let's rewrite an ending that fits

this is my writing blog. all characters belong to either myself or my friends.

[paperback--novel]

They'd had a fight. That was nothing new for Vince and Rosalie. They always fought. He commanded her to get out of his sight and she'd left the bar to go and entertain herself until it was time for them to make up later. That was just what they did. They'd fight and then fuck the anger out. Rosa was already looking forward to it.

What she hadn't been looking forward to was the sudden feeling of pain that shot through the bond between her and her maker.

"Vince..."

Almost immediately, Rosa dropped the items she'd had in her hands and was out of their home and running towards the bar. It was closing time, any number of bad things could happen to him when he was there alone now that the hunters were in town. That thought alone was enough to push her to run faster. The bar was in sight by now, an unfamiliar black SUV parked out back. She stopped. Sniffed the air. Hunters.

She slipped into the bar through the back door, coming up behind the hunters who were guarding Vince. Rosalie snapped the man on the right's neck and watched as he fell to the floor. Before the second was aware of what was happening, Rosa tore his throat out before he could scream. She ran to Vince's side, worry written all over her face, the fight from earlier long forgotten.

"What happened?" She asked, hissing in discomfort as she tore the silver chains away from her maker's wrists and feet.

"They came in through the back and silvered me." Vincent said, standing and rubbing his wrists. "We have to go. There are more of them upstairs."

The two vampires were almost to the door when Vince felt Rosalie shove him to the side. He heard the gunshot. Felt pain spark through their bond. 

"Rosalie!" Vince roared, fury surging through his long dead veins at the sight of his lover, his child, lying on the ground in a pool of blood. He tore through the remaining hunters, ripping out throats and hearts and letting the bodies drop to the floor. He dropped to his knees next to Rosalie, pulling her up and into his arms. "Rosa?" He asked, afraid at what he saw.

"W-wooden.. bullets." She gasped out, her hand going to her chest. "Sorry... Vinny." 

Vincent didn't have it in him to reprimand her for the nickname. Couldn't after she'd taken a wooden bullet for him. He reached out through their bond and searched and felt... Nothing. She was gone.

[paperback--novel]

Remus was beginning to hate hospitals. Cally had been in labor for what felt like days. Sirius, James, Lily and Evelyn had all come to the hospital to wait with him, but not even their presence could comfort him. The Healers had forced him out of the room an hour ago, saying his worrying was making Cally stressed. Lily had taken his place in their with her.

"Remus, It'll be fine." James said, watching his friend pacing back and forth outside of Cally's room.

"James is right," Sirius piped in. "Cally's a fighter, always has been. You really think anything is going to happen to her?"

Remus ignored their attempts at calming him down. They weren't worried like he was. Remus was positive the child his wife was carrying was going to be a werewolf. Surely that would make the labor more difficult than a normal, magic child. Right? Remus sat down in one of the chairs, his hands coming up to rub tiredly at his eyes. He should have convinced Cally they couldn't do this.

"Remus?"

Remus' head shot up and he looked to the door, seeing a smiling Lily.

"Want to come meet your daughter?"

Remus was out of his chair and bolting into his wife's room before Lily had even finished speaking. He was by Cally's bedside in moments, staring down at his wife and their child. His child. He scanned Cally's face, noting how exhausted she looked. But she was smiling, and Remus had never thought she looked more beautiful than in that moment. "We... We have a daughter?" Remus asked, staring in awe at the bundle wrapped in pink in Cally's arms.

"What should we name her, Remus?" Cally asked, her voice hoarse from hours of screaming in pain during her labor. The name hadn't been something they could agree on before their baby was born. Cally had liked the name Skylla, but Remus hadn't been too sold on it. "How.. about..." Cally's grasp on the baby loosened and Remus was quick to catch the baby, alarmed when he looked up to see Cally's eyes rolling into the back of her head.

"Someone get Madame Connington!"

He heard the Healers rushing into the room and was pushed out and the door was slammed in his face before he could protest. Remus was past the point of panic when he'd been forced out of the room. What in Merlin's name was happening to his wife? He began his pacing again, this time more worried than before. He had never seen Cally as tired or as weak as she had been in that hospital bed. 

Remus was only vaguely aware of his friends trying to speak to him, but he couldn't find the strength to acknowledge or answer them. Not until he knew his wife was going to be okay.

"Mr. Lupin?"

Remus' head jerked up at the sound of the head Healer coming out of Cally's room. He was up almost immediately, trying to look past her and into Cally's room. He could hear the baby crying, but nothing else. "Y-" He cleared his throat. "Yes?"

"Mr. Lupin, the birth was incredibly difficult for your wife. It seems that the baby has inherited lycanthropy, making it a much more harder child to birth," The Healer began, a note of sympathy in her eyes. "She lost a lot of blood. We couldn't revive her. I'm sorry, Mr. Lupin. We did all that we could."

Remus sank into the empty seat, the healer's words repeating in his head. She lost a lot of blood... We couldn't revive her... We did all we could... Remus refused to believe it. There was no way his wife could be taken from him so soon after giving him a child. This had to be some sick joke. Remus stood and pushed past the Healer and into Cally's room.

She was lying on the bed, paler than she had been before, her eyes closed. He couldn't stop the tears that came, then. Remus kneeled next to the bed, clasping her hand in his. "Cally... You can't do this to me," Remus choked out, ignoring everything else around him. "Please. You have to come back." But there was no answer. She was gone.

Remus didn't know how long he'd been in that room. He was hardly aware of anything until James and Sirius tried to take him away. His animal instincts kicked in and he fought them off, not ready to leave her side. Not yet. He couldn't. Not when he'd done this to her. It had been his child she'd died bringing into the world. It was all his fault, and Remus would never forgive himself for this.

"Remus..." Lily said quietly, putting her hand on his shoulder, trying to force back her own tears. "They need... They need to take her away now."

It wasn't until much later, after Cally had been taken away, after Lily and James had left to take care of Harry, and Sirius and Remus were alone in the hospital that Remus even thought of their daughter. He allowed Sirius to lead him to the nursery. He stared to the crib his daughter was placed in, tearing up again just at the sight. Sirius got the attention of a Healer and they brought the child to Remus.

As Remus held her, he couldn't feel any joy in it. Not when her life had caused Cally's death. It wasn't until she opened her eyes, the same color as his wife's, that Remus felt anything at all. "She has her eyes, Padfoot." He whimpered, turning to look at his best friend. "I... She..." Remus shook his head, unable to finish his sentence. 

"She still needs a name, Moony." Sirius pointed out.

"Skylla." Remus said almost immediately. "It's... It's what Cally wanted."

[paperback--novel]

And They Called It Puppy Love

Brynna & Bayley [With mentions of Jayden] (566 words)

It was September 1st, and the Hogwarts Express was due to leave within the next fifteen minutes. Bayley wasn't quite sure how he felt about starting his sixth year at Hogwarts. All he knew at that moment was he needed to find his friends. Merlin only knew where Jayden was, but it was Brynna he was really anxious to find. She'd been in France with her family all summer and he had missed the blonde Lovegood girl. He began wandering through the train, trying to find either of his best friends.

"Oi, Longbottom!"

Bayley turned at the sound of his name, a grin spreading across his face as Jayden bounded over to him, a grin on his own face. Jay stopped nest to him, throwing an arm around Bayley's shoulder. "Where've you been hiding, mate?"

"I haven't been hiding anywhere," Bayley said, shrugging Jay's arm off of him. "I've been trying to find you or our missing tiny blonde one." 

"Speaking of the tiny blonde one, shouldn't she be here by now?" Jay asked, scanning the crowd of students to see if maybe he'd just missed her when he got on the train.

"You'd think, since the train leaves soon." Bayley said, frowning. Where in Merlin's name was Brynn? "We should go get seats." He said, leading Jayden out of the corridor and into a compartment to their left. "She's gotta show up eventually." He took a seat in the same compartment he, Jay and Brynn sat in every year.

As he and Jayden sat down and began talking about their summers, they completely missed the sound of their compartment door opening. Jayden was the first to look up. His gaped and whacked Bayley in the shoulder. "Oi! What was that f-?" Bayley turned to look at what Jayden was smacking him for and blinked.

"Something on my face, boys?" Brynna asked, raising an eyebrow at the look on her boys' faces.

".....Brynn?" Bayley finally asked, unable to look away from her. He did not remember her looking so pretty at the end of the school year. When had his best friend gone from the gawky fourteen year old to... that? 

"Course it's me, idiot. Who else would it be?" Brynna grinned and plopped herself down on Jayden's lap, poking his cheek. "You two act like you've never seen a girl before."

"But... You're not a girl." Jayden said stupidly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. He looked to Bayley for confirmation and when he got no reaction, Jay frowned. "What happened to the gawky fourteen year old in France?"

"She turned fifteen, obviously." Brynn said, rolling her eyes. She slid off of Jayden's lap and leaned against Bayley, throwing an arm around his waist. "Miss me, Longbottom?"

"Y-you know I did." Bayley managed to stutter out, blushing as he always did whenever Brynn touched him. He hugged Brynna back, keeping an arm around her shoulder. Bayley didn't miss the knowing smirk Jayden was shooting his way. "No more summer long trips to France, okay?"

"What, are you going to make me stay?" The blonde asked, smiling up at him.

"I'll always make you stay, Brynn." Bayley answered truthfully. He wasn't sure what had changed about his younger best friend while she was away in France, but he knew one thing for certain. He was unable to keep his eyes off of her, and it was going to be a long, long year.

