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Tattoo

Opie X female OC (Dakota/Kodi)

Summary: Opie and his love talk about her feeling towards his Donna tattoo (it’s very sweet and fluffy)

Note: It’s been FOREVER since I posted and this is a new character and show for me to post about. I have probably a hundred half written SOA fics (most about happy) but this one just really hit me as something I needed to post so enjoy!

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Kodi and opie lay in bed after an incredibly busy day and maybe finally in joying each other. She lay facing the man that never fails to make her smile and very satisfied. They had been together for almost 3 years now.

The first 2 they didn’t label what they were they just knew they needed and loved each other. Kodi was happy with that and it was what Opie needed then. After losing Donna and the mess that was how his relationship with Lyla ended, it was nice to just focus on the feelings not the expectations. I was Kenny and Ellie that finally pushed them to put a name to what they were.

The kids loved Kodi (or Koko and they lovingly named her) and her ability to add to their lives with out making things weird. A feat Opie was baffled by.

As they laid there Kodi began tracing her finger over his many tattoos as he watches her. Her finger trails over his tattoo of his wife with DONNA in beautiful through it. Asmile finds its way onto her face.

Ope breaks the post bliss silence “It never seems to bother you” she hears his deep voice rasp. Kodi’s eyes meet his and answers “It doesn’t. I like that you have it” she says lazily bringing a slightly confused smile to her biker’s face. “Why?” He can’t help but ask. Now it’s Kodi’s turn to look confused, thinking it’s obvious. “She’s a part of you opie, and this perfectly shows that.” She runs her fingers over the tattoo again. “She’s a part of this family and your life that should never and will never go away.” She tells him before adding, “Selfishly I like that I see a glimps of how you saw her and what she is to you.”

Opie can’t help the smile her words cause as he continues to listen to the woman in his arms. “I know I don’t really know her, or have the right to, but I’m thankful for all that you and the kids choose to share with me. “How are you real?” Opie whispers as he cups her cheek in his hand leaning to kiss her forehead in the way she loves.

Kodi only answers with a smile and small smirk before Opie recalls “I didn’t want to let you in at first…didn’t want you near the memory of her.” She sees the hurt of his past and slight guilt in his face.

Kodi nods kisses his nose. “I know and that was okay too… I’m honored to know what I do, but she’s yours and the kids fully. My only goal is to keep her memory alive for all of you, that doesn’t have to include me” she declares honestly.

Opie chuckled and said “you showed me pretty quick I could trust you with her.”

Causing Kodi to smile, and tear up just a little, knowing how much that statement meant from him.

They lay there snuggled for a few more minutes before opie says, “Do you ever get jealous?”

Kodi shrugs “Jealousy is a natural reaction… I think it’s more that I worry I won’t be enough for you guys.” She admits. “You had the love of your life, those beautiful kids had thier mom. I’m okay not being those things. I’m your Kodi and their koko and that’s exactly who I wanna be. Sometimes my brain just tells me you need more than I’ll ever be. But I’m never jealous of her or her memory.” She says looking up at the man she loves from his chest.

He brushes her hair from her cheek and says “Dakota there is no one on this planet as good for us as you.“ before pulling her up for a kiss and whispering, “I love you so much.”

“I love you” Kodi whispers back.

Opie, still holding her cheek says “i dont want you to not feel like you have my whole heart or aren’t the love of my life.” He says thinking about how much he loves knowing he has all of her.

She surprises him with a beaming smile before confidently saying “I’m a love of your life and I’m happy with that. Plus if I’m sharing your heart I’m glad it’s with Donna, she sounds like she was a badass and incredible mom”

They both are smiling now as Opie answers “she was”, enjoying the fact that this woman in front of him can embrace the first woman he loved.

“She will always be a welcome topic and presence in this life I share with you,and I will forever leave space for her.” Kodi says before reaching to run her hand over his tattoo again “So that’s why the tattoo doesn’t upset me. I want you to always have her.” Opie’s smile somehow turns serious and loving at the same time before kissing her and saying “I don’t know what I did to deserve you”. Kodi smiles while answering “you loved me” again this lips.

“always.” Opie tells her before Kodi adds “forever” before pulling him back into a kiss.

#opie winston #Opie imagine #sons of anarchy #sons of anarchy imagine #sons of anarchy x reader #sons of anarchy fanfiction #opie Winston imagin #opie winston SOA #soa imagine

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🥹🥹🥹

Apple Slices

him being the dadest dad ever

just a blurb based on this

"Did you know that the US is the second-largest producer of apples?" Spencer asks as he chops up the fruit, skillfully gliding the knife to cut out the seeds. He was never a big fruit eater- or an eater at all -until Dakota and Payton came along, but now he's the expert apple cutter.

"I did not know that." You admit, running your hand over his back once you put two pink plastic plates in front of him to put the apples. "Did you girls know that?" You ask the twins sitting on the opposite side of the kitchen island.

They both shake their heads, replying identically. "Nope."

His voice gets all excited as he continues talking, waving his hands around instead of holding the knife. "Yeah, they're grown in every state, too, and almost 100 varieties are sold... you know, never mind." The way he stops is sudden and he shuts down like you've seen him do in front of other people.

"What, Daddy?" Dakota asks, scrunching her nose adorable.

"I want to know." Payton agrees.

Spencer's eyes water, face softening as he melts. The girls don't notice, but you do. He feels so much love and gratitude in just a second. Finally, after so many years of people ignoring him or telling him not to talk, people want to listen to him. In fact, his favorite people want to listen to him. The family you've built together is everything he's ever wanted.

You move to wrap your arms around his waist, leaning into his chest.

He gulps down tears. "Commercially." He finishes.

"You're so smart, Daddy," Payton tells him.

"I love listening to what you say." Dakota agrees.

He still looks like he's about to cry, smiling softly. "We're so lucky." You add on to their list of compliments.

Spencer shakes his head. "I'm the lucky one."

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#Aaron hotchner #criminal minds #hotchner #hotch

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I think my heart just exploded with cuteness! Excuse me while I go read this thirty more times!

Self-Made: Aaron Hotchner and Y/N

Summary: Prompt – Making Something For Someone Else. The BAU gets a visitor who tares through the bullpen and leaves everyone in puddles of mush and exploded hearts. Be Warned: Major Fluff ahead! Author's Notes: When I tell you this made me broody, you better believe it.

The squeal from Penelope was what alerted Y/N to the visitor in the BAU. She jumped up and down excitedly making Y/N laugh and turn in her chair.

“Baby Hotchner!” Garcia gushed, opening arms as Jack leaped from his father’s embrace and into magical Aunty Penelope’s cuddles.

“Well, hey there little man!” Morgan greeted, rustling Jack’s hair as Penelope picked him up.

“Hi.” He greeted in his small cheeky voice.

“I thought it was your day off?” Y/N raised an eyebrow as Hotch walked into the bullpen in his jeans and t-shirt.

“Jack wanted to come and say hi.” He shrugged.

“Or you wanted to come and check up on us, and you’re using your sweet innocent son as an excuse.” Y/N jibed as she crossed her arms.

“I am offended at the suggestion.” Hotch grumped falsely. “I’ll have you know; Jack and I were busy all morning making something very special for you all.” Hotch’s hand appeared from behind his back, presenting a large paper bag with mystery goodies inside.

“Presents!” Garcia beamed as she tickled Jack’s sides. He laughed ferociously as he wriggled out of her trap and ran over to his dad.

“I want to give them out!” he ordered his dad.

“Okay, okay.” His dad hushed pulling out the first wrapped box and handing it to his son. “You remember where Miss Jereau’s office is?”

“Miss Jereau?” his son scrunched his face.

“Henry’s mum.” Aaron reminded him, confused at his son’s forgetful memory.

“That’s not her name!” Jack laughed. “You mean Aunty JJ! Silly Daddy!” Jack giggled and began sprinting up the stairs to JJ’s office.

“My mistake.” Hotch chuckled as he watched his son run off.

“He’s so cute!” Garcia continued to fuss, pressing her palms to her chest as if her heart was going to escape.

“He’s beautiful.” Y/N smiled at Hotch. She had been at the BAU for almost 9 months now but was still yet to meet the Mini Hotchner.

“Thank you,” Aaron smiled sincerely.

“Get him in a suit and he’s going to be a real heartbreaker like his dad.” Morgan teased, waggling his eyebrows not so subtly at Y/N.

“Dad!” Jack shouted from the top of the stairs. “I need Uncle Dave’s gift!” Hotch rolled his eyes playfully and carried the bag over to his son. Y/N stood and watched with a blush across her chest as she watched Hotch in ‘Dad Mode.’ She played with the necklace around her neck absent-minded as Hotch lifted the small, wrapped box with one hand, passing it over the railings to his son.  

“Oh, I know that face!” Garcia sang.

“What?” Y/N questioned as she noticed Garcia’s and Morgan’s teasing smiles at her.

“Someone’s swooning.” Morgan playfully flicked Y/N’s necklace out of her hands before she batted his hands away.

“I am not!” she scolded him!

JJ left her office, walking calmly down the stairs with her opened box in her hands. She joined the others with a bright smile on her face.

“Have you seen this?” she laughed happily.

“No! What is it?” Garcia begged. JJ lifted from the box a large pink pompom ball with googly eyes and blonde strands of string poking out from the top to form hair. In felt-tip, Jack had drawn JJ’s necklace gifted to her by her sister when she was little. Little popsicle sticks had been cut into small pieces and painted to become shoes glued to the bottom.

“Oh, My God!” Y/N beamed and melted.

“That is so cute!” Garcia laughed.

“What I tell you? Boy’s gonna have game!” Morgan chuckled, sitting himself down on Y/N’s chair and resting his feet on her desk. Y/N frowned and pushed his feet off her desk.

“Whoah!” Rossi’s loud roar came from his office as Jack presented him with his own gift! Rossi ran Jack out of his office, using his own pompom figure to scare and chase him. The pompom was bright orange, with curly black hair plopped on top! The PomPom had neat brown popsicle stick shoes and a miniature Italia flag poking out from the side. Jack squealed with joy as he ran down the steps and leaped into his father’s arms. The bullpen was alight with laughter as the Hotchner boys and Rossi re-joined the group by Y/N’s desk.

“Please, Please, tell me I’m next to get my gift?” Penelope whined to Jack who continued to giggle.

