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Can’t wait to see what happens next!!

Home Sweet Home | Chapter 5. The Long Ride

Rhett Abbott x OC Reader

Summary: Sunny Pritchett decides to move back home, but without a reason why. Once she's back she runs into her childhood best, friend Rhett Abbott. Rhett seems very surprised to see her. Not only that, but he sees she has a small child on her hip. Will Sunny try to reconnect with Rhett and tell him the real reason you she's moved back. Or will her past come back and find her until everything blows up.

Warnings: Mental and Physical abuse, PTSD flashbacks, swearing, fighting, (eventually smut 18+)

A couple of weeks later after Rhett took you out to the diner. You both took each other's numbers, and have been texting back and forth ever since. You also have the occasional run-ins with each other in town.

Whether it was at the supermarket, the pharmacy, or the bank you both would look at one another and strike up a conversation. Sometimes you would be by yourself, or you had Ollie with you. One thing that you loved about him was how patient, and kind Rhett was to Ollie. You also loved that Ollie was warming up to Rhett a little bit more every time you both saw him.

He would always help you to your car, or help Oliie into his car seat. There was one occurrence where you once again ran into Rhett. You were at the general store to pick up a few things that your mom wanted you to get. You were trying to get the bags into your trunk while holding Ollie in your arms. Mind you he was about to fall asleep too, so the extra weight was pulling you down a little bit. He saw you trying to grapple a toddler, and putting you things away so he jogged over to you and asked if he could help. You tried to put up a fight with him like you always do, and said “I’m almost done.” He didn’t listen and he took Ollie from your hold, and you finished putting your things away. 

After you put your groceries away you close your trunk, and turn around to see Rhett on a little bench just outside of the shop you were just in. He was holding Ollie in his strong embrace, rubbing up and down his small back and seeing Ollie fall into a peaceful nap in his arms. You walked up to them and you tried to take Ollie from his hold to put in his seat, but he just snuggled into Rhett’s chest more. Rhett told you “I’ll put him in if that’s okay?” The only thing that you could feel was butterflies erupting in your belly, just from the little things that Rhett had done. Once again you wanted to pause time, and just look at this little moment forever. Not wanting to mess anything up.

After Rhett puts Ollie into his little car seat, and buckling him in safely, he closes the car door just a little bit in case Ollie wakes up and calls for you.

“So my next ride is actually tomorrow…I was wondern’ if you would like to come?” He asks you with his head held down. “I already told you cowboy, I’ll be there. Plus you can’t get rid of me that easily.” You say with a smirk on your face.

Rhett’ copying the smirk back, and he puts his hand on the back of his neck. Trying his best not to get embarrassed.

“But ya. I’ll be there… See ya later.” You walk up to him and give him a little kiss on the cheek. Then hopping in the driver's side of your car. He watches you drive off safely. 

“Sunny-girl… you’re gonna be the death of me.” he mutters to himself. Then, walking back to his own truck.

The next day you're getting Ollie and yourself  ready to go to the fair and see Rhett ride for his first time. You’ve been having little butterflies erupting in your stomach ever since the encounter and the general store. 

By the way he has a little soft spot for Ollie, and asking you again to the fair to see him ride. You were just beyond excited to see him. 

“Mama were we goin’” Ollie asks. You just look at him in pure innocence. “We're going to see Rhett ride a bull!” You say in an excited voice trying to encourage him to feel the same emotions as you. “We see Rhetty?” he asks once again now seeming to have a little excitement in him. “Ya baby, we're seeing Rhetty!” You just want to protect your babies' innocence forever.

You wonder sometimes how you ended up having the most perfect child by your side. You never wanted him to grow up.

When you all arrive at the fair, you look around and it seems like nothing has ever changed. The same games, food stands, the ferris wheel that never left 

its spot. When walking around you could hear the announcer in the background call Rhett’s name. His ride is about to start so you walk around for a couple more minutes, then you and your family grab seats right next to the Abbott family. You first give Cecilia a big hug then giving Ollie a little kiss on the head, then Royal gives you a warm smile. You move past him to see Perry and Amy. 

He gives you a big hug and you two fall into quiet and small conversation while Amy plays with Ollie.

You hear the ride is about to start, When Rhett is about to go up but you see him off on the side getting warmed up. He looks around and he spots you with his family, he gives you a wave and you wave back, sending little shivers down your spine. You're glad that you and Rhett are starting to rekindle the amazing friendship you both once had. 

You space out a little once again and think to yourself maybe one day. You can actually be with him. Have a life together, Having Rhett love and care for you. Not feeling ashamed for what you went through. A chance to not feel broken. 

Once Rhett was up next for his ride, and the announcer said his name. We all were up on our feet supporting and cheering him on. You were so nervous, and your heart was beating so fast, you thought it was going to jump out of your chest. One second later the horn went off, and you see Rhett come out of the cage, trying to hold on to the bull with all his strength.

While all your focus is on Rhett, out of the corner of your eye you see the rest of the Abbot family looking at the scoreboard seeing if he beat his record.

Holding on for a little bit longer, he finally got bucked off. It almost seemed that time had stopped. No one moved; you could probably hear a pin drop by how quiet everything was. When you finally look at the scoreboard you see that Rhett beat his time. You family, and the Abbott’s cheered Rhett on from the stands. 

While cheering for him you can see some of the excitement radiate off of him. He just beats his chest and looks back and forth from the scoreboard, and the audience. Finally spotted his family, but was looking for two special people in particular. He finally spots you holding Ollie bouncing him up and down in your arms and both having excited looks on your faces, Ollie clapping and cheering. When the announcer calls up the next name, Rhett is jogging out of the ring and the others are setting up for the next rider.

We are all walking down from the stans to see Rhett and to congratulate him on his victory. You, your mom and dad stay back a little bit so he can have a little celebration with his family. After he gives his hugs he jogs over to you and your baby boy. Before you can get a word out, Ollie tries to get out of your reach and go to Rhett. You let him down, and he tries to waddle over for how long his body could carry him.

“Rhetty!!” Your baby says proudly, while wanting to be held by him. “Hey Buba, did you see me, I was whipping all around so crazy!” Your heart just flutters when you see Ollie tries to inturite a kiss on his cheek, and then seeing him put his face into Rhett’s neck looking like he’s trying to hide. You love seeing this new blossoming relationship between Rhett and Ollie. You just love seeing your baby happy.

When he finally gets you, he wraps you in a big hug, with Ollie being squished in the middle. “Not gonna lie cowboy, you did pretty good.” you say with a little smirk landing on your face. “Alright smart-ass, if you didn’t leave, you would probably see that I am the BEST bull rider in the state of Wyoming.” he says while trying to talk back in a playful manner.

But you’re taken back a little bit. Why did he just say that?

Suddenly the little flutters in your stomach suddenly became a pool of guilt. You really didn’t want to leave Rhett behind. You wanted him to come with you, you loved Rhett with all your heart. But you feel so hurt, and you feel so bad that you left him. Left him all alone, you feel ashamed that you would do that to your best friend, and treat him like that.

You come to realized that he was right. You just leave everyone behind.

Rhett sees your expression change, and now feels bad for what he had just said. “Sunny… a-are you okay?, you know I didn’t mean it.” he says with concern in his voice. Once again now wondering if messed up the one chance he had to get his best friend back.

“I’m just peachy cowboy, but it’s getting pretty late, and I don’t want Ollie having a meltdown when we're home. So I’ll see ya around. Bye Rhett.” you say with a blunt voice, while grabbing Ollie back from Rhett’s hold.

“I’ll walk you both to the car, it’s not a problem.” he tries saying to her, but it seems she doesn’t want to hear anything that’s coming out of his mouth. “No, I don't want people to wait on you champ. I’ll talk to ya later.” she says while gathering everything she has with her, and slowly walking away. 

You're almost to your car, when you hear boots crunching on the ground; it sounds like they're coming closer in your direction.

“Sunny, wait” he says trying to catch up to them. She fully spins around “I’m sorry… I really didn’t mean-""Rhett,Stop.” he finally stops talking, wanting to tell him what she has to say.

“I’m gonna tell you this once cowboy, I’m not mad at you.” you sight and try to hold your tears at bay. “Like I said before, what's in the past is in the past. I can’t change anything, but I wish I could. You know that I would.” After she finished talking, they both stood next to each other in awkward silence.

 Rhett breaks the silence first. “Look, I’m sorry for running the mood. You were having a good time with everyone and I messed up the rest of your night.” “You didn’t ruin anything cowboy” you say to him while putting Ollie in his car seat. “I really have to get goin Rhett. Congratulations on your win.” you say in a little voice, not wanting to say anything else and just driving home. You go into your car, start it up, and drive off. You look in your rearview mirror and see Rhett kicking a little bit of dust with his boot, and throwing his hat on the ground. You finally start to shed a couple of tears, wiping them away quickly. You just want to wish this never happened, you just feel Rhett still hates you for leaving, and you hate to have that feeling.

(Rhett’s POV) 

After I see Sunny drive off. I kick some dirt up, and I slam my hat on the ground.

I want to fucking hit myself in the face for saying something this stupid. Why would I even say that to her? She was finally warming up to me, and starting to become close again. And Ollie. Oh, I love her son, I’m also happy that he’s starting to warm up to me too. 

I looked around to make sure nobody was around. “FUCK!” I yell at the top of my lungs. I just can’t believe I messed this up with her again.

I just got her back, andI can’t lose her again.

End.

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I CANT WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!!

Bad Reputation Part 1 | Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Taylor Swift inspired!OC

Request: Requested by @akornsworld

Word Count: 3457 words

Summary: There's that saying for some people, “You can't go home again.” When you grow up and leave, that's it, you don't go back home. Presley Joann Benjamin (stage name Presley Jo) believed that was the case for her. Never did she think she would be right back where she started. But her Aunt insisted it was the best for her. She thought for sure her life and career were over until she meets a certain cocky aviator.

Warnings: Alcohol use, angst if you squint, maybe some cursing, fluff, some depression if you squint

A/N: This will be a multipart imagine. Not sure how many chapters there will be yet.

She made it. She was one of the biggest singer/songwriters this generation has ever known. She was a hit pop sensation. She went on tour, her more recent ones going international. She won many awards: Grammy's, Billboard, MTV Awards, VMA's. She had many other accomplishments she was proud of and didn't think she would even come close to experiencing what she had. Things were going great… until they weren't.

Things started to go downhill, and they went downhill fast. Her reputation was ruined. All because she refused to be used and abused in Hollywood. Everything started to fall apart. The cancel culture started to come for her. She was completely lost on what to do. Which is why she disappeared from the public eye.

She didn't answer her phone for days. Her aunt began to lose her mind and flew from San Diego to New York to see if she was even alive. What she didn't expect was to walk into her niece's loft to find her lying in her bed in the dark. Tissues and multiple bottles of alcohol littering the bed and floor. Her aunt knew then and there she couldn't survive this dark period by herself. She forced her up out of bed, demanded she take a shower, and forced her to pack her bags to come home.

Home, the place she hasn't been in about 10 years. When she was still a bright-eyed 20-year-old dreamer. The place where she got her start while working part-time at her aunt's bar as a server. Where her now ex-asshole manager discovered her. Playing and singing her heart out on that old piano in the middle of the bar, entertaining the aviators currently stationed in the area, who she was sure said they “knew her when” when she finally started becoming known.

She can't stop staring at that old piano through her sunglasses from her bar stool.

“Why don't you go play something? The only person who ever touches it anymore is Bradley,” Penny said to her niece, cleaning out a beer glass before placing it with the others.

“No thank you,” Presley said quietly, adjusting her baseball cap on her head.

“Well, can you at least take the hat and glasses off? And look at me when I'm talking to you,” Penny requested, laying her rag on the counter.

Presley huffed and turned around on her bar stool. “I'll take my glasses off and look at you but I'm keeping the hat on.”

“Presley, nobody is here right now,” Penny argued, gesturing around the empty and currently closed bar.

“Exactly, right now. But you know as well as I do that this place will be packed in less than an hour and I really don’t feel like being mobbed considering the current state of my life,” I argued back with her.

“The current state of your life that you are going to get through and fix. You're a Benjamin, nothing can stop us,” She reassured me.

I sighed in response to her words and attempted to slam my forehead down onto the bartop. However, I let out a groan in pain when I just ended up hitting the bill of my ballcap off of it instead. I heard Penny sigh and heard the telltale sound of her walking around the bar and moving to sit on the barstool next to me. She began to run her hand through the ponytail sticking out of the back of my ballcap before speaking.

“Presley, I know what you are going through right now is hard and you may feel like your life is over. But that is so far from the truth. I brought you back here not just because you needed the support, but because you needed to get back in touch with your roots. You may not believe this, but sometimes going back to where it all started helps to see where it all went wrong,” She whispered to me.

I scoffed in reply and lifted my head up. “I know where it all went wrong.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. But until then, I want you to at least try to live your life. Stop focusing on what happened and focus on what could be. Don’t worry about writing your next hit or whether you will be invited to the next award show.  Focus on spending time with me and Amelia and being normal.”

I stared at her for a moment before nodding with a sigh. “Alright, fine. Where do you want me to start?”

She nodded at me gratefully before standing from the bar stool. “You can start by helping me open the bar. I know you know how to. Go to the stock room and grab what we need and then help me finish the glasses.”

I groaned in annoyance before standing from my chair and moving to do as she asked.

---------

The moment the first person walked into the bar I rushed to push my sunglasses back on my face and kept my head down and I have continued to do so since the bar opened about 30 minutes ago. The place has had people nonstop coming in and out. Aviators, soldiers, and civilians taking up the space around me. The once-quiet bar was slowly becoming louder as more people filtered in and the evening rush slowly began to take hold. 

A glass being placed in front of me caused me to look up briefly at the bartender standing there with a smile.

“Thanks, Jimmy,” I smiled back at him.

“This stays between you and me. Your aunt told me not to serve you but I figured one drink wouldn’t hurt,” Jimmy told me, pointing his finger at me as if he was scolding me.

“Don’t worry. She won’t hear it from me,” I reassured him, reaching forward for the drink in front of me.

Jimmy gave me a thankful nod before moving to serve another person. I sighed and took a sip of my drink when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out to see another news article about me. I sighed and clicked on it, frowning at the words glaring back at me.

“Presley Jo: Where is the Princess? Has she run away to hide in her castle?”

“I’m not a princess,” I grumbled to myself, glaring at my phone as someone appeared next to me at the bar.

“Jimmy, I’ll have 6 more, and whatever the “not princess” is having,” a voice with a distinct southern accent spoke up from next to me.

I slightly raised my head and pocketed my phone, looking over at the person standing next to me through my sunglasses before looking over at Jimmy.

“Uh, that won’t be necessary, Jimmy,” I told the old man who nodded at me.

“Aw, c’mon darling. Let a nice man buy a beautiful woman a drink,” He argued with me in his accent, leaning on the bar sideways so he could look at me.

I let out a small giggle and shook my head, looking over at him and looking him over from top to bottom. Sandy blonde hair styled to perfection, bright green eyes shining in the lights of the bar, thin lips pressed into a smirk, and a khaki uniform that causes me to roll my eyes from behind my glasses and look forward. A gorgeous human being ruined by what he does for a living.

“Well howdy, John Wayne. I appreciate the offer but no thank you,” I told him, grabbing the still half-full glass to take a sip.

“John Wayne,” The stranger questioned me in shock, raising his eyebrows.

“Oh, I’m sorry, do you prefer Eastwood,” I retorted, placing my glass back on the bar top.

I heard the aviator let out a noise that was a mixture of a scoff and a chuckle before he spoke up again.

“Well, that just hurts my feelings, sweetheart. It’s not every day I get made fun of for my accent,” He said in amusement.

“Well, I’m glad I could bring some excitement to your day,” I smiled at him sarcastically.

I heard a huff of amusement. “You know what would make it even more exciting.”

“No, but I feel like you’re going to tell me anyways, cowboy,” I said with disinterest.

“Your number.”

I scoffed in disbelief and began shaking my head with a grin. “Trust me, my number is the last thing you want buddy.”

“Oh yeah? Why’s that,” He asked me curiously, leaning in closer to me.

“Because my reputation isn’t exactly the best right now… If you knew who I was you wouldn’t want to have anything to do with me, I promise you that. So do yourself a favor and find someone else to court like the small-town country boy you are,” I informed him, pushing my sunglasses farther up my nose.

“Well, maybe you can give me a chance and I can prove you wrong,” He argued with me.

“Doubtful,” I muttered, taking a large gulp of my drink.

“Why don’t we start with a name? If you're so famous like you're making yourself out to be. Then I can tell you if I’ve heard anything and if I believe what I’ve heard,” He offered up.

“I am most definitely not giving you my name,” I denied immediately, shaking my head.

“Well, then how about you take off the sunglasses and the hat Hollywood? Then I can tell you if you look familiar,” He tried again.

“I am not doing that either,” I said with another shake of the head.

“You enjoy playing hard to get don’t you,” He asked me with a smirk.

“It’s not playing hard to get if there’s nothing to win,” I told him.

He stared at me in silence, causing me to look over at him. I could see a few different emotions swirling in his eyes. Admiration, desire, amusement, and what looked like affection.

“I’m Jake,” He said simply.

I stared at him for a second and nodded in response. “Cool.” 

This Jake person opened his mouth to speak again before being cut off. 

“Is Hangman bothering you, PJ,” Jimmy asked me sweetly, looking between the two of us.

“No, Jimmy. It’s fine,” I reassured the old man.

“Are you sure? Because I have no problem ringing the bell on him,” Jimmy told me, gesturing over his shoulder to my aunt's bell.

“As funny as that would be and as much as I would enjoy that, it’s not necessary,” I reassured him once again, picking my drink up and finishing it off.

Jimmy nodded at me and grabbed my now empty glass before walking away, but not without throwing a warning glare over his shoulder at this so-called “hangman.”

“So, now you know my name and my callsign. Are you still not willing to give yours up miss “PJ,” Jake questioned me.

“No, Hangman, I’m not,” I shrugged at him, beginning to stand from my barstool. “Hey Jimmy, Let Penny know I’m headed home,” I asked the old man, watching him nod at me before going about his work again.

“So you know Penny,” He asked me.

“Wow, nice deduction there Mr. Eastwood. That navy training is really doing you some good,” I said sarcastically, turning to head out the door.

“I’ll get your name eventually,” He called after me.

“Don’t bet on it, Lieutenant.”

---------

I groaned in pain at the sudden weight being thrown on top of me, a bright giggle slipping out of the person’s lips. I wrestled my hands out from underneath them and lifted them to grab the comforter covering my head. I pulled it down to see Amelia lying across me with her dog Theo running into the room and joining us in the bed.

“Amelia, why,” I groaned.

“Because mom told me to wake you up. She needs you to do something for her,” Amelia told me before hopping off the bed to leave the room, Theo following closely behind her.

I groaned tiredly before throwing my blanket off of me. I leaned over the side of the bed and gripped my sleep shorts that I had taken off before bed. I pulled them on before doing my morning routine of brushing my teeth and washing my face. I then ran a brush through my hair and pulled it up into a bun before making my way downstairs. I followed the noises I heard into the kitchen to see Aunt Penny running around trying to make breakfast for Amelia as my little cousin tried to finish up her homework at the last minute. I walked over to Amelia kissed her head and gave Theo a pat on the head, before taking a seat on the other barstool at the island.

“Morning,” I sighed out to Aunt Penny.

“Good morning. I have a few errands I need to do this morning. Is there any chance you can take Amelia to school and then go to the Hard Deck to get some of the opening duties done for me,” Aunt Penny asked me quickly, placing Amelia’s breakfast on top of her homework and causing the young girl to let out a groan of annoyance.

“Yeah, sure,” I nodded at her.

“Thank you. I shouldn’t be long and should be there at around 10. And Amelia knows the drop-off procedures,” She reassured me.

“Penny, it’s fine. I know what to do and I will get Amelia to school on time,” I reassured her.

“Thank you,” she told me once again before gathering her things.

She walked around the island to place a kiss on Amelia’s head and one on my cheek before moving towards the door.

“I love you girls,” She called over her shoulder.

“Love you too,” We both called out to her.

---------

After an anxiety-ridden school drop-off and halfway through getting the bar ready for opening, Penny showed up with a thankful smile.

“Thank you,” She told me, pulling me into a hug.

“You’re welcome. I mopped, did stock, and washed the glasses. They just need to be dried and all of your paperwork needs to be done,” I explained to her, gesturing to all of the glasses sitting in drying racks.

“You are a lifesaver. How was drop off,” She asked me.

“Well, um, I have been through quite a few anxiety-inducing events in my life, but I think drop-off was the worst one to date,” I informed her with a grimace.

Penny winced at my words and nodded in agreement. “It can be bad.”

I nodded at her in agreement before moving to sit on the piano bench, my back facing the instrument to curb the need to play it. Penny looked between me and the instrument before speaking.

“Why don’t you play something while I finish up? I could use the entertainment,” She offered up, grabbing a rag to begin drying the glasses.

“No thank you,” I sighed, running my hands over my thighs to rid them of some of the sweat they built up.

“Presley, you can’t just give up music. I haven’t heard you so much as hum a note since you came home. And you've been here about two weeks now,” Penny scolded, placing her hands on her hips. “I used to have to pry you away from that piano. You couldn't stop writing and playing. You constantly had something new-”

“I’m not giving up music… and did it ever occur to you that maybe I'm just uninspired,” I interrupted her, looking at her sadly.

Penny frowned before placing her rag on the counter and leaning forward. “You're uninspired right now, but not forever. Something will bring your light back, I know it. For right now, how about you play some of your old stuff?”

I stared at her for a moment before sighing and nodding. “Fine. But I'm not singing. I'm just playing the piano.”

“That's fine with me,” She reassured me as I turned around and placed my hands on the black and white keys.

I began playing one of my songs gently and let myself get lost in the music. Meanwhile, Penny continued working behind me to prepare the bar for opening in a couple of hours. My one song turned into two, which turned into three. However, my playing stopped when I heard the front door open. I tensed up in my seat and looked over at Penny out of the corner of my eye. Penny dropped everything she was doing and immediately turned towards the person who entered the bar.

“Hangman, we don’t open for another few hours,” Penny called out to the person who walked further into the bar.

“It’s Friday, Penny. Dogfight football day. Just stopped in to get some beers for everybody before heading down to the beach,” Jake argued with her, walking over to the bar.

I could feel his eyes on me as he conversed with my aunt, causing me to turn my head slightly so he couldn’t see my face.

“Well, why don’t you head outside and I can bring them out to you,” Penny offered up.

“Nah, Pen, it’s fine. I don’t want to take up any more of your time than I need to,” Jake denied her. I listen to Penny let out a sigh before moving around the bar and gathering what he asked for. “I know that song you were playing, darling. I believe it’s called Enchanted by-,” He cut himself off when I finally looked over at him.

“Presley Jo, a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Eastwood,” I stated, holding my hand out to him with a blank expression on my face.

“PJ,” He hummed, gripping my hand in his own with obvious shock on his face.

“Hm, I normally just go by Presley,” I hummed out with a shrug, staring up at him.

“Mhm, Penny my dear, do you understand who is sitting in your bar right now,” Jake said in disbelief.

“Of course I do. I raised her,” Penny shrugged at him simply.

Jake turned around and looked at her in shock. “You raised one of the biggest pop stars on the face of the earth and didn’t tell anyone?”

“It’s not exactly something I go telling everybody, Hangman, no matter how proud I am of my beautiful niece. Besides, Bradshaw and Maverick know.”

“Rooster knows? Maverick I understand, but Rooster,” He asked in disbelief.

“Bradley and I grew up together. Who do you think taught me piano,” I interrupted, drawing his eyes back towards me. Jake continued to stare at me in shock and awe, causing me to slightly squirm under his gaze. “So, you going to go tell everybody I’m here? Sell a story to the media?”

Jake shook his head at me before releasing a scoff. “Why would I do that?”

“Because it’s what everyone else does,” I shrugged, fiddling with the hem of my shirt.

“Well, Darling, I guess I’m not everyone else then,” He shrugged at me.

I looked at him in shock before speaking again. “You still want my number?”

“Hm… that, and I’d still like to buy you that drink,” He shrugged at me.

I looked at him in shock and disbelief before shaking my head at him. “You still want something to do with me after finding out who I am? Even with everything being said about me and me being canceled?”

Jake shrugged at me before stuffing his hands in his pockets. “Not all your fans believe what’s being said about you.”

My gaze softened and I couldn’t stop myself from staring into his bright green eyes. He held my gaze for a few moments before Penny cleared her throat.

“Hangman, your beers,” She said, pushing them all towards the aviator.

He removed his gaze from me to turn towards my aunt and gave her a thankful smile. He told her to keep a tab open before turning back towards me. He gave me a wink before moving towards the back door of the bar to go to the beach. I watched him walk away and out the door before removing my gaze from him and looking back at my aunt. She raised her eyebrows at me in amusement before crossing her arms over her chest.

“You gonna tell me what the hell that was?”

I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE REST OF THIS SERIES!!

Secret Sacrifices // Jake Seresin

Prologue: [BrainBox]

Summary: Managing the Hard Deck isn’t always easy, especially when a certain Naval Aviator is always just one step away.

Warnings: Illusion of family loss. Jake Seresin X F!reader. Witness Protection Reader. Situationship. 18+ Content.

Word Count: 1.6k

Author Note: I’m getting back into writing after a few weeks hiatus, any feedback, comments and concepts will be greatly appreciated.

Series Masterlist | Main Masterlist

The human brain can be seen in scientific communities as the most mysterious organ in the human body. The human mind can generate up to seventy thousand thoughts a day, which means there are around two thousand nine hundred thoughts created every hour. 

“Mommy!”

The human brain can store around about two point five terabytes of information at any one time. That capacity of storage is equivalent to about three million hours of television reruns or one million high-quality photos. Take your pick. 

“Come on—wake up! WAKE UP PATRICK!” 

The human brain can generate an electric current of about twenty-three watts. That’s enough to light up a round bulb. And although the human brain only accounts for two percent of your total body weight, it consumes more than twenty percent of the human body's total energy. 

“Please don’t leave me, not now—oh god please don’t leave me.” 

The length of all blood vessels in the brain, if combined, would reach a maximum length of about one hundred and sixty thousand kilometres. That’s enough distance to wrap about the earth’s circumference four times over. 

“Mommy I’m scared!” 

Each nerve neuron in the human brain has up to ten thousand connections with other neurons, not only that, but there are upwards of one hundred billion neurons in the brain. Which means there are more than one thousand trillion neuron connections formed in the human brain. 

“We just have to keep running baby.”

The amygdala, a part of the brain responsible for coordinating emotions, has an information processing speed of upwards of twenty ms. This speed is even faster than the speed at which humans can perceive something. 

All of these facts lean towards the idea of the human brain being some sort of supercomputer that we have been given. Programmed into our very existence by evolutionary biology. 

“No baby girl you stay with Mommy, it’s okay—don’t you close your eyes again okay?”

And yet? Despite all the wonders and capabilities that the human brain can accomplish—Your brain keeps you stuck in a time loop of unimaginable grief and despair. 

“Brewer?” The world around you had seemingly stopped for a few moments. The regular Friday night hustle of the Hard Deck had all but dissipated into silence when the overwhelming haunting noises of your own personal hell had become too loud to drown out. “Hello? Earth to Brewer?” 

“What?” You frowned as you shook yourself back into existence. What you found, or more accurately, who you found standing before you across the bar made your heart skip a panicked beat. “Jesus Seresin, you scared the hell out of me.” You sighed as you felt your heart beating rapidly inside your chest. The same heart that had loved and lost so much. The very heart that right now was plagued with the dilemma of falling for the sandy blonde who stood before you with eyes that could rival the Emerald City itself. 

“How?” Jake questioned as a confused frown took over his face soon after the words left his mouth. “I’ve been standing here for like two minutes just watching you zone out like some space cadet.” The chuckle that escaped Jake's slightly parted mouth soothed your beating heart into a steady rhythm. 

Oh. How long had you been zoned out for?

“What can I get ya?” You decided to let it go as you shot Jake a short but harmless smile. There was no need to ask or spend too much time focusing on how long you’d been stuck standing still cleaning the same spot on the bar over and over while your thoughts consumed you. Besides, you didn't really want to know how long Jake had been standing there looking at you like a moth drawn to a flame. 

“The usual, times four thanks barkeep—“ Jake replied as he reached into his back pocket, finishing out his wallet. A simple brown leather moment that always made you feel like your past was trailing right behind you. “Plus a lemonade with lime for the underage Back Seater.” There it was, that signature Seresin smirk accompanied with that wink. Insufferable. Cocksure. Endearing. 

“Four Budweisers and a lemonade coming right up.” You smiled once again as you threw your bar towel over your shoulder and got to work. Jake took the time to perch himself on one of the empty bar stools that littered the outskirt of the bar. Patrons buzzed around the Hard Deck like there wasn’t a care in the world to be had on a Friday night. “And lay off Bob, he gets your drunken ass home more often than not so you should be more thankful for his intolerance to alcoholic beverages.” 

Jake beamed at your lighthearted remark, they came few and far between. Whenever he was graced with the pure nature of your smile or your dry sense of humour, Jake reveled in it. So much so the crush he harboured had become common knowledge to half of Miramar. Yourself included. He wasn't a shy man, far from it. Jake knew what he wanted and, usually, he got it. 

But you? You had been playing hard to get and hard to crack ever since you showed up to the Hard Deck around six months prior. From the first moment Jake saw you he’d been caught hook, line, and sinker. Six months of chasing the same girl round in circles. 

