TITLE: Lady of the Underworld
PAIRING: Hades!Pedro/OC
RATING: T
CHAPTER: One-shot
SUMMARY: The King has come up to the mortal world and finds his Queen.
[A/N - I saw Hadestown live a few weeks ago, so this is inspired by that. I’m picturing Diego Luna as Hermes. He’s mentioned briefly.]
A midnight black train pulled into the station. People on the platform scattered, not wanting to come face to face with the King of the Underworld.
The King stepped off the train, fog clinging to his ankles. As he walked, the scent of fire and brimstone followed him. Those in his path hugged their loved ones closer, hoping he wasn’t coming to take them away from them. After he passed, they erupted into whispers.
He very rarely ever came to the mortal world, so he had to have a reason for being here.
A black carriage pulled by a black stallion awaited him.
“Where to, my lord?” the driver asked.
“The opera.” The King climbed into the carriage and rapped on the roof to let the driver know he was ready to go. As he watched the mortal world pass before his eyes, he picked out those that would be joining him on his way back to the Underworld.
They arrived at the opera and the King stepped out of the carriage. He walked up the steps, past the silent onlookers. The opera was as silent as the Underworld when he entered.
“My lord Hades!”
The King sighed and turned. “Hermes, what are you doing here? You should be collecting souls for me.”
The Messenger God pouted. “Have you seen who is performing tonight? I would hate to miss it. I hear she puts on quite a show.”
The King scowled. “Very well. But once the performance is over, you are to return to your mission.”
Hermes gave him a salute and walked off to mingle.
The King shook his head and approached one of the ushers. The King didn’t have to say anything because he was quickly escorted to his box. Refreshments lay out on the table.
“Excuse me?” the King asked.
“Yes, my lord?” the usher said.
“Who is performing tonight?”
“A beautiful songbird by the name of Persephone.”
Bringer of Death.
The King wondered how fitting her name was. The King waved the usher away.
The musicians on stage tuned their instruments as people filled the opera house. Pretty soon it was time for the show to begin.
A small woman, Persephone, stepped out on stage and walked up to the microphone. She turned to the band behind her and nodded.
They started playing a smooth jazz number.
Persephone’s voice was sultry and the King could feel everyone fall under her spell. When the song had a small intermission, she danced around the stage.
The last verse was more aggressive than the first ones.
The King used his binoculars to get a better look at her. He could see the darkness in her eyes.
He wondered if she craved a life better than this. If she dreamed of a life where she wouldn’t have to sing for her dinner.
The song ended and the audience erupted into cheers.
Persephone sang a few more songs before she left the stage. As she exited the stage, flowers grew in her wake.
The King took this opportunity to find his way backstage. No one dared question him as he made his way to Persephone’s dressing room. He quietly slipped into her dressing room and waited for her.
When she entered the room, she gasped seeing him in her chair in front of the mirror. “My lord, Hades. To what do I owe this pleasure?” she asked.
“You sang beautifully tonight, but…haven’t you ever wanted more?”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
The King stood up and held out his hand. Persephone took it and he directed her to sit in the chair. “I had intended to kidnap you.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I would rather you come willingly. I could offer you a better life.” He placed his hands on her collarbone and slowly moved them up her shoulders.
Sparkling diamonds appeared around her throat. Persephone gasped and touched the necklace. It was beautiful.
The King ran his hands through her hair and a crown appeared on her head. “Be my Queen. By my Lady of the Underworld. Come with me.”
“But…but isn’t it dark and cold there?”
“I will make it warm and bright. I will plant a million flowers if you want. Just come with me.”
Persephone turned and looked into his dark eyes. “Okay.”
The King smirked and held out a hand.
Persephone took it and a beautiful gown appeared on her body.
TITLE: The End of Us
PAIRING: Tom/OC (Belle)
RATING: T
CHAPTER: One-shot
SUMMARY:
[A/N - This exists in my Alternate Universe where Belle and Tom broke up and she started dating Max Irons. Inspired by an imagine by @theartofimagining13]
Belle was reading in her room when Ben entered. “There’s someone here to see you.”
Belle glanced at her phone.
There wasn’t a text from Max. He normally texted her when he was outside so he didn’t have to go through Ben all the time.
“It’s not Max. Just…come downstairs.”
She followed him down the stairs and saw someone sitting on the bench near the front door. They lifted their head and Belle let out a shaky breath. “Tom.”
He gave her a sad smile. “Hey Belle.”
“Wha…What are you doing here?”
“Matt told me you were back in town.”
“Did he?” Belle made a note to call him later.
“Can we talk?” Tom asked.
Belle nodded.
