Woah they're catching up to us.

And yeah!! Beach episode!!

And sunset chapter :)))))

(For those who don't know me I looooove sunset chapters haha)

I've come to the realization that maybe this story is a lil too focused on plot, so I wanna take a happy moment before plot kicks in again.

I went through a phase where I thought that every single conversation had to be plot based, but I'm out of that now, as I'm going through character development and relearning that characters should be allowed to talk about whatever. Yes, there should be a balance between plot and no plot conversations, but the existence of one does not threaten the other, and both are needed for a story to move and for the characters/audience to breathe.

It feels a little odd going right into a beach episode right after what just happened, but hey. I think we all need it.

Enjoy! :)

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Things have been slow recently as they've been waiting for the summer. Every other week or every third week they've been creating advertisements for The Reunion as they're calling it, posting them everywhere both virtually and physically.

They've just finished putting up posters. Now they're lazing about in Race and Spot's cat café.

Jack is reading the headlines of the cat-themed headlines Spot and Race created. He loves them so much. Right now he's going through one from April 10th.

"Today is the 177th birthday of the Maine Coon tycoon Joseph Mewlitzer," Jack reads aloud, laughing. "Here is a picture of his grave. He is a prime example that not every cat gets nine lives." He looks up at Race, still laughing. "These are incredible."

"Thanks." Race smirks. "Turn the page and read the headline."

Jack turns the page. "Kitten born with two heads."

Jack and Race make eye contact and say together perfectly in sync: "must be from Brooklyn."

Boots and Crutchy start laughing, as Spot huffs and rolls his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, it must be from Brooklyn." Under his breath he mutters. "you'd have thought that this joke would've become obsolete in 1899."

As always, Race hears him. "Aw come on, tesoro. It's funny." He grins. "Besides, this joke has nine lives. I mean, eight now I think since it first died in 1899, but still."

"Do you ever have Warrior Cats related headlines?" Boots asks curiously. He's been here for a few months now, and Race introduced him to the Warriors series, which he absolutely loves.

Race's eyes widen and he points at Boots. "Wonderful idea! Mamma mia, perchè non abbiamo pensato prima? Spot, it's a great idea! We can make parallels between the newsies and Pulitzer with the warrior cats! Which Dark Forest cat do you think Pulitzer is? Tigerclaw, Hawkfrost, or Brokenstar? Ooh! Or maybe Mudclaw! However that does imply that he used to be a part of the Clans before going evil--hold up wait he was an immigrant and immigrants aren't known for their money, so he started out as one of us and worked his way up..."

As Race continues to plan out the next newspaper, while pacing and gesticulating wildly, with Boots--and Crutchy, who also picked up the series--giving suggestions, Jack and David talk in a corner on bean bag chairs in the corner. An orange cat Race has nicknamed Stronzo Jack has made himself at home on Jack's lap. Race explains he was named Stronzo Jack because he has a habit of biting people; Jack doesn't know what stronzo means, it's probably derogatory, but Race says it so affectionately that Jack isn't entirely sure what to think.

"So..." Jack starts slowly. "What do we...think about us?"

David swallows. They've been dancing around this question for a few months now, both in person and over the phone. Jack went back to Seattle after Les's funeral, explaining that he had to check up on his business and employees and whatnot. Then a couple days ago, he came back, claiming that he missed everyone.

"I..." David trails off. "Well, I think things would work out better in this century than the last one."

He mentally kicks himself. Way to go, dodging the question and giving a really obvious answer.

Fortunately Jack chuckles. "I agree."

"It's just..." David tries to figure out how to articulate this. "We aren't the same people we were back in 1899. We've aged, a lot. I'm guessing you've had a lot of lovers in the past thirty years-"

"No." Jack shakes his head emphatically. "Flings? Yes. But I never got serious with anyone." He looks into David's eyes earnestly. "Because none of them were you. I don't care what decade it is. There is only one David Jacobs. There is only one David Jacobs among 8 billion people. And out of 8 billion people, he's the only one I would ever want to spend my life with."

David allows a smile to creep up his face.

"So what about you?" Jack returns. "Any lovers for you?"

A beat of silence.

A smile tugs at the left side of Jack's face. He raises his eyebrows, amused. "Ohh. You've been here longer than I have and you couldn't find anyone-"

"For your information, I was fine being single," David retorts, face heating up. "I had two wonderful older men taking care of me. I didn't need anyone else."

