i loved what you wrote about the boys with super energetic kids but what about them with kids who are the complete opposite? like a very shy, quiet kid
them with a shy, quiet child
i was planning on doing this anyway but i love that you asked for it bc i wasn’t too sure if anyone else wanted that as well. hope you enjoy! <3
the boys with a shy & quiet kid (+ x fem!reader)
the boys with a shy, quiet daughter:
JACK HUGHES
— is so patient & gentle with her it’s crazy
— ^ like he’s so careful with his words when speaking to her & always makes sure that she’s comfortable
— speaks for her when she’s too shy to speak. like when the three of you are out at a restaurant & she’s too shy to tell the waiter what she wants, he’ll do it for her & always makes sure to ask her exactly what she wants beforehand so there’s no mistakes when ordering
— holds her hand when she gets anxious & squeezes it a couple of times to make sure she knows that he’s there for her
— she much prefers you over jack due to how calmer you are as a person but he doesn’t mind at all. if anything, he’s glad that she’s able to find solace in the reader as he can only imagine how hard it is to be shy & quiet as a child
— he genuinely tries to be more calmer & quiet in her presence. it’s a work in progress
— jack often finds himself going to quinn for advice on how to do better with his daughters shy & quietness. he only wants to do good by his daughter & it shows in his actions
— encourages her to speak her truth & speak up for herself when needed. he knows that it’s a hard thing to do but he encourages it by practicing & setting an example with reader as they both openly communicate how they feel to each other
— encourages her to speak her truth & speak up for herself when needed. he knows that it’s a hard thing to do but he encourages it by practicing & setting an example with reader as they both openly communicate how they feel to each other
— will literally wear a princess dress to the movies if a new disney movie comes out & she decides it’s her new favorite princess & wants to dress up. he has no shame
— during the summers, he makes sure to lather her in sunscreen. he’s deathly afraid of her burning so he goes the extra mile
— ^ tries to convince her to go wake boarding with him but she always says no. until a couple of weeks into the summer months, she finally agrees & has a blast as jack holds her tightly & does all these cool spins & tricks on the board
— he 100% always joins the readers & their daughters nap times when he gets back home from morning skate. the sight of the two of you wrapped up & cuddled around each other is so cute & makes his heart melt
— jack makes sure to give her a puck before every home game & blows her a kiss before skating off. he also makes sure to dedicate his second goal to her, his first dedicated to you always
KIRBY DACH
— she’s so small in comparison to kirby it’s insane
— he always holds her close wherever they go together. since you both live in montréal, & it’s cold, he always bundles her up so it’s quite funny to see him carrying just a ball of wrapped baby
— kirby’s so much more gentler & quieter with her. he can definitely tell when she’s having a more quiet day & is the best in making her comfortable
— 100% tries to help with her shyness by signing her up in sports or other activities to try to get her out of her shell
— ^ you once suggested summer camp & kirby was super hesitant about it but she ended up loving it so much that she couldn’t wait for the next summer. kirby lowkey felt sad at that bc all he wants to do is spend time with his baby girl & her going off nearly every summer for however many weeks just goes to show how much she’s growing
— whenever she gets nervous or eerily quiet, he holds out his hand for her & just dance around with her. it never fails to put a smile on her face & always gets her out of her funk
— kirby made her a bracelet when she was younger & she wore the shit out of it. it’s now just string but she always played with it whenever she got nervous or approached a new person at school in hopes of being their friend. she still carries it around with her for comfort
— is so supportive in whatever she does
— ^ she wants to play pickleball instead of hockey? he’s already checking out all the gear she’ll need. decides last minute to wear a princess dress instead of her school uniform? he’s asking her which dress she wants. she wants to try to make a friend by herself at the park? he’s sitting back & observing w/ a smile on his face
— kirby’s very big on communication so he always makes sure to check in on her & her feelings. it’s gotten to the point where she’ll just tell you how she feels instead of reader or kirby having to ask
— is also the type of dad to have matching costumes with his daughter
— ^ one year they went as (pink) kirby & princess daisy. it was so fucking cute. it’s one of your lock screens in your phone hehe
— is the one to wake her up in the morning & ease any anxiety she has about school or making new friends
— ^ he’ll brush back the hair from her face & softly speak to her as she voices her concerns & he’s so good at proving that she has nothing to be afraid of. he also makes sure that she’s confident in whatever she wears so kirby allows her to choose her outfits (she’s a little fashionista fr)
