#rossxreader

You were not one to normally take off with men you had only recently met at bars, and yet you accepted Ross MacDonald’s offer the moment he texted it to you. ‘Come to the local theater a few blocks down from the pub around eight. Text me when you get there and I’ll let you in!’ You knew the place; you had been there before loads of times to see bands. However, you had never gone backstage, or gone to the place alone to meet a guy. It was all rather tantalizing, though incredibly terrifying at the same time. You longed to have your friend Blake sneak in along with you merely for the comfort of a familiar face. Of course, that could not happen, and Blake being Blake, she refused to be a third wheel. This was your time, she declared. Who was she to meddle in that?

You arrived to the familiar venue wearing a rather regular concert outfit for yourself. A black tank top, denim shorts, and black boots was hardly anything to write home about. As you approached the venue, you realized it definitely was not anything special. Almost all of the fans you saw were wearing some variation of the getup, and even if they were not, some form of black was involved. You felt a bit awkward, but you pushed forward anyway. You did not need to impress them. All you needed to impress was Ross. He was the target man in all of this.

‘I’m out back!’ you texted as you approached the backside of the venue. It was pretty dark back there, and you were not too keen on the odd looks the security personnel gave you. As time ticked on and Ross did not show, you grew scared you would have to speak to them and explain yourself. How could you really explain this? You met one of their beloved band members at a bar and he begged you to come to a gig so he could get to know you more and see your eyes again. It was not exactly a specific or true-sounding story. But then, right when it appeared you would not have much chance of avoiding the bigger men any longer, the back door opened and revealed him. Dressed in a black shirt, jeans, and a white cap, Ross stood and told the guys to let you by. Their confused expressions softened, and you were allowed to step right by them. You waited until you were inside to acknowledge Ross.

“I was wondering if I was going to have to convince them somehow that I’m not some crazed fan.”

Ross blushed a bit. “Sorry about that. Matty caught me in a conversation, and I couldn’t quite leave it.”

“He do that a lot?”

“You have no idea.”

“Well,” you spoke, your mouth turning up in a smile, “I’m glad you’re here now. It’s nice to see you again.”

Ross smiled. He brought you in for a hug, and your smiled widened at the smell of his cologne. It had a lovely, cinnamon smell. “It’s nice to see you again, too. You look wonderful, by the way.”

“Thank you,” you replied with a blush, “and you look good yourself. I’m digging the more casual look you have going for you tonight. Do you save your suits for pubs only, or was I lucky seeing you in one?”

“Lucky.” Ross readjusted his hat. You could get lost in how soft his hair looked to be beneath it. “We were pre-gaming for a really big party courtesy of our label. It was fun, but we had to dress up for it. I’m usually more of a fan of casual clothing like this.”

“Good to know.”

He took you from the doors through various spaces until you reached a room distinctly branded as ‘Dressing Room’, with the name ‘The 1975’ printed on a paper taped below. You let him go first, following him into a room smelling very much like weed with 80s rock playing from a speaker. If you had not have been to multiple concerts before, the sight and smell would have startled you. With your experience, it was merely expected.

“Everyone, meet {Y/N}!”

Four pairs of eyes set their sights on you, save for a fifth pair that was stuck on some papers as their owner chatted quickly on the phone. Each pair had their own way of greeting you. One belonging to a man with long brown hair and a saxophone draped across his body waved at you, welcoming you with a grand hello and a smile. Another coming from a slightly more shy voice merely said welcome. He looked sweet, and you smiled back at him. The third pair belonged to a large guy, whose height rivaled Ross’ and hair rivaled the saxophone guy’s in length. He jumped up and hugged you, saying hello in a deep voice that would sound incredibly commanding if not altered by weed and the general happy nature of the man. The last pair was familiar. Matty. He was dressed still in the familiar ostentatious women’s clothing, though he was sans a proper shirt. You still recognized the floral getup on him as a button up from Forever 21, and the jeans he wore surely could not have been made for men given how tight they were. He did not seem to mind, though. He moved about in them over to you just fine.

“I was wondering when Ross would finally let us meet you,” he spoke, a fag hanging from his mouth. He took it out so that he could properly hug you. “You look fantastic, love.”

Blushing, you looked at your feet. He wasn’t your type at all, but something about Matty made you feel giddy as a schoolgirl when he complimented you. That frontman charisma, you supposed. You kindly thanked him.

“She staying for the show?”

Nodding, Ross walked over to the man who was on the phone and took his bag. From it, he pulled out a backstage VIP pass. You smiled proudly as he put them over your head. Years of concert-going had made you dream about the moment you were allowed backstage officially. Having the dream realized while surrounded by handsome men, one of which fancied you? Well, you could hardly complain.

“Hope you don’t mind, we couldn’t get you a ticket to sit in the crowd so you’ll have to sit on the side of the stage to watch.”

“Can’t really squeeze in someone in a sold-out crowd,” Matty added on with a wink.

“I don’t mind,” you replied, smiling to assure Ross it truly was fine by you. “So long as I get to stand by the side Ross is on.”

“I like this one,” the tall one spoke, earning a chuckle from Matty. Ross glared.

“Would you like anything to drink, {Y/N}?”

Turning, you met eyes with the shy boy. He seemed nice enough, so you nodded. “What do you have that’s good?”

“You can always share some wine with me,” Matty called from his new spot beside the tall boy, holding up a bottle of what looked to be expensive red wine. He took a large swig from it, gulping down the liquid with an almost comical expression. The tall boy shook his head, giggling. “I don’t mind, so long as you save some for me.”

