Anonymous asked: Since you're looking for prompts to inspire your muse, may I propose a challenge? It goes like this: shuffle your current or last playlist and pick the first five songs (no cheating!). Then you write a small story based on each one. Maybe 100-500 words? You may use the songs in the stories themselves or just as inspiration, whatever you prefer. Then you post and tag 5 people to do the challenge too. What do you think? Should be fun, right?
This was a great idea Anon! It was a lot of fun!
I was tagged by shadowanddancer .
1. Happiness by the Kilowatt - Alexisonfire
She didn't know where it had all gone wrong, but somewhere along the way things derailed. It wasn't supposed to be like this, Gail thought. They were supposed to be the couple that lasted; they'd already endured their hardships.
But somehow, at some undetermined point, things just stopped working. They were both trying to be happy, working hard to keep up the facade, because that's what expected of them. Holly returned from the States, Gail didn't get Sophie, but they endured, together.
Yet here they were, staring blankly at the other, each with a thousand things to say, but only one question neither would ask: where did we fail?
Instead, it was silence, deafening silence, silence that filled the void in their relationship. Until it was broken by the sound of the front door closing on Gail as she carried a suitcase out to her brother's waiting truck.
2. Silent Night - Josh Groban
A/N I love Christmas songs and I think Josh Groban is incredibly talented, but his Christmas album left something to be desired.
Christmas is Gail's favourite holiday, although she'd never share that with another soul and tarnish her badass cop persona.
But Holly knew. She could see it in the way she lit up when they passed a beautifully decorated store front or when kids started talking about their letters to Santa. Gail had a lot of little traditions that she didn't really share, yet allowed Holly to witness and be part of. Holly knew for sure then how important the holiday season was for Gail.
This was year different for both women. It was the first Christmas they were together officially and, more significantly, the first of many Christmases spent without Sophie. The heartbreaking news that Gail would not legally be the girl's mother despite their deep connection came only a few weeks earlier.
Holly was impressed at how well Gail was taking things knowing how excited she had been to spend this Christmas with Sophie. The nightly phone calls before bed helped both tremendously, but the brunette knew her girlfriend was hurting.
She awoke Christmas morning to an empty bed, Gail's side cold. She slid down the stairs, not wanting to disturb Gail. Before she made it to the living room, she could hear the soft voice of the blonde singing.
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
She finished the chorus. Holly wanted to say something, anything to announce her presence and make it so she wasn't prying on this beautiful moment when Gail started speaking.
"Merry Christmas to you too, Sophie-bug. I love you" she whispered before ending the call. She wiped the tears away and got up. She noticed Holly standing there and silently moved toward her, nuzzling into her neck for comfort, letting the tears come.
3. Say My Name – Destiny's Child
"Say my name, say my name
If no one is around you,
Say "baby, I love you"
Andy belted out the lyrics along with the karaoke while Gail cringed.
"Why did we decide to have this party again, Nerd?" Gail groaned to her girlfriend as they headed back to their living room where they were hosting a New Year's Eve party.
"Because it's fun, we'll be more comfortable here than at the Penny, and we can engage in PDA and nobody can get angry because it's our own house" she smiled as she pulled the blonde into her lap.
"Lame excuse" Gail muttered as her cheeks reddened. Holly pulled her closer and kissed her darkening cheek.
"How about because you love me?" she whispered into Gail's ear.
"I guess so" she rolled her eyes and kissed her girlfriend.
"It's not even midnight, Peck. Keep it in your pants!" Holly giggled.
"Shut up" Gail replied as she pulled the brunette closer.
4. What Goes Around Comes Around – Justin Timberlake
Holly is nothing if not strong in mind and body. She works out regularly, eats well, reads, and is dedicated to her field of work. She never complained and was always civil.
Until she got sick.
Then, as Gail discovered, she became a baby. She sniffled and whimpered and looked at Gail with the biggest, swollen red puppy dog eyes. The blonde couldn't help laughing when Holly snuggled into her lap while they were watching their third romantic comedy of the day.
"Don't laugh" Holly whined. "You're gonna get sick too and I'm gonna laugh at you" the usually mature Holly pouted.
"No, I'm not, I don't get sick" Gail replied smugly as she stroked Holly's hair.
*Three Days Later*
Cough, cough, sniffle, sniffle
"Gail, sweetie, are you sick?" the now healthy brunette asked as she rubbed her girlfriend's back.
"No" a weak-voiced Gail replied. "I'm healthy as an-"
Cough, cough cough
"Karma is a bitch, isn't it?" Holly laughed as she pulled Gail in to snuggle.
"I'm not sick" Gail mumbled as she let Holly spoon her.
5. Monkey Tree – Mother Mother
"Gail! You have to stop playing this song for the baby!" Holly chastised her wife.
"Why? He loves it! We sing it together all the time. Look! He's dancing!" Gail pointed to their bobbing toddler who was gargling along to the song.
"It's not really appropriate for children"
"It's about monkeys, Hol. We painted monkeys on his bedroom wall" Gail replied as she picked up their son and bounced him around the living room to the song.
"He's singing about booze and drugs. Monkey tree is a euphemism. This is not an appropriate song for our toddler" Holly replied.
"So what? He can't talk yet. It could be a string of expletives and he'd never know. Lighten up, Hol. Look how much fun he's having!" she said the last bit in a cooing voice as she tapped her son's nose with her finger.
Holly rolled her eyes. She knew she was going to lose this one. She always did when Gail played the cute baby card.
"Here, Mama. Dance with your son and see how much he likes it" Gail smiled as she passed her wife their boy.
Holly reluctantly started swaying as Gail danced too. Their son started laughing prompting the brunette to go for it. She was belting out the lyrics and shimmying around the living room with him on her hip, when she caught Gail's eye.
"See, Nerd? It's a good song!"
Holly just rolled her eyes and continued on with the chorus.
