the neighborhood uncle. (1)
summary: after almost a year and some change of being the neighborhood children's nominated uncle, terry believes that it is high time to give the children an aunt.
pairing: terry richmond x dallas dubois (oc!)
content: fluff, allusions to nsfw acts, language, cuteness, slight angst if you squint, allusions to childhood trauma, mentions of death and mortuary practices.
note: this takes place in the 4evermore universe and the pair have been together officially almost two years during the events of this imagine.
a/n: evening! I hope everyone is fairing well during these...interesting times. I wrote this imagine the other day in almost one sitting after being inspired by a Instagram reel I seen yesterday morning. so please enjoy.
though I did edit this today, four hours post op from wisdom teeth removal surgery, so if there are grammatical errors…my bad. 😬
p.s: please feel free to comment, like, reblog, or send a letter with any rambles, questions, and more. I low-key need entertainment for the next few days in this bed y’all. 🥹
taglist: @zillasvilla , @slowly-blue-coffee, @kumkaniudaku , @lovedlover , @wonderlustwrites , @theogbadbitch , @enticingmelanin
For as sturdy and stoic as most onlookers took Terry Richmond to be due to the constant resting neutrality to his face, hardened physique by way of years training in the physical disciplines of the martial arts and US Marine corp, his somewhat reserved speech, and that overall demeanor that screamed 'I'm not for the fuck shit'.
There was always one group of beings who still have never deterred from dwelling in his presence. Those beings are children.
For whatever reason ever since his adolescence, young children had always had an unexplainable draw to Terry. And maybe it had been the eldest sibling energy he exuded or how somewhat mature he’d seemed from an early time in his life due to unfortunate traumas occurring before he was old enough to properly process them, leaving him no choice but to both accelerate parts of his growth and unknowingly stunt some of it as well. At points robbing himself of parts of his childhood. Blind.
But it was also part of the reason why it was so easy for him to attain his high school community service hours through tutoring younger students in math and science based subjects, and also why he had the prowess to continually lead himself and his underclassmen teammates to numerous victories on the court.
It was just unexplainably easy for him to get along with these beings. And why wouldn't it be. Children were honest, humorous, and most of all pure within intentions. All things Terry found himself striving to constantly be everyday.
And while children seemed to adore Terry to moon and beyond the stars, as quiet as it was kept, he too secretly adored them back. Never minding the company of a young soul to be a companion to his elder one.
Something that proved to still ring true on a random cool Sunday afternoon almost two years ago, as he was kneeled on the ground tending to the still growing patch of ivory tullips in the front yard of his new inherited home.
He'd been outside for quite some time working at pulling the aggravating weeds and sneaking dandelions away from his uncle's legacy when he felt the presence appear behind him.
Face already preparing to fix with a scowl at who could be interrupting this sacred time, he found his features immediately softening at the sight of the little tawny girl in front of him with her lavender glasses and barrette sealed pigtails hanging past her ear, perched on her little purple bike as she stared at him in curiosity.
He'd recognized her as Laila, the daughter of his down the way neighbor Deja McAdams, a widowed single mother and Liberian for one of the local middle schools. She’d also been classmates with Dallas in high school.
" Well hello there. " He offered a somber smile, taking a moment to reach over and wipe his hands of the dirt on them.
" Hi." She chirped.
Looking around at the slightly sparse sidewalks, he attempted to locate a sign of her mother or one of her elder brothers he could recall seeing a few times before turning back to her, " Say young lady. Where are your people? It's not good to be wandering around by yourself. Not safe."
" I wasn't by myself." She replied, pointing further down the street, " I was riding bikes with my brothers. But they left me cause' I couldn't keep up on a count I can't use my pedals."
Frowning and taking another look at the bike, he asked, " Why aren't you using your pedals? You know how to ride it, right?”
The young girl nodded before explaining, " Yes. Pedals don't work."
" I see." Terry hummed, slowly standing up to his full height and almost laughing when seen the expression of wonder appear on her little face, " You mind if I take a look at it?”
This earned him another nod as she carefully allowed him to turn the bike over and inspect it until he found the problem of her cracked bottom bracket as the culprit.
