#rowaelin modern au

[leiawritesstories]

rowaelin fic with aelin as a model? youre such an inspiration!!💞

AWWWWWWW THANK YOU SO MUCH 🥺🥰 also HOW did i never see this??? stupid inbox 😠

i love this!! let's see.......

word count: 2.1k (whoopsies)

warnings: none!

enjoy!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The metro was late.

Aelin was already running a few minutes behind thanks to an unexpected Fleetfoot accident that had required her to change her clothes while soothing the golden retriever puppy, and she'd practically run the whole twelve blocks from her apartment to the metro stop. Of course the damn train would be late on today of all days, the one day in her calendar that she couldn't afford to miss except for death or grievous injury.

The characteristic screech of train brakes yanked her out of her thoughts, and she stepped to the edge of the platform and hurried onto the train as soon as the doors swished open. She clutched her small leather mini tote against her chest and grabbed onto a bar for stability, planting her heeled boots solidly against the floor and adjusting her stance as the train moved.

Twenty minutes later, she hurried off the train, half-sprinting through the station and barely registering her frantic pace until she was out on the street. She glanced at her smart watch and released a short breath when she saw that she still had adequate time to get to her agency before she would be considered late. Smoothly, she joined the people moving along the sidewalks, her long slender legs taking fluid, easy strides as she slid through the crowds. It was a little less than ten minutes until she reached a sleek modern high-rise, all black glass and unbroken lines, strode through the front doors, and waved at the security guard by the elevator.

"Morning, Phil!"

The middle-aged man's solid face creased into a tiny smile. "Morning, Miss Aelin." No matter how many times she told him she was just an ordinary woman, he refused to call her anything else.

To the world, after all, she was Aelin Galathynius, famed for her runway walk, magazine cover model, and face of the wildly popular brand Ennar.

"You're still early, Miss Aelin," Phil said quietly as Aelin stepped into the elevator. "Good luck."

"Thank you," she murmured, throwing the kind man a grateful smile. The elevator doors slid closed with a soft chime, and she closed her eyes and took deep, measured breaths as she traveled up to the twenty-first floor.

Ding! The sleek steel doors slid open, and she released her breath, opened her eyes, and strode out into the minimalist-modern offices of the Blackbeak Modeling Agency. The familiar ivory walls, marble, neutral-toned artwork, and black-and-white photographs blurred past as she headed for her agent's office.

She knocked twice and the door popped open. "Personal service? I thought you had interns for that, Blackbeak."

"Funny," deadpanned Manon Blackbeak, a former international supermodel and a hell of a terrifying woman. She'd been Aelin's agent since Aelin entered the professional modeling world at eighteen. "You made it just in time, Galathynius."

"What's with the call time?" Aelin inquired. She took her usual seat in the ivory wingback chair across from Manon's. "It seems like an odd time for a shoot, fitting, or casting. Is it something with Ennar?"

"It's a new opportunity." Manon reached into her desk and pulled out a portfolio, which she slid to Aelin. "They reached out to us yesterday hoping we'd be interested in setting up four contracts with their brand--short-term at first, but with the potential of extension."

Aelin opened the file and skimmed through the series of glossy photos of clothing--all on mannequins. Each piece was beautifully crafted, showcasing the designer's obvious attention to detail as well as their undeniable artistry. "These are incredible," she murmured.

Manon nodded. "The last few pages are the proposed contract."

"Hmm." Aelin flipped to the draft contract and skimmed through the now-familiar pages of legal and technical jargon. "This almost doesn't seem real. Set my own hours? My own compensation? There's a 'within our schedule parameters' stipulation, but my own pay rate?" Her perfectly shaped brows furrowed. "It seems too good to be true."

"What do you initially think?" Manon drummed her fingernails against her desk. The question seemed brusque, but that was how she operated. She didn't coddle. "Part of the reason you got called in at this time was because the designer is interested in meeting with you. He's here right now."

"What?"

"I'm not a parrot, Galathynius," Manon drawled. "You'd think you were a newbie model with that big-eyed stare on your face."

"Piss off," Aelin snorted. She rearranged her shocked expression and glanced down at the portfolio. "This Mr. --"

"Just Rowan."

"Another single-name designer, then," Aelin mused. "Bold, considering this would be the debut collection."

"Indeed. Are you interested?"

"Yes." Aelin closed the portfolio. "I am."

"Good, because you'd be meeting him anyway." Manon stood and opened her office door. "Let's go, Galathynius. We should get to the meeting room before Rowan and his people do."

"Good idea." Gracefully, Aelin collected the file and her bag, stood up, and followed her agent out of the office and down the hallways to the smaller, cozier conference room. Manon flicked on the lights as they entered, illuminating the warm-toned chestnut table and plush chairs facing the presentation screen. They were the first ones there, so Aelin dropped into a chair that faced the door and waited as Manon sent off a text to the agency head.

"They'll be here in five," the platinum-haired agent said, seating herself next to Aelin. "Sorry for the short notice."

"It's just part of the job, Blackbeak." Aelin waved off Manon's uncharacteristic apology. "And there's certainly no need to say things you don't mean."

"You're right." Manon flashed her a smirk. "In that case, bundle up, because I hear this designer is cold."

Aelin rolled her eyes. "If I can deal with Maeve Bitchface, I can deal with a single-name guy who doesn't have emotions."

"Bold of you to make that assumption before we've even met," interrupted a deep drawl. Filling the doorway stood a tall, fit man with a shock of colorless hair, piercing emerald eyes, and a thick manila file tucked under one muscular arm.

"With all due respect," Aelin deadpanned, fixing her unflinching stare on the man, "you don't work in this industry for years without developing the ability to categorize designers based on what's known about them."

"Fair enough." The man walked into the room, set the file on the conference table, and took the seat directly opposite Aelin. "I'm Rowan."

"Pleasure to meet you in the flesh. I'm Aelin Galathynius; I have a last name like all normal people." With a saccharine smile, she shook his offered hand.

Rowan cracked a tiny grin. "I'm well acquainted with your profile, Miss Galathynius."

"You sound like an FBI officer." She regarded him skeptically. "Am I sure he's a designer and not an undercover cop, Blackbeak?"

Manon snorted. "I'm pretty sure he'd have to kill you if he told you that, Galathynius."

"That's correct." Rowan leant back in his seat, humor lighting up his eyes. "So why don't we assume I'm just a designer who wants to work with you, at least for now?"

"I suppose that's safe enough, at least for now." Aelin steepled her fingers. "I've seen your sample file, Mr. Rowan, and I have to say, I'm impressed. Yours might just be one of the most aesthetically pleasing lines I've seen, and if would be a true honor to wear it."

"Just Rowan, please, and thank you." A soft hint of pink colored the edges of Rowan's cheeks. "My mother used to design clothing, and it's become my passion as much as it's her legacy."

Aelin smiled, softly. "I repeat, it's beautiful."

"Thank you." He cleared his throat and nodded at the dark-haired, stone-faced man next to him. "Since I've decided that you are the model I'd like to work with, my attorney here has brought a preliminary contract." The dark-haired man slid a handful of papers over to Aelin. "Please, have a look, and we can discuss terms."

"Thanks to my agent, I've already been able to look at a draft of the contract." She flipped it to the compensation page. "Set my own pay rate? Is this some kind of trick?"

Rowan exhaled a controlled breath. "No. It's my personal policy that every model I work with sets their own rate of pay."

"Why?" Aelin was genuinely confused--the modeling world didn't run on compassion.

"I've found that the benefits--retention, quality of work, satisfaction, and all of that--outweigh the cost, and not as many people as you may think actually set an outrageously high rate."

"Hmm." She tapped her chin. "That's a surprisingly shrewd decision, Rowan. I wouldn't have expected that in this cutthroat industry."

He shrugged. "I like to think that I'm one of the good guys."

"I'll take you up on that." She penciled a number in the open pay line--a fair bit higher than her usual rate, but not outrageous. "Could you elaborate on what, exactly, my contract includes? The actual details were vague."

"Of course." He opened the folder on the table and spread out a handful of images and sketches. "I'd like to hire you as a brand ambassador. The position would entail walking in my major shows as well as wearing and promoting my brand on your social media accounts and in public. Yes, I'm aware that you work as the brand ambassador for Ennar, and I've spoken with the legal team there. This job shouldn't conflict with your role with Ennar."

"Even though it's essentially the same position?"

