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sunflowersunshinevol6 · 4 years

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Tempest Oblivion

Part 2

Warnings: PTSD, flashbacks, abo dynamics, rutting/heat, mentions of abuse, trauma

Read part 1 here

A/N: I was blown away by the love this fic received and I always planned on making it a multi chapter fic. Thank you for the support

The first thing Gigi decides to do is give Y/N a bath. She leads the girl down the hall towards the second bathroom, opening the door and setting her on the toilet while she runs the water.

"Y....you don't have to do this." Y/N whispers shyly. Gigi smiles at her as she tests the water, making sure it's not too hot.

"It's alright. You're safe here." She smiles, everyone kept telling her that, maybe it was true. Maybe she was finally safe. "Get undressed and I'll help you in. After you can lay down, I'll bring you a cup of tea and you can rest." Gigi's breath hitches when Y/N lifts her shirt and she sees the Mark's. As she pulls the shirt over her head Gigi looks away, busying herself with adding Epsom salts to the water to help with the poor girl's soreness.

Y/N takes Gigi's hand as she steps into the bath, sighing once she's fully sat down in the warmth. She didn't realize just how cold she had been until she was immersed in the warmth of the bath. Gigi grabs a small cup from the side of the tub and begins to wet Y/N's hair. Y/N tilts her head back, letting herself relax.

"You have beautiful hair." Gigi admires as she begins to wash it.

"Thank you." Y/N sighs again, Gigi's hands scrap gently against her scalp, rubbing the soap into her hair.

"I know....I know this is all new and probably a little scary but...be patient with yourself. This is a good pack. Harry is a good leader-"

"Harry?"

"The Alpha who saved you," Gigi said. So that was his name. "He's very kind and compassionate. He is never forceful unless need be and he's protective of us all....you have nothing to fear. This is your home now."

After the bath, Gigi gives Y/N some of her clothes and leaves her to rest. Y/N climbs into the bed, snuggling down under the covers. She closes her eyes, falling into a deep and peaceful sleep for the first time in months.

Y/N stayed close to Gigi and Zayn in the following days. The morning after she'd been brought to the village Harry had met with her and reassured her of her safety. She believed hom, but Zayn and Gigi had been so kind to her and they didn't seem to mind her clinging. Gigi welcomed it, always holding her hand or wrapping a comforting arm around her. Zayn was proud of his mate. She had a tender and loving heart.

"Y/N?" Gigi tapped on her bedroom door. Y/N was sitting on her bed in meditation, trying to connect with her wolf spirit. She opened her eyes and smiled softly at her friend.

"Hey. Everything alright?" She could sense Gigi's apprehension.

"Its fine....its just....my heat is a few days from now and....well..." she didn't know how to say it. Y/N had just come into their home and now she would be asking her to stay elsewhere for a week while she was in heat.

Y/N smiled kindly at her friend. She would do anything for Zayn and Gigi already. She was extremely grateful to them and felt she owed them her life and whatever services she could offer.

"It's alright Gigi. It's natural....I'm sure I can find somewhere else to stay while you go through this."

"That's the thing." Y/N raised an eyebrow.

"Harry requests you stay with him during my heat. He has some things he wants to discuss with you."

"O...oh."

When Zayn told Harry Gigi's heat would be coming, he immediately offered for Y/N to stay with him. Niall could not seem to find her former pack and he hoped, that if he could touch Y/N's wolf spirit, he could see the trauma, see the abuse and find the abusers. It was a risky thing, only Alpha Leaders could soul touch, and it could go badly, he could break her spirit. But he felt as if he had no option and he trusted that she was stronger than that. She had, in fact, survived in the woods alone in the cold until he found her.

"It's all been arranged and I promise, Harry is nothing if not a gentleman. You have nothing to fear." Gigi reassured her once more.

"I trust you Gigi." She felt her smile falter as Gigi walked away, a foreboding feeling washing over her.

She's awoken early on a Saturday morning. Startled as Niall leans over her, pressing a finger to his lips. It's then Y/N can smell Gigi's heat and Zayn's rut. Niall bundles her carefully before swiftly carrying her from the house and into the courtyard.

