#liam just has a certain tone huh

[alj4890]

All Through the Night

A Choices: The Royal Romance Dark AU

A/N Picking up right where we left off in the prologue and delving deep into the Beaumont's part of this storyline. We will also begin to see what some of our other TRR characters are and how they affect this divided kingdom of Cordonia. This is a VERY long chapter since I went into both Beaumont's histories, but I couldn’t find a good place to end their beginning to this storyline, LOL. Hope it doesn’t ruin this for anyone.

@gkittylove99 ​​ @krsnlove ​ @kingliam2019 ​ @texaskitten30 ​ @yourmajesty09 ​ @mom2000aggie ​ @ofpixelsandscribbles ​ @twinkleallnight ​ @lodberg ​ @twinkleallnight ​ @amandablink ​ @neotericthemis ​  @mm2305 ​ @sfb123 ​ @iufilms​​ ​ ​ @tessa-liam @busywoman​ 

Masterlist

Part 1

Outside the Cordonian Palace...

"Home?" Drake asked as he fell into step beside Liam.

"So soon?" The prince smiled at him. "The night is still young. We could check out a club or two."

"Uh huh." Drake shook his head. "Nice try, but I know you, Liam. Where are we really headed?"

Liam's smile dimmed. "I thought about checking on Leo."

"Leo? Why?"

"I'm worried about him. That last argument he had with Father...he hasn't been in contact at all with anyone at home." Liam softly sighed. "He hasn't answered any of my calls or messages."

"Then why visit?" Drake's tone was filled with bitterness. "Some siblings leave without a second glance and don't care how much it hurts you in the process."

Liam winced at the reminder he had caused his closest friend. "Forgive me. I didn't mean to bring up memories of Sav--"

"She's dead now." Drake bit out.

Liam closed his mouth. He knew that wasn't true, but it was the only way Drake could deal with what Savannah had done. Ever since the Beaumont’s appeared that fateful night, the Walker's had been permanently damaged.

He didn't know if there was even a chance for a reconciliation between the two.

Clearing his throat, Liam returned to the subject of Leo. "I can't come down here without checking on him."

"Is he even here anymore?" Drake asked. "I thought he had left Cordonia all together after your father refused his latest petition."

"He did. But through new sources, I have discovered that he not only returned, but has been back for quite some time."

They walked on in silence until they stopped in front of a small townhome.

They stared at the façade where not a single light was on.

Liam checked the time. "Perhaps it is too late to call upon him now that he is part of the human world."

"We can always come back after sunset." Drake offered.

"You don't have to accompany me." Liam placed a comforting hand upon his shoulder. "I think I can manage to get around down here on my own."

"And leave you alone with not only a Nevarkis but also a Beaumont protecting the streets from your kind." Drake's eyes narrowed. "Fat chance."

Liam shook his head. "Olivia is not going to harm me. And--"

"You can't trust her. I know you think you're little bond you made with her as a kid will keep you safe, but she'll end up just like her family and betray you the first moment she can."

"She's one of my closest friends." Liam argued. "She would never--"

"And as for Beaumont, do you honestly believe he will not seek revenge for what happened to his brother?" Drake snapped. "I'm surprised he has waited this long to make a move."

Liam knew there was little use arguing when Drake fell into this state of mind. With a sigh, he turned away from his brother's current dwelling and began to make the long trek back to the Blackspire Mountains.

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

Earlier that night, Ramsford...

So many memories...

Maxwell stood in front of the wall of weapons his ancestors had collected over the years.

His hand raised, trailing over the gold kraken near the hilt of his namesake's sword, the very one that felt like an extension of his own arm.

"Here you are." Bertrand grumbled. "We need to discuss the next Beaumont Bash."

The young lord had to summon all his strength to fall into the act that was necessary.

"You came to the right man." He spun around, his movements as smooth as silk. "What would you like me to do?"

"I'm leaving music selection in your hands. Savannah," Bertrand smiled softly, "will be handling the decorations. I will of course be choosing the menu." He held up his many lists of chores. "I want my wife's first ball to be praised by all who attend."

"This will be the Beaumont Bash to beat all the previous ones." Maxwell promised.

"I knew I could count on you." Bertrand hesitated. "Perhaps, is there a young lady you would like to invite?"

Maxwell fought to keep his carefree act in place.

"You know me." He shrugged with a dimpled grin. "It's difficult to find...someone right."

Bertrand patted his shoulder. "You'll find the right person."

Once he disappeared down the stairs, Maxwell allowed his smile to disappear.

The past year and a half had been difficult. Becoming this version of a party loving noble grated on his nerves. He wished that they could go back to what they once were...monster hunters.

The Beaumont Brothers had once struck fear in the Dark Kingdom. The very notion that they had been tasked to bring a creature to justice sent many of them scurrying into the far reaches of the realm. Yet, none could escape them for long.

At least...that was how it once was.

That one fateful encounter with the King of the Dark Kingdom made their entire world turn upside down.

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

2 years ago...

"Wait." Bertrand placed his hand on Maxwell's shoulder.

He did a few hand signals.

Maxwell nodded and slipped his sword out of its sheath. He briefly closed his eyes, using his other senses to zoom in on where the danger was. The woods along the outskirts of the Dark Kingdom could be treacherous during the daylight. At night, it was nothing but a death trap to the random lost hiker.

Sensing a presence a little to his right, Maxwell took a few silent steps forward.

Bertrand followed, guarding his back with a crossbow.

"Stop!" A female's voice cried out. "Please, my lords. Help me!"

The brothers froze at the sobs that followed that plea.

"She sounds human." Bertrand whispered. "Could she be lost?"

"This far up the mountain?" Maxwell countered. "Not likely. It's probably another vile fiend hoping to trap her next meal."

"Please." The voice was faint, sounding almost defeated. "Please help me escape."

Escape. That one word meant she was an innocent human, one that would most likely perish from the monsters that resided nearby.

Bertrand stopped Maxwell and stepped in front of him.

Parting the branches of a bush, they saw a woman sitting on the ground. Her knees were pulled up to her chest and her face was buried in her arms. Her body shook with muffled cries.

"Will no one help me?" She repeated over and over.

Bertrand lowered his weapon then knelt before her.

Maxwell remained tense, ready to lop off her head if she even made the slightest movement to harm his brother.

"We can help you." Bertrand reached out and laid a gentle hand on her arm. "Who--"

The brothers jumped back when she lifted her face.

She was a Walker and not just any Walker: Savannah Walker, only sister to the crown prince's right hand, Sir Drake Walker.

The two were the only descendants left of a human family that once centuries ago had made a blood oath to the Rhys. Each generation served as a protector and companion of sorts to the reigning family.

Savannah wiped at her tears. She cautiously rose, then held her hands out to them. "Please. I know who you are and I mean you no harm."

Bertrand had yet to raise his crossbow. His jaw was slack as he gazed upon her.

Maxwell pointed his sword at her. "We received a message asking us to search for a missing human." His eyes narrowed. "Did you send that message?"

She nodded. "Forgive me for lying, but I knew you wouldn't come if you knew it was from me."

Maxwell cursed, his nerves notched to an eleven as his eyes scanned the forest for a possible ambush.

"Why do you need to escape?" Bertrand asked.

"Aren't you the prince's right hand girl?" Maxwell taunted. "No longer enjoying being a vampire's plaything?"

Savannah winced at his insults.

"That's enough." Bertrand snapped. "She needs our help."

Maxwell's jaw dropped. "Surely you don't believe her?"

"I do." Bertrand moved closer to her. "Tell me what is going on."

Maxwell looked up to make certain the sky wasn't falling. Had his overly cautious brother, the very one that made him train hours upon hours each and every day, just defend an enemy of Cordonia?

"Prince Liam demands nothing from me, other than the occasional donation of blood." She sniffed. "He is very kind, but I don't want to remain here." Her warm brown eyes held Bertrand's. "I want to live a normal life, have a family...one that isn't bound to live here."

Bertrand rubbed a hand down his face. She looked so desperate, so in need of reassurance that she could have that dream.

"You're bound by a blood oath." Maxwell reminded her with a shrug. "There's nothing we can do to help you."

"Please!" She jerked her hands back when his sword swatted them. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to--"

"Maxwell Percival Beaumont!" Bertrand moved in front of Savannah. "Lower that weapon this instant!"

"Have you lost your mind?" Maxwell motioned toward the one that dragged them out of their beds. "Has she cast some spell over you? She's a member of the inner Dark Court. She probably has some signal that will have Constantine and his spawn out here to end us."

"I don't." She cried. "I could never do that."

Bertrand wrapped an arm around her. "We can't help you escape tonight. The blood oath will kill you if you break it without magic." He gently squeezed her close. "We'll find out what must be done and then rescue you."

"We'll do what now?" Maxwell jerked his brother away from her. "We are not prepared to face off against both Constantine and Liam."

"We'll find a way around them." Bertrand hissed. "Regina will know what to do."

"You're involving the witches now?" Maxwell's eyes grew incredulous. "You know they don't take sides."

Bertrand glanced back at Savannah. "I know. But we must try."

He returned to her and softly whispered the plan.

Maxwell watched as her eyes filled with tears again. She nodded, whispered a way to contact her and then impulsively kissed his brother’s cheek.

"Thank you." She squeezed his hand. "I must return before someone notices I'm absent."

She took off, stumbling through the brush, and disappeared from sight.

"We're really doing this?" Maxwell muttered.

"We are." Bertrand vowed. "She doesn't deserve to be imprisoned here for what her ancestors did."

"Everyone is in some type of prison thanks to our ancestors." Maxwell told him as he started back down the mountain. "Some of us just endure our life sentence better than others."

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

A few weeks went by after encountering Ms. Walker. Bertrand summoned Regina and her coven to discuss how best to help Savannah.

The Guardian, as she was referred to by the younger witches, pondered this problem. Reassuring him that she would find a way, she rose to retire to a guest room.

"Just a minute, please." Maxwell held up a hand to stop her. "Your admirer must never know of this. He'll kill her as well as us if he thinks we plan on disrupting his castle."

Regina stiffened at the word, admirer.

It was no secret that Constantine had fallen in love with her. Years ago, the vampire had made her an offer of marriage. She had been tempted to accept, given that she had lost her heart to him as well. Then tragedy struck and her cousin and her husband perished in a plane crash, leaving their young daughter Madeleine, an orphan.

Regina had noticed that the little girl had inherited magical skills that could be molded into a powerful witch. Knowing that their talent would not be welcomed in the Dark Kingdom, she refused Constantine's proposal and remained in Cordonia. She had raised the young countess to be a witch that would do whatever she could to protect the innocent and needy.

Madeleine had formed friendships with two other noble ladies, completing the coven that would replace Regina on her death. Ladies Kiara and Penelope studied hard, yet were never quite as powerful as Madeleine.

And now the Beaumont’s were asking a favor.

Regina knew she owed them one. Hundreds of years earlier Percival Beaumont had saved the life of her ancestor, Kayden Vescovi. Without him, Regina and Madeleine would not be here today nor imbued with magic.

Madeleine slipped inside.

"Do you really think we can break a blood oath?" She sat down beside her relative. "Blood magic is tricky enough as it is. I can only imagine how much it will take from us to break."

Regina gently patted her hand. "We will do all we can to find a way. Our debt to the Beaumont’s must be repaid."

Madeleine nodded in agreement. "I brought some books along. I'll see if they have anything that can help us."

Regina watched her pixie like cousin slip out the door with a fond smile. It slowly firmed into a frown as she thought of what she had discovered before journeying to Ramsford.

Leo Rhys, former prince of the Dark Kingdom had begun visiting Madeleine in secret. 

She knew she would have to address that once she discovered the type of relationship Madeleine had with the young man. Now though, she was needed to solve this problem for Bertrand.

It took weeks of research, then having to wait upon a waning gibbus moon before a potion could be prepared. Once Regina had placed the bottle sealed with a waxed cork in Bertrand's hand, she had explained what must be done.

"Savannah must drink this and declare herself free from the Rhys' family." She explained. "Then she must force herself to turn her back on them and walk away. It will be painful for her, but she will survive."

"Thank you." Bertrand bowed. "I knew if anyone could help us, it would be you."

She gently squeezed his hand. "If you need me, do not hesitate to call. I will be here as fast as I can."

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

That night, the brothers slipped quietly through a gate into the Dark Kingdom. Savannah had told Bertrand that it was their best place to go undetected, given that the guard typically dozed off around the midnight hour.

"How often have you two talked?" Maxwell whispered.

"Everyday." Bertrand replied.

"Everyday?!"

"Keep your voice down." Bertrand ordered.

"She called to pester you everyday over this blood oath potion?"

"Not exactly." Bertrand slinked further into the shadows when they noticed a few people lingering around a town center.

"Then what have you been talking about?" Maxwell prodded.

He wasn't prepared to hear the answer.

"Marriage." Bertrand reluctantly replied

"Marriage? To whom?" His eyes widened. "You're going to marry a Walker?!"

"Yes." Bertrand narrowed his eyes. "She is kind and--"

"She's a Walker. A. Walker." Maxwell stressed. "Enemy to any and all monster hunters."

"She's not our enemy." Bertrand snapped. "For that matter, she says that Liam isn't either. He wants peace between our kingdoms."

"Oh well, that's a relief." Maxwell mocked, wiping his brow. "The word of a vampire is the one thing you can always count on."

Bertrand grit his teeth together to keep from saying something he might regret. He needed his younger brother's support and approval with this decision. He had never had a moment in his life since Maxwell's birth where he didn't have that. He would need it even more so in taking Savannah for his bride. He also hoped that Maxwell would become a brother to her since she was about to lose the only family she had ever known.

Regina had told him to stress to Savannah that breaking this blood oath could also destroy the bond she had with her brother, Drake.

He had done so over the phone, then wished he could be there to hold her as her heart broke over this hefty price.

With a shaky voice, she had remained determined to leave and marry him.

Creeping onward towards the castle, the brothers remained each lost in thought of what the future would bring.

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

Castle Rhys, that fateful night....

"Welcome home, my dear Sherry. And Rashad, how was your trip? Successful as usual, I believe." Constantine greeted the cousins warmly.

The two bowed and curtsied before relaxing again.

"It was very successful, your majesty." Rashad sat down in a chair catty cornered to the king's. "In fact, I was able to...."

While the pair talked, Sherry hurried over to hug Liam.

"Sherry!" He swung her into a tight hug. "I didn't think you were returning to us so soon."

"I missed home." She stepped back and grinned at Drake. "How have you been, Sir Drake?"

"Stop that sir mess and come here." He couldn't maintain his frown for long around her after pulling her into a tight hug. "The Blackspire Mountains haven't been the same without you flying about."

Sherry, formally Lady Sherveen Alcantar cousin to the Duke of Domvallier, Lord Rashad Kovak, was a fire-user. She and Rashad were direct descendants of King Dominic and his secret marriage to Sei Rhuka after the death of Queen Kenna. The fire users had decided to marry to protect the true heir to the kingdom and give him a family that would always be ready to fight by his side.

Like their ancestors the two cousins could transform into dragons and were known to fly above the clouds, away from curious humans.

Given their direct descent and blood relationship to each member of the Rhys family, their closeness had been encouraged with each and every generation. Sei had been the one to decree that every dragon born was to devote their lives to keeping their vampire relatives safe.

"Where's Savannah?" Sherry asked. "It seems like forever since I last saw her."

"Sav's been down lately." Drake explained. "Maybe she has been missing you and Rashad." He began to walk away, "I'll go fetch her."

Liam motioned for Sherry to sit with him.

As she lowered herself down, her gray eyes turned silver. A delectable smell seemed to waft from nearby. It fluttered her senses.

"Excuse me a moment, Liam," she pushed her jet black hair back and searched for the source.

It wasn't food she smelled, but rather someone. Possibly the one if she was to go by how her ancestors described finding the perfect mate. Her heartbeat accelerated as the smell became stronger with each step she took.

Then she noticed the guards' bodies lining the second floor hallway.

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

Savannah said the words necessary after drinking the potion. Her insides became engulfed with flames, scalding her blood of any magic.

"AHH-" she clamped her hands over her mouth to muffle the agonizing scream while boiling tears slipped down her cheeks. A white hot mist began to float up from her skin.

"Savannah!" Bertrand tried to take her in his arms, but was burned upon touching a bare piece of her skin.

"Let's go." She managed to say through painful gasps. "We must hurry. It's almost--"

Her bedroom door flew open. A stunned Drake followed by Sherry walked into the room.

"Sav? What did you do?" Drake gripped his head. "Why don't I feel--"

Sherry stared wide eyed at Maxwell. She could feel the heat move over her body and pooling within her palms. One little flick of a finger would have fire burning within her grasp.

The one I'm meant for is a hunter?

But how could this be? They couldn't--impossible--how would they ever--

"I'm leaving, Drake." Savannah sobbed. "I can't take it anymore."

"What are you talking about?" He staggered against a wall and slowly slid down. "Why do I feel like you have died? That you've been taken from me?"

"I'm sorry." She knelt beside him. "So incredibly sorry."

He passed out from the pain pulsating in his veins.

"No!" Savannah tried to wake him up. "Drake please--"

"We have to go." Maxwell eyed the silver irises holding his own gaze. "Don't make any sudden moves."

Sherry merely nodded.

The three edged around her to the door.

"Who are you?" Sherry asked.

"No concern of yours." He bit out.

"But..."

She had to chase after him.

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

It had happened in the blink of an eye. One minute, they saw the exit and felt elation at having succeeded. Then a sinister creature flew over their heads. It landed in front of them then threw its cloak back.

Constantine had found them.

"What did you do Savannah?" He snarled. "Why is your brother unconscious? Whatever you did also hurt Liam."

"Sir, I am so sorry. But I can't--"

"You haven't begun to feel sorrow." Constantine held her gaze, then reached out to torment her mind until she was beyond help.

Bertrand knew what was happening and jumped in front of Savannah, taking the hit of Constantine's frightening power.

He fell to the floor with a scream. Curling into a ball, he cried out for his dead mother and then for Maxwell.

Constantine slumped against a wall too, his powers surprisingly weak.

"Bertrand!" Savannah gently touched him and tried to snap him out of whatever nightmare Constantine had thrust him in.

It was no use. Whatever the vampire king had done, there was no clear way to help Bertrand.

"What did you do to him?" Maxwell demanded. "Tell me now before I kill you!"

"Do?" Constantine's voice had grown weak. "I got my revenge."

"No please!" Savannah pleaded. "There's bound to be a way we can end this amicably."

Bertrand’s screams turned to whimpers.

Fighting his own panic, Maxwell picked up his brother and began to back out of the room.

"Wait!" Sherry stepped forward. "I must--"

Liam appeared, causing the hairs on Maxwell's neck to rise.

"Savannah?" He stumbled forward, catching himself against a side table. "What is going on?"

"I'm so sorry Liam." Savannah whispered. "Please tell Drake I love him, but I have to live my own life. Tell him," she glanced back at the man sobbing in Maxwell's arms, "tell him I'm to marry Bertrand Beaumont."

"No!" Sherry shook her head.

It couldn't be. She had lost her heart, her very choice to choose another mate, to Maxwell Beaumont.

"Savannah," Constantine hissed. "If you ever return to the Dark Kingdom, I will kill you for this treason."

Tears continued to slip down her cheeks, her blood had cooled, giving her a new dose of strength to turn her back upon her king and leave all she'd ever known forever.

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

Maxwell had struggled to get his brother down the mountain. Once back within Cordonia's borders, he had called Regina. No human doctor could help Bertrand. He hoped that a witch could reverse the effects of Constantine's vicious attack.

Regina worked tirelessly along with Madeleine to find a way to cure the young duke. The potions and spells they tried did little to bring him out of his fear.

Savannah never left Bertrand's side. She took care of him, fed him, tried to soothe him when he cried out. She did everything Regina suggested in between their treatments. Maxwell begrudgingly began to soften toward her when he saw that she truly loved his brother.

After a month of this, Regina finally sat Maxwell and Savannah down to offer them one final solution.

"I cannot bring him back." Her eyes were filled with sorrow. "Constantine's power is too strong. The damage is too extensive."

Savannah bit back a sob. "It's all my fault."

Maxwell silently agreed. If she had only accepted her lot in life like everyone else did.

"Bertrand made his choice." He mumbled, knowing he would want him to try and comfort her. "You were his choice."

She blinked back tears. "I won't give up on him."

Maxwell wondered. Hadn't she given up on Liam and Drake? And whoever that girl was with the silver eyes? Why would she remain with a mentally damaged man she had only seen once before and had a few conversations with?

Only monsters fell in love that quickly.

Was she--

"What I can do is give Bertrand a new mind." Regina leaned forward. "It will take years to make it permanent. You will have to slip him potions until the new memories settle."

Savannah and Maxwell sat up.

"New mind? So you can give him what he was before the attack?" Maxwell asked.

"I could, but I won't." Regina explained. "I'm afraid the knowledge of the Dark Kingdom would cause the new mind to never fully develop. His fears are forever tied to Constantine now. What he's seeing in his mind are you both, your parents, and even himself being tortured by the king and other monstrous creatures. It is a never ending slide show of agony."

Maxwell swallowed as stray tears began to fall down his cheeks. No wonder Bertrand screamed his name and their mom's. He thought he couldn't save them.

