I came across this photo by chance, and I immediately thought of the Carrick's cat, Pietro. I haven't been able to get this silly story out of my head, and finally got to write it down! I hope it brings some smiles!
Book: Open Heart (Post-Series)
Pairing: Tobias x Casey Carrick (F!MC)
Featuring: Pietro - (Original Cat)
Rating: Teen
Words: ~1,600
Summary: The Carricks are enjoying a cozy family morning when the doorbell rings and a scandal ensues. Will it be a cat-astrophe?
A/N: Regarding the photo, I thought it was funny that the adult cat on the right has a smug little expression (a la Tobias) and the other adult cat is blonde ( a la Casey!) 😂😂
After trying to finish this for over a week, I gave up on editing. So please forgive any blemishes. :)
It was a typical, lazy Saturday morning in the Carrick home. Tobias was cleaning up the remains of their pancake breakfast, while Casey finished her tea on the couch in the adjacent parlor. Her hand absentmindedly stroked her swollen belly as she watched little Samantha belt out what was sure to be a Grammy-winning performance of "I'm a Little Teapot" with her favorite teddy bear, Mr. Wiggly. It was the picture of domestic bliss - so peaceful, so idyllic - that no one could have imagined they'd be thrust into the center of an illicit paternity scandal by day's end. But as the doorbell rang… that was precisely what was about to happen.
Tobias entered the room, drying his hands on a dish towel. "Are you expecting someone?" he asked.
"Nope," Casey replied, already waddling toward the door with her six-month bump leading the way. "But I swear if it's a salesperson or someone trying to convert me, I'm going to let the hormones take control."
Tobias stifled a laugh as Sammy clung to his leg, then Casey opened the door to reveal a vaguely familiar middle-aged woman. Her greying curls were neatly tucked under a wide-brimmed hat that perfectly matched her jewel-toned paisley dress. When she spoke, it was clear that her energy was just as vibrant as her attire.
"Good Morning," she chirped, waltzing past Casey and into the foyer as if they were lifelong friends.
Bewildered, Casey took a step back. "Good morning. Uhm, can I help you?"
"Yes. As a matter of fact, you can," The woman said, placing a bedazzled magenta folder on a side table with a flourish. "My name is Ursula. I live two townhomes away, and I thought it was about time for us to become better acquainted. We are about to be family, after all.”
Casey arched a brow. "Uh – I'm sorry – but what?"
Tobias stepped to Casey's side as Ursula reached into the folder and pulled out a photo with dramatic flair. She handed it to Casey, and Tobias peered over her shoulder to find a peculiar-looking... sonogram?
Tobias looked at Casey anxiously, then tapped the photo in his hand. "What's this about?" he asked, his patience wearing thin.
"That’s Persephone!" Ursula proclaimed with pride. "Well, at least it's her sonogram. And those six adorable blobs are her little babies. She's due in just a matter of weeks now!"
Casey’s brow furrowed as she attempted to make sense of things. “Uh...congratulations?"
"Thank you!" Ursula beamed. "But the congratulations aren't all mine, they're yours, too. After all, we're all about to be grandparents!"
“Grandparents?” she asked, completely befuddled.
“Yes. Grandparents. After all, your Pietro is the father of Persephone’s kitties.”
"Pietro?" Casey blinked. "Our cat, Pietro?"
"Yes! Your handsome little Lothario knocked up my darling Persephone."
Casey turned toward the window ledge, where Pietro lay licking himself with all the nonchalance of a man who definitely wasn't concerned about the specter of impending fatherhood.
"Ma’am,” Casey said politely. “I’m afraid that’s impossible. Pietro is a house cat. He never goes outside – I mean – he doesn’t even like fresh air. There is no way he could have done... this... to Persephone.”
She waited for Ursula to retort, but the only sound in the room was that of Tobias nervously clearing his throat.
“Tobias?” Casey questioned, eyes narrowing.
