Warnings:Voyeurism, masturbations, sex toys, oral sex (male and female receiving), vaginal sex, angst, talks of domestic abuse, talks of being held captive, protectiveness, Frankie throwing his rank around a little and it’s sexy, domestic violence, threats of murder.
Comments: Frankie finds that his new neighbor doesn’t close her windows when she’s masturbating. You have moved trying to escape your past and catch the handsome man next door watching you one day, inviting him over in the heat of the moment, a decision that will change your lives.
Co-written with @storiesofthefandomlovers
Click Keep Reading only if you have read the Rating and Warnings and understand the warnings may not be complete to avoid listing spoilers. As AO3 says ’creator chooses not to use warnings’. You also agree that you’re the right age to be consuming anything here.
Frankie had noticed that the ‘FOR RENT’ sign had been taken down next door. Noticed it when he had pulled into the driveway after a long day, noticing that the lights had been turned on, but he hadn’t given it much more thought than that. The need for a beer and a shower urgent. Perhaps a beer in the shower after the day he had. Not noticing that someone was moving around, setting up a home while he opens the door to the house and sighing as he takes his hat off and starts toeing off his boots to let his aching feet breathe.
“Fuck I’m getting old.” He grunts to himself and closes the door, emptying his pockets of keys, wallets, mints and his phone, dumping it all on the entryway table Julia had left when she had moved out two years ago. Hanging up his jacket and pulling his sweaty t-shirt over his head as he walks down the hall towards his bedroom.
Warnings:Gambling, strip Sabacc, nudity, wagers on sex, oral sex (female receiving), vaginal sex
Comments: A Mandalorian sits down at your Sabacc table on Canto Bight, wanting to play for the ship you have offered up as collateral. Except you decide that you won’t play for money, you’ll play for clothes.
Co-written with @storiesofthefandomlovers
ClickKeep Reading only if you have read the Rating and Warnings and understand the warnings may not be complete to avoid listing spoilers. As AO3 says ’creator chooses not to use warnings’. You also agree that you’re the right age to be consuming anything here.
It wasn’t often that you spent much time in one of the gambling dens on Canto Bight. Often the atmosphere was too much, or the table too rich, but this was interesting. When the Mandalorian had sat down at the table, several were concerned that the obvious bounty hunter had pucks on them. It was clear by the way they quickly gathered their credits and scattered to the four winds. You had been annoyed at that, seeing the potential profit you had been betting on slip through your fingers. Instead, he hadn’t got up to go after one of them or pull out a puck for anyone still seated. He pulled out a pouch of credits and tossed them down, obviously wanting to play. You raise a brow and toss down your latest hand, forfeit since so many left the table. “You’re gonna play, Mando?” You ask in disbelief.
Din tilts his helmet, glad for the visor which makes it easier for him to bluff. “I heard from others that you are betting a ship. I need one. Let’s play.” He orders, gesturing for the dealer to cut the deck. You hum, picking up your drink to take a sip, the others warily looking at each other, unsure of whether they wish to play a Mandalorian. If he loses, he could decide to kill them then and there. Once Din has his cards, he is careful to make sure they are not reflected in his visor as he eyes his hand.
Warnings: Organized crime, guns, violence, drugging, kidnapping, oral sex (male and female receiving), loss of virginity, recording sex with out permission, fingering, domestic violence, threats, murder
Comments:You are a Smith, he is a York, pitted enemies in a turf war between your crime families. A meeting at the infamous neutral territory, The Lounge, ends up with Dave kidnapping you as a blow to the Smith family. Plotting to keep you until you give him something that would be priceless. Your virginity.
A/N: While the reader does have a last name, there is no description for the reader.
Co-written with @storiesofthefandomlovers
ClickKeep Reading only if you have read the Rating and Warnings and understand the warnings may not be complete to avoid listing spoilers. As AO3 says ’creator chooses not to use warnings’. You also agree that you’re the right age to be consuming anything here.
The kind of wet work that went into the shading dealings of his family wasn’t for everyone. There were few that could kill a man with a baseball bat to the head and calmly go kiss their mother before cleaning up for the weekly family dinner. Dave York had been born for it. Only son of the powerful leader of the York crime family, he had killed his first man at fourteen. The blank stare in his dark eyes reported to shake a man to his core, rightly earned with the blood that stained his hands. Groomed to take over as the leader of family, associates and loyal men. To continue the turf war with their bitter enemies, the Smiths.
You are the only daughter of Lewis Smith, raised to take over one day despite your cousin’s desire to be the head of the family. He doesn’t think you’re strong enough, but that’s typical. Most men underestimate you, they think of you as some weak, delicate flower, and not the stone cold killer that you are. You don’t plan to have a turf war when you take over. No, you plan to end it. You plan to kill Dave York before he can kill you.
Marcus Pike x female Reader Co-written with @absurdthirst
Recently arrived in Texas and only slightly removed from his divorce, Marcus finds himself smitten with the women at the housewares store that is helping him furnish his new Austin condo. It becomes a more complicated situation than he could have expected, but Marcus has never been one to shy away from a challenge when love is on the line. ✨This fic takes place *before* the events of The Mentalist.✨
Rating: E for Extremely Explicit! Word Count:16.4k Warnings: Cursing and food/alcohol mentions. Blanket warnings for this fic will include divorce, past abusive relationships, deceased parents, father issues. Summary: Whether you technically want to call it your first or second date with Marcus, a movie and dinner becomes quite an adventure when you realize that the two of you have a few key things in common. Notes: We’re ramping things up right out of the gate here, guys. Hold on to your hats!
With five minutes left until six o’clock you’ve managed to force yourself to stop pacing the main floor of your place. Instead, you’re sitting in your kitchen with a mug of tea and nervously twirling the small ring you’ve chosen as an accessory round and around your finger. It had been nearly impossible to think about anything besides Marcus for the rest of your shift. Everything seemed to push your thoughts back to him. Not that they ever strayed far from him in the first place.
Marcus had to stop setting up everything about an hour before, switching gears and showering so he could get dressed in something that was appropriate for a date. Nothing too formal, but he paired dark jeans and boots with a maroon button-down shirt and his leather jacket. The dishwasher hummed and he had just transferred the clothes over to the dryer. Kitchen towels and bathroom towels are all ready to be folded and put away once they are done.
He checks his watch and gives a grin, time to head over. He picks up the small bouquet of flowers he had stopped by to grab after he had dropped you off at work and gives himself a small nod. “Time to go, don’t embarrass yourself Pike, you like this woman and she’s your neighbor.”
You shake your head and grin when the sound of the doorbell chimes at six sharp, wondering what Marcus must think of your roommate’s playful motion to replace the neighborhood-standard ding dong with something more akin to music. “Right on time,” you practically beam at him when you open the door. He’s somehow even more attractive than he was a few hours ago, and is very sweetly holding out a small handful of gorgeous flowers. “Come on in. I’ll get a vase for those beauties.”
He steps inside, pleased to find that it is a mirror image of his own place. “Well now I don’t have to explain how big my living room is.” He teases, remembering how flustered you became when you had said something about it that could be construed in a completely different kind of way.
Snickering lightly, you dig an empty vase out of a cabinet and toss him a pointed look. “You pushed the innuendo on that one. You’d just gotten done asking about a people to cuddlesection!”
“Valid question for a single man who just wants someone to love.” He argues playfully. “It’s better than trying one of those dating apps.” He shudders slightly at the idea.
“I have to admit, they can suck.” A lot of your more recent dating has been done via app and blind set ups with Naomi’s boyfriend’s friends, but clearly none of them have stuck.
“I get the theory behind them.” Marcus shrugs and steps closer as you put water in the vase. He leans against your counter and sweeps his eyes up and down your figure in appreciation. “I just like an interesting meet-cute. Like ours. It’s honestly fascinating in my opinion and so much better than ‘we matched’. ”
“Retail makes it harder sometimes. All those fun weekend activities where people meet and chat and get to know each other? I’m usually working then. It’s only with the new promotion that I’m getting some of my nights and weekend time back.” The beautiful bouquet is easily deposited into the vase with some water, and you set it down on the kitchen island in front of you with a satisfied smile. “But I like our meet-cute better, too. It’ll be a very cute story if we ever have occasion to tell it.”
“Well.” Marcus shoots you a smile as you admire the flowers. “I say that we start our first date and see if we have reason to tell people about a meet-cute or that date from hell with the person I unfortunately live next to now and just wave to awkwardly.” He jokes. If things didn’t work out, he wouldn’t treat you any different from any neighbors he had in the past. He just wasn’t that type of man.
“I doubt you’ve ever been anyone’s Date From Hell, Marcus Pike.” One quick reach and you’re picking up your purse from the kitchen island and nudging him toward the front door.
He chuckles. “Then you’ve never heard about the time my car broke down, I spilled my beer on her, my credit card was declined, and it started pouring down rain while we walked to a phone alllllllll in one date.” He tells you as he guides you over to his car. “Classic definition of a date from hell. ”
“Oh,noooo.” The laughter that bubbles out of you is apologetic, to say the least. “That sounds awful. But it wasn’t because you did something wrong.”
“True.” He huffs and opens the door for you. “But it doesn’t count as anywhere close to the top ten dates.”
Once you’re both settled in the car you settle back with a comfortable sigh. “Tell me about one of the top ten, then. The funniest date or the best one or the one that is the most nostalgic.”
“Well….” Marcus knows that it’s not good protocol to talk about past relationships, but you asked. “I reserved a suite at the best hotel and had a full spa package arranged complete with room service.” He offers. “That was a fantastic weekend.”
“You like to make a fuss.” The revelation makes you smile, glad to see that the Marcus you met today who does small things like hold doors and pick up trash from the table, is consistently thoughtful. Not just as a means of making a good first impression.
“I do.” He doesn’t apologize for it, knowing that some might not like it, but it was a part of his personality. “Acts of services?” He offers with a smile.
“I’ll remember that.” Preferring to go into this with the idea of it lasting, you want to keep track of the important things early on. If it ends up fizzling out, it won’t be because of a lack of intention. “I’m kind of a words of affirmation and gifts combo.”
“Noted.” He tosses you a grin. “And if I get to be too much, just— you know, you can always say something. I never want to overstep.” He knows that there are certain people who hate having things done for them and he respects it.
“We’ll find a rhythm.” That’s something you’re fairly certain of, given the fact that you’re both reasonable adults and have so far been very upfront about your interest in each other. “As long as this doesn’t unseat your worst ever date story tonight, and we decide to see what happens…we’ll find a rhythm. Just…if you’re not a good morning and good night text kind of person, tell me now.”
That makes him grin and he shakes his head. “I’m more of a 'hey I called to let you know that I’m going to be ten minutes late and is there anything you need when I am on my way?’ type of person.” He had stopped calling Amanda when she seemed so annoyed by it, but in the end she seemed annoyed no matter what he had done.
“We’re the people who drive other people crazy,” you observe softly. “Checking in, sending notes, holding doors, doing things preemptively to try to lighten the load.” It actually makes you chuckle, the way that the two of you seem to line up. Even Naomi likes to give you grief about the little notes you drop in her purse sometimes when she has something big coming up, or the fact that you always seem to have one of her favorite bath bombs stashed for when she’s having a bad day.
“Can’t be a bad thing, right?” He asks.
“For us?” You shake your head, offering him a smile as he drives. “No. It’s good for us. But other people are missing out on the excellence that is our affection.”
He appreciates the outlook you have on it and hums when he stops at a red light. “What about you? I want to know your worst and best dates. See where the bar is at.”
“Let’s see.” Humming dramatically, you love the way he lights up a little when he looks over at you again before the light turns green. “Worst would be from college. The guy who took me to his little brother’s little league game because I said I like baseball. I gave him the benefit of the doubt, thinking he was trying to be cute about it, but he proceeded to spend the entire game yelling corrections at the kids and telling me why they should give up on sports early to avoid disappointment.” It’s sort of funny now - mostly you just feel bad for the little brother and literally anyone who has met him since. “And the ‘picnic’ dinner he was very proud of packing? Was celery sticks and Jell-O cups.Which we ate while he told me what I should be changing about my diet and lifestyle to be more attractive to the men who have to spend time with me.”
“What a dick.” Marcus makes a face of disgust and shakes his head. “I’m seriously hoping you shoved a celery stick somewhere extremely uncomfortable in his bodily orifices.” He chuckles. “I’m saying this as a private citizen and this in no way represents the view of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.” He adds on, dry humor lacing his tone.
You shrug, being far past any kind of upset about it, and gently and briefly run your knuckle along the side of his hand in a soothing gesture. “I went home and ordered a pizza for me and my roommate to have with some beers while we watched the actual game that was on that night. Much better use of my time.”
“Perfect.” Marcus nods in approval. “If he wanted to really make it a date, he should have taken you to the game. Cheap seats, hotdogs, and beer?” He gives a small groan of approval. “Nachos and the ice cream that comes in the little hats.”
“I’m seeing a road trip to a Rangers game in our future.” The prediction makes your smile widen, and don’t for one moment regret letting yourself get excited.
“We could do that.” Marcus has to admit that he wouldn’t mind that at all. “We didn’t have a professional team in Portland, but we had a minor league team that I would go to sometimes.”
“Are you from Portland originally?” You ask, wanting to know more about the man you already feel so comfortable with.
“No.” He shakes his head and shrugs. “I’m from southern Cali, don’t hold it against me. Portland was my first duty station out of the Academy.” He gives a small chuckle. “San Diego to Quantico was like a completely different world.”
“Man, I thought upstate New York to DC was bad.” Shaking your head a little, you try to imagine a laid back, potentially surfer-sequence version of Marcus getting used to the pounding pace of the nation’s capital.
“Completely. I had just finished school and it was a completely different universe.” He chuckles, looking over at you with a grin. “Frat parties to weapons training.”
“I went from the family farm to the big city.” The image of him as a frat boy is endlessly entertaining to you, because he doesn’t give off that stereotypical energy in the least. “8 am classes were nothing compared to getting up before dawn to milk the cows before school, let me tell you.”
“Wow.” He tosses you a grin. “No wonder you spent ten minutes telling me about how different cheeses reacted to different styles of graters.”
“You can take the girl out of the dairy farm, but you can’t take the obsessive knowledge of all things milk-related out of the girl.” At the time you had barely noticed you were doing it, but now you can feel the tips of your ears heat up. “When were you at Quantico?” You ask, quickly changing the subject.
“Ten years ago.” He smirks slightly at your obvious embarrassment, but he had been fascinated by the mini lecture.
As he pulls up to another red light, you turn fully toward him in your seat with your eyebrows furrowed as seriously as eyebrows can possibly be furrowed. “Marcus.” You shake your head at him, barely keeping yourself from laughing. “I graduated from George Washington University eight years ago. This…” You can’t hold them back, the giggles escaping at the ridiculousness of the whole thing. “This isn’t the first time we’ve lived in the same city…”
“Jesus.” His own giggles burst out until the two of you are laughing in his car like idiots.
“The universe literally just shoved you through my front door today. Just incredibly sick of us walking past each other on the street.” You may not put a lot of stock in destiny or the universe, but it sort of seems like the something out there is dead set in making you believe.
“No, what will be sick is if you used to go to the Command Post.” He tells you, remembering heading to that little sports bar when they needed a break to have a few beers and shoot some pool. It’s one of the few places he had gone.
“Um…” Sinking back into your seat, you cringe a little before you burst out giggling again. “My roommate…Naomi…s-she used to bartend there…”
His eyes blow wide, and he whips his head around to stare at you in shock. “No shit?!” He huffs out. “Jesus, Madison was fucking in love with her. Swear he would tip her like forty bucks every time he bought a round.” He pauses. “Curly hair, skin the color of dark chocolate and would wear green contacts?”
“You know Madi?!” It’s a goddamn blessing that you’re nearly at the movie theater, because you’re both about to bust out of the car from laughing so hard. “Oh, you’re going to fucking love this.” What the ever-fucking-fuck kind of coincidence is all this? “Marcus, they’re dating now! He’s here in Texas. They ran into each other a couple of months ago at a private party she was working.”
“Jesus, I wondered where the hell he went.” Madison had gotten caught up in a bad bust in organized crime and had left the FBI. He slaps his hand against the steering wheel and starts laughing again. “Okay! I get it! We were supposed to meet!” He glances up at the roof of the car before he looks back over at you. “This is proof that the world is a small fucking place.”
“Fucking crazy.” You shake your head at him, aware your mouth is hanging open in disbelief but not really able to close it or stop being shocked. “When we hit that Rangers game, all four of us should go,” you offer, wanting to give him a chance to see his old friend again. “If you want.”
“Hell yeah.” Marcus chuckles and turns into the parking lot of the theater. “We used to talk about taking a train into New York for a Yankees or Mets game when we were studying our asses off.”
“You couldn’t just go to a Nationals game like everyone else in the city?” It’s so wild to think about that you’re not sure you’ll be able to start processing it properly any time soon. “I can’t believethis…”
“We did, but we wanted to go see a subway series game.” He tells you with a laugh.
“Just think,” you flash Marcus a grin and shake your head. “If we’d run into each other at the bar back then, maybe I could have avoided the Little League date.” You shrug. “But then, I do love to tell that story.”
He snorts and shakes his head. “It could have been possible. I met my ex-wife in that bar.”
“Oh yeah?” You haven’t poked or asked anything about her, but this feels like a moment to at least make the situation a little lighter. “Anyone I know?” At this point, you would believe anything.
“Okay, so if you knew Amanda Perez, I’m going to just declare this the Twilight Zone.” He huffs, glancing over at you to see your reaction to her name after he parks.
“That depends.” You can feel all the blood drain from your face, thinking about the only Amanda Perez you ever knew - ten years ago, in Washington DC. If it’s the same woman, you’re going to declare this completely insane. “Are we talking 5’9”, black hair, perpetually bronze skin, never drinks hot chocolate with mini marshmallows, and talks in her sleep when she’s stressed out?”
“Nofucking way.” Marcus leans back and gives you a wide-eyed stare of disbelief. “This is— how did you know her?” He chokes out.
“We…” You choke on it, honestly a little worried about how he’ll react. If you’re right about the timing…well, the universe has a very fucked up sense of humour. “We dated.” Your head drops, looking at your thumbs in your lap. “For about six months. Then she sat me down on campus one day and told me she’d met somebody else.” Just - apparently - like she’d done to Marcus ten months ago. “When did you guys meet?”
He feels like he’s been hit by a truck. Especially since he had specifically asked his ex-wife if she was dating someone when they met and he got her number. Woodenly, he tells you the date, something that he had memorized at one time as the luckiest fucking date in history.
“Cool.” You’re already nodding as soon as the month comes out of his mouth, and for the first time this memory makes your heart hurt not because she hurt you but because she hurt him just the same way. “Cool…yeah…we…um…we overlapped for about a month, then. She was seeing both of us for about a month…”
“I’m sorry.” Marcus is immediately apologizing, feeling completely sick to his stomach. “Fuck, I’m so sorry. I - I asked if she was seeing someone, I swear.”