Ben stood there awkwardly before he suggested, “Why don’t you talk in the garden? It’s such a lovely day.”
Belle and Tom walked out the back door to the garden.
“It’s gorgeous,” Tom told her.
“Thank you.”
The garden was decorated with an abundance of flowers and trees. Belle had hand picked all the flowers and the lawn ornaments.
Tom noticed that quite a few of them were Disney characters. At least that hadn’t changed. “Perfect place to read. Or daydream,” Tom said.
They walked over to the small fishpond and sat down on the bench nearby.
“What did you want to talk about?” Belle asked.
“When did you get back? You’ve been in New York, right?”
Belle nodded. “A few days ago. We’re on break at the moment.” Belle had been dancing for the New York Ballet.
“How’s Max?” Tom asked.
Belle winced. “He’s fine. Filming a TV series.”
Tom reached out for her. “I’ve missed you.”
Belle pulled away from him. “Don’t.”
“What? It’s true.”
“I…I’ve missed you too, Tom. But…you broke my heart.”
Tom sighed. “I know. I know and I’m so sorry.”
Belle let out a bitter laugh. “I don’t know why I was surprised. Seems like you fall in love with all your co-stars. I shouldn’t have expected you to stay loyal to me. All those gorgeous actresses.”
“Belle…”
“What? It’s true.”
“What about you?”
Belle turned to Tom. “What about me?”
“We split up and you go running into Max’s arms.”
Belle’s mouth dropped open and angry tears filled her eyes. “I did not go running into his arms! He called me to invite me to an opening of Jeremy’s play.”
“What? And you just happened to fall into his arms? Of all people it had to be Jeremy’s son.”
Belle stood up, fed up with the conversation.
“Wait! Belle!” Tom grabbed her arm.
“Don’t touch me!”
The two stared at each other until Belle’s phone started ringing. She pulled it out and saw it was Max. She sniffled and answered. “Hey baby.”
“Belle? What’s wrong, darling?”
Belle swiped at her eyes. “Nothing. I was watching a Disney movie and you know how it gets to me sometimes.”
Max laughed softly. Belle could see the smile on his face and the loving look in his eyes. “My sweet Belle.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m still at the studio, but we’re wrapping up soon. Can I see you tonight?”
Belle smiled. “I don’t know. I’ll have to check with the warden.”
“Don’t you know I’m a king? I can order him to let you go or else I’ll have his head.” Belle giggled.
Tom’s heart ached hearing her laugh. He remembered when he was the one making her laugh.
“I’ll see you later, okay?” Max said.
“Okay.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Max hung up and Belle finally looked up at Tom.
“You…you love him?” Tom asked.
“Yes.”
“That’s it then?”
Belle nodded. “You’re still Ben’s best friend. There’s nothing I can do about that, so I’ll always be in your life. But as for a relationship…I don’t think…”
Tom nodded. “I understand. I hope Max makes you happy.”
“He does. I’ve never felt like this for anyone.”
If Tom was honest, that comment stung. “Good. That’s all I want for you. I should get going. Lizzie is waiting for me.”
Belle tried not to let it show that the mention of the woman hurt. The woman Tom had left her for. Belle nodded. “Max will be by soon,” she said.
“Goodbye Belle.”
“Goodbye Tom.”
Tom went back inside the house, leaving Belle alone in the garden.
Belle sank to her knees next to the fishpond, tears streaming down her face. Two arms wrapped themselves around Belle. She grabbed onto Ben’s arm and buried her face in his chest.
TITLE: The Resistance: Fueled by Coffee
PAIRING: Oscar/OC
RATING: T
CHAPTER: One-shot
SUMMARY: Oscar has a funny way of flirting with Annie: through coffee.
[A/N - Been a while, huh?]
They were all ready to go on set. There was just one little problem.
Oscar was late.
“Find out where Oscar is! J.J. is starting to get impatient!” Alexa, Annie’s boss, snapped at her.
Annie nodded quickly and pulled out her cellphone, dialing Oscar’s number.
Just as it started ringing, Oscar sauntered in with a drink holder in his hand.
“Oscar! Thank god!” Annie said.
“Sorry, querida. The line was around the block.” He held a coffee out to her. “Just how you like it.”
Annie blushed and took it from him. “You know, normally it’s the intern’s job to get the coffee.”
“Well maybe I just like seeing the adorable blush on your face.”
Annie blushed even brighter. “They need you in costume and makeup.”
Oscar gave her a wink. “On my way.”
“When are you two gonna get together?”
Annie jumped and nearly spilled her coffee. “Daisy! What have I told you about sneaking up on me!”
The British actress laughed.
