixel has joined their game of baseball and is so tired from playing games last night he forgets he's wearing a mask, and falls down after catching a ball.

Ziggy realizes he was up all night, then Sportacus talks about how sleep is one of his main sources of energy. However, Robbie is eavesdropping then comes to the idea of keeping him up (Sportacus really needs to start talking quieter) and goes back to his lair. He crafts the ball with a bunch of louds thing like a whistle (for some reason the final product comes out of a microwave..).

Anyways, after Pixel left the game of baseball, he came back with a gadget to keep his body moving which would NOT work in real life. Nickelodeon. Anyways, Robbie is now in his baseball clothes (why does a person who despises sport have a costume dedicated for one sports...??) with the noisy ball and is going to join their game. Meanwhile, Sportacus has thrown a ball and Pixel catches it without even knowing (blud fell asleep again). Robbie offers to hit now that Pixel is out, but Stephanie is surprised (he doesn't even MOVE very much!). Sportacus lets him play, and Robbie says that whoever hits it farest wins and that Sporty must leave town if he loses. Sportacus accepts, Robbie says to prepare for the game in two days, and gives him the noisy ball.

Everyone goes to bed that night, Pixel stays up to play games AGAIN, and Robbie's plan actually works. This genuinely shocked me. Sportacus stays up all night looking for that ball and ends up getting no sleep at all. Stephanie and Ziggy are already up and waiting to practice for baseball, but Sportacus is still sleeping and Stephanie sends a letter up to the airship.

Sportacus comes jumping over a wall to a bench where the two are waiting for him. Epic, right! He's ready for action! Nope, he falls back asleep until Ziggy yells his name. I don't get it. He doesn't have energy to play baseball but he has enough energy to jump over walls. That's what I hate about logic in this show. He tells them he's fine and Stephanie realises he didn't get enough sleep. He jumps onto the bench, yells for a pillow (the airship must have been surprised that he didn't ask for Sportscandy or a sports equipment) and then takes a nap. The two try multiple efforts to wake him up - drums, tamborines an alarm clock, yelling his name, and the saxophone. Nothing works and the two are totally bummed.

Stephanie says they need help and Ziggy suggests they call Sportacus. If that was supposed to be funny, it definitely was. Anyways, they go to Pixel's house, turn on all his TVs (that wakes him up) and ask him for help. Pixel accepts to help.. "right after a few more snores" then goes back to bed. I love this show. Robbie is spying to see the effects of the noisy ball, and Pixel's gadget is being used on Sportacus.

Stephanie tells Pixel to put it on, but he's asleep again (a rare moment where we see the angry side of Stephanie) and Ziggy presses buttons on his remote control and Sportacus (still asleep) starts moving around. (Why is there a button that makes someone do the splits..?)

Anyways, he wakes up and turns it on properly. However, Pixel amps it up a bit too high and Sportacus is inches away from running into a tree. (Why doesn't his crystal beep when he is in trouble like in season 2?) Stephanie makes Pixel promise to get some sleep. At 8:08 pm, Pixel is still playing games (my lord, I will take a strand of his hair and deep fry it, put some beef salt on it and chomp it up) until he realises his friends need him. Anyways, in the hair- I mean, airship, Sportacus tries to go to bed, but that noisy ball starts acting up. He is so pissed he jumps all the way from his bed to his sports equipment cupboard and kicks the button to open it. It is so unintentionally cool.

He finds the noisy ball and does something to it, but we don't know what. All we know is that he got rid of it or somehow figured how to turn it off, because when they perform Wake Up (undeniably one of the best songs ever) he gets up with a smile, and starts flipping and exercising.

Pixel feels so great that he wakes all his friends up himself. Once Sportacus is in town, they start talking about how good their sleeps were. Sportacus tells Pixel a secret - the secret is that what was keeping him up was the noisy ball. Pixel looks at the mark on it and realises the ball was made by Robbie himself.

Sportacus reveals his plan to Pixel (not the microphone, so it's a mysteryyyy to the audience..), and he goes to lie on a bench once the kids come. The kids except Pixel are panicking, and Robbie arrives to the field. Pixel and Stephanie are throwing the ball at each other while Robbie isn't ready, and those count as two strikes.

Robbie actually hits the ball, but only in front of his foot. That counts and now it is "Sportasnore"'s turn to hit. However, his plan is still going on, and he doesn't hit it on the first 2 strikes. However, on the final strike he hits it SO HARD that it lands in Robbie's lair, and Robbie loses the game.

They celebrate by singing and performing Bing Bang, and Stephanie changes clothes in between shots. Meanwhile, in Robbie's lair, he sulks on his chair, but then sits on a lump, that lump being his noisy ball. The camera zooms in on the clock, thus saying "This is gonna be a loonggg night for Robbie."

This episode is definetly one of the best. I didn't like it much because I didn't remember much, but I actually think this episode is amazing. With funny dialogue from every character, an epic song, this does not fail.

10/10

#lazytown #sportacus #nickelodeon #stephanie #robbie rotten #magnusscheving #magnus scheving #stefan karl #nick jr #nickelodeon jr #spongebob #comedy #humor #reviews #tv shows #stefankarl #juliannarose #juliannarosemauriello #latibaer #glanni glaepur #glanni glæpur í latabæ #afram latibaer #lazy town #latibær #Youtube

[twoidiotwriters1]

Copycat: Cryptomnesia —(Marvel Fem!Oc)

A/N: I'm back from my vacation but now I have to go shopping for christmas presents in a panic cause I have NOTHING -Danny

Words: 1,226

Phase Five Masterlist

Previous Chapter // Next Chapter

Listen to: ‘Bad Luck’ -by Noah Kahan

xx: Something Like A Hero

Cat stopped next to Clint and stared at the plaque in front of them.

"They should add Lang and me to that thing," she pointed out. "We were there too."

"Not in this timeline," he retorted. "How d'ya find me?"

"I followed the smell of decay and hair gel," she pulled out her phone. "Why do you have one of these if you're not gonna answer it?"

"I needed a moment alone."

"Well, you got it. And while you were here basking in self-pity, Kate got a surprise visit from the widow."

Clint looked at her worryingly. "Is she alright?"

"Yeah," Cat sighed. "Yelena just wanted to talk."

It took a second for Clint to process what she'd said. "Excuse me?"

Cat took off her sunglasses. "Nat's sister is trying to kill you."

"Dammit. Goddammit," Clint looked back at the plaque. "You worked alongside Nat's sister as a mercenary?"

"Yeah."

"And you didn't think that was important to mention?"

"I didn't think it mattered," Cat frowned. "Not exactly something to brag about, is it?"

Clint turned around and started walking. "We gotta do something."

Cat put her sunglasses back on. "Like what?"

"I'll talk to Maya. You'll be my lookout."

"Is she expecting us?"

"She'll come to me."

"Why?"

"I'll be Ronin."

"Jesus, it's like you love getting punched in the face," Cat rolled her eyes.

Clint looked at her cut, it was healing quickly, but he could still see it. "How come blood grosses you out?"

Cat snorted. "That's random..."

"It's weird for a mercenary," he shrugged.

"Just because I've killed people I'm supposed to love it? You think I feast on corpses or what?" She scowled. "My mask is not for show, you know? Mouse acts like a filter, Tony knew I don't like to smell nor taste blood."

"Yeah, but Tony didn't think you'd use it to commit murder, did he?"

"All the people I've killed had it coming," she tilted her head. "Sometimes the torture got out of hand, I'll admit that, but they definitely are better off dead."

Clint shook his head. "You know why Tony and Nat signed the accords?"

"So they didn't go to jail?"

"The things you told Fury, about being trained to kill super people like Danvers, turned out to be a false tale, but it didn't mean it couldn't be true—"

"I know. I don't start things, I repeat them. How do you expect me to be good, when the universe has run out of kindness? "

"Copycat is who you are," he replied. "Doesn't have to be what you do."

"I don't play nice, I can't be a hero."

"You can't or you won't?" Clint raised a brow. "When we fought in the airport you managed to play by the rules Tony set for you. It seems to me you can be a hero, you're just failing on purpose."

"Well, you should take the hint already, don't you think? I do what I want, and I don't want to be an Avenger ever again."

"You're the one that keeps showing up when things go south," he shrugged. "Stop answering our calls, and maybe I'll believe you."

Cat teleported to the roof where Kazi was, she knocked him unconscious.

"Dopey has left the chat," she crouched where moments before the young man had been keeping watch. "Five tracksuit dummies still stand— Want me to take care of them?"

"You go left, I go right."

Copycat teleported back to the parking lot, she landed behind a guy and smacked the back of his head with the base of her spear, then hurled it at the man in front of her stabbing his foot, keeping him in place so she could punch him on the nose. Cat seized his wrist and twisted it, making him drop the gun.

She retrieved her spear, shrunk it, and hit his temple. "My guys are down."

"All done."

"She's all yours."

Copycat appeared on a near rooftop and sat to watch the show. Clint and Maya were talking and she considered eavesdropping but heard movement behind her. Cat turned and saw Kate walking toward her.

"You shouldn't be here."

She turned off her stealth mode. Kate jumped back, clutching her chest.

"Jesus, don't do that!"

"How did you find us?"

"I tracked Clint's phone!"

"That guy sucks at hiding," Cat groaned.

Kate walked to the edge of the roof. "I'm here as a backup."

"Told you to stay out of it—"

"Did you know Jack got arrested or were you too busy having fun without me?"

"We're obviously having a party to celebrate you're gone."

Kate stood in position, drawing out one of her arrows. "So what's happening down there?"

Cat stood beside her. "Clint's trying to give Maya some closure to move on. I think he's only making her angrier... oh, shit!"

"What? What?"

"He told Maya her boss is responsible for her father's death," Cat moved Kate aside. "Damn, and I was upset about Yelena cockblocking me..."

"You and Yelena have a weird relationship," Kate frowned. "Are you guys like a thing or..?"

"She thinks I'm not allowed to have a normal life."

"If you want a normal life then you deserve one, how's that so hard to understand?" Kate scoffed.

"I've done nothing to earn it. I woke up one day and decided I'd had enough. You don't do that, especially if you work for the big guys."

"I'm tired of hearing the same speech over and over," Kate rolled her eyes. "Keeping score like it's a game, deciding who deserves what... I refuse to believe that's how things work!"

Kate aimed her arrow at Maya and shot, hurling the sword out of her grasp. Clint took his chance and ran away, and Maya did too, frustrated. Kate put her bow down and returned to their conversation.

"Do whatever you want, but please, stop hating yourself. It's a waste of time, trying to decide who you are based on what others tell you. You like being something like a hero, right?"

"...maybe."

"It scares me too," Kate offered her hand. "But I'm staying here and I'm doing it anyway."

"Kate, you need to stay away from me," she warned her. "All of the people I've teamed up with, I make things worse for them. Dmitri was right to try and control my power, free will makes me dangerous."

"I don't believe it," the girl insisted, "you won't change my mind."

Cat looked at the girl's hand, and she couldn't bring herself to take it. "Let's check on Clint."

"I bet you're wondering how I found you—"

"You tracked my phone again, didn't you?"

"Yeah."

"You need to block the signal when you wanna go unnoticed," Cat pointed out.

"You got an escape plan?"

An uber driver called from his vehicle. "Are you Tabitha?"

"Yeah!"

The mutant patted Clint's shoulder. "Such a fresh addition to the team. Look at her modernizing your tactics..."

"I told you not to give her false hopes—"

"Clint trust me, I've rejected every offer she's made and Kate continues to shove more stuff onto my hands, this isn't my fault."

Clint didn't believe her. "Whether you do it on purpose or not, I still asked you to stay away and you didn't listen."

"I was there for the Rolex!"

"Cat."

"I'm trying, okay?" She scowled. "You don't want me to be an asshole, but when I'm being good you scold me— make up your mind!"

"I thought you always did whatever you wanted," he replied sarcastically.

Cat growled. "Shut up."

Cat had just finished breakfast when Kate placed her phone in front of her and Clint.

"Who's that with my mom?"

Jack wasn't the only one involved in organized crime.

"That's the guy I've been worried about this whole time..." Clint replied, his face losing its color. "Kingpin."

Next Chapter—>

Taglist.

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#twoidiots writing #marvel #marvel fic #marvel fanfic #marvel fanfiction #copycat fic

[twdmusicboxmystery]

FTWD 7x15: Amina - First Analysis

Okay, how did everyone like FTWD 7x15. There is SO much to unpack with this episode, so I might have a few posts this week that are just back and forth discussion. As always, I’ll discuss the biggest things that jumped out at me today, and then I’ll do Details and Discussions over the next day or two.

Me and my fellow theoriests often talk about how they seem to use Fear to sort of define the symbolism for us. What we mean by that is that where something is more subtle and nebulous in regular TWD, they just seem to be more literal and on-the-nose with it in Fear. So, Fear can help us better understand the symbolism in the main show. This episode was no exception.

***As always, spoilers abound below for this episode. Don’t read until you’ve watched!***

The first thing to talk about is the template for the missing 17 days from S5 and Beth’s story line. @galadrieljones first pointed this out to me. We think a lot of what happens here with Alicia is a clue as to what went down during the missing 17 days with Beth.

The first thing we see is Alicia being carried away from the tower. (I think we’re all on the same page that Strand’s tower represents Grady.) So, it's important that she's being carried away, she's injured, and it is the other people in TF that are carrying her. It occurred to me that Dwight standing over her was a little bit random. They could have picked anyone, but they picked Dwight. I wonder if he represents Daryl. We also see June. I don't know who she would represent. Carol or Rick maybe?

When Alicia wakes up on the beach, we hear June talk about saline and epinephrine to help her with the fever. I also thought the dialogue was interesting. Alicia asks, "where are we going?" June answers, "we don't know." I know in TWD S5, they went to take Noah home, but right after Beth got shot, they didn't really know where they were going. Taking him to Virginia was something that was decided after the fact.

Then, of course, Alicia sees a little girl and chases after her. The interesting thing is that no one from TF noticed Alicia leaving. They tell us this, because when we see her heading toward the tower with the gas mask on, we can hear Luci on the radio calling for her. Saying, "Alicia, where did you go? Tell us where you are." That's a parallel to Beth's body disappearing. Like, you can imagine TF saying this about Beth. Where did she go? Tell us where she is.

Then Alicia passes out and wakes up in the MRAP. She asked the little girl, "what's your name?" The little girl doesn't give it there, but it's a parallel to Beth being asked if she remembers her name when she woke up at Grady. The other thing I thought was interesting here is that the little girl comments on the fever. When Alicia says she’s looking for fever reducers, the little girl says, "isn't the fever what's going to kill the infection?"

The little girl is actually right about that, but I felt like it was purposeful. They're trying to make us think about the fever versus the infection. At first, I wasn’t sure what she was getting at. Upon rewatching, and talking to my fellow theorists, I think the point may be that because Alicia didn’t find any medicine or fever reducers, that’s how she kicked the fever.

I’ll talk more about whether Alicia is alive in a minute. For now, overall, we think she is. Which means she triumphed over the fever. That’s SUPER significant, guys. It pretty much confirms the bite/cure theories, and that someone can be bitten and still survive. Which means Beth could have been.

But again, I think because she didn’t do anything to bring down the fever—except drink water, which is also super significant and I’ll talk more about that in the next day or two—and the fever got so high that she passed out on the beach, that’s actually how she beat it. He fever raged high enough to kill the infection, but not to actually kill her. And obviously that’s not always how it happens. Usually, people are bitten and their fever can’t beat the infection. It gets higher and higher until it starts to cook their brains and then their hearts stop.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see if they ever give us a scientific explanation for it. But that’s where our thoughts are for now.

When she was out with little girl, she tries to kill a particular walker that looks like it has some sort of diamond-shaped fencing on it. She falls down trying to kill it and the little girl kills with the hammer. I'm not sure what the fencing is. It doesn't quite look like chain-link, but it's too thick to be barbed wire. Anyway, I felt like the diamond shapes were important.

I almost feel like diamond-shaped might represent something that was a character is struggling with. We often see them in the background behind characters that are really going through something. Obviously, we’ve seen them a lot around Beth and Rick, but we’ve also seen them around Rosita and Aaron, to name a few, during times when they were struggling with things. Just a thought.

And in this case, the fact that Alicia is trying to kill it but can't suggests some sort of inner struggle she's wrestling with.

The next really interesting line that I noticed is that when we reach the perimeter of the tower, Alicia tries to get the little girl to go back to the beach with her. The little girl refuses. Alicia says at one point, "if I go with you, we both die." The little girl replies, "I'll die if we stay out here." And Alicia asks, "what does that mean?" The little girl simply says, "you know exactly what that means." But it never specifies what they're talking about here.

The ‘I'll die if we stay out here’ reminded me of the Daryl and Buttons story arc. The fact that they can be out there too long, or they lose their humanity. I'm pretty sure this is what the little girl is talking about, and I'll come back to why I think that.

The showrunner also said at the end that every time Alicia exerts herself physically, the fever gets worse. And this is when she passes out. But to me, it almost seems like it's every time she starts killing walkers. And I think that symbolic of her fighting against her own nature. Being warlike instead of merciful. Not that she shouldn’t kill the walkers to defend herself. It’s just symbolic of what she’s struggling with psychologically, rather than physically.

The next point to make in the template is that Alicia ends up back at the tower. We believe that Beth ended up back at Grady. And we’ve seen this with other character arcs as well. The one that jumps to mind for me is Glenn in S4. He was on the bus when Maggie last saw him. When the bus took off, she assumed he was on it. Therefore, she went looking for him on the bus. But he wasn’t on the bus at all. He was back at the prison, where they’d originally been and where she assumed he'd gone away from.

I think that's a template for what will happen with Beth. They took her away from Grady and when she disappears, it doesn't even occur to them that she might be back at Grady. But that's exactly where she's at. It also goes along with the template we noticed around the reapers this past season. Looking for someone in the wrong place. Looking for Maggie in the yellow house, when really, she was in the green house.

Let's talk about what Alicia and the little girl represent. I wanted to try to figure out a way to explain how they each represent Beth, because obviously they both do in various ways. But the little girl, during her conversation with Alicia in the tower, actually lays it out pretty well for us.

The little girl says that Madison didn't die so that Alicia could defeat Strand. She died so that the part of Alicia but doesn't give up on people would live. Then she says, "I'm still in you. But you're the only one who can make sure this is the end for me."

So overall, what I'm getting is that Alicia as herself represents the negative mindset. She's in a harsh, unforgiving, violent, selfish mindset. I don't mean that in a critical way. It's just something she's going through. Very similar to what we've seen Rick in the past not being merciful, or Daryl being vengeful during AOW. Alicia has become harsh and unforgiving. And that's not that's just not the healthiest place to be. The physical representation of this is the fever and how sick she's become. But there's a psychological issue going on here as well.

I don't think anyone would fault Alicia for wanting to take out Strand, given how villainous he's become. But whether Strand deserves it or not is not the point. It's all about her, as the little girl keeps saying. It's about Alicia's own soul, and humanity.

So, the little girl represents that more kind, merciful, part of her that doesn't give up on people. Basically, the essence of who Beth was. The person who saves people and is optimistic, has faith, believes having humanity matters, etc. That’s why she says that if they stay out there, she’ll die. It’s Alicia’s humanity that will die if she doesn’t go save Strand, despite all he’s done.

(It looks like they’ll be giving Strand a redemption arc, much as they have with Negan in the flagship show.)

We also hear Madison say something similar on the tape: that Alicia’s kind nature is getting less and less with each passing day they’re out there. Alicia’s humanity is dying, and this is about her saving herself. Her own soul.

So, I absolutely think this is a template for the missing 17 days. I think it's also a foreshadow of stuff we haven't seen yet. For a long time, I've had something of a head cannon that maybe Beth wakes up without TF, and somehow, for some reason, believes they’re dead. It would just make sense that she would think Daryl is dead because he thinks she is dead. And their arcs very much mirror one another.

Anyway, she would probably go through a period of extreme darkness if she believed that. I believe this is what this episode is telling us about Beth's arc. She'll go through a period of extreme darkness where shall become kind of dark and vengeful, very unlike herself. But she'll need to emotionally save the person that she always was and go back to being that person. As she told Daryl, she needs to stay who she is, not who she was.

The fact that TF leaves Alicia behind at the end, and goes off without her, also is part of the template for the missing 17 days. We even see Alicia wake up and observe that they’re gone, and she is alone. Alicia then goes back to the tower to try and help anyone she can who might show up there.

I kind of think that at some point Beth will choose to remain within the CRM to try and help bring people out of it or try to help the good people who are inside of it. It's what her conscience will demand once she chooses to be the person she always was.

At the end, when the little girl shows she has no bite, she says, “it means you saved me.” Meaning, Alicia saved the good, optimistic part of herself. And that’s when the fever goes away. Because she was true to herself and saved her own humanity.

It's interesting, because it means that the physical bite also represents an internal wound. I've never thought of it that way before. I wonder if with everyone on the show who gets bitten, the writers are always thinking that of that as a physical representation of the spiritual. And remember that in 9×05, we heard Beth’s voice say, "what your wound?" When Morgan first said that to Rick in S1, he was talking about a physical wound. Rick had a fever and Morgan wanted to know if he’d been bitten.

But when we hear it over and over again in 9x05, before Jadis takes Rick into the CRM, it’s talking about emotional/psychological wounds. And in this show, those wounds always result from separation from family. Which is why we hear that before Rick is separated from Michonne and the kids, and why the last thing he says before he blows up the bridge is, “I found them.”

Some other, smaller things that back this all up:

It’s the little girl, rather than Alicia, who breaks the window. Her faith filled, optimistic self is stronger than she is. Her more negative, vengeful self didn’t have the strength to break the glass. At the end, the showrunner said Alicia needed to save the part of her who would give someone who is beyond a hope a second chance. That just screams Beth.

And kind of answers a question my fellow theorists and I have discussed before about whether Beth would give Negan a second chance, even after learning he killed Glenn. I already mentioned how they’re doing something similar with Strand that they did with Negan. Made him do really despicable things, including murder, etc. And something about him may lead to Madison (Alicia’s subconscious kept saying he knew where it was and could get them there). So, something about Negan could still tie into Beth’s arc.

The showrunner said this part of Alicia is the belief that there can be good in people. Again, an echo of Beth’s “there are still good people, Daryl.” And then he compared it to Madison’s “No one’s gone until they’re gone.” So, we have the showrunner basically admitting there’s a tie between Beth and Madison’s characters. And now Madison is returning.

Another point they made is that, even if they die, even if Alicia died, she could live on by saving others who don’t necessarily deserve it. I think that’s a huge theme for the entire show. Self-sacrifice is relatively easy when it’s someone you love. But saving a villain or enemy is another game entirely. Carl died saving Siddiq. Rick spared Negan to honor him, etc.

Speaking of Carl. This is just a small digression, but I had the thought that they openly talked about Madison in this episode and showed flashbacks. And it’s obvious that Alicia’s entire arc, all of her motivations since Madison disappeared at the stadium, has been trying to make sure her mother’s sacrifice meant something. But they haven’t really talked about it much until now. I’m sure they mentioned it a time or two, but it’s not like she’s said that every episode for 3 years.

It just made me think of Carl and how they didn’t really talk about him killing that kid in S3 very much. They talked about it right after it happened, and then it was mentioned in one of the flashbacks in 4x16, but I don’t think it’s been talked about since.

So, my thought was just that this is how the TWD writers do things. They aren’t obvious about the character motivations until the end of the arc. Only then will they be much more clear about telling us what they were all along. I’m sure if we rewatched and traced Carl’s arc as closely as we do Beth and Daryl’s, we would been able to discern the path clearly. But they didn’t actually give us the key to understanding it until he was dying.

So, just an observation about how the writers operate. And we can apply that to why they talk about Beth so little. They don’t want to openly say that everything Daryl does is tied to him losing Beth. But I bet when she returns, they’ll say something obvious about it. Just as they did with Carl, and here with Alicia.

Next thing I want to talk about is how I believe the episode is trying to clarify several symbols for us. First, is the bird. Of course, we talked a lot about how the bird represents something that is trapped wants to be free, and we saw this very obviously this episode. But from a metaphysical standpoint, I think the bird represents the character's true self. Their good, merciful, optimistic self, which is so often trapped by the violence and the death that is constantly around them in this world. And that's why so many "good" characters who act as moral compasses for the group die. Once they let go of the violence and all the negativity of the world, it sort of sets their spirits free, and they passed away on the show.

(I’ll just take a moment to preach to the choir by pointing out that this was not where Beth was in Coda. If anything, she embraced violence in that moment because she stabbed Dawn. So, the formula for the character arc doesn't apply to her.)

Rewatching the episode, the bird also represents who the person is supposed to save. This will make a lot more sense for Beth when 7x16 airs next week. But if you think about it, Alicia freeing the bird from the tower was a mini-foreshadow for the end of the episode. She made it possible for the bird to fly free and escape its imprisonment in the tower, where it would inevitably have died. But she didn’t go with it. It flew away without her. While she did end up on the beach at sometime, she still went back to the tower.

At the end, TF sailed away without her. So, she made it possible for them to escape, but didn’t go with them. And of course, this is also what happened with Beth. We don’t know exactly how she would have made it possible for them to escape, but something about what happened there (still very mysterious) did. But they left without her. She didn’t go with them.

And this is yet another way this episode with Alicia mirrors Beth. TF left Beth behind. When she woke up, they were gone. Onto other places and homes and adventures, but without her.

I also thought about the beach symbol a little bit. I believe one thing the beach represents is peace. If you think back to Abraham's famous line from Sasha's flashback in S7, he said, "Alpha to Omega, battlefield to beach." (I hope I got that right.) Alpha and Omega are opposites, which suggests the battlefield and beach are opposites. So, the beach represents peace of some kind.

And that works well with what happens here with Alicia. They all find a little bit of peace on the beach, at least from Strand and the tower and walkers. They just have to set sail immediately so they can't stay for long. But I think that's part of the beach too. It's a launching pad for the next leg of the journey. But when Alicia wakes up on the beach, there's definitely a heaven vibe going on. No fever, the bird landing beside her. The beach is very peaceful.

I also thought a little bit about what the roof of the tower represents. Watching these past few episodes, it’s occurred to me that there's a motif about pushing toward the roof for some reason.

And I'm sure there are other instances we could look at, but there's four that came to mind. Obviously, we have the roof of Strand’s tower. A lot of stuff happened there throughout the arc, but last episode, they were pushing toward the roof in order to turn off the beacon. The reason for that is that it was specifically calling the dead. So, they wanted to turn it off. That's important.

In this episode, Alicia goes to the roof several times looking for the little girl. What I noticed is that, even though the tower was burning, and the fire started on the roof last episode, somehow, none of the roof was burned. There's a lot of smoke, and maybe even some damage, but we saw a lot of green plants still growing up there that hadn't been touched by fire.

Last week the show runner also mentioned the tower arc for Al and Dwight's episode last season. In that case, they made push for the roof as well, and once there, Al sent a message to Isobel, who was in her helicopter. Here in this arc with Alicia and Strand, the roof was also where Alicia sent a message. 

So, these two roof tops had that in common. But not all of them do. We didn't see a specific push for the rooftop at Grady, but we did see Beth go up there with Edwards at least once. We didn't see any messages being sent from there, but I imagine that if Grady was in communication with the CRM, they would probably have been sending messages from the roof, simply because that is how they could broadcast the farthest. There might be some messaging going on there that we just are privy to yet.

The last rooftop that I considered was from S1. When they go back for Merle, there's a very obvious push for them to get up to the roof. The camera literally shows them running as fast as they can up the stairwell. Of course, there's no message here, and not necessarily any greenery. This is where they discover that Merle is gone, he left his hand behind, and we see Daryl’s first real meltdown of the series.

So, while I saw some similarities, not all of them are present across the board, so I wasn't entirely sure what to make of that. But re-watching the episode, I came up with something. I noticed that when Alicia was trying to talk to the little girl on the walkie, she was sitting on the stairs. 

And what we've been saying about stairs and elevators came to mind. Traveling between the realms of the living and the dead. When Beth and Noah tried to escape, they went to the basement, and there were tons of walkers down there. 

So, the basement or ground floor, I believe, represents the realms of the dead. (And that's not true for every location in the show. It specifically around the tower motif.) We saw walkers around Strand’s tower, we saw them in the basement of Grady. I can't remember for sure, but I think there were probably walkers on the ground floor in Al and Dwight’s episode, and we know that there were some in the mall where Merle was left. So, the ground floor represents the land of the dead.

