🇺🇲🇺🇦 Jane/59/CT/Liberal/Straight/Kindness & love always/I don't care what color, religion, or sexual orientation you are. I care if you're a good person/Whatever pops into my mind or makes me happy/I reblog both fluff & smut, so please heed authors warnings. You are responsible for what you read.
Just a note to say that I don't want to steal from anyone. If you recognize the gif from RSDR that I'm using for my header as your creation, please let me know and I will remove or credit you depending on your wishes. Thanks
A/N: This one shot takes place in the same Universe as Wildest Dreams, and is the story of how they started their little arrangement!
Summary: Being forced to share a bed with the man who you had a hopeless crush on is awkward enough, but it’s even worse when he’s your boss… and he’s married
Word Count: 2.3k
Warning: Bit of Angst! Bit of Fluff! SMUT! 18+ ONLY! MINORS DNI! Language!
Dividers by @firefly-graphics
Masterlist
You let out a long and shaky breath, bracing your hands down against the cool marble counter trying to centre yourself. Glancing up at your reflection you could see how flushed you appeared, heat practically radiating off your skin despite the thin vest and shorts you wore.
Turning on the tap you let it run for a moment before splashing the cold water on your face and neck. Feeling relief almost immediately. Looking back at your reflection your eyes drifted to the closed door behind you. You had to go out there eventually, you couldn’t spend the night in this bathroom.
You never in a million years would have imagined yourself in this situation. Hiding in a hotel bathroom, your very attractive married boss on the other side of the door, waiting for you in the one bed. But you only had yourself to blame, all because of one split-second decision at the Christmas party a couple of months back.
Despite the copious amounts of alcohol you drank that night, you still remembered it painfully clear. You and Andy ended up striking up a conversation, which wasn’t unusual considering you were his PA, but the conversation never stopped. It carried on for hours, long past the time everyone else went home. The longer you spoke the deeper the conversation and the more skeletons were revealed like how Andy’s marriage was dead in the water.
Summary: You and Andy escape Newton to get some time along
Word Count: 5.9k
Warnings: Bit of Angst! Fluff! Cheating (Not on the reader)! SMUT! 18+ ONLY! Unprotected Sex (Wrap it before you tap it)! Slight Power Dynamic! Talk Of Divorce!
Dividers by @firefly-graphics
Masterlist
You never planned to work in Law, but you needed the money and there was an assistant position available. You had told yourself that it would only be until you found something you loved doing, your dream job.
However you didn’t expect to fall in love with your job. To fall in love with the one and only Assistant District Attorney, Andy Barber. He was something you loved doing though, so technically you didn’t break that rule.
So here you were sat in the courtroom watching as Andy perused the floor. Making his argument, winning over the jury as he dismantled the defence. Doing that little smirk whenever he managed to poke a hole in their story.
Pairing: Alpha!Ransom Drysdale x wife!Omega Reader (YNGDTTGA)
Words: ~1.7k
Summary: You need your Alpha
Warnings: MAJOR SPOILERS FOR YOU’LL NEVER GO DOWN TO THE GODS AGAIN, explicit language, explicit sexual content (unprotected vaginal sex, soft sex), mention of post-pregnancy symptoms, very soft protective Ransom with just a hint of soft!dark, anxiety, SMUT!!! 18+ ONLY!!!
A/N: Mentioned above but there are massive spoilers for the future of Ransom and bunny so if you want to read the story chronologically, skip this one!
I am no longer doing taglists so if you want to stay up to date on all the latest filth, follow my sideblog @the-iceni-library and turn on notifications!
You couldn’t stop pacing as you waited for your Alpha to come home, the frustration and anger you had felt through the bond all afternoon making it almost impossible for you to stay in your nest with your pup even though he had told you he wanted you to rest. But you couldn’t when you were constantly feeling that thread of agitation tugging at your hindbrain, knowing that he must have been especially upset if he wasn’t able to mask the bond.