“Marcus, I’m not mad.” Shaking your head again, it’s like you’re trying to shake your thoughts back into line. “I mean, I was. I was completely heartbroken. But it’s not your fault. She…” You shrug helplessly. “Clearly, she has a pattern of finding someone new before she leaves the person she’s with. I’m sorry…if this is all too weird, or too much, or upsetting for you I totally get it. I can take an Uber home and we can just wave awkwardly at each other in passing like most neighbors.” It would - you realize with a sick feeling dropping through you - be a little heartbreaking all over again. But you don’t want to put Marcus through any kind of pain.
“Why would I want that?” He frowns at you in confusion. “I mean…if you don’t think that it’s a good idea to date, I understand. But my ex-wife being a slightly shittier person than I had realized doesn’t change my interest in you.”
“Are you kidding?” A huff pushes its way out of you as you laugh in disbelief. “I want to send her a picture of us together. Ten years later and I still want to throw it back in her face. I may be feeling a little petty about it, to be honest. But I’m sure as hell not going to let the fact that we share an ex put me off wanting to be on this date with you tonight.”
The grin Marcus gives you is positively wicked, and he purses his lips slightly. “We are still friends on social media.” He tells you slyly. “We agreed that we would be 'friends’ because she couldn’t bear the thought of not knowing that I was okay.” He rolls his eyes slightly now that he knows that it’s a pattern his ex had for cheating. Something he had clearly stated he despised.
“Ooooo,” you rub your hands together with happy, petty glee. “Picture in front of the movie theater? See if she spontaneously combusts over Facebook?”
“Oh, I say we tease her.” Marcus huffs. “Post a picture of us holding hands and then one after the movie. Don’t you remember how nosy she is?” Amanda had always wanted to know what was going on in everyone’s lives.
“I will bet you anything that she will try to take preemptive credit about how she always knew we would get along or some bullshit.” With the specter of your mutual ex not hanging between you like an awful Twilight Zone episode, you lean quickly over the center console of his car and leave a small press of your lips on his cheek. “Come on, handsome, quick picture and let’s get some popcorn. Movie starts in less than five minutes.”
Marcus snorts as he gets out of the car, walking around it while giggling to himself like a schoolboy and gives you a smirk when he opens the door for you. “So, I have a technical question?” He started in a long draw. “Does…does our body count go up when we sleep together? Since we’ve slept with the same woman? Don’t we get a pass on this? I feel like we should get a pass.”
“Honey, I have a feeling my body count is a lot higher than yours anyway,” you throw him a playfully suggestive wink, but the fact is that you never actually made it to the altar over the last ten years and he did. “If you want a pass, it can be a pass.”
“That doesn’t scare me.” He shuts the door behind you and his hand rests on your lower back, not too low to be disrespectful but he knew you wouldn’t mind the touch. “Just like the fact that you used to date my ex-wife doesn’t scare me. We can bitch about her annoying traits together.” He jokes lightly.
“Blanket hog.” You groan immediately, making no effort to pretend you’re not leaning into his warmth a little. March in the evening in Texas still had a decided chill in the air. “I’ll offer this up on the Altar of Exes while we’re still on the topic, but I was engaged about a year ago. Part of packing up and coming to Texas was getting the hell out of New York again. It’s not necessarily a long story, but it definitely reads like the screenplay for a Hallmark movie.”
“Man or woman?” He asks curiously. It’s obvious that you have lived that never say never life and he’s interested in your background. “Not that it matters, heart break is heart break and I know it sucks.”
“Boy.” You roll your eyes dramatically. “Basically, I stayed in DC after college, trying to figure out what the hell to do with my hospitality degree that would pay more than minimum wage and no clear dream job. About four years ago, my mom got cancer, and my dad couldn’t take care of her and the farm on his own, so I moved back. Crate & Barrel let me transfer to the nearest store to my hometown and I kept my job there one day a week just so I wouldn’t have to quit. Turned out that my dad’s prized farm manager was my high school sweetheart. He and I got back together, tried to make it work, then when it was clear that my mom wasn’t going to make it, he proposed in front of her. Forced me to say yes, basically. A few months later I laid my mom to rest, told him to eat shit, and I found a promotion to move to.”
“Oh fuck.” He grimaces at the poor taste of that timing. “I could see if it was her wish to see her little girl happy or whatever, but nooooo.” He shakes his head and rubs your back in a half turn of his wrist. “I’m sorry about your mother, beautiful.” He murmurs softly. “That was the time to stand beside you and support you, but never push any type of big, emotional decision.”
“She would have liked you.” You tell him quietly, masking the slight sniffle that always threatens to invade when your mom comes up in conversation. “She did this weird thing…every morning she’d put the coffee pot on and go out to the garden while it brewed. I don’t know how she always had enough flowers every single day for a new vase, but there were always fresh flowers on the kitchen table when I came down for breakfast. So, the fact that you showed up at my door with flowers would have put you in her good books immediately.”
“Then I’m extra glad that I brought them.” Marcus tells you, walking up to the ticket booth and pausing the conversation long enough to purchase two tickets to the movie from the teenage girl behind the glass. Once he has them in hand, he turns to you and offers you the ticket he had gotten for you. “Maybe one day I’ll get to meet her and bring her the most beautiful flowers I can find.” He is obviously talking about visiting her grave with you, but it’s pretty clear that your mother meant the world to you.
“Sorry.” Sniffling slightly, you shake off the layer of melancholy and accept the ticket from his hand. “Didn’t mean to bring the mood so far down. I just don’t want you to think I’m commitment phobic or something. I didn’t make it down the aisle for a very good reason.”
“Baby.” It’s almost natural that the term of endearment comes from his mouth, especially at thismoment. “You have nothing to apologize for.” He assures you, reaching for your hand and lacing his fingers with yours, and giving them a small squeeze. “Good, bad, sad, I want to know all about you.” He leans in and kisses the side of your head. “Would a buttered popcorn, some Milk Duds and a large Coke help lift your spirits?”
The softness that rolls through you - the sweet little pet name, the touch of his hand, his lips, everything together - has you leaning against him all over again. Face to face, this time, and it means you can smile up at him and find out the exact shade of brown his eyes are when they’re all soft around the edges like they are now. “Make it Junior Mints, and you’ve got yourself a deal.”
“Done.” He’ll let you eat all of those, mint and chocolate never mixed with him, but he would buy two boxes for the smile on your face. “A large popcorn, a box of Junior Mints and two Cokes.” He orders when you reach the concession stand before he turns to you. “Anything else you want, baby?”
“That’s more than enough.” You promise him, both because it’s absolutely true and also because you’re not about to pout and request cuddles in front of the teenage cinema employee currently bored by your entire existence.
He gives you a smile before turning back to them with a smile. “That’s it.” He pays and hands you one of the Cokes and the Junior Mints while he takes the tub of popcorn and his own coke before leading you over to the butter station. “A lot of butter or a little?”
“I am routinely yelled at for drowning my popcorn,” you tell him seriously. “So put as much on as you want.”
He catches his tongue between his teeth and grins at you. “Are you sure I wasn’t supposed to meet you at that bar?” He asks, knowing that he would have approached you just as easily as he had Amanda and apparently you were a better fit. “We are going to need napkins.”
Reaching past him, you grab an exaggerated stack of napkins and tuck them in your hand along with the candy box. “I think we definitely were supposed to meet in that bar.” Once the facts of the situation had started to sink in - and the conversation since then - you’re willing to admit that there is an element of destiny or fate of some kind at play. There are just too many coincidences surrounding the whole thing.
Marcus cackles gleefully as the butter dispenser spurts again and again all over the kernels. “Remember how Amanda hated this?” He asks, shaking his head. “Always wanted plainpopcorn.”
“Lecture upon lecture about cholesterol.” Seeing even a little of Marcus’s catharsis through being able to vent about her is somewhere on the fence between kind of cute and wildly entertaining, and you love this level of freedom on him. “What is life without a little fun? A movie without buttered popcorn? Nachos without ungodly amounts of cheese and pickled jalapeños?”
Marcusmoans, rolling his eyes in pleasure. “Fuck yes.” He snickers. “We had one of those chocolate fondue fountain things? I definitely put that amazingly nasty canned nacho cheese in it during game day parties. Just hold the chip under the cheese.”
“Marcus Pike.” You deadpan his name, so he looks at you curiously. “That may be the sexiest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“It’s official.” He shakes his head, and his face is splitting in two from the force of his grin. “You’re my soulmate.”
“Come on.” Your cheek heat deeply until your face is practically on fire, and you can feel yourself go shy at the honesty in his only slight tease. “Let’s go find a seat and take an astonishingly cute picture before the lights go down.”
“Perfect.” Marcus follows you into the theater and tells you to pick wherever you want to sit, secretly happy when you want the next to back row.
“Get the popcorn in the picture,” you snicker, wiggling around in the tight movie theater seats as the two of you try to find a decent way to pose for this silly photo.
He loves the way you think. Stretching his arm out so he can snap the pic. It takes a couple of tries, but eventually there is one really great one. “There it is.”
“We’ll see if she has anything to say about that in a couple of hours.” You’re absolutely certain beyond a doubt that Amanda’s need to be in the middle of gossip will prevail, and Marcus will probably have a few texts and you’ll have a friend request by the time the movie is over.
“You are evil, and I love it.” Marcus tells you as he captions the picture and posts it on his timeline before he turns off the phone completely.
“We dealt with enough of her bullshit, she can handle a little fun from us.” When you settle back into your seat, you have no desire to do any of the vaguely uncertain mincing around and instead just lean into his side. You want to be beside him, and you won’t apologize for it.
Marcus lifts his arm and puts it around your shoulder. Never happier than this moment in how candid the two of you had been with each other. “Popcorn?” He asks as the lights dim.
“Well, we didn’t just get it for the picture.” With a grin, you grab a few kernels off the top of the tub and offer them to him, fully aware of the intimacy of the gesture.
There is a moment where he just looks at you, amazed at how easy all of this is with you before he leans forward and opens his mouth for you to feed him the popcorn, closing his mouth around your fingers and making sure to suck the buttery richness off of the tips before he pulls his head back.
Alright. Well. There’s no way you’re going to be able to concentrate on the movie now and you absolutely brought that upon yourself. Hoping Marcus didn’t register too much of the flash of heat in your eyes, you ease yourself back into your seat and under his arm as the credits begin to roll.
The movie starts, but all Marcus can think about is you. Every time you shift slightly, it’s to bring yourself closer to him and he can’t say that he hates it. The movie plays, almost in the background he’s so hyper aware of you and every time you reach for the popcorn, his own hand bumps yours as you both seemingly have the same sense of timing. “I’m starting to think you’re doing it on purpose.” He teases, leaning in to murmur softly in your ear.
“Me?” You whisper, batting innocent eyelashes at him. “I am innocent and pure and am not at all enjoying the small touches.” Just pointing it out tells him how much you are enjoying them, and hopefully lets him know how borderline giddy you are.
“God, I hope not.” Marcus whispers back playfully and leaning in a bit more so that his nose is almost touching yours. “I have a firm rule of never kissing someone innocent and pure on the first date and I was really looking forward to that first kiss I am planning.”
“Oo, there’s a plan?” You raise an eyebrow at him, grateful there’s no one sitting nearby to shush your whispered flirting. “So, I’d better not close the gap and do it myself right now, huh?” You wouldn’t, not if he’s been thinking about it enough to have an actual idea of how it will happen. But it’s fun to tease.
“I mean…you are always welcome to close the gap and do it now.” Marcus hums. “But I was honestly thinking that it would be even better if it were when we were both full and there was the taste of sweet wine on your lips, maybe the light of the moon shining down on your face. Where I can face you completely and cup your cheek. Slow to start, testing the waters before it deepens.”
Swallowing the hard thump of your heartbeat, you can feel the excitement course through your veins. The promise of something new, and potentially big, hovers in the horizon and in his words. “But,” your voice is barely above a breath. “How will we know which is better unless we’ve tried both?”
“Clever girl.” His eyes are soft and yearning, flickering down to your lips for a moment before looking back up at your own soft orbs. He tilts his head slightly in invitation, offering you his lips but not demanding anything. This next step was yours to take if you want to.
The world seems to slow, in that beautiful way it only does when something wonderful is about to happen, and the faded dialogue of the movie filling in the background like Marcus is your own personal screen idol. It takes only a small turn off your head to nudge his nose with your own, eyes flicking up to find his lids heavy and hazy as you lean forward imperceptibly to press your lips to his.
There is something sweet and yet so incredibly titillating about the buttery, salty taste of your lips. He sighs slightly and his lashes flutter as he closes his eyes and leans in more firmly into the kiss.
It’s adolescent, to be sharing your first kiss in the back of a movie theater over a tub of buttery popcorn and sticky-sweet soda, and you sort of love that about it. The moment is relaxed and unpretentious, with the hum of excitement running all through it as Marcus presses back against your soft approach and you happily sigh to deepen the first moment of physical intimacy between you. He forgets that you are in public, forgets that there is a movie playing on the screen in front of you. Everything but the feel of your lips on his fades away into the background.
With the way he molds so perfectly against you, it would be so easy to go too far. To just toss up your hands and indulge, the rest of the world be damned. But you remind yourself that it’s early days. Just the beginning. And there can be so much more if this to come.
You pull back gently, reluctantly, and feel yourself mourn the loss of his touch immediately as you’re nearly panting for the breath he’s stolen from you. “I…um…wow…”
“Wow, is right.” Marcus gives you an almost goofy grin.
“The moonlight and sweet wine have a lot to live up to, later.” You tell him with a sly smirk, before settling into his side again. Teasing Marcus is easy and fun - comfortable as well as exciting. Something you hope you’ll never get used to. Teasing him and kissing him are very similar endeavors.
“I will have to bring my A game to top that kiss, but I think I can.” His fingers brush the skin of your arm gently, making you shiver. He hums, knowing that it’s not cold that makes you react like that, but he uses it as an excuse to lean close again. “Let me know if you need my jacket, beautiful.”
“Just you, handsome.” You both know it’s not the chill of the air conditioning making goosebumps raise on your skin, and you offer him another piece of popcorn from your fingers. “Just you.”
He smirks and takes the popcorn again, this time making sure to twirl his tongue around your fingers as if your digits were your clit and he was treating it to his singular attention.
“Tease,” you murmur under your breath, acting like you’re upset about it but you’re honestly not in the least. Turned on, however? Oh yes.
“Not teasing.” Marcus responds smoothly. “Promising.”
You’re proud of yourself for not whimpering, but there’s no way he misses the way you shift in your seat and gently squeeze your thighs together in anticipation. Your ex-fiancé wasn’t a bad lover or anything, but oral just wasn’t his time to shine. Cumming on Marcus’s tongue sounds like heaven. “I hope you keep your promises, then.” Not that you doubt him. Of anyone in the world, you fully believe Marcus Pike keeps every promise he makes.
“It might be my favorite thing in the world.” He lifts a brow at you and smirks slightly. “And it’s been a long time since I’ve gotten to indulge.”
“Fuck…” That’s definitely a whimper, and you’re grateful no one is nearby to judge you for it. “Well, I’m happy to break that dry spell for you.”
“We just have to survive this movie and dinner.” He murmurs softly. “I’d already taken tomorrow off. Do you have to work?”
“No.” You’re all but shaking your head, ready to promise him you can sleep in and stay naked if that’s what he wants. All he has to do is say the word. Tipping your head back, you find his soft eyes watching you. “And Naomi’s staying with Madison tonight. So no roommate, either.”
“Hmmmm.” He smiles and leans in. He doesn’t kiss you, but he does nuzzle your nose with his. “So I don’t have to worry about you being too loud then.”
“With what they put me through, they deserve payback.” You grumble softly, breath catching at the unexpectedly dirty reply.
“I’ve heard.” He snorts. “Our bedroom walls are shared. “Once I get my bed, we might have to have a competition.”
“We can trash my second-hand bed with a contest, not your brand new one.” You know what that big, beautiful four poster is costing him, and you won’t let him waste that kind of investment.
He huffs and sends you a cocky smirk. “I have to test out how durable it is.” He teases, body extremely interested in this conversation.
The slickness between your legs is nearly fogging your brain with your nod and murmur: “For science.”
“For science.” He agrees and tries to look back at the screen with a sigh. “So…I have a naughty idea.” He poses. “What if we leave the movie now and go get dinner.” He knows he hadn’t watched any of the movie up on the screen if he was honest with himself. Too focused on you.
Flicking your eyes back up to the screen, you have to admit that if you hadn’t seen it a dozen times already, you would have no idea what was going on - finding him much more engrossing than Norma Desmond could ever hope to be. “Very naughty.” You agree with a grin. “Let’s go.”
The two of you giggle as you make your way down the stairs and out of the theater. Marcus only feels slightly bad about tossing a nearly full drink and popcorn, but he’s too interested in getting you alone where you don’t have to worry about bothering others with your conversation. “Note to self, watch movies at home. When I get a TV.”
“Ah, electronics. The one thing I am absolutely useless in shopping for.” Now that you’re out in the lobby, your voice almost feels odd at full volume again. “But yes, you do need a tv.”
“I am an excellent judge on TVs.” Marcus tells you snootily. “If I can turn it on and watch TV, it’s good.”
“Well, I can’t fault your logic.” You shake your head at him as you make your way through the lobby. “But you’ve forgotten. In order to be good, a TV must also be verybig.”
He snorts and throws you a mildly dirty look as you exit the theater and make your way into the dusky night. The sun is starting to set and he chuckles. “How about a good mid-sized tv that knows how to work really well?” He bargains, aware that he’s not talking about TVs at all.
“Oh, we’re talking about TVs.” Throwing him an exaggerated wink, you nod wisely. “Yeah, function over form, every time.”
His hand on your back flexes slightly, resisting the urge to reach down and pinch your ass. If this wasn’t your first date, he might actually do it, but he needs to somewhat mind his manners. “So where would you like to eat dinner, beautiful?” He asks you softly, wondering if you have any favorite places or anywhere you’ve wanted to try.
“I’m not picky.” The stroll back out to the parking lot is lazy and the warmth of his hand on your back lulls you against his side yet again. “You mentioned steak earlier. We’ve talked about barbecue. There’s a good Italian place I know. Anything it’s fine.”
“Ehhhhh.” Marcus would prefer that you pick but he knows that it might just lead to a longer conversation about the merits of each place and he doesn’t want to take longer than he has to in order to get you sat down to wine and dine. “How about Chama Gaucha?” He asks, wondering if you would like the Brazilian steakhouse. “They even have a salad bar.” He offers enticingly.
“This is going to be a thing, isn’t it?” You wrinkle your nose at him, sticking out your tongue for good effect. “Brazilian barbecue it is.”
“I’mcompromising.” He sticks his tongue out at you. “I heard that is healthy in relationships.”
