for all the days of out lives,ā we finished and I felt a little like a character in one of my grandmaās soap operas.
iād tell you I love you, but then iād have to kill you
- ally carter
almost home
occasionally subtle
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"

No title available
Monterey Bay Aquarium
let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open

ellievsbear
YOU ARE THE REASON

Product Placement
Peter Solarz

if i look back, i am lost
NASA

#extradirty
I'd rather be in outer space šø

Janaina Medeiros
DEAR READER
Keni

pixel skylines
trying on a metaphor
i don't do bad sauce passes
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@gildengirl
for all the days of out lives,ā we finished and I felt a little like a character in one of my grandmaās soap operas.
iād tell you I love you, but then iād have to kill you
- ally carter
Hey. Hereās a totally random short. I love Townsend/Abby. Hopefully I got the vibes somewhat close to cannon hah! @gildengirl I hope I do some justice to your fav pairing!
āPlease, Edward.ā Abby was not the begging type, but the man in front of her stood stoically, gazing out the window at the dark landscape.
āAbigail. You cannot possibly be asking me to do what I think youāre asking of me. I simply cannot risk my reputation on this.ā He sighed in frustration. He clearly was still refusing to face her. He hadnāt faced her all day, all week, for that matter. Agent Edward Townsend was a coward.
āIām not asking you for the sun and the moon. Iām asking you for time. Can you please, at least, give me time?ā She tried to step closer, but he edged backwards. For the first time, his eyes flicked to meet hers.
āAbigail, donāt.ā
āDonāt what?!?ā She couldnāt help herself from snapping at him. She was beyond frayed and tired. āReady to snapā was a phrase Abby was living her life by this past week. Even Rachelās plans were falling to pieces under the Circleās pressure. Blackthorne had not gone to plan. According to Cam, who was plenty banged up, the journal they were looking for had already been in their possession. They hadnāt been betting on Joe. They were about to lose Joe.
āDonāt beg. It isnāt becoming. Itās not you, and I wonāt hear it. I have given you time. More time than I should have. I already have MI6 breathing down my neck. What would you have me do? Hmm? You canāt possibly be asking me to trust him.ā He sounded so skeptical. She couldnāt really blame him.
She looked out the dark window down at the campus she knew so well. She had never felt less at home here. Something about that made her want to break something. She had to get him to understand.
āIf you do this to my family, Townsend, I swear to you I will never forgive you. I will never talk to you. Whatever this is? You and me? Done. I wonāt be able to forgive you for this.ā
She meant it. She had stood on the sidelines of her sister and niecesā lives for too many years after Mattās disappearance. She swore to herself that sheād never let something get in the way of them again, even him. Even if it would kill her inside to let him go.
Rachel had to let go of Matt because of her: Matt, Joe. She refused to let herself relive those moments after the blast all week. Catherine was gone, her goons with her. She, Rachel, and the Baxters were navigating around the blown-up spots of the tomb. Of course, it had to have been Rachel who found Joe. He looked dead. Pale, thin from being on the run, and absolutely covered in ash from the explosion. Abby never wanted to relive her sisterās silent crying, panicking to find a pulse on Joseph Solomon. If it werenāt for Rachelās being a mess, Abby would have done the same. Joe really looked gone in that moment.
He huffed and rolled his eyes. āSo now that youāre upset with me, itās Townsend? I seem to remember the beginning of this week when you were knocking at my door. Not so formal then, were you?ā
Despite herself, she gave a small smile. āYou didnāt seem to mind at the time.ā
He grumbled. āYou werenāt using our connection to manipulate me into letting Joseph Solomon off the hook for literal treason. Heās a double agent. I know that you all like him, but this is my job.ā
āWe donāt just like him. You donāt understand. Heās one of my best friends. Heās my sisterās only friend; she really relies on him. Heās my nieceās only male role model after Matt. We love him. I love him.ā
Townsend recoiled slightly, and Abby knew that she might have to explain that one further. Townsend threw her for an absolute loop when he asked, āWhat about Solomonās little shadow? Zachary? Her son just happens to follow this man around, and you donāt all see that as a potential conflict of interest? He very clearly cares for the boy.ā