“Okay,” he winced. “So, funny story. It’s possible – theoretically - that Pietro may have gotten out of the house one morning recently.”
“What?”
“I found him wandering in the yard before you and Sammy came back from her dance class. I never told you because I didn’t want to stress you out,” he added sheepishly. “That was the morning you had been crying because I picked up strawberry jam instead of raspberry preserves.”
“Well, that makes perfect sense,” Ursual interrupted. “Raspberry preserves are far superior! Persephone and I would never settle for strawberry jam!”
“Uh, yeah...” Tobias stammered - wondering if he had been transported to the Twilight Zone. “But as I was saying...Pietro made it back home safely. I thought no harm, no foul. I didn’t tell you because it’s my job to keep my pregnant wife happy, and I didn’t want to worry you over nothing.”
Casey rubbed her temples as a headache began to brew.
“He seemed fine afterwards, Case,” Tobias protested.
“Of course,” Ursula injected, unfazed by the domestic tension. “He was fine, he had his fun, but the same couldn’t be said for my beloved Persephone! In any case, obviously, I could never part with any of her precious little angels. So I will be keeping them. I’m sure we can agree on a fair settlement for kitten support. Wet food is preferred—organic, of course. And I only use Pretty Litter. We could work out regular visitation if your schedules allow.” She eyed Sammy, then Casey’s belly. “I mean, you do seem to have your hands full already.”
Tobias and Casey were slack-jawed. Too dumbfounded to address their neighbor’s apparent jab.
“Kitten support?” Casey groaned.
“Visitation?” Tobias added.
“Yes. I created spreadsheets, which you can find in the folder; however, we should consider creating a shared Google calendar instead. I’ve already created a birth plan with Persephone’s veterinarian – and it’s lovely! There will be soothing harp concertos playing during labor, and I think it would be best if Pietro remained at home. I don’t think his presence would bring any comfort to my girl.”
Casey sank onto the decorative bench that lined the wall – the one she had told Sammy was never to be sat on; it was just there to look pretty, but this – this was a special occasion.
As if on cue, the previously unbothered Pietro pounced onto the floor from his throne and walked to the center of the foyer with a detached air of indifference. He circled the spot where the sun beamed in through the decorative window above the door, and then he plopped on the floor with a big yawn.
“All right. Where are the hidden cameras?” Casey asked. “Is this some weird TikTok trend I’m not aware of? Something where we trick very pregnant ladies. Because this can’t be real.”
“Oh, I’m afraid it is, darling,” Ursula grinned. “While I understand having grandchildren the same age as your children might be difficult for you, I think with the right amount of therapy, we’ll all survive – no, flourish!”
“Oh, therapy is definitely needed,” Tobias agreed.
“Very well!” Ursula stated, placing the garish folder in Tobias’s hands. “I’m sure the two of you will need some time to look over the papers and discuss. We can talk again tomorrow. Ta-ta!”
Casey wasn’t wasting any time; she turned to Tobias – glaring. He looked over his shoulder, unable to fathom that look could be for him.
“What?” He said, a little defensive. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Why?” She said, rising to her feet. “Because this is your fault! Your son is apparently just...like..you.”
“Excuse me?” He squinted. “I don’t think I like what you’re implying.”
They both looked at Sammy, who was blissfully shoving crushed goldfish crackers into Mr. Wiggly’s mouth. Pietro was quick at her feet to lick the mess up. Casey stepped closer to Tobias, her voice low.
“Pietro escapes for twenty minutes – twenty minutes – and he knocks someone up!” Casey pointed to her own belly, and Tobias raised his hands.
“Hey! Our baby was planned,” he said, resting his hand on Casey’s bump. “I mean – at least this one was. And my feral tomcat days are ancient history.”
“Ah!” She said, triumphantly jabbing his chest. “But you admit you were a feral tomcat!”
He opened his mouth, closed it quickly, and smirked. “I think I’m going to plead the fifth.”