“Funny how often we used to get those lectures when we were always the ones bending over backwards.” With another heavy eye roll, you take the last few steps to his car a little faster - his long legs meaning he’s already beaten you there. “It’s a meat and veggies compromise, but from how much you obsessed over picking out wine glasses, I’m guessing they have a killer wine list.”
“I have heard they do.” Marcus had never been there himself, but it was one of the restaurants that he had been wanting to try. He just hadn’t yet because it’s not any fun going to a place like that by yourself. “Hopefully we will find out.”
“Hopefully we will.”
As always, Marcus holds your door for you to get in and settle in before he shuts it and climbs into the driver’s side.He starts the car and pulls out of the theater parking lot so he can navigate towards the restaurant. He has always had a pretty good sense of direction and exploring the city for work had helped him get a good idea of the overall layout and where a lot of things were located. “What type of wine do you like?”
“Do I lose points if I say ‘cheap’?” You offer him what you hope is a charming smile. “I’ve matured only slightly beyond my college Arbor Mist obsession. So…I guess that’s anything sweet and fruity.”
He raises a brow at that. Amanda had been very picky about wine, and they had spent several vacations in Napa Valley as a result. “I’m guessing a shiraz might be the best starting point.”
“I know, I have the palate of an 18-year-old sometimes. It’s awful.” You shake your head in defeat.
“No, I’m just wondering how you and Amanda got on with that.” He chuckles. “She is…rather snooty about wine.”
The huff that pushes out of you is audible. “I pretended really hard.” You tell him quietly. “But…I don’t want to pretend with you.”
“Does it help that I like beer better than wine?” He asks, sending you a side glance. “And a good tequila is the best.”
“You’ll show me what you like, and I’ll show you what I like.” That’s how it should work. At least to you. No pretending and no lying. If it goes beyond tonight, anyway. “If you want to, I mean.”
“Oh, I’m just thinking about how to stock my fridge when you come over to my place.” He throws you a smirk. “If you want Arbor Mist, I’ll make sure that you have whatever flavor is your favorite. If you like IPAs…” He grimaces. “You’re on your own there.” He teases and wrinkles his nose playfully.
“These days it’s more like shandies and Riesling.” You relax measurably in your seat, that unhappy flash of nerves fading away. In its place, you send him a smirk. “You never did tell me your favorite cheeses.”
He tosses you a mildly guilty grin. “Is this date over if I tell you that it’s goat cheese?” He snickers.
You half-snort, covering your giggle with one hand. “It would be off if you were dating my father.”
“Well then I guess it’s a good thing that my favorite cheese is Havarti.” He chuckles and can’t help but reach over and take your hand. “That or fresh mozzarella.”
His fingers laced through yours are warm and weighty, and you raise the back of his hand to your lips to press a kiss to his skin. “You teach me about good wine, and I’ll teach you how to make fresh cheese,” you bargain, truly believing that the more you share, the better things will be.
“Ohhhh I like that.” Marcus grins. “How do you feel about charcuterie boards?” He asks seriously. He had gone with Amanda to a class on how to set up the best boards for parties and his ex-wife had been obsessed with them. As long as there was jalapeño jelly and berries on it, he was in heaven.
“Honestly that’s most of what I eat for lunch,” you admit without a hint of shame. “Just me and my little charcuterie board at my desk with a sweet tea? That’s heaven, baby.”
He hums in approval and nods. “So, I’m envisioning dates on my new couch with a charcuterie board and a new wine while we cuddle in our new blankets.”
“That sounds like the perfect rainy night.” The vision of a storm sounding outside the house while you curl up in a little blanket fort of your own making is about as sweet as he is. “Date night at home.”
“I’m glad you like that idea.” He gives you a sweet look as he stops at the red light. He’s only about six hundred feet away from the turn for the restaurant. “Your favorite version of a date is what?” He asks.
“Anything that involves learning.” It seems like a cop-out answer, you know that, but you squeeze his hand quickly and explain. “Teaching each other things, taking little classes, hitting a museum, or trying something that’s new to both of us.” You shrug slightly. “Nerd dates.”
“Damn.” Marcus hadn’t thought you could be any more perfect, but you continue to surprise him.
“Damn?” Your head quirks in his direction as he pulls into the restaurant’s parking lot.
“Just admiring how perfect you are.” He tells you as he parks and shuts the engine off.
“Oh,please,” you roll your eyes playfully.
“Seriously, you said the magic words.” He promises.
Willing to admit that might be the case, you reluctantly let his hand go so he can put his car in park. “Do you have the same answer, then?”
“I have to admit I might be asking you to accompany me to a few gallery showings.” He winks before he gets out so he can come around and let you out of the passenger side.
“Perfect.” You slip out of his car once more and happily accept his hand when it lingers by your side. “I can learn more about art.”
Inside the restaurant smells delicious and Marcus’ mouth waters. “Table for two please.” Marcus smiles at the host and squeezes your hand.
The genuinely bored looking host shows you to a booth where you are immediately greeted by your waitress with a smile and attitude as bright as the sun, and you fluster when she explicitly welcomes you out for what is clearly your date night. “How long y’all been together?” She asks, chattering away. “If ya don’t mind me askin’?”
Marcus looks over at you and then checks his watch. “Nine hours now?” He asks, looking over at you for confirmation. “At least that’s how long we’ve known each other.”
“Well, shoot.” The waitress laughs when both you and Marcus do, and easily excuses herself to grab Marcus a complete wine list when he asks for it.
“Nine hours strong.” You grin at him with flushed cheeks.
“I mean, I have to say that we are doing really well for nine hours.” He tells you. “We’ve found a mutual background and established our communication.”
“And you were the talk of the store after you left.” You tell him with a grin, knowing that it’s completely beside the point but still finding it fun.
“How so?” The waitress returns with the wine menu and Marcus quickly picks out one of his favorite sweet reds and looks towards you for the answer.
“Anyone redoing an entire house is always worth talking about.” You reason, taking a sip from the water glass in front of you. “Plus…I came back from lunch grinning like an idiot…”
“Grinning like an idiot, huh?” He asks, grinning like one himself right now. “Kind of like how I absolutely wasn’t dancing around my condo like an idiot while I unpacked all the shit I bought from this pretty sexy girl I met at the store?”
“Kind of exactly like that.” The image he presents with that is playful and dreamy, and your grin spreads wider. “I’m almost afraid to ask if you’re a good dancer.”
“Formal? I won’t step on your toes.” Marcus admits. “Amanda always said that for someone who could fuck I had zerorhythm.”
“Thank God.” You groan dramatically. “For a second I thought you were going to say you were a childhood ballroom champ or something. Considering you’re already pretty much perfect, that would have just been completely over the top.”
Marcus throws his head back and laughs, making the waitress grin as she comes up to the table again with the bottle to pour glasses for both of you. “Well at least you two are enjoying yourselves.” She says, sending you a wink.
“It’s refreshing to find out that he’s not textbook perfect, that’s all.” You shake your head at the waitress as if to tell her how ridiculous it is that he is so close to perfect, and listen with interest while she explains exactly how your very unique dinner will be served.
“That sounds incredible.” Marcus looks over to you and nods towards the buffet. “You want to go get your salad? I hear they also have an amazing lobster bisque.”
“There is nothing about this meal that doesn’t sound perfect.” And amusingly, it even hits on the ‘nerd’ qualification for a date, because you’ve learned an entire new genre of steakhouse operations.
He slides out of the booth and cheekily holds his hand out to you. “My lady, heaven on a buffet awaits. Shall we feast?”
You barely manage to cover your mouth, acutely aware that the couples at the surrounding tables won’t find your snort as endearing as Marcus does, and you reach to take his hand. “We shall,” you agree, mimicking his tone between giggles.
He helps you up and holds on to your waist while you both shuffle over to the buffet. Cheese slices, stuffed olives, pasta salads and everything to make a real salad are accompanied by the bisque, some rice and black beans with plantains that smells amazing, and the little cheese breads that you’ll later find out are amazing. Marcus groans at the plate piled high and grins at you. “This isn’t even the meat selection yet.” He reminds you.
“We’re going to pass out as soon as you park your car at home,” you predict, admitting to yourself that it would be fairly hilarious if it happened.
“Shit.” He huffs, shaking his head. “That just means that I’ve got to make up for it when we wake up.”
“Baby, a good date and a good sleep cuddled up together isn’t anything that needs to be made up for.” Of course, you’re fully and eagerly looking forward to having him in your bed, but you don’t want to give him the mistaken impression that it’s the only interest you have in him.
He flashes you a wink as both of you make your way back to the table. “So you don’t want to wake up with having your clit sucked on. Got it.”
“Oh, fuck off.” You hiss under your breath, with an absolute pout in your voice. “I’m just trying to behave! God, that thought is going to hauntme….”
His laugh is a little dark, a little mean, but he loves the way that you pout over the idea. Both of you sit back down and immediately a server comes over with steaks on a spit to ask if you would like some. Marcus nodes right away and holds out his other plate for the man.
Dinner is an elaborate, delicious, substantive dance, and you’re predictably stuffed by the end of it. The wine Marcus chose is far beyond your education level and a little extra tasty because of it, making you feel that much more spoiled. Halfway through your dinner you had both agreed that you would have to do this again, and that you would be tracking down a copycat recipe for the cheese bread to try making at home. You haven’t stopped laughing, teasing, or grinning like smitten teenagers all night. It is, in every way, an absolutely perfect night.
There’s a light breeze as he walks you to the car. Both of you are almost overly full, but it had been worth it. He looks over at you with a smile at the way you automatically turn your head and look at him. “I think that we can call this a success.” He comments lightly, swinging your hand that is encompassed in his.
“Without hesitation.” It’s past chilly and has officially become cold, and you tuck your free arm around yourself for a little extra warmth on the way to the car. “And I think we can both safely skip breakfast because we’ll still be full in the morning.”
Marcus doesn’t care that it’s only another hundred feet to the car. He slips his hand out of yours and starts shrugging off his leather jacket and stopping you so he can hold it out for you to put on. “Here.”
“I’m fine.” You protest, but it’s hollow and you both know it. The jacket is around your shoulders before you can even finish the thought and the warmth it retains from his body makes you shiver counterintuitively before you start to warm up. “I…thank you…serves me right for trying to be cute above all else.”
“Youare cute. And now I get to be a gentleman and give you my jacket so you aren’t cold when I kiss you.” He smirks and turns you towards the car again.
“Ohright,” you hum, as though you could ever forget exactly how amazing it had been to kiss him. “We still need to compare and contrast.”
He waits until he gets you to the car, the door right at your elbow when he turns to you and cups your cheek just like it said he would. There is an anticipation in this air, and he takes just a few seconds to absorb the sight of you looking at him. The shine of the moon on your face is perfect where he had parked away from the light posts and yet he could see the want in your eyes clearly. “Beautiful.” He whispers before he leans in and kisses you with far more assertion than he would have if that kiss in the movie theater hadn’t happened.
His version of a first kiss is definitely smoother. You’ll give him that. Smooth and deep and delicious - and not just because of the wine. One of your hands easily finds its way to his chest, feeling the way his heart beats out of control when you begin to kiss him back.
He softly encourages you to open up, tongue sliding along your lips before you open your mouth and let him inside. Marcus can’t help the groan that rises from his chest when his tongue touches against yours, almost shyly at first before moving with more confidence and determination as the kiss progresses.
Completely enveloped in the moment, a plane could have crashed in the restaurant parking lot, and you wouldn’t have noticed beyond thinking that the earth shaking under your feet was from how good and right kissing Marcus feels. His tongue slides against yours and his breathing stutters and his heart skips a beat in his chest. His hand curls around the nape of your neck and he tugs you just a fraction closer. It’s magical, the feeling of your lips against his and for a moment, he never wants this kiss to end.
The rest of the world may not exist, and would not have at all, except for a distant cat call from another part of the parking lot and you break from Marcus with an embarrassed giggle. Marcus chuckles and turns to give the person a wave before he turns back to you. “Home, beautiful?” He asks softly, reaching for the door handle to the car.
“Home.” The fingers you have twined in his shirt pull him back to you for another, shorter kiss before pulling away fully.
He hums and holds the door open for you, not closing it until you are completely inside before hurrying around the front so he can jump behind the wheel. Nerves and excitement are thrumming in his system but he’s not going to assume he’s being invited into your bed, not even after being told. You can always change your mind and he will respect that.
In the front seat of his car, wrapped up in his leather jacket, your lips twist into a smile when he climbs back in beside you. “I think we have to call it a tie,” you tell him sheepishly. “Since both kisses were definitely, wow.”
“Yes, they were.” Marcus agrees, turning the engine over and picking up your hand quickly to press a kiss to the back of it before letting it go so he can put the car into gear.
“I guess we’ll just have to collect more data. You know…experiment.” You squeeze his hand lightly in yours. “For science.”
He throws you a small smirk and nods. “For science.” He agrees before he decides to change the subject. “So, what do you normally do when you get off of work? Your wind down routine?”
“Depends on the day.” Hands still linked together, your fingers tangle easily in his and keep him close while your heart beats louder and faster. “If I had a day shift, I’ll bring a book out to the garden before I start thinking about making dinner. But if I worked a later shift then I’ll just figure out something fast for dinner and turn on the TV.” You chuckle awkwardly. “That makes me sound really boring. Maybe I am. But I live with my best friend so it’s not like I’m running out for drinks with her every night. We do that in the garden.”
“Then I guess I’m boring too.” Marcus assures you. “I’m too old to try and go out every night. Especially after a long day at work.”
“I would imagine that your days are a lot more demanding than mine.” Which is nothing against your job, just an acknowledgement of the fact that his job is higher stress.
“Sleeping in on days off is a particularly favorite hobby of mine.” He admits, knowing that those have been few and far between the last few months. “That’s why I wanted a good bed. I try to make it a rule not to get up except to pee until at least ten-thirty.”
“Sleep in and drip dry?” You guess, raising a scandalous eyebrow at him and flashing a grin.
“I know.” Marcus rolls his eyes playfully. “If I was an eccentric billionaire I would live on a private tropical island where I can sleep with the ocean breeze flowing over me and never wear clothes again. Just go for a swim and pad around nude.”
“Ohnoooo…” Laughing along with him, you won’t deny that you’re very interested to know exactly what that visual would look like. “Relaxation. That sounds just horrible. How will you eversurvive?”
a/n: Thank you endlessly to @krissology for looking this over for me - I appreciate it more than you know. Dedicated to my love, @mourningbirds1 ❤️ This is my very first Javi — be gentle!
–
The whiskey sliding smoothly down his throat, Javier chased it with a drag of his cigarette and glanced at the clock. The heel of his hand rubbed away at the tension between his brows as the day’s events settled between them and he hoped this would help take the edge off. It usually did.
Standing from the bed, his cigarette dangled from his lips as he retrieved a second glass from the bathroom and he set it out next to his on the night table. Water, or whiskey — that’s all he had — but it wasn’t like staying in a hotel room made a difference. Even at home, where he usually did this, that’s all he kept on hand. Looking at the bottle, he wondered if the maids ever drank what he left after he checked out. He hoped somebody did, and a knock on his hotel door interrupted his train of thought.
Grinding the cigarette out in the nearest ashtray, he tilted his face towards the ceiling while standing before the mirror and blew out the last stream of smoke. He adjusted his collar before opening the door.
“Hello,” you smiled politely, trying not to fidget. Fidgeting made you look nervous, and you didn’t want that. Confidence, you silently reminded yourself. That’s what they like.
kelli the way you write is absolutely hypnotic. You can slow down and focus on a scene while also making the pacing feel fluent and not sluggish and god its all just so hazy and romantic and Javi is just- im in love. You are AMAZING and i need to go scream now.
TJ ❤️
No one touch me, I’m compromised —
Someone with your talent? And your softness? With the romance and love that’s infused in every one of your fics, saying these things about mine??
YOU are amazing and I’ll never stop screaming about it. To know that you loved this one means the world!
Summary: Din comes back from a hunt to find you in his bunk.
Rating: Explicit — size kink like whoa
A/N: This is dedicated to @silksaddle who sent me the filthiest audio clip of this man followed by this gif. Thank you for being so inspiring ❤️
__
Maybe if you hadn’t been so deeply asleep you would have heard him.
Maybe if the kid hadn’t kept you up for the last three days, you would have been woken by the hum of the ramp, by the stomp of his boots as he climbed it, by the soft, heavy sound of a body being dragged behind him.
Maybe if you hadn’t grown tired of waiting for him, eventually crawling into his bunk to sleep, you would have been ready for him when he finally did come back.
Well, that’s not true. You were ready for him, his modulated voice echoing in your head as you got ready for bed that night, you had felt a shiver of anticipation down your spine at the memory.
“I don’t want you to wear anything but this when you sleep in my bed, okay?”
Pairing: Pairing: Javier Peña x fem!reader (reader has a latina name but no physical descriptions)
Word Count: 4500+
Rating: M for mature - 18+ only! NSFW
Warnings: Just like ao3, “creator chooses not to use warnings.” If you click Keep Reading, that means you agree that you’re the age to handle mature themes. Also by clicking Keep Reading, you understand warnings may not be complete in order to avoid spoilers for the story.
A/N: Thank you everyone for the response and positive vibes from the intro of this series. Comments and reblogs are always appreciated! Here we go :)
**If you want to be added to the taglist, join here or let me know!
CHAPTER 5
Over the next couple of weeks, you and Javi got closer, but nothing went beyond that; it was just straight work oriented. Your partnership was spectacular. You complimented each other. Not having anyone to go home to, late nights for both of you was becoming the new norm. Every night a different take out place for dinner. Javi and you would eat in his office and have late conversations whether it was work related or personal. Each one of you is fighting through your feelings towards each other. Lust filled glances exchanged throughout the day at each other, but that path was never crossed between the both of you.. Since that night at your apartment ,the almost kiss was never mentioned or even tried again. It was as if nothing happened. You were starting to like him more, but you didn’t know if he felt the same about you.
Pairing: Pairing: Javier Peña x fem!reader (reader has a latina name but no physical descriptions)
Word Count: 4500+
Rating: M for mature - 18+ only! NSFW
Warnings: Just like ao3, “creator chooses not to use warnings.” If you click Keep Reading, that means you agree that you’re the age to handle mature themes. Also by clicking Keep Reading, you understand warnings may not be complete in order to avoid spoilers for the story.
A/N: Thank you everyone for the response and positive vibes from the intro of this series. Comments and reblogs are always appreciated! Here we go :)
**If you want to be added to the taglist, join here or let me know!
CHAPTER 5
Over the next couple of weeks, you and Javi got closer, but nothing went beyond that; it was just straight work oriented. Your partnership was spectacular. You complimented each other. Not having anyone to go home to, late nights for both of you was becoming the new norm. Every night a different take out place for dinner. Javi and you would eat in his office and have late conversations whether it was work related or personal. Each one of you is fighting through your feelings towards each other. Lust filled glances exchanged throughout the day at each other, but that path was never crossed between the both of you.. Since that night at your apartment ,the almost kiss was never mentioned or even tried again. It was as if nothing happened. You were starting to like him more, but you didn’t know if he felt the same about you.