Though tempting, you shook your head. “Nah Matty, save it for yourself. Um..Ross?”

Ross jolted himself out of whatever daydream he was having, turning his full attention to you. You smiled as his beautiful eyes met yours. “Yeah?”

“What do you think I’ll like best? You were pretty good at choosing for me at the bar.”

Matty and the tall boy let out a chorus of  ‘oooo’s, making Ross blush. Your eyes followed him as he went to check the various drinks they did have. He ended up choosing one and pouring it in with a mixer. The shy boy gave a nod of approval as he walked by. Taking the drink from Ross, you nodded in thanks and then took a sip. It tasted absolutely heavenly. Like hot chocolate, only it was not hot and it pricked the back of your throat as it went down.

“So,” Matty asked, raising his brow at you, “did Ross over here pick you out something good?”

You could not deny it. “He did. This is delicious. Thank you, Ross.”

“Aw, he’s blushing,” the tall boy pointed out. Ross’ blush was undeniable. You laughed behind your drink. The poor boy was under fire.

“Not to interrupt lads,” the fifth pair of eyes said, standing up and shoving away his phone into his jeans pocket, “but I do believe that you all are about to be needed on stage. {Y/N}?” You blinked, semi-shocked he even knew your name. “You will follow me when they all go. Unfortunately we were unable to find any crowd tickets for you, but I do trust you would not mind to stand just offstage of Ross, am I right?”

You could hardly contain your excitement. “That’s plenty fine by me, um-”

“Jamie,” the man, Jamie, said with a smile. “Now, go on you lot!”

And thus, the little world you had only just came to know went scattering. The boys all got up and began their way out the door, one by one, each doing something to prep themselves. Matty ruffled up his hair and grabbed a glass of wine, the tall boy grabbed a towel and wrapped it over his shoulders, the shy boy stretched, the sax player adjusted his sax, and Ross...well, Ross knew it was the perfect time to steal a good-luck kiss. You happily granted it.

“I don’t know if you guys are shit or not, but either way, I hope you have fun out there,” you told him, grinning into his dark brown eyes. Your grin became contagious.

“With a beautiful girl like you watching me from the sidelines? I’m sure I will.”

He left then, and you were now in the hands of Jamie. He guided you a few minutes later out down what you assumed to be the same path the boys had taken moments before. After a few doors and equipment to pass by, you popped out in the backstage area. A few more steps, and you were side-stage, right alongside where the boys were standing. You watched them one by one move forward onto the stage to the screams of all of those girls you had seen waiting outside the venue. It was loud, piercing even. It sent a thrill down your spine. Matty was quick to grab the mic and welcome the crowd to the chorus of even more cheers. Ross turned to his left where you stood and winked. It was your turn to blush.

The night ended up being a lot of that. Little winks here and there, Ross bouncing around and showing off to you the best he could. Matty seemed electric. Admittedly, the band was pretty good. Ross’ presence did not influence you to try and claim they were better than they seemed - they had good music and you enjoyed it a lot more than you thought you would have. Ross’ presence was merely a plus, a bonus that sent your stomach in knots and made you blush near constantly. You also found yourself a bit ruffled up when Ross could not stop gazing at you during one of the love songs Matty sang. That alone was enough to end you. Had the concert gone on any longer than it did, you surely would have died of something, be it your heart beating out your chest or excitement.

It ended though wonderfully, with the crowd screaming and the boys coming one-by-one off the stage. Ross, after tossing his pick out to the fans, dove straight into your arms as he left the stage. The boys gave more sweet noises towards you both, but this time, he hardly looked to care. His lips met yours.

“How was the concert?”

“Magical,” you told him, your eyes still lost in his gaze and mind still dazed from the kiss. “You were wonderful.”

“Yeah?” You nodded. “Well, I did it all for you. Look...this might be really sudden and far too fast, but I’ve not been able to get my mind off of you and I adore you so much. Will you...will you be my girlfriend, {Y/N}?”

Your heart fluttered. “Of course, Ross! I would love to be.”

As you went in for a kiss, you heard Matty cheer nearby. After completing the kiss, you turned to see him. His hand was stretched out towards the tall fellow, who was handing him money. The shy boy rolled his eyes.

“You...you all had a bet on us?”

“Matty was sure you would ask her to be your girlfriend after the concert,” the shy boy replied, nudging the tall one. “George here thought it would be the third date.”

“What can I say,” the tall boy, George, said with a sigh, “I don’t usually hurry into things myself.”

“You can see it in their eyes though,” Matty spoke, pocketing his money. “They’ve been hot for each other since the moment they met.”

~Flashbacks~

When you hold me in the street And you kiss me on the dance floor I wish that it could be like that Why can't it be like that? 'Cause I'm yours

Your 1-month anniversary is today. Ross has taken you out to a nice dinner. It was an amazing night so far, despite constantly being on the lookout for your, or his, friends. If anyone saw you, you'd definitely be frowned upon. Dating a recently divorced man? How dare.

But, you don't have to keep watch anymore. It's 9:57, and quite dark out. You grab Ross's hand and drag him out into the street. He laughs at your childish act and stops you in the middle of the quiet street. Holding hands and leaning in, you hear a door open and people coming this way. You gasp, he grabs your coats, and you both run to the nearest alley. Hiding from anyone and everyone, he pulls you close. Intertwining fingers, you pull up your hoods and head home.