Then he gets quiet. "I lived through the AIDS crisis, Jack. I saw the beginning of it in 1978 when it was just called the sickness, and I saw it in full swing in the 80s. I lost Antuninu to it. Do you really think I could contemplate loving someone in a time where men get sick and the FDA does nothing?"

Jack frowns. He remembers hearing about AIDS in the 90s. He didn't have many friends to lose AIDS to, but he remembers what it was like.

It was different for him because his body didn't match all the men who were getting sick, and he was never intimate with men. But he remembers.

"We've seen a lot of things," Jack murmurs. He looks up at David. "We've witnessed horrifying things firsthand. We've had a lot of pain." He puts his hand on David's. "But now we have a way to move forward, past the pain and the hurt."

David shifts his hand so his palm is up, so he and Jack can hold hands. He squeezes appreciatively.

"Well, we are in a new century..." David starts. He looks Jack in the eye. "And we've found each other..." he stops. "But...I'm older than you now."

"Not by that much!" Jack protests. "You didn't spend enough time in 1978 to age. You went to 1988, I went to 1990. You really aren't that much older than me."

"If we were teenagers, even two years can be scandalous."

"...but we aren't teenagers anymore, Dave. We're middle aged."

David has nothing to say.

"Antiques," Jack says, emphasizing each sound.

David looks at him. "I knew you when you were seventeen and having a mid life crisis. Now you can call yourself an antique without breaking down?"

"What can I say, Dave? This new century has toughened me up."

David chuckles and shakes his head.

Then Jack looks nervous. "There is one thing, though."

David looks at him again silently, waiting, giving his full attention.

Jack takes a deep breath. "I...haven't had the time or money to medically transition yet. It's just..." he swallows. Then he looks vulnerable. "Can you still love me even when I still have the wrong body?"

"Oh, Jack." In an instant David is hugging Jack. "I'd love you no matter what body you have. And I'll support you the whole way when you finally make your body one where you feel comfortable in it."

Jack closes his eyes in relief. "And David...?"

"Yes?"

Jack pulls back. "I never could get a formal diagnosis, but according to my friends from the 90s, I have autism and ADHD. And I think they're right. So...I guess...what I'm asking...is...is...can you still love me even though I'm neurodivergent-?"

David's hugging him again. "Of course you idiot. I fell in love with you when you didn't have the words to describe the way your mind works. Now you have the words, and I'm really glad you found them. Do you really think any of these things would make me love you any less?"

Jack hugs tighter. "I missed you, David. I really, really missed you."

"I missed you too, Jack."

"I wish we met up in the 90s. We could have gone through all of this together."

"But how could we have known? Besides, I basically became a hermit in a small antique store. You quite literally went to the other side of the country. There really was no logical way that we would have known to look for each other."

"But if we're soulmates, shouldn't we have known?"

David pulls back. "Soulmates?"

Jack blushes and averts his eyes. "Uh...I mean..."

David smiles. "No, I like it."

A small smile appears on Jack's face.

"Honestly? I'm not sure if I would change anything," David responds after thinking on it. "The 80s and 90s were both hard. I had my support system, and you had yours. Yes, it would have been nice to go through everything together, but I think we did okay on our own. And guess what? The fact that we've been here for over three decades and are still devoted to each other is a true show of how much we love each other."

Jack smiles. That. That is why he fell in love all those years ago. It was true in 1899, it was true in 1990, and it's still true today in 2024: David is the only one Jack can imagine spending the rest of his life with.

Sure, they still have things to figure out. They have to figure out what they'll do about Seattle, if they'll live together, and so many more things (including dating/marriage).

But for now? Now they confirmed their feelings. And that's enough as they continue to figure out this strange situation.

Having seemed to have reached a conclusion, they sit there in easy silence.

"I'm bored," Race suddenly announces right in front of Jack, making Jack jump in the bean bag a solid inch, muttering curses as the orange cat runs away.

"Look, it's not my fault you have no object permanence," Race continues calmly, unbothered. "Most of us don't. It's the neurodivergence. Anyway! I'm bored. I suggest we go to the beach."

"Huh, that came out of no where."