"Bertrand will never again be a hunter and he must never know that you are still one, Maxwell." She reached out and took his hand. "From the moment I begin the incantation, you all will need to live as a normal human."

"Whatever he needs, I'll do." He promised.

Savannah added her own fervent vow that she would give Bertrand that life.

Regina nodded. "Come. Madeleine and I will walk you through the potions you'll need to secretly give him. Tomorrow, we will begin the process."

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

Within a month, Bertrand was back on his feet. He was pleased that he would be marrying his fiancée soon. He was content with the sparkling wine his duchy was famous for. He even took great delight in being a part of Queen Olivia's council.

And he believed his younger brother needed something to occupy him.

Maxwell managed to pull off his late nights out as partying instead of monitoring the boundaries between the two kingdoms. Olivia would join him as much as she could to help, but he preferred being alone.

He needed to prefer being alone.

And then, after a few months of proactive policing, he saw the silver eyed girl.

She was returning from an evening out with human friends.

He stepped out of the shadows, blocking her path.

His eyes darted over her, trying to discern what she exactly was. He could usually pick a vampire out of a crowd easily. Witches were not known to live in the Dark Kingdom. She could possibly be a human that Constantine and Liam preferred to feed from. But that didn't seem likely.

Those humans never left the Dark Kingdom.

He knew there were other creatures rumored to live up there. Werewolves could be occasionally heard at night. There were the elves who kept the kingdom wealthy. An occasional troll would slip out to attack a human. A few families of vampires from other nations had moved a long time ago to the only kingdom where they didn't have to live in fear.

And then there were the mythical dragons.

Maxwell had never seen one, save from renderings of King Dominic and his fellow fire user Sei.

The girl stopped, keeping about six feet between them. "Good evening, Lord Maxwell."

He blinked at the friendliness he could hear. "Good evening, umm..."

"Sherveen Alcantar, or Sherry.” She blushed over her stuttering. “ I prefer Sherry."

"Sherry." He repeated. "What are you doing down here?"

"I was meeting with some friends of mine." She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "My cousin is business partners with William Sloane, do you know him?"

Maxwell gave a noncommittal shrug.

"Oh. Well, he was hosting a dinner on his yacht and I, um, went." She lowered her eyes.

"And what exactly was on the menu?" Maxwell asked.

Her eyes flashed at that condescending tone of his. "The usual a multimillionaire would have. Appetizers of caviar and shrimp. A roasted beet and pear salad. Lobster. Roasted parsnips and potatoes. Complete with a dessert of chocolate soufflé sprinkled with powdered sugar and gold flakes."

Maxwell merely quirked an eyebrow.

She huffed in irritation. "Anyway, there is something I think we should discuss."

"Savannah is not coming back. She's married to my brother." He informed her.

"No, that's not what we need to talk about." Taking a deep breath, she let the words finally be said. "You are meant for me."

"I'm what?" His eyes narrowed. "Are you a vampire."

"No." She shifted, raising one of her legs to take a shoe off. "But we are meant to be together." Her silver eyes began to glow brighter. "And I believe you know it."

"I--" was that why he there wasn't a day that passed where he didn't think about her?

She removed her other shoe, sighing at the relief she felt. "I'm a fire-user."

He snorted with surprised laughter. "Right. And I'm really a--"

His eyes widened when she produced a flame in her palm. Winking at him, she produced two more and began to juggle the fireballs.

"That doesn't mean--"

He fell backwards when she turned into a black dragon with silver tipped wings. Smoke curled out of her nostrils as she leveled a humor filled eye upon him.

He stared at the creature he believed was made up.

With a puff of smoke, she transformed back into a human.

A naked human.

"Don't stare." She ordered, pulling out a spare dress that she always kept close at hand from her purse.

He couldn't help it. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Once she was properly covered, she sat down beside him.

"What do we do about our destiny?" She asked.

He didn't know. His world it seemed had truly fallen apart.

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

He tried to fight it. Maxwell didn't like the fact that he was intended for someone else without any say whatsoever. It seemed that a human couldn't fight the magic or whatever it was when a monster recognized you as their mate.

Sherry began to show up wherever he was whenever he left home. She'd spend a few minutes talking to him, then leave before he could deny they were meant to be.

It drove him crazy. There were times he wanted to accept it. Then there were times he wanted her to never return. Either way he couldn't stop thinking about her. He no longer saw any other woman as being attractive.

One day, he was walking through a park to try and clear his head. It hurt to no longer be able to discuss things like this with Bertrand. He needed his guidance in this. Of course given how he had fallen for Savannah, he probably would have encouraged Maxwell to be with a dragon.

Sherry appeared before him.

He bumped into her. His arms reached out and wrapped around her to keep her from falling down.

She took advantage of his momentum and kissed him.

He had frozen with the feel of her warm lips touching his. Against everything he had was and believed about the creatures that lived in the kingdom high in the mountains, he held her closer and took over the kiss.

Her soft hum of desire drifted up to his ears. Her fingers slipped into his hair. Their warmth was nearly burning. He jerked back at that reminder that she wasn't human.

Sherry's eyes were glowing again as she took deep breaths to calm down.

"Max, I--"

"I have to go." He sprinted away from her.

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

Months continued with seeing her like this. He actually found himself longing for her the moment they parted. He still fought against his growing attraction, but would succumb at weak moments to either holding her or kissing her.

Then he began to actually listen and talk to her.

After a year, he finally accepted that they were meant for one another. Once he did, they began to talk of a possible future together.

"Where could we live?" He asked. "I can't live in the Dark Kingdom. After my years of hunting, I'll be killed as soon as I step into the town square."

"I can live down here." Sherry rested her head against his chest.

"Can you?" He nudged her chin up to look into her eyes. "What about your duties to Liam? What about Rashad? Your bond, is it like Savannah's? I can't ask you to do what she did. She suffers daily with missing Drake."

"Mine isn't a blood oath, more of a way of life." She explained. "Liam and I are family." She gently caressed his cheek. "And he is so happy that I've found you "

"He knows?"

"Of course." Sherry laughed. "Liam, Rashad, and I have no secrets."

"And they're fine with you being with a man who hunts his kind?" Maxwell asked.

"We know you don't do it without provocation." She explained. "If you were a sadistic killer going after the innocent, then we wouldn't allow you to live."

"What about Constantine?" His eyes narrowed in concern. "Something tells me he wouldn't be so understanding."

"You're right." She lowered her eyes. "That's why I haven't told him."

"Sherry." Maxwell pulled her closer to him. "Would he hurt you if he found out? Like what he tried to do with Savannah?"

"I'm... I don't think so." She rolled away from him to look up at the night sky. "My discovering that you're my mate wasn't a choice like what Savannah did. And being with you won't hurt Liam."

"Are you certain?" He propped himself up on his elbow.

She sighed. "About us, yes. About the king, no." She finally shared what was worrying her. "Ever since the attack, King Constantine has been acting strange."

"How so?"

"He doesn't spend as much time with our people as he used to. He rarely leaves his chambers. He has begun pressuring Liam to either find a mate or arrange a marriage." Her brow furrowed. "He seems almost obsessed on making certain all possible enemies are destroyed."

"Enemies like me?” He asked. “Olivia?" 

"Yes." She wrapped her arms around him. "He has plans for Olivia. He fears she will extract revenge on him by killing Liam."

"I see." Maxwell rubbed his brow, trying to see a way out of this.

He didn't know if he could protect everyone.

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

Now...

Maxwell searched his pockets for his cell. He didn't recognize the number but knew that whoever had this number was in need of his hunting services.

"Hello."

"Lord Beaumont?" A cultured voice asked.

"Yes." He hurried into his room when he heard Bertrand and Savannah talking a little ways down the hall. "Who is this?"

"Lorelei Lee." She replied.

"Lady Lorelei." He remembered her from his mother's stories. "How can I help you?"

"My daughter and her friend have got it in their heads to come visit Cordonia." She began. "I'm not certain how long they intend to stay, but I was hoping that I could retain your services."

"For what exactly?" Maxwell asked.

"Protection." She replied. "I have heard through certain channels that the dark prince is beginning to search for a bride." She took a deep breath. "We do NOT want our daughter anywhere near that vile creature."

"I understand." Maxwell replied. "I usually don't do personal security. With my brother retired," he grimaced at that, "it is left up to me to help protect Cordonia's borders."

"My husband and I would be in your debt if you could watch over her in the evenings." Lorelei cajoled. "I've heard that your brother is planning on extending his vineyards. We would be more than happy to invest in the production and distribution of his sparkling wine. Perhaps even let it be the only sparkling wine we serve in our hotels."

Maxwell rubbed a hand down his face. He knew his brother was anxious to succeed. Regina had told Maxwell recently that in order for the spell to be successful, Bertrand had to relax. Gaining not only an investor but also a permanent client would help relieve his troubled mind.

"Send me her information and picture. Call her and tell her that since our family is an old friend of yours, that I've volunteered to show them around. Find out where she's staying and when she plans on arriving."

"Oh thank you, Lord Maxwell. We--"

"I'll also need a contract prepared and signed for all that you offered." He added.

"Yes of course. I'll get everything to you at once."

He ended the call and tossed his phone down.

How had he gone from a monster hunter to a glorified baby sitter?

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

Later the next day, along Beach Cove, Cordonia...

"This place is gorgeous!" Riley dropped her luggage and darted from room to room. "I can't believe we can afford something like this for our stay!"

Hana was puzzled as she turned about. The two bedroom beach house was not what she had booked for their stay. Knowing they would be here close to a month, she had gone for a plain, simple rental without any view whatsoever.

"This can't be right." She turned toward the agent. "We were going with the home on Fourth Street."

The agent shook her head. "You were upgraded by a Lady Lorelei Lee."

"My mother did this?!" Hana couldn't believe it. "Did she say why?"

"It was meant as a surprise and a sort of welcome she told me." The agent handed her the keys and told her to call of they had any other needs. "Enjoy your stay, Lady Hana."

Riley walked back into the entry hall as the woman curtsied.

"Hold up." Her smile held a lot of humor. "Was I supposed to be doing that this whole time?"

Hana rolled her eyes with a giggle. "No. It's just the custom here when one is related to a noble."

"That is so cool!" Riley dropped into a deep curtsey that made her wobble. "My lady."

Hana laughed while dragging her luggage further into the house. "I suppose I can't banish you to the kitchens since you now recognize my rank."

"I don't know." Riley pointed out the modern appliances. "I might be happier stuck in there."

"I can't believe my mother did this."

"Maybe this is her way of showing her support or make up for not showing it these last couple of years." Riley offered.

Hana paused outside the bedrooms. "I suppose that's one possibility. I would have preferred she simply tell am that instead of doing all this."

"Look on the bright side. Our videos are now going to be even more popular with this backdrop." Riley opened up the doors. "Which room you want?"

Both were master suites with a wall of windows looking out towards Cordonia's sapphire waters. The sun was beginning to set, adding a brilliant orange to the rich blue.

"I call the pink sands one!" Hana dashed into it, quickly throwing her luggage on the bed.

"Hey!" Riley doubled over laughing when Hana's momentum caused her to get tangled up in the straps and be buried under her bags.

The two friends had begun the tradition of claiming beds and rooms from their very first trip. Whoever's luggage touched a bed first, it was then hers for the rest of the vacation.

"Looks like I get the nautical theme." Riley hefted her bags and set them inside.

Her room was tastefully done in blues and whites. A bottled ship sat upon the dresser while a nearby table had an old map of the surrounding area embossed upon it.

She explored the large closet and bathroom, thrilled with the large shower with multiple shower heads to help ease the tension of a long day of filming.

"I don't think I'll ever want to leave." Riley called out. "You think we could just make this our new permanent base of operations?"

"We could ask, but I doubt we could afford it." Hana replied. "Besides, I thought you said all paths lead to New York."

"I say a lot of things." Riley giggled as she dumped her clothes on the bed. "You should know that better than anyone." She began to randomly toss her things in dresser drawers before losing all interest in this one tedious part of traveling.

She left her remaining pile of clothes and decided to check out Hana's room.

It was the same as hers yet themed more toward the beach. Riley bit back a smile at seeing Hana carefully unpack and hang her clothes one at a time. She didn't know how she had earned her friendship when they were so completely different.

She was truly grateful to have her as her best friend. No one encouraged or believed in her like Hana.

"Aren't you going to unpack?" Hana asked.

"I will." Riley paused when the phone on the nightstand began to ring.

Hana stared at it too in surprise. No one ever called them directly at the places they rented.

"It could be the agent." Riley told her as Hana picked it up.

"Hello?" Hana's eyes widened at the voice on the other end. "Mother! I don't know what to say. This is so generous to--who? Lord Beaumont?" She sat down on the edge of her bed. "He did? That is very kind of him, but we usually try and discover hidden gems for ourselves. I--no of course not!" Her head dropped. "I didn't mean to sound ungrateful--I mean--yes, but--yes mam."

Riley lifted an eyebrow when Hana placed the receiver down. "What's up?"

"Mother called upon an old friend of the family." Hana couldn't remember her ever mentioning this family before. "A Lord Maxwell Beaumont, brother to the current Duke of Ramsford, is going to be our guide around Cordonia during our visit."

"Whoa." Riley's brow furrowed. "The entire time?"

"Apparently." Hana's brow furrowed. "I don't know why she would insist on his company unless...oh no!" She dropped her head in her hands.

"What is it?" Riley sat down beside her and gently patted her back. "Hana?"

"I think she's trying to matchmake me to this Lord Beaumont!" Hana cried out. "She won't ever give me a chance to simply live my life as I see fit, will she?"

"He might actually be the kind of guy who loves showing off his country." Riley pointed out. "Even if your mother is hoping you two decide to marry, you don't have to do anything you don't want to."

Hana nodded, feeling her confidence return with Riley's reminder. "You're right. I'm certain I can rebuff any advances he might give."

"Don't rebuff him just yet." Riley teased. "We need to see the hotspots and he might be cute." She covered her face after Hana hit her with a pillow.

The pair fell into giggles once more as the excitement of discovering all that this country had took over once more.

They knew this would be a trip they would never forget.

Maxwell x Sherry moodboard.

#choices the royal romance #liam x riley #maxwell x oc #maxwell x sherry #trr dark au #trr vampire au #leo x made #trr drake #trr olivia #drake walker #maxwell beaumont #olivia nevarkis #leo rhys #prince liam #trr madeleine #trr regina

[j-wont-stop]

The Scarred (Chapter Five)

Title - The Scarred (Chapter Five)

Word Count - 2156

Fandom - Batman: The Dark Knight

Pairing - Ledger!Joker x OC

Summary - Penelope Bishop works at a florist shop in Gotham, barely getting by in the corrupted city. Her life is shrouded by therapy and judgement with little light to find her way with. However, when a certain painted face starts making himself known to her, things take a turn.

Warning(s) - Panic attack, murder, cussing

Inspiration - Cold (Aqualung & Lucy Schwartz)

Masterlist

The vase fell from her hands, the shattering glass echoing through the hall. Penelope’s mind grew petrified as she stared at the card sitting in the mess of glass, water and flowers. She fell back against her door frame, her breathing sharp and fast as she began to hyperventilate. She gripped onto the front of her bra to pull it away from her chest, looking for any kind of relief, any way to find space for her to breathe properly. Yet it did nothing. She knew she was making a scene, and she wanted so badly to hide away in her apartment. But what about the mess? She asked herself amid the chaos. Her heart pounded in her ears, drowning out the ambience around her.

“’Scuse me-?” Penelope shot straight up, eye frantically darting towards the new voice. A tall, slim man stood before her, hands held out in front of him as an offering of peace. “Apologies, I didn’ mean to alarm ye. Are ye alrigh’?” His bright eyes held a gentleness in them, the same as his voice. It was soothing in a way she had never before experienced. It was hardly able to calm her, however, in her panicked state. “Righ’, dumb question…” He mumbled to himself, glancing between Penelope and her welcome mat. “I’ll clean this up righ’ quick fer ye, tha’ alrigh’?” She gave the smallest nod, letting go of her bra to wipe the tears from her face as he disappeared.

She closed her eye, grounding in an attempt to compose herself. Never had she broken down in front of a stranger. And never had she felt more humiliated by it. Her eye snapped back open when she heard the sound of a plastic bag, eyeing the man warily as he walked back to start picking up the glass shards. He noticed how her breathing had only slightly improved, but it was progress.

“Why are you helping me?” The sound of her voice caught him off guard as he continued picking up the pieces.

“Juss doin’ my duty.”

“In Gotham?” The man sighed and looked up at her from where he was crouched on the floor.

“‘Ard as it is to believe, miss, not erryone in this city is a crook.” It wasn’t until then that she noticed his thick accent. It was a surprise to her, however one she greatly accepted. She felt childish for it, but she was excited as it was her first time meeting someone with one. “Ye wann’ keep this?” He asked, holding the Joker card between his index and middle fingers. She hesitated before reaching to grab it. “Now, I’m not all tha’ superstitious,” He stood up with a huff. “But if tha’ is a genuine Joker card, I’d watch out if I were ye. Yer either really lucky, er ‘bout to be really dead.” He noticed the growing fright in her eyes. “Or! Some guy is juss actin’ the maggot and playin’ wit’ ye.”

“People were scared enough to impersonate Batman, I don’t think they’d dare to impersonate The Joker himself.”

“Then pray yer juss really lucky.” He spoke in a softer tone. He began to tie the bag as she continued to carefully watch him. “I don’t believe I’ve caught yer name yet?”

“Penelope.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “Bishop.”

“Penelope?” The name left his lips in curiosity. “Tha’s a new one.” Her eye shifted to the ground. “Bu’ it’s refreshin’.” The man offered her a friendly smile, but her expression remained constant. “Liam Garson. Juss moved in couple a doors down.” He pointed off to his left.

“Why?” He threw her a confused look. “I mean, why Gotham?”

“Oh!” Liam chuckled. “Well, why not? Barely any restrictions with the mob and cops runnin’ ‘round lie’ chickens wit’ their ’eds cut off. Sure, muggers an’ the lie’ crawl abou’, but tha’s the price ye pay fer freedom, righ’?” He contained himself from beaming when she gave the ghost of a smile.

“Well, I see where your morals lie, Mr. Garson.”

“Liam.” He jested. “An’ I may lack some, but I’m better off than over ‘alf the boyos ‘ere.”

“’Boyos’?” Penelope gave a small chuckle.

“Males, juveniles, youngins.” She nodded in understanding. “Well, I’ll let ye be. Juss wanted to check on ye and make sure ye were alrigh’.” He started to back away. “If ye need anythin’, I’m in 329.” With a final salute, he disappeared into his own apartment. Penelope slowly turned around to head into her own, closing her door softly.

She looked down at the card caught in her nimble fingers. She couldn’t help the jolt that rushed through her body when she realized that if it was his card, he knew where she was. He knew who she was. She was somebody to him and she wasn’t sure whether to be flattered or terrified. It made her start to question her own morals. Any other person wouldn’t even think to be flattered, so why would she?

He was a murderer, a psychopath who wanted nothing more than to watch the city burn. And yet she had half a mind to consider being flattered. Really lucky or really dead. Why would she be dead? Had she angered someone without her knowing?

She froze.

“The boss.” She whispered to herself in realization. The bald man worked for The Joker. Which meant he knew where she worked. How much else did he know? Who all knew? How many people were following her? Question after question ran through her head and it was almost unbearable. She didn’t know what she even did to be on his radar in the first place.

“-patrolling the streets trying to trace his whereabouts for the time being, but so far-“ The news anchor’s voice hummed softly from her TV and she practically ran over to it, snatching the remote from the coffee table to turn up the volume.

“Well, John, I think it’s safe to say that The Joker’s escape is truly devastating for the people of Gotham. Not only in the sense that he has escaped, but it gives the chance for other criminals to wreak havoc on the city knowing that Batman will once again be busy with him.” The woman on the other line spoke. Penelope scoffed at her words.

“Way to give them ideas.” She mumbled to herself with a wide eye.

“Let’s just hope that Batman is able to do what he does best, and fast. Cause-“ Penelope switched the TV off, having heard enough of it. It upset her that the city was putting their faith in a masked man, that none of them had the nerve to do something themselves. That they couldn’t even rely on their own first responders. That she couldn’t rely on first responders.

She began to peel off her bandages, dragging her feet towards her bathroom. So much had happened in only a week and it all started to catch up to her, her head starting to pound from it all. The note. The glass. The bald man offering her a large sum of money for just a vase of flowers, finding out he worked for The Joker, finding out The Joker had been tracking her for who knows how long.

Penelope reached into her medicine cabinet for pain killers, deciding on taking two with a glass of water. Finally she laid down on her bed, snuggling up to her great fuzzy blanket with her eyes closed in an attempt to fall asleep. She briefly thought about telling Emma, but if she truly was dealing with The Joker, she wanted her involved as little as possible. For her safety. She thought to herself in reassurance before sleep took over.

———————————————————————

The sounds of rushing water and seagulls filled the air around her, the occasional pair of footsteps passing by that she grew wary of from time to time. The sun began to disappear in the horizon, painting the sky with breathtaking shades of pink and orange on the rare cloudless evening. Music played softly from her phone that sat on one side of her, her dinner left half eaten on the other. Her short legs dangled lightly over the ledge as she watched from the pier. It was almost tradition on warmer nights, seeing it as a rarity. It would’ve been perfect if it wasn’t for the littered concrete and occasional plastic bag that floated by as a reminder of where she was. Along with the gun that clicked from behind her.