Harry is waiting in the foyer of his home as Niall sets her on her feet and opens the door. He's wearing a thick black bathrobe, the letter 'H' sewed in red over the breast pocket, his long brown hair pulled back into a messy bun. Y/N smiles shyly as he opens his arms to her, giving her a welcoming embrace.

"How are you pet?" He asks. Since the day he brought her to the pack he has felt a protectiveness over her, something stronger than what he normally feels for his pack.

"Fine....thank you for letting me stay." He reaches out, brushing a piece of her hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear gently.

"Of course. This pack takes care of each other." He looks up, eyes meeting with Niall's. The other wolf bows before leaving the home, closing the door quietly behind him. "Shall we?" Harry asks, holding out his arm. She takes it, gently wrapping her fingers around his bicep.

She's given the proper tour, his home is large of course, being the head Alpha. He shows her the library, the garden, the kitchen, and finally leads her down a small hallway with two doors on either side.

"This will be your room," he says, opening the door on the right. A bed, a dresser and a desk with a chair sit cozily while a fire burns bright in the small fireplace. "Over there is your bathroom. If you've a need for anything don't hesitate to call someone of my staff or me." She nods, giving him a small smile. He turns to go when she grabs his hand, stopping him.

"Thank you Alpha....for everything." He's stunned when she nuzzles his palm, something only mates do, it raises his suspicions about her old pack even more.

"Y/N." She looks up, taking a step back. Her stance is immediately defensive. "Y/N I wanted to ask you about your old pack." Her shoulders relax slightly, but she still looks wary.

"Zayn told you about my punishments didn't he."

"Punishments?" She nodded, pulling her shirt up slightly to show him the fading Mark's and scars on her belly. He sucks in a sharp breath, his wolf snarling, a low growl immenating from him. "What did they punish you for?" She mumbles something, looking away from him. "I didn't catch that." He says a little louder, the only thing that seems to work is when he asserts his Alpha.

"They called me Devilrinn kind or 'devil child'. My wolf was beaten into submission. They said I was a mistake. If my wolf was allowed to be free I would destroy them." Harry is stunned. He knew some packs were superstitious, but he had never heard of them turning on a pack member.

"How old were you when this started?"

"Three." He shivers, unable to contain the rage within himself. He steps closer to her, reaching out to run his hands down her arms, she's shaking, he knows how hard this must be for her. "They isolated me. Beat me. Starved me. When I became of age is when they finally cast me out. They drove me from the village. They knew I would die because I was latent and alone." She takes a shaky breath.

"But you didn't." Harry says, he lifts her chin so she can do nothing but look into his eyes. They're soft and understanding as he speaks to her. "I found you and brought you here." She smiles at him bitterly.

"Pray my wolf doesn't break free....I'd hate to hurt you or any of the others...you're the nicest people I've met."

"I don't believe your wolf is dangerous....but there is a way I can find out." Her smile fades, replaced with a curious expression.

"There is?"

"Have you ever heard of soul touch?" She shakes her head. Of course not. If she had been isolated she wouldn't have been educated properly, thus the intiment nuzzle she had given him. It made sense. "Only Head Alpha's can do it. I can reach out and touch your wold spirit. I can see your past, everything." Y/N stared at him in awe. She wasn't sure what to say to that.

"I don't understand-"

"The way you've been treated," Harry interrupts. "Is unforgivable. I don't believe in abandoning anyone, especially due to a stupid rumor." She flinched at the way he said it. "I want to find them. Expose them. Save others if there are any in your position....but we can't figure out where you came from." She looked away again, down at her feet. "If you let me see I can help you. Maybe even find out the truth about your latency."

It is an enticing offer. She does want to know what is wrong with her. Why she malfunctioned, why she deserved the punishments, the loneliness. She looked back up at him.

"You won't hurt me?" She asks. He brushes his knuckles against her cheek.

"I can't promise it won't hurt but I'll do my best." She sighs, nodding her head.

"Whatever you can do to help me...I want to try."

