Summary: Neither you nor Robby ever finalized the divorce. You simply split your lives in half and carried on as if the other no longer existed.
The arrangement works perfectly—until the twins you’ve spent years raising apart find each other at camp and decide their parents need a little help.
Pairing: “Husband!” Robby x “Wife!” reader
WC: 8.2k
Warnings: 18+, arguments, robby was an asshole, mentions of failing marriage, slight smut, miscommunication, yearning! robby, your daughters are sneaky, insight to their parenting, the kids do not have phones at camp, probably minor inaccuracies, slightly proofread, fade to black at the end.
Years ago..
When you were younger, navigating life, and trying to understand exactly what you wanted out of life— you met Michael. Michael who later began to call Robby, was quiet and stayed to himself more often than not.
You met him when you attended a medical conference, a conference where doctors and med students from all over gathered for various lectures or seminars. You wanted to pretend like you didn't see him at first, like he wasn't attractive when he smiled at you.
Truly, you can't even remember why your parents had you join them at the conference— but by the end of the night you were kissing Robby, the man you pretended not to see.
Robby was interested in you, geniunely interested in you— in a way that you hadn't experinced before. He found your loud laugh, your random questions, your intelligence, and your undeniable beauty, enticing. His interest in you went beyond wanting a good one night stand, but he wanted to know you in every way possible.
Just by sheer luck, you and Robby lived in the same city— just about thirty minutes from one another. Which made it possible to keep in touch and to see where things could go.
You couldn't understand why the day that you met Robby went the way it did or why you showed deep interest— but it must've been fate.
The two of you kept your promise and kept in touch, calling whenever you could and leaving silly voicemails in each other's voicemail box.
Your dates always consisted of takeout on his couch, while he also helped you study for upcoming law school exams. Despite having little knowledge on the subjects, he didn't mind— even if he had to look up the answers himself.
You spent plenty of nights laying in the bed beside him, your head on his chest— wondering how you'd ever move on if he left.
He was your moon and you were his sun— both unable to exist without the other.
Your parents were estatic that the two of you had found each other, even with the age gap— they approved.
It was rushed but two months after the year mark of dating, Robby proposed. You had no idea that he was going to, nor were you expecting it any time soon.
Your family was having their annual family barbeque at your parents house, everyone in one specific color that was picked out. The color that year just so happened to be a cream white, which could have been intentional— but Robby would never tell you.
"I can't believe that you planned this.. decided to propose to me." You laughed, your eyes filled with joy.
He pulled you closer to him, flashes of light hitting the two of you as relatives took pictures and cheered.
"I knew from the moment that I met you, baby. I was always going to make you mine."
The two of you shared a kiss, your tears wetting his cheek.
"I want whatever life that I can get with you." He mumbled against your lips, his curving into a smirk.
That night was a blur besides the fact that you couldn't stop looking at your ring and feeling so complete, like you had hit the lottery.
You had been engaged for two months, still trying to figure out what you were going to do.
You never thought that you'd be planning a wedding so soon, especially in the middle of studying for your bar exam.
A big wedding was something that you weren't interested in, even though your parents volunteered to cover the bill.
The day had finally come a few weeks ago and you had taken your bar exam. You hoped that your studying and years of hard work paid off. Robby sat beside you, holding one of your hands as you hesitated on clicking the mousepad for your results.
"Take a deep breath, honey—"
"You passed, I know you did." Robby assured you.
Your heart thrummed in your chest, feeling like it could beat out of it.
You took the leap and pressed the mousepad, the page loading.
It felt like an eternity to be honest.
"Congratulations.."
You gasped, jumping in your seat— glancing at Robby.
"Babe.. I did it—"
"I fucking did it!" You yelled with excitement, squeezing Robby in a tight hug.
"Yeah, you fucking it did it. I'm so proud of you." He chuckled.
He pressed a kiss to your lips, your eyes landing on eachother.
"I love you so much, honey—"
"Let's go to the courthouse and get married today."
You pulled back, staring at him with a shocked smile on your face.
"Robby? What?"
He grabbed your hand, holding it in his.
"I mean it, I don't want to wait anymore and what better way to end this day?"
Robby was serious, more serious than you'd ever seen him about anything.
You nodded, "okay."
You Pulled him into another kiss, completely filled with joy.
You called your parents and took them by surprise, telling them that not only did you pass the bar exam— but you were going to get married at the courthouse.
The two of you found the perfect outfits to wear and raced down to the courthouse, hoping to get seen before the time cutoff.
You barely made it with only five minutes to spare.
That day at the courthouse, in rushed clothes, with heightened emotions, you and Robby tied the knot— with only your parents there to witness.
Sure, there was no grand wedding with bridesmaids, fancy food, and over a hundred guests— but it was better than you imagined.
You married the person that you couldn't see your life without, the person that showed you what love was.
Your parents shed a few tears taking pictures of the two of you and being surprised by the randomness of it all.
That night when the two of you were alone, you laid underneath Robby— his mouth on yours, your legs wrapped around him, the sounds of your love filling the air as his cock snapped into you.
"It feels so good." You whined.
"I know it does, baby. You're doing so good taking every inch of me."
Robby's cock filled you, taking your breath with each thrust— your pussy still not used to him.
"Fuck." You rasped.
That sex was the best the two of you had ever had, the passion at an all time high. Something that you could look forward to for the rest of your life.
Robby was yours and you were his.
The first four years of marriage had passed by before you knew it. The two of you had found a rhythm that worked best for your marriage. Your hours at the firm and his hours at the hospital lined up, meaning that the two of you could end the night together.
You never expected your marriage to be perfect all of the time or at all, because there was no such thing as a perfect marriage. Your parents had been married for well over twenty years and it wasn't always easy, but they managed.
Your marriage with Robby was barely at the four year mark and it was constantly teetering on the brink of ruin.
He had changed, changed into someone that you didn't recognize. He wasn't the Robby that you had fallen in love with, he was a shell of him.
You didn't know whether it was the job or just maybe that his love for you had dwindled, but all he did was push you away. He didn't want to talk and work on things, he just always wanted to be alone— sitting on the couch by himself.
If you hadn't gotten pregnant, you probably would have given him what he wanted and left— but you wanted to make it work. You didn't want to give up on him, because he could get through whatever was troubling him.
You stood at the sink, washing out the few dishes that remained— the swell of your belly pressed against the countertop.
Robby came into the kitchen, hovering near you— watching you without saying anything.
"I want a divorce." He spoke, his words cold and to the point.
Your hands stilled on the mug, the water running over your hand.
"What?" You replied, your voice shaky and eyes unable to meet his.
"I just don't want to do this anymore.. be trapped here—"
"In this." He continued, looking around the kitchen.
You put the mug down in the sink, turning off the faucet— a pressure building in your belly.
"Michael.. you don't mean that."
He nodded, his lips pursed— the lines near his eyes deepening.
"I do."
"I'm pregnant with your daughters ..”
"and you want to end things, now? or even at all?" You questioned, your voice coming out small and lip beginning to quiver.
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"That wasn't exactly what we planned, but it happened and it doesn't mean we have to stay together."
Your eyes watered, a sob clawing it's way up your throat.
"Is there.. Is there someone else?"
He laughed with annoyance, throwing his hands up.
"Christ!—"
"There isn't anyone else, I just want to be done with this. I don't want to come home and be hovered over because you feel like I'll kill myself."
His words were cruel, devoid of any love that he claimed he once had for you. The total opposite of the sweet words and promises that he said on your wedding day.
"Michael.." You mumbled, tears falling down your cheeks as you stepped closer.
He took a step back.
"Please, just please.. don't make this harder than it needs to be."
Your hand curled around your belly instinctively as if you needed to protect them.
"What about them? What about raising them?"
Robby snapped, "I didn't even want a baby and you expect that to make me stay? stay with a wife who acts like a dog waiting to be kicked? A wife who can't leave well enough alone?"
You flinched, your mouth opening and completely shutting without any words leaving.
Robby watched the pained expression on your face, instant regret filling his veins as he took a deep breath.
"I didn't.. I didn't mean.."
You turned back to the sink, blinking through the tears as you pulled the handle for the hot water.
"You did mean it.. and thats okay." You softly muttered.
Robby stood there for a second longer, watching as you breathed through the broken sobs that escaped your mouth.
The last three months of your pregnancy flew by, faster than you expected. Everything in your house shifted after what Robby said, his words changed something in you— breaking the last remainants of the hopeful dream you had.
Robby started seeing a pyschiatrist and getting the help that he needed, the help that you had begged him to get for several months.
When he finally did get the help, you were happy for him— happy that he was getting what he needed. However, for you— your marriage ended that night that he said those things. He said things that you would've never said, especially not to your pregnant wife.
You slept in the guest bedroom the last three months, eating meals by yourself, spending more time with your parents. You gave Robby the space that he wanted so badly and let him be.
For Robby, getting the help that he needed was like waking up from the perputal nightmare that he'd been trapped in. Only once he woke up, you weren't standing there waiting.
The words that left his mouth that night had haunted him ever since. He'd hurt you in a way that no apology could fix.
You no longer smiled at him when you came into the house, tried to make small talk, or even waited up for him after you cooked. You gave him exactly what he asked for, only it wasn't what he truly wanted.
When you went into labor, Robby never left your side and was there every step of the way. To the average person, they would've thought he was the perfect husband— but they couldn't see the rot beneath the surface. How the very foundation of your marriage was only still withstanding while you gave birth.
You gave birth to two very healthy girls on Christmas eve at 7pm. The best christmas present in the world.
Hayden and Lottie.
Two girls who looked more like their father than they did you.
Your parents doted on them— taking pictures of them, along with you and Robby holding them. They were so happy for you, completely unsuspecting of the news that you'd tell them about your marriage.
When you went home with the girls, you were relived to not be pregnant anymore and to finally get your body back— but you didn't expect the whirlwhind of emotions.
You came back to a home that you didn't recongize with a stranger.
Robby loved being a new dad and holding them, loving on them as much as he could. He let you be, because he knew that was what you needed.
You realized that your marriage was truly over and that you needed to leave, you needed a new space to grow in. You needed a fresh start for your daughters and your new year.
You also understood deep down inside that you couldn't handle two small babies on your own— not with your schedule, career, and budget. You also didn't want to take them away from Robby or do the back and forth.
Somewhere in the haze of emotions and multiple unfortunate conversations, you and Robby decided to split them.
He'd raise one on his own and you'd raise one on your own.
It was far from normal and most wouldn't agree to it, but both of you figured that it would work best for the two of you.
You moved your things out and said goodbye to Hayden, while Robby said his goodbye's to Lottie.
A feeling that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. You gave birth to two and left with one, understanding that you wouldn't raise her or probably ever know her.
It wasn't supposed to end that way.
11 years later..
Shortly after you and Robby seperated, you landed a job as an attorney working for the media outlet— Waystar Royco's international division. With no idea what your life would even look like after Robby, you and Lottie boarded a plane leaving for London.
You moved to London with only a few bags and freshly into motherhood, looking for the fresh start that you craved.
You didn't worry about even starting the divorce process, you just left.
Living in London was such a big change compared to living in the states, but you adapted quickly and got used to everything— including only raising Lottie.
Lottie was an easy baby, only fussing occasionally and always giggling at the little things that she saw.
Lottie looked just like Robby— dark brown hair, brown eyes, and she had a few freckles that went across her nose like a bridge.
You often wondered how Robby was doing, what Hayden was like, and what the two of them would be like together— but the decision was made for the best. You knew that regardless of everything else, Robby loved his daughter more than anything and would do his best raising her.
Lottie asked about her father often, but you'd cahnge the subject and keep your answers vague.
She normally didn't mind, but you knew that one day that was bound to change— especially with the rise of social media. You just prayed that any information regarding him would only be found out once she was an adult and could perhaps understand your decision.
Even though you're not british, nor a citizen— Lottie had an adorable and sometimes raspy british accent.
Lottie was easy— she loved to play with her barbies, play with her friends, and read books. If she wasn't doing that, she was practicing her ice skating with her coach.
Lottie had been enrolled in ice skating since she was four, something she's loved ever since.
That year, there was a camp being held for girls around her age— girls who participated in ice skating in competitions. There was also a conference for their coaches.
Lottie begged to go, considering it was fully sponsered. She'd been invited for the last two years and you had said no, but you agreed this time. You wanted her to go have fun with girls her age and to learn new techniques.
The only thing that worried you was that the camp was in Colorado, in the states. Lottie had never been to the states and it would be so far away from you.
It would be three weeks of her summer break, not the end of the world— at least thats what you reminded yourself.
Lottie came downstairs in a striped shirt, her hair pulled back into a ponytail with a red bow attached.
"Mummy, are you positive that you can't come as a guide on this trip? I want you to."
You glanced up from your computer screen and the email that you were responding to.
"I'm sorry, honey— I can't. I'd love to, but I still have to work."
Lottie pouted dramatically in front of you, coming to take a seat at the table beside you.
"Please.. Please." She whined.
You reached across the table, gently rubbing her hand.
"Lottie, if you're scared to be away from me— you don't have to go."
"I'm not scared, mum.. I just don't want you to miss it."
Your expression softened, your heart feeling like it was being squeezed in your chest.
"Sweetheart, I won't miss a thing. Coach Jessie is going to record everything and send it to me, then when you get back we can go to the rink together—"
"How does that sound?"
She perked up, a smile on her face as left her seat to hug you.
"Deal!"
You hugged her back, your hand holding her head.
"That's my girl." You laughed.
ꕀ
While you were in London, winding down for the night with Lottie. Robby was picking up Hayden from Mckay's house— Hayden and Harrison had a playdate while Robby ran errands.
As the years had gone by, Robby had began to get the hang of things with being a single dad. There was quite a bit of trial and error at first, but nothing that he couldn't recover from.
That first year of not having you around or knowing if his girls were okay, nearly broke him.
He missed you and regretted so much, more than he could begin to even remember. He made you think that this was neccessary, that he didn't love you and that wasn't true. He loved every bit of you and the gift of fatherhood that you gave him, he just was in a bad place.
When the night would come in and it would be just him and Hayden, he always fought the urge to not fly there with her and beg for your forgiveness— beg for his family back.
But, he needed to let you go— he had to. He had already done enough.
Hayden was a fussy baby— a bit more of a crybaby than he expected and she often kept him running on fumes when he'd go to work the next morning.
She was very similar to Robby, not just with her looks— but personality. She could be rough and sassy at times, giving him a run for his money.
Robby relied on a babysitter throughout the school year, because he wouldn't be off in time— which also meant that they didn't get much time together before bed.
Hayden was similar to you in the fact that she loved to sleep and if she didn't get enough it was everyone's problem.
She was like you in many ways, she even picked up the habit that you had while pregnant with them— humming while she ate.
Hayden asked about you frequently, but Robby avoided the subject as much as he could. Hayden would even sometimes bring you up to get under his skin.
"I don't think my mother.. wherever she is, would appreciate you not telling me stories about her." She'd tease with a smile.
Robby enrollled Hayden into ice skating a few years back, because she had a strong interest in it. He didn't realize how much her coach, neccesities, and competition's would eat into his monthly balance though.
When she was invited to the camp this year in Colorado, he had no problem with saying okay— because that meant he could take extra shifts without needing a babysitter.
Robby sat on the couch, scrolling on his phone and trying to schedule a grocery order.
"Dad, I'm out of soap!" Hayden shouted in the hall from the bathroom.
Robby glanced over his glasses.
"Use mine, sweetheart." He yelled back.
There was a beat of silence, him thinking that he had solved the issue.
"Ew, it stinks!" She yelled.
He sighed, "I will add some to the order."
There was another beat of silence.
"Dad, don't forget that I need another suitcase!"
Robby pulled his glasses off, scratching his brow in disbelief.
"Honey, whats wrong with yours?"
"It's too small, remember?" She added.
"Right.. right." He mumbled to himself, searching suitcases in the walmart app.
At this rate, he'd be sleeping at the hospital for extra shifts. His child was going to drain his account before she left.
The morning that the girls leave for camp…
You and Lottie had been up late the night before, she was going to miss you and didn't want to admit it— because she was scared that you'd make her stay.
The truth was, you were going to miss her too. This was the first time in eleven years that she would be traveling without you and away from you in general.
That night before, she came into your room with two pb&j sandwiches on a plate — crawling into bed beside you.
"What are these for?" You asked with a smile, setting down your book on the nightstand.
"Well, I won't see you for three weeks and they're our favorite."
She was so thoughtful and had a heart full of love, you grabbed half of your sandwhich and bit back tears.
Where had the time gone? she wasn't your small baby anymore, she was growing up faster than you wanted her to.
"Well, thank you. We haven't gotten to enjoy these together in awhile, since I've been busy with work."
She bit in her sandwhich, chewing on it and staring at your tv on the wall.
"I'm going to miss you, honey." You admitted.
She glanced at you, her mouth full of bread.
"Mum, don't.."
You laughed a little, your glassy eyes obvious to anyone that looked hard enough.
"Don't what?—"
"It's true, I will miss you. I won't know what to do for those three weeks, I'm so used to having my sidekick around."
You stared at the tv for a moment, chewing your sandwhich— but you were stopped mid chew by the sound of sniffling.
Lottie chewed beside you, her cheeks now stained with tears.
You sat your sandwhich back down on the plate, pulling her close to you.
"Oh, Lottie. I didn't mean to upset you."
Her tears wet your pajamas, " what if I don't make any friends there?"
You rubbed her shoulder with a scoff.
"Don't be silly! You'll make plenty of friends, you won't even remember why you cried to begin with. There will be plenty of girls there that are the same age as you, girls who are interested the same thing."
"Maybe, maybe not." She muttered, wiping her nose.
"There will be, trust me." You reassured her, kissng her forehead.
"Can I sleep with you tonight?" She asked glancing up at you.
"Of course, darling." You smiled, grabbing the rest of your sandwhich.