[paperback--novel]

Save Me From Myself

The Three Broomsticks had, basically, become home for Brynna over the last two weeks. She drank, she made friends with other drunk witches and wizards at the bar, and she drank some more. She was sure there was only one day she had been sober in the last two weeks. And even then, her sobriety had lasted only for the length of the funeral before she was locked away in her apartment with a bottle of Jack Daniels, drowning away her sorrows. Brynn could hardly do anything but drink the last few weeks. Not since she found Jayden. Bryna couldn't close her eyes, when sober, without seeing the bloody, beaten and mutilated body of her best friend. Couldn't close her eyes without the image of his hollow, lifeless eyes staring up at her where she'd found him in an alley behind a shop in Diagon Alley after they'd been separated during a Regime raid. She could remember the fear coursing through her veins that day. Jay had been a known member of the Bloodless. He practically had a target on his back. So when they'd been separated, she'd been terrified for him... Brynn knocked back a shot of a strong liquor she didn't know the name of. The more she drank, the easier it was to pretend this was all a bad dream. The easier it was to forget. But her brain didn't want things to be easy today. It easily recalled how she'd found him, the Dark Mark of old floating over him. How the Regime had chosen to beat him before giving him the quick mercy of the killing curse. She could still smell the blood... Brynn took another shot. willing the memories to stop, but they just kept coming. Her screams as she tried to shake Jayden awake, despite knowing there was nothing she could do. The look of agony on Bayley's face as she had to be the one to tell him their trio was reduced to a duo. The way they had clung to each other in the days leading up to the funeral. Brynn took yet another shot, blinking back the tears that were so desperately trying to escape. Her family had tried to send her to St. Mungo's after she found the body. Sloan and Nari thought it might help. But she'd refused. A dreamless sleeping potion and a shrink weren't going to help. The only thing that helped was the amber liquid in the glass bottle. And Bayley. Bayley Longbottom, her best friend, her rock, her lifeline. Bayley, who had lost Jayden, too. Who understood the way she was feeling. Bayley who had stayed with her every night for two weeks, letting one another revel in the comfort of each other's presence. Hours and countless drinks later, Brynna's drunken mind had her stumbling around the bar, looking for her giant of a best friend. "Bayley?" She called out, frowning when he didn't magically appear out of thin air and answer her call.  She made her way over to a group of wizardsat the bar, close to where she'd set her drink before going to search for Bayley. She picked up her drink and downed the rest of it. "Hey, sweet cheeks." One of the wizards said, catching her attention. "What's a pretty little thing like you doing out all alone?" Brynna, too drunk to realize these men had more in mind than conversation, smiled at the man. "I'm looking for my friend." She slurred, her eyes peering around the bar for Bay. This was usually around the time he'd come to the bar to find her and take her home. "How about I be your friend til she gets here?" The wizard said, grinning. "Not a she, a he." Brynn said, reaching for her glass, frowning when she remembered it was empty. "Let me buy you a drink." He offered. So, she did. She'd had at least two more drinks with the wizard and his three friends and was currently leaning against the man who'd been buying her drinks when she heard a very familiar voice calling her name. Brynna perked up at the sound and pushed off of the wizard when she saw the blurry outline of Bayley, telling her he was going to take her home. "BAY!" Brynna yelled with drunken excitement, using the man she was leaning on as a sort of launch pad. She pushed herself off of him and stumbled over her own feet in her haste to get to Bayley, feeling better when his arms instantly wrapped around her. She let out a breath of relief, one she hadn't been aware she'd been holding in. Brynn buried her face into his chest, breathing in the scent of peppermint mixed with the cologne she'd been giving him since their fifth year, a scent that was all Bayley and comfort. "You came to take me home? Does this mean you're staying with me? Because I like when you stay. I feel better." "Of course I'll stay, Brynn." Bayley said and the blonde found herself smiling against his chest. Bayley was the one person keeping her sane lately. He was the one person she truly felt safe with, despite knowing he could barely even kill a bug. "How many have you had?" Brynn shrugged at his question. She didn't know. A lot didn't seem like it would have gone over well with him as an answer, so she just shrugged instead. Brynna took a deep breath, inhaling the comforting scent of Bayley again. She was safe with him. Bayley wouldn't let anyone hurt her. He wouldn't let the Regime get her like they'd gotten Jay. She leaned into his chest more, closing her eyes, fighting off the tears threatening to come out at the thought of their fallen best friend, as well as the tiredness taking over from drinking. She sighed. "Take me home, Bay?" Brynna vaguely heard him paying for her drinks. She could only imagine her bill. She'd have to pay him back when she sobered up. Even with Bayley supporting her, Brynn was having a hard time staying on her feet. The lack of sleep from her nightmares combined with two weeks of binge drinking was catching up with her. And her blurry, drunk vision and the tears she'd been holding back made it difficult for her to see where she was going. If it wasn't for Bayley and his grip on her, she would have fallen over. The cool night air hit her face and she knew they were outside. She felt Bayley's arms behind her knees and the next thing she knew, she was up in his arms, cradled against his body. Without even needing to think about it, Brynna's body reacted. She curled up against him, his shirt fisted in her hand as she clung to him. "I knew you'd come get me. You're like my savior." She mumbled, smiling to herself as the sleepiness took control of her body. "My Longbottom. No one else's." Brynn whispered, just before falling asleep, safe and sound in Bayley's arms. If you asked her the next morning, Brynn would claim she didn't remember her and Bayley's conversation. She wouldn't admit that she thought she'd heard Bayley say he loved her. She was convinced that had been a drunk dream. And if you asked Bayley... He'd blush and say he was just saving her, like he always would. 

[paperback--novel]

So Quiet In The World Tonight

Skylla Selene Lupin was the most perfect creature Cally had ever seen. Her daughter was three months old now, but Cally didn't think she could ever tire of looking at her. She was the perfect combination of herself and Remus, right down to her little nose... And her lycanthropy. For so long, Cally had tried to convince Remus that everything would be fine. That their child wouldn't suffer as he had because their child wouldn't be a werewolf. But the Healers had delivered the grave news that, yes, Skylla was infected with the werewolf 'disease.' Cally had lost it right then and there. It had taken Sirius and James, who had come to visit her and the baby while Remus was at work, both to hold her back from attacking the Healer who dared to make it seem like there was something wrong with her child. Like her child wasn't normal. They'd since taken to calling her Mama Wolf, much to Remus' chagrin. Remus blamed himself. for Skylla inheriting the werewolf gene. He could barely look at her before his guilt began to show and he'd hand her back over to Cally before locking himself away in the study. It broke Cally's heart, seeing Remus so heartbroken and guilty for 'ruining' their lives. She sighed, leaning down to kiss the top of Skylla's head. "He loves you. He'll come around." She whispered to her child, turning to look at the door as she felt someone's presence behind her. "Hello, love." Cally said, a soft smile on her lips as she spotted Remus standing there. "How long have you been standing in the door?" "About five minutes." Remus said, smiling despite his guilt at the sight before him; Cally seated in the rocking chair that had once belonged to his mother, the one she had given them as a gift for the baby, Skylla nestled against her chest. "Being a mother suits you." It did, really. Remus only wished she could be holding a child that hadn't received his condition. He didn't regret Skylla. He couldn't regret his own child. He just wished she wouldn't regret having him as a father like she surely would when she was old enough to understand the curse he had bestowed upon her. Cally sighed and stood up, moving to lay the young Lupin in her crib. She chcked to make sure she was swaddled completely before turning on the mobile of the solar system that hung above the crib. It was the one thing that never failed to put her to sleep at nap time. She crossed the room to Remus and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You need to stop feeling guilty, Remus." She said quietly, able to pick up on his self loathing moods after knowing him for so long. "You need to stop blaming yourself." "I can't, Cally." Remus said, holding his wife against him tightly, burying his face into her hair. "Our daughter is a wolf because of me. She's going to suffer for the rest of her life. People will call her a monster. They'll judge her for what she is. How can I not blame myself for putting her through that?" "Because it's not your fault. If you'd like to blame someone, blame Fenrir Greyback for biting you as a child." Cally said, frowning at even the thought of that man's name. "Blame him for being a sadistic monster who enjoyed biting and turning children. It's his fault, not yours." Remus watched his wife, biting his lip. He wished he could think the same way she did, but he couldn't. Greyback hadn't been the one to give Cally a wolf for a child. It had been him. It was his fault their child would be called a monster her entire life. It was his fault Cally would have to deal with te consequences of having a wolf for a child, just like his own mother had. "I've ruined your life, too." Remus said. So quietly Cally almost didn't hear him. "No, you didn't." Cally picked Skylla up, placing the sleeping infant into Remus' arms, silencing his protests with a look. "You gave me her. Look at her, Remus. I don't blame you, you shouldn't blame yourself. So raising her might be difficult. Your mother did it, and so will we." Remus stared down at the infant in his arms, her eyes opening as she woke from what could hardly be called a nap. He watched as she searched the room, seemingly looking for her mother. And then her eyes met his, the same tawny color as his own, and she gave him a wide, gummy smile. "She's smiling at me," Remus said in awe, captivated by the little girl in his arms. "She knows you're her father." Cally said, watching father and daughter staring at each other.  Remus made a move to pass her back to Cally and was startled when Skylla began to wail, her little arms flailing, trying to hold onto him. "What's wrong!? What did I do!?" Remus looked at Cally, a look of sheer panic in his eyes. He realized then that the sound of his child crying, not knowing what was upsetting her, was quite possibly his new biggest fear. "You tried to hand her to me. She doesn't want me right now. She wants you." Cally giggled, amused. "She's going to be such a daddy's girl... Bring her to your chest and hold her tightly. She'll stop crying." Remus did as Cally instructed. He was amazed by how quickly the cries quieted and eventually stopped. He lifted his hand, stroking her cheek with the tip of his finger and smiled brightly when she clutched his finger in her fist, with surprising strength for an infant. "She's strong," Remus said, turning his head to look at Cally. "Just like her mother." His gaze instantly went back to his daughter, who was watching him, content to be held by him. For a moment, he forgot about his guilt over passing his condition to her. He forgot to be angry with himself for burdening Cally with the task of caring for not just one werewolf, but two. All that mattered in that moment were the two women in that room. His girls. His family. He looked at Cally. "Thank you." "Oh, don't thank me. You'll regret it when she's older." Cally said, a mischievous grin on her face. "Especially when she uses my puppy dog eyes you can't say no to. Or when she's begging to go on a date with a boy." And, just like that, Remus had a whole new set of problems to worry about. The biggest one? Finding where to purchase a shot gun. 

[paperback--novel]

A Little Help From My Friends

"Stop laughing at me, asshole. This isn't funny!" Madison yelled at his best friend as he tugged at the tie around his neck. But his yelling only seemed more amusing to the younger man and made him laugh even more. "You're a dick and I hate you." Madison said, glaring at him in the mirror. "I'm sorry, but I'm not sorry. It's you. In a suit." Matt finally managed to say in between laughs. In all the years he'd known Madison, he'd never seen him in a suit, let alone with a matching tie. Madison's idea of dressing up usually meant a button down shirt, jeans and sneakers that weren't stained from practice on the field. So the sight of his friend in formal wear with his beard gone... He couldn't help but laugh. "You don't hate me. If you did, I wouldn't be your best man, getting dirty looks from your twin all day." In Matt's eyes, this wedding had been a long time coming. He'd known Madison and Audrey since they'd dated the first time around. He'd seen the hell Madison went through when Audrey left him. Had seen the torment he'd put himself through for the seven years Madison and Audrey had been separated. He'd seen Audrey in Los Angeles, when she'd been married to the abusive Hollywood jackass she'd called her husband. And he'd seen them find their way back to each other all over again, all leading up to this wedding today, causing the nerves Madison was obviously suffering from. "Yeah, well, you're doing a shitty job. Aren't you supposed to keep me calm today?" Madison asked, frowning and undoing the tie, throwing it down on the floor. "How mad do you think Audrey would be if I just skip the tie? I already shaved the beard off. That's good enough, right?" "You want to risk the wrath of your pregnant bride to be over a tie?" Matt asked, raising an eyebrow. "Do you not remember the wrath she unleashed when I gave you guys the onesie for the baby that said 'I like boobies'?" "...Oh yeah." Madison said, laughing at the mental image of Audrey smacking Matt upside the head with the offending article of clothing. "I guess you're right. Tie it is, then." Madison sat on the couch provided in the groom's suite, rubbing his face and letting out a sigh. "Why are you so nervous?" Matt asked Madison as he took a seat next to his friend. "It's Audrey. This is what you wanted for seven years, isn't it?" "Because it's Audrey. Because I don't want to fuck anything up for her. Especially not today." Madison said, shrugging. After all they'd been through, he was terrified of making a mistake and making her regret even a single moment of their big day. "Understandable." Matt said, nodding his head. He really could understand why Madison was nervous now. "But I really don't think you have to worry. I think Audrey is going to be happy today regardless of anything you say or do. Well. As long as no one spills the beans about her being knocked up on her wedding day."  Madison had to laugh at that. It was true. Audrey hadn't wanted to be showing in her wedding dress, or for people to know that she was pregnant. He vaguely remembered her saying something about it being bad luck. "You're probably right." Madison said, looking over at the twig of the man beside him. "When did you get so good at these cheesy speeches?" "You're one to talk. Don't think I haven't heard from Audrey a million times how you proposed to her in the kitchen." Matt teased, grinning at his friend. He stood up, adjusting his own tie as he did so and then looked over at Madison. "Show time. You ready?" "As ready as I'll ever be." Madison said, standing and looking around the room nervously, trying to make sure there was nothing he was forgetting. "Well then. Let's go get married. ....God, I never thought I'd be saying those words."  "I resent that, asshole." 