We keep behind closed doors Every time I see you, I die a little more Stolen moments that we steal as the curtain falls It'll never be enough

Working together was an amazing decision, as well as a bad one. You got to be around your love all day, but not for too long, as you both still haven't told anyone about your relationship. He would occasionally pull you off to the side or into a closed room for a quick make-out sesh when no one was around. But, you longed to be able to kiss him in front of everyone, to show them he was yours. You hated when Suzy and the guys would bring up their single friends to Ross. How you wished you had the courage to tell them.

It's obvious you're meant for me Every piece of you, it just fits perfectly Every second, every thought, I'm in so deep But I'll never show it on my face

You two were trying to have a movie night. Keyword, trying. You wanted to watch Y/F/M, While he just wanted to cuddle and talk. You finally decided to do both, and loved every second of it. He played with your hair and kissed your neck as your favorite scene played in the background. Turning to face him, you placed a soft kiss on the tip of his nose and smiled. He returned your gesture by pulling you onto his lap and hugging you close. All the while resting his chin on your head. You snuggled into his chest and stayed that way for the rest of the night.

But we know this. We got a love that is hopeless

Why can't you hold me in the street? Why can't I kiss you on the dance floor? I wish that it could be like that Why can't we be like that? 'Cause I'm yours

Friday night. The perfect night to go to a club with your significant other, right? Definitely. You two spent hours dancing until your feet stung. Then, a slow song came on. As Little Do You Know played in the background, you and Ross were too busy, focused on each other, to care much about the lyrics. You lovingly waltzed together until the song drew to a close. Ross then passionately kissed you as a couple cheers rang. It was perfect.

Just as you were walking out, Ross grabbed your arm and pulled you off to the side. "Wha-?" Your mouth was covered and you looked at Ross.

He nodded outside as you saw a certain Daniel Sexbang walking in. You two stood there until you were both certain that he wouldn't see you, then bolted out the door to your car. "Shit..." you mumbled as you realized your favorite pair of heels, now had a heel missing.

"Sorry babe," Ross looked at his seat.

"It's okay, at least we weren't caught, right?" You nervously chuckled.

~Flashbacks over~

Ross P.O.V. (First Person)

11 months. It's been 11 months since I got with the girl of my dreams. She was able to show me happiness after a wave of sadness, and light after a dark well. She is everything to me, and I wish I could show everyone what we have. But, I can't... I'm divorced. Who would approve of a divorced man dating so soon after his divorce? I'd be labeled as a cheater. I don't want Y/N to feel guilty, so we must be kept a secret. At least, for now. I don't know how much longer I can stand this though.

~Flashbacks~

When you're with him, do you call his name Like you do when you're with me? Does it feel the same? Would you leave if I was ready to settle down Or would you play it safe and stay?

I hated seeing Y/N all pretty and sharp as her friends took her on, yet another, blind date. Why couldn't she have just stayed home with me? No, they would've gotten suspicious. *sigh* I should plan a date for us sometime...

Girl, you know this. We got a love that is hopeless

Why can't you hold me in the street? Why can't I kiss you on the dance floor? I wish that it could be like that Why can't we be like that? 'Cause I'm yours

It was 8:30 at night. Y/N wanted to go to the park, so we did. It was dark enough that no one could make out our faces, even if you really tried. We were lying on the grass and talked for about an hour until it started to rain. Even though it would soon downpour, we decided to stay longer. Best decision I've made in a long time.

When the downpour started, Y/N ran through the park, laughing and squealing. As she made her way back to me, I caught her waist and wiped her wet hair away from her face. She smirked and kissed me. Cupping her face, I kissed back.

And nobody knows I'm in love with someone's baby I don't wanna hide us away Tell the world about the love we're making I'm living for that day Someday

Y/N's friends have given her too many phone numbers... can I just delete them all? It's killing me from the inside out, to see her leave with a fake smile. I'm no better, though. I go on the dates my friends set up. Does she feel the same when I go out? I wonder if she breaks down crying when no one is watching, too.

Why can't I hold you in the street? Why can't I kiss you on the dance floor? I wish that we could be like that Why can't we be like that? 'Cause I'm yours, I'm yours

"Y/N?" I called out, after returning from a date. I figured she'd be here. She's here more, nowadays, than she is at her own place.

"Yeah?"

I heard sniffles. Running upstairs, I walk into my bedroom to see a red-faced Y/N, surrounded by tissues. "Aw, what's wrong, love?"

"I can't stand it anymore Ross," she sniffs. "I want to be able to take you out in public and show you off and kiss you at work. I want to be able to walk in the park with you, laughing and linking arms, as other couples walk by," by now she was crying again, and I was tearing up. "I just want to be a normal couple, and do normal couple-ly things!"

She was crying in my lap and I began rubbing small circles on her back to help her relax. "Me too, Y/N, me too."

Oh, why can't you hold me in the street? Why can't I kiss you on the dance floor? I wish that it could be like that Why can't it be like that? 'Cause I'm yours

Why can't I say that I'm in love? I wanna shout it from the rooftop I wish that it could be like that Why can't we be like that? 'Cause I'm yours

The past week had been more stressful than usual. You and your boyfriend Zach weren’t really speaking, for whatever reason. You could tell he was distant and distracted like he had a lot on his mind. But you knew it was more than his usual stress of school and basketball, you could feel it. You still received your good morning and good night texts from him as per usual but that was all. He was barely speaking to you at school and flaked out on walking you to your classes like he always did. Finally you decided to speak up, preparing for the worst you text Zach to come over after practice to talk. Your heart skipped a beat when you got his response. (1 new imessage from zach: be over around 8) You tucked your phone away as you headed out of class, locking eyes with the rest of the crew in the hallway in the process. Something about them had been off too.