Lottie had to practically be dragged from the bed the following morning, completely overcome from exhaustion— because she wanted to stay up and watch Stranger things.
Both of you were tired, truly— but you got her up and ready.
The chef had breakfast prepared for the two of you— waffles, eggs, bacon, and orange juice. It was Lottie's favorite meal for breakfast.
Lottie was excited, "This plane ride will be scary—won't it?"
You smiled at her curiousity, finishing your waffle.
"Not neccesarily, You'll be in first class with Jessie sitting right beside you."
"Will I be able to sleep?" She pried.
You wiped your mouth with a napkin, "that depends. It will be a long flight and at some point you'll sleep, but I can't tell you for how long or how good."
You finished your breakfast, putting your plate in the sink— while Lottie sat at the table eating and reading her book.
You double checked her luggage, making sure that she had everything that she needed.
"Are you going to work after you drop me off?"
"Yes, sweetheart. I have a meeting at the office today." You mumbled, squatting as you zipped her dufflebag back up.
"Lottie, please finish your food quickly. Gerard will be here soon and we must make haste to meet Jessie on time."
Lottie turned the page of her book, paying you no attention.
You went upstairs, grabbing your heels and glancing over your outfit in the process. As you came down, Gerard honked the horn outside.
"Lottie!" You yelled, your feet thumping against the carpeted stairs.
"I'm finished, mum. I'm grabbing my bags." She responded.
You opened the front door for Gerard, who came to grab Lottie's bags.
"Goodmorning, Lottie! are you excited for your camp?" He asked with excitement, taking her bags.
"I am, I think it might be fun." She replied, trailing behind him to the car.
You glanced around, making sure that you had everything— considering that you wouldn't have time to come back.
"Deep breaths, everything will be just fine." You whispered to yourself as you walked out of the door, shutting it behind you.
The slightly cool London air brushed against your skin, the coolness that didn't last long— because by the middle of the day you'd be miserable.
During the car ride to the airport, Lottie had you braid her hair— because she didn't want it to be a "mess" during the entire flight.
"Also, please do not share any brushes or combs at camp. I packed you an extra of both, just in case you lose yours." You gently reminded her, adding a bit of gel to slick back her frizzy hairs in the front.
"What if I lose those?"
"Lottie."
"I know, I know. It was a joke." She smirked.
Most of the ride was quiet, Lottie still reading that book and you enjoying the last few minutes with her.
When you arrived at the airport, Jessie was already there and met you outside. Gerard unloaded Lottie's bags, while you stood with her on the sidewalk.
She hugged you tight, as tight as her little arms could.
"I fear that I am going to be very bored here without you." You teased.
"I might be bored without you too, I'm not sure yet." She giggled.
You crouched down to her height, staring into her big brown eyes— the ones that she took exactly from Robby.
"The time will fly by before you know it, but until then— you behave and have fun, okay?"
She smiled, "Okay."
"I love you, honey."
"I love you too, mum."
You stood, placing a kiss on her forehead.
"Jessie, keep me updated."
She nodded, holding Lottie's bags.
"I will and I'm sure that she'll make sure of it."
You stood there a moment longer, watching as both of them walked through the double doors.
ꕀ
The night before, Robby had stayed up late— repacking and organizing Hayden's luggage as she slept.
The suitcase that he had delivered had more space than he realized, so he shifted some of her things around.
Outside of when she went to school or was with her babysitter, Hayden was always by his side. He knew that he was going to work extra shifts while she was gone, but he still didn't truly know what to do with himself.
Maybe, in his new free time he'd actually ask Noel out on a date. He hadn't been on a date or even slept with anyone since you, he didn't have the time and that was the last thing on his mind.
Perhaps it was time that he put hiself out there and allow himself to find love, not that he neccesarily needed it nor was he looking for it.
His pathway of parenthood was different than most, which was purely his own fault — but he wouldn't change it for anything. He loved Hayden more than anything and he knew in his heart that you felt the same about Lottie.
He can't even begin to imagine what his life would be like if you had taken both of them or if the two of you had to share custody.
Nights like that, where he was up alone with his thoughts— he'd try to look you up and hope to see anything that could provide him comfort, but you didn't keep social media. You were pretty similar to him in that regard.
Robby fell asleep on the couch after organizing Hayden's bags.
His alarm beeped waking him up from his deep sleep, the urge to snooze it heavily on his mind.
He powered through his tiredness, putting on a pot of coffee and hoping in the shower to wake himself up.
That shower was just what he needed, but for some strange reason you were on his mind heavily— more than you had been in years.
After his shower, he got dressed and made his way into the kitchen. He wanted to enjoy the few minutes that he'd have alone before needing to wake up Hayden.
Robby checked his watch a few minutes later, going into Hayden's room to wake her up.
He stared at her for a moment, how she slept with her legs in different directions and her mouth slightly opened— just like you.
He gently pushed her hair out of her face, sitting on the edge of her bed.
"It's time to get up, sweetheart." He spoke softly.
She groaned, "I'm tired."
"I know, honey— but you have to. We have to leave in an hour to get you to the airport in time."
He left her room, giving her a few minutes to wake up fully. If she wasn't up, he'd wake her again— but Hayden was pretty good about getting up.
Robby sat down in one of the chairs at the counter, responding to a text from Jack. The bathroom door in the hallway shut with the sound of the shower turning on following it.
I don't know, man. Noel seems nice, but I have my plate full with Hayden and I'm not sure that I'm ready to explain my situation to anyone. I also don't need judgement, I've been fine without it for almost 12 years.
Robby exited the text thread and read the latest news articles, sipping his coffee and waiting on Hayden.
Thirty minutes had passed.
"Kiddo, we have to be out of the door in twenty or you'll be late!"
"I know, I'm getting dressed—"
"but I can't find my pink shirt." She replied in an annoyed tone.
Robby rolled his eyes and brought her bags out to his jeep while he waited.
A few minutes later, Hayden emerged from her room with her hair in a messy bun and had on the pink shirt that she claimed was lost.
"You ready to roll?" Robby asked, checking his watch.
"Yeah."
"You got everything?" He questioned.
"I think so." She mumbled.
Robby and Hayden left out of the house and got into his jeep.
"You want anything from Mcdonald's?" Robby suggested, backing out of the driveway.
"Orange Juice and a sausage biscuit, with grape jelly?"
Robby nodded, "you got it."
A response from Jack came onto the screen, his carplay automatically reading it outloud before he could stop it.
A date with Noel wouldn't be so bad..
"Christ.." Robby mumbled, touching the screen.
It might do you some good to go on one and stop thinking about your ex wife.
Hayden stopped chewing her food, her eyes flickering to a flustered Robby.
"Dad, who's Noel? and is Uncle Jack talking about mom?"
"Uh, that is a conversation for another time—"
"Just finish your food, we're almost at the airport." Robby replied, his heart feeling like it could beat out of his chest.
Hayden shrugged and contined to eat, staring out of the window.
When Robby pulled up at the airport, the traffic to drop people off was heavy. Hayden's coach, Ben, was being dropped off right behind them.
Robby pulled his jeep to the curb, turning on his hazards as he began to grab her bags.
Hayden hugged her coach as she got out, Ben grabbing her bags.
"Goodmorning, Mr. Robinavitch."
Robby nodded, his eyes being blinded by the sun as it rose—"Morning."
Hayden gave Robby a hug, "I'm going to miss you."
He hugged her back, feeling as if his heart was being tugged on.
"It'll only be three weeks, but there will be plenty of activites. If I'm not mistaken there's horseback riding, swimming, along with the ice skating practice.''
"but, I will miss you too." He smiled, tears wetting his waterline.
"Ben will send you videos when I practice, right?"
Ben nodded, "yes. Robby will get all of the updates possible."
"I love you, dad." She mumbled against his shirt.
"I love you too, kid."
Hayden let go of him, giving a wave as she and her coach walked into the airport.
"I'll see you in three weeks!" Robby shouted at her.
His baby girl was growing up right in front of him. She wasn't the toddler that stomped around the house, pointing at things as she learned to walk. She was eleven and heading to camp.
Robby felt old.
The morning that all of the girls arrived..
Both girls had landed in Colorado, a place that neither of them had ever been before.
The sun was out, shining bright and the heat followed it. A different kind of heat compared to what they normally dealt with.
The camp was in a more remote area of Denver. A camp built specifically for girls from all around to come every year. The camp was specifically for girls ranging from nine to sixteen who were competive ice skaters, not just any girl though— girls who had done exceedingly well and stood out.
The camp focused on plenty of things, including— leadership skills, skating techniques, making friends, and also lectures for the coaches on bettering their teachings.
The mosiquitoes buzzed as the girls stood outside, the camp coumselors running around like their heads were cutoff and the coaches trying to figure out what going on.
"Are there going to be other British girls here?" Lottie asked Jessie.
Jessie scratched her brow, glancing around to see where to get information at.
"I think there are ten others, but they might be older than you—"
"Wait right here." Jessie trailed off, walking to another coach.
"Attention, Ladies! I am counselor Diane, the lead counselor at this camp. I am happy to welcome all of you to the great state of Colorado." She laughed, her voice echoing into the microphone.
"I know that most of you have been traveling longer than you wanted, to get here, so we will get all of you situated first. There's a list right behind me on the wall with the bunking information— your name and number bunkhouse will be on the sheet." She added.
While Lottie stood there waiting on Jessie's return, Hayden had already begun to make friends.
"My name is Penelope!" The redheaded girl smiled, pushing her glasses up on the bridge of her nose and holding her hand out.
"I'm Hayden." She hesitantly replied, shaking her hand.
"Where are you from, Hayden? I'm from Nebraska."
Hayden glanced around, looking for Ben— ready to put her bags away.
"I'm from Pittsburgh."
"Oh, nice. I've never been there." Penelope mentioned.
Ben came back to Hayden, interrupting the conversation.
"You can go check the list, if you want. I'll stay here with the bags.”
Hayden glanced at Penelope, "you want to come with me?"
Penelope shrugged, adjusting her backpack— "sure."
They walked side by side to the sheet, standing in line behind all of the other girls.
Jessie had made her way back over to Lottie, a tired expression on her face.
"Sorry about that. Now let's go check out the list to see where you'll be bunking, shall we?"
Jessie grabbed Lottie's bags, both of them walking to the line.
"This is my second year coming." Penelope mentioned to Hayden.
"My first." Hayden replied.
The chatter in the line was obnoxiously loud, they were barely able to even hear themselves think. It didn't help that the line moved slow and that everyone was tired.
Lottie wiped the bead of sweat that formed on her forehead, "is there a practice today?"
Jessie laughed.
"God, no. Once everyone is in their bunks, there will be a rest period and then dinner will be served in the eating hall."
Hayden and Penelope moved up the line, exchanging a few words here and there.
"My parents hope that I make friends this time, it's a little hard to with the practices." Penelope sighed.
"My dad told me to make friends too, but there's probably no one here from Pittsburgh."
"Well, we can always talk on the phone?" Penelope suggested.
Hayden shrugged, "sure."
They finally reached the front of the line, staring at the papers for their names.
"I'm in bunkhouse fourteen.." Hayden mumbled.
Penelope jumped with excitement beside her, "me too!"
"We are also rooming with Kinley Harris and.."
Hayden squinted.
"Lottie."
Penelope glanced at Hayden, "I've never met a Lottie before."
Penelope's words were just loud enough to catch Lottie and Jessie's attention, both who happened to be standing right behind them.
"I'm Lottie!" She spoke with a loud pitch.
Hayden and Penelope turned to face Lottie, Hayden's brows furrowing.
"Woah." Penelope gasped at the sight of Lottie.
Lottie and Jessie both stared far too long at Hayden, the two of them seemed like exact carbon copies of each other. The only difference was Lottie's hair was longer than Hayden.
Lottie held her hand out, still slightly confused.
Penelope shook Lottie's hand, her mouth still agape.
"Both of you look alike."
Hayden scoffed, hesitantly shaking Lottie's hand next.
"I'm Hayden, Hayden Robinavitch."
Lottie shook Hayden's hand, the handshake lasting longer than necessary.
"Robin.. a .. what?"
Jessie nudged Lottie, a smile on her face.
"I'm Lottie's coach! Let's go get you girls settled into your bunkhouse."
All three girls followed Jessie to what felt like their long and unending walk to bunkhouse fourteen.
Their bunkhouse was big, more than enough space for four girls— but there was no sign of their other bunkmate yet.
They set their bags down and claimed their beds.
"Okay, girls— we will see each other again at dinner in the eating hall. For now, you'll stay in here until the horn goes off.
Lottie sat on her bed, pulling her shoes off as she huffed air.
Hayden put her bag on her bed, pulling a few things out.
Penelope walked up beside Hayden, glancing around the room like she was scared of being caught.
"Don't you think it's weird that the two of you look just alike?"
Hayden rolled her eyes, "we do not."
Hayden wasn't quite sure why, but it truly got under her skin being told that she looked like Lottie.
Penelope seemed a bit frightened at Hayden's stern reaction and decided to drop it, but she meant what she said— they looked alike.
Within a few minutes— Lottie had fallen asleep on her bed, Penelope had a book out, and Hayden looked through the photo album that she brought.
Dinner approached faster than the girls expected. They were served burgers, tater tots, corn, and strawberry cake.
The eating hall buzzed with conversation from the girls, laughter at some tables and debates at others. The coaches and counselors all sat at separate tables across the room.
Lottie, Penelope, and Hayden sat together at their table.
"Where are you from, Lottie?" Penelope pried, eating one of her tater tots.
"Well, I was born in Pittsburgh— but I've lived my entire life in London." Lottie confessed.
"Wow! London seems so cool." Penelope gushed.
Hayden's eyes flickered to Lottie's face.
"I was born in Pittsburgh too."
Lottie's brow raised as she bit into her burger, "that's cool."
"Are either of you a good ice skater? I've only won five competitions." Penelope raved.
"I've won twelve competitions." Hayden told them.
Lottie hesitated a second before speaking.
"I've won fifteen, including nationals."
Penelope 's eyes widened, "nationals too?"
"Yeah, it wasn't really hard." Lottie continued.
Hayden sighed, her fingers digging into her burger.
"Show off."
Lottie frowned. "I'm not showing off, I just answered her question."
The rest of their dinner was quiet, at least for the three of them. Penelope rambled about a few things, but Lottie and Hayden just seemed to get off on the wrong foot.
After dinner, the girls prepared for bed as everyone would be practicing tomorrow.
During the bright and early hours of the morning, Lottie left her bunkhouse with Jessie. They always practiced early and in this case, they wanted more time before everyone else would start practicing.
"Do you like your roommates?" Jessie asked while they walked to the rink.
"Not really." Lottie responded, staring down at her feet as they walked.
Jessie walked ahead, leading the way.
"Have you noticed that you look a bit similar to Hayden?" She asked.
Lottie stopped in her tracks, "I don't look like her."
Jessie threw her hands up in defeat, dropping the subject.
The one thing that made the girls seem even more similar was their annoyance with the people who brought up the similarities.
"I'm going to send your mum a video of what we practice today." Jessie mentioned.
When both of them reached the rink, it was empty. Jessie turned the lights on and gave Lottie a moment to put on her skates.
Lottie took her sweet time, but she eventually joined Jessie on the ice.
While they were out there, Jessie had Lottie working on a flying camel spin. It was a bit advanced for her age range as most eleven year olds did not do them, but Lottie had been ice skating for years— putting genuine effort into her practice.
Lottie tried one again and landed wrong.
"I can't get it right!" Lottie huffed, picking herself up off the ice.
Jessie skated over, giving her a hand.
"A few falls doesn't mean that you can't get it right, you've landed it perfectly over a dozen times."
Their conversation was interrupted, by the sound of the doors opening near the front of the building.
Ben and Hayden made their way in to practice.
Lottie rolled her eyes, which Jessie noticed.
Ben and Hayden made their way onto the ice and skated on the farther end, leaving ample space for both of them.
Hayden and Ben worked on a pancake spin, which was something that Lottie could not do.
Hayden did the pancake spin effortlessly, while Lottie did a magnificent flying camel spin. Both were able to do things that the other could not, both of them staring at the other while they practiced.
Hayden began to skate around the rink, while Ben went to the restroom.
Right as Lottie had almost did another perfect spin, Hayden skated directly into her— knocking her down.
"Watch where you're going!" Lottie barked.
Jessie reached out her hand to Lottie, glancing at Hayden. "Are both of you okay?"
Hayden nodded, Lottie stood up— wiping off her pants.
"I'm just peachy." She mumbled with a frown.
"I'm sorry." Hayden smiled.
Jessie could sense the tension between the two, but she couldn't pinpoint why.
Ben came back onto the ice, waving at Lottie and Jessie as he dragged Hayden to keep practicing.
"What's up with the two of you? You've barely been here a day." Ben asked.
Hayden hesitated.
"She just seems.. like a know it all—"
"Look at me, I have an accent and I can do a flying camel spin." Hayden mocked.
Ben laughed, genuinely amused at their silly antics.
"It's okay to be jealous.. you know?—"
"I'm not jealous." Hayden interjected.
"It just means that we will work harder to master the skills that we are working on, so that we can get to those other ones." Ben continued.
Lottie and Jessie moved on to another spin, the Biellmann spin.
It was a little difficult to master, but Lottie had. She just needed to be able to perfectly execute it in a routine.
Hayden watched Lottie skate around and do the Biellmann spin, a smirk on her face.
"Ben, can I practice my Biellmann spin?"
Ben nodded, completely unaware that Lottie was also practicing it.
Hayden began to do a routine and include the Biellmann spin, which Lottie noticed.
Anger brewed in Lottie's veins as she watched Hayden do it, intentionally picking at her to get a reaction.
"Copycat." Lottie spoke.
Jessie could sense the immediate defeat and retraction that Lottie had.