“I swear to god. It’s like you really do have the Force,” Annie said.
“If I did, I would Force-push you and Oscar together.”
“Daisy, he doesn’t like me like that.”
Daisy rolled her eyes. “Please. He goes out of his way to make sure you have a good day. Whether that means having lunch with you or bringing you little treats. That man is in love with you.”
“He is not! He’s over a decade older than me!”
Daisy shrugged her shoulders. “So? Lots of people fall in love with people older or younger than themselves.”
“He has a kid, Daisy!”
“You love kids!”
“He…”
Daisy put a finger on Annie’s lips. “Stop making excuses. Everyone can tell you’re head over heels for each other.”
Oscar walked out of costume and makeup in what Annie called his “Han Solo” outfit. Khaki pants, brown boots, a tan shirt, a bandolier, leather gloves, and a scarf.
Except he wasn’t wearing the scarf yet and he had the buttons of his shirt undone so she could see the skin of his neck. Her eyes followed him as he walked on set.
“If you’re done eye-fucking my co-star…” Daisy said.
Annie’s eyes went wide. “Daisy!”
“What? You are?”
Annie covered her flaming cheeks with her hands. “Oh my god! Get on set before J.J. and Alexa kill me!”
Daisy chuckled and sipped on her Starbucks.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Over the next few days, Oscar walked in with coffee from Starbucks.
But every day, there was something different written on her lid that corresponded with her coffee for the day.
One day, it was a cold brew with “You’re brew-tiful.”
Another it was a caramel macchiato “You mocha me very happy!”
Her black coffee had “We were meant to bean together.”
Annie wondered if he was coming up with these himself or looking them up on the internet. Either way, she liked his subtle, if not funny, way of flirting.
Eventually, he graduated from written notes to jokes. “What do beans say to their Valentines?” he asked.
Annie rolled her eyes. “I don’t know.”
“You keep me grounded.”
Some days the jokes were funny and clever and others weren’t.
“What do you call a sad cup of coffee?”
“No idea.”
“A depresso.”
“That’s not funny, Oscar.”
“Well I didn’t come up with it, princessa.”
Annie wanted to surprise Oscar one day, so she ran to Starbucks while he was filming with Carrie and some other actors. She walked in as they were finishing and Oscar walked over to her.
His dark curls were mussed like he had been running his hand through his hair.
She handed him the coffee and said, “I…I found a joke you might like.”
Oscar sipped the coffee. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Well…let me here it then.”
“What’s Fat, Slimy, and Drinks a lot of Coffee?”
Oscar thought about it for a second. “I genuinely have no idea.”
“Java the Hut.”
There was a beat of silence before Oscar started laughing. “God, that’s so bad!”
“I thought it was appropriate. You know, seeing as you’re in Star Wars.”
Oscar set his coffee down and cupped Annie’s cheek in his hand. “I have one for you. How do cups greet each other?”
Annie opened her mouth to answer when Oscar kissed her.
“With mugs and kisses. Words cannot espresso how much you bean to me.”
“Oscar…”
“It’s hard for me to expresso my feelings for you.”
“Oh my god! Stop!”
“I like you a latte.”
Annie shook her head and laughed. “Shut-up and kiss me Isaac.”
TITLE: Orädd En
PAIRING: Joel/OC
RATING: T
CHAPTER: One-shot
SUMMARY: Crystal notices a tall, blonde, muscular man covered tattoos that frequents her gym.
[A/N - My first Joel Kinnaman one-shot!]
Crystal had seen him before.
He was kind of hard to miss. 6” 2’, blonde, and muscular with a chest and arms covered in tattoos.
Crystal had never found tattoos attractive on a man, but he pulled them off.
He frequented the gym a couple of times a week. Most of the time another tall, blonde man was with him and they spoke to each other quietly in another language.
There were whispers around the gym that they were actors. She’d seen the other blonde on TV before. Some vampire show from years ago, but she hadn’t seen the one with the tattoos in anything. Crystal didn’t watch a lot of TV or movies, preferring to be out in nature or reading a book.
“Is this taken?” a deep voice asked her.
She looked up and saw him. Once it dawned on her that he was talking to her she blushed. “Uh, no.”
He sat down on the mat a few feet away from her and started doing stretches.
She watched in awe as the muscles under his skin rippled with every movement. Crystal was aware that she was staring, but he seemed to be basking in the attention.
“Joel,” he said.
Crystal cocked her head to side. “Huh?”
He chuckled. “Joel. It’s my name.”
“Oh! I’m Crystal.”
“Nice to meet you, Crystal.”
Crystal’s phone lit up with a text from her best friend Julie.
