One-Shot Stories

[gerard finnegan]

“Midnight Mission”

Gerry sat up at his desk, two mountains of paperwork flanking either side of him. When he’d started his business years ago in Rhy’Din, he hadn’t really considered how much of his time would be spent pouring over documents and figures. There were others in his employ who took care of much of it, but the spill-over was nonetheless daunting. Four hours of it had left his eyes aching and weary. He swore, if he never saw another chart in his life, it would be too soon.

He glanced over at the clock with a sigh. One o’clock in the morning. He sank back in his chair with a creak. Most people outside of his little family unit had no idea what it took to run the export business that allowed his family to live in comfort. Most assumed he had it all done for him while he just sat back and collected a paycheck, but the reality could be exhausting even during the lighter seasons. Still, though, he managed to succeed. Not bad for a guy whose formal education ended at eleven years old, he thought.

Slowly, his eyes opened, focusing on the photograph at the corner of the desk. Kara held little Will in her arms while a blue-eyed brunette sat with her mischievous little grin upon his lap. Even on his worst days, the sight of those three never failed to bring a smile to his face. He remembered the day he’d welcomed her into the world. It had been chaotic, to say the least, and in true Gerry fashion, almost ended in a fist fight with Keirra’s friends. Ten years had come and gone since that day. Ten years that brought change and growth he couldn’t have imagined. Many times since, he’d wondered just what his life might have been had he not been forced to leave the magical realm of Rhy’Din. Would he and Keirra still be together? Would he still even have Nasya?

It had seemed like torture at the time. He was thrust into a new life he had never asked for and never wanted. But the truth was, it was a life he wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. All his life, he’d searched for a purpose. He wanted a meaning to his life. Here, in the town of his youth, he’d found it. He was meant to be a father.

The creak of his door called his attention, catching sight of the sleepy bright blue eyes of a ten year old girl peeking in. Part of him was slightly upset that she was up, but her voice melted all of that away.

“Daddy?” She muttered, rubbing her eyes.

“Heeeeey, Munchkin.” He said softly, a smile forming on his scruffy face. “What you doin’ up?”

“I had a bad dream.” Nasya said, pouting.

“Oh, you did?” He cooed, opening his arms. “C’mere, you.”

Nasya brightened up immediately, hurrying over and hopping into his arms. Gerry lifted her up as if she weighed nothing, plopping her in his lap. The little girl clung to him tightly. There was little in this world that he cherished more than the embrace of his daughter.

“It’s okay, Munch.” He whispered, stroking her short black hair before planting a kiss to the top of her head. “Wanna talk about it?”

Nasya shook her head. In that moment, she didn’t want to remember the scary things. Right now, she had her dad and she was safe.

“How come you’re up?” She asked him, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

“Oh, you know, bud.” He sighed. “Grown up stuff.”

“Grown up stuff is stupid.” She insisted.

“You said it, kid.” Gerry chuckled. “But y’know what? Sometimes, it’s okay. Because it lets me do lots of fun stuff.”

“Like what?” She asked.

“Like…taking you on trips.” He said for instance. “And our ice cream parties. You like those, don't you?”

Nasya nodded. “And taking care of Grammy and Pop?”

“Exactly!” He smiled down at her. “Pops an old lazy bones. How’s he gonna do it?”

Nasya giggled. She knew full well her Pop was anything but lazy and Daddy liked to tease.

“So, you see, bud? It’s not all bad, right?” Gerry asked.

The blue eyed little one thought for a moment. “Still kinda boring. But, I guess it’s alright.”

“Yeah…” Gerry sighed. “It’s still boring.”

“Daddy?” She asked after a moment. “Do you miss where Mommy lives?”

Gerry was quiet. Mulling over his answer for a moment. “Well…Sometimes. It can be more exciting, I guess. But, it’s also pretty scary sometimes. One of these days, I’ll have to tell you all about it.”

“When?” Nasya asked, peering up at him with those big, curious eyes.

“When you’re all grown up.”

“Next year?” She asked hopefully.

Gerry couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, bug. Maybe then. But y’know what? I like it here better.”

“How come?” She asked him.

“Well…I got Mama Kara and Will…”

“And Grammy and Pop are here?” She added for him.