Pairing: Pairing: Javier Peña x fem!reader (reader has a latina name but no physical descriptions)
Word Count: 4500+
Rating: M for mature - 18+ only! NSFW
Warnings: Just like ao3, “creator chooses not to use warnings.” If you click Keep Reading, that means you agree that you’re the age to handle mature themes. Also by clicking Keep Reading, you understand warnings may not be complete in order to avoid spoilers for the story.
A/N: Thank you everyone for the response and positive vibes from the intro of this series. Comments and reblogs are always appreciated! Here we go :)
**If you want to be added to the taglist, join here or let me know!
CHAPTER 5
Over the next couple of weeks, you and Javi got closer, but nothing went beyond that; it was just straight work oriented. Your partnership was spectacular. You complimented each other. Not having anyone to go home to, late nights for both of you was becoming the new norm. Every night a different take out place for dinner. Javi and you would eat in his office and have late conversations whether it was work related or personal. Each one of you is fighting through your feelings towards each other. Lust filled glances exchanged throughout the day at each other, but that path was never crossed between the both of you.. Since that night at your apartment ,the almost kiss was never mentioned or even tried again. It was as if nothing happened. You were starting to like him more, but you didn’t know if he felt the same about you.
Pairing: Pairing: Javier Peña x fem!reader (reader has a latina name but no physical descriptions)
Word Count: 4500+
Rating: M for mature - 18+ only! NSFW
Warnings: Just like ao3, “creator chooses not to use warnings.” If you click Keep Reading, that means you agree that you’re the age to handle mature themes. Also by clicking Keep Reading, you understand warnings may not be complete in order to avoid spoilers for the story.
A/N: Thank you everyone for the response and positive vibes from the intro of this series. Comments and reblogs are always appreciated! Here we go :)
**If you want to be added to the taglist, join here or let me know!
CHAPTER 5
Over the next couple of weeks, you and Javi got closer, but nothing went beyond that; it was just straight work oriented. Your partnership was spectacular. You complimented each other. Not having anyone to go home to, late nights for both of you was becoming the new norm. Every night a different take out place for dinner. Javi and you would eat in his office and have late conversations whether it was work related or personal. Each one of you is fighting through your feelings towards each other. Lust filled glances exchanged throughout the day at each other, but that path was never crossed between the both of you.. Since that night at your apartment ,the almost kiss was never mentioned or even tried again. It was as if nothing happened. You were starting to like him more, but you didn’t know if he felt the same about you.
Summary: After eight years in Colombia, Javier Peña is finally back home and hoping to keep his head down. Although you were fourteen and harboring a schoolgirl infatuation when he went away, you and your crush are now all grown up and it’s proving hard for Javier to ignore.
Rating:Explicit 18+ (By proceeding to read beyond this warning, you are agreeing that you are 18 years or older)
Content:Age Gap (15 years),Smut, Innocence Kink, Hidden Relationship, Secrecy, Pining, Family Interference, Small Town Dynamics
@javierpinme and I are so grateful that Ren took pity on us and tossed a new chapter of The Crush down the Smut Basement stairs to feed us! I’ve gobbled it up already. (Claire)
Warnings: drug/alcohol abuse, angst, swearing, death
Summary:Frankie deals with the aftermath of Tom’s death and you finally walking away. It’s been almost two years now but the pain hasn’t lessened and he can’t stand to be sober.
A/N: Part 4 of the Walk A Golden Road series, inspired/loosely based on the song “Tonight I Wanna Cry” by Keith Urban. Also part of @writer-wednesday. There may be a part 2 of this–depends on how the series goes. It’s not allowing me to write it in chronological order so…apologies. Sorta.
If you enjoy, LIKE, COMMENT, REBLOG!Please! Reblogs/Comments/Likes = Want to be added to my taglist? Link at the bottom and in my Bio!
He’d been too quick on the trigger…
Too quick, too harsh with his words…
Too weak to not give in to the pretty white powder…
He left the TV on in the living room, ignoring the white noise as tried to bury himself further into his bed. The sound of the rain outside was irritating and soothing all at the same time, the dying light of the sun casting the room in a dim glow. The street lights and city lights were slowly coming to life outside, headlights from passing cars flashing across the walls.
He lets one eye open to glance blurrily around but shuts it quickly when his gaze falls on just one of several photographs of you and him together.
Smiling.
Happy.
In love.
Sober.
He buries his face in the pillow as he feels his heart break for the thousandth time. He reaches one hand blindly over the edge of the bed, grasping for the bottle he knows is sitting on the floor. When his hand finds it, he grabs it like a lifeline and sits up just enough to swallow several gulps, ignoring the burning as it settles in his gut.
He didn’t want to be sober right now.
He wanted to let go of his self-control…what was left of it, that is.
Another swig before he tries to set the bottle back down on the floor, the crunching of paper making him lean over the side in puzzlement.
He wishes he hadn’t.
Memories flood back and his throat tightens as his eyes focus on the words swimming in front of him. Old letters from when he was deployed are scattered across the floor. Letters between friends that gradually became love letters as the years went on.
They say it hurts the worst before it gets better…
Except it’s been almost two years since you left…
It wasn’t getting better.
It hurts just as much as it did when you walked out his front door that day…when Tom’s blood splattered against the rocks in the Andes…
He always thought that being strong meant never showing his emotions, his feelings. Keeping tight self-control, like the military had taught him.
Frankie rips his gaze from the letters and flips himself so he’s facing the opposite wall, his breathing coming fast and harsh. He grasps the other pillow on the bed so tightly his knuckles turn white and his muscles cramp.
Night blankets the city fully now…
The rain starts falling more heavily against the window…
Frankie doesn’t try to stop the tears this time.
‘To hell with my pride.’
Sleep finds him, tears still staining his face and soaking the pillow beneath…
A moment of peace and solace, finally.
Banging coming from his front door shatters it before the nightmares can even start.
Frankie startles out of bed, nearly falling face first onto the floor when his comforter gets caught around his legs. Knocking over an empty bottle after freeing himself, he staggers to the front door, the pounding on the other side of it echoing in his already pounding skull.
“Fucking hold your horses!” he calls out hoarsely.
“Fish, open this goddamned door, pendejo!”
Santi.
Of course it would be him to show up on the night Frankie lets emotions go and cries himself to sleep, silently begging God for peace. Or whatever being or deity may be there to witness his breakdown…
He leans heavily on the door frame as he fumbles with the lock and then opens the door a crack, too drunk, too out of it to even glare at his best friend.
“What you want, Pope?”
Santiago’s jaw tightens at the state his best friend is in and knows what he had to say was not going to make anything better. He just hopes Frankie is sober enough to comprehend it.
He doesn’t hesitate to push the door open and Frankie gives little resistance or protest except verbally.
“Hey, man! What the fuck?!”
Frankie shuts the door before trying to hurry after Santiago as the man walks into his kitchen. His best friend says nothing about the numerous empty bottles of various types of liquor and beer and just grips the back of one of the kitchen chairs.
“Fish, how sober are you?”
Frankie flops heavily into the kitchen chair on the opposite side of the table from his best friend. He buries his face in his hands to try to alleviate his headache.
“Apparently too sober since I answered the door…”
Santiago sighs heavily. “Frankie…there’s no easy way to say this so I’m just going to say it. There was a bad accident in town tonight, a single fatality.”
Frankie doesn’t look up. “So? Auto accidents happen all the damn ti–”
“Frankie…it-it was Conejita.”
The pet name he and the boys had for you slices through him like a shot, ice cold and freezing him as it settles in the pit of his stomach.
He raises his head from his hands, comprehending and yet not comprehending this bombshell.
“What?”
The exclamation was soft, full of disbelief and fear but Santi just looked at him somberly, swallowing thickly.
This is the masterlist for my Frankie series, Walk A Golden Road.
UPDATED: 16 March 2022
Summary:Based/Inspired by several Keith Urban songs, this series follows Frankie and his lady through the course of several events. Takes place just before, just after, and several years after the events of Triple Frontier.
Angst ahead, I make no apologies. These will be listed in chronological order though probably not posted in chronological order. Warnings will be updated as required.
OK, well that hiatus decided to end MUCH sooner than I expected and…I plan to have a new series posted by the end of this week. Music continues to be my muse and proverbially kicked me in the arse last night…
Dieter Bravo x female reader Co-written with @absurdthirst
Oscar winning star Dieter Bravo’s reputation is suffering after the debacle of “Cliff Beasts 6″ and “Beasts of the Bubble”, so his management team has signed him on to a publicity stunt to find his soulmate and show the world a softer side of the erratic and unpredictable star. The plan quickly go awry, though, when Dieter’s soulmate wants nothing to do with him.
Rating: Teen. But this blog is *always* 18+ Word Count: 10k Warnings: *Blanket warning for chronic illness, cursing, and deceased family members. This is a Dieter fic, folks, so there absolutely will be discussions of drugs, drug use, and addiction.* Enemies to lovers, fake dating, arguments, money talk, references to past drug use, angst, literally SO much guilt, Carol Cobb gets her own warning. Summary: Steph carefully breeches the topic of her conversation with Dieter, the man himself drops by with an unexpected surprise, and date number two goes awry despite Libby’s best attempt. Notes: A little more backstory comes out in this chapter, folx! Sincerely hope you enjoy
Theonly reason Steph didn’t wake up with a hangover was because of the bottle of water and aspirin that - what was his name? - Rico insisted that she take while waiting for the car. Handing her the San Pelligrino and the tablets with a smile that had made her stomach twist pleasantly and a wink that had heated her cheeks. “Sparkling water is the key to no hangover the next morning.” He informed her, asking her for her keys in the next breath so her car could be returned to her. That’s the only reason she’s awake before you, feeling slightly guilty about her conversation with Dieter the night before and how she can convince you to just talk to him.
Author’s Note: Here’s the newest update! Finally! Apologies for taking an extra few weeks but I got here, we ready! I’m posting this a day earlier than I normally would because I’m impatient and just want it out there for y’all. I also only proof read this a few times so it’s likely riddled in mistakes. I hope you like it anyways.
In this one, we have a little party here, and a little party there. Tension thick enough to cut with scissors and perhaps Jealous!Dieter makes an appearance. I can’t be too sure though ♀️ Guess you’ll have to read and find out. Their outfits are based off these costumes: 1,2,3,4. Bisous!
Next update for this little series is coming soon. I try and update every Friday.
Summary: Dieter Bravo is the celebrity host on a new dating reality TV show and she was signed up by her friends as a joke. She decides to try and stick it out for the prize money and keep everyone else away from her.
Disclaimer: ✨ If you are under 21, please do not interact.✨
“Car dans mes yeux, ça se voit La fièvre dans les yeux, oui ça se voit Mon cœur se serre, j'ai du feu dans la voix Le plus souvent, c'est quand je pense à toi” Fever (feat. Angèle) - Dua Lipa
Anthony nearly tripped over his own feet when he spotted Dieter standing near the edge of the pool. At first it was due to him being out in the main area, which wasn’t cause for much concern, but when he realized who was floating in the pool he jumped into action. He whipped out his walkie and immediately sent word to Jemma while smacking the camera guy closest to him and pointing in the their direction.
“Pan over,” Anthony hissed, “Pan over!”
They quickly set themselves up and even the boom mic was adjusted accordingly to try and pick up on their conversation. Of course Dieter chose to approach her now. She wasn’t wearing a mic pack. Anything related to water meant they weren’t required to wear their mics and Anthony had to give Dieter kudos. The man was slick. He may have come off aloof, but he’d given some thought to what he was doing.
Anthony crouched down and watched the tiny screen of the camera with thinly veiled glee. This was it, this was the content they were looking for. They all watched as Dieter sat down, inviting her to join him and the rest was going to be history. He could feel it.
He grinned to himself, without meaning too, he’d become invested in these two, and not just because their situation was a priority for him. After him and Jemma had gone through all the original tapes and the subsequent ones that came along at the end of each filming day, he found himself wrapped up in whatever world these two were currently in. It was hard no to be. There was a certain magic watching their relationship unfold. Especially when they didn’t know that there was a whole crew dedicated to their story and however it turned out.
Anthony had been the one to push the dates when introducing the new contestants. At the time is was a tactic to try and rock the boat, so to speak. However, it didn’t have the affect any of them were expecting. Well that wasn’t entirely true. Kevin fell for the trap, hook, line and sinker. The fall out giving them an amazing sequence for the show and mixing up the dynamic within the whole group. But when it came to the other two, all bets were off. Instead of causing a rift, it brought the two of them closer together and he wasn’t even bothering to pretend it wasn’t an exciting turn of events.
Taking requests peeps. Having a break from my current fics atm as I got toooo much going on with the wedding and it’s given me writer’s block!
HOWEVER!
I love to write so I’m taking requests for a few juicy one shots. Any fics you want me to expand on? Maybe just something a little fluffy? Or angsty? send em my way
Summary: Frankie was always the one who got away but when you learn that he’s retired from the army and has moved back home. Your life falls apart.
Relationships: Reader x Original ‘Male’ Character, Reader x Frankie Morales
Warnings: Like A03, I chose to give none. 18+
Your husband wasn’t a cruel man. But as time had gone on you’d come to learn he wasn’t a good one either.
Your life revolved around him. His wants and needs and never your own. But he supplied you with a safe, comfortable life and that’s all you could have really hoped for. You’d loved him once and you were sure he had to but as the years had passed childlessly, your once blossoming romance had fizzled into something sour. You knew he resented you for not giving him a child. Blamed you for it and you blamed yourself to a degree but as the months blended into years, you found you blamed yourself less and came to terms with the fact that your having kids wasn’t meant to be.
You’d imagined your life differently as a younger woman. You’d imagined it with a different man if you were being honest with yourself. You thought you’d met the one as a teenager but, like most childhood sweethearts, he got away. Francisco Morales. The man of your dreams had shipped out to the army as soon as he’d graduated and your relationship had lasted another year after that before you’d called it quits and broken the man’s heart. Something you’d regretted to this day and had never imagined you’d see him again. How wrong you’d turn out to be.
“Did you hear the news?” Your best friend Sally asked as the two of you browsed through the sale rail of your favourite clothing store.
Your obvious look of confusion was all the answer she needed to know that you were oblivious to the latest gossip to spread around town.
“Morales moved back.” She elaborated and your breath caught in your throat “Retired from the forces and decided to kick out the tenants renting his folk’s old place and moved in himself.” She finished, shrugging her shoulders as she pulled out a sweater she liked the look of.
“Oh.” Was your reply, suddenly completely disinterested in shopping anymore.
“Think you’ll see him?” She asked and this grabbed your full attention.
“Why would I see him?” You questioned, eliciting a snigger from your friend.
“We all know you never go over him.” She stated and you felt your heart start to race and your cheeks grow hot “Thought you’d be all over, seeing him.”
“I’m married, Sally.” You warned and she scoffed.
“Yeah to a man that barely looks at you and who’s definitely shagging his assistant.” She grumbled and you felt a sting at her last statement.
“You don’t know that.” You choke and her demeanour changed upon hearing the crack in your voice.
“I’m sorry babe.” She started as she threw a hand around your shoulder “I shouldn’t have said that but you deserve better than the life you have.”
“I’m fine.” You replied with a shrug “He keeps a roof over my head, clothes on my back and food in my belly. What more can I ask for?”
“Happiness?” She shrieks “Love, passion, excitement… to name a few. He’s an asshole and you need to leave him.”
“It’s not that easy Sally.” You snapped “Where would I go? I have no job, no money.”
“Your divorce would sort that out.”
“Sally-”
“You can’t keep living like this.” She interrupted, taking your hand in hers and boring into you with her serious gaze “Waiting to die or for him to leave you.”
“This is my life now.” You said, your tone defeated and your heart heavy “I’ve made my bed.”
Sally decided it was futile to argue any further. You weren’t going to accept that you deserved better and she was tired of trying to convince you of the fact. So you finished off your shopping trip and turned down her invites for drinks that evening at your once favourite watering hole.
No way Joe would let you go.
Despite having little interest in sharing any sort of physical relationship with you he hated the idea of you having a social life outside of him. So going out for drinks with your girlfriends was not something you were able to attend anymore. You were limited to shopping trips and coffee. How dull your life had become.
Walking through your front door and placing your sparse shopping bags down on the polished marble floor, you announced your arrival as you toed off your shoes and hung up your coat. Not expecting the arms that wrapped around your middle and or the lips that found your neck.
He did this sometimes. Showed a fleeting interest in you and you took what you could get. For all his faults he wasn’t a selfish lover.
He turned you in his arms and dropped to his knees before he pushed your underwear to one side and placed a teasing lick on your clit. You felt a jolt of pleasure surge through you and the moan that slipped past your lips was all the invitation your husband needed to continue. Credit where credit was due, he knew how to fuck with his tongue and it didn’t take him long to have you cumming. Your legs then gave out and you were in his arms as he threw you down on the couch and pulled out his throbbing erection for the confines of his slacks. His lips returned to your neck as he lowered himself between your open legs and once again pushed your underwear to the side. Your eyes locked for a moment and you thought you saw a flicker of love in his eyes. Something you’d not seen for what felt like an eternity but then he was pushing inside of you and you weren’t able to keep your eyes open then.
Sex with Joe was always good. Whether you wanted to admit it or not your husband could fuck but these sparse sessions only hurt more. You missed the way he used to worship the ground you walked on. How he’d not be able to get enough of you but then again, you were trying to get pregnant back then. This was now him looking for a release and that’s all you were to him now.
A release.
He fucked into you expertly and you were cumming again in no time at all, moaning loudly as he continued his assault on that spongy spot inside of you that had your toes curling. He hooked one of your legs around his waist and the new angle started to stir another orgasm down in your loins. It took half a dozen more thrusts for the two of you to cum together and leaving you a sated mess on your couch.
“What was that for?” You asked between laboured breaths and Joe shrugged before slipping out of you and pulling his slacks back up again.
“I’ve got to go away for work for a few days.” He stated simply “Should be back by Wednesday.”
“Oh.” You replied as you manoeuvred into a sitting position “Short notice.”
“Tell me about it.” He grumbled before grabbing the suitcase situated by the couch that you’d not noticed before “I’ll call you tomorrow.” He said, pecking your lips.
“You’re leaving now?” You asked as you followed him out to the lobby and watched as he slipped on some shoes and grabbed his keys.
“Need to or I’ll miss my flight.”
“Well, safe trip.” You said, receiving one last kiss before he disappeared out of the door and left you standing in the lobby.
You weren’t sure how long passed before you slipped out your phone and dialled the number at the top of your caller list.
“Sally.” You said simply as you let out a shaky breath “Count me in for tonight.”
…
“I’m so happy you’re here.” Squealed Sophia as she pulled you into a tight hug “What changed your mind?”