Harry has her sit on her bed, back against the head board, he left briefly to find restraints. Soul touching is dangerous and she can easily be crushed. It's important for her not to move too much. She nods furiously as he explains this to her. She's curious, she wants to know what's wrong and she Hope's he'll finally be able to answer the questions she's been haunted by her whole life.

He checks the cuffs, making sure Y/N's arms are secured but not too tightly. She watches as he crawls over her, straddling her hips.

"You can still refuse.....are you sure?" He asks. He doesn't want to do this unless she's positive. There are other ways of finding her former pack if needed.

Y/N looks Harry in the eye, something Omegas are never to do, but she isn't afraid.

"I trust you." She says with certainty. Harry nods. He lifts his hand, bringing it to the center of her chest, he hears her breath hitch.

"Relax." She sighs shakily. Harry closes his eyes, taking a deep breath and pushes his hand into her chest. Y/N screams, body arching up towards him as be reaches for her soul. He groans when his fingers graze her soul. He hisses at the fragility before he feels himself falling deep into her consciousness. Her screams fading away.

The pain is intense as Harry pushes his hand into her chest. When his fingers graze her soul she screams at the pain, her body coursing with fire. She tries to keep her eyes on him but the further he pushes into her soul the more searing the pain. Her eyes roll in her head as she slumps forward, head resting on her chest, the pain too much to bear. Everything goes black.

Harry feels himself falling into her memories, surrounded by sights and sounds. He stands in a crowded room, three figures sit before a hearth while a woman kneels at their feet, a child in her arms. The child is Y/N he realizes.

"She is....unnatural." one of the men speaks, eyes gazing at the little girl, dozing in her mother's arms. The woman says nothing, he smell the fear on her and see her body tremble. One of the men stands, walking towards the woman. He knelt, reaching out to touch the girl, only to hiss sharply and draw his hand back.

"What?" The woman asks fearfully. "What is it?" The imagery begins to shake, Harry can feel Y/N's wolf bending against him, fragile as it was, he was pushing the limits.

Harry let go, the force of which knocked him off the bed. He scrambles to his feet, climbing over Y/N and reaching out to lift her face.

"H...Harry?" She asks weakly, body still slumped forward. Harry undoes the restraints letting her lean forward against his shoulder. "Harry did you see anything?"

"Not enough, no...your wolf isn't strong enough." She pulls back, looking up at him in distress.

"I don't understand?"

"Your wolf has been suppressed for so long....It couldn't handle the stroke of an Alpha. I could have broken your spirit. Killed you." Tears begin to fill her eyes.

"So that's it? We just give up?" Her words shake as she speaks.

"No darling no," he sits up straight, reaching out to take her hand in his. "We make you strong. We let her out."

"But I already told you-"

"I don't think your wolf is anymore harmful than any other Omegas. You certainly won't be able to overpower me." He leans down, pressing his forehead to hers, looking into her eyes. He doesn't know why he does this, it's an intimate act. But he wants to be close to her.

He feels her wolf being soothed by his proximity, it makes him lean in closer, reaching out to pull her to him. She sits on his lap, straddling his hips as he begins to scent her. He doesn't know why, but it feels good.

That's when he smells it. The first wave of arousal coming off of her.

Harry pushes her from his lap. She lands back on the bed with a soft 'oof' looking up at him, he says nothing, leaving the room quickly.

Y/N doesn't have time to be hurt. Just as Harry slams the door behind him she feels a surge of arousal fill her body and a sticky wetness between her legs. She moans, tossing her head back into the pillows, squirming as she begins to go into her very first heat. Alone.

"Tend to her. Make sure she has whatever she needs. Keep her hydrated. This is her first heat and since she's latent it's going to be painful." The omegas curtsey before leaving Harry in the den. He runs his hand through his hair, trying to calm his own wolf. He doesn't understand why he's reacting so sharply to her but it's taking everything he-

"Harry!" Niall burst through the door, an urgent look in his eye. "I came as soon as you called."

"I went in. I touched Y/N's soul." Niall gives him a wary look but let's him continue. "Her soul was so fragile. I was only in maybe two minutes before it started to collapse and now-"

"She's in heat." Niall finished for him. "I can smell her." Harry runs his hand through his hair nervously.