"I'm not asking that you focus in my line as intensely as you do with Ennar. Also, my brand is currently only clothing, while that designer is clothing, accessories, and beauty products."

"Indeed." Aelin scribbled on her small notepad. "Well, my initial response to your offer is yes. However, I have a number of personal stipulations that I am unwilling to give up for any job."

"Go ahead." He pulled out a notepad of his own and waited for her to list her rules.

"First, I will not model undergarments."

"That won't be an issue; I have no intention of venturing into that business."

"Good. Second, I have both public and private social media profiles. My public ones are managed by my team, but I have the final say in what gets posted and when, and my brand deals are strictly limited to my public profiles. So, although I'll be wearing your line, it won't be mentioned anywhere on my private pages."

"That shouldn't be a concern, as long as you aren't using your private pages as some kind of undercover scheme where you claim credit for what you're wearing." His voice was carefully controlled, but she detected the tension beneath the control. Someone had done that to him, no doubt.

She fought the unprofessional urge to hold his hands in comfort. "Rowan, I can assure you that my job takes enough of a toll that I need to keep it off my private social media. Also, my private pages are only followed by people that I personally know, and people that know me personally know full well that I can dress, but I'm hopeless are design."

"Okay." Some of the stiffness in his posture melted. "Call me paranoid, but I have to make a living somehow."

"I understand." A reassuring smile flicked over her face. "Thirdly, I don't care what kind of emergency comes up, I don't work Sundays. Ever."

Rowan glanced to Manon. "Ever ever?"

"Never," Manon confirmed. "In the eight years that I've worked with Galathynius, she's never once strayed from that stipulation. I thought it would be a deal-breaker, and it has been at times, but she never works on Sundays. No content, no shows, nothing."

"It's a...personal day," Aelin explained. Unwilling to mention her dad's illness, therapy, or anything else so close to her heart, she left it at that.

"I can work with that." Rowan wrote something down on his notepad. "It shouldn't be frowned upon to try and maintain some normalcy in this hectic world."

"Thank you," Aelin murmured. "Finally, my last stipulation is that my assistant attends every shoot and brand event with me, as I rely on her advice in public situations."

"Of course." He nodded. "Far be it from me to push anyone I work with into a situation where they feel they've been denied the chance to consult someone they trust before making a decision."

"Wonderful. Those are all of my conditions."

He nodded thoughtfully. "All right, Miss Galathynius. Do we have an agreement?"

"Just Aelin, please, and I believe we do."

"Excellent." Standing, he reached across the table and shook her hand. "I look forward to working with you, Aelin."

