FanndÄs Maddson @fan-maddson - Tumblr Blog

Gator smiled moving to kiss her. " Yeah true." He said with a grin. " Let's go get married baby .

Beaming, she kissed him softly. On their way out the front door, she picked a few flowers from her garden, placing one in his lapel. "There," she smiled, kissing his cheek.

Eddie was exhausted. The bags under his eyes had bags. He sighed heavily. It had been a very rough few months. He was really trying but it was hard being the single dad to a very rambunctious 6 year old.

He loved Dustin and he'd die fot the kid but Eddie couldn't do this on his own. He needed help.

@fan-maddson

Eddie hugged him as he nods. Dustin beamed. " Maybe when I'm older. Daddy sings now."

“He does, and he’s very good,” she smiled, “and so are you. And you light up when you sing, just like your daddy.”

Dustin smiled nodding. " It's fun. I see why Daddy likes it. Singing makes you happy. It releases en-dolphins." He said matter-o-factly. " Those are happy brain chemicals."

Eddie beamed. " Uh...it's pronounced endorphins, bud. But that's absolutely right. Where did you learn that ?"

Dustin beamed. " I saw it at the museum today. There was a whole thing on it."

Fannie smiled, proud of how easily Dustin picked up information. “The young man is a prodigy,” she grinned.

Dustin grinned. " That means I'm very smart."

Eddie nodded. " Yes it does. That's why im glad your Momma is here. She can help me make sure you don't get bored."

“There’s always something to learn,” she grinned, “and I’ll do my best to help your daddy keep you entertained,” she promised. “Speaking of, we’re gonna try something new tonight, right? So, would you like the steamed cauliflower on the side, or would you like me to chop it up and include it in the Mac and cheese? Your choice, sweetie.”

" I don't like it. So if it's mixed in--maybe I can't tsste it ?" He suggested. " Mix it in please." He tells her very politely.

Eddie smiled proudly. " Smart. I like that idea." He was also about eating veggies as well.

Fannie nodded, making sure to chop the vegetable to a good size for the Mac and cheese. Soon dinner was in the oven.

Dustin happily helping anyway he could. He loved helping his parents.

Fannie adored Dustin, and always loved having him around. “So what should we do while it bakes?”

Eddie smiled. "Start working on dessert? Or just chilling out." He stated as Dustin hummed in thought. " Can we do a craft ?"

"I could go for some crafting," she smiled. "And we have ice cream, so dessert is good. What did you want to do for crafts?"

Eddie knows her from the parties. He's sold her drugs on numerous occasions.

Tonight is like any other night. But she asked him for something a little stronger.

" You sure about that princess?" He wondered. " You know we don't have to do this. We could sit and talk."he offered.

There's too many people for his liking. He's on edge and because it's a full house--he can't be alone with Steve or be all over Billy.

@fan-maddson

Wayne chuckled. " Especially if they're anything like Eddie." He coughed lightly covering his mouth.

Eddie grips the wheel tighter. He prayed his uncle would be okay that whatever it was was treatable. The drive doesn't take long but Eddie's knuckles are white the whole 20 minutes to the hospital.

Fannie gave Waynes hand a gentle squeeze. “You know they’re gonna be, and they’re gonna love you as much as he does, if not more.”

He nods. " And you're gonna be a great mom." He stated as they pulled imto the parking lot. Eddie stopping by the front doors. He gets a wheelchair for Wayne. " Can you take him and I'll be right there once I park the car?"

“You’re sweet for saying so,” she smiled, nodding to Eddie in response. She got out of the truck and helped Wayne into the chair, then into the hospital.

“….sixth floor,” the woman at information informed her. “You can go on up, I’ll tell Eddie where you went,” she offered.

“We’ll wait,” she smiled, placing a gentle hand on Wayne’s shoulder.

Right on cue Eddie comes rushing into the bulding. " Let's go!!"