“I’d say just jump and save me the work, but then I wouldn’t get your money.” A gruff voice spoke. She didn’t dare move. Didn’t dare turn her head or flinch a finger. Her heart rate picked up, stomach churning. “Well?” The man urged, losing patience.

“I-I don’t have any.”

“How’d you get that nice dinner, then, huh?”

“Been saving up for it.” A lie. The man just chuckled.

“Alright. How about you get off of there, put your hands up, and then face me. Slow.”

“I-I can’t.”

“You can’t?”

“I can’t raise my hands.” She told him as she awkwardly turned around on the ledge.

“Alright, enough talking-“ The man halted, red quickly seeping through his jacket. Blood dribbled down his chin. She watched in horror as he collapsed.

“I agree.” Penelope looked up to see the man who had helped her the day before. He walked around the mugger towards her, bloodied switchblade in hand. When he saw her flinch he slowed his pace, tucking away the weapon to make her more comfortable.

“Y-you just-“ She spoke frantically, pointing towards the now dead body with a shaky hand.

“Killed a man?” She nodded quickly. He tilted his head dismissively. “Aye. The bastard ‘ad it comin’.” She shied away from him as he took a seat next to her, arms folded. “Relax, miss. I juss saved yer life, did I not?” He looked over at her to see her chewing on her cheek.

“Why?”

“‘Why’ what? Why did I do it-?”

“Yes.” He hesitated for a moment.

“Why not?” The man shrugged. “Was either he killed you or I killed ‘im, an’ I wouldn’t dare let such a beautiful woman go to waste lie’ tha’.” Penelope scrunched her nose and scoffed.

“Beautiful woman…” She mumbled to herself. “If you think I’m easily won over by flattery, you’re wrong.”

“With all due respect, miss, I wasn’t talkin’ ‘bout fer meself.” The brunette noticed her eye take on a more gentle stare. He sighed, scratching at his beard.

“Why’re you here?” She asked, rubbing her left arm.

“I could ask ye the same question.” Penelope looked at him quizzically.

“Dinner.” Liam nodded.

“Was on a walk. ‘Eard the ruckus. Came to see what was ‘appenin’.”

“That’s quite a coincidence.”

“Aye. It sure is. A damn good one, if I do say so meself.” Silence fell between the two of them, however it was peaceful. Penelope quite enjoyed it. “If ye don’t mind me askin’,” Liam broke in. “What do ye plan on doin’ wit’ this Joker business? Assumin’ it’s not too late already. I mean, ‘ave ye told anybody?” She shook her head, focusing on her breathing.

“I haven’t.” Penelope swallowed as Liam raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“Ye ‘aven’t? Well, why not? Not even the cops?”

“What’ll they do?” She finally looked up at him. “What will they do? You’re the one that was saying yesterday that they’re all running around like chickens with their heads cut off.“ She began to rant, everything starting to catch up to her. Her eye began to glisten as it watered over. “And if they can’t help me, who can? Certainly not Batman!“ She spit the masked man’s name with venom. “They couldn’t even keep him behind bars to keep the city safe! Why the hell would they care to keep The Joker from coming for just a single person, a nobody, from coming for me-!”

“Miss!” Liam held onto her shoulders, keeping her steady. In a moment of desperation, she clung to him, and once again she caught him off guard as she started to break down for the second time. He began to gently stroke her back and sighed. “Ye’ve been dealing wit’ this a while now, ‘aven’t ye?” He spoke just above a whisper and he felt a shift in her head, a confirmation. A van sat in the distance, tinted windows making it impossible to see through. It was cracked enough for him to see who was in it and he made eye contact with a pair of almost pure black eyes, giving them a faint nod.

#ledger joker x oc #ledger joker x reader #ledger joker #heath ledger x oc #heath ledger x reader #heath ledger #the joker x oc #the joker x reader #the joker #joker x oc #joker x reader #joker #batman #the dark knight #fan fiction #dc

[1ddotdhq]

🧙‍♂️ Wed Sept 23 ‘20 🦁

Z3 Z3 Z3 Z3 Z3 HOLY SHIT Z3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, I’m not certain about an album, but we’re definitely getting a single on Friday! I’m just keeping my hopes up! Um, okay. How do I start? So at 9:30 am EST (or 2:30 pm BST, depending on where in the world he is!) Zayn dropped a teaser trailer for a new song, with the caption #better, which is the name of the song! This follows last night's movement, where he changed his Spotify header, as well as his twitter icon. I’m gonna be honest here: when I saw his new twitter profile picture, I thought it was a picture of Liam and I was SO! CONFUSED! But it’s not! It’s Zayn pulling an angsty face that Liam often pulls in HIS modeling gigs, so it looks like they have a similar bag of tricks haha! ANYWAYS, the song will drop on Friday, 9/25!!! Place your bets: will the song or the baby drop first??? 

If THAT wasn’t enough Zayn movement, he posted a SPONSORED AD for the new Harry Potter game both on Instagram AND on twitter (both at 7 am EST), and then he did a taped ad for it, too! It...looks to be some wizarding version of Candy Crush, but you know nerd!Zayn and his Harry Potter tattoo - he only had good things to say about it: “[During quarantine] I’ve been doing...music, recording, painting, but my main pastimes has been playing games, and that’s how, like, I keep in touch with my friends...you get to choose which House you want to be put in. I picked Gryffindor...so yeah, it’s really cool.” He says he likes Gryffindor because he’s always been drawn to “the hero types”. Sounds like the start of a bad rom com, doesn’t it? 

Anyways! Zayn’s not the only one that has spent his quarantine making music, painting, and gaming: LIAM went live at 8 am BST to do his promised zoom meetings with fans and announce that his rewatch show is on Saturday the 26th at 8 am BST. Oddly enough, Harry Potter (and the new game!) was a major talking point in this live. Before we get further into the discussion, the Intern would like to say that JKR is a massive TERF and I think we should be reading queer fantasy novels and uplifting the queer community rather than focusing on her worlds/making he more profit, but that discourse didn’t come up in Liam’s live, funnily enough! What did come up? Well...the online games did! Someone in the chat said: “What’s your Hogwarts House?” and Liam (love him lots) took that as an invitation to talk about the new Harry Potter games: “I’ve done a lot of those online...like, online Harry Potter games (so has Zayn!), and I always end up in either Gryffindor or Hufflepuff, but no one wants to be in Hufflepuff...I want to be a lion”. And then - and I cannot make this up - he GROWLED. Those hero types, huh? Can’t do a thing about them!  He also suggested that he do a Harry Potter watch along in his next live, and guys, it takes me long enough to get through his lives taking notes NOW, MY HANDS WILL NOT SURVIVE A TWO HOUR LIVE. 

Other fun moments from the live show included his reveal (slip?) that he did not live with Maya! When asked what his morning routine was, he said it was “to get up in the biggest mood ever and then hope he has an hour to himself before he sees anyone”. But? That would almost CERTAINLY not be the case if you had a live in girlfriend! He also gave a brief reaction to Harry’s Calm story, and had a bant with Conor (his cameraman) about it (“Imagine you’re in the tour bus,” Conor said. “Shut UP! You’re RuInINg it for ME.”). Also, the chat told Liam to tell Niall to “strip that down”, to which Liam replied: “Niall’s been stripping it down a lot at the moment! he’s been stripping it down a lot! I’ve seen his Instagram stories, and I know it’s hot at the moment but the shirt has been off 24/7, which used to be my tactic.” Niall, even LIAM wants you to put a shirt on, buddy, so idk what to tell you. He also said, about Bear, that “he’s fantastic! [He’s] a sweet, lovely little boy, and I don’t know how that happened, given that he’s my son. Must get it from his mother ‘cuz it’s not from me!” He mentioned - again - doing a paint along with fans, as he’s ALSO been doing a lot of painting during quarantine. What do you think I would have to do for a joint Ziam paint along live?  And he was  unsure if “te amo” was a real thing in Spanish. Yes, Liam, it is, y te amo a ti también!! 

And, if that were a normal day, that would be it! That’s more than enough after all, but NOPE! No rest for the wicked, I guess, so on we go: 

Harry was seen shooting his music video in Italy in a white V-neck nightshirt that could be seen billowing in the wind as he ran dramatically. New pictures also show him in a long purple nightgown and a fedora, as well as driving a little speedboat (with a bright, Vespa blue interior) off of the Italian coast. As far as I can tell, his rings are not back (probably a smart choice, given the amount of handwashing he’s hopefully doing) but his pearl necklace is (love to see it!). In one of the boat pictures, he can be seen on his phone, either taking a picture or on a facetime call, but I, personally, hope he brings photographer!H back, too! Gotta tell you, and I know we said it for Watermelon Sugar, but I really hope this is a continuation of the Eroda universe - any comments @/visiteroda?  Fan reports say that his Italian is very good, and that he’s kind. Nothing new there, but always great to hear it! 

AND! In a ONE DEE DISCOURSE EXCLUSIVE: I can reveal ~exclusively~ that Nick Gordon, of yesterday’s clown car, has a TWIN BROTHER, named Nathan! Good bye Gretchen, Tina, and Eleanor and HELLO Nathan and Nick. Imagine the shenanigans that they can pull with THIS in their back pocket! The thing is - the more we learn about the situation, the less we seem to know - TMZ reports that Nick and Briana have had an on again off again relationship for the last ten years, but Nick Gordon has had a long term girlfriend for at least three of those ten years, until they broke it off last year! In fact, TMZ continued in a bemused tone, BRIANA has been seen with multiple men over the course of the last year. Guess they were VERY off, huh?

#zayn malik #liam payne #harry styles #briana #nick gordon #and the rest of the clown car #also louis' merch is restocked!!! #i gave in and bought some its soooo cool!! #my hogwarts house is Gryffindor #if that comes as a surprise to anyone #ERODA VERSE ERODA VERSE ERODA VERSE #song of the day! #all my heroes by bleachers

[sincerelyella]

RAMifications Chapter 5 -  Why Don’t We Fall In Love

Book: The Royal Romance (AU)

Pairings: Liam x MC (Ella)

Song Inspiration: Why Don’t We Fall In Love by Amerie

Characters belong to Pixelberry; MC Ella Brooks belongs to me

A/N: This entire idea came from Burnsy and her unBEARable series featuring her OTP Drake and Alyssa. This is Ella’s backstory and how she met the love of her life King Liam of Cordonia and became his queen. This doesn’t follow much of TRR books, there is still a social season but not all of the players are present. Throw canon out the window!

Catch up here

Warnings: Adult language; NSFW -> second base maybe

Words: 2439 

“Why was kissing me a mistake, Liam?”

Liam stared at her in surprise. He didn’t expect her to bring up the kiss, he hadn’t planned on bringing it up either; but it had been on his mind all week.

“I should have asked; I didn’t know how you felt …” he babbled. You’re blowing this! He audibly swallowed and tried to think about what to say next without looking like an idiot. “I’m sorry, Ella,” he whispered. “It wasn’t a mistake. Nothing with you has been a mistake. I just … this is my social season with suitors. At the time I didn’t think I could have you.” When she remained quiet he continued to nervously prattle. “Then I saw you at the beer garden on a date-“

“Wait,” she interrupted with her hand up. “You saw me?”

Liam nodded. “Yes, Drake and Alyssa and I were driving by, and I saw you get in the car with … someone,” he clenched his jaw. Ella smirked when she saw it and raised a brow at him.

She took a step forward. “Why, Your Highness, were you jealous?”

“No!” He said a little too quickly. He looked away for a second then back down at her and she tried so hard not to smile, but the edges of her mouth were curving up.

She took another step forward. “It wasn’t a date, Liam,” she said softly. “It was a way for me to get my mind off of a certain prince.”

She was so close to him, but their bodies weren’t touching. He could feel the warmth of her through the clothes in between them; the smell of her lavender perfume made him dizzy and rock hard at the same time. There she was, looking up at him with her mouth slightly parted, sending him a message; her eyes darker then they usually were, almost black. His gaze dropped down and landed on her mouth, they were drawing him in, closer and closer. Kiss her! Kiss her now! He quickly dropped his lips down onto hers, not gentle or shy like before, but passionate, like he was drinking from her. Like he was dying and needed her, all of her, to live. He wrapped his arms around her small waist, tugged her tightly against his chest and he felt her arms come around his neck. She softly moaned against his mouth and he took that opportunity to slip his tongue inside. Their tongues massaged each others, their hands were everywhere, soft groans filled the room. Liam ran his hands down to squeeze her ass, then reached the back of Ella’s thighs and lifted her easily off the floor. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he pressed her up against the closest wall. He ravaged her mouth and pressed himself against her throbbing core. She pulled away with a small moan as Liam kneaded one of her breasts outside her sweater. He rested his forehead against hers as they fought to catch their breath.

“Oh … my God,” she panted. Her head was swimming, she had never been kissed like that before. Ever.

Liam watched her with a smirk on his face. He leaned in to capture her lips again, slow and gentle. “I meant to kiss you like that,” he chuckled.

Ella smiled wide. “Uh-huh. Well, I didn’t mind this though … not at all.”

“Neither did I.” He flashed a grin at her and her legs got weak.

He placed one last kiss on her swollen lips before putting her carefully back on her feet and cleared his throat. “I, uh, really did invite you to stay so I could answer your questions. I know all of this is rather foreign to you.”

What were we talking about? “Umm …” she looked up at him with a confused look on her face.

“The social season, Ella,” he laughed loudly. “Come on, I can order us some dinner and we can talk?”

She nodded, just now realizing she hadn’t eaten at all since breakfast and her stomach was growling. Liam stepped away to order some food while she took in the living area and kitchen. Everything was modern, stainless steel appliances, a large kitchen island, marble countertops, a comfortable looking sectional that face a 75 inch flat screen TV. The entire area was simplistic but very masculine at the same time.

“Food should be here in a little bit, come sit with me.” He led her to the sectional, faced her and took her hands in his. “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable about being a suitor. I want to be honest with you about everything.” Ella’s brows wrinkled in question and Liam continued. “The social season is a way for single women from all the noble houses in the kingdom to, essentially, compete to be queen. My queen.” He sighed. “In all honesty, it’s basically me … dating these women … at the same time.”

Liam held his breath. He studied Ella’s facial expression then held eye contact, silently pleading for her to say something. Anything.

She stared back at him, trying to gather her thoughts. I left Ethan because he dated multiple women. “So, you’ll be doing what we did in here … with those other women?”

He shook his head fiercely. “No! No, Ella!” He placed his hands on both sides of her neck and stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. “Court dating is very different from normal dating. Everything is done in front of the court, we talk and dance and there may be kisses on the cheek or hands but I won’t be doing anything like that with any of them.”

Ella nodded. Liam leaned over to kiss her softly and a knock on the door caused them to jump, then giggle. “It’s just dinner.” He rose from the couch to answer the door and rolled in a cart of covered plates a few moments later.

As they dug into their food, Liam continued speaking about the social season. “Our next event is in Applewood, the Apple Festival. I must warn you,” he stopped cutting the meat on his plate and looked at Ella. “My father has already told me that I need to … spend time with all of the ladies the last few weeks of the season.” He frowned and started to cut the meat again. “Originally, I was making small talk with them but not fully engaging. My father took notice and … I can’t show any favoritism while out in public, Ella.”

Ella continued to eat, looking down at her plate, thinking about Liam’s words. I don’t belong here.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he said quietly.

She put her fork down. “I’m thinking that maybe I don’t belong here, Liam. I’m in school … I am a semester away from getting my degree. I was … planning on working at the children’s hospital.” She sighed. “Do I just give that up? For something I’m not even sure about? What if the court hates me? What if you don’t … choose me after the season-“

“Ella.” He said sternly, interrupting her nervous chattering. She flinched at his tone and looked him in the eye. “I don’t plan on choosing anyone but you,” his voice softened. “The only time I wouldn’t choose you … is if you tell me this isn’t what you want. The crown is a heavy, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone if they weren’t willing.”

Say no thank you, Ella. “I want this,” she blurted out. If she was honest with herself, she never felt anything like what she felt for Liam.

“What did you say?” He heard her, but he wanted to hear her say it again.

“I want this,” she said, louder and with more confidence. “I want this, and I want you. I just … want to figure out a way to also finish my degree.”

Liam smiled and kissed her soundly on mouth. “I want this, and I want you too,” and started placing chaste kisses on her lips over and over until she laughed. “We will figure out something for your school. For the season, however, you may need to drop this semester. Start again in January.”

She nodded. “Alright, I can do that. Now, my sponsors … what are they for?”

“The Beaumont’s have no single women to send as a representative of their house for the social season. So, they find a woman suitable and sponsor her so that she can represent their house.”

They talked through the night, he answered her questions and they had made plans to meet with Maxwell and Bertrand the next day. He taught her how to address nobles with their title and how to curtsy when appropriate. Liam had one of the guards drive her home so she could pack her things and come back to stay at the palace.

*****

The next day

Ella smiled and her thoughts went back to last night. She absentmindedly put her fingers on her lips. This was the last thing she expected when she flew to a country nobody had heard of. Falling for a prince and possibly ending up marrying him - it all sounded a little crazy. She woke up this morning thinking it was all a dream. But a text from Liam that said ‘good morning beautiful’ brought her back to reality. It’s not a dream. Holy shit I’m dating a prince!

On her way to the palace, Ella made a pit stop at the floral truck. Her boss gave her a big hug when she told him everything.

“I knew there was a reason Prince Liam was making you deliver all his flowers,” Aaron laughed loudly.

“Yeah, yeah,” Ella rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry I’m leaving with such short notice, Aaron. I have to postpone school until next semester also.”

He waved her apology dismissively. “Don’t worry about it, you just make us proud and become a damn good queen.”

“Oh God,” she placed her hand on her forehead. “I haven’t fully come to terms with that yet,” her eyes widened.

“You’ll be fine, Ella,” Aaron’s face took on a serious expression. “You took the hospital by storm, you took on this job like a boss, everyone you speak to loves you immediately,” he placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, okay?”

Ella swallowed nervously and swallowed. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I have to head to the palace, move in and all that, so I’ll see you around.”

She gave him one last hug before getting back in the car.

**

Liam sat in his quarters with Maxwell and Bertrand, waiting for Ella to arrive. Max was bouncing on the balls of his feet. “I can’t wait to meet her! Alyssa said she was great!”

Liam smiled. “Yes, she is pretty great.”

“Yes, well … great could still embarrass House Beaumont and I won’t have it.” Bertrand said with a frown.

“Aw B, don’t be so stuffy. If Liam is taken with her and Alyssa says she’s a winner then quit worrying!” Maxwell jumped up and down in excitement. “I’m hungry! Liam do you have fruit roll-ups?”

“Fruit … roll-ups??” His brows furrowed in confusion. He never got an answer as Max had already skipped to the kitchen to rummage through the cabinets.

A knock on the door made Liam snap his head towards the sound and start to get up off the couch.

“I GOT IT!” Maxwell hollered and ran to open the door. “Sam! It’s fine! Prince Liam knows Ella is coming … no you don’t need to see the prince right now, Sam … Come on, Ella!” The door slammed and a moment later Max had tugged Ella into the living area. Bertrand and Liam stood and Maxwell grinned from ear to ear.

“Okay! So hi, I’m Maxwell! Alyssa told me soooo much about you! Want some Doritos??” He handed Ella the bag.

“I’m good, thanks,” she laughed. “Nice to meet you Max.” Ella turned to Liam and Bertrand. “Hello, Your Highness, Your Grace,” she gave them a small curtsy.

Liam smiled down at her, took her hand and kissed her knuckles softly. “Hello, Lady Ella.”

Bertrand cleared his throat. “I see you know how to curtsy and address your betters.”

Maxwell gave his brother a glare. “What Bertrand means is … he’s happy to meet you!”

Bertrand rolled his eyes. “Lady Ella, if you are to represent House Beaumont we will need to prepare you properly for the festivities in Applewood. We leave in a mere day and a half.”

There was another knock on the door. Liam cleared his throat. “Excuse me.” He opened the door and was surprised to see who was standing on the other side.

“What in the hell is going on?”

#RAMifications #Liam x MC #Liam x Ella #Liam Rys #trr fanfic #trr fandom #trr #trr au #choices trr #choices the royal romance #choices liam x mc #choices trr au #choices liam #the royal romance #the royal romance fandom #the royal romance fanfic #the royal romance fanfiction #the royal romance au #pixelberry #play choices

[i-choose-liam]

Two’s Better Than One - King Liam x MC

Summary: Liam is more stressed than he's ever been before. A certain guest coming to the palace has prompted this anxiety in the Cordonian King. How will Liam fare against his special guest? 

Book: The Royal Heir 

Characters: King Liam, MC (Riley Spencer), Dani Spencer (OC), Hana Lee, Maxwell Beaumont, Drake Walker, other original characters. 

Rating: T 

Word count: 1k+

A/N: This is a short series about Riley’s family. If you read this, let me know if you like it. Reblogs are always appreciated. Thanks! 

