An Earlier Heaven

This story was a part of the Desperate Adoration anthology, which was an eBook collaboration between several authors to help fight domestic violence. The eBook was available in 2010 to anyone who made a contribution to an organization that provides aid to victims of domestic violence.

This is our contribution that we're sharing with you. We hope you enjoy it. Thank you to everyone who donated and to all who take part in fighting against domestic violence. The help you provide is invaluable in allowing the victims to regain a sense of self.

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The clock on the microwave repeatedly drew my eyes as I poured myself a cup of coffee and added cream and sugar.  The green numbers taunted me, reminding me that one-half of my family was growing nearer yet still much too far away. 

I sat down at the island in our silent kitchen, closing my eyes to allow myself a few minutes to simply breathe.  I was always nervous when Jeff traveled, but I had never counted every second quite like I had this trip.  Nearly twenty-four hours ago, his plane had left Cape Town on its way to Amsterdam, and we’d been largely out of touch ever since.  I knew that, right now, he should be somewhere over the Atlantic on his way to New York before he would finally make the last leg home to Vermont. 

One more glance at the clock showed me that it was 5:14; I had another seven or so hours to fill before I could be reunited with my husband.

“And our new son…” I whispered the words aloud, smiling as I took a sip of the soothing, warm nectar.  

Every Day, Forever

Edward's POV

With a sigh, I stepped under the shower, my face turned up into the spray for a moment after closing the shower curtain behind me. I knew I had to get ready and get out the door, but I didn't want to - I wasn't looking forward to the family reunion.

It wasn't that I didn't love Emmett's family. I did, but there were just so many of them. Every single one of the McCarty clan would be there, and that was simply too much. Even after being with Emmett for the past six years, I still hadn't gotten used to being part of such a large family - and a boisterous one, at that. Especially when you put them all in the same place for any period of time, which seemed to happen way too often between big events like Charlotte's wedding over the summer and the smaller gatherings like celebrating every single birthday.

I groaned softly at the prospect of seeing everyone - and of spending the weekend up in the mountains. The land the McCarty's owned was beautiful - in truth, the cabins were, too. Even I could give them that, but I was definitely not a nature person. I liked living in the city, the energy that flowed there - like blood pulsing through your veins. I liked the fact that it afforded both anonymity and company all at once.

Fandom For Preemies

As some of you may know (though most of you probably don't), I'm the Godmother of a precious little boy who recently started his latest adventure - Kindergarten. I say latest adventure, because his life's been riddled with them, and not of the joyous kind.

He was born prematurely and had a fair few (I'm being generous in my understatement here) health issues his first weeks of life. He spent a good part of it in NICU, and it was touch and go for a while. He made it through, because he's a champ, and he's overcome every stumbling block put in his way. Sometimes with leaps and bounds, other times merely by crawling over them, or by simply going around them. He, to this day, deals with the consequences of his preemie-status, but it is due to his amazing parents who are fighting for him tooth and nail, and doing everything within their power to help him. Something not altogether easy, since there's a lot of red tape involved, unfortunately.

Either way, this little man has come a long way, and I'm sure he'll continue to do us all proud.

It has just come to my attention that there is something under way within the fandom, though, that I could not ignore (where I have been these past few months, I don't know, but I literally only just learned about it). Fandom For Preemies is an effort to raise funds for the March of Dimes. Much like was done for Haiti, and for Nashville (as well as for victims of hate-crimes), authors have banded together to offer a collection of stories - fanfiction, or original - for those who donate to the March of Dimes. SorceressCirce and I discussed the matter, and decided we'd like to join this endeavor, and signed up. While we are both very busy (and utterly insane to be taking on more), this was something neither of us felt we could ignore.


So please, check out the Fandom For Preemies site, and consider donating to this worthy cause. Preemies don't have a choice, they just fight to live. Help us help them (and their families).


naelany & SorceressCirce

Giving Back - Nashville and eBook

Whitlock-Masen recently wrote an original short story for the eBook benefit organized by DefinatelyStaying to benefit the victims of hate and violence through causes like the Matthew Shepard Foundation, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Rainbow World Fund. Over 25 authors have contributed stories to the eBook, which promises to be a fantastic read for an amazing cause. If you'd like to help out and receive a copy of the eBook, please visit the website to find out how. Copies of the eBook will be sent out on Memorial Day weekend, so act quickly - and thank you SO much for your support!

Just to whet your appetite, here's a little teaser from our contribution:

I turned the pages, watching as we grew up right before my eyes. We put on weight and lost it. Our hair grew and was cropped short before growing long again. There were even pictures of Jeff with that terrible mustache he’d sported for about a year before I’d finally convinced him to shave it. Despite the many different looks and changing fashions, though, the one thing that had stayed the same over the last eighteen years was the way we looked at each other.

I smiled reflexively as I saw us gazing into each others’ eyes. Jeff’s hand was often on my knee, or mine was reaching out to brush his hair from his forehead. We were nearly always touching, some small contact to remind each other of the love we shared. We’d been only twenty when we went on our first date, but we’d known from the start that we were meant to be together. We were just a perfect fit – in every way.

Jeff had been the first man I’d ever brought home – the only man – and it had taken some time for my parents to come to terms with my being gay. Jeff’s family had known for much longer, as he’d had boyfriends as early as high school, but in the end, both sides of our family supported us. There were pictures of them sprinkled throughout, opening presents at Christmas and shooting off fireworks on the Fourth of July. We were blessed to have them; I knew too many men who were not nearly so lucky, and I was thankful every day of our lives that our families were so involved.

Come on...you know you want to know more about Tim and Jeff, right? And it's for a great cause!


In addition to the eBook, we have also signed up to take part in the Fics for Nashville compilation to help raise money for the victims of flooding in Tennessee. Dozens of authors are contributing stories and poems to this effort, which will be compiled and sent out to those who donate. Please see the website for a wealth of information, including how to donate, where to send your receipt, how to sign up if you'd like to contribute a story, and even some pictures and videos of the flood damage. Many authors have even posted teasers of what they will be writing! If you have the means, please considering donating to this worthy cause - and perhaps contribute your own writing as well!