“Husband’s fucked off on a work trip.” You said as you downed another apple sour shot “So I thought I would spend my evening seeing my girls.” You finished as you woo'ed with your friends.
“It’s been too long.” Said Lacey as she placed a tray of drinks down on the table and handed you your triple gin and tonic.
“That it has.” You agreed as you took a sip of your drink.
…
Frankie hadn’t been in the mood for drinks but Benny was determined. So that’s how he’d found himself sitting in a bar he’d only ever walked past as a teenager. What made the situation worse was that he was designated drive which meant not even the buzz of alcohol was a possible distraction.
His reason for being in such a foul mood was the information he’d learned upon moving back. He’d only been back a few weeks but when at the supermarket the previous afternoon he’d bumped into your school best friend and he’d learned through her that you were married. He wasn’t sure why he was upset about it. You’d dumped him at the first sign of trouble but there had been a small part of him that had held out hope that there was still a chance for you both.
“Come on Fish.” Ben groaned “You need to cheer the fuck up dude.”
“Ben.” His older brother warned but Benny waved him off.
“I don’t know what’s got your knickers all knotted up but we’re out dude. We’re free from all that shit now.”
“I’m fine,” Frankie grumbled, his eyes drifting to a rowdy table across the bar.
He realised quickly that he knew the girls, they’d all been in your year at school and he was fairly sure that you were friends with them. Ho noted Sally, the one who’d told him just yesterday about your marital status and Sophia who’d been attached to your hip once. Movement in the corner of his eye then grabbed his attention and that’s when he saw you with a tray of drinks in hand. You were just as beautiful as the day he’d kissed you goodbye in the airport when he was 19. More so if that was even possible.
“She’s hot.” Ben teased, dragging the older man from his thoughts.
“She’s my ex.” Frankie grumbled, his attention returning to the one beer of the night he was able to drink.
“Shit, really?” Benny exclaimed and Frankie nodded “She’s smoking Fish., Is she single?”
“No.” He replied simply, his tone grabbing Will’s attention “She’d married.”
“Sound a little sour about that Catfish?” Will questioned, “Something still there?”
“She broke my heart twenty years ago.” He growled, “Nothing there Will.”
“Well, you got me convinced.” Benny snorted and Frankie felt his temper growing even shorter.
“Believe what you want.” He snapped as he pushed himself to his feet “I need a piss.”
He stormed off, leaving two amused Miller brothers in his wake. He hated how seeing you had stirred up all those feelings he’d thought he had buried all those years ago. He went to the bathroom, took a breather and left a few minutes later, only to collide with a soft body.
“Shit, I’m sorry I wasn’t looking where I was going.” He said as shook his head and turned to look at the innocent person he’d just barged into.
“Frankie?” You questioned and his eyes grew wide as your name fell from his lips “Shit.” You said as you let out a shocked breath “Wow, how are you? You look… You look good.”
“You too.” He replied and he swore he saw you blush.
“How are you?” You asked again and he shrugged.
“Good as can be expected.” He replied and you nodded.
“I hear you’re married.” He said and your stomach twisted “Congrats.”
“We’ve been married a few years now.” You said, your face dropped “Nothing to congratulate.”
“You happy?” He asked and you were rendered speechless.
You’d never been able to lie to this man and twenty years on that was still that case. So all you could do was shrug and Frankie couldn’t help but frown at that.
“Looks like my party has made some new friends.” You said as your eyes drifted to your table, Frankie’s eyes following yours.
“Those would be my friends.” He sighed as he scraped a hand over his face.
“Guess we should make sure they’re not getting into trouble.”
“Sure.”
“Chica, look at these two dreamboats we met.” Screeched Sally as you made your way over to the table “This is Will and Benny… They’re brothers and -”
“Complete trouble.” Interrupted Frankie as he came to stop beside you.
“Francisco Morales… Fancy seeing you here.” Said Sally as she pulled him into a sideways hug “You know these two.”
“Sadly.” He replied with a smirk and Benny gave him the finger as your friends chuckled.
You all stayed together then. The girls cooed over the boys and you sat there awkwardly with Frankie as you watched. The conversation got more and more personal as more drink was consumed and you were glad you were drunk when you and Frank became the subject matters’.
“So Francisco.” Sally started as she sipped on her cocktail “No wife and kids to speak of?”
“Nope.” He replied, popping the 'p’ before sipping his soda.
“Don’t get him wrong.” Benny started and Frankie instantly cringed “This guy is the pussy king!” He gushed and you felt sick.
Of course, there had been others since you. It wasn’t like you were it for him and he was to remain alone for the rest of his life but to hear it out loud still stung.
“Shared a bunk with him for years and some of the women he managed to sneak back…”
“How’s married life?” Will asked, changing the subject when he noted both yours and Frankie’s uncomfortable demeanours “No kids?”
Your shoulders sank and your face dropped. Sally noticed it straight away and went to speak but you beat her to the punch, the alcohol giving you a false sense of confidence.
“We tried.” You said with a shrug, your posture changing completely “Never happened for us and now he despises me for it.” You finished with a false laugh and the whole table fell silent.
“I’m sorry,” Will said after a few tense moments of silence and you shrugged again.
“It wasn’t meant to be I guess.” You replied with a shrug, noting out of the corner of your eye how Frankie was looking at you with those sad brown eyes. The ones that let you to fall for him in the first place.
Frankie couldn’t believe what he was hearing. It explained your reaction earlier when he’d asked if you were happy. He could see it now. How haunted you were and his heart broke for you. He’s always hoped that you’d end up happy. Sure he’d prayed it would be with him but as the years had gone on he had come to terms with the fact that it wouldn’t be.
A few more drinks were consumed before the night came to an end. Sally left with Will and Sophie with Ben who had left you alone with Frankie and stood on the sidewalk outside the bar in awkward silence.
“How are you getting home?” He asked as you fiddled with your hands.
“Well I have gotten a taxi with Sally but she’s gone home with your friend so… I guess I’ll get a cab on my own.” You chuckled nervously.
“I can give you a ride?” He suggested and you looked up at him with wide eyes “I was designated driver but guess I got ditched too.” She chuckled and that made you smile “I don’t like the idea of you getting a cab home alone. Please… let me give you a ride.”
“Sure.” You said after a few moments of silence and Frankie nodded, motioning for you to follow him as he lead you to his truck.
He opened the passenger door for you and helped you inside before closing it and making his way around to the driver’s side. Jumping in his was fast to start it up and peel away, driving you home with your quiet directions. It felt like it had all those decades ago. Him driving you somewhere quiet so you could steal perfect moments together before he had to get you home. You couldn’t stop yourself from glancing at him every now and then as he drove you in stoic silence.
When he pulled up in front of your large house his eyes grew wide and you smirked at his reaction to your home. You sat there in tense silence for a few moments before you plucked up the courage to speak.
“Do you want to come in?” You asked, eyes hopeful as you looked at him.
“Are you sure?” He asked, smiling at the nervous nod you gave him.
He opened your door for you and followed silently as you led him to the front door, watching as you shakily pushed your key into the lock. Stepping inside he copied you as you toed off your shoes and before he followed you to a large, modern, kitchen that put his to shame.
“Drink?” You asked and he nodded “Just water’s fine.”
“Just water?” You chuckled “I have beer?”
“I shouldn’t.” He replied shyly “Got to drive and all that.”
“Sure… right, of course.” You said, shaking your head and grabbing a glass from the cupboard.
After pouring him the beverage from the fridge, you handed him the glass and went about pouring yourself a glass of wine. The silence that hung over you both then for a short while was suffocating. You’d not thought this far ahead. All you’d thought about was how you didn’t want him to leave just yet, you wanted him to stay just a little longer.
“So how long have you been married?” He asked, finally breaking the silence between you.
“6 years this August.” You replied, your eyes unconsciously drifting to the silver bands on your left hand.
“He a good guy?” He asked and you sighed, feeling your throat tighten.
“He was amazing at first.” You confessed, eyes drifting to the glass in your hands “But when we discovered we couldn’t have kids he got sour.”
“I’m sorry.” He said sadly as his eyes captured yours “You would have been an amazing mum.”
You let out a sad chuckle at that. You’d always liked to think you would be but as time had gone on you’d started to wonder how good a parent Joe would have been.
“I guess the universe thought differently.” You joked, eliciting a sympathetic smile from him “Just wasn’t meant to be I guess.”
“You can’t seriously believe that?” He asked and you sighed.
“Well I’ve not been blessed with children so to be the evidence is pretty conclusive.” You said with a shrug, trying hard to fight the tears that were threatening to spill.
Silence fell over the two of you again for a while as you sipped at your wine and him, his water. It felt oddly normal to have him there with you yet tense that you were standing in the kitchen of the house you share with your husband, with the man you knew you were still in love with.
“You know I always hoped you’d find happiness.” Frankie uttered after a little while “Despite you breaking my heart I always routed for you to have the best life possible.”
“I always wanted that for you too.” You stated and he scoffed at that “Did you not?”
“I killed people for a living for almost half my life.” He replied shortly “What do you think?”
You winced at his reply and he instantly regretted his tone “I had to do a lot of unforgivable things, all in the name of my country.” He confessed after a short pause “I don’t deserve a good life for what I’ve done.”
“You deserve the best life has to offer Frankie.” You said softly “I’ve always regretted ending things with you.” You sobbed “Truth be told you were the one man I could picture spending my life with and I let you go.”
“Why did you?” His question took you by surprise but you didn’t hesitate to answer it. He deserved the truth.
“Because the thought of losing you was too much to bear.” You confessed, “I thought if I broke it off, it would ease the pain of knowing you could die at any point but all it did was break my heart and leave me hollow.” You sobbed, not holding back the tears now “You were the love of my life and I lost you.”
Frankie could help what he did next. Knowing that you’d regretted breaking things off with him, selfishly, was all he’d ever wanted to hear. Grabbing the back of your head he pulled you into a biting kiss that made your toes curl and your core ache.
Before you knew it your underwear was pushed to one side and he was buried to the hilt, thrusting hard and deep as he swallowed your moans. Your nails dug into the muscles on his back, clinging on for dear life as he tore several orgasms out of you before succumbing to his own release and then he collapsed over you as he caught his breath, practically purring as you run your nails through his hair.
“Shit.” He breathed after a short while and you chuckled at his statement “That was…”
“Perfect?” You finished for him as you smiled down at him “We shouldn’t have done that but I’m having a hard time regretting it.” You confessed after a short pause, moaning when he pulled himself out of your heat and tucked himself into his jeans.
“I’m sorry.” He sighed as he scraped a hand over his face and you suddenly panicked at his change of demeanour.
“I should go.”
“No, please… Don’t-”
“I have to.” He interrupted as he grabbed his keys and made his way to the front door, you were hot on his heels “It was nice to see you again.” He said without looking at you and then he was out of the door and you were left there to sob over what had been the best thing to happen to you in years.
~
2 Months Later…
Your hands shook as you held that stick of plastic in your hand. You felt sick. How, after all those years of trying, were you now looking at the second positive pregnancy test you’d taken that afternoon.
How was this happening?
You slowly started to panic the longer you stared at it. It was a disaster and you didn’t even know where to start in terms of how to deal with it. You knew you had to tell your husband and you knew he was going to be excited but you also had to tell Frankie.
There was a chance it was his too.
Grabbing the tests and shoving them in your pocket you made your way to the front door and grabbed your keys and bag. Slipping your shoes on, you made your way to your car and, after taking a steadying breath you got in. Driving to Frankies, you were relieved to see that his truck was on the drive and after parking up behind it, you hopped out of the car and briskly walked to his front door.
It didn’t take him long to answer after you knocked but his shock at seeing you stook there made your stomach twist into painful knots.
“What are you doing here?” He asked and you thought you were going to cry at that alone.
Instead, you let out a steadying breath before you answered him.
“We need to talk.” You said firmly “Can I come in?”
He said nothing, just opened the door wider so that you could enter. You looked back when you heard the door slam behind you and then you made your way to his kitchen, sitting at his table, you waited for him to join you.
“What do you want to talk about?” He asked plainly and you felt your nerves come to a head. God, you could be sick.
“Well uh… I need to talk about that night.”
“Why?” He groaned “It was a mistake. You’re married. We need to move on.”
“Yeah well, I wish it were that simple.” You snapped and his expression changed.
“Why isn’t it?”
“Because I’m pregnant Francisco.” You growled, slamming the two positive tests on the table.
That stopped him dead in his tracks. He started at the two tests, both saying 6 - 7 weeks along. He’s regretted that night since it happened. Not because of what happened but because you had been drunk and he’d taken advantage of that. So now to see that from that night, he was facing the possibility of being a father, he regretted it even more.
“Is it mine or?…”
“Fifty per cent chance.” You confessed “But let’s be realistic. I try for five years to get pregnant with my husband and then I fuck you one time and bam… Baby.”
“What are you going to do?” He asked and you sighed “Are you…”
“Going to keep it?”
He nodded.
“Yes, I am going to keep it.” You scoffed “But I need to tell my husband I am pregnant and there’s only a fifty per cent chance it’s his.”
“Shit.” He breathed and you nodded in agreement.
“I only came here to tell you because you have a right to know.” You stated plainly “I don’t expect anything from you and if turns out to be yours well… You only have to be involved if you want to be.”
Frankie nodded. He was numb and completely at a loss for words. It was his lack of reaction that had you scoffing before you scooped up the tests and grabbed your bag, barely saying goodbye before you were out the door and halfway to your car.
When he realised you were gone, he ran out after you. Only to find he was too late and you were gone. He groaned in frustration at his reaction to your news. He’s just been so shocked by it. Seeing you at his door, that had not been what he’d expected when you’d said you needed to talk to him.
Now you were gone and he was completely lost.
…
At home, you’d just finished up the dishes when you’re husband had called to say he was going to be working late. So you started on dinner for yourself, something that he could reheat when he got home and then sat to watch TV whilst it cooked in the oven. Joe’s iPad lighting up a short while later caught your attention. It was unusual for him to leave it laying around and so you couldn’t help your curiosity. Noticing it was a text, you tapped on the notification and what you saw made you sick.
'Can’t wait for you to breed me later baby’
You read the first message and choked. It was, sure enough, from his secretary. What a fucking cliché.
'Make round with you baby J.’
Popped up another message a short while later.
You’d known deep down he was cheating. It was obvious. The late nights the secrecy. They had all been warning signs but to see it confirmed in writing hurt but that’s not what you were most angry about. No, you were angry that he was not fucking his assistant… but that he was trying to get her pregnant in the process. That made your blood boil. You may have slipped up but this was something completely different and you knew you had to leave.
Your bag was packed less than an hour later. You packed what you could into your car and you drove to the first place you could think of. Sally’s.
~
1 Month Later…
Frankie had been browsing the cereal aisle when he’d bumped into Sally. He’s desperately tried to sneak past but she had the eyes of a hawk and he was soon cornered by the Coco Pops.
“Haven’t seen you since that night out what… three months ago?” She asked and Frankie shrugged.
“About that yeah.” He confirmed, “How are you?”
“Oh, I’m fine.” She replied, “My girl on the other hand is a mess.” She stated and Frankie’s stomach sank “Girls 3 ½ months pregnant and in the middle of getting a divorce.”
“What?” He exclaimed, the last statement taking him by surprise “Why?”
“Fucker is shagging his assistant.” Sally revealed, “What’s worse if they’re trying for a kid together.” She continued “Well they were and then he found out she was pregnant and he’s been begging for her to forgive him.”
“Shit.”
“Turns out though that there’s a chance it’s not his.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” She said with a nod “Had a weak moment a few months back and well… Kid might be the other guys but apparently he doesn’t want anything to do with it so-”
“I never said that.” Frankie expelled, eyes widening at his sudden confession.
“Wait what?” She practically yelled “She didn’t tell me who the other guy was… It’s you??”
“We uh… The night we met up, I took her home and we got to talking and one thing led to another-”
A hand impacting his face was not what he’d expected to happen to him whilst doing his weekly shop that day yet here he was, rubbing his cheek as your best friend glowered at him.
“She’s in pieces.” She scorned “She’s all alone, pregnant with a baby that could be yours.”
“I’ve been meaning to talk to her its just… Well, I didn’t know what to say.”
“Say that you’ll support her.” She shrieked “You’re a better man than Joe, I know that for a fact so step up and take responsibility! It takes two people to make a baby.”
“Where’s she staying?” He asked, knowing she was right and that he had to make this right.
“Mine.” She stated “I’m going to be out this evening if you wanted to talk to her alone.
He nodded and she sighed "Please don’t hurt my friend Frankie.” She pleaded “She’s suffered enough.”
…
You hadn’t been expecting a knock at the door that night. Sally was out on a double date with Sophia and the Miller brothers. She’d asked if you wanted her to stay but the truth was you just wanted some time alone to grieve. Your life as you knew it was over and you were facing bringing a baby into the world without the love and support of the man you knew was its daddy. Without a shadow of a doubt, you were certain.
You stiffly walked to the front door, not thinking to check who it was before you pulled it open but when you saw it was Frankie standing there your eyes grew to the size of saucers.
“Frank?” You all but whispered, “What are you doing here?”
“I came to talk.” He replied, “If that’s okay?”
You nodded. Opened the door and motioned for him to come in before closing it behind him. You led him to the lounge, muted the TV and motioned for him to sit as you plonked yourself back on the couch.
“How are you?” He asked although he knew that answer already.
“My life’s falling apart.” You scoffed “How do you think?”
“I’m sorry.” He replied, instantly regretting his question “How’s the baby?” He asked after a short pause and you sighed as you rubbed your now slightly swollen belly.
“They’re okay. Had my first scan and they were pleased with its progress so that’s positive.” You replied and he nodded “Why have you come here, Francisco?”
“I want to be a father to this baby.” He stated simply “If it’s mine and you want that.”
“Frankie I-”
“I reacted like a complete idiot when you told me but I was shocked.” He confessed “The last thing I’d been expecting you to tell me was that you were pregnant but I saw Sally today and she literally slapped sense into me and I… Well, baby, I love you and I want us to be a family but if just being a father is all you’re willing to give me then that’s fine.”
“And if we are a family and it turns out that it isn’t yours?”
“Then I will love it anyway.”
That was all you needed to hear. Next thing you knew you were on his lap and kissing him like you needed it to breathe. Finally pulling away to breathe you looked him in the eye and you smiled.
“Take that as a yes then.” He stated before you laughed and kissed him again.
It was definitely a yes.
~
6 Months Later…
“Well, shit that’s a cute kid.” Said Ben as he propped his head on Sally’s shoulder.
“He’s beautiful.” Sally gushed as she looked up at you and Frankie laying on the hospital bed.
“How are you feeling hun?” Ben asked as he came to stand beside you and place a sweet kiss on your brow.
“Exhausted.” You confessed and he chuckled “But I wouldn’t have been able to do it without Fishcakes here.”
“I thought we were past the nicknames.” He grumbled and you all chuckled.
“I just pushed your eight-pound baby out my vagina and now have stitches to prove it.” You scoffed “I can call you what I like.”