Which means, the roof represents the land of the living. That actually does make sense across the board. When they send a message, they’re contacting the living. Green things growing up there represents the living. And even with Merle, it showed that he didn't lay down and succumb to dehydration. He did what he needed to do—brutal though it was—to make sure he would survive, and then he took off. So, he was still alive somewhere.

And actually, someone NOT being there represents life. Because otherwise, there would be a dead body. This is also why them turning off the beacon that is calling the dead is significant. They went to the realms of the living (the roof) to stave off the coming of the dead. Not even really relating that to anything TD. Just something that I was thinking about.

Oh, and the bird flies up the staircase toward the roof. Obviously, the bird is something that wants to be free, and were seeing it fly up toward the land of the living.

The last thing I wanted to touch on was something that the showrunner said at the end. He said the end was a reawakening of Alicia. It was like a new world of newfound strength. Obviously, we think that will be the case with Beth too. She’ll return stronger and be able to do more good. But the reawakening also shows that it was something of a resurrection, which is another thing that points to her being alive.

I also had a thought about the people in the opening credits of Fear. Last week, I commented on the fact that it was Wes. It seemed an odd choice at first, since the episode focused so heavily and Alicia and Strand. But then, Wes died. They obviously were hinting that this was an important episode for him.

Then, in this episode, it wasn't Alicia herself in the opening credits. It was the little girl. Her subconscious. And the little girl was saved by the end, though she kept telling Alicia she might die if Alicia didn't save her.

So, I think the person it shows in the opening credits is always on the chopping block. They might live, they might die, but the point is their life hangs in the balance in this episode, either literally or figuratively. I think that's usually obvious since the episode tends to focus around one particular character, and they're usually the ones featured in the OCs. But, just another, more nuanced way to look at it.

I’ll stop there for today. More discussion to come!

#beth greene #beth greene lives #beth is alive #beth is coming #td theory #td theories #team delusional #team defiance #beth is almost here #bethyl

[takeeachdayonebookatatime]

Law and order svu fanfiction 

Video killed the pedophile part 7

Fin: pov Liv finally goes back to sleep all throughout the night a nurse is waking her up. In the morning the nurse takes off her oxygen mask. Joe and Muncy arrive early before work to visit Liv and give her some flowers. Amanda and I talk about her keeping Noah until Liv is released. A nurse tells me  McGrath  is here so I go into the hallway for a few minutes. McGrath tells me he does not trust Amanda to run the squad room so he is taking over and I need to get back to work instead of sitting with the Captain all day. I tell him I'm her emergency contact/medical proxy so I can't leave, because if something happens to her I have to sign the forms and with her being a past trauma victim I have to give consent for certain things. We manage to work out a deal.

Liv: pov a nurse is bringing me and Fin breakfast. 

Fin: pov our former Captain Donald Cragen is stopping by for an hour or 2 which is enough time for me to stop at the precinct and pick up some files, chief McGrath was kind of nasty to me this morning. Telling me I had to work while Liv is in the hospital. 

Don: pov I can't believe Liv is in the hospital because of something Elliot did, he had to have known this would happen. 

Liv: pov my head is pounding but it is nice to see dad. He says he saw Elliot recently, he wanted to know about his father. Dad says I understand Elliot did some stupid stuff that hurt you but you also have to remember he still cares about you and is trying to fixes the mistakes he made. It was nice to hear Dad talk about his life. Fin arrives back at the hospital with a box full of files and says McGrath is making me look at all of these cases. 

Fin: pov Liv finally falls asleep 2 hours later she wakes up,  a nurse comes in and checks her monitors and gives her some nausea meds, Liv is being given a form of tylenol regularly to help with her headache. She is also very dizzy and the room is spinning. Lunch for the both of us is more soup. I'm thankful it stays in her. It's now after lunch and Munch has arrived. I decided to take this time and talk with her Dr. 

Liv: pov Munch asks me  if me and Detective Stabler are sleeping together yet I say no we are still trying to figure out how to be friends after so long. Amanda had dropped off my phone in the morning, I texted Elliot,  Munch wants to know if we are sleeping together. He replies with Lol.

Fin: pov me and her Dr are talking he says I see no reason why she can't go home tomorrow does she have someone to stay with her. I mention that me and Brian are going to take turns caring for her. My boss is not that nice or considerate when it comes to giving me time off.  The neurologist hands me a bunch of papers with important info on them about her care once she is released. After Munch leaves I get back to the files until dinner, with the help of a nurse Liv has been able to go to the bathroom by herself.  Dinner was a light meal. I'm so happy Liv is finally getting some good sleep. Amanda stops after work with Noah to visit Liv. I tell him your mom is going home tomorrow, but you will stay with Amanda until she is a little bit better. The rest of the night was uneventful.  

Liv: pov in the morning I'm getting released Fin is making sure I'm ready once in the car the drive to my apartment is not long Fin gets me settled on the sofa when his phone starts ringing its McGrath bothering him saying SVU has a case. I can tell Fin is mad. McGrath wants him to show up at the scene and he tells McGrath I have no one to watch Liv. She can't be left alone and Brian is still at work. McGrath says he doesn't care, just find someone. 

Fin: pov I call Brian frantically asking if he can get off of work early to watch Liv. I know today's not your day but McGrath just called me in and someone has to watch Liv. Brian says he can be there in 2 hours. I have no choice but to call Elliot. I ask him if he is busy. He says no just doing paperwork, why are you asking?  I mentioned McGrath called me into work SVU got a case and someone has to be with Liv and the earliest Brian can get off work is in 2 hours. I text Brian the update in our plan.

Elliot: pov Fin asked me if I could watch Liv for 2 hours until Brian arrives. I said sure no problem, happy to help out. At Liv's apartment Fin is rushing around to get ready and make sure Liv is taken care of. He tells me the papers on the fridge have all the important info on them. In an emergency call me or Brian his number is on the fridge. Brian calls Liv's phone and asks me if I can stay an extra 30 minutes so he can stop at the store and pick some stuff up for Liv. I ask Liv if she is hungry. She says no, I convince her to eat some bread anyway. While I'm in the kitchen getting some water I hear Liv get up out of bed. Which Fin said to help her with and head to the bathroom. That is when I hear her throwing up. I rush into the bathroom to hold her hair up, but she says don't touch me just leave me alone Elliot I'm fine. But the floor needs to be cleaned. I did not make it in time. 

Liv: pov Elliot is cleaning the floor while I'm in the bathroom. I feel too gross to move and everything is spinning.   To be continued.  ……..

#lawanordersvu #tvshow #fanfiction #oliviabenson #mariskahargitay #fintutola #icet #elliotstabler #christophermeloni #amandarollins #kelligiddish #joevelasco #gracemuncy #briancassidy

[mikaelamichelle13]

Who Are You?

All she can remember was that she was chatting happily with Harry, Ron and Ginny when her phone rung. It was an unknown number. She excused herself to take the call, there was something about it that told her that she needed to answer it. However, the words she heard next made her bolt out of Harry’s house leaving behind her friends calling for her and apparated as soon as she could.

Now, she’s running through the crowd in muggle London after apparating in a secluded alley near the hospital, ignoring the faint fuzziness in her head. Her heart was pounding in her chest so hard, it hurt. She could feel the sweat dripping down her back and her breathing became shallow.

She just got them back. Right after the war she looked for them and retrieved their memories but their relationship was not mended immediately. She spent more time with them, brunches every weekend and holidays. She did everything to gain their trust back and it slowly built up again. It’s been ten years but it felt new for her. But now, why did have to happen?

She rushed to the hospital and halted right in front of the receptionist. Panting and with her throat dry she gulped.

“E-excuse me,” she said and the receptionist looked up at her with a bored expression. And it took all her remaining strength not to smack that expression off the woman’s face. Her fingers were gathered in a tight fist, biting her skin on the process.

“Yes?” she drawled and Hermione took a deep breath in and exhaled slowly.

“I am here for Mr. and Mrs. Granger,” she said hurriedly.

“Please proceed to the waiting area near operating room number three, down the hall then right,” she said and Hermione barely mumbled her thanks as she ran through the hall and turned right. Her footing slowed as her vision swam and she swayed a little. Behind the double door was her parents. She stayed rooted in the middle of the corridor waiting. And she did not stop her tears from flowing.

“Miss?” someone asked, putting their hands on her shoulders and she jolted, whipping around to see a woman in white. She had kind dark brown eyes, black hair and there was a friendly smile on her face. She let go of her shoulder and clasped her hands in front of her.

“Y-yes?” she said wiping her tears away, sniffing.

“Would you like a drink? Or something to eat?”

She shook her head in response.

“Well, why don’t we sit down?” she suggested and Hermione agreed, finally feeling tired of standing. They sat on the nearest set of chairs.

The time was ticking and she pulled on the skin around her nails, looking over the doors once in a while. Her palms were getting clammier and her heart was still beating wildly inside her chest. The nurse placed her hand over Hermione’s hands that made her looked up at her.

“They’ll be fine. Two of our best surgeons were in and they were the ones taking care of them right now,” the nurse said, she squeezed her hands reassuringly and all she could do was nod at her then looking back at the doors.

The nurse stayed with her, holding her hands supportively while she stayed watching the doors. The time stretched further before they heard sets of footsteps rushing towards their place.

“Hermione!” she heard them call but she did not turn her attention to them.

“Hermione…” Harry called her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

The nurse patted her hands and stood up, “I’ll go ahead now.”

That’s when Hermione removed her attention from the doors, giving the nurse a small smile, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she muttered quietly and left the group.

Harry replaced the nurse beside her while Ron sat on her left while Ginny sat beside Harry. Harry placed his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in while Ron rubbed her back but she turned to watch the door again.

They stayed like that for few more moments when the door suddenly opened letting a man wearing a blue surgical gown exit. Hermione abruptly stood up and walked fast to the man.

He pulled the mask off and asked, “Are you a relative of the Grangers?”

“Yes, I am their daughter. How are they?”

He nodded, “We were able to successfully close up an open wound on her right upper arm and remove most debris that was stuck on her. Mrs. Granger is already in a stable condition. we will be moving her to the recovery room….”

“How about my father?”

“Dr. Malraux is still working with him; he was impacted severely.”

Hermione shuddered and her knees weakened but Harry caught her shoulders to keep her from falling. She leaned onto him, sobbing.

“Doctor…?” Harry trailed off and the doctor cleared his throat.

“I am sorry for the lack of my manners; I am Dr. Noah Boris.”

“Where will be the recovery room?”

“I wouldn’t know yet but an attending nurse will inform you.”

Harry nodded and Dr. Boris left them. Harry had to half-drag Hermione to sit on the chairs. Ron and Ginny remained standing while Harry stayed with Hermione, rubbing her arm comfortingly.

Her eyes already dried and her breathing was already steady when a different nurse came to tell them the room number of her mother but she did not want to leave just yet. She wanted to wait for her father.

Ron tried to talk to her but she did not want to talk and even when Ginny offered her a cup of tea, she did not drink it nonetheless, she held on to it, warming her cold hands.

It had been an hour after Dr. Boris left but no one had yet to come out from the operating room. She’s getting more anxious by the minute and the tea got colder, the warmth absorbed entirely by her hands.

Hermione already lost track of time as Harry was replaced by Ginny then Ron and then Harry’s back to her side. She decided to look at her wrist watch and it was already ten minutes past midnight. It had been five hours since she got the phone call and rushed to the hospital.

She stood up and started pacing while Ron started falling asleep while Harry and Ginny watched her carefully.

And by the fifth time she paced back to her left, the door opened and revealed a different man, he still had a blue surgical gown and Hermione rushed to him. Harry followed while Ginny woke up Ron before they followed suit.

“How’s my father?”

He removed his mask and they collectively gasped. It was clear with his sharp facial features, the platinum blond hair peaking from his cap and his grey eyes—there was no denying who was the man standing in front of them.

“Malfoy?!” Ron asked a little too loud for the silent corridor but instead of a sneer the man just furrowed his brows in question.

“I am sorry but I am Dr. Dominique Malraux,” he calmly said.

“Who are you trying to fool, Malfoy?! Huh! What are you doing here?!” Ron asked, charging forward, face redder than his hair and Ginny had to grip his right arm to stop him while Harry observed the man called Dr. Malraux stepped back tentatively, almost ready to flee if Ron got to him.

“Will you shut it!?” Ginny hissed but Ron was fuming, nostrils flaring as he looked straight to the man called Dr. Malraux.

“Again, I am Dr. Malraux not Malfoy.”

“Bull—”

“Ron! That’s not important now,” Hermione cried out, facing Ron. Her face as red as a beet and her fists trembling.

“Getting back to the matter at hand…” Dr. Malraux trailed off getting Hermione’s attention back.

When Hermione turned back to him, he continued, “He had experienced severe head trauma and is still unconscious but we were able to remove the debris of glasses that stuck on his body and fix the open fracture he had on his left leg and left arm. As of 12:20 midnight, his vitals are still not stable so we had to monitor him closely therefore, we decided to put him in ICU.”

“Can I see him now?” Hermione asked, her voice cracking.

“You can see him after we transfer him. His attending nurse will be the one to inform you of more information. I will also give her the list of medicines he needed.”

Harry noticed that this man lacked the cold stare that Malfoy always wore and his emotions were more open compared to Malfoy’s. He was starting to question if the man was really not Malfoy.

“…Dr. Boris will be their attending physician moving forward.”

Hermione nodded again, not trusting her voice at all. Dr. Malraux left them after providing the necessary information and when he’s out of earshot, there was silence among them before Ginny broke it.

“Do you think it was really Malfoy? Because he looked the same but how he talked was…different.”

“I don’t know…” Hermione whispered, slumping on the chair. She did not want to dwell too much about this Malfoy look alike. That’s irrelevant for now. She wanted to see both her parents at the same time but she needed to wait again. She sighed rubbing her face with both hands.

“I haven’t seen him for almost ten years since he was tasked to make amends to us,” Harry said still looking back to where the man went.

“It was him there was no mistaking those sharp features, blond hair and grey eyes,” Ron grumbled.

“But we did not even see him flinch when you called him Malfoy,” Harry said, trying to recall the previous conversation.

“Now that I am trying to remember him. I believe The Daily Prophet mentioned that he was busy managing the Malfoy Estate and that was a month ago…” Ginny said and Harry nodded.

“We need to find out what was his motive pretending to be Dr. Malraux,” Ron mumbled, clenching and unclenching his fists. Harry and Ginny agreed but Hermione remained aloof with the topic besides as he had said he was not attending her parents; it’d be Dr. Boris.

__________

Hermione was approved for a leave from her work in the Ministry and during those days, she stayed with her parents. Her mum woke up after twenty hours after her operation but her father remained unconscious. She would walk into his room and her heart would sink further. And, every time she’d walk out of the room her steps were heavy and her eyes stung.

This day was not different—or so, she thought. Hermione visited him after she had breakfast with her mum. She reached for the doorknob and paused to take a deep breath then exhaled shakily. She turned the knob and pushed the door open. The sound of monitors surrounded her and she stopped midway, feeling suffocated. She gripped the door knob tightly making it rattle a bit. He was lying still, his chest rising and falling steadily, he looked comfortable if not for the beeping monitor that went with his beating heart. The back of her eyes pricked and she tried to blink back her tears. Hermione tried to step further in but her feet were stuck in place. Sometimes, she thought she was not doing her best in being there with her father. She should be with him until he wakes up because her mum cannot be there. She should—

Hermione take a sharp breath in, she turned around and the door slammed shut behind her. Her chest constricted and her tears just flowed down from her eyes. She walked through the hall with quick steps, ignoring the looks she was getting and apologizing whenever she bumped someone on the shoulder. But then when she turned sharp to the left, she clashed roughly on a hard chest and stumbled backwards, tripping over her own feet.

A hand shot out that steadied her on her feet, “Whoa there, be careful.”

He let go of her as soon as she was standing straight, she looked up and she stepped backwards instinctively, gasping, “Malfoy…?”

“It’s Malraux actually,” he corrected her softly, scratching the back of his head.

“I—I…”

“It’s fine,” he said dropping his hand from his head and waved it in front of her as if stopping her from completing her sentence. She closed her mouth and took the time to look at him. Hermione already forgot about him because she hadn’t seen him since the operation. He did look so much like Malfoy, hair, eyes and the sharp features of his face but he was a little filled out compared to the Malfoy she had seen before.

“Uhm, here…” he spoke, taking her out of her thoughts. She blinked up at him and he gave her a lopsided smile and the movement of his hand made her look down. He was holding a handkerchief to her.

“I cannot take that.”

“It’s alright.”

She shook her head, “I—I am f…”

“It’s okay not to be fine, you know,” he said taking her hand and putting the handkerchief. He gave her a small smile, “If you need someone else to talk to you can talk to the attending nurse, Dr. Boris or… yeah, me. Only if you want to. Sometimes, talking to someone helped. A lot.”

She nodded, gripping the handkerchief tight, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Hermione did keep it in mind and now, she’s here sitting in a vacant waiting area with Dr. Malraux who already abandon the crisps he bought from the vending machine. He let her talk about how she felt whenever she walked into her father’s room. He just sat there, listening. And she did not know why or what made her confide to him so easily—why she trusted him. But she did.

“…. I feel bad. I-I should be there but I cannot bring myself to walk further inside without…”

“It’s not your fault. It’s difficult to see someone you love suffering and you felt helpless,” he cut her off gently.

She nodded her head, agreeing to him, “But I have to try…”

“Yes, but take your time. Do what you have to do but you have to take your time. Little steps. If you have to stay by the door way then be it until you can manage to stay inside.”

Hermione opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by a shout.

“Dominique!” Dr. Boris called and both Hermione and Dominique whipped their heads in his direction.

“Good day, Miss Granger,” he greeted with a nod as soon as he reached them, then he turned to Dominique.

“If we’re not going now, we will not be able to make it to the café and get those lemon raspberry tartlets that you are so in love with.”

Dominique abruptly stood up and turned to her, “Uh, Miss Granger we have to go.”

Excitement was evident in his eyes and Hermione found herself smiling at him as she nodded, “Sure go ahead.”

“I’ll see you around,” he said and tugged Boris with him.

“Ah, Dr. Malraux, your crisps!” Hermione called for him, picking up the crisps on the chair next to the one he sat earlier.

“It’s yours!” he exclaimed without looking back but Boris looked back and shook his head with a smile.

Watching him walk away, she recalled their conversation. He was very attentive and understanding. His emotions were open for her to read. Malfoy was never like that though they never talked like that, they cannot even last a minute speaking without insulting each other. Is it possible that this was a different person and not Malfoy—he was really Dominique Malraux?

__________

"Why can’t they grant our request to visit Malfoy?” Ron grumbled as soon as they were out of Robards’ office.

“You heard him, we have no probable cause,” Harry said scratching the back of his head.

“Him playing doctor as Dominique Malraux is enough reason to make it a probable cause,” Ron retorted and Harry nodded. He understood his friend’s sentiment but legally they cannot investigate Malfoy. Legally.

“I’ll see if there’s something we can do about this,” Harry mumbled as they headed back to their office but to their surprise, they saw the person they needed to talk to.

“Oi, Malfoy!” Ron called for him and he stopped in the middle of the hallway.

“Weasley,” he drawled and gave him a terse nod and when he noticed the black-haired man with his usual eyeglasses standing just a few steps behind him, he acknowledged him, “Potter.”

“What are you doing here?” Ron asked, stopping right in front of him and standing tall to meet him eye to eye. Malfoy looked bored as he looked back at Ron.

“If you really must know, Weasley, I am here to get clearance for the artefacts that I am about to import. Is that sufficient enough?”

“Was it from muggle London?” Ron asked, tilting his head on the side. Getting full Auror mode.

Malfoy sighed dramatically as he removed a non-existent lint from his robe and drawled, “No. They are not. They are from Scandinavia.”

“Really, where were you—”

“Weasley, I am not here for you to interrogate me. I am trying to be patient with your questions. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go ahead and do my business here which doesn’t involve you interrogating me,” he said before stepping aside to walk past Ron. Almost bumping his shoulder.

Ron grunted but Harry put his hand on his friend’s shoulder, gripping it tight, to stop him from following Malfoy.

“Ron,” he called his friend and when he turned around, Harry shook his head.

He continued, “Let’s go back to the office. We’ll think about this later.”

Ron reluctantly nodded and they headed back to their office but not without Harry checking the time on his wristwatch.

The work day dragged on and when it was time for their lunch they decided to meet up with Ginny in a café near the Ministry. Ginny was already sitting at one of the tables at the back when they entered the café.

“Hey,” Ron greeted Ginny as he slid on the seat in front of her.

“Hey,” she mumbled in reply.

“Hello, love,” Harry said, leaning in to press a kiss on her temple and she smiled widely. And Ron just watched them with an impassive look, over time he already got used to seeing the two being sweet with each other.

“Hello to you too,” she replied and Harry sat beside her.

“Did you already order anything?” Ron asked, interrupting the couple.

“No, not yet…” Ginny said then paused that made both men looked at her, waiting.

“What?” Ron asked impatiently.

“Have you got the approval to interrogate Malfoy?”

“No, we haven’t,” Ron muttered and his jaw clenched.

“But we saw Malfoy today,” Harry interjected and Ginny looked at him curiously.

“I saw Dr. Malraux today too…” Ginny said and that got Ron’s attention.

“What time?” Harry asked and Ginny’s brows furrowed as she recalled the time.

“Around…10:30.”

“10:30…” Harry mused and Ron looked at him, waiting. “We saw Malfoy around that time too.”

“Shite,” Ginny mumbled to herself, “Maybe they are really two different people?”

“That’s bullshite,” Ron grumbled, immediately dismissing the conclusion.

“Maybe, let’s not conclude first,” Harry said and they both agreed.

“How was Hermione, by the way?” Harry asked Ginny and she sighed.

“She’s not fine at all, her mum was already recovering but… her dad is still unconscious…”

“We have to visit her tomorrow,” Harry said and Ron nodded.

“But can we eat now? I am famished,” Ron said, already looking for a server. Harry and Ginny shared a look then just shrug.

While waiting for their food, Ron and Ginny went on talking about Quidditch but Harry cannot bring himself to join their conversation. He was thinking. If Malfoy was able to show up in the Ministry at the same time Ginny saw Dr. Malraux. Did he have an accomplice? Even he had, Polyjuice potion doesn’t work within the Ministry due to the wards. He cannot accept it as a fact that the two men were different.

__________

In the course of three months, Ron and Harry would pop in the hospital at random times to catch a certain blond guy aside from visiting their friend. And each attempt they find him in different situations. Malraux with a half-opened snicker bar in between his teeth while holding two cups of hot tea. Malraux drinking juice from a small tetra pack, unconsciously biting the straw while reading. Malraux eating lemon raspberry tartlets takeaway with Dr. Boris in the cafeteria. Malraux doing rounds. walking around with a mobile on his ear, talking (even Ron cannot believe his eyes). Malraux story-telling with Hermione in the paediatric ward for cancer patients. Malraux even gave Hermione a gift for her birthday (what was it, they don’t know. Will they ask Hermione and risk that she’d know that they spied at Malraux and saw the exchange? No. Almost but no.) And while these happened, one of them would find Malfoy in Diagon Alley, Leaky Cauldron or the Ministry at the same time.

“This is driving me insane. It cannot be different people!” Ron grumbled but Hermione just sighed.

“People can have doppelgangers, you know,” Hermione mumbled nonchalantly. She was getting tired of listening to her friends complain about Malfoy and Malraux or Malfoy/Malraux. It’s not her priority right now, she needs to rearrange her schedule to visit her father and she knew for sure she had a lot of work to catch up on when she got back to work. Besides, if Malfoy was playing as a muggle doctor, she did not care as long as he didn’t cause any harm. And in the duration that she’d been in the hospital with her parents, he didn’t.

“Doppel—what?”

“Doppelgangers, people who looked alike—twins from different parents. Maybe who we are seeing was Malfoy’s doppelganger,” Hermione explained as she folded her mother’s clothes and packing them.

“I don’t know, Mione but I don’t think he’s just a doppelganger,” Harry said, scratching the back of his head.

“If this Malfoy was really Dr. Malraux, the man already apologized to you lot, he was given the appropriate punishment for his actions and it had been ten years. If he chose to live as a different person in our world, don’t you think he deserved at least that kind of choice?” Hermione’s mother cut in as she stepped out of the loo, now wearing a knitted brown jumper, jeans and a pair of black flats. Almost all her wounds were already healed, most of her bruises had faded but her right upper arm was still bandaged. She placed her folded hospital gown on the bed.

“We just find it… odd,” Harry said.

“He was never a fan of the muggle world,” Ron spat, crossing his arms over his chest.

“People are capable of change, dear,” she said gently.

“Maybe but—” Ron’s sentence was cut off with a knock then the door opened and a small boy with thinning black hair and big light green eyes peered in.

“Miss Her-may-ni?” he mumbled, walking in the room dragging his dextrose stand with him.

“Oh. Hi, Cory…” Hermione greeted, meeting the boy halfway and squatting down to his height, “Are you alone?”

He nodded then looked straight into her eyes, “You’re leaving?”

Hermione felt a lump lodge in her throat so she just nodded.

“Oh, no more story time with you?” he asked, pouting and that broke Hermione’s heart. Dr. Malraux once introduced her to the kids and watched him tell them stories and since then she spent her free time story-telling with the kids and they became close to her, especially Cory.

Hermione cleared her throat, “I-I…”

She was not able to continue her sentence because there was another knock on the door and because she did not know what she can say to him. After this, she wouldn’t be able to stay in the hospital longer than the visiting hours.

The door opened and a certain blond man poked his head in, Harry and Ron became alert instinctively but if the blond noticed it, he did not show it.

“Hey, sorry, did you see….,” he stopped when he saw the boy who ignored the knock on the door earlier. “Can I come in?”

“Sure, dear,” Hermione’s mum replied and he walked further in, closing the door behind him carefully.

“Cory?” he called and the kid turned to him, his eyes watery now.

He kneeled in front of him, “Hey, Cory, you’re here to say goodbye?”

“Not really… but maybe now,” he said quietly, his voice quivering. Dominique nodded.

“Alright. Say goodbye now and I’ll bring you back to your room,” Dominique said, rubbing the kid’s left arm. Cory then turned back around to Hermione and he let go of his arm.

“Bye-bye Miss Her-may-ni,” he said and Hermione smiled at him.

“Goodbye too, Cory. I will visit you if I have time, would that be fine?”

“Yes!” he replied with a smile and a sniffle. He closed the distance between the two of them and encircled her small arms around her neck and gently she wrapped her arms around his small body.

“I will miss you,” he whispered.

“I’ll miss you too,” Hermione replied, her eyes stung. Then Cory let go and looked back at Dominique.

“You ready to go?” he asked him and Cory nodded. Hermione let him go then.

“I am tired though,” he said and Dominique stood up then walked to Cory. He bent down and picked him up with one arm then took the dextrose stand with the other hand. Cory instinctively rested his head on the crook of Dominique’s neck. Hermione then stood up, watching them.

He looked straight to Hermione and mouthed a thank you. She nodded in response before he left the room.

“It will be difficult to believe that he is Malfoy,” Hermione said to no one in particular and went back to finish packing her mum’s things.

Before Hermione and her mum left the hospital, they visited her dad. It took two weeks for her to be able to walk further into her dad’s room and even stay beside him. All those times, Dr. Malraux was there if she needed to talk about her attempts each day. Now, she was saying goodbye and promised to visit him as often as possible.

As they exit the hospital, Harry caught Dr. Boris asking Dominique if he’s heading home already and the blond doctor told him that his shift would end by ten in the evening. By then, Harry already formulated a plan.

__________

Hermione was back at work and barely took any breaks to catch up with her workload that she was not able to work during the time she was in muggle London. When the clock struck five in the afternoon, her secretary had to knock on her door so she’d stop working for the day. She started fixing her things and prepared to visit her father before she went home. She made her way to the back of the Leaky Cauldron and as soon as she walked in the Leaky Cauldron, she saw a certain blond sitting with Blaise Zabini and Theo Nott. It was the first time that she saw the trio in Leaky since they rarely went out of public since they finished their eighth year.

“Hermione?” a melodic voice reached her ears and she turned around to be greeted by a smiling Luna Lovegood.

“Luna, hi.”

“Hello, do you want to join us?” she asked and Hermione tried to discreetly look around but she did not recognize any other mutual friends they had.

“I- I cannot, I am visiting my dad.”

“Oh, yes. Of course, next time then. I hope your father will recover very soon.”

“Thanks, Luna.”

“Here,” Luna took her hand and put something on the palm of her hand, “To keep the Nargles away.”

Luna let go of her hand and Hermione saw a butterbeer cork bracelet, “Oh, thanks.”