“Thank you,” Fannie smiled to the woman before they headed to the elevator. “You wanna drive,” she asked him, motioning to the wheelchair.

Eddie shakes his head. His hands were shaking. " Nah...You go ahead." He was trying not to think of how bad things had to be.

As they rode the elevator up she took his hand. “Hey…it’s gonna be okay,” she whispered, kissing his cheek.

He nods kissing her back. " I know...Just keep thinking about all the what ifs."

"And that's completely normal," she promised. "But this young man here has plenty of time left, not to mention he's even more stubborn than you," she added, smiling, as she leaned down and kissed the top of Wayne's head.

Hawkins was a painfully small town no matter who you were. Speak too loudly, or to the wrong person, suddenly everyone knew more about you than your own family. It was so much worse when you were the preachers daughter, and sister to the captain of the high school basketball team. But somehow Fannie had managed to keep her crush on the one person her family hated a secret. Not only that, but that crush had bloomed into a quiet relationship thanks to them being paired up in science class.

She hadn’t intended to keep it a secret; she adored Eddie, everything about him. And she loved how safe she felt with him because she could be herself. But they’d agreed it was too soon, and before she knew it, it had been months. Besides, she was sure his friends would make fun of him for dating a cheerleader. For dating Fannie Carver, little sister of his biggest tormentor, Jason Carver.

“I’m eating outside,” she sighed, seeing Jason and his friends were already riled up as she waited with her friend in the lunch line. They hadn’t said anything, but they were always riled up on game day, and tonight was the first game of the season, and Andy, her brothers best friend, had already been pressuring her for a good luck kiss.

@stuffandthangsandangelwings

Eddie felt ashamed or he had at first. He liked to put himself above the closed minds of Hawkins. He acted like he was above the judgemental population of Hawkins but he could be just as bad. He had been when it came to Fannie Carver.

She was popular, a cheerleader, the little sister of his biggest antagonist. He thought she'd be some Bible thumping prude--much like Jason and their parents. The moment they got paired in science class; he was sure she'd want a different partner. But --she had quickly broken all his assumptions.

She was warm, funny, sweet, intelligent and so very kind. It didn't take him long to fall head over heels with her.

He wanted to be with her in public. To walk with her hand in hand instead of hiding the love they had. But he knew it was too soon.

He sat at the lunch table; the rest of Hellfire not there yet. He watched her, trying not to stare too long. He gets up leaving to wait for her in his usual spot.

****

It's about 15 minutes before she joins him out on the old picnic table. " Hello, Sweetheart." He greets coming to kiss her. He pulled her to him. " I missed you. Hey so uh ...I have some news. Something I want to ask."

Fannie beamed when she heard his voice, her pace switching to a light jog, practically jumping into his arms as they kissed. She felt immeasurably lighter in his presence, the annoyance of the first half of the day forgotten.

"I missed you, too," she beamed, smiling ear to ear. "Oh? What's the news, Sir Galahad," she asked, setting out food for both of them. Every morning she packed a lunch for them, a nice mix of healthy and junk food snacks, as well as a Mountain Dew for him and a Diet Coke for herself. "Is everything okay?" She motioned for him to sit, eager for him to share his news.

He opened his eyes, gasping for breath. Everything hurt. Something beeped loudly, he tried to move --to get up. There were wires everywhere. He moved trying to tug at them. The beeps got louder.

" Billy?!?!?" The redhead exclaimed, hands coming to touch his arm. How did he not notice her?

" Shit bird?" He croaked out.

" Let me get someone; okay ? Try not to move." And with that Max rushed out of the room.

@fan-maddson

" Well firstly I want to tell you I'm sorry you shouldn't have had to deal with the way I treated you. You shouldn't have had to see my die. I can't imagine what that was like. And uh I want to become your legal guardian."

“You were acting out,” Max offered with a soft, knowing smile. “And I’m glad I was there. You weren’t alone….and you knew you were loved, but do you really want to be my guardian? That’s a lot of responsibility.”