"As do I."

~~~

TAGS:

@live-the-fangirl-life

@superspiritfestival

@thegreyj

@wordsafterhours

@elentiyawhitethorn

@morganofthewildfire

@backtobl4ck

@rowanaelinn

@house-of-galathynius

@tomtenadia

@julemmaes

@swankii-art-teacher

@charlizeed

@booknerdproblems

@earthtolinds

@goddess-aelin

@sweet-but-stormy

@clea-nightingale

@autumnbabylon

@darling-im-the-queen-of-hell

@llyncooljones

@silentquartz

#my writing #answered prompt #aelin galathynius #rowan whitethorn #rowaelin #rowan x aelin #rowaelin fanfic #rowaelin fanfiction #rowaelin au #rowaelin modern au #throne of glass #throne of glass fanfic #throne of glass fanfiction

[featherymalignancy]

The way you wrote Rowan is probably the best modern au I’ve read on here. He’s the cutest !!!!

Yay thank you! He was the character I was probably most nervous to write bc he’s the character I felt I really “knew” the least, so I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to translate him into a modern setting in a way that was actually satisfying to read!

It’s so nice to know that people liked him!

#feathery answers #rowan whitethorn #eyes of Texas #rowaelin modern au #acotar x tog modern au crossover

[thewayshedreamed]

Hi! For the ask 🙋‍♀️and 🤲. Thanks

Hi Anon! Thanks for the ask! ♥️

🙋‍♀️Do any irl people know you write fanfic?

- They do not! Since I write as a general hobby, both fic and original, I’ve always kept it pretty general when I talk about my writing. Mostly because, in the professional realm of my life, it’s better that people don’t stumble upon certain items on my master list 😅

🤲 Would you please share a snippet of a wip?

- Of course, sweet anon! I don’t know what ship you have in mind, so if you had one, feel free to send a specific request. For now, I’ll share some Rowaelin I’ve been working on (modern college au).

Aelin’s head was thrown back, her golden hair loose and brushing the small of her back. A slender hand came up to grip Fenrys’ bicep while she recovered from whatever had tickled her, and the sight of her after so long made Rowan’s chest tighten. She looked good, incredible really, and every conflicting emotion he’d ever experienced in her presence rushed to the forefront of his mind.

It had been a mistake to go to the party. He wasn’t ready for this, to be around someone who disoriented him within an inch of his sanity on his best days. The worst part was, she did it without even trying. By daring to exist.

Rowan took a long pull of his beer.

#rowaelin modern au #Rowaelin #sweet anons #fanfic writer asks #ask game #twsd answers

[highqueenofelfhame]

playlist // book cover

one two three four five six seven eight nine ten

#call it what you want #ciwyw #rowaelin #tog #throne of glass #rowaelin fanfic #rowaelin fanfiction #ciwyw masterlist #throne of glass fanfic #rowaelin fic #baby fic #rowaelin baby fic #accidental pregnancy au #soccer!rowan #rowaelin au #modern au #throne of glass fanfiction

[writtenonreceipts]

Rowaelin Month Day Six: Forced Proximity @rowaelinscourt

link to masterlist here

She is a mess because I wrote her in one day between doing my real job and trying not to cry xoxo

Warnings: mild covid references/quarantine days, very poorly edited

level of concern (tell me we're alright)

The apartment was too small.  Aelin hadn’t noticed it until now, but two rooms and a single bathroom with a kitchen that easily melted into the living room was hardly enough space for two people.  Two people who hated each other.

Aelin threw herself down on the couch, gripping her coffee in one hand.  She’d long ago mastered the art of equilibrium where any sort of caffeine was involved so she didn’t spill anything as she sprawled across the plush cushions.  Groaning, she leaned her head back and tried, so very hard, not to lose her ever loving mind.

It was only week three of quarantine and she was going insane.

She missed going outside whenever she felt like it.  She missed going shopping.  She missed her friends.  She missed people.  Instead, she was trapped here with the one person she did not want to be.

“Do you always have to sound like a dying whale?” A very unamused voice called from the kitchen table, a grand ‘ol four steps away.

Aelin flashed a single finger over the top of the couch.  She got a grunt of disapproval in return.

“It’s eight twenty-two, well outside of your precious quiet hours,” she informed her roommate. “I can do whatever I want.”

Another grunt.

Aelin shifted to peek over the couch to glare. “You sound like a dying walrus.”

And Rowan Whitethorn promptly choked on his cereal.  Two days in a row—Aelin was on a winning streak.

When Aelin first moved to Doranelle three months ago, her plan was to have her own apartment, a dog, a perfect new job, and a social life.  What she got was a crash landing with her nemesis, no dog, the worst job known to man, and quarantine.

She and Rowan had been at each other's throats since they met one fateful night at a bar.  Rowan spilled beer on her, an accident, and promptly insulted her two minutes later after trying to hit on her.

As it turned out, he was friends with Aelin’s old roommates' boyfriends.  She should have known he was the worst considering he and Lorcan Salvaterre got on.  

The bar scene ended with a fight, more beer spillage (on purpose), and a promise of vengeance.

Unfortunately for Aelin, her prospective lease fell through and she would have been homeless if not for the extra room in Rowan’s apartment.  And then covid struck and Aelin was trapped.

Hence, her beached whale position (and sounds) from the couch.  Life was one cosmic joke after another.

“You don’t always have to make your presence known, y’know,” Rowan commented as he pretended, he hadn’t almost had multi-grain Wheaties shooting out of his nose.

“Of course I do,” Aelin argued, “how else can I annoy you before quiet hours begin?”

His green eyes flashed and he rose from his seat at the table, already dressed in a button up and slacks.  For Zoom meetings.  Like a lunatic.  If he’d been wearing a tie she would have teased him for it.  Of all things the man should still be in shorts and a t-shirt.  At least the button up stretched in interesting ways over Rowan’s broad shoulders.  He might have been the bane of her existence but he was nice to look at.

“Don’t you have a job?” he asked, putting his dishes in the sink. “Ah, I forgot, you don’t.”

“Freelance writing is a job,” Aelin said.  She sat up straighter so she could better glare at him. “It’s not my fault things have slowed down.”

Indeed, Aelin’s literature degree had taken a hit given the state of the world right now.  She’d hoped she would have a job at a major publishing company or magazine or something.  Instead, she’d been rejected from job after job and was trying to write freelance articles to keep up on rent.  It…wasn’t going well.  Which had led her to content creating for Instagram.  She read books and talked about them and it kept her somewhat sane.  Until Rowan mocked her for it.

“Rent’s due on the fifth!” he called as he disappeared down the hall to his room to shut in for his work day to begin.

Aelin had no idea what he did, only that it involved not having a sense of humor.  Something with marketing?  But his degree was in history if Elide was right…

She shrugged and took a long sip of her coffee.  She had less than twenty minutes before quiet hours started at eight-forty and ended at five thirty when the work day ended and she had every intention of making as much noise as possible.

…

Rowan knew he was an ass.  He’d always been known as the asshole throughout high school, college, the steps in-between.  Even his friends often thought he was worse than Lorcan.  Lorcan of all people.

Granted, ever since Elide came into the picture, Lorcan had mellowed out and even smiled once a week.

Rowan found scowling to be more beneficial.  Especially when it came to getting Sam Cortland to shut up in the daily staff meetings they had over Zoom.

His degree was in art history and appraising--a limited degree where all he’d wanted to do was work in a museum organizing exhibits.  Not writing legal documents for rich men to take art from their rightful owners.

The irony was not lost on him that perhaps he shouldn’t give Aelin such a hard time about her job and the fact she wasn’t using her degree very much.  

The only problem was he’d dug himself into a hole and now he had no idea how to get out.

Aelin, for all eccentricities, was smart and did work hard.  She was doing everything possible to stay afloat--sarcasm included.

Their first meeting at the bar had only gone so miserable because Rowan didn’t know when to shut up and apparently had a unique skill of insulting beautiful women.  What a time to learn that.

English?  Isn’t that the easiest thing to study?

She should have slapped him and not just dumped beer in his lap.

Rowan leaned back in his seat as the project manager started talking over the new contract that would be drawn up between a client and their acquisitions.  It continued on for too long and Rowan just wanted to get back to his own assignments.  By the time late afternoon rolled around, he was ready to log off and be done for the day.

He’d always considered himself to be a homebody, but this was getting ridiculous.  He wanted to be out doing things.  But the trails were closed, his friends were spread out over the country, and there was the risk of a disastrous illness running amuck.

So he was trapped in an apartment with Aelin Galathynius.  The place had always felt enormous until she’d moved in.  But she had a way of filling every space she occupied.  Other than the various bathroom accouterments she had there were the dozens of fleece blankets, the books, the personality.  Even he had to admit she was different from anyone he’d met before.

Unfortunately, she was very good at holding grudges.

He’d tried apologizing for getting off on the wrong foot when she first moved in, but her mind was already made up.  Then came the way she was loud, talkative, rambunctious.  Quarantine was not meant for her.  After one day he’d realized that she needed space and freedom and the ability to do whatever she wanted.  The jury was still out on how he felt about that.

He was finally able to mute his other coworkers when a loud crash echoed from the kitchen.  Rowan rolled his eyes.  It was two, so of course Aelin was getting snacky.  He’d clocked her eating habits and quickly learned she needed to eat at least eight times a day to be in a good mood.  Seven of those times had to involve chocolate.

She had been doing better at keeping quiet while he was in his zoom meetings so Rowan tried to control his ire.  Really, she hadn’t been a bad roommate.  She’d tried to keep the peace between them and even offered to include him on DoorDash orders.  All of her orders were from the local dessert shop and Rowan didn’t eat much sugar so that didn’t help matters.   

Another crash from the kitchen followed by the patter of feet to the linen closet.

“Damndamndamndamn,” Aelin chanted as she went.

Rowan froze.  She’d broken his sink again, hadn’t she?  He glanced at his computer but no one was paying attention, all engaged in their own work.  Besides, he could step away from a minute if he needed to.

Standing, Rowan slipped into the hall and down to the kitchen.  He braced himself for anything and everything.  Knowing Aelin there could be a dead body.

What he was completely unprepared for was the settling plume of flour and mess of various baking items scattered around the kitchen.

“What the hell are you doing?” he blurted before he could stop himself.

Aelin turned from the counter, her blonde hair spilling out of a messy bun.  Her t-shirt and shorts (that showed off her lean legs) were covered in a mix of flour and butter, her face smudged too.  He knew he should stop staring.  Really, he’d seen her first thing in the morning looking like the walking dead and in the middle of the night crying to Taylor Swift.  And now, covered in flour, eyes wide with panic.  He would admit it only to himself and deny it if anyone asked him--but she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

“It’s cookie Friday,” Aelin said, she had a towel in one hand, spatula in the other.  A bottle of vanilla was tipped over as she was trying to mop up the mess. “Sorry.”

“You hate cooking, or baking, or anything involving an oven,” Rowan reminded her.

“Which is why I’m only going to eat the dough raw,” Aelin said, voice growing quieter with each word.  Her blue eyes were comically wide as she gestured around the kitchen. “Then the thing exploded and the other thing tipped over and it turned into a mess and I was trying to be quiet because you are a grumpy buzzard, even on Fridays, and I know you’re at work but I really needed cookies.”