“Look,” he said, kissing Casey’s cheek. “You domesticated me, and maybe this is just what Pietro needs. I’ve seen Persephone, she’s a feisty little thing – and quite a beauty – just like you. I think she’ll make an honorable cat out of Pietro.”
“Mmhh,” Casey hummed. “Perhaps, but after this, you and Pietro are both getting fixed. The virility of the men in this family is nothing to be trifled with.”
“We can go to different doctors, though, right?” He asked nervously.
Casey had to laugh at the absurdity of it all. “I don’t know,” she shrugged. “You may want to talk to Ursula. She probably already has it scheduled as part of Persephone’s post-partum plan.”
~~~~~
A month later, the kittens were born - all six of them. And there was no denying they were Pietro’s. They looked just like him, down to the permanently unimpressed expressions fixed on their tiny faces.
Samantha was obsessed with them. Every morning, she’d pull the photo Tobias had taped to the fridge and point to a different cat, declaring. “I want that one!”
But Ursula held firm. “Samantha. They’re Persephone’s babies. They stay with Persephone.”
When Sammy pouted, Tobias decided to lean fully into the insane drama.
“Well,” he said. “I did have my lawyer, an official kitten support agreement. Pietro has not missed a payment, and if necessary, I’ll pursue legal visitation.”
“Absolutely not,” Casey said, turning around in horror. “We are not hosting six kittens in this house!”
Ursula exhaled a deep sigh. “Fine. Miss Sammy and Pietro can visit the kittens at my place once per week... as long as the visits are supervised.”
Tobias nodded as he sipped his coffee. “Fine. But Persephone is the one who will need supervision. I’ve been watching her – she can’t keep her paws off of Pietro. She finds him irresistible, and we don’t want to end up with more mouths to feed.”
“Tobias!” Casey scolded with a laugh. But he just winked.
This is adorable! Tobias willingly admits to be a former feral alley cat! I’m going to need a follow-up to this, because Sammy needs to get one of the kittens.
Back to @creativepromptsforwriting's 30-Day Challenge - Day 18 took me a little longer than anticipated. The prompt was "Use the title of the last song you listened to. "My last song was Ed Sheeran's Old Phone, which gave me the opportunity to get my angst on again - and I have to admit - I enjoyed it!
Book: Open Heart (post series)
Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x Kaycee MacClennan (F!MC)
Featuring: Tobias Carrick
Rating: Teen
Words: ~3,000 (sorry!)
Summary: While rummaging through a junk drawer, Ethan stumbles upon an old phone. He decides to charge it and take a trip down memory lane - but are some memories best left in the past?
Also participating in @choicesmonthlychallenge's May Mayhem - prompts: Regret and Confession
30-Day Challenge Masterlist | Full Masterlist
It was already dark when Ethan closed his office door, that time of day when even Edenbrook's hectic halls settled into a quiet hum. It had been a long day, and as he stepped into the elevator with his coat slung over his arm, he was relieved to leave it behind him. But just as the doors began to slide shut, a familiar voice shattered the peace.
“Ethan!”
A hand slid between the doors, forcing them open, and Dr. Tobias Carrick stepped in. Ethan sighed, not with disdain, but unmistakable annoyance. If Tobias noticed, he didn't care, as he leaned against the elevator wall with his usual swagger and a curious grin on his lips.
“Where have you been? I’ve been trying to catch you all day. I wanted to see how the date went last night.”
Ethan pressed the button for the ground floor, eager to end this conversation as quickly as he could. “It was fine,” he muttered, hoping that would suffice, even though he knew better.
“Fine?” Tobias replied with a raised brow. “That’s it?”
“Yes, it was - fine.”
Tobias shook his head. “Trina is beautiful. She’s smart, charming, she loves opera for Christ's sake. I would have gone for it myself,” he smirked, as if that result would have been a foregone conclusion, “but I hooked you up instead, because you're a perfect match, and the best you can do is... fine?”
“She’s lovely,” Ethan admitted, slipping on his coat. “But no.”