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How Did We Get Here?

Jackson was not amused by his coach's cruel an unusual punishment. Spend a day 'bonding' with the roommate and teammate that he hated? He had to have done something horrible in a past life to deserve this as punishment for the fight he and Cj had gotten into on the ice during practice the previous day. Jax sat on his bed, looking up to glare at Cj over the top of his chem book as he studied. It was his fault they weren't allowed to leave their dorm unless it was to do something together. "What are you staring at?" Cj snapped, glaring over at his roommate. "You. trying to figure out a plan to kill you in your sleep and make it look like an accident." Jax said, smirking. Could trading insults back and forth be considered bonding? "You couldn't take me. I've already broken your nose twice." Cj said, a hint of a challenge in his voice. 

"you hit me in the face with a stick. That hardly counts as kicking my ass." Jackson said, rolling his eyes. "Don't congratulate yourself. The stick won, not you." "Fuck you, Buckbeak." "Fuck you, troll." "Say that to my face!" "I just did!" "Wait until we're back on the ice. I'll kick your ass!" "Oh, go back to Boston!" The petty argument lasted for two minutes, each insult sounding more and more like it came from a child rather than the mouth of an eighteen year old college student. The two sat on their beds, arms crossed and glaring at each other. If he wasn't in the situation, Jax would have laughed. But this wasn't someone else and he wasn't laughing. He couldn't even really remember why he and Cj hated each other. He could just recall their first meeting on the ice had been freshman year of high school. He'd checked Cj and they'd fought and then that had become almost routine any time their schools faced each other. In an attempt to amuse himself without starting another argument, Jax pulled out his Game Boy and turned it on. After five minutes of the continuous clicking of buttons, Cj's curiosity got the better of him. He leaned forward a little, trying to see what Jax was playing. He probably should have chosen to do so in a less conspicuous way, because as he stretched his neck out, Jax looked up from his game, raising an eyebrow. "What are you doing?" "....Trying to see what you were playing." Cj admitted, shrugging his shoulders. "....Pokemon." Jackson said, almost daring Cj to make fun of him for being an eighteen year old who still owned his Game Boy and Pokemon games. But, to his surprise, Cj did not being to tease him. Well, not entirely. "I bet you use a stupid started like Bulbasaur. Don't you?" Cj asked, a smug smile on his face. "Fuck you, no I don't. I use Charmander. He's best because-" Jax started to explain, but was interrupted by Cj. "He turns into Charmeleon and Charizard and is badass." The two boys stared at each other, wide eyed. Had Cj actually just finished Jax's thought? And he shared the same opinion? "Quick. Twizzlers or Red Vines?" Cj asked, eying Jax suspiciously. "Red Vines." Jackson answered immediately. "Me too!" "Blue slurpee or red slurpee?" Jackson asked. "Fuck choosing, mix them." Cj answered. "I do that too!" Jackson said, surprised. So they had three small things in common. Who knew. Cj looked at Jax. Jax looked at Cj. "...Did we just become best friends!?" "Yup!" Well, this certainly was a surprising turn of events. 

[paperback--novel]

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[paperback--novel]

You're My Ever After

Valentine's Day was supposed to be a day for relaxing and spending time with the person you loved. Not for doctor's offices and long wait times to see a doctor. Audrey would have put it off as long as she could had Madison not insisted  on her going to see a doctor. She'd been feeling sick for weeks. Tired all the time and she'd barely been able to keep anything down. Madison, forever worrying about her well being, had finally put his foot down and made his stubborn fiance go see a doctor. It had taken hours of convincing. Audrey hated going to the doctor's office. She had even when she was a little girl. The smell of antiseptic and the bright lights made her feel uncomfortable. But she'd decided to go if it would make Madison feel better. It certainly wouldn't make her feel better, that was for sure. "Audrey Castle." Audrey was aware that several people stared at her when her name was called. People were fascinated by celebrities doing everyday, normal things (like going to the doctor when sick) like they did. She offered a polite smile to the people that said hello to her as she walked through the door for her appointment, She just hoped it wouldn't take too long. She had plans for her and Madison tonight. He'd leave for Spring Training in a few days and this would be their last chance at along time for quite awhile. When she left the doctor's office almost an hour later, Audrey was wishing the appointment had lasted longer. Pregnant. Audrey wasn't quite sure what to make of that. In the three years she and Madison had been together the first time around, she hadn't had so much as a pregnancy scare. Not one. In the six years she'd been married to Jake, not even a false pregnancy. Now, only seven months after getting back together with Madison, she was pregnant. It didn't make sense to her. They hadn't done anything differently than the last time they were together. She wasn't quite sure how she was supposed to tell Madison they were going to be parents. Audrey had always wanted a kid. She'd pictured herself married with a child, or one on the way, by the time she was thirty. Well, she was thirty, going on thirty one, engaged and pregnant. She was getting exactly what she'd always wanted. She was going to marry Madison, and she was going to have a child with him. It was exactly how she'd pictured it when she was twenty three. Audrey just wasn't sure this was what Madison wanted. They had never talked about having children. Audrey knew he loved them, though. He loved his nephew and he was great with him. Madison was just as good with her brother's newborn daughter. But how would he feel about a baby of his own? Audrey walked into the door of the house she and Madison shared, immediately greeted by Madison's mini pincher, Xavier. She knelt to pet the dog before heading to her bedroom to set her things down. The bedroom was where she found Madison, sitting on the bed with a movie in and a bottle of tequila on the bed next to him. He grinned when she came in. "Surprise!" Madison climbed off of the bed and wrapped his arms around his fiance, leaning down a little to kiss the top of her head. "How was the doctor's appointment? Did he find out anything about whatever it is you have?" He was constantly worried about Audrey. He'd gotten her away from the asshole ex husband of hers, but he would never stop worrying about her. Audrey sighed contently, feeling much better now that she was home. She laid her head against Madison's chest, nuzzling her cheek against the muscle there. "It was fine. Nasty antiseptic smell, bright lights, the whole shebang." She said, biting her lips nervously at his last question. How was she supposed to answer that question? She couldn't come right out and say 'Oh, by the way. There's a human being growing inside of me and making me sick.' That just wouldn't fly. "Yeah, he found a few things out." She said, moving out of his arms to go and sit on the bed. "Well, don't keep me in suspense. What's wrong, Aud?" Audrey closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself down. After exhaling, she opened her eyes and looked up at Madison. "I... I'm pregnant, Madi." Madison blinked when she spoke. He hadn't been expecting that. He hadn't been expecting that at all. Maybe he hadn't heard her right. That had to be the case, right? "....What." He should have said more than that. He knew he should have said more than that. But, for once, Madison King was rendered speechless. "I'm pregnant." Okay. He hadn't heard her wrong. She'd said what he thought she said. Madison sat down on the bed next to her, one hand going to the back of his head to scratch at his mohawk, unsure what to really say to that revelation. After a moment of dumbfounded silence, he turned to look at Audrey. "How did this happen?" "Oh, I dunno. My car, the shower, the bed... Take your pick." Audrey said, laughing a little.  "YOu forgot the kitch- Wait. That's not the point, smartass." Madison said, shaking his head at her and suppressing a grin.  She was starting to make a joke out of a serious conversation. She had obviously spent too much time with him. "So.. That's why you've been sick? Why you've been so tired all the time?" Audrey nodded. "The doctor said I'm about eight weeks into it. He sent me home with a bunch of pamphlets and stuff about vitamins and things I should be taking now that I know." She bit her lip, still nervous about all of this. "How..." She paused to clear her throat. "Are you... Okay with this?" She asked him. "Am I okay with this? ...Is that why you've had that nervous look on your face since you got home?" He asked her, frowning. Did she really think that, after all they'd been through, he wouldn't be okay with this? When she nodded, Madison pulled her into his lap and rested the palm of his hand on her cheek. "Audrey, of course I'm okay with this. After all we've been through? How could I not be okay with this?" "Well, I mean... So soon?" Audrey said, rubbing her cheek against his open palm. She laid her hand over his, biting her lip again. "It's only been seven months." "Sure, it's only been seven months this time." Madison said, kissing her quickly. "But it's different this time. I already proposed. We're going to get married. Kids come after. Or, in this case, before. That's just how it works. And you know you're the only person I'd want kids with. Might as well be now, right?" Audrey felt a smile on her face for the first time since she'd got the news from the doctor. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, burying her face into his neck. Madison held her tightly against him, chuckling. "I guess we won't be needing that tequila, huh?" When she shook her head, he kissed it. "....We can still have sex though, right?" Audrey laughed and pulled back to kiss him. "What's Valentine's Day without a little celebration?" When Madison laid back on the bed, pulling her down with him, Audrey knew things would be okay. They could get through this, just like they had everything else. "Happy Valentine's day, Madi." "Happy Valentine's Day, Audrey." 

[paperback--novel]

I'll Stick With You

It seemed like a lifetime ago that Brynna had finally told Bayley how she felt about him. Felt like it had been just as long that they'd been together. But in reality, it had only been two years. They'd been through a lot in those two years: her near death from alcohol poisoning, being forced to move in together early in their relationship after Brady Parkinson had found Brynna's apartment, finally killing Parkinson for what he'd done to Jayden and finally, getting married six months ago. The last thing brought a smile to Brynn's face. Despite all of the turmoil and heartache from the war, they'd made it through and walked down that aisle.

Their wedding had been relatively small. They'd left certain chairs empty to honor where the friends they'd lost would have sat. It had been sad to look into the crowd and see the empty chairs where Jazz, Lonzo, Fred and so many others should have been. But Brynn knew those people wouldn't have wanted her or Bayley to be sad on their wedding day. And neither of them had been. They were marrying each other, the best friends couldn't have been happier.  Brynna could never keep a smile off of her face when she thought back to their wedding day.