“You hike?” Joel asked. He gestured to her phone with his head.
“Uh, yeah. I live at the edge of some woods, so when I’m not here you can usually find me in the woods.”
“By yourself?”
“Yeah.”
“And you feel safe going into the woods by yourself?”
Crystal was unsure where this conversation was going.
“Sorry. I played a cop in a TV show,” Joel explained.
“Oh. I didn’t know. I don’t watch much TV.”
Joel waved his hand. “It’s okay.” He finished stretching and stood up. “See you later, orädd en.” He gave her a wink before walking over to the weights.
Crystal stared after him confused.
What had he called her? And why did he say it so affectionately?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
She saw him the next week when he walked into the same yoga class as her. He didn’t strike her as a yoga person, but she didn’t really know him on a personal level. He just struck her as a weightlifter.
Joel rolled out his mat next to hers and sat down.
“Hello,” she said.
Joel smiled. “Hello orädd en.”
There was that phrase again.
“What does that mean?” Crystal asked.
Joel was about to answer when the instructor called their attention to the front of the room.
Joel found it adorable how small Crystal was compared to him, but everyone was small next to his 6’ frame except Alex and his siblings of course. She was a little uncoordinated which made him wonder how she managed to not hurt herself while hiking.
Joel loved hiking and spending time out in nature. Maybe it was part of his Viking heritage. Something inside him cried out for the wilderness.
The yoga session ended with Shavasana, but instead of keeping his eyes closed, Joel looked over at Crystal.
She looked beautiful in the dim light of the yoga studio. He wanted to know what she would look like outside the artificial light of the gym.
The class ended and the lights came up.
Crystal and Joel rolled up their mats and got ready to leave.
“We should go hiking together sometime,” Joel said.
“I don’t know if I’d be able to keep up with you,” Crystal told him.
Joel laughed. “Oh, I think you would, orädd en.”
“You keep calling me that. What does it mean?”
Joel tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and said, “It means fearless one.”
My name is Haley Michelle and this where my original writings live. I primarily write fanfiction, so there's a chance you've already read some of my work.
I hope to be professionally published one day, so those stories will go here for the time being.
Hi! I don't know if I'm doing this right, but I'd like to requests something where the reader has to do her very first Spicey scene with Tom Hiddleston and she's super nervous and shy about being basically naked with him but he's just super chill about it and calms her down while being a perfect gentleman? If that's not your thing I'm sorry
Yeah, I can do this. The only thing I don't do is smut on this blog
Title: Black & White
Chapter: One-Shot
Pairing: Zak/OC
Rating: T
Fic Summary: Zak wants Lexi to meet his co-workers/friends/brothers.
[A/N - Sequel to "No Judgement". I chose another Niall Horan song for this one.]
“You…you want me to meet your friends?” Lexi asked him.
Zak nodded. “Yeah. They’ve been asking who I’ve been spending so much time with.”
Lexi was apprehensive because for the longest time Zak wanted to keep his personal life separate from his work life.
Sure, he worked with his friends, men who were his brothers at this point, but she’d always kept to the shadows. When Zak came over, he left his work at the door.
Lexi bit her bottom lip. “But…”
Zak frowned and put his hand on her cheek.
Lexi leaned in towards the touch.
“What is it, sweetheart?” he asked her.
“What if they don’t like me?”
Zak wanted to laugh. How could anyone not like Lexi? Her happy and calming energy was enough to pull him out of any lockdown hangover.
“They’ll love you, because I…I care about you and they know that. It’ll be okay, because I’ll be your side the whole time,” he reassured her, “It’s totally informal. Just cooking out and hanging out with friends. I really want you to be there.”
Lexi looked into Zak’s technicolor eyes. “Okay, but you’re not allowed to leave me. At all.”
Zak laughed and wrapped his arms around her. “Deal.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Zak led a nervous Lexi into his living room.
She had tried to slip away multiple times and run back to the car. She looked through the floor to ceiling windows to the backyard.
Gracie was running around with two other dogs.
Billy stood at the grill with a beer in his hand, while a woman sat on the edge of the pool with her feet in the cool water. A tall, bearded guy she assumed was Aaron was in the water talking with another guy. The other man had to be Jay.
She’d seen pictures from Zak’s Instagram and his camera roll. She also tended to watch reruns of Ghost Adventures if she was missing Zak.
“If I go and change, can I trust you not to run off?” Zak asked. He kissed Lexi on the forehead and disappeared down the hallway to his bedroom.
Lexi noticed one of the men’s heads turn towards the living room. She squeaked and hid behind the couch.