Aelin continued to look at him with her large eyes as she offered a sympathetic shrug of her shoulders.  

"Sorry?"

Rowan didn't know if he should laugh or be irritated or something else.  But all he really could do was stare at her.  It was such an Aelin thing for her to do that really, he couldn't be mad.

"You know raw cookie dough is bad for you right?" He asked.

"No, it literally feeds the soul," she set.

With a wet thwack, she dropped the towel in the sink and righted the vanilla bottle.  Most of it had spilled out leaving a sickly-sweet scent cloying in the air. "And I don't care what scientists or other miserable things you read say."

Rowan rolled his eyes. He should have known better than to try and reason with her. "Alright fine.  Eat your salmonella."

"I will, thank you," she said.  A patch of flour still clung to her cheek giving her bravado a little less umph than he was sure she wanted. "And I'll clean up, no need to worry your poor old heart about that."

"I'm not old," he said.  Thirty was a perfectly reasonable age.

"Yeah, yeah."  She patted herself down, sending little plumes of flour all over the place.  She tried righting her hair, but it seemed to be of no use—most of the tendrils had broken free and she was stuck with a curling mass in the nape of her neck. "Go back to work, I'm sure nothing will get done without you."

And Rowan in a bought of what had to be pure reckless abandonment shook his head. "Nah.  I'm not that important."

Aelin raised a brow. "Really? Even with your real degree and real work you put into college."

Well.  He deserved that. 

"Yeah?"

Aelin eyed him skeptically before tossing another clean towel at him. "You get the floor I'll get the cabinets."

And then because the apartment had somehow shrunk in the last three months—they were continually in each other’s way.  Rowan brushing her leg, Aelin grabbing his shoulder when she nearly fell over while reaching for the top cabinets, both going for the sink at the same time.  It was chaos.  And because Rowan didn't know how to sort out his own feelings, he found his skin heating at each touch, his heart race at each glance.  And he knew, he knew he was a fool.  But if the past three months had taught him anything—it was that he could be very wrong about a great deal of things.

When the kitchen was somewhat restored to order.  Aelin sighed. "I guess that'll have to do.  I'll dig out the real cleaning products in a minute, I have to meet with one of my editors.  Hopefully one of my articles was accepted this time."

She said the last part flippantly, but Rowan could sense the tension rolling off of her.  She wanted that job to go through, needed it.  

"I'm sure it will," he said.

Aelin rolled her eyes. "You don't have to offer a pity compliment buzzard; I know it's not your style."

“It’s not--” Rowan cursed and looked away, running a hand through his hair anxiously. “We both know what I said back then wasn’t true.  I know it must have taken work and dedication to get your degree.”

“Thanks.  It did.” She was unapologetic with her bold words, just as he would expect her to be. “I won’t keep you.  I promise I’ll have the rest of this cleaned up before bed.”

“It’s fine,” Rowan said. 

Aelin grabbed the dirty towels to take to the small laundry alcove but Rowan stopped her.

“You’ve got flour,” he tried to explain that there was still a steak of flour on her cheek, but he was already reaching out, brushing it away with a quick swipe of his thumb.

Aelin froze, watching him as if she didn’t recognize him.  Not that he could blame her, he was actually being nice.  Her lips parted as if to say something, but Rowan’s phone gave a loud ping from where he’d left it in his room.  He’d hooked his notifications onto a larger speaker setting so he wouldn’t miss anything during the day if he got up to leave his desk.

“Work calls, right?”  Aelin joked with a small, half smile.  And then she was gone down the hall.

Rowan cursed again, running a hand over his face. 

“Get it together, Whitethorn,” he muttered, before he too returned to his room.

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

tags are a joke rn. please consider reblogging?

love yall

#rowaelin #aelin galathynius #rowan whitethorn #aelin x rowan #rowaelin month #rowaelinmonth #modern au #tog #throne of glass #fluff and fun

[punkassbookjockey26]

Show and Tell

Yo yo yo, waddup. It's been a while since I posted anything, and not gonna lie, I'm not even sure if this is any good. But here it is.

Thank you to @shyvioletcat for providing the inspo for this story. Although, I did take a few liberties lol.

Rating: PG? PG-13? Who knows?

-------------------------------------------------

“Alright, everyone – let’s get our listening ears on and catch a bubble in your mouth!”

Rowan Whitethorn always felt a bit silly pulling on his ears and puffing out his cheeks, but whatever got his rambunctious group of Kindergarteners to quiet down was worth it. When pursuing a degree in education, he didn’t think he wanted to be in a classroom full of five and six-year-olds, but he had such a fantastic experience while student teaching that it seemed like a waste to be anywhere else.

“Now remember, we’re doing show-and-tell today. What do we do when our friends are up here talking?”

“Listen!” A chorus of children practically yelled it at him, and he smiled widely.

“That’s right. We listen, and we pay attention to what they’re saying. Now, is there anyone that wants to go first?”

Several children shot their hands straight up in the air, but one, in particular, was practically bouncing in her seat, almost too excited about getting selected. Everly Galathynius was a very precocious child. She had an overabundance of energy and effusiveness for a five-year-old that surprised even him. He had learned early on that when she felt emotions, she felt them strongly. Happy, sad, angry, upset – it didn’t matter. It was always a production.

It wasn’t that she was a bad kid. She loved school and being around her classmates. She caught onto concepts quickly and had a bright openness that made everyone want to be her friend. She was also fiercely competitive and wanted to be first in everything, whether answering questions or being a line leader. Needless to say that Rowan was not surprised to see her tiny hand shoot up in the air.

If there was anything that Everly struggled with, it was waiting her turn. Patience was not a strong trait that she possessed, and Rowan was adamant that she learn at least some measure of it before she left his classroom. So he purposefully selected another one of her classmates to come up first and almost laughed at the enormous pout that spread across her face.

His amusement only grew when he continued to ignore her pouting and called other members of her class up to share. Everly was practically vibrating in her chair when Rowan finally decided it was her turn. He barely finished calling out her name before she sprinted to the front of the classroom with her backpack, her two blonde pigtails flying behind her.

Rowan sighed. “Everly, you know we’re not supposed to run in school.”

Her excitement didn’t even dim for a second. “I know, but I want to share!”

He supposed it was his fault for keying her up with his impromptu “lesson,” but this child was going to be the death of him. “Alright then. Go ahead.”

Everly took a deep breath and pulled out what she had brought from her backpack. “Today, I brought my mama’s favorite toy!”

Rowan quirked a skeptical eyebrow toward the young child in front of him. “Your mother has a favorite toy?”

“Yes! I found it a while ago, and she told me. She keeps it in her room and won’t let me play with it, even though I ask really nice. But today, I found it in the bathroom!”

Everly dug through her bag as Rowan had a brief moment of clarity. But before he could reach the front and stop, she displayed the item she had brought high above her head like a trophy.

It was a vibrator.

A hot pink, glittery vibrator.

And Rowan was now in hell.

“Okay, that’s enough now, Everly!” Rowan exclaimed hastily. “Thank you for sharing! Let’s go ahead and put that away now!”

Everly took a step back and pouted. “But you let Declan share! I wanna share!”

Rowan stepped in front of her, blocking the view of the class. “You did share, Everly. And now it’s time for you to put it away.”

“No! I waited forever, and now I want to share! Please let me share!” She was near tears, and Rowan knew he had about two seconds to solve this before he had a full-on meltdown on his hands. He was quite unsure how to handle the situation, though. It wasn’t like they taught him this in undergrad. But he needed to remove the... object from his classroom, stat.

He hesitated, and Everly took full advantage immediately, darting to the opposite side of the classroom, still holding the vibrator above her head. “I didn’t even get to show the best part!”

Oh, dear god.

A loud buzzing noise filled the classroom, and his students were suddenly very interested in what Everly had in her hands. His students crowded around her, excited to see her new “toy.” Rowan forced himself through the throng to reach the perpetrator of the insanity, deftly plucking the offending object from her hands.

There was a moment of stunned silence before all hell broke loose in his classroom.

------

Rowan pinched the bridge of his nose, running through what he would say to a Ms. Aelin Galathynius about why he needed to speak with her urgently regarding her daughter. He hadn’t met her yet if he remembered correctly. Everly and her mother were noticeably absent at the parent night a few weeks back, and she hadn’t responded to any of the previous requests he sent out to meet. It was exceptionally bad luck that their first meeting would be him discussing how her daughter managed to get ahold of a vibrator and bring it to school.

Everly sat dutifully in the corner, her eyes cast down on the floor and her blonde pigtails hanging limply off her head. Realistically, he knew he shouldn’t punish Everly. She was five and couldn’t possibly know her item was inappropriate or how it was used. But that didn’t negate that Rowan now had to talk to a woman he had never met about her masturbatory aids.

They sat in uncomfortable silence until Rowan heard the sharp unmistakable clacking of heels hitting the tile floors outside his classroom. The door pushed open, and while he hadn’t known what to expect, he hadn’t expected an impossibly gorgeous golden-haired woman dressed in an impeccable business suit glaring at him with anger scorching hot.

“Is there a reason you’re holding my daughter hostage, Mr. Whitethorn?”

Her hands were placed on her hips, her full lips downturned in a deep frown, and Rowan couldn’t help but be stunned by the fiery woman standing before him. He almost forgot why he needed to speak with her, but he quickly regained composure when it became apparent that she was surveying him like a lioness ready to pounce.

Rowan cleared his throat and came to greet her. “Ms. Galathynius, thank you for coming today. I need just a moment of your time to speak about what happened with Everly in class today.”

“Is she in trouble?” The blonde quirked her eyebrow at him.

“Well…no, not exactly.” Rowan flushed, rubbing his hand behind his neck.

“Was she hurt? Did you allow someone to bully her?”

Anger flared inside him. “Excuse me, Ms. Galathynius, but seeing as you have never met with me or really know anything about what happens in this classroom, I resent the accusation that you think I would ever allow any child to be bullied.”

She rolled her eyes, dismissing his anger. “Okay, well, if she’s not in trouble, hurt, or being bullied, why are you wasting my time?”

Rowan felt the indignation surge at the audacity of this woman. “ I didn’t realize that your daughter’s well-being was a waste of your time. Perhaps I should have called her father instead to help with this matter.”

Rowan visibly saw her shoulders tense. “He wouldn’t have cared, just like he didn’t care when he chose to walk out of her life four years ago to make a brand new family with his brand new wife.”

Her venomous admission momentarily stunned Rowan as she stared him down, and he felt some of the anger filter out of him. Regardless of the situation, he needed to understand why he had asked her to meet. “Ms. Galathynius, I apologize for that comment. It was uncalled for –

“You’re damn right it was.”

“- However, I do need to discuss with you the nature of Everly’s show-and-tell contribution today.”

She sighed deeply, and Rowan watched all the anger drain from her lithe body. “Alright, then. What happened during show-and-tell today?”

Rowan paused a moment before walking back to his desk. He pulled open the top drawer and gestured to the offending object, now stashed in a Ziploc bag and lying on a stack of papers.