"Well, that's enough for today. I will take you back to the bunkhouse and you can rest until it's time to get the day started." Jessie smiled.
Lottie nodded.
Shortly after, Jessie and Lottie left the rink— leaving Ben and Hayden alone.
Ben stared at Hayden, a disappointed look on his face.
"Don't be catty, it's unnecessary. The two of you can be friends."
Hayden didn't say anything, but she did feel some guilt. She shouldn't have acted that way, but neither should have Lottie.
When Lottie got back to the bunkhouse, it was quiet— Penelope was still sound asleep.
Lottie gently put down her stuff and crawled into her bed, opening one of books that she brought along with her.
She already missed home and her feelings were hurt, because she was good— but Hayden got under her skin.
Lottie quietly read her book, turning page after page when the bunkhouse door opened and closed.
Hayden set down her duffle bag onto her bag with a thud.
Lottie paid her no attention, continuing to read her book— until the weight on the bed shifted.
Lottie lowered her book, her brow raised as she stared at Hayden.
"What are you doing?"
Hayden twisted the small mood ring on her finger, " I am sorry. I didn't mean to be mean and.. upset you."
"I'm not upset." Lottie shot back.
Hayden paused, unsure what to say next.
"Well, I was told to apologize."
Lottie kept a grip on her book, staring at Hayden.
"Okay."
Hayden was about to get up from the bed when she noticed Lottie's bookmark, her brows furrowed in confusion.
"I've seen that picture before."
Lottie glanced down at the picture of her mom, the picture she used as a bookmark.
"I doubt that, that's my mom in the picture."
Hayden shook her head, "no. I have seen it, I have."
Hayden got up from the bed and went to her side of the room, rummaging through her things.
"Got it!" She smiled, running back over to Lottie.
Lottie sat up in the bed.
"See, this is my dad and his picture looks similar to yours." Hayden pointed out.
Lottie stared at the picture of the man that she didn't recognize, something that seemed familiar to her— but not at the same time.
Hayden stared at the picture of the woman, admiring her beauty and big smile that she had in the picture.
They both slowly, pushed together the picture that had been clearly ripped in half.
They gasped, staring at each other in shock.
The seams of the ripped picture fit perfectly and it was obvious that their parents were staring at one another in the photo.
"Is that.. my mom?" Hayden asked.
"Then.. that would be my dad." Lottie sputtered.
"I never knew my mom, I've never even seen her. My dad always avoids talking about her." Hayden mentioned.
Lottie glanced up at Hayden.
"My mom never talks about my dad either."
There was a long beat of silence, the kind that felt heavy— like it was suffocating every thing in the room.
"When's your birthday?" Lottie finally asked.
"Christmas Eve, seven pm to be exact."
"Me too.." Lottie stated.
How was that possible? They were twins? Those were their parents?
"We're twins?" Hayden questioned, a look of confusion and surprise on her face.
notes/warnings: written to fulfill a request. Noelle is the bad guy in this one, for reasons. She's called a bitch more than once but it's deserved here. Flangst, my favorite.
wc: 3.1k
It had been a long day.
Not a bad day necessarily, just one where everything seemed to take twice as long as it should. You glanced at the clock as you finished discharging a young boy who’d come in with a broken arm. Seven was creeping ever closer. Tommy lifted his lime green cast in a wave goodbye as he headed out the door with his parents. You waved back with a small smile then sighed and headed to the hub to see where you could help. Mateo had arrived early for his shift and you’d already handed all your patients off to him. You wondered if you could talk Robby into takeout and shitty TV. You didn’t work tomorrow, but he did so he was just as likely to want to go home and crash.
The familiar form of Noelle Hastings striding across the department snagged your attention as she made a beeline for the family of Benito Rodriguez. Benny had arrived with a simple infection that quickly went septic. He was underinsured and Noelle had been down pressing for him to be sent home before the sepsis set in. Once that had happened, she realized observation had been the wisest course of action. He was still waiting for a bed upstairs in the ICU.
You had never gotten along with the woman and sincerely wished Robby had chosen anyone else on the planet to fuck. But apparently even Noelle Hastings was a better choice than you. You shoved the thought aside and crossed the floor to Rodriguez family. You moved faster when you heard what she was saying.
“With your son going septic, the possibility for long term disability increases. In that case, he would qualify for Medicaid and they will pick up the bulk of the costs.”
“Miss Hastings,” you said, voice low and sharp.
She held up a hand inches from your face and you barely resisted the urge to shove it away. “I just wanted to let you know because I am aware there were concerns about the bill. I thought it would relieve some of your worry.”
Yeah, you gave into that urge and pushed her hand down out of your face. Noelle snapped her attention to you with a scowl. “Did you just put your hand on me?”
You leaned forward and lowered your voice. “This is not the place for this conversation and it is certainly not the time. I realize compassion is in short supply where you’re concerned but give it a try. Who knows, you might find you like it.”
You turned to the family you’d been working with all day and gave them a soft smile. “I am so sorry about this. Why don’t we get you back to Benny. They said they should have a spot for him upstairs within the hour.” You turned your back on the case manager and directed the couple back to their son’s room. Once you made certain they didn’t need anything else, you headed back out.
You needed to find Robby. This was not acceptable in any way, shape, or form. And he needed to find another situationship. You really couldn’t stomach this one any longer. Your eyes scanned the halls as you looked for him. You slowed as you neared an open room and heard Noelle say your name. You caught of glimpse of them behind the poorly closed curtain.
“Not this again.” Robby sounded exasperated.
“She’s jealous of me, Michael. Of our relationship.”
Robby ran a hand down his face. “She’s not like that.”
“Do you really think she’s happy being on the sidelines all the time?” Noelle gave him a tight smile. When Robby just stared at her without saying anything, she continued. “She picked a fight with me in front of a patient’s family. I simply trying to talk to them about what they could expect when she snapped and called me unprofessional. She put her hands on me, Michael.”
Robby put his hands on her upper arms and rubbed slightly. “Calm down, okay? I’ll talk to her about it.”
A lump formed in your throat and you hurried away before they noticed you. I’ll talk to her. He was just going to take Noelle at her word without even discussing it with you? You thought he knew you better than that. Maybe things were more serious with Noelle than you’d let yourself believe. You needed to get out of here. To have a minute to get your head together before you had to sit in a car with your best friend and pretend you didn’t hate his current fuckbuddy.
Your hands trembled slightly as you grabbed your bag from your locker. You hurried over to Dana at the hub. She looked up as you approached, her smile immediately fading. Her eyes ran over you searching for a physical reason for your obvious distress. “Hey, you okay?”
You shook your head once and swallowed hard. “I’m not feeling the greatest. Would it be alright if I went ahead and left? I need the air and I’ve already handed off to Mateo.”
She studied you for another moment. “You sure you don’t need someone to do a workup on you? Make sure you’re not coming down with anything?”
You gave her the best smile you could muster. “I’ll be okay. I’m off tomorrow. I’ll rest. Promise.”
“Alright, hun. Go ahead.” Her gaze stayed locked on you until you disappeared through the bay doors.
You found Robby’s SUV in the parking lot and leaned against the side, waiting for him to come out. Closing your eyes, you breathed in the cool evening air to settle your nerves. It worked right up until you heard Noelle shout your name.
Your eyes flew open and you watched her storm across the parking lot in your direction. “You know that it’s your fault no one can get close to Robby, don’t you? You’re why no one ever sticks around. You are always in the fucking way.” You said nothing, your chest tight as she stopped in front of you and leaned into your space. “If you actually cared about him, you’d back the fuck off because he is never going to love you the way you want him to.”
Tears welled in your eyes and you hated yourself for it. Hated for letting her know that she’d gotten to you, that her words had hit where you were the most tender.
Jack hurried across the parking lot to where Noelle was accosting you. He’d been nearly in the building for his shift when he heard her yell your name. And he’d every word since. What a bitch. “Is there a problem here?” he snapped as soon as he was close enough to not cause an even bigger scene.
“Of course not,” Noelle said with a sneer. “Everything is fucking perfect.” Jack’s gaze trailed her as she stomped off, making sure she didn’t double back.
When he returned his attention to you, his heart sunk. Tears ran down your face as your shoulders shook. It was that silent sobbing that all health care workers seemed to perfect over their time in the field. “Hey, hey.” He stepped forward to pull you into his arms, kissing the side of your head. You’d been his friend for a very long time. “She’s gone. You’re okay.”
You shook your head, even as you clung to him. “No. I don’t think I am. She wasn’t wrong, Jack. I’m always around him. We’re always together. Am I the reason he doesn’t have anyone? Am I the reason he’s alone?” A wretched, broken sound left you.
Jack put his hands on your upper arms and leaned back to look at you. “Robby is not alone. He has us. Watching shitty TV with you and drinking beers over takeout is exactly where he wants to be. Trust me.”
You shook your head and let out another sob even as you tried to wipe away the tears. It was a futile gesture.
“Come inside with me, huh? We’ll get you cleaned up and Robby will take you home.”
You took a step back away from him. “No. I don’t…no.”
His eyes moved from you to the car behind you and back. “Did you ride with Robby today?” He wanted to make sure you weren’t going to try to drive in this condition.
You swallowed and nodded. “But I think I’m just going to walk home. Can you let him know?” You were attempting to sound stronger than you were but the tremble in your bottom lip gave you away.
“I don’t want you walking alone. At least let me order you a car. Or hell, I’ll drive you. Robby can cover until I get back.”
You wrapped your arms around yourself as you shook your head. “I’ll be fine, Jack. I need the air. Thanks for…” you gestured aimlessly. “For all that, I guess.”
You refused to look at him again as you headed toward the sidewalk that would lead you home. He called after you, but you kept walking without looking back. Shit.
He hurried into the hospital, beelining for Robby who frowned and checked his watch when he saw Jack. “You’re running late. I was getting worried.”
“We need to talk,” Jack said lowly as he walked past, heading to the lounge. He heard Robby fall into step with him but didn’t glance at him. Once they were in the room with the door shut behind them, Jack dropped his bag on the table and raked a hand through his hair as he paced the floor. He needed to calm down before he tried to relay everything to Robby.
Finally, Robby told him to get on with it because you were waiting for him.
Jack huffed a breath. “Actually, she’s not. She walked home.”
Robby straightened. “And you let her?”
“She’s a whole ass adult, Robinavitch. Wasn’t any stopping her unless I kidnapped her and that sort of thing is frowned upon.”
Robby started for the door. “Let’s get handover done so I can make sure she made it home okay.”
“Not yet. You need to know what I walked up on in the parking lot.”
Robby licked his lips and gave a slow nod. “Okay.”
“Noelle Hastings had her cornered by your car. She said some pretty nasty things. Bad enough your girl was sobbing by the end of it,” Jack said, because you were Robby’s girl whether either of you wanted to admit it or not.
Pure white-hot fury flooded Robby’s body. How dare Noelle even look at you, let alone upset you to the point you cried. He was fucking furious at the audacity. “What did Hastings say to her, Jack?”
Jack ran his tongue over his teeth then sighed. “That she was the reason no one could get close to you. That it was her fault no one stayed around.” He hesitated, then added, “That you would never love her the way she wanted you to.”
Jesus fucking Christ. Fucking Noelle. Robby should have known better than to ever sleep with her. The fact that you disliked her should have been enough of a deterrent. Robby ran both hands over his beard and hissed through his teeth. “That fucking bitch.”
“What set her off anyway?” Jack asked.
Robby sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. “Noelle caught me just before the end of shift claiming our favorite nurse had picked a fight, put her hands on her. You and I both know that’s bullshit but I told her I’d talk to her anyway just to get Noelle to drop it. That wasn’t good enough. Said I had to pick between them. So, I did.”
Jack ran his gaze over Robby then shook his head. “You know this isn’t the first time one of your ‘friends’ has made that ultimatum and you always pick her.”
“Of course I do,” Robby said with no hesitation.
Jack raised his brows. “Never occurred to you to do otherwise?”
Where was he going with this? Robby shook his head once, emphatically. “No, why would it.”
Jack’s eyes closed as he appeared to be praying for patience. “I don’t suppose it ever occurred to you that you’re in love with her?”
Robby studied him for a long moment before sighing, shoulders slumping in defeat. “Of course, I am, man. Why wouldn’t I be?” He’d been in love you almost from the first moment he met you.
A beat passed then another, Jack just staring at him.
“What does it matter, Jack? I can’t risk losing her. She’s the only thing that keeps me going.” Robby sounded so defeated he hoped it would be enough to get Jack to back off.
Instead, it only seemed to piss him off. “Did it ever occur to you that she loves you too?”
Robby just blinked at him, stunned into silence. It was impossible that you could possibly care for him the way he wanted you to, the way he imagined at night when he couldn’t sleep. Where he dreamed you were just in the other room and would come crawling into bed with him any moment chastising him for not sleeping yet when he had to work the next day. Sometimes it even worked, and there would be one brief second when he woke that he’d forget it wasn’t real.
“You two are a pain in my ass. Listen to me,” Jack put his hands on Robby’s shoulders and forced him to meet his gaze. “I have been third wheeling the two of you for years. Even when you had a ‘date’, it was the two of you and everyone else was just lucky to be in your orbit. That girl was sobbing at the thought that she was the reason you were alone. She wasn’t crying for herself. She was crying for you.”
Tears flooded Robby’s eyes at the thought. Jack squeezed his shoulders once before letting go. “Let’s get this handoff finished so you can go after your girl.”
Robby made the ten minute drive to your apartment in seven. He pulled into the spot he always used and hurried upstairs to your apartment. He knocked on the door, bracing himself with two hand on the doorframe as he waited for you to answer. Nothing.
He knocked again, calling your name this time.
Still nothing.
Come on, baby. Let me see you. I need to see you.
He thought about using his key to let himself in but if you didn’t want to see him after the shit Noelle spewed at you, that was your right. Instead, he pulled out his phone and called you.
Voicemail.
He tried again. Still no answer.
Finally, he sent a text. Just let me know that you made it home okay. Please.
A moment later you responded. I’m here. I’m just exhausted. I’ll talk to you later
He hesitated, wanting nothing more than see you in person. To reassure you that he chose you. That he will always choose you.
Instead, he sent: Get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.
You woke to the soft light of morning filtering through your curtains. You blinked, head fuzzy as you tried to focus on what had actually awoken you. Sounds from the kitchen. The smell of coffee. It had to be Robby. He was the only one with a key. You did the minimum to ready yourself for the day, before slipping on a pair of sweats with the t-shirt you slept in. You stepped into your slippers then shuffled out to the kitchen.
Robby stood at the stove, scrambling eggs. Fresh fruit and two mugs of coffee sat on the counter. Your gaze moved from the food back to the man responsible for it. You frowned. “Don’t you have to work today?”
“Called off,” he replied simply, not looking up from the skillet.
The response stunned you momentarily. “You never call off,” you finally said.
He made a sound of agreement as he plated the eggs. “Grab the coffee and sit.”
You took both mugs to the table and took your usual seat. He put the plates on the table and sat across from you. You watched him as you ate, wondering what was going on. Maybe he agreed with Noelle and was trying to let you down gently. To be kind. But it wasn’t. It only made everything so much worse. “Is this…are you saying goodbye?” you finally managed to get out without crying.
His head snapped up, a panicked expression twisting his features. “No. Absolutely not. It’s kind of the opposite actually.”
Your brow furrowed in confusion. “What?”
He set down his fork and leaned back in his chair with a sigh. “Noelle asked me to choose. You or her. That’s why she was pissed and took it out on you.”
“You chose me?”
He let out a quiet chuckle at that. “Baby, I always choose you.”
It wasn’t the first time he’d called you baby, but it was the first time he’d done it while completely sober. When you just continued to look at him, he continued.
“She wasn’t the first to demand I make a choice and it’s always you. Because I can’t imagine my life without you in it. The thought terrifies me in fact.” He leaned forward and took your hand in his, running his thumb across your knuckles.
“I’ve been in love with you for years.” His voice was barely audible. “Jack suggested maybe you were in love with me too. Said something about always being the third wheel.”
Your heart raced at the thought that the man you’d been head over heels with for years loved you just as much. “Why didn’t you say anything before?”
He gave a self-deprecating laugh. “Didn’t you hear me, honey? You’re it for me. If I lost you…” He shook his head as if he couldn’t fathom the thought. “So, if you don’t feel the—”
You head tipped back as you let out a joyful laugh. “Michael, I’ve been in love with you since six months after we met.”
A slow smile crossed his face showcasing those happy creases you loved so much. “Yeah?”
You nodded and he pulled you toward him. Leaving your chair, you resituated yourself on his lap. He wrapped two long arms around you and held you close. He closed his eyes and sighed in contentment. “This is…you are perfection.”
Your face heated. “I’m not perfect. No one is. But I am deliriously happy.” You placed a hand on the side of his face. “Will you be mine, Michael Robinavitch?”
He laughed then. “Baby, I’ve been yours since the moment we met.”
And when his lips found yours for the first time, you were suddenly, finally home.
synopsisyou and Robby have always had an un-spoken understanding, that if you were two different people you'd fall in love. but he was a mess and refused to bring you down. so instead, fate threatens to take you away forever
warningsANGST. so much angst. stabbing. blood. near death. operations. typical hospital stuff but a happy ending
authornotethis is just completely ripped from that episode of ER when John Carter gets stabbed, like the medical talk is all from that. I also feel like this may be slight ooc robby cause I have struggle with how this man would be affectionate. i had a hell of a lot of fun writing this, angst is by far my favourite, i hope you like too
Pitt masterlist. Other Robby fic!
You weren't sure if it was the thumping in your head or the drum in your heart but you watched Robby closely. It could have been the injury to your head or the closeness of him that had your heart reacting in such a way.
You blamed it on the injury.
“Give it to me straight, Doc,” you joked. One of his gloved hands cupped your chin, nudging your gaze up. The other dabbed gently at the cut to your forehead. “Am I gonna make it?”