NICO HISCHIER
— mans will be the gentlest giant with her
— ^ cuddles 24/7 & nothing but affirmations from this man
— he can understand how hard it is to be so shy & quiet so he always tries his best to make little goals with his daughter in hopes of breaking her out of her shell
— ^ he’ll ask her what she wants to achieve that day on their way to school. it can be anything ranging from making a flower crown to asking someone to play with her during playtime. he’s always so proud of her when she runs up to him after school with the biggest smile on her face, telling him what she achieved that day
— nico’s heart always warms whenever he sees reader & their daughter together. she’s a lot like you & he’s so proud & thankful that he’s been blessed with this kind of life
— encourages her to go to practices with him whenever she’s allowed to
— is def the dad to be up on the stage with his daughter during her ballerina recital
— takes her to new places for exposure & although it’s nerve racking for the both of them, it’s something that neither of them will forget bc of the fun memories
— she does eventually “grow out” of being quiet & shy. she’s got a lot more tools to work with when she’s anxious or feeling shy & nico is always there to help her whenever she needs it
— plays with her hair when he sees that she’s going back into her shell
— ^ he allows her to do so most days but he knows the importance of building up your confidence when young & making friends so he plays with her hair for a bit while he talks to her to bring back up her mood. it usually works
— 100% the one to talk to her about her anxieties & make her feel better about them after
— nico tries everything to get her more out of her shell. he puts her into sports he thinks she’ll enjoy. makes sure she goes to her classmates birthday parties. all that stuff with different goals in mind so even if she doesn’t make a new friend, she’ll still have something to be proud of herself for
TREVOR ZEGRAS
— tbh, he has no clue what to do lol
— he’s learned a great amount of patience with his daughter
— he def tries to understand why she’s so quiet & shy. this leads him to reading about it more & seeking out answers on what he could do to accommodate her more
— trev 100% had to go to jamie for help since they’re both alike in personality. he’s such a big help
— will do anything to protect her & make sure she’s comfortable
— ^ whether that be in his arms or by herself, he’s ready to do whatever
— practices speaking up for herself. trevor will be so much more talkative about how he feels & what he’s doing throughout the day w/ her that she’ll eventually pick up on it & do it herself
— ^ if she’s not confident enough to verbalize it, she’ll write it & sometimes he & her go back & forth with letters. reader got the whole family a notebook so they all can communicate through that if verbalizing it is too hard
— mans literally shed a tear when she made her first friend
— the entire ducks team adore her
— let’s her take the reins in some things. it gives her the confidence to do things for herself & he can see the change in her behavior when she has more control over certain choices
— if she’s feeling shy or anxious, trevor will suggest they play hide ‘n seek or another game to get her mind off things or to simply just make her laugh & have a good time
— always on high energy when he wakes her up & sometimes she bounces off him with it but most often, she doesn’t so he has to check himself a lot & be a lot more calmer around her in the morning
the boys with a shy, quiet son:
JAMIE DRYSDALE
— is so happy to have a kid just like him. he literally looks just like jamie & acts like him it’s kind of eerie
— before jamie leaves for morning skate, he always presses a kiss to the crown of his sons forehead, whispering a promise of coming back & waking him up for breakfast
— ^ jamie takes great pleasure in waking up your son every morning after he returns from morning skate. he just looks so cute with his dark hair all sprawled about, still wiping the sleep from his eyes as he reaches out for his dad. jamie always chuckled to himself as he takes his son into his arms & rubs his back soothingly, making his way out to the kitchen where you are
— you & jamie are one of the only people your son plays with so it’s always a hassle to try to encourage him to play with other children his age
— ^ the one time it works is when jamie took him to the park & started talking to one of the other dads there. his son saw him talking to someone new so he decided that if his dad can do it, then so can he. he made two friends that day & they regularly go on play dates
— you always encourage both jamie & your son to be more friendly & talkative as you know it would most likely help them break out of their shells a little bit
— he put your son into hockey in hopes of him coming out of his shell a little bit & it def worked. jamie sometimes has to drag your son off of the ice bc he doesn’t want to leave just yet
— he’s really only friendly to certain people like trevor or mason since he’s known them since he could remember. it’s just other people he’s super hesitant about but both him & jamie are working on it together!
