and darling, we can build this dream together.

I have changed up some of the muses I have had here and some I haven’t added yet because I’m not sure what I am going to do with them. Either way I’ve had it up for a day or two and have been pretty excited for once with just some tweaks here and there. I just felt it was time for a change.

“Maybe.” Wren wasn’t in any form to argue with her husband about this. She was in mourning, and had to feel all the feelings to get through it. How could this have happened? She was always so careful, and made sure everything was turned off before leaving the next day. “Are you going to come back in the morning at least? Or do you have to work?”

She shook her head, rubbing her eyes. “You’re right, I guess.” Wren sighed sadly, looking out the window from her bed. She wouldn’t be able to fix it all tonight, but the minute she was out of this hospital that was her first project. Wren figured he’d rather sleep in their bed than stay in the hospital with her. She was certain once he picked up Luke from her mom then she’d be at the hospital within minutes. “Just be careful, make sure to take the pillows off my side of the bed.”

Wren only nodded. It didn’t necessarily make her feel any better. Just knowing her bakery was now damaged just stressed her out. The years she spent making that place a hopping business. Would her customers still be there when she could reopen? And how much would it cost to get it up and running again? “Once they’re done investigating the fire the insurance company will be able to tell me what they can cover for repairs.” That at least relieved her again. Her head rested on his chest as he sat on the bed with her. “If you need to go home with Luke you can. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

“I-I don’t know.” She wiped her eyes. “They said they’re going to investigate it tomorrow to find out what caused it. But that means the bakery will be closed for the foreseeable future. I don’t know what we’re going to do.” She sniffled, taking his hand. “They want to keep me overnight for observation, to make sure I don’t have smoke inhalation. When I ran out I tripped and fell, they think I broke a rib.” She let out a shaky breath. At least that’s all that was wrong with her, but the bakery was her pride and joy. Without it she wasn’t sure what she was going to do.

“She just didn’t want to nap. He went right down after eating and Luna fought it and this is the first time she’s actually started to look tired all day.” Which was honestly a little exhausting because she was given a break when the babies were down. Gemma was self sufficient enough that she could color or play in the yard with Sparkles while Andi thew some laundry in or straightened up but it was harder to do that with the littles. “Maybe she just wanted you.” The redhead shifted so she could lean against Caden’s legs while not moving away from the little pool. “I like that idea.” Looking at her husbands he smiled. “A trip with the five of us…. god it’s crazy saying that. Five of us.” 

“So you got no rest today huh?” He asked her running his fingers through her hair comfortingly knowing the kids all day while he worked had to be one hell of a handful. Caden looked over at Luna with a little smile. “I mean she is a daddy’s girl so I can’t blame her one bit.” She said as she leaned back against him. “I know it is five of us, but I think it could be fun. Give Gemma some experiences even if these two are still too little to remember.” He reached over and scooped Luna up as he wrapped her up in a towel. He heard her whines and he just sushed her softly. “Just cuddle with daddy okay?” He saw her little nod and he kissed the top of her head having a feeling it wouldn’t take her long. “You had a busy day, daddy had a busy day now lets relax Cam can play in the pool.” He assured his daughter rubbing her back a little bit. “Think of where you’d like to go love and I’ll make the arrangements.”

“Well Gemma has been begging all day to run through the sprinkler and I was worried about these two with it so we settled on sitting in the water.” Andi smiled as he lowered himself down and splashed Cam before kissing her. It was always perfect when he came home. “It was good through someone hasn’t napped today.” She looked at Luna who was splashing but was clearly starting to drift a little before snapping back and returning to splashing her brother. “Cam went down fine but she refused to.” But she was sure that meant Luna would sleep pretty well that night. Though the babies did tend to nap together so she had been surprised when only one of them went down. “God I now. I’ve yet to understand where all the energy comes from. They really should share.”

“Seems like everyone is content.” He said laughing softly and when his wife ousted their daughter he looked at Luna who was drifting off and then waking up. “That’s a surprise though, because usually their on the same schedule, hopefully she’s not coming down with something strange.” He shrugged watching his daughter knowing she’d crash hard tonight probably after some cuddles. “Right? I would love some of their energy. We should take them on a little vacation some time. Go as a family.” Caden told his wife, he had some time coming up that he could take off and figured it was summer and now was the time to take the kids before Gemma had to go back to school.

