𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖽 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗆𝖺𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗋.

✨  aaron tveit, cismale, he/him    —    whenever i see alexander warren meandering down agnes street work song by hozier starts to play inside my head. maybe it is the vibe they give off. rusty books, ugly sweaters, diy projects until midnight ;   you know ? the donut hole is what keeps them interested in agnes. i heard they are a thirty-five year old fourth grade elementary school teacher. they look like the kind of person who wouldn’t hurt a fly. // @agnesextra​ 

It was so sweet, watching all the parents interacting with their kids. It made a strange pang of jealousy go through Lizzie, the same pang that hit her when she saw another friend get engaged or married. It was that feeling that she was behind somehow, that she wasn’t good enough. That she’d missed her chance to have those things. But when she looked around her bakery, the one she put so much time and effort into, and saw all the happy smiles of her patrons, the feelings went away like a wisp of smoke.

“Let’s give it a try. I’ve been told I’m good with kids.” She stage-whispered to Alex, as  his name tag said, before turning to face his children. Lizzie briefly wondered what the situation was there, as his kids didn’t really look like him. Maybe their mother? Or an adoption situation? Either way, it was none of her business. She was just there to make cookies. “Okay Zoey, so to frost cookies you have to make sure you follow two easy steps. First you outline the cookie with this frosting, and then you fill in that outline with this kind.” Lizzie explained, pointing to the stiff and flood consistencies. She’d made the bags different colors to help the little ones remember.

“After that, you can go crazy! Use all different colors, try sprinkles, or use a toothpick to make a spooky spiderweb design. Here, I can help you.” She said, gently putting her hands over Zoey’s to keep the border around the cookie steady. Both kids had a real knack in the kitchen and she told their father that. Once the sounds of happy kids filled the air, she turned back to him. “They’re absolutely adorable. They have the same smile as you, it’s very cute.”

      the grin on the teacher’s face widened as the brunette ventured to try and convince the strong-willed kid to losen up as he rested a hand on top his other kid’s shoulder standing next to him as he listened to the exchange happening before him, eyebrow raised with amusement. his lips curled up involuntarily when zoey, amidst her usual cleaning fervour, turned to stare directly at the baker, her green and expressive eyes focused on the woman as her tiny hands motioned little circles with the towel she had chosen over the counter. once the teacher for the day was done with her explanation, the toddler turned to meet alexander’s eyes. in response, he nodded as he gently squeezed jack’s shoulder for him to join his sister and the baker “she’s really good, sweetie. help her decorate! remember those cookies we saw when we came in, the ones you liked? she made them!” he enthused the little girl with a smile.

      in a little over two years, the lives of the three individuals had completely changed to what they were once and he was acutely aware of the repercussion his decision had made on himself, but it wasn’t hard to see that the ones that had been affected the most. it had been two difficult years, from dealing with the aftermath to jack’s mood swings that came naturally with age, only highlighted by everything the young kid had been through in his lifetime. those harsh moments where it felt like too much, were quickly and easily overshadowed every time either of his kids grinned like zoey was doing at that moment, letting her imagination run wild as she so diligently tried to help jack to outline one of the cookies they had made. it became a reminder, of how far they’d come. 

      the blue-eyed pursed his lips briefly as the brunette spoke to him again, a tight smile held in place for a brief moment, eyes falling to jack momentarily, waiting for him to barge in and say something about the compliment, to inform the brunette they weren’t really related. it had become a habit of him, every time someone pointed them out as a family or referred to alexander as anything but a guardian. however, the pre-teen said nothing, instead deciding to focus on the cookie he had on his hand and on teaching his younger sister how to decorate, easiness washing over the teacher as he looked up at the other with a grateful grin. “thank you, they are the best kids i could’ve asked for” he confessed wholeheartedly, looking around the establishment “you have a really nice place, and the classes are incredible, you make it fun for the kids, you’re a natural” he complimented back with a nod. “do you do them daily? or is it a... holiday thing?” 

celia  has  opened  her  eyes  a  number  of  times  expecting  to  be  taken  back  to  her  old  house.  her  dad,  wracked  with  hangover,  would  immediately  yell  at  her  if  he  caught  her  glance.  “  how  many  times  do  i  need  to  tell  you  ?  get  my  goddamned  breakfast  ready  before  i  wake  up  !  ” speechless,  steps  would  bring  her  to  the  almost  empty  cupboards.  and  she’d  mindlessly  serve  the  man  his  breakfast  with  one  thought  inside  her  head.  where  is  he  ? he  in  question  being her  younger  brother.  