Cordonia

The staff at the palace was rushing back and forth. “Yellow! Not pink! How do you get the two confused?!”, Liam’s assistant yelled at a staff-member. The unwanted linen was taken away in a cart, the sound of the wheels just a part of the entire hustle-bustle. Dani witnessed the scene in passing as she walked past the staff towards the nursery. One of Riley’s incompetent bodyguards, the hot one, was guarding the doors to the nursery. They gave her a nod. “Miss Spencer” She gave a mock salute and walked in as the doors were opened for her. The light from the windows was the first thing to catch her eye. Cordonia sure had a lot of sunshine. And said sunlight was making the couple standing in the middle of the room look like ethereal angels. Liam was talking to someone on the phone, but he perked up at once on seeing Dani. He hung up and walked over to give her a hug. “You made it”, he said, smiling. Dani hugged him back and kissed his cheek as they parted. “’course I did”, she said, “As if I would miss my niece’s first ever party” Riley spoke in that supercilious tone her voice took on when she was trying not to be condescending. “It’s a ‘royal luncheon’ in honour of Eleanor, not a party” Dani walked to her, saying, “Leave it to you to literally take the word party out of an actual party, Riles” Riley smirked, “Good to see you too, my evil twin” “You’re the evil twin” A gleeful gurgle came from the bundle in Riley’s arms. Dani got close enough to look at the cuteness-bomb her niece, Princess Eleanor of Cordonia, was. “Hiii, angelll”, Dani cooed. “You wanna hold her?”, Riley asked. Dani was still smiling down at little Eleanor. She said, “What do you think I flew all the way here for?” Riley quipped, handing over the baby to Dani, “The free booze?” She was already making kissy faces at her niece, holding her with utmost care. “No, no, no”, she said, “Aunt Dani came here for Eleanor. Didn’t I, sweetheart? My god, Riley, she’s sooo cute! I can’t believe she came out of you” Dani bounced Eleanor a little in her arms. She was doing her best to be careful, the baby was only three months old, after all. Eleanor fixed her dark, bright eyes on Dani’s face, smiling as if she enjoyed the bouncing. She gave another heart-melting gurgle, forming a tiny drool-bubble at the corner of her mouth. The bubble rose above her face, startling Eleanor. Her eyes went wide and she exclaimed “Wooh! Wooh!” as she stared at this strange anomaly near her face, shaking her fists and legs all the while.

“It’s just flight information. What is so- you know what? Meet me in my office. I’m coming down there in a minute”, Liam was saying on the phone. Dani exchanged a knowing look with her twin. She raised an eyebrow. Riley nodded. “Did you scare him?”, Dani asked.  Riley said, “I didn’t. He has been researching about them for almost a week” Liam walked to them then. He sounded frantic. “Dani, I hope you’re being taken care of well. If you need anything, I’ll be in my office. Don’t hesitate to ask for anything, okay?” Before she could reply, he was saying, “And I’ll see you as soon as I can, my love. I’ll be back” Both Dani and Riley stared at him in surprise as he kissed his daughter’s forehead, having clearly meant the words for her and not his wife. Liam strode away to the door, leaving Riley gaping after him, narrowing her eyes at his frame. As if realizing he had forgotten something, Liam turned around and walked to her. He was grinning. “Sorry”, he kissed her on the cheek, “Won’t happen again. I love you” “Uh-huh”, Riley replied. Dani bounced Eleanor in her arms again, taking in the look on her sister’s face. She smiled at Riley, “Poor guy” Riley just sighed. 

***

Maxwell was humming under his breath as they sat in the antechamber to Liam’s office. Hana was saying to Drake, “And you made sure to ask the chef that he only use halal meat and sustainably sourced seafood?” “Um…”, was Drake’s answer. Maxwell chimed in, “Relax, Hana. You’re still in-charge of everything else. Liam just asked Drake to supervise the prep for the American dishes” “I know that”, Hana said timidly, “I’m just making sure” She sighed, saying, “Sorry if I seemed to be meddling, Drake. I prefer discussing this stuff with Liam and Riley. But Riley is spending time with her sister and Eleanor. And Liam’s just been so preoccupied lately” “Speaking of…” Drake indicated the door to Liam’s office. The King walked towards them at a brisk pace, taking a seat across from Maxwell. “Thanks for waiting, guys”, Liam said, tugging at his cravat.

Before he could even catch his breath, Liam was talking again. “Maxwell, I hope you followed the instructions for the entertainment program”, he said. Maxwell nodded, remembering all the non-party-esque instructions he had had to follow. “Of course. Nothing too loud, no fireworks, no confetti. Nothing un-eco-friendly. And Celine Dion will be performing shortly after lunch” “Thank you. Drake, the food and alcohol?”, Liam turned to him. “Yep. I talked to the chef. She said this might be the first time we’re going to serve fried chicken for a luncheon at the palace. Vegetarian options are available in three different Asian cuisines. And I personally selected the single malt…” Liam shot up in his chair, surprising everyone in the room. “No, no, no. No whiskey. I specifically told you she hates whiskey. Vodka. Vodka and cocktails are what she will be served”, he said, face harried. Drake said slowly, “Okayy…” Liam turned to Hana next. He said in a pleading voice, “I know you’re the only one who would never disappoint me, Hana. How are the rest of the arrangements?” She assured him, “I have followed all your instructions to the letter, Liam. And I have done my fair share of research on Analyn Torres. I’m going to do a debriefing for the palace staff before the flight lands. Maxwell will be with you at the airport for the welcoming” “No, I need you with me at the airport. I mean, I need Maxwell and you there with me” Drake scoffed, “Gee, thanks, Liam” Liam tugged at his cravat again and walked to the coffee table. He poured himself a glass of water from the pitcher and emptied it in one go. Maxwell looked at Hana with meaning, who looked at Drake, quietly urging him to talk to the King. “You know”, Drake said to Liam, “I haven’t seen you this nervous ever before. You okay, man?” Liam didn’t answer. He flopped down into his seat again, closing his eyes and absently rubbing his forehead. Hana tried, “You have addressed an entire congregation of world leaders at the UN, and you didn’t sweat a drop. This can’t be more difficult than that, Liam” Liam replied, “I have to make a good first impression” Maxwell said, trying to lighten the situation, “You are the King of one of the wealthiest, coolest countries in Europe, Liam. And she’s what? A college professor?” Drake seemed to agree. “Maxwell’s right. I don’t see why you have to be so afraid of meeting your mother-in-law. She’s probably the opposite of Spencer. She’s probably like Dani, and not Riley” Liam mumbled, “The other one is” Maxwell was confused. “What?”, he asked. Liam sighed. “Riley told me her “Mom”, Razia Spencer, is the relaxed, carefree one like Dani. My other mother-in-law, Dr. Analyn Torres, is an activist and a tenured professor at Columbia University, who’s known for her scathing criticism of capitalism and monarchy. She made the High Chancellor of Auvernal cry during his first and last visit to the USA” The room was suddenly quiet enough to hear the ticking coming from the clock on the wall. Hana said nothing, looking sympathetic to Liam’s cause of concern, as if she had known these fun facts all along. Maxwell just stared at one face from another, not knowing what to say. Drake broke the silence. “Well, damn” 

***

Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean –

Analyn scrolled the webpage on her laptop. The plane lurched a bit, sudden turbulence rocking her in her seat. She stayed calm enough to finish reading the latest from the Cordonian Daily. She kept assuring herself she was not trying to gather ammunition to use against her son-in-law, but part of her felt guilty just the same. She had promised her wife she wouldn’t judge their son-in-law before she even met him, and she always kept her promises to Razia. “Baby?” Analyn closed her laptop and turned to her wife, who was just stirring from a four-hour nap. She smiled at the look of confusion on her wife’s face, something which amused her to no end even after thirty years of marriage. Razia’s short hair fell across her eyes, which she was rubbing sleepily. “Are we there yet?”, she asked, half asleep. “No, my love. Still an hour or so, I think” “Okay” Razia clutched Analyn’s arm and rested her head on her shoulder again. She said, with her eyes closed, “Did you finish reading about Liam?” “I-I wasn’t… um…” “It’s okay. I won’t tell Riley. Hehe” Analyn smiled and put an arm around her love, saying,  “Go to sleep, you. We’ll be in Cordonia soon” “I hope Eleanor’s got Riley’s eyes” “I quite like Liam’s eyes too” “He’s good-looking but, you know. Our baby’s our baby” “A stubborn 26-year old, yes” “Shush. We haven’t seen her in forever. We’re just going there to see her and our granddaughter, okay? No fighting” “Yes, darling” “Good. I sleep now. Good night” “It’s morning”, Analyn grinned. “Mhm” Her wife was asleep again in minutes. Putting away her laptop, and her inhibitions for the time being, Analyn wrapped her arm tighter around Razia and closed her eyes. She hoped to get some sleep before meeting her royal son-in-law for the first time. They had so much to talk about.

#liam x mc #king liam x mc #trh liam x mc #riley & dani #princess eleanor of cordonia #trh fanfiction #trh #the royal heir #fanfiction #thatoclady fanfics #playchoices

[chinawof]

McHemsworth: Little Bean

Date: 13/02/2020 - 14/02/2020

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Summary: After a slight scare, Liam and China get a Valentines surprise of seeing their Bean for the first time.

Warning/s: N/A.

Characters: @chinawof & @hemsworthitmate

China let out a yawn as she sat around waiting for her last scene of the day to start shooting. Something was running behind on the previous scene, and usually she didn’t mind just sitting for a while and waiting until they were done, but she was too nervous to nap in case she missed her call, as her dad had disappeared to talk business with someone so she was just idly scrolling her phone as she waited now.

God she missed coffee, and as she yawned another time she realised why; it had been a little bit of a staple the last few years on set nights like these. 

Obviously it wasn’t an option anymore. China decided to busy herself instead. She slipped her phone into the pocket on her jacket and bent down to dig into her bag for a copy of her script. Yes, she already knew her lines, but being over-prepared wasn’t a bad thing.

It was when she sat back up that she felt something off. Let out a quick gasp through gritted teeth and her hand moved to her stomach where the cramp had come from.

She froze for a moment. 

Paused. 

Waited to see if it had gone away.

After several seconds she let her hand fall, eyebrows knitted together in concern. She’d probably just moved too quickly, or in the wrong way, Chi guessed. Shrugged it off, and flipped open the script to look her highlighted lines over.

It came back in the form of a weird niggle this time, and it pulled her lips into a deep frown as it did so. China may have had a sheltered upbringing and didn’t know a lot, but she was certain stomach pains were probably a bad sign. 

She nervously chewed on her lip, script discarded in her lap, her hands over her stomach as if holding it would make the little pains disappear. It wasn’t that they were too painful, she’d had menstrual cramps worse than this, but she knew, or thought that she knew, that they shouldn’t be happening, and that was what worried her more.

Maybe she’d been sitting for too long. 

China moved herself from the chair and put the script in her place moving to walk a little around the small space and stretch out her muscles. It did seem to help somewhat, which she appreciated at least. 

It was a moment later that Doc came into the tent to usher her toward the set, so she pushed any concerns to the back of her mind while she focused on what she needed to do. 

The pains didn’t really stop, but they also didn’t get any worse, coming and going in little moments that she didn’t put too much time or effort into working out what it was. It was nothing she couldn’t grin and bear through, years of dealing with cramps already ingrained in her female brain, so Chi let it be what it was.

Eventually she found herself reasoning it off, the pains had somewhat settled down now, until she was safely in her car, and finally parking up at the hotel garage where Liam and her were staying.

It was late. She knew it was, and she didn’t mean to be so late, but their work was what it was sometimes 

China quickly gathered her belongings and took the elevator up to their room, opening the door to be greeted by an excited Delta and Dora. “Hey, girls. I missed you both, too.” She smiled as she closed the door behind herself and set her key and purse down, taking off her jacket followed by her shoes. 

Softly she paused to pet both of the pups heads before she walked into the living area, Delta and Dora eagerly behind her, to see Liam in there, she gave him a smile as she did so. “I’m sorry it was a late one. I hope you didn’t wait for dinner.” She chewed her lip with the apology, a hand running through her tousled hair, all thoughts of any previous cramps or niggles slipping from her brain now she was home and comfortable again.

Liam was adjusting to Atlanta quite easily. Finding it much easier to make a schedule of things he had/needed to do until it was time for premieres for his shows or some kind of appearance his PR team needed him to be at. Plus it gave him more time to prepare to be a dad. He had been extremely excited for this child, quickly being in dad mode by focusing on reading to just how to be a parent.

Being an uncle he had done for so long now but he had the inkling feeling being dad was slightly different. He just wanted to be so perfect from beginning to end. This included doing anything China asked or needed. Which he would have done with or without a baby. But he knew doing something for her meant doing something for their baby too.

It was a normal night. He knew China had work. It was a hard adjustment to having her here but he knew soon it’d be her being alone until he got home. He was looking at some homes in the surrounding cities here in Georgia when he could hear the patter of paws run across the floor. He turned to see his fiance admiring her as he always did as she spoke. “I made a sandwich.” He said as he sat his laptop down on the arm of the couch. He stood up and took a few steps before he wrapped her up in one of his bear hugs. “I’ve missed you. How was work?” he asked letting her go enough to still have his arms around her.

She smiled and welcomed the very safety of his arms, wrapping her own around him in a gentle hug, too, before she let herself glance up into his blues, noticing the soft and tenderness of Liam there that comforted and warmed her. China gave a small shrug, “Okay, I guess. A lot of waiting around,” a sigh fell from her lips as she said it, remembering waiting for scenes to finish before her own started for most of the day.

Maybe she should have brought up the odd pains she had been having, but she didn’t want to worry him or cause mass panic, and they seemed to have gone away for now, which she was thankful for, so China didn’t see it as too big a deal: it was probably nothing at all. 

“What have you three been up to?” Her gaze fell to look down at the two pups, who were waiting patiently for their own share of the attention, making her laugh just a little at them as she reached a hand to pet Dora’s head, as it was the tallest one to reach before she glanced back to Liam, happily still in his hold.

Liam sensed there was something more to her ‘a lot of waiting around’. He’s been on her set before she was always chatting with someone so he knew something off. “Oh the usual.” he said keeping a normal, smiling face. “No golf cart escapades?” He asked thinking of all the times he had done that on any set on a lot.

He knew he should have asked her if she was okay. But he didn’t want her to think he was just being paranoid or going overboard. So he decided to just wait until the moment presented itself.

He watched her as she petted Dora’s head, laughing a little as her tail wagged a little harder. “Well, it’s been a normal day.” Liam began, giving her arm a gentle squeeze before leading her to the couch. “We got up, all of us went for a run.” He laughed. “I had to run with Delta in my hands.” He looked to the smaller dog who had heard her name and came running with a shirt in her mouth. “Oh, she’s gotten into the clothes. No tears, but I think she has a little of...what’s the phrase... separation anxiety.” Liam nodded his head as he picked her up and sat her in his lap. Though she didn’t stay there long instantly heading towards China.

It was a different dynamic, China realised, being back on the House of Payne set. It wasn’t quite the same as Black Lightning, and sure, she loved everyone there, but she was one of the youngest again, and it was hard to find her footing in a place where she was always viewed as the baby, trying to fit back in. Doc helped, for sure, but it wasn’t the same as Feese, or Jordan being around. China knew the worries and feelings would pass, it was her second week back; everything would slot together eventually and it would feel more like a home again in time.

“No, no golf cart escapades,” She let out a small laugh as she watched Delta make her way toward her, Listening to Liam’s story of what the pups had been up to with him today. She welcomed Delta onto her lap, the shirt in the pups mouth, as if Delta wanted to make it into a blanket of security and warmth, and her expression softened entirely. “You’re still getting used to not being left for good, huh?” China asked the pup as she watched Delta nuzzle into her, “One day you’ll know you’re staying here forever, and ever.” 

Her hand petted over the pups dark fur as she stuck on the mental image of Delta in Liam’s arms as he and Dora ran, and she couldn’t help but smile. That was until the little cramp returned. And her smile fell into a little grimace of sorts, and her hand moved to press to her flat stomach. Delta, sensing the unrest cast worried eyes up to China, then toward Liam.

“Well, the golf carts are the best part. You still have time, right?” Liam felt Dora head to his other side and he looked to her as he scratched behind her ears. He was thankful Dora adapted to her surroundings easily. Well, aside from snow. “Dora’s been keeping her calm when she senses that Delta doesn’t understand.” Liam said thinking of earlier when he actually caught Delta looking out of the window again. “But I also have a feeling Dora’s the one who showed her where the clothes were.” He laughed again shaking his head before leaning back into the sofa.

He watched Delta’s little tail wag happily as the small dog gazed at her mama when her tail stopped. Liam sat up as Delta looked at him. “Hey, are you okay?” he asked scooting closer to her his dad brain definitely more on overload. “Do we need to go to the hospital?” He was worried something was terribly wrong with the baby.

China listened, because something else to focus on was welcome, but she was biting on her lip a little and didn’t get a moment to reply before she felt him move closer to her and heard that worry in his tone. It sent her into worry, too; it was easier to keep herself calm when she didn’t have to explain it to anyone else, but she knew he’d ask.

“I, um-” She started, gave a little bit of a stunned blink because her gaze was somewhat locked onto the shirt Delta was laying on, before giving a hard swallow and letting her hand soften the hold it had on herself. Her own worried eyes met his, giving him a forced smile of sorts. “It’s probably nothing.” China tried to say, quietly and tenderly, because she didn’t need them both in a state of panic. “I’ve just been getting a couple weird cramps the past few hours.” She softly tried to explain, almost bashfully looking down to Delta as her hand smoothed back over the pups fur to settle her worries. 

“Cramps?” he asked curiously, though worry was still present. He could only think about the chapter he had read a few days ago on miscarriages and his heart skipped a beat. As he looked away he noted China’s worry and he knew he had to be strong for both of them. “Um, maybe it is.” He said finally, tearing his gaze away from the floor and back to her. 

He still couldn’t shake that it could have been something worse. He wasn’t sure what would happen if they lost the baby. China had lost so much already and to lose the baby, too, he sighed shaking those negative thoughts from his mind because that definitely wasn’t what they both needed right now. “But if you feel we should go to the doctor just to get some clarity, we will go.” He said taking her hand in his.

She could tell he was worried, and she felt guilty for not mentioning it sooner. Just a call or a text, but China didn’t want to dwell on it too much. She’d had work to focus on and her dad was around today, and finding his daughter a crying mess over something he didn’t even know was a thing... Chi sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly, realising she was sending herself into a panic. Everything was fine. The baby was fine. “They come and go,” She offered him as an explanation. Looking to where his hand had taken her own. “I thought they’d stopped.”

A lame shrug of her shoulders, and somewhat scared eyes avoided his. “Maybe?” She asked, hanging off of that one word. Maybe could be a hopeful thing. And definitely a negative thing, too. Sierra’s words from last weekend rang in her brain about scans, and check ups, and how irresponsible it was to have not gone to a doctor yet. What if it was fate? 

Chi blinked away her tears, offering him another smile that didn’t meet her eyes, nor look anything but worried. “What if something is wrong?” She whispered, as if saying the words too loud would cause a knock on effect of things she didn’t want to happen.

Liam listened to her about the pain taking a deep breath and slowly letting it out when she was done. That was definitely normal to stop worrying about pain when the pain seemed to have faded. But it was the way she held her stomach this time around that made him worry. That made him also believe something was wrong. “I meant that you are probably right. It’s nothing.” He reminded her with a kiss on her hands hoping it was helping her. At least that’s what he was hoping. It was when she whispered that his heart broke a little. She was scared as much as he was about losing someone they haven’t even met yet. “Then we hope for the best.” He said honestly, also adding, “Pray for the best.” He knew enough to know that’s what her sisters would have done for her and he was willing to do the same for her.

“So come on,” he said looking at his watch, making face as he realised how late it was. “We know you’re okay. We can just get a doctor to confirm it at the ER.” He said with a curved smile to the left.

It was the calming way he spoke, and the fact there was this air about him, that, despite knowing he was probably worried too, Chi latched onto the most. Thank God he was an actor, because right now she needed that. Her head nodded, as she listened to his words, taking them in and praying that he was right. It was nothing. Pain could be a lot of things. She wasn’t bleeding, or anything else like that, so right now, it was just odd pains.

Catching his expression as he looked to his watch, China realised how late it already was, and that, probably, the way to make everything feel better was a decent dinner and a full night of rest, but the niggle in her mind stayed as she felt the pain return and pull at her stomach uncomfortably. Her hand tugged from his to press to the side of her stomach once more, like that eased whatever she was feeling.

Nothing. It was nothing. She huffed a breath and blew a little of her hair out of her face after taking a moment of just sitting like that. “Okay.” There was a timid tone to her voice, and she felt very much like the teenager she once was, scared and wanting someone else to call all her decisions for her, “Just... to confirm it is nothing.” Her hand eased and she settled her body again to look down at the frightened Delta, soothing over her head once more. 

“I’m so sorry, pup.” She apologised gently, Delta looked confused, not realising she was apologising for coming home to only leave her again. “We will be back soon.” Chi soothed, as if it was a welcome distraction, but she knew for certain the pups wouldn’t be welcomed in the ER at all, and home was safest place for them to stay for now.

Liam felt Dora at his hands, wallet in her mouth. He looked to Dora and smiled. “Mama’s gonna be fine” His hand held up the bigger dog’s head and he could see her face turn serious for a moment. “But watch Delta. Okay? I’ll call Sierra to check on you two if we are out too long.” he said to her before kissing her head. Dora licked his hand before doing the same to China. Her way of letting her know everything was going to be okay. 

