#books2beach writes

[books2beach]

Happy Sunday, everyone! Thanks for all the tags lately, especially @pippinoftheshire and @dizzymisslizzie for the tags last week!

ICYMI last week, the second chapter of X Marks the Couch by the Fireplace, my RWRB Game Changer AU, went up a week ago, and my version of filling in the gap between HR episodes 3 and 5 was posted this morning!

Tiny snippet of both below:

Kip couldn't believe he had agreed to see the Admirals’ potentially last home game with Elena and his dad, even though it was all for his dad for his birthday. How he was able to watch a hockey game at all after everything, let alone one with Scott Hunter as the star center, was anyone's guess.

Alex knew with a sinking pit of dread exactly what was missing. Yeah, he had Henry in his life, and that was great- but he had slowly stopped hanging out with anyone else. Not that he had a large group of people he was close to, of course, just June and Nora, but they were his entire world, the people who had his back through thick and thin. Now that he was thinking about it, he was pretty sure he had been ignoring calls from both of his parents too. That he was much less concerned about. After all, he was sure June was running interference for him.

It's been so long, so tags with no pressure at all for @cha-melodius @caterpills @miharaikko @tinyarmedtrex @theprinceandagcd @andromedaskies

@royal-chandler @run-for-chamo-miles @iboatedhere @beefybisexualrozanov @porcelainmortal

@myheartalivewrites , @onthewaytosomewhere @tailsbeth-writes @zwiazdziarka @emmalostinwonderland @anincompletelist

@anyroomsrio @welcometololaland @jenjentheboscostick @14carrotghoul @adreama-writes

@littlemisskittentoes @rockyroadkylers @judasofsuburbia @thesleepyskipper

@ashes0909 @sweetheartrozanov @miriellesandthegiantpeach @iammistressofmyfate @theoppositequeens @heavenly-lilies

@shanehollanderjpg @dntat-makesthings

@sophie1973 @southedge @thinkof-england @piratefalls @stupidcanadianwolfbird and open tag for anyone else who wants to play!

[books2beach]

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Thank you to everyone who's not given up on me for snippets, especially @tailsbeth-writes , who tagged me on Sunday!

I've spent the last month or so writing the first couple chapters of a Game Changers high school AU (which I'll probably use for the @gamechangersbigbang!), so thought I'd share the first little piece from that...

Why did teachers always call attention to the new kid and make them introduce themselves without getting them to learn things about their new classmates as well? It was something Troy had wondered throughout his school years, and it was no less baffling to him now that he was experiencing it for what was hopefully the final time.

“Hey! I'm Harris,” his seat partner introduced himself, sticking out his hand. “Welcome to Ottawa. Lived here my whole life, so if you ever need any help with anything or want to know something, just ask.”

Taylor, I'm tagging you back, plus tags with no pressure at all for @cha-melodius @caterpills @miharaikko @tinyarmedtrex and @theprinceandagcd @andromedaskies

@royal-chandler @run-for-chamo-miles @iboatedhere @beefybisexualrozanov @nocoastposts

@myheartalivewrites , @onthewaytosomewhere @zwiazdziarka , @emmalostinwonderland , @anincompletelist

@anyroomsrio @welcometololaland @jenjentheboscostick @14carrotghoul @anyroomsrio @pippinoftheshire

@littlemisskittentoes @rockyroadkylers @judasofsuburbia @thesleepyskipper

@ashes0909 @sweetheartrozanov @miriellesandthegiantpeach @iammistressofmyfate @theoppositequeens @heavenly-lilies

@shanehollandertwentyfour @dntat-makesthings @justabigoldnerd

@sophie1973 @southedge @thinkof-england @piratefalls @stupidcanadianwolfbird @orchidscript and open tag for anyone else who wants to play!

[books2beach]

happy friday

sliding in a lil late with a prompt

‘Important announcement; there’s an ice cream van outside.’

and i really wanted to say firstprince but i could also see this working in the GCU so i suppose ya can take ur pick lolz

You can also read this here!

“Important announcement!” Harris called out, Ilya even hearing it over the din of the party going on around them, even the music that he had insisted on playing on his phone so Evan didn’t taint the playlist with his terrible playlists. “There’s an ice cream truck outside!”

Ilya met Shane’s gaze across the room and grinned. When they had been planning their vow renewal, Ilya had found the information for the ice cream truck and insisted that they had to do it. Sure, the Pike kids were older now, but he had known that they would love it. Harris was just an added bonus.

The Pike kids shouted with joy, Amber the first out the door of her siblings as Ruby and Jade fought each other for who was going to get to the sweet treat first.

Harris was faster than any of them, though. , making his way to the ice cream truck with the speed of someone the twins’ age.

“You do know they aren’t going to have cake pops on there, right?” Troy called after his husband.

Ilya grinned, winking at Shane. They had specifically requested the sweet treat be added to the truck just for Harris- and judging by his whoops of joy, Harris had just discovered that fact.

Ilya loved this team, but looking at how happy Shane was surrounded by their family and friends, he knew he would always love his husband more.

[books2beach]

Journey's End, part III of the Power of the Rings trilogy, is here, with another beautiful cover thanks to the lovely @onthewaytosomewhere!

“Thank you for being here with me here at the end of all things, Nora. I love you.”

Or:

The quest to destroy the Ring and defeat the Enemy comes to an end.