“No?” Tobias repeated. “You're really using your words today, big guy. Why, no?”
A moment of silence passed as Ethan thought of a dozen excuses he could offer, but Tobias had been his friend long enough to know when he was lying, so he decided to go with the truth.
“Because I’m still in love with someone else.”
The low humming sound of the elevator suddenly felt much louder, and Tobias placed a sympathetic hand on his friend's shoulder.
“Buddy, you know that she’s gone, right?”
A lump formed in Ethan’s throat. “Yeah,” he replied, his voice tense. “I know.”
A bell rang before the doors slid open, and the old saying ‘saved by the bell’ took on a new meaning for Ethan. “Good night, Tobias,” he said as he rushed out, leaving his sullen friend behind.
~~~~~
Several hours later, Ethan was alone in his Back Bay condo, a single log crackling in the fireplace his sole companion. He tried to unwind with a glass of Macallan in his hand and a melodic jazz ensemble playing in the background. But the night moved on at a snail's pace, just like all the years that came before it. He reached for the bottle again, a curse falling from his lips when he found it empty.
Grumbling under his breath, he made his way to the kitchen and opened a cabinet where he kept a few unopened bottles - an emergency supply for moments like this. He pulled a Glendronach he’d been saving and rifled through a nearby drawer looking for the foil cutter when his hand brushed something he couldn't place.
Curiously, he pulled the object out, then stood in silence: his old iPhone, scuffed around the edges. He hadn’t seen it in nearly a decade. He almost forgot that it existed, but apparently, he never let it go, just like so many things from his past.
He didn't know if he should do it— he knew some things were best left in the past—but compelled by something he couldn’t name, he found himself plugging in the phone and waiting patiently as the screen slowly came to life. Then, a standard-issue screensaver transported him back to another place and time.
He entered a passcode—fortunately, it was the same one he used today—and then decided to take the plunge, swiping up as old messages filled the screen like little ghosts visiting from his past.
The first one was from Naveen.
“Ethan, you’re the only one who understands how much this frightens me. Thank you for being there.”
His chest tightened, and tears prickled at his eyes despite his best efforts to stop them. But seeing their last conversations again proved to be more painful than he could have imagined. There were updates on his treatment plan, friendly advice, terrible jokes, and gratitude—so much unending, mutual gratitude. Then there was the selfie Naveen sent from his hospital bed, he was doing his best to make a silly face through the pain. His final message was just below it—a message Ethan had left unread until now.
“I’m proud of you, Ethan. I didn't say it often enough, but you brought joy to my life every day. Promise me you’ll keep moving forward. Be happy, son, because time passes faster than you think. Thank you for making my life a brighter place.”
Ethan shuddered, his eyes clenching shut, as the hollow space left in his heart after Naveen passed grew larger. There were days when Ethan truly wondered if there would be anything left but chambers left vacant by those in the past—spaces that no one else could ever fill.
He waited several moments before turning back. The following message was from his father, Alan.
Their messages were strained back then - kind, but lacking the warmth they share today. A smile spread on his face because he knew - he knew exactly who he had to thank for that. But these old messages were mostly about arguments over things that should have been long buried, with lengthy stretches of silence in between.
"So much wasted time..." he said aloud. He grabbed his current phone and sent a text at once:
“I miss you, Dad. Let’s make plans for the weekend.”
He knew Alan was already asleep, but that didn’t matter. It would be a pleasant surprise when he woke up. Then, it was back to his trip down memory lane - or self-imposed torture - it could have been either of the two.
He pulled up the next thread, and that's when his heart nearly stopped.
Kaycee.
So many years had passed since he last saw her, but time never changed how the mere sight of her name could stop his world from spinning on its axis. He scrolled up to the very first message she ever sent.
“Just testing the number. I promise I’ll only use it for emergencies. But I want you to know that I’m here if you need someone. I know tonight was hard.”