“Touchê.” He conceded and you chuckled.
“Did you have a paternity test done?” Ben asked and you both nodded
“I mean it’s obvious who his father is but Joe was adamant that we get it done. He wasn’t a happy bunny when the news was broken.” You stated.
“No, he was not.” Agreed Frankie as he rubbed his still sore jaw.
“You got a name yet?” Sally asked and you both shared a look before nodding.
“Luka.” You said in unison and the others gasped.
“Luka Morales.” Ben said, testing the name on his tongue “It suits you, little buddy.” He said as Sally handed him the baby.
As watched your best friend and Frankie’s coo over your newborn, a sense of peace washed over you. In the months that had followed, you discovered what true happiness felt like. The love and adoration Frank had showered you with had led you to realise that your life with Joe had never been good.
“You okay?” Frankie asked, quiet enough that only you could hear him.
“Yeah.” You replied as you rested your head on your shoulder “Tired but so fucking happy.”
“Me too.” He replied, kissing you sweetly before pulling away to look you in the eyes again “Marry me?” He asked and tears started to form in your tired eyes.
Frank instantly panicked “Or not… It was just an idea but if you don’t-”
“Yes.” You interrupted and he stopped dead in his tracks, eyes wide and you both stared at each other.
“Yes?”
“Yes Francisco Morales… Love of my life and father of my child.” You started, smiling at him sweetly “I will marry you.”
He kissed you deeply, stealing the air from your lungs before he broke it and rested his forehead against yours.
Summary: When a baby girl is dropped on Javier Peña’s doorstep with a note claiming she’s his, he’s suddenly thrust into fatherhood. With no clue what to do, he will need all the help he can get if he’s not to stumble at the first hurdle.
Relationships: Javier Peña x Reader, Steve Murphy x Connie Murphy
Warnings: Like AO3, I choose not to list any warnings. This will be 18+ If you are triggered by anything to do with babies then read at your own risk… timeline has taken a nose dive sooo.. yeah
(Life is still mad and I have had so little time or energy to write so sorry about that. I’m getting married in 33 days so yeah… Life’s mental. I hope this was worth the wait and thank you all for continuing follow this fic! Love y'all it is a little short but its for good reason I promise!!)
Javier stood there gobsmacked as the news you’d given how swam around in his brain. It was your irritating huff that snapped him back to attention.
“You’re pregnant?” He practically squeaked and you scoffed.
“Yes, Javier.” You snapped and he winced a little at your tone.
“H-how?” He stuttered and you scoffed “I mean, we haven’t been trying you’re on protection so-”
“I don’t know what to tell you Javi.” You interrupted and his mouth snapped shut “It failed and I’m pregnant.” You grumbled “Sorry.”
His brows drew together at that. He was confused to be sure but he didn’t want you to think for a second that he was upset with you.
“I know that this is great timing and all but it’s happening and I want to keep it but if you do-” Your rambling was cut off by his lips on yours and suddenly the anger that had consumed you a few moments ago seemed to fizzle to nothing.
“There is nothing to be sorry for.” He assured you as he rested his hand on your stomach whilst cupping your cheek with the other “This is wonderful news.”
“Really” You choked and he nodded as a grin spread across his face.
“Really.”
“Oh my god.” Connie practically squealed and you both jumped, having forgotten she was there at all “You’re going to have a baby.” She squeaked and you let out a breathy chuckle.
“We’re going to have a baby.” You replied with a nod, wiping away the two tears that escaped from your eyes as you watched Javier drop to his knees.
“Hola little one.” He uttered, his eyes as wide as saucers as he locked them with yours “I’m your Papi and I’m so excited to meet you.”
“I can’t leave now.” Connie sobbed and your heads both swung around to look at her.
“Are you serious?” You asked and she nodded “I can’t leave you alone now. Especially if the boys are going to be away more.”
“They’ve asked us to permanently move to the Medellin base.” Javier confessed and your face dropped “But I am going to apply for a house for us there.” He continued “You’re coming with me, baby.” He stated, “I don’t want to miss a moment of this with you.”
“Do you think Steve would do the same?” Connie asked and Javier nodded.
“In a heartbeat.” He stated and she nodded.
“Does this mean María stays?” You asked as your eyes drifted to the still sleeping infant.
“Yes, Cariño.” He said softly “She’s staying.”
~
Two weeks later you were unpacking the last of the boxes in your new house the embassy had managed to arrange for you. You had not however managed to secure a role at the Searchbloc headquarters, something that Javier had been relieved about. He had confessed that he hadn’t liked the idea of you working. He prefered to know you were safe at home with Connie and María every day whilst he searched for the man that had torn so many lives apart including yours and almost his.
Escobar may have not pulled the trigger the day he almost died but he was just as much to blame as that sicario was.
Steve had made it his mission to ensure his wife felt safe too. Having almost lost Connie he’d done everything he could to make sure she didn’t leave but he didn’t have to worry. She wasn’t going to leave your side.
“How’s the morning sickness?” She asked as she sipped her coffee and you, your tea “That eased off now?”
“Yeah, thank god.” You groaned, eliciting a chuckle from the other woman “It never lasted this long with Masie.”
“Maybe it’s because this one is a Peña.” Connie teased and you chuckled.
“Think you’re on to something there.” You giggled, jumping when María screeched, laughed and clapped from her highchair “Think she agrees with you.”
“How’s Javier handling it all?” She asked, her tone softening as she leaned over to stroke the top of María’s head.
“Really well.” You said with a nod and a smile, your mind wandering back to how he’d said goodbye to you and baby this morning “He’s so excited for me to start showing.”
“I bet.” The blonde replied, “He missed all that with María I suppose so this is his second chance I suppose.”
You nodded and shrugged, sipping your tea again before both your attentions fell on Marīa.
“And how about you princess?” She asked softly “Are you excited to have a little brother or sister?”
“SWISH.” She yelled and you chuckled.
“Swish?” Connie asked, her eyes tracing to you.
“SWIIIIIISH.” She yelled again and you couldn’t stop the giggles then.
“What an earth is a swish?” The other woman asked and you shook your head.
“We think maybe she means sis.” You stated, “That she wants a sister but we can’t be sure.”
“Papapapapa.” She started rambling and your heart swelled as she wriggled in her chair.
“Papi will be home a little later, dulzura.” You said and she clapped and smiled at you.
“Mamamamamammm.”
You both froze.
“She said that before?”
“Nope.” You replied, popping the ‘p’.
“This you mama?” Connie asked as she pointed at you and you fought to keep your tears at bay.
“Mama.” María squeaked as she reached for you and you couldn’t stop them then.
They flowed freely as you stood up and scooped her up from her highchair before placing kisses in her curly hair. You weren’t her mum but you were as good as and it made your heart swell to hear her call you that word.
It was something you’d never heard your daughter call you that. Never crawl or walk. You’d had those milestones ripped away from you but you’d been fortunate to share some of those with Javi and now, you were getting to second chance to share those with this new life growing inside of you.
“You okay hun?” Connie asked upon seeing your tears and you nodded.
“Wonderful.”
…
You squeaked as you felt two strong arms encircling you and pulling you close and you sighed when he placed soft kissing on your flesh.
“Evening Mi Amor.” He hummed and you smiled.
“Evening.” You replied, eyes drifting to how Javier’s hands had settled on your stomach “How was your day.”
“Uneventful.” He responded, turning you to face him “Yours?”
“María called me mama.” You said and his eyes grew wide.
For the briefest of moments, your heart started to race and your stomach twisted but then his face lit up and you relaxed.
“She did?” He asked and you nodded “I can’t believe I missed that.” He sighed and you smiled sweetly at him.
“You’re okay with her calling me mama?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” He asked with a bemused expression and you shrugged.
“Because I’m not her mother.” You stated simply “Her mother was Elaina and-”
“And she always will be but you have been there for her. You’re the one who’s helped me raise her.” He stated, taking your hands and pulling you towards the couch “Elaina is gone and you’re here. You are her mum Mi Amor.”
“You once told me I wasn’t.” You warned and he groaned at the memory.
“And I was an ass for saying that because it wasn’t true and I didn’t mean it.” He stated simply “I was deluding myself into thinking I was doing right by my family but forgot that you are my family… This, right here… This is all I want.”
“I’m glad Javi.” You replied, kissing him sweetly “Dinner’s almost ready.” You stated and he nodded.
“How much longer?”
“Around ten minutes.” You replied.
“Plenty of time then.” He said as he ran his hand up your bare thigh towards your sleep shorts.
“Plenty of time for what?” You queried, gasping as his fingers curled around the waistband and started to pull them down.
“Plenty of time for Papi to make mummy feel good.” He purred before diving headfirst into the apex of your thighs and devouring you like a man starved.
You couldn’t help but moan loudly as he went to work, paying particular attention to your clit as two thick fingers circled your entrance. You thought you could cum just from the feel of his digits stretching you out but it was the rough pumping and expert curling that had you gushing over his hand and face in record time.
“Fuck that’s hot.” Javier panted as he sat up and took in your sated form, chest heaving and lid heavy as you gazed back at him “Reckon you could do that once more before dinner?” He asked but you were too limp to answer “Let’s see.”
~
You were four months along when you started to show. Your stomach had a small swell to it and your breasts had started to get bigger. This in turn had done something to Javier.
He was ravenous for you all the time.
He didn’t care that you tasted different. He continued to eat you out like you were his favourite meal and your sex drive, in turn, had skyrocketed. You’d certainly been more active since getting together with Javier but now you were having him when and whenever you could. Your inhibitions seemed to be non-existent and only the night before you had let him fucking you in the toilets of the restaurant that you’d gone to with Connie and Steve.
Your relationship seemed to be stronger than ever and you were glad of it. All those insecurities you’d felt that had kept you apart for so long, were no longer an issue. Peña showed you every day that you were his queen. The fruit of his every desire and you’d never felt sexier.
At five months your bump was very much obvious along with this milestone with that came the day you’d been most excited about.
Finding out the sex.
Javier had wanted it to be a surprise at first but the more you’d begged, he’d soon folded. Maria still wanted a swish, whatever that meant, and you were praying for a boy.
Javi, a girl.
When the day of the scan came around you were practically buzzing with excitement. You dressed yourself in to some leggings and one of Javi’s t-shirts as that was all that now fit you and the two of you practically skipped out of the door.
There was then a tense, excited silence that hung over you both as you waited to be called in. Hands entwined as you chewed your bottom lip and he bounced his knee but then…
“Peña?”
“You ready Carino?” He asked and you nodded excitedly before you both go to your feet and followed her inside.
It was then a case of getting on the bed and lifting your shirt as the kind-faced doctor got her equipment ready. as you lay there, shivering at the gell and holding onto Javier’s hand, the agent smiled down at you, his eyes raking over your bump and admiring it. Inside there was his baby.
“So are you learning the sex today?” The doctor asked in quickfire Spanish and Javier answered just as fast.
The probe was manoeuvred around your belly before they quickly found the life inside of you and its strong heartbeat. You practically sobbed at the sight, looking up at Javier and finding his face very much mirrored yours.
“Congratulations.” The doctor said, switching to Spanish.
“A boy!” Your heart leapt at that and Javier choked on a sob before kissing you sweetly.
“Are you disappointed, Mi Amor?” You asked teasingly as he pulled back to look you in the eye “I know you wanted another girl.”
“As long as they are happy then I am over the moon.”
“Ce they are very healthy.” The doctor stated as they continued to study the screen “Very happy with progress.” They finished and you both breathed a consecutive sigh of relief.
“I print pictures.”
“Gracias.” You both said in unison before returning to attention to the waving baby on the screen.
…
“Well??” Steve blurted out almost as soon as the two of you walked through the door, an excited Olivia on his lap.
“It’s a boy.” You squealed and Steve cheered, his daughter mirroring his reaction.
“What did I miss?” Connie asked as she carried a freshly changed María into the room.
“We’re having a boy.” Javier repeated and Connie cooed at that “Hear that Dulzura? You’re going to have a baby brother!!” Javier said sweetly as he took his daughter off the blonde.
“NO!” María yelled “SWISH!”
“We still don’t know what swish means bebita but you are definitely having a baby brother.”
“Swishhhhhh.” She whispered and you all chuckled at her.
“I look forward to her making sense.” You stated and everyone nodded in agreement.
“Swish swish swish.” María continued to babble in Javier’s arms whilst the rest of you sat so that you could fawn over the photos. For a moment the older agent sat back in his seat, eyes drifting between his daughter, his lover and his friends.
He couldn’t believe his life now. Less than two years ago he was the Batchelor of Bogota as everyone called him and now he was settled down with a baby and another on the way. If someone would have told him this was how his life was going to turn out he would have laughed in their face but now… as lived it.
He wouldn’t have it any other way.
This was his life now and it was perfect and he would be damned if he let anything get in the way of that. He vowed at that moment that he would do all it took to take down Escobar as swiftly as he could because once this was done. He was going to throw in the towel and focus on the best thing to ever happen to him.
Little did he know that life doesn’t always go the way you want it to.
Summary: You and the Mandalorian had been through so much together. You’d become a mother to his foundling and a partner to him. You were in love and you didn’t think that anything could ruin that but after Din hands the child over to his kind. Things fall apart.
Pairings: Din Djarin x Reader
Warnings: Like AO3, I have chosen not to leave warnings for this chapter as I don’t want to give the plot away. Read at your own peril… unless you’re under 18… in that case, jog on!
Notes: So…. soz this took so long. This chapter was particularly hard for me to write as elements of it are close to me as I’ve been struggling to similar issues. I hope this was worth the wait and I will try update this a little sooner than I have. A little shorter but I didn’t feel like this particular chapter needed to be longer
You threw the scanner away angrily, desperately trying to keep your tears at bay so that Din wouldn’t hear you. The reading it had given you was the same one it had given you for the last four months.
You weren’t pregnant.
You knew these things took time but you didn’t understand why you’d gotten pregnant by accident with Mae yet now you were actively trying it wasn’t happening. You were so sure this time. The symptoms had all been there and you were late… over a week yet the scanner didn’t lie.
You weren’t looking forward to telling Din that you still weren’t pregnant, the disappointment in his eyes after each failed attempt was heartbreaking.
It had been six months since you’d started. Six months of hopes being dashed each time the scanner told you no. Din had been good about it all at the start. Telling you it was okay and that it would happen when the time was right but he’d also started to withdraw.
You looked up to see him limp into the home you both shared, his expression weary from a day’s work in the ponds. He’d gotten to work as soon as he was able and you’d been glad of the distraction it gave him. Something to take his mind off of all this.
“Where’s Mae?” He asked as he looked around for his daughter.
“With Winta and the other kids. Omera’s keeping an eye on them.” You replied and he nodded before his eye caught sight of the scanner that you’d haphazardly thrown across the room and his shoulders slumped.
He didn’t ask but you knew he knew and your heart sank a little further as you watched him clean himself up.
“Din-“
“It’ll happen when it happens.” He said simply and you sighed.
“What if it never does?”
He stopped to look at you. Tears formed in his eyes as his lips started to form the words he was about to say.
“Then it wasn’t meant to be.” He replied before limping into your shared bedroom to change his clothes.
You sighed to yourself as your eyes drifted to the scanner. Your hand, absentmindedly, settled over your empty womb. You wished you could give Din the thing he now so desperately craved. You hated what this was doing to you both because the truth of the matter was it was impossible to tell why it wasn’t happening. It hadn’t helped that as each month went by, you were less intimate with each other. You knew it wasn’t something you could force but it was a vital part of what you were trying to accomplish.
After having a little cry. You composed yourself and went about preparing dinner for your family. When Din was changed and bathed he went to collect Mae, not even a glance was thrown your way as he made his way out of the hut and into the evening light. You felt a pang of anger surge through you at his behaviour towards you and you started to wonder… Does he blame you for this?
When he returned with Mae, he placed her in her seat before taking one himself as you threw down a plate of food for him before taking yours outside, not wanting to eat in his presence.
Din watched you leave. His heart ached in his chest at your coldness towards him but he supposed he deserved it. He didn’t know how to be towards you. He hated that he couldn’t give you a child and he knew in his soul that it was his fault. It was obvious to him that he was the problem. He was sure his accident was to blame for his inability to give you another child.
He watched Mae as she fed herself, unable to comprehend how far she’d come since he first laid eyes on her. She had grown so much in the short time she’d been around and he was so proud of the little person she’d grown to be. She was a kind soul, always worrying over him when he stumbled or showed any sign of discomfort. For someone so small, nothing slipped her notice.
When he put Mae down, he made his way outside where you were sitting there tearful in your chair. His heart shattered at the sight. He hated to see you cry. Hated to inflict any pain on you but this situation was hurting you both. So perhaps it was time to call quits.
“What do you want Din?” You asked, noticing him hovering just out of sight.
“I think we need to stop.” He stated and your head whipped up.
“Stop what?” You asked, your tone a little panicked.
“It’s clear to me that another baby isn’t an option for us so I think it’s best we stop trying.” He said plainly and your heart twisted “It hurts too much.”
“Okay.” You replied simply, nodding lamely before looking over at the sunset in the distance.
“Okay?” He asked, unsure of how you truly felt at that moment.
“Okay.” You repeated, shrugging your shoulders.
“You agree?” He pushed and you sighed.
“If you don’t want another baby then fine. We’ll stop trying.” You scoffed “You clearly aren’t that bothered about it as you need to be intimate to make a child and we seldom are anymore. Then when I tell you I’m not pregnant you just tell me it’ll happen when it happens or it wasn’t meant to be as.”
“I want a baby.” He choked “More than anything, you know that but it’s just not happening and I can’t bear seeing how it hurts you.”
“It hurts me more when you ice me out.” You scoffed “I’m sorry I can’t get pregnant but-“
“I don’t blame you.” He interrupted and your mouth snapped shut “It’s clear my accident is to blame for this and I’m sorry that I can’t give you another baby.” He sobbed “I wish I could but…” He trailed off, tears slipping down his cheeks and your expression softened at that.
“Maybe we should stop.” You said softly as you gave him a small nod “I don’t want this to tear us apart.”
“I don’t want that either.” He confirmed and you gave him a weak smile before gathering your crockery and getting to your feet.
“Then we’re in agreement.” You said simply before walking inside.
Din knew you. Knew you weren’t happy with this situation but he knew he couldn’t keep getting his hopes up, only for them to fall to pieces again. He still believed that if it was meant to be it would happen in time but for now… It was best to just stop trying.
~
A few weeks passed and you and Din didn’t broach the subject of another baby again. The two of you returned to a form of normal. You focus your energy on the family you did have. Instead of the family, you longed for… And that helped you to a degree.
Then in the blink of an eye, two months had gone by and it seemed like that pain had all but dissipated. That was until Kira in the village fell pregnant and suddenly all that hurt returned. You were happy for her of course. Recently married and was completely in love but as her pregnancy progressed, it started to get hard to be happy for her.