He turned to China kissing her head “I am going to check their bowls. They’ve already been let out but you know Delta.” He said gathering his wallet and phone shoving it into his pocket. “Just relax. Have you eaten at all?” He asked already heading to the fridge for something small for her to snack on. Maybe it was a hunger cramp. He found an orange and walked to hand it to her. 

Soon after refilling up with water and food, liam washed up his hands and returned back to China. He could tell she was still in pain. “Come on.” He said helping her up, but not letting go of her hand. “We will be back Delta. I promise.” Liam said to the sad looking pup. He ruffled her dark fur before leading China and himself out of his hotel room.

She knew, no matter what, staying calm was key. And though there was a definite bit of the uncomfortableness playing over her face due to the pain, she tried her best to keep her head straight and just listen to Liam and his words, even if they were meant for Dora, who took residence right beside her once Liam left to deal with the dogs bowls. China hoped it wouldn’t take that long, but she also knew it would be hard to tell until they arrived. 

“A bit.” Chi answered, remembered picking at some pizza from craft services, but she hadn’t felt like it, so most of it was left discarded for later. Taking the orange she gave him a small, grateful smile, and watched him leave again. She felt the small way Delta nuzzled into her more, as if it would help comfort her, and brought her hand to pet the pups head. “You be good, okay? We won’t be long.” 

With a deep breath she moved to settle Delta beside Dora, the pup giving her big puppy eyes wanting to be back where she had been before. China took her shirt that Delta had claimed, and opened it out to place over the pup like a blanket for her, which made Delta settle, even if she still seemed pouty. 

Chi glanced up when he re-entered, “Thanks.” She gave in return to him helping her quietly, her hand nursing a little at her stomach to try and soothe the strange ache there. She made her way to the door, stopping to claim her once removed shoes, jacket, purse, and her car keys. China looked from the keys to Liam as she idly tucked the orange away in her jacket pocket, she knew he didn’t have his car here yet. “Uhm, are you okay to drive?” She asked, not too sure about legalities and insurances, all she cared about was making it to the hospital in one piece, and she didn’t feel up to driving at that moment in time.

Liam’s mind started to form a list of things to do, something he had been doing since he and Miley agreed on a divorce. But this one was different. This one wasn’t filled with anger, or hurt. Just love and hopefulness. “Dogs. check. Wallet check. China check.” he mumbled to himself as they closed the door behind them. He began searching for something he didn’t have here. His car keys. He couldn’t wait until Chris arrived with his car. 

It was as if she was reading his mind when she asked about driving. He planted a kiss on her cheek as he took the keys from her. “I’m definitely okay to drive. And don’t worry about Delta.” He said to her as they walked towards the elevator, pressing the button as they waited for another one available. “She’ll be okay. And you’ll be okay.” he said resting a hand on her flat stomach. He figured the more he said it out loud, the easier it was to believe they would be okay.

That familiar ding of the elevator rang, Liam holding the door letting China on first before clambering on and pushing the ground level floor. He pulled out his phone unsure if he should call Sierra or just text her. One would seem more serious than the other. But even if he just sent a text it might send some kind of red flag that something was wrong. Liam looked to china, “Do you think Sierra would freak out if i messaged her to keep an eye on the pups if we take too long at the ER?” he asked just as the elevator came to a halt. The doors opening and letting them out.

There was a small voice in her head one telling her that this was her fault. That everything had been smooth sailing and fine before she started to tell people. She’d read a little, and knew that was why people didn’t tell others before certain points; in case situations like this happened. She blinked away her inner turmoil, listening to Liam and his comforting ways, giving a nod of her own head. 

“Yeah, we’ll be fine.” She agreed, though it was with a lot less belief than his own, her hand rested on top of his for a moment before the elevator arrived and she stepped inside, followed by him. With the loss of his hand on her stomach, she found her arms wrapped around her middle protectively, as if that would help keep the baby safe in there, though she knew it wouldn’t. 

She watched Liam messing with his phone, one eyebrow quirked, and when he asked, she shook her head. “She’s probably asleep, and... she will freak.” China believed Sierra would be at the ER and not the hotel to check on the pups like they’d asked, the moment she saw that text, “Maybe once we know what’s happening?“ China swallowed hard, her eyes finding her feet; she couldn’t imagine getting a text about looking after Cujo whilst someone else went to the ER without context. It would surely panic her, so she knew it would panic her sister. 

“We might be fast,” Browns found his face again, even though there was still worry and discomfort etched on her features, “Could be back here before Sierra even checks her phone,” China knew it was all well and good saying those things, but she was terrified and didn’t believe it at all; God had a way of messing with her last year... why was this year any different? Why would their baby be any different?

The elevator arrived to the parking garage beneath the hotel, she took her queue to step from the elevator, shirking off the way she was clearly on the verge of crying from all of her thoughts. China headed over to where she’d parked her car so Liam didn’t have to hunt around for it. 

Liam listened to her, nodding his head as he put his phone into his pocket. He liked that even in these weird sorts of panics and fears they still knew how to end up on the same page. Although he knew he would still like for China to have some family at the hospital for emotional support. 

“Okay. But if we are still in there by 3 am, i’m calling her.” he was definitely joking but he wanted to make sure his pups schedule was as consistent as it could be with them being gone. He laughed a little because they’re lives weren’t really consistent except when they came back from Australia and for a moment he wished they were back in his malibu home where things were safe.

As soon as China spotted her car, he unlocked it, opening her side of the door to help her in. He quickly got into the driver side, adjusting the seat to fit him. “You are so tiny.” He said adjusting the rear view mirror just a tad as well as lifting up the steering will. “I promise to put it all back when we get back.” He said flashing her some teeth. He set his phone up on gps, setting it to the nearest hospital.

There was a gentle laugh, something genuine for the first time in a good ten minutes now. “Deal.” She agreed, the pups would need letting out by then and honestly she thought it shouldn’t take that long to find out what was going on. She settled into the passenger side, finding it a little weird given she was normally driving her car, but she buckled herself in safely, glad for the moment for his distraction of moving everything in the car. “I know you will.” Chi gave a little laugh as she settled back, her hands rested on her stomach. 

“I won’t be tiny for much longer, will I?” She let out rhetorically, because if what was happening was happening, she’d like to live in denial just a little bit longer about it all. She glanced toward him, a soft sigh escaping her lips that she didn’t realise was there... It was late; she was tired, and emotional, and slightly hungry, and she knew this had shaken up their whole night together. 

Liam chuckled at her comment about not being tiny for awhile. It was true. She had a few months before she would actually show, but he hoped he would be able to drive her by then. That's when he looked to her and actually pictured her with her belly slightly bigger than it is. He was happy. She was happy. He snapped back to reality to the sound of her sigh. "hang in there, baby." He said leaning in for a kiss on her cheek. 

It didn't take as long as he expected for them to get to the hospital. Though as they entered those doors and they got her information his nerves began to set in again. He glanced at his watch, wishing the dogs were here before looking to China. "Do you want to hear a joke?" He asked looking to his fiance with smirk on his face.

There was a soft nod of her head as he spoke to her and she listened to his words. She felt the familiar tingle of where he’d kissed her cheek, and bit back any apologies she had wanted to say for messing their night up with this whole situation. China knew the apologies weren’t needed, and the baby was as much his as it was her’s, so if something was wrong, they were both going to be together to deal with it, it was what she loved most about Liam; he would never leave her to deal with something on her own. It was always them against the world, and what was how she liked it. 

Chi tried not to dwell as they settled into the drive, him following the GPS route on his phone. Tears spiked in her eyes again as her mind drifted and wandered to articles she had had the chance to read, and all the signs in her head telling her this wasn’t a good sign at all. She forced her gaze to stay on the things passing them by as a distraction, watching the nightlife colourfully blur past them as they drove. Her stomach cramped a little more making her wince ever so quietly and she rubbed a soft hand over the flat surface to try and soothe the pain. If any tears fell, she was quick to wipe them away with her free hand and not let Liam notice them.

It was surprisingly quick for them to get to the local ER room, the traffic wasn’t bad at all, and the weather had calmed down from what it had been last weekend, which she was thankful for. She let Liam take the lead on most things once they were inside answering questions and getting her all signed in unless there was something he didn’t exactly know, which was when she found herself speaking up a little. 

Her arm stayed firmly wrapped around her middle the whole time they were in the waiting room, as if it would help protect the baby and shield it from any prying eyes in the room around them, because she could feel the stares of a person or two, and knew Liam Hemsworth in the ER with his mess of a fiance was leading to judgemental eyes on her most of all, and definitely on their little one, that she was hopeful would stay a secret for just a while longer. As they sat and waited to be called, China smiled at his mention of a joke, the distraction from her inner turmoil very much welcomed. She glanced to him with a tender smile on her lips, “I’d love to.” She whispered, voice a little hoarse from her crying before.

It was always normal for Liam to be stared at when going to public places. It’s what made him such a homebody to begin with. And he was always weary when it came to China because she had such a wholesome personality that people knew and loved. He never wanted to be the one to destroy that. But he learned that people were going to talk regardless. It was just the new place and people already realizing who they were that got to him. Still he wouldn’t let that show. No eyes could ever bring down the wall he always built whenever they were out in a public place. Liam was willing to protect them as much as he could even if that meant not letting the stares from others in the room get to him. He smiled, noticing the change in her voice. “What do you call two lovebirds in love?” He asked wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

There was something incredibly calming about the way he wrapped his arm around her shoulders that let her settle into him somewhat and help use him to shield them from the world. Her gaze looked from him to the hospital linoleum flooring as he spoke; she was already so defensive in moments like these, especially with such a huge secret to keep. And sometimes, and it was a very rare time, she thought about just throwing a little bit of a name or two around to get them just some privacy so when she needed to ask him something, or mention their baby to him, it didn’t have to be in some dirty, secretive way; their child deserved more than that. She let a soft finger run over her stomach as she felt the pain working in there again, but tried to keep her expression as flat as possible, “I don’t know.” She breathed out a little painfully, keeping her eyes trained to the floor, “what do you call two lovebirds in love?” 

Liam watched her closely wishing he knew how to ease the pain a bit. He even tried to think back into one of the books he recently finished about pregnancy. But nothing was coming to mind as fast as he wanted. With his free hand he rubbed his chin, a smile curving on his lips as he thought about the answer he was about to tell. He was extremely grateful that she was into his jokes because who knows how else to cheer up a brand new pregnant woman in pain? “Tweethearts.” Liam laughed a little before placing the hand that was on his chin to her stomach hoping his touch would ease her mind a little. “I wanted to tell you when I had candy. But,” He shrugged his shoulder laughing. 

When he finally settled into the seat, he actually looked around the room. Some coughing kids in the corner with their mom. An older woman shaking her head at her husband. Liam wondered how much longer it would be before they saw China. He didn’t want to see her in pain. “Oh. do you want me to peel that orange?” he asked suddenly remembering she had not eaten much.

China couldn’t help the small laugh that left her lips. ‘Liam and his jokes’, the thought, but it was definitely something she was happy to hear right now. “Your mom will love that one.” She informed him, her hands resting atop his on her stomach, “We can rain check on the candy,” Chi informed him in a soft tone. She felt him settle into the seat beside her, and let her body relax a little more into his, hoping that may help, her head lolling onto his shoulder carefully. When he asked, her eyes glanced up to meet his; she’d almost entirely forgotten about the orange in her pocket, which was weird since it was protruding so much, but her mind was definitely on other things, “I’m still not too hungry.” She admitted, but tired, yes, she was so tired. 

Her eyes cast a small glance to the clock on the wall above the sign-in station, it was just past half eleven, China noted. She wondered just how long it would take, and knew it was probably a little different than everyone else waiting here. She knew they were waiting for a specifically trained doctor from a ward she assumed was already going to be busy with mother’s to be probably having or just had their babies. So, she understood, at least, the wait. Her thumb smoothed over the top of his hand softly as if it was settling for the both of them, and she let out a slight yawn. “I think I might try to rest,” Chi let him know with heavy eyes. She could feel the rhythm of his breathing beneath where her head rested, and she focused on listening to it with her eyes drifting shut. It honestly wasn’t that long before she’d managed to fall asleep for at least a little while.

It wasn’t a very solid rest at all; whenever someone moved in the room, or she heard a cough, or someone calling a name she woke for a few moments, at least. Eventually, the doors opened again, disturbing her sleep. she opened her eyes with a small groan, looking up at the time to see it had just gone one when she heard a soft, “China McClain?” from a youngish doctor who looked to just be a little older than Sierra smiling toward the two of them holding a clipboard in her arms. 

China cast her brown eyes up toward Liam to see if he was awake, and more importantly, ready for this. Her hand, still over his on her stomach, gave his a reassuring squeeze. “Ready?”

"Yes she will.” Seeing her smile made him feel more at ease about being in a place like this. He nodded to her not being hungry still and truthfully he understood. How could she concentrate on eating when she kept getting pains in her stomach? He adjusted himself when she mentioned rest so she could be more comfortable. He leaned his head back and did his best to rest, too.

It wasn’t long until he heard her name. He looked around the room with sleepy eyes and sure enough they were the last ones in. He felt her squeeze and instantly yawned. “Yes. Of course.” He stood up, held out a hand as he helped her up. “Everything is going to be okay.” He whispered to himself though it was still loud enough for China to hear. 

Liam looked to the doctor and smiled. “Hi, I’m her fiance, Liam Hemsworth.” He said as the doctor lead them through the doors of the ER.

China took his prompting and accepted his help up. There was a dampness to her eyes when she heard his whispered words, appreciating them more than she ever thought he would know. She fell in step with him as they walked to the door and he introduced himself, giving a smile to the doctor before looking to the floor once more. 

The doctor gave a smile to both of them, and a nod of her head, outstretching her hand for Liam to take before she held her clipboard again. “I’m Annie, I’m an OBGYN here and I’ll be looking after you both tonight.” She introduced herself with a pointedly soft smile to China who nervously swallowed and let her take the lead. 

Chi stuck close to Liam as they walked through into the ER. There was a thrum and a bustle of busy doctors and nurses working almost frantically at times. China didn’t mind it, because it kept her mind busy. She was taken a little aback when she almost walked straight into the doctor who had stopped at an open doorway and was motioning for the pair to go inside. 

“Right in here.” She said again, with a smile so sickly sweet you knew she dealt with mother’s to be every day. 

When they both headed in, China walked toward one of the chairs near a computer screen that had her records pulled up on them. 

Annie slid the ‘ENGAGED’ sign on the door and closed it quietly before she walked in and took the chair by the computer and set down her clipboard. “Anything you both say will be completely confidential,” she informed them, noting the status of the two people sat before her, she would have been stupid not to. Giving them a second to mull that over, Annie lent forward and pressed her elbows to her knees, leaning in to hear them better, “Do you want to tell me a little bit about what the problem is?” She cast a quick glance to Liam as if in a way of reassurance but kept her eyes mostly focused on China, giving her the time she needed, but also letting them know it was important to come from her.

China looked to Liam for a moment, her whole body was tense and she had her arms crossed over her stomach again defensively, “I’ve been getting some stomach cramps for about six, or so, hours now.” Her eyes were locked to her lap almost bashfully. 

Annie sat back up and gave a nod of her head, “Okay. And when you signed in you mentioned you were around five or so weeks pregnant?” She asked, just for the clarification. 

“Yeah,” Chi nodded again, and cast her eyes over to Liam to make sure she was saying what she needed to. 

There was a clicking of the mouse and some typing on the keyboard from Annie before she glanced back to the couple. “I can’t see anything in your records about that.” She informed the pair.

“Oh, we had a test done at a clinic in Australia. I guess we were meant to call and update before now.” There was an apologetic way to her tone, that was shaken off quickly by the doctor leaning forward and setting her hand on China’s shoulder. 

“Not to worry. But we do need to just confirm for our records.” She explained to which China nodded. “Just slip your jacket off for me.”

China sucked in a deep breath, slipping her hands from around her middle, she took her jacket off and folded it, passing it to Liam with a comforting smile and a nod telling him it was okay, they would be okay. 

Annie stood and went over to a cabinet, taking out a needle, vial, and a tourniquet before she returned and sat back facing China. “Just a sharp pinch.” She said, and tightened the tourniquet around the top of her arm, wiping the spot down, she then readied the needle and felt the vein in her arm before she slid the needle in and released the tourniquet. “Perfect.” She said to China’s quick little wince that mixed with an inhale at the same time. 

Once the vial filled, she took the needle out and bandaged China’s arm up, sealing it, disposing of the needle, and sticking a label around the blood filled vial. “I’m just going to drop this to the lab. I’ll be two minutes.” Annie reassured them both before she left the room to drop it off and be tested. 

When the door closed behind Annie, China glanced over to Liam, offering a soft smile. “You good?” She asked, mostly needing the little reassurance that he was okay to keep herself together still. 

Liam smiled to the doctor as she introduced herself and led them to a room. He listened and watched closely letting the doctor do her job. At the mention of records, Liam checked his pockets as if he had seen those records recently. He shook his head because it was most likely sent to his home in L.A. Liam watched as they continued on to confirm the pregnancy, quickly reminding himself how much needles were starting to be a hard thing to watch unless it carved a tattoo into his skin. Liam nodded to the doctor as she let the room though he was sure his answer wasn’t needed. He heard China’s voice and smiled genuinely. “A little nervous, but yes. I’m great.” He said taking her hand in his squeezing it gently.

“I’m sure there’s nothing to be nervous over.” She said, reassuring herself more than him with the words. China glanced to him with a small bit of worry in her eyes and a soft crinkle of her mouth at the feeling of another uncomfortableness in her stomach. Thankfully her hand was already rested there, so she ran a thumb over her shirt soothingly. “Sorry we had to do this tonight of all nights.” She muttered out, genuinely upset over it all, she opened her mouth to add more onto her words, but the door opened and the doctor walked back inside.

“Sorry that took a moment.” Annie offered giving a smile as she took up her position next to the computer again. “So, you’ve been feeling cramping?” She asked, typing as she updated China’s records and files.

“Yeah. Not really painful but uncomfortable and sometimes it gets a little worse with movements, and they come and go.” China answered, knowing it sounded bad. She knew she needed to see a doctor sooner. The moment they began even, so she couldn’t bear to look to Liam to see what his expression was at the moment in time. 

After another moment of typing, Annie looked over to the pair, “Can you describe the pain? Is it worse than your period or less than?”

China’s arms found her middle again, holding as if that protected the little one in there. “It’s like an ache sometimes with almost a small stabbing pain?” She offered to the doctor, “No, it’s not worse. Probably about the same. Definitely not worse than.”

“Okay.” There was another moment of typing before Annie turned fully and rested a hand on China’s jean clad knee. “I assume you haven’t had any bleeding?” She knew it was obvious and if China had it would’ve been mentioned at the start, but she had to check for the form.

“God no.” China answered after a moment, feeling her heart lurch at the thought, because that would have been a bad sign entirely. 

Annie gave her another tender smile. “Great. There are a lot of reasons to feel cramps while pregnant, and a lot of those reasons aren’t bad or something to worry about at all.” She started, wanting to settle their fears instantly. “If you were in excruciating pain and were bleeding, it is definitely a bad sign and you would need to come straight in,” she saw this look of fear on China’s young face so she squeezed her knee softly, “But that isn’t the case.”

She waited a moment with her reassuring smile, and sat up, taking out the blood pressure cuff, she slid it on China’s arm, pressing a couple of buttons and listening to the sound of the device inflating and deflating. 

China gave a scowl at the feeling of the tightening band around her forearm, but the machine beeped and she was freed of it. 

A few more notes were added to China’s file before Annie stood up and took out a few pamphlets from a wall stand near the door and sat back down. She passed most of them to Liam with a smile, “Because it’s so early on in your pregnancy, that little one in there is working on getting themselves situated.” She started to explain. China’s confidence in herself returned at the words of reassurance, and she glanced up at last to catch her eyes onto Annie’s. “It basically means that the baby is working on burying themselves into the lining of your uterus so they have a good place to stay for the next nine or so months.”

She opened up another pamphlet with a little diagram inside, pointing to certain things for China on the picture. “The little one getting situated can manifest itself in you feeling some cramping and uncomfortableness, and a little bit of spotting, so don’t panic if there is a slight bit of blood.” 

There was this slight look on China’s face, almost deer in the headlights, a startled way of being fed a lot of information quickly. She blinked to shake it, and ran a hand through her hair, before her hand found Liam’s, holding onto it reassuringly. “But everything is okay?” She asked, just to confirm what the doctor was telling them. 

“Yes. I’m going to do some checks, but I suspect everything is fine as it is.” Annie reassured and gave them a moment. “I’m going to get some equipment, there’s a bathroom over there,” she gestured to a door in the room, “and here,” she stood and took a gown from one of the drawers, “will you get changed into this for me? Just so we can check you over easily.” 

It filled China with nerves, but she nodded her head. 

Annie stood and gave them another patient nod of her head before she left the room to gather the equipment she needed.

China sat with the gown rested on her lap looking a little stunned for the time being. “That means it’s okay?” She asked, quietly, more so to herself, but she glanced to Liam as she did so.

Liam listened to the Doctor ask questions and to China’s replies. It was hard to hear that she was in that much pain and he had no idea how to fix it let alone had only known about it for a couple hours now. He made a mental note to find out what was the worst thing when she was bleeding though he had an inkling feeling on what it was.