Looking at the clock, Brynn realized she needed to leave soon in order to make her appointment on time. She packed up the things on her desk at the Owl office. Once she was finished, she made her way to Bayley's office, stopping to watch him working for a minute. She was proud of him for making Editor-In-Chief of the Owl. He'd worked hard and he deserved it.

"You look good behind that desk," Brynn said, giggling when Bayley jumped, having not heard her come into his office.

"Merlin, Brynn, you scared me." Bayley said, a light blush staining his cheeks. Would he ever be able to stop blushing around her? He doubted it. "Thanks."

Brynn smiled seeing his blush. She loved it when he did. She came into the office and sat on the edge of his desk, looking over his work. "Whatcha working on?"

"Just working on a letter from the Editor thing." Bay said, setting his quill down and giving his full attention to Brynna. He realized his wife must have come in the office for a reason. His wife. It still made his heartbeat increase just thinking of her like that. "What'd you need, love?"

"Oh, nothing. I was just coming to let you know I was leaving early. I have a few errands to run before I come home." Brynn said.

"If you wait for five minutes, I can leave early and go with you." Bayley suggested, standing up and moving to stand in front of Brynna. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "We could stop and get dinner first."

Although the idea of leaving with her husband and going to get dinner did sound appealing, she had other things to do first. Things she needed to do alone. "No, you stay and finish your work. It won't take me too long." She said, smiling up at him. "But you could get dinner on your way home and we can have dinner together when I get home?"

"Fine. I see how it is. Use your privilege as editor's wife to leave early, but make me stay and actually work." Bayley teased, wrapping his arms around Brynn to give her a hug. "But okay, I'll grab food on my way home. Anything in particular or should I just surprise you?"

"....Fish and chips!" Brynn said a little excitedly. "I've been wantng really greasy chips for, like, a month."

Bayley gave her a strange look at her odd request. "...Fish and chips? You hate fish. But okay." He said, shrugging.

"You're the best," Brynn said, reaching up to kiss him. "I'll see you at home." After another kiss, Brynn left the office to head to her least favorite place in the entire magical world: St. Mungo's.

Forty five minutes later and the former Lovegood was leaving St. Mungo's in a daze. She and Bayley would be adding another adventure to their list of adventures in such a short amount of time: parenthood. Pregnant. Brynna was pregnant. She had only just gotten used to being married, and now she was pregnant. Did people really start having babies this soon after getting married? The idea was insane to the blonde woman. How was she going to tell Bayley? How would he react? They hadn't even talked about kids yet! The only thing she was absolutely certain of was he wouldn't be mad. She knew Bay well enough to be sure of that. But how would he take the news?

Brynna thought about it her whole way home. She was almost scared to tell her husband, which she knew was ridiculous. She always told him everything. This should be no different, in theory. But it was. A pregnancy and children were life changing things. It wasn't like she had to tell him she'd had a nightmare about Brady coming after them. This was something that actually affected their lives. Brynn sighed and pulled open the door to her and Bayley's home.

She was instantly greeted by Bandit and Diego, their two dogs, barking to get her attention. Brynn kneeled down to pet them both, giggling when Bandit rolled over onto his back for her. She rubbed his belly for a minute before standing and going to search for Bayley. She found him in the kitchen putting food on plates for each of them. "That smells amazing."

"If you say so," Bayley said, wrinkling his nose at the smell. He hated the smell of seafood, and he knew Brynna hated everything about seafood. It was still odd to him that she'd asked for fish. But his wife was a Lovegood, and odd was in her nature, so he thought nothing of it. He passed her the plate anyways, curious to see if she'd actually eat it, or if this was just some kind of elaborate joke. "Fish and chips for the lady." He said, eying her curiously.

Brynna knew now why she wanted fish, having gone to St. Mungo's. "Thanks Bay." She said, kissing his cheek before hopping up onto the counter to sit and eat her food. She still preferred that to sitting at an actual table. She and Bayey ate in silence, Bayley making strange faces every time she ate a piece of fish, and Brynna thinking of how to tell Bayley they could expect a little Longbottom in roughly seven months.

"So what errands did you have to run?" Bayley asked when Brynna had finished off her plate.

Brynn thought about her answer long and hard. She supposed she would have to be blunt and tell him now. It would probably be the best way to tell him... "I had to go to St. Mungo's."

Bayley was instantly wary once she said that. Brynna hated the wizarding hospital and would never go there unless it was an emergency and was absolutely necessary to her well being. The last time she'd been there was when they'd both been injured while fighting Parkinson. He knew she wasn't drinking, so that couldn't be why she'd been there. "Is everything okay?" He asked, frowning. "Did something happen."

She nodded. "Everything's fine." Which was technically true. She was healthy and the Healer had told her that the baby looked healthy too. But she somehow doubted blurting out 'me and the baby are both fine' was an acceptable way to tell you're husband that you're pregnant. "Something happened, yes. But I don't think it's... Bad?" Brynn said, sounding more like she was asking a question, rather than answering one.

Bayley felt a sense of relief wash over him as soon as she said she was fine. He worried about her. And ever since she'd overdosed and gotten alcohol poisoning, nearly dying from it, he was always afraid something would happen to her. He raised an eyebrow as she said something happened that she didn't think was bad. But it still sounded, in his mind, like it had the potential to be really bad. "What happened?"

She should have known that Bayley would freak out with the way she worded it. He always worried about her. Especially after everything that had happened in the war. "I..." Brynn took a deep breath. "I'm pregnant."

Bayley blinked. She what? Did she just say she was pregnant? Bayley looked at his wife and opened his mouth, only to close it again a second later. "....Pregnant?" He finally asked.

"We um." Brynn paused to clear her throat, still nervous to see his real reaction once he comprehended the news. He still seemed to be in shock, much like she had been when the Healers told her. "We're going to have a baby."

"...We're having a baby." Bayley repeated, looking to Brynn for confirmation. When she nodded, he could feel the smile stretching across his face. Brynn was pregnant. They were going to have a baby. A perfect mixture of him and Brynna. He picked her up off the counter and hugged her to him. "This is the best news ever."

Whatever reaction Brynn had been expecting and preparing herself for, this excitement hadn't been it. She laughed as he picked her up, his excitement was apparently contagious. When he set her back down, she smiled up at him. "You really think so?" Brynn had been scared earlier when she'd found out. Was she ready to be a mother? Would she even be a good mother? Now, all she felt was giddy excitement. Had this been how her own mother had felt when she'd found out she was pregnant for the first time?

"Of course!" Bay said, wrapping his arms around her, still smiling. "We deserve it after everything we've been through. A baby is always cause to be happy and excited."

Brynn smiled and leaned up to kiss him, savoring the feeling of his lips on her own. "I'm glad you're so excited about this." She said, sighing contently.

"Why wouldn't I be? We made this," He said, placing a hand on her still flat stomach. "He or she will be a perfect combination of my awkwardness and your insanity and all ours." A cheeky grin replaced the smile on his face. "You know what this means, right?"

"That I'm going to get insanely fat, formonal, and will be sending you out for crazy and ridiculous food orders at four in the morning and will be cranky when you can't find me any pickles and ice cream?"

"No. Well, that too. But, no." Bayley laughed and kissed her nose. "It means you're stuck with me forever now." "Right. Because the ring on my finger didn't already solidify that I was stuck with you forever." Brynna said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "Rings are easily rid of. A baby, not so much." Bayley said. "Think you're ready to handle me, two dogs and a half-Lovegood-half-Longbottom crazy baby?" "I'm sure I'll manage." Brynn said. The idea sounded perfect: a mixture of Longbottom awkwardness and Lovegood eccentricity and insanity. It would sound weird to anyone else. But weird had always been the norm for Brynna Lovegood and Bayley Longbottom. And Brynn wouldn't have had it any other way. 

[paperback--novel]

Find My Way Back Home

Callidora Potter had never been the kind of person to judge someone when they had never personally harmed her or someone she cared about. That was why it had never been a big deal for her to treat Gavin Bagman when she'd found him left for dead in an alley before taking him to St. Mungo's. Although it had been said he was a member of the Regime, and she was a oart of the Bloodless, she had never let that get in the way of treating him and helping him get better. That was part of the reason she considered herself to be such a good healer. She could separate her personal and work life.

She was glad she was able to keep the two aspects of her life apart, otherwise she wouldn't have taken the time to get to know Gavin. Wouldn't have had the chance to fall in love with him. She found herself thinking about their story a lot lately. Calli supposed it was due to the new set of rules that had been passed, making it illegal for them to even be together because of their different blood statuses. Gavin, afraid of losing her like he'd lost his wife, had suggested she leave him. But Calli wouldn't hear a word of it. She was a Potter, like hell she would run with her tail between her legs just because the Black family ruled halfbloods couldn't be with purebloods.

Hell, she hadn't even left her job like so many other people had when halfbloods and muggleborns started getting fired. She still got up early and headed down to the hospital. Still came home late after a long shift, and still refused to let the Black family make her afraid for her life. Potter women didn't do that. 

Calli was patiently waiting for her shift at the hospital to end before she could go home to her boys. Well, if you could call watching the clock and counting down the seconds patiently, anyways. As soon as the clock struck eight, Calli hung up her Healer's robes and disapparated, excited to see Gavin and Mason. Just thinking about them was enough to make her smile. She'd always been too busy, too focused, on on her healing career to settle down and start a family. It was something her mother always gave her grief for. She was nearing thirty, was unmarried and had no children. When she'd found Gavin, who brought Mason along with him... Well, it was a wake up call for Calli. Healing wasn't her sole priority anymore.

"Anyone home?" Calli called into the seemingly empty house as she hung her purse and coat up on the rack after getting home. It was unusual for it to be this quiet when the boys were home. Mason was always loud since he'd been learning how to talk recently. No sooner than she'd thought about how quiet it was, she heard the soft pitter-patter of small feet on the wooden floor as well as a child's squeal of excitement.

"Mama, mama!" Mason flew at her like a hippogriff out of hell, latching himself onto her leg and grinning up at her, his solitary front tooth showing through his grin. "Mama!"

"Hi Masey." Calli cooed, picking the toddler up and cuddling him closer to her. She'd come to love Mason like he was her own over the time she'd known Gavin. "Where's your daddy?" She asked, grinning as she listened to him babbling away. It was hard to tell what he was saying because he was still learning to talk, but she distinctly understood the word 'bath' followed by a cheeky little grin from the toddler. Wondering what was so amusing to Mason, she walked to the back of the house and into the bathroom they'd dubbed Mason's bathroom. The sight waiting for her in there immediately made her bust into laughter.

"Were you bathing him, or was he bathing you?" Calli asked, still laughing at the sight of Gavin's wet shirt and the patch of bubbled in his hair.

"A little bit of both, apparently." Gavin said, frowning as the amused look on his girlfriend's face. "How do you not end up wet and covered in bubbles when you give him a bath? Teach me your ways, oh wise woman."

"Because I distract him. Use my wand and make the bubbles float around." Callidora said with a smirk. "Distract him and he's perfectly behaved in the tub. Isn't that right, Mase?" Her only response was the child giggling and pointing at Gavin.