“Yeah, Grammy and Pop. Aunt Gin-Gin and Michi…And I’ve got you.” Gerry said, matter-of-factly.

“Me?” Nasya said, looking almost taken aback.

“Yeah, you.” he grinned. “I never told you about this, did I?”

Nasya shook her head.

“When I came back here, ten years ago, all I had was you.” He said. “I won’t go too into detail about it, but I had lost my home. I lost your mommy and I didn’t know what I was gonna do. All I knew is that I had this beautiful baby girl and I had to take care of her. Before then, Daddy’s life was all about himself. But, suddenly, there was something even bigger. Something better.”

“What was it?” Nasya asked.

“I was a dad.” He told her. “When I came back to Grammy and Pop, you were my life. And y’know what?”

She blinked up at her father, waiting for him to finish.

“It made me feel whole. I didn’t miss Rhy’Din. I was scared, but you made me brave.” He said. “Being your dad is the best thing I ever did.”

Nasya’s adorable little face lit up and she hugged him fiercely.

“I’m glad you’re my dad.” She said quietly.

“Me too, Munch.” He whispered, giving her a squeeze. For a long moment, he just held her there. Another glance at the clock and he got an idea. “Hey. I’ve got an idea.”

“What?” She asked.

“Since you’re already up…and if you promise not to tell Mama…what do you say we split a little bit of ice cream?” He suggested, his face taking on a theatrical conspiratorial expression.

Nasya looked at the door as if expecting Kara to come bust up their nefarious plan.

“With whipped cream and sprinkles?” She whispered.

Gerry nodded with all the seriousness of plotting an assassination. “What am I, an amateur? Of course whipped cream and sprinkles.”

Nasya nodded intensely and pressed a finger to her lips. “We better be quiet.”

Gerry mimicked the gesture and tilted his head towards the door. “Quick, Agent Nasya. This mission, should you choose to accept it, is of the utmost importance.”

“Roger that, Agent Daddy.” She slipped off his lap and crept to the door, peering down the hallway. Seeing it all clear, she waved him forward, making nonsense hand motions before slipping out of the room.

Gerry smiled warmly. Yeah. That was 1000% his kid. He took one last glance at his paperwork, blue eyes passing over it to land upon the picture. The charts and graphs could wait. Right now, he had a vital mission to attend to with the little girl that meant the most to him in the world. The work would always be there in the morning. But nights like this wouldn’t last forever, and he was going to do what he did best. He was going to be a dad.

[Nasya Finnegan-Owens]

June 11th, 2023

Nasya perched eagerly in front of the television, anticipating the afternoon's entertainment, while the cacophony of her family's usual antics continued behind her. The relentless chatter and noise were starting to grate on the nerves of the nearly 10-year-old. She strained to listen, frustrated by the distraction! Meanwhile, Will was completely absorbed in his tablet, furiously toggling between games in a whirlwind of activity, initiating one only to swiftly move on to another. Nasya briefly pondered whether she had possessed such a short attention span at his age. Perhaps it was simply a boy thing, she mused.

Finally, the commercials ended and commentators appeared on screen, older men in suits that, of course, she wouldn’t recognize.

"Good evening, football fans! Welcome to a special night of football magic as we gather for Soccer Aid, where celebrities and football legends unite here in Manchester for a fantastic cause. I’m Iain Stirling, joined tonight by my good friend, Sam Matterface. Quite a night ahead of us, Sam."

Nasya, always loved British accents, unable to stop herself from giggling whenever she heard them, even from her Uncle Danny.

"That's right, Iain! Tonight, it's all about this beautiful game and giving back. The atmosphere is electric, and the excitement is palpable amongst a sold out crowd here at Old Trafford as the teams gear up for what promises to be a thrilling match." Matterface said.

“Right, you are, Sam. We have a star-studded lineup ready to showcase their skills on the pitch, all in support of UNICEF's vital work around the world. It's more than just a game tonight—it's about making a real difference."

"So, sit back, relax, and get ready for an evening of entertainment, passion, and athleticism as Soccer Aid 2023 kicks off!"

Nasya peered over her shoulder as the teams began to make their way onto the pitch, her little voice trumpeting over the raucous family gathering. “It’s on!”

Eventually, everyone settled in on every available seat in Bill and Rose’s living room as the commentators introduced the teams. Nasya didn’t protest in the slightest as her grandfather picked her up and sat her on his lap in the comfy recliner.