He took the pamphlet and followed along as the doctor spoke. He glanced at the others, a concentrated look as he read through them. They were slightly different from the ones from Australia but they all had a common theme. What to expect during a pregnancy.

Liam watched the doctor hand China a gown and he was suddenly curious as to what was about to happen. China’s question brought him out of his thoughts and he smiled as he held up a pamphlet. “Yes. Everything is okay.” His eyes went towards the gown. “This is just another way of confirming it.” He said reaching for her hand. “It’s all good.” he kissed her hands gently.

China’s eyes met Liam’s and saw the calm and reassurance in his blues. Yes, there was his own bit of distance and worry still, but it settled her regardless. She let him take her hand and kiss it gently, offering a smile. “Yeah.” Chi let out, though she was nervous as to what was going to happen, she forced a smile and let her eyes fall to the gown. “I’d better get changed,” she spoke softly, waited another beat, squeezed his hand in return, before she got herself to her feet and padded over to the bathroom to get changed. Chi quickly changed out of her clothes and into the gown, taking her time so that the cramps weren’t exacerbated by her moving around. She left the bathroom just as Annie returned, this time wheeling an ultrasound machine in with her. 

“The lab got the test back, everything is fine with that and we will add it to your file for you.” She said to China and Liam as she passed them by to set the machine up at the side of the bed. “This may be a little uncomfortable, but because it’s still early, a normal ultrasound won’t show anything up yet, so we’re going to have to check out the little one internally,” She started, “anything you’re uncomfortable with, let me know, and we can figure something out.” 

China didn’t like the sound of that very much. She stood in the bathroom doorway toying with her gown a little. Realising they were waiting for her, she forced her eyes from the floor to look over to Liam. Another forced smile found her lips.  

Liam’s eyes widen to the wand he was being shown. He remembered just seeing this exact tool in one of the pamphlets. Once found, he opened it up and listened to the doctor as she spoke to China. Everything she was saying was scary yet interesting to say the least. Liam looked to China nodding at her sudden eagerness to get this done. “You got this.” He whispered to her, smiling as he did so. 

“I promise once it’s done you won’t care about that at all.” The doctor smiled, knowing mostly the focus would be on the little one she was hoping to let them see. “And by the time you need another scan it won’t be like this. This will be the first, and last.” She assured her.

It was enough, at least, for China to stand and move over to the bed. Her eyes definitely screaming panic, but she wouldn’t let it deter her. It needed to be done, so it would be done. She was big enough to get herself pregnant, she was big enough to deal with the repercussions of that. China sat at the edge of the bed before swinging her legs around to lie on it, letting her hand find Liam’s reassuringly once more, as if that helped the most right now.

“Here’s a bit of privacy.” Annie smiled as she took out a blanket. “Legs into these, okay?” She took her time, which China was grateful for. After a moment of willing herself to do as she was asked, China moved her legs to the stirrups with the doctor’s assistance. She looked completely ashamed and bashful because she was in such a vulnerable position but there wasn’t any judgement, just a blanket rested over her knees to give her some privacy back.

“Try not to tense. I know it’s hard.” Annie encouraged as she moved to grab the wand. She covered it over and added a little extra lubrication before moving it to where it needed to be, her eyes almost entirely on the screen now.

China glanced to Liam at her side, her hand squeezing his hand tightly at the uncomfortable feeling of the wand being inserted into her. God, how she never wanted to do this again. 

Liam whispered a few encouraging words like, “It’s okay”, “Breathe”, and “relax” to China as the doctor helped her get settled into the stirrups. He held in his laugh when the doctor mentioned the word ‘hard’. Liam watched the doctor lubricate the wand but turned his head toward China as he felt her hand squeeze. “You’re doing so good.” He said to China, smiling for the both of them.

China kept her gaze on him since it was what settled her the most, her hand tightly in his but either way, she was far enough into this now, and she hoped it would soon be done with soon. She gave Liam a smile of thanks, and focused on keeping her breathing steady and calm. 

The doctor moved the wand a little more until she let out a soft, “Ah, there you are.” There was a small laugh as she pressed a few buttons on the screen lodging some information and measurements down, before she removed the wand steadily. “Okay,” Annie gave them a smile and trashed the wand’s covering, situating it back into the machine’s basket.

She pulled the blanket down to give China a little more privacy before she turned the screen to face both China and Liam. “That, right there, would be your baby.” She said, pointing to a circle on the screen amongst a black mass.

“That’s?” Chi let out quietly, and she glanced from the screen, to Liam. “It looks like a little bean.” Chi said in a soft, breathy laugh half filled with tears waiting to fall. Her eyes looked back to the screen where their baby was.

Liam kept his eyes on China all the way up until the doctor said ‘baby’. There, on the screen, was something he had only dreamed about. Something that he had locked away in a box because his ex said no to kids. And though he had known she was pregnant it was a different kind of feeling actually seeing it on screen. He didn’t realise there was a lump in his throat until he felt China’s eyes on him. “It’s our bean.” He said, smiling as his own tear filled eyes met hers before returning to the screen. 

There had been this doubt of sorts she would never quite admit to anyone. Something in her mind denying this whole thing, telling her what she was feeling wasn’t real and that it would become apparent eventually. The more she talked to Liam about the baby the more the doubt ebbed away, but to see it, labelled so clearly on the screen for them, for a doctor to be pointing to the screen and telling them that was their baby... the tears were fast beginning to fall from her eyes as she looked back to the screen. It wasn’t all a crazed dream, or some phantom wish she’d willed on herself. Their baby was there, and she could see it, and the cramps... she knew they were there, they were making themselves known and she hadn’t even realised it. “Wow.” She let out tearily, “We’re actually doing this.” China mumbled as the last of those doubts fell away entirely. “That’s... We’re...” Browns glanced back to Liam’s blues, seeing tears in his own eyes. 

Liam looked to China with a smile on his face bigger and brighter than before. "We are." He sang a little, nodding his head. "You're a mama." He kissed her forehead, closing his eyes holding back those tears that had settled at the rim of his eyes. They were happy tears for sure but no one needed to see him cry. 

He leaned back laughing a little before leaning in his chair. He glanced at his watch suddenly realizing what day it was. "Happy Valentine's Day, my love." Liam whispered to China.

She couldn’t help the smile she broke into when he said that they were. Everything felt right, and very much real for the first time. Her eyes looking to his where she could see the tears waiting there that he wouldn’t let fall. Her hand that wasn’t already holding his moved to cup his cheek, grin even wider. “Happy valentines, papa.” She said before leaning up to softly press a kiss to his lips. Then she looked back to the screen, and was met with the doctor offering tissues as if she saw this all the time, making China give a watery laugh as she took one and dabbed down her eyes.

“I’m going to get you guys some copies of this. Why don’t you take a moment, and then get dressed and comfortable again.” She said with a grin of her own and a hand on China’s knee comfortingly before she stood up and left the room to go get the scan printed for them.

Liam smiled, staring at her as she grabbed a tissue. He couldn’t help but admire her. Admire the way she was handling all of this and just the simple way she could see what he could see: that they are going to be parents. It made him love her that much more.

“Wow.” Liam commented as the doctor left the room. He looked to China, holding up pamphlets. “I guess we should read these together.”

She took another moment until the door was closed and then freed herself from the awkward position she was lying in. Adjusting the gown as she sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Liam with teary eyes, she wiped the previous tears away, but her smile stayed firm in spite of any little cramps she felt. “I guess so. And those books. And a lot of other things.” China knew they needed a list and to make notes of what was what. “God, a home, and everything it’ll need, and-” She began to ramble, there was a lot to do, and now it felt all the more real, she realised just how little time nine months felt like. “We’re actually doing this.” She said, once again, her eyes catching onto his. Her hand settled over her stomach again. “We’re going to be parents.”

The small amount of rambling coming from China made him look down only for a second as he rested his chin into his hand. “I’ve been looking at homes. They’re definitely in a price range you’d like it to be. No balcony, but definitely room for upgrades should we need it.” Liam told her wishing he had packed his laptop. There was so much information he had stored on there for when he finally narrowed down to some choices she would like. “We are going to be the best parents ever.” He declared with a chuckle. 

She knew trusting him to take the lead on the house searching would be a good choice, and honestly, she trusted him completely. But it was definitely getting tiring living out of a hotel room because of the amount of moving around they had to do, and letting the dogs out meant essentially walking them at all hours. A house, with a garden for their baby to play safely in sounded like all she needed. Yes, she’d miss the balcony, but that didn’t seem to matter in comparison. “We can take a look at them, when it isn’t half two in the morning.” She laughed a little, and remembered she had to get changed. She stood from the bed cautiously, worried about any other cramps worsening, before heading into the bathroom, listening to his final words as she went. Yes, they were going to be good at this parenting thing... she hoped.

China was fully dressed and leaving the bathroom again by the time the doctor returned with the scans in her hand. She passed them to Liam with a soft, “Congratulations.” Before she turned her attention back to China, beckoning them both back over to the computer desk.

“So, looking at your scan, it seems the baby is doing well and is a decent size and seems perfectly healthy for where it needs to be. I won’t be able to give you any dating information, but at your next appointment they should be able to tell you some things about the baby like that and from there set up regular appointments and check ups. I’ll get you all signed up on the system and registered here so we can send you out a letter with your appointment date and time.” 

China gave a nod, realising that meant another piece of mail going to her parents house that she didn’t want them to see, but there was no other option honestly. There was no where else for her to send it, and hotels changed so often that her family home was the only place consistent enough.

“As for the cramping I’d say take a painkiller, maybe a warm bath, and try to rest and relax. Eat well, don’t over stress yourself or over do anything. If there’s still anything you’re concerned about you can call us right here,” Annie reached over to take a card, writing down the number for the OBGYN ward for China, before she passed it to her. “And obviously anything like tonight that worries the two of you, you’re always okay to come and get an emergency appointment.”

China figured there was enough information flowing around after tonight and maybe the doctor hadn’t wanted to overload them both. She gave a smile in return, her eyes falling to the scan in Liam’s hands. “Thank you.” 

When the doctor shook her head, she rested a hand on China’s knee. “No problem at all. Congratulations, both of you. That’s one cute ‘bean’ you’ve got there.” She gave a small laugh, and smiled more as she saw China’s own mouth pull up into a laugh, too. 

China stood from the chair a moment later, offering to take things from Liam so he didn’t have everything to carry on their way back to her car. 

“Sounds good.” Liam said in regards to her wanting to wait to look at the homes he found until they’ve actually rested a bit. “Thank you, doctor.” He said before she left the room laughing at her comment. He looked at his own watch and felt himself yawn. He was tired, but he was too excited to sleep but he knew China probably was. He handed her the pamphlets he was holding and a scan. “Come on, mama. We’ve got pups waiting on us.” He said just wondering how excited those two pups were going to be when they told them about the bean.

#(the missing piece to my puzzle | liam.) #(f2f: mchemsworth.) #(as soon as I saw you; I knew a grand adventure was about to happen | baby c.) #(their royal duchesses dora and delta.) #(duchess delta.) #(aDORAble.)

[dangerousfoxfest]

Collide: Chapter 9

Back to the Beginning

Tags @blackcatkita a​ @fluffy-marshmallow-heart​ @bobasheebaby y​ @ao719 9​ @coco alley​ @leelee10898​ @hopefulmoonobject t​ @gardeningourmet t​ @supersecretfandomblog @​ @princess-geek​ @flowerpowell​ @carabeth​ @brightpinkpeppercorn n​ @furiousherringoperatortoad​ @jared2612 @annekebbphotography y @indiacater r​ @moneyfordiamonds​ @stopforamoment t​ @wannabemc2 2​ @blznbaby​ @mrsdrakewalkerblog g@innerpostmentality @perfectprofessorherokid d @perfectlyimperfectcrystal @whenyourheartskipsabeat @lodberg @princess-geek @thequeenofcronuts @choiceslife @lauradowning29

Hi guys, here is another chapter, I hope this story still interests you if not just let me know and I will stop tagging. This is on my I pad so apologies I am unable to break it up for the feed. As always thanks for reading 💕

Summary: after the death of Madeline, Riley and Laim are reunited with their daughter. Riley and their daughter have left New York to start a new life in Cordonia, but can they leave the past behind them?

Liam’s blue eyes looked up from the piece of paper Bastien had only moments ago handed to him; his eyes darted towards Riley’s. She followed his gaze back to him wondering the thoughts in his head. “What were Bastien and Liam talking about?” She thought. She seen a look in his eyes she never seen before. Riley began to stand from her seat, at which point Liam gently shook his head while raising his hand up motioning her to sit down. She looked at him confused. Liam could sense her confusion, but for now he wanted to be alone. He turned and made his way to the front section of the plane locking the door behind him. Riley was surprised she had been on this jet many times and never known this section to be used. “Riley….” Carol asked “what’s going on?” “I…I….I wish I knew” Riley replied shaking her head in bewilderment.

The Jet began to ascend into the New York sky, leaving behind everything Riley knew was sure and certain, she was now going back into the lions den….back into court. During the journey Riley and Kimmy whiled away the hours colouring in and talking about palaces. Kimmy was so excited she was finally going to be a princess and she could not wait for the pretty dresses. Just like those in her bedtime stories Riley would read to her before bed. Before long Riley, Carol and Kimmy fell asleep.

Before long the pilot announced the descent into Cordonia. Due to the time difference The sun was rising over the Island. “Kimmy….Kimmy….look….home…” Riley said in a soft voice gently shaking Kimberly awake. “Oh mummy…it’s wonderful” Kimmy responded with boundless enthusiasm. Kimmy leaped on Carol jolting her awake announcing where they were. Riley rose from her seat and made her way to the front of the plane. She knocked on the door and tried the handle. It was locked. “Liam…Liam…” Riley continued to knock. “Click” the door unlocked and Bastien answered “Lady Riley, his majesty is indisposed at the moment and unfortunately cannot speak with you” Riley looked behind Bastien and could see Liam at an angle, head in his hands at times running his hands through his hair, she could see his anxiety from his body posture. “Liam…Laim!” Riley shouted over Bastien “Talk to me!”

“I’m sorry Lady Riley” Bastien responded softly while slowly closing the door.

With the hour the plane had landed on the tarmac. Riley was hoping on the way to the place she could find out what was troubling Liam. Riley had heard the door unlock and noted Bastien had left the room, “finally” Riley thought.

Bastien made his way toward Riley “Lady Riley…the car is here to take you, Her Royal Highness and Lady Carol to the Palace, His Majesty will be joining you all soon.”

“Here that Granny, her royal highness….that’s me!” Kimberly beamed

Carol laughed but the tension from her daughter was not lost on her. She could sense the Anger from Riley….Carol began to get worried…Riley was recovering from severe head trauma and the doctor warned that her emotional state could result in sudden outbursts. Carol placed her hand gently on Riley’s arm, “come on sweetheart, Liam has work to do, you’ll see him tonight.

Riley nodded and made her way out the plane. Riley was quiet on the drive on the way to the Palace. She couldn’t get Liam out of her head.

“Look mummy look……wow!!!” cried Kimmy with excitement. There it was the Palace, their new home. From the road Riley could see the press crowded round the gates. She knew they would be there but she thought she would have Liam by her side. She was not ready to face them alone.

“Can we go through the back gate please?” Riley asked the driver as they drove up the road towards the gate.

“Yes mam” he replied. The driver turned off the main road, Riley could see the scramble of reporters trying to follow them.

Riley looked toward Carol and Kimberly. “It’s better when Liam is here, I’ll be ready then”

Carol nodded with a little smiled back at her daughter taking a gentle hold of her hand. The car made its way through the Place gates and before long the car stopped. As they made their way out the car Bastien met the car. “Bastien?” Riley asked confused “I thought you were with Liam?”

“His Majesty is in his office Lady Riley, he asked not to be disturbed” Bastien replied with a regretful look.

“Huh? Really?” Riley could feel the anger well up inside her. She has uprooted her whole family for him and he did not have the decency to come and meet them….no more than that he was happy to make his own daughter face the press alone. “TO HELL WITH THIS!” Riley seethed. All the hurt and anger corded through her as she stormed off. She had not been in this place for many years but she’s pretty sure she remembers where his office is. Meanwhile Carol and Kimberly were lead to their apartment within the Palace to settle in by Bastien. “Bastien” Carol asked “if you don’t mind me asking….what is going on….and don’t say you can’t tell me, it is clear it very much involves my daughter and therefore my granddaughter” Bastien sighed his job was not an easy one, but Carol was right, indeed this was now common knowledge in Cordonia, the story broke without warning and now…and now! “Bastien…tell me!” Carol repeated. “My daughter has been through enough”

Bastien had grown fond of Carol over the past months in America during Riley’s convalescence and he adored Kimmy, he had never had children he lived for the job he had never regretted that decision not to have a family, but seeing Liam with Riley so happy with Kimberly he could help think….”Bastien” Carol repeated kneeling in front of him gently taking his hand pulling Bastien out of his thoughts. Bastien rose and momentarily left the room, coming back holding a newspaper in his hand. He placed it on the table before turning his back and walking away leaving the room. Carol could see he was torn, this was his only way of letting her know without telling her. Carol smiled at Kimmy and led to her her bedroom. “Why don’t you go and see what wonderful toys you have in your bedroom and I’ll come in a few minutes” She sated. Kimberly beamed a huge smile and rushed into her bedroom. Carol was thankful she was missing the subtleties that were going on between the adults. Carol could only reason this was due to the excitement of new things, because any other day her astute granddaughter would be calling them out on it. Carol made her way into the lounge and picked up the newspaper and began to read, “Oh no!” Carol exclaimed.

Riley stormed through the Palace corridors, were they always this long? She thought. She past some Palace staff on the way some would give a courtesy nod others would avoid eye contact as they scuttled past her. “what the hell was going on?” She thought. “Finally” she cried as she reached Liam’s office. Riley knocked loudly on Liam’s door and barged in. She was not going to be put off again. Riley couldn’t see Liam at the desk, she entered the room and started at the voice coming from the lounge area. “What are you doing here?” The voice boomed from the side of her “I told Bastien”

“Liam?” Riley replied turning round to face him cutting him off mid sentence “what’s this all about?”her patience was wearing very thin.

“You want to know?” Liam responded sarcastically

“Have you been drinking?” Riley asked? “ I do not like your tone, so watch it”

Liam scoffed before picking up his glass and taking a drink

“That answers that one” Riley sighed in reply to herself

Liam turned and say back down facing the roaring fire which was lit. The flicker of the flames showed the pain etched on his face despite his bravado attitude.

Riley moved closer to him and kneeled next to him she placed her hand on his arm and rested her head on his lap watching the flames. She decided not to speak she wouldn’t be the first to talk, not now. The time passed, how long she didn’t know it was getting dark. Winter was coming as the daylight hours grew shorter.

“How long?” Liam voice asked breaking the silence in the room other than the fire

“How long what?” Riley asked

Liam sighed and rose from the chair Riley having to move her position also. Liam made his way to his desk bring the newspaper with him. He handed it to Riley; as he did so Riley could see the headline and the pictures. There it was…her and Drake. The caption “King Betrayed by his future wife and best friend!”

#riley #king liam #olivia nevrakis #choices the royal romance #collide #drake walker #liam rhys #rr #choices the stories you play

[umccall71]

Chapter 3

Characters:Prince Liam x (mc) Lady Saige

Rating:Mature Content includes profanity, sexual content,talks about depression.

Word Count:2896

Disclaimer: All characters used are sole property of Pixelberry. I am simply borrowing them for entertainment.

Summary:After a summer of a Lifetime Prince Liam thought he could have it all. He was carefree, free, and sharing time with the woman of his dreams. When life as easy a balancing act between love and duty, he realizes his truths are lies, wrong is right, and decisions do have consequences.Lady Saige never imagined she would be one of his consequences. When an act of utter horror throws her world into a tailspin.

Warning: This series contains subject matter of depression and hopelessness .The story may trigger certain individuals. Please be advised. If your reading this series you are acknowledging you are at least 18 +.

~~~~~~~~

Tags

@hopefulmoonobject @elles-choices

~~~~~~~

A few days later Liam drove himself over to Olivia’s estate to pick up Saige for their dinner plans.He drove a Rhodium Silver F type Jaguar convertible. He wanted to appear normal, yet impress Saige. He was greeted at the door by one of his closest friends, Olivia. “Liam.. I’m not sure what you have in mind, but you hurt her and I will commit treason again a member of the royal family.”, she narrowed her eyes glaring at Liam.

“Olivia, I have no ulterior motives where Saige is concerned. I find her … refreshing and would simply like to spend time with her getting to know better.”, he smiles apologetically. Before Liam could say another word, Saige descended the grand staircase. She was positively glowing as she sauntered down the stairs smiling in his direction.

He took in her beauty, noticing the lady in red backless midi dress with a spin at the bottom. The dress was flattering to her curves and complexion. She wore her auburn hair is a sexy loosely fishtail braid cascading to the side. She paired the dress with a pair of red peep toe strappy suede sandals.Olivia silently laughed watching Liam’s reaction to laying eyes on Saige in this dress.Liv whispered, “she knocks your socks off huh?”