He nods. " I didn't know until that moment. Feeling you crying over me. I really didn't think you cared." He reached for her hand. " I know but I can handle it. I want to be your guardian and be a better brother to you. Not at all like before.""

“Do you really think the courts will let you,” she asked, holding his hand.

He squeezed her hand. " It's worth a shot. Hopefully Fannie's family can help.

“Probably. Her dad is better connected than the president,” she mused. “It’s weird, don’t you think?”

He nods. " Yeah but I didn't ask and he's helping me." He looked at her. " There's been an update something is changing inside me."

“What do you mean,” she asked, worried. “That thing…is it back?”

" Uh...Well it's not back. Because it's all me in here." He said tapping his forehead. " But uh some of it stayed--mutated. It's changing me." He said. As he said it the dark black vine like veins appeared along his arms and face. " See?"

Max watched, astonished. “How is that possible? And it doesn’t consume you? Are you okay with this,” she asked, so many questions going through her mind.

" I'm becoming okay with it. I'm kinda scared to be honest. But Fannie and her dad are going to help me." He stated with a soft smile.

“You like her, don’t you,” she smiled. “Not like the other girls you’ve been with. But..like like her.”

Billy smiled ducking his head as he nodded

" Yeah...I really do."

"Good," she smiled seriously. "Those other girls were awful. Just...ugh. But Fannie, she could be good for you."

He smiled at her. " Yeah I think she will be to

...You know before all this. I was gonna go on a date with her then that thing got me. But I was being serious---I want to adopt you. Be your guardian." He stated.

"I was wondering why she showed up at the hospital," Max grinned. "Billy, you're barely an adult. I appreciate it, just don't do it if you're not serious. I've already had two dads bail."

" Yeah I really like her..." He nods. " I'm serious. I know what it's like to have a shit dad. But I'm always going to be here for you. I'm not running off like my mom did and I'll never hurt you. I refuse to be like my dad." He promised her. " I know I was awful before. Never again. I want to be someone in your life you can trust and believe in. I want to be there for you."

“Alright,” she smiled. “Do think a judge is gonna go for it?”

He smiled as he nodded. " I hope so. I don't see why they wouldn't especially if i get Fannie's dad's help."

“I wanna know how he’s got so many connections,” she smiled. “Do you think he’s CIA or something?”

He chuckled. " No idea. Maybe they'll tell us one day. " he leaned over giving her a one armed hug.

Max leaned in, giving him the same hug while kissing his cheek. As she did, Fannie joined them. “How’s everything going,” she asked with a smile, sitting with a small glass of juice.

" Good. We're cool and Max thinks my new uh --powers are cool ?" He adds. " We're also going to do the adoption ."

“They are interesting,” she smiled sweetly. “That’s amazing! When dad gets back you’ll have to let him know!”

Billy nodded. " But for now. We can just relax and eat. I feel better today even if I'm different."

“Well, if you guys wanna do anything, I’m sure he won’t keep you locked up,” she teased. “You can have friends over, too.”

Billy visbly flinched at her words. "Sorry." He apologized. " My dad used to do that.."

" His door always locked from the outside." Max stated.

Billy looked at her. " You should invite your friends over. I wanna thank them. I don't really have any real friends." He admits. " At least no one I'd like to hang out with like that."

"I'm sorry," she sighed, taking his hand. "I meant it as a joke; he would never, and I won't make jokes like that again, you have my word. Both of you."Max nodded, leaving the table to invite her friends over.

"Please don't apologize for how you react to something that bothers you," she continued, softer. "If I say or do anything that hurts or upsets you, let me know, okay? If I don't know, I can't grow. And I would like to grow...with you. And...maybe you could invite Steve over? I know you two haven't been on the best of terms, but I know he was worried about you when they took you to the hospital. He looked relieved you weren't dead, honestly."