The memories flooded his mind. She sent that text the night his friend, Dolores, died at the hospital while under their care. Kaycee never left his side. He had never given his number to an intern before that, and, even then, he questioned his judgment, but Kaycee was right; it had been a hard night, and something inside him had shifted.
Only use this if you absolutely have to. He told her, but she sent that first message just a few hours later, because she knew he needed someone, even if he didn’t know it himself. Her heart was always much bigger than his rules.
He could have stopped there, but he couldn’t keep himself from reading more – all of their texts reading like a storybook of their time together. Messages from when they were clandestinely treating Naveen. His vitals, lab results, stupid jokes she sent as an attempt to cheer him up, and the embarrassing stories Naveen was all too eager to share.
“Naveen told me you fainted when you administered your first injection in med school. That can’t be true, can it?”
“Remind me to talk to Naveen. He’ll need to sign an NDA if he expects me to continue treating him.”
“Ha! I’d still get it out of him!”
And she’s right. She would have.
He pulled up the phone’s camera roll, knowing precisely what picture he longed to see – and there it was. Kaycee at the medical conference they attended in Miami - it seemed like a lifetime ago. He smiled as his fingers traced the image on the screen - that navy blue gown had nearly knocked him off his feet, and seeing it again brought him back.
Back to that balcony where the sound of crashing waves was so loud, you'd swear they were only a few feet away. He could taste the warm, salty air and see her emerald green eyes gazing at him with more love and adoration than he rightfully deserved.
He didn't want it to happen - but it was inevitable - and it took just one kiss for the rest of the world to fade away. It felt like every mismatched puzzle piece that made up his life was finally coming together – a cosmic event when the planets finally aligned according to a master plan – but, as quickly as it surrendered, he pulled away.
He sent her a text message the next day as he sat in the hotel room, and she traipsed around Miami, going anywhere and everywhere to escape him.
“I’m so sorry, Kaycee. You’re beautiful...brilliant. You deserve the whole world. But I was wrong last night, and I won’t let that happen again.”
“Got it."
Was all she replied - then the silence stretched for weeks.
He tried to avoid her, but somehow, it never worked. There was the text he sent her the morning after he took her to the opera in a desperate attempt to lift her spirits. The night that ended with another searing kiss in his private box – a box he never stepped into without thinking of her again – even to this day.
“Kaycee, we can’t keep doing this.”
“I know. But I don’t want to stop, Ethan, and I know you don't either. You mean so much to me... we have to find a way.”
There were dozens more texts –each more raw and honest than the next – well, at least the ones from Kaycee were. Then there was one from June that would change the trajectory of his life. Destroying him with just eight words:
“It’s confirmed. Kaycee’s in there. She was exposed.”
That night would haunt him forever. No matter how hard he tried, he could never erase the memory of kneeling awkwardly beside her, the hazmat suit crinkling with every move. He whispered the words he should have said long before, but sometimes the worst possible thing has to happen to render one's vision clear.
He told her he loved her and begged her to fight. For him-for them-she needed to stay and never leave his side again... and she listened. She survived, Ethan administering the life-saving injection the next morning, and their world changed for the better.
After, their messages were filled with all the love and passion expected from a secret love affair—a love that was beautiful, messy, and divine. It ushered in a light unlike any he had ever known.
“Have I told you how much I adore waking up in your arms?” She wrote.
“About as much as I adore having you there.”
“Promise me this will never end, " she begged. "Please, promise me this is only our beginning.”
He replied in an instant.
“Of course it is. Something this precious can never go away.”
It was real, and they were happy. So happy. They merely had to keep it quiet until her residency was over. A task that sounded far easier than it was, but they reminded each other it would be worth it... until something inside him began to change. i
“Just four more months! Then I can walk out of work with you, hand in hand, and plant the biggest kiss on your cheek! I can’t wait to let the whole world know how much I love you, Ethan!”
He didn’t reply.
Why didn’t he reply?
After that, each message began to signal the end.