“You’re welcome! Take care, Hermione.”

“You too,” she replied looking up at the smiling blonde.

Hermione watched Luna walk away from her and her brows furrowed as she realized that Luna was heading to the table Nott, Zabini and Malfoy. She slid on the seat next to Nott who gave her a peck on the top of her head while she waved and greeted Malfoy and Zabini. Zabini smiling at the Ravenclaw was not much of a surprise but Malfoy actually smiling at her and was civil with Luna was the surprise. She filed that information for later and headed out of the Leaky Cauldron.

Once she was out to muggle London, Hermione took a taxi to the hospital. And once she arrived in the hospital, there was quite a commotion and she watched the doctors rushed to the emergency room. She was already near the ICU when she noticed Dr. Malraux running from the other hall zipping past her and in a second, she was able to see his face. His lips were set in a grim line, furrowed brows and focused eyebrows—just like Malfoy.

However, Malfoy was in Leaky Cauldron right this time. If there’s a possibility that they are the same person, how did he make it look like that he was in two different places at the same time? Polyjuice? But it won’t survive the wards in the Ministry. She needed to look into this now.

__________

“This cloak is too small for us already,” Ron complained when Harry accidentally elbowed him.

“No, you just cannot stop moving!” Harry whisper-shout back at him.

They were currently in the hospital watching a certain Dr. Malraux. When Harry shared with Ron what he had in mind, he did not hesitate and agreed to all of it. So, here they were, following the man until he’d finally go home.

“Luna told me earlier that she’s meeting with Nott, Zabini and Malfoy so this is—what—the tenth time that we knew Malfoy was out and about in the Wizarding world while this Malraux is here,” Harry relayed to his friend.

“Well, I still cannot believe that he’s not Malfoy. For all we know, he’s using dark magic to do this.”

“I don’t sense dark magic.”

“There must be something!” Ron grumbled a bit loud and Harry had to swat his shoulder before shushing him.

They’ve witnessed the determined face of Malraux and that cemented Ron’s belief that he was Malfoy—like it was not established yet that they both looked alike—or just one person. When Malraux finished attending the patients brought in the emergency room, he went straight to the nearest vending machine. He inserted a note then pressed the button for his favourite crisps—but then it got stuck and his face fell into a pout. Then out of nowhere (they were just not paying much attention to anything else), Hermione stepped to his side.

“What happened?”

Malraux looked up then returned his gaze to the machine before pointing at his stuck snack, “It’s stuck and I don’t want to kick it like what Noah does.”

“Noah?”

“Dr. Boris…” he replied with a smile.

“Oh yes. Well, we can ask someone from the maintenance to open it…”

“Or maybe I can reach for it,” he cut in and he dropped on his knees. The side of his face and the palm of his right hand were flat on the machine while he leaned sideways, his left hand reaching inside of the machine.

“We could really call the maintenance.”

“N-no, they are working… I don’t want to disturb them just for this…” he said reaching further in, the tips of his finger grazing the edge of the snack.

Harry and Ron quietly watched the interaction, waiting for any sign of magic that he’d cast so the snack would fall.

“Oh, for Merlin’s sake, use magic!” Ron said through gritted teeth while Harry ignored him and just kept watching, he wanted to see if this man would endure not using magic.

Hermione was watching him with an amused look on her face, she covered her mouth as she smiled broadly behind it. When he finally reached the snack and pulled it out of the machine, he got out of balance and fell flat on the floor. He grunted and his free hand automatically found its way on the back of his head. Hermione gasped and kneeled.

“Are you okay?”

“I…am fine…. I am not getting snacks here again.”

“You always say that,” Hermione commented and he chuckled.

“Dominique, what on earth are you doing on the floor?” a different female voice echoed and they all snapped their head in the direction of the voice (Ron and Harry included).

“Good evening, mum,” Dominique said, lifting himself while Hermione stood up.

“Good evening,” she said and tilted her head to the side so she’ll be able to look at Hermione.

“Oh, this is Miss Hermione Granger,” he stepped aside, gesturing at her as he introduced her.

“Hello, Miss Granger, I am Mrs. Adélie Malraux,” she said extending her hand and Hermione took it. Mrs. Malraux shook her hand delicately. She has long brown hair, light brown skin, a slender body and delicate fingers.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Malraux.”

“Please, call me Adie and it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Oh sure, please call me Hermione then,” she replied and they let go of each other’s hands then Adie turned to Dominique with an arched brow.

“I was on the floor because I fell on my back after getting this,” he explained, waving the pack of crisps.

She sighed with a single shake of her head, “Fine. Anyway, I am here to tell you that we had to move our dinner since your father was stuck in Japan. He won’t be here until tomorrow.”

“What happened?”

“Business happened, they wanted to talk more.”

“Oh. Alright, but you could have just messaged me or call me.”

“Well, I was already out shopping with the twins when he called,” she explained and Dominique nodded in understanding. Hermione cannot help herself from observing the two much like what her two friends were doing.

“The twins? Where are they now?”

“Knocked out. Trisha is with them in the car.”

“Oh, I’ll visit this weekend if I can. I miss my brother and sister,” he said and Adie nodded.

Brother and sister? As far as they knew Malfoy was an only child, they filed that information away for later.

“Anyhow, I’ll go now. Take care, dear,” she said with a smile and Dominique kissed her cheek.

“And Hermione, it would be nice to have dinner with you anytime soon,” she said with a glint in her eyes. Hermione cannot pinpoint what it was really when Malraux put his hands on Adie’s shoulders and turned her gently.

“Alright, Mum. Too much, go home. Bye, take care.”

She just chuckled and waved goodbye to her son and Hermione before walking away.

“I am sorry about that,” he said, turning to Hermione and she noticed the pink blush on his cheeks.

“Oh, it’s fine…. I guess,” she said with a small smile while he partly bit his lip and nodded.

“I-I…”

He was cut off with the tannoy calling his attention, he sighed and took her hand and placed the snack on her hand, “Here.”

She looked at him, confused. The tannoy repeated their call for him and he shrugged at her, “I cannot eat it now. Enjoy though.”

He smiled before he turned and sprinted through the hall almost bumping Ron and Harry. Hermione’s mouth opened and closed, she cannot think of anything to say. Then, she scoffed to herself and her lips tugged up in a smile.

Ron was momentarily planted in his place as he watched Hermione smile before Harry yanked him into motion and they followed the man again.

They were hungry and tired, following Dr. Malraux around until his end of shift, which they did not expect to be midnight. He was more exhausted than both of them combined. They watched him move from one operating room to another then to the emergency room again like the man never stopped moving and if he did, he just drank water. They hadn’t seen him eat anything yet.

Harry and Ron managed to get inside his car when Dr. Boris came and chatted with Dr. Malraux. While driving they observed everything inside if there were any signs of magical items or if his appearance would change but they had arrived at his residence without any of those. They noticed that he lived in a townhouse within a subdivision but there was not feeling of any wards within the area of the house. Right after he parked the car, they subtly moved out of the car while Dr. Malraux walked towards the door. They hastily followed him in his house.

Instead of the dark, foreboding and cold place that they had expected, they were welcomed with a warm, well-lit and homy feeling when Dr. Malraux flipped the switch to the lights. He prepared his late dinner just like a muggle should, he ate dinner in his living room with a television on—and seemed to know how to use muggle contraptions. Right after he ate, he washed his dishes just like Hermione and Harry did—the muggle way. They were about to follow him again and when he started to strip his scrubs, Harry told Ron that Malfoy had scars from the Sectumsempra that he cast to him back in the sixth year but when he entered the shower before he pulled off his undershirt. They looked at each other and shook their heads then apparated out of the house easily.

__________

Hermione found herself talking with Dominique every time she visited her father in the ICU. He was recovering, there were few minimal movements of his fingers that Dominique and Dr. Boris assured her were good signs that he’ll wake up soon.

Then, one day, Dr. Boris decided to not join Dominique in the café they frequented, instead, he insisted that Hermione can take his place before practically sprinting away from the two of them. He left them standing awkwardly side by side.

“Twat,” Dominique whispered, glaring at the back of his friend. However, Hermione heard him and she watched how he glared at the man. It reminded her of Malfoy. What if he was really Malfoy? What if not? What is it for her?

He sighed, scratching his temple and put his hand down before turning to her and she composed herself quickly, not wanting to be caught watching, “If you’re not comfortable, you don’t have to go with me.”

“It’s fine, I am quite intrigued with this café since I saw you so excited about their lemon raspberry tartlets.”

“I just hope they still have some, they sold out pretty fast.”

“I hope so.”

“Let’s go then,” he said and she nodded, they walked side by side as they exit the hospital. He shrugged off his white coat and slung it over his left arm. Hermione enjoyed the air and the noise of the bustling street that contrasted from the hospitals surrounding.

Their walk towards the café was quiet but not awkward—it felt strangely comfortable for Hermione. Dominque stopped in a quaint café that was decorated with different potted flowers and when she looked up, she saw the name of the café, Busy Bean Café. There were only a few people inside and then Dominique smiled.

“They still have the tartlets,” he said then he opened the door for her and she smiled as she walked in before him.

“Good evening, Dr. Malraux!” a young man greeted with a wide smile as soon as Dominque walked in.

“Good evening, Jay. You know why I am here but please double it, I have company,” he said and that was the time Jay noticed Hermione and if it is physically possible his smile widened further.

“Sure, Dr. Malraux, black coffee for you and for the lady?”

“A flat white, please.”

“Sure! We’ll serve it to your table but here are your tartlets,” he said bending down to get tartlets on two small plates.

Hermione was already pulling out her wallet to pay for her order when Dominique beat her to it.

“Oh, I can pay for my order…”

“My treat, Miss Granger. Let’s say a thank you for accompanying me.”

“Here are your tartlets, Dr. Malraux,” Jay said handing Dominique plates of tartlets.

“Thanks, Jay,” he replied, taking the two plates.

He led them to the table at the back near the windows. Dominique set the plates on the table and pulled the chair for her. She thanked him before sitting and he sat across her. She looked down at the lemon raspberry tartlets in front of her and she cannot help but admire how it looks, the top of the tartlets was covered with delectable raspberries. She took one in her hand and split it into two, the crust crumbled a little then she set down the other half and took a bite of the other half. She moaned quietly as the clash of sweetness and sour taste hit her mouth.

“It’s good, isn’t it?” Dominique asked and she looked up at him.

He was smiling genuinely and she nodded, unable to speak yet. He started to eat his share of the tartlets and she watched as he smiled fondly as he chewed. If he was Malfoy, this would be an extraordinary scene before her. He was smiling genuinely and she had never seen him smile that way since the end of the war.

“Your drinks,” Jay came to their table and served their drink, halting their current discussion about how his brother and sister made a ruckus during one of their family trips.

“Thanks, Jay,” he said and Jay smiled at him then nodded before leaving.

“So where were we?”

“You were telling me about the prank Cyrille and Corinne did,” she reminded him and he smiled again.

“Ah yes, they hid in the attic and no one knew how they were able to get up there. We looked for them for nearly twenty-four hours! My dad was getting annoyed while my mum was getting exhausted and worried sick!”

“And, how did you find them?” she asked and she saw him double-take, his eyes widened then he averted his eyes from her then shook his head before looking back at her then smiled at her again as nothing happened.

“I brought out their favourite dessert and it turned out that they ran out of food so when I went around shouting about their favourite, they decided to go out,” he said and took a long sip of his coffee.

Hermione smiled at him pretending that she did not notice how he acted earlier. There must be something, an almost slip up?

“What was their favourite dessert?”

“Oh, chocolate mousse brownies,” he said and Hermione’s inner dentist cringed.

He laughed, it seemed that she physically cringed, “Don’t worry, mum made sure their intake of that dessert won’t rot their teeth.”

“Thank goodness for that,” she said. Dominique chuckled and she cannot help but chuckle too.

They stayed for a while in the café until they finished their drinks. Dominique stayed with her as she waited for a taxi and at that time, she learned that he might go home not later than midnight again since he had to take care of two more operations. When they were able to flag down a taxi, Dominique opened the car door for her in instinct and Hermione thanked him as she slid in the taxi.

“Take care, Miss Granger.”

“You too,” she said and he smiled before closing the door. The taxi drove off and Hermione was unaware of how the man stood on the spot and watched the taxi leave until it was engulfed in the traffic before he walked back to the hospital.

__________

Hermione was busily re-arranging her files and signing necessary papers when a knock disturbed her. She looked up and a smiling Luna walked in, looking around. She was wearing a cotton blue shirt under a knitted bubble gum coloured cardigan paired with a floral knee-length accordion style skirt, thick rainbow-coloured tights and green peep-toe heeled shoes. But of course, she did not miss her radish earrings and her dark green and blue beaded bracelet.

“Hello, Luna,” she said and Luna’s blue eyes found her then.

“Hi, Hermione. Are you free for lunch?” she asked with a smile and she looked down at her paperwork. Maybe she did need a break.

She looked back up at Luna, “I guess, I need an early lunch.”

Luna clapped and turned halfway, “She agreed!”

Hermione’s brows furrowed in confusion as she waited for whoever was outside her office to pop in.

A man with dark brown tousled hair and light green eyes walked in smiling and wearing a knitted bubble gum coloured jumper that paired Luna’s cardigan with black jeans and dragonhide boots but what caught her attention aside from their matching tops was the bracelet he was wearing—a dark green and blue beaded bracelet.

“Hi, Granger. Thanks for accepting our invitation for lunch.”

“Our invitation?”

“Well, Luna and I is a pair so if she asked you that means it’s Luna and I asked you,” he said with a grin as he put his arm around Luna’s middle from behind.

“I-I…”

“Nope, you’re not backing down now, Granger. You already agreed besides Blaise and a certain impatient friend of ours are also waiting…”

Hermione’s eyes widened when she realized that the certain impatient friend of theirs could mean Malfoy. She cannot think of a way to get out of this now.

“C’mon Granger, don’t think about it too much. We’ll make sure he will not harm you, let’s go now,” Nott urged.

“If something happens to me Nott, I swear to Merlin, I’ll kill you,” she grumbled as she arranged her papers with a quick flick of her wand but the pair just looked at each other before smiling at her.

The pair led her to a newly opened restaurant in Diagon Alley named The Italian Pantry. When they walked in, Hermione felt that she was underdressed with her Ministry robes but looking at Luna, she looked unbothered by how elegant the restaurant looks and then she remembered Theo was matching her as well. The restaurant had warm tones of brown and cream, decorated with expressive paintings and accentuated with indoor plants. The maître d' was an elderly man who smiled warmly at them.

“We’re here for a reservation. Theodore Nott,” he said and the man nodded.

“Two of your company are already inside sir, let me call your server to lead you to your room,” he said and tapped the small call bell.

Instantly, a woman with pony-tailed hair appeared in front of them smiling and wearing a white button-down shirt and black trousers paired with black flats. She led them through a hall of many doors, Hermione cannot help but watch her surroundings once more, anxious if people were looking but it seemed that everyone was minding their own business, no one even arched a brow at how the pair in front of her was dressed.

The woman stopped on the second to the last door on the right and knocked before opening the door. Luna and Theo walked in first.

“You two are late!” A woman exclaimed and despite not seeing this woman for so long, she recognised her so well. Pansy Parkinson.

“Sorry, we fetched someone from the Ministry,” Nott said as he guided Luna to their table and when they saw Hermione, Parkinson gasped.

“Granger, so kind of you to grace us of your presence,” Zabini said, standing up.

“Let’s say I was tricked into saying yes,” Hermione said and after Theo pulled a chair for Luna and let her sit, he pulled a chair for her too. She mumbled a thank you before sitting then Zabini sat back down (a pureblood etiquette for sure). Parkinson and Zabini sat together while Hermione sat on Luna’s left while Nott sat on Luna’s right. Then, there was a vacant seat right in front of her and she just knew who would be sitting there. Strangely, she felt anxious knowing so.

“It’s hardly like that, Hermione,” Luna said smilingly.

“Well, you invited me for lunch and I thought it was just you and me.”

“You did not ask, though,” Luna replied with a shrug and the rest of the group chuckled. Hermione’s face reddened then and she picked up the menu to cover her face.

“Ah, you are a fine Ravenclaw with a streak of Slytherin,” Parkinson said, flipping her, now longer, hair over her shoulder.

“That’s partly my doing,” Nott said smugly.

“Yes, love, it is,” Luna commented and Nott grinned as he looked down at Luna who was already reading the menu.

“Where’s Draco? He’s late,” Parkinson said as she looked down at her wristwatch.

“He’s been busy since you know, he might show up later than usual or just send you a message,” Luna said as she perused the menu. You know? What was Luna talking about? Does she know something that they did not know?

“Right, like he usually does,” Zabini said with a knowing look then turned to Hermione, “Granger, pray tell, why are Potter and Weasley keep close eyes on Draco?”

“I am not sure why Zabini. Is there something to worry about?” she asked and Zabini smiled.

“Nothing really but it irritates me because I see either Potter or Weasley every time Draco and I were out drinking. Draco may have grown patience and tolerance but not me.”

“Zabini…” Luna called his attention with a warning tone and to Hermione’s surprise, Zabini looked at Luna then sat back with a smirk.

“If Potter and Weasley have issues with Draco, they don’t need to spy around him, they just need to ask,” Nott said and Hermione caught his meaningful gaze then he smiled.

Hermione was about to speak when a knock interrupted her, the woman earlier opened the door and there, in his all-back attire, was Draco Malfoy. His eyes landed on Hermione and he stood frozen for a heartbeat before he managed to school his composure. His eyes were cold and face expressionless. He cannot be Malraux, can he? Hermione then realized that he did not expect her to be here—it was all his friends’ plan, Luna included.

“Hello, Draco. Come, we’re about to order,” Luna said with a friendly smile.

“Hi, Lulu. You could’ve just ordered while waiting,” he said with a smile at Luna, as he made his way to the vacant seat beside Parkinson. Lulu, when did he start calling Luna that? How long has Luna been hanging out with these Slytherins again?

“Nah, Luna and I were late and I don’t know why these two,” Nott said pointing at Parkinson and Zabini, “haven’t ordered anything yet.”

“Granger,” he drawled with a curt nod before he sat on the chair next to Parkinson. He looked at her with his stoic expression.

“Malfoy,” she replied then he picked up the menu and avoided her eyes.

“We would like to order when you lot are already here. I believe that is what we call social etiquette,” Zabini retorted and Nott just snorted. Parkinson then turned to Malfoy.

“How’s work?”

“Busy, Pansy. Why’d you ask?”

“Because you’re late…”

“I believed that I have established before that most of the time I will be late,” Draco said lifting his narrowed eyes at Parkinson.

“Alright, let’s call our server,” Nott interrupted and he snapped his fingers.

The woman appeared again and they gave their orders to her. When she left, Zabini and Nott started talking about their Apothecary business expansion that occasionally Malfoy comments with while Luna and Parkinson spoke about Luna’s discovery of new creatures while Parkinson tried to insert fashion ideas for her new line. They even tried to include Hermione who got stuck with one-word replies while she subtly watched Malfoy. He looked uneasy and strangely looking down his lap under the table once in a while.

Then, he finally caught her gaze and he gave her a bored look, “Stop looking, Granger. I know I look good but stop.”

Hermione’s eyes widened but quickly her brows furrowed, “I-I wasn’t looking!” she spluttered, feeling the heat crept from her neck up to her jaw.

“You are and you know it so stop,” he drawled.

“Don’t be full of yourself, it’s not always about you.”

“Sure, whatever you believe but really, you don’t have to deny anything.”

“I was not looking!”

He nodded, “Fine.”

Hermione caught Zabini listening and she avoided looking at him, instead tried to join more in Luna’s conversation with Parkinson.

The conversation mellowed down when the food was served however, as much as she wanted to stop, her curiosity got the better of her and as subtle as she can manage, she watched Malfoy looked down now and then through her peripheral. Hermione’s curiosity was beginning to get worse. She waited until their lunch was over, she can just come up with an excuse if anyone would ask why she was late coming back from her lunch. She needed to know what was he anxious about because something’s telling her that it answers the niggling question in her mind that she had pushed back long ago.

“See you this Friday?” Zabini asked Malfoy but Malfoy shook his head.

“We need to move it on Saturday.”

“That’s better, I can join you!” Nott chimed in.

“Luna, we should extend our girls’ night out to Saturday then,” Parkinson said then looked at Hermione, “You should join us, Granger.”

“Oh, I’ll think about it.”

“It will be fun Hermione; you can bring Ginny.”

“I am not sure about that Lulu,” Parkinson butted in but Luna smiled at her.

“You’ll be fine, Pansy,” Luna reassured, “I am sure Ginny and you will get along. Not immediately but eventually.”

“Alright, Friday to Saturday then, in my flat.”

“Wait, what are you saying extending girls’ night out?! You cannot get Luna away from me for an extended time!” Nott cut in and Parkinson looked turned to him with a raised perfectly shaped brow and her arms crossed over her chest.

“I can, Theo. Besides, you’re going with Draco and Blaise on Saturday so it means she’s free on Saturday too.”

“B-But… No, just no!”

“Hermione?” Luna called her and she turned away from the arguing Parkinson and Nott.

“Yes?”

“You’re attracting too many Nargles,” she said waving her hand around Hermione’s head.

“Oh, uhm. I…”

“If you have the answer to your question, what will you do then, Hermione?” she cut in and Hermione’s mouth hung open for a moment.

Luna closed her mouth gently and smiled, “I see, you haven’t figured it out yet. That’s fine. You will, soon.”

“Luna, what….”

Luna turned, sensing that Parkinson pulled out her wand and Nott too, leaving Hermione with her question unasked.

“Love, one day won’t hurt, don’t you think? If you’ll keep that temper, you’ll attract Wrackspurt…” she said, placing a hand on Nott’s forearm and his irritation slowly deflated.

“Fine. If you say so, Love…” Nott conceded, smiling at Luna then glared at Parkinson who was grinning.

“We should take Hermione back to the Ministry,” Luna said.

“Right. Let’s go, Granger,” Nott agreed and Hermione nodded but as she snuck a look where Malfoy was, she saw Malfoy walking away and pocketed something that quite looked familiar to her.

“Where’s Draco going, Blaise?” Parkinson asked, seeing that the blond was now walking away without saying goodbyes.

“Emergency. You’re all busy that he did not want to interrupt,” Zabini said with a shrug.

“Of course, he did that,” Parkinson said with a fleeting look at Hermione that quite confused her.

“Let’s go now, Hermione. You’ll be late,” Luna said.

“Uh, no…uhm, I need to drop by Flourish and Blotts… I reserved a book for pick up,” she lied, wishing that Malfoy haven’t apparated yet.

“She’ll be fine being late from lunch, she may have finished her work already,” Zabini commented. Nott and Luna looked at her expectantly.

“Y-yes, I am almost done for the day when you came in…” she said with a smile.

“Alright, if you say so. We’ll go ahead, Granger,” Nott said and Hermione nodded.

“Bye, Granger,” Parkinson said looping her arms with Zabini’s.

“See you around… soon,” he said with a wink and they walked away opposite to where Malfoy went.

As soon as they turned to the alley, she turned around and followed the path where Malfoy went. She almost sprinted. When she reached the point where Malfoy should have turned to apparate, no one was there. She put her hand on the wall and bent down, catching for her breath.

Shit. He’s already gone.

“So, you are also keeping an eye on me. What does the Golden Trio need from me?” a drawl came from in front of her. She lifted her gaze and saw Malfoy standing there, with arms crossed over his chest. He was not there earlier—of course, disillusionment charm.

She straightened up, jutted her chin and said, “I wasn’t watching you. I won’t deny about Harry and Ron, though.”

“If you’re not watching me then, why are you here?”

“What are you hiding, Malfoy?” she countered, completely ignoring his question.

“I am not hiding anything and if I am hiding anything, don’t you think the Ministry will allow me to walk around?”

Her eyes squinted at him and she internally growled, “Don’t play games with me Malfoy.”

“I am not. Now, if you don’t have anything else for me. I’ll go ahead,” he said dismissively.

Without thinking, Hermione ran to him and latched on his robes before he can disapparate. They re-appeared in a small room and it seemed to be all white but Hermione cannot discern anything. Her head was spinning and she collapsed forward, a pair of hands held her up and she heard a string of profanities but her nose was filled with a familiar expensive cologne. She felt two strong arms across her upper back and at the back of her knees then after floating for a few moments, she felt a cushion beneath her. She now felt her lunch rising and she leaned sideways to throw up.

“Damn it, Granger. You’re supposed to be smart but you do stupid things,” Malfoy mumbled but Hermione just grunted. Her head felt like splitting into two. She heard drawers closing and opening then bottles clinking with each other. Then, she heard footsteps rapidly approaching then a hand supported her head as he lifted her head.

“Drink this,” he said as he tipped a bottle or a vial into her mouth. It was quite bitter but it easily warmed up her body and her headache gradually ease up, her nausea vanishing and her energy returning. It was a potion. Then, she felt something soft, wiping across her mouth and chin before he let her head rest back down.

She carefully sat up and found a glaring Malfoy standing in front of her.

“What were you thinking?!” he asked then he put a hand up and shook his head, “No, you were not thinking at all! You could’ve splinched yourself, Granger!”

“I-I…”

“Don’t explain yourself. Apparate to the Ministry once you can. I have to work,” he said, turning around and closing the curtains around her.

Hermione was about to just leave him when she recognized her surroundings. Sterile white room, overwhelming disinfectant scent and the medically compatible bed. She’s in the hospital. She swung the curtain open and instead of seeing an all-black clothed Malfoy, she saw his naked back flexing as he wore his grey long sleeve undershirt. And she cannot help but notice how his scrub trousers hung dangerously low. His dragonhide boots were now slip-on trainers. Her mouth went dry for a second.

“Can you stop watching? It’s getting creepier. If you’re feeling fine, why don’t you go back to your Ministry work?” he said as he tucked in his undershirt, without turning around.

She snapped and walked around him, standing in front of him with her hands on her hips and subtly, she noticed him pull and tie the strings in his scrub trousers, “First things first, answer me, you said that you are not hiding anything then why are you hiding here in muggle London as Dr. Dominique Malraux? Second, how did you make it possible to look like you are in Muggle London while in Wizarding London at the same time?”

“Can you tone it down, Granger? Stop using the word muggle and wizarding,” he said, his voice low as his eyes fleet to the door and her.

“Why?”

“Why? And you’re supposed to be smart?” he spat and groaning in frustration then continued in a low tone through gritted teeth, “Because except for apparating, I don’t use magic here thus this room is not silenced. You’re just lucky most of the time people here are busy to notice.”

He put on his scrub shirt, messing with his hair that he had no right to look good with but Hermione, mentally shook her head. She cannot be distracted.

“Don’t you dare insult my intelligence. Now, answer me.”

“I have no time for this, Granger. Besides, I don’t owe you any explanation. I do my work in here, I do my work in there, abiding by the law. End of conversation,” he said with a clipped tone.

“But why did you deny being a Malfoy, when Ron called you out?”

He sighed, his breath that was supposed to smell like his lunch, actually smelled like mint, fanned her face, “Tell me, Granger, if you’re here in London and people only knew you as Jane and someone called you Hermione, will you deny it or not?”

“I-I will deny it but I will explain it to them after….”

“Well, news flash, Granger, I don’t need to explain anything to the Golden Trio,” he cut in.

“Okay, fine, you don’t have to explain to us. Whatever. Now, the second question,” she said, tapping her foot on the floor. He finger-combed his hair and walked around her to get his white coat.

“I am not here to do a question and answer with you, Granger. If you want to interrogate me, send me a formal request through the Ministry. I request for you to leave this room now,” he said, as he put on his coat.

Before Hermione can answer back, he was out of the room. She grunted in annoyance. As much as she wanted to go after him, this was not the right place to interrogate him. He was right, a formal interrogation request can be set up. Contented with her concluded action, she concentrated to apparate back but was distracted by the picture frames on the table near her. She then looked around this time, this was supposed to be his office. Like any other office in the hospital, most of it was white except for the mahogany table, black chairs and two potted plants but what was taking her attention were the picture frames.

Surrendering to her curiosity, she walked around the table and went still. Beside his computer, there was a picture of Lucius Malfoy, with shorter hair, on his wedding day with the woman she met that Malfoy called mum, Adélie. Another picture showed a family picture of Lucius, Adie, Draco and the twins, beside it was a picture of Draco and the twins only and then lastly, an old picture of him, Lucius and Narcissa. Stepping back from the table, she concentrated on apparating back to the Ministry.

__________

There were a number of things that Hermione learned when she got back to the Ministry. One, Harry and Ron went as far as following Malfoy to his house in muggle London and they heard an earful from her about privacy.

