I’m not Glass

The blonde had just began showing her pregnancy, and the overprotective notions of the group were killing her. Ellis was hesitant to touch her, Bigby always hovered, Jay’s eyes burned like coal as she watched. She had had enough.

“Violent Vamp Nest in Boston!” Trinity called as soon as she hung up with Rich. “We gotta haul ass, it’s too big for Rich and Travis.” She got a chorus of responses throughout the house as everyone grabbed their go-bags.

“Where are you goin’?” Jayne inquired to Julie as she tossed her bag in the back of the El Camino.

“With you, Bigs was too slow,” she joked.

“What? No, not like /that/.” The redhead emphasized vaguely gesturing to the blonde.

“Like /what?/”

“Get in the car, fight on the way, Jesus.” Trinity shouted on her way past.

—

The silence was tense in the old car as they brought up the rear of the ‘parade’.

“What did you mean.”

Jayne sighed “Pregnant, I meant pregnant.” She tossed a hand up “you can’t go into a battle like this like /that./”

“You’re starting to sound like Ellis, or Bigby!” Julie exclaimed “I’m not going to break if the wind blows too hard-”

“It’s not you, we know that, it’s that thing /inside/ you.”

“He’s a baby, Jayne.”

“We don’t know what’ll happen, if he’s human, or magic, or a dragon, or if he can handle a fight.”

“A pregnant woman, for most of her pregnancy, can do everything she had been able to do beforehand.” She stated with a tone of finality making the redhead sigh and reach to turn the radio up.

—

It was a good thing the boys called them, even with the five extra fighters it was a mess. Blood coated everyone involved (with some grumbling from Nick on the sidelines) so much so they couldn’t tell if it was their own or not. Julie had especially held her own, currently having the highest body count (after trying to reason of course).

She had turned just in time to see the large brown wolf jumping over her to catch two coming after her in his snarling jaws.

“I can handle myself, Bigby!” She screamed up at him only earning a growl in response.

It’d been like this the whole night, even Travis and Rich were doing this to her.

Once all was said and over and the vampires who refused reason had been handled she easily restrained the rest of her party to their places. “I am /not/ some fragile doll, and you have no right to treat me as such,” she began “I am your equal, we are a team, and that’s what that means.” She released her hold “I know you just want to help, but I don’t want to be babied…” she trailed off gently, gluing her eyes to the ground. Ellis gently stepped up to her and wrapped his arms around her.

“I just want ya safe,” he murmured quietly.

“I know, but I can do it myself right now, so please let me.”

The group was quiet as they all shuffled guiltily.

“I’m not glass, I won’t break.”

Different

The detective smiled as he looked in the classroom window, quickly catching sight of a familiar raven-haired child scribbling away aimlessly on a coloring sheet. He frowned at the standoffish positions of the children around her, some glancing to her curiously as they played and others flat out watching her in their groups. He gently knocked on the door, shaking his head with a smile as Harper lifted her head at the sound, listening carefully.

“Hello there Mr. E-“ The teacher stopped herself when he held a finger to his lips, nodding with a smile in understanding when he quietly moved towards his daughter’s table.

At this point the rest of the class had taken notice of the extra adult in their room, now paying closer attention to both him and Harper, who, after a moment, had returned to her ‘coloring’. Nick carefully pulled one of the small chairs out beside her, awkwardly plopping himself down in it before watching his daughter work in silence.

It was only a few seconds later when Harper lifted her head again, turning in his direction and setting her crayon down. “Papa?” She grinned, having easily identified his cologne.

He smirked at the chorus of small, surprised gasps from the surrounding tables. “What do you think?” He chuckled as the small child dove into his lap, returning her hug happily. “Hi, Sunshine…Ready to go?”

Harper nodded vigorously, scooting out of his lap to land on back on her feet with a small ‘pat’. Nick watched her subtly from the corner of his eye as she navigated the classroom, picking up the paper she had been scribbling on as he stood. “Can this one go on the fridge?”

“I’m not finished yet,” she explained, small hands feeling for the edge of the miniature tables as she passed them. “I got more ta add.”

“Gotcha,” he replied, shaking his head with a smile as he looked over the already saturated coloring sheet. He looked up when the teacher approached him once more. “She’s doing well, she picks up on things quickly…The other students are having a little trouble figuring out how to interact. But we’ll work on it,” she encouraged, watching with a smile as a few of the other girls started to follow Harper.

“Do you want me to help, Harper?”