“Why did you cancel our dinner on Saturday? We were supposed to talk. I really need you, Ethan. I have offers from Hopkins, UCSF, Cedars-Sinai…but they need answers soon. I want to talk to you before I decide.”
“You don’t need me to decide, Rookie. Follow your gut - it will tell you what the best move is. I’m so proud of you, Kaycee. I always knew you were going to change the world, and just look at you! You are.”
“I appreciate that, Ethan, but being proud of me isn't what I need right now."
“What do you need?”
“I need you to tell me to stay. Edenbrook gave me an offer, too. Tell me my future is here, in Boston, with YOU. I want a reason to stay.”
He shut his eyes, disgusted with himself.
Hours passed. Hours. He could just picture her, nervously biting her lip, her wavy, blonde hair tied into a messy bun above her furrowed brow as she checked her phone incessantly... waiting. How could he have let hours pass? Why would he do that to her?
Then – the worst decision he ever made – right there – saved to haunt him for all time and posterity.
“I can’t do that, Kaycee. Your future - your career needs to dictate your choice, not me. I care about you too much to stand in the way of that.”
He thought he was being noble. Putting her career and her needs before his own. At least that was the lie he repeated to himself like a mantra. But Kaycee cut through it, her reply instantaneous.
“You told me you loved me, Ethan. You said I was your world. Has that changed? Don’t you want me to stay? Please, tell me you haven't changed your mind."
He never answered.
Months passed before he received the last text she’d ever send. She was settling into her new place in LA – two thousand, five hundred miles away in an apartment he’d never see – beginning a life he’d never be part of. He was sitting in his office when it arrived – the very place they had shared so many conversations, spent late nights solving cases, and sometimes, doing much more. Now, he was by himself as he read:
“I wanted to let you know I arrived in LA and I’m settling into my new place. It’s really beautiful, but it’ll be a while before it feels like home – if it ever does at all.
I’m going to do my best to move forward – it's not like I have a choice. I'll start fresh and embrace the next chapter, but it’s going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
I wanted to thank you, Ethan, for everything you’ve ever done for me. You were my mentor, my sounding board, and so, so much more. You taught me to be brave and never back down from what I wanted most in life. I only wish you had been strong enough to take your own advice.
I wish I could say we'll keep in touch, perhaps learn to be friends. But I can’t. Just seeing your name still breaks me inside, and the idea of hearing your voice with an entire country between us moves me to tears. You were the one for me, Ethan, I know that. And I truly believed I was the one for you. I'll never understand how we ended up here.
I’m going to need space to heal, so please don’t reach out to me. Perhaps I’ll contact you one day, if I ever feel strong enough, but in case that day never comes, I need you to know that I loved you with all my heart, Ethan, and I always, always will.
I wish you the best.
Please remember me - Kaycee"
And he never heard from her again.
He sat in the dark for a long time, his hand shaking around the phone he clutched as if it were a lifeline. He thought about all the times he wanted to call her, and found every excuse not to.
He remembered the pain of losing, the lonely nights when it became so unbearable that he tried to lose himself in others, but no one's touch would ever feel right, and his name only belonged on her lips.
He saw her name in medical journals on occasion, sometimes a photo from a conference where she gave a keynote speech, and he was amazed at how her smile could still melt his heart. He hoped – sometimes even prayed – that she had healed, because he already accepted that he never would.
Time marched on, and with each year that passed, breaking the silence seemed harder. He hadn’t even put her number in his new phone, but Kaycee MacClennan would never be a part of his past. She lived beside him every single day. A ghost who walked through the rooms of his mind, reminding him of what his life could have been if he hadn’t been such a coward.
He finally willed himself to stand. He extinguished the fire and headed to bed, but sleep wouldn’t come. He stared at the space where she used to sleep - just like the space she had taken in his heart, it would never again be filled.