Two, Draco Lucius Malfoy and Lucius Malfoy were officially acknowledged by the Ministry to live as muggles in London under the names of Dominque Lucien Malraux and Lucien Malraux while they were there as part of their muggle living integration. They were permitted to continue to carry these identities under the supervision of the Ministry.

Three, an interrogation request cannot be permitted if the only reason was suspicion without evidence just like how Harry and Ron’s requests were denied before.

Four, since their last conversation, Malfoy or Malraux was doing a perfect job to avoid her. He stopped getting his favourite snack from the vending machine near the ICU, he would detour if she’s coming his way, and he even cut his conversation with Dr. Boris short when she’s around.

On the other hand, here she was distracted even at work. Hermione had been reading the same line twice from a report that was sent to her earlier that day because when she was supposed to be working her eyes would find a special pen lying on its box then a certain blond would pop into her mind. Her mind will be filled with the recollection of times when they used to talk when he comforted her… when he smiled seeing lemon raspberry tartlets, the way he laughed at Dr. Boris’ jokes or when he acted on some parts of the stories that he was telling to the kids…

Hermione grunted in frustration and lobbed the report down as she cradled her head with her hands.

“Is it bad timing?” Ginny’s voice floated in her office. She lifted her head and her face was now behind her eyes. She peeked through the gaps of her fingers. She let her hands slipped down from her face and placed them on the table.

Hermione smiled, “It’s not, Gin. Come in and have a seat, I could use a break.”

Ginny smiled and closed the door behind her. She then made her way to the chair in front of her desk.

“How are you?”

“I am fine. Mum’s already at home and she was advised to get rest still while Dad… Dad’s still unconscious but his vitals are getting better.”

“But why do I sense that you have an entirely different conundrum when I came here?”

Hermione looked at Ginny straight in the eyes far too long that Ginny’s eyebrow inched up questioningly. She was still having a staring contest with Ginny when she started nibbling her lower lip. Can she really say it to Ginny? Well, it wasn’t a secret—not really, it was in the Ministry records and was accessible. Accessible but was not public knowledge. How much can she tell? What is she supposed to say? Oh, Ginny, Dr. Malraux is Malfoy… and guess what, I miss him since he’d been avoiding when I learned about the truth… I was thinking about him when you walked in. I cannot even work!

“What is it, Hermione?!” Ginny snapped and Hermione snapped from her thoughts. She let her lower lip go and stood up. With a flick of her wand the room was silenced and was secured with privacy wards.

Ginny was flummoxed as she watched Hermione cast those spells and walked around her desk to sit on the other chair in front of her desk so she’d be closer with Ginny. Hermione grabbed both Ginny’s hands and the other witch was still looking confused at her.

“You need to promise me that you won’t tell anyone about this…” Ginny’s mouth opened but Hermione added quickly, “even Harry or Ron.”

“What’s going on? Can you please tell me already?”

“Promise me first!” she said, squeezing her hands too hard but Ginny hardly flinched; she just rolled her eyes.

“Fine. I promise…” Ginny finally said but Hermione remained quiet. She groaned, “What? Do we need to do an Unbreakable Vow? Seriously? I am your best friend. Don’t you trust me en—”

“Dr. Malraux is Malfoy,” Hermione cut in and Ginny’s mouth remained open but her eyes blinked too many times.

She shut her mouth and cleared her throat before laughing, “Are you joking? I know Ron was overreacting and Harry was getting dragged with this but…”

Ginny trailed off when she noticed that Hermione was not smiling, her mouth hung agape for a moment then her brows furrowed, “Are you sure, Hermione?”

“Yes, I am sure.”

“H-how? Every time we see him in muggle London, he was here too.”

“I know. I-I haven’t figured out that one yet but Malfoy is Malraux. Harry and Ron…or even I cannot request him for a formal interrogation about this because…”

“Because?”

“Because the Ministry knew about this… this was part of their muggle living integration during the first years after the war. The Ministry agreed that they continue carrying these identities.”

“Why would they agree?”

“I am not sure but based on what I read they had good standings during their time in the program. Well, as we can see Malfoy took up medicine and became a doctor there. Probably those are the reasons.”

“Okay. Uhm…” Ginny paused then tilted her head a little, “Wait, how does this have something to do with…” She paused again, then this time she took hold of Hermione’s hands, “Tell me what happened.”

Hermione inhaled deeply and exhaled quickly, “We kind of had a confrontation when I… I intentionally grab him so I can apparate with him and that’s how I initially knew about the truth…”

“Did he hurt you?”

“No… On the contrary, he gave me a potion that helped me get over my sickness after apparating. Good thing, I was able to bring my entire body when we apparated.”

“Oh, my Merlin, Hermione… what were you thinking?”

Hermione laughed but slowly it died down then she became sombre, “He asked that too…”

“Hermione?” Ginny asked then Hermione grabbed her hands from hers and covered her face with them.

“Oh Gin, h-he was successfully avoiding me ever since that confrontation a-and here I am… supposed to be working but I-I cannot stop thinking about him…. What’s happening to me?!” she mumbled behind her hands.

“Well, based on what you told me, he had been around whenever you needed someone to talk to in the hospital. You clearly miss him.”

“I think so…. No, I do.”

She paused, dropping her hands on her lap and looked at Ginny straight in the eyes.

“I miss him, Gin. I know he was the prat who called me names and bullied me for years but….”

She groaned in frustration, “He was there at the right time… I’ve seen how different he is now. I witnessed it first-hand.”

Ginny took her hands again in hers and squeezed them lightly, “Hermione Jean Granger, get yourself together!”

Hermione sat frozen and Ginny sighed, “Talk to him. You miss him? Tell him.”

“But he’s avoiding me…”

“The Hermione Granger I knew will not take that as an excuse,” Ginny cut her off with a stern voice that sounded like her mother, Molly.

“I think you’re right.”

“Of course, I am right!” Ginny exclaimed and Hermione grinned at her best friend.

“Yes. Thanks, Gin,” Hermione said, pulling Ginny into a hug.

__________

One late afternoon, Hermione and her mother were in the ICU to visit her father. She did not see Malfoy at all when they walked into the hospital which was quite good since she’s still working up the nerves on how to approach him. Hermione was reading her book when she saw her father’s fingers moved. Once. Twice then thrice. And then a grunt with a subtle movement of his hand. She lobbed her book on the bedside table and looked down at him closely.

“Hermione, what’s the matter?”

“H-he just moved his fingers then his hand,” Hermione said and just when she finished her sentence, her father’s head lolled to the side with a grunt. She promptly pressed the nurse call button. In a minute a nurse came in and Hermione’s father was already grunting continuously and slowly turning his head side by side.

“H-he’s waking up!” Hermione cried out.

“I’ll page Dr. Malraux since Dr. Boris is out,” the nurse blurted out and Hermione momentarily froze at his name but quickly snapped out of it when her father grunted again.

“Excuse me, Miss Granger kindly step aside, I need to check his vitals while waiting for Dr. Malraux,” she said and reluctantly, Hermione went to her mother and guided her to the far side of the room, watching.

Dr. Malraux walked in with long strides after two minutes, he immediately approached her father and while the nurse reported her findings Dr. Malraux checked on her father’s sight and other vitals. He started talking to him and held his hands, looking closely for other movements. Her father responded to Dr. Malraux with a grunt every time he asked a question.

When her father got tired and was sleeping again, Dr. Malraux asked Hermione and her mother to talk to them outside of the room.

“I can confidently say that he’s back to us however, it will take time for him to recover his motor skills. If his vitals remain stable within this week then we can move him out of ICU already. And I’ll assign therapists to help him. Now, I don’t want you to get your hopes up but please don’t expect that he will come out as nothing happened to him. Almost four months in a coma may have resulted in permanent damage that we’ll soon find out,” he said, all the while looking at Hermione and her mother with a professional gaze.

They both nodded in agreement, Hermione’s mother then spoke, “We understand that. We are just thankful that he’s awake now.”

“Thank you for understanding. I’ll leave you two, now,” he said and he turned his heels then walked away.

Hermione decided that she’d stay for the night for her father but brought her mother back to her flat beforehand so she could rest better. She was walking towards the hospital from a hidden alley where she apparated when she noticed a head of blond hair that will stand out anywhere in a crowded place like the café where he sat right now at the back near the windows—the same place where they sat. Her heart started hammering in her chest. She clenched her fists and walked straight to the café, luckily, his back was facing the entrance of the café. When Hermione reached the counter, Jay grinned at her.

“Miss Granger! What can I get for you today?”

“Do you still have the lemon raspberry tartlets?”

“Oh…. We just sold the last ones. Dr. Malraux was looking for them too but he got in a second too late.”

Hermione bit her lip and Jay looked at her with concern then a woman walked out from the back and witnessed the exchange.

“What’s happening here?” she asked authoritatively that made them both jolt.

“Uh… it’s just I told her that there are no lemon raspberry tartlets anymore,” Jay said and the woman looked at Hermione up and down then landed on her face like she was scrutinizing her. She let go of her lip and tentatively gave a small smile that was not returned at all.

“Stay there, order something to drink while waiting,” she said and Hermione nodded but she was confused.

Once the woman was out of earshot, she turned to Jay, “Who was that?”

“Aunt Florrie, she’s the one baking those lemon raspberry tartlets. Anyway, anything else I can get for you?”

“A latte in a takeaway cup, please,” she said and gazed sideways to see if Malfoy was still there. He is but she doesn’t have much time, he might go back anytime soon.

“Here,” the woman came back that made Hermione turn her attention back to the counter. There was a plate with two lemon raspberry tartlets.

“Oh, thank you.”

“I hope that will help you. It’s on me so don’t pay it.”

“B-but…”

The woman walked away, not bothering to hear Hermione.

“Here’s your latte,” Jay said and when Hermione was about to pay, he also insisted that it’s on him too.

“That’s bad for business…” Hermione argued.

“Nope. Just go there, he might leave anytime soon.”

She felt her neck and face flushed but Jay just gave him his most charming smile then muttered, “Go.”

“Thanks,” Hermione mumbled, then picked up her orders.

Each stride she took was purposeful and as the distance between them shortened her heart was beating faster and faster. Few strides behind him, she inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. She took measured steps towards him now and made sure she stopped in front of him, he whipped his head in her direction from the window on his right. She put down the plate of two lemon raspberry tartlets and he stared down at them.

“A peace offering,” she said, relieved that her voice wasn’t shaky with the way her heart was beating.

“More like bribery, I guess,” he said, eyes still on the plate but she can notice how the corners of his lips twitched upwards.

“I don’t bribe…not always,” she paused then cleared her throat, “May I take a seat?”

“Yes, only because you gave me these,” he said, picking one of the tartlets.

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes and sat on the chair in front of him. Malfoy ate quietly, savouring the pastry while her hands gathered warmth from her cup. They were silent for almost a minute when Hermione cast a muffliato non-verbally. She caught Malfoy looking at her, midchew with a raised eyebrow.

“Listen, Malfoy…” she started, paused, and inhaled then exhaled quickly, “I’m sorry. You’ve been nothing but kind to me whenever I was in the hospital. I-It’s just the curiosity got the better of me… I wanted to know…” she trailed off and her eyes fell to the top of the cup in her hands.

Malfoy did not answer her. He just finished the tartlet he was eating while Hermione kept her eyes down. Then, the plate with on lemon raspberry tartlet was pushed to her. She looked up and found Malfoy drinking his coffee. She stared at him with furrowed brows.

He put his cup down and said, “Bribery.”

“Bribery?”

“Mum is throwing a party for the twins’ birthday party next month and she wanted you to be there. So, there’s my bribery for you to come,” he said with a smirk and Hermione laughed.

“Do I need to buy new robes then?”

He chuckled then he shook his head, “No. That’s totally unnecessary. Mum is different from my mother. She liked things simple. It’s just a small party—us, our friends which are just my friends, the twins’ nanny Trisha and you or you can bring your friends, she won’t mind at all. Just let me know beforehand.”

“Hmm, if I’ll attend the party, am I considered forgiven?” Hermione asked, tapping a finger on her cup.

“It shouldn’t have been a big deal so you don’t need to apologize. I overreacted. I could’ve just told you that you can inquire from the Ministry about my situation—or simply explain it myself but I had a scheduled operation that day. Basically, my excuse was I had no good sleep that day and I am busy.”

Hermione smiled, “You’ll always be dramatic.”

“Hey. I am not that dramatic,” he said and they both laughed.

Once they stopped laughing, he spoke, “Huh, I missed your laugh really.”

“That’s what you get from avoiding me,” she retorted with a roll of her eyes, taking a sip of her almost cold latte.

He put his hands up in mock surrender, “I already admitted that I overreacted.”

“Fine,” she replied with a smile. She watched as he put his hands down and looked at his wristwatch.

“I have to go.”

“I’ll go with you. Let me just get this…,” Hermione said taking a paper napkin from her shoulder bag and picked up the tartlet. Malfoy tapped the table and the spell was removed. Hermione’s brow arched but Malfoy rolled his eyes and she just chuckled.

As they exited the café, a grinning Jay said his goodbyes that they both returned and in Hermione’s peripheral, she saw Aunt Florrie smiling from the doorway to the back of the store.

They fell into a conversation about her father as they walked towards the hospital. He did not tell her that everything’s going to be normal again instead, he was telling him the truth of the situation which Hermione completely appreciated. She’d rather have honesty than expecting something impossible.

When they reached the hospital, he walked with her to her father’s room before leaving to prepare for a scheduled operation he was assigned with due to Dr. Boris’ absence—who was actually on leave for a very important date.

__________

Hermione and Draco went back from their routine like it was the most natural thing to do and started calling each other by their first names—Draco in the wizarding world and Dominique in the muggle world. Hermione’s father was moved to a private room and they’d arranged short and simple therapies for him to kick start his recovery on his motor skills.

Eventually, Hermione learned about an advanced Polyjuice potion that Draco learned to concoct that would last the typical one-hour duration and instead of hair, he used blood that’s enough to trick the wards in the Ministry because as he said to her, everything has a loophole. And when she asked him why he did that, he laughed before saying, just to mess with Potter and Weasley, besides I won five galleons from George. We have a bet you see; how long will they be fooled. He said a month and I said two. Guess what the 4th month is almost over. I don’t mind if you tell them though.

Harry and Ron only found out the truth when Hermione invited them to join her and Ginny in attending the twins’ birthday party. It took almost a whole day to explain it all (except about the Polyjuice potion and the bet—because they should hear it from George or Draco). Ron was hesitant to attend but Harry was obligated to attend since Ginny was bringing James with her who was a year younger than the twins.

Then one day during a recovery session, Hermione found herself watching Draco—or Dominique—talking to her father. He just had another breakdown and started arguing with everyone. Hermione wanted to intervene but she could see the tiredness in his eyes, the feeling of loss was not foreign to her. However, seeing it from her father, she cannot take it well. As much as she hated to admit it, she did not know what else she could do yet there was Draco, sitting with his father on the floor of the therapy room. Does he know that he was talking to Draco, the one who bullied her before? Yes. It was on the first breakdown, Draco happened to be there when it happened. He asked the staff to cancel the session for that day and asked to be left alone with him. And they sat on the floor just like right now. It was probably difficult for Draco but something happened within the hours of their conversation that made her father agree that he’d do the session again the next schedule.

After what seemed like an hour, Draco met her gaze and smiled before standing up and helped her father stand up. Then, he called for the staff to go back and continue the session.

“How did you convince him this time?” Hermione asked, her brow slightly inching up.

“I just promised him something. I cannot share though. Not yet,” he said as he left the therapy room and before she can even follow him, the tannoy called for him and he sprinted away.

She looked back at her father and how he strived to finish his session told her that whatever Draco promised him was good enough—for now.

Once her father’s session ended, they exited the hospital with him in a wheelchair. They were waiting for a taxi when Hermione’s father spoke.

“D-do you believe h-he had changed?”

Her brows furrowed and her father clarified with a whisper, “Draco.”

Looking back now, she counted the times that he should have been sneering at her, insulting her or laughing at her situation but didn’t instead, he sat down with her and talked to her. She recalled the day she found out that he was Dr. Malraux, she was not disappointed at all, intrigued mostly. She even found herself missing his presence around her. She cannot believe it but he had changed from the prat who bullied her then into the man he was now. Sure, he was still annoying at times but most of the time, she found herself admiring how he navigated within the world he used to hate with ease.

With a smile, Hermione answered, “Yes, he did.”

Her father gave him a lopsided smile, “Good.”

She smiled down at her father, a bit confused about what he answered but thought, yes it was good.

#dramoine #oneshot #dramione one shot #posted in other sites #ao3 #fanfiction.net #wattpad

[roswellnmsource]

Lily Cowles Talks Stunt Work on Roswell, New Mexico & the Action-Packed Final Episodes This Season

So, finding out that there's been another alien Roswell really threw the audience for a loop. What were you thinking when you heard that there would be another alien in town?

I mean, I was like, finally. I'm ready for a little new alien blood in the mix, like let's stir it up. We've had our little pod squad, and we have this super tight little dynamic, and it's been pretty insular. They've had to keep everything to themselves, and so I think finding out that there's another person that's like them, another alien. How exciting.

What are the implications? This might change everything. I was really excited about it. I'm like, let's go, plus he's super cute, so.

That's very true. Can you preview what's next for Isobel and everyone as they process this new development?

Yeah, well, I think Isobel is...I think her initial reaction she's excited to bring someone new into the fold. And it's a little more complicated than that. We have a conversation you see with Isobel and Kyle, where he sort of is like, you might want to take this a little slow because this is a man of God.

This is a man whose vocation is faith-based. And to tell him that he's an alien might kind of complicate his life.

So, how much do you really want to ruin someone's life by telling them that they're an alien or change it for the better but I think Isobel is looking forward to kind of bringing someone newer to the fold and wants to share everything and learn from him.

And she's pretty enthusiastic about it. And it's going to have to learn how to handle that with grace and tack, which I think can sometimes be difficult for her. I know she can sometimes be quite straightforward with things.

Beyond that, Isobel is going on a date in this episode, which is so exciting for her. And I think she's going to be faced with having to break down some of the walls that she's built up that she's been working on. So, I'm kind of like personal internal conflict, but also a lot of opportunity.

And I think our writers handle it all so well, and it's going to unfold in a very fun way.

Sure. So, family is very important to not only the fabric of Roswell but to Isobel in particular. Can you tell us a bit about what family means to Isobel?

Yeah. I mean, I think Isobel has always had to lean so much on her brothers. There may have been the small amount of codependency. You might say with the trio because they have this enormous secret, they can't share with anybody else.

I mean, me personally, I have so many friends. I like to go around and talk about all my problems and everything with all my friends, but Isobel doesn't have as many people, or she didn't up until recently that she could talk about these things with, so her family was sort of everything for her.

These two people who understood who she was and saw her for who she truly was.

For the rest of the world, she had to, for many years of her life, kind of wear this mask and do a kind of performance of something that was sort of half-truth. Now, her circle has expanded a bit over the seasons of Roswell, which has been great—adding friends like Maria and Rosa and Kyle, Alex, and of course, Liz.

We've gotten all this new group of people that can support her. But I think the first 25 years of her life were basically just her and her brothers. And so, that loyalty goes really deep, and I think it will always be the trump card for her. I think it will always take precedent over everything else, which can be good, and it can be bad.

Yeah. And that kind of leads me into my next question, which is that Isobel has some of the best dynamics on the show. From Isobel and Michael and their brother, sister bond. And obviously Isobel and Max and this new bond now with Maria. What's your favorite Isobel dynamic?

It's hard to pick one because I love them all so much. I love working with Amber. I love the Isobel and Rosa dynamic so much because it's...there's so many layers in there. There's definitely the 'Oops. I'm sorry that I murdered you with your friends'.

But then also, Isobel kind of guiding her in Rosa's journey learning about her powers, and I think Isobel really took her under her wing. And I think that means a lot to Isobel to be able to be a guide for someone and somebody's mentor. But as time has gone on, the tables have also been turning.

There are lots of times when Rosa has been a mentor to Isobel.

And I love the female dynamics, that is... it's so rich. There's so much in there. Two women who are learning from each other and growing and supportive of each other, and challenging each other to be better. And it comes from this really complicated history that they were able to overcome.

So, to me, that sort of female dynamic is just like, oh, I love to see that.

I love Isobel and Kyle together too. It's really fun. Isobel knows how to shoot. She comes in just with so much energy. And I think there's something that happens. There's some kind of chemistry there, right? There's something, and it all maybe started at Planet Seven.

But, I think Kyle is someone that Isobel really trusts and leans on, and he's like this solid foundation for her, like a real confidant. But then there's more to it than that.

And there's something that's just, it's hard to put your finger on with them, but whenever I'm working with Michael Trevino, the scenes just...we find these little places that things just kind of pop and these unexpected moments come up and it feels like a really complex dynamic.

And I'm excited to see where that goes.

For sure. I got to talk to Michael, and he said very similarly that you guys had a really great dynamic, and he'd like to see more Kyle and Isobel scenes.

You know, give the world what they want! How bout it, Roswell!

Yes! So, Isobel has gone on quite the journey throughout the course of Roswell, and throughout season three as well, we've seen as she's dealt with Jones. So, can you speak to Isobel's resilience and how we will continue to see her growth?

Yeah, absolutely. Playing Isobel has been such an honor because it's a story that I think is so powerful for so many women. She began as this kind of Barbie doll. She was very performative, had this perfect little mask on. She was kind of closed off to the world but had this way of acting that seemed right.

And I think that's the dynamic that a lot of women can relate to.

It's like wanting to come off as being sort of perfect and having this veneer that seems like everything is good, but you're really disconnected from this deep, authentic truth that might be a lot more complicated and maybe messier, but you know what Isobel had to go through in Season One with Noah, it just rips that all off.

I mean, it wasn't by choice.

It happened to her. She was definitely victimized by the thing, and she had basically no other choice but to grow and adapt. And it gave her an enormous amount of freedom. And so often, suffering is terrible, you wouldn't wish it on anyone, and yet it can also lead to enormous amounts of growth.

And that's what I got to see with Isobel that she had to pick herself back up and connect with those deep parts of herself that she'd kind of been denying her whole life. And become strong. You have to find that strength within herself and not just leaning on the men around her.

She didn't have any female friends, and she was pretty co-dependent with all the men in her life. And Season Two, we saw Isobel discovering herself on her own terms.

And I think it's such an incredible gift that the writers gave to this show to see a female doing that, to find her way on her own terms and sort of have to relearn everything and say, "Well, who am I? What do I want? And how do I get that?"

And now we're just seeing her continuing down that path, she's becoming this warrior, she's becoming this total badass, and I think there's never like an end to it.

It's not like she started out like this, and now it's like the end of the story, 'Hooray! She found herself, and now she's like a badass warrior.' It's in Season Three, I think we're seeing her struggling with what does it mean to be a warrior? What does it mean to try to be a strong female?

How much are we suddenly becoming too self-protective when we begin to build this armor where we're making sure that no one's going to hurt us again? Well, is that armor preventing us from also being vulnerable with other people?

And I think the writers have been so gracious to give this arc to a female character that's been so multifaceted.

So, I'm just so grateful. I can't wait to see where Isobel goes, and she just keeps evolving and changing and shedding her skin and becoming something new, and like I said, it's never like a destination; it's all about the journey. So that's been really fun as an actor to be able to play with.

I have to ask about the stunts in episode eight because the scenes between you and Nathan were fantastic. How was it to shoot those scenes?

Oh my God, it was so much fun. Season Two, I had told Carina, our showrunner at the time, girl put me in some action stuff because I had some martial arts background. And after everything that had happened to Isobel, I was like it'd be great for her to become more empowered in her own physical body too.

So that, we started to kind of build the foundation there, and we're seeing it now paying off, all of this training that Isobel is always talking about. We're finally seeing her in action.

In that episode, in 3x08, directed by Benjamin Bray Hernandez, it was so incredible to actually be able to do this stunt work and with Nathan, who's a great, great stunt guy too.

I mean, I swear in another life, he would like to be a stuntman, Nathan. But the two of us actually got to do most of our own stuff.

I mean all of the pool cue, all of the hand to hand. There were a couple of things that a stunt person came in when we did the backflip over the table. We're like, yeah, that's not to break your neck during that. But besides that, everything was us, and it was so much fun to work with a director who was himself a stuntman.

So, he knew how to really direct.

Every strike needs to be telling a story and the way that he filmed it on the actual film, the lens that he was using. All of this stuff was just, it was like a masterclass in stunt work. So much fun, I was so sore, and while I thought that we were using pool cues, I was like, "I'm sorry, I have never used a pool cue in a fight."

And of course we got on the set, and Nathan from Texas, is there whipping it all around in his hand, spinning the pool cue, homie has been in like 15 pool bar fights, and I'm like, "How do you hold it?"

But I think we're a pretty good match-up, and there's more to come between Nathan and I. I'm so grateful. He's an incredible partner to work with. I feel so safe with him. I did one time jab him with the butt of my pool cue pretty hard in the groin.

So, sorry for that, Nathan. But besides that, it was such a fun experience, and I'd love to do more of that.

That's amazing. Outside of Isobel's storyline this season, has there been another story that you've really enjoyed that's played out in Season Three?

I mean, all of it is so compelling.

I've loved seeing, in this last episode, we saw Alex taking on so many of the demons that I think this beautiful parallel storyline of Alex and Michael, both working through the traumas of their parents, what they've inherited from their parents. Michael learning that he is the son of this evil dictator, but his mother is maybe this amazing hero.

And Alex working through the trauma of what his father was.

And I think that a compelling, compelling story is what we inherit from our parents and what we choose to move forward with or what we want to rebel against.

Do we become our parents, or are we given the opportunity to change them, fix their mistakes? And Kyle is dealing with this too with his father and the Valenti code and all of that.

So, I love that the lineage, the kind of questioning of how lineage proceeds through us and what our obligation is to the family line, I think that's beautiful.

And last question for me, with the finale on the horizon, what can the audience expect from these last batches of episodes?

Oh my gosh. Stuff gets so crazy, Whitney! It pops off. I mean, filming it was some of the most intense work I've ever done. We were like Marines. We were like Navy seals. We bonded so hard over just the sheer physical, emotional, and psychological difficulty that we all have to go through over these next few episodes.

It's full of action. It is full of suspense. It's going to be such a roller coaster for the audience, and I cannot wait for them to see it. It's going to be a huge payoff. Our writers did an incredible job, and yeah, I think it's just going to knock people's socks off.

#isobel evans #lily cowles #roswell new mexico #cast #press #3x10 #rnm spoilers

[seikyoko]

Johnny Gill appreciation post

There’s plenty of issues I have with DGM Hallow, people other than me have talked about it and honestly I don’t feel like rereading the manga AND rewatching Hallow to explain all my dissatisfaction with it, but whatever, they wanted to make it short enough for it to be 14 episodes, it’s difficult to make it 100% faithful, whatever, I understand, even though I’m sad the zombie arc and the funny part of the phantom G arc were not in here, I understand, I’m not going to nitpick even the little things.

BUT WHY THE HELL would they on purpose take out the Johnny content in such an outrageous manner? like at the very beginning, where Johnny is the one who notice that polite speech doesn’t suit “Allen” and that when he doesn’t pay attention, he slip to more casual speech. It was instead replaced by.. Lavi, and while yeah good to give more Lavi content,

It was annoying to steal another character’s very rare screentime, and besides, it was impossible for Lavi to do this interaction, even if Johnny didn’t in the manga. Look, that happened after the 14th reveal, Bookman forbade him from getting too involved with “Allen”, because it was going to be his downfall if he involved himself that much in the war, and Lavi heeded his advice, you never see Lavi & “Allen” interacting again after the 14th reveal (though with the recent events of “Allen” going to the campbell mansion and is going to meet bookman and everything even if Lavi’s not with bookman that’s probably going to change), and that interaction was way more important than “woah bro no need to be so formal” with the mana mask revelation and Red’s actual personality and everything, and you know it’s relevant to that because it happens in the same episode, and in the manga very few chapters after.

And also the whole “the regret won’t let me die in peace” between Johnny & Kanda, instead.. happens between Marie & Kanda & Lenalee, and the anime scene absolutely sucks, the sacrifice Kanda is making doesn’t really hit you and it comes off as the dbz “past evil dude/asshole is now helping the protagonist”.