“Get up here, munchkin.” He groaned, giving the little girl who was the absolute apple of his eye a squeeze.

Gerry set a beer on the side table for his dad before slipping in between Rose and Kara, a bottle for himself between two fingers.

“You see him yet?” Gerry asked.

Nasya shook her head fervently, watching the TV with rapt attention. He had to hand it to his daughter, when she was into something, it would take an atom bomb to steal her attention from it. Most of the people they introduced were unknown to her, but the adults were impressed by some guy named Bolt. It took her Pop to tell her he was once considered the fastest man on the planet. She DID recognize one of them as Loki from her favorite movies, though!

“I can’t believe we’re watching soccer.” He muttered with a grin.

The look that Nasya shot him was chilly enough to flash freeze an ocean.

“Daddy.” She said. “Your mouth is doing this-“

She mimicked talking with her hands and then quickly transitioned into a fist.

“-and it should be doing this.”

Gerry couldn’t help but chuckle. “You’re right, sorry, Munch.”

Attentions turned back to the television then, just in time to see the man they were waiting for. The commentators continued on.

“And here we have best-selling author and journalist, Danny Dubek on the pitch, looking ready and excited for this evening’s-“

The entire family immediately erupted into cheers. Nasya would allow this outburst, even joining in with them.

“Atta boy, Danno!” Gerry called out.

Danny, clad in black and blue, stood with his teammates, bouncing slightly in place as if to psyche himself up. Gerry had to admit, the man looked like he belonged out there. He was in as good a shape as any of the pros and it was hard to ignore the man’s natural athleticism.

As the match began, Nasya was immediately immersed in what was going on, gleefully cheering her uncle and his team on as they played. Every time they showed close up shots of the crowd, the 9 and a half year old was looking for her Aunt Lexi. However, picking the extra-petite fae from a massive crowd was proving to be quite the task.

While nearing the end of the first half, Danny held his own alongside olympians and the pros. He was clearly nowhere near as refined a footballer as them, but he was far from embarrassing himself.

As enthralling as it was seeing someone she adored participating in the game, it was the amount of women she saw on the pitch, playing side by side with the boys that gave her a charge. Nasya could imagine herself out there one day, putting all the men to shame. If they could do it, why not her?

Suddenly, Danny had possession of the ball, moving quickly down the field of play, several players at his heels trying desperately to stop him. A quick backheel pass to Usain Bolt, and he took off forward, his opposition peeling off towards Bolt. Within seconds, he was in position. Bolt booted the ball through the air. Danny leapt off his feet, his body contorting to catch the ball with the top of his foot, sending it just out of reach of the keeper. The second the ball hit the net, the crowd went wild, along with the entire Finnegan clan.

Danny and his team ran victoriously to each other, arms in the air just before they cut away to the stands where Nasya finally saw a very familiar brunette cheering wildly, clutching the arms of an older man who looked very much like her uncle Danny. The two bounced up and down, screaming with happiness before the cameras turned back to the game.

It was the young girl’s first exposure to the sport, and she was in love. She swore that, by the next time her Uncle visited, she would know everything about the game… and maybe give the man a run for his money.

[Dah]

“Mother’s Day”

The sun blazed overhead in the afternoon heat as Danny walked the paths ahead. London had called once again, a meeting with a new publisher regarding a comic book he and Alexia had been working on. She had decided to remain in Rhy’Din on her own personal projects, so the jet setting writer was living the bachelor life in the streets of his adolescence.

He’d hoped to see his father and Jo, but the pair was off on a romantic getaway to New Zealand, visiting his uncle Stevie. Still, they were kind enough to lend him use of their shared flat for his short stay. It had been two years since he’d reconciled with his father, and things had improved. Christmas, birthdays, World Cup matches were all shared with the old man and his Aunt Jo. Before that week, he never could have imagined they’d reach such a place of peace and love. While Danny was not a spiritual sort, part of him liked to imagine there were hands guiding them that could not be seen.

Turning to his left, he trod through the neatly maintained grass, eventually arriving at his destination. Danny stared down at the grave of Melody Dubek. It had taken the bulk of his adult life to deal with the loss of her. Now, on the verge of forty, he had finally found a small measure of peace.