There was a line of displeasure in his lips. “Not funny,” he mumbled.
“Sure it is.”
“No, it's not.”
You rolled your eyes before going back to focusing on him.
It was rare you got to watch him in his concentration. Usually you were in the middle of a trauma when he pulled out the serious face and things were moving too fast for you to even catch a glimpse. Now- his focus was all on you. You could study the creases at his brows and the flecks of grey in his beard.
“You ever notice you have these deep lines between your eyebrows when you're concentrating?”
“It's called age,” he said but there was the smallest hint of a smile there.
“Aren't you twenty-seven?”
This time he couldn't stop the smirk of amusement and finally you won.
Robby dabbed away the blood at your cut, changing the gauze. “Don't think you're distracting me.”
You hummed as he tilted your head into the light. “Distracting you from what?”
“Reporting him.”
You grew silent and looked away.
It was Robby's turn to stare at you, eyes without warmth, stern in ways he was with patients that didn't want to listen to good advice. You may be sitting on a bed in exam room four and you may have a chart written up but you were not a patient. “He was scared and confused-”
“ - he pushed you.”
“And I was the one that tripped and bashed my head.”
“He threw you down!”
You winced at his snap and then winced at the pain your wincing brought you.
Robby sighed with some sort of regret. His fingertips brushed your skin as he finished cleaning the cut and you couldn't help but think it was a deliberate move. He'd been so careful not to touch or apply pressure but suddenly the callous of his fingers were there.. “If we don't take care of ourselves nobody else will do it.”
It was the same thing Dana had said to you when she saw the patient push you down and run out the room in distress, hospital gown slipping on his shoulders. She'd taken you under her arm, stirred you to a chair. She was firm in both checking you were okay and that you were going to report him for hurting you.
You look past Robby, trying to see through the glass door. The Pitt carried on it's usual bustle but Dana kept a close eye out on you in the room. “Where is he now?”
“None of your concern,” he said. “The cut's clean, looks like you won't need stitches.”
“You've restrained him haven't you?”
Robby frowned. His head shook slightly in disbelief- like he couldn't believe you. “He hurt you. Jesus- you think I was gonna just tuck him back in bed- you think Dana was!”
You were used to the rise in Robby's voice, as attending it was his job to command everyone. You just didn't like to hear it risen at you. “He woke up, confused and startled.”
The patient was brought in un-conscious at the side of the road, a gash in his arm. Nobody knew his name but you'd admitted him and ran some tests while he was semi-conscious. He'd woken up as you were checking his IV and the next thing you knew hard hands were pushing you away. You'd taken the tray down with you and smacked your head in the process. Then he'd ran and then Robby had you in his arms, willing to pick you up and carry you off if it weren't for your insistence to walk to an exam room.
Robby's body heaved in a sigh as he put his hands on his thighs. “He hurt you,” he repeated, looking up at you through his eyelashes.
You slowly met his gaze as he got closer on the stall in front of you. “I've had worse.”
It wasn't supposed to be a dig but as his eyes met yours in a haze of dark anxiety you figured it came off that way.
Really what happened between you and Robby was ancient history. A whole six months since you'd stopped seeing each other; if that's what it could be called. It was really only one stupid kiss and several flirts that created the thick tension between you two. Nothing had ever been done to encourage it further, yet nothing had also been done to squash it.
Whilst his gaze remained on you, Robby got out his penlight and checked your pupil reaction.
“Any pain?”
“Well, the light's a bit bright.”
He put it down and with his gloved hands he slowly pressed around the small cut on your forehead, hands cupping your face tenderly. “Any pain?”
“No, you've done all this twice now.”
“It's procedure for any patient.”
“It's special treatment,” you grumbled.
Robby grabbed a bandage from the tray. “You're a special patient.”
The heat crept up your cheeks before you stared at the bandage.
“Robby-”
In one hand he held a bandage, in the other a small spider-man plaster that he so obviously got from pedes.
You stared at him. “Really?”
His cheeks tilted in a small teasing grin. “All we have, I'm afraid.”
You seriously doubted it but tapped the spider-man plaster nonetheless. “I'm sure I could have done this myself, you know,” you said as he peeled away the plaster. “Or at least got one of the nurses to do it. I'm sure you're needed somewhere more important.”
He frowned again. “More important?”
“There's a guy that came in with a GSW to the chest ten minutes ago and you're saying you don't need to be there?”
Robby's hands fell to either side of your face, gently taking your cheeks. His thumb brushed the curve of your cheek bone. He could feign he was checking your pupils but you both knew better. “There's nowhere else I need to be.”
Six months ago you'd kissed in a bar ten minutes away from the Pitt. Every day since- you'd been fighting the urge to kiss him again.
At that moment, with his gentle touch and soft gaze, you wondered if he'd been fighting to.
“Look up,” Robby said with a clear of his throat.
You weren't sure what he was trying to check for anymore. Maybe he was just looking for an easy way out.
“I still want you to get a CT scan.”
“Now that's dramatic, I didn't expect that from you.”
“Any nasuea?”
You shook your head as Robby steadied you, sliding the plaster in place.
“Have you been drinking enough today?”
“Two cups of coffee count?”
Robby gave you a plain look as he yanked off the latex gloves, throwing them into a corner of the room. “Ten minutes rest, I'll bring you some food and water.”
You sighed dramatically. “Robby!”
He pushed himself up from his stool. “As you're attending I'm not asking, I'm-”
“Telling?” you guessed.
Robby hovered as you pushed yourself up back on the bed. You wouldn't say it but your head was hurting from the fall. Nothing more than a headache that some painkillers couldn't stop. If you told Robby that yes, you were in pain, you were sure he'd pull the curtain, change you into a gown and play doctor all day.
You lied back on the pillow as Robby plumped it and smoothed out the sheets under you. He was lingering and for a moment you thought of asking him to stay.
Your mouth had opened to ask when the door was nudged open.
“Robby, we got a car crash coming in five,” said Dana. She looked at you then, eyes crinkled in worry. “How you feeling, hun?”
“I'm fine, thanks Dana.”
She nodded once, offering you a small smile before leaving.
You looked up at Robby as his body lingered over yours, one arm stretched high above your head, the other lower. Your gaze flickered up and you could feel the warmth of his breath fan over you. “Ten minutes?” you asked.
“On the clock.”
“Then I'm free to go?”
His head tilted, a sly smirk playing around his thin beard. “I'm not keeping you a prisoner.”
You folded your arms over your chest, glancing away. “Feels like it.”
He chuckled lightly. For a moment his breath lingered over your forehead, closer than before.
When you glanced up he froze, hands clenched on the bed, his jaw taunt. It was as if you'd caught him in the act.
Suddenly you wished you hadn't looked up. You wished you'd let him do whatever he was going to do. Because once he'd been caught he straightened up and threw you an awkward thumbs up. “Ten minutes.”
You trace your finger over the plaster as you slowly left your room, creeping out like you were a teenager sneaking out of your parents to meet a guy. Except you were trying to avoid the guy.
“That was eight minutes!”
You looked up and found Robby at the nurses station, glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. “Were you timing me?”
Robby held up his phone, showing you the timer he had counting down as next to him, Dana snorted. “Have you had something to drink? Or eat?” he asked as you leant over the counter. He was still watching you eagerly, waiting for any sign you were in more pain then you let on so he could send you back to bed.
“Thought you were getting me a drink?”
He rolled his eyes before obliging, sliding away to get you a drink. He turned back only once. “Don't go near him!” he called, the both of you knowing who the he was.
You saluted him, watching him go before turning to Dana. “How is he?”
She peered at you over her glasses. “Terrible. He's been worried sick, was practically watching you through those windows. Didn't blink for a minute!”
“Not Robby, my patient. The John Doe.”
“Well that ain't your concern anymore," she said.
“I want to treat him.”
“He's awake now, we've restrained him in twelve but Robby wants you nowhere near him.”
“Robby is over-reacting,” you sighed.
Dana lifted her shoulders. “Of course he is, it's you. You think he's gonna react rationally?”
Nobody was supposed to know about you and Robby and the thing that lingered in the middle. But somehow, Dana always ended up knowing everything.
You backed away from the counter, assuring Robby was nowhere to be seen. “Twelve, you said right?”
Dana huffed but lucky for you there were a dozen more things she needed to do. “Fine! Go! But take security with you!”
You saluted and headed that way. Outside the door, Ahmed was already there.
“Hey, doc,” he greeted. “He's been asking about you, said he wants to apologise.”
You weren't scared like you thought you'd be, stepping into the room while Ahmed promised to stay outside, just a shout away of you needed him. Your heart wasn't pounding as you slowly moved the curtain, finding the patient lying on the bed, restraints around his wrists and tied down. He wasn't thrashing about. He was calm, clocking you as you walked in.
“You're the nurse?” he said.
“Doctor, actually,” you said, introducing yourself.
He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes or add colour to his face. There was nothing in his eyes anyhow. He was pale and the thin bandaging that had been done for his arm while he struggled was bleeding through. “I-I pushed you, I am so sorry.”
You were about to say it was fine, but it wasn't you shouldn't tell him it was. You could accept the apology but still acknowledge that whatever state he was in, you shouldn't have been hurt. “Do you know where you are?”
“The hospital?”
“That's right, PTMC. Can you tell me your name?”
He nodded, gulping. There was a thin layer of sweat over his skin. “David Brown.”
“And do you know what month it is?”
“M-March.”
“Okay, good,” you said, making a quick note of his name in his chart. You sat down on the stool, shuffling to the side of his bed. “Mr Brown-”
“David,” he corrected you.
“David,” you said. “You were brought in just under an hour ago with a pretty bad laceration to your lower right arm. You were found un-conscious. Do you remember anything?”
You watched the sweat bead at his forehead, his eyes scrunched as he tried to think. His breathing grew heavier, face morphed into pain as he tried to think. “It's okay if you don't.”
“I-I don't,” a stray tear fell down his cheek.
“That's okay,” you assured him. “I'm gonna order you a CT and a toxic screening just to rule out any drugs or alcohol in your system. Is that okay?”
David's head jerked in something like a nod before you door swung open, clattering on the other side of the wall.
Robby stood at the end of the bed, face red, hands at his hips. “What are you doing in here?” he snapped.
“Doctor Robby-”
He gave you no time to explain, jutting his head back. “Step outside please, doctor.”
You stood, slowly and walked out slower.
David called out after you. “I really am sorry!”
Robby looked back like he didn't believe him.
The two of you stepped out and you spoke before he could, beating him by a second. “I'm ordering him a CT and toxicity test. That gash on his arms needs to be cleaned and stitched up, it's bleeding out.”
Robby didn't care to hear it. He pulled the curtains over and closed the door as he followed you out. “What did you think you were doing in there?”
“Tending to my patient.”
“I told you to leave him.”
“He wanted to say sorry. Ahmed, didn't he want to apologise?” you said, looking to security for some help.
Ahmed held up his hands. “Oh- I want nothing in this!”
“If he wanted to apologise he could've wrote a letter. Told me to apologise to you,” he said, still holding onto his anger. “I told you to leave it, the guy attacked you!”
“Lightly shoved me from shock!”
“Have you seen what he did to your head?”
“Yeah, a small cut, doesn't even need stitches- that's what you said!”
“It's a wound! There was blood!” he yelled. “You are not to go anywhere near him from now on, do you understand?”
There was a new anger in Robby then, something you saw rarely in him. Dana had said he was worried about you but you saw none of that concern in him now, only anger. Anger because you hadn't listened to him not because of well fair.
“I'm a doctor, I'm supposed to be helping people,” you defended, your own anger not rising to his.
His hands balled into fists. “Help someone who's asking for it. I see you in with that guy again and you're on triage for a week, you understand?”
Where was that softness in his eyes? Where was that care he tended to you in the room all alone?
“You understand?” he snapped again when you didn't answer.
You knew if you turned there'd be several pairs of eyes on the pair of you. Watching, assessing, see how you reacted. Nobody had ever heard Robby speak to you like that because he'd never shouted at you before. “I understand, Doctor Robinavitch.”
“So you yelled at her.”
Robby thought he'd find solace on the roof, that with only him and the night sky he stood a chance at thinking things through logically, for once on the right side of the rail.
Then Jack's voice sounded behind him and the peace he was searching for fell further out of reach.
“Who told you?” he asked, head falling.
“Oh, you know,” he mumbled, shoes shuffling over the roof as he got closer to him. “Just everybody that was in attendance to your little show.”
Jack leant next to him on the rail, staring at him.
Robby could feel his eyes but looked out on the skyline that was more favourable to him. Jacks eyes felt like everybody else that watched him yell at you. He could call it worry- it didn't change the way your face dropped the louder his voice rose.
“You wanna talk about it?” asked Jack.
“No.”
“I heard she got attacked.”
“Or lightly pushed as she'd put it.”
“She's a soldier.”
Robby shook his head. “No, she's a doctor. Today she could have been neither if that man-” the words chocked in his throat. What if he had hurt you even more? Punched you? Strangled you? He'd seen it all in the ER and yes, you'd been hurt before but that didn't mean he needed to have you hurt again.
“I saw her when I was coming up, she seemed fine,” said Jack. “About to clock off, you sure you want to end the day on such a bad note.”
“She doesn't want to talk to me.”
“Come on, she always wants to talk to you,” said Jack. “And I only know that cause you always want to talk to her.”
Robby wished he could say that telling Jack about the kiss so many months ago was a mistake but he couldn't because that would mean kissing you was a mistake. The only mistake made with that kiss is that he hadn't pulled you back in, kissed you every day since. But he'd told Jack on one of those lonely nights when they'd each had one too many beers how much he missed you even if he saw you every day.
“I was so fucking scared, brother,” he admitted with a long exhale of breath. Robby slumped over the rail, catching himself. “Code hula-hoop was called and her name and I- I didn't know...”
Jack's hand was firm on his back. “I know.”
Robby nodded, head tucked down. He wouldn't cry, he wasn't sure how these days but he sure as hell felt like it. It had been a hell of day, worse when he couldn't join your side without you walking off.
“You were worried, you don't know what to do with that,” said Jack.
He could admit that much.
“You go home now, she goes home, you're carrying this weight to the next day and it'll continue,” he said, therapizing him. “You were scared you might have lost her?”
Robby glanced Jack's way. There was never any judgment, only a keen understanding he sometimes didn't like.
“You might lose her if you don't do something about it.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
Jack shrugged. “Apologise.”
Robby hesitated, the words 'I'm sorry' foreign on his tongue.
Jack chuckled low in his throat. “Is that really so hard for you?”
He nodded and Jack carried on laughing. By the end, even Robby was chuckling through watery eyes.
“Okay, okay, let's try,” said Jack, straightening up, encouraging him to do the same. “Repeat after me, I'm sorry.”
“Jesus-”
“Jesus, you can't even say it-listen we'll go slow, I'm-”
Robby's phone rung in his pocket, thankfully saving him from the embarrassment. “Dana-” he answered as he spotted Jack's phone going too.
“Get down here, now!”
“What's going on?” he asked, though his feet were already moving.
He didn't see the way Jack looked at him, he hardly heard how Dana said your name because when she did Robby dropped his phone and ran.
“Robby!” Jack called but he was off the roof and furiously pressing the elevator button. He managed to slide past the doors before they closed on him. “What did Dana say?”
But Robby couldn't speak. He heard Dana's voice re-play in his head again and again. That you had been attacked, that they needed him. He couldn't think beyond that. Beyond you and attacked there was nothing.
Jack was watching him closely. “Okay-” he must've known it was bad too. “Okay, Robby, we don't know what's going on down there but you gotta stay cool, okay? You gotta stay cool or leave us to it.”
He should've kept a closer eye on you, should've sent you home.
“Robby if you get in our way I'm taking you out of there, understand?”
The doors slid open and Robby ran out, Jack quick on his heels.
“Where?” he barked out. There were no faces around him he could figure out, no Dana, no Langdon- so everyone must have been in with you-
“Trauma one!”
Robby burst through the doors.
The chaos was everywhere and he paused. There were more bodies in the trauma room then he'd ever seen. In between them all a body that he could vaguely re-call as yours. Your trainers- usually white- were seeping in blood.
“Can you open your eyes?”
“No respond to command!”
“Two stab wounds to the left flank! First one L-two, second L-five.”
“Is it the spinal chord?” asked Whitaker.
“Can't tell it depends on the angle!” said Langdon. “Jesus- there's too much blood, I can't see a thing!”
You lied on the bed, blood splattered around your clothes, un-responsive to everyone around you. You were letting them prod, push and pull when you'd hardly let him asses your cut just hours ago.
Hours when you were teasing him and he was thinking about kissing you again.
What had happened.
If it was a papercut you'd be feigning death.
This was the closest you'd ever looked to dying and Robby couldn't feel his legs.
"Doctor Robby?" someone called in the room but it wasn't you. You weren't responding to anyone. “Doctor Robby!”
Jack moved past him, body knocking his. “I'm here!”
“BP seventy over fifty, pulse one-twenty.”
Jack moved around you, pressing the chest piece of the stethoscope to your chest. “Push in two litres of O-neg. Good breath sounds bilaterally.”
Robby's ears were ringing but he could feel himself shake his head. “She's not-she's not O-neg, she's B-positive,” he heard himself mumble.
There was a sharp beeping through the room and Robby thought it was a strange sound for his heart breaking.
“Pulse ox ninety-three!”
“Do we intubate?” asked Mohan.
Your body jerked and as if you were the puppet master tugging on his strings, Robby found his feet and moved to your side.
He moved around until he was the closest to you, replacing anyone else at your side. Others watched, un-sure if they should've told him to wait outside like he was family.
Jack gave them the nod and the room moved again.
“Give me ten by mask, no intubation. Send a trauma panel!” ordered Robby.
“We need X-ray for a chest!” yelled Jack.