her  own  house  felt  like  a  nightmare  to  her.  one  that  she  had  to  experience  every  passing  day.  playing  the  role  of  a  burdened  mother  to  fill  the  absence  of  this  unnamed  woman  she  will  never  meet.  this  is  why  each  time  she  opens  her  starry  eyes  to  the  ceiling  of  the  room  she  shares  with  alexander  warren,  she  feels  the  need  for  reassurance.  this  is  real.  she  was  so  sure  that  escaping  that  house  was  a  fantasy, one  without  the  potential  of  becoming  her  reality.  

they  made  it.  celia  and  alex.  they  made  this  fantasy  real.  

bluest  of  eyes  slightly  open,  to  the  most  beautiful  sight  to  wake  up.  the  love  of  her  life,  next  to  her,  as  close  as  he  can  be.  "  i  swear  to  god  that  i  have  just  heard  degas’  wake  up  call.  "  with  her  raspy  morning  voice,  she  murmurs.  the  tender  kisses  of  the  blue-eyed  man  adorn  her  skin,  tenaciously.  her  hand  is  on  his  chest  ;  and  with  a  heartbeat  felt  beneath  fingertips,  her  hand  travels  to  his  neck  as  if  tracing  that  single  pulse.  “  i  don’t  know,  have  you  ?  i  think  i’ll  need  you  to  repeat  that. ”  her  lips  graze  his  jawline  with  a  kiss.  “  again.  ”  one  more.  "  and  again.  "  and  one  more.    "to  help  me  keep  that  in  mind.  "

      every morning is a reminder of how lucky alexander warren really is.

      truth is, family life has never come easy for the warrens. before celia, alexander could count with one hand the times he’d wake up feeling like he belonged. even when his family was by his side, most of the time spent together left him wishing they weren’t. as much as he loved his parents, because despite their history together and the harm they had caused on him and his sibling he truly did loved them both, their dynamic had been cursed from the beginning; always overshadowed by personal demons alexander’s could never understand as a naïve, wounded and neglected child. growing up, the dirt-blond had spent days listening to people talk about family and home, always feeling inadequate for not finding what everyone described, feeling alone. until a light with blue eyes and golden hair illuminated his life, completely turning his world upside down; giving love a new meaning who now is resting next to him in the very same room that used to bring so many painful memories.

      he hums. “he’s probably hungry. don’t worry, i’ll get it” the blond vows, lips gently pressed against her warm skin, a hand traveling to her back as the teacher decidedly pulls her closer to himself, fitting himself into every space he can fit in, that she could grant him. delighted by the tender display of affection granted by the other, the blue-eyed inhaled dreamily, eyes closed for a brief moment as he relished on his current situation, celia’s light weight and calm heartbeat lulling him into a sense of secureness and familiarity he had never experienced before; the feeling of belonging sitting idly in his stomach.

      as he is asked to repeat his statement, his lips curl up into an enamoured grin and quietly presses a kiss on the blonde’s forehead whilst whispering a soft “there is nothing i love more than waking up next to you” into her skin before looking down to face his girlfriend, nose to nose as he lets himself admire the woman next to him. “i could spend all my life telling you so every morning and it wouldn’t be enough to describe it” the teacher breathes out, chewing his inner cheek delicately, cerulean eyes looking for a matching pair. “that, and bringing you breakfast to our bed at every given chance. any requests for today?” 

𝗐𝗁𝗈: 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗇𝗈𝗋 𝗁𝗂𝗅𝗅 ／ @connoroverthehill​

      alexander held onto the bag he had brought along with him as he walked through the streets in the town, mind focused on connor. the drama teacher was on his way to his friend home, to check on him. the two hadn’t met a long ago; to be completely honest the blond didn’t really know much of the young man— other than the sadness he carried with himself was something the blue-eyed felt familiar, to a degree. the heaviness on his chest whenever he breath, the tiredness he wore on his face, all were something the former troubled teenager could relate to. alas, after getting the other’s number the day they had met and stroke up a pleasant conversation, alex planned for them to meet up, deciding the other’s home as the perfect place for them to hang out.

      as he arrived to the address connor had provided with everything he had brought along with him, the blue-eyed rang the bell and waited patiently for the young man to answer. once he was greeted by the other, the drama teacher grinned, holding up the bag with him. “i`ve been stress-cooking for like, two days. ready for a buffet lunch? i even have dessert on lock.”

flores. : for a supposed BFFL4EVA, you're LACKING!!!

flores. : come and meet me. let's go somewhere. i am so bored!

alexander : Excuse you, this is a 2 way street my friend!!!!

alexander : Sorry, you know I love you right?