Look, he got better after the alma karma arc, and he love and trusts Lenalee & Marie a lot, but I find it kinda weird Kanda would volunteer such personal information on his feelings that easily with virtually no reason to (though I’m no Kanda expert), the interaction is just Lenalee who wasn’t involved in the Alma arc weirdly insisting on prying, after Kanda already accepted the innocence and can’t take it back anymore and Kanda pouring his heart out just like that , which, weird, because when Lenalee say “don’t you were already trapped in the order more than all of us and the order harmed you so much”, his reaction is to change the subject by successfully picking a fight with most people on the room (like Komui and Bak at least) by drinking it out of Lenalee’s hands.

It doesn’t even work as real Lenalee screentime because you can tell she was a mouthpiece to make Kanda say it before Hallow end/say it to someone other than Johnny, it wasn’t a real Kanda & Lenalee interaction

In the manga it was after Johnny and Kanda (who already bonded and came to care about each other quite a lot during their roadtrip/travelling around), who are both people who are pretty much risking everything to find and help “Allen”,  exited the pub and Johnny showed that he was a ride or die friend, reminding Kanda of Alma, likely the first time he thought of his past without feeling pain (like “Allen” comparing the orphanage director to Mana), then Johnny ask why Kanda did it, whether Kanda even answered or not, it was going to be nowhere as personal as how it ended up being, then that akuma snatched Johnny, and it very much stated “it’s Kanda yuu” at the beginning, showing that it was a speech personally aimed at Kanda, rather than a generic exorcist, saying that he was an absolute fool to come back, that he had very very little left to live, and he should’ve spent his last moments in peace, and that he chose hell, and he doesn’t go “what are you talking about ?” or deny it, showing that yeah, he does have little left to live and he most probably did choose hell.

Then Johnny goes “really Kanda... why ?” then go silent, so Johnny wasn’t going to badger him on it, then Kanda goes on to say his reasons (and yeah Johnny works better because he have more informations about the Alma thing than Lenalee had, since Kanda most likely almost never talked about it, and the scientists there were probably more informed than the exorcists after the facts and Kanda most likely didn’t tell her much, if anything really, I mean the dude can’t even stand when you say his first name just because it reminds him of that time, and Johnny did witness Kanda stab “Allen” and the whole shitshow, he’s more involved I mean).

AND THE “I was about to say sorry and then I stopped myself, thank you kanda, thank you, than..” WAS SO TOUCHING

end rant about “the manga is better !!”

And they’re not only making these moments worse, but they’re shooting themselves on the foot, because Johnny is a vital character to the “searching for Allen Walker” arc. and they keep down playing his worth as a character and his bond with “Allen”.

Johnny dropped everything for “Allen”, he loved his job as a scientist and everyone in the order, and the whole thing was risky as hell, and he did it anyway (he had no guarantee of quitting the order safely, and he wouldn’t have without Kanda, he had no guarantee of finding “Allen”, he had no guarantee the Noah or the 14th wouldn’t kill him immediately and when he first decided it he didn’t know Kanda would be around so doubly gutsy), and the love is very clearly mutual with how badly “Allen” freaked out at thinking Nea killed Johnny and that heart warming hug when he exited the wheat field and how desperately he wanted Johnny to be okay when the earl attacked and Nea took over, and you can tell it’s because Johnny mattered to him a lot instead of a general kindness thing because, really, the whole TOWN/CITY was in danger from the Millenium earl being around and homicidal, and last but certainly not least, JOHNNY’S DECLARATION OF FRIENDSHIP which really mattered to “Allen” (It was the most flustered he’s ever been in the whole manga).

And it mattered in the end ! it changed everything ! Kanda wouldn’t have found “Allen” without Johnny’s plan. and “Allen” would be literally dead, erased, not from this world anymore if it wasn’t for Johnny.

Look, unlike all the other times Nea took over, the last one was pretty bad, in fact it should have been impossible for Allen Walker to ever open his eyes again, his soul was done for, he was technically dead.

But the power of people’s bond is probably the most powerful thing in DGM verse, so powerful that it can even do the impossible, like bringing back the dead.

Cross, Tyki and Link weren’t going to do that because of their allegiances, Road can’t maintain her form, even if Mana was going to choose “Allen” over Nea, he is very much amnesic, it wouldn’t have occured to Kanda and most of the order to try that, because it was very obviously the 14th, and Kanda doesn’t even call “Allen” by his name anyway, they’d have jumped straight to trying to defeat him or try another method to bring “Allen” back, if Apocryphos could still bring him back his way, he’d have merged with “Allen” and “Allen” as we know him would be no more.

Yeah, pretty sure “Allen” would be no more, and it wasn’t a case of right place/right moment or anything, it was because Johnny and “Allen” loved each other (platonically, I shouldn’t have to precise that but here we are) and it shook reality in ways usually only the earl take advantage of.

Also you imagine the amount of mental badassness it would take to take your friend, and physically try to carry him away while he’s the target of the earl who is looking extremely deranged and is being really violent ? 

Also he prevents Kanda from using violence against “Allen” who was in pretty bad shape, and that with Tiedoll’s speech help him find the guts to face “Allen” eye to eye and a lot of what ensued after

Don’t ever underestimate Johnny’s importance to the story.

Yet here he’ll always be a barely relevant side character to the anime (well at least Hallow I refuse to watch the 2006 anime and check if his earlier moments were done justice), and for what reason ? because he’s not good-looking/hot, and because he’s not physically powerful or badass in a conventional way.

That’s.. the end to my salt I think

#Johnny Gill #dgm spoilers #dgm #dgm meta #Allen Walker #Kanda Yuu #Allen&Johnny #Johnny&Kanda #Did I say I love Johnny #Well I love him #my meta

[teenwolffan-with-nolife]

The Witch and The Wolf Pt.40

Word Count: 2,134

Characters: Derek Hale, Chris Argent, Rafael McCall, Noah Stilinski, Stiles Stilinski (mentioned), OC Characters (mentioned), Reader

Pairings: Derek Hale x Witch!Reader

Warnings: fluff, angst, cliffhanger

A/N: ....this was my crappy attempt at writing fluff and this came out

Masterlist      Series Masterlist

You sat on your bed nervously, piles of books surrounding you. You missed too many of your college classes to try anymore, making a final decision to drop out. You skipped too many days and classes and hadn’t shown up for nearly three weeks.

You found a lot of time on your hands, deciding to use the day to research about demons and try to find out more about the thing that attacked Isaac last night. You opened your windows, using the sunlight instead of your lights, seeing as all of Beacon Hills lost power. You blamed Stiles, he must’ve done something.

You heard someone knocking on your door, a bit surprised. Everyone seemed to barge in, it was nice to see someone had manners.

“Derek, hey,” you opened the door, smiling nervously.

“Hey,” you moved aside, letting him in.

“So, the power’s still out?” he asked.

“Ten dollars that Stiles did it,” you raised an eyebrow.

He laughed softly, kissing your forehead as the two of you made your way to your bed.

“What are you reading?” he asked, picking up a book.

“Everything I can about demons. And trying to find more about that thing that attacked Isaac last night. All I know is that they were wearing black robes, and had masks,” you ran your fingers through your hair as you sat on the bed.

“Need any help?” he asked.

“Yes… no… I don’t know. Did you know that there are three types of demons?” you opened a book as he leaned his head on your shoulder, standing behind you.

“Humans become demons when they go to hell, they get tortured until they decide to turn off all their feelings and emotions and give in, demons are created, by… well, the devil, and then, in extremely rare cases, a witch dies, comes back, kills twice,” you sighed deeply.

 “Well, I think you need a break,” he wrapped his arms around your waist as he kissed your shoulder softly.

“No, I don’t need a break, I need to figure out how to stop myself from becoming a demon,” you shook your head.

“I’m serious. Did you even go to sleep last night?” he asked you.

You looked down, shaking your head.

“When was the last time you slept?” he asked.

“Either you can leave, or you can help me do some research,” you replied, sitting on your bed.

“Fine. But only if you come out with me tonight,” he said.

“What? No, Derek-” you started, frowning.

“It’s Halloween. I’m taking you out tonight,” he interrupted.

You nodded your head, grabbing another book as you laid back.

---

After researching a copious amount of time, the two of you decided to take a break, not learning much.

You read something about a group of hunters who attempted to cure a demon, reverting it back to its natural self, but it was never officially proven to work, but maybe it was the start of something.

You looked at Derek, while he sat down across from you, holding a book as he bit on the tip of a pen, reading.

Something felt different. For once, you felt like the two of you might actually have a chance to work, thinking back to your many failed attempts. 

He was different, seemingly more laid back than usual, staying calmer. You feel like you’ve changed, the past few months seem like years and years.

“What are you looking at?” you inhaled as Derek looked up at you.

“Nothing,” you shook your head.

“Well, I think it’s time to take a break. Come on, it’s 6:30, let’s go,” he closed the book, reaching for your hand before pulling you up.

You chuckled softly, leaning upwards as you pressed your lips against his.

You heard someone knock at the door, as you groaned, rolling your eyes as you exhaled sharply, holding Derek’s hand.

“It’s Halloween, right,” you shook your head.

You grabbed a bowl of candy, opening the door as you put on a fake smile, giving a few pieces to the kids at your door before waving them off.

“Catch,” Derek threw you your jacket as you frowned.

“Come with me.”

---

“Derek, I swear we're going in circles,” you said, running your fingers through your hair as you followed behind Derek.

“We’re not. Just follow me, okay?” he motioned for you to hurry up as you rolled your eyes.

“Okay, what are we doing here?” you looked around, seeing the top of Beacon Hills Preserve, which gave you a view of the whole city.

“I thought we could both use a break,” he shrugged, wrapping his arms around your waist as he stood behind you.

“This is…” you looked around with a soft smile on your face.

“This is your favorite place in the whole city. I know,” he replied.

You kissed him gently, wrapping your arms around his neck as he held you tightly.

“Come on, let’s just lay here for a bit,” he said softly, leaning his forehead against yours.

“That's your code word for sex, isn't it?” you raised an eyebrow as you smiled softly.

He nodded cheekily as you wrapped your legs around his waist, pressing your lips against him softly.

---

You heard your phone ringing as you groaned softly, opening your eyes. You felt Derek shuffle, turning to face you. 

“Gonna get that?” he asked you.

“It’s probably not that important,” you shook your head, laying your head on Derek’s chest as you exhaled softly.

The two of you laid on the blanket, holding onto each other. You felt a slight breeze, not particularly surprised, seeing as the two of you were outdoors anyway.

You heard your phone ring again as you rolled your eyes.

“Just pick it up,” he said.

“Fine,” you groaned, sitting up as you looked at your phone, seeing a call from an unknown number.

“It’s probably spam,” you sighed.

“That's the second time they called, it’s probably not,” Derek replied.

“Hello?” you answered the phone.

“(Y/N)? This is Agent McCall,” you tensed up as you gave Derek a look.

“Agent McCall, to what do I owe this pleasure,” you said sarcastically.

“Come to the sheriff’s station. Now,” he said.

“Fine, I’m on my way,” you said.

You hung up the phone, turning to Derek. You stood up, running your fingers through your hair as you bit your lip.

“What does he want?” Derek asked.

“I have no idea,” you shook your head.

“Well, then let’s go,” he stood up, holding your hand.

---

“Agent McCall. Where’s Sheriff Stilinski?” you asked, looking around cautiously.

“Didn't you hear? He’s under investigation,” he shrugged.

“What? That's insane. He hasn't done anything wrong,” you spat, clenching your fist.

He motioned to two deputies behind you, as they grabbed you, putting handcuffs on your wrists.

“What the hell?!” you yelled, pulling away from them.

“(Y/N) (Y/L/N), you’re under arrest,” he said.

“I haven't done anything!” you yelled.

“We found a body in the woods…”

---

He doesn't have any proof

You tried to convince yourself. It was you. You knew it was you. You killed your dad, and now you had to suffer the consequences.

You sat alone in the interrogation room, looking up at the two-way mirror. They were all watching you, you knew it. 

You heard the door open as you continued looking down, feeling your eyes water slightly.

“You don't look too broken up, finding out your father is dead,” Agent McCall took a seat in front of you.

“We never got along to begin with,” you shook your head.

“When was the last time you spoke to your father,” he asked.

“A few months ago,” you said.

“And what happened?” he asked.

“He came to my apartment. He followed me, and he tried to apologize for…” your voice drifted off as you took a deep breath.

“For what?” he asked.

“For abandoning me and my mom. T-This is ridiculous. You don’t have any proof or anything, you just want me behind bars,” you scoffed, crossing your arms.

“Your dad was found in Beacon Hills, 500 miles away from his home and his family,” you felt your heart stop, feeling yourself burning as you shook your head.

“W-What are you talking about?” you clenched your jaw.

“His wife, his kids. His home and his family,” he said.

You bit your lip, holding in your cries.

“Why did you kill him? Were you jealous? Were you mad? Did you want him to suffer?” Agent McCall began to bombard you with questions as you continued looking down, holding in your cries as your vision blurred from your tears.

“That’s enough,” you looked up to see Noah standing at the doorway.

“Stilinski, you can't be here-” Agent McCall started, standing up as Noah interrupted him.

“Actually, I’m still the sheriff. So yes, I can be here. (Y/N) is innocent. He was killed by Jeniffer Blake, who was responsible for 8 other murders in Beacon Hills. She died. (Y/N) is innocent, and she’s free to go,” Sheriff Stilinski walked to you as Rafael stayed quiet, before handing the keys to your handcuffs to Sheriff Stilinski.

“Come on, kiddo. Let’s get you out of here,” he undid your cuffs, holding your arm as he led out of the station, as you kept your head down.

---

“Chris? Chris,” you knocked on Argent’s door frantically, holding in your cries.

“(Y/N)? What happened? What's going on?” he immediately asked, opening the door as he frowned, looking at you cautiously.

You ran to him, burying yourself in his arms as you held onto him tightly, crying softly as your tears streamed down your face.

“A-Are you hurt?” he said frantically, scanning your body for injuries.

You shook your head, holding in your cries as you bit your lip.

“I should've… I-I should've told you before,” you began, taking deep breaths as he walked you to his office, sitting you down next to him.

“I…”

---

“He had a second family?” Chris questioned.

You nodded softly as you continued to slow your breathing.

“He had kids, he got remarried,” you sniffled, burying your head into your lap.

Chris pulled you slightly, leaning you onto him as he caressed your arm softly, calming you down.

“He got what he wanted. Perfect family, a kid who isn't a freak,” you closed your eyes as you felt a tear stream down your cheek.

“You’re not a freak, kid. You have to stop talking about yourself in such a demeaning way. You’re amazing, you’re smart, you’re not a freak,” Chris said, frowning softly.

You sat there quietly before speaking again.

“Do you think my parents would’ve been happy with each other if I wasn't born?” you whispered softly.

“(Y/N),” he started.

“They’re both dead because of me. They would’ve been happy with each other if it wasn't for me,” you held back more tears as you continued holding onto Chris.

“One of the main reasons they fought was because my dad didn't want a home life and he didn't want to be tied down,” you sniffled.

“That’s not true. Your parents had a long list of problems, dating back to long before you were even an idea. You cannot possibly put their problems on you,” he was interrupted by his phone ringing, getting a call.

He tensed slightly, looking at it.

“What is it?” you asked.

“Nothing, look. I have to head out for some time, just stay here, okay? We’re finishing this conversation when I get back. Don’t leave,” he jumped up, grabbing his jacket, and a gun.

“What… do you need backup?” you asked.

“No, I’ll see you in a bit,” before you could say anything else, he was out the door.

---

You paced around the house nervously, biting your nail as you checked the time once more. You could see the sun rising faintly, and you Chris still hadn't come back. You didn't even see Allison, which was unusual.

You had forgotten about telling Derek that you were at Chris’ house, having left your phone at the sheriff’s station. You just wanted to get out of there, not caring about what you left behind.

You heard the front door open as you looked up, walking towards it cautiously.

“Chris,” you started.

He pushed the door open, leaning against the doorway as he dropped his gun to the floor, bleeding from his side as you tensed up. 

You immediately ran to him, pressing down on his wound as he struggled to breathe, trying to speak to you.

“W-What happened?” you said, holding him as you put his arm around your shoulder.

Before he could reply, you felt his body go limp, falling over to the side as you sat down, holding him up in your arms.

“Chris? Chris?”

#teen wolf #teen wolf text #teen wolf fic #teen wolf fanfiction #teen wolf angst #teen wolf fics #Derek #derek hale #Derek Hale Angst #derek hale imagine #derek hale imagines #derek hale fluff #derek hale x reader #derek hale x you #derek hale x reader fluff #derek hale x platonic!reader #derek hale x reader angst #derek hale x witch!reader #chris argent #chris argent imagine

[lovinlikeloki]

The Lone Wolf (Intermission)

Masterlist // Act I Bloopers

Word Count: 1.5k

Chapter 1

Saoirse leaves the set and Rose walks up to the bar.

“So, what’s this bitch after?” Jamie asks before realizing what he said.

“What’s the what after?” Rose laughs, slipping back into her Australian accent.

“Witch, I meant witch. Oh, damn, seriously I meant witch,” he screw up his face but Rose and the extras are already laughing.

“I’m never gonna live this down am i?” Jamie sighs, running his fingers through his hair.

“Not as long as we’re working together,” Rose smiles.

Jamie looks off camera, “How long is my contract again?”

You can’t hear the response, but Jamie’s face contorts, “That long? Oh [bleep].”

Rose’s laughing becomes louder, “This is gonna be amazing.”

“Sure it is,” Jamie says sarcastically, but you can see he’s about to start laughing too.

~~~

Rose goes to the passenger side and knocks on the window, the door opens, and she’s promptly enveloped in a hug.

“Someone order a conron- a conree- a co-” Rose stammers into Lizzie’s shoulder before they both start laughing.

“A con- what’s the line? What’s the word, how do you say it?” she asks.

“A conriocht, con-rock-t. Don’t worry Rose, you got this,” a feminine accented voice off-camera tells her.

“A conriocht, a conriocht,” Rose says to herself, waving her hands as if it’s helping her through the word. “God this is such a hard language aha.”

They start the scene again, “Someone order a conron- agh! It’s the pronunciation. Why is this so difficult?”

“Con-rock-t. Come on. You’ll be fine Rose, just don’t think about it, let it roll off your tongue,” the voice from before advises.

“Thanks Ciarraí,” Rose smiles before muttering to herself, “You got this, you got this. Con-rock-t. Conriocht.”

~~~

Chapter 2

Rose sits up as she hears Jeremy’s voice, “Had to put a little coffee in him...,” the door slams and Paul ‘wakes up’, “but he should be good.”

“You got coffee without me Wanda?” Rose asks in a baby voice, exaggeratedly pouting. “You coffee wif ou’ me? I got no coffee?”

At this point everyone is laughing, Lizzie is bent over, hands on her knees, Paul just lays back down, Chris is grabbing Anthony’s chest while Sebastian subtly avoids Chris. And Jeremy looks at Rose for a second before slowly closing the van door again, making Rose start laughing too.

~~~

“And what do you do?” Anthony asks.

“I’m a hyper sem lickemthemnim with the ability to transfigure from a homo sapien to a canis lupus,” Rose stumbles over her lines.

“You what?” Paul asks, tilting his head like a confused puppy with a smile on his face.

“I sem themnem nem,” she replies, now with a straight face.

“Oh! You sem them nem nem,” Lizzie grins.

“Exactly!” Rose points.

“CUT!” Joe Russo yells.

“Oh come on, I’m sorry!”

~~~

Tom pretends to struggle with the tunnel as Chris says, “You got heart, kid. Where you from?”

“Queens,” Tom gasps out.

Chris smirks at him and says, “Brooklyn,” before running off.

Rose looks at Tom and then at Chris’s back as he runs and says, “Derry... not that anyone cares.”

~~~

Chapter 3

“That’s good to know... I think. You know, we’re gonna have to bring you all in. Captain America and the dude with the metal arm left, but you guys are technically criminals now,” Tom rambles on.

“I knew what I was getting into since the beginning. Besides, it’s nice to be wanted,” Rose improvs.

“I-“ Tom chokes on air and it becomes a coughing fit. He pulls of the mask to try and breathe better.

“You okay? Tom? You good?” Rose asks, patting him on the back. As Tom’s coughs devolve into laughter Rose leaves her hand on his back, laughing with him.

“My bad Rose, that was- that’s a good line I just wasn’t expecting that.”

“Can we try that again? And Rose, you keep that line, that was perfect. Peak Fianna humour,” Joe tells her.

~~~

“You’re quiet. Don’t you wanna throw in your two cents like the others?” Robert quirks an eyebrow.

Rose look him in the eyes, speaking slowly and angrily, “Tá a fhois agam a lán focail in a lán teanga, ach chan go leor le chuir síos ar fuath s’agam duit.”

“Oh, wow, hey you got it right that time!” Robert compliments and Rose looks murderous.

“AND NOW YOU RUINED IT!” she yells at him.

“Oh, sorry, I am so sorry Rose.”

“It’s okay,” Anthony Russo says and they both turn to him, shocked.

“Really?” Rose asks, “I don’t have to say it again and accidentally butcher it?”

“No, we got it in the close up, you’re good,” he says, giving her a thumbs up and she nearly starts crying.

“Yes!”

“Oh come on, Rose, it wasn’t that difficult,” Ciarraí says.

“No, you, you shush,” Rose demands playfully, “You speak this language fluently, you don’t get to talk about the ease of it!”

“She’s right,” Robert agrees.

“See? Even godfather of the MCU, RDJ is backing me up.”

~~~

Scarlett opens Rose’s cell and walk towards her slowly, showing her the tool in her hand, she unlocks the shock collar and Rose nearly cry in relief. Scarlett takes her hand and helps her up. But Scarlett pulled just a little too hard and Rose ended up falling face first.

“Oh my god, are you okay?” Scarlett asks.

Rose groans before raising her hand, “I’m okay!”

She pushes herself off the floor and rubs her face, clearly it hurt a little more than she let on.

“Wanna try this again?” she asks Scarlett.

“Yeah, okay,” Scarlett agrees and Rose sits back down, putting her prop collar back on.

~~~

Chapter 4

Rose and Letitia are in Shuri’s lab, standing behind one of the counters dancing and laughing while Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) plays in the background.

~~~

Scarlett is making funny faces at the camera while Rose wiggles her arms in a silly dance

~~~

Chapter 5

On the set of the flashback scene Rose and Aaron are goofing off. They’re slow dancing in the HYDRA base while Lizzie watches.

“You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life,” Rose sings Dancing Queen by ABBA, “Ooohhh.”

Aaron spins Rose out and when he spins her back in their faces are very close. They lean in very close before turning to look directly at the camera with grins.

“Gotcha,” Rose says while Aaron points.

~~~

“I don’t want to do this, but it’s for the best, if it were up to me I’d be going home... or Madripoor,” Rose says just before it hits her.

“Wait Madripoor? Isn’t that- wait! Oh my god,” she exclaims before whispering, “Connections.”

“Rose? Can we get back to the script please?” Jamie says, jokingly.

~~~

Rose is typing on Fianna’s phone for the scene where she’s messaging ‘FriendlessGhost17’. She looks to the camera smirking.

“She’s important. More than you know,” she winks.

~~~

The second phone call scene is ending and the three are saying their goodbyes.

“Goodbye Saoirse, bye Noah,” Rose says.

“Bye Rose,” Saoirse replies.

“Goodbye Rosie,” Noah says and the two ‘hang up’.

“Lil’ baby, I love that kid,” Rose says, mostly to herself.

~~~

Chapter 6

“Wait let me read that,” Rose says, looking at the tumblr post Fianna makes. She skims through it before laughing.

“What?” she giggles, “I mean I understand it, Stan and Evans? Phew, attractive men. But this post is just hilarious. Fianna, ma’am, you got to cool it.”

~~~

Rose sits at the kitchen island, in the dark nibbling on some blueberries when someone flips on the light switch.

“Oh, my god,” she jumps, falling off of the stool she was on. She reaches for the counter and pulls herself up.

“Are you okay?” Jeremy asks.

“I’m good, I’m okay.”

“You have a real knack for falling over kid, you sure you’re cut out for this role?” Jeremy teases.

“Shut up,” Rose grins before trying her best Sokovian accent, “Old man.”

~~~

Rose pushes the door open and Deborah sits at a desk, looking up from whatever paperwork she’s doing.

“Hi, welcome to Nelson and Murdock, I’m Karen. Do you have an appointment?” she asks.

Rose exclaims with a ‘typical white girl’ American accent, “Oh my god, Daredevil is gonna be here!”

#peter parker x oc #peter parker x reader #spiderman x oc #spiderman x reader #peter parker #fianna macbhfloscaidh #the lone wolf #the lupine saga #jynx writes

[tenglows]

Hi!! Could you write a Jaemin IdolxFan fluff angst with a happy ending and 33+43?? Thank you!!

[ 33: do you think we're meant to be? ] + [ 43: i wrote you a song ]

the prompts

it was a summer afternoon when you almost had a heart attack.

you were at your new job, the second day to be exact, when a boy came through the door. but it wasn’t any boy, it was na jaemin. nct dream’s jaemin. a member of your literal favorite band. was standing in front of you.

you didn’t recognize him at first, bucket hat covering his hair and a part of his face hidden behind a face mask. but when got closer to you and told you his order, it just had to be him. there was no other way.

hesitation came when you had to write his name on the cup, the marker frozen in your hand. should you directly write his name? but doubt washed over you, fearing that he wasn’t actually jaemin and you would make a fool of yourself. so, to be sure:

“what’s your name?”

he stared at you expressionlessly for a couple of seconds. your heart pounding within your ribcage. he pulled down his mask a bit, and then it was obvious. it really was him.

“noah”

what the fuck?

lying on your bed that night, you couldn’t stop thinking about today’s event. you had genuinely met your favorite idol, who got coffee and a muffin at the shop you’ve only started working at, and you didn’t react. you couldn’t, when he lied about his name. noah, seriously?

you tried to not give it much thought, assuming it had something to do with the fact that he didn’t want to be recognized in the street. but sleep was hard when you couldn’t stop hearing the boy’s voice in your mind.

two days had passed and you weren’t that stirred about the issue anymore. you accepted it as the one funny anecdote you would tell your children.

until, the boy was standing in front of the register giving the same other from before. there wasn’t anything hiding his hair this time, and you noticed it was blonder than from the pictures released a few days ago.

when you asked his name, you were surprised about him not paying attention to your question.

“you are new here” he stated.

“um, yes” you nodded, bemused. “how do you know that?”

“i always come here and i haven’t seen you around” he shrugged, a monotonous tone conveyed through all his sentences. “and the name is noah”

seeing jaemin wasn’t something that out of your routine anymore. the next time it was later than the others. you were in charge of closing the shop and were about to turn the ‘opened’ sign when he bursted into the place. slightly bowing, he tried to calm himself down.

“please, don’t close yet” he was out of breath, and you figured he had ran here. “i need coffee”

you made your way back behind the counter, jaemin following slowly. his hair was sticking to his forehead, drenched in sweat the same way his sport clothes were. he had probably been practising.

“are you okay?” you dared to query as you served him the coffee.

“yeah, too much work. that’s all” he gave you the money and smiled at you, going towards the door.

“wait” it came out of your mouth before you could keep it inside, and now that jaemin had turned around you were sort of regreting it. but hey, this things didn’t happen to everyone. “do you want to sit? i could stay open for a few minutes”

he nodded and thanked you, sitting down on a chair. he also told you to join him, and after preparing yourself a strawberry yogurt smoothie, you did.

“do you want some?” you offered and he made a face.

“no thank you, i don’t like strawberry flavored things”

“oh that’s right” you smiled, remembering the characteristic from him and drank some of your beverage. of course, you almost spit it out when you realized what you had said.

he had either not noticed it, or definitely brushed it aside. because he kept talking with the same indiference and tranquillity.

“what’s your name?” it was funny that he was the one making that question now.

“y/n”

“what do you do, y/n? apart from working here” he positioned his face on the palm of his hand, observing you attentively.

“i’m an aspiring songwriter. hadn’t had any luck yet though” you giggled. “what about you?” it felt out of place asking that when you already knew the answer.

“me? i’m an intern at some company” okay, not really a lie. “and don’t lose hope, i’m sure you’ll do well”

of course he had to be somehow sweeter in person.

it was getting darker and though you didn’t want to interrupt this moment, you really needed to lock up and get back home. jaemin apologized and said he should get going as well. under the moonlight, he gave you the brightest smile and promised to find you tomorrow.

he always kept his promise after that. and it wasn’t long until you guys started dating, shy coffee chats turning into all types of dates, during which you confirmed jaemin was indeed the most considerate and kindest person.

what happens is that jaemin kept going by noah. he never told you what his actual job was, and you never came clean about knowing his true identity. not because of anything in particular, only that it had already been so much time you had no idea how to bring it up. and you were too lost in your romance story to give it the importance it deserved.

jaemin was currently resting his head on your legs, the tv being the only source of light in your living room. neither of you were very concentrated on what you were watching, jaemin playing with your fingers.