Zak came out in a pair of black swim trunks and found Lexi. “Lex, what are you doing? Get up.”
She stood up and grabbed onto Zak’s hand as they walked out.
“’Bout time. We were about to send a…search party,” Billy said, his eyes on Lexi.
“Guys, this is Alexis,” Zak said.
“Lexi. Call me Lexi,” Lexi told them.
Aaron’s eyes zeroed in on Zak and Lexi’s intertwined hands. “So you’re the famous Lexi,” he said.
Lexi’s eyes went wide. Had Zak talked about her?
“Don’t worry. It’s all good things. Never mentioned you by name though,” Jay reassured her.
Zak led her over a couple of pool chairs and Gracie came over to them.
Lexi smiled as the border collie put her front paws on Lexi’s knees and leaned up to lick her face. Lexi giggled and scratched Gracie’s neck.
Hearing Lexi laugh made Zak smile.
“Hey Zak, come over here for a second,” Billy called.
Zak got up and Lexi finally got a good look at the tattoo that had always remained hidden to her.
She knew the story behind it. How he became possessed by a spirit in Poveglia, Italy and how it had changed his life.
Jay and Aaron came over to her and sat down.
“I’m Jay and this is Aaron.”
Lexi laughed. “I know. Zak talks about you all the time. All good things, of course.”
They quickly fell into easy conversation.
“I can see why Zak always wants to visit you after a hard lockdown,” Jay told her, “You have a very calming energy.”
“Thank you.”
Zak had often expressed the exact same thing to her. That she was the only person who calmed his mind and pulled him out of the dark place his thought often went to.
“God knows how you can put up with him sometimes,” Aaron said.
Lexi laughed. “Well, I have very strict rules when he comes to see me. He has to cleanse before he walks through the door and he leaves work at work.”
Zak looked over and saw Lexi laughing at something Aaron said. He smiled seeing her get along with his friends.
“You love her, don’t you?” Billy asked Zak. He could tell his friend was head over heels for Lexi.
“I don’t know if I’d use the word love, Bill. But I care about her a lot.”
Lexi was the white to his black. The light that counteracted his darkness.
Title: Everything's Alright
Chapter: One-Shot
Pairing: Zak/OC
Rating: T
Fic Summary: Lockdowns often take their toll on Zak, but this one affected him more than the others.
[A/N - Requested by anon. Whenever I watch Ghost Adventures and one of the guys gets affected or attacked, I just want to comfort them. I recently watched the Vicksburg mini-series, so that's why this lockdown hangover is set right after those episodes. Inspired by "Everything's Alright" from Jesus Christ Superstar.]
Everyone knew Zak hated flying, but after what he went through he wanted to get home. As soon as Zak got off the plane, he made a beeline for the baggage claim.
Krissie was already waiting for him and he walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her. “It was a bad one, huh? You never fly,” she said.
She knew very little about the weeklong lockdown in Vicksburg. When it came to Zak’s career, Krissie was supportive, but she never inquired about the places they investigated. She never tried to get in the way of Zak doing his job.
“I want to go home, please.”
“Yeah, let’s just grab your stuff, okay?”
They walked over to the baggage claim and Zak grabbed his duffle bag. Normally, they would go out to dinner to get Zak’s mind off the investigation and everything that came with post-production and deadlines from the network. But Zak was adamant that he wasn’t hungry. He just wanted to go home.
They walked through the front door and Zak greeted Gracie with pets and kisses.
“I’m gonna go lay down,” Zak told Krissie.
“Okay. Do you…?”
“No. No I’m fine.” He kissed her on the temple and disappeared into the bedroom.
Gracie whined.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with him, girl,” Krissie said. Krissie pulled out some ingredients to start dinner.
Meanwhile, Zak sat down on the bed and hung his head. Tears built up in his eyes. He pulled off his glasses and his rosary beads.
Krissie went into the bedroom to grab Zak’s duffle bag to start his laundry. It wasn’t until she heard him sniffling that Krissie realized he was crying.
“Zak?” she asked. She walked over to the bed and sat down.
Zak threw himself into her arms, sobbing.
“Zak? Hey, it’s okay. It’s okay, sweetheart.” She’d never seen him so upset and it was scaring her. He still hadn’t told her what happened, so she didn’t know how to help him.
Krissie settled for rocking back and forth and rubbing Zak’s back as she hummed a random tune.
Eventually, Zak’s body stopped shaking. They sat there in silence together for a few minutes as Zak calmed down.
“Are you hungry or do you want to take a bath first?” Krissie asked him.
“I just wanna be with you.”
“Let me run a bath and then you can tell me what happened.” Krissie got up after Zak untangled himself from her and went into the bathroom.