"Actually it didn't. So first we were talking about warrior cats, and then we were comparing the forest to the lake, and I thought about how nice it would be to jump in a body of water. So yeah, it didn't come out of no where, and now I reaaaaally wanna go to the beach."

Jack and David exchange glances. Jack shrugs.

"I don't see why not," David answers.

Race grins. He calls back to the other side of the café. "Tesoro! Crutchy! Boots! What do y'all think of going to the beach?"

He gets a chorus of yes's, and his smile widens.

He gets out his phone. "I'm calling Dutchy. I think all of us need to go to the beach."

And so it's decided. They'll all meet up at the beach in two hours.

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Race is the first one to run to the sea, screaming "MAREEEEE SONO QUIIIII" with Boots not far behind, just screaming.

Jack's the next one to run to the water. At first he was hesitant to go to the beach, because swimsuits usually make him dysphoric, so Race and Spot introduced him to swim compression bras, and Jack really wishes these were invented sooner and that he found out about them sooner.

David and Crutchy and Spot walk slower, making pleasant conversation.

A gust of wind rushes past them as Dutchy, Specs, and Pie-Eater go screaming into the water too.

"Is it cold?" David calls out.

"TRY IT!" Jack shouts back.

David dips his toes in. "Nah."

Before he can comprehend what's happening, Jack is splashing over to him.

That's when he realizes what Jack is about to do. "Wait! Jack! No!"

Too late.

Jack has his soaking wet arms wrapped around David, laughing, as he drags David into the water.

"Jack! No! Stop! It's cold!"

David thrashes, trying to get out of Jack's arms.

"TIMBERRR!" Jack shouts.

"Wha-?"

He understands when they are toppling into the water. "NO WAIT NO WAIT-"

Jack's back hits the water first, and with his arms wrapped tightly around David, brings David right down on top of him. 

David screeches as his face is hit by the cold salt water. He comes up for air, sputtering. "Jack! I'm all wet!"

"Yeah, I do believe that's the point of going to the beach."

"It's not the only thing you can do at the beach!" he points to Crutchy and Dutchy and Boots. "See?? They're building a sand castle!!"

"And?"

"And they're dry and warm, not cold and wet like me."

As they stand up, Jack wraps his arms around David. "I can make you warm."

David huffs. "No you can't. You're soaking wet. Let me go lie on the sand. Let me dry. Then I'll contemplate getting back in the water with you."

He feels Jack's grip relax. "Alright. But you will  come back in the water, yeah honey?"

Honey. That's new.

He sighs. "Yes, dear."

As Jack lets go, David can practically hear Jack smiling behind him.

He joins Crutchy, Boots, and Dutchy on the sand.

"Wanna play mermaids?" Race asks Spot.

"What are we, five?"

Race pouts. "Come on, tesoro. What's your mermaid name?"

"Shelly. Satisfied?"

"No, that's the most basic name ever. Pick another one."

"I-"

"My mermaid name is Oyster," Pie-Eater joins the conversation. "And my tail is caramel colored."

"My mermaid name is La Bella Donna and my tail is pink, white, blue, and very glittery," Race responds, smirking. 

"Hmmm can I be Seaweed?" Specs asks. 

"Mmmmm maybe. See if you can come up with something better."

"Okay then. What about Kyle? I have an orca tail. Get it? Kyle? Killer whale?"

"A'ight I like that." Race turns back to Spot. "And you, tesoro?"

Instead of answering, Spot just looks at Race. "La Bella Donna? The beautiful woman? Really?"

"What can I say? I'm a man, but that doesn't mean I don't wanna be a pretty woman sometimes."

"Race, you did in fact transition so you wouldn't become a pretty woman-"

Race waves a hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. Ever heard of drag queens stuck in the body of a man stuck in the body of a girl?"

"I mean yeah, I'm on Tumblr-"

"So let me be the prettiest woman a man can be!" Race exclaims.

"Okay. You win, sweetheart."

"So. Your mermaid name."

They all look at him expectantly.

"Kelly. Jack Kelly. Got a tail as red as my bandana."

Race whips around to find Jack right behind him and screams.

Jack laughs. "Got ya!"

Race starts splashing Jack indignantly. "How dare you sneak up on La Bella Donna! Of course you know, this means war!"