“X-ray can come to us! I am not moving her!” he shouted. “Help me roll, let me see!”
The blood on the front of your scrubs was splashed but as they turned you, leaning you on your side Robby's body slumped, something like a chocked sob wracking through his body.
He couldn't see the puncture wounds through the blood that soaked you. Just as Langdon had said it was a mess. “Jesus chr- oh god.”
“Pressure's up to ninety palp!”
“Who did this?” he yelled out as they gently set you back.
“The guy who came in un-conscious earlier!”
Jack looked over at Robby.
Robby felt the muscles in his jaws work and he grunted. “I'll kill him,” he grumbled.
“Robby!” lectured Jack.
But he wasn't going to take back his words. “He's fucking dead.”
“He fled the hospital,” Langdon told him. “Left his knife in the room though, they'll find him.”
It couldn't have been a scalpel, it couldn't have been scissors. The guy came in, found a knife- or brought one from home- to harm you. If Robby ever saw him again he'd kill the guy and deal with the consequences that came.
“Toes are down going, no spinal injury,” said someone else in the room but he was losing all focus that wasn't you.
Garcia walked through the doors, joining the crowd of people around you.
“Tell me you've got an OR booked!” said Jack.
“With her name on it! How we doing in here?”
Santos pushed her way ahead, a small and un-characteristic tremble to her hands. There was another unit of blood pushed into your bloodstream and Robby was seconds away from hooking himself up and giving you his very blood. “Pressure's up!” she reported, lingering over you with a light. “Right pupil five millimetres and reactive -”
Suddenly your body jerked at the light. Your head thrashed side to side as you slowly returned to consciousness.
“Huh... I-wha-”
“Hey! Hey!” Robby pushed his way to you, looming over you and catching your eyes.
They were wild, looking around before settling on him.
“Robby?” you uttered, lips dry, dried blood at your neck. Your eyes were looking around like you couldn't quite see.
“Yeah- yeah it's me.” His hand flew to your hair, brushing it back as your eyes were going from him to around you, panic rising in your eyes. “Look at me, focus on me.”
“What-what?”
“You were stabbed,” he uttered.
Your eyes widened and he brushed back your hair again, doctors moving around the two of you. They could've been right on his back or a thousand miles away. All he focused on was you. Your hands waved around, getting in the way of tubes and the doctors.
Robby grabbed your hand, squeezing.
You focused on him and he tried to smile, tried to make himself convinced everything would be alright. He knew it was a grimace.
He'd never hated his medical training more. Because he knew this amount of blood loss was bad, he knew stabbing so close to the spinal chords was dangerous. He knew you were strong and hated staying still for too long and now you'd be forced to recover.
“My pressure?”
“It's up.” He watched as your eyes teared up, looking away from him again. “Good, that's good.”
Your hair sprawled out as you shook your head. “Am I gonna.... will I walk again?”
Robby hesitated. “Yeah- yeah we think it missed your spinal chord.”
Robby knew that but he couldn't help the tears that fell, couldn't help the small sob that ripped through his throat. You'd been calm at the cut with your head, damn right comedic. Now- you were quiet, whimpering and crying in pain and there wasn't anything he could do.
He was a doctor, he could help and check vitals and squeeze the bag of blood slow.
But he couldn't move from your side.
You nod before your back arched in pain and you yelled out.
“BP eighty palp!”
Robby got up, ignoring the ache in his knees as he loomed over you, trying to calm the pain. “Do something!”
“Robby!”
He looked.
You'd drained the blood dry.
“What?” you uttered, voice trembled in terror.
“Okay she needs to go up, now!” Jack called out.
“Let's get her moving!” yelled Garcia.
You groaned in pain. “What's going on?”
Robby didn't know what to do. It wasn't a conversation of telling a patient what was going on or what wasn't. It was telling you. He stuttered lamely, lost as another tear slid down his cheek. You hadn't even cried yet and he was close to blubbering.
His head bowed to you. He was mumbling, he thinks he was praying.
“Robby-” your hand waved out in front of him and he grabbed it, squeezing. “It hurts.”
“Okay, okay, we're gonna-” what was he gonna do? He pressed your hand to his lips, holding it there.
“Hey, honey,” Jack appeared at your other side and your eyes moved to see him but Robby didn't let go. “Hell of a way to get into the night shift.”
“Jack-” you winced.
Jack looked from you to Robby, the same way he looked at the family of unfortunate patients. “We're taking her up to the OR now.”
Your fingers wiggled in Robby's grasp and he looked back to you. “It's bad huh?”
“No, no,” said Robby smoothing back your hair again.
“Your losing a lot of blood, and your foley output is bright red,” said Jack. “But we're gonna sort it and you'll be fine. You trust me?”
Your breathing was shallow, hard breaths hardly coming out. Still, you tried to smile. “Do I- do I have a choice?” your voice came out through seethes of breath.
Robby closed his eyes tight, as if he could feel the own stabbing in his heart.
“Robb-Robby?”
He glanced at you, your eyes fluttering shut. The little hold you had on his hand weakening. He fumbled up, hands holding your cheeks. “Woah-woah- open your eyes! Look at me- look at me!”
You mumbled, head lulling.
“Going up!”
“Look at me, open your eyes!” he all but shouted at you as your eyes were still rolling to the back of his head, wavering between waking and whatever else was on the other side.
“Robby!”
Robby held onto the side of your bed as the team around you wheeled you away and through. There was a stutter of shock waving through the crowd, fear chocking them, shock eating at them. There was police around, all trying to get a look.
“Talk to her, Robinavitch!” said Garcia.
He didn't talk to patients, he evaluated them, stitched them up when he could.
Robby looked up at Jack, hoping for help. He looked grave, watching Robby un-sure but people came back from worse. You'd come back. “Hey, hey look at me,” he uttered and squeezed your hand. When that didn't work he pulled at your eyelids and finally you responded with a grumble.
The elevator doors slid open and you were hauled in, Robby squeezed in too.
“Wh-what?”
He got a flash of your eyes before they closed again.
Your lips were dry and chapped but Robby kissed you anyway, pressing his lips to yours soft, not pushing afraid he'd hurt you but he wanted you to know he was there.
He smiled. He'd never seen you first thing in the morning, he imagined this is what it was. Groggy eyes, words hardly there but with less pain and blood. Robby pulled back and ignored the blood drying in splatters on your neck. “Are you with me, honey?”
You blinked and groaned in pain. “I don't-I don't know.”
“You're with me, yeah you are, you're with me,” Robby mumbled. “You look very pretty, even covered in blood, you know that?” he mumbled, trying to say it so only you could hear.
There was a huff of a smile followed by pain.
“You can't flirt with me while I'm dying, Robinavitch.”
Your eyes fluttered shut.
Robby grabbed your face, smooching your cheek maybe a bit too harsh. “You're not going anywhere.”
“You've pushed four bags,” you whispered. “You're gonna push a five.”
There was a huff of laugh from Jack.
Robby sniffed. You were too good at your job sometimes, ignoring the ache in his back as he leant over you. “You shouldn't be counting.”
“What can I say I'm over-qualified,” your eyes shut again but your lips moved in mumbles.
“What is it? What are you saying?” he asked, a crack in his voice. “What? Tell me.... tell me.”
But you weren't really there anymore. You were incoherent, eyes not really there. None of you was really there. “Robby.... Rob.... please, Robby.”
“What? I'm here, I'm right here, okay? Okay, honey?” Robby felt his chest cave in. “What's taking this elevator so long?” he snapped.
“It's bad, I know,” you said, fingers drifting soft over his arm before it dropped. “I can't- I can't-”
The doors slid open, a team waited on the other side.
Garcia pushed you ahead into the team, spouting who she wanted to scrub in, telling them all who she wanted out front watching. Your condition was a perfect teaching sort.
You weren't for teaching. You were for saving!
Robby wanted to tell as much as the team wheeled you away and Jack's arm came out to stop him.
“You can't go in there man,” he said.
“Like hell I can't!”
“No, you can't!” said Jack.
Any other time Robby would have argued more but he had nothing to say. He needed to be there, he wanted to be there but as soon as they cut you open he'd break. As soon as he saw inside your body he'd tie himself to you.
He'd seen over a hundred bodies cut open in his time but yours might break him.
Robby nodded, hands going to the back of his head.
Someone in the room cried and it took him a moment to realise it was him.
“Hey-hey-” Jack embraced him and Robby couldn't reach to hug him back but he could let himself down. “I will go in, I will be there, you know I will do everything to save her. We will save her.”
To save your life, Robby let him go and stood alone. He looked down at his hand as if he could feel the ghost hold of you still there. When he looked down, all he saw was the hair on the back and the tremble of his fingers.
Robby- for the first time since he was a boy- learnt how to cry.
He tried- boy did he try- to get back into the swing of things. Robby walked into the Pitt with red, blotchy eyes and a waver in his voice. He looked at the board, picked up a sixty year old patient with migraines.
“Hello I'm Doctor Robinavitch, everyone calls me Robby. What seems to be the problem today?”
That was as far as he got before Dana walked in.
“No, no, no, no!” she said, putting the chart down and dragging him out. “I am so sorry Mrs Klepton, we'll get Doctor Shen with you in just a moment. Come with me.”
He was dragged out like a scolded child and shoved into the lounge.
“What do you think you're doing?” she'd snapped.
Robby had put himself in the corner, crowding himself in, arms over his head. What was he doing? Trying to be useful. You'd be up in the OR lord knew how long. If he sat and waited he'd go mad.
Dana leant on the counter. “What'd you think you're doing here, Robinavitch? Get outta here, go home! Better yet go wait for her.”
“I-I can't.”
“Robby.”
He could feel the tears start again. Didn't the human run out of tears eventually? They didn't teach that in med school. “I- I can't. I'm useful in-in here, I'm not- I'm not-”
“Right now there's only one person you can be useful to, so go to her.”
That's how he ended up in the OR waiting room, alone, not flicking through the magazines provided, not even watching the fish in the tank. He was just sitting.
Waiting.
At some point he'd taken the clock down to not watch the hands turn but eventually the sun rose and he was terrified like no other day.
It was going on 05:00 am when the door slowly pushed open. It wasn't with a rattle of relief or with a cheer, it was a slow push.
Robby thought his heart was broken before.
He was hunched over himself, elbows balanced on his knees as he hid his face in his hands and slowly rocked himself. “No... no... no...”
“Robby,” Jack said quietly. His steps were slow but he felt his hand on his back.
Robby flinched, shrinking into himself.
Where was the knife so he could stab himself?
“Robby- she's okay.”
There was a crack in his neck from how quick he looked up. It wasn't enough to convince him, his clinical trained mind wondering all the what would comes? Had it got into your spine? How much blood had you lost.
But Jack listed it off like he knew what Robby needed to hear first. It hadn't hit an aorta, it got an artery hence the bleeding but they'd stabilised it with more blood than they would have liked. But you were alive, though sleeping and they had no worries for you at the moment.
Robby nodded when Jack finished. He must have come right from the OR to tell him because he was still in scrubs and covered in blood. Your blood. “Can I see her?”
You didn't look peaceful. Robby had never thought how uncomfortable the hospital gowns must have been until he saw you lying in one. There was oxygen tube in your nose and an IV in your hand. There was some bruising he hadn't noticed before on your arms from the fall you took.
“What do I do now?” Robby mumbled. He was good at the saving lives part, he just wasn't sure what to do when they hung in limbo.
Jack patted his back, leading the way in the room. “For a doctor you're pretty clueless. You sit with her.”
Robby followed in, un-sure what to do with himself so he held onto either end of his stethoscope.
There was a chair already pulled up to your side as Jack busied himself on the other, checking your IV and BP- all looked good.
Robby had caught you napping at your desk once, fallen asleep while charting. He'd admired you for a moment before slowly waking you with a pen poked in your head. You'd looked so peaceful then- nothing like it now.
“Is she cold?”
“No- I don't think so.”
Robby slowly sank down in the chair and picked up your hand again. It stopped the trembling in his at once.
“I gotta get off, I'll cover the day, do something about the nights. Stay with her, call me if there's any changes,” said Jack.
“Thank you, brother,” said Robby.
There was a dull drumming in your head. Your back was aching and even moving your eyes hurt. Beyond all of that there was something else, something heavier.
Your eyes opened slowly and you found the lights ahead. They burned brighter than the sun, like every morning when you walked into PCMT. You tried to hide, to shield yourself with your hand but you couldn't move it.
Panic coursed through you. Why couldn't you move it? Why could you hardly feel your hand? Dear god-
“Hey,” a gentle voice greeted and you searched for them.
Jack stood over you, leaning at you bed.
Your mouth was parched as you tried to speak.
“You're okay,” said Jack in a whisper. “You remember what happened?”
Step by step you thought back. You were leaving, only checking on David once more before sharp pain hit you in the back and you were shoved. When you came too again faces blurred together and pain blinded you to them all.
There was Robby. Somewhere in all of that.
“I was... stabbed?”
Jack nodded, a small trembled in his chin. “Yeah you were. But you're gonna be okay, there was no injury to your spine.”
“I'll walk?”
“Twelve hours time we'll get you up.”
When you focused you could feel the ache in your arm as if someone was pulling it. There was something heavy at the end like someone was holding it, tight.
Robby was at your other side, lying on your arm and holding you down. His body was curved over, head turned away as his back moved in soft breaths.
“Thought I'd let him sleep. He's been up watching you since you came out the OR,” said Jack.
Robby. He'd stayed.
Had you asked him to? You'd wanted him to. Maybe he understood that.
“Thank you, Jack.”
Jack shook his head. There was no need to thank him, you knew that, but you were thanking him for the life you'd put in his hands and that he'd let Robby be at your side. “You want some time?”
You nodded stiff, feeling the ache in your back more and more. You knew you had months ahead of you of pain but you didn't want to dull it with drugs just yet.
Jack petted down your hair once before taking his hoodie off the back of the chair and leaving, closing the door gently.
In the silence you watched Robby a moment longer, matching your new breaths with his. The weight of him on your hand made you tingle as you slowly worked your fingertips back to life.
You tried to move your hand out from his weight but he stirred.
Groggily he turned and looked around the room, waking up more confused then you were.
“Robby?”
His eyes widened.
Robby moved up at once, looming over your bed as you tried to push yourself up. “Hey, hey, take it easy,” he fretted, eyes raking over your body like he was checking all of you were there. “Are you okay? Are you in pain?”
“Robby-” you tried to protest.
“BP is hundred over eighty.”
You tried to entertain him, just as you had with the cut on your head. If you let him go through the motions just might just end up holding his hand again. So you let him try your nerves, let him ask if you were in pain. You let him ask you to wiggle your fingers and toes. You let him lift one leg and the other as high as he could before you winced in pain.
“Can you stop being my doctor for a second and sit back down?”
Robby seemed startled but hid it quickly. He realised Jack was out the room. “He should've woke me, checked you over.”
“You were resting, he said you'd stayed.”
He looked at you, astonished you'd think he'd go anywhere else.
You watched him sink into his chair, clasping his hands together and wedging them between his knees. Your fingers ached to hold him but your body was weak even talking. “You look tired.”
He chuckled low and smiled. His face was pale, eyes red, hair a mess. His entire body was slumped. “I look tired?”
“A nice tired, a handsome tired.”
You focused on your hand, lifting it enough. You watched as Robby looked down and took it without hesitation, he held it tight, grasping it between his big hands and bringing it to his lips.
You felt him kiss your palm.
“I was stabbed?”
Robby nodded, slowly. “Two puncture wounds, missed the spinal chords, nicked an aorta, bled out. That was our biggest worry but-”
“But I'm okay now?”
Slowly, he nodded.
You groaned, shifting your head aside. You'd have rolled over to show your protest but you had a feeling you'd be putting as little pressure on your back for a while. “Is Mr Brown?”
“The police are looking for him,” said Robby, without letting you even work out just what it is you were trying to ask about.
You nodded slowly, looking down to where your hand disappeared in his. “I'll report him this time, I promise.”
Robby stared at you, eyes wide with something you couldn't name. “I just want you to focus on getting better. On coming back... coming back to me.”
You didn't think, even coming out of an op and the haze of pain, that you could ever be where he wasn't. You think, no matter how terrible it seemed, that it was meant to happen this way. The stabbing and scarring that would no doubt end up on your back might have been the best thing to ever happen to you.
“Robby,” you whispered.
He must have heard something in your voice as he slowly stood and hunched over you, a hand lying on the top of your head.
His eyes were watering with tears.
You could remember faint images of this happening before, as you were slowly lulled to sleep by drugs. His hand combing back your hair felt like it had always been doing it. Like you'd always woken to him.
“Did you kiss me?” You didn't know where the memory came from, or even if it was a memory. It could've been a dream.
To his credit Robby didn't startle or flinch. He slowly nodded, leaving room for objection. He leaned over close to you, another hand cradling your cheek. “Yeah.”
“Why?”
Robby inhaled sharply. “I wanted to. I wanted to kiss you months before I did. I wanted to kiss you last week and two minutes ago when you woke. I wanted to kiss you covered in blood and... I want to kiss you now.”
You smiled and it brought you no pain. “If my back wasn't in pain I'd be kissing you right now,” you chuckled and then the pain came.
Robby leant down to you, his eyes searching yours. Close enough you could see what was in his eyes, what he'd been hiding. Warmth. Admiration.
His large nose brushed yours as he kissed you slow with no rush of need. His hand was soft as he angled you so he could explore every line and curve if your lip.
Your own hand slowly wound up, around his head, stroking the back of his hair and resting there. He didn't mind the oxygen tube or that she couldn't reach up to meet him. In fact he kissed her like he'd planned it like this a hundred times.
When there was an alarming beep from the machines Robby pulled away quick, studdying them.
“It's just my heartrate,” you said. “Might have been beating a little faster there.”
He agreed but seemed solemn to do so.