“Daddy, can I have Aunty Penelope’s gift now?” Hotch pulled out a sparkly pink box with bright neon ribbon wrapped around it, delighted in how Garcia’s face transformed into genuine shock. She made baby grabby hands, desperate to see her little PomPom figure. When she pulled it out, it was as extravagant as her. It was bright purple with multi-colored hair and fashionable pink glasses. Jack had drawn on bright red lipstick and covered the feet in as much glitter as possible. Garcia attacked Jack with kisses and tickles whilst Aaron passed a box to Morgan. Morgan’s green PomPom didn’t have any hair on the top but had bushy black eyebrows sitting on top of the googly eyes. Black shades had been attached to the top of the PomPom, easily taken off, and placed on the googly eyes.

“Look at that!” Morgan laughed. “The most handsome PomPom in the land!”

Tutting and laughter bounced across the agents until Jack crawled up to his father’s side and tugged on his shirt. He motioned for his dad to crouch down to his level and whispered something in his ear. Hotch looked at his son seriously and nodded firmly. He reached into the bag and pulled out a small blue box with flowers doodled on the side with a white pen. Jack held the box carefully as if it was a bomb about to go off. He slowly crossed the circle and stood in front of Y/N.

“Are you Y/N?” He asked nervously. Y/N smiled kindly and crouched down to the boy’s level.

“I am!” She whispered as if the two were having a private conversation. “It’s very nice to meet you, Jack. You’re Dad has told me lots of amazing things about you!” Jack blushed as he presented the box to Y/N. “For me?” he nodded enthusiastically and stepped back, watching as Y/N opened the box. Very slowly and carefully Y/N pulled out a light blue PomPom figure with googly eyes and a little cardboard crown glued to the top of her Y/H/C thread hair.

“Daddy said you have Y/H/C hair, sparkling Y/E/C eyes, and are as pretty as a queen! That’s why I gave you a crown.” Y/N felt her cheeks heat to a rosy red and her chest tightens immediately. “Do you like it?” Y/N looked up at Aaron and noticed how he too was bright red, refusing to meet her eye. Y/N smiled and leaned forward, pressing a sweet kiss to Jack’s cheek.

“I love it.” She whispered. Jack giggled and blushed just as hard as Y/N. He ran to his dad’s side and hid his face behind his dad’s back. Y/N stood up from the ground and placed her mini-PomPom proudly on the top of her desk shelf, safe and protected from the ground below. She managed to pull her eyes towards Hotch and meet his gaze. “Thank you.” She mouthed silently. Hotch nodded and smiled bashfully before picking up his son.

“Come on, let’s go find Emily and Reid.”

The Hotchner boys walked away, in search of the next lucky reciprocates of their gifts. Y/N stared deeply at Hotch’s back as he carried Jack, the two boys laughing and smiling with one another as they talked.

“Oh yeah,” Morgan broke the silence, patting his hands on Y/N’s shoulders. “Definitely swooning.”

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Yay on the followers!!! How about #28 from the prompt list?

Thank you for the request!

Here ya go!

I hope you like it!

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My Shirt?

Whew it feels good to right again! Here is my first request for my 1000 follow celebration.

@mandy426 requested “is that my shirt?” Thank you for the request love

As always thank you to @leroyjethrogibbsgirl for the proof reading and brainstorming sessions go check her out!

This is written as a female reader. Please feel free to request gender neutral reader if you’d like I usually tend to write female reader if not.

Masterlist

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Y/N shivered as she stepped out into the chilled air. She felt an arm pull her into a firm body and smiled at the warmth knowing it was Gibbs. She had been consulting with NCIS that week. When he heard they were bound to get snowed in, the team leader had sent everyone home and suggested Y/N come back to his house to keep working on the case.

It wasn’t unusual for Y/N and Gibbs to huddle up together on his couch to work on a case. Everyone around them knew their feelings were deeper than consultant/team leader and friends. They also knew better than to mention it, even Tony. Y/N rarely let herself admit her feelings and when she did she quickly reminded herself it was enough for her just to have Gibbs in her life even if it wasn't how she wanted. Gibbs on the other hand had admitted long ago how deeply he cared for Y/N but promised himself he’d never let that come between them. He knew what happened when he let himself love someone, and when they loved him, he didn’t want that for Y/N.

The duo was sitting on the couch as the snow fell behind them. They had opened back up their case files when they had arrived back at Gibbs’ and were working hard for a few hours now.

“You hungry?” Gibbs asked, pulling Y/N from the file she was skimming for the 5th time that hour.

“Starving.” She mumbled “and hitting a brick wall here.”

“Yeah, I’m calling it for the night. I’m making the steaks, you go change and find a movie.”

“ Shoot my go bag’s in my car” Y/N remembered.

“Grab a shirt from my drawer and you still have those stretchy pant thingies here from when your dryer broke” he reminded and she smiled.

“Any shirt Iwant?” She sing songed

“Make it one I’ll forget about if you’re gonna try to steal it.” He called as he walked to the kitchen.

“Ooo good point” she laughed and ran up the steps to change.

By the time gibbs had finished the steaks, Y/N was curled up with a blanket in one of gibbs old USMC shirts with an old movie playing waiting for him to slide up next to her with their food. Which is exactly what he did moments later, They spent the night curled up together until they fell asleep. If anyone asked they worked all night and gibbs slept on the recliner but that’s never what really happened when she stayed over. They always ended up snuggled on the couch, even though they’d never admit it.

As Gibbs had predicted the next morning when Y/N went home bundled up in her coat she had stolen his old marine shirt. He knew she would but didn’t mind. He completely forgot about the shirt within a week. Y/N however didn’t forget at all. Two months later and she was still sleeping in the USMC shirt. Sadly it didn’t smell like him anymore after the first wash but she still smiled as she thought about him every time she snuggled up in it. She vowed no one would know she had his shirt in her PJ rotation, and an embarrassing amount for that matter.

That was the plan anyway, until she was called in to help NCIS one night on a call. She had just finished consulting with another team and was exhausted when she went to bed maybe 5 hours ago. When Gibbs called at 3 am she didn’t think. She just hopped out of bed, threw on a pair of tactile pants, tucked in her shirt. She pulled on a cardigan and grabbed her jacket as she ran out the door.

Y/N had met the team at the scene to get a feel for the evidence and take pictures and notes. The freezing weather had Gibbs ordering everyone back to NCIS once all the evidence was collected to go over what they found. Y/N had stayed bundled up until she was starting to thaw out as she worked at the corner of Gibbs desk while the team was out checking leads or down with ducky or Abby. She finally warmed up enough to shed her jacket and unzip her sweatshirt, still not remembering what shirt she was sporting. She was scribbling on her notepad for a while longer before she heard a familiar sound of Gibbs clearing his voice.

“Can I help you” she asked with out looking up.

“ That my shirt?” he asked and she could hear the smirk in his voice. She felt a blush in her cheeks right away as she quickly looked down.

“Crap” she whipped before looking up and gibbs reluctantly “i forgot I was wearing it I’ll go see if Ellie has an extra in her locker or I’ll just” she began to ramble before gibbs cut her off by gently pulling her up from her seat by her wrist and leading her to the elevator.

“Gibbs”

“Shh” he cut her off again before flipping the emergency stop.

“You wear it a lot?”

She looked down reluctantly, but knew she wouldn’t get out of answering. “Most nights”.

She saw him nod and wasn’t sure if she really saw a smile or if it was just in her head.

“Why” he asked, rubbing his thumb against the wrist he never let go of.

“Do you want me to be honest?” She asked, peering up at him unsure.

He nodded “ always do”

“Not sure you want this answer though Gibbs” she said quietly.

“Think we’ve been avoiding it long enough.” He said. What Y/N doesn't know is that the moment he saw her in his shirt at his desk all denying and avoiding his feelings went out the window. Her standing there, clearly caring more about his feelings than her own, told him all he needed to know. It wasn’t always going to be easy for him, but this was his Y/N he couldn’t let her go.

“ The truth is” she whispered and looked into his eyes, “it reminds me of being wrapped up in your arms and that’s my favorite place to be.” She admited with a smile.

Gibbs smirked and moved his hand to grasp her cheek.

“That mean what i think it does?” He asked

She nodded and leaned into his hand as she whispered “i kinda love you Jethro”

Gibbs smileed one of those rare beautiful smiles only she gets to see and leaned in to kiss her. Pulling away he rested his forehead on hers and said “kinda love you back”.

#gibbs drabble #ncis image #ncis fandom #ncis #female!reader #leroy jethro gibbs imagine #leroy jethro gibbs x reader

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Hello beautiful people! I’m super excited to get to celebrate 1000 followers! So I’m gonna come out of my accidental break from writing by taking requests for my boy Gibbs.

Here is a prompt list @leroyjethrogibbsgirl and I made for the occasion! So send your requests my loves!

Quote prompts that scream Leroy Jethro Gibbs

1 “let’s talk wood”

2 “That deserves a gibbs slap!”

3 “Are we flirting?”

4 “Stay as long as you want”

5 “Your hugs are nice”

6 “Why can’t we stay here forever”

7 “Oh thank god your alive”

8 “Do you need a hug?”

9 “Steaks anyone?”

10 “He has a boat in the basement?”

11 “You’re all I could think about?”

12 “Please, let me in”

13 “Tell me you’re okay”

14 “Let’s go to the cabin”

15 “Aim the Gibbs glare somewhere else.”

16 “Oh my god, what happened to you?”

17 “We could have died”

18 “You smell like sawdust and bourbon”

19 “Just my type, snarky and covered in saw dust”

20”I want my flip phone back thank you very much”

21 “Please don’t cry”

22 “If this is how it ends, I.m glad you’re here at least”

23 “You got me flowers?”

24 “I just want to make sure you’re okay”

25 “That was my coffee”

26 “I knew you would be here”

27 “Pinky promise?”

28“Is that my shirt?

29 “That all you got?”

30 “Hashtag, get to work”

31 “We need to talk”

Feel free to send which number prompt and a little scenario if you’d like or just the quote.

Thanks for all the following love.

#ncis image #gibbs drabble #leroy jethro gibbs imagine #1000 followers

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we better get Garvez in this reboot damn it

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😍 this is so perfect! @leroyjethrogibbsgirl

Getting a puppy with Gibbs would include?