“What had you lost, Brewer? Daydreaming on the clock isn’t usually your thing?” Jake asked as he got comfortable, leaning forward on his elbow as he watched you grab four Budweisers from the cooler fridge beneath the bar. He didn't miss the look on your face, the one that would occasionally replace the mild-maned stare you'd give off to slightly agitating customers. It was a look Jake couldn't really read–one that he wasn't sure if he would ever get to the bottom of, but he let it go, didn't press.  

“Just got caught up thinking about how I'm gonna spend my Sunday off.” Of all the lies you could’ve made up that seemed to be the most believable. 

“What are we doing on Sunday, Brewer?” Jake teased as you placed the still-capped amber bottles on the bar before him. The smirk he wore said it all, he was waiting for you to bite. And bite you did. 

“God, you've got tickets to your own show don't you, Seresin?” You shook your head with a laugh as you popped the caps on the beers you'd collected. “I– am planning a reset, just have a lot of housework to get done, laundry, meal prepping, self-care.” You teased the meaning behind self-care as you reached for the soda gun. “Which reminds me I need new batteries.” 

Jake caught the look in your eyes as you filled the glass to the brim with ice with your free hand and let the liquid drain from the gun. “Kinky girl, you sure we aren't hanging out on Sunday?” The smile, that damn infection smile that could light up the darkest of rooms made your head spin. But you couldn't go there. Harmless flirting was one thing, but crossing that line could cost Jake everything. 

He wasn't even aware of how close he was tempting death. How close he was standing to fire. How close he was standing to a woman who had lost everything in the name of being a good person. 

Unlike Jake, you had already lost everything. 

“In your dreams, Bagman.” You chuckled lightly, Jake's order was all but done. “Cash, Card or on Bradshaw's Tab?” The question remained unanswered for a few moments as Jake just sat there taking in the sight of the bartender who had him wrapped around her finger with ease. A spot he wouldn't mind staying forever if you'd let him. But for now? He knew he had to play the long game: Catch me if you can! you had forced him to play. 

“You tempt me, but card it is.” Jake confirmed as he fished his card from his wallet. “Someone has to keep Rooster from going into financial ruin.” It only took a few seconds for you to place all of Jake's drinks, the four beers and one lemonade with lime, onto a carry tray. “I think Payback’s been piggybacking on his bar tab too.” Jake smirked as he gave you an all-knowing look. You had been caught red-handed, but it was all circumstantial evidence at best. 

“Never took you as a softy.” Bradley Bradshaw still owed you an apology for his drunk and disorderly behaviour a few weeks ago. Behaviour that saw him hurling abuse your way when you cut him off. The guy was going through a breakup of sorts, of course you felt bad. But until he said he was sorry? His tab was racking up a pretty penny of top-shelf liquors and extra beer orders from the boys. “But fine, tap your card whenever you’re ready.” 

“This place is starting to charge a premium price for cheap booze ever since they hired a new manager.” Jake let out a sigh laced in banter as he paid for his order, the tip he left never went unnoticed either. Jake was good like that, he always tipped with a smile and a few extra bucks to make his almost cheesy pickup lines and banter worth your while. “And there's a lot of things you don't know about me Brewer.” With one final wink and signature smile, he was off. 

“Funny.” You mumbled to yourself as you watched Jake walk away back towards the same booth the boys all lingered around whenever they weren't hogging the pool table. The same booth you frequented the most. The same booth you gave a little more attention to–because Jake Seresin, despite all your might, had a hold on you that you couldn't seem to get out of. 

“I guess I could say the same damn thing.”

***~***~***~***~***~***~***

Tags: 🏷️ @a-reader-and-a-writer @xoxabs88xox @hiireadstuff @buckysteveloki-me @athenabarnes @els-marvelvsp @blindedbythelightt @tayl0rhuynh @na-ta-sh-aa @kmc1989 @sunlightmurdock @mamachasesmayhem @jaxfart @lauenderhaze @sugarcoated-lame @maisie-rebloging-blog @captainmoonknight @seitmai @shanimallina87

I love this series sooo much!!!

Masterlist: Moving Forward (18+ MDNI)

Series In Progress: (last Update) 2/24/24

Story Description: Y/N Kazansky is many things. A loyal daughter, a world-class fighter pilot, and a fierce protector of those she holds most dear. But beyond the shiny exterior is a wounded woman looking to find her way back to the life she'd known and loved. When a mission brings her back to Top Gun, she is forced to confront the sins of her past while focusing on the uncertain future falling into place in front of her. 

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

YOUR SUCH AN AMAZING WRITER!!!

Home Sweet Home | Chapter 4. Tears and Broken Hearts Club

Rhett Abbott x OC Reader

Summary: Sunny Pritchett decides to move back home, but without a reason why. Once she's back she runs into her childhood best, friend Rhett Abbott. Rhett seems very surprised to see her. Not only that, but he sees she has a small child on her hip. Will Sunny try to reconnect with Rhett and tell him the real reason you she's moved back. Or will her past come back and find her until everything blows up.

Warnings: Mental and Physical abuse, PTSD flashbacks, swearing, fighting, (eventually smut 18+)

“Are you sure you know where the diapers are? If you aren't sure they're in my room-” you say, but you’re being cut off by your mom.

“Sunny, I know where everything is, I lived in this for over 20 years. I may be getting older, but I’m not losing my mind just yet.” she says back before you can get another word out.

She can tell that you're nervous going out with Rhett, you told her about your conversation you had with him after the service. She was so excited for you. After that she ran to the phone and called Cecilia. She could be her on the phone yelling at Rhett for not telling her he asked you out. 

“I don’t care if it’s not a date. If she’s going to become my daughter-in-law at some point, then I need to know these things, Rhett?!” 

Also, you went upstairs 12 times to change your outfit, redo your makeup, and change your hairstyle. You shouldn’t be nervous, you guys were just going to dinner, and he was taking you straight home. but it was just dinner right? 

That thought kept going on and off in your head for the next 10 minutes until you heard a knock at the door.

Your mom opens the door and you can hear from the other room making small talk. “Hello Rhett, Sunny will be out in just a minute. Oh, don’t you look handsome.” Before you go, you pick up Ollie and say goodbye. 

Before you look up you just tell your mom “Stop embarrassing me please.” When you walk out you and Rhett lock eyes with each other. Not able to look away from one another.

“It’s been good see’n ya Rhett, bring my daughter home in one piece.” your dad says making you break eye contact with Rhett.

(Rhett's little POV)

When I first saw her walk into the room, it seemed like everything stopped moving, and the spotlight was on her. 

She looked so beautiful as a magnolia in May. She could take your breath away with just one smile. The way her dress flowed across her legs, the way her hair sways when looking the other way. Just the way she looked, almost made me go to my knees.

She looked like a literal angel. And I just want to keep her all to myself.

(Back to your POV)

Walking up to Rhett you look down at his hands, and see a small bouquet of mixed colored Dahlias. He notices you looking at them. “Oh… these are for you. I know they're your favorite.”

But when you try to take them you see there's a little bit of dirt at the bottom of them, and some of it falls on the floor. 

Your mother takes the flowers saying she’ll cut them, and put them in water later.

Then you wave your parents goodbye, and tell them you’ll be back later.

When you both are down the steps, you look at your little flower beds near the front porch, and see a big patch of flowers missing. You justed whisper over to him “Did you just rip the flowers out of my moms garden?”

He whips his head to you and he looks back at the flower bed. Then he turns to you and just starts to blush. You both look at eachother and see each others cheeks going dark. So, he turns the other way from being embarrassed. “It’s fine, but next time I would like some flowers that don't immediately get ripped from the ground?” you tell and look at him, only seeing a warm smile on his face.

While Rhett opens you car door, he tells you “Well, I forgot to pick up flowers on the way here, so your moms garden was the next best option.”

You just turn to him with a smirk, then you say back “Thanks for the jester, but don’t do it again.” While you're trying to buckle up, he gives you a fake salute and says “yes ma'am” trying not to break into laughter. He then walks over to the driver's side, and you're both off to the diner.

When driving down the road you’re looking out the window, but in the corner of your eye you see Rhett fiddling with his hands. You know he wants to hold your hand, or put it on your thigh. But he can’t, he just puts his hand on his own lap. Trying every way to distract himself.

While you're staring out the window again. Your mind starts wondering. Wondering what Rhett’s hands felt like. How they would feel holding your hand, having it rest on your thigh. How they would feel when pulling your hair, having them inside you-

“We’re here” You leave your filthy mind, and try not to focus on him. The only thing you can do is nod, you don’t trust your voice just yet. You're afraid when you speak that you’ll whimper, and then the whole night will be ruined. You just want to forget that ever happened in your mind. Get this dinner over with, and go home.

Walking into the diner was like walking into a book of old memories. You and Rhett would come here after you both would see bull rides with your families. As to annoy him you would always root for the opposing person Rhett would cheer for.

Finding a booth to sit in, you both sit in award silence. Once again waiting for someone to break tensions.

He starts first. “So… how have ya been?” he asks sheepishly. You just give him a dumbfounded look on your face. “You already asked that, remember cowboy?” In return he just gives you an awkward smile, but you also see a little bit of blush creep up on his cheeks. 

“Did you ever finish your art program, I remember you never stopped talking about it when you got accepted.” 

Suddenly you are frozen, you don’t know what to say? How were you supposed to tell him that your ex didn’t want you in school? He just wanted you to stay home, and clean and cook for him. How can you explain to him that you had to drop out because you got pregnant with your son? 

“N-No I didn't, I had to stop because I got pregnant with Ollie. I wanted to try and go back to finish out, but I didn’t have the time. With work, and taking care of Ollie. It was a lot. So… y-yeah.” You suddenly feel so ashamed, and exposed for what you just told him. You couldn’t stand to look at him. Afraid he will see you differently now.You really wanted to tell him that you were forced to quit because your boyfriend didn’t like that you were going out. He also thought you were cheating, and calling you a “sleazy whore” and “selfish lying slut.” When you were really busting your ass trying to get good grades, and trying your absolute hardest not to fail your courses.

Rhett could see you shutting down a little bit, he knew there was more to the story, but he wasn’t going to push you and tell him every little detail. He was just happy that you’d go out with him. He didn’t want to ruin your night by invading your personal privacy and space. He was happy to see you smile, and be your old self again for a little bit.

Breaking the silence Rhett starts talking again. “Hey, I heard that they wanted help for an art teacher at Amy’s school, I think you could be good at it. Since, ya know you're really good at that stuff. Also I’ve seen your work before, and I think you’d be amazing at it, Sun.”

You suddenly look up at him, and give him a small, quirked smile. He always knows how to lighten your day up. He could just say something, or do absolutely nothing. Even just looking at you, and he brings a smile to your face.

“Thanks, I’ll look into that… But enough about my depressing life. What have you been up to?”

He tells you about staying on the ranch, he tells you about his mom, and his niece Amy, and how her mother Rebbeca suddenly “left” and she hasn't returned. He also tells you that he’s started bull riding, and you light up at that. To be honest, you were so proud of him. He actually became a rider. You really can’t wait to see the next show.

After you both order your food, you just get lost in conversation talking about what you did in the last couple of years. Just thinking about old times before shit hit the fan. And your world came crumbling down.

You both continue to make small talk when your food comes. Just reliving old memories, with your oldest friend. 

You suddenly just want this moment to freeze. Wanting to live in the perfect little moment for the rest of your life. In this little diner, with the man you’ve been in love with since forever.

After you put up a fight letting Rhett pay for the bill, and knowing your stubborn ass would start to argue. Rhett stuck to his word, and you both hop in his truck and he takes you home.

The drive home was once again silent, but there was some random country song that you started to hum to.

When he pulls up to your house you just turn to look at him, wanting to say something. He also wants to say something but he just freezes up. Not wanting to ruin the moment.

“Thanks for everything tonight. I-I had a r-really good time.” you tell him stumbling over your word, and with a shy smile and a little bit of blush on your cheeks.

“No problem Sun” and that’s all he says. Choking up on his words, and not saying anything else. 

The next thing you know, you are climbing out of the truck and walking up the little stone pathway to your house.

Before you reach the first step, you hear a loud slam from the car door. You whip around, trying to see what the noise was. But you just see Rhett jogging towards you.

You both are face to face, standing like a statue not knowing what to do. He takes his hat off, and you both get good looks at each other.

“I’m sorry Sunny, I haven’t seen you in a long time, and it was really nice catching up with you. And Itruly  do want to make things better between-” You suddenly stop him, cupping your hand and putting it over his mouth to make him stop spewing nonsense.

“Stop… Just stop for a second.” You take your hand away from his mouth, and let him take a couple of deep breaths. “Rhett, I had a good time too. It was a little bit weird because we haven’t seen each other in a long time. But what happened between us, it’s over now. We're both fully grown adults and it’s in the past.” you tell him with confidence, but on the inside you were trying to hold back tears, and trying not to pour your whole sad story on him.

He just looks at you with his eyes widened. “But the stuff I said to you… that was out of line.”

“Rhett it’s in the past. I’m not mad at you anymore. To be honest, I just want to have my bestfriend back. The unstoppable duo.” she says to him.

They both chuckle at the saying, Rhett to be honest haven't heard that phrase in a long long time.

“Alright, but you have to come to one of my rides, you know I need my best friend in the whole wide world there.” he says with a grin on his face.

“Ya, I’ll be there… Goodnight. See you later Rhett.” you say to him in a hushed voice.

“Goodnight darlin’” he said also in a hushed voice. He comes up to you and gives you a little peck on the cheek. That immediately gave you little flutters in your stomach. You walk up the steps to your front door, and turn around one more time.

You see him still in the same spot. The only thing that he does is give you a little wave of his hand, you give one back and walk into your house.

Through the little screen door you see him walking away, making sure he got into his car safely. You finally close both doors, and slump down to the ground.

You knew you had feelings for Rhett. But they were just little, sad feelings. But after tonight, you realized that your feelings are becoming a little bit bigger.

If you were going to be around him more often, you knew that it was going to wreak havoc on your life. But you really didn't care. You knew your feelings for Rhett were becoming stronger. You just didn’t want to get your heart broken again. 

You knew deep down that somehow you would.

But you just didn’t care. You wanted Rhett Abbott.

End.

(Here is some outfit and hair inspo for Sunny's "date night" with Rhett.)

Sunny's Dress

Sunny's hair

Reblogs are always welcome. Unless you're under 18. I will block you. You all should be responsible. Also comment if you wanted to be added to the taglist.

Taglist: @callsign-magnolia @roosterforme @angelbabyyy99

dividers are by @saradika

SOOOO GOOD!!!

Home Sweet Home | Chapter 3. Reunions

Rhett Abbott x OC Reader

Summary: Sunny Pritchett decides to move back home, but without a reason why. Once she's back she runs into her childhood best, friend Rhett Abbott. Rhett seems very surprised to see her. Not only that, but he sees she has a small child on her hip. Will Sunny try to reconnect with Rhett and tell him the real reason you she's moved back. Or will her past come back and find her until everything blows up.

Warnings: Mental and Physical abuse, PTSD flashbacks, swearing, fighting.

Hello Beautiful People,

Sorry for the late post. I had some personal things to deal with. but I assure you all I will be posting new chapters on Wednesdays (hopefully). But back to the story baby!!

(Bold letters mean flashbacks)

7 years ago

Driving up to the Abbott Ranch was the most nerve wracking and terrifying thing you had to do today.

Stepping out of the car and walking up to the house, you're shaking with fear and scared about telling your bestfriend that you're leaving early to go to your dream school.You wish you didn’t have to go, but this is your chance to leave. Plus this is your chance to live your dream, and become a truly amazing artist. You could also try and convince him to leave with you,you loved him so much, more than he should already know. Maybe after you both leave, you can tell him how you really feel, how you want to be more than just friends. Both of you could finally make an escape. Live in peace. Live with the person you love. Hopefully that can convince him.   

“What do you mean you're leaving early?” Rhett says with his eyebrows pinched. “ The art program I got accepted into is starting early. I can’t miss this” you say. There's a pregnant silence between both of you. Not knowing what the other one is going to say to each other.

“So that’s just it, you're leaving me behind!” Rhett’s loud voice startles you, he’s never raised his voice at you until now.

"I'm not leaving you behind Rhett. I... I want you to come with me." You say with a trembling voice. Trying to keep your tears at bay. "It's just like we talked about. I can be in my art program, a-and... you can become a bull rider-"

"Stop! Just... stop Sun." he says in a defeated voice. "No, I'm not stopping, because a love and care about you and I don't want you to be stuck here too." You say with your chest heaving. You want to say more but your too scared now.

"I can't. You know I can't." you can tell he's getting more annoyed with you keep pressing him. But you need him to hear the truth." "You can leave Rhett. I'm sure your parents will understand." You try to plead with him. A beat passes. Then another.

"You're scared" you say. "You're scared to go out into the world. The only thing you want to do is stay on this damn ranch for the rest of your life and do nothing." You say and also trying to regain your breathing.

"Ya know what. Just go... Just go and leave everyone behind."

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Rhett knows how much this art program means to me. Why is he saying this?

“How could you do this to me. To us?"

He steps closer to you, you try and take a step back but he's faster., so now both of your chests are together, both heaving and trying to breath. You can smell the bourbon on his breath. He’s been drinking. He tries not to drink around you. It can go either way. He can be a goofy drunk, which he normally is when he's around you. Or he's an angry drunk. Wanting to start fights with random people he sees. Starts yelling and making more problems than he's already in. Now you can see which type of drunk he is tonight. You wish you didn't want to see this.

What you didn’t know he overheard his mom talking on the phone with your mom, about you leaving early for college. 

“What do you want me to do Rhett? Just stay here and be stuck with nothing to do? I don’t want that” I say with some anger laced in my voice.

“Ya know-” You interrupt him “R-Rhett you're drunk, don’t say anything you're gonna regret.”

“Just go! That's what you do, anyway just walk away like you always do. JUST LEAVING EVERYBODY BEHIND! YOU SELFISH BITCH!" Startled by his yelling, you finally let go and now have tears streaking down your face. You're too astonished to say anything else. How could someone you love to say the cruelest, and most horrid things to you. You back away from the porch and go to your car.

“Sun- I-I didn’t mean it... I swear you have to believe m-me.” He says back you in a weary voice also trying not to cry.

Without another beat you just look back at him and shake your head, with tears streaming down your face. Turning back, you get in your car and just speed away from the Abbott ranch. Looking back in your rearview mirror seeing an angry Rhett, kicking the dirt and walking back into the house. That’s the last you heard from Rhett. Abbott.

Until now.

Waking up on Sunday morning you feel a light weight on your chest. fluttering your eyes open and looking through your lashes, you see your precious baby tapping lightly on your chest. Then you fully open your eyes and you both are smiling ear to ear at each other. 

“Hi baby, how was your sleep?” you say with a groggy voice. and trying to snap out of your sleepy daze. “Hi mama, it was otay.” he says, rubbing his eyes.

Then sit up, and give him kisses all over his chubby face, which makes him erupt into a fit of giggles. You look over at the clock on your nightstand, it’s 7:30 am. You have a couple of minutes to stay in bed, keep having your snuggle party with your baby boy, then go downstairs, and be dragged all the way to church, where you are dreading to go.

A little bit later you finally get Ollie and you dressed. You put him in a t- shirt, and a cute little pair of baby blue jean overalls and put on your usual Sunday attire, and ready to go downstairs and hit the road. You walk into the kitchen with Ollie on your hip and see your mom, and dad talking at the table while drinking some coffee.

“Good Morning sleepyheads, are you ready to go?” she asked while grabbing Ollie and putting him in his highchair and getting food for him.

“As ready as I’ll ever be” is the only thing you can say while putting your diaper bag together, and grabbing everything you need to get ready.

As you walk up to the church with your parents you get nervous all of a sudden. Not only because you haven’t been to church in such a long time, and you need a lot of confession to be done. But also, you are dreading to see the one person you are trying to avoid as much as possible when you're back home.

When you first walk in you see Dept. Sheriff Joy. She greets you and your parents with open arms, and seems to be excited that you showed up. You knew that it was because she has a young daughter with her wife. But you aren’t mad at it at all, you want Ollie to have friends in his age range, this is a new start for him too. And he definitely needs this. The only thing that could make you happy was for your baby boy to have a good life. If he was happy, so were you.

While Sheriff Joy and you mom were making conversation, you and your dad make their way into the church out of the corner of your eye you spot Ceceilia Abbott, talking with her husband Royal. Almost acting in a serious manner when engaging with each other. But, you just keep walking and find a seat next to your dad.

During the service the preacher announces you return, in which everybody takes their eyes all to you. You become very annoyed but also anxious. You hate that everyone's eyes are on you. It almost feels like they are trying to pry every detail out of your body and soul. The only thing you can do is smile and wave at the people who have their cold, dead stare on you. Just waiting for this to all be over. When he returns to preaching, you can feel someone staring at you. You turn your head just a little, and you spot Rhett looking, but he turns away quickly and focuses back on the service.

(Rhett’s POV)

There are a million questions running through your head right now. Sunny moved back, she has a kid? Has she moved on? Why didn’t she tell me? You want to know more. But you’re afraid that you're gonna spook her, and she’s gonna run away. Like at the supermarket.

 The only thing you want to do is just hold her, hold her and say you’re sorry. You want things to be the same before everything happened, how she felt underneath your fingertips. How she used to smile and laugh when you said something that you didn’t think was funny. How she wasn't afraid to speak her mind. You just want that Sunny back. Your Sunny back.

The only thing on your mind is always her.

You just have to sit back and watch her live her life how she wants.

The only time she even looks at you is when she sees you staring at her. You look back to the preacher quickly, acting like nothing happened. Just pretending like you were nothing to her. Just some fuck up that had to ruin the only good relationship in his life.

You also see her with a small boy in her lap, snuggling into her chest dozing off. She seems like a good mom. Always taking care of people. So kind and compassionate with others. You just wish you could’ve had a future with her. Only I could dream.

(Back to your POV)

By the end of the service everybody is up out of their seats socializing and making small talk with others. You walk out to your car with your mom and dad. Only to be stopped by the Abbott’s calling you mom and dad’s names, trying to get their attention. First you see Cecilia and Royal, their coming up to your mom and dad talking.

Then you see Perry with a little girl, who you assume is his daughter. Your mom gave you updates on your little town, including the Abbott’s. She told you the oldest Abbott son Perry settled down, got married, and had a kid. But a couple years after his wife disappeared and never came back.

You felt bad for Perry, you also seemed like you were both in the same shoes. Not only being a single parent role, but also not having your partner by your side. Not really caring about the child. But in your situation, you had to leave or become beaten to death by a bloody pulp.

But snapping out of your thoughts you finally see the person you don’t want to see. Your eyes land on Rhett, and the same back at you. You both stand there in awkward silences wondering who's gonna break the ice first.

Rhett’s the first one to speak. “How have ya been?” he asks in a husky tone that runs a shiver down your spine. 

What you really want to say to him is “ Oh, ya know the past couple of years have been my absolute hell. I had to live and be in a relationship with an abusive asshole, who also doesn’t want to claim his own son. So, I had to run away without him knowing. Mind you I have to be here right now talking to someone who is supposed to be my best friend. But things have changed.”

The only thing you can say back to him was “I’ve been good.” Then you both fall back into silence, not wanting to say anything else to each other

The silence once again breaks between the two of you when Oliie waddles his way over to you with Sheriff Joy’s daughter. “Mama!I'm hungy,” he says. Out of the corner of your eye you see Rhett lift his lips up into a smirk. 

“You have a kid?” He asks. You turn back to him, now but you have Ollie on your hip.

“Yeah, this is my son, Ollie.”

“Ollie, this is my fiend Rhett, can you say hi?”

Rhett was taken back. He didn’t think you guys were friends after everything that you’ve been through. What he put you though. But he knew you were just trying to be polite  around your son.

you try to get Ollie to say hi but he hides inside your neck while you talk.

While your baby boy was on your hip, he was starting to slip out of your hold a little bit. So you put him on your hip. In the process it lifts your shirt up, just to expose a little bit of your skin on your stomach. You can see Rhett look down at the patch of skin that was exposed. He sees a big black and blue mark, it looks about the size of his hand. When you see him staring you tug your shirt down, pretending nothing happened.

You don’t want people knowing what your situation was. Especially Rhett. You knew Rhet growing up. You also know him to have a short temper. If he ever found out what Gabe had done to you. He would be a dead man.

Moving back here to Amelia County was a really good decision, you wanted to start anew for Ollie, and for yourself. You really couldn’t imagine Staying with with Gabe after what you had been through.

“Can I take you to dinner… so we can talk?” He asks you suddenly. “I don’t think tha-” “ Please Sunny, I just want to talk, I haven’t seen you in forever. I’ll take you to dinner, we’ll talk, and I’ll drive you straight home. No funny business.” He says, and also putting his hands up in surrender.

You're hesitant at first. Not really believing him for just wanting to talk. But it would be nice catching up with him. See how life’s been treating him. But who would watch Ollie? Your parents might have a prob-

“Sure, I’ll go. But straight to dinner and straight back home.”

Your thoughts were running so quick, you hadn't realized what was coming out of your mouth.

“Sounds like a date. I’ll pick you around 9?” He says with a curious look, and makes sure you won’t deny his request.

“Sounds good also, but let's make it clear, it’s definitely not a date.” You give him a quick smile and walk back to your car. But you were giving a smirk while walking away. You just don’t know that he’s giving one right back.

That’s what he loved about you, you always called on his bullshit. He just wished you were close again, having that amazing bond that on one else had. He can’t wait to see you tomorrow. Just like old times he thinks to himself.

On the other hand, you're thinking you don’t know what you got yourself into.

End.

(Here is some outfit inspo for Ollie and Sunny.😊)

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Home Sweet Home | Chapter 2. Memories

Rhett Abbott x OC Reader

Summary: Sunny Pritchett decides to move back home, but without a reason why. Once she's back she runs into her childhood best, friend Rhett Abbott. Rhett seems very surprised to see her. Not only that, but he sees she has a small child on her hip. Will Sunny try to reconnect with Rhett and tell him the real reason you she's moved back. Or will her past come back and find her until everything blows up.

Warnings: Mental and Physical abuse, PTSD flashbacks, swearing, fighting.

Suprise I'm releasing a new chapter. I've been in a pretty good mood. So, I thought I would give you beautiful people a treat!!

(Bold referents to flashbacks)

7 years ago

Sitting in the back of Rhett’s bed truck, talking about your guy’s future and looking at the sunset. “When I finally graduate, I’m gonna get out of this town. , …and I want you to… come with me? Whaddya say cowboy?” before he could even get a word out I’m gonna become an artist, and you can be a bull rider, and I'll travel with ya’, we’ll still be together.” he really wants to get a word out, but you're going 100 miles per minute.

“We can get an apartment-” “Slow down there Sunny-girl” sitting up and bracing his hands on her shoulders, trying to get her to calm down. "Breathe in and breathe out… there ya go.” Finally getting you to calm down.

After a few seconds he spoke up. “I’ll go with you.” he says in a calm manner. “Y-you’ll go with me?” You stand up to get out of his bed truck and start to pace back and forth. "Because if this is some sick joke Rhett Abbot, you have another thing comin’” you say in a shaky voice. Wondering if this was some sort of a weird dream, seeing if you’ll wake up. But it’s not. He’s actually telling you that he will leave.

He hops out of the truck following you. Grabbing “I’m serious as a heart attack Sunny girl. I’ll be with you for as long as you’ll have me.” You feel tears welling in your eyes, and that leaves Rhett in a confused state.

“A-are you okay Sun? If you don’t want me ta go, I won’t I’ll stay here- oof” He was cut off by you running into his arms, and you both falling to the ground. “I’ll have you forever, as long as you’ll have me too” you say while having the biggest smile on your face. "Plus, you can’t get of me that easily cowboy. You’re stuck with me forever.” kissing his cheek.

You stay in the hug for a little bit longer. Just wanted to stop time, and never let this moment go. You just wish Rhett can stick to his word. Hoping he can truly go with you.

What you didn’t know is this amazing friendship wasn't going to last long after this moment.

“R-Rhett” You say with a shaky voice, scared to day anything else.

Your first thoughts of when you saw Rhett were those happy memories of you together. The one you thought of was when you were sitting in the bed of his truck just looking at the sunset, holding hands. Playing in the parking lot of the church after the service was over. Talking for hours on the phone until both your parents said it was time to go. If you could go back and relive those lovely, amazing memories. You would. But you can’t.

You think and go back to the awful night. “YOU JUST LEAVE EVERYBODY BEHIND!”

Without a beat you abandon your cart, and walk out of the store. After having that awful call with Gaabe, and then seeing Rhett. You just want to go home, snuggle with your baby, and pretend this day and this interaction did not just happen. What you didn’t see was Rhett also leaving his things behind in the market and following after you.

“S-Sunny wait!” He tries to catch up to you but you move too quickly, and you're halfway to your car.

You're opening the door to your car; you look back at him and shake your head. "Don't... D-Don't say anything else." With that warning, he closed his mouth. You get in your car and drive away. But this time you don’t look back. You just want to get back home, and into the comfort of your family.

When you arrive back home you automatically spot Ollie in the living room playing with your dad. They both see you and Ollie gets up and waddles to you.

“Mama!” he yells, wanting to be picked up by you. With a bright smile on your face to pick him up, and he puts his face in the crook of your neck.

“Hello my love, did you enjoy your nap?” you ask. He always comes to you for snuggles after he is done sleeping. He just looks up at you, nods and goes back to sucking his thumb and back into the crook of your neck.