“I wanna help too!” Small enthusiastic giggles came from the children as they moved over in the raven-haired girl’s direction. Nick smiled warmly, but it fell at the small flinch from his daughter as the other kids seemed to suddenly swarm her.

“No, I’m okay-“ She scrunched her nose when one of the girls took her hand, quickly pulling it back. “I’m okay, no thank you,” she spoke louder, knitting her brow and starting to visibly get more overwhelmed. Nick was just about to step in when the teacher spoke up again.

“Alright everyone, let’s calm down. Harper says she doesn’t want help so we’re going to let her do it herself, right?” She chided gently, smiling apologetically at Nick. “Let’s go, leave her be.” She gently clapped her hands, shaking her head at the small chorus disappointed moans from the children as they went back to their own tables.

The detective sighed when his daughter remained still, waiting for the rest of the small footsteps to disappear from around her so she could continue gathering her belongings.

“Thank you,” he spoke quietly. “She doesn’t like special treatment,” he explained.

“Noted,” the woman responded. “We’ll work on it.”

“You alright, Sweetheart?” He tried gently as he approached his daughter.

“Yes, Papa,” she murmured, pulling her backpack off the hook and zipping it shut. She tilted her head a little when she heard the other children murmuring from across the room, sighing with a small huff.

“C’mere,” Nick interrupted her pout, snatching her tiny bag and slinging it over his shoulder before scooping her into his arms so he could kiss her cheek. He smiled when she erupted in giggles, fidgeting in his grasp.

“Papa!!”

He thanked the teacher one more time, setting Harper down before walking with her down the hall.

“…Listen, I know you don’t want to be touched. Just know that those kids wanted to help you.”

“I don’t /need/ help,” she snipped, crossing her arms as they walked.

“/I/ know you don’t. Your friends have probably just never met someone like you.”

“You mean a blind kid?”

“I mean someone who gets around differently than they do.” He gently grabbed her arm, stopping her and crouching down to her height. “You are not any less than they are, you hear me?” He knitted his brow when she turned her face away. “We wouldn’t have put you in this class-“

“You mean a /normal/ class,” she interrupted.

He cocked a brow at that. “You’re definitely not /normal/, kid.” He scooped her up once more, popping her on his hip. “You’re so much /more/ than that.”

“Yeah? Like what?” She mused, leaning against him happily now and contradicting her spiteful questions.

“Stubborn and bratty, for one.”

“Papaaa!!”

“Listen, I don’t carry a little girls’ backpack for just anyone,” he teased, kissing her cheek again. “You might not need help, but /they/ don’t know that…Give them some time to get used to how you do things.”

“I guess,” she muttered, lifting her head when she heard the sound of his Lincoln’s doors unlocking. The detective carefully set her down, tapping on the door for her before making his way to the driver’s side and getting in himself. He placed her bag on the passenger seat, watching her in the mirror with a fond smile as she easily got herself situated and buckled in her seat.

“Buckled?”

“Buckled.”

“Ready to go?”

“Ready to go.”

You don’t need him anyway

Ellis stirred when Chevy growled and hopped off his bed to trot out of the room. The confused Georgian scrubbed the sleep from his eyes and followed the dog to the front door. “‘Sup, boy?” He mumbled, letting out a small yawn and looking up when he heard a soft knock through the sound of the storm outside. He cautiously peeked through the curtain on the door and gasped at the small blonde who stood soaked to the bone. “Miss Julianna? It’s mighty late ta be out, ain’t it?” All drowsiness left him at the sight of his friend, he couldn’t tell if those were tears running down her cheeks or water either. He quickly whisked her inside and put a kettle on before fetching some towels. He draped then around her shoulders and she quietly thanked him, to which he offered a lopsided smile in reply. “I got some old sweats yang can change into, you’ll git sick if ya don’t…” he mumbled, rushing off once more. “Tea’ll be done by tha time yer finished, I can toss yer clothes in the dryer.

—

The duo sat in silence, hot ceramic warming their hands. After a few moments passed Julie finally spoke.

"Rob just left me there.”

“What now?” Ellis was baffled that anyone could abandon such a kind-hearted person “left ya there?- left ya /where?/”

She shrugged and pointed vaguely to the left. “About a half an hour that way.”

“What happened?… if ya don’t mind my askin’.”