You sat on your bed with your legs crossed and gazed out the window while music you put on played softly in the distance. As the raindrops made light tapping sounds on the window you thought about how you weren’t ready for Zach to leave. You weren’t ready to say goodbye to the boy you’d spent the past year and a half with. The tall goofy boy that completely snatched your heart up. You jumped at the sound of his deep voice. “Hey (y/n)” he said before clearing his throat and breaking you out of your trance. The tall and beautiful boy stood in the doorway of your room with his head hanging low. “Jesus Zach you scared me..” you responded with your voice a little shaky. You didn’t even hear him come in, you assumed he used the spare key you had tucked under the mat to get in since you were home alone. “We should um– you wanted to talk right?” He asked in a soft tone. Part of you wanted to yell and let out every frustration you’d been feeling. The other part of you wanted to hug him and kiss him tell you how much you’d missed him this week, but he didn’t deserve any of that. Your throat got dry and you felt a lump form before you spoke “Yeah, whats been up with you Zach? Did I do something wrong? Are you mad? Did I..” you trailed off once you realized you were spewing a million questions out at him. But your mind was racing with a million things to say and you didn’t know where to start. He sighed and ran his fingers though his messy hair “Listen (y/n), some stuff happened and I can’t really talk about it right now.” he said as he moved closer to you and took a spot next to you on the bed. You looked at him confused and afraid at what he might say next. “I messed up bad and i’m trying to fix it and get my head right I just need some time.” He said with his voice breaking. His eyes were tired and puffy like he’d been up for god knows how long. Whatever it was, it was bad and seeing him like this made your heart break. “We could always tell each other anything Zach i’d never judge you. You know that right?” You said softly as you placed a hand on his cheek. He nodded and placed his hand over yours. He looked down once he realized he was starting to cry. “It’s just all so fucking messed up!” He sobbed and quickly wiped his eyes. “You did nothing wrong, I didn’t do anything to hurt you I didn’t cheat I don’t wanna break up I just…” he said frantically. Zach looked up at you and pulled you into his lap, bringing you into a tight embrace. “I just did something bad and I need you to give me time so I can figure out how im going to fix this.” He said in a reassuring tone. You nuzzled your face into his neck, “Something bad like what Zach? Baby please tell me. I wanna be here but you have to let me.” You said with tears in your eyes. In an instant Zach moved you out of his lap and stood up. “I CANT (y/n) YOU JUST WOULDN’T GET IT!”  He shouted as he paced the room. You jumped at the sound of his voice, he’d never raised his voice at you. You stood up and hugged him from behind. “Why won’t you let me in?” You pleaded, leaving wet spots from your tears on his back. He turned and pulled you into his arms once more. “I want to I just..I can’t okay? But I want you to stay.” He said in a tired tone. You pulled away and shook your head. “I tell you everything about me and you suddenly decide to just shut me out? Fuck that Zach it’s not fair to me.” You said, your voice growing angrier. You were frustrated at this point, things were going nowhere and the more he shut you out the more it hurt. “You basically ignore me for days and then come over with this shitty excuse?” He stood there shocked at your response, you two never got this angry with each other. “If you can’t let me in and tell me what’s wrong you can just leave im not going to pry it out of you Zach.” Sad and confused Zach did just that. He nodded and looked away when tears started forming in his eyes once more. “I’m sorry I let you down.” He responded in a broken tone before leaving your room. You sobbed as you watched the tall and beautiful boy you were in love with walk away from you. You didn’t know if this was the end for you two and weren’t sure if you could ever get past feeling like this. But what you were sure of was that Zach just walked away from you without an ounce of fight left in him.

It was not like you had a thing for guys like that, anyway. They simply always seemed to find their way to you, as if you had some sort of magical curse. You were ready for a real relationship, or at least a date with more substance. One that did not end with the guy asking you to come back to his place and fuck, only for him to spew that he would never fuck you in a million years when you said you would rather wait to do so until you knew him better. Frankly, you were tired. You needed a change.

Change came to you in the form of your friend Alice. A born sweetheart, you always trusted her with your most deep thoughts and worries. She always knew how to make you feel better, and her advice was next to impossible to ever let you down. You loved her with your whole heart. Her name appeared on your phone one day asking you if you would be interested in a possible blind date. Normally, you were against these kind of things. Blind dates led to more immediate fuckboy interactions than usual for you. You often avoided them like the plague. However on this time, Alice sent you a picture of the boy she had in mind for you. This boy was beautiful. He was everything you wanted in a man physically. Soft eyes, a bit of facial hair, a strong yet not body-builder type body - he looked perfect. His name fit him well, too - Ross. Any other name would not have suited him so.

Throwing caution to the wind, you decided to give things a chance with Ross. It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to give him a try, after all. You had gone out with worse looking men. At this point, what did you really even have to lose? A few texts between you and Alice later, and you were set to meet him two days later at a rather fancy restaurant. If anything, at least you would be getting a good dinner out of the outing.

You got out of your house around six wearing a cute red halter-top dress, cinched at the waist and flared out at the bottom. A half hour drive had you pulling into the restaurant. Walking into the place, you went to the lady up front and asked for your reservation, Griswold thanks to Alice’s last name. The lady ushered you back to a table overlooking the lovely courtyard outside of the place, where the man you had been instructed to blind date sat. He looked stunning in a deep navy suit, his hair groomed and his beard not too long. Smiling at you nervously, you watched as he stumbled to his feet, nearly knocking into the table in the process, and went for your chair to pull it out. You gave him a warm smile back, though you had no clue why he was so nervous. You were just a person, after all. There was no need for him to freak out. It was endearing though, so you decided to let it slide.