A D O R A B L E ✨

Hope you like it!

Getting a puppy with Gibbs would include:

•initially Gibbs is against the idea- a dog would be better than a cat or a baby- but it’s still a lot of responsibility!

•fortunately for you, your powers of persuasion are top notch! A few kisses, some steak meals, A LOT of… ‘extra curricular’ activities (which happily were part of your relationship anyway) and you’d convinced him!

•the thing is though Jethro didn’t actually need all that convincing- he just wanted to see what he could get out of you! (A lot it turns out, and he loves it!)

•you both agreed to rescue a puppy from a shelter, rather than buying one. You were so excited as Jethro pulled up outside the shelter- you’d gotten some food, bowls, toys, everything you could need apart from a collar!

•going to the shelter to look at the puppies was an almost harrowing experience- you wanted every single one you saw! But what really broke your heart was the older doggos- the ones that “no one wanted”.

•instead of it being a lovely experience for you both to pick out a baby dog it turned into something that was surprisingly emotional and upsetting!

•and you both found yourself drawn to the same precious little life- but it wasn’t a puppy. They were cute, sure, but you and Gibbs found yourself drawn to an adult dog. She was adorable- a little rough round the edges, with a half missing ear and a lopsided smile- but she, Bella, was perfect!

•both you and Jethro found yourself fussing her, cooing at her! And just like you, Bella was utterly smitten by Gibbs! And she was trained too! You couldn’t understand how anyone would want to get rid of her.

•the minute you saw those clever brown eyes you were smitten. It was love at first sight! Her tail beat the floor as he wiggled when you came into her little cage. It was love, pure love!

•well that was it! You signed the papers there and then (immediately being approved thanks to flashing Jethro’s NCIS badge) and took your girl home.

•Bella wasn’t a puppy, not in age. But she was your baby! The perfect fit for your little family. And taking her home was better than your wildest dreams! Team Gibbs (the family) was complete!

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Sooo if anyone has Bishop fix recommendations that won’t make me want to throw him in front of a moving vehicle please share!

Trying to read all the Bishop content to forget how shitty he has become 😓

#bishop losa #bishop #bringmybadassbishopback #mayans spoilers #mayans fx #mayans mc #mayans fanfic

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Trying to read all the Bishop content to forget how shitty he has become 😓

#bishop losa #Bishop #bringmybadassbishopback

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The Reaper and the Death Angel Part 5

You're getting two in one day again because I think the last one was hot trash and I feel obligated to fix it.

Part 4

Warnings: Drug use, angst, it can be hard to be a good person. Jax is a good husband who loves Wendy, drug overdose, marriage breakdown, mild comfort, no one dies, a burn so slow it's just smoke.

1,625 words

Comment if you want to be tagged in this series.

You've spent most of your adult life in and out of war zones, and you've worked with the US military to identify terrorist and dead GIs. Sick of all the death and pain you chose to leave fieldwork and go back to historical research. When your little Brother leaves the Marines and settles in a small town, you decide to follow him. Will you find a home in your small, underfunded Museum job and your Brother's found family? Or will life with the Club just be another war zone?

"What are you doing for dinner tonight?" Sam ate like a bear, you taught him how to cook and he did cook half the nights of the week, but he liked to show off, so you were the mastermind when the meals came to having guests.

"Ramen, I did a huge batch of roasted chicken stock, I got some wonderful vegetables from the farmers market, and the herbs are ready to harvest. I think it will work well." Sam's mouth was watering.

"Make sure you make enough to for left-overs, are you going to make the noodles" You rolled your eyes at him.

"You know the answer to both those questions is yes."

"What meat you are going to use?" Sam knew you weren't a huge meat eater, but he also knew that some of the Guys would judge you if they knew your opinions on factory farming.

"Pork, I think it's the most common in restaurant ramen." Sam went to the fridge so he could help, most of the work had been done because the dish had to be prepared ahead of time. When the Teller-Morrows arrived, they could do what's left.

They all arrived right on 7, everyone was dressed nicely and it looked like Jax and Clay kuttes had been freshly waxed. Gemma was dressed in a simple floral top and a pair of nice jeans.

"Do you all look spiffy!" Jax actually blushed, you chose to ignore the look on Gemma's face.

"What's for dinner tonight?" Clay was sitting down like he was ready to do nothing.

"Pork ramen with roast chicken broth and lots of vegetables, I made the noodles and everything." Jax recalled the soup he had on the days you guys moved in, he was excited to see what this one was like.

"Clay, you can please cut the noodles. Jax, can you please slice the spring onions. Everything else is ready done, so Gemma, you can relax." Clay gave you a strange look.

"She didn't have to do anything the last time either"

Don't take that tone with me.

"Yes but all the jobs were taken both times, you should be happy your wife is getting to sit down and relax."

You walked Clay through how to cut the noodles repeatedly before giving up. He was not a child, you shouldn't have to sit there watching to make sure he didn't mess up.

"It's ok, if your arthritis is acting up you can relax, I'm sure Jax would be happy to pick up the slack." A brief look of concern crossed Clay's face.

"How did you...?" You did usually interrupt people but he was getting in your last nerve.

"I'm a Doctor Clay, it's very obvious."

I know your weakness Mr Morrow.

You had made a choice to deal with Clay using indifference, which is what Sam told you to do. You regretted giving him the benefit of the doubt, your first impressions usually ring true and his was bad.

"Jackson, once you're done there can you do the noodles as well please?" Jax was already getting up to take the cutting board off you.

"Sure." Jax was a much faster study.

"Wendy loves ramen, but every time I tried to make it, it always ends up shit."

How sweet

"I'm sure that's not true, you can always take some fresh noodles and broth from here if you want to try again." he gave you a movie white smile.

"I'd like that, thank you."

Jax followed you around the kitchen for the rest of dinner preparation, he asked so many questions and listened so intently. You had to remind yourself that he was just being a good person and didn't need a pat on the back.

"We can take all this in now" You pointed to the pot of broth.

"Don't you need to put that in a bowl with all the other stuff?" It was a good question.

"No, it gets served at the table so it's all fresh." Jax took the pot off your hands without needing to be asked.

********

They talked more this time around, you learnt that Gemma loved to keep orchids and that she was a bird person.

"If you could keep any bird, which one would it be?" She thought it over for a minute.

"Crows, but they don't do well in captivity." She was right, crows needed to live outside in large numbers unless the bird was so adapted to humans that being in the wild was a risk.

"You can befriend you're local murder, though." Jax looked at you, confused.

"Murder?" You cut off a giggle.

"A group of crows is called a Murder of Crows. In fact, all Corvus birds groups have creepy names, a group of ravens is called An Unkindness of Ravens." Sam looked very proud.

"What about your dream orchid?" Gemma seemed to enjoy being the centre of attention, not in a bad way but like she wasn't used to it.

"Dendrobium thyrsiflorum" you could see her get that telltale look of an oncoming info dump.

"Tell me all about it, I've seen photos but I don't know much about orchids at all let alone individual varieties." Sam leaned in to listen, he learnt a very long time ago that taking a genuine interest in someone else's hobbies made the person happy.

Gemma started at the very beginning, you and Sam asked questions while Jax and Clay listened, you could see how much Jax loved her by the look on his face.

"Riiiiiing riiiing riiiiing"

"Sorry that's Wendy" He looked worried.

"Please you can use the spare bedroom."

"She a junky, he'll be a while."

Ok, that's it.

"I would appreciate it if from now on, you don't disclose the personal information of other people in front of me without their permission, it makes me extremely uncomfortable." A silence came over the room, you didn't give Clay the chance to apologise.

"Thank you."

Jax came bursting out of the room.

"I'm sorry I have to go, I....shit." You got up and stood in front of him, you could see his hands were shaking.

"Stay for a breath and collect yourself, are you alright to ride or do you need a lift?" He was looking at you wide-eyed and frightened.

"I'm ok, I'm sorry about tonight." You could tell he was how upset he was.

"It's not important, once whatever is going on is sorted, you can come back, you can even bring Wendy." His shoulders sagged with relief.

"You have my number if you need anything."

************************************************************************

It was an overdose, Wendy was ok, but it was another trip to rehab.

"Are you doing ok Jackson?" He looked like he hadn't slept at all.

"I don't know, I don't know how to help her." there was a flash of shame on his face.

"I love her but I don't think I want to be married to her anymore, nothing seems to help and I can't live with all the stress." You understood where he was coming from.

"It's ok to love someone but need to get away from them because they're hurting us, whether they mean to or not. Don't make your mind up just yet, wait till she's done this round of rehab and then sit down and tell her that her drug use is now affecting your marriage and you need things to get better." Some of the tension left his body.

"I can tell how much you love her Jackson, it's very nobel." You put a hand on his shoulder.

"Are you feeling ok now, or is there more you want to talk about?" he shook his head.

"No you've helped plenty, thanks."

"Why are you being so nice to me?" You didn't know where this was coming from.

"What reason do I have to do the opposite?" You knew he couldn't answer the question.

************************************************************************

Two Months Later

You were at another Friday night party, Jax was sitting at the bar nursing a drink.

"What's up buttercup?" You had grown close with most of the guys over the last few months are you were spending more and more time with them. You had still chosen to keep most of your life private, at least until they proved they could be trusted, not just as individuals but as a group.

"I've filed for separation, the last round of rehab didn't take." he sounded like someone died.

"Well, separation doesn't mean the end, it just means that you can experience life outside of your marriage for a while. Maybe some time to focus on herself will really help, you have to admit that a place filled with booze and pot isn't the best from someone who deals with substance abuse." Jax nodded.

"Yeah you're right, I seemed to say that a lot." he saw you do that thing with your face when you were trying to cheer someone up.

"I look forward to the day when you tell me I'm wrong."

Three weeks later

You showed up at the Clubhouse to have lunch with Sam and the guys, Jax was in the garage talking to a woman with long blonde hair. When Jax saw you he pointed you out to the woman and they started walking towards you.

"Hey, I'm Wendy." She put her hand out, which you accepted.

"I'm sure Jax has told you a lot about me." You tried to keep your face neutral.

"Not really, I know how much he care for you. Which is what I think matters." She smiled at you.

Four months later

Jax and Wendy had reconciled. You had become friends with the woman, you could tell how much she loved Jax. You weren't expecting the knock on your door late on a Monday night, it was Jax.