He watched as Ms. Galathynius lifted an eyebrow in suspicion before rounding his desk to peer at what he was trying to show her. Her color completely drained as she took in the pink, glittery vibrator nestled inside the drawer. She looked back up at him with shocked eyes, a heavy silence hanging in the air.

Rowan wondered how long it would take for someone to break the silence. He had been mortified knowing that he would need to have this conversation. And although it hadn’t started out quite the way he had planned, he wanted to spare Everly’s mother the indignity of shoving her personal private life back in her face.

Ms. Galathynius stepped back, and Rowan noted the bright red heat of embarrassment creeping up her neck. She turned towards her daughter, clearing her throat. “Everly Grace, can you come here for a moment, please?”

Rowan watched as Everly gingerly slid out of her chair and shuffled towards her mother. She looked up with wide eyes lined with tears, and it broke Rowan’s heart. She hadn’t been in trouble with him, not really, but he couldn’t explain why he had to take her ‘toy’ away and why she couldn’t keep showing it to the class. The tantrum that ensued had been nothing short of legendary.

Her mother cleared her throat. “Everly, love, can you tell mama why you took her…um… special toy to school today?”

Everly perked up a bit, smiling at her mother. “I heard you talking about how much you like it with Auntie Lys the other day!”

The red on her face deepened, and Rowan stifled a laugh. Everly’s mother continued. “And you know you’re not supposed to go into mama’s room without permission, right?”

The brightness on her daughter’s face dimmed. “I know, mama, but I really, really wanted to share it because you said you like it so much! I like sharing my toys, too!”

Rowan couldn’t help it. A snort escaped him at the exchange, and Everly’s mother glared in his direction. Despite the hell this child had put him through today, her absolute innocence in the situation was damn near comical. And if he weren’t so embarrassed about the position he and her mother were now in, he likely would have laughed when it happened.

It sure explained a few things, though.

Her mother sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose between her fingers. “Sweetie, can you please wait right outside the door? I need to speak with your teacher alone. Just wait right there, and I’ll be out in a minute.”

The second the door shut behind Everly, Ms. Galathynius snatched her vibrator from the drawer and stuffed it deep in her purse. She turned to look at him, her hands back on her hips but with a noticeable flush still lingering on her skin.

“So, I suppose this is the part where I apologize for being a pill, but seeing as my child has embarrassed me enough today, I’m not going to.”

There was a beat of silence before both of them burst into laughter.

“Oh my god, I had no idea what to do with your child today, Ms. Galathynius. She ran around the room, waving it above her head like a flag. She even managed to turn it on, and that was a whole thing by itself.”

Everly’s mother wiped tears away from her eyes as her laughter died down. “Please, call me Aelin. And I swear, I had no idea she snuck into my room this morning. She told me that she was bringing her doll today. Serves me right for trusting my child.”

“Oh, so you know how your child behaves sometimes?” Rowan smirked down at her, and she rolled her eyes, albeit playfully this time.

“Would you believe me if I told you she got it from her father?”

Rowan pretended to think about it for a moment. “After meeting you today? Absolutely not.”

He smiled widely at her, and she returned it with a grin, momentarily stunning him for the second time that day. It transformed her whole demeanor. Gone was the stubborn mother who accused him of allowing her child to be bullied. Instead, Rowan had a beautiful woman standing before him, with hair spun like silk and bright turquoise eyes ringed in gold.

Clearing his throat, he stepped back away from Aelin just to get some distance. “Just one question, though.”

Aelin cocked her head to the side. “What’s that?”

“Grace? Really?”

Aelin's answering laugh drew him right back in. "I was hoping she would take after her name, but here we are."

She smiled at him again, and walked out the door to his classroom. Rowan felt himself warm with that smile, and watched as the door slid shut, wondering if he would ever have a chance to see her again.

----------

Tag List:

@faerie-queen-fireheart

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@superspiritfestival

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@morganofthewildfire

@chieflemming

@swankii-art-teacher

@rowaelinismyotp

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@booknerdproblems

@story-scribbler

@whoever-you-choose-to-love

@nehemikkele

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@livsdriverslicense

@elentiyawhitethorn

@highqueenofelfhame

#rowaelin #rowaelin month #rowaelin court #aelin galathynius #rowan whitethorn #aelin and rowan #aelin x rowan #modern au #songfic #throne of glass #throne of glass fanfiction #tog #fanfic #fanfiction #pabj26writing

[theladyofdeath]

Hello, lovely writer!!

Would you be willing to do a Rowaelin where there’s this giant romantic surprise (of your choosing) Rowan’s been planning for weeks

Valentines, anniversary, just because he can.

No pressure if you don’t like it.

A/N: I had a thousand ideas for this one, but I decided to keep it simple. I hope you enjoy! x Warnings: language

Everything was set, ready.

Rowan knew because he'd checked ten times and then once more for good measure. Although a cliche to propose to your girlfriend on Valentine's Day, Rowan thought it would surprise Aelin the most, considering he often ranted about how much he hated romantic cliches.

Gods, he was nervous.

Rowan was standing on a rooftop, surrounded by lanterns, string lights, and white rose petals. He was dressed in a suit that was way too expensive. He'd bought it that morning and physically flinched when he swiped his card, but he looked pretty damn good, so it was worth it.

At least, that's what Lysandra convinced him of.

Now he stood alone, waiting. Lysandra was supposed to pick Aelin up for a group date, where they would meet Rowan and Aedion at one of their favorite restaurants on this side of town. Little did Aelin know that they would be arriving at Rowan's apartment complex and coming up to the rooftop, overlooking the city of Orynth.

Little did she know that Rowan was about to ask her to be his wife.

He'd wanted to do it for a while now, but really grew serious about it a few months before. It wasn't something he wanted to rush, but something he wanted to take his time with. Aelin didn't deserve a spur of the moment proposal. She deserved a proposal as grand and dramatic as she was.

Rowan went to the railing and looked down at the street below. There was still no sign of Aelin.

They were taking forever.

Pulling out his phone, he shot a quick text to Lysandra. ETA?

She texted him back right away. We'll be there soon. Deep breaths.

Rolling his eyes, Rowan put his phone back into his pocket. Deep breaths. Like he wasn't calm. He was calm.

No, he wasn't.

He took Lysandra's advice and closed his eyes, taking in one deep breath after another. He did another check in his jacket pocket for the custom ring he'd had made for Aelin, tucked inside of a small velvet box. It was there, just like it had been every other time that he'd checked.

He paced for another fifteen minutes before his phone vibrated again. Lysandra. We have arrived.

Rowan went to the far side of the roof, where he stood beneath a flower arch. At first, Rowan had been against the white arch spun in roses, but Lysandra had insisted that it wasn't over the top. It was just enough.

He felt like he'd been standing there forever, alone on the roof, beneath the arch, but then the roof door opened, and she came out onto the rooftop.

Lysandra gave Rowan a wink before shutting the door, leaving the two of them alone.

Aelin barely made it beyond the door as she stared around the roof in awe, before her gaze landed on Rowan.

"Ro," she breathed, "what the hell is going on?"

This was it.

He felt like he was going to vomit.

"You don't like it?" he teased.

Aelin let out a shaky laugh, her eyes already misty. "I love it. I love it, Ro."

She made it to Rowan at last, between the aisle of rose petals. And before he said anything, Rowan fell to one knee.

"Aelin," he began, slowly, looking up at her, "I-"

"Yes."

Rowan hesitated. "Yes?"

"Yes."

He laughed, quietly. "I haven't even said anything yet."

"It doesn't matter." She was already crying, taking his hands. "My answer is yes."

Now Rowan was thrown off. Happy, overjoyed, excited as fuck, but thrown off. "Should I just get rid of the speech I wrote, then?"

He had been writing it for weeks.

Surely someone should hear it.

Aelin laughed again, shaking her head. "No, no, I'm sorry, please, I want to hear it."

Rowan opens his mouth, but soft laughter is all that comes out. This woman drove him mad. All this planning, all these months, and she just comes in hot, saying yes. But he can’t be mad, because that’s why he fell in love with her. She’s headstrong, she knows what she wants, and she does what she wants without waiting for anyone else.

So Rowan shook his head and said, “I love you. I want you every day, for the rest of my life.”

Aelin waited for him to go on with misty eyes, but when he didn’t, she asked, “Oh, shit, was that it?”

Ignoring the two page speech in his pocket, Rowan said, “Marry me.”

The tears in Aelin's eyes spilled over as she nodded, and then she was kissing him, urgently, relentlessly. "Of course. Of course."

Rowan was so caught up in the moment that he almost forgot about the ring. For something he had been planning for months, nothing was going as planned, but it was all so much better than he could have imagined.

Yes.

She told him yes.

Nothing else mattered.

Everything else was irrelevenant.

Nonetheless, Rowan took the little velvet box out of his pocket and opened it up. Aelin began crying all over again, holding out her left hand in anticipation. Rowan slid the ring onto her finger and they both stared, in awe of this moment.

This was it.

This was the moment that they would tell their children about, their grandchildren about. And it was perfect, even if all of Rowan's planning had gone completely down the drain.

He didn't care about the planning.

He didn't care about any of it. All he cared about was the fact that Aelin had said yes, that she was going to be his wife.

Considering that, nothing else mattered.

#rowaelin #rowan #aelin #tog #throne of glass fanfiction #au #modern au #rowan x aelin #aelin x rowan #throne of glass #fanfiction #fanfic #sjm #valentines day #happy valentine's day #valentines day au #proposal au #tara answers prompts #drabble #dabble #oneshpt

[talkfantasytome]

Elf on a Shelf

Rowan and Aelin love the Elf on a Shelf tradition. Because isn't life more fun when you make everything a competition?

Warnings: None | Word Count: 2,485 | Read on AO3 | ToG Masterlist

Happy Yulemas @julemmaes!!! Hope you enjoy! 💕 Your comments on what you like were really helpful! Though, admittedly, I did actually start an entirely different story that, after about 2k+ words written, I realized was not going to hit your asks as much as I wanted to. 🙈 I so rarely write established relationships and stuff with kids, so really hope I did it justice here for you! 💕

Rowan paused to admire the bouncing locks of golden hair. Their soft curl swayed with Aelin's head as she finished cleaning the dishes.

It was the perfect view after the struggle of putting their girls to bed.

He'd literally had to fight Ollie into her pajamas, and Ellie refused to leave the bathtub until the water began to chill. And then came the saga of the prune-fingers. It took the promise of an extra story to keep her from screaming and sobbing about the wrinkles until Aelin came up.

For such an ardent believer of Santa Claus, she sure was skeptical when Rowan promised her fingers would be back to normal in the morning.

But, after two stories and extra bedtime kisses, the twin girls were snuggled in their beds, silver-star night light on, and a bell hung on the shut door to ensure they didn't sneak out again.

That was something they'd started the year before, after one too many nights catching their girls sneaking down stairs to try and catch the elf leaving to report to Santa. It worked most nights, though on Christmas Eve all bets were off. Last year they told the girls that Santa would take back the presents if they caught him - it didn't stop them. Rowan and Aelin still hadn't figured out what they'd try this year to keep them in their room.