With a purposely dramatic deep sigh as he stood up, he watched the anticipation rise on her face, " Well?”
" Well. I think I might be able to fix this for you." He started, already piecing together what tools he needed grab from his kit for the job, " But only on two conditions."
" What? " She scrunched up, ready to hear his price.
" One, if I fix this you have to promise me that you won't be wandering alone again without your brothers or mama watching you, alright? If they leave you again, go home and tell your mama." He instructed and watched her nod.
" And two, you have to promise me that the next time you stop here for a visit, you won't ride your bike on Mr. Terry's freshly cut grass, okay." He motioned to the small tire marks that had begun to form on the ground.
" Oh! " She offered a sheepish smile, " Sorry!"
" Hey. That's alright. No big deal...this time." He playfully raised an eyebrow ensuing small giggles from his little hopeful dealmaker, " But does that mean we have a deal?"
"Mmmm..." The first grader paused to mimic a moment of thought like she'd seen in the movies she watched, before sticking out her hand, " Deal."
" Okay." He laughed, making sure to gently shake hers back, " Got our selves a deal then. Now show me where your mama is so I can explain to her what I'm about to do to your bike." He instructed, picking up the bike and following a chattering Laila all the way to her home.
From there visits from young Laila became frequent, whether to inquire about Mr. Terry fixing and upgrading something on her bike, using him as a willing audience for all of her pageant practice while he diligently carried on his yardwork, and eventually to sometimes say hello to the pretty funeral lady that sat with him somedays on his porch and offered sweet snacks.
It wasn't long before the other neighborhood children would hear from the jabbering princess all about Laila’s newly minted Uncle Terry, the Mr. Incredible like man who supplied big boy strength, laughter, and occasional baked goods he sourced from Dallas.
Soon they all found themselves gravitating to the house with the pretty white flowers by its mailbox. With Terry welcoming each and every one just the same until it fully evolved into Terry stepping into his role as everybody’s neighborhood uncle for the last year and some change.
To which he accepted, providing as much love, tender, discipline, and guidance as he could possibly give them.
And just like that Terry found his porch quickly becoming a safe space for any and every child who stepped foot into the space that Terry had once worked tirelessly to restore alongside some of his colleagues when he decided to move in and refurbish the home his uncle had left him.
And whether haircuts were being given to a little head sitting on the stoop in the evening, helping with homework after school on the steps, refereeing street football games in front of the house, young voices gathering to debate who could take who across a multiverse of Anime shows, and even holding a small ted talk one evening to show some of the young boys how to brush their hair and tie a durag by the southern standard. Terry thoroughly enjoyed having little laughs, curious questions, and cheer around his house that helped him on those days when he felt the memories stuck in the walls and floorboards would consume him.
But it didn’t stop there, since the early summer had started Terry had attended…
Four spelling bees.
Eleven basketball and soccer games combined.
Two track meets.
Two school graduations.
One state science fair.
And even a Little Miss Peach Blossom pageant to watch little Laila participate.
With Dallas accompanying him to witness the 6’3 ex-marine quietly cheer and whop with a large glittering sign in hand, amongst the sea of mainly older middle age women, with almost the same ferocity he would at a Hawk’s game.
Though, she also unfortunately got to witness the display he’d later put on for her on the way home after Laila had taken home second place with a smile and a courteous polite wave just the way they’d practiced on his porch many times before, much to Terry’s disgruntlement.
“ That’s okay, baby girl. Chin up.” He had patted her on the back while carrying her tired form through the venue’s parking lot for her mother, “ You were the prettiest little peach up there. Proud of you.” He affirmed the sleepy princess, before buckling her in, seeing them off, and then proceeding to throw a fit to his girlfriend in his truck.
“ That little girl who won had uppers in her kitten heels, baby! I saw it! And her tutu wasn’t all that. Couldn’t even do the full four step duchess twirl in it the right way anyway.” Terry huffed, peeling out of the parking lot, “ It’s step, twirl, blow a kiss, then regal wave!”