"Is everything ok?" he shook his head.

"Wendy's pregnant."

Part 6

Tag list: @polly-jayne @emme-looou @charliehunnamismycrush @southernbe @sassychrissy96

I'm much happier with this chapter, the story will start to get a little happier from now on.

[word-scribbless]

A Father’s Love Has No Ends

Chapter 1- The Phone Call

On this day 4 years ago Gibbs received a phone call that would change his life forever. It was a cool and crisp November night when Gibbs awoke to his phone ringing, he rubbed his eyes, grabbed his phone off the coffee table and looked at the Caller ID, and read Bethesda Naval Hospital, and his mind started racing trying to figure out which of team was hurt now, he took a deep breath and answered the phone “Gibbs” he said in a worried some tone, “Hi, Mr. Gibbs this is Louise Carrington calling from Bethesda Naval Hospital, I’m a Caseworker for the foster care system on the Labor and Delivery ward here, and I have a Keri Suzanne Neilson who just gave birth, Keri contacted us when she found out she expecting and told us she wanted to give her rights up to her child and let the child’s father raise her, and with that being said, you Mr. Gibbs are the child’s father, if you could come down here to the hospital right now so we can sort out all the paperwork for your Daughter, so you can take her home” the case worker explained “My Daughter” Gibbs said in shock, “Yes you were listed as her father, we can do a DNA test if you need Mr. Gibbs” “No, no I don’t need one, I’m on my way. Does she have a name?” Gibbs said and asked the case worker. “Yes she does, her name is Kaleigh, that’s the only name we have listed, her mother didn’t give her a middle or last name, there was a note left saying that Keri wanted you to give her the rest” the case worker told Gibbs. “Thank you Ms. Carrington, I’ll be there in 20” Gibbs said as closed his phone.

Gibbs rubbed his face, stood up, stretched and went upstairs and got dressed, as he got dressed, he kept replaying that entire conversation with the case worker over in his head, and the same phrase kept repeating “You, Mr. Gibbs are the child’s father” and he couldn’t understand why Keri wouldn’t tell him anything and why she would give up her rights to their child, but at this moment the most important thing was getting to the hospital to get his daughter.

Gibbs made his way down the stairs, he grabbed his keys, wallet and badge(just in case) and headed out the door. On the drive to the hospital, he realized that he had nothing for Kaleigh at his house, so he decided to call Abby to ask her to run to the Baby store and pick up what he will need for her. He flipped his phone open and hit the speed dial for Abby.  “Hi Gibbs” “Hey Abs I know it’s 12:30 in the morning and I’m sorry I woke you, but I need a huge favor can you run to the all night drugstore and pick up some Newborn Diapers, formula, and any other items I will need for a Newborn, and then drop them off at my place, I will explain later, I don’t have time, I need to get to Bethesda” “Sure thing Bossman, anything for you” “You’re a lifesaver Abs, thank you, Caf Pow on me for next 3 months” Gibbs said as hung up the phone and pulled into the parking lot at Bethesda and parked the charger and got out. 

As he made his way inside he took a deep breath and headed for the elevator, and up to the Labor and Delivery ward, as the doors opened an older lady with graying hair was talking to a nurse at the desk, and her badge read Louise Carrington, Gibbs made his way up to her “Umm, excuse me Ms. Carrington, I’m Leroy Jethro Gibbs, you called me earlier regarding Kaleigh Gibbs” Gibbs said politely.  “Ah, yes right this way Mr. Gibbs” Ms. Carrington guided Gibbs to a conference room, “Can I see Keri, I would like to talk to her?” Gibbs asked right off the bat. “Well that won’t be able to happen, Ms. Neilson died shortly after giving birth, due to complications, I’m sorry Mr. Gibbs” Ms. Carrington explained, as Gibbs sat stunned. Gibbs took a breath and continued “So Keri signed her right away, before she gave birth?” he asked, “Yes, this was all worked out before she gave birth, Keri had all the Paperwork drawn up, she knew she didn’t want anything to do with Kaleigh, she admitted she wasn’t fit to be a mother, she knew that Kaleigh would be safe and cared for by you, so the only thing left now is for you to sign the papers and take custody of your daughter” Ms. Carrington said as she placed the Paperwork on the table in front of Gibbs so he could sign. When Gibbs signed the paperwork he knew at that moment, that his daughter would be his everything, and he would be her everything. “Can I see Kaleigh now?” Gibbs asked. “Yes, you can but I have one more question first, Keri only gave her the name Kaleigh, I need to add her full name to her birth certificate, and she left that up to you Mr. Gibbs” Ms. Carrington asked.

“Kaleigh Ann Elizabeth Gibbs” he answered. “Well, then that does it then, Kaleigh is in the Nursery, the tag on her crib says “Baby Gibbs”, but before you leave let me clip this bracelet on so you enter and see your daughter” Ms. Carrington said as she placed the bracelet on Gibbs wrist. “Thank You for everything Ms. Carrington, I will for sure stay in touch with you” Gibbs said as he left the conference room and headed for the Nursery. 

He made his way to the nursery and stopped at the big window, looked in and found the crib that had the tag that read Baby Gibbs, he was taken back by the blonde hair and blued eyed baby, he couldn’t believe that was his daughter, that he was a father again, he took a deep breath and said a Prayer, something he usually doesn’t do, “Dear God, I know that I haven’t done this in a long time, partly because I’ve been angry with you for taking my girls from me, but I need you to listen, I need you keep my little blue eyed baby girl safe, healthy, and please don’t take her from me, she’s my second chance and I can’t lose her, I don’t think I’d make it if I lose her, I promise I will be a better person, and will always be there for Kaleigh, Amen” Gibbs said with tears falling down his cheeks. He then made his way into the nursery and up to Kaleigh’s crib, he slowly and gently picked her up in his arms and held his daughter for the first time, as he was holding Kaleigh, she wrapped her tiny hand around his finger and held on tightly and slid his finger into her mouth and started sucking on it, at that moment he knew, that this little girl was his world and he was hers, that he’d do anything and everything for her, that he’d keep her safe and protected. Gibbs sat in the rocking chair next to the crib and rocked Kaleigh, as he rocked he looked up and knew that Shannon and Kelly sent him this little Angel, “Thanks Shan, Kelly, for my second chance” he said as he cried for the first time in a longtime.

Gibbs sat there crying and rocking Kaleigh for about an hour as he did, Kaleigh got fussy and one of the nurses heard Kaleigh starting to cry, she came over to where Gibbs and Kaleigh were sitting, “I think she’s hungry, how about we take her back to her Mom, you can follow” the Nurse suggested, “Her mother passed away shortly after giving birth, she just has me now” Gibbs replied back, “Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean, I’m so sorry” the nurse apologize. “I’ll get some formula for her, and just a suggestion, Skin to Skin contact is the best for newborns and their Daddy’s. It helps them connect better and bond, it’s good for both you and baby” the nurse said as she made her way out to get formula. As the nurse left Gibbs decided that he would try skin to skin with Kaleigh, he gently put Kaleigh down in her crib and took his jacket, hoodie and T-shirt off and picked up Kaleigh again, sat down in the rocking chair and unwrapped Kaleigh from her blanket, slipped her out of the onesie and placed Kaleigh on his chest, when he did she instantly calmed down, and snuggled up to him, at that moment he realized that he never got to do this with Kelly when she was a Baby, because he was deployed, he then looked at Kaleigh and whispered to her “Daddy promises to never miss the special moments with you” as whispered that to Kaleigh, she cooed back at him.

After being fed and changed Kaleigh fell asleep instantly, and Gibbs figured that was the best time to get her ready to leave the hospital and take Kaleigh home, one of the nurses on the ward brought him some clothes to take Kaleigh home in, so he gently and very quickly got Kaleigh changed in to the clothes and swaddled in her blanket so she was all ready to go, he then placed Kaleigh into Kelly’s old car seat/carrier that he had put into the car before he left home, he figured it would work until he could send Abby for a new car seat/carrier for her, as he buckled Kaleigh into the car seat/carrier, she fisted her hand into his hoodie, and Gibbs knew she wouldn’t let go, so quickly slipped it off and covered Kaleigh up with it to keep her warm he then headed out, as he reached the charger he opened the back door and placed car seat/carrier on base and made sure it clicked in and that Kaleigh was still covered with is hoodie he then closed the back seat door and walked around to the drivers side of the charger, as he sat down in the driver’s seat he looked up into the rearview mirror and saw his baby girl, he knew at that moment that this was the start of his new life as Father to that precious little baby back there.

Here is my newest story, I want to send a big shout to @word-scribbless for all the help with writing, she has helped will all my stories, she is my go to girl for #GibbsSpeak, she really and truly knows how to properly write #GibbsSpeak!!! so Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!

@word-scribbless  @nerdyfangirl67 @hopscotchandlemon @navalcriminalimagines @ilovemark1951

[word-scribbless]

This might be the most adorable thing I’ve ever ready!

𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

➺ 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 « ezekiel "ez" reyes x woc!reader

➺ 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 « you need a date to your friend’s wedding, and Ezekiel is happy to help.

➺ 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿'𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 « here's a repost of my very first fic and it still has a very special place in my heart! i hope you enjoy (again)! (gif credit: @songyikyung)

➺ 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴(𝘀) « language, fluff, slight smut at the end, mentions of police brutality (ya know, that one scene), 18+/minor dni!

➺ 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 « 8.6k (oops again)

If the Santo Padre charter of the Mayans Motorcycle Club had a free night, it was a cemented fact that you would find the members celebrating it with the usual —women, booze, and music.

The women, many of whom you’d grown to be friends with, were scattered throughout the inside and outside of the clubhouse, ready to aid in almost any desire anyone introduced to them. The booze was drowned down with lighthearted jokes and jovial belly laughs, the carefree environment bringing out the comedian in everyone. The music, which the radio was currently playing at an acceptable volume, entranced a few people to sway either alone or with a partner as the consumed alcohol in their systems turned up the notches of their confidence.

Now, tonight just happened to be one of those free nights, and you were enjoying every second of it.