“What happened at the store, you didn’t bring anything back?” your dad asks with question. Still sitting on the floor with a bunch of Ollie's toys.

You completely forgot that you abandoned your cart at the market after the phone call, and then seeing Rhett. You really couldn’t tell your dad what happened, you can’t just say to him “Oh, when I was shopping, I got a phone call from my abusive ex-boyfriend. Then I ran into my childhood best friend completely froze up on the spot and ran away from him.”

You snap out of your thoughts and just blurt out the first thing that come to mind “Oh, they really didn’t have what I needed there. I’ll go somewhere else tomorrow.” Lying right through your teeth. But really that was the only option you thought of. You wish you could tell your parents what was really going on. But you're too scared. Ashamed. It seems like they would judge you for being in such a bad relationship for that long. “Why didn’t you just leave?” “Why would you let him hit you?” All of these questions start swarming your head and you're trying to come up with answers. But for right now you just try your best to shove them deep down and try to listen to your dad again.

He just nods at your answer. With that you leave your dad in the living room cleaning up the toys, and walk into the kitchen and see your mom making dinner.

“Hey mama, whatcha makin.” you ask while trying to see a glimpse of what she's cooking. But failing to do so, she shoos you away. While walking away you stick your tongue out while your mom isn't looking. While you look down at your son, he's copying your exact face.

“I'm just making your favorite home cooked meal" You light up at her response, you were so excited to have her home cooked meals.

"Oh, I just love having all my family together.” she says smiling ear to ear. You can never go wrong with your mama’s homemade chicken n’ dumplings. They are the best thing you’ve ever had. And you couldn’t trade your mothers cooking for the world.

“I forgot to tell you cub, we're going to Sunday service tomorrow. I have a cute little outfit that Ollie can wear.” your mom says while setting the table. Then your dad walked in and gave you a kiss on the back of the head.

“Mom… do we r-really have to go?” sounding just like you 16 year old self. Not liking to go to the service. But no matter what you still went. But you always ended up liking it because of course you would see Rhett, and you always ran up to him and the rest of his family after the service was over.

“I don’t want to hear it, Sunny. You are going to the service tomorrow with me and your dad. End of discussion.” She said with a blunt and straight voice.

Not wanting to argue with your mom, you put an end to the conversation. Then, you set Ollie down in his high chair. Getting him ready to eat dinner. After that you all are sitting at the table passing around food getting ready to eat.

Then, you think “Oh Shit!” you realize the only other family that goes to the service with them was the Abbott’s. You knew for a fact that know matter what Rhett did, he always tried to get out of a service day. But Cecilia Abbottbeing the woman she is, she saw right through him and made him go anyway. 

After everything is out and ready to eat dinner “Who wants to say grace?” your mother says, while putting some more food on her plate. “Sunny, why don’t you say it, you haven’t in so long.” 

You look at your mother with your pleading eyes, you really don’t want to. Then, you look over at your dad, but he’s staring right back at you with a warning look, but in the end you give in, and have no control over it.

You all put your hands together.While saying grace you just think to yourself how this day might get any crazier. 

What you didn’t know, this is just the beginning.

End.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. ❤️

Reblogs are always welcome. Unless you're under 18. I will block you. and comment if you wanted to be added to the taglist.

Taglist: @callsign-magnolia @roosterforme @angelbabyyy99

dividers are by @saradika

I LOVE THIS!! ❤️❤️

In Case You Didn’t Know

Part 2

Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin x You

Summary: Jake struggles to ask for your help.

Warnings: 18+ MDNI (no smut in this chapter but there will be in future ones), mentions of teen pregnancy, adult language, etc.

•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•

“Charlie, we need to talk. I need you…r help.”

“Name it,” you reply.

You meant it too. You could never repay him or his family for everything they did for you and your mom.

Starting with your mom. You had been conceived on prom night, shortly after Lisa turned 18. Your sperm donor was the town’s golden boy who denied you were his and took off for college without looking back. Her parents wanted her to ‘get rid of it’ and kicked her out when she refused.

With $700 in cash, a suitcase, and her car, she drove west with California on her mind. Life had other plans though; her car broke down in the middle of Texas. The heat mixed with lack of water and abundance of stress brought her to tears, but then Ruth pulled up with a matching pregnant belly of her own.

Ruth and Tom helped Lisa find a job, a place of her own, and made her a part of their family by the time you came along. They helped raise you too.

“I don’t even know where to start,” he sighs, rubbing his temples.

“You had to eject and then were in the hospital, right? What did the doctors say?” You prompt, sensing there’s more but allowing him to leave out what he isn’t ready to share.

“Yeah. They wanted to send me for rehab at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton and I just…panicked and said I’d go home, not remembering that Ma and Dad are gone for another 2 weeks. I was fine with asking if you’d help me out with the physical therapy but this-“

“Will you stay with me and let me help you? There, I asked so you don’t have to,” you smile.

“That’d be great,” he laughs, squeezing your knee.

“Did you call your parents? Do they know?”

He shakes his head. “No. I’ll know they’ll turn right around if I did and you know how special this is for them.”

You nod. They were on a road trip, spreading some of Lisa’s ashes in the favorite places she and Ruth traveled to.

“Your mom is gonna tan your hide…and probably mine when she finds out you,” you sigh. “Did the doctor send your records? Orders? A plan of care?

“Yeah, in my bag,” he winces as he tries to sit up.

“I’ll get ‘em. What hurts? Leg? Shoulders?”

“Everything,” he sighs.

“Why don’t I get you in the tub and you can soak while I look at your records?”

“That sounds good.”

•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•

After feeding him and another round of NSAIDs, you hand him the crutches.

“The crutches are set too low,” you observe out loud.

“That doesn’t surprise me. I pretty much took them and ran.”

You shake your head.

“You’re a terrible patient,” you say as you guide him to sit at the edge of the tub.

“I know.”

“You better not pull that shit with me,” you tease as you kneel and begin to wrap the cast with plastic wrap.

“I won’t, I’ll be good for you.”

You gulp, hoping he doesn’t notice the flush rising to your cheeks.

“How’d you manage to get all the way here on a bum leg?”

“Rooster. He picked me up from the hospital, helped me pack, and then brought me to the airport. He sweet-talked TSA and they let him bring me all the way to the gate,” he laughs. “It got a little tricky when I landed but an older guy saw me struggling and brought my suitcase to the Uber. The driver took it out of the trunk when he dropped me off and was going to bring it to your porch but I insisted I was good. As you could see, I was not good.”

“No, you were not,” you agree, rising to help him stand and step into the tub. “Okay, now shirt off.”

“Yes ma’am,” he replies, pulling off his shirt and tossing it past you.

You can’t help but gasp at the deep bruising on each shoulder. “Oh, Jake.”

“It’s okay. So how…?” He trails off wondering how much of him you’re going to have to see.

“I’ll help you down if you can slip your shorts and underwear off like that?”

“Yeah, that should work.”

It’s a process but you do it and close the curtain to give him privacy and he drops his shorts out of the side.

“All set,” he says.

“Not a fan of underwear?” You tease.

“One less layer to try and pull on,” he replies.

You toss a washcloth over so he can cover up while you place a bath stool in next.

“It’s gonna be cold,” you warn once his leg is propped, turning the water on.

He hisses when the water touches him, but it warms quickly.

“A bath bomb? Really?” He asks as you drop one in.

“Yes, an Epsom salt bath bomb. Should help with the soreness.”

“Mmkay. Smells nice,” he sighs.

You leave to find the paperwork and turn the water off when you come back, sitting on the closed toilet lid.

“It looks like they want daily PT, a follow-up with orthopedics this week and…for you to see a counselor,” you say, reading the notes.

“Yeah, they think I have PTSD,” he says quietly behind the curtain.

“Okay well I can see if my counselor can take you on, she does virtual care. I will obviously take care of the PT, and I’ll ask Dr. Hayes if he’ll fit you in,” you say.

“I’m sure he’ll fit me in if you fit him in,” he mutters.

He almost sounds jealous.

“I’ve never ‘fit him in’. It was one date. He’s a great guy, it just…wasn’t right.”

He wasn’t right because he wasn’t Jake. Just like every other failed relationship.

“You see a counselor?” Jake asks, changing the subject.

“Yeah, I started after mom died, it’s helped a lot.”

“Good, yeah that’d be cool if she could see me. God this feels amazing. I don’t know the last time I took a bath.”

“Enjoy it. The hard work starts tomorrow.”

•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•

You throw a load of laundry in and start on supper while he relaxes.

“Charlie? Can you help?” He calls from the bathroom, frustration lacing his tone.

“What’s up?” You ask from the doorway.

“Every time I raise my arms to wash my hair I start sliding down,” he sighs.

“Hand me the shampoo.”

The groan he lets out when you massage it into his scalp is downright sinful and sends a shot of arousal straight between your legs.

“That good, huh?” You laugh, hoping he doesn’t notice the flush rising up your neck.

“Mmm,” he hums in agreement, and your eye catches the washcloth over his groin twitching.

“Sit up a little and I’ll get your back,” you tell him as you soap up your hands.

He obliges and his head drops forward with a heavy exhale as you wash his back.

“Feels good too,” he murmurs, sucking in a breath tensing when you get to his lower back, almost to the top of his butt.

“Sorry, does that hurt?”

“No, I’m uh…ticklish.”

“Your back is ticklish?”

“No, but my ass is,” he mutters, pink staining his cheeks.

“Interesting,” you laugh, scoffing when he gently splashes you. “I assume you can get the rest? Wouldn’t want to tickle you.”

He snatches the washcloth from your outstretched hand. “Yes. I got it.”

You laugh, closing the curtain to let him finish washing before handing him the detachable showerhead to rinse.

You manage to get him out of the shower with only one accidental view of his butt and no falls, but you’re just as wet as him now.

His eyes darken when he looks over your chest at the wet t-shirt clinging to your bra-less breasts.

“I’m uh…gonna go change. I’ll grab your clothes. Be right back!” You rush out as you close the door.

Your heart races as you pick some clothes out of his suitcase.

What is happening?

His phone is vibrating nonstop, so you bring it too.

“I’m decent,” he says when you knock.

“Here, I brought your phone too. It was buzzing like crazy.”

“Thanks, I’ll be out in a few.”

“Holler if you need me,” you say as you walk to your room, fanning yourself the whole way.

•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•

Jake ignores his erection as he unlocks his phone, realizing he forgot to let Bradshaw know he made it safely.

🐓: You make it okay?

🐓: Have you fallen and can’t get up?

🐓: ?

🐓: I’m about to text Charlie. Maybe I’ll ask her out too.

🐓: Dude. I’m actually starting to worry.

3 missed calls from 🐓.

Jake: Sorry man, I forgot. I’m exhausted.

Jake: Also, fuck off. Leave Charlie alone.

🐓: Glad you’re okay.

🐓: You finally gonna tell her how you feel?

Jake: I can’t. I can’t lose her if she doesn’t feel the same.

🐓: Pretty sure she does. I’ve seen the way she looks at you.

Jake: I don’t know…I just don’t know. Where would I even start?

🐓: Tell her how you called her name when you were about to die. Chicks dig sappy shit like that.

Jake: 🤦🏼‍♂️ and you wonder why you’re single.

•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•

A/N: Got a little bit of their families histories and why they’re so close. The tension is starting to rise ☺️

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THIS IS SUCH A GOOD STORY!!!

Ch. 2: Two weeks and Counting Down

Warning: Mention of miscarriage. Some chapters have sex.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Top Gun: Maverick world, trademarked by Paramount Pictures Corporation. I do not claim ownership of the characters and the world that I am borrowing.

The story and situation I am creating are a work of my imagination and I do not ascribe them to official story canon. This work is for entertainment only and is not a part of the storyline.

I am not profiting financially from the creation and publication of this story, but I do hope it gives you happy thoughts.

These stories are my own, so please do not take them and use them for yourself without my permission. If you see them somewhere else, please let me know. :)

You steered the Expedition off the main road, guiding it onto the lengthy driveway leading to your home.

Jake looked around, his curiosity piqued. "Where is this?"

"We're on the driveway to our house," you explained.

As you continued, trees bordered both sides of the driveway, creating a secluded path. Gradually, the tree line began to thin, revealing fencing on the left side as the landscape opened up to your property.

Jake's eyes widened in amazement as the log cabin emerged into view. You directed the vehicle toward the garage, which automatically opened, allowing you to smoothly park inside. As you switched off the engine, the garage door began to lower behind you. Opening the truck's door, you were greeted by the sight of Chuck standing in the doorway to the mudroom.

Turning to Jake, you offered a gentle, "Welcome home." Then, you stepped out of the truck, and Jake, taking in his surroundings, opened his door to follow suit.

In his early to late fifties, standing about 5'8" tall and dressed in Wrangler jeans paired with a flannel shirt, Chuck approached the Expedition. His white hair was just visible beneath a well-worn baseball hat. As he neared, he announced, "Dinner's ready, Y/N."

"Thanks, Chuck," you responded with warmth in your voice. Turning to facilitate the introduction, you said, "Chuck, meet my husband, Lieutenant Jake Seresin. Jake, this is Chuck." You made the introductions as Jake walked over to join you.

Chuck extended his hand, offering a respectful greeting, "It's nice to finally meet you, Sir."

Jake accepted the handshake. "Likewise," he said, his gaze briefly wandering around the garage.

"Chuck, there are 4 bags in the truck. Could you grab them and bring them to," you started, glancing at Jake for a moment. He met your gaze.

"The master bedroom," Jake concluded.

"The master bedroom," you repeated, directing your attention back to Chuck. "I'd like to give my husband a quick tour of our house."

"Of course, Doc," Chuck replied, ready to assist.

As Chuck busied himself with retrieving the bags from the back of the truck, you focused on Jake, seizing the opportunity to share more about the home he was returning to.

"The place is heated," you mentioned casually, then gestured towards a section enclosed by a barn-style door. "Over there's the workshop. Chuck's pretty handy with repairs, too."

Jake followed your gaze to the workshop area, his interest piqued. "That's good to know. I might have a thing or two that needs fixing," he said, a hint of curiosity in his tone.

You smiled, walking closer to the barn-style door to give him a better view. "We've got a decent setup. Anything from vehicle repairs to some basic carpentry. Chuck has been invaluable around here."

As you slid the door open, revealing the organized chaos typical of a well-used workshop, Jake stepped in closer, inspecting the array of tools and machinery. "Looks like you've got everything you need."

"Yeah, Chuck likes to keep things organized. Says it makes the work go smoother," you explained, watching Jake as he ran his hand over a workbench, inspecting the tools laid out.

He turned to you, a thoughtful look on his face. "I used to help my uncle in his workshop back when I was a kid. Taught me a lot about fixing things, making do with what you have."

"It's a valuable skill to have," you agreed, closing the distance between you two. "Especially out here. It's not like we can just run to the store for every little thing."

Jake nodded, his gaze lingering on a half-assembled engine on one of the benches. "Maybe I can help out around here, too. It's been a while, but I'm sure it'll come back to me."

"I'm sure he'd be into that," you said, catching the direction of his gaze which had settled on a partially assembled engine. "I believe that's from the tractor."

"Come on. There's so much more to see, and tonight you'll only get a glimpse of it." You began to lead the way towards the door that opened into the mudroom.

Jake followed you, his steps mirroring your own anticipation. As you reached the door to the mudroom, you paused, hand on the knob, and glanced back at him. "Ready?"

He nodded, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Lead the way."

Opening the door, you stepped into the mudroom, a well-organized space that immediately spoke of a home lived in and loved. The aroma of the outdoors mixed with the scent of clean laundry filled the air. You pointed out the various features, "Here's where the magic happens after a long day's work. Laundry, pet wash station, and plenty of storage. That bathroom is attached to the guest bedroom."

Jake's gaze wandered over the room, taking in the practical yet cozy setup. "I like it. It's... homey."

"That door over there takes you down the back porch steps and out towards the stables," you explained, moving towards the sliding barn door that would lead into the kitchen and living area.

The kitchen, living room, and dining room flowed together in an open concept layout, imbuing the space with a rustic charm.

Jake surveyed the surroundings, visibly mesmerized. "You built and planned all of this?"

"Yup," you confirmed with a sense of pride. "It was a lot of work, but worth every moment," you continued, watching as Jake absorbed the details of the space. "I wanted a home that felt welcoming, where every corner had a story or a purpose."

Jake walked over to the dining area, running his hand along the back of one of the chairs before turning to face you. "It's incredible. It has warmth, character… It's a reflection of us."

You couldn't help but blush at the compliment. "Thank you. I hoped to create a place that felt like a sanctuary, somewhere we could find peace and comfort."

He nodded, understandingly. "You've succeeded. It's more than just a house; it's a home."

Chuck descended the stairs, interrupting the moment with a practical inquiry, "Are you ready for dinner?"

You glanced at Jake, giving him the opportunity to respond.

"Yeah, I'm actually pretty hungry," he admitted, his attention shifting from the house's interior to the matter of dinner.

"Great," Chuck responded, his tone amiable. "I thought, considering the nights have been getting chillier, we'd have chili tonight." His suggestion seemed to perfectly suit the cozy, rustic atmosphere of the house.

"That sounds perfect," you agreed, pleased with the idea. "Chili is always a great choice for a chilly evening." You smiled at the unintended pun.

Jake chuckled. "Sounds good to me. I can't remember the last time I had homemade chili."

Chuck nodded towards you, "The dining room is all set for you."

"Thank you, Chuck," you replied, appreciating his attention to detail.

He then shifted his attention to Jake, "Is there anything in particular you'd like to drink?"

Jake gave a casual shrug. "A beer is fine," he responded, settling into the homely atmosphere.

"Coming up," Chuck acknowledged, before disappearing down a staircase to fetch the drink.

"Come on. This way to the dining room," you beckoned Jake, leading him to another area nearby.

As the two of you entered the dining room, the ambiance immediately struck you. Candles flickered softly, casting a warm glow in the dimly lit space, creating an intimate and welcoming atmosphere.

The centerpiece of the dining room was a large pine table, accompanied by matching chairs, all contributing to the room's rustic appeal. The wood's natural texture and the room's subtle, earthy tones created a sense of warmth and coziness, enhancing the intimate atmosphere set by the candlelight.

"You can sit wherever you like," you offered, gesturing to the table.

Jake looked around, then asked, "Where do you normally sit?"

You pointed to a specific chair. "When family is here, I sit at the head of the table."

"Then I'll sit next to you," he decided.

As you moved to navigate around Jake, he unexpectedly stepped in front of you, prompting you to stop and look up at him.

"Y/N…" Jake began, but his words were interrupted as Chuck re-entered the room, prompting you both to step apart.

"Here's your beer, Sir," Chuck said, extending the beverage to Jake.

Jake took the beer with a nod of gratitude. "Thank you."

"Dinner will be served shortly," Chuck announced, ready to bring in the meal.

"Great, thanks, Chuck," you replied, appreciating Chuck's help and timing as you sat down in the chair.

The interruption had momentarily paused your conversation with Jake, but as Chuck went back to the kitchen, there was a brief moment of silence between you two.

You looked at Jake, sensing there was something he wanted to say. "You were about to say something?" you prompted gently, encouraging him to continue.

Jake took a sip of his beer, gathering his thoughts. "I was just going to say… it's really nice here. You've done an amazing job with this place. It feels like a real home," he responded as he sat down in the chair to the left of you.

You smiled, touched by his words. "Thanks, Jake. That means a lot. I wanted to create a place that felt welcoming and comfortable."

The conversation was interrupted again as Chuck returned, this time with bowls of chili. The savory aroma filled the room.

"I'll leave you two to catch up," Chuck said and left.

Jake's gaze lingered on his wife, a mix of emotions swirling within him. Guilt crept in as he remembered how upset he had been when she chose not to quit school after their loss. It was a difficult time, and the distance that had grown between them in the past four years felt more profound in this moment of reflection.

He sighed, his eyes wandering over the dining room. Despite everything, he couldn't help but feel impressed by what you had accomplished in their time apart. The home you had built was a testament to you resilience and dedication. It was clear you had considered both their tastes and needs in its design, creating a space that was both a reflection of your strength and a potential haven for your shared future.

Jake's internal struggle was evident as he continued to observe his surroundings. The home spoke volumes about the person you had become in his absence. It was warm, welcoming, and meticulously crafted—a stark contrast to the empty spaces he had grown accustomed to in his military life.

Realizing the gravity of his past decisions and the impact they had on your relationship, Jake turned to you with a newfound sense of understanding and humility. "Y/N," he began, his voice carrying a hint of vulnerability. "I've been thinking about everything...about us. I know I haven't been there for you like I should have, especially after...after our loss."

You looked at him, your eyes reflecting a mix of surprise and cautious hope. You could sense the sincerity in his voice, something you hadn't felt from him in a long time.

Jake continued, "I was wrong to expect you to put your life on hold. What you've done here, it's incredible. You've built a life, a home, and I... I want to be a part of it, if you'll have me."

There was a long pause as you processed his words. The pain and misunderstandings of the past few years hung heavily between them, but so did the love and shared history they couldn't deny.

Finally, you spoke, your voice soft but steady. "Jake, I've missed you. I've missed us. But we can't just go back to how things were. We need to rebuild, to learn about each other again."

Jake nodded, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "I agree. I want to do that. I want to understand you, to support you. I want us to be a team again."

You took a moment, collecting you thoughts before asking, "When do you have to go back?"

Jake answered, "I have two weeks until I have to go back."

Hearing this, you met his gaze with a determined look. "Then we'll make it the best two weeks we've got." Your voice carried a mix of resolve and hope, signaling a willingness to make the most of the limited time you had together.

Tags:

@buckysteveloki-me

@bellyliveslife

@tgmreader

@callsign-barbell

@86laura11

@dizzybee03

@kmc1989

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!!

Home Sweet Home | Chapter 1. Back to You

Rhett Abbott x OC Reader

Summary: Sunny Pritchett decides to move back home, but without a reason why. Once she's back she runs into her childhood best, friend Rhett Abbott. Rhett seems very surprised to see her. Not only that, but he sees she has a small child on her hip. Will Sunny try to reconnect with Rhett and tell him the real reason you she's moved back. Or will her past come back and find her until everything blows up.

Warnings: Mental and Physical abuse, PTSD flashbacks, swearing, fighting.

The Summer breeze felt so fresh on your skin, it almost felt like a part of you. Looking in the mirror you see your baby boy sound asleep. Not really having a care in the world. Looking back on your life the past 8 years, was very bittersweet. Having Ollie wasn’t really in the cards. You weren’t really sure if you would have kids. But after your son was born, and seeing him take his first breath into life, you would trade it for the world. But you would question the father of your son. The reason you're driving away from him without him knowing. But none of that sad stuff you start to think, you are starting a new life with your son and having a better future for him and for yourself too. Also, only telling your mom and dad that you were moving back, they were excited not only their baby was coming back home, but they would also finally get to see their grandbaby. 

Gabe never let your parents see Ollie when he was first born. Telling you “I just want it to be us when he’s born.” You never really questioned him, only because he would tell you off. Or on occasion he would like to push you around, almost killing you one time. So, you fell for his little game. But in the end, it was too late to call your parents. Also, Gabe wasn’t with you either when you were in labor. He went out drinking and never came back until 2 days later.

But you were finally leaving that part of your life behind. A life you never want to look back on, especially with your son. You never wanted Ollie growing up around someone who was so unbearable, and tortuous around you. Especially a person who would physically and mentally hurt you. Until you were only a shell of yourself. You just wish you could never see that part of yourself ever again.

With a couple more minutes of driving, you finally pull up to your childhood home. Immediately spotting the little tire swing, thinking back to when you would be on it all day playing with Rhett. Always asking him to push you higher and wanting to always reach for the clouds. Rhett even though you were 6 and 7, and not that much strength he always gave his all trying to make your dream come true. 

Leaving your thoughts behind you spot your parents. Edith and Robert Pritchett were loving parents, loving and supporting. Not really happy when they couldn’t see their first grandchild in the world. But they always got updates on Ollie and sent videos of him when he said his first words or taking his first steps. They were always there for you. They never really understood what happened between you and Gabe, but that really didn’t matter right now. They are just happy their baby and grandbaby are here. 

Walking up to the house with a sleeping baby on your hip snuggled into your neck and walking up to your mom and dad greeting them with a hug and a kiss on the head.

“Did you have to drive long?” your mother asked coming up to you with an excited expression on her face. Finally having her baby home safe in her arms.

“No mama, we stopped a couple of times, got a little fussy" pointing your head towards Ollie. "But we're here.” I spoke.

“I’m so happy to have you home, we have a lot of catching up to do”, eyeing Ollie with a little smile. Walking up to your dad wrapping you up in a bear hug, whispering in your hair “Glad to have you home cub.”

Trying to hold back tears you have not heard that nickname in such a long time. The last time you ever remember your dad calling you cub was when you were leaving to go to the city.

The only thing you can say back is “It’s good to be home… I-I missed you daddy.”

“You too”

Walking into your home and getting hit with a scent of your childhood. The smell of cinnamon when you would bake desserts with your mom every Sunday after church. The other scent of fresh firewood, from using the fireplace in the family room when it got chilly outside. All happy memories flood in like a big hug, and you never want to let go.

Climbing up the steps to your old room was nerve wracking. Wondering if your room was the same as you left it, boy band posters on the wall, childhood drawings that were framed by your mom even though you ask her a million times not to. But knowing her she will do it anyways. Walking in was just like you never left. Sometimes you wish you never did leave the comfort of your home, just wanting to be in the comfort and protection of your family. 

Looking around you see your bed the same way you left it when you moved. Almost looks like you never left. You move to the bed to lay Ollie down and put pillows around him, so he won't fall. Looking at his soft features on his face and thanking God he didn’t get any of his features or looks. He is a little carbon copy of yourself. His little nose wrinkles when you brush away the hair on his forehead. Then, kissing his forehead and slowly and quietly trying to put up his pack and play together but you realize he’s probably going to sleep with you in your bed. 

He’s a mama’s boy through and through.

You leave your sleeping baby in your room to finish out his nap, you go downstairs and sit in the living room to watch some tv trying to relax and settle your mind. For some reason you keep getting random phone calls from an unknown number. She didn’t believe it was Gabe because she knew his number, and she did delete his number from her phone and bought a new one before she left. She had some money saved from her 2 waitressing jobs. Those 2 jobs were the only thing keeping you and Ollie afloat. Even though Gabe had a job, he would take a little “vacation” only to find out when you showed up to his job, he was fired for missing work and sleeping with the boss.

You knew that was the last straw you had with Gabe. But you started to feel this deep pang in your chest. You realized you finally want to leave him after he cheated on you. You didn't want to leave him when he was beating you. Not when he would call you worthless, and stupid. If you would go back in time, you would leave the second he laid a hand on you. Or even called you names. But you blame yourself. You decided to stay, and this was the life you chose. You wish you could go back to the little girl you once were. The little girl who didn’t have a care in the world, who would sing at the top of her lungs in the car while driving to church, and who loved and cared about anyone that walked into her life.

But now you have to be careful who you bring into your little life. Epically who you would bring around Ollie, he was your whole world. You would want to see your baby heartbroken. 

Snapping out of your own thoughts and wiping the tears that were running down your face. You sat on the couch with the remote in your hand, flipping through channels to see what was good on tv. Your dad is sitting in his usual spot. In his big lounge chair with a beer in his hand and watching time go by. While in the background you hear the house phone ring, and your mom answers it. Only to find out it was none other than Cecilia Abbott.

“Hello Celeila, how are ya doin' dear.” Trying to ignore the phone call you continue to flip through the channels. But you can’t seem to keep your mind off the phone call. You try to listen in. But the only thing you can hear clearly is your mom saying, “And so how are things with Rhett?” You clearly don’t want to know what was going on with Rhett. You pass the remote to your dad and go upstairs to fetch your purse.

Needing to distract your mind and also needing to go to the market to buy some things for yourself and Ollie. You slowly tip-toe into your room and grab your bag. After that you walk over to your still sleeping baby and kiss him again on the forehead trying not to wake him. You softly whisper “I’ll see you soon baby.” Then slowly make your way back downstairs. 

Once you are back down you say to your parents “Going to the store and getting some stuff, need anything?” “Where fine honey, be careful” your mom says. You walk out the door to get in your car to go to the store. 

Walking up and down the aisle grabbing just the necessities. Diapers, wipes, body wash and some food you plan on making with your mom. You see your phone lights up inside your bag, when you grab it you look at the screen, and it’s the same unknown number. You just want to get this stupid number to stop calling you, you don’t think twice and answer. “Hello… anybody there. Or are you just gonna not talk and keep ignorin’ me?” Your drawl coming out and speaking in an aggravated tone.

“Hey Sunny girl… Why’d ya leave.” You tense up. Hearing that raspy, low voice sends a chill down your spine. So many questions run through your mind. How did he get your number? Does he know you're back home? Where is he?

You don’t say anything back, you're too frightened to speak up. He speaks again “I miss you baby, please come hom-” “D-Don't ever call this p-phone again and stay a-away from my f-family.” Without any other thought you hang up, shove your phone in your purse and try to make your way through the market so you can go home and be with Ollie, and the rest of your family. Where you're safe and protected.

Ollie’s safe and protected. 

When you're walking up to the cashier line, you hear a husky low voice call out for you from behind.

“Sunny girl… is that you?”

You slowly turn around and your skin goes cold, you just stand there and freeze like you're a statue. Once again, you're too frightened to speak. The only thing you can say in such a quiet voice, not caring if he can hear you or not.