𝗐𝗁𝗈: 𝗆𝖺𝗌𝗈𝗇 𝗋𝖺𝗆𝗌𝖺𝗒 ／ @masonramsay​

      as alexander entered happiest hour, the blond couldn’t help but feel lighter. perhaps it had to do with the ambience of the venue, the way you could hear the laughs of other patrons from outside. or perhaps, it had to do with the fact that he was meeting with his brother and it all felt familiar. it was truly a blessing, being able to watch mason grow up and still have him in his life after the younger sibling was taken away from the warren’s household. their father had walked out by choice right before mason’s parents contacted the family about their desire to keep the sibling’s relationship intact, never being around to watch his younger kid again, which was a blessing in disguise. alycia, their mother, however, had experience two years of joy, having her two kids by her side to make sure they were okay and healthy before taking her last breath. mason, and by extension his family, becoming his own when he needed them the most.

      after a long week between work and studying to become a teacher, debts and children making the most dramatic plays a childs play, it was nice to finally sit down and enjoy some time with his brother, away from the world’s problems. “okay, what do you want? i’m getting a beer— you need anything stronger? should we get some fries or something?” he inquired mason as the two siblings found a place at the bar, a sigh escaping him as he felt the tension on his shoulderblades vanish, turning to face the other with a grin. “how have you been, man? how’s the old man? are we still on for next weekend? i found this cool recipe online i think he will like, i’ll settle up the grill— celia will love to see you two.”

𝗐𝗁𝗈: 𝖼𝖾𝗅𝗂𝖺 𝖽𝖺𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗌 ／ @brighternite​

   as dawn came and the first rays of sunshine shining through the curtains that separated the room in the household from the outside world hit his features, alexander exhaled, a small grin spreading through his features while warmness spread through his face. one of his favorite parts of the weekend, as much as the blond adored his job, was not having to rush. during week days, with his and celia’s tight schedule, he was lucky to have a good morning kiss before both of them had to move on with their days. weekends away from the life of teaching and celia’s classes gave the couple time to stay in bed past their normal time, an opportunity to breathe and enjoy eachother’s companies. 

      the blue-eyed opened his eyes, the first image appearing in front of him being the face of the person he loved the most in the world, peaceful and lovely as always, a sense of peace settling on the pit of his stomach almost immediately, a newfound feeling the drama teacher wanted to retain for the rest of his life. on cue, as he was letting the domestic bliss of the moment shared with his girlfriend fill him, the purr of one degas coming from somewhere between the two resting bodies made him chuckle. never had alexander imagined himself as a cat owner— and yet now, after living with one, he couldn’t quite imagine a life without the furry one, nor his owner. 

      feeling the blonde beginning to wake to the call of the family pet, alexander’s arm found a home around her frame, keeping her in place as his face found hers, the tip of his nose caressing her cheekbones gently while placing sweet kisses on her skin. “good morning, i really love waking up next to you every morning, have i told you that before?”

𝗐𝗁𝗈: 𝗀𝗂𝗇𝖺 𝗁𝖾𝗇𝖽𝗋𝗂𝗑 ／ @evnoiia​

      ever since the day at the beach, zoe and jack had been asking their dad about the nice woman pollux had decided to run into, his daughter’s eyes gleaming with interest and wander and, since their relationship as co-workers had escalated into a blossoming friendship, the blond deemed it appropriate to invite gina for dinner so the three could meet eachother and gina could catch a glimpse of his very own life outside of the classroom and their never-ending roles as educators. the kids, excited to meet a new friend, had helped clean up the house and had even helped with the dinner alexander had decided to make himself. alas why, as his doorbell rang, he had flour all over his pants and shirt and why the kids were in their rooms, finding new clothes to look a bit more presentable for the guest. 

     as pollux began to bark at the door, tail waging enthusiastically at the possibilities on the other side, the blue-eyed walked to answer it, a defeated and gentle smile greeting gina as he opened the doors to his home. “hey, welcome to the chaos, i hope you are hungry!” he enthused with a chuckle,opening the door entirely so the other could step inside, inhaling deeply while scratching the back of his neck as pollux approached the scene, excitement pouring over the labradoodle. “so glad you could make it, the kids are changing and excited to meet you— do you want anything to drink? i have wine, whiskey, apple juice— pick your poison.”