Angel, who was previously occupying the spot next to you, had just retreated to the bar to grab you and himself another beer. Coco was seated in the chair across from you, one hand holding his burning cigarette and the other rubbing up and down the thigh of one of Vicky’s girls that you had made conversation with earlier in the evening. Gilly had retreated with Marina, another one of the girls, about an hour ago and you had no doubt he was relishing his alone time with her. Hank and Bishop were currently competing in a friendly round of pool against Riz and Creeper, smug laughs from Bishop’s side of the table informing the room that they were winning. Ezekiel was the only one who didn’t seem to be relaxing, as he was busy keeping drinks refreshed and the bar clean or any spilled liquor.

While he’d rather have been sitting with the group, particularly next to you, he stayed settled behind the bar, admiring how the warmer air that filled the clubhouse caused a light sheen to fall over your exposed skin. He couldn’t help how his eyes traveled down the skin of your neck but soon felt somewhat embarrassed when his mind materialized the image of his lips gracing it with ardent kisses.

“You’re staring. Again. ”

Ezekiel almost flinches at the sound of his brother’s voice, not noticing until now that he’d made his way to the bar with two empty beer bottles. Looking towards Angel’s face, he’s met with a knowing look that forces his eyes to roll as he turns around to grab more drinks.

“No, I wasn’t,” Ezekiel gripes back knowing it was a sad excuse for a rebuttal, but him getting caught in the act had scattered his thinking process at the moment. He returns to the counter with the new beers, grabbing a bottle opener on his way.

The younger Reyes was in the middle of opening the first bottle when he froze at your laugh that had sounded throughout the room. Looking back over towards you, his heart jumped at the wide smile you had on your face as you were amused by whatever Coco was saying.

“Wow,” Angel starts, shaking his head with a laugh. “You’re in deep, hermano.”

Ezekiel turned to his brother with an annoyed look, deciding that the best thing to do was not respond. It would only lead to him digging himself a deeper hole of embarrassment with Angel and increase the possibility of saying something that he wanted to keep to himself.

“I’m not fuckin’ stupid, Ezekiel. I know you,” Angel claims, folding his arms and leaning against the bar. “And I know how you get when you catch feelings for someone. It’s like you’re in middle school all over again.”

“I haven’t caught feelings for anyone, Angel,” Ezekiel lies, placing the newly opened beers in front of Angel, hoping that getting what he came for would make him go away. “My focus is on the club, anyways.”

Both of the brothers knew that everything that had come out of Ezekiel’s mouth in the past two minutes was complete and utter bullshit, but what’s the harm in trying, right?

“Really?” Angel presses, tilting his head in feigned surprise. “So you’re gonna sit there and tell me that you don’t have any romantic feelings for the woman you can’t keep your eyes off of for more than five minutes?”

Ezekiel pauses with a sigh, forcing himself not to look in your direction.

His feelings for you had first blossomed when you patched up his injuries after he was beaten by the group of cops in the middle of the highway. To this day, the only reason he doesn’t feel completely ashamed for his dangerous decision was the fact that you didn’t scold him as Bishop did.

Instead of verbalizing your discontent for the many bloodied cuts and bruises, you just dragged him over to a chair and silently tended to his wounds. He watched you work up close with exposed eyes, stomach fluttering so intensely that he thought he was going to throw up. Once you were finished, your kind gaze rose to his face, and you quietly admitted that you were glad that he was okay before staying with him in his trailer for the rest of the night.

You’d distracted him with corny jokes and funny movies on your phone—anything to take his mind off the pain—as you held ice up against his swollen bruises. At some point, you ended up falling asleep across his bed, and Ezekiel couldn’t find the courage to wake you up. Listening to his heart rather than his head, he took the risk of slipping onto the bed next to you and letting sleep take him as well.

No matter how scrunched up he was, no matter how bad his bruises stung when you brushed up against him, the sight of your still sleeping figure when he woke up made up for it all.

When you opened your eyes the next morning, you were met with his own sparkling browns staring back at you. He expected you to shoot up out of the bed or reprimand him for being some kind of a creep once you realized he hadn’t moved his gaze, but you did nothing of the sort.

All you did was smile. It was tired and groggy, but Ezekiel couldn’t help but mimic it as you laid together. Both pairs of eyes in the cabin danced along the other’s face, cherishing each and every perfect imperfection. It was only until Angel’s unnecessarily loud pounding on the trailer door that the moment was concluded, but it left Ezekiel feeling like he was floating for the rest of the week.

Every day after that, some kind of meaningful interaction seemed to happen, both of you silently falling deeper and deeper for the other.

“Nothing’s ever gonna happen, Angel. Even if I want it to.”

Ezekiel mumbled the last part, both to make sure you didn’t hear and because the reality of nothing actually ever happening was too horrible for him to bear.

“For a guy who got into Stanford, you’re pretty stupid, baby brother,” Angel deadpans, resisting the urge to give Ezekiel a good smack on the side of the head. “And you know why I say that?”

Ezekiel shakes his head silently, legitimately interested in what his brother was going to say next.

“Because you sound like me. You’re gonna let that woman slip right through your fingers because you’re too fuckin’ scared to do anything about it. Because you think that, with someone that special, there has to be some kind of downside that’s gonna pop up as soon as you’re happy.”

Angel’s voice was low as he spoke, but his eyes were an entirely different story. They burned with fury and passion as he worked to convince his brother to get out of the same destructive mindset he usually found himself in.

His brother was too smart to think like that. Too bright. Too special.

“But you can’t do that, Ezekiel. I’m not gonna let you. So with that being said, here’s what you’re gonna do,” Angel finalizes, eyes still determined as ever. “You’re gonna come over with me and talk to your girl before my loveable charm wins her over.”

Angel smiles at his brother’s light snicker, slapping him on the back as soon as he was around from the bar. Making their way over to where you were sitting with Coco and Dejah, Ezekiel has to remind himself to take a few deep breaths as he steps closer to you.

“Look who decided to join the party,” Angel exclaims, plopping down into his seat on your left after taking his beer from Ezekiel. Ezekiel swore that his heart skipped a beat when you looked up at him with a warm smile, scooting over slightly to make room for him.

“What’s up, Boy Scout,” Coco greets with a nod, taking a quick drag of his cigarette.

“Hey guys,” Ezekiel greets back, throwing his head back to the older Mayan and the woman on his lap. It takes him a few seconds, but he finally gains the courage to turn towards you. Both of you earn a shy smile from the other, wondering which one of you was going to speak first.

“Hi,” you breathe out, the word coming out so softly that only he could hear it.

“Hi,” he responds, just as quietly. “You doin’ alright, princesa?”

Nodding at his question, a wave of confidence with an unknown origin rolls over you as you continue to gaze at him.

“Pretty good now . Thought you were gonna have to play busboy all night,” you pout playfully, covertly delighted that he was able to take a break from the bar.

Ezekiel chuckles at your statement, silently thanking Angel for forcing him to come over here. His plan to stand and admire from afar was long forgotten as your soft conversation continues.

“I believe this is for you,” Ezekiel teases, tilting the almost forgotten beer bottle in your direction. As you take it from him, your fingers brush together and Ezekiel bites his lip at the feeling. He had to look away for a moment as your mouth wraps around the top of the beer bottle, and he hopes that you didn’t hear the giggle that exited Angel.

As the next half-hour passed, Ezekiel felt your figure slowly but surely melt into his. The arm previously wrapped around the back of the couch had found its way around your shoulders, his fingers light stroking the side of your arm every now and then. Your thigh was pressed against his and your hand took pleasure in unconsciously tracing different shapes on the hard muscles as you all conversed. Ezekiel felt his face warm every time you spoke, finding it adorable how your eyes brightened as the words poured out of your mouth.

It was no question that you felt Ezekiel’s fixed gaze on the side of your face, and it was also noticed by everyone in the near vicinity, including the older men finishing up their second round at the pool table. Subtle smiles we’re held back by the entire room as they watched the young man look at you with stars in his eyes.

After a few more minutes, the men playing pool began to make their way over to the sitting area. Pulling up stray chairs, the number of people sharing conversation grew larger by the second, as did the amount of laughs.

As the discussion kept on, both Ezekiel and yourself missed the mischievous look the president of the Mayans shared with the older Reyes brother. It was only a matter of seconds before their unknown plan was put into motion.

“So, you find a date to join you at that wedding, querida?”

Bishop’s question caused the entire group to quiet down and fix their stares upon you.

“Uh, no, not yet,” you state, shaking your head as you tried to hide the sullen expression that threatened to break out on your face.

One of your best friends from high school, Nick, had popped the big question to their then boyfriend—now fiancé—earlier in the year. The wedding was to be a two-day event, held at some opulent hotel in Los Angeles. The beautifully designed invitation was received by your mailbox a good seven weeks ago, so it was your own fault that you still hadn’t found anyone to go with. You would’ve just asked Angel, but the person your heart desired to accompany you made you too shy to be able to confidently form full sentences.

“It’s comin’ up pretty soon, isn’t it? You’re gonna have to pick someone to go with sooner or later,” Angel points out, missing the hard scowl you sent in his direction.

“I was actually just thinking about going alone,” you inform everyone. “I mean, I leave for the wedding in a few days. That’s pretty short notice for someone to tag along.”

“What about the prospect?” Hank pipes in, quickly catching on to what Bishop and Angel were attempting to arrange. “Let him be your arm candy for a little while.”

Your eyes widen at his proposition, not expecting Hank to speak aloud the idea you’d had running rampant in your head for the past seven weeks.

“Oh, I don’t-”

“I’d be honored.”

Ezekiel’s proclamation has you turning in your seat, looking towards him with shock. His grin widens when you attempt to stutter out some excuse about not wanting to bother him or distract him from his duties.

“Don’t worry about it, sweetheart,” Taza assures with a kind smile. “We can handle ourselves without him for a few days.”

“Are you sure? You really don’t have to,” you promise Ezekiel, but he immediately shakes his head to stop you.

“I’m positive, querida,” he nods, sitting up to get a better look at your eyes. “I’d be happy to do it. Just send me the details, and I’ll be there.”

The next morning when you returned back to the clubhouse, your first task of the day was to meet up with Ezekiel to discuss your game plan.

“So, Nick wants everyone checked in at the hotel by Thursday afternoon so they can start the rehearsal dinner at six. Then after that, we have the rest of the night to do whatever we want. On Friday, the ceremony starts at three. Cocktail hour starts at three forty-five, and the reception starts at five.”

Ezekiel’s eyebrows shot up slightly as you read off the itinerary from your phone, pleasantly surprised at how entertaining all of this was starting to sound.