"Mama, Dada wet!"

"Yep, Dada's wet." Calli laughed and looked at Gavin. "Why don't you go get changed and I'll put him to bed." She suggested, kissing Gavin's cheek before leaving to put Mason to bed.

Fifteen minutes later, Calli joined Gavin in the living room, flopping down on the couch next to him. "That took longer than usual," Gavin noted, putting an arm around Calli's shoulder and pulling her closer to him. "Usually he's out in no time for you."

"Yeah, well, he kept wanting me to read Babbitty Rabbitty to him." Calli explained, laying her head on Gavin's shoulder. "He kept repeating 'stump! stump! stump!' He's getting better with the whole talking thing."

"He is. ... He learned 'no' today." Gavin said, laying his head on top of Calli's. "That was all he'd say during bath time. I can only imagine what he'll be like when he's a teenager if he's already telling me no."

"Oh Merlin, help us all." Calli said with a small laugh. They fell into a comfortable silence after, just glad for the time spent together doing nothing but relaxing on the couch together. Between them taking care of Mason, her working long shifts at the hospital, and her Bloodless duties, it was a miracle when they both had the time to just sit and relax like this. "...The Regime came to the hospital today." She said quietly.

Gavin tensed up almost immediately after she'd spoken. He hated that Calli was still so adament about continuing working like she had nothing to worry about. Her sister was a werewolf on the lam, she was a halfblood Bloodless member and happened to be dating a Regime member who had really been a spy for the Bloodless and who now probably had a bounty on his head. Her life was anything but normal now. She was stubborn. Then again, her stubborn nature had been what made him fall for her... But he still worried that something would happen to her. He wouldn't be able to get through it if something happened to Calli, especially if it happened to be because of her relationship with him. He tightened his grip on her. "What happened."

"They were looking for my sister." Calli frowned. When the new laws had passed, there had also been one strictly regarding werewolves. Any non-Regime werewolves were to register themselves and be sent off to a government owned building. Calli had no idea what they did to them there, nor did she ever want to find out. Her younger sister, Dory, had taken off with her boyfriend, Keane, rather than registering herself. "She never showed up to register herself as a non-Regime werewolf for that stupid new registry. They wanted to see if I would give up any information."

"You're lucky they didn't torture you into giving them information," Gavin said, frowning at the thought of her being hurt by the Regime. "Calli... You can't keep working there. I know you want to try and continue like you did before, but it's getting dangerous. They came to your work this time. Whose to say they won't come to you at home? What will you do when they find out your harboring and dating a pureblood former spy, while you're a halfblood?"

"I can't quit my job, Gav." Calli said, lifting her head to look at him. "If I quit, that's letting them win."

"No. If you quit, that's you staying safe and alive." He said, placing his hand against her cheek gently, the frown still present on his face. "I don't lose you, too, Calli..."

Calli put her hand over Gavin's, giving him what she hoped was a small, reassuring smile. "The Regime has nothing on the stubbornness of us Potter's." She said, still smiling. "My great great grandfather defeated Voldemort, after all. If he can do that, I can keep myself out of harm's way."

"Calli, please be serious." Gavin said, leaning over to kiss her. "I just don't want you to get hurt. Neither does Mason. He loves you just as much as I do."

Calli returned the kiss and leaned her forehead against his. "I'm not going to get hurt. I've done way more dangerous things for the Bloodless where I could have been maimed or even killed. Way worse than keeping my job at St. Mungo's. You worry too much."

"And you worry too little, stubborn woman." He countered. Gavin could see he was getting nowhere with trying to talk her into quitting her job at St. Mungo's. She was just as stubborn as her ancestors. He only hoped she was just as strong as they had been, too. "Just promise you'll always come home." He finally said.

"Gavin, I will always come home." Calli said seriously, kissing him again. "I love you, okay, worry wart?"

Gavin rolled his eyes, trying and failing to keep the smile off of his face. "I love you, too, stubborn." He would still worry about her. Calli had never failed in keeping her word to him when she promised him something. He'd trust her to keep up that streak. 

[paperback--novel]

Someday, Somehow

Novalee Welland & Cameron Rogers (2,275 words)

Novalee Welland had never felt more miserable, more helpless, in her life. Not even when she and Matt had gone through one of their many break ups. That didn't even compare to how she felt now. It had been two weeks since the cancer claimed her mother's life. Two weeks that she'd had to absorb the fact that her mother was gone and she was never coming back. Her mother, the care-free photographer who always knew what to say. She'd never see her again, never hear her voice or her laugh again. Never have her mother there to hug her and tell her it was okay when she was upset. A strangled cry of despair escaped her lips just at the thought.

She didn't think it was fair. Why her mother? Why the woman who had been so good to everyone in life? It just didn't make sense to the blonde and she hated it. Nova had watched her mother be buried five days ago. The family and a few close friends had flown to England to lay her mother to rest, just like Sophie Welland had wanted. Once the funeral was over, she'd slipped away, ignoring her name being called by her family and friends. She couldn't take it all. Couldn't stand to be there one more minute. Nova had driven to the airport and taken the next flight to Los Angeles.

That had been the last time she'd seen anyone, talked to anyone. As soon as she'd gotten to her home in Los Angeles, Novalee had locked herself in the house with the curtains drawn. By the third day, she'd gone through all of the vodka in the house. She'd moved to whiskey since then. Her cell phone had over one hundred missed calls and just as many text messages. She vaguely remembered throwing it in a drawer in the kitchen so she couldn't hear it ringing anymore. She just wanted to be alone.

She was in the middle of chugging the remaining whiskey in her glass when she heard a knock on her front door. The noise hurt her head. Nova looked at the clock on the mantle, squinting to read the time. Ten o'clock at night. Who was visiting at ten o'clock at night? Maybe if she ignored the door, the person on the other side would go away. She sank deeper into the cushions of her couch, staring at the door.

"Nova. Open the door."

Novalee blinked. She recognized that voice. She'd recognize that voice anywhere. Why was Cameron at her house? He'd been at the funeral in England. She figured that by ignoring him as he called her name to stop her from leaving, he would know she wanted to be left alone. She just wanted to be left alone to drink and grieve the loss of the mother who had been so close to her. She continued to stare at the front door, hoping he would give up and leave her alone. She didn't want him to see her like this.

"Novalee Welland, open this damn door right now." Cam's voice cut through the silence of her house. "I have a key, don't make me use it. I'd rather you open the door for me than me have to use it. I'm coming in, one way or another."

Novalee cursed under her breath as she heard him mention the key. She forgot that she'd given him a key to her place in case he ever needed it. She knew Cam well enough to know he was serious when he said he was coming in one way or another. She gingerly pulled herself off of the couch and made her way to the door. Without saying a word, she unlocked the door and stumbled back to the couch where she buried herself beneath the blanket.

"Nova, what the --" Cam cut himself off as he noticed the state of his best friend's living room. There were empty bottles of vodka scattered across the floor with a few empty bottles of whiskey thrown in every so often. His eyes scanned the room until they finally landed on Novalee on the couch, huddled under a blanket, staring blankly ahead of her. His heart broke at the sight. He had never seen the blonde look so broken and small. "Jesus, Nova..." He didn't even know where to start: the empty bottles on the floor or the bird's nest on top of her head that was usually her well kept hair.

"Why," Nova croaked, stopping to clear her throat." Why are you here?" She asked, turning her bloodshot eyes to look at her giant of a best friend.

"You're my best friend, I was worried about you." Cam said, frowning when he saw her eyes. his was worse than he imagined. "I've called you, I've texted you. Your dad has called, Leah can't get a hold of you. Mer, Liam, Lina, Preston... Everyone. We're all worried, Nov."

"I'm fine." Novalee said, sliding into a lying down position on her couch. No, she wasn't fine. She was the farthest thing from fine. But Nova didn't want to admit that. She didn't want anyone worrying about her. She just didn't want any of them right now. Nova wanted her mother. Her eyes stung as she tried to blink away her tears.

"No, you're not." Cameron said, alarmed by her twisted sense of the word fine. She was anything but fine. She looked terrible: Her hair was a mess, her eyes were bloodshot and glazed over and it didn't look like she'd left that couch to change in days. "Nova..."

"Don't." Novalee said, shaking her head and closing her eyes. "Don't lecture. Just don't. Go home, Cameron."

"Like hell I'm going home," Cam said, frowning at the use of his full first name. Nova never used his full name. He took a seat in the chair across from the couch, emphasizing his point. He watched her closely, his worry growing steadily. "Nova, come on. Talk to me."

Novalee stared at him, unsure what it was he wanted her to say. He knew why she was upset. He also knew her well enough to know she wasn't the kind of person who liked to talk about what was bothering her. Nova liked to keep everything bottled up inside of herself until she was so full that she snapped. "There's nothing to say."

Cam sighed and shook his head. "You could say why there are so many empty bottles everywhere. That'd be a good place to start."

"I drank them." Nova said simply, shrugging her shoulders.

".... All of that. You drank all of that. In five days?" Cam was shocked. He knew Nova liked to drink her troubles away. But this much? She was spinning out of control. When he saw her reaching for the bottle of Jameson on the table, Cam snapped. "No. I am not letting you drink yourself to death." He snatched the bottle away from her, despite her protests. Once the bottle was away from her and out of her reach, he picked the blonde up easily, frowning when she slumped against him, giving in without putting up a fight like she usually would about being picked up. 

Cam walked into the bathroom and set her down on the floor of the shower, fully clothed, and turned the hot water on. "Shower. And then you're going to talk to me instead of drinking it all away." Cam said sternly, turning to walk out of the door to give her some privacy to clean herself up. He was halfway out the door when he heard Nova finally say something.

"She... She's gone." Novalee's voice hitched as she spoke. The tears built up quickly and soon she choked out a sob. Tears fell as she buried her face in her lap, her arms wrapped around herself at the middle as if she was trying to hold herself together, her shoulders shaking. The sight of her sitting in the shower in tears was too much for him to take. Not even caring about his clothes, Cam climbed into the shower next to her and took her into his arms.

"Shhh, Nova. It's okay. I'm here." He said as the small blonde clung to him like her life depended on it. He held her tighter, stroking her wet hair. Clothes be damned. His friend was more important than wet clothes. They sat like that for twentys minutes: Novalee falling apart in his arms, and Cameron holding her as hot water rained down on them.

"....We're soaked," Nova finally said, her voice raspy from her crying.

"Well spotted, Captain Obvious," Cam said, reaching up behind him to turn the water off. "Come on, let's get you dried off." He stood up, pulling Novalee up with him. He grabbed a towel off the rack by the shower and wrapped the tiny blonde in it. Once Nova was wrapped up and had less chance of catching pnuemonia, Cam looked down at his own wet clothes.

"I think you have some clothes here from the last time you crashed here," Nova said, hugging the towel tighter against herself. "I'll go get them." With that said, she left the bathroom to get Cam his clothes. She was still surprised, and a little embarassed, that he'd shown up when he did.