“you know” you started, smiling at the boy beneath you. “i wrote you a song”

jaemin’s mouth opened wide and he stood up straight, quickly pausing the movie.

“show it to me!! now!!!!” he shook your arms.

“i will, i will” you laughed. “but first, i’m gonna go to the bathroom. you can search it in my notes in the mean time. it’s called strawberry kisses” you cringed at the embarrassment saying it out loud caused you.

jaemin squealed in excitement, grabbing your phone from the table.

with a big smile, you came back to the living room.

“you have to promise me you won’t laugh, i was really emotional when i wrote it and i” you stopped at the sight of jaemin having a tight grip on the device, the previous joy not having left a single trace on his face. “baby?”

you walked towards him slowly, vision growing blurrier when he didn’t look at you, his chest going up and down.

“what is this?” he showed you your twitter account. you shut your eyes, you had left the app open. “what is this, y/n?” he repeated louder this time.

“i can explain” oh how you hated that phrase. but it was the only thing that seemed to come out, voice already starting to break.

“yeah? how can you explain that you knew who i was all along? not only that, but that you have a fan account of me and my band?”

tears streamed down your cheeks. it was probably the first time jaemin had spoken like this to you, that he had stared at you like that.

“baby”

“no! no baby” he mocked you. “you lied! you fucking lied”

“i’m sorry” you blubbered. “i didn’t know how to tell you”

“i felt safe with you. i felt like i could be myself, not na jaemin, the idol. but me. whoever that is” tears had formed in his too, and your sobs were loud in the room. “but it was all fake”

“it wasn’t” you tried approaching him, your hands despairingly trying to touch him. “i was really selfish, i was so caught up in how amazing everything felt i didn’t think about the consequences. about what you would feel. but it was all real, jaemin. i swear”

it was the first time you had said his real name out loud, and he wished it had been in another context. now it only managed to send a dagger through his chest.

“i’m so sorry” he stared at the ground and the silence killed you. it was when he fixed his eyes on yours for a second that your heart stopped, but it continued stinging when he walked off.

“no, please don’t leave. i’m sorry, i’m so sorry” you begged and cried and tried to block the door. but he didn’t reply. and he left. that easily. leaving you a sobbing mess against the wall.

you hated yourself for hurting jaemin. and as you continously mulled over the matter, you did even more. you couldn’t imagine how betrayed he must have felt. when you put yourself in the shoes of a famous person, you then saw how scared of being used they must be. honesty was all jaemin expected from you. and you hurt him.

the café felt lonely without his presence, but when he showed up again, it showed it was probably for the best. you did your best to hold back your tears as you wrote down his order.

“why did you write noah, huh? it’s not like you need to pretend anymore” he said harshly and exited the bar. you had to excuse yourself and run to the bathroom so you wouldn’t break down in the middle of your shift.

he didn’t reply to any of your texts or calls. and you would have gone to his place, even if it meant settling in his doorstep until he talked to you. but you didn’t know where he lived or where he practiced at. you thought that was the worst part of it all. knowing there wasn’t a single thing you could do to make it right.

you were walking down the street when you passed through the café. you didn’t work on tuesdays, and jaemin knew that. little did you know that was the only day he would go get coffee now. because he knew you wouldn’t be there.

but as soon as you saw the tall boy getting out of the door, you crossed the street speedily.

“wait, wait!” you yelled out and he stopped, looking at you with the same disappointed eyes from that night. “talk to me, please”

“i don’t want to talk”

“then” you gulped and handed him a sheet of paper. “here. that’s my song. i didn’t get to give it to you the other day, but i wanted you to know how i truly felt” the boy inspected the paper. “i’ll leave you alone now”

it was officially a month since you had screwed up your relationship with jaemin. it didn’t get better with time, as people said. and you still couldn’t have anything with strawberry because it reminded you of him.

you now hated being in charge of closing the pub. the lonesomeness felt bigger when it was empty and with no reason to brew more coffee. another downside was that you were alone with your thoughts, meaning you would end up dwelling on the empty spot jaemin had left behind.

you were rearranging the storage at the back when you heard the bell.

“i’m sorry, we’re closed” you shouted rushing in the main area.

but he was there. he was holding your song, and he was crying.

“jaemin?” you whispered from where you were standing, not sure if you should come nearer or not.

“i really liked your song” he sobbed and your heart shattered. “my favorite part was the one where you said ‘do you think we're meant to be?’ because i do” he moved to your direction and wrapped his arms around your waist. “i do think we’re meant to be”

you were crying with him. both of you hiding in each other’s shoulders, allowing yourselves to let out everything you were holding.

“i regret it so much. i could have done better” you weeped.

“you can now” he moved his face closer to yours and weeped off your tears.

“i never used you, i never viewed you as the jaemin” you babbled, desperate about explaining yourself. jaemin nodded and stroked your hair, giving a kiss to the top of your head.

“i know” he kissed you again. “i know”.

#jaemin au #jaemin scenarios #jaemin #jaemin fluff #jaemin angst #nct au #nct scenarios #nct imagines #nct drabbles #nct fluff #nct angst #nct #jaemin imagines #nct jaemin #nct dream au #nct dream angst #nct dream fluff #nct dream scenarios #na jaemin #angst #fluff #idol au

[imaginary-ghoulfriend]

Everything that is WRONG in "The Kissing Booth" movie series PART 1

This is the first post of a series that I’m thinking about doing here, where I go around the l aspect of movies, series,... (mostly rom/coms since they are better for social dicussions) and give my personal opinion on them. If you guys like this idea please let me know, and as always feel free to give your own thoughts on the comment section/ask box (and just remembering that, giving your thoughts and sending hate are two different things).

Let’s Start! 

Before jumping to the topics of discusion, let me start with a quick summary of the story. Elle (our brunnet female lead) and Lee (the sweetheart, yet dumb, supporting character) are best friends since, well... ever. And to maintain this so called friendship, both of them stabilshed a series of rules (don’t worry I’m gonna talk more about them eventually in the post). One rule in specific, is actually what  gets the plot of the first movie going and that is: No dating Lee’s brother (aka Noah, aka the womanizer popular white guy that every girl in the school seems to have a crush on for no apparent reason beside his looks and the fact that he has a motocycle). Anyways, long story short, Elle has a crush on him even tho this is against the rules and from that on the story is bult.

Of course that it has more into it, but I will be talking about in the corse of this post and the following parts. I just want yall to know the very basic thing that’s going on here before going more deep on everything. Now, buckle up and let’s start this shit!

LONG POST WARNING 

Part 1: THE MAIN TRIO 

ELLE EVANS, THE BRUNNET FEMALE LEAD

Let me begin by saying that I do aprecciate the fact that they are trying to make a female character that embraces her feminine side while also maintaining a masculine side, but... lets put some emphasis in the word “TRYING”, shall we? Cause even tho Elle is a very loving, funny, clumsy, and gentle girl, she is also very very very generic. 

Like, I did not start watching this movie expecting anything less than that, but god, was I wishing to be surprised for once. And don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate her character at all, she is indeed very fun to watch most of the movie, principally when she puts herself into strange situations. My concern with her persona is in reality related to another thing, because let me tell you something, just cause she plays video games and has a boy best friend, that doesn’t make her this so called “cool” girl or the “not like the others” girl.  

I feel like by now that should have already been known, and I also feel like a broken record having to repeat this over and over again, but being friends with a boy doesn’t make you better than any other girl, or different than girls that have mostly girl friends. Actually the Red flag 1# in this movie is that Elle has no female friends what so ever, and worse than that, the movie is constatly comparing her to other generic girls ( the poplular/only care about apparence girls, the goth with a attitude, the girls that are constatly frowning over boys,...) by puting them around her to make her apear more “cool” to the eyes of those watching:

 “She is cool because she doens’t care about aperence like those other girls”;

 “she is cool because she’s social, she talks with everyone” (this everyone being mostly boys);

 “she doens’t get shy when talking to atractive boys, she is so different” 

What they seem to be unawear (or maybe not so much) is that by doing this, they’re not only promiting a very machist point of view around girls, but also trying to imply that a girl can’t have any of those other features, because if they do they will not appel to the eyes of man. They show us the “wrong options” by enfassising bad behaviors that those girls have, to the bennefit of the one in the lead role, while also promoting female rivality in the process. 

And maybe in the first watch you will not notice all those things, but after analyzing it more deeply, you will see that the movie constatly try to build Elle’s character surounded by a LOT of sexist innuendos, masking it by putting up jokes to break this image (which is not very effective). They want us to believe that they are showing us this amazing and different girl, with dreams and ambisions, but in the end her hole personality is based on her relationship with two boys. And let me tell you something, things do not get ANY better in the second movie.

LEE FLYNN, THE GOOFY BEST FRIEND

I should ask this first before we start: why does your friendship need so many rules? and why breaking them is like the end of the world? 

Before anwsering those questions lets talk a little about Lee, the supporting goofy, kinda cute, clumsy character. 

Through out both movies my thoughts on Lee were very strong tbh. Like, I don’t hate him completly, I actually had fun with his character a lot of times, but I also can’t find myself liking him the amount that I should, given the fact that he is supposed to be the likable best friend who only wishes what is best for his bestie. And thats exactly where the problem lives: Red flag 2# is that what he think is the best most times isn’t, and whenever things go out of his way he gets an attitude about it. 

Most of my dislike for this boy and this friendship, is because of those stupid rules that shouldn’t exist in the first place. I understand that every relationship has a set of unspoken agreements, and I also understand that when you are kids you have those fun (very dumb) ideas like “lets make rules so our relationship stays strong”. But as you grow older, you should know what “rules” you should keep, and what rules you should burn down in the dumpster, principaly because your priorities as you grow change.

You and Your best friend shouldn’t be making your life long desicions based on a set of rules that you two put out together when you were infants, and that’s what pissed me the most about this movie to be honest. 

Elle shouldn’t be restricted about who she should date based on Lee’s dislike for her partiner, she shouldn’t have to go to a college just because her best friend wants her to go to the institute that he is going,... She is a grown person, she shouldn’t feel the need to ask for permision of her friend before choosing to do something, and she shouldn’t feel the need to keep things in secret because he might over react about it. 

At the same time, it also feels like Elle is using this as an excuse to not have to come over and make decisions for herself. And you can see this more clearly on the second movie, where her only two options for a collage is the one her best friend wants or the one her boyfriend is at. Like, she is 18 y/o and she didn’t even thought about a plan B? what if she wasn’t accepted by those two colleges in the first place? She didn’t think any of this through, before jumping full on board on things. She has all this time to train for a dance competition she never took part on before, but doesn’t have time to think about what she actually wants for her future, beside dating this guy that she doesn’t even know if he’s cheating on her or not??????? And you really want me to believe that she is this person who thinks everything before hand? No, I don’t think so. 

And before you say I’m going too strong on Elle, let me tell you that all of this also applys for the opposite situation as well. Neither of them should feel presured by not breaking those STUPID rules, because if they really are best friends, they should know that the most important thing is seeing the other happy. Being friends with someone shouldn’t give you this much anxiety, you shouldn’t feel the need to constantly be together or to have to do everything with the other, because if you aren’t around one another 24/7 you might lose eachother. Real bestfriends shouldn’t even be affraid to lose the friendship they have in the first place!!!!

Overall the only thing about this two that I can thank for, is their boy/girl relationship with no second intentions, because besides that, all the rest needs to FREAKING STOP!! Maybe a little time away from one another might be good for this two after all.

NOAH FLYNN, THE MAJOR ASSHOLE

I’m not even gonna try to sugar coat this one, cause to be honest I don’t want too. Noah Flynn is a butthole, and beside his looks (that can be totally dicussed since beauty is relative) he has no good or redeemed qualities. 

I can’t find words to express how tired I am to find characters like him in most rom/coms. The popular bad boy with no consideration for anyones sentiments and with a hole bunch of attachment problems and anger issues. He goes around playing with girls, acting like he is king of everything and that he can get whatever he wants by simply smiling and blinking his eyes. And yet, even with all this PROBLEMATIC behaviors, he still has the hole school fangirling over him like he is the last piece of man in the edge of this world (which is another sexist thought, to think that girls would only fall for this kind of dickhead guys). 

And once again, it’s given to the lead female the job to “fix” this piece of shit of a person, but let me tell you something: IT IS NOT HER JOB!!! 

It’s no girl’s job to try to change a boy for the better, his issues should be discussed with a terapist or a psycologist and that’s it. I’m so tired of this “a good girl can change a bad boy” narrative, like is their mission in life to get a really fucked up guy and make them turn good. No, it’s not, FULL STOP!!

I’m so tired of this stupid and toxic idea, this is disgusting (and I mean it). The amount of girls that end up getting in a abusive realtionships because of this disturbed idea that “he can change” or “he is not like this all the time”. You are his girlfriend!!! He shouldn’t be like that at any time!!!! 

Masking his temperament problems and abusive behiviours with small moments of compasion, small moments where he seem gentle and loving, only to moments later having him going around like a dickweed again. Saying things like: “oh, they where arguing and he just got carried away”, or “he wouldn’t act like that if the other hadn’t provoked him”. HE IS NOT AN ANIMAL, FOR GOD’S SAKE!!!! He is a human being, and if he can’t control himself around others, then he probably shouldn’t be allow to date someone in the first place! It’s not Elle’s, or any other girl, job to go around controling and fixing his shitty atitudes.

And the worse part of it all, is that when shit happens everything is put onto the girl’s shoulders, like he is her responsability after all. “He got into a fight because she wasn’t there”; “he sheatted on her because she fought with him”; ”he acted violent because she provoked”; “he wouldn’t feel jealous, if she weren’t wearing those clothes”,... 

It’s so absurd to see that when Elle is wrong everyone is so quick on their feet to say how wrong she was, how slutty she was, “because this wouldn’t happen if she trusted him” (and I’m not saying I agree with every single attitude of her, because I don’t). But when he is doing something wrong, everyone is changing the focus of the subject, or even worse, DEFFENDING HIM! 

HE IS JUST A CUTE FACE WITH A HOT BODY AND THAT’S IT!!!! To think so many girls that watched this movie want a boyfriend like him, trully is infuriating!! I keep asking myself “what if he wasn’t hot?” or “what if he wasn’t so high up in our society beauty standards?”, I’m sure if he had a different apparence our view and reactions over his persona wouldn’t be so passive. 

Noah’s Red flags scoore: +10,000

I feel exausted after writing all this tbh, I’ll be trying to post part 2 soon, because if you think this is over, let me tell you: IT IS NOT! I will try to go less hard on this movie in part two, I feel like I got a little carried away at the end but I needed to make my point clear. In the second part, I will be talking more about the kissing booth 2 and the rest of the characters, and since I liked the second one way more there will be less specific criticism and more a overall point of view of the plot, for now that’s all I have to say.

Thanks for reading :)

#the kissing booth #elle #elle evans #noah #lee #noah flynn #lee flynn #the kissing booth netflix #netflix #rom com #the kissing booth 2 #rachel #chloe #marco peña #movie critic #netflix original #the kissing booth movie series #movie series

[youresog0lden]

It Takes A Team II Spencer Reid

"Someone help me." Agent Alex Ren a agent for the FBI's BAU. Her team goes onto a very difficult case surrounding  what looks like a attack similar to 9-11. After solving the case Alex meets up with someone from her past that's carrying a heavy motive. I do not own any of the characters to Criminal Minds !

word count: 5k

warning ⚠ : guns, mentions of 9-11, vomiting, rape, mentions of rape, self harm, smut, knifes, drug mentions,

Please don’t read if you can’t handle the topic of sexual assault. If you ever need anyone to talk to please don’t be afraid to reach out. I love you. 

This is my first time really writing smut please let me know how I did !

masterlist

I DO NOT OWN THE GIFS I USED !

"Wheels up in ten." Hotch says. It takes me a second to register what happened. I look back up at the photos. A plane crash only one survivor. You could see limbs all over the place.

"Garcia?" I asked.

"Yes my love?"

"Can you look back at previous files of recent plane crashes and try and find any similarities in the cases." I look at her.

"Of course my lovely I'll send it to you on the plane." Reid looks at the file.

"Did you know some planes can fly for more than five hours after one of their engines goes out. It doesn't make sense why they couldn't have landed." he says.

"Maybe something more was to it." I said walking to the plane. He doesn't say anything he just licks his lips and sits down. We get there within three hours. We all get off the jet.

"Kate, Morgan, go to the morgue. Try and identify the bodies. JJ go talk to the families. Spencer, Ren go to the plane crash site. It's going to be swarming with Military officials. Rossi and I will go talk to the witness. Remember this is a secret case we don't want anyone to know it will create a panic. We need to keep this personal. They are attacking Military members. Watch out." Hotch said we all nod and, go out separate ways.

"Can I drive." Reid says. I laugh.

"Pretty boy driving. I'm not ready to take that chance." he looks at me with a serious look on his face. Then laughs. I throw him the keys and get in the passenger side. We drive down to the plane site discussing the case on the way down.

"Do you think this has anything to do with 9-11?" I asked he shook his head and we walked around the site him pointing out every little thing that has to do with it. We stopped at a set of seats.

"The passengers vomited before the crash showing the increase of turbulence."

"So it didn't have anything to do with engines. Maybe it was an inside job." I exclaimed.

-----

It's been two days. We were on our way to the house that belonged to General Sargent Liam James. We were rasing against time. He left us a note saying that we needed to find him soon of major damage would be caused. We pull into the driveway all running out of the cars. I take my gun out of the holster and walk towards the door.

"FBI open up." I yell. No one opens up I take a look at Morgan. He kicked the door open all of us flooding around. I hear a few 'clears' in the rooms behind me. I walk towards the room that had a lot of lighting under the doorway. I open it slightly before seeing a man stand there with a gun pointed towards me.

"Put your gun down." I say. He cocks his gun.

"Sir I will not repeat myself again. Put. Your. Gun. Down." he smirks at me before putting his finger on the trigger. I hear a shot before looking down seeing him fall. Gun shot to the head. I look behind me to see Spencer standing with smoke coming from his gun. Other agents rushing into the room. He comes over to me he puts his gun away before placing his hand on my back.

"Are you okay?" he says softly, voice barley above a whisper.

"Yeah. Thank you." I said just as softly.

"Let's go back to the hotel." I nod and we walk back to a car. We drive over to the hotel. I hear the ring of my phone so I pull it out.

"Noah Cameron." It said. A old high school friend. Haven't talked in maybe three years. Before I know it the ringing stops and, a voicemail pops up. We pull up to the hotel right on time. I put it to my ear and listen to it.

"Alex. Help. Help me please. I'm in trouble." his voice was shaking. I hit the call button. It rings for a few seconds.

"Hey where are you whats going on." my voice laced with panic.

"I'm on the corner of 5th and Walnut." he says.

"I'll be right there." I say. The phone connection dies.

"Reid give me the keys."

"Why?"

"Reid now is not the time to ask questions." I scolded. He didn't say anything he just threw the keys at me. I start the engine and drive away. It took me about ten minutes before I got there.

"Noah." I called out. Nothing. "Noah." nothing. I felt something hit the back of my head and everything went black.

Spencer's POV:

Something didn't feel right. I don't know what. Ren hasn't come back to the hotel it's been over three hours.

"Hotch." I bang on his door. He opens the door with a straight face.

"What." he groaned.

"Somethings wrong. Ren hasn't come back it's been three hours."

"What do you mean 'hasn't come back."

"She told me to give her the keys and when i asked why she told me it was urgent. Hotch I don't have a good feeling about this."

"Okay lets get the team together and fly back tonight. We need our own space to work in." I nodded.

"Call Garcia." he finished talking I picked up my phone.

"My sweet boy do you know what time it is?"

"Garcia. Ren's missing." I said. She stopped dead in her tracks.

"What the hell do you mean missing."

"I'll explain when I get back to the BAU we're leaving now." I seen everyone rush into the cars as we all drive away to the precinct.

"Right now we are going to treat this as a missing person case. This is not personal." Hotch said.

"Right now we don't have anything to go off on. Garcia is on her way down right now. She will be her within the hour. Right now we have to think of what could've happened while driving to the hotel." Hotch said again.

"What happened while driving Reid." Morgan asked.

"We were talking and she got a phone call. I didn't see who it was but we kept talking for a minute and before we knew it we were there and the ringing stopped. She looked at me and I got out so she could call the person back. I watched her face as she talked to them. She seemed worried, almost scared. She ran out of the car telling me she needed the keys and when I asked why she just told me it was important. I didn't really think anything of it. But now I realized that I should've gone with her. That's my fault." I say lowly. Everyone looks at me. I felt a tear run down my cheek. I wipe it away quickly. I see the quirky blonde run around the corner.

----

Alex's POV:

I woke up in an unknown place. It was a small room with a small hanging light bulb and a locked metal freezer looking door. God damn it Alex quit trying to be a life saver. I groan as I feel something drip down my face. I try to move my hands only to find them locked.

"Help me." I squeaked. I heard the door open. I thought it was Liam. But it wasn't.

"Nick." I softly said. He smirks shutting the door.

"Hey pretty girl." he says smirking at me once again. He walks up to me and puts his hand on my face touching the blood.

"What happened to you." he laughs. I look at him.

"Let me go." I said

"NO. It's just getting to the good part he says." I tilt my head. He grabs my hair and pulls it back.

"Is the big bad FBI agent quite now." he fake pouts.

"What do you want from me." I said.

"You'll find out soon enough." he laughs. I look him head in the eyes the bring my head to hit his. Causing him to stumble.

"I will kill you." he grabs me. It was my turn to laugh. He smirks looking at me.

"How about we have some fun." He says. I look at him confused written all over my face. He walks out of them room. I start counting the time it takes him to get back. This time he comes back with a book bag a chair and a camera. It took him 10 minutes and 24 seconds for him to come back.

"This right here." he points to the camera.

"Will film everything I do to you so your teams knows. This." he points to the computer he brought out of his book bag.

"Will stream everything to millions of people all over the world. Some of them including your team." he laughs and sets up the camera. He takes a mask out of his bag and looks at me. Before everything goes black.

-----

Spencer's POV:

"Garcia. Can you go through Alex's recent phone calls and find out who she was talking to."

"Of course sugar plum." she says

"Okay it looks like she was talking to someone named Noah Cameron. I listened to the voice mail. If you want me to send it I will. She then called him and he told her to meet him on the corner of 5th and Walnut." she says.

"Thank you babygirl." Morgan says. She sends him a wink and all of us get up and run to the car. We drive to the place where she was located to find the car. Keys still in the engine. Her gun sitting on the seat next to her.

"Okay lets split it." We all went in different directions. In a matter of seconds I call the team over. It's her phone.

"She was here."

"Guys." Morgan calls us over. We walk over there. JJ gasped. There was blood on the ground looking like someone was dragged.

"There's no way this isn't her blood." Rossi said. This is all my fault. If I only went with her then maybe she wouldn't be in this position. No. You can't think like that because if you do then you both might be in this position.

"Spencer." Kate called out.

"This is now a crime scene. Lets see if the cameras got anything." Hotch says.

"Okay. What I need from ya'll JJ and Morgan go talk to the store owners across the street see if the seen anyone. Rossi, Kate fill the police in. I'll go ask Garcia to get the footage." Hotch announces.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked.

"Go back to the precinct and get your head straight or else this won't be good for any of us. We need you with us okay?" he questioned. I didn't say anything. I just nodded. Hotch and I rode back together. While we got a call.

"Everyone get back to the precinct now." Garcia said sternly.

"Why?" Hotch asked.

"There's a video going live in fifteen minutes and you'll never guess who's in it."

"Alex." I breathed.

----

Alex's POV:

I woke up again. This time chained to a bed. Only hearing a t-shirt and underwear. The camera was watching me. I seen the red light flashing meaning it was recording. Pretty soon the big door opens. There he is wearing a mask.

"Hey pretty girl. You ready to get started." He laughs.

"Help me." I screamed.

"God someone help me." I called out again.

"Stupid bitch no ones gonna help you." he laughs. I started crying.

"I thought you were supposed to be tough. Why are you crying." he laughs again. He starts pulling down my underwear.

"Stop." I yell. He doesn't stop.

___

No ones POV:

He pulled down her underwear. Making sure everyone could see.

"Alex." Garcia called out.

"I can't watch this." Kate said.

"If anyone wants to leave then they are more than welcomed to. I understand this isn't an easy video to watch." Hotch says. No ones leaves. So he nods. At this point we watch him give her a drug. But all of the sudden she was calm.

"What drug did he give her." Garcia asked. Spencer spoke up.

"There is no telling but it was most likely flunitrazepam it's a powerful hypnotic drug that is a benzodiazepine derivative. It has powerful hypnotic, sedative, anxiolytic, and skeletal muscle relaxant properties. The drug is sometimes used as a date rape drug. In the United States, the drug has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for medical use, and is considered to be an illegal drug. It has however been approved in the United Kingdom and other countries." He spoke. Everyone looked dumbfounded.

Alex started crying. Bringing everyone's attention back to the screen. Everyone was watching. It made Spencer's blood boil. He put himself into her. As she cried out.

"Please stop." Alex called out. But suddenly it kicked in. She felt numb. Nothing. He continued to thrust into her.  She just laid there. Finally he finished and she still laid there not being able to move a muscle. She couldn't move. Well she could physically but mentally her mind wouldn't let her.

"h-h-help." she said.

"Spence." she said again. Spencer's eye shot directly at the screen. The guy on her screen walked out.

"His name is Nick Cameron. Liam Cameron’s brother." She whispered before the screen went black.

----

Alex's POV:

"Why the fuck would you do that." He screamed. I jumped. I shrugged.

"You little bitch." he was now fully dressed. He walked back out once again and not but a few minutes later he walks back in with a knife.

"This is for telling the people that are watching who I am." I looked at the camera it was still recording. But I don't think he knew that. He stabbed my leg. I winced out in pain.

"This is for not answering me." he stabbed the other leg.

"And this is for the fun of it." he laughs. Stabbing my arm. I yelled in pain.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked.

"Do you seriously not remember." he asked.

"No."

"You told me you loved me then had sex with my brother." he yelled.

"Nick. You're ten years older than me. I never told you I loved you besides more than a friend." I said softly.

"Yes. You. Did." how the fuck is he going to tell me.

"I heard y'all that night. It was the night of prom you looked so pretty. You we're wearing a red long spaghetti strapped dress that flowed at the end. You came back to our house to take photos. You looked as beautiful as always but you came up to me and told me you loved me."

"I LITERALLY MEANT IT AS A BROTHER. YOU SICK FUCK." I yelled. he slapped me.

"shut the fuck up." he yelled. I heard sirens in the distance. I spit in his face he grabbed my throat and started to strangle me. I heard running from the distance before hearing the door opening. In the blink of an eye he has a gun to my head. As Spencer, Rossi, Hotch, Morgan, JJ, and Kate come flooding in.

"Put the gun down." Spencer calls out.

"No."

"Put the damn gun down." Morgan calls out. God why am I always in the middle of the gun. He clocks his gun but before he can Morgan shoots him. I fall down the position I was in. Spencer running towards me. He took off his jacket and wrapped it around me. I wrap my arms around his neck as he wraps them around my waist. I was still bleeding from being stabbed not even thirty minuted before. But I didn't and he didn't care. He held me there for what felt like forever.

"Come on let's get you checked out." we walked his arms still around me. I sit in the ambulance while the check me out. I felt light headed from the amount of blood I've lost so they decided to take me down to the hospital to get stitches but besides that i would be okay. Spence decided to ride with me. He looks lost in thoughts sweeping his tongue against his lips. I grab his hand. He looks up at me and smiles.

"What's up." I said.

"It's nothing."

"Pretty boy..." I said

"I just- I know you told me not to worry about it but I can't help but feel like this is my fault." he sighs. I bring his hand up to my mouth and kiss it.

"Listen you weren't going to stop me from going. If anything I'm glad you didn't go because we both would've been down. and Hotch wouldn't have been happy."

"I know I just can't picture losing you." he said softly. I laugh.

"Oh come on Doc. I'm not that easy to get rid of." I smile. So does he. We arrive and I get checked out and get my stitches. Spencer by my side the whole time. Everyone came in and hugged me telling me that they we're glad I'm okay. I just laugh. Hotch looks down at his phone.

"They found a body." he says. I stop in my tracks.

"Liam." I say softly.

"He killed his own brother. That's sick." Garcia said. I nodded.

"He's a sick man."