He was close now, you could feel him, cooing and purring unconsciously to try to soothe yourself and your pup when you felt her stir against your chest as you kept rocking her gently. Hopefully he wouldn’t be angry at you for not letting the nanny take her when you left the nest, but the only thing that managed to keep you even slightly calm when he wasn’t there was feeling her tiny heartbeat fluttering against your chest. She was so precious and small and you didn’t trust anyone else to take care of her.
Then you heard the slam of a car door and keened when you felt his presence drawing nearer, kissing the top of your baby’s head and trying to take deep breaths while you braced yourself to greet your Alpha. As soon as the door opened and you saw him you started to feel better, the sight of his face relaxing when he set eyes on you making you preen as you shuffled to meet him.
“No, bunny, what are you doing out of the nest?” The stress of having to deal with fucking asshole congressmen all day disappeared immediately when he saw you, dropping his case and rushing to you when he heard you let out another distressed sound. “Where the fuck is the nanny? And your nurse? I’m gonna tear that fucking agency apart…”
“I was so worried, I could feel how angry you were.” You whimpered when he scooped your little girl into one arm while he wrapped the other around your waist, chirping when he scented your hair and running your hands over his chest. “Who made you so upset? My Alpha, I hate when you’re not here.”
“Oh god, bunny, I know, shh.” Ransom tried not to snarl openly when the nanny finally showed up and took the babe from him, crooning softly at you when you tried to reach out for her as he wrapped you in his arms and slid a hand to cradle the back of your neck. “She’s asleep, it’s okay. I’m done with this bill now, bunny, I won’t have to leave you again for a long time, I promise.”
“Ha-hate it, need you.” You gazed up at him with watery eyes as you let out a pathetic little hiccup, gripping the front of his shirt in your fists and rising on your tiptoes so you could scent his neck. “We both need you, don’t feel safe when you’re not here, my Alpha.”
“Bunny, baby, I’m here. I’d never let anything happen to you.” He let his chest rumble against yours when he heard you whimper, kissing the crown of your head and trying to send soothing reassurance through the bond. “Do you want me to hire more security, bun? I’ll do whatever you want.”
“I just want you.” You trilled when his fingers brushed over your mark, kissing the hollow of his throat and winding your arms around him while you tried your best to crawl into his skin. “You’re the only one who can protect us, only one I trust. Our nest is so empty when you’re not here.”
“I know, sweet bunny, I’m sorry.” Ransom chuffed when he finally felt you starting to relax, rubbing his cheek against your temple and holding the nape of your neck before tilting your face up as he kept trying to calm you. “My Omega.”
His fingers pressed on your gland and you melted instantly, sighing when he lifted you off the ground and started to carry you towards your bedroom. When he scruffed you like this it made you feel like you were floating, purring as you nuzzled at his chest and squeezed your thighs together when slick started leaking out of you.
Ransom really did hate leaving you, even before he’d finally managed to breed you. You were so sensitive and soft and ever since you had the baby you were even more prone to anxiety, the scandal that surrounded your wedding and all the court hearings leading you to withdraw even more until you refused to leave the house unless it was absolutely necessary. He did love that, though, knowing that you were protected and that none of those fucking activists could try to make a mascot out of you. You were his, he never wanted anyone else to touch you ever again.
“Alpha…” your voice was low and sultry and full of need when he finally laid you down in your nest, the combined scent of both of you along with his weight on top of you making you feel safe and sated, your limbs curling around him once he finally slid out of his clothes and started pressing his lips to your skin.
“Tell me what you need, Omega.” He kissed the insides of your wrists softly and purred when you chirped for him, rubbing his nose up your arm until he could bury his face in your throat and inhale your scent, his nostrils flaring when even more slick poured out of you and stained your sheets. “My ‘Mega, lemme take care of you. Are you swollen at all, bunny? When was the last time she ate?”