Zak followed her into the bathroom and walked right into the door frame.
Krissie held in her laughter. “You should have kept your glasses on,” she told him, “Maybe you need to certify Gracie as a seeing eye dog.”
“If I had known you were going to tease me like this, I would’ve stayed with the guys.”
Krissie kissed the red mark on Zak’s forehead. “I’m sorry, baby.”
“I think I may have hit my lips too…”
Krissie playfully rolled her eyes and leaned up to finally kiss Zak. Zak’s hands came up to cradle her face as he deepened the kiss.
Krissie pulled away and turned the water on as she stripped Zak of his clothes.
Normally this would have turned him on, but right now was just about being together. Zak climbed into the water as the bathtub finished filling. He watched as Krissie undressed. His eyes roamed from her head to her toes, but there was nothing carnal in his gaze.
She climbed in behind him and Zak settled back into her arms. “You wanna tell me what happened?” she asked him.
Zak sighed and told her about the terrifying encounter in Vicksburg. What had finally pushed him to his breaking point. “I’ve never been more terrified in my life. It felt like someone had injected pure terror into my body. I thought I was dying. You know what my last thought was?”
Krissie shook her head.
Zak looked back at her. “It was about you. Imagining you getting the news. Knowing my choice of career had finally caught up with me.”
Krissie kissed his cheek. “Nothing is going to take you from me Zak. I won’t let it. Besides, if you die, I know you’re going to haunt me anyway.”
Zak laughed. This was why Zak wanted to get home to her. Because with her, he knew everything would be alright.
Title: Bittersweet Honeymoon
Chapter: One-Shot
Pairing: Tom/Belle (OC)
Rating: T
Fic Summary: Belle and Tom have their first argument and make-up since marrying.
[A/N - Oh, hi there! It's been quite a while since we've seen these two, huh?]
Tom regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. He wished he never said them.
“Sometimes Belle, I wish I had never met you. Then I wouldn’t have to deal with this shit all the time!”
He’d never forget the look on Belle’s face. It would haunt him until the day he died. He swore he saw her heart break in two.
He promised to never hurt her. He might as well have stabbed her in the heart with a knife.
“Get out,” Belle whispered.
“Belle, I…”
“Please. Please get out.”
Tom grabbed his hotel key and left. This was how he found himself walking along the boardwalk.
He watched the happy couples walk by him and he wished Belle was by his side doing the same.
Belle always talked about coming here.
Tom had offered to take her to Disneyworld, but she wanted a low-key honeymoon instead. She wanted to have lunch on the boardwalk and watch the sea come in. She wanted to fall asleep to the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. She wanted to lay out on the beach with Tom and read a romance novel, even though her Prince Charming was sitting next to her.
Tom thought the laid-back honeymoon would be good for Belle, but of course Belle’s anxiety reared its head at the most inopportune moments.
All Tom wanted to do was come down to the boardwalk and go to dinner, but then Belle’s thoughts had turned negative. How Tom deserved someone better than her. Less fucked up than her.
He didn’t understand where it was coming from and that had set him off and caused him to say the words he’d regret until the end of his days.
Tom spotted a flower vendor. He looked around the shop until he found the arrangement he wanted.
Baby blue and white daisies.
He took it the cashier.
“Ah, beautiful flowers for your beautiful wife,” he said.
“I’m afraid I’ve gone and put my foot in it,” Tom confessed.
“Perhaps she’d like roses instead?”
Tom shook his head. “She doesn’t like roses. She’s a simple woman. Oh and can you wrap them in a baby blue ribbon? That’s her favorite color.”
The man smiled and pulled out a long piece of ribbon. He tied it around the vase and handed the arrangement to Tom. “I’m sure she’ll love them then.”
Tom debated on whether to buy her jewelry or a book to read while they were here, but he decided he’d start with the flowers first.
Tom went back to the room fully prepared to get on his knees and beg for forgiveness. Tom entered the room and found that Belle was no where to be found.
Maybe she’d gone down to the boardwalk to look for him. He’d wait forever for her if he had to. He set the flowers on the table as the door opened.
Her eyes were red and her cheeks flushed. She’d clearly cried after he left.
“What…what are you doing here, Tom?” Belle asked him.
“I brought you some flowers.”
Belle walked over to the small table and looked at the flowers.
They were blue and white daisies. Her favorite flower. They also matched the dress of the Disney princess she shared a name with.
“They’re beautiful, Tom.” Belle pulled one of them out of the arrangement and sat on the couch.
Tom knelt in front of her. “I’m so sorry, darling.”