“Hello, Mum.” He said quietly, a smile gracing his features. Spotting a bit of schmootz on the headstone, he produced a handkerchief from his pocket, wiping it away. “C’mon, lady. Look at yourself. Get it together, yeah?”

He snickered, remembering the dark little jokes they would make when she was in the throes of cancer, making light of the disease that would eventually claim her life in an attempt to gain some semblance of control over it. Melody had been so strong, so brave throughout the entire ordeal, facing every victory and every defeat with unerring humor, warmth and courage. She was his inspiration. The reason he saw the world as he did and worked so hard at everything he did. Without her influence, he often wondered what he’d have become. Whatever that was, he was glad for every moment he’d been luck enough to have with her.

“I’ve been thinking of you lately.” He said. “So much has happened since the last time I was able to visit. My book won a couple awards. Not quite a Pulitzer, but it’s nice to get recognition. Oh! I got to play in Soccer Aid! Even managed a goal. Absolutely mental, the people I got to share the pitch with. Gerry’s got some people helping me build a cabin. Alexia doesn’t know, but it’s going to be a home for us.”

His eyes drifted lower, a shadow of sorrow crossing his visage.

“God, I wish you could meet her. You would have absolutely loved her. And I know she would have been crazy about you.”

Danny had often imagined what their lives could have been if Melody had survived to meet the love of his life. He saw mornings waking up to sweet music by the pair, nights of laughter and long conversation. Christmases in London and Rhy’Din, gathered around the hearth, exchanging gifts and retelling the same old stories over and over, but never tiring of hearing them. So many moments, stolen before they could even be realized. So much joy that now could only exist in his dreams.

“I don’t know if you can actually hear me…” he muttered. “Maybe I’m just talking to myself, maybe I’m fooling myself. I don’t know. But if you are out there, and you are watching and listening…I just hope you’re proud of me. I hope I’ve lived the life that you dreamed for me.”

He reached out, tracing the letters of her name with his thumb. There was no response, of course. Just once, he wished he felt something. Anything. But, as always, there was only the gentle breeze mingled with the ambient sounds of London.

Danny stood once again, staring down at the final resting place of his mother. Maybe it was true. Maybe he spoke only to himself and no one, on any plane of existence could hear. But, he needed to say the words. He needed to believe it was more.

“I love you. I miss you. Happy Mother’s Day.”

[Nasya Finnegan-Owens]

2036

It had been a long road to get to this point. Over a decade of hard work and dedication had seen Nasya Finnegan here in her senior year, playing in the championship match. After excelling as an athlete throughout high school, she had accepted a full-ride scholarship to play soccer for Brigham Young University. For four years, Nasya had proven herself to be a gifted athlete, whip-smart student, and a born leader, making herself indispensable to the BYU Cougars. In her junior year she had earned the position of team captain, leading her team to victory after victory for the rest of the season. Her teammates often said that it was more than talent that made her worthy of their respect. It was her passion for the game and indomitable spirit. Nasya carried them through wins and losses alike, and they followed gladly.

Tonight’s match versus the Utah Utes, the Cougars’ main rival, had been hard-fought. A brutal first half had left the scoreboard at a 2-2 tie. Both teams were in top form, in both defense and offense, making it an absolute battle to gain any sort of ground.

Danny watched from the stands with Alexia, Gerry, Kara, and Ginny at his side. It had been at Nasya’s insistence that he come to see what would be the final match of her college career. She would often attribute her love of football, which she refused to call “soccer”, to her Uncle Danny. To say he was proud did not quite convey it. Summer after summer, he watched her grow into a spectacular footballer, often giving him a run for his money.

As the second half of the match began, Nasya could feel the tension in the air. The BYU Cougars were determined to pull ahead and secure the win, while the Utah Utes were equally determined to keep their rival from taking home the championship. She walked out onto the pitch with a confident stride, her ice-blue eyes turning up to the tied scoreboard. If it was the last damn thing she did, she would break that tie. The whistle blew, and the game resumed.

Nasya clapped her hands, lunging forward into a jog. “Let’s fucking go!” She shouted over the cheering of the crowd, pumping up her teammates.

