what kind of man loves like this?

“Dr. Lawson, your 4:30 is calling with a cancellation, says it’s a family emergency. Want me to assess a late cancellation fee and we can close up in time to miss the storm?” It was a slow day at the clinic due to the thunderstorm that was on the brink of raging outside, “record rainfall expected” is what the forecast chirped in the wee hours of the morning. It was an absolutely perfect day by Liv’s standards - chilly, overcast - it meant plenty of time to really immerse herself in her thesis, which was primarily about the connection between rumination and sleep disturbances. Sleep - not something she was getting much of these days, as made evident by the darkness that still managed to peek through her concealer.

@xmichael-lawson

              At the sound of Olivia’s voice, Michael quickly looked up from his laptop, although at this point he was deeply lost in thought and work was very far from his mind. “Uh, no that’s fine. Let’s give them a chance and not charge a fee this time, but we should definitely close up. I heard the world might be ending today,” the man jested, although a laugh fell from his lips it didn’t quite reach his eyes — thoughts of Annabelle’s homecoming still looming over him, questions he had yet to ask because he was afraid of the answer he’d receive, suddenly the counselor realized he wasn’t ready to go home. “Do you have dinner plans, Olivia?”

[[ SAMANTHA ]] — @xmichael-lawson​

“Big brother!” Samantha announced herself by pushing through the door of his office without a care in the world. She was a whirlwind, there was no doubt about it. If her “friends” could see her now, they wouldn’t recognize her. For her family, she needed to eb someone else — a budding professional, so she had to look the part.

Before she even began speaking, she was looking around his room for the coat he undoubtingly wore to work today due to the weather. “Come on, I’m taking you out to lunch. My treat,” she quickly added before he dared to protest. The brown trenchcoat was in her hand one second and thrown across his desk in another. “And you can’t say no, because I already asked the blonde thing that sits at your desk when your next appointment is and I know you’ve got enough time to eat.”

              A hurricane entered his office without warning, a storm of blonde hair and charming smiles that even though only left wreckage behind Michael couldn’t help but laugh at such an entrance. “Baby sister,” he stated, echoing her excited tone as she danced around creating a mess, he made a mental note to put everything back in its place after grabbing his coat and throwing it on. “I’m starting to realize I have a problem with saying no to all the women in my life,” Michael spoke with a chuckle, reaching for her hand before they exited his office. “And to what do I owe this surprise, Sam? Is everything okay? Do you need anything?”

She didn’t know how she got into this state, night after night. It seemed like it was becoming more frequent that she would drink herself stupid, not being able to drive herself home. If she were smart, she’d just get an Uber. But something about these moments, she always wanted Michael around. She was sure that he would get sick of her eventually, trade her in for something better. Perhaps a best friend that wasn’t such a hot mess. These were the thoughts that ran through her mind as she sat on top of a garbage bin on the sidewalk, her legs dangling over the edge. “Hi,” she said embarrassed when Michael finally spotted her. She was well and truly coming down off her alcohol high. She felt weak and immature, like a terrible friend in making him come find her. “I’m sorry for texting you,” she said softly, choosing not to reply to his question. It was clear from her face that she was anything other than okay. 

              “Don’t be,” Michael instantly replied at her apology, the last thing he wanted to do was make her feel bad for asking him to come out. Sure, he’d have to hear a thing or two from Annabelle later but there was absolutely no way that he would be okay with Eva finding her own way home in this state. “I would’ve been very upset to find out that you chose not to text me,” he added, extending a hand to help her jump down from her current spot. “Come on, let’s take you home. You can hear me lecture you on the way,” he jested, although the look in his eyes reflected one of worry, Mike was unsure as to why her nights like these were increasing, he wanted to ask but instead of doing so right away he bit his tongue and waited until they reached his car. “Have you eaten anything?” He asked instead.

                    How did he not see right through her? She was positive she wasn’t that great of an actress, but maybe it all just came down to the same thing — he just loved her so much he didn’t want to see her imperfections. Anna didn’t know what to say as she continued to study the gorgeous rock on her finger, but eventually, Michael brought her back in reassurance. He just wanted to see her happy - happiness, a concept that seemed so damn unattainable to the blonde. However, it had nothing to do with the man standing in front of her. He was perfect. “I love you, so much,” she admitted honestly albeit meekly, her arms reaching up and finding solace around his neck as she escaped to the crook of it. For so long, this very place was home. He was home, and maybe it was about time that she tried to find her way back to him. “I’ve missed you.”