Fannie let the doctors check her over and tend to her wounds, but her only questions were about Eddie and the baby. When they finally quit fussing over her, she all but ran to Eddie’s side. She held his hand as she sang to him, talked to him about how amazing their life was going to be, trying to be positive. When Steve joined her, she took his hand in hers.

“He’s okay….gonna be so pissed about his hair,” she smiled, wiping away her tears. “And the baby is okay…they did an ultrasound and said everything is fine, but they want to keep an eye on things…you should sit down,” she smiled, bringing his hand to her mouth and kissing it gently.

@stuffandthangsandangelwings

Eddie doesn't sleep, he tried to be quiet making sure she does.

Steve slept until he woke up feeling feverish. Something was wrong. Eddie sensed it. He doesn't wanna wake Fannie knowing she needs her rest.

" Can you keep an eye on her ?" He asked her father. " Steve's up--something isn't right."

“Of course….let me call the doctors. I want them to have a look, okay?”

Eddie nodded. " Of course." He said as he went to check on Steve. Steve was shaking; his body drenched in sweat. Eddie looked him over not sure what was wrong. He moved getting a cold cloth for his forehead.

Downstairs Fannie woke up to the sound of baby Erik crying. “Where’s Eddie, she asked rubbing her eyes.

" Here, baby ! I got him." He tells her. " I was with Steve. I didn't wanna worry you. Something is wrong."

Fannie waived him away, picking up the baby. “What’s wrong with him?”

He shakes his head. " Not sure. Your father has his team looking at him. He's feverish and clammy. He's in pain but I can't help him I don't know how. I can feel it. Our little bat might to."

Fannie cuddled their son, who seemed inconsolable. “I think he does,” she agreed.

Eddie went over to them he moved to rub his back as Fannie held him. " I know, bud. But it's okay. You're okay? Yeah...he's going to be okay. You're other daddy is gonna be fine."

Erik fussed, but Eddie rubbing his back and talking to him helped. “How long has Steve been ill,” she asked quietly.

" It's been about an hour."

“Eddie,” she breathed, worry etched on her face, the baby growing more fussy.

" I know. We should all take a look at him. What if our baby can help?"

Fannie nodded, heading upstairs with the baby. She lingered in the doorway for only a moment before sitting close to Steve. “What’s going on with him,” she asked the doctors.

"Something is causing his body to be feverish....we believe it has something to do with the bites. "

“Help him,” she whimpered, tears falling. “Please…he doesn’t deserve this! He saved us! We need him…I need him.”

His body trembled, Steve's eyes opened. " It's okay..." he whispered; blood running down his face like tears.

The doctors tried to calm him. Eddie calming Fannie and their son. The baby stilled looking toward Steve and then Eddie.

Eddie hesitated a moment before making his way over to Steve. " What if my blood can help him?"

“If you really think it will, please,” she breathed. “He’s in so much pain…”

" I know it will. I can feel it." He assured her ad he bites into his wrist. Blood flowing. He brings it to Steve's lips. " Drink." When Steve doesn't; Eddie fed him. He smeared blood on Steve's lips.

Fannie watched, holding Erik. "Stevie, please," she pleaded. "We can't lose you."

He weakly began to drink, lips latching around Eddie's wrist. " There you go. That's it. I can feel it --you'll be better in no time.""

Fannie watched as Steve began to come around, Erik settling down in her arms. A part of her couldn't help but feel like an outsider watching them, feeling how intertwined Erik was with them. Her heart ached, but the moment it rose, she pushed it down, desperate to not be selfish.

Steve gives her a bloody smile. Blood in his teeth and the corner of his mouth. He held out his hand. " Baby come here.." He could feel how she felt and even in his current state he didn't want her to feel that way.

“You need rest,” she smiled, shaking her head. “Later, okay? But here…he was beyond worried,” she grinned, passing him Erik.