"Do you wanna hear my mermaid name or not?" Spot cuts in with his infamous I-am-annoyed tone; but everyone here knows him well enough to recognize that he is enjoying this too.

Race stops splashing instantly. "Dimmi, tesoro."

They all gather around Spot.

"My name is Lyn," he declares. "Short for Brooklyn. My tail matches the colors of the Brooklyn Bridge.

They all cheer.

They all splash around, having fun, as Crutchy, Boots, Dutchy, and David are now locked in on building the biggest sand castle they can. As promised, David does go back in the water, but he much prefers the sand.

They keep playing, and the time flies by, the sun getting lower and lower until it's out of their eyes.

Race looks up. "Y'ALL!" he screeches. "IT'S SUNSET!"

They all look at the horizon.

Race starts talking rapidly. "You-you see it-you see it too, right, right? The red-the red at the-the horizon line, and, and-the orange just above that-and the-and the yellow-the yellow-too-and then-and then it's green-and then it's blue-" he gestures higher in the sky. "and then it's purple allllll the way up!"

Spot smiles. He's been listening to Race describe the sunset since 1899. It's music to his ears. He wants to hear Race describe the sunset for the rest of their life.

"And that cloud-" Race's hands move, as if giving a detailed explanation. "That purple. I would die for that violet."

They look at the cloud, and yeah, that checks out. 

"It's giving me sooooo much serotonin," Race announces.

They continue to watch the sunset as it evolves, until the colors fade, and a few stars poke out. Gradually, they all come up onto the beach, lying side by side, looking at the sky.

"You used to be able to see the stars from the rooftops in New York," Race says wistfully. "Remember, tesoro?"

"We would cuddle in each other's arms and name constellations until we fell asleep. How could I forget, sweetheart?"

Jack and David hold hands. True, this sky isn't what it used to be. But the stars are there, still existing. Like them.

"Do you think we'll find everyone?" Boot asks suddenly. "What if we can't find everyone?"

They all look at him, trying to figure out what to say.

"Well, so far we've found each other," Race reasons. 

"And no matter how long we've been here, we all managed to meet up in 2024," David adds.

"So yes, I think we will find everyone in July," Spot offers.

"I believe we can," Crutchy assures Boots. "Don't give up hope."

Boots smiles. "Thanks, guys."

They all go back to looking at the stars.

Dutchy checks their watch. "Uh, guys, it's midnight." 

"Happy June 1st," Specs adds.

Jack, Race, and Spot sit up, smirking at each other.

"HAPPY PRIDE MOOOOOONTH!" they shout in sync. Everyone else cheers.

"We must be gay and do as many crimes as we can!" Race declares.

Spot snorts. "Big talk for someone whose biggest crime in the 21 century is running a red light."

"Aw come on, tesoro! It still counts! Besides I already did my time in 1899. And I know how the jail system works today. Yeah, tickets suck, but I still wanna participate in be gay do crimes without experiencing the horrors that is the modern prison system."

"Good point, sweetheart."

Now it's Jack's time to snort. "Just do graffiti, you coward."

"Oh come on! Not you too, Jack!!"

And so they continue bickering.

And it goes on and on and on and on.

They do go home at some point, still feeling laugher and giddiness and their faces hurting from smiling too much.

Today was good.

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Awwww I like that.

Now I remember why I didn't want to write filler chapters: because I come up with so much fluff that I get like 3000 word chapters haha.

And yet. They are always a gift. For me and for you. And they fill me with happiness. I hope they do the same for you.

I've come to notice that most of the plot happens in my stories because of Race. This is true in basically every story I write.

Basically my Race is like Ice Age's Scrat because they cause like 90% of the plot ashgjkasdkgshajlkd

I've never been to a beach in New York so I'm not sure how warm it is, but I did wanna write a beach episode, and I'm pretty sure New York has the right temperature this time of year. Also I don't know if there's sand but there is now haha.

So, I have a feeling y'all have been experiencing some withdrawals with the lack of Blush.

Well.

Guess what's coming up next :)))

Hmmm can anyone guess where and when they might have gone? Which historic event in New York made June Pride month? ;)

I'm glad I wrote this.

Please, no homophobia or transphobia, profanities at other users, hate etc in the comment section at all times.

Best,

~Your Beloved Author (who FINALLY got their friend group to watch the first half of 92sies, and did not shut up the entire way through it)