As Cam waited for Novalee to bring him clothes, he thoughts about the mess he'd seen upon entering the house. He'd never seen Nova look so terrible. He knew she'd be a wreck after losing her mother, he knew how close they'd been. But he hadn't expected it to be that bad. He was almost afraid to leave her alone for the night. What would he find if he left her and came back in the morning? Cam didn't want to find out.

"It's just some sweatpants and an old t-shirt," Nova said, breaking him from his thoughts. She handed the clothes to him. "You can throw the wet clothes in the dryer." Nova left after to give him privacy to change. She made her way to her bedroom to do the same. Not feeling like wearing actual clothes, Nova changed into a pair of old sweatpants she was 99.9% sure she'd stolen from Cam at some point in time and a tank top and climbed into the warmth of her waiting bed. She curled up into a ball under the covers, not moving after. The only movement was when she looked up when Cameron entered her room and came in to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Thank you," Came Nova's quiet voice after what felt like an enternity of silence.

"You don't have to thank me for caring, Nova." Cam said. "You're my friend, that's what friends do."

Nova nodded and fell silent again. She hated that Cam had seen her in the state she'd been in when he arrived. He'd seen her upset before, he was always the one she went to after a break up with Matt, but Nova knew she'd looked terrible earlier. "... I miss her."

"I'm sorry, Nov." Cam didn't know what else to say. He couldn't say he knew how she felt, because he didn't. His mother was still alive and well. He had no idea how Nova felt. "Is there anything I can do?" He hated seeing her like this. He was so used to the happy, upbeat, hyper Novalee Welland. This one curled up in a ball in front of him felt alien.

"It's not fair, Cam. She didn't deserve it." She said, blinking back tears. "I just want my mom back." Novalee rubbed at her eyes with the heel of her hand. She didn't want to cry anymore. Especially not with Cam there. She jumped when the bed moved, surprised to find Cam had slid into the bed next to her. He opened his arms to her and Nova moved into them, allowing him to crush her in a bear hug. She snuggled into him, longing for any kind of comfort she could get.

Cam wasn't sure how long they'd stayed like that: him hugging her and her clinging to him, but he was enjoying it. Bad timing. His brain yelled at him. He let go when he heard her let out a small yawn. "You're tired, you should sleep." When she nodded, he moved to get out of the bed, but was stopped by Novalee's small hand slipping into his larger one. 

"... Stay?" Novalee asked shyly, looking up at him. "I... I don't want to be alone. I thought I did, but I don't. Please don't go."

The begging tone in her voice and the look in her eyes would have made it impossible for anyone to say no to her. The minute she'd said 'stay' he'd been lost. Cam nodded and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Of course I'll stay." He said, smiling as he saw the corners of her mouth turn up into the tiniest of smiles. It was the first one he'd seen from her since her mom died. It was small, but it was a start. He climbed back into her bed and draped an arm across her body as she buried her face into his chest. "Go to sleep, Nova." He said quietly.

"Love you, Teddy Bear." She mumbled sleepily into his chest.

"... I love you, too, Novalee." Cam said, almost disappointed when he heard the slow, even breaths coming from her. Nova had passed out before she'd heard what he said. Cam sighed and hugged her tighter. Maybe someday. He thought to himself as he too slowly drifted to sleep. For now he could be content to be the one she needed to cling to. Someday he'd tell her for real. When the timing was right.

[paperback--novel]

All I Want For Christmas

Audrey & Madison (2,147 words)

The car ride to the airport had been long, thanks to traffic, and their way into the airport had been surrounded by paparazzi. The paparazzi had been hounding the couple since they came out in the open after her divorce was finalized six months ago. Normally the blonde hated the paparazzi and the blinding lights of their cameras, but they really hadn’t mattered to her once Madison had grabbed her hand and pulled her into the airport, grinning at the paps as he did.

“You’re such a camera whore,” Audrey had teased him as they’d walked inside.

“You love it.” Had been his only reply.

By the time they’d stepped off the plane at O’Hare airport, Audrey was giddy with excitement. There was snow on the ground and she was in a place she hadn’t been to in seven years. It was bittersweet in a way, but she wouldn’t bring those feelings up. It was Christmas time, it was snowing and she had Madison with her. All was well in Audrey’s little world.

While his girlfriend was busy surveying the snowy streets of Chicago, Madison was busy watching her, a smile on his face. This was the Audrey he’d known and loved. The one who got filled with a childish excitement when she knew there was going to be snow. The one who always had a smile pb her face. When he’d first seen her in Los Angeles, he’d been afraid his Audrey had been lost forever. He hadn’t liked the version of her that her asshole ex-husband had turned her into. Slowly but surely she’d turned into his Audrey again and he was thankful for it.

He was even more thankful that she’d suggested they go away for Christmas, just the two of them. Her suggestion of Chicago only made the idea more appealing. All of his favorite memories of Chicago had involved Audrey in some way or another. He was hoping this little trip would be added to his list of good memories here soon.

“It’s been years since I’ve seen snow,” Audrey said, breaking Madison from his thoughts. “Well, real snow anyways. Not the fake slushy mess they use on sets.”

“Well you get to see it now,” Madison said, standing behind Audrey and wrapping his arms around her waist as she looked out of the hotel room’s window. “I’m surprised you haven’t dragged me outside to make a snowman yet.” He said, chuckling quietly. He could remember their first winter together, back in college. She’d dragged him into the snow for five hours, making snowmen and snowangels. They’d been sick for a week after from the cold. “What’s the matter, afraid to get a little wet?”

“You of all people know that’s not true at all,” Audrey said, smirking as she leaned back against him, perfectly content to stay like that all day.

“Dirty mind. Where did you learn to talk like that? …Don’t answer that.” Madison said, grinning as he held her tighter. “You know, we haven’t had sex in the snow yet…” He said, pinching her side teasingly.

“Nor will we ever. Fun to play in, not fun to have sex in. I’d rather not get snow all over naked skin, thank you very much.” Audrey said. “But, I do want to make a snowman.” She turned to look at him, putting on her best puppy dog eyes.

“Hey, that’s cheating, you know I can’t say no when you do that!” Madison groaned. Her puppy dog eyes got him every time. “Fine. We’ll play in the snow. Go put snow appropriate clothes on.”

As Audrey ran off to find warmer clothes, Madison made his way to his suitcase, reaching in and pulling out a small velvet box. The one he’d had hidden in his drawer for the last seven years. He pushed the lid open and stared down at the ring inside. He’d thought about proposing several times. He’d thought about proposing to her while they were staying in Chicago for Christmas, but was it the right thing to do? No. He knew proposing was the right thing to do. He’d already let Audrey slip through his fingers once and he’d regretted that. But was it the right time to ask her? Frowning, Madison shoved the box in the pocket of his jeans just as Audrey came out dressed and ready to play in the snow.

“Come on, Madi!” The excitement in her voice was enough to drag him out of their room and down to the lobby without so much as a complaint. Anything that made Audrey smile like that was worth it in his book.

They’d been out in the snow for all of five minutes before Audrey launched a snowball at Madison, hitting him right in the face. A war had soon ensued. One which Madison had a definite advantage in. They were both soaked by the time they were done with the snowball fight, but neither of them could bring themselves to care. They were both happy just to be out there together.

“Your angel is so much bigger than mine,” Audrey said randomly, staring over at Madison still laying in his own snowangel. “Giant.”

“You’re just jealous, Blondie.” Madison said, looking over towards the hotel as he heard boots crunching on the snow.

“Sorry to interrupt,” The bell boy who had brought their bags up to their room earlier said as he appeared in front of them. “My manager wanted to let you know there is a complimentary bottle of champagne in your room. Can I get you anything else, Mr. and Mrs. King?”

“Oh, we’re not married.” Audrey said, blushing furiously at the bell boys assumption that she was Madison’s wife. “But no thank you.”

Mrs. King. The name repeated in Madison’s head. He had to admit he enjoyed the way that sounded. Mrs. Audrey King… Now his brain was just taunting him. Hadn’t he just been wondering if he should ask her while they were here? It made sense to ask her in Chicago. Chicago was where they’d had the happiest days of their relationship. Chicago had been where Audrey had moved with him when he was drafted to the White Sox after school without him even having to ask. Chicago had been where they’d had their best and worst times. Didn’t it make sense for it to happen here?

Audrey wondered what was going through Madison’s mind after the bell boys slip up. Marriage had been what ended their relationship the last time they were together. Would it feel weird to him to hear her called Mrs. King? She bit her lip, watching him as he sat in silence.

“It’s funny,” He said, breaking his silence. Audrey looked at him curiously, waiting for an explanation. “Seven years ago, being mistaken for a married couple would have freaked me out. When the bell boy assumed you were my wife, it didn’t.”

“Slip of the tongue.” Audrey said, laying back in the snow and resting her head on his chest. “We don’t even have to think about it. We don’t have to have the marriage talk.” She said quietly. Really, she just didn’t want to hear him say, again, he wasn’t ready to marry her. This time he could have all the time he needed to think about it. She wasn’t leaving again.

“It’s going to come up at some point, Aud.” Madison said, hugging her body closer to his. “I know you. You’d be happier as a wife than as a girlfriend.”

“That was the case seven years ago.” She said, lifting her head so she could look at him. “Not now. It’s different. I love you, you love me. I don’t need a ring to know that. I’m not going to run again just because you haven’t asked. I can be patient and wait. There’s no rush.”

Hearing her say there was no rush sounded weird coming from the woman who had wanted to marry him so bad so long ago. “So you don’t want to get married?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I didn’t say that. I just said I’ll wait for you. If you asked me now, my answer would be yes. If you ask ten years from now, my answer will still be yes.” Audrey explained. “My rushing you didn’t work last time and look where it got us. So I’ll wait as long as I need to. It doesn’t matter when, as long as I get you.”

Madison usually would have had a smartass remark for her. Madison didn’t do serious conversations. But this one needed to happen. If you asked me now, my answer would be yes… Her words resonated in his head. Screw timing, he thought.

“Hey Aud, look over there!” He exclaimed, pulling the ring box out of his pocket while she looked away. Here goes nothing.

“At what? I don’t see anything.” Audrey said, confused, as she turned to look at Madison. Her confusion only grew when she saw him kneeling in the snow. “What are you doing?”

“Something I should have done a long time ago.” Madison took a deep breath. “I told myself years ago that if I ever saw you again I’d ask you on the spot. It’s been six months, and I’m a little late on that.” Madison opened the box, watching as Audrey’s eyes widened. “I bought this when I planned on chasing you. I never did and I let you get away. I don’t want that to happen again… Marry me?”

Audrey stared at the ring in the box dumbfounded. Was this really happening? “I… You… What?” She asked, looking from the box, to Madison and then back to the box.

“Audrey, will you marry me?” Madison repeated. He would have laughed at the look on her face if he wasn’t asking such a serious, life altering question.

Audrey couldn’t find the words to answer his question… So she acted instead. She threw herself at him, knocking him back into the snow and kissed him as hard as she could. Madison returned the kiss witg just as much force, holding her against him tightly.