Falling in line, she surveyed the field, taking in the positions of her teammates and the Utes' players. She noticed a gap in their defense and, as play resumed, she quickly took advantage of it, taking possession and dribbling the ball down the field at top speed. One of the Utes defenders attempted to stop her, but she was far too fast. With fancy footwork, Nasya joked right, faking her out, and passed the ball to her teammate on the left.

Her teammate took the shot, but the Utes' goalie dove, just barely blocking the kick. The ball bounced off her and landed at Nasya's feet. Nasya was ready. In a split second, she took aim and kicked the ball with all her might. The crowd erupted into a roar as the ball soared through the air and found the back of the net.

Her entire family shot to their feet cheering loudly with the rest of the spectators. Danny cupped his hands around his mouth as if he could bellow over the noise.

“Too fuckin’ right, Nas!” He cried, sharing a high five with an ecstatic Gerry. It had been a bit of a road for Gerry to appreciate the game, but watching her play and attending a few matches with Danny had turned the big Texan into a true fan.

The score was now 3-2 in favor of the Cougars, and the pressure was on the Utes to score an equalizer. As the minutes ticked away, the game became more physical, with both teams giving everything they had. Nasya was exhausted, but the game wasn’t over. Finally, with only seconds left on the clock, the Utes gained possession of the ball. She was a blur of motion, doing everything she could to make herself as much of a nuisance to her opponents. But the Utes were every bit as relentless. The tall girl moved down the pitch with aggressive intensity, landing a brutal kick that sent the ball soaring past the Cougars’ goalie, tying the game up at 3-3.

Nasya’s shoulders slumped, her hands going to her knees as she tried to catch her breath. The final whistle blew, signaling the end of regulation time. The championship match would now go into overtime. A small measure of despair crept into her mind. Just what the hell did she have to do to stop them? The tension in the air was palpable as both teams prepared for the extra period. With a clap on the back from a teammate, Nasya took a deep breath, steadying herself for whatever came next.

The first minutes of overtime were a blur of sprints and sliding tackles, each team fighting for possession like their lives depended on it. Nasya's heart raced as she sprinted back and forth across the field, sweat glistening on her brow. Possession of the ball changed hands again and again. Nasya even managed to take a shot on goal, but it failed to find its mark. The Utes took control with less than two minutes left and managed to score another goal, pushing the score to 4-3 in their favor.

The crowd was a mix of elation and despair, with the Utes' fans on their feet and the Cougars' supporters clutching their heads in disbelief.

Gerry’s eyes remained on his daughter, a pang of concern in his heart.

“God, she looks exhausted.” He said.

Danny clenched his jaw tightly. “It’s not over yet. We’ve still got one minute left. She’ll do it.”

Nasya's coach called a time-out, her voice hoarse from shouting instructions. The coach made her way out to her captain.

“You doing alright?” The coach asked looking her in the eye.

Nasya took in a cleansing breath and nodded. “Yeah. Getting my ass kicked, but yeah.”

The coach grabbed her by the shoulders, looking her in the eye. “Hey, you’re making them work like hell, Nasya.” She said. “We’ve got a minute left. Now y’all take that ball and ram that point down their fucking throats. You’ve got this.”

Nasya looked up to her coach, a small smile creeping onto her face. She nodded, feeling the weight of the entire match on her shoulders, but remaining determined. As the game resumed, she played with a newfound intensity, her eyes never leaving the ball. The clock ticked away, and with each passing second, the tension grew thicker.

Then, in the final seconds of overtime, the Cougars gained possession of the ball. The ball passed back and forth across the pitch until it found its way to Nasya's feet again. The Utes' defense closed in around her, but she was already on the move. The attackers couldn’t stop her, she was an absolute force of nature, dodging, jumping and juking her way past any who came at her. Then, the moment of truth came, she had her shot, the entire game hinging on this very second. Her foot connected with the ball, sending it sailing through the air.

Time seemed to slow as the ball spun towards the Utes’ goal, a silent symphony of anticipation echoing through the stadium. Nasya’s breath caught in her chest. For a moment, it looked like it was going in—like destiny had chosen this moment for her to be the hero.

The ball smacked against the crossbar… and bounced out of bounds just as the final second ticked away. The final whistle blew. The stadium erupted in a cacophony of cheers from the Utes’ supporters, but the heartbreak from the Cougars side was palpable.