"I don't know what to do Niall. I've never met a wolf like her before." Niall reached out, patting his friend on the shoulder.

"It'll be alright Hazza. We'll figure it out." He pauses. "But I do wonder...."

"Wonder what?" Harry asked.

"What if she were to mate? " Harry's eyes widen, he opens his mouth to respond but Niall cuts him off. "The emerging of souls, being bound to an Alpha....it might just be the push she needs to assert her own wolf....if we could get her wolf to come out, the soul touch wouldn't be as fatal."

"That's a great idea Niall. Except she's only been here a short period of time. She doesn't even know anyone to mate-" they're interrupted by a knock on the door. "What." Harry snarls as Camille pokes her head through. She looks slightly irritated.

"The girl. The one in heat. She's calling for you Alpha." Harry looked at Niall.

"Go to her Harry. If it's right, you'll know."

#harry styles #harry styles fanfic #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles fic #harry styles x reader #harry styles x you #harry styles imagine #harry styles one shot #solo harry #hs fandom #hs imagine #hs fanfic #hs2 #hs1

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riseandshinelittleblossom · 5 years

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Hoping for Home Ch 4~ Scar

Summary: Sixteen years ago Libby Scott was supposed to become Queen of Cordonia, but Fate had other plans. Catch up here (ya know ya wanna).

Song for this chapter: “Scar” by Foxes

Disclaimer: I don’t own the TRR characters, they own me

Tags: @fullbeaumonty @speedyoperarascalparty @cocomaxley@leelee10898 @ao719 @hopefulmoonobject@itsstillnotwhatyouthink @choiceswreckedme @indiacater@drakesensworld @carabeth @daniv2278 @cosigottahavefaith @gibbles82 @innerpostmentality @blackcoffee85@perfectprofessorherokid @darley1101 @jovialyouthmusic@liamxs-world @thequeenofcronuts @blznbaby@stopforamoment @zilch3382 @wannabemc2 @jlouise88 @lodberg

Liam awoke before the sun rose and slipped quietly from his bed to avoid waking his queen.

He picked up his phone and shot off a text to Bastien, his head of security. He knew that Bas would never let him make so far a journey without a guard, but perhaps if he let the man know his intentions Bastien would assign to him someone a bit more discreet than his usual security, if only for today.

Liam hopped into the shower, not bathing right away, instead he stood with one hand planted on the cool tile allowing the steaming water to cascade over him. The shower was the only place that a king was ever truly alone with his thoughts, so Liam didn't dare squander the opportunity.

*********

Las Vegas, Nevada- 16 years ago

“What do you mean you have no idea where she is, Mara? You are her bodyguard.” Liam seethed. He was doing his best to keep an even tone, but his patience was quickly waning.

“Alexi was on duty by her door, Your Highness. It was shift change. I have spoken with him extensively and-” Mara tried to explain.

“Enough!” The King barked. “Where is Alexi? Bring him to me.”

After a few moments the young King's guard strode into the room trying-but failing-to hide his nervousness.

“I want a complete rundown of Duchess Libby's evening after my departure from her in the hotel lobby.” Liam snapped, palm landing hard on the desktop before him, cutting straight to the point.

“She and Lord Beaumont got into the elevator together. When I arrived on her floor I saw her closing the door to her room. I took up my regular post outside of her door. A few hours passed and Lord Beaumont slipped out of the room. He was alone. That was at 3am, Sir. By 5am, as my shift was ending, I used the master key to gain access to the Duchess's room where I found her asleep on the sofa in her suite's sitting area, so I slipped off to the bathroom. After I returned to my post an hour more passed before Mara relieved me. No one else came or went, Sir.

It's my professional opinion that the Duchess's absence is...by design,Sir. There appears to be no sign of a struggle. I believe she left of her own volition.”

Liam stroked his chin a moment before finally nodding. “Thank you, Alexi. You're excused. Please go and collect Lord Beaumont for me. I'd like to speak to him at once.”