“Thanks Ross,” you told him kindly. His hand was on your lower back as he guided you over to your seat and let you sit down, a nice touch. Ross hurried around the table back to his chair. He nearly rocked out of his chair, but he managed to keep his balance. This, though rather awkward and seemingly not what you expected of him, you also let slide. He cleared his throat.

“Y-You look wonderful.”

“Thank you,” you replied softly. “You look rather handsome yourself.”

Ross blushed and looked down at his hands, folded rather tightly together on the table. You watched him fidget with them, pulling at the hems of his suit jacket, chewing at his lip. You couldn’t help but wonder what on earth had him so shy and to himself. As nice as his face and outward appearance was, you were unsure if you would be able to handle him if he was always this uneasy around you. It made you feel like something was wrong, even when nothing was. You looked down to your hands as well, reaching for the glass of wine provided to you. Words did not come again until after the waitress got your orders. Ross looked up to you and, mustering up some courage, spoke.

“So I’m not sure how much Alice told you about me,” he said, swirling around the wine in his own wine glass, “but I thought I should tell you a bit about myself and what I do. Firstly, I’m from around the Manchester area.”

You smiled. “I love it there. Very beautiful.”

Ross smiled back. “It is. Secondly, I’m in a band-”

“No way.”

Ross could tell that you were legitimately interested about this tidbit of his life, and rightly so. He looked like the type of guy who could be in a band. It explained a lot about him. Also, it added something you had in common. Though you were not also in a band, you loved music. You were eager to hear whatever he had to say on the matter, especially more so since he had experience with it. Ross seemed to light up seeing it in your eyes.

“It’s three of my good friends and I, and we started when we were all about thirteen,” he explained. “We started out playing a bunch of small gigs and well...recently we got signed. We have an album coming out soon, actually.”

You gasped. “Seriously? That’s incredible! Congrats!”

Ross smiled like a proud papa. “Thank you.”

“What do you play?”

“Bass. And keyboard/synths, too!”

“Bass? That’s awesome?”

“Really?”

Nodding, you took a sip from your wine. “Yes! I actually knew someone once who played bass. He never would teach me how to play.”

“That’s not fair to you.”

“He was a jerk anyway,” you giggled, “don’t worry about it.”

“I can teach you how if you want.”

Your eyes widened. “Really? You would do that for me?”

Grinning, Ross reached over and held your hand in his. It was a far cry from his shyness before, and it made your insides do a flip. “I would love to.”

“Perfect.”

The rest of the night went smoothly, with Ross continuing to tell you about his work with his band and his personal life, and you discussing your job and background. By the end of the small talk, nervous giggles, and happy banter, you two were warmed up to each other and speaking as if you were two grand friends. It was odd. You never thought that it would just take a little push for Ross to suddenly warm up to you, but here he was, being an absolute joy. It made you truly happy to finally find someone as warm as him. It was just the first date, but you found promise in Ross, more promise than you had felt with other guys you went out with. And with the way he looked at you like you were truly stunning, and the way he treated you like a perfect gentleman, you felt so respected.

As he brought you out of the restaurant and held the door open for you, you smiled and asked to see him again. You smiled even brighter as he, with the softest of blushes, kissed you on the cheek and told you he could not wait for then.

You had heard it all day. Your little one’s voice, still high and childlike, yet as annoying as a little boy’s voice ever could be. He wasn’t usually a bad kid - no, usually Carter maintained the same calm demeanor that had drawn you to his father. That is, before he abandoned you during your pregnancy for someone who was very much not pregnant and less of a burden. You would never let Carter get that way. Though, you supposed in moments like this where he didn’t listen to you and kept whining, he was that way to some extent. It made you despise it more.

“Carter, sweetie, we can’t get that book. Mommy has to go get a book for her work. We don’t have the money.”

“But mom!”

“Not today,” you sighed, shaking your head. As much as it hurt to tell him no, you had to. You really did not have the money, and the book he had his eyes on contained actual toys attached to it in a big set. You were sure it would be expensive, however much it was. You simply couldn’t afford it, not when your own book would be its own fortune. Taking Carter’s hand, you brought him back towards the more education-based books. They were far less interesting to the little blonde boy. No four year old could find interest in thick, pictureless books. He didn’t see any pretty colors or cool figures. It might as well have been pure nothingness in front of him. He grumbled and acted sluggish as you brought him to your specific section. A loud sigh voiced his displeasure. You gave him a sympathetic smile as you pulled one of the books off the shelf.

“I know buddy, it’s boring. I’m almost done, and then we can go home and play. Alright?”

He hardly looked satisfied. But, it was enough to make him quiet, and that was good enough for you. You started filing through the books, until finally after about ten minutes of looking, you got what you needed. Picking Carter up off the ground where he had decided to sit and pout, you began making your way through the store. Though you were a bit wary to move past where Carter had seen the book set he wanted, he kept his calm. You chalked it up to him wanted to go home, which frankly you could not blame him for. The quieter he was, the faster you could get him home. But then, just as you were about to make your way to the checkout counter, music started to play. Acoustic guitar music that caught your little boy’s attention in mere seconds. Grinning from ear to ear, he pulled at your shirt and pointed over to its source, which of course just had to be the section with his toy book.

“Mommy, I wanna’ hear the music!”

“Carter, I don’t know if we-”

“Pleeeeease?”