Abby had considered that too when sheād first heard about Joeās past. After knowing Joe, reading the journals, and talking with Zach, she knew that the only conflict of interest belonged to Zach. Poor kidās only parent was part of a terrorist organization. āJoe is helping him to see that thereās a life outside of the Circle of Cavan. Heās a good kid. Heās trying to the right thing.ā
Townsend heaved a sigh, dragging his hand down his face. āYou love him? Do you have a history with him? Is that why youāre asking me to let him die?ā He used his hands to emphasize the question.
Abby stepped towards him again. This time, he didnāt back away. She brushed a curl off his forehead. Looked him in the eyes. āI do love him, as a friend. I think⦠I think my sister might be in love with him. We have no history worth mentioning, I promise. Just friends. Iām not asking you to trust him. Iām asking you to trust me. Do you trust me?ā
He leaned forward. His hand caressing the side of her cheek. She melted a little, even though she shouldnāt have. She had a point to prove. She lost her train of thought when he kissed her softly. She looked into his eyes and said as sincerely as she could manage, āI would never ask you to do something I wouldnāt or couldnāt do. I trust him. I trust this. Iām sure that Joe isnāt the circle member you think he is.ā
He listened, playing a string frayed off the neck of her sweatshirt. āHow are you so confident? Might I ask?ā
āCan you keep a secret?ā He rolled his eyes and smirked. āNo, Abby. I canāt. Iām a secret agent who cannot keep a secret.ā She grabbed his hand, dragging him down the halls.
She walked down the hall of history to her sisterās office. She knew that Rachel always kept it locked, which is why Abby had the second keyājust this weekāso that Abby could help out while Rachel sat with Joe. She opened the door, flipped on the light, and pulled Townsend inside. She sat on the leather couch and pulled Matthewās journal into her lap. He sat gingerly beside her.
āIs that?ā Pointing at the book.
āYes. You can read it, but Iām begging you to return it to me and not to tell anyone that I showed you this.ā
āItās Matthewās, yes?ā
āMmhmm.ā Was all that she could choke out. āEdward. I wonāt beg you to not turn Joe in, I truly think youāll look at him differently. I am begging you though that you donāt look at me differently?ā
Townsend sighed, āIf I do see things differently?ā
āIāā¦Abby almost didnāt want to imagine it. āI donāt know. I would have a really hard time. My family is already a mess. Theyāve gone through enough. Iāveā¦.. Iāve done enough damage.ā
Edwards blue eyes pierced through her soul. āWhat do you mean?ā
āIām the last person he was supposed to see.ā
He started to tell her something, but she refused to hear it. She stood and ushered them out of the office. He went to take her hand, but she wouldnāt let him. She walked away before she could cry.
She found herself in the passageway leading to Joeās room. She could hear the machines beeping, and as she rounded the corner, she saw her sister on a chair next to Joe. She was wide awake.
āYou coming to visit him or me?ā She asked quietly. As if it would wake him. Abby would love to get into a screaming match loud enough to wake Joe.
āUmmm. Him.ā
āWere you with Agent Townsend earlier? I thought heād left.ā Rachel sounded cool, but Abby knew better. Her sister was holding a bit of a grudge over Joeās arrest.
āYes. Heās working on some paperwork for MI6.ā
Rachel sighed, looking at Joe. āWe are so lucky that this was off the books. He doesnāt strike me as the type to leave anything out if it were. Maybe he wonāt have to include anything about Joe? Just looking for the journals?ā
Abby sat momentarily stunned. This wasnāt off the books. Not in the least. Why did Rachel think that it was? āIt was off the books?ā
Rachel looked at her. āThatās what Agent Townsend reported to me. Is that not your understanding? Agent Townsend is certainly smart enough to know that we would hide him if Joe was going to be turned in.ā
Abby hated lying to Rachel and very rarely did so, but this felt like the right thing to do. āNo, I was under the impression it was off-book, and Edward wouldnāt do that.ā She hoped she was correct with the last part. As principled as he was, maybe he would, if he considered it the āright thingā.