Maxwell was ushered in my Mara and Alexi looking as panic-stricken as everyone else.

“Liam, where's Libby?” He asked immediately.

“That's exactly what I wanted to ask you, old friend. It seems you were the last person to-ahem- speak to her.”

Maxwell's body tensed as he readied to defend himself.

“Are you interrogating me, Your Majesty?” he asked incredulously.

“Maxwell, last night you were in my fiance's bed and this morning she is missing. What would you do in my situation?” Liam steepled his hands as he rested his elbows on the desk.

“Well I sure as hell wouldn't be questioning the only person that cares about her as much as I do in this fashion. Especially when we're supposed to be friends. Liam, you had royal guards escort me here. Don't you trust me?” Maxwell barked as Bastien took a few steps towards him.

Liam waved off the security.

“Maxwell, we've been friends for a very long time, and as much as it pains me to say this- no. I do not trust you. Not when it comes to Libby. I know the two of you are….Do you know where she is?”

Maxwell balked. “No, Liam. I don't have a clue as to where she is.”

**************

The Royal Palace-Present day

Olivia was awake by the time Liam had dressed after his shower. He filled her in on his plans for today, asking her to take his place during a brunch with the French Ambassador.

“I can handle brunch for you, sure. But are you sure you want to drive to Ramsford alone? Things between you and Maxwell aren't exactly...as they once were.”

Liam sighed. “I know, darling. I'm hoping that he will hear me out. I'm not saying that Maxwell can't handle himself, but there's no doubt he's been invited to Valtoria as well. My feelings for Libby are complicated but I've mended. Maxwell has not. Whatever they had all those years ago….it was very real to him, Liv. He still wears his heartbreak like an open wound. I just want to be sure he hasn't…”

“Fallen off the wagon? I guess I can see that. Just let me know when you make it there, okay? You know I'll worry.” She kissed her husband's cheek before smoothing his t-shirt over his shoulders.

“I will be back this evening. And Liv?”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Thank you for understanding. All of this. I know it isn't very fair to you.”

She waved her hand. “Liam, Libby was one of a very select few that I considered to be my friend, and she hurt me too. She's been gone for so long now it's almost as if she's come back from the dead. When I got that invitation to tomorrow night's ball I assumed it would be an emotional few days for all us. Besides, I know you love me, and we've talked about this. Just go and make sure Maxwell is okay. I'll be fine.”

He gripped the steering wheel of his Rolls Royce as the engine roared to life. He'd barely made it out of the palace gates when his eyes flicked to the rearview mirror noticing the security SUV behind him.

He silently thanked Bastien for understanding his need to do this “alone” and settled in for the journey to Ramsford.

****************

Valtoria- Cordonia- 14 years ago

Liam stepped cautiously into the study at Valtoria. He found the room was empty and he couldn't mask his disappointment that she wasn't there yet.

“I'll inform the Duchess of your arrival, Your Majesty.” Tessa, the majordomo, said with a curtsy and the king nodded.

After a few moments Libby entered the room. She wore an oversized, white, turtleneck sweater and a pair of black leggings, her strawberry blonde hair was braided over her shoulder.

Liam felt his heart drop into his stomach at the sight of her.

“Libby. I... I'm glad to see you.” He said finally.

She was staring at the floor, but her eyes flicked up to meet his briefly as she motioned to the brown leather sofa beside them. He joined her and the room filled up with a silence so deafening it made Liam's ears ring.

“I want to start out by saying how truly, truly sorry I am, Li.” She broke the ice.

“I'm sure you had your reasons.”

Libby scoffed. “There is no reason that makes up for what I did to you, Your Majesty.”

Liam reached for her hand and she let him take it in his.

“I felt like I owed you an explanation. I didn't want to do it over the phone. My life has been…. eventful since I left, but I came back as soon as I could.”

He nodded. “Well then, tell me...what happened? Why did you leave in the first place? Tell me what you've been up to all this time. Tell me everything.”

Libby took a deep breath, exhaling audibly before she began.

“Do you remember the night you proposed to me, Liam? Do you remember what I said to you?”