“ That little girl blew a kiss first, then stepped, waved, and twirled. It’s wrong! Her routine was sloppy and her mama helped her with her question portion. Mouthing shit to her.” Terry fumed, while Dallas did her best to suppress her laughter at her boyfriend’s surprising investment and growing miniature tantrum that rivaled that of some of the actual toddlers they’d seen that day.
“ I told Deja , I think we should outta’ dispute this whole thing.” He shook his head, “ I wanna know how high up this shit goes.”
And at that statement Dallas decided to finally intervene, “ Terry, it was a beauty pageant for 3 to 10 year old's in the conference center of a Marriott, babe. Where the grand prize winner got $200 and a meal at the Cheesecake Factory.” She reached over to place a calming hand on his thigh, “ It’s not that serious, even Deja said so.”
Still that wasn’t enough to settle him, “ Dallas I don’t give a damn.” He fussed, “ That money could go in her college fund and you know that baby deserves her twenty five dollar spaghetti and piece of cold ass cheesecake.”
“ But that’s okay.” He nodded, tapping his steering wheel like Denzel in Training Day, “ We’ll be back for that crown. Believe that.”
And with all that combined, it didn’t come as a surprise to Dallas when loud knocks began on the pecan colored door while she brushed her teeth. Hurriedly she went and swung it open to find ten young kids, big and small alike, rallied on her boyfriend’s porch at 10:30 on a Saturday morning, eager to collect their favorite person.
“ Well Good Mornin’ everyone.” Dallas chirped, adjusting the white silk bonnet higher on her forehead, “ How are all of you today?”
A chorus of “ Morning Miss Dubois”, mixed with a couple “ Hi Miss Funeral Lady” and follow up responses of collective a “ Good” came from every which way, sending her into a fit of giggles at the adorable group of children in front of her.
“ That’s awesome, you guys. Well what can I do for you brood of little mighty people this morning?” A promise ringed hand finding a home on her hip. " And unfortunately before anyone asks, I don't quite have any treats today. Sorry, maybe next weekend."
The comment sending a wave of temporary pouts and mumbles of disapproval through the crowd until a voice rose above to bring them back to a focus.
“ We’re looking for Uncle Terry, ma’am.” One of the eldest, Morty, stepped forward, “ He’s supposed to be taking all of us in his truck to the basketball court this mornin’ for practice.”
“ We were also promised snacks!” Another voice in the back added among the mutters of agreeance as Dallas could recall large assorted Powerade packs and chip boxes on the backseat floor of his truck.
“ Oh I see.” She nodded, glancing at each individual little face, that all held the same excitement, “ Well, he’s just getting up right now. He got home a little later than usual from work last night and was tired, so he slept in a little bit. But let me go grab him real quick so he can give y’all your rundown for the day. Stay right here.”
She had coached them, before walking toward the back end of the house to go and awaken her lightly snoring boyfriend.
“ Bubs.” She lightly shook his shoulder, leaning down to place a kiss to his sleep line marked face.
Damn he was sleeping good.
“ Bubba.” Her shakes increased in force, “ Baby you gotta' get up.” Still her attempts were met with minimal noise or movement, meaning she had to up the ante.
Deciding to begin nipping at what skin the large forest green blanket didn’t cover, she had just made it to his neck when he decided to roll onto his back, instincts having him reach out and wrap his arms around the young mortician to guide her on his chest to hold her close.
“ Mmm.” He hummed, “ Baby I love you. But I need five more minutes before I’m cognizant enough to rock your world, girl.”
“ Oh my—” She huffed, taking in his smug sleepy smile, “ I didn’t wake you up for that, sir.”
Her fingers began to lightly play with the gold chain that sat idly on his bare chest, “ I woke you up because there are about ten kids on your front porch, all dressed up in their little basketball gear, asking for you.”
At this information, internally Terry groaned from fatigue, but on the outside his soft smile grew a couple more inches wide at the thought of his little group of miniature humans looking for him.
“ What time is it? “ The question escaping with a yawn.
“ A quarter to eleven.”
“ Damn.” He sighed, reaching for his phone to confirm her statement. A picture of Dallas smiling big on a playground swing appeared behind the correct white numbers on the screen, “ You let me sleep this late?”