“R-Rhett”

End.

Once again, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I'm so excited to be on this journey with all of you.❤️❤️

Reblogs are always welcome. Unless you're under 18. I will block you. and comment if you wanted to be added to the taglist.

Taglist: @callsign-magnolia @roosterforme @angelbabyyy99

dividers are by @saradika

this series is soo amazing, i cannot wait until the next part!!!

Why Me? - Part 8

Pairing: Bob Floyd x Mitchell! Female Reader (Callsign Mantis)

Warnings: Descriptions of injuries, flashbacks, abuse, blood, violence, getting kicked out, forbidden relationship, swearing, pining

Word Count: 10k (i'm so sorry)

Summary: An insight to the past has you remembering just how hurt you were. You're still refusing to talk to your dad, and he isn't quite sure how to get you to open up. Even after a meeting with Cyclone, you're reminded you still have an entire team ready to back you up. Rooster is ready to apologize and welcome you back, but are you? (Also, can dogfight football really fix everything?)

A/N: Wow, I really didn't mean for it to get this long but here we are. But also I did procrastinate my homework to do this, and I don't regret it. I hope you all enjoy! Comments and reblogs literally make me cry tears of joy, happy reading!

Masterlist

10 years ago

Driving your beat up Toyota Corolla down the streets to your mom’s extravagant home was nothing new to you. The anticipatory anxiety wasn’t new either. You had memorized your mom’s work schedule to know when she would or wouldn’t be home when you got back from school, but lately it’s been a little erratic. Almost as much as she was. So was the real estate market you supposed.

You sigh in relief when you don’t see her car in the driveway. In these moments you thanked her husband for owning three cars and parking them all in the garage. You, of course, get to park on the street, which added a couple extra dents to your car that weren’t there before, but you weren’t one to complain. Disappointed maybe, that your pride and joy you spent your summers working at the local smoothie joint to afford, was a little more rough around the edges than when you purchased it.

You check the mailbox at the curb before going in. Of course it was empty. It became a habit ever since you applied to USNA to check the mailbox daily, hopefully to intercept the good or bad news before anyone else could see it. 

The house is quiet as you enter, all three of your step-siblings must be with their mom. And Bret, your step-dad, doesn’t get home until after 5:00 most days, leaving you to your own devices. Even if you wanted to do something fun with the house to yourself, you never dare. The second your mom comes home she would notice if a single crumb was left in the sink. You have been on the receiving end of her anger at the state of the house too many times to count, even if it was Bret’s kids who made it. But of course, she wasn’t going to get mad at them. It always ended up being your fault somehow.

Still, you grab a snack and try carefully not to drop any of the pretzels as you go to your room. It was homework all the time in your last semester of High School. You were still waiting to hear from the Naval Academy, but you wanted your good grades to follow through to the very end of the year. Hours of taking notes kept your hand cramped, but it would all be worth it in the end. At least that’s what you kept telling yourself.  You had spent the last four years working ridiculously hard to maintain your grades, all in the hopes of getting the opportunity your dad and Bradley weren’t afforded. Of course, you’ll never know if Bradley would have been accepted anyway. Which is why you were all too happy to keep this little secret to yourself.

Only a couple short hours later you hear the front door unlock and slam shut. It rattles you out of the Physics textbook you were intently studying, as you straighten up. Whatever she was mad about, it wasn’t good. It was the sound of her heels clacking up the stairs that set you on edge. As they get louder and closer to your room, you turn to face her right as she throws the door wide open. Privacy not a concept she was familiar with. You don’t even notice the bundle of mail in her hand as her eyes glare absolute daggers at you.

“Hi mom, how was work?”, you attempt to start the conversation civilly. It paints you more as a mouse, the way it comes out in a squeak. Her manicured claws squeeze harder around the letters as she throws all but one onto the floor.

“What is this?”, she seethes, holding out the large envelope addressed to you. Your blood runs cold as your shaky hands take it from her and the USNA insignia in the top left corner is revealed.

“I-”, you swallow, “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”, she blinks.

“I’m sure it’s some sort of recruiting thing they send to all seniors”, you try to reason. She clicks her tongue, folding her arms.

“Then open it and let’s find out.” There is no room for argument as she raises her brows for you to continue, her eyes still alight with pure rage. Your heart beats faster as your shaky fingers slowly tear open the envelope. They don’t stop as you withdraw the paper. Tears start to form in your eyes as you read the first line of the letter. The excitement you had for any of this is quickly overrun by fear as your mom interrupts you.

“Read it outloud.” Swallowing, you clear your throat without giving her a look and start to read.

“Dear Miss Mitchell, congratulations. We are pleased to offer you an appointment to the United States Naval Academy…”, your voice wavers off toward the end. The moment you had so looked forward to was being tainted as you spoke. You begin to chew on your lip as your eyes slowly make their way back to your mom. Her jaw is set as she stares you down. “Mom-”

“I don’t even know where to start with you”, she seethes. “After years and years of wasting my own life to give you one, this is how you repay me? By throwing it all away, and for what? The chance to be like your father? Or- or Carole’s kid who can’t even be bothered to talk to you anymore?” The use of Carole’s name has you snapping your head back from where it hung in fear.

“Don’t talk about them.” She scoffs at your tiny show of courage.

“I just don’t understand how you could do this to me! You’re not going.” She says with an edge of finality.

“What?”

“You aren’t going. That is final. No daughter of mine will be sucked into this trap.” Staring back down at your lap, you hope to find one last bit of courage sewn within the denim of your jeans.

“Mom, I’m- I’m going”, you manage to stutter out.

“No you’re not”, she bites back. “You know how I feel about your father, about this, and for some reason I just can’t get through to you.” She scoffs again and paces around your room, heels clicking with each step. You stand as she inspects the picture frames on your bookshelf, it wouldn’t be the first time she broke something of yours, and you want to be able to stop it if it happens again. “Do you know how much I gave up to raise you? How hard it was- is to be your mother?” What she says doesn’t hurt as much as it used to when you were younger, but it still stings every time. Like rubbing salt in an old wound that didn’t heal properly.

“I didn’t ask to be brought into this world”, you defend, your voice raising slightly. “And I’m sorry if it was so hard to be my mom, but you’re the one who brought me back after every summer. You could have left me with my dad if I was that much of a burden to you!” Before you’re able to register it, she’s moved closer and has her claws wrapped around your arms, pushing you against your desk. In her heels she’s only a couple inches taller than you, but it feels much bigger as she towers over you.

“Do NOT talk back to me you ungrateful brat!” Her fingers grow tighter as she shakes you. You blink rapidly as you wince in pain. “Your father is my biggest regret in life. I wouldn’t have wasted all those years raising his child just to know you would end up being just like him.” She steps away, gathering her thoughts as she turns her back to you. You thought it was only possible to feel fear when in your mother’s presence, even if you were ever angry it was quickly tamped down by the threat of her own rage. This feeling now is new. The one that has you clenching your fists, gathering the courage from the back of your mind to say something. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s all come down to this one boiling point. And you weren’t about to give up your dreams just to keep the peace one last time.

“Stop blaming me for all your downfalls, when you’re the one who slept with him in the first place!” You don’t see it coming. The backhand you had grown used to smacks across your face, causing you to fall back and slide to the floor. The taste of metal fills your mouth as you bring your hand to cradle where she just hit. The spot on your lip you had been chewing earlier has split from her ring, blood coating your fingers as you bring them away from your mouth. She eyes her ring, taking it off and pocketing it to clean later.

As your face starts to throb as your jaw wobbles, the woman before you crouches and puts her finger in your face while you cower on the floor. “When you leave, don’t even bother coming back. I mean it. Don’t come crying to me when you realize you can’t last a day, because once you exit this house, you are not my daughter anymore.”

You start packing that night. The rooms at the Academy aren’t available until a couple weeks before the school year starts, but you want to be ready when they are.

You go to school the next day, turn in your homework like you always do, and if people ask about your lip, you tell them the same little lie, “I was just playing basketball and it bounced wrong and hit me in the face.” They seem to believe it, even though you don’t have a hoop, or a basketball for that matter.

When you drive home the first thing you notice is all the boxes on the front porch. Your boxes. Scrambling to the front door, you attempt to unlock it with your key, but it doesn’t fit the lock. Your mom’s car sits in the driveway as you knock and knock, eventually pleading with her to let you in. The house remains silent, as if she isn’t in the kitchen nursing a glass of wine.

Realizing there’s nothing you can do, you pack your car with the few possessions you have and start driving. The tears start falling down your face as you look in your rearview mirror and see what little boxes your entire life has been packed into. You find yourself at a local park, one you’ve passed everyday on your way to school. The sun is shining as you pull out your phone and decide to make one last ditch attempt for help. Clicking Bradley’s name, you hold your phone to your ear and beg as it rings that he picks up. Just this once. The robotic voice tells you he’s unable to get to the phone as you hang your head, your split lip pouting until the beep indicates it’s your turn to talk.

“Hey Bradley. I know we haven’t talked in a while”, you sniffle, “but if there’s any chance you’re hearing this, please pick up”, you start to sob. “I really need to talk to you… I don’t know who else to- to call. Just please, please call me back.” You manage in between your cries. “I miss you, and I hope you’re ok.” You click the button to end it before you ramble on too much. Staring back up to the park, you watch the families playing with their kids. A mom chasing her daughter as she hides behind the slide, a dad throwing a baseball with his son. If someone were to look on they’d probably find it creepy, but you don’t care. You stay until it gets dark, and even after you end up staying your first night of many in your car.

Present Day

Cyclone’s office is unarguably the largest on base. The fact that he has his own waiting room and assistant is a testament to that fact. You’re sitting in said waiting room, across from Rooster, who is still sporting a large bruise. It’s starting to turn the slightest shade of green on the outside, but it’s still rather purple.

Your dad- or Captain Mitchell right now, is inside with Cyclone, discussing the potential for you to be punished. At least that’s what you’re assuming since you assaulted an officer. After dinner Saturday, your dad attempted to talk to you but you shut him out and stayed in your room all night. It wasn’t any better yesterday. He gave you your space, but you could hear him pacing downstairs the entire day, just waiting for you to come out. Bob checked in a couple times just to see how you were feeling, but other than that you kept to yourself.

You didn’t leave your room at all, even when your dad eventually came up to bring you food, he left it outside your door. All while letting you know he was going to be on base early tomorrow to talk to Cyclone, allowing you to drive by yourself this morning. You had barely stepped foot on base when you were intersected by Warlock telling you Admiral Simpson wanted to see you in his office. It struck you with panic causing you to start chewing on your lip, and it didn’t bode well that Rooster was also there waiting when you arrived.

Rooster clears his throat and your stern gaze shoots up to him.

“Sorry”, he quickly lets out. Taking a deep breath in, you let your head fall back to the wall and allow the awkward silence to continue. It occurred to you when you sat down how much this felt like being called to the principal’s office. Except in this case, the punishments were far worse than being put in detention.

The door to Cyclone’s office opens and the two of you stand as Maverick walks out. Clearing his throat he greets you, “Lieutenants.”

“Sir”, you let out in unison. He walks past the two of you as Cyclone’s assistant lets you know you can both enter. Straightening your khaki pants, Rooster allows you to walk in first and the two of you stand to attention in front of his desk. He sits in his seat, staring out the window, and turns to look at the two of you fully, doing a slight double take as his gaze washes over Rooster.

“I am going to tell the two of you what I told Captain Mitchell'', he starts, voice as deep and ruling as always, “The U.S. government does not sign my paychecks to be a god damn babysitter. If you cannot get along as a team, then you will not fly as one. I will send one or the other to another squadron faster than you can say ‘Yes Sir’. Am I clear?”

“Yes sir”, the two of you respond.

“Being on this squadron is a privilege, not a right. The two of you are on thin ice. If either of you have a problem, you better let me know now so I can find the next pilot who will gladly fill your spot in a second flat.” His gaze darts between the two of you as your palms grow sweaty. “Understood?”

“Yes sir.” He eyes Rooster’s face once more, and then back to you very briefly.

“Rooster, if there is anything you would like to let me know about I suggest you say it now.” Swallowing, you can see Rooster out of the corner of your eye do the same.

“No, sir. There is not.”

“You won’t mind me asking where you got the shiner from then?” He asks as he eyes you, you’re more thankful than ever your hands are behind your back at the moment.

“Tripped and hit my face on some stairs, sir.” Your breathing slows slightly as Rooster covers for you. It makes you feel the slightest bit guilty for hitting him in the first place.

“Rooster, you are dismissed.” Your heart tightens in your chest as Rooster exits, leaving just you and the fire breathing dragon. He turns his attention to a pile of papers on his desk as he fans them out.

“I have to tell you, I was initially surprised I hadn’t had to call you in here earlier, given your father’s reputation. But, taking another look at your records, I’m surprised you’re in here at all.” You remain still as stone, staring at the wall just above his head. “Top of your class at the Academy, as well as Top Gun, and yet, you’re still in my office.” Raising a brow, he brings his full attention back to you. “Why is that, Lieutenant Mitchell?” You scoff internally at him questioning you instead of Rooster.

“Things got out of hand, sir. It won’t happen again.” Sighing, he stands and faces his window, gazing upon his domain.

“I wasn’t hesitant when Admiral Kazansky suggested you be added to this detachment. Your records speak for themselves. The insistence on having Captain Mitchell in charge however, made me more skeptical. How would that look?” He turns to you once more. “Having a parent and child in the same squadron? Rooster might know your dad, but on paper you have more to gain. And your flying ability doesn’t mean anything when politics are involved. It doesn’t matter what was said.” Setting both hands on his desk, he leans forward, his piercing gaze burning a hole through your facade, “I am going to give you some advice, and it is in your best interest to listen and listen good. What happened last week cannot happen again. Tread lightly, keep your head down, and do what you came here to do. Your job.” Punctuating the last two words with his finger pounding on the desk, he finally takes his seat. “You are dismissed.” 

You hold your breath all the way to the hallway. Once out of sight from anyone, you take in a deep breath and let it out through your nose, collecting yourself before making your way to the women’s locker room. You know he’s right. You let yourself get comfortable, and once you get comfortable things start to crumble. It’s like everything you touch gets ruined and breaks right under your fingertips. This was no exception. You had to be better, do better. Emotions are where you lose control, say things you shouldn’t say, and you get justly punished for them.

You are still before the locker room door, taking in a breath before letting yourself in. Halo is lacing up her boots while Phoenix slips her flight suit on when you get to your locker. They both greet you with a small smile as you start to change uniforms.

“How was your meeting with the air boss?” Phoenix asks, already knowing all about it apparently. “Did he totally lay into Rooster?”

“If he laid into him more than you did, I’d be surprised he’s still standing”, Halo comments.

“Wait, what did you say to him?”, you ask Phoenix as she rolls her eyes.

“Something along the lines of ‘what the fuck is wrong with you’, ‘why are you being such a dicktroll’, and ‘I can’t even look at you right now’”, Halo lists off for her.

“Dicktroll?”, you laugh, “That’s a new one.”

“Yeah well, when I’m mad the words just start coming out of my mouth.” 

“He’s still your friend”, you mutter. “And I said some regrettable things, too.”

“Mantis. You’re my friend. I don’t even know if I would call him that after this. And yeah, I know you separately and out of whatever mess you’re in now, but I know when someone is being an asshole. And Rooster was being a major asshole. What you said didn’t warrant what he told everyone” She catches your shoulder as you finish zipping up your flight suit, “I’m gonna have your back no matter what, ok? And I guarantee everyone else in that room will, too.” You turn to Halo as she nods in agreement.

“I appreciate it, truly”, you thank them as you begin to tie up your own boots.

“What did Cyclone say to you, though?” Halo asks.

“Um”, you cough, “Basically I’m just happy to even still be here.”

“What does that mean?” Phoenix asks as her brows furrow.

“Doesn’t matter”, you reply, patting her back as the three of you leave the locker room.

Maverick is already at the front of the room, talking with Hondo as you walk in behind Halo and Phoenix. Bob smiles at the two of them, and you think for a second you see it get slightly wider as he spots you behind them. It almost makes you forget that everyone is trying and failing to hide the fact that they’re thinking about what Rooster said.

That fact alone has you crawling in your skin just a little bit. Bob turns to you as you open your notebook to where you were taking notes on Friday. You try your best to ignore the flits of eyes that turn your way, but you can still feel them on you.

“Hey”, he smiles.

“Hey”, you smile right back.

“How’s your hand feelin?”, he whispers.

“Oh that”, looking down at it, you stretch your fingers out and wiggle them, “Definitely feeling a lot better.” Phoenix turns at your own words, eyes widening as she looks at the discoloration on your knuckles.

“Jesus, what happened?” You’re about to tell her the same lie you told Penny, but before you’re able to open your mouth, Hangman whistles from his seat on the other side of the aisle. Everyone’s eyes follow Rooster as he makes the uncomfortable trek to the back of the room. Phoenix’s eyes quickly move from the bruise on his face back to your hand as you tuck it under your opposite one. A slow smile creeps on her face as she realizes how you stood up for yourself. “Nice shot”, she whispers to you.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about”, you whisper back as you pretend to look through your notes.

“Rooster”, Maverick’s voice speaks from the front, “Take a seat up here please”, he asks as he motions to the vacant seat next to you. Your brows furrow as do Rooster’s.

“Mav-”

“Now”, he responds rather sternly. Rooster follows his orders and he sits next to you as you stiffen. The rest of the room is silent as they wait for Mav to start the day.

“It has been brought to my attention that there has been some hostility amongst this team.” If it wasn’t at all obvious he was talking about you and Rooster, the ways his eyes wander to the two of you confirm the fact to everyone. “If you can’t act as a team, it is incredibly hard to fly as a team, and when you don’t fly as a team, people get hurt.” He eyes the room as everyone looks on in anticipation. “That being said, we’re going to start today with a little… exercise.” He says the last word with a hint of a smirk on his face.

“I will ask each of you a question. If you get it wrong you will have to do 10 pushups. If you get it right, however, you can choose anyone in our squad to do those 10 pushups for you.” People start to groan around the room at the prospect of not answering a question correctly.

“Rooster”, your dad starts, “When did the U.S. land on the moon?”

“Um, July 1969”, he responds, no doubt he has the right answer.

“Wrong, the correct answer is July sixteenth, 1969. Drop and give me 10.” Rooster blinks in surprise, but does as he says. Everyone shifts in their seats, realizing how nitpicky he’s being about these answers.

“Phoenix, what year was Top Gun founded?”

“It was 1969, and I believe it was in-”

“Correct”, your dad interrupts her. “Who would you like to give your push ups to?” She smiles slightly and turns to where Rooster has just sat back down after finishing his pushups.

“Rooster”

“You heard her, give me another 10, Rooster.” He does as he’s told, once more dropping to the floor.

“Payback, when was the Declaration of Independence signed?” Payback laughs slightly at the question, before noticing the very serious look on Maverick’s face.

“July 4, 1776, sir.”

“Very good, who gets your pushups?”

“Rooster”, he responds immediately. Payback looks over, sending you a small nod and smile, and you give it right back. Rooster stays down this time, as Hondo, who is all too happy to be doing this, counts his pushups from the back of the room. You watch across the room as everyone’s eyes light up. Maverick continues to go around asking possibly the easiest U.S. History questions, and everytime a member of the squad gets their answer inevitably right, they assign their punishment to Rooster. Your heart warms that every time someone gives their correct answer, they spare you a glance or a nod, subtly acknowledging they’re doing it for you.

Rooster’s starting to sweat and slow down as Maverick finally gets to you. His eyes grow a touch softer as they look at you. He clears his throat, asking his final question, “Mantis, who was the first American woman in space?” A small smile creeps on your face at what seems to everyone else to be a surface-level question.

“Sally Ride”, you answer. The memory of being 8 with dreams of being an astronaut fill your head. One summer at the Bradshaw’s, a documentary about Sally Ride was airing on t.v. and thinking it would be good for you to see a female role model, Carole left it on for you to watch. Turns out, you got a little too obsessed, to the point Carole hand-made a NASA jumpsuit for you to wear on Halloween months later. Bradley even helped you memorize the planets in the solar system that summer, telling you that’s the first thing you needed to know if you were going to be an astronaut. He was 14 at the time, and could have been doing a number of other things than hanging out with an eight year old, but he stayed with you the entire summer. It was one where your dad was deployed the last month, but he stuck by to make sure you never got lonely. You still knew the planet song he made up to help you memorize them like the back of your hand.

“Who gets your pushups?”, he asks, even as a formality now. As you stare at Rooster, who is behind on his last two sets, you’re reminded of that 14-year-old, who stayed with you when you were alone, and taught you how to go after what you wanted. The memory causes a lapse in your anger, and just this once you decide to go easy on him.

“Can I give them to you, sir?” His eyes go a bit wide as he blinks away his surprise. “You are technically a part of this team, are you not?”

“I guess, yeah- I am. Alright Hondo”, he says as he situates himself on the ground, “Count me out.”

Rooster and Maverick finish their pushups almost simultaneously, which leaves the rest of the time in the classroom to go over more flight maneuvers for the following week.

Bob saves you a seat at lunch like he’s been doing it forever, and you are more than happy to sit next to him.

“Do you realize that yesterday was the first day in like 3 weeks we haven’t seen each other in person?” You ask, taking a chip off of his plate.

“Wow”, he remarks, watching you so casually sharing each other's food. “I mean I did notice… It was awfully quiet at my house.” He gives you a small smile as you lightly shove his shoulder.

“Shut up.”

“What were you doing yesterday?”

“Quite literally nothing”, you reply, taking in a deep breath. Bob continues eating as you mull over your next words. “Rooster was at dinner on Saturday.”

“Are you serious?” He asks, almost choking on a chip.

“Yeah”, you nod, “He told me he was sorry, again.”

“How did that go?”, he treads lightly. You sigh, glancing across the mess-hall to see Rooster eating at a table by himself. For once he’s the one who looks lonely, and you can’t help but feel a little sorry for him. But then again, he did this to himself.

“I don’t know, I think he was angry at me for the wrong reasons, which made him feel worse about what he said.”

“He should feel bad about it. It doesn’t matter if they were the wrong reasons, he shouldn’t have said it at all.”, Bob mutters, causing you to look back at him. He blinks a couple times under your gaze as you don’t look away. “What?”

“Thanks for having my back”

“Of course, I’ll always have your back”, his smile gets a little more full, a little more crooked the longer you two look at each other. And you can feel the same happening to your own smile before you look over Bob’s shoulder to see Phoenix heading your way. Dropping her lunch bag on the table has you scooting the slightest bit away from Bob, just to create a little more distance between the two of you.

“Soo”, she draws out, “I know it’s been a wild few days, but are you two still coming to my house this weekend?” Shit, you forgot all about the party she invited you to. “I’m officially uninviting Rooster if that sways you in anyway.” Chuckling slightly, you look over her shoulder and watch Rooster as he picks at his own food.

“It’s fine, Phoenix. Like Mav said, if we can’t work as a team it’s hard to fly as one.” You decide.

“This is a party, Mantis. One in which I would not like to invite losers and assholes into my home, and he fits into both of those categories.”

“So does Hangman”, you reply as she rolls her eyes. “He did apologize to me, and I believe him.”

“Did you forgive him, though?”, Bob chimes in.

“That’s beside the point. Whatever is going on with me and Rooster doesn’t involve the rest of you, and I never should have brought it into work.” Phoenix looks on in contemplation as Bob gives you an earnest look in understanding. “Plus, we have direct orders to be on our best behavior.”

“I’ll think about it”, she trails off. There’s a lull in the conversation as you continue to eat until Phoenix turns to Bob. “Rachel’s friend Emily is gonna be there, too.” You stop eating, trying to glance at Bob’s reaction through the corner of your eye.

“Phoenix-”, he groans, “I’ve already told you I don’t want to be set up on any dates.”

“And why not?”, she probes. “I just wanna see you happy, you’re like my little brother now.”

“I just…”, his eyes move quickly from Phoenix to glance at you once before she moves on.

“It’s not even a date”, she reasons, “Just come to the party and meet her. That’s all I’m asking.” The conversation ends with that as you ponder Phoenix’s words. You don’t view Bob as a brother at all, but you want to see him happy. You’re happy whenever you’re with him, and you hope he’s happy, too. But you know it’s not sufficient. Bob deserves love, something you can’t give him, and something you don’t even know he wants from you. Even if it was a possibility.

The next day, your father takes a strange but familiar route to get the team back in its groove. He lets you know that day before you leave to meet at the Hard Deck instead of on base, and an immediate buzz fills the air. Everyone already knows what’s going down.

“Your dad’s not one for talking is he?” Fanboy asks as you trudge your way through the sand.

“No, no he is not”, you respond while placing your sunglasses over your eyes. Your dad had explicitly stated to you the day before that he got permission this time for an entire beach day. This explanation had come no further than two seconds after you had asked if Cyclone was going to make a surprise appearance this time.

The San Diego sun is as harsh as ever as the sweltering heat threatens to melt the sun screen right off your skin. Following Payback and Fanboy from the parking lot of the Hard Deck, you meet your father and the rest of the squad closer to the water. Everyone else is already shirtless and ready to start, except for Bob of course. Much to your battling emotions of relief and disappointment. You catch his eye, and make your way over to him as he talks to Omaha and Phoenix.

“Are you ready for some team bonding?” Phoenix asks you sarcastically as you roll your eyes.

“So ready. What better way to get over a fight than throwing balls and tackling each other?” You add with a cheery fakeness that has Bob chuckling. Hondo whistles, taking your attention away from the tall WSO as the day commences.

“Alright, listen up!”, your dad starts, “Today’s training is dogfight football. I’m choosing the teams this time.” Rolling your eyes at the notion, you turn to Bob.

“How much you wanna bet he puts me on a team with Rooster and Hangman?”, you whisper through the side of your mouth. Glancing down at you through his tinted prescription lenses, he chuckles slightly.

“I’m not a gambling man, but I’d bet it all on that”, you smile and shake your head, catching sight of Rooster off to the side of everyone. He’s already looking in your direction, causing you to furrow your brows and look back to your dad.

“Starting with team number one, we have Mantis, Rooster, Hangman, Fanboy, Omaha, and Yale.” He announces as you scoff only loud enough for Bob to hear.

The teams move to gather in huddles before the game starts, and as Hangman and Omaha argue over who gets to be the quarterback, you watch as Fanboy and Yale attempt to come up with a solution. You don’t even notice Rooster at first as he stands next to you. He clears his throat, startling you slightly as you look in his direction, then back to the boys fighting.

“I wanted to say thank you for not giving me your push ups yesterday.” You know an olive branch when you see one, having offered him multiple over many years. Still, you don’t look away from the display of toxic masculinity in front of you before answering.

“Don’t mention it.”

“Seriously, I appreciate it.” You don’t respond to him this time, prompting him to fill the silence between the two of you. “Mantis, I really am sorry-”

“What are you doing, Rooster?”, you ask now, turning to face him. He’s taken aback by your abruptness as he stammers for a response.

“I just thought maybe since-”

“Since Cyclone told us to play nice?” You finish for him. “Don’t get it twisted, Rooster. My actions from yesterday are purely so that I can remain on this team. I worked my ass off to get here, and I am not going to let you of all people jeopardize that.” Walking away from him, you tear the football out of Hangman’s hands while he’s distracted. “Do we have a game plan or what?”

Bob is desperately trying to pay attention to Maverick reiterating the rules of dogfight football, but his eyes keep wandering back to you as you stand next to Hangman. You’re wearing a loose tank top and he can see your sports bra through the sides, leaving the tiniest sliver of skin available for his eyes to roam over. You’re trying your best to act interested even though you know this game front and back. He catches your eyes wandering over the squad, and through his sunglasses he sees you widen your eyes in fake agony. He smiles as you continue to roll your eyes, and as he shakes his head in an attempt to hide his laugh, he glances over and finds Rooster staring at him. Squaring his shoulders as if he’s been caught doing something he wasn’t supposed to, Bob turns his attention back to Mav.

The game gets ready to start, you and Bob being chosen to snap the footballs. “Get ready to go down, Floyd”, you joke as you bend forward, setting the football on the sand. He mirrors your actions, and as he bends forward, he forgets any response he was about to say. From where he’s bent over, he can see right down your tank top and sports bra, giving him the perfect view of your cleavage. Swallowing, and looking back to your eyes, you don’t seem to notice his miniscule distraction. He barely even hears the whistle before you’re snapping the ball to Hangman and attempting to block the rest of his team. His hands feel a little more clammy than before the game started.

In order to keep your team happy, the decision is made to keep switching positions. You think it’s a good idea at the time, but as you run slightly backwards in order to try to catch the ball, you don’t even see what you’re hitting until the wind is knocked out of you. In an attempt to catch the ball Omaha’s thrown, your arms are stretched out, but you ultimately end up with your arms full of Bob as the two of you hit the sand hard.

Hondo blows his whistle, signaling everyone to stop as Bob groans from beneath you. The vibration of his chest against yours distracts you from the ache in your temple as you sit up to stare down at his face, eyes squinting in pain.

“Oh my god, are you ok?” You ask, assessing for any injuries.

“I’m fine, are you ok?”, he manages to slip out. His face looks fine, but as you quickly sit off to the side of him to assess the rest of his body, his hand moves to his face. “Oh geez”, he mutters. Glancing back up to his eyes as he sits up, a gush of blood pours out of the hand now clutching his nose. The rest of the team has gathered around you, and a couple people wince through their teeth at the amount of liquid pooling in his hand.