You watched the crease between his brows appear again. “You know, if I knew I just needed to be stabbed to have you kiss me again I'd have-”
“Don't even think about finishing that sentence.”
For the sake of his nerves, you didn't.
“You know if I'd have known that it was just gonna take me getting stabbed for you to sell that motorbike, I'd have got stabbed a lot sooner,” you said teasingly as Robby pulled into his new designated parking space outside the ED.
It had been a month since the incident but you were still reaping the small benefits that came with it. Like Robby insisting you stay with him to get the best care, like him getting rid of his motorbike to get a better car that was more comfortable on your back.
Like having so much time with him.
Mornings where he dedicated time in messaging the sore spots of your back and spreading an oil that was going to help the scaring. Like the dinner times when you read him a recipe that he never followed to the t. Like the kisses you stole in the night when he'd watch you and kiss you without straining to go forward.
Robby parked the car and turned off the engine. “If I had a dollar every time you said that,” he grumbled, picking up his bag and exiting.
You were still moving slower, still kept a crutch with you to keep weight off your back. You were coming back to work with a much lighter work load and you were sure Robby would be glued to your side all day like he practically had the month you'd took to recover.
Even before you could open the door Robby was there doing it for you, your own bag in his hand.
“You think anyone's gonna want to see the cool scars I've got, they kind of look like stars,” you said as Robby stayed close by your side, walking in with you.
“You sent them all pictures,” he said, mildly irritated. You and everyone around you seemed to try to crack jokes about the thing. He felt sometimes he was the only one who saw the near death wound for what it was.
“Excuse me- most of them asked for pictures.”
“Completely inappropriate.”
A few ambulance workers saw you, greeting you with smiles you returned while Robby waited next to you, holding up a polite hand in greeting.
It dropped, grazed yours and picked it up, holding on as the two of you walked in.
Usually Robby liked to walk in through triage, get a feel of what was happening but he wasn't risking that many foreign bodies next to you even though they caught David Brown and he was being charged.
Robby had something to live for, had something to protect. Nothing was happening to it. To you.
“It's good to have you back,” said Lupe as the two of you passed her at the door.
“Do you think that was a pun?” you uttered to him, rewarded with the smallest tint of his lips as he pushed open the door.
Loud clapping greeted you with some cheap, paper, party poppers when you walked in. Thee was cheering to and a large banner was hooked up, saying 'welcome home!'.
A place that could have held such terrible memories was brightened up as you jumped from one smiling face, to another.
Next to you, Robby stepped back, blending into the admiring crowd and started to clap too with something more than fondness in his smile. Love. A word that had woven its way into your vocab since moving in with him to get help for your wounds.
A word that summed up so much of what you had.
“You did this for me?” you asked.
“It was all Robby's idea,” said Jack, leading the cheering.
You didn't have to even move. Like he knew what you wanted Robby stepped over to you and kissed you. He always kept his lips irritatingly light, encouraging you to stretch out muscles in your back to join meet him.
You grinned against his lips. “I should be stabbed more often.”
Hello!! This is my first time writing a fic, this is just the start of an idea I had. Im sorry its not great but no harm in having a go!! If you like the style ill keep going if not ill just leave it here x
An English girl who has finally finished her degree sets off for the authentic american road trip. After getting stuck in the post 4th of july traffic, you head into a bar to get a drink and relax. Meeting a very interesting character while you are at it.
_______________________________________________
This year was rough, but getting your degree out of the way was just the biggest feeling of relief. And you had been planning this trip scince you started your degree at least 5 years ago, many things got in the way, but you found your way back. Studying was always the plan, if you didn't do it you'd be nagged saying that you wont go back to doing it if you take that year out. So, that year out had to wait until the end of your degree. You'd planned to go hiking in american mountains, meet random people at random bars and maybe wresle a bear, you didn't know just something other than the bleak English life you were used to in the middle of nowhere.
You decided to go the Pennysylvania go to Niagra falls, pop to canada while you were at it. Doing the go to destinations, you had taken a year out and had a shit ton of savings, that were to hopefully only be used on travelling and not healthcare, your still stunned at the fact people pay so much to get checked out in AnE.
Niagra falls was as youd expected, beautiful. But you didnt need to spend a whole day there so, you began your travels to your next destination, Detroit. You had done a case study on it once in one of your classes and had a rather big interest in it. You drove through pittsburg, a major city in Pennysylvania and got to experience the 4th of july. This date has no significant meaning back in the UK, it was similar to bonfire night but fireworks for different reasons. But it was so cool to see the festivites for the event. Scince it was so late you stayed overnight at pittsburg in a hotel.
On the 5th of july you head out on your mission to detroit, with just your luck you hit a mega ton of traffic and got stuck for hours on the road in columbus, you could have went a different way but you wanted to see every place, that you could in a year of course. So, by the time the traffic had cleared you only had enough time to make it to a little motel next to a bar in the middle of nowhere.
You walked into the motel reception, it looked as youd expect. Smelled damp, but looked like they had tried to paint over the mould, the desk had paper peeling off it to reveal a dirty wood. An old rusty bell stood atop the desk, the dim orangy light making it look considerably more dirty, exaggerating the spots and stains in the clearly old, nearly falling apart carpet. It looked older than you. Next to the old bell was a sign that read "ON DINNER BREAK, BACK AT 9PM." Fair enough they need their break. You turned around and pushed open the wooden door that felt like it would break if you'd have pushed it any harder and stepped into the air. It was quiet, the sun slowly dissapearing in the horizon, the cool air empowering you to go into the warm of the bar. The gravel crunching aginst your walking boots as you walked to the bar. A bike catches your eye, old but sleek, you'd wanted a bike for ages but could never afford one due to the build up of student debt. You carried on into the bar and it was the most american thing you had ever seen. An american flag (obviously), a stag head attatched to a plaque hung from the wall, blokes in red plad shirts and caps on... at night, some dude with a bomber jacket sipping a whiskey and guns... lots of guns. Back home guns arent allowed unless you have a licence(with a long process to be able to purchase one) so seeing guns unsettles you. The bar smelled of well, alchohol and old carpet, it was warm and they had what you needed to be able to relax after a long day of travel (lack of.) You trodded over to the counter, your shoes sticking to the clearly unmopped floor and sat on one of the leather stools.
"Can i have a rum and coke please." You said to the bartender, who gave you a curt smile and a nod. You sat back and took a moment to take it in, it may be dingy but this is what you came here to experience, the warm lit bar, with a completely different vibe to a pub back home, with people screaming at a screen, normally rugby or football, saying they could be doing better than the professionals. As the condensation from their beer glasses run onto the dark sticky wooden tables in some weatherspoons.
You took alook around at the people that occupied the bar. Some guys gathered round a table the just looked like rednecks: red plaid shirts, caps and long beards. And one other person, in the bomber jacket. A man who looked tired, worn out. His eyes set on his whiskey glass, crows feet scrunched and brows confirming his frustration or sorrow. Salt and pepper hair, and a pretty decent looking beard. A very good looking guy if you werent so interested in what he was anxious about. He moved his hand to pick up the glass and swirl the golden liquid about and finish the glass, quickly asking the bartender for another. _______________________________________________
No such thing part 3. When Brendon is knee deep in surgery and one of his nieces comes into the ER, Brendon has no choice but to call you for backup. Only problem is, you’ve never met his nieces before.
Brendon’s phone was ringing.
Which was abnormal for a surgery.
He usually put his phone on his usual DND setting when he was in the OR. And that setting had only a few overrides.
His sister, you, his nieces, and his mom. That was it. The 5 women he answered to in this life.
Which made him. Very. Very. Anxious.
“Grab it please.” He answered to the scrub tech who informed him.
“I think it’s your niece? It says Sophia.”
Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.
“Okay. Put her on speaker.” He answered worriedly.
And then Sophia’s voice filled the phone, with the sound of… a siren he swore, heart in his throat.
“Uncle Brendon?”
Wobbly.
“What’s wrong? Who’s hurt?” He nearly barked.
“Me.” Came Hayley, who was apparently also on speaker. “What happened? Are you in an ambulance? Who are you with?”
“It’s just us. We are. we told them to take us to PTMC- we’re supposed to do that right?”
“Yes, honey, you are. What happened to Hayley?”
His heart hammered. Bile in his throat.
“She fell down the steps at the park and really ate shit-“ “hey!-“ “and she like, really ripped her shin open. She totally needs stitches.” Sophia informed.
“Did you call your mom?” Brendon grilled.
“Not yet…”
For fuck sake.
The weekend his sister was in Michigan for work and the girls were with him this happened.
Damn it.
“For fuck sake Sophia. Call your mom.”
“Are we in trouble?”
He could see her little wobbly lip in her voice and it gutted him. Fuck.
“No, Princess. You’re not gonna be in trouble I promise.”
He heard her sigh in relief.
“Can you call her?” She asked softly.
“Are you kidding me? I’m in surgery, Sophie.” He sighed. Swore under his breath.
“Yes, I’ll call your mom. But it’s gonna be worse for you later and you know it.”
“Thank you!”
He shook his head. “Yeah yeah. You’re welcome. Look. When you get here, you’re gonna ask for Dr Robby. And you’re gonna say your uncle, Brendon Park told you to do that, okay. And tell them if anyone but him touches Hailes I’ll kill them.”
Sophie giggled.
“Not fucking around Soph.” He insisted.
“No hacks allowed. And tell them to page plastics for the stitches. Or else.”
Sophie winced.
“I don’t wanna be mean.”
“Sophia. It’s your little sisters health. You have to be mean.”
“Fine.” Sophia wavered.
“Are you gonna come down?” Hayley worried.
Brendon’s heart cracked.
“I’m in the middle of surgery, baby. Look. I will be there as soon as I can, I promise. But I just- I can’t right now and I’m so sorry. I- look. I’m gonna see if Y/N can come down to watch you guys. I know you’ve never met her but you can trust her.”
“We know.” Sophia swore.
See, Brendon had never let a girlfriend meet his girls before.
That was, as far as he was concerned, the most serious thing he could do.
So he was really hesitant to.
No one before you had gotten that close. That far. That serious and real.
But…
The girls knew of you. They’d heard all about you.
3 months into your relationship Brendon told them he was dating someone. He never really did that. Nothing was ever that serious. He was never that serious about someone.
So they asked questions. And he answered them. They’d seen photos. They were sweet about it. He told stories. They knew you existed. They knew the broad strokes. But he hadn’t gotten the chance to formally introduce you.
And this was far from optimal. But.
Well. What else was he to do?
You heard stories too. Many.
You knew just how important Brendon’s girls were to him. They were his entire fucking world. You got that.
“I mean I was literally the one who brought Hayley home from the hospital” Brendon explained one day while telling a story, making a slight detour for context.
“Really?”
He nodded.
“Yeah. Erica and Craig got divorced when she was pregnant and he was already a useless sack of shit when Sophie was born, so I was there. They’re my girls.”
You understood. They were essentially his kids. So they mattered to you, simply on account of how much they mattered to them.
He’d called you in a panic a few weeks back, maybe 2 months now really, asking if you had pads at his place, that Sophia got her first period.
Your drawer in the bathroom, you informed him. You were pretty sure it was a full pack.
Which he yelled through the door.
“Do you… need help with it?” He asked, then, nervously, you overheard.
“No they show us in health!” You heard Sophia yell back.
He breathed in relief.
“Thank fuck” he mumbled to you.
“Thank you, you’re a lifesaver. I’ll restock if you just uh. Send me the details.”
“It’s fine” you swore.
“Is there anything else I should do?” He asked you shyly.
Cute. Cute cute 40 year old man.
“Not really. Tylenol or Motrin. Heating pad. You know.” You reminded him.
“Right. Right.” He nodded.
“She can have my good chocolates if they want.” You informed. “But those you have to restock.”
“You’re a lifesaver, baby. Thank you.” He sighed. “I gotta go.”
Is nausea normal? He texted you not long after.
You laughed.
Didn’t you go to med school?
Y/N please. Before I go to the ER just answer me.
Yes it’s normal. Unfortunately. She’s fine.
Thank you.
So is back pain, headaches, migraines, chills, soreness….
Ouch. Well. Thank you. Love u.
He turned his attention back to the girls.
“Y/N says the nausea is normal.”
Sophia barked out a laugh. “That’s what you were doing? Come on I could have told you that. Didn’t you go to med school?”
“Jesus do you two know eachother or something?” He shook his head.
So.
Yeah.
You were both familiar with the others existence.
This was just a final line that you hadn’t crossed yet.
“Page Y/N to the observation room if she’s available, please.” He sighed and asked his scrub again, bracing himself for impact.
You were there in 5 minutes, looking as gorgeous as you had that morning, looking worried through the glass.
“What’s wrong?” You asked immediately.
You were so good.
“I gotta ask you a huge favor. Hayley’s in the ER-“
“Our ER? Is she okay?”
Your concern for his niece’s mirrored his own, tugging on his chest.
“She sliced her leg open taking a fall. Sounds like she’s fine. Look I can’t get out of here. Can you-“
“Are you sure?”
You looked worried. “I know you have boundaries when it comes to them-“
“You’re different.” He swore quickly.
“You’re um- I wanted you to meet them soon anyway. This isn’t ideal but-“
Fuck, he hated having an audience for this.
But you nodded.
“Of corse I will. I’ll- I’ll keep you posted okay?”
He breathed in relief.
“Yes please. Thank you. You’re a saint, baby. Really.”
You nodded.
“I told Hayley that no one but Robby touches her, and to make sure he calls plastics. I don’t want her with a hack job scar, she’s a pretty girl she doesn’t need something to be self conscious of.”
You nodded in understanding.
“No clowns are touching my girl.” He reiterated.
You nodded.
“I’ll make sure. Does she have like allergies or anything I need to tell them-“
“Their PTMC charts are my Sistine Chappell” he informed.
You nodded.
“Okay. Uh, well. I’ll see you later right?”
You found your way to the ED circulation desk, to looks of surprise.
“If it isn’t Miss Y/N. Been a while. What can I do you for?” Dana grinned.
“I’m here on personal business I’m afraid.” You informed. She looked worries
“What’s the matter kiddo?”
“I’m here to check on my boyfriend’s nieces. It’s Hayley Park?”
You watched Princess’ eyes sparkle at the desk behind Dana.
There goes everything.
“Park huh. Jesus Christ kiddo good for you. C’mon I’ll bring you by.”
You stood outside a room, one of the few with a real door, a note on it stating who the patient was and who her uncle was, like a warning. Shark infested waters.
You understood the reputation Brendon had, but he’d always been so sweet to you. You presumed his nieces were equally oblivious to that reputation.
You knocked twice before opening the door.
“Hey, I’m-“
“You’re Y/N” Hayley confirmed instantly, looking you up and down.
“Yeah. I don’t know if your uncle told you, he can’t get out of surgery right now so he wanted me to come stay with you guys. How are you feeling?”
You sat on the family chair in the corner.
Terrified of making a bad impression.
She shrugged.
“I’m fine. It’s just a bad cut.”
You nodded.
“Has a doctor seen you yet?”
She nodded.
“But only for like. A second. He said he’d be back.”
“Dr Robby, right?” You confirmed.
Sophia nodded.
“Okay. Your uncle was very incessant on that. It’s just because he loves you” you insisted.
Despite your anxieties, the girls were so sweet. You got on so easily with them. Conversation flowed naturally. Some good natured jokes at Bren’s expense, some questions about music they liked and tv shows, and you were off to the races. The were so much like Brendon it almost hurt. You weren’t sure how similar Brendon and his sister looked, but the girls definitely took after the Park side of the family.
When Brendon finally got down to the pitt, he was exhausted and frankly, terrified.
He was worried. Really worried.
Not just about Hayley’s shin, but about you three meeting. He wasn’t there to referee if things went badly. wasn’t there to observe or monitor. He didn’t know how he’d cope with it if things went bad. He could never chose a woman over his nieces. And god, he really, really hoped he wouldn’t have to make that choice today.
So he’s surprised with the scene that greets him in Hayley’s room.
All three of you are in Hayley’s bed, whose leg appears stitched up neatly and cleaned well.
And your hands are in Hayley’s hair as Sophia explains the fucking Olivia situation to you- which Brendon has now heard 40 times, but is obviously new to you. And you’re listening with rapt attention, while you braid his fucking niece’s hair.
His heart is going to burst out of his chest.
“Hey” he breathed.
Eyes turned to him.
A smile broke out on your face.
“Hey baby.”
“Hi honey.”
He came over, greeting each of you with a kiss on the head which warmed your chest in a funny fuzzy way. Very domestic. It was almost like you belonged here.
“How was surgery?”
He made a dismissive gesture.
“Fine. But I’ve got bigger fish to fry. How are you feeling princess?” He worried, looking Hayley’s leg over.
“Fine.” She promised.
Brendon let himself into the charting station carelessly, looking over who’d seen her.
He grunted in approval.
“Okay. I like Walenski. He’s good.”
You couldn’t disagree.
“He said you’d met before. Told us some stories.” You winked.
“All bad I hope.” Brendon teased.
“Are they ever good?” You replied in jest.
He grinned.
“You two have no clue how much of an asshole I can be.” Brendon smiled. He joined the three of you on the edge of the bed, somehow fitting.
“They’ve both been very brave. You should be proud of them.” You insisted.
“Oh, I always am. Always. Was Soph mean like I told her to be?”
“No” Hayley giggled.
“We’ll get her there” Brendon smiled.
“You did good today. I am proud of you. Very brave.” He said softly to Sophia, squeezing her hand.
“Thanks.” She whispered.
“They ready to discharge?” Brendon asked you.
You shrugged. “No clue.”
He rolled his eyes.
“I’ll go bust some heads.” He grunted, standing up to go back towards the hub.
You believed that he definitely would.
You’d driven with Brendon to work today, so the four of you piled back into his car after Hayley was discharged.
“We’re hungry” Hayley announced.
“We have food at home” Brendon scoffed.
The backseat groaned loudly.