“‘M okay, oh!” You gasped when he unbuttoned the front of your nightgown and cupped your breasts as he kept chuffing into your hair, your tongue sliding across your bottom lip as you writhed underneath him. “She ate just a few hours ago… please, I need your knot, Alpha, always feel better when you’re inside me, my Alpha.”
“Omegamine, shhhhhhh.” Ransom crooned against your cheek as he rolled you onto your side, settling behind you and running his hands over your shoulders as he pressed his lips to the mark of your bond while you melted into him. “My good girl, so sweet for me, so warm.”
The feeling of your soft cunt stretching to take him as he slid inside you almost made him lose it, his lips increasing their pressure on your gland as you arched your back and let your body sink into him. He was still so tender with you, though, gently cradling your chin in one hand while the other held your waist as he slowly rocked his hips into you.
Every soothing sound he made against your skin was like a balm for your heart, the waves of affection and love and calm he was sending through the bond making warmth bloom in your chest. You never felt more content than when you were full of him, cooing and whimpering every time his hips met yours as you leaned your cheek in his palm.
Ransom groaned when he felt your cunt start to clench around him in waves, the arm around your waist pulling you closer as his lips trailed over the back of your neck. He let you press your body back into his as he kept slowly moving, knowing how much better you felt when as much of your skin as possible was touching his.
“My good girl, letting me take care of you, giving you what you need, my ‘mega.” His teeth scraped over your mark and you let out a long whine, gushing all over his cock and letting your eyes flutter closed as you lost yourself in him. “You feel better, bunny? I know you do, know how to take care of my ‘mega, what this sweet body needs. Tell me how it feels, bunny.”
“Alpha, it’s so good, so full.” You were floating at this point, nothing in your brain but your Alpha and his cock and the way he held you so gently and made you feel loved. “Don’t stop, don’t leave me.”
“Never, I’ll never leave you, bunny.” He felt tears starting to leak down your cheeks and rumbled to soothe you, sucking on your gland and waiting until he felt pure bliss starting to seep through the bond before he sank his teeth into your mark.
Your entire body vibrated as you fell apart with a choked off wail, your pussy fluttering wildly and milking Ransom’s cock while you deepened the arch in your back and begged him for more. He knew what the change in your breathing meant, what you wanted when you made that soft breathy whine. Ransom rolled you onto your stomach as he kept his body pressed close to yours, driving into you slow and deep and keeping his teeth sunk into your mark as he grew closer to his own pleasure.
The only warning you had was a soft grunt he let out into your skin before his knot swelled and his cum started spurting into your swollen cunt, sinking into the bed with a moan when he locked inside you even as his hips kept rolling against your ass. You purred when he wound his fingers through yours once he was finished, turning your head so he could nuzzle at your cheek while he breathed heavily.
“My bunny, is that better?” He kissed your temple and smiled softly when you nodded, rolling you back onto your sides as his knot started to go down but he kept himself buried in your soft heat. “Do you need food? Water? I know you have trouble eating when you’re worried, bunny.”
“Mm, I am hungry, Alpha.” You sighed when he pulled out of you, letting him grab a warm cloth to clean between your legs before he helped you pull your nightgown back on and tucked you under the blankets. “I want her back, Alpha, please?”
“Of course, bunny, whatever you need.” Ransom kissed you softly before pulling on a pair of sweats and heading towards the kitchen, he was going to have to call Rogers about keeping the fucking lobbyists off his back until it was time for the vote, there was no way he was leaving you again until he knew the fucking staff he hired to take care of you could do their fucking jobs.
Summary: You are planning to cancel you're gym membership but then you meet Ari
WC: 1.6K
A/N: This is for Navy & Roo's @the-slumberparty this was from a generator or prompt list before the challenge actually started. My prompt was Active.
That's it you were done. All the new year, new you nonsense was over.
You used to spend so much time setting resolutions, unrealistic ones at that, not meeting them and then beating yourself up about it. But you were different now. Thanks to all the work you'd been doing on yourself, mentally and emotionally, you were in a much better place. You were learning to love the body you were in and you wanted to take better care of it. No you didn’t have any weight loss goals. What you wanted was to move your body in ways that felt good. To build up your strength and endurance. You wanted to be stronger and you couldn’t do that if you were feeling self conscious in a gym full of people.