“It started as a really nice night,” she smiled softly “we went to dinner and go window shopping…” she traced her thumb around the rim of her mug “there’s some nice shops in town…” she sniffled and El placed a gentle hand on her own “well, when we were coming back he made it clear he intended for things to go very…. /non/-G rated…” she muttered “and I told him no.” Ellis bristled, fearing what she had to say next “he pushed and when I didn’t agree he pulled over and kicked me out.” She hiccuped on her breath, feeling pathetic as she said it out loud.

“Aw hell, Peach,” Ellis began “’m real sorry that happened to ya, you deserve /way/ better.” He shook his head “men like that ain’t raised right.” He scoffed “but it sure as hell ain’t yer fault.” He added firmly “he’s a jerk, you don’t need him anyway.” He paused as she seemed to shrink in his much too big hoodie. “Wanna watch a Disney movie with Chevy an’ I?”

“Don’t you have to take care of the animals?”

“They’ll survive a late morning,” he murmured with a soft smile.

—

Jeanie smiled at the three of them curled up on the couch (Chevy taking up most of it) and shook her head. She reached over and clicked off the blue screen left by the last bit of tape from the VHS and draped a blanket over them, her smile growing as Julianna her her face against Ellis.

“It’ll all work out my dear,” she murmured, kissing both of them before heading back to her room.

Wedding Party

“This is going right at you.” Julie pointed an accusing finger at Trinity as she held up the half-finished bouquet she had stolen from Divinity. “Learn what it looks like because you better be ready to fucking catch,” she laughed out, placing the arrangement back in it’s holder as the angel quickly tugged it back to finish her work. “Careful-!” The quietest redhead chided lightly, quickly getting back to work with the smallest laugh at the other girls’ antics. “Yer in a church, Miss Julianna. /Please/.”

“M’not gettin’ married,” Trinity teased in reply, taking a sip of her drink before setting it down to look through her makeup bag. “It ain’t my thing.”

“/Bull/shit…bull/crap/,” the blonde corrected herself with a small giggle when Divi shot her another side-eye. “What, do /you/ want to catch it instead, Div?” The angel shook her head.

“No, thank you. I won’t need it,” she joked in response, giggling at the small ‘uh oh’ that came from Julie in reply. “Keith has already asked me if I wanna marry him four times.” She smiled fondly to herself, continuing her work as the other girls laughed.

“Of course.”

“I’ll be right back,” Trinny murmured after a moment, heading out of the bridal suite and carefully closing the door behind her. She took out her phone, just about to compose an impatient text to her middle sister when she walked past a window just in time to catch said redhead’s El Camino pulling up to the building. She rolled her eyes with a sigh. “Of all days ta be late…C’mon Jay.” Grey eyes widened a second later when the passenger door opened as well, the eldest redhead’s jaw dropping slightly when an auburn-haired man stepped out. “JAYNE BROUGHT A DATE. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.” Trinity burst back into the bridal suite, startling the other girls inside. “Wait, what?”

“No she didn’t.” Trinny nodded vigorously, pointing to the window as the girls collectively stood to look for themselves.

“Oh. My. God.”

“Who even /is/ that?”

“Is he- He’s shorter than her.”

“Why did she bring someone?”

“Well I told her she could bring a date,” Julie interjected, drawing baffled looks from the other two redheads.

“You /what/?” Trinity turned to her best friend in disbelief. Julie crossed her arms, taking a step back.

“How fair would it be if I let you two have dates but not her?” She cocked a brow, smiling again when her best friend sighed with a defeated nod. “Besides, he’s cute,” she added, looking back out the window to continue inspecting the newcomer.

“Peach, stop. You’re getting married.”

“…I have to tell Ellis,” the blonde blurted out after a moment, heading to the door.

“No, Jules-“ “You can’t-!”

———-

Bigby took an anxious breath, caramel eyes glancing to the church beside them as Jayne fixed his tie.

“Would ya relax? Everything’ll be fine,” the hellhound teased, smiling at him.

“Yeah, you keep saying that…I just-“ He sighed again. “I feel like I’m intruding here. I don’t know any of these people, and I wasn’t invited.”

“/I/ invited you,” Jay responded firmly. “If it’s a problem, if ya git uncomfortable….we’ll leave. Alright?” The wolf smiled appreciatively, shaking his head.

“I uh-….I’ll wait in the sanctuary, I guess….You can go in there, right?” He asked after a moment of thought, cocking a concerned brow at the notion of a demon setting foot in a church. Jayne laughed a little at him.

“I can, yeah…I’ll come git ya when it’s time.” She held his cheeks, pressing her lips to his. “You better,” he retorted, leaning in to steal another kiss before she walked away.

———-

“Awwww.”