Abby would reconsider in the morning. She left Rachel with Joe, told her to get some sleep, and headed to bed herself.
~~~~~~~~~~~
It was early. Too early for Abby to be awake. She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. She needed to talk with Townsend. She dressed and walked to the room he was in. She knocked on the door. Nothing. She knocked again. Nothing. She opened the door and found the room to be empty. He really was a coward. No sight of Mattās journals. She would physically kill him if he took those to MI6.
She started towards Rachelās office, ready to come clean when she spotted him. Crouched next to Rachelās door, ever so carefully sliding Mattās journals under it.
āI thought I told you that you could return those to me,ā her patience all but gone.
He didnāt seem surprised to see her there. He rose slowly and walked towards her. Abby liked to consider herself the time of woman who was hard to surprise, but he seemed to be a frequent exception. He wrapped his big arms around her shoulders in what could only be described as a hug. Agent Edward Townsend was attempting a hug. He pressed his lips to her forehead and told her in a hushed tone, āAbby, Iām sure you wonāt believe me, but in my professional and personal opinion, you have no responsibility in Matthew Morganās disappearance.ā Abby felt the wind leave her. Every thought went quiet as she tried to restrain herself from crying. He clearly didnāt understand the full picture.
She distracted herself by landing on one singular thought: āYou were leaving without saying goodbye again. Werenāt you?ā
He released her from their hug, picking up his backpack and leaning against the wall under the Cavanās sword. He gazed at it for so long that she started to wonder if she had spoken the words aloud.
āEdward?ā
āI heard you. I wasnāt sure if youād want to see me.ā He was still looking at that stupid sword. āI always thought it was Solomon who killed your brother-in-law. They normally arenāt above that sort of thing.ā
Abby felt a cold, hard sense of dread creeping up her spine. āDid you finish your report?ā
āYes. I did.ā Were his only words in reply.
āWhy did you tell Rachel this was off the books?ā Abby had to know.
āTo buy as much time as possible, to sort things out. MI6 I can handle. The wrath of your sister? No, thank you.ā
Abby ventured, āYou did sort things out? Are you going to turn Joe in?ā
āNo. Joe Solomon clearly enjoys the Circle of Cavan as much as I do. I had genuinely thought that if he were capable of killing Agent Morgan than he was a danger to anyone. Your brother-in-law however convinced me that Joseph Solomon is not a danger to anyone but himself.ā
Abby breathed out a sigh of relief. āThank goodness Matt wrote everything down then. Who knew itād be Joeās literal get out of jail free card. Thank you for hearing me outā¦Iā¦.Why would I not want to see you then?ā
He laughed without much humor. āYou know, love, you arenāt one for sticking around after any sense of emotional vulnerability.ā
She decided to let the comment slide for the time being, considering it held some truth.
āSo youāre leaving then?ā she asked.
āYes. Off to explain how Iām late on a report for the first time in 11 years. They arenāt too pleased with me at the moment.ā He looked at his shoes.
āIām sorry. I donāt want you to be in trouble. I seem to get you into trouble a lot. At least Iām worth it.ā She said with a wink.
He smirked at her. āYou do. It certainly livens up my jobsā¦. Admittedly, yes. Thatās probably true.ā
Maybe he wasnāt as big of a coward as she gave him credit for. He turned without another word, headed down the hall of history. He called over his shoulder, āDo be smart, love.
~~~~~~~~~~
Uhhhh. I feel deep in my soul that Townsend is jaded from Catherine and worried about how convincing Abigail Cameron can beā¦ā¦ maybe thatās part of the reason these two take forever??
Genuinely screamed when I saw this
You wanna know what's my roman empire?
My roman empire is that Matt knew about Zach.
Matthew Morgan knew about Zachary Goode and what that boy meant to Joseph Solomon.
In OSOT Joe says that Matt knew Joe was emotionally too attached to the circle and while he said that he glanced at Zach. Like what did Matt think of Zach? Did he view him as his best friend's son or his enemy's? Did he know that one day Joe would make Zach and Cam meet? Would he have trusted Zach to love his daughter?
YESS. About to jump on this train. SUCH a Roman Empire. Idk why but this is how I have it in my head. The son Vs enemy line? Ooooph. Going to be thinking on that one. UGH THAT HE KNEW HOW MUCH JOE LOVED THE KID?!? Come on.