— loves loves holding him & taking him everywhere
— he always talks to him too about whatever & his son usually responds talking about something random. it’s how he developed his rambling habit whenever he meets new kids lol
— when he got traded, jamie was really nervous to see how your son reacted to the change since it was so sudden & abrupt. but he surprisingly took it really well. he even said hi to some of the other players after the game, head buried into readers collarbone as he waved to those walking passed him
— ^ the flyers def love your son & always include him on their “barking”. once he gets comfortable enough, he just kind of screams instead of barking but the whole team just eats it up & loves it, cheering him on
LUKE HUGHES
— he & his son are one in the same
— ^ they have the same facial expressions for everything & it’s too funny when they overhear someone saying some random shit & make the exact same face
— your son may be shy & quiet but he’s also calm & mellow. he speaks through his eyes & facial expressions
— ^ has a rbf & is not afraid to use it (especially if someone’s bothering him or you lol)
— reader 100% believes that her son is an old soul & is just done with living. like little dude barely tries to make friends (granted he is shy & it’s a little difficult for him) & just doesn’t have much to say & when he does, he has you reevaluating your life after a conversation
— lukes fav thing to do with his son is put a shit ton of blankets on the couch, make a fort, & watch his favorite movies while snacking on mac n cheese & homemade cookies. they do it nearly every night luke’s home
— he’s super gentle & patient with him as he tries to navigate his shyness. luke encourages him to make friends but doesn’t pressure him at all & also puts him into sports in hopes that he makes them naturally through that
— ^ & it does work! he’s made so many friends through hockey, soccer, baseball, etc.. although he is still quite shy & quiet during his games, which he is actively working on
— whispers to him when he’s overwhelmed & rubs his back in comfort as his son crawls into his arms
— puts him to bed & reads him bedtime stories
— at the lake house, luke is ever the more observant & cautious with his son. he makes sure to put sunscreen on him & that he always has his hat on to protect him from the sun
— ^ when he asked luke if he could go wake boarding with him, he nearly squealed in excitement. his son doesn’t really feel comfortable trying new things so this is a HUGE step in the right direction. holds onto him so tight as he giggles whenever luke does tricks. he has such a blast
QUINN HUGHES
— these two are a mirror image of each other it’s insane
— ^ ellen pointed it out to you a few weeks after you had given birth & you can’t unsee it (your son & quinn are twinsies fr)
— even tho his son is shy, he highly encourages him to make some friends in pre-k but assures him that he should take it day by day & that he’ll always love him no matter what
— definitely tries to make him less anxious by taking him in his arms & giving him raspberries in his neck or on his stomach. it helps take his mind off of whatever he was thinking about
— his son always wants to see him right after quinn’s games, which isn’t always possible so sometimes he has him join him for interviews. just quinns presence makes his son calm
— ^ quinns def encouraged him to answer or speak into the mic & his son is always a blushing mess after he says hi into it, hiding his face in the crook of quinns neck as everyone awes
— quinn always has a hand on his son. whether it be on top of his curly hair or on his back as his soothingly rubs it. he always has to have a hand on your son as quinn knows that he’s his son safe person. it makes the both of them feel better
— always tries to include him in everything (when it’s appropriate) so he’ll def bring him to events or practices. it exposes him to more things & it eases his sons anxiety with stuff like that
— 100% does arts & crafts with him. it’s so fucking cute istg
— when he’s old enough to understand certain words, quinn will tell him about his struggles with being a quiet child as well. he wants his son to know that he’s not alone & never is
— gets him a bear that has a voice recorder in it with the both of you saying “we love you bud! you got this!” that he plays every morning & it 100% makes him feel better about whatever he was worried about
— his son’s biggest cheerleader fr
— ^ the loudest you will ever hear quinn be is at his sons sports game or when he gets an award. he’s so proud of him & all of his progress, no matter how great or small
LUCA FANTILLI
— is off the walls ecstatic to just have a child really
— loves him either way
— luca is definitely his sons safe person so luca always has him in his arms or has a hand on his head as he clings onto his leg
— always refers to him as “buddy” or “my little buddy”, which gets him out of his shell sometimes since he wants to be just like his dad
— so so patient & understanding
— ^ will sit by his son as he’s trying to express himself without feeling nervous & lets him take his time. also helps him through his emotions as well
— encourages him to practice his “social skills” on him so he can remember what to say or do when he wants to make a new friend
— takes him to practice when allowed & just lets him chill or play around with the pucks
— ^ the entire umich team loves loves your son & although he is shy, they always make an effort to talk to him or fist bump him every time they skate by him. they respect his boundaries 100% too
— ^^ monday questions with him is always 50/50. sometimes he’ll be up for it & other times he won’t. but when he is, he’s so cute & giggly as he answers the question (most definitely copying his dads answer)
— reader is the one to wake him up more often than not & he much prefers it that way. you’re much calmer than luca at times so your son loves to just cuddle up to you as you pick him up & make your way to the kitchen where luca is making breakfast
— luca has him do the “shakes” whenever he’s feeling anxious about something
— ^ he told his son that it helps with getting the nerves out & he’ll absolutely just start shaking his arms or whole body out of nowhere to get rid of them
— the king at back rubs fr
— gets all papa bear when he hears from his sons teacher that some kids were making fun of him for being so quiet. luca literally gives a stern talking to to their parents & tells his son that bullies only do that to make themselves feel better since they feel “bad/insecure” about themselves. him being shy & quiet is something that he shouldn’t be ashamed of as it is apart of him & luca & reader love every inch of their son, no matter what
— posts “ootd” stories on his insta & hypes up his son as he poses & giggles
— always makes sure to shower his son in praise whenever he achieves a goal or makes a new friend. he’s so excited for his little buddy & his progress!