" I'm okay. I feel okay." He whispered as he took the baby from her. Erik cooed to him. His tiny hand reaching out towards Steve's face.

Fannie smiled as Erik reached out for Steve. She leaned over, kissing each of them on the top of their head before leaving them.

Eddie is waiting for her. " You okay ?" He asked softly pulling her into his arms. Blood still lingered around his mouth.

“I’m fine,” she offered softly, her body pressed to his. She didn’t want to burden him with her feelings.

" You sure ? It's been a crazy few hours...It's okay if you aren't fine." He whispered as he held her to him.

“I…” she tried to tell him she was fine again, but the tears came. Her body shook as she cried into his chest silently before regaining her ability to speak. “I don’t know how to do any of this, Eddie,” she breathed. “How to be a mom, a wife…to two people, not just one. I have lost who I am, or who I thought I was, or could be. I have no privacy….not even my thoughts. I just…it’s a lot, and I’m scared that I’m not enough…”

He nods listening to her words. He cradled her close letting her get it all out. He moved so they were both sitting. Once she'd gotten out her words he looked at her, cupping her face.

" Baby. You will always be enough. You brought me back. You are so incredible." He stated. " As for how overwhelmed you feel--take it one day at a time. We can take our time. I don't want you to lose yourself trying to be everything for everyone else."

" And we will be here to help any way we can." He assured her.

Fannie listened, comforted by his words. They didn’t fix her fears, only time would do that, but she didn’t feel so alone. “I’m scared of losing you,” she admitted finally. “There’s this connection you and Steve have, and I’m on the outside. Even with Erik…I’m his mom, and I feel like I’m the wet nurse.”

Eddie frowned. " Do you...Want me to make you like us? I don't want you to feel that way. I'll do it. I'd do anything for you--and if you get sick like Steve did--I can save you."

“No,” she smiled sadly, cupping his face. “I can’t take care of you if I’m like you. I need to be able to go out during the day…and take care of Erik if anything happens to him. I just need….i don’t know what I need,” she told him honestly.

Eddie nodded moving to kiss her palm. " Yeah but we can take care of you. You should take it easy; baby."

"How am I supposed to do that," she asked softly, cupping his face. "I just need to talk to Steve, I just don't want him to feel bad about being able to hear my thoughts. I know it's not intentional. I just...I need time to process my thoughts and feelings before opening up about them. And I know he's just trying to help..."

Honestly, it was a wonder he'd made it out this far. He was pretty banged up. He had a deep wound in his side that he'd made a make shift bandage for. It wasn't like he could go to any hospital.

Frank had alot of people after him. Currently, he was laying low. He'd cleaned up the streets but everyone was looking for him.

That's how he found himself ten states away, pulling his truck off the road into a heavily wooded area.

No one would find him here and he could rest for a little while.

He turned off the truck, moving to stretch out in the cab. He winced, planning on his next move. He checked on his side. " Damn it..." he grumbled seeing some of his sitching had popped. With that he moved to get out of the truck.

@fan-maddson

" I try." He said getting into the driver's side.

Fannie grinned, holding his hand as they headed into town.

He kissed her hand as they drove. It felt good to be doing something so normal and domestic.

Fannie smiled at the kiss, leaning in to kiss his cheek. “Where are we going first,” she asked sweetly.

" Clothes first? He suggested as he kissed her.

“Perfect! Think we can go by the fabric store while we’re here?”

" Of course! Any where you want to go we will."

“You’re the best,” she smiled. “I was thinking I could make a few dresses or skirts…maybe something for you if like.”

He smiled at that. " You'd make something for me? Never have anyone do that. "

"Of course I would," she smiled sweetly. "Anything, really. If I don't know how to make it, I can learn. It's what you do for people you love, Frank."