“You really hurt me, Tom. To say you wish you had never met me. You’re my everything. I can’t imagine my life without you.”
Tom put his large hands on her face. “I should have never said those things. I knew what I was getting into when I married you. I knew your baggage and your issues and I vowed to help you overcome them. I haven’t been doing such a great job with that.”
“This is our honeymoon. You’re supposed to be happy.”
“I am happy, darling.”
Belle frowned. “But…but you said…”
“Shhh.” Tom pressed his lips to Belle’s, silencing anymore negative thoughts floating around in her mind. “I love you, Belle. I’m the luckiest man alive to get to be your husband.”
Belle smiled. “I love you too, Tom.” She leaned forward, kissing Tom.
Title: No Judgement
Chapter: One-Shot
Pairing:Zak/OC
Rating: T
Fic Summary: Whenever Zak comes home from a rough lockdown, he only wants to see one person.
[A/N - Inspired by "No Judgement" by Niall Horan.]
“You sure you want us to drop you here?” Billy asked Zak.
“Yeah, pick me up in two days.”
They were scheduled for another lockdown in a couple of days.
He knew he should probably go home, all he wanted was to spend time with her. Zak got out of the van and pulled his bag out of the trunk before walking up to the front door. He pulled out his key and unlocked the door, going inside.
He dropped his keys in the bowl and his hat on the table, running a hand through his hair. He smiled when he found a sage stick ready for him. He lit it up with his lighter and did a quick cleansing.
She always required that he cleanse before walking into her house. She wasn’t interested in being attacked by whatever was attached to him.
Zak had already done his cleansing and prayers after the lockdown, but he saged himself just to appease her. He carried his duffle bag into the laundry room and dropped it on the washer. He could worry about that later. Right now he just wanted to see her.
Zak walked into the kitchen and found her. His Lexi was standing by the kitchen sink, rinsing dishes off and setting them on the drying mat. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling her neck with his face.
“Hey you,” her sweet voice said.
Zak placed a kiss on her neck as his hands slid up her loose shirt, settling on her stomach.
She dried her hands and leaned back into his arms. “How was it?” she asked him.
He was quiet, which meant it was a difficult one.
“Go sit down. I’ll crack open a bottle of wine and you can tell me about it.”
Zak let go of her and went into the living room to sit down on the couch. He pulled off his boots and socks and pulled the blanket off the back of the couch.
Lexi came into the living room and laughed. “Well you certainly made yourself at home.” She handed Zak a glass of wine. She knew he wouldn’t drink it, but it gave him something to do with his hands.
Zak told her all about the lockdown. How he had been terrified, how Jay had been affected, how Aaron had been attacked.
As Zak talked, Lexi’s hand settled on the back of his head, rubbing the nape of his neck with her thumb. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
Zak sighed. “It’s fine. I love my job, you know? But sometimes…”
“You’re an investigator Zak. It’s in your blood. You’d never be able to give it up.”
“I could. Could move to some little mining town. Live in the mountains.”
“You’d be investigating every building in town, Zak. You wouldn’t be able to help yourself. You’re too curious. Besides, you have your museum. That provides you enough paranormal evidence every day.”
“The show can’t go on forever. At some point, we’re not gonna wanna travel so much. It’s already getting harder. We’re not as young as we once were.”
Lexi giggled. “Oh, I know. Mr. “Oh my god. I’m turning 40!”
Zak playfully shoved her.
“Hey! Don’t spill my wine!”
Zak loved being here with her. There were no expectations from either party. He was free to come and go as he pleased. He could be himself around her instead of Zak “Big Bad Demon Hunter” Bagans.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Two days later, the guys pulled up to the house.
Billy sent Zak a text to let him know they were ready to pick him up.
Zak looked down at Lexi who was still sleeping. He kissed her cheek. “See you later, sweetheart.” He set the alarm and locked up before throwing his bag in the back of the car. He got in the passenger seat and buckled himself in.
“You ever gonna tell us who you visit every time we’re home?” Billy asked.
“Nope,” Zak told him. Zak understood their arrangement. No strings attached, but sometimes he wished there were. He wished he could always come home to her.
Billy turned on the radio as Zak opened the file for the next lockdown.
He needed to get his head in the game.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lexi woke up to find she was alone.
The last two days had been bliss.
Zak made her breakfast the following morning and they spent all day watching crappy ghost/haunted house/demon movies.
She loved listening to Zak criticize Hollywood.
He was also able to identify filming locations as places he’d been.
Lexi sighed and got out of bed. She needed to get ready for work instead of pining after a man she knew she could never truly have.