“ You were tired.” She reasoned, pushing her face into the crook of his neck inhaling in his natural musk, “ You did almost ten hours in the hot ass Georgia sun on that site yesterday. You needed the rest.”
“ Mmm.” He hummed, running his hands up and down the grooves of her back, “ Still am.”
“ I know, Bubs. But—”
B A N G B A N G B A N G!
The loud and erratic pounds against the door were soon accompanied by distant loud but small voices beginning to fill with impatience.
“ C’mon you gotta' get up. They’re getting antsy cause I told them you were already up, so you gotta' hustle. Your disciples await you.” She teased, leaning up, amused at the frown on his face,“ What?!”
“ Don’t say it like that, baby. Like I’m forming a cult of the neighborhood youth.”
“ No, maybe not that.” Dallas got up to her feet, moving around to collect her things, “ But they do worship the ground you walk on. You know that. “
“ And for why. I don’t know. I’m just regular ole’ me.” He shrugged clambering to his feet to stretch out his long and tired limbs. “ Nothing special.”
Reaching on the floor for his wife beater he’d discarded from himself at some point in the night from overheating, he casually walked by a bent over Dallas, administering a firm tap to her backside as he exited the room as his form of a proper “Good Morning.”
Trudging through the hall to the front door, he took a deep breath before swinging it open and being met with the instant chaos that ensued when too many overly hyper voices began to speak all at once about a hundred different things.
“ Aye’ whoa whoa whoa.” He held up both hands, “ Wait a minute now.’ Y’all are too amped up and some people around here are still trying to enjoy sleeping in. So let’s be mindful of that.” His laugh came out in a deeper register as the remnants of sleep still lingered in his voice.
“ Everybody take a deep breath, one.” He instructed, watching as each kid took in a deep breath to hold for thirty seconds, “ Then let’s exhale, two.”
“ Repeat, one more time. And inhale, one.”
“ And exhale, two.” He said, watching the now settled down bunch carefully.
“ Okay. Now. Good Mornin’ y’all. Y’all sleep good? Ready to put some work in on the court?”
“ Yeah! “ They answered in unison, with Jamison Kimber being the one to point out,“ Told us you’d be ready at eleven. It’s…Eric what time it is?”
He asked his peer who carried the digital Pokémon watch on his wrist, “ It’s 11:14.” Eric informed, pushing up his matching classes on his nose.
“ Yeah. Which means you’re late.” Jamison pointed out, ensuing a string of after comments that made Terry grin with how goofy and entertaining they were at attempting to be disgruntled.
“ I know. My fault. My fault. My fault. Add some push ups on for my lateness once we hit the court.” He said, sticking to his own rule he’d previously set for them.
“ I woke up late. And I still need some time to get ready. So while I’m doing that, why don’t y’all step in the front yard and start some stretches and warm ups for 45. Then I’ll be ready to roll, alright.”
Looking toward the only girl in the brigade, whose game was better than most of her male peers surrounding her, Terry pointed in her direction.“ Goose is gonna be the caller and timer.”
“ So listen to her, alright. Because if I come back out and Goose tells me someone gave her a hard time we’ll have to cancel and try this again next week.”
“ Can everyone dig that?” He called out.
“ WITH A SHOVEL! ” They all gleefully responded.
Terry flashed all 32 of his teeth at the brood of children who quickly threw down their bags before racing to form a line in the front yard and begin their light stretches as told.
Dallas watched him shut the loud screen door behind him and he stop in his tracks when he spotted her standing there looking at him with a wide dopey smile on her face.
Eyebrows raised with a nervous smile, he questioned her appearance, “ What?”
“ Nothing.” She grinned, shaking her head and throwing up her hands in playful defense, “ Just admiring how good Uncle Terry is with the neighborhood kids. They really do adore you, babe.” She walked over, wrapping her arms around her his waist and leaning up for a sweet peck to his cheek that he happily reciprocated with about four more of his own.
“ I adore them too. Most days.” He added, “ When they’re not being mouthy, fighting each other, or all smelling like a fresh onion patch. They aight’.”
“ It’s a couple of them though, whose parents I’ve been meaning to ask for permission to have a conversation about hygiene with their kids. Because with the hotter it keeps outside…Ouueeee.” Terry goofed, shaking his head. “ Cannot have my truck smelling like a damn farm all summer.”