------

Time has passed and now we're sitting on the plane disguising the case.

"So what's going to happen to him." Kate asked.

"Well he's going to be put on trial and Alex will have to testify. But he kidnapped and killed someone." Hotch said.

"Hey." Spence said softly.

"Hey." I mimicked. He laughed putting his arm around me drawing me closer to him. I rested my head on his shoulder. He kissed my forehead and as i feel into a deep sleep.

--

Pretty soon I felt someone pick me up.

"You sure you got her." Morgan asked.

"Yeah." was the only thing that came out of spencers mouth. I try to get closer to him as he just laughs. Soon enough I'm being put in his car and our bags are being put into the back.

"Spence." I said softly. He looks down at me.

"Yes."

"Can you stay with me. I really don't want to be alone." I said softly. He nods. Putting his hand on my knee cap. I flinch in the process so he takes his hand away.

"I'm so sorry." he says.

"It's fine. It just kinda startled me." I said. He nodded. So I grab his hand lacing our hands together stopping the shaking. He smiles. I look out the window thinking about everything. Every once in a while he squeeze it. We finally pull up to my house. Getting out of the car and walking into my home. I try opening the door but, my hands were shaking to much. I turn around and look at him taking a good look at him. He has stubble, his hair is messy, and he's wearing a black button down with black pants. God he's hot. Shit I can't think like that.

"Alex." he says snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Sorry." I mumbled turning around. I unlocked the door.

"No you're fine you were just staring." he laughed.

"How long was I gone." I asked randomly.

"3 days 21 hours and 14 minutes." he says

"Damn." I said almost not audible.

"I'm sorry I let this happen to you." he say softly almost like if he talked any louder he'd break me.

"Don't be sorry. I'm strong. I'll get through it." I said

"You should probably eat."

"Do you wanna order Chinese?"

"Is that even a question." I laugh.

"I don't know where my phone is?" I laugh forgetting about it.

"Oh shit. Hotch left it at the BAU sorry. I'll order it." he says. I nod. He pulls out his phone and orders the food.

"It'll be here in twenty." i nod

"Wanna watch t.v" he just nods and we walk to my room. I jump on my bed taking in the cushiony bed. I hear a chuckle from behind. I move over slightly still laying on my stomach. He takes off his shoes laying beside me. I move closer to him. He opens his arms pulling me into him. I get as close as humanly possible to him as doing so I get a huge sniff smelling coffee and cinnamon.

"Alex." he says softly.

"Yes spence."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome?" I laugh

"I mean thank you for not getting mad at me. Most people would be mad that I didn't go with them. But you're so understanding. Thank you."

"Oh of course bubba. I could never be upset that you didn't come you didn't know the seriousness of the situation." I sigh. He will never know how much I love him. I look up at him and smile.

"I love you." he said

"I love you too." I say. Of course he only meant it as a friends way but a girl can pretend. There was a knock on the door so I get up to get it. I paid the man going into my room we grab our food eating and enjoying a night of smiles and laughter. Forgetting about the past 72 hours.

----

Two weeks later.

I have finally been cleared to work. That night Spencer and I feel asleep on me bed cuddling but when I woke up the next morning he was gone. I haven't really seen him or talked to him since then I've tried but he always told me he was busy. It kinda hurt but I didn't let it bother me that much. I walk into work with my to-go bag in my hand. Everyone walked up to me. I put my bag under my desk hugging everyone.

"How are you?" Morgan asked.

"I'm pretty good. Could be better. But not complaining."

"Well what's up." I look at the curly headed kid sitting a few feat away from us.

"Nothing. Just everything that happened is finally getting to me." I said lightly. He nods.

"Well Garcia missed you light crazy."

"I figured."

"Where's Kate? I haven't seen her yet." I say right then the door's open.

"Ren." She yells I smile as she comes up hugging me.

"How's you're legs."

"They're feeling much better."

"Well that's good, and looks like you came back in the right time because today we're just filling out reports. Nothing to hard." she smiles. I groan.

"I want to be back out in the field." I sigh

"I know but soon." she laughs. At this point the only person around us was Spencer. Kate looks at me then him and nods then walks off. I sit in my seat rolling over to him. I put my hand on his shoulder he jumps in doing so.

"I'm sorry." I said laughing. He just rolled his eyes focusing back on his computer.

"Are you okay. I haven't heard from you in since the night I got home." I say.

"Fine." he mumbles. I just nod taking it as he doesn't want to talk.

"Well I'm sorry if I did something." I say softly. Going back to my desk. He doesn't say anything I just roll my eyes and start filling out the paperwork. I get up and walk over to Garcia's "lair" I open the door and walk in she see's me and automatically stands up.

"Hello my sweet sweet child." she says.

"Hi momma Garcia." I say.

"How are you."

"I've been better. Do you know what's up with Spence?" I ask.

"No. Why?"

"He just hasn't talked to me since everything and I just miss him that's all."

"Well I can ask him-"

"No." I cut her off.

"If he needs me he knows where to find me." I say softly. She nods.

"Anyways can you scan these into the system." she nods once again. I smile handing her the files and walking back to the bullpen. I sit down and start working again.

"Pstt." I called Spencer. He doesn't do anything.

"Spence." I say. Nothing. I give up and just start working again. Until I've had enough.

"What's your problem." I said looking at him. He chuckles.

"My problem."

"Yes. Why aren't you talking to me. Why haven't you been talking to me. Spence I needed my best friend this past two weeks. Where have you been." I asked.

"Busy." I laugh.

"You know what- nevermind forget I asked." I said. I turn around this time working at my desk.

--

Its been about an hour. I felt his gaze on me the entire time but I didn't even pay attention. I just kept thinking about him. I felt someone grab my arm and pull me up. I look to see Spencer. We start walking somewhere. I didn't realize until we were in a file closet. I opened my mouth to say something me. But before I could Spencer smashed his lips on mine. It took me a minute to realize what was going on. He started to pull away but I put my arms around him pulling him closer. He wraps his arm around my waist pulling me even closer to him. He licked my bottom lip as I part my lips our tongues fight for dominance. I moan slightly in his mouth. He smiles through the kiss. Us both pulling away to breath.

"I'm sorry." He panted.

"I was to afraid that I was going to hurt you. So I decided to pull away instead of being with you." he said softly.

"Don't worry about me. I'm a big girl. You we're never going to hurt me I promise" I said.

"I'm in love with you." He said.

"I'm in love with you." I said in return.  He looked me in the eyes. I pull him closely and kiss him again this time lust being clearly shown in the kiss. God this man is a god. He starts moving down my neck sucking on my collar bone. I let out a soft moan. His hands fumble with my shirt singling for me to take it off.

"Are you sure?" he asks.

"As sure as ever." he pulls my shirt off my head and starting his way down. My hands mess with his tie before its lose enough to take off. I unbutton his shirt taking that off to. His hands move to my back un-clipping my bra. His mouth moving to my nipples. He takes one into his mouth and kneading the other one with his hand.

"Spence." I moan. He moves to the other one just switching.

"Spencer. I need you."

"hmm?" he says cupping his ear.

"Please. Spencer fuck me." I said.

"Your wish is my command." He say in my ear. That alone almost made me cum. He pulls my pants down looking at my underwear. Licking his lips he pulls them down.

"Is this all for me." he asks. Sliding one of his fingers over my folds. I nod.

"Words princess."

"Yes." I moan. He laughs. Taking off his pants and pulling off his boxers I look down.

"Are you sure you want to do this." he asks.

"YES." I piratically scream.

"Okay baby. Be patient. " he chuckles. He lines himself up with me slowly inching himself into me holding my hips tightly. Inch by inch. I let out a few whimpers and moans until hes fully thrusting. The only sound is skin hitting together and the sounds of my moans ans his groans.

"You're so beautiful" he moans into my ear.

"God. I wish I would've done this the first day I met you." I chuckled. He brings his thumb to my mouth.

"Open." was all he said. I opened and he stuck his thumb in my saliva coating his thumb he brings it down to my clit rubbing I moan squeezing around him.

"Fuck." he says circling harder.

"Fuck I'm gonna cum."

"Come for me princess." he says lowly. I squeeze around him again he grab my hips harder. Almost 99% sure there would be bruises there tomorrow.

"Fuck." he groans once more before I feel a liquid shooting in me. His lips meet mine riding out our highs. He pulls put of me finding a napkin in his pocket cleaning himself and me up. We slide out clothes back on. I look at him.

"Can I get you dinner sometime." he asks.

"Yes."

#matthew gray gubler #spencer reid smut #criminal minds #spencer reid x y/n #spencer #spencer reid #arron hotchner #garcia #derek morgan

[thecandywrites]

Jewel Of The North Part 2

So in case you missed it Part 1. Again, many thanks to @monstersandmaw​ for sharing the concept of ice orcs with me and letting me run WILD with it. I’m having so much fun with this. 

Ok, so Zara Kingsley, top left, top right- Doug Kizzo and just under him is supposedly “Wolf Eye” which is a brand of whiskey I made up just for this story. Fun fact- there is actually a high end brand of whiskey called “Wolves” and they sell whiskey the way designer limited edition sneaker/tennis shoes are sold ($150 a bottle and you have to “register” to even get on a list before they’ll send you a bottle, *sigh* rich people, but I am not a rich person in real life which would explain why in every fantasy story I write, I can change that about my character) anyway, I didn’t know was even a thing until after I wrote this and as a point of curiosity, I double checked to see if Wolf Eye whiskey was a thing so I didn’t have to worry about copyright (Which is why names are Like That in this story) And that beautiful plate of seafood is what I envisioned a “king’s platter” would look like vs. A fisherman’s stew which is the picture right above the little girl who I’ve chosen to represent Sakura in this story and we have the lovely Taylor in the bottom left. 

Now let’s go shall we? Off to the Arctic Tundra!

Jewel of the North 

Part 2 

You woke up earlier than you thought you would, mostly because you were still in your Great Lakes time zone. So what was 10am to your body, it was 7am there. You crept out of bed and snuck into the bathroom to brush your teeth and your hair and put a bra on under your pajamas and then as quietly as you could, unpacked your gifts for Taylor and her family and arranged everything on the table as you quickly made a pot of coffee and some toast for your pre-breakfast and the smell of coffee was what roused Taylor and Greg at about 8:30.

“Good morning.” You greeted them warmly as they were both still obviously groggy but both happily shuffled over to the coffee pot to drink their coffee.  

“What’s all this?” Greg asked as he looked at his table which was almost overflowing. 

“Presents, Taylor told me to bring seeds.” You answered. 

“Did you...like...clean out a greenhouse?” Greg chuckled as he looked at the sheer amount and variety you brought. 

“Mmm...more like 5 but that’s not important besides I got to a lot of them just as they were closing out for the season so I got a bunch of it for mere pennies on the dollar and it was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time with money in your pocket.” You giggled with a dismissive wave of your hand. “I don’t do anything small or by half.” You shrugged before you handed him a wrapped present. 

“Oof, that’s heavy.” He realized as he took it from you. “You didn’t have to get me anything...oh my gods, you got me Kraken!” He practically squealed when he opened it and pretended to cry as he hugged the gallon jug. 

“My precious.”  He impersonated Gollum as he pet it which cracked you and Taylor up before you handed her- her own gift as she gasped and tried not to squeal too loudly as she unwrapped a bottle of raspberry peach Grand Marnier. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She practically bounced in her spot, hugging the jug too before she leaned over and hugged you too. 

“Alcohol is so stinking expensive up here it’s ridiculous, thank you so much for bringing this.” Taylor thanked you. 

“Yes, it’s very generous of you, thank you.” Greg mirrored. 

“You’re welcome.” You beamed. 

“You know, we really shouldn’t keep all these seeds for ourselves. We should gift these at the festival. That way all the clans can benefit from this.” Greg realized. 

“I was thinking the exact same thing, I told her that last night when she told me about them.” Taylor nodded in agreement. 

“You got a box we can put it all in for now?” You asked before Taylor grabbed the biggest box she had and the three of you packed the seeds away before you grabbed your other crate that had all the seasonings in it. 

“There’s more?” Greg laughed. 

“Well yeah, Taylor said the local grocery stores are pretty limited on spices so I brought enough of everything that it should last you until we see each other again.” You shrugged. 

“It’s like you brought a spice store with you.” Taylor swooned as she opened some of them and sniffed them before Greg did the same, both of them grinning at the scents in their noses. 

“French toast for breakfast?” You suggested. 

“Hell yeah,” Greg immediately agreed before you and Taylor began to make breakfast before the scents of breakfast woke the kids up. 

“Good morning guys!” You greeted them cheerfully as they stopped and stared at the stranger in the kitchen. 

“This is Zara, she’s a friend of ours so you can call her Auntie Zara and she’s going to be staying with us for about a week.” Taylor introduced you. 

“And I’m really grateful you guys opened your home up so I could stay with you, so I brought you guys presents.” You told them which made all of them gasp in excitement. 

“So, you must be Katie, the sensible older sister.” You asked as you pulled out the presents that had their names on them. 

“Lovely to make your acquaintance Katie,” you greeted her formally as you handed her the wrapped gift. Because tweens always loved it when you treated them like little adults. 

“And you must be Matthew.” You deduced as you handed Taylor’s son his gift before you got on your knees so you could be eye to eye with the toddler. 

“Is your name Jamie?” You asked as Jamie hid his face behind his mother’s leg as Greg and Taylor laughed at his bashfulness. 

“Do you think you could take this gift from me Jamie?” You asked as you held it out to him before he took it and ran away. 

“You got me a race car!” Matthew exclaimed and promptly high fived you as Katie’s jaw dropped at her present. 

“Your mom said it was ok to give you girl pampering stuff, so there’s a few face masks, some nail polish. Fancy hand lotion, a few bath bombs and stuff.” You explained as you pointed everything out before Katie happily enveloped you in a hug. 

“Thank you so much.” Katie thanked you gratefully. 

“You’re welcome sweetie.” You grinned just as Jaimie squealed in delight at his new toy and came running in and nearly knocked you over giving you a hug which got you to cackle laughing so you were left to sit on the kitchen floor while Jamie hugged you before he left to go play with his toy as Matt was already racing his car around the house before the family finally got to sit down to breakfast as the kids got to know you better by asking questions about you and your family and where you lived as you showed them pictures of your own kids and how you were a widow now and what you did for living and your horses and pets and things as Jamie happily ate his breakfast from your lap and stared at you adoringly and practically inhaled half your breakfast which you didn’t mind one bit.  As long as babies ate well, they should thrive and you remembered how your own son Xander was practically a bottomless pit. 

Then the calls started to come in on Greg’s and Taylor’s cell phones, all asking if you were there yet. 

“Yup, Noah flew her in yesterday.” You heard them both say as their phones then started to blow up from texts. 

“Uh, babe…” Taylor looked at her husband in a meaningful look that bordered on concern because word had spread like wildfire as they showed each other their screens, the same people texting both of them, but mostly Taylor because they were hoping she would give better answers than simple yes or no’s that Greg was giving. Except to his brother Doug, who Greg was giving him just about everything that you were sharing with his kids as Doug was already claiming “dibs” to the others. 

“Want to go out to dinner?” Greg offered. 

“Sure.” You nodded. 

“In town there’s really only a few restaurants, Eska’s which is a mom and pop- grandma’s food in a tavern, the bar- Kesuk’s.” Taylor began to list off. 

“Is it the place that has the ‘kitchen sink nachos’?” You asked. 

“Yes.” Taylor beamed. “And it’s not a “dive bar” but it is very much the local watering hole. Now there is a “dive bar” and that is Goose’s. I wouldn’t go to the bathroom there but we will get takeout from there because they make the best double cheeseburger while White’s has the best wings.” Taylor explained. 

“But Swanson’s has the best steaks, but it’s a bit pricey, it’s right next to Gold Horn’s which is the biggest and nicest fishing and hunting retreat around.” Greg explained. 

“And one of the nicest butcher shops because most of the hunters can’t take all that meat home.” Taylor added. 

“Anyway, the locals around here will go to Swanson’s for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and stuff, pretty special occasions.” Greg continued before they continued to list off all the places around to eat before you decided on Eska’s because it sounded like the ‘safest’ option and spent the afternoon getting ready while you happily walk Katie through your ‘routine’ of getting ready as you, with Taylor and Greg’s permission helped her get dressed up too and put some simple makeup on her as her new ‘auntie’ and by dinner your nerves were already a little frayed because Taylor told you that you were meeting ‘the family’ meaning not only hers but Greg’s too and you had picked up on the hint of Greg talking about his brother and his accomplishments and such and you gave Taylor a meaningful look to which she looked back apologetically. 

If you were honest, you were used to it. If your friend’s mates had failed trying to flirt with you or whatever, often you were ‘introduced’ to so many brothers, friends and especially brother in laws. 

You got to dinner and the ‘family’ was already there, waiting for the table to get ready while ‘Doug’ was running late getting ready and there had to be 20 people there, all of them there to meet which you didn’t mind as you did your best to meet and greet everyone before the table was ready and Taylor had you sit at the end of the table as Greg and Taylor made sure that the seat across from you was Doug’s seat and you asked Katie to sit next to you so you wouldn’t be all alone since there was an empty seat next to Doug’s seat because he liked to “stretch out” as you met Greg’s parents and Taylor’s parents and got got catch up because Glenda, Taylor’s mom had missed your mom and to see pictures of your mom on her horse with your kids made them all happy as they got to know you a little as you kept an eye on the door, waiting for ‘Doug’ before an older woman came in with the cutest little girl you had ever seen in your life then a familiar face came in behind them. 

Noah. 

You instantly blew out a breath of relief at seeing him before a relieved and happy smile plastered itself on your face and you noticed they were walking by you and Noah seemed to see you shortly after you saw him as he soon mirrored your smile as he seemed equally excited to see you. 

“Hey Stranger.” You greeted. 

“Hey, fancy meeting you here, this is my daughter Sakura, this is my mom, Summer.” He introduced. 

“But you can call me Nana Hun.” She warmly smiled at you as you shook her hand. 

“Lovely to meet you Nana, and it’s so lovely to meet you Miss Sakura.” You excitedly greeted them as you crouched down to take a knee so you could be eye level with Sakura, she couldn't be much older than 5 and your heart ached at the thought of her losing her mom so, so young and how hard that must have been for her but you didn't want to bring it up because you didn't want that to be upsetting. 

“You should be really proud of your Daddy, he did such a great job flying me here yesterday.” You praised to Sakura.  

“He’s the best pilot ever!” She agreed which got you and Summer to laugh as Noah chuckled bashfully at the praise. Goodness was she precious. 

“I agree!” You confirmed with a very exaggerated head nod. 

“So you’re Paradise?” She asked in awed wonder as she stared at you. 

“Uh...oh, are you talking about how I look like a paradise orc?” You asked as you ran your hand over your skin of your exposed arm and she nodded before you nodded in confirmation. 

“My Grandma’s tea leaves told her that my daddy would be meeting Paradise yesterday.” She proudly informed you as you could see Noah turn a deep sapphire as his smile turned slightly nervous as he gave his mother the side eye. 

“Your Grandma reads tea leaves? Mine does too! Only the way my Grandma does it, I think she reads them wrong because they tell her things like my son was ‘a ball’, which, to be honest when I was pregnant with him, I looked like I swallowed a ball and when he was six months old he was almost as wide as he was tall and very, very round because he was a fantastic eater and he’s still practically a bottomless pit but he’s turned out pretty normal so far, he doesn’t ‘bounce’ too much.” You shrugged with an easy grin which got Sakura to giggle at the joke which got you to laugh as Noah and Summer chuckled too. 

“But that was really cool that your Grandma’s tea leaves told her that I was coming,” You nodded solemnly. “Did they tell her anything else?” You whispered as you leaned forward as she smiled and giggled and nodded. 

“Can you tell me?” You asked hopefully as she looked up to Nana for permission before Nana nodded her permission as well- completely ignoring Noah who looked particularly terrified at the notion and was shaking his head subtly to his mother and his daughter ‘no’ but it was like they couldn’t see him before she came up and put her hands over your ear. 

“They said that you were the best mom ever.” Sakura whispered and your heart melted and you almost wanted to cry. 

“Well I try, really hard, every day- to be the best one I can be so that’s true.” You confirmed. “And you know what? I tend to adopt every kid that’s around me, so if you see me and if you need or want anything at all, you just let me know ok? And I’m not offering that just to be nice, I mean it. I don’t offer anything unless I’m prepared to be taken up on it. I’m only here for like a week and a half but while I’m here if I’m needed somewhere to either help your dad on the plane or help watch you, I’ll happily do it ok?” You generously offered because you just instantly adored this child and could tell she was just a sweetheart and you just...loved her. The way your love surged for your children when you got to hold them for the first time, that same love was surging for her. Something about her found every heart string you had and pulled on them and made them into a bow and you would happily wrap yourself around her little delicate fingers as you just stayed there smiling at each other before Doug cleared his throat which made you turn your head away to see Greg next to what you assumed was his brother who was dressed really nicely as they both smiled expectantly at you. 

“Hi, be with you in a minute.” You greeted them with a polite smile before you turned back to Sakura. 

“Now, you go enjoy your dinner ok Sakura?” You urged her before she launched herself into your arms before you gladly caught her and hugged her, grateful you had taken a knee so you weren’t knocked backwards. 

“How did you know I loved hugs?” You cooed as you hugged her tight and rubbed her back and just held her until she let go first because you knew that some kids just needed a good long hug and you didn’t care if you were making Greg and Doug and everyone else wait, all that mattered was Sakura and the poor baby just needed a hug. 

When Sakura finally pulled away she was smiling and her eyes were just a little glassy from unshed tears before you reached into your purse and got her a tissue and your business card. 

“This is my cell phone number. You call this, and if I’m working when you call, just leave a message and I’ll call you back as fast as I can and if I’m not working when you call, I’ll pick up ok? I’ll always pick up.” You offered and it only felt odd as an afterthought that you just met this child and you were kicked so hard and so high into mom gear that you would already go to the moon and back and bend over backwards for her but it felt like the right thing to do and the best thing you could do for her. 

“Thank you.” She thanked you graciously. 

“You’re welcome Sweetheart.” You cooed to her as you squeezed her little hands in yours before you reluctantly let them go because Greg cleared his throat again before Noah took the hint and ushered his family to sit in the booth directly behind where you would be sitting. Which was nice that they were so close as you stood to your full height. 

“Thank you so much for your patience. I’m Zara Kingsley, the LMT from the Great Lakes.” You introduced yourself to the man who had a familial resemblance to Greg as you politely shook his hand from across the table. He was handsome, that usual olive green skin, gold amber eyes, jet black hair, he was obviously younger by the way he styled his hair and his hipster- black t-shirt, black blazer, skinny jean look and the way he proudly carried himself, his chest puffed out all proud, like a peacock showing off his plumage. You could tell he knew he was one of the most handsome men in the room and his ego was too big for the place. You knew from Greg that he was practically a decade younger than you too. His ex wife had been one of the prettiest women in the Arctic Tundra but they divorced after five years and two kids because they both were having affairs. 

“Does every kid treat you like a visiting Disney Princess?” He asked pleasantly which got you to chuckle. 

“Yes, very much so, which I don’t mind at all.” You shrugged. 

“Well it’s understandable, with a name like Kingsley, it’s kind of a given you should be treated like royalty everywhere you go.” Doug flattered and you heard Noah cough a ‘damn’ behind you like he had just gotten hit in the gut and even you had to admit that was a pretty smooth line. Although it wasn’t the first time you heard that. 

“Thanks,” you nodded. Oh gods. This was going to be the longest dinner ever. He was just going to spit game at you all night and you just wanted to turn around and invite yourself to dinner with Sakura and her family as you slipped back into your seat because you were not about wait for Doug here to come around the table to pull out your chair because you were pretty sure he’d try to sneak a peek into your cleavage as he would try to too. The game was on and you were in no mood to be chased by Doug. 

Noah though, no he could chase you like the silver fox he was because he was just barely getting a few gray hairs on the sides of his head  and it made him all kinds of distinguished and made you all hot and bothered and you could already fantasize his head between your legs, with your thighs resting on his broad shoulders- your powerful thighs clamping around his ears as his tongue…

Oh, that’s right, Doug was talking to you. Damn it. 

“I’m sorry what was that?” You asked as you tried hard to refocus on Doug and what he was saying, thankfully the restaurant had gotten louder since Doug sat down directly across from you and started talking and it was kind of hard to hear him anyway. 

“I asked how you’re liking the Frozen Tundra.” He repeated. 

“Oh it’s wonderful. It’s gorgeous and the people are lovely, very kind and generous and welcoming.” You grinned politely as the waitress came over. 

“What can I get you to drink?” She asked you. 

“Anything sweet and fruity?” You asked hopefully. 

“Lethal too or just light?” She questioned. 

“Ooh, lethal.” You couldn’t help but giggle because you would need it to persevere Doug’s advances as Doug started to grin a little wolfishly. Ha! Like he had a chance of scoring with you tonight. 

“For sweet and fruity and lethal you have two choices, cloud berry punch or purple peach punch.” 

“Purple peach.” You ordered. 

“Half or full?” She asked. 

“What’s the difference?” You asked curiously. 

“A half is served in a tumbler. A full is served in a mason jar and has an order limit of three.” She answered. 

“Oh yeah, my kind of drink, a full please and thank you.” You ordered gleefully. 

“Do you want your usual Doug?” She asked moving onto him. 

“Actually could I get a glass of Wolf Eye?” He asked and you nearly snorted a laugh and covered it up with a cough. May the gods grant you patience to deal with this pretentious asshole. While Wolf Eye was a decent whiskey, it was only popular because celebrities thought it was awesome and the bottle was *couture*. Just like any other designer name brand. 

“Do you like whisky?” He asked. 

“I do.” You nodded. 

“Could I also get her a glass too?” He asked. 

“Sure.” She nodded before she got everyone else’s drink order. 

“Wolf Eye is one of the better whiskies.” You appraised. 

“Have you ever had it before?” He asked. 

“Yes I have. My sister Blossom is a whiskey geek/ whiskey snob, my sister Blossom’s husband is a whiskey geek/snob too and my own parents and my brother are all beer snobs while my baby sister Anya is a bartender and she gave me a shot of it once. Usually it’s too rich for my blood to order it though.” You confessed. Even though you had three bottles of it at home from your wealthier clients. 

“What about you? Is there any kind of alcohol you’re really into?” He asked.

“It doesn’t really compare to Wolf Eye.” You answered as you realized you probably looked bashful, when really, you were dreading being judged. 

Every guy- without fail who got you a glass of Wolf Eye were trying to show you how fancy and couture they were- thinking that because you were jewel orc- you somehow should have very refined, expensive tastes. When in reality, you didn’t. Honestly once those guys heard what you loved- they thought less of you. Or the guys who found out what you liked and weren’t pretentious assholes somehow felt that because you didn’t have “refined” tastes in wine or other booze, that that spilled over into your taste of men which couldn’t be farther from the truth. You were picky as hell when it came to men. 

Although if you were honest, you loved your clichés- the bubble gum pop music, sweet fruity wine and cocktails and peppermint mochas and sappy romance novels and romantic comedy movies and you would preferably have all of those at the same time while in the comfort of a bathtub with a bath bomb fizzing away. But that was a world away from this. 

“Oh don’t feel bad, you like what you like.” He reassured you but you laughed that laugh that said ‘oh you don’t know what you’re really asking’. 

“No I insist, I promise not to judge you based on your answer.” He vowed and you didn’t believe him one bit. 

“Ok. So, honestly, in my family- food wise, I’m the queen because I love to cook and I cook really well and my brand of hospitality is you are not allowed to leave my house hungry but drink wise, I’m like the black sheep of the family because I love flavored alcohol, the kind of liquor that’s low on the proof and mostly flavoring, so flavored moonshines and flavored rums and vodkas and especially liqueurs and things like that. The cheap ones that you just pour into some juice and it’s instantly a fruity cocktail. That’s my speed. Sweet and fruity.” You shrugged as the waitress came back and gave you your drinks as you graciously took the glass that had whiskey in it and sniffed it and swished it around the way your sisters always did before you took a tentative sip. 

Yup. It was whiskey. Could you tell the difference between a scotch, a whiskey or a bourbon? Nope. Could you tell the difference between a $20 bottle of whiskey or a $70 whiskey, hell to the nope. The only thing you noticed was if it burned or was smooth or not. You knew that all scotches were whiskeys but not all whiskeys were scotches and that was the extent of your knowledge. Honestly if this glass was full of peach whiskey you’d probably like it better. But you knew how to be a gracious recipient of a gift. And you had your manners to keep. 