“So… Was that a yes?” Madison asked when he’d finally pulled away, grinning like a fool.

“That was more than just a ‘yes,’ that was a fuck yes.” Audrey said, kissing him again, gentler this time. The surprise proposal was, though unexpected as it was, perfect. It was spontaneous and so Madison and that only made Audrey love it more.

“Again with the dirty mouth… I love it.” Madison grinned. Now that he’d finally done it, finally used the ring he’d meant to seven years ago, it felt like a weight had been lifted off his chest. She had his ring on her finger now. Less flashy and more simple than the one that used to make him angry when he saw it, but it suited her. He knew Audrey. Simple was what she liked best. He held her against his body, resting his head on top of hers. “I’m glad you wanted to come here for Christmas.”

“I’m glad I did, too.” Audrey said, smuggling into his arms. “We should go inside. We have a bottle of champagne and a nice, warm bed waiting for us. We have some celebrating to do.”

“Does this celebration involve you with no clothes on?” Madison asked, smirking down at her. And serious Madison was gone.

“I’m sure that can be arranged if you’re without clothes, too.” Audrey countered, grinning.

“I like the way you think, Ms. Castle.” Madison said as he pulled her back towards the hotel. He was ready to get out of the cold and into the warmth of their room to celebrate late into the night with his fiance. Fiance. It felt strange to think of Audrey as his fiance, but a good strange. If it was even possible for strange to be considered a good thing.

Audrey stopped walking long enough to lean up and kiss Madison quickly. “Merry Christmas, Madi.” She said, a soft smile on her lips.

“Merry Christmas, Aud.” Madison said, stroking her cheek with his thumb. He didn’t care if he got anything else for Christmas. He had all he wanted and needed right in front of him.

[paperback--novel]

After All, You're My Wonderwall

Audrey & Madison (1,810)

 It had been a month since the fateful day that Audrey had finally come clean to Madison about everything with her husband. A month since she'd rekindled her romance with Madison. So much had changed so quickly within thirty days. Thirty days ago, she'd been hiding in her home, trying to keep anyone she knew from seeing a black eye. And now? Now she wasn't hiding. Now she was using the fresh bruises on her body. She hadn't used make-up to cover them up. She hadn't even bothered to throw on a long sleeved shirt to keep the hand prints from view. No, those didn't need to be hidden. Not from her lawyer.

Audrey had been with her lawyer for the better part of three hours. Carter Ford was an old family friend. He'd worked with Audrey's father at the start of his career, he'd known the Castle kids for years. So it only made sense for Audrey to hire Carter for legal advice and help.The minute she'd walked into his office, saying she wanted to file for divorce, he'd jumped right into action. He called the police, said he needed to report a case of domestic violence. He'd taken pictures of the bruises she showed him to use as evidence against Jake when the divorce inevitably went to court. He listened to everything she said, giving her his undivided attention. Told her she had a case, and that after looking at the prenuptial contracts, physical abuse canceled the prenup Jake had had her sign before their marriage. Physical abuse, with proof, was acceptable grounds for a dissolution of marriage. Audrey had never heard better news.

Not until Carter told her the house she'd placed an offer on two weeks ago had been approved. That the owners of the home had already moved out, and they could begin the closing process at her earliest convenience. She could move in as early as the next week. She was going to get the divorce and a place to get away from her soon-to-be ex husband even before the divorce was finalized. Her heart felt lighter than it had in two years.

As she left her lawyer's office, Audrey had a hard time keeping a smile off of her face. She felt that her smile was well deserved after all she'd been through over the last two years. She wanted to scream from the rooftops, she was so elated. The one person she wanted to share the good news with couldn't be told yet, though. He had practice right now and this was not the kind of news you shared through a text message. This was the kind that needed to be told in person. Madison deserved that much.

Just thinking about Madison made the smile on the blonde's face widen. They had been through so much. Seven years apart, the time apart that Audrey had thought they would never recover from. But they had. They had recovered quite well, in fact. Things were almost exactly as they'd been the last time they were together. The only thing different was she couldn't spend all of her time with him because of her husband. All of that was going to change now. Things were finally looking up.

Audrey sent Madison a text, asking him to meet her at the address she'd attached when his practice was over. She had an hour. Until then, she had a few things to do. Starting with meeting an auctioneer she could trust. She made a few calls and managed to get someone to agee to meet with her in fifteen minutes. She had a certain ring set to get rid of. Audrey wasn't going to give Jake the satisfaction of getting her rings back. She knew her engagement ring alone had set him back nearly twenty thousand dollars. She had been mad he'd spent that much originally. It meant the ring was incredibly flashy, which she'd never been fond of, and screamed 'Look at me!' But now she was happy he'd spent that much. It meant it'd be a real kick in the ass for him when he realized he really was out almost twenty grand. She didn't even want the money. Audrey just wanted the satisfaction of seeing Jake's face when he found out she'd given her rings up. It felt like a minor victory to her.

After meeting with the auctioneer and making sure he knew the money was to be donated to whatever charity he saw fit on her behalf, Audrey was on her way to the house that would soon be hers. She'd already let the realtor know she planned on stopping by to get some 'measurements' for changes she had planned and that she'd lock up before she left. The realtor didn't need to know she had no intention of making changes. By the time she got to the house, she only had five minutes before Madison was due to arrive. And she still had no idea how to tell him she was divorcing her husband.

Audrey had no doubt that Madison would be happy. There had been several times where one of them, usually Madison, would say how much easier it would be for them if her husband wasn't in he picture. Well, now he wasn't. They could really be together now. No more sneaking around. No more secret rendezvous in shady hotel rooms where they were guaranteed privacy. No more having to keep space between them when they went out to lunch under the pretense of being just friends. She could hold his hand in public and not have to worry about the paparazzi snapping their picture and catching it on film. Audrey never thought she could be so excited just to know she could hold someone's hand in public.

"Audrey?" Madison called as he walked into the seemingly empty house. He knew the blonde was here, he'd seen her car in the driveway. But he was confused as to why Audrey had asked him to meet her at a house that belonged to neither of them. What was the little minx up to now?

"I'm right here," Audrey said, coming out of doorway to his right. In that moment, she didn't care that he was probably sweaty from practice. She launched herself at him, crashing into him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and kissing him, hard.

Madison was nearly knocked over by Audrey's attack on him. "Well, unexpected greeting, but I'll take it." He said, smiling against Audrey's lips. "You do realize these windows have no curtains and anyone could see us, right?" Not that he really cared. All he cared about was the fact that he had her back. That Audrey was in his arms, where she belonged, and kissing him.

"They'll have to get used to it." Audrey said, grinning as she saw the look of confusion on Madison's face.

"Why do they have to get used to it?" He asked, almost afraid to know the answer. He never knew what to expect from the pretty blonde.

"Because the house is mine."

Whatever he thought she was going to say, that hadn't been it. Madison had been thinking more along the lines of this was going to be a part of the set for a new movie or tv show. Something along those lines. But the house was hers? "You and the husband moving?" He finally managed to ask, the word husband leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. He hated thinking about his Audrey with the asshole that treated her so badly.

"Not exactly," Audrey said cryptically, still grinning at him.

"Okay, now I'm confused. The house is yours, but you and the asshole aren't moving here?" Madison asked, confirming the hints she'd already given him. He really had no idea what the woman was saying to him. Maybe the heat from practice had impaired his ability to think straight.

"I'm moving here, he's not. I bought it or myself, not for he and I. I left him, Madi." Audrey said, her grin changing to a true smile.

Madison's mind was racing as he took in what Audrey had just said to him. He replayed the words in his mind. I left him, Madi. "You left him?" Madison repeated, a stupid smile crossing his face. This was what he'd wanted ever since he'd ran into Audrey in that bar almost two months ago. It was like a thousand pound weight had been lifted off of his shoulders with just four words. Audrey was getting away from that monster. He wouldn't be able to hurt her anymore. Madison wouldn't have to see her get hurt anymore. He could have her all to himself.

"We got into a fight last night and I realized I don't have to put up with it anymore," Audrey explained, placing a finger over his lips to silence him before he could protest. "I'm fine. The bruises won't last long this time. My lawyer took pictures of them and called the police to his office this morning to file a domestic violence claim. He's drawing up divorce papers as we speak."

"You really left him?" Madison asked, finally noticing her left hand. The one that used to hold the ring that had always been so offensive to his eyes. The rings were gone. Both of them. "...We don't have to keep this a secret anymore?" When Audrey shook her head, his smile widened. Madison pulled her tightly against his chest and kissed her with every ounce of passion he had in him. "Have I told you lately how much I love you?" He asked when he finally pulled back from the kiss, his hand coming to rest against her cheek.

"You have. But I wouldn't mind hearing it again." Audrey said, attempting to catch her breath. As happy as she'd been when she left Carter Ford's office that morning, that was nothing compared to the happiness she felt now. Nothing could beat seeing such a wide, happy smile on Madison's face, or being right there in his arms. It was confirmation to her that she'd done the right thing. Anything that made Madison smile like that couldn't possibly be a bad choice.

"You know... I'll almost miss the sneaking around. It was kind of fun. I felt like a ninja on a mission." Madison said, smirking down at Audrey as she clung to him like her life depended on it.

"I could always cancel the divorce. Keep this our dirty little secret." Audrey said, raising an eyebrow at him. She was certain he wouldn't want that.

"No! Mine." Madison growled, leaning down to kiss her. "I'm not sharing."

"Oh, possessive." A mischievous grin lit up her face. "I'm strangely okay with this. Maybe you should stake a claim, let the fanboys know I'm already spoken for." Audrey said, biting back a moan as she felt Madison's lips moving to her neck.

"I'm one step ahead of you, babe."