“You know, this actually sounds pretty fun,” he points out, walking over to read the rest of the schedule from over your shoulder. “I assumed this was just gonna be some boring ceremony followed by some crappy food.”

“I don’t think Nick would let that happen,” you laugh, the memory of his strong personality causing a wave of nostalgia to fall over you. “Plus his parents are pretty loaded. I think he’s finally using that to his advantage.”

Ezekiel nods, moving to stand across from you.

“The drive’s about two hours, so I say we leave around noon,” he begins, trying to not let the way your eyes were gazing towards him disturb his train of thought. “That alright with you, querida?”

You agree to the time with a shy smile, trying to will your heart to slow back down to its normal speed. (Something you never managed to accomplish whenever Ezekiel was around.)

“Sounds good. Um,” you pause for a moment as you turn towards the large man. “I know I’ve already said this about fifty times, but thank you, Ezekiel. You don’t have to do this, so I really do appreciate it.”

Ezekiel kisses his teeth at the repeated statement, moving to grip your upper arms with his hands in hopes that his point would finally get across.

“Please stop saying that,” he begins with a small smile. “I know I don’t have to. But I want to. You know I’d do anything for you, princesa.”

You can’t help but let the shy grin you’ve been working to keep contained the entire time spread across your face. There was no point in hiding it now, his kind words acting as verbal ounces of warmth as they left his lips and fluttered their way straight into your heart.

As you and Ezekiel shared another quiet moment, you truly believed that this coming weekend would bring nothing but heart palpitations, shy smiles, and an endless amount of butterflies. Neither of you could wait as you counted down the hours to what was assumed to be one of the best weekends of your lives.

The hotel room you and Ezekiel would be sharing was nothing short of breathtaking. It was a suite-style room, the living room area was decorated with floating back chairs and glass-topped coffee tables. The bedroom was down and to the right, the bed possessing a mounted headboard and fluffy white pillows that contrasted perfectly with the off-white sheets.

The prospect looked towards you as he was reminded that there was only going to be one bed, but he immediately relaxed as you didn’t look bothered by that fact.

Ezekiel moved to put his belongings on one side of the bed, only to turn around and see you now standing out on the patio. His footsteps were quiet as he walked through the suite and outside, not wanting to disturb your peaceful gazing over the side of the canyon the hotel room was positioned on.

“This place is amazing,” you breathe out, not taking your eyes off of the beautiful scene in front of you. Ezekiel wanted to agree, but he was too enamored with how pretty you looked in the sunlight.

The words were stuck in his throat as he burned this image of you into his memory. His heart was beating a million miles a minute and he had to take a moment to clear his throat before he attempted to speak.

“So, um, what are you thinking about wearing?"

Ezekiel wanted the floor of the patio to open up and swallow him in one goal as the question left his lips, hating how nervous he sounded. It wasn’t like you hadn’t spent countless times alone together, always managing to find each other’s company when the other was near.

So what the hell did he have to be nervous about? It was just you.

You and your charming smile. And your kind heart. And your comforting demeanor. And that beautiful, beautiful face.

“Nothing fancy,” you reply. “I don’t wanna take a chance of showing up the grooms.”

Ezekiel laughs with a shake of his head, telling you, “You could show up in a dirty potato sack, and you’d still be the prettiest one in the room.”

You bump him with your shoulder at the statement, barely keeping your eyes from rolling.

“Stop it, Zeke” you murmur, letting a laugh bubble up out of you when the man across from you does the same. “Seriously.”

“I’m not kidding,” he laughs again, taking your hand into his and pulling you towards him. Your face falls into an expression of slight shock, a low gasp tumbling from your lips as your chest is pressed into his. Ezekiel lets nothing overcome him as he takes the time to trace your face with his eyes, letting them flicker down towards your lips a few times before meeting your eye line. “You’re beautiful.”

You weren’t sure whether it was the heat from the sun or Ezekiel’s hands, which were now placed gently around your waist, but your entire body was significantly more warm than it was thirty seconds ago. Keeping his hands where they were, Ezekiel decides to take the risk of leaning in. You stood completely still, allowing him to continue forward without protest.

Foreheads now touching, you could feel his short breaths on the side of your face. It took you this long to realize that each of your chests was heaving, nearly overwhelmed by the assortment of feelings running throughout your bodies at the moment.

Tension, lust, hunger, yearning; each barrelling through both of you in record speed, mixing and melting into one another to form a heavy atmosphere of barely restrained desire.

As Ezekiel leaned in for the final inch, you finally believed you were going to relieve yourself from the countless days of apprehension. Unfortunately, the universe had different ideas as a loud knock startled you out of Ezekiel’s arms and a few steps back.

Ezekiel let his head drop and his eyes close for a moment in both disappointment and agitation as you sent him a sheepish smile. He didn’t watch as you traveled towards the door, doing everything possible to will down the small bulge that now sat uncomfortably in his jeans.

“Rodney!”

Your slight squeal from the door of the hotel was able to recommend Ezekiel’s attention. He was slightly surprised to see you being spun around by who he assumed was one of the reasons you two were here in the first place. As he walked over to where you and Rodney were now parting from the dramatic hug, you turned to him with a wide smile.

“Zeke, this is one of the grooms-to-be, Rodney,” you introduce motioning towards your old friend. “Rod, this is Ezekiel.”

Both of the men send each other small grins, shaking the other’s hand as they were introduced.

“Hey, man. You can just call me EZ,” Ezekiel tells Rodney, whose eyes seem to light up with recognition.

“Oh, so this is the guy who you—”

Just leave it to Rodney and his disregard for any type of shame to make an awkward situation arise. (Although, that was something that Nick loved about him.) Before he could finish his sentence, you step in quite abruptly in an attempt to save yourself from any further embarrassment.

“Um, Rod, where's Nicky? I was looking forward to catching up with him before the rehearsal dinner.”

Ezekiel barely holds back a knowing smile as you interrupt your friend. He got the sense that whatever Rodney he was about to spill was something you didn’t want him finding out about. Your panicked state as you shifted the conversation in a different direction prompted him to want to press on the matter, but he didn’t. Instead, he crossed his arms and continued to listen to the conversation happening in front of him, letting it go. For now.

“He’s around here somewhere,” Rodney answers nonchalantly. “Probably in the ballroom with his sister making sure everything is running smoothly. But don’t worry, he’s already told me that you’ll be one of the first people he looks for during dinner.”

You accept the answer with a nod, Nick’s revealed whereabouts being no surprise to you.

He had always been the eccentric and involved type, taking up a spot in as many clubs as he could during his high school years. His friendly manner and sincere nature made it easy to have him as a best friend in high school, and you found yourself lucky that the friendship has remained during the following years.

“Well, I’ll let you two get settled in. Looking forward to seeing you downstairs,” he winks at you and turns to Ezekiel, sending him a kind smile before leaving. As the door closes, you and Ezekiel share a silent look before breaking out into a small huff of laughs.

“He seems nice,” Ezekiel points out, expecting to get to further experience Rodney’s amiable personality throughout the next couple of days.

“Yeah, he’s a sweetheart,” you tell him as you walk to the other side of the room to grab your bags to place in the bedroom. “Never a dull moment with him and Nicky.”

After setting your belongings inside the other room (and slightly freaking out when you peeked into the bathroom and realized that it was equipped with a heated limestone floor and another television), you returned to the main room. Ezekiel was sitting comfortably on the couch, flipping through channels on the large television attached to the wall across from him.

Agreeing that he had the right idea, you cross the room and seat yourself next to him. You had to hold back a gasp when he wrapped one of his arms around your shoulders and pulled you snugly into his hard side.

“What are you doing?” You laugh, the expression on Ezekiel’s face staying as purposefully innocent as possible.

“Nothin’,” he replies, looking straight ahead to whatever show he’d queued up on the television.

Although you roll your eyes, your arm still finds its way around his front, gently resting it on his stomach. Ezekiel pulls you closer when he feels you finally relax, pressing a warm kiss into your forehead to try and steady his racing heart.

The way that not a word had to be shared between you and Ezekiel as you buried yourself into his side reminded him of the first time you spent the night in his trailer. It was almost scary how similar the instances really were… you were just as beautiful and he was just as sure that he was deeply, deeply in love.

Gazing at yourself in the mirror one last time, you had to take a moment to inhale and exhale slowly.

In the store, the dress fit perfectly.

The black, body-hugging silhouette complimented your figure perfectly. Your cleavage peeked out above the square neckline and the thin spaghetti straps that sat snugly on your shoulders graced your upper half elegantly. However, the thigh-high slit on the left side of the dress gave just enough view of your thigh was probably your favorite part.

But currently, your nerves are getting the best of you, and the only thing running through your head was ‘What would Ezekiel think?’

“You almost done in there?”

Ezekiel’s soft knocks on the door startle you enough to cause you to jump.

“Gotta be heading down soon,” he gently reminds you from the other side of the door, ignoring the way he could smell whatever perfume you were wearing from where he was standing. The sound of shuffling takes place for a few moments before the door finally opens.

As you reveal yourself to Ezekiel, his breath gets stuck and his throat.

Eye running over your hugged curves and seemingly professionally done makeup, his body doesn’t allow the words to come out of his mouth. All he can do is slightly hang his jaw and widen his eyes, causing you to bite your lip in uncertainty.

“Do I look that bad?” You question, almost laughing at how his eyes widened further when he realized he still hadn’t said anything.

“No!” He exclaims, shaking his head. “God no. You look…” Both of you pause as he searches for a word sufficient enough to describe how stunning you actually were. While Ezekiel remained speechless, you took the chance to ogle at him in return.

The fitted, navy blue suit he’d picked out for tonight’s festivities had you also falling unsure of what to say as well. You could almost hear the seams of his sleeves screaming in exasperation as they did everything they could to prevent his bulging arms from breaking through. Not to mention the white dress shirt that he’d paired with it all, a few of the top buttons undone showing off just the perfect amount of his well-built chest.

“You look amazing,” Ezekiel finally chokes out after a few more seconds pass by.

“Thank you, Zeke,” you laugh, smoothing your hands across your dress to make sure that no wrinkles had a chance to make an appearance. “So do you.”

As you gaze back up at him, your eyes trailed up his entire figure. He barely broke out of his haze to laugh, catching how you looked him over.

“Did you just check me out?”