COLE CAUFIELD
— is surprisingly good at this for some reason
— knows all the tricks to encourage his son to get out of his shell & interact with others
— ^ you’re suspicious of him sometimes bc whatever he does or suggests always works. it’s like he’s psychic or something
— if he’s not having a good day, cole will gather his son in his arms & hold his close to his chest. sometimes he even puts his sweatshirt over him as he’s wearing it so he feels even safer
— cole throws ice cream parties whenever his son makes a new friend or talks to someone for longer than five minutes
— ^ you think it’s a bit excessive but start to see the progress he’s making in breaking through his shell so you don’t stop cole from continuing to throw them. you eventually find it super cute & heartfelt
— def encourages him to find something he’s passionate about to take his mind off whatever he’s feeling anxious about. sports is something he wants to try so cole sort of threw him into whatever sport he thought he’d enjoy
— ^ soccer is something your son enjoys as communication has to be constant between all the players & it encourages him to be more vocal
— is really good at implementing coping techniques/mechanisms for his son if he ever needs them. lowkey a therapist fr (he’s got extensive knowledge about this shit that you sometimes wonder what cole would be like as an actual therapist)
— gets super excited when he does something out of his comfort zone & makes sure his son knows how proud of him he is
— is super patient & understanding
— it’s a tradition for cole to take him to practice once or twice a month (or week) & the boys absolutely love your son!
— ^ little dude is a completely different person on the ice it’s insane. all of his shyness & quiet tendencies disappear & he just has so much fun that it sometimes makes cole tear up with pride & happiness
The school year starts back up at the University of Michigan and after your break up with Adam, you’re trying to live life freely but can’t seem to get the idea of him and your relationship off your mind. But what happens when you see him again, and you both are yearning for each other more than ever before?
NASHVILLE | @lovinbarzal
adam fantilli x fem! hughes! Reader
Tiny Dancer Au | @letsgetrowdy43
Adam Fantilli x hughes!sister au
Met you at the right time | @moodriingz
Adam attends reader’s concert and fans notice
ᝰ Mark Estapa
Buttons | @sc0tters
when you get frustrated and do some pretty ballsy things at a party, Mark realises that it’s about time he lets you that he wants more than just a fuckbuddy out of you.
Mirrorball | @/hugshughes
You realize Mark Estapa is the one person you don’t have to perform for.
ONE CHANCE | @hazybisou
for weeks, mark has been trying to get y/n to go out with him but he always got a ‘no’. that all changes one night when she admits she’s developed feelings for him after a game.
HIDDEN FEELINGS | @/estapa-edwards
mark falling for ethan’s twin sister, and never doing anything out of respect but ethan notices his heart eyes and tells him to go for it
jealous! mark headcanons | @dmercer91
Marks gf getting into a fight at a party | @yankstrash
“can i be your boyfriend?” | @bordysbae
“i’ll kiss you even if you’re sick” | @/bordysbae
get lost | @hearts4hughes
"excuse me, can I help you with something?" "keep it moving." "i don't think she's interested. keep walking."
MULLET SEASON | @/lovinbarzal
just a random spam of posts made by y/n ( including a mullet post at the end )
"i'd love to give you a kiss but i can only reach your cheek" | @uluvjay
ᝰ Luca Fantilli
I love you but I love sleep more | @lvrhughes
you get into UMich and surprise Luca
Bathing Suit | @darkeralmond
you bought a new bathing suit before your spring break trip and luca can’t keep his eyes off you
I THINK I LOVE YOU | @estapa-edwards
“i think i love you…?” “….. think?” “let’s just say a ninety-nine percent chance.” “i’ll take it.”
“who is this? what’s his name? you know what, mark!” | @drysdalesworld
ᝰ Ethan Edwards
TUTOR | @/estapa-edwards
MY DIRTY LITTLE SECRET | @/darkeralmond
ethan and y/n hughes have been dating in secret. when you get left alone during a party, ethan swoops by and sneaks off with you to his room.
Hughes! Reader
michigan maize | @absolutelyhugh3s
Hurt My Feelings | @bluewxrld07
It’s Always Been You | @/bluewxrld07
It Ain’t Easy | @/sc0tters
love would be a whole lot easier if your brothers were all on board with your boyfriend.
Lover Boy | @/sc0tters
after a stressful day Ethan has the perfect way of coming to the rescue and giving you a moment to relax.
If You Love Her | @withwritersblock
Ethan and Y/N Hughes are secretly dating and Luke gets protective over his older sister
“i mean it” | @/bordysbae
SPARKS FLY | @babydollslibrary
in which Ethan spends 4th of July at the Hughes lake house and becomes enamored with y/n Hughes
Hughes! Reader
ᝰ Rutger Mcgroarty
Night to Change | @/sc0tters
when Rutger is cleared for sexual activity all he can think of is the team physio.
𝐉𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐘 | @nylqnder
a rare spur of jealousy leads to misplaced anger against your boyfriend
𝐅𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐁 | @/nylqnder
your boyfriend and his friends drunkenly create their own little fight club, in which he winds up getting hurt.
Drunken | @/nylqnder
after going over your limit, your boyfriend has to come and pick you up.