Smiling to himself, Rowan tiptoed toward his wife. Ever so carefully, he wrapped his arms around her waist and bent down, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"Surely the dishes are clean enough," he sighed, giving her a quick kiss on the neck.

Aelin chuckled softly leaning back against him. "Blame the man who cooks using a thousand pots and pans."

"You weren't complaining when you helped yourself to seconds of tonight's pasta."

Finishing with the last dish and turning off the sink, Aelin pivoted in his arms and breathed, "Well, it was very good." She grinned widely at him and brought her arms up to his shoulder, linking her hands behind his neck.

Aelin leaned in closer and a tingle traveled down Rowan's spine. "Are you ready?" she whispered into his ear.

Rowan grinned widely at her. "Close your eyes." She gave those bright, turquoise irises a big roll before adhering to the request.

They detached and Rowan went to grab the elf. The silver-haired elf - bought by Aelin specifically for him because it matched his hair - was still laying in a banana suit by the bananas. A masterful placement. It had taken the girls all morning before school to find him. They were actually almost late because of it. But that always seemed to happen when it was Aelin's turn to hide the elf.

No matter what, his wife always thought of the perfect spot to place the elf. Each one harder to find than the last. They'd been timing every morning, and literally each time she hid the elf, the time to find increased. Rowan's, on the other hand, had been decreasing.

Ollie found it in less than five minutes the day before.

He thought he'd been so clever, hiding the elf in plain sight, but not in a typical spot. The glass cabinet where they keep their glassware seemed perfect. It only holds the fancy glasses, and sits over a part of the kitchen counter only used when he's using the mixer. No one spends much time over there. He'd snuggled the elf comfortably into a crystal bowl they had, making him look like he was laying in a tub, and that was that.

Aelin still wasn't letting him live it down.

"I don't know why you bother!" she called from where she stood in the kitchen, a hand over her eyes to keep her from peeking. "You'll never find a better hiding spot than me."

"Yeah, yeah," Rowan mumbled as he made his way toward the tree.

There was a good chance Aelin was right. She was a genius at this, especially considering their main rule: the elf's face - at the least - must be visible without moving or needing to open any items. No hiding him in the refrigerator or the stockings, or underneath the mail. It made the task exceedingly difficult, as every idea Rowan came up with seemed obvious to him.

But not tonight. Tonight he was sure he had the right idea.

Getting on a step stool and reaching up, Rowan adjusted the elf so that it was hugging the star atop their tree from behind, the little head poking out between two of the points. It took him a minute to get the arms and legs just right, but when he stepped back it looked perfect.

The tree was large enough that, even with a stool, only Rowan was tall enough to reach the top. And with the elf having hidden on the tree just a few days before, he was certain the girls wouldn't think to look there again so soon. Plus, the tree was decorated with bright, colorful lights and big, flashy ornaments - a lot of distractions to get past before one's eyes would reach the star.

Ever so carefully, Rowan folded up and put the step stool away. He then tiptoed past the kitchen and began stomping and opening and closing doors loudly on the other side of the house, near one of the powder rooms and his office. Just in case she was listening closely.

Only after he made a proper raucous did Rowan make his way back into the kitchen. "All done."

"You know you don't have to try and trick me. I'm allowed to know where you hid the elf," she teased.

Rowan chuckled softly and leaned his hands on the counter as he threw back, "Alright, tell me where you're going to put it tomorrow night, then."

Her turquoise eyes narrowed at him, marking the shit-eating grin he was wearing. Aelin pursed her lips and crossed her arms like a stubborn child. He only smiled wider, stepping toward her and wrapping his arms around her waist. "I don't know yet."

"I'll make you a deal. You tell me tomorrow night, and I'll tell you the next."

"You're such a child," she sighed. Rowan went to open his mouth, but before he could say anything she added, "And if you say 'takes one to know one', I'm going to eat the rest of the chocolate-hazelnut ice cream and keep you up all night." She held an extended pointer finger toward him to emphasize her point.

Leaning down, Rowan brushed his lips against hers. "That wouldn't be the worst thing."

Slapping her hand lightly against his chest, Aelin groaned, "Then I'll send you straight to bed now. No dessert."

Rowan pushed his lower lip out, but could barely hold the pout, a laugh breaking through as Aelin held her 'stern' face. She was always so adorable when pretending to be mad at him. Actual anger was another story, but this - she reminded him of a kitten. He gave her a quick kiss to the top of her head and then walked to the refrigerator.

"How about we meet in the middle?" he suggested, bending over to open the freezer and pull out the ice cream. "Eat a normal amount of ice cream, and maybe we do some present wrapping. We've got a lot to wrap this year."

"Only because you spoil the girls."

"We spoil them," he argued. "I wasn't the one who bought Ollie that fancy doll house, or that massive track for the toy cars for Ellie."

Aelin shook her head and snagged the ice cream carton from Rowan. "And I didn't buy them each little cars they can actually drive."

"You know as well as I do that I couldn't just get one. Could you imagine the chaos and fighting?"

He watched his wife scoop some ice cream into a bowl as she huffed out a laugh. The corner of her lips curled slightly, a secret agreement. Rowan couldn't help himself. He sidled close to her and stroked her cheek gently. "You gave birth to two little Aelin-clones," he whispered, unable to hide his own smile.

She leaned into the touch, her eyes finding his. As Rowan always did, he dove headfirst into her gaze, into the sparkling waters and golden ring of sand. It warmed his entire body, gazing into Aelin's stare, and by the flush in her cheeks, he knew it was doing the same to her. It was enough to freeze him in place, his mind wandering to all the things he could be doing with and to his wife at that moment. But she'd never forgive him for letting her ice cream go to waste.

"You're right. I would never have let Aedion drive it if we'd been given a car like that as kids," she admitted.

"I know." He gave her cheek one last stroke and then stepped away, putting the carton of ice cream away and grabbing out the whipped cream for her as she grabbed the chocolate syrup from the cabinet. "You know, ice cream can be great without all the toppings."

"Says the man who only ever eats plain vanilla bean. Ice cream is always better as a sundae." She all but dumped the bottle of syrup onto the ice cream, and then topped it with an exuberant whipped cream swirl.

Twelve years together. Nine years married. Aelin still hasn't gotten over Rowan's distaste for most sweets. There was even a moment when they were first dating when Rowan thought it was going to be a deal-breaker…until Aelin told him he was being an idiot and she'd just have to learn how to enjoy all the sweets being for her.

What a sacrifice.

He put the whipped cream back in the fridge and then grabbed the bowl before Aelin could get a bite, eliciting a rather loud protest from Aelin. "In the living room."

Using the ice cream, he led his wife through the house, setting the bowl down on an end table next to their plush sofa. Rowan then got to work, grabbing the wrapping paper and gifts out from the closet under the stairs. They were going to need to find a better hiding spot. Or get a high-security lock for it. Rowan doubted they had more than a year or two before their girls started actively searching for their gifts.

It was slow work, wrapping the gifts. He was never satisfied unless the folds and corners were absolutely perfect. But it was better doing it alone. Aelin's presents always looked like…well, like their daughters had wrapped them. Even when she added a big bow to try and hide the imperfections. Easier to just have him do it, than to end up wasting paper when he'd inevitably re-do the gifts she wrapped.

"What a great way to end the night," Aelin sighed as Rowan cut down a roll of paper. "Ice cream and a view."

"Glad I can entertain."

"Mmmm." Rowan chuckled at Aelin's hum and then looked over his shoulder, his wife's eyes drooping.

By the time he'd finished with the gift, she was fast asleep. A bit of quick cleanup and re-hiding the gifts, and Rowan was holding Aelin close, carrying her up to their room.

He had to wake her up to get her into her pajamas, but within another five minutes she was dressed and in bed, passed out to the world.

Rowan watched her as he brushed his teeth. And when he came back into the bedroom after changing into his own pajama pants, he walked to her side first. Her hair was sprawled out across the pillow, but her features were relaxed. No worry lines or furrowed brows, no noticeable cares in her cheeks, no worries at her lips. He wished he could know what was going on in her head while she slept. It must've been glorious.

He brushed some of her hair out of her face and then walked around the bed to his side. He snuggled in close to her, wrapping his arms around her as he spooned Aelin. She probably couldn't feel him at this point, but that didn't stop him from giving her a quick kiss on her shoulder before resting his head on his pillow and letting sleep take him, too.

Rowan was still heavy with sleep as he made his coffee the next morning.

Half-way through the mug, but it wasn't the caffeine that finally full woke him. It was the pitter patter of little feet running down the stairs.

He smiled to himself, slowly walking to meet his daughters by the stairs. He wanted to watch them frantically search the house. To hear the little complaints about needing to take a break from searching to get ready for school.

It was exciting. And he was getting his lips ready to grin widely at Aelin when-

"Oh my gosh, look how cute!" Ellie called as she stepped off the stairs and into the living room. "The elf is on the star!"

Rowan nearly dropped his mug as his girls crowded around the tree, staring up at the topper and the little elf attached to it. The back of those little blonde heads stared at him, the curls waving as the girls swayed and giggled, waving up at the elf.

He felt delicate arms snake around his waist and a kiss that couldn't hide her smirk against his back.

"How do they do that?" he whispered, still frozen in shock.

Two seconds. It took his daughters two damn seconds to find the elf.

Aelin chuckled against his shirt. "They're clever. Just like their dad."

"Cleverer than that, apparently," he huffed. He glared up at the stupid elf, and he could've sworn it was mocking him. That little smile was just a taunt, reminding him he absolutely sucked at hiding the elf.

Brushing her hands up Rowan's arms, Aelin said, "You'll get them next time."

Rowan shook his head. "Next time they'll probably find it in one second."

Moving around Rowan, Aelin was now in front of him, hands interlocked behind his neck, eyes soft as she looked into his. "Then next year. You have eleven months to plot out your hiding spots."

Rowan huffed out a laugh and leaned his forehead against hers, breathing in her lemon verbena scent like it was his source of life. "Next year. Or the year after that. Or the one after that. I've got all the time in the world to finally beat you at this."

"Our girls are going to grow out of this eventually."

"Then maybe we talk about having another," Rowan suggested softly, only realizing as he said it that it wasn't entirely a joke.

Aelin beamed brightly up at him and pushed herself onto her toes, bringing her lips to his. "Maybe we do."

@danibutterr @boredserpent @thestoriesyoutell @superspiritfestival @lemonade-coolattas @thegreyj @live-the-fangirl-life @morganofthewildfire @backtobl4ck @nesquik-arccheron @sayosdreams @autumnbabylon @charlizeed @rowaelinyulemasswap

#rowaelin #rowan whitethorn #aelin galathynius #modern au #fluff #just fluff #kids #christmas #throne of glass #tog #rowaelin fluff #rowaelin fic #throne of glass fic

[mariaofdoranelle]

Wedding Break

Masterlist

I really hope you’re in a modern royalty/runaway bride mood today

Warnings: only language I think

Word count: 2,1k