Liam nodded. When she didn't continue, he said, “You told me that you loved me. That you would always love me, but that there was another that held your heart. Libby I... I was hopeful then that one day you would change your mind. If we married, I thought that I could love you….like that...enough for the both of us. I, well I realize now that that was... selfish of me.”

Libby squeezed his hand. “No more selfish than me running away. After Vegas, I…” she swallowed hard before looking deep into his eyes, “ ...didn't want to pretend anymore. I knew how you felt and I didn't return those feelings. I also knew that you deserved to be married to someone that did.

After...he...left that night, I wondered what life would be like in Cordonia without either of you. I knew that even if you and I called off the wedding that you would let me stay-what we were doing for the country was too important. But imagining a life where I had to keep both you and Maxwell at arm's length forever….Liam I wasn't strong enough to face that.”

The King was quiet as he soaked up her words, chewing them over before he finally said, “What kind of man would I be-what kind of a king-if I kept you from your heart's true desires, Libby? You, of course, will always have a home in Cordonia as long as I am king. And had you chosen to stay I would have never faulted you for choosing Maxwell.”

She blinked back hot tears as she looked into Liam's eyes, her voice cracking as she whispered, “I never thought that you would. After the scandal I caused-.”

“My father caused that scandal, Libby. It was never your fault.” Liam interrupted.

“Well it was meant to embarrass you and I was at it's center. And then the assassination attempts, also meant to discredit you...leaving you two days before our wedding to marry Max? I would never, ever do that to you,Li. The press would've had a field day. The assassins would've been one step closer to winning. The best thing for me to do was what I did. I slipped quietly into the night, just as quickly as I came. I figured it was the least I could do for you and for Maxwell and Bertrand who-despite everything- still believed I'd be a good queen.”

Liam reached up and tucked a strand of hair back into her braid before using his thumb to wipe away a stray tear from her cheek.

“Elizabeth Scott, I love you. I will probably always love you, because your first love only happens once. And I admire your intentions to try and bare the brunt for all of us involved, but you don't have to. Please come home. We don't have to be together-that's not what I'm asking. I'm asking you to come back to Cordonia. This country still needs you. I- Maxwell, Drake, Hana, Liv- we all still need you.”

“It's not that simple, Liam. My life...there are things... I have a new life now.”

************”*****

Ramsford, Cordonia - Present Day

Maxwell entered the study, stumbling back a few steps when he saw Liam on the settee.

“Your Majesty,” he bowed. “What do I owe this honor?”

Liam stood and crossed the floor pulling the stupefied man into a tight squeeze.

“You look good, Max.” he told him.

“Oh, this is a personal call? It's only been, what? Maybe 5 years since you've made one of those.”

The brunette walked over to a cabinet, opening it to reveal an assortment of liquors. “You want something, Li? I think I might need something if you're here to discuss the invitation to Valtoria I received.”

Liam forced a chuckle as he sat back down. “Sure, a scotch on the rocks, please.”

What felt like an eternity of awkward silence passed between the once close friends as they clutched their drinks.

“So she has heirs. Babies. Twins, I'm assuming.” Maxwell finally said, sucking his teeth as he pulled his glass from his lips.

“That's how it would appear.” The King began. “How are you handling things?”

“Look, Liam. I haven't gone off the deep end on some wild drinking binge, okay? I've been grading midterms and trying to decide if I should even go.”

“I am merely asking a question, Maxwell. No need to get hostile. Despite our...strained past, I do care about what happens to you. You're still my friend.”

Maxwell sighed.

“I don't know. Part of me can't wait to see her, but part of me feels like if I never saw her again it would be too soon.”

Liam nodded as he watched his friend rake his fingers through his hair before he continued.

“I- I think she called me the other day, Liam. I would put money on it. She hung up so fast, but….how would she even get my number? Hana?”

“I would think if Hana had given it to her she'd have done so many years ago. I also think that if that were the case, Libby would have used it sooner.”

Maxwell winced at the sound of her name.

“If I were you I would go, Max. You need the closure.” Liam rested his hand on the other man's knee and Maxwell nodded.