The Hawkins High gym was packed tight—too many bodies, too much breath, not enough air. Faces blurred together beneath buzzing fluorescent lights: neighbors, classmates, strangers who had lived parallel lives until the town broke open and shoved them into the same room. Some had lost people. Some had lost homes. Some had lost pieces of themselves. Hawkins had been fractured twice over—first by whispered deaths no one could explain, then by the night the earth split wide and swallowed what it pleased.

The gym was supposed to be a refuge. It felt more like a holding cell.

She was one of the lucky ones. She always had been. A house still standing. A family still breathing. A smile she’d been taught to wear like armor—bright, practiced, reassuring. Everyone assumed she’d be fine. That she was fine. But tonight wasn’t about her neat survival. It was about stitching something broken back together, even if the seams showed.

She stood behind the donations table, fingers absently sorting canned goods, eyes drifting instead. The crowd moved in uneven waves—murmured conversations, flinching silences, people glancing over their shoulders as if the walls might listen. Everyone was searching for something. Or someone. Proof that the town hadn’t taken everything.

Her gaze kept lifting, betraying her.

She was looking for the boy they whispered about.

The one teachers avoided saying aloud. The one whose name had turned sharp in people’s mouths. She’d known him long before the rumors, long before fear rewrote him into something monstrous. She knew him as loud laughter echoing down hallways, as wild hair and band shirts and a presence that felt too big for Hawkins to contain. He had never looked at her long enough to really see her—why would he? She’d been just another cheer uniform in a sea of them.

But she had seen him. For years. From the margins where curiosity felt dangerous and sympathy felt like rebellion.

And when the gym doors finally opened again, she held her breath—because if he walked in now, everything would change.

@stuffandthangsandangelwings

Eddie nodded. " That sounds good. I'm sorry baby.I know we were planning on going out today."

"I'd rather you take it easy," she hummed softly. "Maybe while you take a nap, my dad and I can go get your van? Or him and Wayne? I understand you want to bring it to the house, but it's safe. You heard my dad; Rick sold the property to him, so no one is gonna tow it or anything." Part of her couldn't help but think he may have been worried about someone vandalizing it, too.

Today was an exciting day. He arrived to work earlier than normal.

He hopped of his bike and chained it to his usual spot. He took of his bike helmet running a hand through his hair. He reached for his backpack.

" Fudge." He mumbled noticing there was a small run in the mesh sidepocket of his backpack. He adjustied it over his shoulder and made his way into the school building.

He had a new student who was being transferred into his class. Apparently this was the fifth school he'd been to so far this year. He didn't understand why. How hard was it to accommodate the needs of a student, no matter their disability.

He was determined to be the best teacher and do all he could to make Robert [ Rocky as his paperwork had stated he preferred] learning as easy as he could. He himself had teachers who didn't quite know how to handle him. They didn't understand how Ryland's mind worked and they never put in the effort to try.

Ever since becoming a teacher he vowed to be the best he could for all his students.

This morning he was going to meet with this child's sign language interpreter. Ryland had already learned quite a bit of ASL but he had been informed that a Ms. FanndÄs Maddson would be going to each of Rocky's classes. So he wanted to meet with her and see if she had any advice or tricks to make things easier.

@fan-maddson

He listened to her speak. " That's horrible. I hate when kids are like that. Well I'm glad things are already an improvement. And if my lesson plans aren't as challenging I can work on special assignments for him." He said as he opened the door to a cute little cafe. The whole place is themed after foxes. " What do you think ?"

“I appreciate you taking a special interest in him,” she smiled, her eyes going wide as they stepped into the cafe. “This is so adorable,” she beamed. “I’ve been meaning to come in….”

He smiled. " Of course. I see myself in him. And I'm glad. I enjoy it here. I also really happen to like foxes." He stated motioning to the knitted cream cartagon he wore.

As they walked in a woman smiled from behind the counter. She didn't look that old maybe 20 or 21?

" Hey Dr. Grace! The usual? " she called out.