You sighed. You had been a pretty mean mom to him, dragging him around and refusing to buy anything for his time and patience. This was the least thing you could do. Besides, it was free to listen to music. If it got Carter excited, who were you to stop him? Taking his hand, you gave in and walked him over. He giggled and thanked you as profusely as any excited four year old could. As you made your way over, the sound of a really deep voice filled the air. A few other voices giggled around him, and when you got close enough, you noticed that these voices belonged to three handsome men, friends of the one responsible for the acoustic sounds. A small crowd of kids were surrounding them, eagerly watching the four as their parents waited off to the side. Whoever these men were, they seemed important. You were pretty fond of the one with the guitar, yourself. He laughed and then scratched at his beard.

“I was only joking that I’d give everyone a concert, but now that I’ve got a crowd, I suppose I might as well perform something for them anyway.”

“You better,” the guy with curly black hair laughed, gazing out at the kids, “the little ones look ready to hear some music.”

“Alright then,” he spoke, smiling their way, “do any of you kids have a song you want me to sing?”

The taller of the three standing giggled, saying “Old MacDonald should do the trick” to the visible chagrin of the bearded boy. The other two joined in on the giggles, along with some parents. Apparently, these boys definitely were famous. And jokesters, apparently.

“Sir?”

All eyes fell on your boy, Carter, standing right in front of you with a little blush but excitement evident in his face. You blushed as the bearded guy first looked to you before gazing Carter’s way. Giving him a soft smile, he gestured for him to speak.

“Can you sing the song from the book my mommy usually sings to me?”

The man grinned even brighter. “Of course! What book does she sing to you?”

“Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.”

A few kids giggled at the choice, but the man held his smile. He fiddled a bit with his guitar and then began strumming it to the all too familiar tune. He threw Carter a wink.

“Of course, buddy. That’s a throwback to my childhood! We’re all about as old as it is, anyway. I know it by heart because of that, if I’m being honest. I’d love to sing it for you.”

“Yay!”

Clearing his throat, he began to strum louder, growing rather animated facially.

“A told B, and B told C, "I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree." "Wheee!" said D to E F G, "I'll beat you to the top of the coconut tree." Chicka chicka boom boom! Will there be enough room? Here comes H up the coconut tree, and I and J and tag-along K, all on their way up the coconut tree. Chicka chicka boom boom! Will there be enough room? Look who's coming! L M N O P! And Q R S! And T U V! Still more - W! And X Y Z! The whole alphabet up the - Oh, no!”

The other boys all laughed as he pretended to fall off of his seat, flailing about. The kids also got a kick out of it, including your little Carter, who had been trying his best to mouth along to the song as he danced to it. You smiled and ruffled up his hair, which got a smile from both Carter and the man up front. He continued.

”Chicka chicka... BOOM! BOOM! Skit skat skoodle doot. Flip flop flee. Everybody running to the coconut tree. Mamas and papas and uncles and aunts hug their little dears, then dust their pants. "Help us up," cried A B C. Next from the pileup skinned-knee D, and stubbed-toe E and patched-up F. Then comes G all out of breath. H is tangled up with I. J and K are about to cry. L is knotted like a tie. M is looped. N is stopped. O is twisted alley-oop. Skit skat skoodle doot. Flip flop flee. Look who's coming! It's black-eyed P, Q R S, and loose-tooth T. Then U V W wiggle-jiggle free. Last to come X Y Z. And the sun goes down on the coconut tree... But - chicka chicka boom boom! Look, there's a full moon. A is out of bed, and this is what he said, "Dare double dare, you can't catch me. I'll beat you to the top of the coconut tree." Chicka chicka BOOM! BOOM! Chicka chicka BOOM! BOOM!”

And with that, the song was done. Everyone clapped and cheered, the man bowing for the kids and getting patted on the back by his friends. You clapped as well, smiling at him and the way your little boy clapped and cheered as loud as he normally did for his favorite TV shows, or any superhero movie you let him watch. His little blonde mop ran up to the man and hugged him tight. You blushed, only able to watch the adorable sight through your fingers. The man waved and beckoned you to come over, the curly haired boy telling everyone thank you for coming and something about the year ‘1975’. Moving forward, you came and picked Carter up, the little boy still all smiles at the man. You held out your hand.

“{Y/N},” you told him kindly, “it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well,” he replied, grinning back at Carter, “I’m Ross. Who’s this little guy?”

“Carter.”

“Nice to meet you, Carter,” he spoke in the most sweet voice you had ever heard a man use. “You’re quite a handsome lad.”

“What do you say, love?”

“Thank you Mr. Ross,” he replied, polite just like you raised him. Ross reached and messed with his hair, causing him to giggle. “I really like how each letter had..had a different voice!”

Ross smiled. “Thank you! My family always did that for me when I was your age,” he added, poking at Carter’s chest. Carter giggled and squirmed in your arms, making you laugh and have to set him down. Once his feet touched the floor, he was off playing with the other kids sticking around in the area. You shook your head.

“He seems like a firecracker, that one.”

“You have no idea.”

“I’m assuming he has his father’s hair?”

You bit your lip. His father. “Yeah, he does. Thankfully, he doesn’t have much more of the guy.”

“Bad father?”

“You have no idea. He’s out of Carter’s life probably for the best.”

Ross’ expression softened. “I’m sorry. Genuinely. He deserves a good dad. But, from how polite and sweet he is, I see he has a good mother to back him up.”

Blushing, you felt like a silly schoolgirl around her crush. Apparently his voice wasn’t the only thing that was smooth. “Thank you. I’m sure I’ll find someone good for him sooner or later. I try my best to keep him happy in the meantime.”

“You’re doing a wonderful job.”

“Thank you.”