“Oh shit”, you let out without really meaning to. “Does anyone have a towel?” The team scrambles at the urgency in your voice, and without having to say anything else, a towel is plopped into your lap. You immediately move to replace Bob’s hand with the beach towel, holding it right beneath his nostrils which are simultaneously releasing blood.

Mav moves to bend down next to the two of you, “Here, let me see.” You take the towel away just for a second to let your dad inspect Bob’s nose as he looks up. There’s blood dripping over his lips and chin, prompting you to place the towel back.

“Is Penny working tonight?”, you ask, glancing back from the Hard Deck just beyond the sand.

“Yeah she should be in.”

“Good, I’m gonna take Bob up there and try to get this to stop bleeding.”

“Yeah, we should probably call it a day”, Mav replies as he places a hand under Bob’s elbow to help him up.

“No, I’m fine really”, Bob’s muffled and now nasally voice replies. “You guys keep playin’, I’ll go and take care of this.”

“You are not doing that by yourself”, you reply, almost amused at the fact he thinks he can get rid of you that easily. There’s no room for argument in your voice as you throw one of his arms over your shoulder to guide him up the sand to the bar. Phoenix steps in front of you before you leave.

“You got him?” She asks, her features twisted in a grimace as she examines his face.

“I’ve got him”, you reassure her as she watches you pass. Your arm is around his waist while his lies across your shoulders, and you’re trying ridiculously hard to focus on the task at hand instead of his warm body encasing yours. Bob on the other hand wants to tell you he can walk perfectly fine, but he doesn’t want to risk you letting him go. His nose is starting to throb, but all he can feel is your bare shoulders against his skin as your smaller hand grips his waist.

Once arriving at the bar, you walk through the glass door until Penny sees the two of you and rushes over.

“What happened?”, she asks as she watches you help Bob into the air conditioned building.

“There was a small crash”, you explain. “Do you have any towels or ice?” It’s still fairly early in the evening, the sun not setting quite yet, but the first patrons who have sat down in the bar look at the two of you with wide eyes.

“Of course”, she blinks as she moves behind the bar. “There’s a couch in my office, you can take him back there and I’ll get you something else to clean him up with.” You do as she says and open the door to her office, gently letting Bob sit down on the small loveseat, taking the seat next to him. He’s still holding the towel to his nose as he tries to lean back.

“Wait, you’re not supposed to tilt your head back”, you tell him. Gingerly placing your hand on the back of his head, you tilt him so he’s leaning forward slightly. With your other you’re lightly pinching his nose to help stop the bleeding while he holds the towel. Bob can’t help but think how you seem to already know every trick and quirk to stop the bleeding. How you must have had to clean up your own nose bleeds. 

Your brows have been in a constant furrow since the collision, and he takes in the way your teeth chew on your lip.

“Hey”, he tries to muffle through the towel. Your gaze shifts from his nose up to his eyes. “I’m ok, really.” You give him a doubtful look as you pinch his nose. Your elbow rests on his shoulder, hand still cradling the back of his head.

“How’s your head?” You ask in earnest.

“Haven’t had any complaints yet”, he responds as soon as you’re done asking. His comment causes you to crack a smile, clearing the furrow out of your brows as you laugh.

“You did not just say that to me”, you laugh. Bob laughs along with you as he tries to breathe through his mouth. Using his shoulder as support, you lean forward and laugh closer to him.

“Ok I’ve got-”, Penny walks in on the two of you, causing her to pause in the doorway, “Is everything ok?”

“Yeah everything’s fine”, you wave off her concern

“Good… I’ve got some wet rags and a bag of ice.”

“Thank you”, you reply, still trying to stifle your laugh with Bob. Confusion is written all over her face as you turn back to her.

“Right, well… I’ll just be at the bar if you need anything else.” Your eyes are still crinkled from laughing, and Bob smiles at the notion. Your eyes meet his again through the same tinted lenses, warping the color of his irises. The dust settles from your laughing fit and it’s just the two of you in Penny’s cramped office, perched on the edge of the ratty old sofa she must have got in a garage sale. You’re still cradling the back of his head as your fingers absentmindedly play with the short hair. He sucks in a breath, stopping your movements.

“Did I hurt you?”

“No, that’s not- No I’m fine”, you manage to hear him through the towel. Looking at the bright yellow tropical flowers of the cotton now stained in crimson, you slowly remove your fingers from his nose.

“Does it feel like it’s still bleeding?” Bob attempts to sniff through his nose as he takes the towel away from his face.

“No, I think we’re ok.” You wince at the sight of slightly-dried blood that is now smeared from his nostrils down his chin and neck. It’s soaked into the yellow of his t-shirt, leaving a stain you don’t think he’ll be able to get out easily. “That bad, huh?”

“No, not too bad”, you attempt to lie to him. Obviously not doing that great of  a job as he squints his eyes at you. Looking to get away from his playful glare, you eye a box of tissues just behind him. Reaching around him, you grab a few tissues and start to twist them.

“What are you doing?”

“We gotta plug you up.”

“Excuse- plug me up?” He laughs.

“Before we get all the blood off, we just gotta make sure it’s not gonna start bleeding again.” You hand him the first piece of tissue as he delicately places it in one nostril. “Otherwise you’re just gonna have to clean yourself up again.” He glances back up at you, this time with an unreadable gaze. Like he’s trying to study you. “What?”

“Nothing.” You eye him suspiciously as you hand him the other tissue. His eyes move to your fingers stained with his blood, and he looks away again in contemplation as you grab the wet rag.

“Seriously, what is it?” He shrugs.

“Nothing.” Huffing out a breath of frustration, you reach into the pocket of your gym shorts, taking a penny out and placing it in the palm of his hand. He smiles slightly at the notion of you just having this in your pocket, moving the penny to his crimson fingertips. The hint of a smile on his face is quickly replaced with a lopsided frown. “I- I’m sorry you know how to do all of this.” Your shoulders slump as he avoids your gaze. “And I’m sorry you have to do it again.”

“Bob- it’s ok.” You tell him softly, he glances back up, eyebrows twisted.

“It’s not though.. You shouldn’t be an expert at this.” Chewing your lip once more, you stare deeply into his eyes as they gaze back in worry.

“Bobby, I’m ok. I’m ok now and that’s what matters.” Bob is trying his best to believe you, but the image of you crying on the floor of the women’s locker room comes to mind. Then the feeling of your tears soaking his flight suit. You squeeze his hand around the penny once, gaining his attention once more.

“Ok”, he responds just above a whisper. You grant him a small smile in the silence that lingers, reaching back for the wet rag to clean him up with. It’s dried more since you’ve sat down, but you’re still just as gentle with your swipes across his chin. Glancing at his face, you notice there’s a couple specks of blood on the apples of his cheeks, almost underneath his frames.

“May I?” you ask, motioning to his glasses.

“Sure”, he breathes out. Your hands slowly rise and slide the glasses off his face, folding them and placing them gently on the table next to you. The breath is just about knocked out of your lungs as his wide, sky blue eyes blink at you for the first time without a barrier. You’re stuck for a moment in time, just admiring the color and how intently they look at you. You’re broken out of your trance as a drop of water from the rag slides down your hand, dripping on your lap.

Continuing where you left off, you dab at what was previously covered by his glasses, moving down beneath his nose and around his chin and mouth. The rag you were using is now stained a light red and you switch it out with the spare one Penny brought. The bar has gotten a little louder now as the day turns to evening, but it’s still muffled through the door and hallway. It’s quiet enough you can still hear Bob breathing so close to you. Your other hand gently nudges his chin upward so as to gain access to his neck, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallows. Once you’ve ensured his neck is clean, you look back on his face, hoping to get the spots you missed.

“You can look down now”, you whisper. You don’t know why you started talking so quietly, maybe to preserve a moment of silence you don’t get to enjoy so much, but as he looks back at you, you understand it’s just to preserve Bob. If you don’t disrupt the bubble you’ve put yourself in, it won’t burst. And you can stay in this moment with him for as long as you decide to. He doesn’t tell you he can clean himself up, even though both of you are thinking it. And you’re glad he doesn’t say anything. Right now it’s just the two of you, in this stolen moment in time where nothing else exists beyond the four walls of the dingy office.

Your hand moves instinctively to cradle his jaw, just to get a better hold on him while you wipe around his lips. With the rag wrapped around your finger, you swipe underneath the plush of his bottom lip, then over the top. Your eyes move slightly up, to check for any more blood, but catch sight of the tissues sticking out of his nose. It catches Bob off guard as you start to chuckle.

“What?” He asks this time. You lean back slightly, both hands now in your lap, to get a full view of his face and start to laugh a little harder. “What is it?” He presses, starting to laugh as well.

“You look absolutely ridiculous.”

“You’re the one who said I had to ‘plug myself up’”, he mocks, not meaning to laugh at the end of his sentence.

“At least it’s not a tampon up your nose”, you mutter. His brows raise at your comment.

“A what?”, he stammers.

“Would you believe me if I told you that Bradley’s mom shoved a tampon up his nose to get it to stop bleeding?” He chuckles in surprise, but also at the thought of a now adult Bradley with a tampon dangling out of his nose. “That was actually the first time I saw a bloody nose, I thought he was dying”, you smile at the memory.

“What happened?”, Bob asks. Setting the now bloodied rag next to the old one, you grab the bag of ice.

“Back in his old neighborhood he had some really annoying neighbor kids. Brad took me to the park, and these three eleven year olds would not let me swing on the damn swings. Then they started saying some really mean things, and that’s when Bradley stepped in. He told them to apologize to me and share the swings and they refused. He-”, laughing at the image you continue, “he shoved one of them off the swings, picked me up, and started to help me swing.” Shaking your head at the memory, you reach up and gently rest the ice pack against Bob’s nose as he watches your face the entire time. 

“Not five minutes later, all three kids are back, this time with their older brother. Keep in mind, Bradley was only twelve, and their brother was just about to start high school and absolutely huge. Brad tried to calmly explain what happened, but before he could get a word in, this guy decks him. I ran to the house to grab Carole, screaming that this kid was going to kill him. We raced back to the park, and once this guy saw a raging Carole Bradshaw running full speed towards him he sprinted the other way”, you smile.

“Bradley’s nose was bleeding and I just started bawling, thinking that this is it. He’s dying.” Bob laughs with you as you readjust the ice on his face. “We walked him back to the house, and the first thing she did was shove a tampon up his nose, while explaining to me that he was going to be fine.” Your laughing subsides as well as your own smile as you reminisce.

“Carole Bradshaw sounds like a woman that should not be messed with.” Bob comments, bringing your gaze back upon him.

“Yeah”, you sigh. “She was a fierce protector. They both were.” Bob’s hand searches for your own, squeezing softly.

“Mantis-”, whatever Bob is about to say is cut short as someone clears their throat from the door. The two of you look up to find Rooster, only this time Bob’s hand doesn’t stray from your own. It holds your fingers more firmly at the sight of him.

“Sorry”, Rooster interrupts. “Mav wanted me to check in, see how Bob’s doing.” He glances between your connected hands, then back at where you’re icing his nose. You clear your own throat this time as your hand retreats from its place in Bob’s.

“Yeah, he’s good. Blood’s stopped.”

“That’s good”, Rooster offers, trying to and failing to make this small interaction less awkward.

“Was that all?”

“Actually, um, Mav wanted to talk to you. Privately.” He adds on after glancing back at Bob.

“Fine. I’ll be out in a couple minutes.” He taps on the door before leaving the two of you alone again. You turn back to Bob, not looking him in the eyes as you place the ice pack in his hand.

“I guess duty calls.” You start to gather up the rags, but before you’re able to stand, Bob’s large fingers caress the back of your wrist to get your attention. He’s very mindful to not grab a hold of your arm as the hairs on the back of his hand tickle you.

“Hey, thank you.”

“You’re welcome”, you manage to breathe out. “I’m sorry I ran into you.”

“I’m not.”

After running to the bathroom to wash your hands off, there is still a wide smile on your face as you stare at yourself in the mirror. You check for any more blood, but decide it’s all gone as you attempt to squash your smile. The rest of the squad is sitting in the bar, each of them with more clothing on then they had earlier. Your eyes roam the room for your father, but come up empty. Rooster is standing  on the back deck outside, and you begrudgingly walk towards him. The door swings open and shut, muffling the noise from within.

“Where’s Mav?”, you ask, getting straight to the point. Rooster looks over his shoulder at you, setting his drink on a nearby table.

“He took Penny for a bike ride.”

“I thought you said he wanted to talk to me”, you ask, placing your hands on your hips.

“About that”, he scratches the back of his neck, “I meant to say that I needed to talk to you.” Rolling your eyes and giving him a scoff, you turn around, hand stretched toward the doorknob. “Mantis- please. Just give me five minutes.” And for some inexplicable reason. You don’t reach any further. You turn around, fold your arms, and give him the floor. He lets out a sigh of relief as you walk closer to the edge of the deck and watch the golden sunset.

“I want you to know that I’m apologizing because I really am sorry. It’s not just to keep the peace for Cyclone. I failed you.. And I failed my mom.” You turn towards him, and just for a second you don’t see the stone cold eyes that were set upon you just days ago, you see the sandy hair and soft hazel eyes of a brother who would do anything for you.

“It won’t happen again. I won’t let it happen again.” He reiterates. Absent-mindedly you start chewing on your lip, and avoiding his eyesight. A part of you wants so deeply to forgive him and go back to how it used to be, but the other part is still hurt by what he did.

“Which is why I need you to listen to me. You can’t go down the path you’re already falling towards.” Your head slowly looks up as confusion clouds your features.

“What does that mean?”

“I know Cyclone chewed you out more after I left. We’re both on pretty thin ice here, and you worked so hard to get to where you are. I don’t want to see you throw it all away for someone else.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Your heart rate is steadily climbing, wondering if Rooster is about to go where you think he’s going to.

“I’ve noticed things. I’ve told you to be careful before, and now more than ever I wish you would please just listen to what I’m trying to tell you.” Swallowing, you turn back toward the coastline so he can’t read into what you’re trying to conceal in your face. “I see the way you look at him. The same way you’ve looked at boys you’ve had crushes on since you were little.”

“I am not some little girl, Rooster.” You seethe toward him, your face flushed in anger, embarrassment even at his accusations. “I grew up a long time ago, so whatever version you still have of me in your head, get rid of her. Cause she doesn’t exist anymore.” Shaking your head, you stalk toward the back door, catching a glimpse of Bob with his sunglasses on once again, the tissues since discarded, playing a game of pool with Phoenix and Fanboy. “And I don’t have a crush on him. Bob and I are just friends.”

“I never said his name.” Your blood runs cold at his words. You don’t dare turn back and give him the satisfaction of being right. “So you can keep lying to yourself all you want, but I already know the truth. All I’m trying to say is be careful, and remember why you’re here.”

You let Rooster’s words wash over you as you reach for the doorknob and let yourself back inside. How stupid could you be? Sure, you’ve perhaps come to terms that you maybe have more than friendship feelings for Bob, but you were never going to act on them. But now apparently Rooster can still see right through you. The mix of his and Cyclone’s warnings run through your mind as you get closer to the pool table and stand next to Phoenix.

You can tell she’s already a couple drinks in as her volume is a little louder than normal.

“Tell him, Mantis!”

“Tell him what?” She motions over to Bob as he watches Fanboy take his shot, shaking his head at her while he does so.

“Tell him to go on a date with Rachel’s hot friend!” Your eyes catch Bob smiling and shaking his head at her antics, obviously more amused with her drunken state than her words. His crooked smile makes you want to wrap him up in a hug so it never goes away, but you’re reminded of the warnings from Rooster and Cyclone. Repeating over and over in your head the longer you look at him.

“You should”, you tell him, as much as it pains you to say. He glances up at you, smile falling as his brows furrow the slightest bit. “Give her a chance at least.”

“Oh, ya think?” He asks, the slightest tone of disappointment in his voice.

“Yeah. It can’t hurt, can it?” And even though it is tearing you apart to say it, you do it anyway.

“I guess not.” You give him a slight smile, although it turns into more of a grimace the longer you hold it. He does the same to you, turning back to stare at the pool table with a hardened gaze, eyes not actually following where Fanboy’s ball runs to. Phoenix cheers out in glee at Bob’s acceptance, and you slip out the front door, saying your quick goodbyes. You pass Rooster at the bar, not giving him a second look as you make it to your car. Your heart aches at the thought of telling Bob to find happiness somewhere else, knowing damn well if the circumstances were different you would be first in line to offer it. Your brain reminds you however, you're making the right decision. It's the only decision. Right?

Taglist:

@lemmons1998

@itsmytimetoodream

@theamuz

@harrysgothicbitch

@mygyn

@luckyladycreator2

@marve2014

@wretchedmo

this is amazing!! i cannot wait to read more!!

Home Sweet Home | Prologue

Rhett Abbott x OC Reader

Summary: Sunny Pritchett decides to move back home, but without a reason why. Once she's back she runs into her childhood best, friend Rhett Abbott. Rhett seems very surprised to see her. Not only that, but he sees she has a small child on her hip. Will Sunny try to reconnect with Rhett and tell him the real reason you she's moved back. Or will her past come back and find her until everything blows up.

Warnings: Mental and Physical abuse, PTSD flashbacks, swearing, fighting.

(The post is a little short, but the next couple are going to be a little bit longer.)

Growing up in Amelia County was simple and easy, others may say boring. But when it came to the “unstoppable duo” as their mothers like to call them. Sunny Pritchett, and Rhett Abbott did the best they could while living in Ameila county. Whether it was watching tv in the house, or playing around in their families pastures. They have made the best of what they’ve had together. 

They were also the polar opposites. Rhett was a little bit of the shy one, and sometimes kept to himself. While Sunny was a big ball of energy. Always trying to bring Rhett out of his comfort zone, he really didn’t mind it. He just liked seeing her happy, and having a smile on her face.

While going into Highschool Sunny and Rhett stayed close, sometimes Sunny would hang out with the “popular kids.” While also dating one of the football players Adam. Rhett has always had a bone to pick with him. Not only picking on others but he treated Sunny like she was nothing. He wanted to tell Sunny about him, but she seemed happy with Adam. He just didn’t want to ruin their friendship.

But Rhett has finally had it with Adam. Always pushing Sunny aside like she was nothing to him. So, he finally had the courage to tell her. 

“I just don’t see what you see in him” asking Sunny while sitting in the flatbed of Rhett’s truck.

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about you and Adam. He’s no good f’ya.” 

“What do you know what’s good for me?” Now both tense, and a little bit nervous of what the next will say.

“Hey. I love you and care about you. Ya Know that right?”

Sunny just looked at him trying to hold back tears. What she wanted to say was “I love you too. But just more than friends.” But she didn’t know what Rhett wanted to say “ I Love you so much, don’t ever leave me.”

But she only had the courage to say “I know”.

So Sunny just grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze, Rhett doing the same. They just kept sitting in the back of the truck looking at the sunset, waiting for what’s going to happen  next.

End.

I hope you all enjoyed reading this. Like I said the next couple of chapters are going to be a little bit longer. See ya next time!!

Taglist: @callsign-magnolia @roosterforme @angelbabyyy99

dividers are by @saradika

I READ THIS ALL IN 20 MINS I COULD NOT STOP READING!!!! THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE BOB FIC!!

Explicitly Yours | Bob Floyd x Reader

Summary: When Bob met you, he fell for you hard and fast. He thought you might be his perfect match, the one that would make his days feel full instead of lonely. He never would have dreamed you had a secret. But secrets are known to be revealed at the most inconvenient of times, and Bob's surprised hesitation could cost him the thing he wants most.

Warnings: Smut, oral, fluff, angst, misogyny, language, mentions of adult film industry

Length: 11k words (what have I done?)

Pairing: Robert "Bob" Floyd x Former Pornstar!Female Reader

This was written for International Bob Floyd Fucks Month hosted by @attapullman. Check my masterlist for more! Banner by @thedroneranger

Bob was fresh off of a long deployment when he returned to work at North Island on Monday morning to find he would begin training as part of a new taskforce. He was tired and antsy, still overstimulated from being around so many people on the aircraft carrier, but he was also realizing how lonely he was. 

He'd arrived back to a sterile, empty, dusty apartment, slept for two days, and now he was back to work. He couldn't even have a cat or a houseplant. He really would like to have a cat or a houseplant. Mostly he thought about how nice it would be to have a girlfriend. A sweet one who would wait for him to return home so his apartment didn't feel so sad. One who didn't mind that sometimes he preferred it to be quiet. One who would let him dote on her a little bit when he was home.

When he was told to report to Classroom Six in his uniform instead of the tarmac in his flight suit, Bob knew it was going to be a long day. That idea only grew as soon as he walked in and was accosted by his friends. "You're back!" Natasha screeched, streaking across the room like a brunette cannonball and slamming into his arms. "It's not even fair that we weren't deployed together. I missed you!"

"Missed you too, Nat. Thanks for all the emails."

Then he felt Bradley, Jake and Javy all jostling him around until his glasses were crooked on his face. That's probably why he did a double take when he saw you. There was no way you were that beautiful. His glasses must need to be adjusted on his face. But he was wrong. You looked the same after he pushed his wire frames back into place. 

He swallowed hard and whispered, "Who's that?"

The guys all looked at him with matching smirks, and Javy told him your name. "Civilian. She's Warlock's new assistant. Got reassigned from a different department last week."

"She's real cute," Jake added. "And she looks so familiar."

"Why does she look so familiar?" Bradley asked, and Bob realized that the whole group was staring at you where you were conversing quietly with Warlock. "We've been trying to figure it out for a week."

You didn't look familiar to Bob. You just looked pretty with bright eyes and a friendly smile, both of which were trained on him now. Of course you were looking his way now, because everyone had mussed up his hair and wrinkled his uniform. He didn't mind so much that you caught him staring, because you were the kind of woman who must get that a lot.

"Lieutenant Floyd," Admiral Bates said as he stood, and Bob saluted his superior officer immediately. "Welcome back."

"Sir," Bob replied, doing his best not to let his gaze drift back to you. "Thank you."

Then Warlock called the room to order, and Bob ended up sitting in the front row, directly across from you. Barely six feet away. You were so pretty, it wasn't even funny. The curve of your face and your neck and the way you moved were mesmerizing. Smooth and fluid. Confident. Beautiful. You kept Warlock on task and seemed to have all the pertinent information about the class memorized. But all of it was lost on Bob, because he was way too distracted. 

By lunchtime, he had sweat through his undershirt, and he was sure his uniform shirt wasn't looking much better. The way you turned to look directly at him with a slightly guarded expression when you stood made him blush. It must be obvious to you that Bob couldn't keep his eyes off your face.

"Hi," you greeted. "Lieutenant Floyd."

Bob swallowed hard before something that sounded vaguely like Hello came out of his mouth. 

Your smile was tinged with a little sadness as you stuck out your hand. "I've been looking forward to meeting the last team member. Welcome back from deployment, Lieutenant."

And then you were walking away, but Bob was still sweating.

--------------------------

For the next four days, Bob got there early to ensure he had that same front row seat. He had a full blown crush. Heart pounding, palms damp, unable to focus on anything other than his crush on you. When he wasn't at work looking right at you, he was daydreaming about you. When he wasn't daydreaming about you, he was asleep and having actual dreams where you were his girlfriend. In one of them, you gave him a back massage, and he woke up with an erection. 

He could barely even look at you for the nauseous feeling that took up residence just below his pounding heart, but he couldn't look anywhere else. He'd never been like this before. Sure, he'd been attracted to many women in the past, but this was something else entirely. 

"But why is she so familiar looking?" Jake asked Bradley at lunch. "You sure you didn't fuck her?"

"Oh, I think I'd remember fucking someone that looked like that," Bradley replied with a chuckle. "Wait... did you fuck her?"

"I don't think so?" Jake replied, looking a little panicked. "She's not the one I went home with on my birthday, is she? Because you know I can't remember that night. And if I fucked her and can't remember it, then I deserve to be executed."

They both erupted into laughter with Javy, and Bob felt deflated. One of the three of them was definitely going to ask you out sooner rather than later, and instead of getting an occasional guarded glance in his direction, Bob would have nothing.

That night at the bar, he sat with his cup of peanuts and talked with Nat about work while everyone else played pool. "I guess we have another week or two of lectures ahead of us, but I can't wait to get back in the air."

"Yeah," Bob replied, glancing around the room in case the Hard Deck was your Friday night scene. It wasn't really his, but he came for his friends. And if he got to spend another week or two in the classroom, he wasn't going to complain; there would be no way for him to look at you when he was in the cockpit. 

"Bob!" Javy called as if he'd been trying to get his attention for a few minutes. He was waving a pool cue. "Take over for me. I need to go shoot my shot."

As Bob stood, he watched Javy head off into the crowd toward a woman who looked like you. He did a double take, his heart leaping up into his throat as Bradley started to push him closer to the pool table. Javy saw you. He was going to ask you out. A feeling of devastation filled his lungs, but then the woman turned around, and it wasn't you. Her smile wasn't nearly as pretty, and she didn't have the same eyes. 

Relieved, Bob sank the seven ball before running the table like he was some sort of pro. But he knew deep inside that he was going to have to ask you out himself or miss out on even having a chance with you. 

Every day the following week, he tried to give himself a pep talk. He could do this. Even if you said no, it would be fine. It would be good practice for him. But he knew it would not be okay. He liked the sound of your voice and the way you moved, and he thought about you in every room of his apartment doing a wide variety of things. Some of them made him blush.

He couldn't tell if it would be worse to never even try or to have to live with himself after you looked at him and said you weren't interested. At least if he kept things quiet, the guys couldn't find a way to make fun of him. And although they all liked to talk about you at lunch, to his knowledge, none of them had asked you on a date. Maybe they were as intimidated as him.

On Wednesday, you dropped your pen, and Bob picked it up for you. He got a "Thanks, Lieutenant Floyd," in response along with a cautious smile. Then on Thursday, he helped you move the projector before class started, and you said, "Thanks. You're a lot stronger than I am." He felt like he floated to his seat after that. 

On Friday, disaster struck. You were organizing your stack of notes at the end of the day when Bob stood. But then Bradley was there, leaning on the table in front of you after everyone had been dismissed. "Hey, so the guys and I were wondering if you ever made it out to the Hard Deck on Friday nights? I'd love to buy you a drink."

Bob nearly collapsed back into his seat as he watched your eyes searching Bradley's face like you were trying to tell if he was lying. "No, actually. I play Dungeons & Dragons most Friday nights."

A strangled sound escaped Bob. "You play D&D?" he asked before he could think better of it. 

"Yeah," you replied easily, giving him a little smile. "Been into it for years."

"Me too," he added, and you set down everything you'd been holding. 

"It must be hard to be part of a campaign when you deploy on occasion?" you asked, and Bob was convinced he wouldn't notice if a freight train was about to hit him. 

He nodded and took a step closer, watching you stand up. "It can be, yeah. But I've been in the same campaign for a few years, so I'd like to think I'm an integral enough part of it that everyone else doesn't mind waiting for me."

You laughed. It was so pretty. "I'm sure they don't mind one bit, Lieutenant Floyd."

"You can call me Bob," he blurted out, eyes going wide as you licked your lips and grinned. 

"Okay. Bob."

He could do this. He was already part way there, he thought. Just a little further. "Maybe you and I could get coffee this weekend and talk about our characters?"

When he was met with silence and your softly parted lips, he wanted to disappear. But your expression was trained on his face, and even though you still seemed a little hesitant, you asked, "Like a date? Because I'm free on Sunday."

-------------------------

You were laughing so hard, you had to set your coffee cup down next to your scone, and Bob was basking in the sound of it. "No, Bob! That's why I made my character a Rogue! Because I could never be such a scoundrel in real life!" He just listened to your laughter taper off while he grinned in the middle of the crowded cafe where you only seemed to be focused on him. 

"Well, that's why I made mine a Sorcerer. I don't know if you knew this about me, but I can't actually cast spells."

You started to laugh again. "Could have fooled me." But he must have been looking at you for too long, because you brought your hand up to your lips and asked, "Do I have crumbs on my face or something?"

"No, your face is perfect," he replied without considering his words, but your look of slightly embarrassed delight outweighed the tinge of mortification he felt.

You searched his eyes, seemingly always trying to gauge his sincerity. Then you surprised him when you said, "You're really sweet. It's refreshing." 

Bob looked down at his hands, unsure how to respond but pleased nonetheless. "Will you let me take you to a movie? Or dinner? Or both?"

"Yes."

The following morning at work, you were as focused on Bob as he was on you. The sweaty palms and erratically beating heart were back, only exacerbated by your alluring gaze and the promise of a second date on Thursday night. You agreed to dinner at an Italian restaurant, and Bob was already excited. 

"Why are you acting so strange?" Nat asked at lunchtime. "You're like both weirdly quiet and also talking so much?"

Bob laughed and said, "I went out on a date yesterday." And when he said it was with you, her eyes went wide. "We're going out again on Thursday."

"Bob!" she gasped, and now all of the guys were looking at him, and there was no way he would ever recover from this as Nat told them he got coffee with you.

"Welcome to the big leagues, buddy," Jake drawled, while Bradley glared at him. "Just wish I could figure out why she seems so familiar. Like it's just stuck in the back of my mind somehow. Like I know her."

"None of you know her as well as Bob does," Nat said with a laugh that made him smile. Before you and he parted ways at the coffee shop, you'd squeezed his hand in your smaller one, and it was already one of the sexiest moments of his life.

"Fuck you, Bob," Bradley grumbled. 