Hands covering his face, Danny's shoulders slumped heavily, his mouth agape in stunned silence. The entire family's hearts were shattered for Nasya. Ginny wiped away the tears streaming down her cheeks as Gerry and Kara clung to each other for support. Alexia threw her arms around Danny's waist, her soulful brown eyes fixed on him with a mixture of sadness and concern. His eyes closed as he released a shuddering sigh, the weight of the loss bearing down on him like an avalanche. When he opened them again, the look on Alexia’s face was clear. She gave him a single nod as if to say ‘go to her.’

Nasya stood frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief. Her entire world came crashing down around her as it sank in. Her breath hitched, and her heart felt like it was being squeezed tight within her chest. Suddenly, her legs gave out and she collapsed to her knees in despair. Her gaze remained fixed on the goal, now a taunting reminder of what might have been. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she couldn't seem to summon the strength to wipe them away. Her body felt leaden, every muscle aching from the effort of holding herself together until now. The stadium fell silent, the crowd holding their breath as they watched their heroine suffer.

One by one, her team rallied around her. Nasya felt their hands on her shoulders as they all embraced each other in a circular huddle, banding together as each felt the loss deep in their hearts. As the team rose and pulled Nasya to her feet, the legion of Cougars fans erupted into cheers. In the stands, Danny smiled through the tears, applauding for his honorary niece. The roar of appreciation for the team’s incredible effort warmed Nasya’s heart. For over two halves, she had put everything she had into this game. It had been the best game she’d ever played… and it hadn’t been enough.

As she approached, her coach tried to assuage her guilt, gently placing her arm around the girl’s shoulders.

“You did great.” She assured her player, giving her a squeeze.

Nasya nodded, accepting the reassurance from her coach. As she approached the door leading inside the stadium, she paused and took one last look at the pitch. So many memories were attached to this stadium. Laughter, joy. Tears and anguish. Nasya had given her literal blood, sweat and tears to this game, this team. As she thought about the fact that it was now all over, something deep inside began to hurt.

“Goodbye.” She whispered, turning away and heading down the hall.

The locker room was largely silent as they readied to leave. Try as they might, they couldn’t get Nasya out of her funk. Changed, with her bag slung, Nasya stepped out into the hallway.

The first person she saw was Danny. She stopped in her tracks at the sight of him, her heart immediately sinking. Maybe it was the fact that he had come all this way to see her play, maybe it was just the fact that she got into this sport because of him in the first place. She wasn’t certain. All she knew was that the dam broke. Tears poured from her eyes as he wrapped her in his arms. Her body shook as she sobbed, clinging to him.

Danny placed a hand on top of her head gently stroking her hair with his thumb. He let out a sigh, swallowing his own sadness.

“Well. This sucks.” He whispered. “Not going to pretend it doesn’t. But you played a hell of a game, kid.”

“I’m sorry.” Nasya sobbed, clutching him tightly. “I’m sorry.”

Danny’s brows knit together in confusion as he peered down at her. “Sorry? For what?”

“You came all this way to see me. Just for me to let you down. I got into all this because of you. I just wanted to bring you a win so bad. I fucked it all up. I wasn’t good enough.” Nasya’s voice was ragged, broken with sadness.

Danny took her by the shoulders, holding her out so she could look up at him.

“Hey. You listen to me. For two halves, you made their lives a wide-awake nightmare. You dragged their asses up and down that pitch and made them suffer for every damn inch.” Danny said as gently yet firmly as possible.

“This is a hard moment. I know. But, I came here tonight to watch you play your heart out. And, Nas, you did NOT let me down. I just watched the best two halves of football I’ve ever seen. Don’t you dare tell me you aren’t good enough. Hold your head high. Be proud of what you’ve accomplished. Because you, Miss, are a bloody, fucking marvel.”

The tears formed anew as she clung to her uncle, comforted in his embrace as the rest of the family watched on. They would join in a moment later, lovingly hugging and supporting her through this loss. She’d lost tonight, and it hurt. It hurt like hell. But, in the end, she still had them.

It would be years before Nasya played in an actual match again. Life had other things in store for her. But she would remember this day and all it had taught her. That, even if you try your best, you can still fall short…and when you are at your lowest, the ones who love you will always be there to pick you up again. Even in the pain and misery of loss, she loved football. And she would for the rest of her life.