He tossed and turned for hours, then finally sat up and turned on the light. He grabbed his phone and entered her number – he didn’t need to look it up, it was committed to memory. And then, he wrote:
I never wanted you to leave Boston. I just didn’t know how to say that without feeling like I was stealing your future.
I wanted to follow you to LA, but back then, I didn’t believe I deserved you.
I should have told you. I can't tell you how many messages I started over the years, but I deleted every single one.
The truth is, you’re the only woman I've ever loved, Kaycee. You were the one for me: then, now, and forever. I'll never stop grieving the fact that I let you go.
You don't have to write back. I don’t expect a response. I just felt you were owed the truth, even if it’s coming years too late.
I hope you found happiness, because no one deserves it more than you. Just know, I never stopped loving you, and I never will.
Ethan
He hit send quickly, before he lost his nerve. He slid the phone into the nightstand, shut off the light, and clutched the pillow that should’ve been hers. Then he cried—fully, freely - letting it all out. It was something he should’ve done years ago.
~~~~~
It was a little after midnight in Los Angeles. Kaycee’s nighttime routine hadn’t changed in all these years – shower, watch Jimmy Fallon, then off to bed.
The television was dark, and she had just slipped under the covers when her phone vibrated across the room. She let out a soft groan. She should check it—it could be important—but she was exhausted. If it's urgent, they'll reach out again, she reasoned as she shifted under the comforter and closed her eyes. Sleep was all that mattered now, and the message could wait until the morning.
There isn’t a lot that I log on for right now, but this got me here. And it hurt - just like I knew it would. Is there going to be a reply? Or are we going to see her thoughts as the reads the message? Will you give me a heads up?
Just shy of three years ago, I happily stepped in to help when @choicesficwriterscreations needed assistance with CFWC Fics of the Week. Shortly thereafter, the blog's original creator, @loricreates, was ready to step down, and along with @lucy-268 I was honored to take over and continue the great work Lori had started.
The CFWC archive provides an invaluable service to our fandom, but it was always so much more to me. It's a place where people connect, friendships are fostered, and our incredibly talented creators have a chance to be seen and appreciated.
It has been my pleasure to serve as CFWC's mod, and I'm very proud of the contributions I have made during that time. But it's also a lot of work, and lately, it was beginning to feel like a chore. That's when I knew it was time to say goodbye. I'm not going far; I'll still be in the fandom. I may even show up here to help host a special event or two in the future, but for now, I want to spend my time concentrating on other things, both in and outside of the fandom. That includes my writing, catching up on reading, and supporting each of you.
I want to thank @lorircreates, CFWC's founder, for her vision, for creating this space, and for entrusting it to me. It was an honor to take the reins from you, and I hope we've done your "baby" proud.
I want to thank @lucy-268, who was a dream co-moderator. We sure had a lot of good (and crazy) times running the blog together. I'm so glad this fandom brought us together... and we'll stay that way long after this fandom is gone. 💙
I'd like to thank @liaromancewriter, who has graciously offered to take over so that CFWC can continue. Please join me in welcoming Mal as the blog's new moderator! It makes me feel much better knowing I'm leaving CFWC in your hands!
Most of all, I want to thank all of you. Each and every one of you has made our fandom what it is. The creators who make us laugh, cry, and feel things we never expected to feel. The readers and art fans who have encouraged everyone along the way. Everyone who has ever "geeked out" over a beloved story, character, or OC together. Through CFWC, I've gotten to know many of you better, and that has been the best part of the time I've spent here.
So this is my final CFWC post... one last time! :) I can't wait to see what the future brings! 😘
Elsa, I love you and I had so much fun doing this with you. In mid-December, as you know, I stepped out of the fandom because I needed a (short) mental health break and I think this is the third time I’ve been on tumblr since then. I appreciate you so much for keeping this community alive.
@liaromancewriter, I am glad that this community will continue. Thank you.
OK TTPD is FUCKING amazing. I usually have to warm up to albums, but I fucking love this. My top 5 after first listen.... (always subject to change...)