@brok3nxdreams​ Andi couldn’t help but laugh at the little blow up pool in the backyard. There was barely eight inches of water in it but the babies seemed to be having the time of their lives while Gemma ran back and forth through the sprinkler. “Eventually mommy needs to figure out where all your energy comes from to get you guys to share.” She was sitting next to the pool running her hand through the water while Luna and Cam splashed. Even Sparkles seemed to be enjoying himself. She wasn’t sure which alerted her to him first, the door opening and closing or the sound of Cam’s giggle when he saw Caden. “Daddy’s home.” Looking over her shoulder she smiled at her husband. “Hi handsome.” 

Caden had gotten home and the house seemed still which was unusual with all the kids running around on a normal basis. Wandering out back he chuckled watching the babies splash and Gemma run through the sprinkler. Caden grinned at his son and waved to him. “Hello beautiful, you didn’t tell me we were having a party today in the back yard.” He teased as he walked over and bent down kissing the babes heads and splashing Cam a little bit making him laugh even more before he stood up and kissed his wife. “How was your day with the rascals hm?” He asked her as he looked at Gemma slipping and sliding as she ran. “Remind me to switch my batteries out with hers eh?” He told her as he sat in the lawn chair next to his wife.

Open Starter

Parker Lawrence - 31, heterosexual, photographer

With a heatwave sweeping the nation, Parker nonetheless didn’t allow his gym routine to be deterred. It was a maverick view, judging by the distinct lack of the usual patrons in the basement gym that night, though Parker didn’t mind being the odd one out and especially so when he had the gym largely to himself. A few other patrons and staff members were dotted around but the swathes of white collar workers and sleep deprived students usually in there late were gone, thus allowing Parker free rein in his routine. 

Adorned in nothing but a pair of black shorts, white trainers and well-worn boxing gloves, Parker grunted and growled without concern as he pounded the bag before him. The large leather object swung and creaked at his flurry of punches, its movement only encouraging further sharp, quick jabs from Parker. The heat won over the air con in the basement and meant that a glistening sheen of sweat adorned Parker’s skin as he moved, his muscles burning and heart throbbing too. 

In fact, Parker’s focus on the punching bag was so much so that he didn’t even hear the other person coming up behind him, their footsteps going unheard until they were just a few feet away. 

Jet lag often kicked her ass, between jetting for this client meeting or that one. Her life was always a flurry of movements. Her apartment had been hot when she returned the ac had clicked on but it’d be a while before it’d cool off so she figured she’d at least hit the gym knowing a small work out might cure what ailed her. 

The gym was quiet except for one man that kept jabbing at a poor punching bag. She watched him for a moment. “You know, maybe I should call you sandman because there’s not going to be any sand left in that bag if you keep hitting it like that.” She saw his raw talent but knew that he just worked out for fun. “Too bad you won’t sign up for a real fight.” She mused with a little smirk on her lips.

Owen let out a chuckle at the woman’s comment. “I know that I am. I am going to help you out however I can.” He told her, as he had no intention of leaving all the hard work for just Aubree. It didn’t seem fair that she had to do all the work of growing the baby and then have to do a lot of the work afterwards.  “I do hope that we get lucky and have an easy baby.” Owen said, although he knew that the odds were that there was still going to be rough nights either way. “I guess we just need to get used to not getting much sleep.”

“You know when you say that you are literally jinxing us to have a little monster instead.” She teased him playfully, but she hoped that their child would be easy going like them. “It’ll be worth it when you hold them in your arms trust me.” Aubree said softly. “I just can’t wait to watch you holding them for the first time and the priceless look I am sure will be on your face.” Aubree ran her hands over Owen’s chest for a moment before her hands rested around his shoulders. “We’ll be okay, we’re a team so we will figure out what plus one means for us.”