“ Well I’m sure they’d be okay with it. It takes a village, babe.” Dallas said resting her head against his chest just as Terry’s eyes caught where all her bags sat packed and ready to go.
“ You leaving? “ His pout instantaneous, not bothering to hide the natural little hint of disappointment in his voice at the prospect of his favorite girl leaving him.
Because if he had his way, she would never go. A thought that reminded him that he soon needed to reignite an important shelved conversation between the two of them.
“ Yeah.” She sighed, “ I’m gonna go a head’ and mosey on home. Need to get started on my list for the day.”
“ Gotta' feed Grimmey and then get started on some paperwork in my home office for the Grangier case before I head into the hospital later to assist on an autopsy.”
“ Oh? That sounds interesting. What, no bodies for you at the home today?” His hand, unconsciously softly kneading parts of her backside.
She shook her head pulling away from his embrace, “ Nope, we got two new ones yesterday but Macy is gonna embalm them this morning. She should actually already be done with the first one by now and starting on the second, which is why I offered to be an assistant at the hospital. For the hours.”
“ Right. And how long will that take?”
“Uh…for a whole procedure…It’s about four hours give or take. It’s a family requested one so we might run a bit over. But we’re starting at two. So I should be done and home showering by seven thirty.” She zipped the top of her Vera Bradley duffel closed. “Why? You need something?”
“ Nothing too crazy.” He shrugged, “ Was just hoping you’d be open to spending the night again. Mainly so I can return the favor from last night.”
With the favor being that after hearing how agitated and tired he was in the middle of a rather grueling work day on site managing a new build that wasn’t quite coming along right through a brief phone call exchanged on her lunch, Dallas had shown up extra early to his house before he got home with a refreshed ‘spend a night bag’ from her previous visit.
And supplies purchased from the local grocer, which included food that turned into a meal that delighted Terry’s senses the second he dragged his poor aching body through the front door.
As well as herbs and bubble bath that she mixed together with some epsom salt he already had lying around. So that after she fed him his nice home cooked meal of Mississippi pot roast, through much sleepy negotiations with the testy bear she had managed to coax him into a bath for him to marinate in her mixture while she washed the day off his body.
Then to seal the deal she had guided him to the bed and moisturized him down while searching for and massaging any sore muscles or strained ligaments. And finally, after that it wasn’t much else to do but to clothe the sleepy giant and lay him down for a well deserved rest.
“ Bubba, you don’t have to do all that just because I did.” Dallas reminded him, “ I didn’t do all that cause I was expecting anything in return, I did it because I love you.” She affirmed, unknowingly sending waves of warm bubbly feelings shooting through his chest when the three letter phrase he could never get tired of her saying met his ears.
“ I know that, baby.” He smirked, taking in the absolute blessing he found his girlfriend to be, “ But that still won’t sway me away from doing the same for you. You deserve it.”
And deserve it she did. Because for as hard as Terry felt he worked to keep his family’s business running smoothly, he believed that he watched Dallas work almost ten times as hard with her being a young black female owner of a generational critically acclaimed and highly lucrative mortuary business that has three locations spanning between two states. All whilst also keeping her autopsy assistant certification active at the hospital and constantly traveling to attend a plethora of different black business expos and other conferences who sought her attendance.
But what always seemed to amaze him the most was that with everything she constantly handled on a day to day basis, it was somehow like she never missed a beat in her personal life. Always managing to be a stable presence in the lives of her loved ones, including Terry’s. Which constantly made him proud at how effortlessly she kept it all together in her Manolo Blahnik heels that no other person in existence could ever dare imagine to try and fill.
My Mrs. Incredible. He thought.
“ Terry…if I come over that’ll make three nights in a row.” She pointed out, “ I dunnoooo.” She dragged, collecting her bags.
Immediately his previous smile downturned into a slight scowl at her hesitation, “ And…”
“ And…people talk, Terry.” Dallas sighed, “ It’s already not a good look that I stay here overnight anyway and vice versa when you’re at my place.”