“After so many years you'd think the pain would go away. But it's still there, Liam, right under the surface. I wanna yell at her. After everything Bertrand and I did for her. After everything you did for her. And Hana and Drake. She just…” Maxwell used his fingers to mime a person running.

“How dare she? It's like she waltzed in here-pun definitely intended- and bewitched everyone and then..”

“You're still in love with her. Even after all this time?” The King interrupted.

Maxwell sank back in his seat exasperated, running a hand down his face. “Aren't you? You're telling me you feel nothing?”

“Not nothing, but surely not love. I feel more of a fondness in the place of what once was. I've moved on from that years ago. I think, however there is a lot to be said for the fact that you haven't.”

Maxwell narrowed his eyes and knocked back the rest of his drink. “Well not all of us are exalted kings, Liam. Some of us are still only mere mortals.”

***************

Valtoria, Cordonia - present day

Drake sighed an exaggerated sigh.

“Okay so I know why she's here.” He pointed to his daughter. “And them.” He gestured towards the twins and Hana's son, Abel.

“Remind me why I'm here again.”

Libby rolled her eyes as she set the needle on the record player. She set her body into the starting position for the Cordonian Waltz.

“Get over here, Walker. You said you'd help give the twins some courtly lessons. All that's left to teach them is how to dance.”

Reluctantly Drake set his body as a mirror image of Libby's, pulling her into the dance.

Will burst into laughter. “Okay, Mom. You've asked us to believe some pretty far out there things the last month or so, but the fact that Drake knows how to dance has the be the best one yet.”

Drake cocked an eyebrow. “I'll have you know I'm an excellent waltzer. And ya know what? Your ole Mom here taught me. So zip it and learn something.”

He twirled Libby effortlessly through the empty ballroom and when the waltz finally ended she beamed at him.

“Good to see you haven't lost your touch there, Scott.” Drake smiled.

“You weren't too bad yourself, Walker. Now kids, pair off. Emma and Will I want you to start so that when the time comes to switch partners I can see how well each of you do.” Libby instructed.

The kids did very well to start, and when it was time, Abel expertly spun McKenzie into Will's arms.

“Well hi!” She giggled.

Will blinked at her, losing his footing. “I'm sorry,” he winced as he smashed both of her feet, one after the other.

“It's fine. I don't need them for anything. You're doing great, Romeo.”

Will spun her under his arm, her chocolate locks fanning around her. A smile played on her lips as she returned to him, her back pressed against his chest, and Will's breath caught in his throat at the sight. He had never seen anything as angelic as McKenzie Walker.

“R-romeo?” He questioned. She sunk her body into him for a moment.

“You heard me.”

“So does that make you my Juliette?” He whispered in her ear and she giggled.

“Only time will tell.”

Emma swayed happily in time wrapped in Abel's strong arms. She wasn't sure exactly what had changed since she'd seen him last summer, but suddenly she found herself giddy in his presence, her stomach churning blissfully when he smiled at her.

“You're rather good at this.” He commented as he moved his body with hers.

Emma's cheeks flashed crimson.

“I want to get this right, ya know? This is important to Mom.”

“But is it important to you? My opinion is that it should be, because this is your life, after all. Life is far too short to put such effort into anything that doesn't set your soul on fire.” Abel winked at her.

“Well there are certainly worse ways to spend my afternoon than dancing with you.” She told him.

Libby sighed, leaning her head on Drake's shoulder as they watched the teenagers twirl.

“I never thought it would be this hard.” Libby commented.

“What's that? Training your kids for the court?”

She giggled. “No. Watching them all fall in love while dancing the Cordonian Waltz, just like I did so many years ago. It really is an enchanting dance.”

Drake's eyes went wide as he peered over at McKenzie. There was a difference in the way her smile reached her eyes and the look she was giving Will was very reminiscent of the one his late wife used to give him.

He shook his head. “Scott, you're crazy.”

“Am I, Walker? Maybe that's what it is that's wrong with me.”

#hoping for home au #hoping for home #trr au #the royal romance au #trr king liam #trr maxwell beaumont #trr drake walker #trr olivia nevrakis

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