Brendon groaned back. “Don’t give me that!”
“I bet you don’t subject Y/N to your boring healthy food” Hayley snarked.
No. Y/N, much like the 4 other women in Brendon’s life, has his fucking balls in a vice grip. Y/N gets whatever she wants. Y/N unlike his mother, sister, and nieces, though, lacks the Park name. Which suddenly strikes him as a problem.
“You’re such a spoiled little brat.” Brendon snapped, with no malaise taken from his harsh tone by two little girls who saw the shark as their harmless uncle. “Whose fault is that?” For fuck same. “What do you want-“
Brendon stopped looking at you.
“Is that okay? You were up early I don’t want to-“
“I’m okay with dinner.” You insisted, cheeks warm.
He nodded.
“Okay. So? What’s your price?”
Dinner was… fine. It was weird to see Brendon Park in a junk food filed, crap from a freezer cheap chain restaurant, but his girls wanted, so they got. Your standards weren’t as high as Brendon’s. Clearly, looking at the two do you that was obvious. You were more than happy to partake in boneless wings and mozzarella sticks too. Things flowed so easy with the three of you. Comfortable, like you’d known them their whole lives. You were easy and comfortable, laughing about some sudden inside joke made at the hospital. He could weep. He could just watch the scene for hours.
You kept catching Brendon’s eyes on you, this look in them that you couldn’t quite name. Something deeper than love. Something more he was figuring out. It made something deep in you shine, too.
“Need anything anywhere before I drop you off?” Brendon checked with you, in the car as he reversed out of the spot.
Becuase he had the girls at his place, you’d been spending the longest time apart that you had since you met. The longest time out of each others beds.
Which. Sucked. But was appropriate.
“You’re not coming home with us?”
Sophia sounded devastated.
You and Brendon froze.
“Uh-“
You froze too.
“I… do have work clothes at your place” you admitted.
Brendon pinkened. That was different.
“If… you girls want that” Brendon asked carefully.
They confirmed. Loudly and quickly as tweens do.
“Okay” you agreed.
“Yeah.”
And so you went back to Brendon’s.
You’d spent so much time at Brendon’s the last few months. But the place was so different with them here. Two gigantic Stanley’s on the kitchen island accompanied your water bottles now. Things were louder. School bags by the door, homework still on the coffee table, sneakers by the door untied and messily abandoned.
Things were lively. It wasn’t like his house lacked life when you were in it, but this was different. The energy of children.
You’d say in the living room watching the horrible reality show the girls had apparently suckered Brendon into the last few days for a while, leaned against his chest, pretty out of it as you enjoyed the feeling of his hands in your back, and his heartbeat under your ear.
“You sleepy, baby?” He checked. You confirmed. “Then go to bed.” He insisted. “I’ll be up in a few. Really. Go.” He insisted.
It made you feel a bit guilty. Leaving the party. “These two gotta get to bed soon to anyway, school in the morning. It’s fine. Go.” He insisted, and you finally got up on wobbly knees.
“I’ll wait up.” You instead to Brendon who would rather you didn’t. He just rolled his eyes. “Night girls, it was nice to meet you.” You told them genuinely, to a harmony of “goodnight y/n” and “it was nice to meet you too.”
Brendon’s heart leaped out of his chest when his bedroom door clicked closed and Hailey informed him “we like y/n”.
A relief he didn’t know he needed.
When Brendon slid into bed behind you, you fit against his body like a glove like always. You fit perfect. In his hands and in his life. His arm settled over your waist in a cozy snug hold, his lips to your cheek.
“Did I do okay today?” You croaked.
Still awake apparnelty.
He kissed your cheek again. “You did perfect. The girls fucking adore you.” He informed you. “They love you. And you took care of them and kept them safe for me today. Thank you. I love you so much, baby.” He whispered.
It wasn’t a proper thanks for the service you did him today. For how to soothed his wild mind. But it was a start. For now, Brendon’s girls were all under his roof where they belonged, and that was enough.
I need a part 2 to Two can play that game please please please please please
Two can play that game pt.2
Pairing: Drew Starkey x fem!reader.
⟡ Main Index | ⟡Archive for Earth-1104
a/n: Took me a while but here it is! Here's part 1 and remember to vote for upcoming content ! EP-4000
Classification: fluff with a tiny bit of angst
Word count: 2.2k
Divider by me ;)
Utensils clinked softly in the otherwise quiet kitchen as you scooped ice cream into a bowl, the small, repetitive motion familiar in a way the rest of the night hadn’t quite been, your thoughts drifting somewhere far from the noise as laughter and overlapping voices from the living room filtered in, distant and muffled, belonging to a different world entirely. The cold air from the freezer brushed against your skin as you lingered there, stretching out the quiet before stepping back into everything.
Drew paused at the doorway as he took you in, your back turned to him but your posture gave everything away, from the slight stillness in your shoulders to the way your movements felt just a little too controlled and he instantly understood that you were trying to gather yourself after being surrounded by so much energy all at once. He didn’t say anything right away, just stood there watching, because he knew you well enough to recognize when you needed a second to breathe, even if you hadn’t said it.
“Are you gonna come in or just stand there and stare?” you asked, voice cutting gently through the quiet as you finished scooping your bowl, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at your lips before you turned around to meet his eyes.
Drew exhaled a soft, breathy chuckle at being caught, pushing himself off the doorway as he stepped inside, the distance between you closing slowly because neither of you wanted to rush something that had already been sitting beneath the surface all night, it always was.
“Want some ice cream?” you asked softly, tone casual even as your eyes lingered on him.
“I’m okay,” he replied, though his gaze never left yours, tracking every small movement as you turned back toward the freezer, placing the tub away before bringing the spoon to your lips, absentmindedly nudging it between them as if you needed something to occupy yourself.
You grabbed your bowl and hopped up onto the counter while Drew moved to lean against the kitchen island directly across from you, far enough for the space between you to feel safe.
He just looked at you and you looked right back but neither of you spoke.
You took your time, scooping small bites of ice cream and bringing them to your lips, the quiet stretching between you but never becoming uncomfortable, because it never was with him. It could have passed as a conversation all on its own, one that didn’t need words because everything was already being said in the way your eyes held onto each other, in the way neither of you seemed capable of looking away. But the longer it lasted, the softer it became, until it nudged it’s way through your thick skin and threatened to reach your heart.
“Don’t do that,” you said finally, your voice quieter as you broke eye contact first, looking down at your bowl as if that would somehow save you.
He might have missed it if he hadn’t been watching you so closely, if he didn’t already know exactly what you meant without needing you to explain but still, he had to ask.
“Do what?” he asked, tone light and careful.
You would’ve believed him if this hadn’t been familiar territory, if you hadn’t stood here before, in moments just like this one, balancing on the edge of something neither of you ever let happen.
“That,” you said, pointing at him with your spoon before taking another bite, giving yourself a second to breathe. “Come in here and look at me like that…” you continued. “And then expect me to go on about my night when I know what you want to say.”
He shifted slightly where he stood.
“It’s never something you don’t want to hear,” he said with the faintest shrug, trying to downplay something that carried far more weight than he let on.
“Which we both know is the problem,” you replied, lifting your gaze to meet his again, the air between you tightening just a little. You both stilled, caught in that familiar push and pull, a game neither of you ever fully committed to winning or losing. “So tell me something new,” you added, almost as a challenge.
“Something new?” he echoed, a quiet chuckle slipping past his lips as he glanced around the kitchen, buying himself time.
You didn’t rush him, never did. Because you both knew that rushing this would only lead to the same place it always threatened to go, to words that would spill out too fast, too honest, ending in what neither of you were ready to untangle once it existed out in the open.
So you let the silence stretch again, watching him think, waiting and hoping he would pick something easy for you to stomach.
He cleared his throat, jaw tightening like he was choosing his words more carefully than usual only to fail. “Sometimes I wish I didn’t know you so well…” he admitted and when his eyes lifted back to yours, there was nothing casual left in them, nothing you could brush off or pretend not to understand. “Then I wouldn’t know exactly why you don’t want me to look at you like I’m…allegedly looking at you.”
“Alleged, huh?” you echoed, your tone lighter than the moment deserved, though it carried that edge of deflection you always leaned on when things got too close.
He nodded once, a faint, almost ironic smile tugging at his lips. “I’m trying to help you out.”
You let out a soft chuckle, scooping up another spoonful of ice cream more for something to do than anything else, the cold sweetness barely registering as you tasted it. “By gaslighting me.”
It could’ve stayed playful, could’ve lingered in that safe space where everything between you always hovered but the way his expression changed, how the softness disappeared and something far more serious settled in its place, made your stomach dip. It made you wish instantly that you’d chosen your words more carefully.
“Isn’t that what we’ve been doing all these years?” he asked, voice steady like he had thought about this more than he was ready to acknowledge.
There was no accusation in it or anger, because you both knew it was true. You had spent years circling around what neither of you dared to name, convincing yourselves that it was easier and safer, better this way.
“Drew–”
He shook his head before you could finish, already knowing what you were going to say, that rehearsed speech and he didn’t want to hear it or maybe it was because he knew if you said it, he might actually listen.
“Something new, right?” he cut in, gesturing faintly between the two of you, his hand dropping back to his side as if the motion itself cost him something. “This…halfway thing…it’s not working.”
You let out a small laugh but it came out uneven, more surprised than amused, your arms lifting slightly from your sides as your brows pulled together. “Since when?”
He glanced down at his watch, the gesture absurd in the middle of something like this but it only made the tension sharper.
“Right now,” he said, looking back up at you. “Since right now…I could also tell you it has never worked but that’s something you already know.”
Your lips parted but no words came out right away, your thoughts catching up slower than your reaction and after a second, you nodded faintly, more to yourself than to him.
“You should’ve taken me up on the ice cream,” you said instead, the deflection barely held.
He exhaled quietly, a hint of a defeated smile crossing his face. Yeah, maybe he should’ve.
“We both know it wouldn’t have shut me up.”
Your eyes flickered toward the doorway, the instinct automatic. You were searching for an exit, a distraction, anything that might interrupt this before it went too far because you couldn’t. Whether you were thinking about stepping out or just hoping someone else might walk in, you knew it wouldn’t actually solve anything, because whatever this was, didn’t stay contained to rooms or moments.
“They won’t come in here,” he said softly, catching the movement, reading you the way he always did. “Even if they did…I don’t think I could let this go right now.”
There was a beat, his gaze unwavering.
“Just like I can’t let you go.”
Those words made your chest tighten.
“Nope,” you said quickly while shaking your head, the response instinctively meaning to pull everything back before you could fall too far. “Drew, we made promises. Good ones…solid ones.”
A nervous chuckle slipped out, your grip tightening around the bowl in your hands.
“I would know, I was there,” you added, your voice softening despite yourself. “And I think about those all the time.” Your eyes met his again, confliction flickering behind them. “You can’t do this,” you said, more gently now but no less firm. “It was part of the agreement.”
“I was wrong,” he admitted, the words leaving him as if they had been sitting heavy on his chest for far too long. His voice was rougher now and it sounded a whole lot like regret. “So fucking wrong.”
That confession made your chest tighten and without really thinking about it, you set your bowl and spoon aside on the counter, the quiet clink barely registering as your full attention moved to him. “Did you know that then?” you asked, searching his face. “Before you went and agreed?”
He let out a breath that kinda sounded like a laugh, though there was no humor in it. “Who the fuck knows?” he questioned, shaking his head but he couldn’t untangle what he had been thinking back then. “We were younger and fucking terrified…terrified of getting things wrong and of messing this up.”
As he spoke, he stepped closer, closing the distance one careful movement at a time until he was right in front of you, both hands bracing themselves on the counter on either side of your legs, caging you in without touching you, the heat of him close enough to feel.
You met his eyes, drawing in a slow breath as you tried to steady yourself, already knowing this moment wasn’t something you could walk away from unchanged. “I’m still terrified,” you confessed quietly, the honesty slipping out before you could soften it.
He nodded immediately. He had expected that answer. “I know, baby.”
“It doesn’t mean that I’ve stopped wanting it,” you added, your voice a little stronger now, needing him to hear that part just as clearly. “Wanting you.”
Again, that same gentle nod. “I know.”
You swallowed, nodding once yourself as if sealing the thought. “And I’m not going anywhere… I’ve told you that so many times before–”
“I wanna go where you’re going,” he cut in, his voice low but certain, the words coming faster because they had been held back for too long. “And I also want to watch you go and have the certainty that you’ll come back to me.”
He paused there, searching your face, needing to see how it landed.
“Me,” he repeated, softer this time but far more intentionally so the meaning was unmistakable, no longer something that could be tucked safely behind friendship. “I want to say what comes after ‘I love you’ and stop counting the twenty-seven seconds of a hug until you pull away because you think something that can’t be undone will happen at the thirty-second mark.”
Your lips twitched despite everything, a small, helpless smile breaking through the tension. “You should unlearn me a little,” you murmured, though there was no real conviction behind it.
He shook his head immediately, expression softening. “My heart’s so full of you that most days I have trouble convincing myself that it belongs to me,” he admitted, the vulnerability in his voice sincere and overwhelming. “That’s what comes after ‘I love you’… and I do. I love you.”
The words settled between you but this time, neither of you tried to deflect them.
“And I’m hoping to tell you all about it when they leave,” he added, giving you space even as he stood so close. “But only if you want to hear it. Only then.”
Your hand lifted instinctively, coming to rest against his face, your thumb brushing softly over his skin as you took him in. He seemed on the edge of something, having finally run out of ways to hold himself back.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” you whispered, though your touch didn’t pull away.
“But those are the best kind.” Drew smiled softly and he couldn’t help but breach the distance. He leaned in, slow enough to give you time and to let you stop him if you wanted to but you didn’t.
Your lips met his in a kiss that had been waiting for years, slow and careful at first, then deepening naturally as if it were something you both already knew by heart. Your arms slipped around his shoulders as he guided you closer to the edge of the counter, his hands finally finding your sides, finding home there as the distance between you disappeared completely.
You both smiled into it with relieved happiness after finally crossing the line that had made a home in the space between you for so many years.
Likes, reblogs and comments are always greatly appreciated! ❤️
Tag list from the comments of pt.1 (Thank you for your patience!!) : @simp4f1 @starkeylover24 @birkenn @laceyvt3 @truly-bels @rosaliedepp @shelvswinter @maybankslover @haz3lee
I just fucking realized that I’m seeing Hilary duff July 26th and it’s the day before my grandmas birthday and Hilary will probably sing someone’s watching over me that night so I’m gonna be a fucking wreck during that song fml
Drew fic where they are high school sweethearts and even after all these years they are still in the honeymoon phase. 🤭
The Sweethearts
Pairing: Drew Starkey x Reader
Warnings: N/A
Pronouns: She/Her
Word Count: 0.5K
A/N: I hope this is as honeymoony-phase as you wanted it to be. It's set during Christmas time because that is when I wrote it.
Masterlist
Y/N didn’t think her relationship with Drew would last past high school. Not that she didn’t want it to, but she knew the statistics about relationships actually lasting past the teenage years. When they did though, she couldn’t have been more happy. Now, in their thirties, they still feel like they are teenagers in love. She is waiting at home for him to return home from filming. Her hands are fidgeting with the stockings, trying to get them to face forward. He is coming home for Christmas and she can’t wait to see him again. The music playing from the speaker occupies her mind, so she doesn’t hear his arrival. She feels arms wrapping around her and looks down to see his hands full. She turns in his grasp with a massive grin. He gives her a peck on the lips. “How is my beautiful, beautiful wife?” he greets, dropping down to give her another kiss. She giggles, “Very good. Happy to have you home for the holidays. How is my handsome, handsome husband?” “Ecstatic to be with you again. I got Chinese food from our favourite place and these are for you,” he replies, handing her the bouquet in his left hand and raising the plastic bags in his right. She presses his lips against hers, “Hmm, thank you so much.”
They head to the kitchen island and start unpacking the food. “You got all of my favourites,” she notes while plating some of the food. His hands find her waist and kisses are peppered up and down her neck. He plays with the top of her pants, “I did. I know what my baby likes to eat.” They couldn’t keep their hands off of each other while they ate. Drew brought his chair right beside his so that he could rest his left arm on her waist. His hand would trace patterns on her bare skin exposed because of her shirt riding up.
After dinner, they decide to lie in bed together. Her chin rests on his naked chest, ghosting her fingers on his skin. “What are you thinking about, Baby?” he mumbles, giving her a soft grin. She thinks for a second, “Our future. I can’t wait to have babies with you and watch them grow. Then our hair is going to turn all gray and our skin will go all wrinkly. We’ll retire and get to spend our days travelling or maybe at home with the grandchildren.” Drew gives her a goofy look. “I like the sound of that. You are going to look so beautiful, even when we get old. I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together,” he concludes. She sighs at the thought, “Forever sounds absolutely amazing with you.” They give each other a smile and their lips find each other’s. She wraps her arms around his neck to deepen the kiss. For the rest of the evening, they stay in bed together, not being able to keep their lips or hands off of each other.
Pairing - Drew Starkey x HighSchool Sweetheart! Reader
Summary - Years ago, the reader and Drew Starkey were high school sweethearts, convinced forever was yours. But when he left to chase his dreams as an actor, life pulled you apart. Now, he's back in town to visit family, and the last thing either of you expected was to cross paths again.
Word Count - 3628
Content - Fluff, high school sweethearts, second chance, reunion, soft angst, sfw
It’s was a crisp spring morning in Hickory, North Carolina, the kind of day when the air smells like fresh beginnings and the sun’s warmth dances through the trees. A perfect morning for a walk, and you couldn’t help but smile as you stepped into your favorite local café.
The scent of roasted beans and cinnamon lingered in the air as you waited for your order, your fingers drumming idly against the countertop. It was a simple routine—one you’d done countless times before.