~~~~~~~~~~

“Which Whitethorn do you think is the hottest?” Aelin said a millisecond before shoving her phone on Aedion’s sight.

Her cousin playfully slapped her hand away. “Shouldn’t you be preparing for your speech?”

“It’s either this or hearing about carbon monoxide one more time for you.”

As beautiful as Queen Maeve’s castle was with its tiny streams and walls of pale stone, Aelin just wanted to fast-forward to when she actually got to do her first official task, or at least forget about it until it was time. For someone who have begged for a more active role in the government for years, she was feeling too much like a deer in the headlights.

Muttering something unintelligible to himself, Aedion zoomed in the picture with everyone from the House of Whitethorn and quickly assessed it.

“Tattooed Whitethorn.”

Aelin looked at the picture and bit her lip. “Agreed. I think his name is Ronan or something.”

“They could’ve picked this one for you to marry.”

Frowning, she asked, “What do you mean?” Aelin knew she’d have to marry someone eventually, but she didn’t even like to think about the nightmare it would be. Being crown princess, every formal step of her love life needed to be approved by her dad and the Royal Council, and she had enough battles of her own with them for now.

Aedion cackled, not sensing her distress or maybe because of it. “Didn’t you open Twitter today? The tabloids are saying you’re engaged with Prince Endymion.”

Gaping at her cousin, she was somewhere between laughing and frowning at this new piece of information. “Isn’t he gay? I know we both dated Dorian.”

“I’m pretty sure he is, too.” A beat. “God, I wonder how they came up with this one.”

They kept scrolling on their respective couches, sometimes chatting about things they saw online, but something about this rumor was bothering her. Aelin blocked her phone and rubbed the back of her neck, brows creased in thought. This wasn’t the first, neither would be the last false rumor about her love life. It was so common she didn’t mind anymore. What was irking Aelin was where their attention was. She was here to bring attention to carbon monoxide. Greenhouse effect. Global warming. Not to have her outfits and love life scrutinized by Doranelle’s tabloids.

Aelin cleared her throat, gathering Aedion’s attention.

“Don’t you think these rumors kinda undermine the real reason I’m here? It makes people forget the purpose of my trip and—“

“You know you’re only here because Rhoe’s boys’ club don’t give a fuck about the environment, right?”

Aelin flinched, hating how sometimes Aedion could see right through her. He straightened his posture and gave a long-suffering sigh.

“I’m sorry, Ace. It’s hard to get over this. You keep running around the castle, waiting for kernels like a damn pet—“

“I’m not a pet!” Aelin shouted, tired of having the same argument with Aedion for the millionth time.

He raised both hands in surrender and left, banging the ancient wooden door.

With a pounding heartbeat, Aelin got up and started pacing around the room. He would never get it. If she couldn’t get her voice heard in the council because of her position as crown princess, Aelin would work until she earned that spot. And it was already happening. Her dad put her in charge of Terrasen’s environmental policies as a 21st birthday gift, and there she was. Months later, only beginning to kick ass with her new task.

Aelin did a quick breathing exercise to calm herself down, too consumed by these thoughts, the gossip, her fight with Aedion and probably every single moment of the past months that led her to this. Aelin couldn’t post online without her PR’s approval, so she decided to ask Nox, the head of the team, to deny the rumors on social media. He saw her text almost immediately and left it on read, but Aelin’s shoulders still dropped in relief by the sight of it. He’d fix it soon.

~~

Doranelle’s weather was so hot Aelin took her first cold bath in months, and it was as refreshing as it could be. Honestly, she felt like a new woman, or at least in a new day. She had a tiny headache and her jaw felt sore, but it was fine. She was fine. If Aelin didn’t think about today’s previous events, she wouldn’t feel any kind of residual anger or bitterness. If she was still mad. Because she obviously wasn’t.