THE ONLY EXCEPTION ⊹ au masterlist part one | @wintfleur
𝓮stella 𝓱ughes the 𝓲nternet’s sweetheart, the n𝒽l’s little sister and an 𝑜lympic silver medalist for figure skating 𝓯alls for her brother luke’s best friend 𝓇utger mcgroarty
hat tricks and kisses | @/wintfleur
Don’t You Ever Grow Up | @mamaestapa
Your baby girl is only a few hours old and she already has Rutger wrapped around her finger
“fake romance” | @/bordysbae
“save a horse ride a…” | @/bordysbae
Get Your Lovin On | @orphicdreamers-wp
In which your boyfriend gets handsy while you guys are cooking
Rebellious | @/darkeralmond
y/n is the daughter of the umich hockey coach. you’re in charge of managing the social media page for the team. when rutger catches your eye, your father pulls you aside and says not to get romantically involved with any of his players.
Not So Fake | @/darkeralmond
you and rutger started fake dating to make your exes jealous. when rutger tries to “sell the part” it leads to more in his bedroom
you are in love | @loveysloveclub
in which, it's the moment when you realise you are in love and the moment rutger realises he is in love.
Seven Minutes In Heaven | @/yankstrash
I’ve Got You | @/yankstrash
c u girl | @puck-bunnies
you’re up late at night, wishing you were laying in your boyfriends arms.
Now I Can See You | @tencrushesperday
when did things get so complicated ? They always get complicated when you overthink. Maybe if you acted more with your heart and less with your head you wouldn’t be locked up in a room with Rutger.
new notification: Ethan Edward’s has texted the The Older Hughes group chat
Ethan
Ethan stood at the arrivals gate with his hood pulled up, bouncing on his heels as the crowd spilled out of security. He’d been playing middleman for a week — keeping the younger guys from panicking, keeping Luke from unraveling, keeping Melody from sinking further into herself. But now? Relief punched him square in the chest when he spotted Quinn first, hockey bag slung over his shoulder, expression tight.
Jack trailed right behind, looking sharper, angrier. Ethan didn’t even bother with the “Welcome Home Dads” sign he’d joked about. Both older Hughes brothers looked too raw for it.
“E,” Quinn greeted, pulling him into a short, rough hug. Jack didn’t waste time.
“Where is she? How bad?”
Ethan’s throat tightened. He passed Quinn his phone, already open to the camera roll. Photos. Screenshots. Even the video someone had taken of her ex disappearing upstairs with another girl. Quinn’s jaw worked as he swiped, his face unreadable.
Jack just stared at Ethan. “And Luke let this happen under his nose?”
Ethan hesitated. “…he didn’t know until we all did.”
Jack’s laugh was sharp, humorless. “He’s her brother, Ethan. That’s his job.”
Quinn touched his arm. “Jack.”
But Jack was already storming ahead toward baggage claim. Ethan exhaled, watching them both. “It’s been all hands on deck,” he said quickly, like he had to defend Luke somehow. “Dylan got her out of her room. Adam and Luca distracted her. Everyone’s been… trying.”
Quinn’s eyes softened a fraction. “You tried. I can see it.” He handed back Ethan’s phone. “But she needs us now.”
Ethan nodded, falling in step with them. And for the first time, he let himself believe maybe things would actually get better.
⸻
Melody
Hamilton’s overture looped faintly from the TV, Adam humming along off-key while Luca sprawled across the pillows, Mark flipping through the guide half-distracted.
Melody barely heard any of it. She sat curled up, blanket wrapped around her knees, numb.
Then—
“Melly?”
The world froze. Her heart stopped.
Nobody called her that. Nobody except—
Her head snapped up, and there he was. Quinn, standing in the doorway, tired eyes softening the instant they landed on her.
Her throat closed. “Quinn?”
She didn’t think. She didn’t breathe. She just moved. Practically vaulting over Luca and Adam, she barreled across the room and crashed into his chest. He caught her instantly, arms wrapping tight, lifting her off the floor like she weighed nothing.
“I’ve got you, Melly,” he whispered into her hair. His hand rubbed gentle circles down her back. “I’ve got you now.”
She broke, sobs tearing out against his hoodie. “Quinn—”
“I know,” he murmured, swaying them gently. “I know, sweetheart. I’m here.”
He carried her down the hall, ignoring the wide eyes of the boys, and nudged her bedroom door open. Inside, he set her carefully on the bed and crouched in front of her so they were eye level.
“Melly, look at me.”
She tried, tears streaming, but her gaze kept dropping. Shame pressed heavy on her chest.
“Hey,” Quinn said softly, tilting her chin up with one careful finger. His eyes were steady, ocean calm. “None of this is on you. Do you hear me? Not a single bit.”
Her lip trembled. “But I loved him, Q. I trusted him with everything. And he just—” Her voice broke. “He made me feel like I wasn’t enough. Like maybe I asked for too much.”