You started to withdraw, spending less time with her and your female friends who couldn’t help but coo over her as she started to show more and more. You felt bitterness towards her and despite knowing it was wrong, you couldn’t help it. Kira had been one of your closest friends. She’s supported you through your pregnancy and you’d be lying if you said you could have done it without her. Yet when she went through hers, you found it almost impossible to give her that same support you gave her.
Din noticed and called you upon it. Told you it was selfish how you were behaving and you knew he was right yet still you couldn’t help it. The pain you felt was just too much to bear and so you chose to close yourself off from it.
From the people, you called your friends.
Omera could see you were struggling yet still found herself angry at you. It wasn’t Kira’s fault yours and Din’s attempts to get pregnant had come to nought. She didn’t deserve to suffer because you were jealous of her circumstances. So when Kira has felt the baby move for the first time and you’d just walked away, she decided enough was enough.
“You’ve been terrible to Kira!” She stated, following you into your home.
“What?” You snapped, turning on your heels to face her.
“She’s going through something so exciting and you want zero part of it.” She snapped, her eyes wide and angry “She supported you through it all. She deserves the same from you.”
“Omera I-“
“I’m sorry your attempts to get pregnant were frivolous but that doesn’t give you the right to push her away.”
“I can stand there and be happy for her when it hurts so much.” You yelled as you choked on a sob “I wanted another baby so much and then each month we came up empty and it just killed me inside.” You sobbed “It’s hard to be happy for someone who’s getting something you want so badly.”
“I understand that.” Omera sighed but you groaned.
“Din just decided to stop trying altogether.” Stated and you sighed “To the point where he doesn’t want to be physical at all.”
Omera couldn’t hide the shock that spread across her face.
“We sleep separately now.” You sobbed “He doesn’t love me anymore. I’m sure of it and I don’t know how much longer I can go on like this Omera.”
“I don’t-“
“I wish we’d never started trying.” You cried, almost frantically now “If we’d never started we wouldn’t be so broken right now.”
“These sorts of situations can be the making or breaking of relationships,” Omera confessed “You get so in your head about it that it consumes you.”
“I love him.”
“I know” She replied softly “And he loves you.”
You scoffed at her reply and she sighed, scraping a hand over her tired face.
“I am sure that he does.” She continued after a short pause “But he is clearly not dealing with this very well.” You snorted and she felt her patience wear thin at “Talk to him.” She said plainly before turning to leave “Before you lose everyone.”
Your jaw dropped as you watched her leave, mind whirring as you thought about her statement. You knew you’d been selfish but you couldn’t help it. You felt like your life was falling apart and you had no way of stopping it.
…
You watched Din potter around the house, poking his head in to check on Mae before finally allowing himself to take a seat on his cot in the living area and throwing his tired face into his hands.
“What happened to us?” You asked after a few tense moments.
“What?” He asked, looking up at you as his brows knitted together.
“We were happy.” You choked, eyes not wavering “Then we started trying and the longer we’ve gone on, unsuccessful, the more I feel like perhaps you don’t love me anymore.”
“What gives you that impression?” He snapped and you scoff at his obvious cluelessness.
“Well, we don’t even share a bed anymore for a start.” You state, letting out a sturred breath before continuing “You fuck me like once a week but there’s no love in your touches anymore.” You continue, unable to hide the tears now “It’s not pleasurable. You don’t make me cum but of course, you always do.”
His face remains stoic as you speak. Not giving you any clues as to what he’s thinking or how he’s feeling about what it is you’re saying.
“If you don’t love me anymore Din then please just tell me now.” You sobbed, your heart breaking as you speak “But please don’t just up and leave me again. You can’t just leave Mae.”
“I would never-”
“You did once before.” You sobbed and he let out a sigh.
“Are you seriously still holding that against me?” He snapped “I proved to you how sorry I was… I almost died proving to you how sorry I was.” He growled, his own eyes now filling with tears “I lost my ability…”
He couldn’t finish that sentence and you sighed.
“You can walk now Din.” You stated, “You’re getting stronger every day but-”
“That’s not what I meant” He stated and your brows drew together.
“It can’t be a coincidence that I have an accident that leaves me paralysed and then suddenly I can’t get the woman I love pregnant.” He choked and your heart broke for him “It’s obvious that I’m the problem.”
“Din… It’s not your fault.” You said softly, in the hope that it would bring him some semblance of comfort but it did little to calm the waters that were raging within him “These things take time… Mae was obviously a flook.”
“Or I’m infertile now.” He choked and your heart broke for him.
Of course, he blamed himself for this. Not you were hearing it, it seemed obvious that he’d been withdrawn because he was ashamed. Ashamed that he couldn’t get you pregnant.
“Perhaps it really is for the best that we stop trying for another.” You said after a few tense moments of silence, your eyes softening “It’s just hurting us both and Din… I don’t want to lose you again.”
Summary: When a baby girl is dropped on Javier Peña’s doorstep with a note claiming she’s his, he’s suddenly thrust into fatherhood. With no clue what to do, he will need all the help he can get if he’s not to stumble at the first hurdle.
Relationships: Javier Peña x Reader, Steve Murphy x Connie Murphy
Warnings: Like AO3, I choose not to list any warnings. This will be 18+ If you are triggered by anything to do with babies then read at your own risk… timeline has been tweaked slightly to suit the story (Yup… life is still mad rn… My little business has also taken off a bit so I’m even more busy that before. Working on updates as and when I can but I hope this was worth the wait.)
You stood staring at Javier’s door for some time, willing yourself to knock on its smooth surface. You’d been trying to knock on it for days. Weeks if you were being truly honest with yourself.
When Javier had told you that you needed to decide whether you wanted to be with him or not, you’d been left at a loss for what to do. You did want to be with him. With every fibre of your being, but you also didn’t trust him and you hated that you couldn’t.
He had done nothing but prove how changed he was since becoming a father and yet your insecurities still screamed at you to hide, to protect yourself from the ‘inevitable’ hurt that he would supposedly inflict on you. Yet in the time the two of you had been together…
He’d been perfect.
When you did finally knock, you were met with silence.
“Not home I guess.” You sigh to yourself but when you turned to walk to your door you heard frantic footsteps and saw Javier sprint into view.
“Javi?” You called out, expression growing concerned as he sprinted past you but he didn’t answer.
He was clearly in a hurry and that made your stomach twist.
He had obviously come from the Murphy’s so you decided to make your way there, knocking on the door three times before you were met with a frantic Connie.
“Con, what’s wrong?” You asked as you pulled her into a hug, holding her close as she sobbed on your shoulder.
“Steve’s been kidnapped.” She said finally as she pulled herself away to look at you.
“When?”
“Today.” She started, eyes darting to the nursery before looking back at you again “His car was just left idling in front of the parking lot. Javi’s doing all he can to find him but I’m losing my mind here… We have a kid now. I can’t raise Olivia without him-”
“And you won’t.” You interjected, placing a comforting hand on her arm “Javi will find him and everything will be fine… They’ve probably done this to scare the DEA. They’re not stupid enough to do anything more than knock hin about a little,”
Connie nodded, trying her best to keep herself calm and so she decided the best way to do that was to distract herself from the problem at hand.
“Why haven’t you seen Javi in two weeks?” She asked, taking you by surprise.
“Let’s not talk about that now.”
“He told me that you two had a bit of a bust-up.” She continued, ignoring your reply “Said that you clearly don’t trust him because you keep avoiding any intimacy with him.”
“Con-”
“He’s crazy about you you know.” She stated, her expression changing “And he’s really cut up that you didn’t choose to try and talk about things with him.”
“I wanted to.” You started to argue but you knew your retort held no weight.
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because he’s right.” You replied simply “No matter how much he proves himself, my brain still tells me that one day he will find someone better. Someone prettier and I’ll be all alone.”
“He told me that he wants all to be a family.” She stated and your breath caught in your throat “He said he’d asked if you wanted more kids because he does… He wants to have a family with you and you still don’t trust him enough to believe he’s sincere?”
Your guilt swallowed you whole.
You sat there in silence for a while as your eyes drifted over to the small penguin toy you’d gifted María a few weeks ago. She had instantly taken to it. Wanted it to go everywhere with her and Javier had joked that it was because she loved her mommy best.
Was that how he viewed you now? As her mother…
“You need to talk to him.” She continued, grabbing your attention “If you want this to work then it’s going to take work. You have insecurities, we all do, but you can’t let them run your life.”
“I know.” You replied, your voice small as your gaze settled on the toy again.
“But you can’t keep stringing him along hun.” She warned “He’s in love with you. You need to either make up or break up.” She paused, locking eyes with you as your head snapped up “It’s as simple as that.”
“We should be focusing on your right now.” You said, desperate to change the subject.
“Don’t deflect.” She scorned “There’s nothing to be said about my situation other than when Steve returns, I will ask him if we can go home.”
“What?” You shrieked, eyes wide.
“I am a mother now.” She stated simply “If my husband is so vulnerable that he gets snatched from outside our home then I don’t think I can stay here.”
“You know he won’t leave.” You argued “He can’t! He and Javi still have work to do.”
“Family is more important than work.”
“Yes but-”
“No buts!” She snapped “He will either leave with me or I’ll leave without him… But I won’t risk Olivia so that he can chase down that mad man.”
“Connie you can’t be serious.” You argued “He’s devoted to you but he’s also given years of his life to this fight. You can’t expect him to choose to give up all that hard work. That’s just not fair.”
“I’m a mother now.” She stated plainly “I have to do what’s best for my child and that’s leaving Colombia”
There was a long pause as the two of you stares at each other, the weight of her statement weighing heavily on you both.
“With or without Steve.”
The conversation ended there. You stayed with her out of moral support but you daren’t try and convince her to stay. You knew she was right to a degree. You were living proof that no one was safe from the horrors of Colombia but you also didn’t want to lose her.
Hours passed before Steve came stumbling through the door, pulling his wife into a firm hug. You then knew it was time to take your leave so you hugged them both before sprinting down the stairs, colliding with Javi at their base.
“Shit… Sorry I-“
“It’s fine.” Peña grumbled and you winced at his tone.
It was now or never.
“Could we talk?” You called after him and he stopped in his tracks, pinching the bridge of his nose as he let out a long sigh.
“Is it urgent?” He queried “Only I have to relieve the Murphy’s of my daughter.”
“I’m sorry.” You rushed out, trying desperately not to cry “I’m sorry I let my insecurities get the better of Me.” You choked “I had something amazing with you and I let it slip through my fingers.”
“Cariño-“
“Let me finish.” You pleaded and he nodded, taking a step down so he was eye level with you “I love you, Javier.” You said plainly “I love you and I want to spend the rest of my days with you if you’ll have me… I don’t want to waste any more time.”
“Wait for me in the apartment.” Javier ordered, “I’m going to go grab María, and then we’ll talk properly.”
You nodded at him before watching him sprint up the stairs, smiling to yourself at the thought that tonight, you may finally let yourself be happy with the man you love. You turn and walk to his door, unlocking it with your spare key before treading inside and taking a seat at his table.
Your nerves were almost at boiling point when he walked through the door with a sleepy María in his arms.
“Let me just put her down.” He said before rushing off to her room, returning a few moments later with a monitor in hand.
“She down for the night?” You asked and he nodded, grabbing a beer from the fridge before sitting across from you.
“I love you.” He said after a short period of silence, the words like music to your ears “Don’t think I even knew what love was until I met you.” He confessed, taking a sip of his beer before continuing “But I can’t be with you if you don’t trust me… I have a daughter now and I need to offer her stability. I can’t have her growing attached to you, only for you to leave us.”
“I won’t.” You assured him but he shook his head.
“How can you know that for sure?” He asked, his voice so small and vulnerable that it broke your heart to hear it.
“Because I can’t bear the idea of not being with you.” You choked, unable to stop the tears now “These past two weeks have been torture. I kept coming to your door then running because I was scared that you turn me away.”
“There it is again.” He exclaimed, making you jump “You not trusting in my love for you!”
“Javi, it wasn’t that at all.” You sobbed “I was just sp scared I’d hurt you beyond repair.”
“You did hurt me.” He confessed and your stomach sank, eyes watching him carefully as he continued “But I don’t want to lose you either.”
You let out the breath you’d been holding as your whole body relaxed and your smile returned.
“I don’t want to waste any more time either.”
The next few moments were a blur. Lips collided and moans were swallowed as you both stumbled to your feet and trekked blindly to the couch.
Clothes disappeared and kisses painted naked flesh. The next thing you knew he was sheathing himself inside of you and pulling sounds from your lips you didn’t know you were capable of. He was slow at first, his forehead resting on yours as he thrust languidly onto your heat. The way he looked at you made you shiver. All you could see in the dark depths of his eyes was his love and desire for you and you thought you could cum just from that.
“I love you.” You whispered, whimpering when he found your sweet spot, and then you threw your head back as he focused on it.
He has you cumming in no time at all, spurred on by the filthy sounds you made as he dragged every last drop of pleasure from you.
“Shit.” You breathed as you came down from your high, clutching to his shoulders as his thrusts grew harder.
The sounds emitted from the act were lewd but you found it only turned you on more. He was clearly chasing his high now but also focusing on that spot in the hopes he could tear one more from you… and he did.
You came in unison. Swallowing each other’s moans as he collapsed on top of you, desperate to catch his breath.
“That was…” you trailed off, unable to find a strong enough word to describe it.
“Phenomenal?” He questioned before kissing you slowly, tongues tangling in a lazy dance of passion and love.
“Yes.” You uttered against his lips as he pulled back, resting his brown against yours again “Wish we’d done that sooner!’ You paused, whimpering when he shifted inside of you a little “How silly I’ve been.”
“No arguments from me.” He said with a wink, eliciting a playful swat and a chuckle from you “Let’s got to bed, Mi Amor.” He suggested and you nodded, following him as he stood and led you away.
~
Connie hadn’t brought up the subject of leaving since the day Steve had disappeared but you knew it was weighing heavily on her mind. In fact, several months had passed since then.
Javier and Steve were sent to work out of Medellín several few times in the weeks that followed which had meant that you had been spending more and more one on one time with María. You’d started to feel that pull more and more as the days went by. That whole that your little Masie had left behind didn’t feel like it gaped so much. It would never fully heal but to have the chance to be a mother again gave you a sense of purpose.
It was helping you heal.
Together you and Javier had managed to find a new sitter for when you were at work. She was young, something that had initially made you a little nervous after what had happened to Claire but it had soon become clear she didn’t bad for Javi’s team.
It was the subtle touches here and there that had been the clear indicator she was more interested in you than your lover and that had soon made you relax around her. She never made a move on you and you found a friendship with her started to blossom and you were glad of it. Even more so in the weeks that were to follow.
You were in the office when you received the call from Steve that Connie was leaving. It had been a shock to all but one who had put their own plans in place. Plans that had not been discussed with you so when you arrived at the Murphys’ apartment, you’d been shocked to find Javier there, helping Connie pack not just her things into a large bag.
“What the hell?” You questioned as you stepped into the kitchen, eyes falling on María in her pram “What’s going on here?”
“I’m going back to Maimi,” Connie answered simply, shrugging as she packed the last of Olivia’s things into her suitcase.
“Okay, but what are you doing here Javi? I thought you were in Medellín for another week!” You snapped.
“My Pop’s is going to meet Con at the airport.” He started, stopping what he was doing to look at you “María’s going to stay with him till I finish here then we’ll go back to Texas and get her.”
“We?” You exclaimed, “There is a, we, in this scenario is there?”
“Of course there is.” He groaned, scraping a hand over his face.
“Only I don’t recall you discussing this with me before getting the arrangements in place.”
“It was a pretty sudden decision.” He replied and you scoffed at him before your eyes settled on María’s sleeping form.
“So what… Connie told you she was leaving and you just decided to send María with her?”
“Yes.” He answered simply and you felt yourself growing angry at him.
“Why?”
“Because it’s dangerous here.” He stated, “You more than anyone know that anyone can get caught in the crossfire and I don’t want to keep my daughter here and put her at unnecessary risk.”
You flinched at his statement, your hand unconsciously resting on your stomach as your eyes filled with fresh tears.
“Don’t I get a say in whether she stays or goes?” You questioned, “I thought we were a family Javi.”
“We are a family.”
“Well, families make decisions like this together.” You snapped, your anger getting the best of you “I should get a say in whether María stays or goes.”
“This is the right thing to do.” He growled, eyes darkening as his own temper started to flare.
“I don’t want her to go.”
“She’s my daughter, not yours.” He yelled and you shrunk immediately, a flash of hurt crossing your face before it replaced with something else entirely.
“You’re right.” You said sharply, shrugging your shoulders.
“Hermosa I-”
“Don’t tell me you didn’t mean in that way because you did.” You warned, tone firm before you squared your shoulders “And I suppose if you want to send your child away you’ll want to send ours away as well.”
“I already am.” He grumbled, tired of this conversation “María will be safer with Pops.”
“I don’t mean María.” You replied and his brows pulled together in confusion as he waited for you to elaborate.
“What are you talking about?” He pushed when you remained silent, watching your shoulders rise and fall as you planned what you were going to say carefully.
“This isn’t exactly how I wanted to tell you but I suppose now’s as good a time as any.” You growled, “I’m pregnant Javi.” You replied simply “Was going to wait till you got back to tell you.”
“You are?” He asked, his voice small as his eyes widened.
You nodded, pulling out the images you had from your purse and throwing them down on the table in front of him.
“Wanted to surprise you.” You said, watching as his shaky hands grabbed the images “I’m about 8 weeks along.” You stated plainly as you straightened your back “I want to keep it.”
“Of course.” The agent said, his head turning to you as a smile crossed his face but it soon disappeared when he saw the expression you wore.
“You want to send María away then fine… Send her away, I have no say in that but I have a say in what happens to this baby and they are going to stay with me.”
“Hermosa please-”
“But know this Javi.” You interrupted, ignoring his plea “You send her away and I will never forgive you.” You stated plainly as you pointed at María, your countenance impossible to read “You send her away and I will never forgive you.”
“Baby please.” He pleaded “Be reasonable.”
“Think about it.” You replied simply before leaving the kitchen, leaving a shocked Connie and Peńa in your wake.
Summary: Sequel to consequences. Javier does everything he can to prove to you that he wants to be a father to Sophia… it seems however that the universe doesn’t want to make it easy for him.
Pairings: Javier Peña x Reader
Warnings: Like AO3, I choose not to list any warnings.
As much as you loathed to say it after everything had happened, you’d be lying if you said he wasn’t. He had taken on the role of, father, by the horns. Doing everything he could to make up for the time he’d lost with her.
He’d cried when she’d crawled at 7 months. Sitting on the floor despite how his back protested and clapped as she wobbled over to him on her hands and knees. She didn’t wobble for long however and now she was impossible to keep up with. She sped around the house whilst you and he tried desperately to keep up with her.
At 10 months she was pulling herself up. Even standing for a few seconds before her legs would wobble and she’d fall onto her bum. It was moments like, playing with her or taking her to the zoo that had allowed you to lower your guard a little, allowing him in a little more each time.