Once you realized it was the gym itself that made you nervous you found alternative ways to work out. You’d started working out at home with short YouTube videos and were going on lots of walks and even a couple short hikes. Who needs those fancy confusing machines? Not you. Which is why it was time to cancel this membership. To be honest you signed up online last year and never even stepped foot in the place. It was an unnecessary expense, but not anymore!
Unfortunately they wouldn’t let you cancel online so you are here to do it in person. Maybe as a treat you’ll go out nice for dinner. After all, you'll have an extra $35 bucks a month in your pocket once you got this sorted.
Going up to the door you're almost knocked over by some gym bro rushing out. Yuck . This is exactly why you are leaving too much testosterone.
As you enter you take in the place there is pop music playing over the speakers. Lots of cardio machines and weight machines and of course free weights. But there's something about this place that's different. You expected to see an endless sea of muscle tees and hear lots of grunting from John Cena looking guys. Or smaller guys who imagined they could look like John Cena if they tried hard enough. But today in this gym there were a lot of women. A curious number in fact since there was a women's only gym on the other side of town. At least you thought there was.
Huh, maybe it closed. Shrugging to yourself you start to make your way to the front desk.
On your way you pass what you assume to be the smoothie bar. Behind which a handsome dark skin man with bright eyes and an easy smile is making drinks for about 5 different women. Huh, maybe you’ll grab something on the way out.
You’re waiting at the front desk for someone to help you. You would go ask smoothie guy but he’s clearly preoccupied…
“Hi, can I help you?”
Turning around every thought you had drifts out of your head as you lock eyes with what could only be a beautiful figment of your imagination. 6’2” maybe 6’3” shaggy brown hair and a thick beard. You’ve never really been into beards before but he might change that.
“Are you alright? Can I help you with something?”
Ok so you didn’t cancel your membership. In fact you had signed up for personal training sessions. You didn’t plan on it but you and Ari got to talking; he was so kind and patient when you told him about your concerns. How you weren’t sure how to use the machines and didn’t know which workouts to do. You couldn’t believe you were being so bold and honest with him, but you’re glad you were.
After you confessed everything to him he offered you 3 complimentary personal training sessions with him. Since you didn’t like the crowds he offered to meet you later in the evening after the post work rush. On your first session with him Ari took you through every machine in the gym and taught you how to use them. He’s been nothing but kind, encouraging and supportive ever since you met.
“Great work!” Ari said as you finished your last rep.
You’ve been working with Ari for about 2 months now, doing 1 private session a week and coming another 3 times on your own. Working out was officially a part of your regular routine, and you were in the best shape of your life! You could feel yourself getting stronger and your confidence was obviously growing.
Private sessions or not, Ari always seemed to find you. You had a sneaking suspicion he was going out of his way to talk to you. In fact this session tonight was an extra. Usually you meet with him on Mondays but he said he had a cancellation and offered you a Friday slot as well.
“You did amazing today!” Ari said before wrapping you up in one of his big bear hugs and spinning you around.
“Me? I couldn’t have done any of this without your help”
“No, no way I just guided you a bit here and there you’re the one who put in all the hard work.”
Ari was always saying things like that, how strong you are, how dedicated, how beautiful. If it was anyone else you’d think they were sucking up so you would keep coming back, but Ari? He was being nothing but sincere.
He’s still holding onto you, your arms are wrapped around each other, and he's looking down at you with his beautiful blue eyes, and he’s so tall you have to tilt back your head so you can meet his intense gaze. The moment is heavy and you start to think that maybe…
There's a loud bang in the gym, probably someone dropping the squat rack on the ground too hard. But the sound breaks the tension. Ari clears his throat and takes a rather large step away from you. “
Seriously great work today, why don’t you head home, I can clean up here.” He says as he starts to wipe down the equipment you were using.