It seemed like she had been there for hours. They had admitted her, laying in the bed as she waited for her husband. She asked them to try him again, and to call her mom. Luckily this was the day her mom took their son, and she knew she’d keep him overnight so Caden could either be at the hospital or go home. She heard her husband’s voice, looking at him with relief in her eyes. Just knowing he was there calmed her. “I-I’m fine.” Her voice wobbly, tears coming to her eyes all over again. It had been probably the fifth time she’d cried since being taken away in the ambulance. “Th-The bakery caught fire. Everything inside is ruined.”

Caden walked over carefully to his wife as he reached for her hand. “Way to worry me on the phone you know. But you’re not fine, I can hear it in your voice baby.” Her wobbly tone only made him want to hold her more and maybe his body was on high alert with his wife but he sat down next to her. “How the hell did the bakery catch fire?” He sighed and shook his head. “Everything can be replaced. You know what matters more? That you are okay, that you are walking away with minimal wounds.” The fact that she was here was enough for him.

surprise angsty thread for @brok3nxdreams​

“Come on, pick up.” She was shaking as she tried calling her husband for the second time. They told her that they’d call him at the hospital, but she told them she needed to call him and tell him she’s okay or he’d freak. His voicemail picked up, which she should’ve know would happen. He should still be at work. “Caden. I-It’s Wren. Look, somethings h-happened at the bakery. I-I’m on my way to the hospital. I-I’m okay, but just get there as soon as you can, okay?” 

Caden had been on the range with the boys all day, he had been supervising his platoons readiness, and instructing the other sergeants scenarios to improve on. Because he was out of the office his phone was often on silent. They had a break for water and such and he sat in his truck finally looking at his phone seeing the missed calls from his wife he frowned. Listening to her voicemail he felt panic rise up in him. His jaw set as he tried his wife’s number not getting through he shouted to the next man in command that he had to go to an emergency. Calling his commanding on the way he sped to the hospital. Rushing into the building he walked up to the desk. “Wren Bauer, Where is she? She called me saying that she was on her way here.”  He asked the woman behind the desk.

Being led to the bed she was in he wrung his cap in his hands, and let out a breath seeing her. “Christ, are you okay?” He asked her she had scared him half to death.

He nodded, wanting the news to both be just their own for a little longer but also to let it be Aubree’s choice about telling their daughter and the Delmore family. Nate pressed his lips to the top of her head. “I love you so much, Bree.” Nodding he set her down, “We can take whatever trip you want; do more, do less, somewhere more relaxing or anything… a celebration.” His fingers brushed through her soft brown hair as she talked to Maya, holding back his laughter at the mountain of colored pictures forgotten now that Maya wanted her own spins. “C’mere, little love.” He reached down and scooped her up, spinning her just as he’d done his wife, laughing with Maya before he pulled her to his chest. “Don’t want to get you too dizzy and upset your tumtum.” Nate’s fingers tickled Maya’s stomach before he asked, “Speaking of tumtums, Are you hungry, my love?” His blue eyes moved down to his petite wife, already thinking about how cute her odd pregnancy craving would be and wondering what it will be.

Aubree smiled softly. “I love you too.” She replied but her voice was full of the emotion knowing she was heads over heels for her husband. “I still like the thought of us getting away having a little time for us and to have some fun before the next one comes. Besides Maya is excited to spend a week with grandma huh? She’s got all the fun for you planned already.” Bree said as she looked at her daughter knowing she’d have fun with her parents for a week. Watching Maya get spun by Nate she laughed softly. “I could go for food sure.” She said as she looked at Maya for a moment. “Any requests on what you want me to make?” She asked her husband and daughter.

Lana looked to her husband as he spoke, she wanted to beleive him . Believe him the greater good of their marriage and also because she loved him so much that even though they hadn’t been at their best all she could think was loosing him officially would be far worse. “oh really? I hear the neighbor really has the hots for me, I think he could handle my sarcastic annoying ass’ she teased as she placed her hands ontop of his that were wrapped around her. “We’re going to make this work, i know it we’ve always worked through our problems and this little hiccup is no different” she said as she finally turned to face him, her arms wrapping around his neck “Just talk to me more ,babe. Im your wife I want to hear about your day, how someone pissed you off in the grocery store parking lot, how much I annoyed you that whole day. Whatever it is,I want to hear about it “