            Everything Michael needed was right here, this moment with Annabelle was what he had been craving for. It didn’t matter now that she’d miss his birthday or the holidays, he didn’t care about any of that because she was here, telling him exactly what the man wanted to hear. The reassurance that he longed for he found in her words, in the way her arms wrapped around his neck. Mike’s lips found their way to hers, the pent up desire for her more than evident. He was by no means a rough man, but it had been so long since he had her this close that it was nearly impossible to restrain himself. His lips moved over hers, his tongue finding its way into her mouth to tangle with hers. Michael wanted to feel her under his body right now, wanted to feel the blood pumping through his veins. He wanted her. Every sigh of pleasure he could get from her, every moan that he had been deprived of for so long. He wanted to slide his hands over every inch of her skin and memorize all of her curves again. And this time it wasn't because she was going to leave him behind once more, this time it was because he was determined to keep her home. “Don’t ever leave me again,” he whispered against her lips.

                                                        ( — @imuseforu )

Eva: [ has sent you a drop pin ]

Eva: wa;lkin down

Eva: red squaree bar downtown

Mike: Please stop walking

Eva: u gota help me im too drunk drive

Mike: Jesus

When the tiny ring box was placed in Anna’s palm, an overwhelming wave of guilt flooded her. As she opened it to see the most beautiful ring she had ever seen, her stomach wrenched so tightly that she was hardly able to keep the smile on her face. “Oh Michael, it’s beautiful,” she breathed in awe as her fingers found her lips, the corners of her eyes tearing up slightly as she looked at him and handed the box back. She really didn’t deserve him or any part of this beautiful life he created for her, the life she continued to reject. “Will you do the honors?” As she slid the ring from her finger and held out her hand to him, she was hit with the memories of their engagement, of their wedding day, of a time when she was sure this was the life she wanted… forever. “I thought we weren’t doing gifts this year.”

                    Placing the ring on her finger felt like déjà vu — back to much manageable times when her career didn’t require so much traveling and he could still tell the difference between content and troubled on her features. Today, as she stood in front of him, with a ring finally worthy of his love, Michael couldn’t tell what his wife was feeling at all. “It’s perfect, you’re perfect,” the words were uttered softly as if it was some sort of confession slipping from his lips. There was a part of him that longed to reach out, ask about deeper things than rings and trips, inquire about their marriage and the difficulties that loomed over them but they both proceeded to ignore. “Yeah, I know we said that but I couldn’t help myself. Don’t make that face, I don’t want a gift from you, honey. I just want to see you happy.”

It was as if time had slowed to a complete stop as Annabelle sat at the dinner table across from Michael, legs crossed as if she was still seated at her desk, grasping onto her glass of red wine as if it was her security blanket. “Thank you for dinner,” she offered, allowing her gaze to slowly track from the glass to Michael’s eyes, two pools of blue that always had the power to make her feel completely stripped bare. God, she loved him. That fact alone was never a question in her mind. But as she sat there and took him in, she knew more than ever before that she didn’t deserve him. Lifting the glass to her lips was an exercise in distraction as she uncrossed her legs, bringing herself to her feet as she strode over in her heels and set her perfectly manicured hand atop his. “Come to bed. We’ll clean up in the morning.” 

@xmichael-lawson

There was no need to thank him, they both knew that there was nothing Michael wouldn’t do for her. He had made sure everything at home was perfectly in place, mostly for his sake but also so she’d be pleased to see that things at home were running smoothly in her absence. Which was far from the truth, as the counselor was a disgruntled mess inside, but there was no need for her to witness that. “Alright,” he agreed, giving her hand a light squeeze, the feeling of her skin against his felt like a foreign home but he welcomed it with a smile regardless. “First, I have something for you.” Michael swiftly stood and disappeared to their bedroom for no more than a couple of minutes, returning with a small jewelry box on hand. “Late Christmas present,” he announced, handing over the small red box. “I promised you I’d buy a better one once I had my own practice, one that’s worthy of you.”