Quinn’s face crumpled. “Oh, Melly. No. No, no, no.” He shook his head, thumb brushing her damp cheek. “You didn’t ask for too much. You asked for the bare minimum — honesty, respect, love. And he couldn’t give it. That’s on him. Not you.”
She hiccupped, curling her fists in his sweatshirt. “Then why do I feel like I’m the broken one?”
“You’re not broken,” Quinn said firmly, voice thick with emotion. “You’re bruised. Hurt. But broken? Never. You’re still my bright, funny, stubborn little sister. You’re still the girl who makes the best playlists and forces me to sing along in the car, even when I don’t know the words. You’re still Melly.”
Her sobs quieted, replaced by shaky breaths.
“I know it feels like the world ended,” Quinn continued, his hand never leaving hers. “But this isn’t the end of you. This is just a scar that’ll heal, and you’ll carry it, and you’ll be even stronger. And until then? You’ve got me. Always.”
Her chest ached, but a small warmth bloomed under the grief. “Promise?”
Quinn’s eyes glistened. “Promise. Forever and always, Melly.”
She leaned forward, collapsing into his arms again. He held her tight, rocking her gently like he had when she was small. Like he had the night before he left for Vancouver.
And for the first time since it all fell apart, Melody let herself believe she wasn’t ruined. She was still hers.
⸻
Luke
The wood of the pier creaked under his sneakers as Luke sat hunched over, elbows on his knees, staring at the lake. Dylan had just left him with a squeeze to his non injured shoulder and a quiet, “She’ll come around, man. Give her time.”
Luke didn’t feel like he had time. He felt like he was drowning in his own guilt.
The crunch of footsteps on the gravel path behind him made his stomach twist. He didn’t even turn until he heard it — the voice that froze him in place.
“LUKE WARREN HUGHES!!”
Jack.
Luke’s head snapped around, eyes wide. He hadn’t known his brothers were coming — Ethan must’ve kept that part quiet. And now, here Jack was, jaw set, eyes sharp and stormy.
“Jack—” Luke started, scrambling to his feet.
“Don’t,” Jack snapped, pointing a finger at him. “Don’t even start.”
Luke swallowed hard, shifting his weight. “I didn’t— I tried, Jack, I swear I tried to—”
“To what?” Jack barked, stepping closer. “To protect her? Because you didn’t. You let her sit in that house alone for days. You let her believe she had no one when she needed you most. And you’re supposed to be the one she trusts the most out of all of us.”
Luke’s chest caved. “I didn’t know what to do—”
“That’s bullshit.” Jack’s voice cracked, not with weakness but with the force of it. “You don’t get to not know. You’re her twin. You’re supposed to feel when she’s hurting before she even says a word. You were supposed to have her back. And instead?” His fists clenched at his sides, knuckles white. “She found out from strangers before she found out from you.”
Luke winced like he’d been punched. “I thought I was protecting her.”
“Protecting her?” Jack’s laugh was humorless, sharp. “You call that protecting her? Lying to her face? Letting her cry herself sick behind a locked door while you sat outside too scared to own up? You don’t protect someone by hiding the truth. You protect them by standing next to them when it hurts.”
Luke’s throat burned, but he forced the words out. “I know I messed up. I know I failed her—”
“You didn’t just mess up,” Jack cut in, eyes blazing. “You broke her trust. And that’s the one thing she doesn’t give lightly.” His voice dropped low, dangerous. “Do you know how hard it was to hear Ethan tell us everything instead of you? To hear Quinn read those texts out loud over the phone and realize you knew and you didn’t say a word?”
Luke’s vision blurred. “I didn’t want to lose her.”
Jack’s face softened for half a second — just long enough for Luke to see the pain under the anger — before it hardened again. “Well, congratulations. You just about did.”
The words landed like a punch straight to the gut.
Jack stepped even closer, lowering his voice to a sharp growl. “You listen to me, Luke. You are going to fix this. You are going to earn back her trust piece by piece, day by day, because if you don’t—” He leaned in, his voice a low snarl. “—I swear to God, I will break your shoulder more myself. You don’t get to coast as her twin brother. You either show up for her, or you get the hell out of the way while the rest of us do it.”
Luke’s breath shook, shame curling deep in his chest. He wanted to defend himself, wanted to say he’d tried — but the truth was written in Melody’s silence, in the way she still wouldn’t look at him.
And standing in front of Jack’s fury, he knew words wouldn’t be enough anymore.
“Do better,” Jack said, his tone final, biting. “Because right now? You’re the last person she trusts. And that should scare the hell out of you.”
Jack turned, stalking back toward the house without waiting for an answer, leaving Luke rooted to the pier, his chest heavy with guilt and fear.
For the first time, Luke wasn’t just scared of losing Melody. He was scared that Jack might be right — that he already had.