He’d sorted an apartment. Taken on a second job as well as helping his father on the ranch, all to help support you and his little girl. You could see that he was tired but he didn’t complain. He took it all in his stride and you appreciated the help. You’d struggled to make ends meet since Sophia had arrived. You’d swallowed your savings and so had to return to work, fortunately, something better paid than the bar and it meant you were finally able to utilise your accounting degree.
It had been a juggle sorting child care seeing as your parents had died a few years ago. Chucho would take her for a few hours whilst Javier worked on the ranch and then the younger Peña would have her till you collected her.
He loved the chance to spend some one on one time with her but it had meant that between working on the ranch and then as a security guard for a local warehouse at night, he was getting very little sleep.
Yet still, he didn’t complain.
When asked if he was coping okay he would just tell you it was all part of being a good parent and you couldn’t help but feel guilty. He was running himself ragged but as the months went on though, the two of you grew closer. You started to spend more time together, just the two of you and found that the feelings you had felt for him before started to stir in the background.
For Javier however, his feelings had never left him. He’d hated himself for leaving you. For how he’d left, rather than face the fact that despite how things had started between you… he had fallen for you despite his best efforts.
But things were different now.
He was retired from chasing drug lords. He was a father to your daughter. So he welcomed his feelings for you. Allowed them to flourish into the love he now knew he felt for you and so he made it his mission not only to prove to you that he was a good father but that he could be a good partner too.
…
“What’s all this?” You asked as you walked into his apartment, eyes spotting a candle flickering on the table and a bottle of your favourite red sat beside it.
“I uh… Well, I cooked dinner for us.” He confessed as he rubbed the back of his neck in an attempt to mask his embarrassment “I hope that’s okay.” He continued as he turned to dish up the food “Sophia’s down and I thought perhaps we could spend a little time together just the two of us.”
“Javi-”
“If you have plans that’s fine.” He interrupted “I can always freeze your portion but I-”
“JAVI.” You shouted, instantly regretting it and listening out a moment for Sophia, breathing a sigh of relief when she remained silent “You’re rambling.” You chuckled and he sighed as he turned to face you again.
“Sorry.”
“What I was going to say was that I would love to have dinner with you.” You stated, smiling sweetly at him as his whole body relaxed “What we havin’?” You asked as you made your way over to him.
“My mum’s famous quesadillas.” He stated as he placed your plate down along with his own.
“These look fantastic Javier.” You gushed and he grinned “Didn’t know you could cook.”
“Ahh.” He said as he waved his finger at you “There are a lot of things you don’t know about me.” He finished with a wink and you flushed at his statement.
“Hopefully I’ll learn more, one day.” You purred, locking eyes with him and shivering at his intense gaze.
“I’m sure you will Hermosa.” He replied after a short stint of silence, his expression softening before he turned his attention to the food “Dig in before it gets cold.”
The food was as delicious as it looked. The spices and flavours that assaulted your senses were enough to leave you wanting more, long after they were finished. Then after the two of you had cleared up and done the dishes, you retired to his lounge where you sat sipping at your wine as he talked about what he and Sophia had done that day.
You couldn’t help but notice how tired he looked. You knew he was working himself to the bone to help provide for Sophia but it was visibly taking its toll on him now. You daren’t say anything in case he got snappy but you hated how clear it was that he wasn’t taking care of himself.
Putting you and your daughter above all else.
“So pops was talking about taking her to this new Alpaca farm that’s opened a few miles down the road.” He stated, pulling you from your thoughts “He thought it might be a nice day out for us all.” He continued, smiling sheepishly at you “As a family.”
“Sounds wonderful Javi.” You replied with a smile and he returned it with his own “I should probably get going.” You stated when you saw the time “No point in moving her so I’ll just collect her in the morning. You have enough formula?”
“Why don’t you stay?” He asked and you stopped in your tracks “You can have a little more wine. We can talk.” He said, shrugging his shoulders “I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“Javi no, your back can’t take sleeping on the couch.” You protested but he shrugged again.
“It’s fine.” He replied simply “Was just an idea.”
“It’s not like we haven’t shared a bed before.” You chuckled and his eyes grew wide at your insinuation “No funny business though?” You warned and he threw his hands up in mock surrender.
“On my honour.” He stated and you smiled.
“Then I’ll have some more wine please.” You said with a wink and he practically leapt to his feet to get it for you.
The conversation that flowed after that was easy. You talked about life. Plans for the future and how nervous you were about Sophia turning 1. Chucho had already decided that he was going to throw her a big party, having already roped in a friend of his to supply the petting zoo.
“I legitimately think he’s invited half the town.” Chuckled Javier as he took another swig of his beer.
“It’s sweet.” You gushed and the agent nodded.
“Yeah.” He stated before settling further back into the couch cushions at his back “He loves being an Abuelo… Absolute natural.” He chuckled and you giggled too as you nodded in agreement.
“So are you though.” You stated and he looked at you with confusion spreading across his face.
“I am what?”
“A natural.” You stated simply “You’ve taken to being a father way better than I expected you to.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” He snapped and you sighed as you thought of your answer carefully.
“All I meant was that when I first met you, you told me about how commitment and the family life were not for you… Not something you wanted.” You stated and his shoulders dropped slightly “Then you came back from Colombia, for the second time, only to learn you were now a father and you just stepped up… I’m really proud of you Javi.” You enthused as you smiled at him “And I’m glad that you wanted to be a father to Sophia… She loves you so much.”
“I love her too.” He replied, his body relaxing again “I never knew I could love something so much until I first held her in my arms but now I know there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.”
“You know you need to take care of yourself though, Javi.” You warned and he scoffed “I’m earning more now so you don’t have to work nights anymore.”
“I don’t earn enough from the ranch to provide for you both.” He argued and you sighed “I want to contribute to her care.”
“And you do!” You countered “In more ways than one. It’s not all about money Javi.”
“I can handle it.” He snapped and you scoffed.
“You sure?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that you look tired Javier.” You stated “You clearly aren’t getting enough rest. You need to take care of yourself.”
“I am Hermosa I promise.” He grumbled and you chuckled at his response.
“You Peña men are so stubborn.” You chortled.
“All part of our charm.” He replied with a wink and you rolled your eyes at him before finishing the last of your wine.
Happy to enjoy the peace that had finally washed over you both.
~
Sophia’s birthday came and went and suddenly you were now a parent to a one-year-old.
You found it hard to believe it had really been that long since you’d gone through all the pain and exhaustion to bring her into the world but sure enough here you were.
Javier had since taken on a role as a consultant for the DEA. A role that meant he was able to take slightly better care of himself and you were relieved that he was no longer working almost all hours of the day.
However, this new role had meant that he wasn’t around as much as before. He was no longer able to take Sophia during the day which meant you had to send her to daycare, something that had been hard to accept at first but you were relieved to see her flourish.
As time went on and his workload grew, he started to let you down more and more. Never on purpose but it seemed that the more he was asked to consult, the less he was able to do to help out. Suddenly it was all money and no presence. Something you found hard to accept.
That had also meant that the relationship that had started to blossom between the two of you was now wilting. The effort he made before to try and woo you so to speak had dwindled to nothing and you found yourself remembering why exactly it was that you had decided that you couldn’t be with him in the first place.
His work always came first.
Arguments became the norm. Him always arguing that he was just trying to provide you both with a better life.
“What’s the point of a better life Javier if you’re never around to share it.” You’d snapped before storming out with your daughter in hand and he’d said nothing to argue it.
He knew you were right but he didn’t know what else to do. This was all he knew and the money was more than good. He knew he needed to balance things better so he started to have Sophia in the afternoons again for a few hours. Picking her up from daycare and doing his best to balance his work and his time with her.
He just wanted to do better by you both but it seemed he just couldn’t get it right. he could never get it right with you.
The routine of him picking up Sophia became the norm as the weeks slithered into months yet the time that you once spent in each other’s company had remained absent. So it hadn’t been all that surprising when you started to see someone. Well unsurprising to you but it had felt like a punch in the stomach to Javier.
You kept your relationship separate from your family life in the beginning. Something Javier appreciated but it was killing him knowing that the newfound smile on your face was not because of him.
It wasn’t for him either.
He’d been too focused on being a good father and supplying for his family that he forgot how to be a good partner to you. A good father to his daughter.
…
Three months passed and finally, you introduced the man you were seeing to your daughter. It was something you’d discussed at length with the younger Peña but it came to it. H knew he had no right to tell you no. The three of you then started to do more and more together and the younger Peña became green with envy. Something he was not proud of but
“How are things going with Alastair?” He asked as he packed Sophia’s things.
“They’re fine.” You replied plainly and he sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Is this how things are to be from now on?” He asked and your brows drew together in confusion “I ask you how things are and you’re cold and distant with me?”
“I’m not distant.” You argued and he scoffed.
“You barely look at me anymore.” He started, his voice wobbling a little as he spoke “I know I wasn’t balancing things well when I started consulting but I’ve got a handle on it now.” He assured you “I don’t want us to be like this.”
“Like what?” You grumbled.
“Two people that share a daughter and nothing else.” He sighed “I get I missed my chance with you and all that but we can still be friends.” He stated, “We should at least try to be for Sophia.”
“What do you mean you missed your chance with me?”
“I… Well, I thought things were going good between us but-”
“They were Javier.” You interrupted, your tone sharp “But then you stopped trying.” You growled, “You just stopped and it made me realise why we can never work.”
“Why?” He choked and you let out a long sigh before you answered.
“Because work will always come first.”
“I have been doing my best to do right by you both.” He snapped, instantly regretting his tone “I just want to be able to give you everything.”
“I didn’t need everything Javi.” You replied, your tone softening “I just needed you.”
“You have me.” He argued and you scoffed.
“If I did, I wouldn’t be with him.” You replied before fetching Sophia and readying her to leave.
Javier didn’t have an answer for you. You were right and he knew that but he couldn’t help but feel hurt by how despite the fact he’d tried to improve things you’d decided that your relationship with him was no longer worth saving.
“Alastair is present.” You started, pulling the agent from his thoughts “He’s great with Sophia and he wasn’t so provide me with stability. I need stability, Javier.”
“I want to give that to you.” He argued and you scoffed “Why do you think I’ve been working so hard? I want to give you guys everything you need.”
“We need you to actually be around Javi.” You snapped “Pushing money at us doesn’t make you a good father.” You finished and he flinched.
Stood there speechless as you pushed Sophia out of his apartment out into the evening air.
Was he really a bad father?
Your statement cut him to the bone. He hated that you thought he was a bad dad. Hated that you thought so little of him.
So when the case he’d consulted on came to an end, he chose not to take any more work on for a while. He focused on helping his father for a while and spending what time he could get with his daughter which became less and less the more serious you and Alastair became.
Day trips became weeks away or long weekends, His short time with her when he picked her up from daycare became his most cherished moments. Then the days he was without her he did whatever he could to distract himself from the fact that his life felt like it was falling apart.
…
“We’ll be back Sunday night so I will still need you to pick her up on Monday.” You stated as you packed the last of her things into her bag.
“Okay.” He replied simply as he watched you pack.
“What are you going to do with your weekend off?” You asked, trying to somewhat start a conversation with the man.
“There’s some work that needs doing on the ranch.” He replied, “The barn roof needs patching and that fence on the boundary by the river needs repairing.”
“Sounds like hard work.” You said as you pulled Sophia into your arms “You got any help?”
“Nah.” He said, shaking his head “I’ll be fine.”
“Javi-”
“Have a nice weekend away.” He interrupted, stopping you in your tracks and you nodded at him before carrying Sophia up to him so he could say goodbye.
“Goodbye, bebita.” He said as he placed a soft kiss on her brow “Te amo.”
Your heart ached at the expression on his face as he straightened to his full height again, giving you a small nod before walking away. Unable to see you take her away.
You did feel guilty that you were building this family with someone else but you were happy. You were allowed to be happy. Yet deep down inside, you knew you still loved Javier. How things were now was not how you’d expected things to go between you. You had hoped that the two of you would have ended up together and you still did to an extent. Alastair offered you stability but if you were truly honest with yourself that wasn’t enough.
You simply weren’t in love with him.
So you went for your weekend away with him. You tried to enjoy your trip but the more you dwelled on things the more you realised that not only were you being unfair to Alastair… You were being unfair to yourself.
You deserved to be in love and you weren’t.
So you broke things off.
…
You were furious.
You’d been in the middle of a meeting when the office assistant had popped her head in. Informing you that daycare had called and Javier hadn’t collected Sophia.
You’d had to excuse yourself from the meeting and had stormed to your desk. Angrily dialling Javier’s number and audibly growling when he hadn’t answered. After your third attempt, you’d apologised to your boss and informed him you had to go and when you’d arrived at daycare, you’d been even more apologetic.
Pulling up in the parking lot of his building, you’d angrily stomped up the stairs to Javier’s apartment. Banging angrily on the door as you called out for him. You knew he was there. His truck was in the parking lot and you. could hear his TV through the open window, so when he didn’t come to the door you jammed your spare key in the lock and practically kicked open the door.
“JAVIER.” You yelled, eyes scanning the open plan kitchen lounge “Javier I know you’re here.”
Still nothing.
“For fucks sakes Javi, if you’re-” You stopped in your tracks when you noticed something out the corner of your eye.
Stepping further into the apartment… You finally found him.
“JAVI.” You yelled as you sprinted to him, dropping to your knees.
You placed Sophia on the floor beside you before desperately trying to rouse the man. You sobbed when you lowered your ear to his mouth, only to find he wasn’t breathing and then suddenly you were desperately searching for a pulse.
“Javi.” You sobbed, gasping when you found a pulse.
Weak, but there.
Then your first aid training kicked in. Tilting his head back you blew a few rescue breaths into his mouth before starting compressions, silently pleading for him to breathe. You repeated the process again, wiping your tears on your shoulder as you continued compressions.
“Come on Javi.” You begged, “Breath for me.”
“Papi-” Sophia cried as she started to pat his face and your heart broke.
She shouldn’t have to see this.
You blew two more breaths into his dormant lungs and were rewarded with a gasp. You quickly put him into the recovery position and then sprinted to his phone. He was breathing now but that could change.
He needed help and quick.
…
The hours that followed were a blur. After going with Javier in the ambulance you were left to wait for news on his condition. Suddenly all that anger you felt towards the man disappeared and was replaced with intense guilt. It hadn’t been like Javier not to collect her. You should have known something had happened but instead, you’d assumed he was letting you down again.
How wrong you were.
You’d called Chucho the moment you’d arrived at the hospital and had been sent to the waiting room. You’d sobbed the moment the man came into view and pulled you into his arms. The two of you had then sat down together and waited in silence. Praying that when the doctor finally found them… The news wasn’t bad.
“Family for Javier Peña.” A voice called out and you both raised your hand before standing.
“How is he?” You asked. Your voice shaking as much as your hands.
“He suffered a cardiac event.” The man stated and you gasped “He’s stable now but it’s clear that he’s not been taking particularly good care of himself.” He stated and you sighed “Has he been over-exerting himself at all or?…”
“He’s been doing some pretty big jobs for me on the ranch but… Well, he told me he could handle it.” Chucho choked and you grabbed his hand to comfort him.
“Well, it’s clear he’s exhausted.” The doctor stated and you both nodded “He’s going to need to rest awhile. His diet is not good either as he’s pretty underweight.
I recommend he stay with someone for a while. At least till his strength returns.”
“I can stay with him.” You said without question “Whatever he needs.”
“Cardiac events affect everyone differently.” The doctor started, crossing his arms over his chest before continuing “He may feel sad. It’s common for emotions to be rattled after an event like this.”
“Okay.”
“He’ll be weak.” He continued “Will find tasks will tire him out quickly but that’s all normal.”
“But he’s going to be okay?” Chucho asked and the doctor nodded.
“I want to keep him in for a few days for observation… But I’m confident with rest and time that he’ll make a full recovery.”
“When can we see him?” You asked, glancing down at the sleeping Sophia in your arms.
“I’ll take you to him.”
You both followed the doctor as he led you through the clinical halls to a room. There inside lay Javier. Machines beeped as they monitored his vitals as he slept. You and the older Peña made your way to his side, you on one side of the bed and Chucho on the other. Then you waited. Waited for him to wake up, to let you know he was still with you despite the machines telling you so.
When Sophia grew restless and Chucho’s back started to protest, you told him to go home. That you would stay with Javi and let him know if anything changed. The older man left without argument and you were then left alone to wait… And wait you did.
It was in the early hours the next morning that he finally stirred and you were at his side in the blink of an eye, clutching to his hand as you waited for the fog to clear.
“What happened?” He asked when he realised where he was, eyes then drifting to you.
“You suffered a cardiac event Javi.” You said, squeezing his hand gently “You’ve been overdoing it.”
“I haven’t.” He protested and you giggled at his reply.
“Your doctor says differently.”
“Hmm.” He hummed, unable to argue with you but not happy either.
“The doctor wants to keep you in a few more days for observation but then you’re coming home with me so I can keep an eye on you.”
“I don’t need babysitting.” He protested and you scoffed.
“You’re going to be weak for a little while Javi.” You stated “You’re going to need help… Just let me help you.”
“Why?”
His question caught you by surprise but it also made you realise something too.
“When I found you lying there I thought… This is it! I’ve lost you forever and it killed me.” You choked back a sob, tears falling freely now “We’ve made such a mess of things, Javi. And when I found you there not breathing I thought that I’d lost my chance to go after what it was I truly wanted.”
“Which is?”
“You.” You replied simply.
“But Alistair?”
“We broke up over the weekend.” You replied, shrugging your shoulders “Yeah he was great and he was safe but I wasn’t in love with him and that wasn’t fair on him.”
“You broke up?” He said, his voice tiny all of a sudden.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I love you, Javier.” You declared, voice steady “I love you and I want to try and make this work because I’m tired of fighting this… Tired of fighting you.”
“You love me?” His tears glittered on his cheeks as he let out a stuttered breath.
“Yes.” You replied as you stroked the droplets away with your thumbs “And if you’ll have me, I would like us to try and start afresh.”
Javier was silent a few moments before grabbing the back of your head and pulling you into a kiss that stole the air from your lungs. You couldn’t help but let out a small squeak and he smiled against your lips before pulling away, resting his brow on yours.
“I want that too.” He replied breathlessly, grinning at you like a loon.
“No more mistakes?” You asked and he shook his head.
“No more mistakes, Hermosa.” He assured you “I’m not losing you again.”
He paused a moment as he drank you in before opening his eyes and locking your gaze once more.
“You and Sophia are all I want.” he said, pausing to place a chaste kiss on your lips “We’re a family cariño… You’re it.”
“You’re it for me too.” You replied and he smiled again “This is a second chance and I’m not going to let it slip.”
He answered you with a kiss that made your toes curl and your heart flutter. You were under no illusions that things weren’t going to be tough but you knew that together… You could tackle anything.