Liam leans down and kisses the back of her hand, you … you look stunning lady Saige”, he was breathless. Liam could not tear his gaze away from her eyes… which were sparkling like the ocean beneath the early morning sunrise. “ Good evening Liam”, she softly spoke his name. He bowed his head to her in acknowledgment, “ Good evening Lady Saige. Are you ready for our evening?”, his baritone tone was like velvet when he whispered near her ear. Saige felt a slight thrill in the close proximity to Liam. She cast a playful smirk as she glanced at him over her shoulder. “ I’m ready when you are.” With that being said… they set off on a quiet evening out.

Liam opened her car door, allowing her to slide into the sleek, sexy roaring luxury sports car. He glanced over to gauge her reaction as the car hugged the curves of the road along the coastline heading into the capital. She couldn’t stop smiling as she took in the picturesque beauty of the drive. A few times , he noticed her eyes close just soaking it in with each passing moment. A short time later, they pull up to a quaint little bistro nestled between the library and a few small collectible shops. He helped her out of the car and tapped the side entrance door to the restaurant to gain access. Saige side eyes Liam wondering why they didn’t enter from the front door she noticed on the way in. Upon entering, Saige noticed how empty the restaurant was for the time of evening and the day of the week. She figured there would be patrons enjoying a quiet meal discussing the work week.The waiter guided them to a hidden nook off near an uninhabited corner of the restaurant.

“This is a lovely restaurant… are they usually this empty this time of evening?”, she inquired quietly. “ I would think with it being a Thursday… there would be more traffic here.”, she smiled at the rich mahogany woods and vibrant sea blues and turquoise decor. The lighting soft and muted, the flicker of candles on the tables lending a glow to the patrons.

“ How did you find this place Liam? It’s not very large, but that’s a good thing. You want to take away from the ambiance of the restaurant. I like a place where the food is the star of the show..”, she grins as the manager came over to personally greet Liam and Saige.The older, balding gentleman greeted Liam with a hug… familiarity evident from the exchange. “How have you been this beautiful evening?”, he smiled widely while eying the young lady sitting across from Liam. “Who is this πανέμορφος (panémorfos) beauty?”, he asked with a rich Greek accent . Liam smiled and Saige blushed where her cheeks were tinged red, she became flush. “ Yiorgos… this is my new friend, Saige. She’s visiting our fair country from America. So … I really need to impress her with your delicious cuisine.”, he chuckled . Yiorgos’s eyes darted back and forth between the two . “ I will surprise you with the best of the house. I will send over my finest Ouzo.”, he boasted. He disappeared into the kitchens.

Liam could not take his eyes off of Saige. He felt a warmth in his chest as he locked eyes with her. He could not look away. She looked around wondering what he was staring at around her. “Do I...have something on my face?, she questioned.

“Why would you think you have something on you? I just happen to think your beautiful and it’s a little difficult to get you out of my head”,he shrugged and shot her a crooked grin.Saige’s eyes veered down to the cloth napkin, staring processing what he had just said. Saige was momentarily speechless before a waiter bought the Ouzo over to the table, pouring the drinks and removing himself from the interaction quickly.

“How did you manage to make dinner plans in a restaurant this nice … to have only the two of us dining here?”, she quirked her brow waiting for his response. Liam tried to contain his smirk and evade her questions. He didn’t want to be evasive, but he also wondered what she would think of the real Liam.

“Did you ask for a private party or something?”, she chuckled.

“ My family has been coming here for years. My mother and father would make plan to come here to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. I remember my mother would bring me here when we would spend time together at the library. She made a point of it being just she and I for lunches. She would ask me … about my day and plans for my next birthday. Over the years… after she died, my brother would come here with his dates , or my father , when he reminisced of their time together.”Saige recognized a kindred spirit of sadness in his voice and eyes. She reached across the table , she gripped his hand comfortingly. “That was nice that you all continued to return. The owner must really like your family,”, she laughed trying to lighten the mood.

“Well… there’s that and security requirements.”, he spoke nonchalantly.

“Wait.. what? What does that mean? Why would your family have security concerns?”, she glanced quizzically.

My family is in the public eye quite a bit and to have a few places that we can just unwind … is needed.”, he said.

“Really? Did you bring your girlfriends here as well? You mentioned that your brother made use of the private restaurant.”, she rests her chin against her balled fist.

“ That… that’s not really something I saw a desire to do. I spent most of my time hanging out with close friends or time alone. The girls my brother brought here were seeking of the spotlight.. to be seen with … with my brother was welcomed.”, he smiled softly.

Moments later the food started to arrive to the table. The plethora of Gyros,Dolmades,Souvlaki,Moussaka, the final touch a decadent dessert of baklava .They fell into a comforting silence enjoying the evening and the food. They traded mmms and aahs over the timeless lingering flavors that saturated their taste palettes.After awhile, the table was being cleared and Saige picked up her line of questioning.

“You never told me what you family does to garner that type of attention.”, she cupped the side of her face as she stared attentively awaiting an answer.

“Saige… my family ,my father happens to be the ruler of Cordonia”, he whispered in passing.

“Ruler???... as in King of Cordonia?, her blue eyes widened in realization. “ So that makes you … a prince?, she gasped in shock. Saige’s hand flies up to cover her mouth and her eyes widened, “Liam… you're the prince?”

Liam released a deep breath he never realized he was holding, “Well yes and no… my brother is the crowned prince, he’s next in line for the throne.”, he slowly shook his head while trying to make his point. “ I hope this doesn’t change your thoughts about spending time with me.”, he swallowed the knot in his throat.

Saige paused for a few seconds, she whispered, “ why would you not lead off by telling me your a member of the royal family?” She sighed, “ how often do you take women out like this? This is a little bit of a shock…”, she trailed off.Liam reached across the table.. reaching for her hand desperately needing to convince her of a compelling reason to keep his secret.

“ Saige”, he gasped , “ this is not me… this is not my normal.My brother is used to all the attention and bouncing from woman to woman in the public eye. I’ve never had a need for all the attention. I have never felt moved to want to impress anyone or subject them to headlines.”

“Wait Liam… how can you move about without being hounded by the press? I would think you would have security with you.”, she inquired with her brows raised in surprise.

Liam flashed a guilty grin, he paused,” I do.. I do have security with us here tonight. It was a battle to convince my security to allow me to drive myself. He followed behind at a comfortable distance… to not make you feel uncomfortable.”, he paused thoughtfully, “I hope this doesn’t affect your decision to be out with me tonight.”

“I enjoyed spending time with Liam last night and tonight. It was you, not your title that convince me to want to spend time with you. It was the gentle, caring, exciting man that made me want to spend an evening with you. This doesn’t sway me one way or the other. I’m a big girl… We can just enjoy this evening.”, she smiled.

“What would a perfect first date consist of for you Saige?”, he asked leaning forward, listening intently, never breaking his eye contact.

“ Well, this is pretty nice, a quiet dinner… I guess following up with a slow walk close by the restaurant… or even a stroll on the beach. We’d spend time just hanging out. I enjoy dinner, a movie, bowling, the beach, music… any of those things would suit me just fine”, she giggled. Liam stood up, extended his hand to her to stand, wave at the manager acknowledging they were leaving. Dinner had already been arranged and paid for prior to their date. Liam guided Saige out of the restaurant, gently placing his hand at the small of her back. She felt a spark in that moment, his finger tips touching her bare skin. She softly bow out a cool breath unnoticed. Liam opened the restaurant door, escorted Saige back to the sports car and they continued the evening taking a drive back down to the private beach.

“ Why me?... I’m sure you could have your pick of any woman to spend time with, but me?”, Saige was questioning his decision. Liam took her hand in his and slowly entwined his fingers with her fingers. He strided down the beach with her after allowing her a moment to remove her heels. “Saige… why not you? You had me at hello, I had never met anyone like you… so down to earth, so sweet and funny. There was no pretense when we talked yesterday. You were open to getting to know me. Other women in this country know the image of a prince, whispers of the royal family, but none of that mattered to you. Even when I briefly mentioned the monarchy, you let the subject drift away in the night.”, he paused in their stroll. Liam turned to face her, blue eyes meeting under the moonlight, deep in thought contemplating her reaction.

“You seem like you have something on your mind Liam? You know you can talk to me about anything.”, she smiled gently , focused on his eyes. She felt his thumb moving across the back of her hand, grazing her knuckles. “ I was thinking… how very much I would like to kiss you. Nothing too forward, but watching you beautiful lips… I wondered how they’d feel against mine.” Saige felt a slight breeze against her face and her back. She smirked, “ well .. go for it.” Liam slowly cupped the side of her face, lowering his lips to meet hers, feeling a warm sensation of her mouth, so soft. He felt an electricity in that moment. This was not too presumptuous, it lasted several seconds. Liam rested his his lips on her a few moments following, savoring this first. He hesitated to pull away, opening his eyes and leaning his forehead gently against her forehead.They smiled softly while she was biting her bottom lip. “That was nice Liam.”, she reached up touching his face gently. “ This has been a wonderful night, but perhaps we should go… I’m sure Olivia is wondering where we are.”, she chuckled.Liam smiled, “ I suppose you right… I must say… I’m going to hate seeing this night come to an end.”Saige could see he was genuinely happy with her, but were she being honest, she didn’t want the night to end either . They can’t stop smiling and glancing at each other. Saige brushed her feet off before putting her heels back on and the drive back to Lythikos .

Liam found himself reaching out for her hand and gently kissing the back of her hand. He had never felt such a pull with any woman before… he felt a need to touch her in one way or another. He glanced into the rear view mirror the closer they got to Olivia’s house. Saige noticed the black SUV behind them that had been inconspicuously absent all evening. She supposed she hadn’t noticed until he mentioned it at the restaurant. She grinned at Liam as he pulled up to the front of the estate. “I had a nice time tonight Liam.”, she whispered turning to see his eyes. In that moment, Saige felt a heat wave building, anticipating if he would kiss her again. She was excited, yet nervous and she smirked. Saige turned her head , eyes darted from his eyes to his lips, signally she was open to see what happens. He unbuckled her seatbelt followed by his, his hand slid up embracing her face, sliding gently behind her head, he leaned in and gently kissed her lips, he wanted to go for it, but didn’t want her to be turned off by his forwardness. Liam felt an overwhelming feeling of wanting in that moment. Their lips slowly moving in sync , her lips parted ever so slightly better allowing him access to her mouth. “May I ?”, he whispered softly between kisses. Saige slowly nodded, and in that moment, Liam thought , what the hell… I may never have this opportunity again… his lips moved slowly against hers in a fervent desire. They met gently brushing lips, lips parted ever so sweetly when his tongue moved past her lips to meet hers in tender Union. They massaged tongues , careful not to be too aggressive. It was just right balance of sweet and sensual. Saige’s hand slid up to the nape of his neck , playing with the fine hairs as she leaned into the kiss .After several moments, they parted breathless.

Saige giggled, not believing that she had done that, but no regrets. “ I should really go inside now.”Liam nodded smiling, he opened his door heading around to open her door to walk her to the front door. “I guess this is good night Liam.”, she stared into his eyes, punch drunk from their kiss. “Good night Saige… sleep well.” He leaned down and placed a kiss on her cheek before turning back toward the car to head back to the palace.He stopped when he heard Saige call out to him, “Liam… I do love flowers, but you don’t have to fill the house with every flower in Cordonia “, she laughed knowing he would know precisely what she meant. “Duly noted”, he gestured with his hand before opening his drivers side door and disappeared down the drive followed by security.

Saige went inside where she was taken aback by the sudden emergence of Olivia wearing a silk bathrobe, “ I take it you had a good time with Liam?”, she quipped. “You left out a pretty important piece about him… being a prince?!” Olivia shrugged, “ it wasn’t my secret to tell.. I figured he would tell you in the right time.”Saige smiles, “ in reference to your question… I had a wonderful time… about a good of a date as you had tonight”, she grinned as they ascended the stairs toward their rooms. Olivia’s green eyes flashed dark, “who says my date is over?”, she smirked walking back to her room , “Good night Saige”, she waved over her shoulder not looking back to see her jaw drop in shock. Saige shook her head laughing as she made her way into her room and turning in for the night.

#king liam #choices trr #trr mc #liam x mc #pixelberry #the royal romance

[tmarie82]

Our Past, Present & Future

Pairing: Liam x Olivia (Drake x MC implied)

Book: The Royal Romance (Future)

Word Count: ~3,000

Rating:  M (for language / mentions of sex)

Author’s Note:  Here’s a little something I’ve had in my mind for over a month now.  I really wanted to explore more of how Liam and Olivia would operate as a couple, both from an emotional and a physical perspective.  This also includes a lot of buildup to help explain the story of their relationship.  I’m interested to hear your feedback - thank you for reading!

Please let me know if you would like to be added to my tag list.  You can find all of my fics here - MASTERLIST

~~~~~~~~~~

Olivia leaned her head back against the wall, inhaling the hot moist air deeply.  She had always loved the steam room, the sweltering haven had been a welcome treat after traipsing around in the frigid temperatures of Lythikos growing up.  However, normally when she visited the steam room at home she had been alone, or at least accompanied by other silent patrons, and not caught in the middle of some episode of Gossip Girl Cordonia edition.  It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy spending some quality girl time together with her friends, she was just rather ... selective when it came to conversation topics.

Emma and Hana chattered nonstop on her left side, rambling on and on about the latest happenings at court, the aesthetic benefits of the new snail gel mask they acquired today, and whatever other riveting topics came to mind.  Olivia ignored most of their banter, but her ears did perk up when they began discussing the annual Cordonian Apple festival tomorrow.  It was the first time in three months that the entire group would be together, meeting for the festivities at Applewood manor.  Olivia had arrived via train just after noon, coming straight away from a Lythikos counsel meeting early this morning.  Emma and Hana had come in this morning and met Maxwell upon arrival to help with last minute preparations for the festival in Liam’s place.  And Liam ... well, Liam and Drake had been detained for trade negotiations longer than they had anticipated back in the capital, but had assured their friends they would be there by dinner time.  

Olivia sighed as her mind began to wander, and, as it always did when she was relaxed and nostalgic, it wandered back to Liam.  It had been almost a month since she’d been in the same room with him, and she could count on two hands the number of opportunities they’d had to be alone in the six months they had been courting.  As Liam acclimated to his role as king, without his father as his advisor no less, and Olivia picked up the crumbling pieces of her family’s legacy in Lythikos after her aunt was exiled ... well, needless to say there had been very little time for dating.  But they had talked, almost every day ... rehashing their political struggles or mocking the older counsel members that had proven to be challenging, they had come to rely upon each other as sounding boards and for support.  Olivia had grown used to their daily phone calls and flirtatious text messages, and she would be lying if she said that talking to Liam wasn’t the highlight of her day.  And tonight, after drinks with their friends, Liam had invited Olivia for a private dinner just the two of them.  “As much as I’ve missed everyone, what I’d really like is some time with just you.“  He had said over the phone a few nights ago.  ”We’ll spend all day at the festival with them.  I want you all to myself for one night.”  Just thinking of the invitation, and all the possible activities that might be included, made Olivia’s stomach flutter with excitement ... not a feeling this fierce redhead was used to.  But with Liam ... well, he had always had that effect on her.

“Olivia?”  Hana’s sing-song voice snapped Olivia out of her reverie.  “Are we boring you?”

“Yes, I haven’t heard a single sarcastic comment from that side of the room for at least 20 minutes.  Is everything okay?”  Emma and Hana both stared at their dazed friend with looks of concern.  

Olivia responded with a fake smile.  “Yes of course, I’ve just got a lot on my mind right now.”  

“Uh huh ...” Emma nodded with a knowing smirk on her lips.  “Or maybe a certain someone on your mind?”  

Olivia rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t quiet the nervous chuckle she emitted.  “Hmmm ... maybe a little.”  

“So are you excited about your dinner with Liam tonight?”  Hana inquired.  “I’m sure you’ve missed him so much.”

“I am looking forward to it.”  Olivia replied dryly.  “We have been talking every day, but we haven’t been able to spend much time together since we started ... whatever this is that we’re doing.”  She shrugged, trying not seem overly enthralled at the chance to spend an evening alone with the man of her dreams.

“You mean, dating?” Emma said sarcastically before looking to Hana, the two of them giggling like giddy schoolgirls.

“Honestly Olivia, I haven’t seen Liam like this since...” A guilty look spread across Hana’s face as she glanced at Emma.  “Well, you know ...”

Oh, Olivia knew alright ... and while she had grown fond of Emma since she’d first met her, when it came to Liam she always worried that Emma was more his type than she would ever be.  Polite and friendly yet strong-willed, smart yet funny, and of course beautiful ... “Yes, I know.” She replied curtly.

Emma saw the hurt in her eyes and placed her hand over Olivia’s to comfort her.  “What Liam and I had ... it was just an infatuation.  At the end of the day, we just weren’t right for each other, and so the infatuation wore off.  But you two ... “ Emma paused, meeting Olivia’s stare with a reassuring smile.  “You two understand each other.  You compliment each other and work together as a team.  Not all romances have to be whirlwinds, Olivia ... sometimes two people just need time to grow up first before they grow together.”

“Hmm ...” Olivia didn’t know what to say, she had never been one for this sappy business.  But she did appreciate Emma’s little speech, and her quick squeeze of Emma’s hand and grin was her best attempt to thank her.  But then she quickly stood up, clearing her throat as she attempted to change the subject.  “Well, if you’ll excuse me ladies, I’m due for my waxing appointment in five minutes.”

The other two ladies exchanged an amused glance before Emma responded.  “Of course Olivia, we understand.  You have to trim those hedges before inviting Liam to the garden.”  She gave Olivia a sly wink.

Olivia did her best not to smile, but she was actually rather impressed with Emma’s snarky joke.  It sounded like something she would have said herself, but she wouldn’t give Emma the satisfaction of acknowledging her statement when it pertained to her own, um, hedges.  So instead she rolled her eyes again, feigning annoyance as she turned to the door to exit the steam room.  “Really, Emma, I would expect a Duchess to be more couth than that ...” But she couldn’t fight the slight tug at the corner of her lips as she walked away, leaving the two giggly ladies behind in a cloud of steam.

~~~~~~~~~

“I still can’t believe you’re ditching us tonight to go have dinner with Olivia.”  Drake stated in a flat tone as he stared out the window of their limousine.

Liam smirked, knowing that his best friend would most likely continue to give him a hard time about his feelings about Olivia for, well, what he hoped might be a very long time.  But underneath Drake’s grumpy comments and outward disdain for Liam’s female friend, Liam knew that he had actually grown to admire Olivia over the past year.  Not only had Olivia and Drake developed a sort of platonic sibling-rivalry type of relationship, consisting of playful banter and frequent pranks, they had also developed a mutual unspoken respect for each other.  Plus, Drake was relieved to see his best friend finally find his match ... he personally knew the power that finding the right woman could have on a man and could see it plain as day on Liam’s face whenever he spoke about her.  It was just unfortunate, in his opinion, that woman happened to Olivia.

“I’m sure you understand Drake.  Sometimes you have to prioritize your lady before your friends.”   Liam chuckled as Drake grumbled something under his breath.  “You know, we haven’t had much time alone together.  We just need some time ... you know, to really give this a shot.”

“I think I have a feeling what kind of shot your need to give her, Liam ... and I’m not sure I want to hear about it.”  Drake raised his brow at his friend.

“That’s not what ... I mean, we just ...“ Liam stumbled over his words, trying to recover from Drake’s bluntness.  He cleared his throat to compose himself.  “Ahem, what I mean is we need more time one on one in person to make sure this is really what we want.  But I gotta tell you Drake ... “ Liam shook his head and ran a hand across his jaw, his eyes wide as he prepared himself for his confession.  “I think I’ve fallen in love with her.”

Drake’s eyebrows raised and jaw dropped before he quickly pulled himself back together.  “With Olivia?  I ... that’s great, man.”  Drake’s expression softened as he nodded his head in approval to his best friend.  They sat in silence for a few moments, both looking out their respective windows as the Cordonian landscape flitted by.  Then suddenly Drake turned his head sharply to his friend, cocking it the side and furrowing his brows in question.  “It’s the sex, isn’t it?  It’s gotta be.  I always had a feeling that redhead was fiesty between the sheets also.”

Liam burst out laughing, burying his head in his hands on his lap as he shook his head back and forth in denial.  “Drake, I see married life has turned you into a hopeless romantic!”  Once his laughter died down, he looked back to Drake with a lighthearted smile.  “Actually, I wouldn’t know.  We haven’t had the opportunity yet.”  He shrugged carelessly, fighting the blush on his cheeks as he looked back out his window.  