“Ohh um sure, I’ll head out then. I’ll see you next week?”
“Yeah definitely!”
As soon as you turn off and head to the locker room Ari is kicking himself. Christ, there goes yet another opportunity to ask you out and he botched it..again! The guys keep bothering him about it, apparently the entire gym staff knows he’s harboring the world's biggest crush on you. And all the extra pressure from his staff is not helping his nerves.
Ari has never in his life had a hard time talking to women but something about you, he gets so tongue tied and nervous it’s not like him at all. A minute ago when the two of you were standing there wrapped in each other's arms, God it felt so good to hold you like that it took all his strength not to lean down and kiss you. But then he chickened out of course. Ughh he’s got to think of a plan. Maybe it would be easier if he just texted you…? No he’d rather do it in person, like a gentleman, he just didn’t know what he was going to say.
Ari’s at the front desk with Sam, one of the other trainers. The gym is usually slow on Friday nights so the two of them just have to wait for the few stragglers that are here to finish their workouts and then they’ll head home.
He thought you might have left already but you stroll up to the desk looking absolutely lovely in a different outfit than when you came in.
“Hi” You say smiling at him “Hey Sam” You acknowledge the man next to him.
Sam gives a quick “Hey” back before giving Ari a gentle nudge and heading to the other side of the desk so he can look busy with paperwork while still eavesdropping.
“Hi, did you need something before you go?”
“No, actually I wanted to ask you something,” You take a deep breath before verbalizing the question that’s been burning on your tongue for weeks, “Would you like to go out with me sometime?”
For a split second Ari is convinced he heard you wrong. For a moment he’s convinced this is one of his many fantasies about you, but he quickly recovers and gives the only logical answer.
“Yes, yes I would love to go out with you.” His smile is so wide it almost hurts, and you have an equally wide grin across your face. You try to reign it in just a little bit. Right now you have the overwhelming urge to squeal and jump around but you’re pretty sure that might make Ari change his mind.
Calming your inner turmoil you look to him and say “Great well, I don’t know if you’re free this weekend at all but...”
“Actually he’s free right now” Sam interrupts.
“You sure man?”
“Yeah, I’m sure, we close in an hour anyway, you two go out and have a good time” Sam waves the two of you off.”
“OK it looks like I’m free now” Ari says with a chuckle. “If that works for you?”
“Yes, that definitely works!”
“Ok, there's a really good Mexican place right up the street. We could walk there if you want?”
“Mexican sounds perfect.”
“Ok then, after you.” He says as he gestures for you to lead the way. You head towards the door figuring he’ll catch up. Ari steps around to the front of the desk wrapping his knuckles on it before whispering a quick “thank you” to Sam. With his long legs he catches up to you quickly and by the time you make it out the front door the two of you are holding hands as you leisurely stroll to your destination.
Thanks so much for reading!! Don't forget to leave a comment and let me know what you think.
A/N: I'm not crying. I'm not. There were absolutely NO TEARS shed while writing this. NONE. There is NO sarcasm in this authors note. NONE. 🙃
ANYWAY
THANK YOU GUYS FOR 10K!!! Here's a little 'where are they now' drabble. There will be more to come :)
W/C: 2.5k
Italian and Italian translation in italics. (i did not run my translations by anyone this time, sorry) likes, reblogs, and feedback ALWAYS appreciated! ❤
series masterlist
time-for-a-lullaby masterlist
“Sei la donna più bella che abbia mai visto.” (You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.)
You rolled your eyes as Chris’s arms slid around your waist, pulling you back against his chest. His lips found the crook of your neck, placing a gentle kiss on your skin. Even after all of these years, his affection and love for you had never faltered. Every chance he got, his hands or lips were on you. Or his mouth was inches away from your ear, whispering his love for you and your family as if you could ever forget just what you meant to him.