So unbelievably convinced that Matthew Morgan met Zach at some point. Come on Matt basically seeing this poor kid like the same age as his daughter? Matthew Morgan being kind of taking by this little guy who reminds him of Joe?
I think that Zach would have to be young enough not to remember, and it wouldnāt be super crazy impactful but enough to think to himself āwho was that guy that Joe intruded me to? The one that snuck me candy and asked if I wanted to play a game of hide and seek in that one safe house?ā
Haha that one day long into the future Zach will say something to Cammie (in front of Joe) like āI wish I had met your dadā and Joe being like āUm. You did meet him. Remember? I mean you were a skeptical little guy. It took you a minute to warm up but you pretty quickly ditched me and followed him around for a weekend. You werenāt a very loyal 3 year-old.ā
Joe just genuinely never thought to tell them about because 1. They were technically working soā¦need to know. 2. Joe might be a super spy but heās a man. He just plain never thought to share lol
adding to this to say that my Matthew Morgan-loving heart says that he gave Zach some sweets because āJoe says your mom doesnāt give you any candyā and one thing about Matthew Morgan is that he WILL give a child candy when theyāre not supposed to have it.
and thatās why he loves peanut m&mās too
Ahhhh. What in the world hahah. I LOVE. Itās unanimous. Matthew Morgan bribes children with sugar and they love him for it. Hahah
1000%. Aināt no way Zachās love for M&Mās is a coincidence
Recently I've found myself wondering about Townsend. Like what was he thinking or how was he feeling?
Looking at the woman he hates, his son's mother. Looking at his son who looks like him but has the eyes of that terrible woman. Looking at his son whom he doesn't even know. Looking at his son who is already an adult. Standing inside the house where that horrible woman should've raised his son but where his son ended up raising himself. Standing inside the house where his son had been afraid and alone while he had been totally ignorant of his son's existence.
āWhere did you go? When you were looking for me?ā
CRAZY š£ļø I WENT CRAZY š£ļø
December Prompts
23) Ursa Major - Abby x Townsend
Half a decade before the events of LYKY, Abby and Townsend are completing a mission in Dubai over Christmas with Abe Baxter in tow. (4,527)
thinking about insanely perfect the speak now album is for the gallagher girlsā¦
December Prompts
1) Warm Tequila - Abby x Townsend
Set about 5 years after the events of UWS, Abby and Townsend explore the Christmas markets in London.
Matthew Morgan
the ally carter literary universe should be a bigger deal
My favourite ship dynamic is weirdass ginger x guy whos so English hes practically made of tea
Everyone likes to talk about enemies to lovers this, enemies to lovers that, which, valid, but like, the emotional turmoil ofĀ lovers to enemies? The pain ofĀ facing off against someone you once trusted turning into resentment, the intimateĀ understanding you had becoming a lethal weapon āĀ especially when it would just be so easy to fall back on these lingering feelings? Chefās kiss.
The Gallagher Academy in the fall ą¼Ė°.š.ą³ąæ*:d
Do you think Zach was with Cammie the whole night watching her after she almost jumped off the roof in OSOT?
I really don't know.
I think the events of that night were probably very traumatic for anyone who knew Cammie, not to mention Cammie herself. And while Zach is definitely one of those people, and he was probably shaken from what almost happened and worried about Cam, I think if there's anyone who wouldn't let their eyes off Cam for the rest of the night, it'd be Rachel. That's her baby, and you best believe Rachel Morgan would use her combined super-mom and super-spy powers to make sure Cammie was safe.
I also think a close second would be Joe. He came way too close to losing another Morgan that night.
Edit: Also. While I think Zach loves Cammie and always wants to keep her safe, he's not one to pull an Edward Cullen and just stare at her while she sleeps lol.
Matthew Morgan aka Nebraska
Joe Solomon aka Wise Guy
Abigail Cameron aka Bombshell
Rachel Cameron aka Ace
Character mood boards inspired by Full Circle by @averagejoesolomon
we never got a gallagher girls tv adaptation because they knew the zammie edits would be too powerful
If Abby and Townsend didn't first get together with the cliche "Shut up." "Make me." then I don't know what to tell you, because they most certainly did.