He nodded. " Yes please and whatever my date would like. " he said walking with Fsnnie up to the counter.

“Tea, please,” she smiled. “I do love your cardigan. And I love foxes. They’re so cute; like a small dog that’s running on cat software.”

He chuckled and nodded. " That's very true. They're fascinating." The woman behind the counter smiled. " I have a few tea options. But I've got a lovely lemon berry tea. We'll do that; I think. " She said as Grace went to pay. The woman scoffed. " Absolutely not. You were my favorite teacher." With that she puts his order in and goes to start making it. He looked at Fannie. " She was part of my first middle school class."

“Really,” she smiled. “I wish I’d had teachers like you…ones who loved what they did. It’s amazing.”

He smiled putting a $20 in the tip jar before he moved to the pickup counter. " I do to. I never really had a good teacher. I'm different--my brain is different. Teachers didn't understand that. Or how to handle me." He said with a frown.

"Same," she grinned, "but I kinda liked it. By the time I got into high school, I was hardly ever in class. I would see my teachers before class, get the work, then leave. I couldn't sit still, would argue with them if I thought the way they were teaching something was making it too hard when there was an easier way...that kind of stuff. Well, except for my science classes."

Waiting with him at the counter, she nudged him gently, playfully. "Some of us get bonus neural pathways, Dr. Grace. We see the world for more than what it appears to be, and that's a beautiful thing. How boring would life be if we all had the same kind of brain?"

Eddie sat back, dark eyes scanning the lunchroom. He heard the whispers, the stares. The judgment. It never ceased to amaze him. Humans were so often predictable.

" What are you looking at , Freak?" Jason practically snarled from his seat.

Eddie simply laughed; something dark and ominous in it. The whole town thought he was some Satanic , metal musician. If only they knew the truth....

Eddie had given up his humanity long long ago. He'd been born at the start of the Victorian age. He'd lived through the Antebellum period, the Civil War and seen industrialization first hand.

History he was good at. The other subjects didn't interested him as much. He could graduate and move on but he felt safe here and had taken to bringing the outcasts and the like under his wing at Hawkins High.

He was a creature of habit. And after being alive for so long things get boring. So he pretended to be a super senior. No one the wiser about his true nature.

@fan-maddson

He smiled at her love and desire in his gaze. " Of course...I'll never leave you again. " he promised her.

Fannie deepened the kiss, pulling him with her as she relaxed into the bed. She wasn't trying to rush things anymore. Now, now she just wanted to live in the moment, to find whatever it was they had in the past.

MY Own Solider [ Closed with @fan-maddson]

For the most part his memories had come back; Bucky was working on atoning for his past and trying to make changes for the better. Sam was the one keeping the world safe and the Avengers had disbanded.

Bucky was living a mostly quiet life and had even run for congressional office. He didn't think he'd win but he wanted to change Brooklyn for the better. He still wanted to help people; this was a different way to do it.

He wasn't living his life with mysterious that needed to be uncovered or any shady government agency he had to take down.

Life was great. Then he saw him! A face he knew but had no idea why. A part of him, said he needed to let it go. But he couldn't do that. He was never one to let things go.

Buck ends up doing all he can to find out who this man was. But he was even more of a ghost then Bucky had been.

After seeing that man in a crowd , it took him about a month to find a lead to go on. That's how he found himself on the edge of a very large private property.

No neighbors for miles. This was incredibly stupid but thankfully he was prepared for things like this.

Bucky chuckled. " Of course not. I am nearly 110. I'm okay with slow. "

"You can't tell me you always went slow," she teased lightly. She didn't know, of course. No one really knew much about his past, and she liked that. It would give them a chance to get to know each other like any other couple.

Can’t Breathe

“You know, you can use the front door,” Fannie called to Eddie from her bedroom window. “We’re not kids anymore…besides, you’re useless to me dead or injured.” She flashed him a sweet smile, excited to see him. The summer was winding down and she was getting ready to head back to classes. In fact, she should have left last week, but the idea of leaving him again was too much. They’d always been friendly during school, but when she ran into him over winter break her freshman year, something changed.