You stopped icing the cake on the counter, turning into his embrace and wrapping your arms around his neck. The same cologne he’d been wearing since your wedding night wafted through the air, making you smile. Sandalwood and citrus. Your favorite. “Lo dici a tutte le tue mogli,” (You say that to all of your wives.) You teased.
“Ah, yes. But I mean it when I say it to you,” He winked, moving out of your grasp when you reached down to pinch his side.
“You’re so full of shit,” you laughed, turning back to the cake on the counter. The icing was a beautiful pale pink, matching the rest of the party decor around the villa. You’d offered to make a trip to the bakery down the road, but Rina insisted on having you make it, stating that it wasn’t a birthday unless the cake was made by you.
You loved that your girls appreciated your baking as much as you loved doing it. Over the years, it became something that the family did together for nearly every ‘milestone’. Every birthday, every anniversary, every aced test, the whole family gathered in the kitchen, following the recipe in one of your handwritten recipe books while you laughed and celebrated the occasion.
Now that the girls were out on their own, it was something you missed.
Though you wouldn’t admit it to either of them, you were dreading the possibility that they wouldn’t ask for things like this anymore, that time hadn’t come. So you were enjoying it while you could.
Chris swiped his finger against the inside of the icing bowl, bringing it to his mouth for a taste test. He groaned, “Mio dio, cara. I don’t know how you do it.” (My god, dear/darling)
You grinned, swatting his hand as he went back for a second taste. “Lots of time and patience. Something you know little about.”
He let out a laugh, easing the icing spatula from your hand and setting it on the counter. Chris snagged your hand, spinning you into his arms. “I love you, cara.”
You smiled sweetly, lifting your thumb to swipe away the tiny bit of pink icing on the corner of his mouth. “I love you, too. But I have to finish this cake before Rina gets here.”
“The cake can wait,” he insisted, bringing his hands up to cup your cheeks. His thumb ghosted over your cheekbone, blues eyes shimmering with nothing but the purest form of love. Your mind flashed back to the conversation you’d had with your old housekeeper, Gina. How at one point in time, the blue in Chris’s eyes resembled something cold and icy. He was closed off to the world and to those closest to him.
But now, whenever his gaze found yours, you saw nothing but love. The cold and ice melted into an endless sea of blue, free and warm, swimming with an unbridled love for his family and those he could trust.
When Gina told you that it was because of you, it didn’t feel right taking credit for such a change. But now, you knew. Chris’s world was nothing but death and betrayal.
He needed someone to come along and prove to him that there was so much more to life than the cruel one he’d been living. And that’s exactly what you did. Proving to yourself just as much as him that your life together was something meaningful and vastly different from the one that you lived before marriage.
“Did I ever tell you what I whispered to you that night on the ferris wheel?”
Your brows furrowed, trying to recall what he had said. Your Italian has obviously improved greatly since then, but it was so long ago and the words were so foreign to you at the time, you weren’t sure how to hold onto them until you could properly translate them. “No, I don’t think you did.”
The corner of his mouth turned up into a small smile, his hands still framing your face with a delicate touch. “Da questo bacio in poi, fino al mio ultimo respiro, sarò tuo.” (From this kiss on, until my last breath, I will be yours)
You took a shaky breath, your eyes immediately filling with tears.
“I knew that night I was falling in love with you.”
“Chris–” you choked out, your bottom lip quivering as you fought to form something coherent enough to say out loud.
“Thank you for giving me a life of love and happiness.”
Before your mind could catch up with all of the emotions currently swirling around inside of it, Chris’s lips were pressed against yours. You melted into him, circling your arms around his middle to keep him as close as possible.
He could thank you all he wanted, but he’d done just as much as you to fill your life with an abundance of love and laughter.
Chris’s lips moved against yours, soft and slow like he was committing this moment to memory.
You were so lost in the man you loved, neither of you heard the front door open.
“Ick!”
You rolled your eyes, pulling away from Chris as your daughter pretended to gag.
“You guys are disgusting.”