But it didn't matter. Bob really liked you and the fact that you talked about your Dungeons & Dragons character for a full hour. And your pretty face and your laugh. And the way you seemed interested in what he had to say. You were checking off all of the boxes for him. Smart, funny, kind of nerdy, interesting. He wondered how many dates he should take you on before asking you to be his girlfriend.

On Wednesday, as soon as Warlock dismissed everyone, you handed Bob a folded up note.

I can't wait for dinner tomorrow night. Here's my number.

He waited until he was home and sitting on his couch before he texted you. Less than a minute later, you responded. And that's how he spent the rest of his night. He didn't even eat until after nine, too wrapped up in what you had to say. Those intrusive thoughts and daydreams and real dreams about you in his apartment were starting to seem like they could be a reality. That's what he wanted. He could already picture you on the couch, wrapped up in the afghan his mom made, watching a movie with him. Or in his kitchen, helping him make dinner. 

He fell asleep on the couch in his uniform, too absorbed in this conversation to even go to bed properly. But that was fine, because suddenly it was Thursday, and not only would he see you all day at work, he'd get to eat with you and learn more about you.

Once again, Bob slid into that front row seat, and you had to work at keeping the smile from your face all morning. When you did look his way, he felt his breath catch in his throat. He was sure he'd pass out if you kissed him, and suddenly that was the only thing he could think about. Warlock talked about aggressive maneuvering, and Bob thought about your lips. Warlock talked about safety protocols, and Bob thought about your lips touching his.

It would be a miracle if he made it through dinner, but he had to try. You stood and started walking out of the classroom at the end of the day, but you turned back and said, "I'll meet you there at 7:30."

Bob offered to pick you up, but you said you'd drive yourself, and now he had more than two hours to kill. He took a long shower and fixed his hair before dressing in the outfit that Nat had pre-approved for him. He made sure his glasses were straight and that he had his credit card. The only other thing he could do was hope the conversation would come as easily for him this time, as it had over coffee.

He shouldn't have been worried about that. What he should have been worried about was the way his heart stopped when you walked through the front doors of the restaurant and directly for him, wearing a pretty blue dress with your face all made up like he was someone to impress. 

"Hi, Bob," you whispered. Then you kissed his cheek at the same time that he started to turn his head, and his lips nudged yours. He stood there shocked as you slipped your hand into his, and you started to tug him toward the waiting table when his name was called. 

His ears didn't stop burning the whole night. His brain kept circling back to the idea of another kiss. An intentional one. A kiss after a second date was not something he'd ever attempted before, but he was going to do it tonight. Based on the way you were looking at him, he had to. 

"Do you want more wine?" you asked, holding up the bottle. 

"Yes, please," he replied, because that would definitely help his cause. 

You smiled as you poured him some. "You have lovely manners." When you set the bottle down, you added, "And really pretty eyes."

Bob counted to three and then said, "I know we didn't even eat dessert yet, but I really like you. And tomorrow is your D&D night, but maybe you'll let me take you to a movie on Saturday?"

After dinner, in the parking lot next to your car, Bob kissed you. Intentionally. The first tilt of his head was hesitant, and when his lips met yours, he started to get nervous and pull away. But you let your fingers tangle in his hair, and you chased him for another kiss. "Which movie are we seeing?" you asked as you rubbed your nose gently along his.

"You can pick," he replied before kissing you again. "I just want to be around you." And then his hands found the small of your back and you inched yourself closer until your chest was touching his and your knee was bumping his leg.

You were smiling when he finally pulled his face away from yours. "I'll text you my address and the movie I want to see."

Bob smiled, too. "And then I'll pick you up, and we can go to the theater."

This was probably the best week of his life. He watched you pull out of the parking lot, and you waved to him through your window after you blew him a kiss. He went home and thought about what he might be able to cook for date number four. Perhaps you'd want to do the movie on Saturday and then have dinner at his place on Sunday? He'd figure it out. Either way, he was excited for more. 

"A third date?" Nat asked on Friday when everyone was taking a break in the classroom. "Damn, Bob." 

He eyed you where you stood talking quietly with Warlock, and you glanced his way, a soft smile on your lips. "I really like her. She's different. In a good way. And she makes me feel comfortable."

Nat rubbed his back in slow circles. "Make sure you put your arm around her during the movie. She might be expecting it. But if she doesn't snuggle against you, then you should remove it."

He nodded and swallowed. "Right. I can do that. Is it too soon to invite her over to my apartment for dinner?"

"I don't think so," she replied softly. "And maybe you should buy some condoms."

Bob's cheeks immediately flushed, but he didn't mind too much, since it was just Nat. "I don't think I'm ready for that yet."

"She seems sweet. Just tell her what you're feeling when the time comes."

Now everything was making Bob a little nervous as he drove through your neighborhood on Saturday night. He passed modern beachfront house after modern beachfront house, and then his GPS told him he had arrived. He saw your car in the driveway, but the house was gorgeous and must be worth a ton of money. Maybe you had a roommate? 

He parked his old truck and headed up the sidewalk with butterflies in his stomach and a bouquet of flowers in his hand. You opened the door before he even knocked, and then you were in his arms and invading his senses. "Are those for me?" you asked, kissing his cheek and poking the flowers. 

"Yes," he whispered, silently begging you to let him hold you for a few more seconds while he caught his breath and got himself under control. You turned him on in every way, and he'd never encountered this before. 

Your soft voice next to his ear as you chuckled and said, "Thanks, Bob," was not helping. You led him inside, and your house was incredible. There were no signs of a roommate, but there was a view of the ocean from the windows along the back of the house. He watched you bend in your little dress to find a vase for the flowers, and he felt completely overwhelmed. 

"Ready to go?" you asked, reaching for his hand a minute later. Your eyes were eager and sincere as you gazed up at him. Your fingers were laced with his, and Bob realized if he wanted to get to the next step with you, he needed to get through tonight.

"Yes." He kissed your lips softly, and you leaned against his arm as he walked you out to his truck. 

You spent the drive to the movie theater telling him all about your Friday night playing Dungeons & Dragons, and of course Bob felt more relaxed. He bought the tickets, and you got the popcorn, and when he put his arm around your shoulders, you snuggled against him, so he kept it there. By the end of the movie, the empty popcorn bucket was on the floor, and you had your palm resting on his thigh. 

"Did you like it?" you asked softly while the end credits scrolled. 

"Yes, I liked it," he promised, accepting another of your kisses.

"It's still early. Want to grab a drink somewhere?"

Bob really only knew one place, because he spent an awful lot of his free time there. "Should we hit up the Hard Deck? And then I can take you home and hopefully get another goodnight kiss?"

You had one eyebrow raised as you considered him. "Even after the third date? You're not going to try to make a move?"

Embarrassment flooded his cheeks as he muttered, "Not yet." And then your lips were all over his like he'd answered your questions correctly, even though he felt like his thoughts on the matter were actually probably wrong according to most people.

Eventually the two of you made your way to the bar, but visiting the Hard Deck was a mistake that he didn't see coming. You were tucked perfectly against his side as Bob walked across the parking lot and listened to you tell him how much you liked working for Admiral Bates. Then you ordered two vodka sodas, and Bob had to pluck your credit card from your hand to keep you from paying for them. 

"Hey!" you complained, but he just smiled. 

"I'll give it back later." He was rewarded with another kiss on the cheek, this one very close to his lips. 

"Well, look who's here," Jake drawled obnoxiously over the music from the jukebox and the noise from the crowd. "Bob and his friend."

You rolled your eyes and laughed, but you kept one hand linked with his as the drinks were set down. "Should we say hi to your friends?" you asked, and Bob nodded even though he really wanted to just find a small table on the other side of the room. But Nat looked excited, and the other guys looked annoyed, so Bob thought a short detour might be fun.

"Hey," Bob greeted everyone as you sipped your drink. 

"How was the movie?" Nat asked, elbowing Bradley in the side before he could say anything.

"Pretty good," you replied. "You know, for one of those Academy Award bait films." 

Bob laughed and looked at you. "I liked it a lot, actually." Or maybe he just liked sitting with his arm around you for two hours at a time, but he wasn't going to say that in front of everyone else.

Javy tapped a pool cue on the ground and asked, "Do you like to see a lot of movies?"

You nodded with a bit of an apprehensive look on your face that had Bob just about ready to pull you over to the table that another couple was vacating. "Yeah... I like films," you replied softly. 

And then Jake's jaw dropped open and he slapped the edge of the pool table. "Oh my god!" His green eyes were wide as he looked you up and down from head to toe with a smirk that made Bob want to stand in front of you. "That's why you look so familiar! You're Roxy Luxxe."

"Oh, fuck," Javy said as he dropped the pool cue on Nat's foot, and Bradley choked on his beer. 

But Bob just stood there and watched your posture stiffen and the look of apprehension on your face grow. "Who?" he asked softly, but you wouldn't meet his eyes.

"She's a porn star, Bob!" Jake said a little too loudly as he hooted. "A very memorable one, too. Played up different movie genres. Everyone I Did Last Summer. Sisterhood of the Traveling Sluts. Laid in Manhattan. Some real classics!"

"I retired," you said firmly, holding eye contact with Jake even though your voice sounded strained. "I left the industry five years ago."

"Guys," Nat said with a warning tone as she looked at Bob who was frozen in place, his head swarming with wild thoughts. An adult film star? You? But you worked at Top Gun and played D&D and liked scones. You went on three dates with Bob of all people.

Now Nat was physically moving Javy, Bradley and Jake back toward the game of pool, snapping her fingers at them as they continued to ogle you in your pretty dress. "So..." you whispered, turning toward Bob, looking anywhere but at his face. "That was... yeah..."

He had no idea what to say right now, and the longer he went without saying anything, the worse he felt inside. You used to have a job making adult films? Bob couldn't even handle watching those without blushing and stuttering. You must have had sex with dozens and dozens of different men and probably women too, and Bob suddenly realized he could go home and watch them for himself if he really wanted.

"Right," you said, finally looking at him as your eyes started to fill with tears. "Well... no hard feelings, Bob. I'll see you at work on Monday." Then you set your drink down, covered your mouth with one hand and made a beeline for the door.

Bob looked at the drink in his hand, and then at the one you set down. He left his on the table next to yours and followed you out to the parking lot. He looked around, calling your name and checking to see if you were by his truck, but you didn't respond. You were gone. 

Roxy Luxxe. That name was made up, and he didn't think it suited you as well as your real name. That one was perfect, and he liked it. He liked you. He could drive back to your house, but if you didn't want to talk to him, then what was the point? He'd already embarrassed himself by clamming up. But even worse, he thought he might have embarrassed you. 

"Damn it," he muttered, angry at Jake and all of them for making you feel small, and angry at himself, too. He got in his truck and drove himself home.

----------------------------

Well. You got three perfect dates before it all blew up in your face. Three amazing dates with Bob who was going to look at you like you were no longer worthy of his time now. Sure, you would have told him eventually. After another date or two, you would have brought it up in such a way that perhaps could have been a little bit more flattering or at least slightly tasteful. But of course you should have been expecting this. It wasn't the first time. Getting older only did so much for your face, and it didn't matter how much you changed your hair and makeup: Once Roxy Luxxe, always Roxy Luxxe.

You really thought none of them recognized you. It was almost refreshing that Bob had never heard of your alter ego. He probably never saw a single video of you having sex with Sam Slick or Dickie Divine. He didn't know exactly what your tits looked like, because you'd never taken your shirt off for him in person. He didn't know how you sounded when you faked an orgasm. As you ran down the block and got an Uber, you could hear Bob calling for you.

You weren't ashamed or embarrassed. You were not. This was your life, and you made every decision along the way for yourself. Nobody else. You put yourself through school. You bought the house of your dreams. You had an amazing job at Top Gun now for fuck's sake. But Bob was the first guy you met in a long time who made you think you could have a relationship with someone who wouldn't judge you for your past.

You walked from your Uber into your house and kicked your shoes across the entryway. More tears were filling your eyes, but you didn't want to cry again. Not over this. "But he was sweet," you whispered to your reflection in the hall mirror. His friends were kind of assholes, but he wasn't. Even if he didn't want to be with you now, which was understandable, those three dates were something else. Dungeons & Dragons discussions and coffee and pasta. 

You sighed wistfully at the flowers in your kitchen. Maybe a few more years and you'd look even less like Roxy Luxxe. That might make things easier to navigate. You made yourself a cup of tea and grabbed some crackers and sat out on your back deck where the moonlight reflected off of the ocean. The way Bob had wrapped his arm around you during the movie made it easy to imagine him here with you, keeping you warm. Instead you grabbed a blanket and snuggled in as you thought about how he would have been an excellent boyfriend. 

"You win some, you lose some," you told the night sky. If he was bothered by your past which you had designed so you could have a future, then he wasn't the one for you. You fell asleep outside in your dress, and the rising sun eventually woke you up. When you stretched and stood, the chilly air sent you running inside and toward your shower. 

The memories of last night were hanging out in the periphery of your mind. Going to work tomorrow was going to be awful. If you didn't like Admiral Bates so much, you'd request to work under someone else. But then again, why should you have to go to work feeling bad? Yeah, it was going to sting to see Bob, but it was still your job, and you deserved to be happy. 

You showered and took your time until all of your skin felt fresh and new, and then you threw on some oversized sweats after you moisturized. After breakfast, you could see if one of your friends from D&D was free to hang out. You were finally just about to check your phone to see if Bob had attempted to reach you when you heard a knock at your door. 

Bob's truck was parked in your driveway just behind your car. You could see it through the front window. According to your phone, he tried to call you twice, and he'd send you a handful of texts. But now he was here and knocking again. It was obvious you were home, so you wrenched your front door open and stood before him with your chin held high.

"What do you need?" you asked, already feeling weak at the sight of his pretty blue eyes and his glasses. 

"Hi," he said softly, just staring at you. He looked exhausted, like maybe he hadn't slept. Then he fumbled around in his jeans pocket and pulled out your credit card. "This is yours."

You plucked it from his hand and started to close the door. "Thanks for returning it. I'll see you at work."

Then he said your name. Your real name. "Wait. Please?"

You pressed your lips together. "What do you want, Bob?" 

The soft rise and fall of his solid chest held your attention while he started stuttering. "L-Look. I'm really sorry about last night."

You nodded. "Me too." It wasn't like you wanted to know, but you couldn't stop yourself from asking, "I take it you went home and looked up my videos?"

His eyes went wide as you crossed your arms over your chest. "I didn't."

You actually believed him, but you felt like making yourself hurt anyway. "Your friends have all seen me naked. Watched me getting fucked."

He seemed surprisingly calm as he half shrugged and kind of nodded. "So what?"

As you shifted your weight from one foot to the other, you said, "I'm not ashamed of anything I've ever done, okay? And I would have told you about it after another date or two... before we slept together." When he remained silent you added, "I started out in the adult film industry when I was eighteen. I quit when I was twenty five. I just turned thirty last month, and I guess I was silly for thinking enough time had passed. But last night was a prime example of why I haven't even tried to date anyone. Ever, really."

Bob was gaping at you now. "Not ever? But you're... you're so..."

"I know," you said, cutting him off before he could finish. "I'm hot enough to do porn, but nobody wants to date me." 

You started to close the door again, but he scrambled. "N-No, that's not what I was going to say. I was going to say you're flawless. A-And I shouldn't have let you leave the bar like that last night."

Your fingers loosened on the door, and soon it was drifting away from you, opening wider for Bob as he stood there with an eager expression. God, you just really liked him. And he seemed like he was being sincere. "What would you have done differently last night?" you whispered. 

He started to reach for you before tucking his fingers in his jeans pocket. "I would have taken your hand in mine as soon as I saw tears in your eyes." You bit your lips as he added, "And I would have told you that I like you so much. And if you wanted to leave, then I would have driven you home right away and walked you to your door."

He liked you so much. If there was a chance that Bob could be the kind of guy who still liked you with your past as Roxy Luxxe but also wasn't just trying to get in your pants and meet her for himself, then you wanted to give him a shot. "What would you have done after you walked me to my door?"

He was breathing deeper like he was nervous, and you wanted to touch him. "I would have asked you for that goodnight kiss that I'd been hoping for all day."

You were rushing for his arms, clearly surprising him in the process, but he held onto you as you gave him just the softest kiss. "I would have let you have it." Bob's hands found their way to the most respectful spot on your back, and you kissed him a little deeper. 

As soon as you broke the kiss, his fingers flexed against your back, and he said, "I want to go on another date with you. A bunch more. But I want you to be sure about me. I don't really care about Roxy Luxxe. I'm sure she was lovely, but I like you." You laughed. You couldn't help it. And he smiled as he asked, "Maybe you can think about it today and let me know at work tomorrow?"

"Okay."

He nodded and let out the breath he was holding. "Okay. I'll see you tomorrow."

Your back felt cold where his hands used to be as you watched him walk back to his truck. He waved to you as he pulled out of your driveway, and you waved back with a different feeling in your heart than you had twenty minutes ago.

---------------------------

Bob was disappointed to find he would be in the air on Monday. When he arrived on base, he changed into his flight suit instead of his khaki uniform, wondering what that would mean when it came to seeing you. He'd slept poorly, wondering what your answer would be, hoping you'd say yes to another date.

"Hey, Bob," Jake drawled as Bob zipped up his flight suit. "How was your night with Roxy Luxxe?" He had a devilish smirk on his face, and Bob's skin was crawling. All of the other guys were looking at him now, and he knew his face was beet red. 

"I guess she was as good as she looks on film if she rendered you speechless," Jake added with a laugh. 

"Whoa, no," Javy said, shaking his head at Jake before looking at Bob. "Cut it out, man."

Bob counted to five, took a deep breath and then raised his forearm, and at least Jake had the decency to look panicked. Bradley stepped into the fray as Bob used his arm on Jake's chest to push him back against the lockers. Sure, Jake was more muscular, but Bob was no slouch, and he had a couple inches on him. "Don't call her that again. Don't even talk about her. While you're at it, don't look at her either."

Jake raised one eyebrow and nodded slightly, and Bob released him, walking right out of the locker room and making a quick detour to the classroom. But you weren't there. He ran his hands through his hair before he headed outside to find Nat. 

"Hey, there you are," she said gently. "You okay? After the bar and everything?"

"I'm fine," he replied, still looking around. "Have you seen her?"

"Mmhmm," she hummed, pointing behind Bob, and he whirled around in time to see you walk out of the tower with Warlock and Cyclone. You looked as pretty as you always did, and Bob found himself wanting you the same way today as he had last week. All of the daydreams about making breakfast together after holding you in his arms all night were still there. So were the thoughts about you snuggled up, laughing on his couch. But now he could also imagine taking walks on the beach where you lived.

Your gaze met his, and he watched you excuse yourself from the admirals before heading his way. Nat squeezed his bicep, and muttered good luck before making herself scarce, and then Bob was standing there with you a respectable three feet in front of him. 

"Lieutenant Floyd."

He smiled softly. "Good morning."

"So..." you began, looking down at his boots and pressing your lips together. "I'm free on Wednesday night. Or pretty much all day Saturday." Your eyes trailed up his body until you were nervously examining his face. "What did you have in mind for our fourth date?"

He felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. He'd been so apprehensive, afraid you were going to tell him to beat it, he hadn't bothered to come up with an actual date idea. "Cooking dinner at my place?" he blurted out.

You nodded like that sounded good to you. "Wednesday night then?"

He couldn't remember if he already had plans, but if he did, he'd cancel them immediately. "Yes. Wednesday. The day after tomorrow. Wednesday."

Your soft laughter filled him up as you turned and started to walk away, giving him just one word. "Wednesday."

--------------------------

You showed up to Bob's place with just a bottle of wine. He promised to take care of the rest. An hour later, a completely homemade pizza with fresh mozzarella and herbs was baking in the oven, and you had your arms draped around his neck. His lips tasted like the pinot noir the two of you had started drinking while you made the pizza, and his body felt strong and sure. As of right now, you thought you'd made the right choice by coming here.

"I really like you," he whispered for the third time this evening, and you believed him. You liked yourself. Why shouldn't he? 

"I like you, too, Bob." You reached up and adjusted his glasses before letting your fingers trail back through his hair. As his hands slid slowly down to your hips, it was easy to imagine how he might be in bed. Authentic. Meticulous. Earnest. Just like he was at work. The thought thrilled you to no end, but you were also afraid of the way you'd feel afterwards if you rushed it just to get the first one out of your system. So you let him hold you like you were important. 

The timer buzzed, and Bob laughed as you jumped further into his arms. You buried your face against his neck. "It's not funny." But you were laughing, too, and his lips met your hair. "Okay, it's kind of funny."

His stomach was growling, so you slowly pulled yourself free of his arms so he could put on his oven mitts. "Looks good," he remarked, but your gaze was fixed on him. "What do you think, Honey?" 

Bob's eyes went wide as he set the tray down, like he couldn't believe what he'd said. Your heart was absolutely thundering in your chest. "Looks good," you whispered in agreement. You hadn't looked at it. You were sure it was fine. You'd eat anything anyway. But he called you Honey, and you didn't mind it one bit.

You shared the pizza side by side on his couch along with the rest of the bottle of wine, and Bob listened to you tell him about your friends you meet up with on Fridays. And then he told you about his deployment as he finished the last few drops of wine. 

"I never really talk about this with anyone but Nat. This is nice," he said softly.

"Is it lonely?" you asked, your voice barely a whisper as he set down his glass and looked at you. 

You didn't want to rush him, because you could tell what he was going to say was important. And it was. His voice was a little rough as he looked at you and said, "Somehow it's lonelier when I come home. It's worse than being on an aircraft carrier in that I can't really have anything for myself here. There's nothing waiting for me. And a lot of the time, I feel like it would be too much to ask someone to do that. To wait for me. It would be a lot for someone to accept."

When you crawled onto his lap, he didn't stop you. And when you tilted his face up to make him look at you, his cheeks flushed pink, but his hands found your hips again. "I understand exactly how you feel." 

Then you kissed him, and you didn't stop for probably hours or maybe days. It felt that good. When you ended up beneath his warm body, you were so happy he came to your house on Sunday morning with your credit card. "Bob," you whimpered, and that seemed to bring him back from wherever his head was while he kissed his way down your neck and along your chest. His hair was a mess from your fingers, and his lips were a little puffy from the kisses, and you were pretty sure he wouldn't let you down again even if his friends were idiots.

You'd broken the spell, but he didn't seem to mind as he stood and pulled you to your feet. "It's getting late. We have work in the morning. Let me walk you to your car?"

At this rate, you were afraid you'd let him do anything he wanted, because he held your hand the whole way there. And he kissed you just right and told you he'd love to spend part of Saturday with you.

"Come over," you told him, and he promised he would.

----------------------------

It was chilly as Bob watched the sunset over the ocean from your back deck, but his body was warm from the combination of having you and your fleece blanket wrapped around him. You fit perfectly in his arms. Frankly, you seemed to fit pretty perfectly in his life. He wouldn't mind spending all of his Saturdays like this, listening to your gaming recap from the night before while you occasionally kissed the side of his neck. Your fingers were laced with his, and when you asked if he wanted to share a bottle of wine you got when you were in Napa Valley, he responded with a different question. 

"Is there any chance you'd want to be my girlfriend?" You shivered in his arms, so he wrapped you up a little tighter. "I can't stop thinking about you being the one waiting for me to get home from a deployment."

You didn't speak right away which made him apprehensive. He'd somehow been the one to push things too fast. This was something he'd never managed to do before. You tightened your grip on his hand as you said, "Bob... people are going to recognize me. It's going to happen sometimes, no matter what I try to do about it, and I-"

He cut you off with a kiss. "I don't care about that, Honey." Then more kisses. The bottle of wine in your kitchen was left forgotten as you carefully slipped one leg over Bob's lap and sat straddling him. You kept the blanket wrapped snug around both of you, your body nestled against his as your foreheads met. "I just really like you."

The sun had disappeared below the horizon. Everything was pink and purple and dusky and dreamy as your cheek nudged his glasses making him smile. "If you think you can handle being my boyfriend, then I'm not going to try to stop you."

Heart pounding, he asked, "So is that a yes?"

"Yes." Your kisses were slow and soft, and Bob kept chasing the smile on your lips, because he couldn't get enough. With his eyes closed, all he could hear was the ocean below and the soft sounds you made. All he could feel was your body everywhere. You smelled familiar. You tasted good. 

As you ran your fingers through his hair, your other hand trailed down to his shoulder, along his bicep and then across his chest. When Bob dared to let his hands dip from your waist to your hips and butt, you scooted a little bit closer. He realized when your fingers skimmed his abs that he had an erection. 

Embarrassed, he tried to break the kiss and move his hands, but as soon as he started to move, you pulled away first. In the dying light, he could see your wide eyes and the alluring rise and fall of your chest. Part of your lace bra strap was showing, and your nipples were obviously hard. His cock throbbed in his jeans as you asked, "Do you want to stop?"

He knew you could read the desire on his face. When he started to shake his head, you rubbed yourself against his jeans where he was hard for you. "No," he grunted, head tipping back as he panted. "I don't want to stop."

"Good," you whispered next to his ear, lips barely grazing him. "Neither do I." You took his hands in both of yours and brought them back up to your body, encouraging him to touch every curve.

He gasped your name as he watched you slowly rolling your hips against him, seemingly in no hurry as you bit your lip. When he reached for the hem of your shirt, you didn't stop him, and he tossed it aside. Your body looked magical in the twilight, and as he reached for your bra clasp, realization hit him. 

You were used to a certain caliber of partner for these kinds of activities. Standards he probably couldn't meet. "You're hesitating again," you whispered, voice breaking a little bit on the last word. "If you don't think you want to do this with me, I completely understand, Bob."

It was getting difficult to read your expression in the darkness, but when you stopped touching him and pulled your arms to your sides, he started to panic. "It's not that," he promised. "But you've been with... p-professionals. Guys who know what they're... doing." He ran his hands through his own hair. "And I'm not the most experienced. I've only had two partners."

"Oh, Bob," you moaned, and his cock ached at the sound. He wanted you. His whole body was screaming for it, and then he watched as you unhooked your own bra and let it slide down your arms and fall from your fingers. Your body was flawless, back arched, every curve designed to make him crazy. He made a sound somewhere between a groan and a whine as you leaned in closer and kissed him. "You'll be so much better."

Your bare skin was everywhere as the blanket slipped from around you. Bob's hands splayed across your back to keep you warm, but the supple feel of you had him thrusting against your core as he gingerly ran his thumb along the side of your breast. "So much better!" you whispered before pulling his bottom lip between yours.

He was still a little nervous, throbbing against you in his pants like a teenager as he cupped your breast in his rough palm. When you trailed your lips down his neck, he said, "I just want to be good enough for you."

Bob was thankful it was dark and you couldn't see him blushing as you nipped his earlobe and giggled. "Bob. You're better, because you're real. And you're turning me on, because we're not faking anything." You moved your right hand down between your bodies and squeezed his cock through his jeans as you sucked on his neck. "There's nothing fake about this."

He was gasping as he reached for your hand. "Honey." He couldn't take too much more teasing, or at this rate, he'd finish before his pants were off. "Can we go inside?"

You were off his lap and reaching for him with both hands, pulling him to his feet and closer to you. "My bedroom sound good?"

"Yes." 

It was honestly difficult to walk. You led him through the sliding glass door and inside where the soft lighting somehow made your topless body look even more stunning. You brought him down the short hallway to your room, walking backwards and looking up at him with a smirk as you unzipped his jeans. He made another unintelligible noise as he watched the way your breasts swayed and bounced with each movement. 

Your bedside lamp provided the only light, and Bob was still looking around, trying to get his bearings, when you pulled his shirt and undershirt off. "Oh," you gasped, running your palms up his flat stomach to his slightly broader chest. "God." He couldn't fathom that you liked what you saw and felt enough to leave you panting his name, but you definitely were. Then your hand was down the front of his unzipped jeans, and he grinned as you tried your best to wrap your hand around his length, your eyes growing wide. "Bob."

And now he wasn't really nervous, because this actually felt really easy and good with you. You were giving him all the queues that you wanted more. You were kissing him as you stumbled to the bed. You were trying your best to get your hand around his cock, but you couldn't. He picked you up and hauled you up to the pillows, and you squealed. All he could see was your beautiful smile as you kissed him over and over, only pulling away to run your nose along his cheek and whisper his name. 

He watched you shimmy out of your yoga pants and underwear and push them aside, and it was no wonder you were able to make a career out of using your body the way you did. But if most of that was just acting, then he wasn't going to let you down now. He watched as your head tipped back, and you pressed yourself up against his hands when he gently squeezed your breasts. Mesmerized by all of this, he let his hands drift down over your ribs and along your sides until he was met by your hips.

Bob worked his hands slowly back up your body and down again, pausing to press his lips to your breasts as you arched for him again. You felt soft, and you were sensitive, running your bare foot up and down his leg as you whimpered. When he squeezed your hips again, he let his gaze fall below your belly button.

His voice was soft and deep as he asked, "Is it okay if I taste you, Honey?"

You instantly spread your legs a little wider, grabbed him by his hair, and said, "Please."

---------------------------

Bob's hands were huge, with thick veins and graceful, calloused fingers. All he was doing was touching you and kissing you, and you were very fucking worked up. This was already a treat, just being with a guy who wasn't grabbing at you and trying to shove his cock in your mouth. But it was more than that. It was the soft tone he used when he said your name and the way he was looking at you. 

Gentle but strong. That was how you'd describe your newly minted boyfriend. You smiled at him as he stroked his fingers down your sides. You hadn't had a boyfriend in years, and Bob was so sweet and handsome, it was absolutely outrageous. 

"Is it okay if I taste you?"

