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not america's sweetheart (Leaguetober 2023)

Chapter 31: Season

Summary:

In which beds are used to mark the changing seasons of their lives. 'gusts'-adjacent

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Spring

The first season is cold. Quite Lonely. Taking the time to grow accustomed to the loneliness. Being along isn't bad, though. The bed is roomy, her own. Lined with sheets that aren't scratchy, that smell like lavender, that she bought with her own money at her own job.

They are much better when she is in there with her, tucked under her chin, emitting a warmth that envelops them both like a protective shield.

 

Summer

For a few months out of the year, their beds are separate -- save a few nights arranged in the spirit of collegiality. It's a season they anticipate, but that doesn't make it easier. They only last five of these seasons before even a few months feel like an eternity, and they don't know if they can withstand another. A new season begins where their love is safely guarded, in overlooking glances and gazes cast the other way.

 

Winter

A season comes where they can make everything their own. Their home -- quiet and private and beautiful. Their bed -- waves of soft pillows and warm blankets. Their kitchen. Their yard.

Their love.

The first winter at the farmhouse, two sets of flannel sheets are needed to stave off the chill. Still, when they aren't shivering, they wake up tangled in linens, tinged with the warm scent and hum of unending desire. One purrs as she slips a hand between skin and sheet, caressing and holding; warm, foggy breaths exhaling, releasing.

Ready to love.

 

Fall

A season comes around when it is not just the two of them anymore. A cattle dog, stretched across the foot, protecting their sleep and their dreams. A young child, needing comfort after nightmares, tucked between them, planting roots of the family that would bloom in the seasons to come.

The season brings them out of bed -- for pancakes and warm coffee and needing to send a teenager off to school.

This seasons means warmth. Reliability. Gathering. Family.

Everything they had always wanted.

Notes:

This was a RIDE, All-Stars! Thanks for being patient as I speed-ran the latter third of the month; real life and mental health gremlins got in the way, but I did the damn thing! Thirty-one days and thirty-one prompts!

Thanks again to Meren and Min for the prompts - just the right amount of fun and challenging.

What were some of your favorites? I definitely enjoyed dipping back into the 'gusts' universe, but I also really enjoyed exploring some AUs and writing characters I don't normally write.

As always, kudos are always appreciated, and comments get you points into the Good Place.

Personal inquiries/screams into the void can be directed to the tumblers @emeraldcitynerdfighter (tbh I lurk over there most of the time nowadays), or the tweeters/bluesky @TeachEarp_

Please check out the rest of my fics if you enjoyed any of these :)

Take care of each other out there <3

Notes:

Let's have some fun this month! Thanks to Min and Meren for the prompts!

Kudos are always appreciated, and comments get you points into the Good Place.

Personal inquiries/screams into the void can be directed to the tumblers @emeraldcitynerdfighter (tbh I lurk over there most of the time nowadays), or the tweeters/bluesky @TeachEarp_