“We’re going to be closing in a few minutes,” the brunette told them as she sat on the other side of her bar, and ultimately home. Up the stairs just so happened to be the smallest apartment she called her place. “But the one good thing is that I’m the owner so if you sweet talk me enough, I might reconsider kicking you out.”

“Yeah it is,” Lucy told him with a nod. “Why would people choose not to help you when you’re struggling to cook?  That’s just selfish,” she chuckled.  “Food should be for everyone. I’ll tell you what.  Pick out one of those videos that make it so easy to make something that end in you burning it and I’ll help you make it.”

“To be fair, I think they’re scared I’ll burn down their house or you know, their eyebrows,” he laughed. “Really? Anything at all?” Mike asked, intrigued and excited all at once. “Alright, you got it. I’m sorry, I just realized you’ve agreed to help me and I don’t even know your name. I’m Michael — it’s an absolute pleasure to meet you.”

The moment Annabelle saw her husband’s face, her heart hurt a little bit. She knew that she showed it very badly, to say the least, but she did love him. He was kind and gentle, and incredibly sweet, and god help her, but he was handsome. Unfairly, ridiculously handsome. He was one of the good ones, and to say he was a ‘good man’ could sound like such a copout – but for someone to be inherently, deeply, genuinely good, not just on the surface, or a nice person, but a deep goodness in the very core of their heart – that was rare. And he had that. She felt guilty that she didn’t appreciate him properly, but she couldn’t deny who she was, either.

“Thank you,” she said, putting her hand on his shoulder as he gave her a kiss on the cheek. You would think she was married to his best friend rather than to him, the way they were touching each other. Or not touching each other, as the case may be. She breathed in for a moment and looked around, catching a scent on the air. “Is that Italian?” she said, and as if on cue, her stomach grumbled. She laughed a little. “I skipped lunch to make the plane,” she admitted.

“I wanted to pick you up at the airport,” he declared, rubbing the back of his neck as a chuckle stiffly left his lips. Michael should’ve known she was going to find her own way of getting home, still, half of him held out some sort of hope that she’d call with the flight number and a time for him to bring her home. Perhaps he had been waiting for one of those reunion scenes all the cheesy movies had, her running into his arms mid-airport, the crowd around them clapping and praising the couple. It was silly, then again, most of what Mike dreamed up his life to be since the moment he met her pretty much belonged in a romantic film. The reality was that their life was far from that, very far. 

“I’m sure you’re skipping meals all the time and no one scolds you properly,” the counselor added, a smile gracing his lips as he reached out for her hand. “Come on, I’ve got your favorite waiting.” There were so many things he wanted to ask, about work and regarding them, but as they reached the dining table and Michael pulled out her chair for her to take a seat, he didn’t want to spoil the moment bombarding her with questions that were bound to end up with answers he did not want to hear. “I’ve really missed you,” was all he decided to say as he took a seat.

“Well,” Lucy chuckled.  “Maybe I should help you not burn things and then you can share in my wealth of frozen leftovers,” she joked.  Honestly, she wouldn’t mind sharing.  While it was convenient to have frozen lasagna she could just heat after a long shift, she got very tired of having the same two things over and over again.

“Is that a deal you’re offering?” Michael questioned, eyebrows raising playfully. “Because If so, yes, please help me. You know for the countless amounts of times I’ve told people about my failures in the kitchen, no one has offered to help me. Or at the very least point me to a proper cooking class, so thank you.”

Sleeping well hadn’t been a thing for Willa since about 2008. Once she found out what New Beginnings plans really were, she slept lightly in free that they would find her and kill her off before her testimony. But it was a secret she couldn’t indulge to just everyone. She wasn’t sure what kinda of members James picked up while she was in hiding and with the death of Reid, it surely didn’t help things. “Nope, sleep is still evading me. Maybe one day but I doubt it.”

“Is that so?” Michael questioned, eyebrow raised with pure curiosity. It was the therapist in him that always wanted to help anyone and everyone that possessed that look in their eyes. “Is there a specific reason for it or have you always suffered from insomnia?” He urged, the realization that she wasn’t in his clinic and essentially not on his couch hitting him all at once before a chuckle fled his lips. “Sorry, being nosy is a work hazard at this point. You don’t have to answer that, but maybe you should see someone. They’ll help you find a healthy way to get some rest.”