“That was actually /cute/.”

“Something is /definitely/ up….I’ve never seen her act that way with a guy before,” Trinny murmured suspiciously, jumping slightly when Jayne turned to head into the building. “Oh shit-! Everyone act natural!” The girls collectively scrambled back to their spots to continue getting ready, trying to act as nonchalant as possible when the hellhound entered the room.

“Hey, sorry’m late-“ She began, blinking at the grin Julie gave her from across the room. “What?”

“I’m just happy to see you,” she fibbed (only a little), standing to pull the redhead into a hug.

“M’happy ta see you too,” she murmured, returning the blonde’s hug and thinking a moment. “…I brought a date,” she finally added after a moment, shrinking a little at the ‘shocked’ gasps coming from the other corners of the bridal suite. “I know y’all were spyin’. I ain’t stupid,” she snipped at her sisters, crossing her arms with a huff when they snickered to themselves. She looked back at Julie as the blonde started to speak.

“No worries, I told you that you could.” “Thanks, Jules…”

“He’s not going to start a fight or get wasted, right?” The redhead knitted her brow.

“No…”

“Then he’s more than welcome….Where is he?”

“Oh, well….” She rubbed the back of her neck. “He’s not really a people person, we got that in common,” she laughed out. “He’s in the church, waitin’.”

“Oh.” Julie glanced around for a moment, thinking. “Well…everyone’s decent. We’re not going to be changing for a while. Why don’t you bring him in here? So he’s not all by himself in there.”

“Wh-“ Crimson eyes widened. “…Really?” “Yeah. If /you/ trust this guy enough to bring him /here/….He’s fine,” Julianna explained, holding the taller woman’s hands.

———-

“You want me to come /where/?”

“Not me, /Peach/,” Jayne responded, tugging the wolf up from the pew he was seated in. “C’mon.”

“…The /bride/.”

“Yeah.”

“She wants me to come in your dressing room.”

“Yes.” She rolled her eyes. “I told you we’re different than those Fabletown pricks, Bigby. Now c’mon.” The sheriff sighed but followed along, not wanting to upset either party. He stayed behind Jayne as she opened the door to the bridal suite, keeping his eyes down just in case.

“This, uh…This is him,” Jayne murmured. She gently squeezed Bigby’s hand, shooting him a reassuring smile (though it was unclear which of them needed more reassurance at this point). Both of the other redheads inside eyed him with interest (Divi with a noticeably more scrutinizing gaze), before looking to Julie as she stood again to approach the couple.

“Hi.” She offered him an outstretched hand, a giddy smile on her face. “I’m Julianna.” Brown eyes flicked up to blue, a baffled expression settling on the sheriff’s face for a moment. He glanced to Jayne, only looking back to the blonde when his girlfriend gave him a nod of encouragement. A small, awkward smile came to his face as he took the smaller woman’s hand.

“Bigby.”

2am in a Denny’s parking lot

It had been a long day, the whole crew were on their way home from a successful mission with minimal injuries and had decided to stop at the diner for some well deserved food. They miraculously were able to cram all eight of them in the corner booth, Trinity and Julie across from each other closest to the wall, and Bigby and Jayne capping the end. They all talked quietly, lest they accidentally spill about magic. There were few people in the restaurant this late at night save for the insomniacs and the youth. Jay sipped on her coffee and caught sight of a group of girls who had obviously come from some sort of ‘cosmic’ event staring, a few too many of them staring at Bigby. The werewolf shifted a little uncomfortably having noticed the attention himself and elected to ignore it. The blonde girl pointed towards them and started to say something, Jayne decided to tune in.

“Do you think any of them are single?”

“Maybe? The tall one is definitely taken, look at how he looks at that one”

Jay sips her coffee

“The Italian one looks grumpy-”

“I think he’s with the other redhead, on the inside.”

“The guy with the brown hair is pretty cute.”

“Which one?”

“The one on the end.”

Jayne narrowed her eyes

“He’s wearing a ring.”

Good.

“It doesn’t look like a wedding ring, it looks more like a class ring.”

“Think he’s available?”

She’s pretty sure her eye twitched.

A light flush covered Bigby’s cheeks at the unwanted comments (having amazing hearing himself.)

“You should go say hi, Heather!”

Jayne’s fingers tighten on her mug while she props her chin on her hand, deliberately showing off her ring.

“Jay…” Big by murmured softly.

“She’s got one too” another girl mumbled.

“Maybe they went to the same school?”

“What if they’re together?”