With your drink in hand, you pushed the door open, stepping back into the crisp morning air. The first sip was perfect, rich and smooth, the warmth seeping through you as you started down the familiar path.
You’d been walking this same path for years now, and it never lost its magic. It felt as though nature itself was waking up from a long, sleepy winter, just like you used to feel every time you walked through these park gates, years ago.
Spring was always your favorite time of year, when everything felt new again. The birds were chirping, the trees were budding, and the flowers that had laid dormant for so long were now in full bloom. It was the kind of place that made you feel grounded, at peace with everything around you.
As your boots crunched against the gravel path, you couldn’t help but let your mind wander back to the days when this park was so much more than just a peaceful place to walk. It was your place, where you and Drew used to come together after school, your laughter echoing through the trees and the distant sounds of the creek flowing gently beside you.
You remembered it so clearly: how he’d always walk with you, never wanting to leave your side. How the air between you always felt charged, even back then. Before he had his car, you’d take the bus together every day, sitting side by side, talking about everything and nothing at the same time. The world felt so big and full of possibility back then, but also so small, because you and Drew had each other. It was simple. It was perfect.
The two of you were inseparable in high school, always finding a way to be together. Whether it was lunch in the courtyard or late-night phone calls until you both fell asleep, you never imagined life without him. He lived just a few streets over, and that made it all the easier. You’d talk about your dreams, his dreams, where you’d both go when graduation came. And you were so sure then, so certain that nothing could ever tear you apart.
But of course, life had a different plan.
After graduation, Drew left for Los Angeles to chase his dream of becoming an actor, which was something you both had always talked about. He promised to visit when he could, but it was clear that life was pulling you in different directions.
While Drew was headed west, you found yourself on the other side of the world, stepping onto a new college campus that felt both thrilling and overwhelming. You had gotten into your dream school, a prestigious marine biology program, and for the first time, you truly felt like you were where you were meant to be. The ocean had always been your love, and now you were diving into it—literally.
You studied everything from coral reefs to ocean pollution, learning about how the oceans were changing and how humans were affecting the sea life you had always been so passionate about protecting. It wasn’t just about books and classrooms; you worked on real-world projects, traveling to remote areas to help protect endangered sea creatures, and even working with conservation groups to create plans to help restore the oceans.
Every day felt like an adventure, whether you were diving in the middle of the ocean or figuring out new ways to fight for the world’s waters. It was hard being so far away from home and from Drew, but this was your dream. And it was unfolding in ways you had never imagined.
That summer before you left, you and Drew sat on this very path, beneath the same oak trees, and talked for hours about your relationship. You had no idea when you went to meet him there that it would be the last time you'd sit together, side by side, in that park. The last time you'd have easy, carefree conversations. The goodbye you shared was mutual, but that didn't make it any less painful. Both of you understood what was at stake—chasing your dreams and finding who you were meant to be.
The text messages and occasional calls faded over time, until they eventually stopped altogether. You never expected to lose him, but somewhere along the way, it happened anyway.
And now, here you are, standing in the same park, and life had changed so much since those days, yet the park remained the same, unchanging.
You took another sip of your coffee, smiling softly to yourself, as a breeze danced through the trees. Sometimes, you couldn’t help but wonder if things would’ve been different if Drew had stayed. But then again, that’s the funny thing about life is it never really lets you know what would have happened.
With a sigh, you decided it was time to get a few things from the grocery store before heading back home. You tucked your hands into the pockets of your jacket and turned toward the street, making your way toward the small, family-owned store near the edge of town.
The bell above the grocery store door jingled softly as you stepped inside, a scent of fresh produce and baked goods greeting you. It was the small-town market you’d grown up with, the kind where everyone knew everyone’s name—or at least their face.
You grabbed a basket, moving through the aisles distractedly, your thoughts still swirling around your walk in the park. You weren’t sure how long you’d been walking around aimlessly when you turned the corner to grab a carton of eggs and saw the last person you’d expect to see standing there.
Drew.
For a moment, time seemed to freeze. He was really there, standing just a few feet away, casually browsing through the shelves, his dark hair slightly longer than it had been the last time you saw him. His features were still strikingly familiar, strong jaw, those same blue eyes you’d gotten lost in too many times to count, but now there was a certain air about him, like life had marked him in ways you couldn't quite understand.
He hadn’t seen you yet, and you wondered for a second if you should just turn around and make a quick exit. But the pull was too strong. You couldn’t avoid it forever.
You took a step forward, and that's when he turned, his eyes locking onto yours with the same recognition, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. The world felt a little too small, a little too still, as the moment hung between you.
"Hey," he said, his voice low but warm, as if he were still unsure of how to approach this unexpected encounter.
"Hey," you replied, your voice a little softer than usual, like the weight of so many unspoken things was pressing on your chest.
For a few seconds, neither of you spoke. The noise of the store faded into the background as you both tried to adjust to the reality of seeing each other again after so many years. It was like you were both teenagers again, but now you were adults, with different lives and different paths. Awkwardness lingered in the air, but the chemistry that you two shared hadn’t disappeared. It was still there and as strong as ever.
Drew shifted, scratching the back of his neck with a nervous chuckle. "I, uh, didn't expect to run into you here."
You laughed softly, shaking your head. "I didn't either, to be honest."
There was another beat of silence, but it wasn’t uncomfortable now. It was just... natural. After all this time, it felt like you were both trying to piece together the puzzle of who you were now, who you had been, and how it all fit.
Finally, Drew spoke again, a little more at ease now. "Well, I’m in town visiting my family for a bit," he explained, his cart full of groceries. "I’m actually just picking up some things for them... but, uh, I was wondering—"
He paused for a second, his gaze drifting away from yours for a split second before locking back onto you, searching your face as if asking for permission.
"Would you like to catch up tonight? Maybe grab a drink or just walk around? I mean... I’m sure we both have a lot to talk about."
Your heart skipped. There was a hopeful glint in his eyes, and even though you both knew how much time had passed, how much had changed, it felt like the past was right there between you. The idea of catching up, of talking about everything and nothing, was tempting.
You nodded, a small smile tugging at your lips. "Yeah, I’d like that. Where should we meet?"
Drew’s smile widened, and for the briefest moment, everything felt like it used to—easy, comfortable, like no time had passed at all.
"How about our spot?" he suggested. "Our bench at the park. 5 o'clock sound good?"
"Perfect," you said. The words felt light, easy, like a promise.
He gave you one last look, and you could see something in his eyes—something that had always been there, even if it had faded a little over time. You both had been part of each other's lives once, and maybe, just maybe, tonight could help you figure out where you stood now.
"See you then," Drew said with a soft smile before turning to grab a few more things from the shelves, his footsteps fading as you made your way to the checkout.
As you paid for your items, a mix of excitement and nerves swirled in your stomach. This was unexpected, yes, but it also felt like something you didn’t want to miss. Drew was back in town. And maybe, just maybe, this was the chance to figure out what had never quite been finished between the two of you.
After the unexpected encounter at the store, you needed to ground yourself. The afternoon stretched out before you, and nothing was pressing on your schedule. You figured the best thing to do was to take a moment to breathe and ease your mind before meeting Drew later.
Back in your apartment, you slipped off your shoes and went to the kitchen to put the kettle on for some tea. You couldn’t help but smile a little, the warm cup of tea filling your hands as you watched the sunlight peek through the curtains.
It had been such a long time since you’d felt this level of quiet peace, like things were settled for just a moment. It was so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, in the responsibilities that came with work and adulting, but today felt different. Maybe it was the reminder of simpler times or the unexpectedness of seeing Drew, but everything felt a little... lighter.
You spent the next few hours doing small things around the apartment, organizing old books, folding laundry, and listening to music softly in the background. You didn’t want to dive too deep into thoughts of the past yet. There was enough space in your mind for the present, for this new chapter you had built for yourself, and for today’s unexpected reunion. But it didn’t stop your mind from drifting now and then.
As the day wore on, you started to feel a quiet sense of anticipation, a tinge of excitement that you couldn’t quite place. After a light dinner, you started to get ready to leave. It was still a little before five when you grabbed your jacket and checked the time. There was no rush; just enough time to get to the park and breathe in the fresh air. You didn’t want to overthink this; just enjoy the moment of finally seeing him again.
The walk to the park was peaceful. The streets were quieter than usual, the soft murmur of the town around you giving way to the sound of your footsteps. The park came into view as you rounded the corner, there was a comforting familiarity to it all—the park, the bench, even the light rustle of the trees overhead.
When you finally reached the bench, you spotted Drew sitting there. He looked the same in many ways, but older too. It was the kind of look that made you realize just how much time had passed, how much had changed. Yet, there was something about him still that was so familiar. You hesitated for a moment, taking in the sight of him sitting there, just as he used to.
He looked up as you approached, his eyes lighting up with surprise and recognition. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Hey," he said, standing up as you reached the bench. "I’m glad you came."
You returned the smile, settling onto the bench beside him. "I am, too."
The moment hung between you two, just a little heavy with unspoken words. You shifted slightly, the same old chemistry between you both still there, but also... different. There was an awkwardness, a distance that couldn’t be ignored. You weren’t sure what to say, and neither was he. For a few moments, the quiet of the park surrounded you—soft winds rustling the leaves, birds calling in the distance.
"So," Drew finally broke the silence, his voice lighter now. "Remember that day we went to the beach and I ended up with that ridiculous sunburn?"
You laughed at the memory, the sound of it filling the air between you two. "How could I forget? You were miserable for days. And you wouldn’t let me hear the end of it."
He grinned, clearly amused by the memory. "I deserved it. I was stupid enough to ignore your warnings about sunscreen." His smile faded slightly, like he was lost in thought for a moment. "But, you know, even that day felt... perfect. Everything about it felt right. The whole time, I knew I never wanted it to end."
You nodded, your heart stirring with the memory of those simpler days. The carefree summers, the laughter, the little moments when you and Drew felt like you were the only two people in the world. It almost felt like no time had passed at all, but the truth was undeniable: so much had changed, so much had shifted in the time between then and now.
Drew cleared his throat softly, looking over at you. "Do you ever wonder how things might’ve been if we hadn’t... gone in different directions?"
The question hung there, unspoken for so long, yet now was finally asked aloud. You looked away for a moment, taking a deep breath. "Sometimes," you admitted quietly. "I mean, it’s hard not to. I don’t know if things would’ve worked out, but I guess we’ll never know."
A moment of silence passed between you two before you looked at him again, your gaze a little more searching. You couldn’t stop the question that had been nagging at you since he left—since everything fell apart so suddenly. "Why did you really leave, Drew? You promised you’d visit. The calls, the texts... everything just stopped. Why didn’t you come back like you said you would?"
Drew’s expression shifted, and for a brief moment, his face became a little guarded. But then, his eyes softened, his gaze locking with yours as he took a deep breath. "I didn’t know how to handle it," he said quietly, his voice thick with regret.
"I thought that it was the right thing to do, for both of us. I thought you deserved more than what I could give you at the time, I was never around. I didn’t want to drag you into my world, into all that uncertainty. But that was the wrong choice. I should’ve kept in touch. I should’ve made the effort. I wasn’t... I wasn’t strong enough to stay."
He ran a hand through his hair, looking down for a moment, like he was trying to find the right words. "The truth is, I never got over you. I tried to move on with other people, but it was never the same. No matter who I was with, it didn’t feel right. You were always there. You were always in my head."
Your heart skipped a beat at his words. It was everything you’d wanted to hear, but now that it was said, everything felt even more complicated than before. You wanted to say something, but the words felt stuck in your throat.
Without thinking, you leaned in, pressing your lips to his in a soft, hesitant kiss. It was slow, lingering, like neither of you wanted to rush through it, not now, not after everything that had been said.
When you pulled back, your eyes locked onto Drew’s. The air between you felt heavier now, as though the kiss had opened up something neither of you were sure how to deal with. You could feel the tension, the unspoken words, and the feelings you both had buried deep over the years. There was so much left unsaid, so much left unresolved. But one thing was for sure now, whatever had been between you two, it was still there.
He looked at you, his expression soft but uncertain. "So... what now?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper, as if he wasn’t sure how to navigate this space between you both.
You took a deep breath, trying to steady your racing heart. "I don’t know," you said honestly, a slight smile tugging at the corners of your lips. "I guess... we take this one step at a time?"
Drew gave a small, nervous laugh, the sound of it almost as familiar as the way he used to laugh when he was caught off guard. He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly unsure but clearly wanting to be near you. "I know I’ve made a mess of things. But... I don’t want to mess this up again." His gaze softened, his voice earnest now. "I’ve missed you, Y/N, more than I ever thought I would."
The sincerity in his voice made your chest tighten. You could feel it too—the ache of missed opportunities, the gap that had formed between you over the years.
You looked out at the park for a moment, the peaceful surroundings a sharp contrast to the emotions swirling between you two. "I never stopped thinking about you either, Drew," you admitted softly. "I just... I had to keep going. I couldn’t keep waiting for you to come back. But really, I don’t know what happens next."
He nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving yours. "Look, I’m not asking for everything to be the same as it was before. I just want to be in your life again. Even if it’s a little messy at first. I want the chance to make things right... If you’ll let me."
You took another deep breath, the weight of his words settling in your chest. You didn’t have all the answers, and you couldn’t predict where this would go, but one thing was for certain: this moment felt like the beginning of something new. Something raw. Something real.
You reached out, your hand brushing his. It wasn’t a grand gesture, but it felt like enough. It felt like a promise.
"I want to see where this goes," you said, your voice steady but gentle.
Drew smiled, his whole face lighting up with a quiet relief. "That sounds perfect."
There was a moment of silence between you two, the kind that was full of unspoken understanding. And then, Drew spoke again, his voice firm but filled with determination.
"I’m not leaving anytime soon," he said, his gaze locking with yours. "I came back to visit, but... I think I need more time here. I want to figure things out with you. To make up for all the years we lost." His eyes softened with vulnerability.
The weight of his words settled in your chest, and you couldn’t help but smile, a mixture of relief and hope swirling inside you. This wasn’t just about him staying in town for a few extra days—he was making a choice, a commitment, to be present and to see where this could go.
"Are you sure? I mean…can you do that?" you asked, your voice a little breathless, both surprised and touched by his determination.
Drew nodded, his smile widening. "I’m sure, and yes, I can. I’m not ready to walk away from you again, not without giving this everything I’ve got."
The way he looked at you made your heart flutter, a mixture of hope and warmth blooming in your chest. You weren’t sure what the future would hold, but for the first time in a long while, you felt like you could face it.
"Okay," you said, a soft laugh escaping your lips. "Let’s see where this goes, then."
Drew grinned, his hand tightening around yours just a little, as if anchoring both of you to this moment. The park, the breeze, the way the evening light bathed everything in a soft glow—it all felt right. Like a new beginning, though neither of you could know what that would look like yet.
summery: everyone knows you and Drew are ‘just friends’ but things change after you stay together during Paris fashion week and the internet notices.. p.s everyone is over 21, warnings none
Instagram
yourusername
yourusername: a time was had! first few nights of pfw xx
liked by drewstarkey, madelyncline, gabbriette and 1,678,925 others
tagged: @drewstarkey @madelyncline @carlaciagrant
view all 187,34 comments
user965201: i know that’s not you and my man on the last slide
user6482: umm the last slide?!?!
user515273: siri play that should be me by Justin bieber
user8902568: I don’t know who I wanna be more yn or drew
madelyncline: my bestest friend, although I should be the one laying with you tonight☹️
yourusername: when we get back😉
(madelyncline liked)
user6383921: YN AND DREW SLEEPING TOGETHER?!?!
user101: ok but if they actually are dating they would be so cute
drewstarkey: I am now a personal bag holder👜
yourusername: what else would you be good for?!😌
user2674: girl we all know what else
carlaciagrant: I have the best time with you🍸💋
(yourusername liked)
madisonbaileybabe: body and face so tea
yourusername: i miss you 🫦
tarayummyy: i wanna be like you when i grow up
yourusername: I’m speechless miss yummy
user7744: the baddest
user6767: we need more drew content!
yourusername: I’m on it
sabrinacarpenter: what have I missed
yourusername: me!!?😅
user7853: sooo yall together orrr just fucking
leahkateb: HOTTIE
(yourusername liked)
drewstarkey
drewstarkey: paris with my favourite person
liked by yourusername, hichasestokes and 1,558,682 others
view all 137,173 comments
yourusernam: ;)
(drewstarkey liked)
drewstarkey: 😘
user1212: why is everyone acting like they’re not FLIRTING
user7903357: my heart hurts
user662188: tell me this is a joke
madelyncline: wow.
youruser: my number one always.
drewstarkey: 🖕🏻
hichasestokes: ooo
odessaazion: my parents
user73927401: I get it drew
user22: when’s the wedding
user78114: this won’t last long
user884: my roman empire
vinniehacker: heck yeah
user2333332: is that yn??
user99229: i didn’t know this was an option but i like it
user673527: ‘favourite person’ he’s such a green flag
jonathandavissofficial: 🥳
madelyncline
madelyncline: me and @yourusername know how to have a good time
liked by yourusername, drewstarkey, larray and 1,382,784
tagged: @yourusername
view all 122,306 comments
yourusername: and we’re gunna do it again tonight
madelyncline: forever
user76: girl are you gunna confirm if yn and drew are together👀
user89021: I need new yn and drew content asap
user5555: my favourite duo
user77658: DIVAS
drewstarkey: the drive back to the hotel was hell
yourusername: acting like you didn’t love it.
madelyncline: 1 too many margaritas
user123: madelyn and yn against the world
yourusername: 🤏🏻🤏🏻
madelyncline: exactly
sabrinacarpenter: i’m with you guys in spirit
(madelyncline liked)
user902: yall are everything.
user77482: icons
user6894: mommy?, mamacita?
madisonbeer: perfection
madelyncline: miss you
Twitter
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this is my first post, so sorry if it’s not the best!!
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