“Look...I hate being so blunt but...you’re a beautiful woman,” Ross rambled nervously, “ and I adore your child. I would really like to get to know you and, if I could be so lucky, him, better. Would you want to go get dinner sometime? My treat?”

You smiled and reached to rub his arm, getting him to look at you. The smile he gave back to you when meeting your eyes lit up your world. “I would love to. And, eventually, we would love to as well. Do you want to exchange numbers?”

“It would be my pleasure.”

You quickly did. Upon receiving your phone back, you found out that his last name was MacDonald, hence the taller man’s joke about ‘Old MacDonald’. You smiled at it before pocketing your phone and calling Carter back over. He jogged over and then held his hands up, allowing you to pick him up and hold him at your side.

“Say goodbye to Mr. Ross, Carter.”

“Bye-bye,” he said sweetly, waving to Ross. Ross waved back, throwing a grin back to his friends who were watching quietly a bit away.

“Bye, little guy.”

“See you later Ross,” you said to him, smiling behind your blush. “I’ll text you when I’m free for dinner, yeah?”

Ross nodded. “Yeah, that sounds wonderful. You two get home safely.”

“Same to you.”

With one final wave, you turned and went back over to the checkout counter. After quickly buying your book, you headed out with Carter to your car. As you went to buckle him into his booster seat, Carter tapped you on the arm.

“Mommy?”

Pulling back to look at him, you cocked your head to the side. “What, love?”

“I really like Mr. Ross.”

It was supposed to be a fun day on the water. Matty, in a fit of restlessness and excitement about being along the ocean, had collaborated with George to get a big boat to rent and take on the water. The boat was sitting in the bay. It was beautiful - bright white with a red stripe along the side. Its name was ‘Majesty’, a fitting name for how majestic it truly was to see. It was the perfect boat to fit the large and ostentatious crew of you and Ross, Adam and Carly, Matty, and George. They could not be more happy to go traversing the ocean on it later.

You, on the other hand, could not dread the situation more. The thing was, this was your first time on a boat with the boys. Or rather, more specifically, the first time you would need to wear anything other than regular clothing around them, including your boyfriend of two months, Ross. The most he had ever seen you not covered up or in baggier clothing was when you wore tank tops. The fact of the matter was that you felt chubby, even if others did not think so. You looked at yourself in the mirror and struggled with little rolls you had, and the thicker parts of your body that other girls it easy with. Having to go out on the boat with the boys meant you needed to wear a bathing suit, and that bathing suit brought up all of these worries to the forefront of your mind. You knew it was silly, but you could not help feeling like your appearance would lead to making the boys, especially Ross, see you differently.  He fell for you in normal clothing - who was to say he wouldn’t fall out when he saw you in a two piece?

So, there you sat in the outdoor changing room right beside the dock, secluded as your two piece mocked you hanging on a hook, hearing Ross call after you as if you weren’t panicking in there. You wanted to put it on, you really did. It was a cute suit after all - black and white polka dots decorated every inch of the fabric, and the bottom was high waisted to give it a vintage feel you loved. You just didn’t want to make the outfit ugly when you put it on and walked out for Ross. The whole situation made you anxious. From anxiety came panic, and the realization that one moment might be dictated by your appearance. You sat down on the bench in the stall, shaking your head to dismiss his voice. His voice persisted, though.

“Love, we really need to get going! Do you need any help? Is something broken? I can go buy you a new suit real quick from the nearby shop if-”

“It’s alright,” you shouted, though your situation could not be less alright than it was in that moment. Ross did not need to know that. “I-I just need a second.”

“Okay, well hurry up! Carly and Adam just arrived and Matty grabbed fishing gear. He looks pretty eager to start!”

And you bet he was. Matty loved fishing, even though his partner in crime George detested the idea. He had been on about getting to fish again for weeks, and when you saw him before you needed to change, he was still on about it. You could just see him, insatiable, begging everyone and anyone around him to go. You pitied Adam and Carly on that one. They were quieter than him, and though they knew him longer than you did, they did not have to be around him as much as George was used to being around him. It was probably torturous when they just wanted to have a good day on the water. And it was all your fault. You put your head in your hands.

“I can’t wait to see how cute you look, babe.”

Oh, he could. At least you thought so. Little did he know what he would be getting. More chubbiness than he expected, probably. Thighs that were just too chubby for your liking, arms that were just too big to be called slender - just too much. Another call from him to hurry had your mind switching from that anxiety to the anxiety of being waited on. You bit the bullet and put on the outfit, changing into it and proceeding to stare at yourself in the mirror. It was just as bad of a sight as you expected. Pudgy, nothing compared to the models the boys were used to hanging around. You sighed, disappointment running through you. Ross knocked on the door.

“Can I see, babe?”

Tears in your eyes, you walked forward and decided he would have to see at some point. Swinging open the door, your arms went around your waist and your head stayed looking at your feet. Ross stayed quiet. He then stepped forward and put his hand on your arm, gentle as ever.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“You don’t have to lie to me,” you whispered, holding yourself tighter. “I know I probably look ridiculous.”

Ross furrowed his bow. “I honestly have no idea what you are talking about, {Y/N}. You look wonderful.”

“How can I look wonderful when my thighs are so big? Fuck Ross, I jiggle every time I move it seems. And my stomach is bulging.”

“Hey.”

Looking up, you met Ross’ brown eyes and sighed. They looked gorgeous as ever. They also looked hurt, as if you had caused him pain by speaking. You loathed the thought.

“You are beautiful - and I’m not just saying that,” he added, touching your arm to keep your attention on him. “You really are. Look...we all have a little bit extra on us. That doesn’t make us any less beautiful.”