⸻
Melody
Quinn’s arms around her had always felt like a shield. Even now, curled into his chest on her bed, she could breathe again. His voice was low and steady as he brushed her hair back, listening to everything — the betrayal, the anger, the fear that she was ruined forever.
And instead of dismissing it, he let her feel it. He held her tighter when she cried harder, whispered, “You’re stronger than you think, Melly. And you don’t have to be okay today. Or tomorrow. But you will be, because we’ll make sure of it.”
Her sobs slowed eventually, her cheek pressed against the soft fabric of his hoodie. Safe. That was the word that kept circling her brain. She finally felt safe.
Then, from the doorway, a voice. Gentle, low, achingly familiar.
“Hey, Mel-bug.”
Her breath caught instantly. She hadn’t heard that nickname in years — not since she was little, chasing him around the yard with scraped knees and pigtails. Only one person called her that.
She twisted fast, nearly tumbling out of Quinn’s arms as she turned toward the door.
Jack.
He stood there, leaning against the frame, his expression soft the moment his eyes landed on her red, tear-stained face.
Mel didn’t hesitate. She scrambled off the bed and across the room, launching herself at him. Jack caught her with ease, lifting her off the ground like she weighed nothing.
“Oh, Mel-bug,” he murmured into her hair, his hand cradling the back of her head. His voice broke on the words, gentler than she’d heard in a long time. “I’m so sorry. I’m here now. We both are.”
For a moment, she let herself just exist there — cocooned between Quinn’s steady presence and Jack’s fierce, protective hold.
Her oldest brothers were here.
And maybe, just maybe, that meant she wasn’t ruined after all.
summary: luke’s girlfriend is a very private person, her instagram being private only few people on it that aren’t friends and family. when fans find out about her, they realize that she is the complete opposite of luke, but they make it work.
notes: i will not be using y/n i will be using luna again
————
january 6, 2024
lulu.23 has just made a post
lulu.23
caption: spoiled by hockey boy. no bc when i say spoiled i mean, he’s at my dorm everyday with a gift. i love him so bad 😭😭
tagged// lhughes_06
comments:
lhughes_06: gotta spoil my girl ❤️
- lulu.23: omg i love you so bad 😭😭
- lhughes_06: i love you more ❤️
_quinnhughes: come see me :(
- lulu.23: i got $100 in my bank account. that won’t buy a plane ticket.
_quinnhughes: i’ll fly you out
- jackhughes: you want to leave me, injured man, alone?
- lulu.23: bro i go to college 😭😭
emily_dun: bro is spoiling my gf :(
- lhughes_06: get outta here
- lulu.23: luke be nice to my gf 😒
- lhughes_06: hmu gorgeous and we’ll see abt it
- lulu.23: sure thing cutie 😏
g.brindley4: he didn’t spoil dylan like that, you must be special
- lulu.23: thanks gav?
————
february 21, 2024
lulu.23 has just made a post
lulu.23:
caption: little recap on the past two months with the lover 😏😏
tagged// lhughes_06, jackhughes,
comments:
lhughes_06: my gorgeous girl
liked by creator
lhughes_06: hmu ??
- lulu.23: bet On my way! rn
jackhughes: lu come over
- lulu.23: can’t luke is laying on top of me
dylanduke25; send luke home :(
- lulu.23: okay, can you send me tyler tho? i miss my child
- tyler___duke: omg lu, i’ll deadass go without you giving him luke b
- lulu.23: ty!! let’s plan it.
————
march 28, 2024
lhughes_06 has just made a post
lhughes_06
caption: happy 2 years to my girl, i love you so dearly and you mean so much to me. thank you for sticking beside me all these years. i love you. luna.
tagged// lulu.23
comments:
lulu.23: lukey 😭😭 i love you bad omg
- lhughes_06: love you more baby.
user: STOP THATS SO FUCKING CUTE I MIGHT CRY 💔
_quinnhughes: glad you found your person, luke.
- lhughes_06: thank you quinn
user: bad day for luke girls
- user: he found a person he loves and wants to be with. you should be happy for him.
- user: i am!! but its just so endearing to watch them grow and find their people, if yk what i’m saying
jackhughes: can you make a post like this for me?
- lhughes_06: no…
dylanduke25: bby come home to me
- lulu.23: dylan get your own bf
user; omg so sweet
user: she’s so pretty. luke can you fight?
————
march 28, 2024
lulu.23 has just made a public post
lulu.23
caption: 2 years and 100 mores to go. i am so lucky to get to call you mine. i love you so much. thank you for being my rock, luke.
Summary: You and Ethan go on a trip to a Haunted House with your friends from umich
Part of my flufftober series(day 3)! :]
Paranormal investigator!Ethan x Paranormal investigator!reader
A/N: Sex jokes are mentioned in this(yes I am a 13 yr old boy(no I'm not)). Idk what was with me and these jokes, I'm literally asexual.... ANYWAYS
I watch Sam and Colby... originally this was gonna be a normal oneshot about well going to a haunted house and getting scared but for some reason I was like I should make it cooler and here we are. Ironically this is uploaded the same day as the first video of hell week(month in this case) from Sam and Colby lol. That being said, if you aren't into the paranormal or it scares you, then feel free to skip this imagine!!