Your eyes widened due to your realization of what you were doing and the fact that you got caught. (Not that you were being discreet.) Ezekiel laughs at the look on your face, flattered that you felt the same way about his outfit that he felt about yours.

“No.”

As you whisk past him to pull on your black stilettos, Ezekiel lets out a belly laugh at how you sputtered out the lie.

“It’s alright, querida,” he teases, making sure to grab your purse on his way over. “I know I look good.”

Ezekiel is surprised by the pillow that flew towards his face, but he still manages to catch it before it hits him. He throws it back on the couch with a laugh, offering his hand to help you stand when you finish putting on your shoes.

“You ready?” You ask him, taking your purse from him and tucking your hand into the crook of the arm that he offered to you.

“Always.”

The first part of a rehearsal dinner—the food—was your favorite.

Nick and Rodney had decided to go with a station-serving system and a greek menu, knowing that most of the vegetables that would be served in the dishes were warm season crops. (Nick had always been particular about that thing—good food. Then again, who wasn’t?)

The first station was for both warm and cold appetizers. The arrangement included choices of fresh greek or aubergine salads, flavorful eggplant croquettes, and spinach-artichoke stuffed Spanakopita triangles. During the appetizer session, you and Ezekiel actually ended up sharing a plate. You tried most of the food together, the greek salad and Spanakopita taking your picks for the best tasting so far.

The second station was reserved for the main entrées. There were options of chicken fillets dressed in feta cheese, olives, and cherry tomatoes, stuffed grape leaves (authentically known by most as Dolmades), and tall lamb-vegetable skewers. The skewers seemed to be Ezekiel’s favorite, seeing that he made multiple trips for additional servings and even stole one off your plate when you weren’t looking.

The third station was filled with a multitude of accompaniment dishes and sides. Arakas Kokinistos (Greek peas), grilled corn salad, rice pilaf, fried squash, and roasted potatoes were just a few of the dishes that dressed the long table. You assumed that this station was the general favorite throughout all of the guests, having to wait in line whenever you went to try a different side.

And lastly, just when everyone thought they couldn’t stuff any more food into their fully-stocked bellies, the dessert table made its own strong case. Halva Pudding, Baklava, and Constantinople Cake were washed down with an assortment of Greek wines and cocktails as dinner came to a close and the toasts began.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to eat anything ever again,” you softly groan to Ezekiel, whose jacket was now unbuttoned, as the first person on the schedule to give a speech began to make their way to the podium.

“Didn’t they plan a whole new menu for the actual wedding?” Ezekiel reminds you with an amused smile. You think for a moment, before sighing and leaning over in your chair to put your head on his shoulder.

“I guess I could eat one more time,” you shrug. “But if it’s as good as it was tonight, you might have to get me airlifted back home. You know, with me being in a food coma and all.”

Ezekiel had to stifle another laugh as someone at the front of the room began to acquire the attention of the entire room. All heads turned towards the podium as the first speaker introduced themselves to the guests, saying something along the lines of how happy she was to be here.

Your gaze breaks away from the speaker as she continues her long-winded introduction, letting it fall onto the happy couple who were sitting a few tables away. Nick (who had kept true to his word and pulled you and Ezekiel to the side just as you’d entered the ballroom to tell you how excited he was to see you), sensing that someone was looking at him, zipped his eyes around the room until they landed on you.

The sweet smile you sent his way only somewhat represented how proud you were of him.

(You just happened to be the first person he came out as gay to, as he felt you were the only one he could trust with something that monumental. From day one, you’d been his biggest supporter. You were there for him when he first discussed possibly telling his parents, who were just as supportive of him being himself as you were by the way. You were by his side when he himself struggled with the choice of openly coming out to his other friends and family.

And now here you both are as Nick was less than twenty-four hours away from marrying the man of his dreams.)

Even though you were a number of feet away, the dimmed lights in the room making it hard to make out little details, you could tell that he’d teared up. (And it wasn’t because of the lovely toast being given at the moment.) Nick subtly placed his hand on his heart as a silent ‘I love you’ , resisting the urge to interrupt the speaker by getting up and walking over to give you the biggest hug. You winked quickly as a response, allowing him to return back to listening to the woman who was now near the end of her speech.

You were too busy with your interaction with Nick to spot Ezekiel catching the whole thing. He watched with a warmed heart, biting back a smile as he was once again reminded how great of a person you really were.

His mind almost began to tell him that you were too good for him. And while he still believed that to be true, Angel’s words rang louder in opposition, immediately working to knock down the intrusive thought. You were too valuable to be lost over his irrational fears and insecurities. You meant too much to him to be snatched away by someone else as he watched in the shadows with the heaviest of hearts.

Ezekiel was shaken out of his thoughts when everyone moved to raise their glass for the end of the toast. He quickly joined in, lightly knocking his glass with yours and the other people that sat around your table he could reach without knocking anything over.

There were five more toasts given, family members from both sides doing everything from reminiscing through memories of Nick’s and Rodney’s childhoods to crying over the fact that their little boys were so little anymore.

After the last speech, it was announced that the guests were free to do as they pleased, but to be on time tomorrow for the big day. Ezekiel and you decided to retreat up to your room, bodies and minds becoming sluggish from all of the delicious food and alcohol. You left Nicky and Rodney with tight squeezes, Ezekiel giving them each a friendly handshake, as you both congratulated them again and promised to spend more time together tomorrow.

Your heels were off before you made it to the room, Ezekiel graciously offering to hold them as you walked back to your room together. In your tipsy state, the trip with Ezekiel throughout the beautiful hallways was filled with giggles and slight stumbling, but you made it back safely nonetheless.

Finally back in the room, you quickly changed out of your dress and into some more attire. Still in the midst of the seemingly always warm California air, you end up throwing on a fitted tank top and some lace sleep shorts. As you’re about to emerge from the bathroom, the bed a few feet away calling your name, you groan out as you remember you still had a full face of makeup applied.

“Ezekiel,” you whined out, hopefully loud enough for him to hear. “I need help!”

It was only a matter of seconds before Ezekiel appeared in front of you. “What wrong, princesa?”

“I’m too tired to take off my makeup,” you whine again, the mixture of alcohol still running through your system and drowsiness souring your mood. “Can you help?”

The pout you paired with the question had Ezekiel chucking as he grabbed both your hand and the package of makeup remover wipes before commanding you to sit on the bed. You comply easily with what you hoped was a smile, but Ezekiel’s snort told you that it came off more lackluster than you intended.

The amount of concentration Ezekiel seemed to put into delicately wiping your face was downright adorable. His brows were furrowed and his tongue peeked out through his lips as he made sure not to press down too hard. He finished a lot quicker than he expected, and he found himself disappointed that, just like that, the moment was over.

Going to throw the used wipes in a nearby trash can, Ezekiel turned around and was met with your now nodding-off figure. You’d thrown yourself back onto some of the pillows that sat at the top of the bed, face completely relaxed as you dozed off.

While Ezekiel wanted to let you sleep, he knew you’d be furious with yourself if you didn’t wash your face and deal with your hair.

“Hey, sleepyhead,” he sighs, his hand gently squeezing your shoulder. Your eyes open lazily as the sound of his voice, croaking out an incomprehensible response.

“I know you’re tired, but I think you’d kill me if I let you go to sleep without washing that pretty face and taking care of your hair.”

While he was explaining himself, Ezekiel was also pulling you up from your position on the bed, causing you to fully wake up. Your groans came out as more whines as you were pulled from your sleep, Ezekiel holding back a laugh as he instructed you to come with him.

You ended up doing the minimum amount of steps possible as you washed your face. (You knew you would probably regret it somewhere down the road, but sleep proved to be more important to you at the moment.) Ezekiel surprised you by staying in the bathroom with you, occupying himself at the other sink with brushing his teeth, and washing his own face.  He finishes a few minutes before you but still stays as you complete everything you need to do.

Once you yourself are finished, Ezekiel takes your hand and escorts you back out to the bedroom. Each of you moving to your respective sides of the bed, you can’t help but appreciate how chiseled his chest and arms looked as he fiddled with the comforter and sheets that dressed the bed. (Well, there goes your desire to sleep.) The veins that danced down his arms had your breath hitching as you pulled back the covers and slipped into bed, and you hoped he didn’t hear how loud your heart was beating as he slipped in next to you.

Ezekiel took the time to set multiple alarms before he turned towards you, not sure if he should take part in what his heart was screaming at him to do. Both of you laid uncharacteristically stiff as you attempted to not brush up against the other, feeling as if you did, the dam holding back all of the drawn desires would burst immediately.

“Princesa?”

Ezekiel’s voice is no louder than a whisper, afraid that if he spoke any louder, it would crack.

“Yeah, Zeke?”

‘This is it,’ Ezekiel thought. He was finally going to allow himself to have the one person he’s wanted for so long. He was finally going to truly ignore the false horrors that his mind would churn up in hopes of preventing him from being happy. ‘This is it.'

“Thank you.”

‘Wait, what?’

Ezekiel could tell how you tried to hide the way your eyes dimmed slightly, but he caught it anyway. His heart dropped into his stomach as the words left his lips, and he felt as if he could hear Angel scolding him all the way from Santo Padre.

“For what?” You question, the dam of your desires calming for the moment, subtle disappointment working to soothe its previously electrified waters.

“For bringing me here. For letting me be your date,” Ezekiel tells you, each of the words making him want to bite his tongue so hard that it bleeds. ‘Just shut up, Ezekiel!’

The sweet smile you send him doesn’t make him feel any better, his cowardness smothering him with a blanket of regret.

“Like you told me before, you don’t have to thank me,” you promise. “I like having you here with me.”

All Ezekiel can do is plaster on a small smile as you speak, and before he realizes what he’s doing,  his arms are opening and inviting you to lay against his aching chest. You instantly scoot into them, letting your head fall against his sturdy chest. His arms were squeezing you tight enough to make some breaths a struggle, but neither of you cared.

Once you were settled, sleep came easier to you than it did Ezekiel, who ended up lying awake for most of the night. As he held you in his arms, his head filled with even more disappointment as he asked himself a question.

‘What the hell am I still so afraid of?’