Turning to look at Rina, you smiled at the love in her eyes. She might say that you and Chris were gross, but she loved seeing her parents still so infatuated with each other.
She made her way into the kitchen, dropping a few grocery bags onto the counter before walking over to where you stood to kiss your cheek. “Hi, mamma.” At 24, Carina and Mariella had both taken after their father when it came to height. Both of them towered over you, standing only a couple of inches shorter than Chris. It was infuriating.
Though, it proved useful for Ella when she decided to take up modeling.
Chris scoffed, his hands slapping against his sides. “Che cosa sono?” (What am I?) He mumbled under his breath.
Carina laughed, turning to Chris and stretching up to kiss his cheek. “Hello, papa.”
He waved her off with a grin, but not before kissing her temple. “Dov'è mia nipotina?” (Where’s my granddaughter?)
A tiny voice spoke up from the foyer, following the sound of her tiny dress shoes as she ran through the villa to get to the kitchen. “Sono qui, nonno!” (I’m here, grandpa!)
Chris grinned at the sound of your granddaughter’s voice, the corners of his eyes crinkling. He had aged like fine wine, his brunette hair almost completely faded to grey at this point and you’d loved every single second of watching him transform into a silver fox. He was as handsome as ever, even more so with his sights on the little girl that truly owned his heart.
Carina’s husband, Leo, escorted Luna into the kitchen, her little legs working overtime to get to Chris. Those two were the best of friends, basically inseparable when they were together.
He offered a quick hug to your son-in-law before bending over to scoop Luna into his arms. “Ciao angioletto mio.” (Hello, my angel.)
“Ciao, nonno!” (Hello, grandpa.)
Your heart swelled as Chris pinched her cheek. “Her Italian is so good!”
Rina nodded, smiling softly at her soon-to-be three-year-old daughter wrapped in Chris’s arms. “I know, she’s been doing so well.”
Just like you and Chris had raised the twins, Leo and Rina were raising their children to speak both Italian and English and Luna was doing so well to the point of only really wanting to speak Italian.
“The cake looks so good, mamma. Thank you for doing it.” She nodded at the abandoned two-tiered cake on the counter.
You clasped your hands together. “Oh, right. Just a few final touches and then I’ll put it in the fridge until we’re ready.”
“You do that, I’m gonna go pee. Again,” She rolled her eyes, her hands going to her belly. Rina was around seventeen weeks pregnant and just starting to show. “This child has made it his personal mission to bounce on my bladder every twenty minutes.”
You smiled, remembering all too well what it felt like to have two of them taking turns bouncing around inside of you. Sometimes memories like that felt so distant and foggy around the edges, other times they were crystal clear like a high-definition movie playing through your mind. It was hard to accept the fact that life had really flown by, but there wasn’t a single thing you’d do differently.
All of the highs and lows you went through brought you right here, to this beautiful afternoon in Venice where you would soon celebrate your grandaughter’s third birthday surrounded by the people you loved most in this world.
In just a few hours, your villa would be filled with friends and family. Laughter and loud voices would carry through the halls, there would be music and exaggerated stories of the men and everything they accomplished “in their prime”.
Before Chris decided to leave Boston and the mafia behind him, you cowered away from chaos because it usually meant blood, guns, or some law enforcement agency. Now, it meant laughing children spilling food and drink onto the floor and people trying to talk over the noise. It meant that your family would be in one place for the first time since Chris’s birthday in June.
You craved the chaos these days instead of the way your footsteps echoed through an empty house.
Blinking back the happy tears, you looked up from the cake and waited for someone to emerge from the foyer after the door opened and closed.
After a few seconds, Ella and her girlfriend, Simone, walked in hand-in-hand, their smiles so wide it hurt your cheeks to even look at them. You grinned, abandoning the pink cake once again to make your way over, wrapping your arms around both of their shoulders.
“Oh, how I’ve missed you two.”
They returned your embrace, Ella squeezing extra tight. You were always careful to only speak English with Simone around, not wanting her to feel left out. Ella was teaching her some Italian phrases, but you knew firsthand that it could be a tricky language to pick up.