“She looks like a hoe”

It was the wolf’s turn to bristle, a frown coming to his face at the comment.

“-and a bitch.”

His nails dug into the edge of the table.

“Take a smoke break, Bigs.” Jayne mumbled up to him, toying with her spoon. The male sighed and kissed her forehead when he got up.

“Want one too?” He offered, frowning when she shook her head “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

The girls watched him leave, one girl, Heather, got up to follow him after a minute. Jayne jerked her head up and openly glared as she watched this girl try to flirt with /her/ mate through the window, Heather ran her hand down his arm, giggling. The redhead slammed her hands on the table making both groups fall silent when the cups clattered and stalked outside.

“Oh she’s pissed.” Divi murmured anxiously as she watched her sister.

Jayne threw the door open and pushed Bigby against the wall as she kissed him, interrupting Heather’s flirting. The smaller male grunted in surprise but wrapped his hands around her waist, not noticing the solid bird Jay sent to the girl before she stomped off.

“Jesus, Jayne,” he grumbled to her.

“I was getting tired of her shit.” She stated “I was good for a while,” she mumbled.

Home again

Ellis laughed as he bumped the door open with his hip and his wife in his arms.

“Mama, we’re home!” He called as he gently set Julie on her feet. A grin came to his face as his mother came rushing to meet them.

“How was yer trip, was tha weather nice? Do I have a gran’baby yet?”

“Whoa, slow down, Mama. We’ve been married for a week.” The blonde laughed out, holding her arms up in surrender.

“Are y’all hungry? I can make something.”

“Ma, it’s midnight.” Ellis chuckled “I dunno ‘bout Peach, but I’m more’en ready fer bed.” He smiled tiredly. “Imma just gonna put the bed cap on fer tonight.”

“You sure?”

“Yes, Jeanie,” Julie murmured softly “but we appreciate it so much.” The older woman smiled gently and pulled them each into a hug.

“If yer sure… I’m glad y’all’re home.” She murmured before heading back to bed. Ellis shook his head and ran a hand through his hair.

“She’s somethin’ else.” He smiled.

“You’re so much like her.” Julianna spoke softly. He gently kissed his wife before pulling back.

“I’m gonna cover tha bed.” He murmured, heading outside. Julie followed him out, gazing up at the stars smattered across the sky.

“I think I missed this the most while we were gone.” Ellis stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and following her line of sight.

“I swear the stars are shinin’ brighter now that you’re my wife.” He breathed. “Stars are brighter, peaches sweeter, an’ tha sun is warmer… all good things jus’ got better tha day ya said ‘I do’.” Peach smiled, listening to him speak with a warm smile on her face.

“You really think so?”

“I know so.” He replied, his eyes glued to the sky as she looked back at him.

“I love you, Ellis.”

“I love you too, Julie.”

Remember to Breathe

Ellis always admired how /hard/ his wife worked whether it be at school, the office, or the farm, Julianna always tackled the challenge. This recent setback had been a total surprise and it had hit the resilient blonde particularly hard. Ellis watched her as she fought back tears at 2am sitting in the yellow lamplight of their kitchen and scrubbing at paperwork. He let out a soft sad sigh, startling the woman.

“Oh! Go back to bed, Muffins,” she wobbled out “you have to get up soon.” The taller waved the notion off.

“S’all right,” he murmured, pushing off the wall and sitting beside her. “Are /you/ okay though?”

“Yeah, I’m peachy.” She offered with a forced watery smile. Ellis eyed her and pulled her into a hug, prompting her to release the sobs she had been holding back “I don’t know what to do, Ellis.”

He tightened his arms around her “jus’ breathe,” he soothed “everythin’ll work out how it’s meant to.”

Love me not

A big boom box sat upon the freshly mowed grass a positive beat reverberating through the speakers and a pair of shoes discarded nearby. Pastel lavender twirls into view, swaying with the beat (as does the wearer.) Red locks tumble from the hair clip, shaken loose from her movement and she giggles. Bare feet dance across the grass, leading her through turns. Hazel eyes caught her from the kitchen window. Keith chuckled lightly and had somehow made it out there quietly enough to not disturb his girlfriend and hopped onto the fence to watch her and listen to the music. Seeming to have noticed his presence she whipped around to find him grinning. She froze for a moment her face flushing as the song continued.

“I’m sitting on the moon, coz I can

Ask the boy who lives here for a little dance”

A grin crosses her lips and she rushes forward to take his hands. The taller laughs lightly and hops down to dance with her in the summer sun.