“I didn’t think it was possible, but you look even more beautiful than you did last night…”

Ezekiel’s quiet statement caused you to freeze momentarily, the earring you were working to put in forgotten for a quick moment. Meeting eyes with him in the mirror, you saw that Ezekiel had finished dressing. His black suit hugged him just as well, if not better than the last one and your mouth dried slightly as you struggled not to stare at him for an embarrassing amount of time.

Ezekiel, however, lacked any ounce of shame as he looked you up and down with a hint of what some would call lust in his eyes.

You ended up smiling sheepishly at his comment, disguising how the confusing and sometimes unpredictable signals that he gave off was giving you an exhausting case of whiplash. One moment, he’s inches away from your face, looking as if he was ready to devour you, and the next thing you know he was doing something to make you think the possibility of being anything more than friends was unfortunately unattainable.

For example, last night.

When Ezekiel said your name, the first thing you thought was, ‘This is it.’

After spending all of this time dancing around the obvious feelings you shared for one another, the time to act on those feelings had finally come. No more stolen glances. No more pitiful justifications of ignored feelings. No more uncomfortable instances of imagining how one would move on if the other found someone else.

But those feelings, justifications, and instances were just as present as before. And now all either of you could do was find the strength to keep powering through, the small hope that your persevering hope for the best would support the remaining patience.

“I could say the same thing about you,” you tell him, walking up and reaching over to rub out some of the wrinkles that sat on the shoulders of his suit coat. A smile breaks out on Ezekiel’s face, his arms reaching out to wrap around you again. Hands finding your waist, he squeezes slightly before finding the strength to back away to finish getting ready for the ceremony.

Gazing at you for a few more seconds before he turns around, Ezekiel takes the time to catch the breaths that had left him when he first saw your outfit for the day. The burgundy, high-low dress you’d decided on looked even better than the dress you wore last night. It flowed elegantly behind you as you moved around the room, and Ezekiel felt that you looked nothing short of how a princess would before an elegant ball.

It was another handful of minutes before you and Ezekiel were stepping onto the elevator, making your way to Swan Lake . It was one of the most popular attractions at the hotel, so it was no surprise to you that Nick and Rodney decided to hold the ceremony here. On the far side of each aisle of chairs were a homage to the name—miniature lakes graced that housed a number of peacefully swimming Swans and a number of beautiful plants. The gazebo that sat at the very end of the long aisle was storing a few professionally dressed string players and the officiant, all of whom were diligently preparing for their given roles.

“This place is beautiful,” Ezekiel mutters, scanning the area as more guests begin to file into their seats. “They really went all out.” You nod in agreement with him, peering over one of the bushes to look at the baby Swan that was busy swimming a few feet away.

“I wouldn’t expect any less from Nicky,” you claim, sitting back in your seat. “I think I’d probably want a smaller wedding though.”

Ezekiel surprises himself when he smoothly responds to your statement, also taking your hand into his in the process. “Yeah, I get that. More intimate. Just as romantic,” he nods.

You turn your head to him and smile, reveling in how he knew exactly what you were thinking.

“Exactly,” you nod, squeezing his hand. “Not too many guests, either. Enough to fill up a few rows and spend time with after the ceremony.”

Your voice was at a whisper now, afraid that speaking any louder would alert Ezekiel that he was the one you were imagining walking down the aisle to.

“You’re forgetting something,” Ezekiel tells you, and you tilt your head in confusion and wait for him to continue. “Tons of those lamb-vegetable skewers. Just like the ones we had yesterday.”

Both of you break out into a laugh at his addition, slightly falling into each other as a round of giggles overtakes the both of you. It takes a few moments for you to compose yourselves, the sight of rows now packed with guests forcing your amusement to subside so you wouldn’t disturb the starting ceremony.

The crowd grew silent as the respective people began to make their way down the aisle, everyone standing as Rodney made his way down with his mother and father by his side. Gentle smiles fell across the face of nearly everyone as Rodney’s parents gifted him with sweet hugs and kisses before taking their seats.

It was now Nick’s turn to make his journey down to his soon-to-be-husband. He already had tears in his eyes before he’d even started walking, his parents in no better condition as their faces were wet with matching tears. Somehow, Nick’s eyes found yours and he sent you a wink that had you tearing up all the same. Ezekiel placed a hand on the small of your back when he saw the moisture well up in your eyes.

(He decided to ignore the fact that he wondered how he would feel if he was in Rodney’s place, and you in Nick’s. Now was not the time to get lost in his own fantasies.)

Once everyone was seated once again, the officiant began his speech.

For the duration of the entire ceremony, Ezekiel sat with a strong arm around your chair. His fingers found their way to the side of your arm once again, running back and forth along the exposed skin lovingly.

As the ceremony continued, it now came time for the vows. Both Nick and Rodney spoke with an unlimited amount of love in their eyes, and it was no question that either doubted anything the other said. There was not a dry eye in the crowd as they all watched with calmed excitement, the words of the two men heightening everyone’s emotions.

Nick was in the middle of his vows when he recited the following:

“Rodney, you are truly my everything. There is not a day that goes by that you don’t remind me how lucky I am to have you in my life. You’re my guiding light to everything good in the world, and I will strive to be the same for you.”

Ezekiel’s eyes unknowingly cast towards you as he heard Nick declare his love for Rodney, and couldn’t help but imagine him saying these exact things to you. Holding your hands just as affectionately as Rodney’s was holding Nick’s. Looking at you with just as much love, if not more, that the two men were currently staring at each other with.

You were broken out of your trance when Ezekiel brings your hand up to his lips and presses a long kiss into the back of it. Your eyes burn with tears once again, but this time for a much different reason. When you peek over at Ezekiel after he kisses your hand, you see that his eyes were shining just as yours were.

The small smile the both of you share sends your heart into a frenzy, and it takes every ounce of your being to not kiss him right then and there.

You and Ezekiel returned to the hotel room in silence.

Not a bad silence—a warm, secure silence. One that wrapped its arms around you and kept you safe from all of the booming sounds of the world.

You didn’t get a chance to make it to the bedroom before Ezekiel’s voice had stopped you.

“Hey, why don’t we take a dip in the pool?” He suggests. “I mean, it is our last night here. Better use it while we can.”

You nod at him, grinning at the idea of spending some time in the spa pool Nick had talked up from one of his previous trips here. “That sounds nice.”

Taking the time to remove your formal attire and put on your swimsuit (that Nick warned you to bring beforehand), the two of you finally make your way out to the patio.

He steps in first and offers you his hand as you follow behind him. Both of you sigh at the feeling of the warmed water on your bodies, settling on opposite sides of the pool.

Another round of warm silence falls over you again, and you turn around to occupy yourself with enjoying the view of the canyon-side. Eyes running over the lights of the surrounding city, you smile to yourself when you feel Ezekiel wrap his arms around your waist.

His chin sits in the crook over your neck, and you hold back a smile at his next declaration.

“I’m gonna marry you one day.”

His words were mumbled, but you still understood every syllable. Your arms move to lay over his and you snuggle deeper into him the best you can.

“I don’t know when, but it’s gonna happen. I know it will.”

Lifting your arms, you turn around and place them around Ezekiel’s neck, pulling his body as close as humanly possible. You gaze into his eyes before pulling his lips against yours and feel him smile before he begins to run his arms down your sides.

The dam finally breaks—rather explodes—open as his tongue seemingly melts together with yours, drawing a soft moan from the both of you. Your legs wrap around his waist, Ezekiel then reaching down to squeeze a handful of your ass. His chuckle over how you whimpered into his mouth is interrupted by his own groan, hardened member twitching under his swimsuit as your hips eagerly roll up into his.

After a few more moments of disregarding your need for oxygen, you reluctantly pull your lips off of Ezekiel’s. However, he doesn’t let you part right away, managing to catch you in one more fervent kiss before finally parting.

“Just give me the details, and I’ll be there.”

[word-scribbless]

This is so perfectly Gibbs!

Things that Gibbs calls you when you’re in a relationship would include:

•of all the classic, traditional little pet names, the one that he’s most likely to use while you’re together is ‘Sweetheart’, he refers to you affectionately as ‘my sweetheart’ when he’s talking to others.

•he greets you every morning when you wake up in his big warm bed with a smile and a few lingering kisses before saying ‘good morning my love’. To be called ‘my love’ by Gibbs is no small thing, it’s a huge step. And it only every happens when you’re quite alone.

•when you’re out and about and bump into each other at work (for you’re likely to work in some position either in NCIS or a sister organisation) he’ll flirt with you openly and always call you ‘Dear’.

•when you’ve been particularly cunning and clever, or you’ve had a successful result to something or other at work…perhaps if you’ve done something every so slightly ‘grey’ to get results, his eyes twinkle and he calls you ‘Mrs Gibbs’. The first time this happened you almost fainted, but not only do you get used to it, but you also really start to love it.

•but ultimately he mostly calls you by your name or by your nickname that you go by, when he says it it’s different to how anyone else says it. It makes you feel tingles and feel warm inside when he says your name….which makes it very interesting whenever you have to work together.

[word-scribbless]

Fall drabble request: Sentence starter #28 (“Mmm….you’re so warm.”) with Dwayne Pride, please?

Okay so I’m the worst! I wrote this and forgot to post it!!!

Warm

[word-scribbless]

WARM

It wasn’t new for you to go to bed before Dwayne came home. Sometimes you’d wait up, most of the time really, but Dwayne made you promise you’d go to sleep on time tonight. He knew you’d had a long week and needed your rest.

After your Spending your Friday night relaxing with some tea and rom coms, you climbed into bed in one of his sweatshirts, but couldn’t help but wake up hours later a little bit cold. It had been rather chilly for New Orleans and you always ran cold, especially when your personal space heater wasn’t there to snuggle you warm.

Your sleepy brain subconsciously had you scooting towards his side of the bed not expecting him to be there. You smiled as you hit the sturdy warm wall that was your boy friend.

“Hey baby you okay?” He rasped I’m his sleepy voice, letting you know he hadn’t been in bed long. He was usually a little harder to wake up once he really fell asleep.

“Better than okay, you’re home.” You said with a sleepy smile.

“And you’re cold c’mere”

He said as he wrapped you in his arms.

“Mmm…” you hummed and wriggled even closer “you’re so warm. You aren’t allowed to leave ever.”

“Wasn’t planning on it.” He smiled and kissed you head.

You snuggled into his warmth and fell back to a much needed sleep with the man you love.

#ncis nola x reader #dwayne pride #dwayne pride imagine