“ I just don’t want anyone thinking we’re getting ready to shack up with one another is all.” She confessed, nervously swaying where she stood.
“ And by shack up, you mean us, together.” He motioned between you two, “ Happy and learning how to get comfortable sharing space a with each other for the next forever.”
His comment triggered an eyeroll, “ Terry. You know how I feel about us living together before we’re married, babe. I just don’t feel comfortable with that.”
“ Oh?” His eyebrows raised toward the ceiling as he said, “ Well say less. Cause we can go right up to city hall first thing Monday morning. Don’t take nothin’ to obtain some paperwork.”
“ Terry!” She chided.
“ Boo! “ He fired back. “ C’mon now. I need you to remember that the only reason you’re not walking around her with a new ring on your finger is because YOU wanted to wait. And I’m doing my best to respect that. But you know had it been up to me, we would've been biblically bound to each other a year ago.”
Still she shook her head and folded her arms across her chest, “ No, that’s not just it. And you know it’s not just me, Terrance. Because you and I both know one of the main reasons is that you and I both know I deserve a better proposal than what you offered me that night out of fear and adrenaline fueled guilt.”
“ Each of us deserves that much at this point.” She concluded.
With her point being one that the two of them could easily agree on. With parts of Terry still regretting his feverish and rash attempt at a proposal on the night of their reconciliation almost two and a half years ago.
Though, it was in the past now, and all Terry could do now was move along with his new plans of the proposal of her dreams, just the way they deserved.
But until then, he’d focused on getting to the bottom of her real reasoning for not wanting to combine households. Because he’d had enough practice at this point to spot a pretty little pageant answer when it was presented to him, and he just knew in his gut that there was something Dallas wasn’t providing.
“ I know, Precious. And I hear you.” He affirmed her with a smile before returning to the original topic at hand, “ But, baby . What is it really though? Huh? Because it can’t be the premarital sex part.” He mused, mind beginning conjure up theories.
“ Because if that’s the case, then I hate to tell you, baby. But we’re way past that point. As evidenced by the way you let me bend you over my bathroom sink the night before last and slow stroke you in the mirror after WE got out of the shower together.”
“ Terrance.” She gasped, going to lightly slap his chest, “ There are children out—
“ Bonnet on and all as I remember.” His laughter cut her off, catching her hand and kissing it before pulling her into him once more.
“ Terry.” She whined, “ You need to stop playin’ and go get ready before they all appear at the door again. But this time with intent to jump you for wasting time. Those tiny fists will hurt too.”
“ And you need to stop avoiding this conversation.” He quipped, offering her a sincere look and silently hoping to convey just how serious he took the matter.
“ Plus they’ll be alright. Even if that happens you can mend me up tonight after dinner while we have a discussion about your real qualms about our respective living situations possibly becoming one.” He followed up.
“ Boy! There is no other damn qualm—mmm.” The words passing her lips were cut short when he dipped his head to attach his there instead. Opting for a steamy and silencing smooch.
“ Sweet lips. Taste so good.” He pulled back, “ I’ll get another taste when you get here at 7:30, Precious, alright?”
When she didn’t say anything and instead continued to glare up at him angrily pouting, his hand made its way to her ass, giving her a timid smack of encouragement, “ Dallas...” He softly sang, head dipping to now place a kiss to her cheek while muttering, “ You know wanna lay in my arms tonight. Nowhere else you’d wanna be, girl.”
Oh, on the contrary.
She could have easily thought of a thousand and one other places she could think of being tonight rather than humid and hot ass Georgia. Yet it was true, she still couldn’t imagine any of these places feeling as good or being more appealing than the warm embrace of her Bubba.
Which is why her mouth found itself surrendering and releasing the words for her agreement just the way he’d wanted.
“ Good.” The smug smile sat on his face, the polar opposite of Dallas’s begrudged frown, “ I look forward to you coming home to me.”
His words doing well to somewhat chip at her attempts of putting up a shallow, almost dry wall, between them in this matter.
“ On second thought give me another kiss goodbye before I watch your fine ass walk out this door to hold me over while I haul these damn kids around all day.” He groaned.
“ Good Grief, Terrance. Go shower. Now!”
