An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Pitt (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Melissa "Mel" King/Frank Langdon
Characters: Frank Langdon, Melissa "Mel" King, Becca King, Frank Langdon's Children, Melissa "Mel" King's Mother, Original Kingdon Child, Dana Evans
Additional Tags: HEA, One Shot, Inspired by Music, Short & Sweet, Fluff, Domestic Fluff, Mention of pregnancy, no beta we die like frank langdon's marriage, Mutual Pining, Fluff and Humor, Divorced Frank Langdon, Frank Langdon is Down Bad for Melissa "Mel" King, Melissa "Mel" King Needs a Hug, Melissa "Mel" King is Down Bad for Frank Langdon, Idiots in Love, strawberry allergy, Sick Becca King, but she is fine
Summary:
Mel King has spent her entire life denying herself the one thing she loves most: strawberries.
Between promises, guilt, and years spent protecting her sister, wanting things for herself stopped feeling possible a long time ago.
Frank Langdon changes that one bite of strawberry cake at a time.
or
A little one shot inspired by a strawberry donut on Mother's Day
As we prepare to say goodbye to Season 2 and ease into a long, hopefully peaceful hiatus, one thing’s for sure—it’s never too early to start dreaming about Season 3.
We find our favorite Pitt crew working hard on Thanksgiving. The shift is packed with drunken family confrontations, cooking accidents, and stomach perfs.
Robby is as dramatic as ever, pissing people off at every turn. Abbot and Dana trail behind him, cleaning up his messes with equal parts side-eye and sass.
Cassie is officially done with his bullshit and has switched to nights.
Santos, Whitaker, and Javadi are locked in a constant battle over who gets the coolest traumas—and who can suck up to Robby the most.
Through it all, our beloved Kingdon are closer than ever. Truly the golden pairing—kicking ass, taking names, saving lives. ED BFFs.
Around 5 p.m., word comes in of an apartment fire (pro tip: frying turkeys inside is a no-go, kids). The next three hours are a blur of burn victims and heavy, lingering sadness.
By the time the shift finally winds down, everyone realizes it’s too late for their own Thanksgiving dinners—and honestly, who would want them after the smell of burning flesh still clinging to the ED?
They gather in the cafeteria, exhausted, when Abbot and Dana reappear with bags of Chinese takeout. It’s not traditional, but it’s perfect.
Everyone mingles, plates in hand.
Langdon eats quickly before tugging on Mel’s ponytail. They exchange a soft look—she knows he’s supposed to video chat Tanner and Penny. He thanks Jack for the food and murmurs a quiet goodbye.
Just as he’s about to leave, Dana presses a fortune cookie into his hand.
He cracks it open as he walks.
“What you are seeking is also seeking you.”
He stops.
Across the room, Mel looks up at the exact same moment. Their eyes meet.
Langdon breaks into the biggest smile she’s ever seen. She blushes, glancing down shyly.
He turns and heads out—but this time, there’s a noticeable skip in his step.
And behind them, Robby clocks the smiles, the blush…
And then there is the Meredith of it all. If it was real, why hasn’t she said anything about the finale being a 8-10 on her scale? She has hyped all season and in theory saw the finale weeks ago. Why nothing? Especially for something that BUZZY?
My theory is there were multiple finale cuts. The have been very specific about how the film scenes multiple ways. And I could just see the show runners saying: “Give me the Kingdon take.”
The one we get will still have an ambulance bay Kingdon scene. But not the full version of the leaked one. I’m assuming something along the lines of “Call me Frank” and that Mel smile.
The date is February 14th. 2025. The Pitt has just been renewed for a second season.
The first season wrapped filming exactly a week ago and the 7th episode aired the night before.
R. Scott Gemmill, along with John Wells and Noah Wyle call all the cast to congratulate them on the renewal and tell them they can’t wait to work with them again
They save Patrick Ball for last. His characters arc had wrapped up along with filming the previous week and they realize the have a decision to make.
It would be easier to just say Langdon had been fired. Maybe jail. A rehab arc would involve a crazy time jump and might even come across as unrealistic.
But then the reviews start rolling in for episode 7. An episode that caused a small contingency of fans that “ship Kingdon” to grow exponentially over night.
All because the actor in question decided to play Langdon as completely smitten while he watched Dr. Mel King interact with Terrance.
The fandom was blowing up. Fanart and tweets and the hashtag trending.
So they are at an impasse. Do they risk losing these fans just as they pick up momentum or do they make the writers job exponentially harder?
Knowing what’s coming for these fans and knowing that this is only beginning of the fandom blowing up, they make a decision.
They call up Mr. Ball.
“I’m sure you’ve seen the news. We’ve been renewed. I’m bet you are wondering what that means for Langdon.”
“I know a lot about recovery and trying to be successful while following the steps. I really think I could bring a lot to a second season if you decide to keep me”
“We’ve been debating the pros and cons, and we’ve decided to move forward with Langdon’s recovery. We feel the momentum of the Kingdon fans could really help keep the momentum on a sophomore season now that the fans are used to the format.”
Silence on the speaker and then
“Wait. So you want to indulge the Mel/Langdon story? I thought they were just platonic. Almost sibling like.”
“Patrick. Did you watch last nights episode? Your face did not say platonic or sibling coded. Have you seen X. Or TikTok. Kingdon is trending everywhere. We’d be fools not embrace it.”
And just like that. Mr Patrick Marron Ball realized he owed his continued career to a bunch of “horny little freak” and without them he’d probably find himself back slinging coffee and living off his nepo-baby girlfriend.
Now.
Obviously I don’t think any of this happened.
Although I do not think it was a coincidence that season two was renewed the day after 1x7
But my point still stands. Without the Kingdon fandom , this show would not survive. We were the first ship. We are the best ship.
And I think it would be real smart of the HBO execs to get PDeardz some PR coaching before they loose these fans with ridiculous head canons and reshares of misogynistic “articles.”
Because Mr. Ball. While we are not saying you aren’t talented, we made you into a household name. There is a reason people keep asking you about this character. So maybe sit down and shut your mouth unless it’s to put some respect on the people who literally cheer you on week after week.
Because without Kingdon the Santos fans would have chewed you up and spit you out months ago.
andulkaphoto
blakekathryn
discoholicmusic