All of that and he wanted to go down on you? "Please." Your voice was needy, and your body was so ready for him. You eased your thighs further apart so he could see all of you, and you let your fingers tangle in his soft hair. You were so excited, and when the wire rim of his glasses brushed the inside of your thigh, you shivered with pleasure. 

Then his lips met your pussy, and you almost went through the fucking ceiling. Those big hands were at your waist, holding you in place on the bed as he licked up along your slit, slowly tasting every inch before he hummed softly. You wanted to watch, but you could barely lift your head off of the pillow as he licked up again and again before kissing your clit. 

When you managed to prop yourself up on one elbow, you got a great view of his big cock hanging out of his unzipped jeans when he lifted his head away from your body. "Does it feel good?" he asked, and you laughed. He pulled away from you further, concern on his face as you started to reach for him.

Your nails scraped along the day's worth of stubble on his cheek as you sat up and kissed him, tasting yourself. You licked at his lips and chin, cleaning up the wetness before you whispered. "It feels better than good."

A few seconds later, you were on your back again, legs over his shoulders as he ate your pussy with fervor. All of your nerve endings were singing his praises. He had you spread with his rough thumbs, and when he looked up at you, even his nose was wet. Your hands were fisted at your sides while you gently rolled your hips against his mouth and whined at the perfect feel of him. "Shit. Fuck," you gasped. He sucked on you with just the right amount of pressure, and your toes were literally starting to curl. "Bob!" 

All you got in response was another hum of pleasure that made you squeal followed by some seriously lewd, wet sounds. His broad shoulders pushed against the backs of your thighs, and you felt him teasing at your opening with the tip of one finger. Tongue circling your clit, he glanced up at you over his crooked glasses. His cheeks were pink, and there was a sheen of sweat on his forehead as you reached for his hair again. "I want you to fuck me."

"Okay," he agreed, nodding his head like he hadn't brought you close with his mouth. He looked a little dazed and pussy drunk, and you thought you could fall in love with that expression on his handsome face. 

"Come here," you whispered, kneeling so you could kiss him. "You taste like me," you added, licking his cheek and chin. "And I love it."

"Honey," he growled, and when you looked down, you could tell he was aching. You pushed him onto his butt and helped him the rest of the way out of his jeans and snug briefs, his thick cock bouncing for you. Then you looked at him there in just his socks and glasses, and your entire body clenched with a need you'd never known before. 

You took his cock in both hands, leaned down and kissed away all of his precum while every muscle in his abs and both legs tensed up. "Holy shit," he gasped. When you tugged on his shoulders, he moved with you, covering your body with his own. His weight and warmth against your bare skin felt essential to your happiness, and when you kissed him, he said, "And you taste like me." 

His cheeks flushed a pretty pink as you ran your tongue along his lips. You couldn't get enough. He shifted his body slightly, and his cock came to rest on your slick clit, making you moan into his mouth. You arched away from him, moving your hips back and forth a few inches at a time, using his body to bring yourself pleasure as you clung to his arms. "God, Bob. You haven't even been inside me yet, and I'm a mess." 

The veins in his neck and forehead were more prominent as he panted, a bead of his sweat rolling down to the tip of his nose. You licked it away as you shifted your hips so he was positioned at your entrance. He was thick, and even though you were soaking wet now, you had to use one hand to help guide him. You shook your head from side to side, your body taking him slowly. He buried his forehead to your neck, and the bite of his glasses against your collar bone kept you grounded. 

"Honey," he moaned, clutching at your hips as he finally, finally bottomed out. You were completely full, already clenching around him softly and enjoying the rough feel of his trimmed hairs against your clit. He thrusted a few times like he couldn't help himself, and you kissed his forehead. "Am I hurting you?"

His neck was a little slick against your fingertips. You'd been fucked too rough or without enough lubrication to the point of it being painful several times before, but this was the exact opposite. "Bob, you feel incredible." He lifted his head and kissed your lips, rewarding you with another thrust. Your legs tangled with his as you pushed his hair back from his forehead and kissed him harder. 

His lips found their way to your neck and breasts, and his thrusts started coming quicker, but every smooth movement left you gripping at him, your body begging for more as you whimpered and whined. He murmured your name against your skin, sucking on your nipples until you were seeing stars. And each thrust filled you somehow better than the last. And every movement left you grinding your clit up for more. 

You were going to come. You were going to come so hard. You could feel it. The buildup was delicious. Lips and stubble and glasses on your breasts. Hands on your hips. Bob everywhere.

"I'm not wearing a condom. Honey," he panted. "I'm not wearing a condom."

"It's okay," you whined loudly, suddenly gasping and clawing at his shoulders for leverage. "You can come wherever you want."

He chose inside you. And you came, hard and long and loud, hands on his face while you kissed him. You knew he was going to be so much better. You called it from the start. From when he surprised you by asking you out for coffee. He was immediately better than anything else you anticipated for yourself, and even when he fumbled, he recovered. You ran your lips along his cheek and back to his ear and whispered, "You're so much better than faking it."

He rolled both of you onto your sides, facing each other while he was still deep inside you. "Please don't ever do that. Fake it," he said, voice deep and raspy as he ran his rough palm along your cheek. "I want to know I'm good enough for my girlfriend." 

You smiled and tucked your head under his chin, and he wrapped his arm around you. His skin was warm beneath your lips, and his words were soft and gentle. When he climbed out of bed, he asked where he could find a washcloth, and he came back with it a minute later, ready to help you get cleaned up. He even held your robe out for you and waited while you used the bathroom, but you did that quickly, finding you wanted to be right next to him as much as possible.

Bob looked delicious in his briefs and undershirt, and you wrapped your arms around his waist as you asked, "Do you want to go back out under the blanket? With the bottle of wine? We could look at the stars. Listen to the ocean before bed."

He kissed your forehead. "As long as I'm with you."

-------------------------

Six months later...

After eight weeks away, Bob was excited to get home. He really hoped this was the start of his deployments feeling lonelier than the time between them did. Especially since he was going home to you and the house where he moved all of his stuff as soon as you asked him to live with you. He couldn't wait to hold you all night and hear all about your Dungeons & Dragons campaign and ask how you'd been enjoying work.

As soon as the aircraft carrier started docking in San Diego, he was at one of the lower railings along with the other aviators, and he spotted you immediately. You were bouncing around at the front of the crowd shouting his name and waving like a lunatic, and he had missed you so much. "Hey, Honey!" he shouted, and you just jumped higher. 

"Damn, Floyd. That's your girl?" asked one of the guys he'd flown with.

"Yeah," he replied, never taking his eyes off you. "That's my girl."

Six and a half minutes later, he was practically running down the long ramp with his duffle on one shoulder to the spot where you were waiting for him. 

"Bob!" you screeched as he scooped you up in your tiny dress and kissed you until you were as breathless as he was. "I missed you. I love you so much, and I missed you."

"I want to go home, Honey," he said, kissing you again. "Take me home."

"Gladly," you gushed, grabbing his hand and leading him toward his own truck. "I have big plans for your big cock," you announced to everyone around you, and Bob felt his cheeks warm up. "Well, and the rest of you, too. We can make a pizza together and eat out on the deck."

"Anything you want," he promised, tossing his bag in the truck bed and pushing you against the door. "And I love you, too." 

You only let him kiss you for a few seconds, before you were pushing him away. "I know you do. Let's go home." You held his hand on the short ride, and when he pulled in the driveway, you yanked him right out and led him inside the house. 

This felt incredible, knowing you wanted him as badly as he wanted you, running hand in hand to the bedroom. Then you stopped short and turned to face him as he bumped into you with a laugh. "You know how you're kind of your alter ego right now when you're in your uniform? Lieutenant Floyd?"

"Yeah?" he whispered, leaning down to kiss you, but your lips curled into a smile as you backed away.

"Well... I thought you might like to meet my alter ego?" you asked softly, easing that little dress up to your hips and along your torso before pulling it over your head. You were standing there in the tiniest black thong and bra set known to mankind. "Do you want to meet Roxy Luxxe?"

Bob just nodded and reached down to palm himself through his khaki pants as he gaped at you and grunted, "Uh huh." If Roxy was just a playful extension of his girlfriend, then yes, he wanted to meet her. 

You bit your lip and coaxed him toward the bed, running your hands down your body to your hips where you played with your underwear. "Good. Because she wants to meet you, too. And she wants you to know she's only going to be available exclusively for Bob Floyd's enjoyment."

---------------------------

Thanks for reading this long one-shot! I wanted Bob to get to fuck a former pornstar, because nobody deserves such a treat the way Bob does! But then I got attached to them and had to make it special. Bob and the artist formerly known as Roxy Luxxe are adorable together. Thanks to @mak-32 @beyondthesefourwalls @thedroneranger and @sylviebell for your help!

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AHHHHH THIS IS SOOO AMAZING!!!

All I Wanted

Jake Seresin, known for his fearless maneuvers in the cockpit and his unwavering loyalty to his comrades, faced a dilemma that even the skies couldn't prepare him for. As a leading naval aviator, Jake had always been the one to push the boundaries, but now, it was his best friend, who needed a daring move. Best friends turned fake spouses.. What could possibly go wrong? Labels: ☆ cursing

☆ chapter 01: "just to relive the start" (01.22.24)

...

i'm back bitches :)

follow my library account here and turn on post notifications if you'd like to be notified when I post new works (and not my normal spiels). Or should I bring back a tag list?

IM SO EXCITED FOR THIS

fever pitch (b.b.) - masterlist

Arsenal and USMNT captain Bradley Bradshaw attends the mononymous music sensation Y/N's concert with a friendship bracelet and a dream. Little did he know that they soon embark on an epic love story fit for pop royalty...

pairing: footballer!bradley x popstar!reader warnings: meet cute. so much fluff. smut (18+ only). some angst, but mostly feel-good. fame shenanigans.

PROLOGUE: mastermind - taylor swift (out now!)

PART ONE

PART TWO

PART FOUR

DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON HOW AMAZING THIS STORY IS

Operation Apollo | Masterlist | Jake Seresin x Reader

The Secret Service AU (18+, minors dni)

Playlist

Drabble / Blurbs Masterlist

Prologue

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THIS IS SOO GOOD!!!!

In Too Deep Masterlist

Jake Seresin becomes a Step Dad <3

Jake Seresin had sworn he was never going to be a father. He liked his life the way that it was, child-free, stress free and chaos free. Free being the key word. After falling for you, it becomes clear that Jake is in for an attitude adjustment, whether he likes it or not.

…

Prologue

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

IM NOT OKAY

GLEN POWELL Men's Health Magazine (Nov 14, 2023)

OMG THIS IS SO GOOD AHHH

happy birthday, mr. president - bob floyd

pairing: president!bob floyd x wife!reader

summary: after a hard week, the last thing bob wanted to do was attend his birthday party. so instead, he plays out one of his biggest fantasies with you.

w/c: 2.4k

warnings: 18+ only. SMUT. bob eating you out in the oval office. slight bondage. slight degradation. dirty talk. mention of cameras. edging. p in v. unprotected sex. breeding kink. riding. title kink? (calling bob mr. president). drinking.

a/n: brought to you by me rewatching scandal and losing my mind. also haven’t stopped thinking about @therebeccaw’s beautiful president bob moodboard <3 also for @lt-bradshaw! thanks for bringing up president bob on the dash last night.

Bob hated parties. No matter how many balls and galas he attended, it never got any easier. He fussed with his bow tie for the umpteenth time before finally giving up, letting out a huff of frustration as he buttoned his cufflinks. 

His head snapped up at the sound of the bathroom door opening and the sight before him made him weak in the knees. You floated into the room with such grace, completely ignoring the gobsmacked look on his face. You fiddled with the back of your diamond earring, struggling to fasten it in place. 

“Baby, can you zip me up the rest of the way?” You asked nonchalantly. You moved to stand in front of him, finally catching his cobalt eyes in the cheval mirror. 

“You look beautiful,” Bob professed. His hands curved around your front to rest on your stomach, pulling you tight against him. His eyes darkened as they traveled over your body, lingering on the way the bodice hugged your breasts, pushing them up enticingly. “How am I supposed to make it through the night with you looking like this?”

“You’ll live. Now, zip me up so I can fix your tie.” 

His bottom lip jutted out slightly in a pout, causing you to playfully roll your eyes. As he moved the zipper up the last couple of inches you couldn’t reach, he pressed a kiss to the top of your spine. 

“Do we really have to go?” Bob questioned as he rested his chin on your shoulder. One hand moved back around to your front, sliding up your chest and groping you through your dress. 

“It’s your birthday. You can’t miss it. Behave, Bobby. You’ll have me all to yourself this weekend when we go to Camp David,” you asserted. “It’s just for a couple of hours. You’ll survive.”

“Highly unlikely,” he muttered as you busied yourself with his tie. You had it knotted in no time, looking pleased with your work. 

“There. All done,” you said, patting his chest before turning away. He caught your wrist, tugging you back to him swiftly. He looked down the bridge of his nose at you, eyes squinting in the way they did when you defied him. A challenging look that made you burn with desire. 

“Can we do that thing we talked about a few weeks ago?” He spoke quietly. Between the grip he had on your arm and the way he was looking at you, you were ready to say screw the party and tear his shirt buttons off with your teeth. But you knew you couldn’t do that. You didn’t get the luxury of skipping out on these things anymore. 

“The thing…”

“It is my birthday, you know,” he quipped, the corner of his thin lips twitching up into a devilish smirk. You were about to respond when Charlie knocked on the door, letting you know guests had begun to arrive. 

“Mr. President. Ma’am. We’re ready whenever you are.”

Bob dropped your wrist, linking your fingers together and squeezing your hand once. He let go to slide on his suit jacket and you brushed out any wrinkles that appeared, straightening the pin he wore on his lapel. He took a deep breath in and exhaled slowly, craning his neck from side to side. 

“C’mon, darling. Let’s get this over with.”

You slid your arm through Bob’s, holding on tightly as you walked through the corridors of the White House. You knew he still got nervous being around so many people. But he never let it show. He was poised, a true leader. The road to the White House was not easy but you believed he was doing what he was always meant to do. Be who he was always meant to be. It made your heart swell with pride to see your husband succeed. 

“Quit starin’,” Bob muttered, sneaking a glance at you. You pinched his arm in response. 

As the doors opened to the East Room, applause erupted and you felt Bob tense ever so slightly. He was whisked away by a few senators, a champagne flute placed in his hand as they tried to schmooze him into passing their bill. He looked over his shoulder apologetically and you waved him off. You knew how these things went. You’d find your way back to him eventually. 

It took exactly forty-five minutes before Josh, Bob’s chief of staff, came up to you. He pulled you aside and leaned in to whisper in your ear.

“We’ve lost him.”

You tried to bite back a smile, surprised he lasted as long as he did. 

“I know where he is. Thank you, Josh. Do me a favor… keep the West Wing off limits.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows at you. 

You wandered through the long hallways, taking your heels off halfway to the Oval Office. For the duration of the walk, you considered what Bob had asked for earlier in the night. He had mentioned that he wanted to try something different. You had discussed everything beforehand so you knew exactly what would play out. 

You would stumble into his office, he would take you over the desk. He’d be trying his best to avoid the cameras, but if you didn’t… The thought of sneaking around, the thrill of potentially being caught, it turned you on tremendously - and Bob knew that.

There was a soft glow coming from the large room as you entered through the side door. Bob was sitting in his leather chair, feet propped up on the cherry wood desk. He was nursing a glass of scotch, the amber liquid swirling around in the crystal as he finished his sip. His tongue darted out to catch a rogue droplet from the corner of his mouth. He looked so powerful sitting behind that desk. He could bring the whole world to their knees if he just asked. 

“Good evening, sir,” you said meekly. Even after a year in the White House, it still made you nervous coming into the Oval Office. Bob’s neck craned towards you and there was a lazy smile on his face. The lamp cast shadows over his face. From where you stood, you could see the sliver of grays at his temple. They started appearing more and more as the days went on, much to Bob’s dismay. Stress, you would inform him at the end of a long day.

“Hi, sweetheart,” he slurred. He straightened himself in the chair, setting his feet on the floor before standing. Your heart pounded against your ribcage as his dark eyes devoured you without saying a word. 

“I’ve been looking for you. You promised me a dance.” Your husband hummed, taking one last swig of his liquor before rounding the desk. His tie was hanging loose around his neck, the top two buttons of his crisp white shirt undone. 

Your mind ran wild with salacious thoughts as he unbuttoned the cufflinks. The slight clatter of them being haphazardly set aside was the only noise that filled the room. He rolled up his sleeves messily, veiny forearms being put on display. Your mouth dried up looking at his hands, wishing they would reach out and touch you already. 

Bob walked slowly towards you, pinning you in place with his gaze. 

“Mr. President,” you breathed. 

“I like it when you call me that,” he indicated. “Say it again.”

“Mr. President,” you purred this time. He circled you, stopping behind you like he had earlier in your room. “We shouldn’t-“

“I think we should. I think it’d be a wonderful idea.”

“But the cameras…”

“Let them watch,” he muttered in your ear. “Let them see you beg your president to let you cum.”

You whimpered at his words, pressing back into his warm body. You were already begging, a silent plea for him to take you. He wasn’t going to give in to you that easily.

Bob started shuffling the both of you towards the desk, pressing you forward until the edge dug into the tops of your thighs. You could feel how hard he was in his slacks. You knew he needed this. It had been a hellish week and he spent his birthday in meeting after meeting, leaving no time to see each other until you were crawling into bed. 

His strong hands gripped your hips and spun you around to face him. His expression was devious, you knew what his plan was. He whipped the tie from his collar and you obediently held your wrists out. 

“Good girl,” he said, pressing a searing kiss to your lips. As he pulled away, you chuckled softly. A smudge of red lipstick adorned his mouth. 

“I think you just like me tying your ties, mister,” you said. Bob had expertly knotted your wrists together with the black satin material. His response was a cheeky grin and a shrug of his shoulders. 

Maneuvering you onto the wooden surface was a small feat, he manhandled you with such ease it made your head spin. Papers scattered everywhere as he shoved them aside. He pressed against your sternum until you were flat on your back, bound wrists dangling above your head. 

He made slow work of kissing down your body, mouthing at your cleavage. Sucking small love bites into the tops of your breasts. He dropped to his knees with no preamble, diving under your dress and moving up until he landed between your thighs. He pulled your lace panties to the side and buried his face into your soaked cunt. 

The first flick of his tongue against your clit caused your hips to buck and your mouth to fall open. Bob knew how to eat you out like no other. He sucked and licked and nipped against your most sensitive parts until you were a quivering mess. 

Your mind wandered back to your previous thought about how he could bring the world to its knees. And yet here he was, the most powerful man, on his knees for you. It made your breath hitch and your thighs shake. His wanton moans vibrated through your entire body. You couldn’t see him, not with the way he had his head shoved under the skirt of your dress, but you felt every move he made. Every shake of his head, every indention his fingertips were leaving. 

You were babbling nonsense. You weren’t even sure if it was words. Variations of ‘Bob’ and ‘Sir’ and ‘Mr. President’ spilled from your lips and it seemed to make Bob that much hungrier. 

“Bobby, please. Please, I’m so close. I’m so-“

And then he stopped. 

He pulled away so quickly your hips chased his mouth and you whined desperately. His hair was a mess, loose curls that were once slicked back flopped onto his forehead. His cheeks were flushed, his lips wet with your desire. 

“You bastard,” you mumbled, trying to steady your breathing. You had been right on the edge. But you knew that’s what he wanted. You knew what he had in store. 

He said nothing as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He said nothing as he moved you off the desk and around the back of it. He said nothing as he nearly broke the zipper on your gown, practically tearing it off of you. A small pleased noise escaped him as you stood before him in your underwear, wrists tied and breasts on full display. 

“Such a dirty slut, aren’t you? Letting me take you in here where anyone could walk in. You like that though, don’t you? Yeah, I know you do.”

He moved to sit once more in his chair, thighs spreading wide as he palmed over his cock. A whimper caught in your throat when he pulled himself out. You’ve said it a million times before but Bob Floyd had a pretty dick. And you would never tire of the sight.

“Want you to ride my cock, pretty girl.”

Bob pulled you into his lap and onto his cock without much warning. The stretch never failed to make you gasp, no matter how many times it had been. He settled you until he was to the hilt, full of him. He reached down to untie your wrists and you tangled your fingers through his hair instantly. 

You couldn’t move much on your own so Bob took matters into his own hands and bounced you. Hands holding your hips tight enough you were sure there would be bruises by tomorrow. It was quick and messy, your thighs were burning and you couldn’t hold back your moans. 

“Gonna fill you up. Gonna finally make you a momma. We'll have little babies running around this place before you know it. Fuck, sweetheart. I’m the luckiest man alive,” Bob rambled. The sound of skin slapping against skin echoed throughout the room and you silently prayed Josh listened to you before. 

Your nails clawed at the part of Bob’s chest that was exposed, slipping your hand inside the half buttoned shirt to scrape against his nipple. It caused his eyes to roll back and his hips to stutter. 

“Moan for me, Bobby.” He did. Loud and unabashedly. 

The fast rhythm had both of you close in no time. His mouth attached to your breasts once more and that was it for you. You clenched around him tightly, throwing your head back and nearly screaming as he continued the brutal pace into you. It took him a few more thrusts before he was releasing inside of you, filling you full of him. 

You slumped against his chest, hot breath washing over his damp skin as he rubbed up and down your spine. 

“I can’t believe we just defiled the Oval Office. We could be arrested,” you joked. 

“Not the first time,” Bob said. “Thank you for indulging me, honey. I love you to the moon and stars.”

“Happy birthday, Mr. President,” you giggled. A weak groan tumbled from his lips as his dick twitched inside of you. 

“Don’t do that to me right now.”

“Is that an order?” You challenged, rolling your hips teasingly. 

“You little brat,” he muttered against your lips, picking you up and walking you over to one of the couches. It was a long and glorious night. 

Several weeks later you stood in the en suite bathroom, with four positive pregnancy tests sitting on the counter. You couldn’t stop yourself from getting tickled. 

THIS IS AMAZING

One Day At A Time (Part 5/?)

Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Reader

Summary: Hangman's fiancée is hospitalised and Jake waits for her to wake up

T/W: Anxiety, panic disorder, PTSD, POW, gun violence, hints to torture, death

Jake POV

He sits silently on a freezing cold, completely uncomfortable plastic chair by your bedside stroking the back of your hand for hours on end.

Jake's eyes are transfixed in horror as he stares at your hands - more specifically at your bleeding, bandage wrapped nails. His stomach clenches in nausea as he thinks about the fact someone has probably ripped them.

What on earth has happened to you?

How could anyone do this?

Are you mentally okay after what you've been through?

What if you don't love me anymore?

He asks himself a million questions that he cannot answer as he sits staring at what's been done to you. Every unanswered question is adding to his stress.

Jake is snapped out of his thoughts when the door handle rattles and Cyclone walks back in. He subconsciously straightens in his chair in acknowledgement.

"At ease, I don't expect you to feel inferior in a hospital." Cyclone remarks clearly feeling apprehensive by his surroundings as he hesitantly places a vase of flowers down on the windowsill.

"Have the doctors said anything to you?" Jake questions quietly, momentarily turning away from your lifeless body.

"She's stable. They're trying to wake her up." Cyclone confirms.

Jake carefully avoids touching your nails as he squeezes your hand slightly, hoping the motion will help you feel tethered enough to open your eyes.

The admiral's gaze flits between the two of you, wondering if Jake is going to speak up.

"Was it your decision?" Jake finally asks having wondered it ever since he got the call to say you were not coming home. At the time Jake practically begged Javy to find out information about what happened the day your plane went down, but the name of the admiral who made the decision to withdraw help was classified before he could know who to blame.

Cyclone is the one that called me, he knows who made that decision.

He confirms Jake's suspicions with a single nod.

"She is the best pilot I've ever worked with. I didn't expect for what happened that day to occur" Cyclone admits meeting Jake's eye line.

That's as close to an apology as I'm going to get from the man.

"Someone should've gone after them. She fucking deserved that." Jake's lip wobbles as he says the words. His brain is endlessly thinking of what you may have had to endure to look like this right now.

Jake will never admit to anyone that the rational part of his brain completely understands why the admiral would pull back the rescue effort after three other people were killed.

Your squad's relatives had the closure of their bodies - Jake never had that. Your family had a funeral with a casket that everyone knew was empty.

Jake closes his eyes in pure dread as he thinks back to that day.

"I've put through an emergency leave request on your behalf." Cyclone declares after a few minutes of silence. Jake doesn't say anything, still lost in thought.

"Have you called anyone?" Cyclone asks.

Jake shakes his head. No. He left the house in such a rush that he's fairly sure his phone must be somewhere on the side next to his house keys.

"She doesn't like being crowded when she's sick." Jake states.

The admiral nods taking that as what it was, a polite way to tell him to go away too.

*

Jake jolts awake at the sound of the door opening again. "Sorry" a nurse whispers at him.

"Don't apologise, come in." he says gesturing with one hand and rubbing his eyes with the other.

The nurse smiles slightly at him and moves around the machines to check all of your vitals.

"What time is it?" Jake groans - from the stiffness of his neck he knows he's been asleep for a fair while.

"Half four." The nurse responds checking his fob watch.

"When do you think she'll wake up?"Jake questions looking away from the note-writing nurse, back at you.

"It's different for everyone but hopefully soon." he replies.

Jake doesn't admit that he's scared for whatever you're going to say to him. Scared that there's nothing between the two of you anymore.

I don't know what I'll do if you're not the old you

But how can you be the old you after this?

"How did you two meet?" the nurse asks trying to distract Jake from his obvious nervousness at this whole situation.

He hasn't spoken the hugely exaggerated version of your meeting in years; the story he used to tell people to make them swoon before everything happened... Instead he settles for something he know will instantly shut the conversation down, "at work".

When the nurse leaves Jake is watching you on high alert again.

"I know you won't let me say this to you when you're conscious but I am so sorry I couldn't save you baby." He murmurs.

*

Reader POV -

Despite the beeping of hospital machines telling you that you're in a sterile environment, you wake up to fear and adrenaline pounding through your system.

Where am I? you mentally question, too tired to wake up.

You can hear someone snoring nearby but do not have the strength to prise your eyes open.

Who is that? That doesn't sound like Ghost.

From experience you know that you've been under some form of anaesthetic to be feeling this out of control over your body but it doesn't stop your mind racing a million miles an hour.

I have to wake up.

You groan trying to compel yourself to wake up.

Hearing your heart monitor pick up slightly, the man besides you is snapped from his slumber, instantly taking your hand.

"Take it easy sweetheart." He says rubbing your cheek. You flinch dramatically at the nickname, afraid of who you think is standing next to you.

Someone's touching me. You panic unable to force your eyes open long enough to take in your surroundings or fight back if you need to.

Oblivious to the real reasoning behind the flinch, Jake's eyes fill with tears as he removes his hand from your face petrified that he may have hurt you.

"I'm sorry sweets." He whispers carefully untangling your hands as well.

Desperate for you to talk to him, Jake watches as your eyes flicker open and closed. He holds his breath in anticipation of you finally waking up but is sorely disappointed seconds later as you're pulled back under the sleepy haze of anaesthetic.

Part 4 in case you missed it

Masterlist

Tags:

@inthestars-underthesun

@rainy-darling

@emma8895eb

@tgmreader

@ems-alexandra

A/N: I just read this back and why is the start of this giving Gone Girl??

THIS IS SOOOO GOOD!!

same mistakes masterlist

updated 06/10/23

note: most of these can be read in any order, but to get a good sense of the plot and characters, it’s a good idea to follow the way they’re laid out here as it’s the way they were written to be read.

like father, like daughter masterlist

same mistakes-verse timeline

Keep reading

SOBBING, THIS IS SOOO GOOD

Red Carnations - J.Seresin

Summary: A Red Carnation signafies your heart aches for that person.

Jake left red carnations at your headstone every year, until he wasn't and you were staring back at him, alive.

Pairing: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Pilot!Reader - Callsign: Hela.

Warnings: 18+, mentions of death, mentions of accidents/injury. Mentions of nightmares, fluff and some angst.

This is part II to "Middle Of A Memory" which you can find here.

a/n: woah. I didn't expect the two of these to get so much love but I am so happy it has! the long anticipated part two.. it's here! I hope this lives up to what everyone was hoping for. Thank you for sticking with me and having patience with me. <;3

happy reading!!

Year: One.

The summer sun was hot on his skin as Jake sat on the now green grass. The headstone stared back at him, “Y/N, “Hela” Y/L/N” he reads softly to himself as he reaches over, wiping some dirt out of the letters. “I can’t believe it’s been almost a year Hels” he watches the way the leaves flow with the wind, as if you were listening to him.

“I still can’t even listen to Foreigner without thinking about you,” he chuckles, running a hand along his face. He had stubble on his cheeks, choosing to take his leave to come to New York and see you. “I need to go home and see mom but she knows how much this means to me” he whispers, smiling slightly to himself. “I miss you so much beautiful” he stands and brushes some grass from his jeans as he sets down the small bouquet of red carnations.

His mother always saying that a red carnation means you were aching for that person. He smiles sadly as they sit perfectly on your headstone. He takes a deep breath and looks to the sky to prevent more tears from rolling down his cheeks. There was a knowing smirk on his face as he knew you’d be teasing him, all in good fun. He kisses his fingertips, laying them atop the stone, walking towards his hotel. 