“I missed you, mamma.”
Just hearing those words coming from your daughters always warmed your chest. No matter how old they got, they always missed their mamma.
“Did I hear the door?” Chris walked back into the room with Luna still perched on his hip. You looked over as a smile spread across his face. “Hi, you two.” He made his way over to wrap them in a hug as you returned to your place by the cake in the kitchen, determined to finish before another interruption pulled you away.
Ella, like you knew she would, immediately stole Luna from Chris and wrapped her in a bear hug. “Luna-Bug! You’re so big, bambina!” (baby.)
It was so rare to have everyone in the same house at once.
Rina and Leo had moved out of Venice to a smaller providence to be closer to his job, and Ella and Simone bounced back and forth between France, the States, and your guesthouse. Lydia and Sebastian still lived in Boston, along with their daughters. All of Chris’s siblings still lived here in Venice, but all had their own families to tend to.
But soon, everyone would be here under one roof and you couldn’t wait.
Ella placed Luna back into Chris’s arms, reaching down to thread her fingers with Simone’s again. Your eyes narrowed on the small flash of gold on Simone’s tan finger. Looking back up at them, they read the questions in your eyes with amused looks.
The two of them had been together for almost three years now, you’d been waiting for the engagement announcement ever since you’d given Ella your own ring to propose with earlier in the year. After a few seconds of silence, you raised your eyebrows at your daughter and her girlfriend.
Simone giggled and released Ella’s hand, raising her left one to show off the ring that once sat on your finger. It was gorgeous on her. There was no holding back the tears this time.
They streamed down your face as you pulled them into a hug, unable to stop the squeal that burst from your lips. Chris chuckled, the arm that wasn’t holding Luna wrapped around the three of you. “Congratulations, you guys,” he said, squeezing once before letting go as Rina entered the room with Leo.
“What’s happ-” She paused, her eyes widening. “You did it?!” She screamed, doing a little happy dance before walking over and joining in the group hug.
“I’m sorry to announce it now, I know it’s Luna’s birthday. I just didn’t know when we’d all be together again,” Ella apologized, mumbling into Rina’s shoulder as you all hugged.
Rina shushed her. “Don’t you dare apologize! She has no idea what’s going on and you’re getting married!” She emphasized the last three words with a squeal similar to yours.
Your daughters laughed and after a moment, a silence fell over the room, only interrupted by sniffling noses and Luna whispering to Chris and asking him what was happening.
“I’m so happy for you all,” You whispered, the emotion building in your throat making it impossible to talk any louder.
You pulled away, swiping at the tears on your cheeks before framing Rina’s face. “You, the best mamma I have met. Luna and little Matteo are so lucky to have you.”
She smiled, her own eyes reflecting the emotion in yours. “Thank you, mamma.”
“And you two.” You turned, placing your left hand on Ella’s cheek and your right hand on Simone’s. “I can’t tell you how happy I am for you. I have never seen two people more suited for each other. You will live a life of so much love and happiness. I can’t wait to witness it.”
You backed away, attempting to blink away the tears as your family stood before you. It was so hard to think about the fact that one shitty man that dared to call himself your father and a deal to get you out of his house led to something so amazing.
If Sebastian hadn’t asked Chris to save you, you never would’ve fallen in love. You never would’ve experienced this kind of happiness. You wouldn’t have Carina or Mariella. You wouldn’t have Leo, Luna, or Simone. Or little Matteo on the way. You wouldn’t have this home.
One measly piece of paper that you used to daydream about ripping to shreds somehow re-arranged your life into something so beautiful and meaningful.
You exchanged a loving look with Chris, one that told you he had every intention of upholding his promise.
Until his last breath, he was yours and you were his.
I’m so glad I decided to reread this series. I never saw some of the last one shots. I’ve loved this much more the second time than the first. Thank you so much for writing this beautiful work.
gummygunk
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