[paperback--novel]

Lights Will Guide You Home

Audrey & Madison (2,787)

It had been three days since Audrey had left her house. Three days since she'd had a terrible fight with her husband before he'd left to fly to New York for pre-production on a new movie he'd been cast in. Three days for the angry red welt to turn into an ugly bruise around her eye. She hadn't seen anyone since the fight. She had lied to the director, Aaron, when he'd called to see why she hadn't shown up on set of Bad Blood for filming. Claimed she was home with the flu and didn't want to get anyone sick. She'd used the same excuse when her sisters had called and wanted to spend time with her and her new puppy, Thor. She'd even lied to Madison the day before when he'd sent her a text, asking to meet up for lunch. Madison had needed to be lied to the most. While things were beginning to fix themselves between Audrey and her ex, she couldn't risk letting him see her face like this. With a black eye that she couldn't look him in the eye and lie about. Madison didn't need to know. It was her problem to deal with, not his. Maybe Madison was why this was happening to her. Maybe this was karma's way of paying her back for leaving him as cruelly as she had. She'd left a good man, so karma had sent her a bad one to make her regret leaving the one man she'd loved more than anything in the world. The same man that, if she was being completely honest with herself, she was still completely in love with. A knock on the door, followed by the sound of Thor barking broke Audrey from her thoughts.  She stared at the door, wondering who the hell it could be. Everyone she knew was convinced that she was sick and had stayed away like she'd hoped they would. Until now, apparently. Audrey stayed in her seat, praying the person would go away if she pretended she wasn't home. "Audrey, I know you're here. Your car is in the driveway." Her heart nearly stopped at the voice. Madison. What was he doing here? She could have sworn he'd said they could wait to have lunch until she wasn't 'sick' anymore. Fuck. He knew she was home. She had a black eye. What the hell was she going to tell him? She looked down, realizing she was still in the shorts and tank top she'd been in when she was reading out by the pool earlier and an idea struck her. "Just a minute!" Audrey called, snatching a book off of her bookshelf in the living room and throwing on an over sized pair of sunglasses to cover up the black eye. Once she had the glasses on, she went to the door and opened it. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw Madison standing there. Even though she'd known it was him at her front door, the sight of him still took her breath away. "Sorry, I was out back reading." Audrey explained, opening the door wider for him. "come in." Madison followed her inside, trying to keep his mind off of thoughts about her in those little shorts she was wearing. He had other things he needed to think about. Like how he was certain there was something up. He'd heard from Dorothy that Audrey hadn't been at work in a few days and wouldn't see her. That wasn't like Audrey to avoid her sister. He'd tried to get her out to lunch with him but she'd insisted she was sick. Yet here she was in shorts and looking as healthy as ever. Something just wasn't adding up. "Too sick for lunch with me and to go to work, but not too sick to skip out on reading by the pool?" Madison asked, raising an eyebrow as he watched her leading him out back. "You know, if you didn't want to have lunch with me, you could have just said so." "Oh, no, that's not it!" Audrey said, distraught at the thought of Madison thinking she didn't want to see him. "I was sick, and then I started feeling better this morning, but didn't want to risk lunch, so I just came out here to read instead." She really hoped he believed that lie. She was really getting bad at lying to him. Madison was sure Audrey wasn't telling the truth. But he wasn't going to call her out on it. ...Not yet, anyways. He followed her lead and sat down on one of the patio chairs, his mind racing. He'd come to Los Angeles for a reason. And it hadn't been just to play for the Dodgers. He'd seen the tabloids, read the reports of bruises being seen on Audrey. Heard that she'd brush them off as the result of a trip and fall. An accident. He might have believed that if he didn't know Audrey. If he didn't know she wasn't that clumsy. She wouldn't have been on their college's softball team on a scholarship if she was that clumsy. Madison wanted to believe that the gossip was just that; gossip. He wanted to believe that Audrey hadn't allowed herself to fall into this kind of situation. But the time he' spent with her at the bar that first night and how jumpy she'd been, and the times they'd been texting or hanging out over the last few weeks led him to believe there might be some truth to the rumors. "I'm glad you're feeling better, Aud," He said, the familiar nickname he'd had for her slipping out of his mouth. He fidgeted in his seat, wondering how to bring up the question he wanted to ask her so badly. 'Hi Aud, is your husband kicking your ass?' He couldn't just blurt something like that out, could he? Her in those shorts and those sunglasses covering her eyes weren't helping him focus, either. "Those glasses are pretty distracting. It's not even sunny out, it's overcast." He pointed out. "Could you take them off? I can't see your eyes." Audrey panicked almost immediately. If she took the glasses off, he'd see her eye. He'd ask questions. Questions she knew she wouldn't be able to lie her way out of. But if she didn't take them off, he would assume there was something wrong. It was a lose-lose situation for her. Maybe she could cover this up. "Fine, but you have to promise not to laugh at me." "Why would I laugh if you take off your glasses?" Madison asked, confused. "I was playing with Thor the other day and he knocked me off of my feet and into the corner of a table," Audrey lied, slowly taking her sunglasses off, revealing the bruise covering her eye. "It looks worse than it feels." She added, though it still stung at times, even after three days. Once her glasses were off, Madison felt a surge of anger through his entire being. There was no way a puppy could have caused a bruise like that just from knocking her over. Madison seen enough fights to know what a black eye from a fist looked like and that was definitely what that bruise was. "Audrey..." He began, gritting his teeth. "What really caused that?" "I just told you," Audrey said, looking away from Madison. She couldn't look him in the eye and keep the lie up. She just couldn't do it. "Cut the bullshit, Audrey." Madison said, his heart breaking as he watched her look away from him. He was ninety nine percent sure he knew what that black eye was from. "...Did he do this to you?" He asked quietly, hoping and praying that he was wrong. The way Audrey froze, the look of defeat in her eyes as she turned to look at him was more confirmation than her words could ever be. That look said it all. "Audrey..." "Don't," She said, shaking her head. "Don't say anything." "Audrey, I can't ignore that." Madison said, appalled that she could even think to tell him not to say anything about it. "Drop it, Madison." Audrey said, standing up from her chair and moving towards the house. "It's not your problem to deal with, it's mine." "Not my problem!?" Madison asked incredulously. How bad had this been, how long had it been going on, that she was refusing his help? "He's hurting you. How is that not my problem? I've known you for years. How can you say it's not my problem?" "Because it isn't," She said, refusing to look at him. "We're not together. Whatever happens to me isn't your concern." Her words only fueled his anger more. "I don't give a damn if we're together, or if we're not. You wanted us to be friends. This is what friends do. I'm not going to just sit back and let that asshole do this to you!" He seethed, reaching out to touch her arm, dropping his hand when she flinched. Seeing her flinch away from him made his heart ache. The woman he'd been in love with for so long was broken. Even more broken than he was himself. "Aud. Look at me. Please." "Just go, Madison." Audrey said, her back to him. She couldn't face him now. Not when he knew how much she'd lied to him since they'd been back in each others lives. Not now that he knew what she'd allowed to happen to herself. She couldn't stand to hear the concern in his voice. She didn't deserve it. "I can deal with this on my own." "No. I'm not going anywhere." Madison said, getting up from his seat and following her towards the house. "I made the mistake of letting you walk away once, I'm not making that mistake again." He finished, moving to stand in front of her. "Let me fix you. Let me in, Audrey. I can't help you if you won't talk to me." She shook her head again, tears welling up in her eyes. "I don't deserve your help. Not after what I did to you." The fact that she didn't think she deserved to have him help her out of this situation was gut wrenching. "I don't care what happened then, Audrey. I want to help you. I can't see you hurt like this. I can't sit back and let it happen." "Madison, I-" "No! You listen to me," Madison said, reaching out to her, lifting her chin up so he could look her in the eye. "He doesn't deserve you. He's not good enough for you." Against his better judgement, he stepped closer to her, his thumb gently tracing the bruised skin around her eye. He smiled just the slightest bit when she didn't flinch away and moved closer to him instead. This was what he'd needed. To be close to her. All those years spent sleeping with other women, it had all been in a vain attempt to replace the woman standing so close to him now. So close he could lean down and kiss her. It was so tempting. His heart screamed for him to do it, but his brain screamed not to. Audrey was having the same argument with her head and her heart. She closed her eyes, the soft touch of his skin against hers was soothing. Feather light touches instead of the rough hands of her husband. "It should have been you." Audrey said, her voice just barely above a whisper. "What should have been me?" He asked, adopting the same quiet tone she'd used. Afraid if he spoke any louder, she'd realize how close they were and run away again. "Everything. This... This house, this ring... It was supposed to be you. I wanted it to be you." Audrey said, biting her lip. "I... I still want it to be you.." Madison felt his heart skip a beat in his chest. What did she say? She still wanted him? Weeks ago, he would have said he'd misheard her. That she was in love with her husband and over him. But now? Now, everything was different. He knew her husband was an abusive asshole, and here she was, still wanting him. "You can't mean that," Madison said finally, his hand dropping from her face. This was entering dangerous territory now. It was easier for Madison to behave and listen to his head when he was convinced she didn't want him. "I mean it, Madi." Audrey said, instantly missing the way he'd so gently caressed her skin after his hand dropped away. "I never got over you. Even after I got married. I settled because I didn't have you. You were in Chicago and I was here because I fucked up. I was an idiot. It was you. It's always been you." This was a lot to take in. The love of his life was telling him she wasn't over him. That she still wanted him, even though she was a married woman. Married women had always been against his rules. A ring just wasn't something he would disrespect. But this wasn't just any woman. This was the woman he'd been trying to replace for seven years. This was Audrey. His Audrey. The one he had let get away, and didn't want to see get away again. "Aud, you keep saying things like that and it's making it hard for me to stop myself from doing something stupid." Madison warned, pulling her into his arms, despite his brain screaming at him. "I can't promise I'll honor that ring on your finger." "...What if I don't want you to?" She asked, looking up and into his eyes. "What if I asked for it?" "Audrey, I-" "Kiss me?"  Two words. That was all it took for what little self control Madison had still had to crumble. He pulled her as close as he could, kissing her like he'd wanted to for seven years. Audrey returned the kiss eagerly, her arms locking around his neck. This was right. This was how it was always meant to be between them. Madison pulled away first, out of breath, and leaned his forehead against hers. His memories of of how her lips had felt against his hadn't done kissing Audrey any justice. "I love you." He found himself saying, his heart winning against his head. He'd wanted to tell her that for weeks. He needed to hear her say it. Needed to know this wasn't just her asking him to kiss her in the heat of the moment. "I love you, too," Audrey said without hesitation. "I never stopped. Not for one second." That was all he needed to hear before his lips were on hers again, kissing her hungrily. He needed this, needed her. And Audrey needed him, too. She pushed on his chest, the two stumbling into the house, lips never leaving each other. Madison picked Audrey up to carry her, smirking against her lips as she wrapped her legs around his waist. "Where?" He asked, groaning as Audrey's lips moved to his neck, feeling her gently nipping at his skin. "Down the hall, first door on the left. Guest room." Audrey said before kissing him again. Madison pushed the door open with his foot and walked inside. He set Audrey down on the end of the bed. He stood there watching her for a moment, wondering if this was all a dream. Wondering if he'd wake up in Matt's apartment on the couch he was constantly falling asleep on. It'd be a damn good dream if that was the case. Audrey bit her lip nervously as Madison looked at her. She was sure she looked terrible with that black and blue mess on her eye, but the way Madison was looking at her... It was the same way he'd always looked at her when they were together. When he'd tell her he'd never seen anything more beautiful. Audrey smiled up at him as she tugged at the hem of his shirt. He complied, pulling his shirt off silently. Once it was off, Audrey pulled him down on top of her, kissing him softly.  "Audrey." Madison interrupted, pulling back a little. "Are you sure?" Shut up, idiot! His brain, now taking his heart's side, yelled at him. You finally have her again! "I've never been more sure of anything," Audrey said honestly, resting her hand on his cheek. "I love you. I want this. You and I need this." She said, leaning forward to put her forehead against his. "You said you wanted to fix me, right?" When he nodded, Audrey trailed her hands down his chest and stomach til she reached his belt. "So fix me." She said, smirking. "I can do that." Madison said, a grin stretching across his face. And he did. For the rest of the afternoon and well into the night.