“Well now I see why you’re prioritizing her over your friends tonight.”  Drake patted him on the shoulder in understanding and stared back to the passing scenery outside as they approached the outskirts of the capital.  

~~~~~~~~~~~

“And so I told him that if he wanted to increase the shipping fees on the grains they ship out of the country, then I’m sure he’d understand the increase in our fees to offset the extra expenditures.  Knowing the Austrians’ love for the Lythikos ale, I knew he would quickly see reason.”  Olivia grinned proudly at her accomplishment.  

Liam chuckled, shaking his head slightly as he rested his chin against his fist on the table.  He leaned forward, allowing his hand to graze hers softly as he reached for his glass of wine, eliciting a tiny spark of electricity as their flesh met.  Olivia’s eyes sparkled as he lifted his glass, her heart beating faster from just the slight contact.  “To you, Liv ... to your strength, your wit and your determination.  After twenty years, you never cease to stun me.”  Liam tilted his glass in her direction and she met him halfway with her own, the clink of glass echoing as they raised each one to their lips.  Silence fell over them as they sat there, still adapting to being face to face instead of separated by miles and two phone screens.  Without a word, Liam nodded towards the balcony outside of his private chambers and held out his hand in invitation, which Olivia took gladly.  He escorted her to stand beside him at the railing, the palm of his hand resting lightly on the small of her back as they looked out across the Cordonian Ruby orchards undernearh the moonlight.  

“Do you remember that time when I was ten and you were eight, I got into that horrible fight with Bertrand and Maxwell’s cousin Matthias that was visiting?”  Liam asked, bringing his wine glass back to meet his lips as he studied her.

Olivia nodded, her eyes crinkling at the sides as she recalled that spring day with amusement.  “I do remember that day ... although I wouldn’t call what you did fighting.”  She chuckled fondly.

Liam laughed, both surprised and not at the same time at Olivia’s jab.  “Alright, alright ... it wasn’t much of a fight.  Well, at least not until you showed up!  But in my defense, I hadn’t had many opportunities to learn the art of schoolyard sparring up until that point.”  Liam paused, looking back over the trees in reflection.  “Then you showed up, this scrawny little redheaded girl ... you walked right up to Matthias and punched him square in the nose.”  He snorted at the memory, recalling the shocked expressions on everyone’s faces.  “He went right down.  No one was expecting it, especially not Matthias.”  He paused, glancing over to her as she looked out over the landscape quietly.  “I remember thinking how brave you were.  This girl, not afraid of anything, taking on a boy twice her size without any hesitation.  I was in awe of you.”

Olivia grinned, continuing to stare out at the horizon as she brought her wine glass to her lips and took a slow, languid sip.  Finally she spoke.  “I was trying to impress you, you know.”  She turned her gaze to meet his, noticing his eyebrows raise in question.  “I remember thinking what a kind and noble boy you were ... You could have kicked that kid’s ass, easily, yet ... you chose not to.  You played weak so that you wouldn’t have to be cruel.”

His eyes softened while she spoke, absorbing her sentiment.  “I should have known you’d see right through me.  You always did.  But then why did you hit him if you knew I didn’t want to?”

“Because someone had to put that punk in his place and I knew you wouldn’t do it.  And to this day, I don’t regret it.”  She grinned proudly.  

“You’ve always been so tough, Liv.”  A whisper of a smile touched Liam’s lips, his hand instinctively reaching up to stroke his finger along her cheek.  “But I see the other side of you, too.  The softer side that hides beneath the tough exterior that few ever get to see.  And I, for one, think you’ve grown up to be a pretty damn amazing woman.”

Olivia’s breath caught in her throat, her skin tingling where Liam’s fingers traced over it as he leaned in closer.  He stopped short, his lips only inches away from her own, his warm breath on her skin ... as if he were seeking permission.  Olivia closed the distance, covering his mouth with her own, a soft sigh in the back of her throat.

The kiss started out soft and slow, similar to the few kisses they had shared over the past several months, testing their boundaries as their mouths opened to each other.  But this time instead of not letting themselves get carried away, instead of breaking apart much too soon due to other obligations or responsibitlies ... this time there was nothing to stop for.  And so they continued kissing until their lips were swollen and their breaths were ragged, finally separating to press their foreheads together as they steadied their breathing.

Liam spoke first, a tender whisper of a confession that he had been contemplating all evening.  “Liv, I know these past months have been hard and we haven’t been able to see each other often enough, but ... but I think if we both want this and we really make this a priority that we could really have something together.”

Olivia smirked as she pulled his mouth to hers again, placing one long deep kiss to his lips.  “Why Your Majesty, I think you just want my help at your next round of trade negotiations.  You know all you have to do is ask.”  She beamed up at him with a wide grin, unable to fight back her happiness any longer.

Liam’s head fell back as he let out a loud laugh.  “You know, I probably could use your help next time ... I’ll make a note of that.”  He peered down at her, his crystal blue eyes studying her expression before he spoke again.  “But what I was really saying, Liv ... Olivia, is that I think I’m falling in love with you.”  He cupped her jaw in his large hand, his heart swelling as her eyes softened and she nuzzled her cheek against him.  He leaned down to place gentle, single kisses across her forehead- “And I’d like nothing more ...” and down on her eyelids- “than to have you stay with me tonight...” along her jaw- “so I can worship you ...” and finally to hover above her lips- “and make love to you all night long.”  And then he was kissing her again, his fingers kneading the flesh of her hips as she looped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer.  

“Liam, as great as that all sounds ...” Olivia panted her words between fervent kisses, her heart racing as she nipped hungrily at his lower lip and caused him to moan against her mouth. “I’ve been in love with you for twenty years, so forgive me if I can’t help but fuck you senseless now that I finally have the chance.”  She pressed her chest firmly against his body, her hands skimming the hem of his sweater before tugging it upwards and running her nails along the waistband of his jeans.

Liam growled with desire, swiftly gliding his hands down her backside and gripping the backs of her thighs tightly.  He pulled her roughly to him and lifted her, her thighs instinctively wrapping around his waist as he carried her slowly inside.  “Thank you Duchess Nevrakis, I thoroughly appreciate your honesty.  Now let’s go see if we can make up for lost time.”  And then he was silenced by her kisses- rough, needy kisses that had been bottled up for years - as he stumbled down the hallway and carried her towards his bedchamber.

END

~~~~~~~~~

Tagging: @simplyaiden-blog @mfackenthal @lizeboredom @walkerismychoice @boneandfur @laniquelovely @choices-fanatic @liam-rhys @the-everlasting-dream @client327 @kamybelen-blog @butindeed @enmchoices @drakelover78 @kamilah-sayeed-xoxo @parkerattano @asprankle @innerpostmentality @jadedpixiescribbles @crookedslimecreatorpasta @choiceswreckedme @debramcg1106 @mymandrake @alesana45 @christopher-powell @eileendannie @diavolosprincess @lazychic28 @clarissafics @blackcatkita @bella-ca @writtenbycandy @stopforamoment @mind-reader1 @snyggflicka @pbchoicesobsessed @miss-cordonia @mrswalkerwrites @speedyoperarascalparty @viktoriapetit @flowerpowell @choices-sideblog

#team oliam #olivia nevrakis #king liam #liam x olivia #the royal romance #tmarie82 fanfic

[flslp87]

This story and others can be found in the CSSB Vol 2

This story is a collaborative story written with @allofthismatters@flslp87 @ilovemesomekillianjones and @ohmakemeahercules and the art was created by @hopeandbeans

The Best in You

Summary: An introspective look at both Emma and Killian's thoughts from the time he leaves after not telling her anything about Ursula to the time her parents catch them. Rating - K

After leaving Pinocchio with Marco, Emma planned to make her way back to the station to continue looking through the ATM videos, but somehow her thoughts took her a different direction and she found herself at the docks. They had become a place that she gravitated toward whenever her thoughts were muddled and she needed to sort through something. Today, it seemed there were multiple situations that needed her attention, but none more so than her conversation. or lack thereof with one close-mouthed pirate. When he arrived at the station with her lunch, and she had immediately tested him about whether he was bringing her french fries or onion rings, she had wanted to kick her behind for continuing to put him through hoops; but when he had grinned and rubbed her shoulder, she had relaxed and silently promised herself to behave. Why then had she immediately put him on the spot about Ursula? Was she jealous? No, that didn't feel right, but something about his reticence to talk about Ursula immediately brought all her insecurities to the surface.

As she watched the birds fly over the water she thought about how free they looked and wished she could be as free with the giving of her trust and of her feelings. Her past still had a hold on her and those walls, while she knew they were falling down a piece at a time, and much of it was due to Killian's persistence, she also knew that there were some instances when it appeared to be one step down and two steps back up. Today's conversation with him left her feeling very unsettled as it was so different than most of their conversations had been recently. He was usually the one trying to get her to open up and this time, he had shut her down with, "I don't know what else to say." Why had she crossed her arms over her chest, her body position exuding mistrust and not shown patience with him like he has always shown with her?

~~~cs~~~

It was times like this that Killian longed for the familiarity of his ship most. He needed refuge from the onslaught of shame over the most current disaster he'd brought upon Emma, in the form of a sea witch who was only a danger because of what he did to her.

He sat on the beach and dug his nails into his scalp. He should be used to past misdeeds seeping into his present by now, but somehow, he was not.

He'd never get used to the way she shrank back into herself when she knew he was hiding something, how she stopped looking at him like he was safe, like she was preparing to be hurt beyond measure again. It undid him and made him want to hold her face and beg her to understand that he loved her so much his bones ache with it, that he'd spend his life proving he could be counted on, if only she'd be patient while he processed all this himself first.

But how could he think he was deserving of anyone's trust or patience, after what he did to Ursula?

He's committed horrors of all kinds, but his wrongdoings against the young mermaid made him feel especially unworthy of Emma's confidence. He'd made Ursula a promise, looked her in the eye and vowed that she could rely on him. And instead, he'd stolen her voice like it was nothing. He'd felt genuine respect and affection for her... her fire and ambition had reminded him of Milah a bit, and he'd turned her into nothing but a pawn in his own depraved agenda. Hardly better than the Dark One himself.

He needed to tell Emma, and he hated it. Hated that in his most recent conversation with her he'd been so evasive because she'd caught him off guard, and he simply had no excuse for what a monster he'd been in his long life. He was fairly certain she would forgive him, because she was so fiercely good, but whether he deserved it is another story. He wanted to be more for her than a constant parade of old sins needing absolution.

Sighing deeply, he stood and headed back to the station.

~~~cs~~~

A feeling of chagrin stole over her as she realized that she had treated him unfairly. He didn't deserve the brunt of her insecurities, he already had to deal with townsfolk not giving him the benefit of the doubt. She knew there was nothing going on between him and Ursula now. She also knew that no matter what had happened between them it would have no bearing on the man she knows now. It wouldn't change how she feels for him. In fact, of that she is positive, because no matter what, she's certain there is a line he wouldn't cross where a lady is concerned.

Thinking back on the conversation she'd just had with her parents it dawned on her that she needed to take a page out of their book. If they could choose to see the best in everyone, including villains, then it is the least she could do for Killian. Deep down she already saw the very best in him, she just needed him to know that. She'd let her self-doubt and emotions shake her faith in him.

Shit, she thought. She needed to fix this and fast, who knew when the next crisis was going to rear its ugly head. Emma took a deep breath of the fresh ocean air to center herself. Digging her phone out of her pocket she dialed Killian, then held her breath hoping he would answer. By the fourth ring she was losing hope that he'd accept her phone call.

"Hello."

"Killian!" she exclaimed into the phone.

"Is everything okay, love?"

"Yes," she said breathlessly. She'd held her breath a little longer than she'd intended to, and now she was feeling a little dizzy. It wasn't just the lack of oxygen though. It hit her then that she'd been more worried than she thought. Worried that this would be the time that Killian had finally run out of patience. That he was finally going to decide that her walls weren't worth scaling. She shook her head, refocusing and shooing away the negativity. "Would you be willing to meet me at the station?"

~~~cs~~~

Just as Killian resolved to set the record straight with Emma, his phone buzzed in his jeans pocket. "Bloody hell," he growled. He'd never get used to the sudden interruptions phone calls caused. Especially when he was in deep thought or concentrating, like now. He survived hundreds of years without being instantaneously accessible and quite frankly could do a hundred more.

Once he'd recovered from the shock, he glanced at the caller i.d., Emma's name appeared. He sighed. This was too coincidental. How did she know he was about to confess? Could this woman read minds, too? Don't answer it. Give her a taste of her own medicine. No, she deserves to know the truth at all costs. He drew a breath and answered, "Hello?"

"Killian!" she blurted out. She never said his name that way. Something was obviously bothering her.

He frowned. "Is everything okay, love?"

"Yes," she replied.

No, it's not Swan. You're worried; the anxiety is prevalent in your tone.

She continued, "Would you be willing to meet me at the station?"

"Umm, sure. Any particular reason?"

"I've had a lot on my mind today, and need to talk about it with you."

Uh oh, the dreaded 'we need to talk' line. In all his encounters with women over the years, he'd learned that phrase rarely meant good things, and the subject matter would be serious in nature. "Like what?"

"Certain expectations and being honest about them."

Now she's playing the evasive game, huh? "Okay."

"Just come over here as soon as possible. I'd rather talk in person."

"As you wish, Swan. I'll be there shortly."

"See you then."

Killian groaned as they hung up. One step forward, five steps back with Emma. Maybe she'd decided he wasn't worthy anymore. He was too broken, too far gone, too much of a monster to consider loving. Even if this was the end, he wanted to finish on the side of good. Damn, why did he have to be honorable now? Sometimes it was much easier to burn bridges and never think about the issue again. Alas, this was the path he'd chosen. Heroes always tell the truth.

He glanced up at the night sky. I hope you're proud, Liam. I'm becoming the man you believed I was. Now was the perfect time to prove him right, and Killian didn't intend to pass it up.

~~~cs~~~

After Killian had promised to come by the station, Emma hung up the phone and shoved it in her back pocket. Her palms were sweating and her pulse was racing and just sitting behind her desk made her feel she was going to jump out of her skin. Standing, she paced. Ten steps forward, ten steps back, over and over again until she heard the front door to the station open. Needing to look busy, she hurried to the filing cabinet, grabbed a file and pretended to look through it as she listened to his footsteps coming down the hall.

Taking a deep breath for courage, Killian rounded the corner into the station, "Well, Swan, why did you summon me?"

Here goes nothing, she thought as he posed the question. Making it her motto, she repeated, don't screw this up several times in quick succession before turning to answer him. "Because I know there's something about your past with Ursula you're not telling me..." she began.

She's right, he thought, and once I tell you what it is, you will no longer wish to have anything to do with me. A possibility that had been eating at his insides since their earlier conversation.

And finished, "And that's ok." She noted the hopeful expression on his face and continued, "What's not ok, is you lying to me about it." She watched his face, seeing no change in expression except to note that whatever had happened, was not something that he seemed to want to discuss. Which when she thought about it was odd, as he had never been one to shy away from any of his villainous deeds, owning them completely.

His first thought when she said that she didn't care about this past had been that it was a trick, for that wasn't what had happened with women in the past. But then again, he should have known that Emma Swan was no ordinary woman and when you are in a relationship with a woman such as her, all rules were new, often being made up as the relationship progresses. Hearing that she is ok with my past as long as I tell her about the past is a new and unique experience. What to say?

"Aye, love, you're right."

She wasn't sure if he'd continue, and it almost startled her when he did.

"I haven't been entirely forthright with you."

Her gut churned at the mere words, an automatic response. How many times had she heard words like that only to have her life promptly uprooted and left in tatters because of someone's dishonesty? Enough that it drowned out the part of her that felt safe and sure of his devotion to her.

She fought down the cold panic creeping up her neck and wrestled away the persistent, cruel mocking in the back of her mind. You thought this one was 'different', didn't you? What good have you ever been at picking out the ones that'll stay?

"The truth is, I remember my history with Ursula. It was early." She tried to focus on his voice, but the pounding in her head only grew as he approached her. She steeled her face and threw the question at him without thinking.

"Did you break her heart?"

The question was so quick and direct that it felt like whiplash. He heard her real question: Are you about to break my heart? He hated having her look at him like that; like she was still afraid, after all they'd been through, that he'd turn on her. It left him with a sudden flare of red-hot frustration-what in hell was it going to take to make her understand how much he loved her—that was quickly quelled by compassion. If she was so willing to forgive his unspeakable deeds, he could certainly be patient with her freezing up and shutting down. In a way, yes, he did break Ursula's heart, but not in the way Emma meant right now, so he gave her the honest, plain truth.

"Worse."

He let the word linger in the air, and forced himself to meet her eyes and study her face. He looked for fear or disgust, but simply found resolve.

"Look, whatever you did, you're not that person anymore. It's not gonna change anything between us."

The enormity of her words didn't escape him. It was her heart and her blind trust, laid bare for him with a bravery that made his heart ache with pride in her. It was a gift which he both desperately wanted and wasn't sure he could ever deserve. Killian opened his mouth to speak, then paused, trying to comprehend what he was hearing. "That's quite a lot of faith you're putting on me, Swan," Killian pointed out. He shook his head as though doubting himself on Emma's behalf. Did he even deserve to hope that she might actually mean it?

"I know," she answered lightly, "and there's a reason for it." Emma took her baffled pirate's hand and led him to the couch. She hated that she had put that look of self-doubt on his face, that she'd made him question his own worthiness. That's why she was going to fix this.

"What's that?" he asked, still quite certain that regardless of what she had to say, there was no way she was forgiving him this misdeed. His stomach churned with the memories of what he' done to Ursula, all in pursuit of his damned vengeance.

"My parents. I had this moment today where I doubted them… said they were going for a hike, and I actually thought they were lying to me." Emma thought back to her conversation with her parents. She chastised herself for doubting them, and doubting Killian. She had to stop this pattern.

Killian didn't miss the look of disbelief in her own actions that passed over her features, and he yearned for her to have the same faith in him. Wished he'd earned the same faith. "Were they?" he asked, already knowing the answer. Their royal highnesses were above lying, they'd have to have something to hide. Now there's a dubious concept, he thought.

"No, of course not, my parents would never lie to me," she said, almost like it had been silly to think otherwise. "But the fact that I could think that they would it reminded me that I have this tendency… to expect the worst of people." Emma couldn't help but think of just how true this was when it came to Killian. He might be the person who'd bore the brunt of her doubt in others. She'd started their entire relationship on that path when she'd handcuffed him up on the beanstalk. Even though her lie detector had told her he was genuine, she'd still chosen to believe the worst. Shame flooded when she thought about the time she'd wasted since them. Time that they could've been together, really together.

Killian heard the dejected tone she took on when she mentioned how she tended to view the world, and the people in it. It broke his heart because he knew exactly where those feelings stemmed from. He knew what it was like to feel as though you couldn't trust anyone but yourself, and that there was no one out there for you. He continued to listen as she explained herself, still in awe of her turnaround, and hopeful for what it could mean for them.

"My childhood, people were always letting me down, and I-"

"Hey," he interrupted, needing to tell her that she couldn't categorize him with those who'd broken her heart throughout her entire life. Anger coursed through him, directed at all who'd hurt this tough lass. He wasn't that man, if he did nothing else right in his long life, he'd do right by Emma Swan. It only took looking into her eyes to calm the quelling emotions. "I don't intend to let you down," he vowed.

Warmth flowed through Emma's veins. No one had told her that before; life had merely handed her one hardship after another. Killian had proved himself worthy several times over, even when she didn't give him credit. "I know. And I know whatever happened with that sea witch, you can tell me on your own time. Because no matter what, I'm gonna do what my parents always do. I am going to choose to see the best in you."

I don't deserve this amount of trust. But I'll spend my life assuring your faith in me was correctly placed. 

He bowed his head and said, "And I with you."

The couple smiled at each other and leaned in for a kiss-

CRASH! Moment lost, Emma turned toward the station front. Her bemused parents stood in the doorway. Of all times to interrupt…. we were having a relationship developing moment. Could you have arrived five minutes later?

What the…? Perplexed her lips weren't on his, Killian opened his eyes and glanced at the intruders. Snow and David. While he respected the queen and king, they were the last individuals he wanted to see at the moment. Blimey, what's a bloke have to sacrifice for some privacy around here? Their firstborn child?

Emma smiled apologetically and mouthed, "Later."

Killian nodded. I'd like to have a word. No, this relationship is too new. I don't want to cast myself in a worse light than I already am or seem demanding. He bit his lips as Emma stood up and her parents walked in the room. David blatantly cleared his throat and Snow's cheeks flushed fresh pink.

"Sorry… we didn't mean to… interrupt," Snow stammered.

Emma's eyes narrowed. "So, you stood there awkwardly and stared at us the whole time?"

David sighed. "Sorry, but we have bad news. Cruella and Ursula were up to something. They've resurrected Maleficent."

"Wait. You mean that dragon I killed and took True Love potion from?"

The conversation shifted to Storybrooke's latest villain filled emergency.

Twenty minutes later, the couple was alone again. Emma noticed Killian was filled with tension. He wasn't the only one with unresolved business. To Hell with being the Savior, I want to kiss my pirate. "You okay?"

"Sorry Swan, I'm still vexed from earlier."

"I'm really sorry about that. I didn't know they were there."

"Not your fault. You don't control other people's actions. However, I worry it'll set a precedent."

Emma stepped forward, inches from his face. "What do you mean?"

"Say things continue to go well between us, it could escalate into more intimate activities. If caught, your father would give me a fate worse than death."

Emma nodded. She pictured her and Killian naked in her bed at the loft when David opened the door with a horrified expression. "Don't worry, I'll talk to them about boundaries. I'm sure magic has spells that soundproof rooms. Now, kiss me pirate."

"If the lady insists," he replied with a devilish grin. The kiss sealed the vows previously exchanged.

Afterwards, they pushed their foreheads together. "May I come back to your room with you?" she asked.

That can't be right. She's asking me. I should be asking her. "Are you sure, lass?"

Emma smiled. "I've never wanted anything else more."

~fin

#csff #captain swan ff #cs canon deleted #cssb vol2