Maybe it was being away from Hawkins, actually being able to be herself without feeling like she was constantly being compared to the other girls in town. Maybe it was getting out of her head, and getting the courage to say more than hi to him. Whatever “it” was, this thing between them had grown to be more for her. But she doubted he would ever see her as more than a friend with benefits, another notch on his belt. But gods, when she looked at him, he was all she could see. All it would take was him asking her to stay, and she would. Even if it only meant there was a slight chance there could be something more.

@stuffandthangsandangelwings

" We can talk to them. Then we can have them talk our ears off when we get home." He stated with a chuckle. " I miss our babies too much not to go without talking to them. "

“You have no idea how happy that makes me,” she hummed. She’d been worried he’d not want them, herself included. Yes, he’d shown her otherwise, but it was a fear that lingered, and she was certain it would for some time.

He beamed at her. " I'm glad. I just love our kids so much. Ohh we should get something for them. A souvenir from the trip."

"We should get something from the...no, damn," she sighed. "I was gonna say we should get them a souvenir from the show, but then they'll want to come and see it."

Blood Deep Roots

The tow truck rattled like it was being held together by prayer and nicotine.

By the time it rolled into the gravel lot behind Hawkins Auto & Tire, the July heat had already melted the edges off the afternoon. Cicadas screamed from somewhere beyond the tree line. The air smelled like motor oil, sunbaked asphalt, and incoming rain.

Perfect.

She pushed the passenger door open with the heel of her boot and stepped down slowly, silver rings catching sunlight as she swept a curtain of dark curls away from her face. Black lace fluttered at the sleeves of her blouse. Too many necklaces glimmered against sun-bronzed skin. Every inch of her looked expensive now — not in the polished Hollywood sense, but in the Stevie Nicks-at-midnight, pawn-shop-gold, smoke-on-vinyl kind of way.

A far cry from the quiet Hawkins girl she used to be.

“Think your alternator’s cooked,” the driver muttered around a cigarette before wandering toward the garage office.

She barely heard him.

Because behind the shop, half-shadowed beside the open bay door, stood a man she was almost certain had once died.

Or maybe that was just how Hawkins remembered him.

Eddie Munson leaned back against the brick wall with all the careless gravity of someone who never learned how to belong anywhere else. Shirt tossed over one shoulder. Grease streaked across his hands. Tattoos she didn’t recognize winding down his arm. His head bent toward the glow of a phone in his palm like the whole world hadn’t just tilted sideways.

For one impossible second, she forgot how to breathe.

No newspaper clipping. No whispered hometown rumor. No blurry tagged Facebook photo from years ago could’ve prepared her for the reality of him standing there in living color beneath the Indiana sun.

The screen door slapped shut behind her.

Eddie looked up.

And suddenly she was seventeen again, all sharp elbows and unsent love songs.

@stuffandthangsandangelwings

" You don't want at least one like you ?" He asked leaning to kiss her.

Fannie grinned, kissing him lovingly. "Do you think you can handle more than one of me," she teased. "I can be a bit much."

He snarled, blood on his muzzle. How could he have been so fucking stupid! He'd been alive for eons; only to fall on his own trap.

Blood pooled in his fur, he had gotten the blade out but the wound was deep. He managed to make it a good distance but his vision was swimming. He collapsed as everything went dark.

@fan-maddson

Daryl nods. " Yeah. A healthy pup is all I hope for. Yeah--there's a good chance it will be. If it's like me. I was pretty calm as a kid."

"I will do all I can to make sure our babies are healthy," she promised. "I wasn't too terrible," she giggled. "Though the pack elders may say otherwise. I wanted to learn how to fight like the men did, so I would occasionally run away to the training grounds. Occasionally."