Title: Ghost Adventures: The Next Generation
Chapter: One-Shot
Pairing: Dakota/OC
Rating: T
Fic Summary: The network have an idea for a new show "Ghost Adventures: The Next Generation".
The internet went insane when they found out Zak had a daughter. Most of his fans were happy for him that he finally had a family of his own (even though they knew he adored his dog Gracie) and he was happy. Of course, some fans were jealous of Grace since she got to spend so much time with Zak.
Things got even crazier when Grace started dating Dakota.
Grace knew Dakota had his own show “Destination Fear” with his sister and friends, so she spent her time bouncing from Ghost Adventures to Dakota’s show. Grace tried her hardest to not come in between Dakota and his show, but the network was pushing a new idea on them.
“Ghost Adventures: The Next Generation”.
Dakota agreed to a pilot and that was it.
The episode would involve going to a haunted location with the GAC and would end with Zak and the guys handing over the reins.
Zak loved his job, he really did, but he didn’t know how much more of this he could take. Since being reunited with Grace, he’d realized that work wasn’t everything. He wanted to spend as much time as possible with her.
Grace had even sold her apartment in Monterey and moved to Las Vegas to help Zak with his museum. It gave the two more time together and Zak even helped her hone her skills as a sensitive and a psychic.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
For the pilot they had booked an old prison.
“I don’t know about this,” Grace said.
“It’s an easy location. Prisons always give us the best evidence. It’ll be a walk in the park."
They went inside and set up the X-camera's and nerve center.
According to tour guide, the 2nd floor corridor was where women complained about getting pushed.
Zak decided that that would be Grace's mission."Okay, we’re gonna send you off by yourself with a camera and a digital recorder. Just yell for us if you feel uncomfortable."
Grace nodded.
“You don’t have to do this,” Dakota reminded her.
“I know, I want to.”
Dakota pecked her on the lips as Zak handed her a camera and a recorder.
She walked down the corridor by herself. It felt like the walls were closing in around her. “It feels really heavy back here,” she said to the camera.
She pressed record on the digital recorder and started asking questions, pausing between each one. “Hello? My name’s Grace, what’s yours?”
“Why are you attacking people?”
“Is it because you’re scared of them? Or do you not want them in your area?”
Grace heard a loud bang and gasped, dropping the camera and recorder.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Dad!”
Zak bolted down the corridor. He came upon Grace lying on the floor. “Gracie!” He knelt beside her and gently helped her up. “Are you hurt anywhere?”
She hissed and grabbed her head.
“Dakota, give me a flashlight.”
Dakota handed Zak a flashlight and he checked Grace’s head for any blood.
“Baby, what happened?” Dakota asked.
“I...I was asking questions and I heard this loud bang. Then it sounded like there were footsteps running towards me. A burst of energy hit me. It felt like running into a brick wall. Next thing I knew, I was on the ground,” Grace explained.
“Well, there’s no blood, but there is a bump on your head. Are you hurt anywhere else?”
“My arm.”
“Aaron, Jay, go investigate the basement. Dakota, take the 3rd floor corridor.” Zak could tell Dakota didn’t want to leave Grace while she was injured.
She grabbed Dakota’s hand and placed a kiss on the back of it. “Go on. I’ll be okay.”
Dakota sighed and leaned down, pressing a kiss to her lips. “I love you,” Dakota said, running a hand over Grace’s dark hair.
“Love you too, ghost boy.”
Dakota laughed before leaving the father and daughter alone.
Zak took out a few alcohol wipes and started cleaning her cuts. Most of them were shallow and would heal within a day.
“Sorry I messed everything up,” Grace said.
“No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have sent you off alone when you weren’t ready.”
“I…I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Nobody can make you do anything you don’t want to. Just tell the network no.”
“But…I want you to be proud of me.”
Zak looked at her. “Is that why you’ve been throwing yourself into all this?”
Grace chewed on her bottom lip.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
Grace launched herself into his arms, crying.
“Hey, it’s okay. I’ve got you. Daddy’s got you. How could you not think I’m proud of you? Gracie, when I think about what you’ve gone through in life…it’s amazing you’re so kind to everyone. Maybe that’s because the world has never been that kind to you, so you make it your mission. Grace, you make me proud just by breathing. You mean the world to me.”
The two were startled when Zak’s walkie crackled to life.
Grace wiped her face and Zak helped her up.
“Go ahead, Billy.”
“Hey, there’s some serious activity happening with Aaron and Jay.”
“We’re on our way.”
Grace fixed her ponytail.
“You good?” Zak asked her.
“Yeah. You go catch up with Aaron and Jay. I’ll go help Dakota.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m good.”
As Grace walked away from him, he realized she had called him “dad”.