“How’d it go?” His mom’s voice is soft on the other line, understanding. “It was nice, I felt her with me” he admits, pushing the hair out of his face as he walked the busy sidewalk.  “Are you gonna come home?” she asks tentatively, “I think so mama, I-” he chokes up then, biting back the tears.

“You need your mama, you can admit it” she smirks but she knows her son. “My flight leaves in a few hours” he whispers, shoving his hands into the pocket of his jeans to pull out the keycard to his room.

“What flowers did you leave for her?” she asks as he shuts the door behind him, “red carnations”. She smiles sadly, nodding, “okay baby, I will see you soon then? Gracie is home too” he smiles at the mention of his sister.

"Of course, how is she holding up?” he asks as she sighs, she looks back at the younger Seresin who sat curled up on the couch with her father like she was six again. “She could really use her big brother right now” he nods.

“I will be home soon” she nods, knowing he can’t see her. “I love you” he smiles, “I love you mama” he hangs the phone up then, looking down at the text staring back at him. 

Raven: Thinking of you today. I found this and thought it might make you smile.. *1 attachment *

The tears he tried so hard to prevent started to fall freely. A photo of you and Jake, it was from when you first met him in Tennessee. He stood behind you, his arm across your chest as the two of you looked at the other, your smile was wide and Jake's eyes were dripping with love.

He sobs, his head falling forward as he sits on the edge of the bed. The two people in the photo were not ones he recognized. “It’s bullshit Hela '' he mumbles to himself, tossing the phone aside as he brushes the tears off his cheeks, taking a deep breath.

Jake landed in Austin almost two hours later. His sister's grin meets him in the airport. She covered her tears with a smile as he made his way to her, his own smile hiding his own tears. “Jakey” she whimpers as her brother approaches.

“It’s okay Gracie, c’mere” he’s dropping his bag and wrapping her in his arms, her head nuzzling into his chest. He can feel her sniffle against the tshirt he wore, kissing the top of her head, he squeezes her body. “I got you, let’s go home yeah?” he asks softly as she nods, wrapping her arm around his waist and walking to the parked car.

The car ride was silent, the radio played softly and the silence was almost deafening as the Foreigner song picked up on the radio. “Shit” she quickly reaches for the seek button or anything to turn the song off. “No” he stops her, looking at her with a wide smile.

“I want to hear it"

He admits as he turns the song up louder, looking out the window with his sunglasses perched on his nose. He couldn’t help but smile at the sound of Kelly Hansen’s voice filling his ears.

He can’t help but sing along softly. Gypsy smiles from her seat, looking at her older brother from her peripheral, he looked at peace for one of the rare moments in the last year.

Year: Three

The red circle stared back at him. Red and screaming as he stood in front of the calendar.

Three years to the date he’s been without you.

He couldn’t take leave this year and was stuck on base training. He shuts the locker with a slam and walks out of the locker room. The murmuring of the other pilots stops at his outburst, watching as he walks out of the room.

He puts the sunglasses on his face and walks past the squad room where the dagger squad sat. Gypsy looks up as her brother's boots walk along the linoleum floor. “What’s his problem?” Payback asks as she looks down at her phone. The date stared back at her. “It’s today” she looks at Raven who nods sadly. “I’ll go talk to him” Bradley stands, leaning down to kiss the top of Raven’s head, following the older Seresin.

Jake tosses his bag into the passenger seat of his truck, going to get in when Rooster's voice stops him. “Hangman!” he jogs up to the Chevy, looking at Jake. “Hey” Bradley looked at him, Jake's face was stone, he hid his emotions better especially in front of anyone on the squad. “I know what today is,” Rooster whispers, moving closer to him. “I expect you too” Hangman mumbles, looking at Rooster.

“You know I understand don’t you? I grieve my parents everyday” Rooster says, watching as Jake shuts the door to his truck gently. “I know you do Rooster and thank you” he nods to him in thanks, “I-I just need to be alone okay?” taking the aviators off, Rooster nods at the sadness in his eye. “Of course, I’m just a phone call away okay?” Jake nods, sending him a sad smile and climbing behind the wheel of his truck.

The living room was silent. Jake couldn’t bring himself to even turn the television on. He can hear the soft tick of the clock as the minutes go. He takes a deep breath before he’s grabbing his phone, pulling up the group chat with the Dagger Squad.

Coyote: Hard Deck?

Fanboy: I'm in!

Phoenix: Same!

Gypsy: Bob and I are gonna stay in, I’m not up to it.

He stops reading the texts, standing and shoving the phone in his pocket as he grabs his jacket and leaves the house.  The house still had so much of you even after three years, he took over your lease of the beachfront home. He couldn’t bear it going to anyone else.

He drove to the flower shop down the street, he knew what he was there for. The sweet woman smiled at him as the bell above the door dings. “Can I help you?” she asks as he smiles, looking around at all the flowers and plants lining the walls.

“Yes actually, do you have any red carnations?”

She smiles a wide smile, holding a finger to him and makes her way back to the back of the store.

The breeze was cold on his skin as he stood on the sand. The carnations were held securely in his hands as he took a deep breath, taking in the saltiness of the sea. Rooster notices him as he stands in the Hard Deck, grabbing his own jacket, he makes his way outside.

“Hangman?” Jake turns and for one of the first times in their friendship, Rooster can see the tears streaming down his cheeks. “Hey Rooster '' Jake is wiping his cheeks, turning back to the water. Rooster moves beside him, holding his hand out to him. Jake furrows his brows as Bradley motions to the flowers. “Let me have one” he mumbles as Jake takes the small bouquet and gives one to the man beside him.

“Red Carnation?” he asks as Jake nods slowly, “they mean you ache for that person, I’ve been leaving them for Hela for years” he whispers, voice breaking slightly. Bradley nods, smiling sadly at Hangman. “I can’t even look at the ocean the same now that she’s gone” Bradley is surprised at the confession as he nods. “I couldn’t go to the beach for a long time once my dad died” he replies as Jake looks at him with a sad smile.

“I know you didn’t know Hela but she was… so fun and she loved all things in life” he smiles sadly as he turns back to the water. “She’d want to be with the sea, even though that’s where she died,” he chuckles softly. Bradley nods, “tell me more about her'' he asks as Jake looks over at him. “Raven probably tells you enough” he chuckles, wiping his cheeks. “The basics'' he admits as Jake nods.

“She was very fun, always had a joke about something” he smiles as he chuckles, “I pulled her off the bar once, dancing to a scorpion’s song in Tennessee '' he smiles as Bradley nods. “I bet she was fun” Jake chuckles, nodding “she was”'.  Jake turns towards Bradley with a sad smile, “Thanks alot for this Bradshaw '' Bradley nods, reaching over and slapping his shoulder with a squeeze. “Of course,” he smiles.

Jake makes his way to the shoreline with Bradley, crouching down to let the Carnation flow with the water, watching as Bradley lets the one in his hands go. “Another year without you Hells Bell” he stands watching as the flowers float into the ocean.  “It never gets easier, does it?” he asks as Bradley stands beside him. "No, no it doesn’t but you have an army behind you” Bradley looks over at him as he chuckles, “you mean navy?” the two of them laugh.

“Let’s go get a drink, what was her favorite drink?” Bradley asks as they make their way up the sand. Jake laughs, looking at Bradley, 

“A sex on the beach” .

Present day.

Cyclone and Warlock watch the way the two of you look between each other. Jake takes in your state, the way your bruises are so fresh and how the split in your lip looked as it almost stung as you smiled at him.

“What-” he’s panting, looking around the room as it starts to feel small, he was not one to get claustrophobic but he was almost suffocated by the walls. “Can we have a minute?” he can’t believe he’s even hearing your voice outside of a Voicemail. Cyclone and Warlock nod, walking out of the room and shutting the door behind them.

He doesn’t notice as you make your way to him, hands moving from the pockets of your jacket. Jake could sob at the bruises on your knuckles as your still soft hands reached out for him. “Jake” you are whispering, reaching out to him slowly, his eyes meeting your bruised one. “How-” he’s shaking his head, pacing the room. You stand there, shoving your hands back into the jacket pockets.

The room is silent. The only sound is Jake’s boots along the concrete floors. “Say something” you say, standing in front of him as his boots stop and he turns to you. His heart aches as he looks you over. “How are you even alive right now Hela?” he asks, watching as you take a deep breath, watching over his face.

“I survived the crash Jake '' he nods slowly, his brows furrowed.

“Doesn’t answer how I buried you almost five years ago,mourned you for almost five years!” he looks at you, breathing heavily as his voice raises. “i-I was on the search team looking for you! We looked for you!” he yells, watching the way you almost folded up onto yourself. “They found me before you did” you whisper, looking up at him through your lashes. “I’ve been held up in an enemy camp since the accident” you can see his boots are in your vision.

“They finally realized they were getting nowhere” His hands are soft as they reach out for your cheek, you flinch against his hand. “Sweet girl” he whispers, thumb tilting your chin up to face him. He sobs at the look on your face, fear and pain. “I didn’t mean for you to mourn me Jake” you move away from him, you begin to pace. “Any of you, Gypsy, Raven” pushing the hair out of your face, wincing at the pain as you brush a cut on your eyebrow.

“Hela” he's reaching for you and soon his arms are around your body as the two of you fall to the floor.

He’s cradling you in his lap as the two of you sob, his chin resting on your head as he holds you closer. “My poor girl,” he whispers, kissing the top of your head as the sobs shake your body against his chest. “I’m so sorry” you sob harder, gripping his arm tightly as he shakes his head,

“You are here and alive baby” he whispers.

It felt like hours as the two of you sat on the office floor, held up together. “I missed you so much” you whisper, gripping his arm as he rocked the two of you. “I missed you even more baby” he whispers, kissing the top of your head. The knock on the door pulls the two of you to stand, Warlock and Cyclone make their way back in.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, just wanting to check in” Warlock smiles sadly at you , you nod sending them a smile. “You can have Lieutenant Seresin back, thank you for bringing him to me Cy” Cyclone nods with his own smile, looking between the two of you.

Turning to Jake who is also wiping his cheeks, you smile and reach up to cup his cheeks. “I want you to go out there and fly, I know this is going to be hard to process but, we will tell the girls later okay?” he nods, kissing your palm.

You smile, leaning up to kiss the lips you waited years to kiss again. He pulls you closer to him by the waist as he chases your lips once the two of you part. “Promise?” you nod, smiling wider, “I promise”. He smiles, kissing your forehead as your eyes close.

“Fly fast” he smirks against your hairline, “Fly safe” he whispers back. 

“Jakey!” he stops at his sister's voice, turning to face her. “Gyps” he smiles at her behind his aviators. “Are you okay? You were in Cyclones office for a while” she’s panting, her helmet in her hands as he nods. “I’m alright Gyps' ' he walks past her with nothing more, walking past the rest of the squad to his own jet. You made your way through the halls of Top Gun, listening over the comms at what was happening in the sky.

“Don’t worry Phoenix, Hangman’s coming” you smile, hugging the jacket tighter to your body. Walking back to Cyclone’s office, he looks up from the papers. “Are you okay?” he asks as you watch the planes out the window. “I am. I-I got to see Jake and that means alot to me” you whisper, shoving your hands back into the pocket of the jacket.

“Thank you again Cyclone really” you look back at him as he smiles, standing. “Of course Hela, we are so happy to know you are back” you smile sadly as he gives your shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Pilots are landing, would you like me to go out and get the other Seresin and Cain?” he asks as you nod, looking up at him, “bring both seresin’s in please?” he nods with a grin in the doorway, “you got it”.

The tarmac was warm as the sun was going down, Raven and Gypsy both doing their rounds of push ups when Hondo stopped counting. “Lieutenants Seresin and Cain, I need you both in my office please, when you are ready” he nods to Hondo, Cyclone makes his way back inside, passing hangman as he goes, “you too Hangman”.

Raven looks over at Gypsy and then looks at the older Seresin by the door. “What is going on?” She whispers to Gypsy as they make their way down the hallway. She stood beside her brother who remained cool as a cucumber. “Uh, Gypsy” he turns to the two of them, stopping them outside the office door. “You both are gonna be shocked and- I know it might be confusing” Gypsy furrows her brows, looking up at her brother.

“Jake, just spit it out” she defends, arms across her chest as he nods. Knocking on the door gently, he hears your soft come-in as he opens the door. Raven and Gypsy follow behind the older Seresin who’s shielding you from their vision, a smile so wide on his face it could light up a dark room, “ready?” he mouths as you nod with your own smile, “ready”.

“Raven, Gypsy” you look at your two best friends with a sad smile, hands still shoved in your pockets as the two girls gasp. “No fucking way” Raven starts pacing as she looks between you and Jake and then back at you. “There is no fucking way!” she points at you with a scowl on her lips.

“Jakey..” Gypsy whispers, eyes trained on you as she turns to her brother. You smile at the two of them, making your way to Gypsy and holding a hand out to her. “It's me, Gyps” she sobs, taking your outstretched hand, pulling your body into her own and hugging you tightly.

Closing your eyes, holding back more tears, you hug her tighter. “I’m so sorry” you whisper as she shakes her head, sniffling, “don’t you be sorry! You are here and alive!” she cups your cheeks, a shy smile on her face as you wince. You smile down at her, kissing her palm gently as she sobs with a wide smile. You look over in your peripheral as Raven continues pacing.

“Hold on” you whisper, walking towards her slowly, “Ray” you whisper. It was almost slow motion as she turned around and her hand connected with your cheek. Turning from her, you hold your cheek and close your eyes.

“Raven” Jake steps in, moving to stand between the two of you. She looks up at Jake with a sob. “How is this possible Jake!'' she yells, looking at him and then behind him, you are wiping your lip on the sleeve of your jacket.

“It’s true, Raven” he looks down at her as she sobs, slapping his chest as he brings her into a hug. “She died! She died and I watched her casket go into the ground!” he’s rubbing her back soothingly. “I know, I know,” he whispers with a nod, “so did I” he reminds her.

“Raven'' you move to stand beside the two of them as she looks over at you. She notices the fresh blood on your lip, the bruises along your skin as well as your swollen eyebrow. “I will tell you everything I promise” you say as she sobs.

“I watched them bury a casket Hela '' she whispers as you nod. “It was empty, they told my mom they couldn’t find my body. They couldn’t find it because it was already recovered” you whisper as her sobs slow. “Hela” she whimpers as you nod, a smile on your lips.

“It’s me, Ray” she pulls you into her body, hugging you tightly as you smile, looking up at Jake who can’t help the grin on his own lips. “It’s me Ray I promise” you whisper again, hugging her tighter. 

+

The nights were quiet. They were too quiet for your jukebox mind. The mug sat between your hands as you sat on the couch, the soft ticking of the clock above the television kept your focus. Knees pulled to your chest, you rested the cheesy Navy mug ontop of them. 

The faded Naval academy shirt sat down to your mid thigh as you focused on the soft ticking. So focused, you don’t hear the sound of the floorboard right in front of the bathroom creak. Jake leans against the wall that leads into the living room, he watches the way you looked off almost in a trance. His arms cross over his chest as he decides his next move.

He often found you there, sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee in the early hours of the morning. The two of you were in the Navy but you never got up before the alarm. That was until your accident. You would sleep a mere few hours and then he’d find you out on the couch. He pushes off the wall and walks towards you. His approach is slow so he doesn’t startle you, smiling softly as your eyes meet his.

“Lover” you whisper, sitting up to set the mug aside and looking up at him through your lashes. “Hey sweet girl” he whispers, sitting down on the coffee table to face you. “Did I wake you?” you ask as he shakes his head, elbows resting on his knees.

You've been home now for two months, you did your best to hide the emotions from everyone, hide the nightmares and hide the pain you still were feeling. He looks you over with his own sad smile, looking over your face, all your bruises were healed, a small scar remained on your eyebrow. He reaches forward and smooths his finger over it, watching the way your eyes fall closed. “Another one?” he whispers as you nod against his palm. “Sit with me?” you ask, eyes reopening to look up at him.

His heart clenches at the look in your eye as he nods, moving to lay on the couch, his head falling in your lap. “What was it like?” you ask softly, running your fingers through his blonde strands. “What's that?” he asks, eyes falling closed. “What were the years like? I feel like I missed so much” you admit looking down at him. “Hard” he mumbles behind a yawn, “so hard Hels, I-I had a hard time flying after the accident, they grounded me for about two weeks” he admits as your nails gently scratched his scalp.

“Raven finally talked some sense into me, told me you’d be pissed I was grieving so… hard? She told me you’d want me to try and fly and be the best pilot” you smile sadly, nodding as you sip the now cold coffee. “I would’ve told you to stop feeling sorry for yourself” you whisper as he chuckles softly, “I figured that, so I flew with a photo of you in the cockpit every single day” he admits as you smile sadly.

“Hela?” he asks, his speech slurred as you hum in response. “I want to marry you, ya know? I thought about how if you were still alive that we would be the hottest couple in the Navy” you chuckle softly, looking down at his now sleep filled eyes. “Are you asking me to marry you cowboy?” His smile is goofy and lopsided.

“Someday I will, the right way with a perfect ring and setting for us” you smile, patting his chest. “Let's get you to bed lover” he smiles, standing as you reach over, turning off the lamp beside you and following down the hallway.

The sun was bright in the sky as Jake stood on the tarmac. He watched as everyone got into their planes. “How is she doing?” Gypsy asks her older brother, he looks over at her with a hum. “Her nightmares are getting worse, barely sleeps” he admits, shoving the glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Poor thing” she whispers as he shakes his head, “She tries to hide them from me,I find her on the couch every night” he looks over at his sister with a sad smile.

“We will get through it though, she will, her bruises are healing and so is she, one day at a time” he nods, he wasn’t sure if he was reassuring her or himself. She nods, looking up at him, “Well, maybe if she feels up to it, bring her to the Hard Deck tonight! She should meet the squad!” she grins, walking towards Bob and Phoenix.

He nodded, making his way towards his own plane, climbing the ladder. Maybe going out to the hard deck, meeting and seeing everyone would help.

The Jukebox was soft and flowed through the open windows beautifully. You smiled, standing at the end of the stairs of The Hard Deck. This place brought back so many good memories for you.

Climbing the steps, you take a deep breath and push through the dark green door. The smell of beer and fried food filled your nose. Jake insisted he go without you, he wanted to give you a chance to come on your own time. You smile as you notice the back of his head at the pool tables, Raven and Gypsy as well.

“Hela?” you look over at the soft voice, Penny Benjamin is smiling behind the bar. She knew you were alive, Maverick told her about your arrival back on base, she remembered you from Top Gun.

“Penny?” you ask in a soft voice as she is rounding the bar and making her way to you. “I thought he was lying..” she whispers, smiling wider at the smirk on your lips. “Captain Mitchell is no liar” you smile as she laughs, pulling you into a hug.

Penny became a safe space for you, she listened to you cry about how much you loved your best friend when you attended top gun, how you would never be anything more than his wingman. “Would you like a sex on the beach?” she grins at the smile that was wide on your face, for once it met your eyes. “I would love one Penny” she makes her way back to the bar. 

The pool game seemed intense. You watch as Jake bends over to take the shot, smirking as you whistle behind your straw. The group turns at the sound, Jake smirks and takes the shot, standing back to his full height. “Hey sweetheart” he grins as he walks towards you. Looking up at him, you smirk ”Hi lover”.

He leans down kissing your lips with a grin. “Everyone” he wraps an arm around your waist, pulling you into his side. “I introduce to you, Y/N aka Hela” you smile. The group watches the way your eyes bounce through them all before a smirk breaks out on your face. “Let’s see, Coyote, Fanboy, Payback” you point to each aviator who nods with a smile.

“Bob” you smile at the WSO who shares a soft smile with you, “aka the love of Gypsy’s life?” you question the younger Seresin who blushes beside her boyfriend. Bob pulls her into his side by her waist. “Nice to meet you formally Hela” he shakes your hand as you grin.

“What did I miss?” you smirk at the voice, turning to face Raven and Rooster. “Bradley Bradshaw as I live an breath” Jake chokes on the sip of your drink he was taking as the squad try hiding their laughs.

Bradley stands in his Hawaiian shirt and sunglasses perched on his tank top. “Oh god there's two of them” you chuckle with a smirk moving closer to him, hands on your hips as you tilt your head.

“Nice to meet you formally Bradshaw” you hold a hand out to him as he shakes it slowly, pulling you into his chest for a hug. “It’s nice to finally meet you Hela” he whispers only to you, wrapping your arms around him, you grin.

“It’s so nice to meet all of you” you turn to the group, holding a hand out to Jake. “I'm sorry you've had to deal with Hangman for so long” he scoffs, taking your hand and pulling you into his side. 

The bar was still full by the A.M hours. Jake turns to his left, which he finds empty. “Oh no” he whispers to himself as Coyote looks at him with a raised brow. “What’s wrong?” Coyote asks as Jake sighs, “I can’t find Hela, which can only mean two things” he sighs.

The jukebox changes and he hears your laugh. He was happy to hear that laugh again, eyes closing as the opening notes of Scorpions “Rock you like a Hurricane” plays through its speakers.

You turn to face him a grin as bright as the stars as you hand penny the empty glass. You were on drink five by now, cheeks flush as you climb up onto the hard deck bar.

You walk the bar, singing to him the opening verse. You smirk, “my cat is purring, it scratches my skin, so what is wrong with another sin?” he grins.

“Gentleman” he turns to the dagger squad who watches as you circle your hips along the bar. “This is Hela” he smirks, handing his now empty beer to Coyote who takes it with a chuckle. He walks towards the bar as your dress sways with your hips, hands running up your sides, landing on your breasts. “Oh lover” you grin at the sight of him, moving to the edge of the bar to look down at him. “Hi beautiful girl, let's get you home yeah?” he asks as you shake your head.

Him and Penny share a look as he reaches forward, his hands are soft on the back of your knee caps as he is pulling you over his shoulder. Just like the night in Tennessee you are face to face with his jean clad butt.

You squeal, gripping his shirt tightly as he walks towards the door, his hand holding down the ends of your dress. “Penny, I’ll be back for our tab!” he yells back over his shoulder. “No worries!” she yells back with a smile. 

He holds your thighs with one arm as he opens the passenger side door, gently setting you against the warm leather seats. You fall into the seat, legs facing him as your eyes look up at him, full of love.

“Will you marry me cowboy?” he chuckles, hands resting on your knees as he smiles, “you know in a heartbeat”. He shuts the door after he gets you inside, a grin on his lips as he makes his way to the driver's side. He finds you there, messing with the radio.

“Play me something” you sigh, leaning back into the seat with a huff. He grins, messing with his phone as he plays the one song he knew would make you smile.

“Oh my god!” you laugh, looking over at Jake who smirks, turning out of the Hard Deck and onto the main road. You lean against the window, hair flowing with the wind as you sing loudly.

“When you love someone, it feels so right, so warm and true” you sing loudly and off-key.

Jake wouldn’t trade it for the world, five years without you coming crashing onto him.

Five years without this, without you singing to him at three in the morning.

“You make me feel alive Jake,” he smiles, kissing your knuckles as he pulls your interlaced fingers to his lips.

“I waited a long time for a girl like you Hela” you grin, falling back into the seat as you watch the world pass by you.

+

The office was stuffy as you walked in. The room was bare, nothing much to the walls but plaques. Full of mostly browns and begie paint covering the walls.

It was your first day back on base, you would be working with other victims of air accidents, still too nervous to climb back into the cockpit.

You walk towards the desk, head tilting at the small vase sat in the middle. Setting your bag down beside you, moving towards the small bouquet of red carnations.

Reaching forward, you pick up the small card that was placed in front of them, 

“For my favorite goddess of death, have a wonderful first day. J x”

+

those who requested to be tagged: @dempy , @laneyspaulding19, @peakascum, @angelbabyange,@mallerz, @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy,@untoldshortsofthefandoms, @jstarr86,@lovemesomevesey,@f1maverick,@chloeforde, @callsignwidow - if i missed anyone, i do apologize, please pass this along!

thank you thank you thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope this second part lives up to what is everyone is hoping for. please share your thoughts as rebolgs as well as my ask box are always open!

if you enjoyed this fic, you can find all my other work in The Library.

AHHHH THIS IS SO GOOD, IS THERE GOING TO BE A PART 3??

Broke my golden rule for you (Part II): Jake "Hangam" Seresin x fem!reader

A/N: After finding out that people enjoyed the fic I decided to make a part two (maybe even turn this into a little serie). This chapter is still a bit angsty but I promise fluff is on the corner. Likes and reblogs are appreciated 💜 Part I here

Summary: After discovering that his intructor, Maverick, also happens to be your father Jake comes to Hard Deck looking for an explanation from you. A little discussion makes you wonder who is relly to blame for your breakup years ago.

Words: 1200

Type of fic: Angst, exes meeting up again

Warnings: Amelia being sarcastic, Jake is still a dickhead but he is trying to get better I swear

Hard Deck was usually pretty quiet in the mornings, a few truckers sipping their shots, people with their coffee before heading to work, and sunbathers about to go to the beach. You were convinced that Penny didn't really need your help to run the bar that day, but she had insisted that you come along. "For old time's sake" she had said. You didn't mind, it was a good way to catch up with her and her daughter while you all worked. But around noon, he showed up again. At that moment you were attending a customer and Amelia was next to you wiping the counter. She was the one who gave you a nod to let you know that Jake was there.

-Were you going to tell me at any point in our relationship that you were the daughter of Maverick? The one who now happens to be my instructor?- he asked with a sort of consumed anger as he sat down on one of the stools

-Seresin, I told you that my father worked as a pilot in the navy and you knew that my last name was Mitchell. If you didn't know how to draw conclusions all by yourself, then you are dumber than I thought- you replied, not even bothering to look at him, and started to clean up a beer mug

-Do you know how many Mitchells are in the navy? You could have at least mentioned that he was first in his class in Top Gun- he continued, still indignant at the fact that you had kept that from him when you first met

-Actually, he was the second one- remarked Amelia from her seat

-And who is she?

-It's good to see you too, Jake- she replied, sarcasm could be distilled from every one of her words

-Amelia?

-Did you think she'd stay eleven forever?- to your own dismay, you couldn't help letting out a smile at Jake's incredulous expression

He still couldn't imagine it. Amelia, the little girl who followed you everywhere in your first months as a waitress, was now a teenager. It seemed like only yesterday when the two of you helped that little girl make castles in the sand and swim at the beach when he had an afternoon off. He remembered vividly the time you had to take her with you to a date at the drive-in movie because Penny couldn't stay home late. At first, he had received the news with disappointment. But then, seeing you so happy taking care of the little girl, convinced him that it wasn't really that bad. You and Amelia had fallen asleep on the way home, hugging each other in the back seats. Looking at your serene face, he realized how in love he was.

It was only when he noticed how Amelia had grown that he realized you had also changed. There was a certain gleam in your eyes that said you had become stronger. It's not like you were a damsel in distress when you two met either, maybe that was what made him fall in love with you. He couldn't say exactly why, but he found you even more beautiful than the first time.

-No, but... -for a few seconds he didn't know what to say- What I came to ask you was, why you didn't tell me that Maverick was your father?

-I don't know, Jake- you raised your voice, getting angrier by the minute. He had no right to come to you and ask for explanations. Not after what he had done- I guess I wanted you to see me just as y/n, not as the daughter of the famous Pete Mitchell. Besides, what difference does it make now? We haven't spoken in years- you admitted, still hurt by the memory of all that

-So you didn't tell him about us?

Only two reasons had brought Jake to Hard Deck that morning. The first was to find out if Maverick was aware of what had happened between the two of you. Having his teacher discover that he had broken his daughter's heart, though unintentionally, would be a threat to his possibly choosing as the leader of the mission. It was a selfish motive, but it was a motive after all. The second reason had carried much more weight in his decision, no matter how much he tried to deny it to himself. He needed to see you again, to try to make things right.

-Of course, I didn't! Who do you take me for? Besides, I promised him I'd never date a pilot- a slight shade of red stained your cheeks and you tried to hide it as best you could

-But you couldn't resist me- that smile came back on him, and he leaned more on the counter to get closer to you. Just like he used to do when he was trying to convince you to go out with him

-God you are still as self-centered as always- you tried to go to the box while rolling your eyes

-You used to like it- he smiled again and took your hand so you wouldn't walk away. You didn't know how to react. God,you hated him at times.  You just stared at each other for a while, just like the first time.

-Jake, I think it's time for you to leave-Amelia said, she knew you well. She was aware that she had to get you out of that situation, or you'd be in trouble. But Jake wasn't so willing to let you go, not again.

-I didn't want it to end like that, you know? I didn't even want it to end. I wanted to speak with you again, I really did. More than anything else in the world- his glance seemed sincere, you didn't really think he was lying. But you had learned not to believe him

-That apology comes a little late- you pulled your hand away

-I'm serious y/n. I really loved you- he was too afraid to add “I still do”-but I couldn't be with you- he assured, even though he had given up all his hope. He had lost you for the second time

-And what was stopping you?- you snapped with anger

No answer was heard, Jake just moved his lips without uttering a sound. As if replying to your question would cause him to have a problem. However, you understood him perfectly. You couldn't believe it, you stood there with your mouth open, and he just nodded slowly before leaving the bar. Amelia also recognized what he had said, you shared a glance, neither of you knew if it was true. A few minutes later, when you finally recovered from the surprise, you went to Penny who was serving a table and asked her if you could take a break to solve a matter. After she gave you permission, you grabbed your motorbike parked next to the bar and started up. Worthy daughter of Maverick, that speed made you feel free. Now you were driving to the house of the person who might have been to blame for all this, looking for explanations.

It was time to pay a visit to Uncle Ice.