#huckleamy

ohhh wait dennis/farm wife sibling au 👀👀

or maybe she was one of his brother's wives

It’s sundown by the time Dennis greets Amy on the farmhouse porch.

“Long day at work?” She asks. 

“No, actually,” Dennis scratches the back of his head and avoids her gaze. “I saw some fallen fence posts on my drive up. Guess I couldn’t help myself. Old habits die hard.”

Amy gives him an unsurprised sort of smile. “You know you don’t have to do that. My dad would’ve gotten to them eventually.” She touches his arm lightly, expression jittering into one of suppressed excitement. “I have a surprise for you. I will have it ready for you once you’re washed up.”

“Sure,” Dennis breathes. He likes surprises, especially ones from Amy. They stand just before the screen door for a moment, both giddy with nervousness and anticipation, before Dennis points inside and says, “I will—I’ll go inside now.” 

Dennis suspects that the Miller farmhouse had been in sore need of improvements even before Teddy’s sudden death. The sole bathroom, for instance, has a shower that sputters out only lukewarm water. That’s one of the many things Amy insists her dad or one of her uncles or brothers will see to, something that Dennis shouldn’t break a sweat over. “It’s dirty work,” she usually says with a shudder. One of the faults in the bathroom that Dennis isn’t so regretful about is the mirror: it is so old that his reflection is distorted behind a permanent layer of white fogginess bordered with orange rust. He can only see his own shape. No features. Nothing defining. It is marginally more bearable than usual. 

The day’s sweat washed away, he steps into Amy’s bedroom. She’s waiting there, holding something behind her back. “Close your eyes,” she tells him. Dennis indulges her. “And put your hands out.” He feels fabric—soft but in a firm way, definitely not new—being placed into his palms. A bundle of it. “Now open up.”

The first thing he sees is Amy’s tight, eager smile. She seems fit to burst with excitement. He looks down to the gift in his hands and his chest swells with—something. The fabric is a beautiful blue and white gingham. As sweet and summery as a picnic blanket. He unfolds it, holds it up for full viewing, and he tries to take in the fact that Amy has gifted him a dress.

“Amy, I told you not to buy me anything,” he says quietly. He is barely aware of his own words, so transfixed he is by the dress. 

“I made it myself. I-I knew none of mine would fit you and I’ve been needing a use for this fabric for so long now.” Her smile turns gentle, caring. “Do you like it, Dennis? Please will you try it on?”

“I… I like it so much.” It’s the kind of dress his Sunday school teacher would’ve worn. It resembles several of the ones he’s admired on Amy’s washing line. It’s the kind of thing he’d wear if he was—if he’d been born—if—

It’s too much. 

“Thank you, Amy,” he says, trying to sound strong. “I really… I can’t express how much this means to me. But I can’t wear it. Not yet.” It is a weak, pathetic, entirely honest admission. 

“That's okay,” Amy whispers. “Is—Is it nice just to hold it?” 

huckleamy definitely opens some doors up and honestly i don’t get why amy gets hated on so much (i mean, i do know why people dislike her i just think the reasoning is shit) as much as i don’t believe amy is using him—the idea that both of them are using eachother in some way is just so good

(bonus points if he’s actually not even romantically interested in either of them)

We are of the same mind, Anonymous. You might be interested in this post. I would like to point out that it remains unedited since its posting—huzzah to me for correctly guessing Theo's name, even if it was the most obvious choice.

I rather like Huckleamy. It brings forth many delicious conflicts. I like the image of them nervously and quickly sharing a kiss, Amy anxious because she still loves Teddy so deeply, Dennis worried because he thinks he might be gay. There's much to think about in terms of heteronormativity and perhaps also Christian political conservatism. And that's without even considering Robby's influence.