[books2beach]

Prompting for ficlet Friday! Hollanov & clothes shrinking in the wash!

This one was fun- enjoy!

There was a certain way to do laundry. Shane had perfected his method over the years, and nothing, he thought, could disrupt it. 

Or at least, that's what he thought… until he moved back home to Ottawa to be with the love of his life, Ilya Rozanov. 

“Ilya, what happened here?” Shane asked, finding his husband in front of the TV practicing Mario Kart in preparation for the tournament at the hospital they would be having when they visited the following week.

Ilya paused the game, looking at Shane, his eyes going dark at the hint of skin he could see. “What is problem?”

Shane's hands were in the air. “They were washed wrong, so they don't fit anymore! These were brand new jeans, Ilya! What am I supposed to wear to Fabian's concert now?”

“Is no problem. I will find something. Will buy new pair of jeans too.”

Shane's arms, though, were still crossed over his chest. After all, that still didn't solve their problem. “How about that and I write you instructions for doing laundry so this doesn't happen again?”

Ilya shrugged. “Okay.”

[books2beach]

Handmade card? for HR 💌

This was way too much fun to write- thanks for the prompt!

“What would you like to do today?” Ilya asked Amber, Jade, Arthur and Ruby. Jackie and Hayden had asked him and Shane to watch them on Valentine’s Day so they could go on a date. It hadn’t taken much persuading for Ilya to get Shane to agree to make their own plans in the afternoon so they could be free to watch his favorite nieces and nephew.

“I had an idea,” Amber said shyly.

“You mean we had a good idea,” Ruby corrected her, gesturing to herself and Jade. “You just said it was a good one.”

As Amber pouted, Ilya asked, “What’s the idea?”

“We should make cards for Mommy and Daddy for Valentine’s Day!”

“That sounds like a great idea,” Shane said. “Do you want to use markers or dotters or crayons?”

As the girls eagerly gathered supplies, Shane muttered to Ilya, “I know what you’re thinking. Don’t say a word.”

“I won’t,” Ilya promised. After all, it was nice that Hayden’s kids liked him enough to make him a card. Ilya couldn’t imagine doing the same thing for his own father.

He might not understand what Hayden’s kids saw in him, but he was still glad they had him.

********

Soon, the kids were busy, colorful paper and various coloring supplies and what seemed like all the glitter in the world littering the kitchen table.

As she carefully put glue on a purple heart, Amber asked Ilya, “Aren’t you going to make Daddy a card, Uncle Ilya?” Uncle Shane is making one for him.”

Ilya had no idea what a card from him to Hayden would even say, but he would never be able to say no to one of his nieces. He would figure it out, because he refused to disappoint them.

********

“What did you do with Uncle Shane and Ilya?” Hayden asked Amber as he scooped her up into his arms.

Ilya smirked, handing over his card as Amber, Arthur, Jade and Ruby crowded around their parents, recounting their evening for their parents in great detail.

“Valentine’s Day cards?” Jackie asked, her eyes wide. “That was so thoughtful, all of you.”

Ilya readily delivered Jackie’s with a smile, but Hayden’s, he handed over with a smirk. “Enjoy, Pike.”

Likely all too aware of their audience, Hayden just raised his eyebrows as he opened the card and read it.

Ilya’s smirk remained firmly in place. He knew well the message Hayden would find:

Roses are red,

Violets are blue.

Your kids like me

Better than you.

As he led Shane out of the house, Ilya heard Hayden’s voice echo after them, “Rozanov! I’ll get you back for this!”

Ilya was counting on it.

[books2beach]

Birdsong ficlet for @ashes0909

Harris woke to the sound of birdsong outside of his window. It wasn't that that was unusual, though. After all, there were always birds on the Barrett estate.

No, what was unusual was his surroundings, the feeling of blankets so soft that they would never be in Harris’ own room- and, most importantly, the arm around his waist, the breaths of the man behind him on his neck. Did Troy regret what they had done? Probably. Or if he didn't, this was surely a one time thing. After all, men who were in line to be a duke didn't do this.

Harris got out of bed, the cold air a reality check as much as waking up had been. He didn't belong here, and it was past time for him to leave.

“Where are you going?” Troy asked, his voice groggy.

“I assumed you wanted me out of here.”

Troy opened his mouth, then closed it, considering. Good. He realized how stupid of an idea this had been as much as Harris did.

But then he said words Harris had never thought he'd hear. “I'll come to you tonight? If-if you want me to, that is.”

Harris almost laughed. His wildest dreams were coming true and Troy was asking his permission? He should probably set the record straight. “I would love nothing more.”

[books2beach]

Happy Friday! Can I get 💕 & Troy/Harris please?

You can also find this here!

“Are you ready for this?” Harris asked. They were standing at the entrance to Shane Hollander and Ilya’s charity gala, Troy's first public event besides games since he'd come out. Since he'd asked Harris not to share the reactions to his video, Troy had no idea what they thought- and still wasn't sure he wanted to know.

He shook his head. “Don't think I'll ever be. You should feel how hard my heart is beating.” 

Then Harris’ hand was over his heart, and he put the other hand on Troy’s, guiding it to his own chest. “Feel that? Use it. You are brave, Troy Barrett, and nothing can ever change that.”

Troy felt the steady rhythm and smiled as he looked into Harris’ perpetually patient smile. 

He wasn't alone. He could do this.