"Why are we here again?" Mackie asked for the hundredth time.
If you weren't beside Ethan checking his gear, you would slap him.
"Because it's our job." Mark sighed.
Luke added. "And we go to haunted places all the time, we'll be fine."
"Famous last words." You muttered, gaining a snicker from your boyfriend.
"But this is a cemetery with a house!" Dylan exclaimed. "There's like so many spirits here, we're doomed."
"Yeah well, I say we sacrifice Luca first." Rutger suggests, earning a slap on the back of the head from Luca. "Rude."
"We're not sacrificing anyone today." Ethan pecked your forehead, muttering a thank you.
His hand slipped into the back pocket of your jeans, that action earned him a smile from you.
"I think we should go in pairs since Dylan is scared." You piped up.
Dylan scoffed. "I'm not scared."
"Okay then go into that cemetery alone with a spirit box." Luke grinned.
Dylan hesitated slightly and stayed silent. The rest of the group laughed at the interaction.
"Okay so pairs." Mark nodded. "Dylan and Rutger. Me and Luca. Luke and Mackie. And of course you two." Mark guestred to you and Ethan.
"They're gonna makeout on every surface in that house, I just know it." Luca groaned.
Mackie shrugged. "Eddie's hot. I would do the same thing."
"He's not wrong, I am pretty good looking." Ethan grinned.
You cleared your throat, making Ethan drop his grin. "Right, don't get too cocky. I remember what you said, babe."
Everyone went into their pairs and designated locations, you and Ethan were set to explore the seance room.
"Why didn't we just choose the dining room or a bedroom?" You sighed as you turned on the lights.
"Because those rooms aren't declared haunted enough by the reviews. And they probably think we would have sex in the bedroom." Ethan answered honestly.
You set up the cat ball on the floor and the music box in the doorway.
"Can't blame them, you always have your hands on me." You rewinded the music box.
"You're very touchable." He argued. "...Are we keeping this conversation in the video?"
You glanced at him. "Might as well. People do far worst things than sex."
Ethan chuckled. "Yeah like going to an abandoned house at 3am looking for ghosts."
"You have the spirt box with you?" You asked.
Ethan nodded. "Are we doing the estes method?"
You pulled out a blindfold answering his question however before you could speak verbally, the music box went off.
The two of you looked at eachother, goosebumps instantly went down your spine.
"We're not even close to that." You said.
Ethan glanced at the door. "Looks like we got a guest."
You nodded. "Luke said that there's children spirits here in the seance, one shows up almost everytime. Abigail."
Right on cue, the cat ball lit up.
"Abigail." Ethan confirmed. "Cmon, let's get you talking to her."
Ethan wrapped the blindfold around your head while you secured your headphones and turned the spirit box up.
Ethan sighed as he sat across from you.
"Hey," You said. "Sounded like some greeting."
Ethan nodded. "Hi, is this Abigail we're talking to? Seems to have fun with that cat ball over there."
"Yes." You answered. "Very fun."
Ethan chuckled. "Yeah, fun that's good. Uh do you see how many people are in here? Including us. Can you do that for me Abigail?"
"15." You spoke automatically.
"Okay, um good job." He praised. "Abigail, do you think I can speak to someone else in the room? A grown up maybe."
"No." You said. "Get out."
"Get out? You want us to leave?" He asked.
"Weird." You then took off the headphones. "Jesus, like a woman screaming in my ears."
Ethan looked at you in concern. "A woman just screaming bloody murder?"
You nodded and looked around. "Just saw a shadow in the doorway."
Ethan got up. "Let's pack up, we're leaving. We're not welcome here by someone- something. I'm not sure but we're not sticking around to find out."
The two of you packed up your gear and headed to the entrance, radioing everyone else as well.
"Holy shit- Luke- he- I swear to you. He got touched or something!" Mackie exclaimed.
Dylan panted. "Dude, we saw a legit shadow figure. And we heard knocking."
"And then we heard whispers," Mark sighs. "and footsteps. Luca almost cried."
"I did not." Luca retorted.
You glanced at Ethan. "Guess we all had a pretty strange night."
Ethan agreed with you. "Define strange, honey. This is all crazy."
You all walked back to the truck, recounting what happens in each investigations.
"You know... maybe having sex in the bedroom would be much less horrifying than this." You muttered under your breath, reserved for Ethan's ears.
He chuckled. "Well... we do have your bedroom to go to after this." He trails off.
"We have this video to edit." You rolled your eyes. "And I need sleep."
Ethan nodded. "Right, sleep. My baby needs their precious sleep." He kissed your temple.
"Can you two stop being horny for a minute and start the damn car?" Luke groaned.