“Very good.” You praised, pretending you knew what the fuck you were drinking as he took a sip and practically moaned and for some reason, that noise coming from him was making you want to gag and one look at Katie who frowned at him was nearly causing you to burst into laughter. Even she could smell his bullshit, which to you was hilarious and part of the reason you wanted her close. Having someone like a niece or a sister or the best ones - a mother or a grandmother, or someone close to whoever you were paired with tended to keep whoever it was- in line- and would keep them from asking inappropriate questions or delving into inappropriate topics of conversation. It was a strategy you learned to employ often in these circumstances. 

“So Greg told me that you’re divorced.” You put to him. 

“I am divorced and I have two kids, two boys, Doug Jr. who we just call Jr. and Kent, Jr is 5 and Kent is three.” He answered. 

“Aw, they must be adorable, where are they?” You asked. 

“They’re with their mom tonight.” He answered. 

“Oh, well I would have loved to meet them, I love kids, I also have two of my own, Xander and Skylar, but they’re a bit older, Xander is 9 and Skylar is 7.” You answered before you pulled out your phone and showed him as he showed you his kids. 

“And Greg said you have joint custody of your boys?” You asked. 

“Yup, they get to spend the week with their mom and the weekend with me.” He answered. “And their mother is about to remarry so the bitch won’t bleed me dry with alimony and child support for too much longer now.” He groused and you took a measured deep breath in to keep your face neutral as you heard Summer murmur into her drink. ‘Lucky woman’ and somehow you got the distinct impression that his ex-wife was lucky to have divorced him and to have gotten alimony and child support and just seeing Doug and after knowing him for a whole 2 seconds- you could agree with that sentiment. You could just sense that he was a narcissistic asshole. And your late husband had been one of those and there was no way in hell you were ever doing that again. 

“But I understand you don’t have that problem because you’re a widow. Obviously a young one.” He returned as you could tell he was trying to age you. 

“Yup, that’s true, my late husband Andrew was in an accident at work about two years ago, but I’m not that young. I’m 35.” You answered and he paused. Greg had told him early thirties, you were mid thirties. You looked great for mid thirties but that was practically middle aged and you only had what- another 5 years of child bearing age left in you? Not that long. But you were supposed to be a rich widow who worked in some kind of spa and had married into a rich family and drop dead gorgeous, he could work with that. 

“Wow you really good for your thirties. How long have you been dating since then?” He asked. 

“I haven’t really been dating much or for very long, just in the last couple of months actually. I wanted to give myself and the rest of my family time to grieve properly and not rush into anything that not only I wasn’t ready for but that my kids weren’t ready for and it wasn’t until a couple of months ago that they let me know that they were ok with me trying to date again because they are the most important people in my life and I’m really picky about who I let around my kids too. So I can understand why you didn’t want to bring your kids to meet me.” You answered as Greg was kicking himself for not bringing his kids because obviously you connected to kids and if his kids would behave long enough and well enough you could have bonded to his kids and made him a shoe in and this could have been a done deal already. 

“So, Greg told me that you work in the fishing industry.” You prompted him. 

“I do, I’m a sales executive for First Star, which ships all kinds of seafood all over the world.” He answered proudly. “And the pay is really good and there’s always sales incentives and I get bonuses often.” He grinned smugly as he fingered his heavy gold chain necklace around his neck and he put on way too much cologne. It was almost burning your nose and making your eyes water a little.  

“Wow, do you have a business card?” You nodded, pretending to be impressed before he very proudly pulled out his wallet and you could see from his billfold that he must have had at least a thousand dollars on him. He was flexing for your benefit and judging by his gold rings and gold banded tusks and just the general decked out nature of his attire. He was definitely showing off for you as he handed you a brand new business card. It was fancy but...not as fancy or as nice as yours. 

“Very nice. Remind me to call you before I leave so I can buy a case or two of crab and ship it home and have my mom put it in my deep freeze freezer.” You urged him. 

“Oh, you won’t have to buy them, I’ll happily gift you whatever you want.” He generously offered. 

“Aw, that’s very generous of you. Thank you.” You thanked him even though the way he said that you were pretty sure he had another "payment" in mind but this was polite company and Katie was right next to you and you didn't want to expose her to what you assumed was that particular side of her uncle just yet but if he exposed himself that was on him. 

“So being a sales rep does your income base itself on how good the fishermen’s catches are or is it pretty stable, like no matter what they catch, you’re bringing home a salary?” You questioned thoughtfully. 

“Oh it’s a salaried position and it’s all year long, unlike the fisherman who only run on the boats for a fishing season, like the different kinds of crab have their seasons and the different kinds of seafood all have their own seasons.” He answered. “Or even the pilots who only fly during the spring summer and fall, which is only like a three month window up here and have to live off of that all year long.” He answered as he cast a look past you to see Noah who was pretending to enjoy his own beer instead of eavesdropping. 

Oh this son of a bitch had to go for the low blow of putting others down to build himself up. Ok. Honestly you were grateful he was telling on himself like that. 

“So are we ready to order?” The waitress asked as she came over, after having gotten Noah’s order already and you were following along with the menu and you already decided that you wanted the same thing because it sounded amazing. 

“Yes can I have the King’s platter?” Doug ordered. 

“It’s a huge platter, we could share it.” Doug offered to you. 

“Oh, no thanks, can I just get the fisherman’s special with the seafood stew?” You requested sweetly. 

“Sure thing.” She nodded as she wrote that down and continued to get everyone’s meal. 

“So I understand you’re a masseuse?” He asked excitedly once the waitress left. 

“No. I’m a licensed massage therapist, LMT for short.” You gently corrected. 

“What’s the difference?” He frowned. 

“A masseuse uses “massage” as their cover for being a prostitute, which honestly if you’re going to be in the oldest profession, just be honest about it and don’t call it massage. Which, again, if you chose to do that,  I don’t judge, I have strippers as clients because they take self care to a whole new level and everything they get from me is a tax write off for them so it’s a win win. However, a licensed massage therapist actually went to massage school and has a license to practice massage just like a doctor has a license to practice medicine and we are held accountable to a board or in my case- to the state medical board just like any other nurse and doctor and an LMT never gives happy endings or has sex with clients in any way shape or form.” You answered with a proud smile. 

“Oh,” Doug nodded and even you could see he was trying to hide his disappointment. 

“So, are you able to make any kind of real money off of massage or is this just a hobby for you?” He asked and you were ready to dump this overpriced whiskey in his face, but that would be alcohol abuse and an insult to the whiskey itself. 

“Well massage has been a passion of mine since I was a kid, so you could call it a hobby that turned into a career. But I’m more interested in what constitutes as “real money” in your opinion.” You posed curiously. 

“Anything more than forty or fifty thousand a year.” He patronized. 

“I take it you make more than 50 thousand a year then.” You deduced as you overheard Noah whisper to his mother. ‘I barely make ‘real money’ then.’ 

“Oh I make a few times that. I make about two hundred thousand a year.” He bragged. 

“Yeah I can see you’re wearing most of it.” You appraised and Noah snorted his beer and nearly choked on it trying to cover up his laugh because your unimpressed tone was giving him life as you heard a hissed ‘yes’ from Noah. 

“You’re one of the lucky ones then. I make about the same. A little over 200 thousand a year actually.” You answered evenly like it was no big deal. 

“What? H-how?” Doug frowned in shock.

“Well I have four businesses, all four of them are solely in my name and I own all four outright and none of them have any debt while each of them have their own assets, so my massage business which makes me about a hundred- to a hundred and twenty five thousand dollars a year, my esthetician business which makes me another fifty to sixty thousand dollars a year and then the sales of my massage products, essential oils and esthetician products, skin care line, makeup, all that goods stuff to round it out with another thirty five to fifty thousand dollars a year and the fourth business is the shareholder for all three businesses and I only have to work about thirty to thirty five hours a week in total to do it too and I only work about 9 to 10 months a year.” You beamed proudly as Doug’s eyebrows practically went up into his hairline as you heard Noah murmur a ‘damn’ which you imagined was muffled because he must have said it into his fist behind you. 

“W-why?” Doug stuttered as he struggled to wrap his head around all that.  

“Well,  when my husband was alive, he made about a hundred and twenty five thousand dollars a year and when he died, I turned all four of those businesses which at the time were the side businesses I had to earn my own spending money into my full time career to replace his income when he died because you see I specialize in…” You began as you brought out your business card and listed everything off from the back and added to the additional certifications that weren’t on the card.  

“Not bad for a “hobby” huh?” You asked with a smug grin as you heard Noah practically whistle lowly behind you and clap ever so softly and you would have given anything for a mirror to see his face, hoping he was at least impressed. 

“Uh, nope, not bad at all.” Doug had to admit. 

“So if you got remarried and the man you married could provide you with his income that would either equal or surpass your own would you still continue to work or would you scale back? Retire?” Doug asked thoughtfully. 

“It depends.” You answered simply.  

“On?” Doug prodded. 

“It would depend on the circumstances and the person.” You specified. 

“Such as?” 

“Well, I’ve been very lucky in that I have the four thriving businesses and because I have a very good and very expansive client base where I live and I fill a niche that very few others can fill in my area and because I live just 20 to 30 minutes outside of few major cities because I’m centrally located in the country in between all of them and I work out of my own private space at my home and the home I work out of is my dream home, it’s a home that my late husband and myself designed together and it’s awesome and the only way I’m moving is if I find a home that’s even better than the one I have and that criteria is pretty extensive plus I’m very well supported and well known and have a reputation that I regularly bank on every year and speaking of support, I have my parents who live right next door and my in-laws live only 15 minutes away and all of them are very involved in my children’s lives. So honestly, I’m not gonna move unless I find circumstances even better than the ones I already have and the person I would be moving for can give me things that I don’t already have which is basically at this point- unconditional love, respect, recognition, dignity, sympathy, empathy, kindness, understanding and freedom to keep my independence that I already have so that if I so choose I could basically start my businesses over again in a new area.” You specified. 

“So...what is your criteria for a potential mate?” Doug asked, hoping that you would list off things that he could try to shoot for. 

“Well, whoever I choose to marry- he can’t drink to excess, he can’t do drugs, he can’t have a bad temper, he can not yell or scream at me or my children, he can’t be abusive in any way shape or form or I will kick him to the curb faster than lightning strikes but he doesn’t have to make as much as I do or make more than me or whatever. If he had a job that he was passionate about and he loved it as much as breathing which, for me, that’s what my career represents to me, I do what I do because I love it, it’s what I was put on this planet to do and I’m really good at it and to a degree, it’s a skill I can practice anywhere as long as I have a pool of clientele to pull from so there’s some flexibility there.” You mused and you saw Doug nod along with your train of thought so at least it was making sense to him. 

“But for me to give it all up for someone and be absolutely dependent on my partner for everything- probably isn’t going to happen because there is inherently a power dynamic that I’ve been on the losing side of in my past marriage. Because my husband had a great job with fantastic health insurance and other benefits and shouldered all the financial responsibility of the family which had its perks because that freed up my time to pursue what I wanted to and he could afford to send me to school to get all these licenses and certifications. But because he made all the money, he felt he had the right to demand whatever he wanted in return and he had a say so on how I spent the money he gave me to care for- as he put it- “his house” and “his vehicles” and such because he’s the one that paid for it all and he was a controlling narcissist. Now, was he all bad? No, he was a fantastic father and he was decent enough as a husband in that he didn’t beat me, didn’t drink to excess, didn’t smoke, didn’t gamble, didn’t do drugs, didn’t cheat on me and didn’t scream at me or cuss me out in front of the kids but I couldn’t get a credit card in my name without him knowing and he tracked me on my phone everywhere I went and if I wanted anything “extra” I had to “earn it”, like a child earns extra screen time for doing their chores kind of thing. It was all about a power dynamic and if I didn’t support him in everything he said, he got after me for not being “a good submissive wife” or “a team player”. And after 13 years of that, I’m done. I’ve had more than enough of that and I will be damned if I ever let that happen to me again. I’m not interested in that dynamic at all. No matter what side of it I find myself on.” You specified as Doug just stared at you, a bit guiltily as he was rather speechless and blushing profusely like you had just pulled his pants down and exposed him and you didn’t feel any guilt for it either and the look on Katie’s face told you that you hit the nail on the head and were preaching truth and her smile of adoration and awe was priceless.  

“I have clients that easily double, triple, quadruple even- my own salary because they’re doctors or surgeons or executives or whatever. But they’re the kind of men who feel emasculated when a woman they’re with earns anything because their income is what they base their own masculinity on which is a very dangerous and stupid thing to do in my opinion. And while these men may be really good at earning an income, that’s all they’re good at. Otherwise they’re shitty husbands and fathers. They feel that because they earn so much money that they don’t have to help out at all around their own homes. Heaven forbid they change poopy diapers, do any dishes or laundry or especially scrub a toilet and if they do any of those things, by the gods they will piss and moan and gripe and complain forever and feel “owed” that they did more than their “share”, which is bullshit. They would rather hire someone else to do any or all of that because they feel that’s beneath them as manly, masculine men and feel that a wife’s only job is to stay in their home, raise their kids and clean their house and look flawless while doing so and feel that the only support they need to give her is financial. Which, in my opinion is complete and utter fucking bullshit.”  You explained as you watched Doug’s frown get deeper and deeper the more you talked as you heard Noah hum in agreement to that sentiment. 

“So... you’re basically just looking for a Mr. Mom?” Doug asked and you could tell by his tone he was offended and incensed just saying those words. 

“To a degree, yes. But what I’m really looking for- is a partner who will view and treat me as an equal instead of a lesser or a supporting cast member while they’re the star of the show. Right now I do everything all by myself because I have to and I will continue to do so for as long as I need to because my children need me to be their everything. If I’m going to enter into any kind of romantic relationship, I would look for someone who’s willing to put in work. Someone who will happily and willingly pick up slack and support me as much as I support them. Someone who will work to gain not just my respect and admiration but my children’s respect and admiration as well and it doesn’t matter how much I like or even love a guy, if my kids are uncomfortable around him or just plain don’t like him. I’m not going to force the relationship onto them. Now there have been a couple of guys who my children really clicked with but I didn’t because they were either immature or had other issues and I’m pretty sure the only reason why my kids liked them is because these guys never told them ‘no’ and bought them whatever they asked for which is no way to raise children. There’s ways of telling them no and explaining your reasons why you’re telling them no without belittling them, hurting their feelings, implying they’re stupid or annoying for asking.” You explained as you heard Noah murmur an ‘Amen’ from behind you and instantly you saw all the hope and lust in Doug’s eyes die because he realized that this wasn’t going to work out for him just as dinner came. 

Conversation dissolved into idle chit chat while he practically wolfed his food down as quickly as he could and drank his whiskey and excused himself and quickly paid the waitress for his meal and only his meal and begrudgingly- your wolf eye whiskey too, saying he had work to do at home and you were so grateful when he left and so relieved when you peeked over your shoulder to see Noah still there, finishing up his dinner as Katie got up to go to the bathroom, leaving you alone at the end of the table as Sakura and Summer went to the bathroom too. 

“Do you like whiskey?” You asked him hopefully as you leaned backward in your chair towards him. 

“Yeah,” he confirmed. 

“You ok drinking after me?” You put to him. 

“Yup.” He nodded before you took your glass of Wolf Eye and put in on his table. 

“The whiskey’s good, I just can’t enjoy it knowing a pretentious asshole bought it for me, but I don’t think you’ll have that issue enjoying it yourself. Enjoy.” You beamed at him which got him to laugh. 

“Cheers.” He offered before you got your own drink and clinked it with his. 

“Cheers.” You mirrored. Even though dinner didn’t go as planned, you got to share a drink with Noah and that was more than you hoped for before Sakura and Summer came back. 

“Nana, I forgot my bow.” Sakura realized as she reached up to find that the bow she had been wearing in her hair was gone. 

“I can go back to the bathroom and help you look for it.” You happily offered before she took your hand and led you back to the bathroom as you grabbed your purse too. 

“Are you going to date Mr. Kizzo?” She asked you as you went into each stall, looking for her bow. 

“No, absolutely not, he is not the man for me.” You shook your head adamantly. 

“Oh good, his boys are mean.” She pouted. 

“Have they been mean to you?” You asked as your protective urges surged again. 

“They play really rough and they knocked me down and they didn’t even say sorry!” She complained and you gasped in horror. 

“No! How rude! Well if we ever go anywhere together and they’re there, point them out to me and I’ll protect you.” You insisted before you found her bow sitting on top of the toilet paper dispenser in the last stall before you quickly sprayed some sanitizer on it before you had her take a seat in one of the chairs in the bathroom so you could brush her hair and get it looking gorgeous again because you kept a little brush in your purse. 

“My Daddy likes you.” She blurted as you brushed her hair out. 

“Aw, I like your Daddy too, he’s a really good guy, he’s sweet and caring and protective and I can tell he loves you a lot and he works really hard to take care of you.” You praised as you smiled happily at her in the mirror. 

“He cries a lot.” She revealed. 

“Well I cry a lot too,” you nodded. 

“He cries because he misses my mama,” she added.

“Well, I can understand that because your Daddy and I both lost our marriage mates and we miss them sometimes and the happier we were with them and the more we loved them, the more we miss them and the more it hurts to lose them. Do you cry a lot too because you miss your mama?” You asked gently as she nodded. 

“I’m so sorry you lost your mama sweetie, I can’t imagine how much that must hurt.” You sympathized with her before she got out of the chair and reached her arms up before you readily picked her up and held her tight as she started crying before you took the seat in the chair and just held her as she cried on your shoulder and you just held her and rocked her gently and comforted her before Nana came into the bathroom. 

“What happened?” Nana asked. 

“I was brushing her hair and she told me her daddy cries because he misses her mama and I completely sympathize.” You told her as you did your best to keep your composure but you were failing spectacularly because you were an empath, her pain felt like your own as Summer pulled up another chair from the nursing mother’s area as she shot Noah a quick text just as Taylor came in looking for you and seeing how Sakura was crying in your arms, she instantly knew what was going on. 

“Noah and Anarra, or ‘Neena’ as she was better known as- were basically Frozen Tundra’s sweethearts. Neena still is greatly missed, she took care of a lot of the older ones whose kids have moved away or are on the coast making their money on the fishing vessels and when she got sick, everyone rallied around her but...by the time she started showing signs she was sick- it was too late. None of us have been the same since she passed away. Noah puts on a pretty strong face but he’s probably the most fragile.” Nana revealed as you nodded in understanding as Taylor nodded along too. 

Taylor had told you about “Neena” because Taylor and Neena were best friends and you didn’t put it together until just now that Anarra and Neena were one and the same which would explain why you and her had gotten so close so quickly because you had bonded over your losses as Sakura’s cries turned into whimpers and sniffles as you just held her and pet her head and her hair and held her and rocked her as she curled up in your lap and happily soaked up all your affections as you kissed the crown of her head affectionately as she clung to you as Nana and Taylor filled you in on the situation. 

“Neena had brain cancer. One day she was fine, the next, she had such strange symptoms and doctors around here are rare and expensive and by the time we found it, it was too late, there wasn’t anything we could do. She barely had enough time to make some videos for Sakura. She died holding her.” Taylor said as she nodded towards Sakura in your arms as you wrapped your arms tighter around Sakura as your heart effectively broke in your chest. 

“Her last words were how much she loved her and Noah.” Nena added as you passed around your thing of tissues because you were crying your makeup off. 

“My husband’s last words to me were a ‘honey do’ list, which was- ‘do the dishes, do the laundry, clean the bathroom and to brush my damn cats’ who he hated and I’m so grateful they outlived him, I know that sounds awful but they love me more than he ever did and he wasn’t dead a week before I went to the local shelter and adopted a dog for each member of my family and another cat so that there’s three cats and three dogs and we were renting from his parents at the time and before it was only because I bore them their only grandchildren that I got the ‘privilege’ of having the two cats before. And they didn’t dare argue with a new angry widow about ‘protection’ dogs for their only grandkids and didn’t want me moving away into a new place just to get them animals while we waited for our house to be built.” You revealed. 

“Did he at least have life insurance?” Nana asked which made you nod emphatically. 

“Yeah Andy wasn’t an idiot or heartless, he had a life insurance policy through work and a private one as well and because it was an accidental death at work, it paid out even more and his parents had a life insurance policy on him too that they handed over to me because they had the good sense to have life insurance policies on me and him so that if anything ever happened to the both of us, they could raise our kids comfortably and at the time, I was working for another outfit and even I had my own life insurance policy on him so we’re all set, the house is paid off, all debt is paid off, all the vehicles are paid off, I own everything outright. Other than utilities and of course food and insurance, which I can easily take care of myself, we’re ok.” You answered. 

“Did Neena have any kind of life insurance?” You asked and Taylor and Nana both shook their heads no. 

“No, Noah barely had enough money at the time to cover the funeral. When she died in the fall, at least he didn’t have to work and could stay home with Sakura and he already knew how to take care of himself and her because Neena was always caring for others, which he was very proud of her for doing and he supported that. He was always helping her to help others because so many ice orc men have moved away chasing “better lives” anywhere other than here and ice orc women are left to either do the same or stay behind and have to deal with the others who come up here, either looking for gold or fish or lumber or other resources and it used to be every summer solstice that all the tribes would get together and alliances were maintained and marriages made but all the young people are rejecting those practices because they feel they don’t have a place in the modern world. Our ways are dying, our languages are dying and Neena was one of the few women who embraced the old ways and was teaching all the kids the native languages. And when she died, a lot of the same older ones reached out to Noah and helped him with what they could and unfortunately after Neena died, some of the older ones she took care of followed, but they left Sakura everything because Neena was like a daughter to them and because she took care of them, all they could do is leave her what they could leave behind and when Neena died, that left Sakura as heir in her mother’s place, but she’s a child. She’s had so many men come back to claim what they felt was their birthright, which is mostly land at this point but thankfully the courts upheld Sakura’s rights as heir since their parent’s had the good sense to get it writing with the local lawyer who fights for the clan’s rights.” Nana explained. 

“That’s...that’s a coincidence, I know exactly how that feels.” You nodded. 

“How?” Nana asked as she tilted her head. 

“When Andy died, I was really close to several older clients as well, I got to work on them when they were at retirement age and came into my work and when their health declined, I stayed with them because they were close friends and I wanted their last moments to be in peace and as pain free as possible. They didn’t have any family to take care of them either and I endeared myself to them enough so that when I lost Andy, they all individually entailed everything they had to me too because I was their favorite person and they wanted to make sure I wouldn’t financially suffer because of my husband dying. Within six months of losing Andy, I lost almost all of them within a span of only three months. So the nine months that followed Andy’s death were just...the worst. But then to meet with dozens of lawyers and get check after check, after check, and deeds and titles and property and vehicles, I was so...numb. It didn’t mean anything to me, but man did I sure learn a lot very quickly about how to handle my newfound fortune. But the worst of it was the vultures circling because it felt like the minute I inherited all that money and property myself, suddenly every vulture of a guy somehow found me and circled me like wolves. Cause I was this “hot young desperate lonely widow” who didn’t know how to handle that much fortune and here were all these ‘knights in shining armor’ coming to “help me out” and “be there for me”. It was ridiculous, as if I couldn’t see right through them and what made it even worse was the way Andy died at work, it was a freak accident that killed not just him but five others. So the company he worked for sued the company who built the crystal grower because this was a known and very well documented issue. And the company used my picture because I was ‘the prettiest of the widows’ in the news and in the courts and they won and I got the lion’s share of the settlement because I was the one who was the public face of it and because I was the public face of it, I had organization after organization reach out to me to try to help me out too and by that point I had 5 very good lawyers and a private investigator in my pocket who were more than eager to be at my disposal. So I know exactly what it’s like to be an unwitting heiress. It’s really, really hard, thank the gods my in-laws are so great with money because they’ve been helping me structure it and organize it and keep it all and make it work for me.” You revealed lowly. 

“Could you teach Noah and Sakura any of those lessons?” Nana asked hopefully. 

“I would be more than happy to, I feel I need to at this point.” You admitted. 

“Because no one else around here knows what to do or how to help. Even now Noah’s dad Ukluk works as guide at Gold Horn and pilots his own bush plane for the hunters but it doesn’t pay as well as others, Noah’s brother Nago works for the postal service but he and his family are in June Neau. And now even Neena’s parents are no spring chickens. I know they would really appreciate it if they knew you could protect Sakura and Noah with what you know.” Nana insisted. 

“Consider it done,” you agreed. 

“So are you ever gonna get married again?” Sakura finally spoke up. 

“I would like to.” You answered honestly. 

“What are you looking for?” She asked. 

“I just want to be with someone who makes me happy and loves me for me and loves my kids as their own too who won’t hurt us but will protect us.” You answered. 

“What if they already have kids?” She asked. 

“Then I would hope that their kids would like me too, I do love being a mom, it’s the best job on the planet in my opinion and if those kids would let me love them as much as I love my own- even better and if my kids and those kids could get along, oh man, I’d be so so so happy. You see it doesn’t matter he’s rich or poor or whatever, money doesn’t matter to me. Who and what kind of person they are and how they treat others- that’s all that matters to me.” 

“And if they happen to be well endowed enough so that when...” Taylor double clicked her teeth. “Happens, you can’t walk straight after...” She hinted which made Nana raspberry her laugh. 

“That’s a bonus.” You readily agreed which made you start to laugh through your tears which made them do the same. 

“Well Noah’s you know,” Taylor implied as she clicked her teeth and winked which got you and Nana to start busting out laughing. 

“He’s what aunt Tay-tay?” Sakura asked as she turned to look at Taylor.

“Handsome, he’s very handsome.” You quickly supplied which earned you a solemn nod and an appreciate grin from Nana. 

“Ok, no more tears, let’s get cleaned up.” Nana insisted which prompted you to gently get Sakura off your lap so you could rinse the rest of your makeup off in the sink before all four of you left the bathroom to see Noah looking particularly worried. 

“Everything ok Pumpkin?” He asked his daughter. 

“Yup, we were telling Paradise about Mama.” Sakura told him. Every trace of sadness now gone as a happy smile plastered itself on her face. 

“And she brushed my hair and braided my hair and held me and comforted me and everything, can she come over to our house to watch me?” She asked. 

“If she wants to.” Noah answered. 

“I would love to, just give me the address, I’ll be there any day you need me there, free of charge.” You immediately offered. 

“Work an extra long day tomorrow Daddy, I want to watch my movies with her.” Sakura insisted which got Nana to snicker a laugh. 

“Uh,” Noah stuttered. 

“I can do tomorrow.” You immediately agreed. 

“You could have Taylor and her kids come too, because usually Taylor watches her on Tuesdays.” Nana added. 

“We’d love to.” Taylor immediately agreed as well. 

“So it’s a date. What time should I be over?” 

“He leaves early, like six in the morning.” Nana informed you. 

“Won’t be a problem. I’ll be there at like 5:30 then.” You insisted. 

“I won’t be there that early, I’m going to sleep in until a decent hour and come by later but we’ll drive by and show you where Noah lives and you could walk there if you wanted to because he’s like a ten minute walk away, five if you run because normally, she spends the night so that I don’t have to get up that early.” Taylor added. 

“But my body is still on Great Lakes Time Zone so 5:30 am here is only 8:30 am to me which is a normal time for me to wake up. So it’s not a problem at all.” You reassured Nana and Noah. 

“Ok, thank you, very much.” Noah nodded as he avoided Nana’s smug grin that screamed ‘I told you so’. 

“Well good night then, sweet dreams guys, I’ll see you in the morning.” You offered as Taylor tugged on your arm as Katie peeked her head back into the restaurant and gestured for you and her mom to hurry up. 

“What about my bill?” You asked her. 

“He got it.” Taylor answered as he gestured to Noah. 

“Aw, thank you for dinner!” You thanked him as she had to take your hand and pull you out of the restaurant.

“I really love Paradise.” Sakura said dreamily as she watched you go. 

“Well she is lovely.” Noah admitted as he got his box of leftovers and got out of the booth. 

“She likes you back, she told me so.” Sakura informed her Dad as she took his hand in one of hers and continued to hold your business card like a beloved photograph. 

“Oh yeah?” Noah returned, pleasantly surprised to hear that. 

“And she’s an heiress like me and she promised that she would teach me what she knows about it.” Sakura revealed. 

“Really?” Noah turned to look at his mom to either confirm or deny that. 

“Oh yeah, she knows how to deal with not just foxes but wolves and vultures too. The gods sent us the perfect person to help. And I have a feeling she won’t leave until everything is well taken care of and we will be hearing from her and seeing her very often from now on.” Nana predicted. 

“How?” Noah asked. 

“Just wait and see.” Nana simply grinned. 

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