You sighed. “It’s easy for you to say. You’re perfect.”

Ross laughed, shaking his head. “Nonsense. I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m not exactly like the other noodle-thin boys in this band. I have to actually work to keep in shape, and even then I’m hardly ever as thin as them.”

“But I love how you look.”

“That’s how I feel about you.” Stepping forward, Ross cupped your cheek. “You’re not runway model thin, but I love how you look. I honestly wouldn’t change a thing about you, because the way you are is what I fell for. And,” he said, pausing to kiss you quick, “if anyone so much as gives you a look that makes you feel uncomfortable, I’ll throttle them. Or toss them off the boat. Whichever gets the message across best.”

Blinking, you gave Ross a small smile. “You’re too kind to me.”

“Nah, I’m only telling you the truth,” he said, smiling brightly. “I’d never lie to you. You’re my girlfriend, after all. My beautiful girl.”

You smiled even brighter against his lips. “Leave it to you to make me feel better. You know, I told my family that you were like sunshine entering my life. It sounds cliche, but...well, now I see it was incredibly spot-on. You just make the bad go away.”

Ross shrugged, leaning in to capture your lips. “I guess that’s my superpower.”

“Oi, lovebirds!”

Breaking you both from your kiss was Matty, standing at the edge of the dock with his hands on his hips, impatient. “The fish aren’t going to be biting forever! Let’s get on with it, yeah?”

Laughing, Ross hugged you close. “You up to go and watch Matty struggle to act like a professional fisherman?”

Laughing back, you took Ross’ hand. “Bet he doesn’t even catch three.”

“Bet you he doesn’t catch one.”

Looking around you, you gave Ross a big nod. It was the day before the first day back from Winter Break for Ross and his gaggle of first graders, and he wanted to do something sweet for them to ring in the new year and give them a late Christmas gift. After hours of going on Pinterest and begging you to give your opinion, he finally came up with the idea to give his class each a small, wooden box containing little momentos of what he thought made them special. Each box of momentos came with a handwritten note from him, letting them know that he hopes their new year is magical and all their wishes come true. You were brought on to help paint the boxes, and later fill them with the momentos Ross picked out. Being his happy girlfriend of nearly two years, you were more than willing to help with the task.

Seeing Ross happy about his students and really making a difference in their lives warmed your heart. It showed you the depth of his heart and how caring he could really be for someone. The first time you saw him interact with his students nearly made you cry, because you just felt how much he loved each and every one of them. He wanted them to succeed, and you were sure that he would stop at nothing to ensure that they would. Any way that you could help him in accomplishing such a goal, you were happy to aid in. You would even stay up all night painting boxes various shades of red, blue, pink, green, and yellow.

“They will love these,” you assured him, painting the finishing touches on a royal blue box for a boy named Charles. “You put so much work into them. Can you imagine their little faces when they see them? They’re going to be thrilled.”

Ross smiled, finishing his letter to the boy. “I can’t wait to see them. I hope they all had wonderful Christmases. I know some of them don’t come from the nicest places, but I’d still hope they had a nice enough time, you know?”

Kissing his cheek, you flashed him a smile. “I bet they’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.”

Another way you were willing to aid Ross in his adventures was carrying the tons of boxes, now filled, to the school to help distribute to the class. Despite Ross being their teacher, the kids came to know you through your helping sprees. They were happy to see you almost as much as they were with Ross. Coming along with him was beneficial for all of you.

The next morning, you walked in bright and early with the bag of boxes at his side. After Ross let you in, you went around and helped him place the boxes carefully at every single seat, right next to their name tags. A few extra additions of decorations to his classroom and it was all set. You sat on a stool eagerly by his desk and waited for the kids to arrive.

It was a picture-perfect moment when they did. Bright faces with cheers and wonder erupted as they saw the boxes. The girls all showed theirs off to each other, while the boys marveled at the cool gear that resided inside them. One boy got a baseball card he had wanted for a year, and his shouts of glee could be heard down the hall. Ross got to accept a lot of hugs and thank yous to his delight.

Just as you were about to start packing up to head out, one little girl, Annalise if you remembered correctly, approached you and tugged at your skirt. Smiling, you knelt down to her level.

“Hi sweetie! What’s up?”

“Did Mr. MacDonald get you a box?”

You grinned. “No sweetie, I got to help make them! That’s my present.”

That did not seem to be a good enough answer for the little girl. Standing up, you patted her head. She only frowned back at you without amusement.“I don’t think it’s fair. You deserve a box, too.”

“Well-”

“She’s right.”

Turning around, your hands immediately flew to your mouth. Down on one knee was Ross, with a bunch of teachers crowding at the door gazing with hearts in their eyes as he gazed up at you. His hand outstretched to present to you a navy blue box, this one velvet, with your name taped onto it. He opened it to reveal a shimmering diamond ring. You could hardly believe it.

“What do you say, {Y/N}?” He asked, beaming up at you as the tears began to fall. “Will you accept your box and be my wife?”

You nodded, giggling as you did. “Yes Ross, of course yes.”

Jumping down to hug him, you wrapped him tight in your arms. Cheers from the teachers and Ross’ students filled the room as he took the ring and slipped it onto your finger. You kissed him to the ‘awww’s of the teachers and ‘ewww’s of the class. Ross chuckled.

“To us in the new year,” he said, kissing you again. “May this ring be a momento of not only our love, but of my promise to make every year we share wonderful and awe-filled.”

“I love you so much,” you told him, gazing down at the sparkles. “Thank you for my box, Mr. MacDonald.”