Hey! Happy Holidays! Since the year is almost over, I decided to make an edit for your pairing to celebrate 2023 coming to a close. I hope you enjoy it!
Thank you. This is the first I saw this, I think it was mid-December since I logged onto Tumblr.
This is wonderful and it brought happy tears to my eyes and heart.
I appreciate this and don’t even have the words to express myself.
A/N –As I write this note, it’s Monday, we’ll see how long it takes to actually finish and post this one shot. Earlier today I tried (and failed) to post a video of The Carpenters Rainy Days and Mondays. It was raining when I woke and it rained most of the day. I’ve just felt like the song for the past four or five days. When I couldn’t post the video (YouTube apparently hates me) I decided to write this. I used Wacky Drabble prompt #73 (it can be found in bold). @aylaramseycarrera, you sent me a prompt and I’ve kind of included it here, but I have another fic planned for it. It’s also in bold. Songfics - I may use songs to inspire my fics and I may use the titles, but I don’t write songfics where lyrics are used in the fic. I did this time, and you will probably never see it in one of my fics again. My masterlist is here.
Disclaimer: Characters belong to PB, but Charley is kinda mine.
Rating/Warnings: Teen/None
Series/Pairing: Open Heart - Ethan Ramsey x f!MC (Charley Valentine)
Word count: 1,079 without lyrics; 1,211 with lyrics
Series/Pairing: Open Heart - Bryce Lahela x f!MC (Maggie Layne)
Disclaimer: Characters belong to PB; Maggie is kinda mine
Ratings/Warnings: PG, maybe. None, really. Fluff, fluff, and more fluff.
Word Count: ~4,600
Summary: Bryce plans a fun game for Maggie for Christmas.
Notes: Much thanks to @leelee10898 and @emichelle for running the 12 days of fictmas. I still have stories to read and I’m working on them. This is my second and final submission for the 12 days of fictmas, but I still have at least one more Christmas fic to post this year (some of the prompts from the CFWC Winter Season prompt list by @cfwcadm sound fun!). Thanks to @starrystarrytrouble for prereading for me. You are awesome as always.
Honestly, I don’t care. As long as we agree that Die Hard is NOT a Christmas movie. lmao (Honestly, I have not seen Die Hard in like 20 years, and I couldn’t care less, it’s just a funny. lol)
Honestly, I don’t care. As long as we agree that Die Hard is NOT a Christmas movie. lmao (Honestly, I have not seen Die Hard in like 20 years, and I couldn’t care less, it’s just a funny. lol)
A/N –As I write this note, it’s Monday, we’ll see how long it takes to actually finish and post this one shot. Earlier today I tried (and failed) to post a video of The Carpenters Rainy Days and Mondays. It was raining when I woke and it rained most of the day. I’ve just felt like the song for the past four or five days. When I couldn’t post the video (YouTube apparently hates me) I decided to write this. I used Wacky Drabble prompt #73 (it can be found in bold). @aylaramseycarrera, you sent me a prompt and I’ve kind of included it here, but I have another fic planned for it. It’s also in bold. Songfics - I may use songs to inspire my fics and I may use the titles, but I don’t write songfics where lyrics are used in the fic. I did this time, and you will probably never see it in one of my fics again. My masterlist is here.
Disclaimer: Characters belong to PB, but Charley is kinda mine.
Rating/Warnings: Teen/None
Series/Pairing: Open Heart - Ethan Ramsey x f!MC (Charley Valentine)
Word count: 1,079 without lyrics; 1,211 with lyrics
I've been having a tough time lately, and when I don't have the energy for everything keeping up with social media is one of the first things I slip on. But I still care about all my writing buddies, so:
Reblog if you're not offended when people take a long time to answer asks, forget to reply to your replies, lag behind in tag games, or skip several weekly ask games.
December is full of holidays. It is also a month of days that celebrate food, animals, people, and even clothing. Hopefully you find a prompt or two that inspire you!