Choosing a pale blue dress for lunch, Aelin was finishing her makeup when her mom barged into the room.

“Why are you dressed up so early? Lunch is in more than an hour.”

Aelin sighed, feeling the weight of her shoulders quickly come back. “I needed the bath.”

Evalin smiled at her. “You look gorgeous, honey.”

Just like that, her mother’s words felt like sunshine making its way through dark clouds. Aelin beamed up at her mom, proud of herself because—

“But what happened to your hair? You can’t have lunch with the Whitethorns looking like this.”

Aelin’s cheeks burned, but she held her chin high to answer her mother. “I saw it on TikTok and decided to try. Everyone’s wearing it, it’s really no big deal.”

She gently caressed her daughter’s hair and held her chin for emphasis. “Not everyone is Terrasen’s heir, dear.” Evalin made a show of analyzing Aelin’s hairstyle before saying, “It looks interesting, just make sure the royal family doesn’t see you in it, okay?”

Nodding, she just let her mother talk her ears off until the endless reminders about that visit ended. When Evalin was about to leave, Aelin reminded of something.

“Mom?”

“Yes, dear?” Evalin asked from the threshold of Aelin’s assigned bedroom.

“Can you ask Nox to deny my engagement rumors? I asked him too long ago and maybe he forgot.” Both of them knew this was a nice way of putting that the PR team was busy, and Aelin’s requests weren’t a priority.

The sight of Evalin taking a deep breath and coming back in, closing the door, was enough to give Aelin heart palpitations. But nothing prepared her to what she’d hear next.

“Fireheart, I’m afraid your engagement rumors are true.”

Just like that, Aelin’s body, mind, her whole world came to a halt.

No, they weren’t. They couldn’t be. Aelin started feeling light-headed and leaned the palm against the wall. Her mom had promised that when the time came, they’d make the decision together. They’d let Aelin choose.

“You’re joking.”

“I know you’re upset now, but you know Terrasen’s going through a crisis, and Queen Maeve was kind enough to—“

“What about you letting me choose?” She shouted.

Evalin took a deep breath and plastered a forced smile on her face. “Like I was saying, we reached another countries too, to give you a choice, but Queen Maeve had a better offer, so—“

“So you sold me to the highest bidder! Is that it?”

Her mother’s silent confirmation made Aelin shut her eyes closed, a poor attempt to keep her tears at bay.

“When are we going back? I need to speak with dad,” Aelin said in a strained tone.

“We’re staying until the wedding, which will be in less than three months. He’ll come to the ceremony, though.” Evalin’s voice sounded more gentle now, but Aelin couldn’t see her expression because of the tears blurring her vision. She just heard her mother’s heeled footsteps and the sound of the door closing.

Aelin’s muscles went limp, so she collapsed on the floor, leaning against the wall, and didn’t bother doing any exercises to control her quick breathing.

It was hard to feel time moving when she was overwhelmed with so many questions running through her head. How could her family do this behind her back? Since when was this going on? Was her first assignment just a ruse to bring her to Doranelle?

With a caved-in chest, Aelin probably looked miserable crumbled on the floor like this. She felt too tired to do anything, but what got her up was the thought of what would her mother say if she saw Aelin’s tear-stained make up. Still, cleaning herself up sent a spark of something through her veins.

Maybe, if she talked to her father, they could figure out another way together. Aelin knew part of being queen was abdicating, but maybe they could meet halfway in this. Finishing her new makeup, Aelin held her chin high as she made her choice.

She was going back to Terrasen to talk with her father.

Leaving her bedroom, it was easy to get lost in this castle’s long halls. She had no idea how one place could be so open and look so much like a labyrinth at the same time. However, Aelin released a small breath in relief by the sight of what looked like a small gate.

The guard curtsied. “Your Highness. Good afternoon.”

And did nothing more.

After a few stretches of silence, she said, “Can you open this for me, please?”

His hand hovered over his earpiece as he asked, “Where to?”

“Out.” Aelin said through gritted teeth.

“I’m afraid you can’t leave this wing of the castle without an escort, ma’am.”

What the fuck? “Are you serious?”

Aelin didn’t bother hearing what he had to say, her ears were ringing as she stomped her way back to her bedroom. This had Evalin written all over it. So typical of her mother to treat Aelin like a ticking bomb whenever she got angry, like her own daughter was a situation that needed to be handled. She was so tired of this bullshit.

Aelin couldn’t cross a gate? Awesome. She’d make her own fucking gate to cross.

After getting back and slamming her bedroom’s door, Aelin quickly noted that her easiest way to the outside was a tree that was too short to jump from her balcony. She looked down, studying the sight. But if Aelin could get to the balcony underneath hers... She’d have perfect leverage to get to the tree.

Not thinking twice, Aelin ripped the mattress from her dull guest bedroom and wrapped it around her balcony’s ornate iron railing. Holding on the handrail for dear life, she crossed to the outer side of the barrier, and managed to find balance with half of her feet touching the rest of the balcony’s floor she had. She could feel the wind hitting her back and hear some hawks screeching far from her, but she couldn’t let fear paralyze her. Aelin took one last deep breath.

And then she jumped.

Aelin felt like her heart was free-falling, or maybe that was because she was free-falling herself. However, the gust of wind felt good for just one second, until her forehead hit the building, making her curse this city one more time. Why was this castle made of stone?

Noticing she was still depending on that short mattress to live, Aelin angled her body and swayed it enough to land inside the downstairs balcony.

Feeling every bone in her body ache from that crash, she only gave herself a few seconds to rest while analyzing that tree. She just needed to figure out the best angle to climb on that branch and—

“What the hell are you doing?”

A tall, green-eyed man was staring at her with furrowed eyebrows. He was dressed casually, with sweatpants and a black t-shirt that emphasized the ink that ran down his left arm. The same muscled, tattooed arm that gave her very improper thoughts earlier today. Somehow, the photos didn’t do Roman Whitethorn justice. Or something. God, why couldn’t she get his name right?

“Aren’t you going to say anything?” He insisted, and Aelin just realized she was staring blankly at him. Her scheming abilities let her come up with a plan in the seconds that took her to get up and straighten her posture.

She curtsied. “I’m so sorry for the disturbance, Your Highness. I’m working, and I need to retrieve something from this tree. Now if you’ll excuse me—“

“Wait. What’s your name?” As serious as he tried to school his expression, the prince’s eyes were twinkling with amusement, and Aelin wondered why.

“Celaena,” she let the lie slip through her lips not for the first time, but this situation specifically left her feeling her pulse go a mile a minute.

He hummed. “Whatever you say, Princess.”

A/N: I have some sequel ideas, let me know what you think!

Edit: Now I’m definitely continuing this and here’s a snippet of what’s to come

HERE’S PART 2 and I’ll make a masterlist soon I promise

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#rowaelin #throne of glass fanfiction #aelin galathynius #rowan whitethorn #aelin x rowan #throne of glass au #modern royalty au #runaway bride

[fangirlprincess-writes]

Friends Don't Look At Friends That Way - Chapter 3: Age 15 and 3/4

cw: none

word count: 2.597

read on AO3 || masterlist

---

chapter summary: the one where they play spin the bottle

---

"The red or the green one?" Aelin asks, holding up two dresses. She is standing in front of the closet in her room, while Rowan is lounging on the bed behind her and scrolling through his phone. 

"Hmm… the red one," he says, not even looking up from whatever he's doing.

"You're not even looking!" She accuses, throwing her hands up, the dresses flying dramatically into opposite corners of the room.

"Come on Ace, you're going to a lunch with your parents, not the Met gala." Rowan is still not looking at her. 

Aelin crosses her arms. "Well, what's more important than this, then?" Her tone shows more of the hurt she feels than she'd like. It's ridiculous to feel this betrayed over Rowan's lack of interest in her dress, but she can't help it. Ever since he told her about his crush on Remelle a few months ago, he barely talks about anything else anymore. And he even managed to make Aelin promise to help him talk to the girl. She has since found out that she'd rather eat her own hair than listen to Rowan talk about how pretty or how interesting Remelle is. 

Rowan finally puts his phone down and looks at her. "I've been invited to this party and I was just texting a few people to find out who else would be there."

That makes Aelin's brows rise. "You've been invited to a party? By who?"

"Fenrys. He's on the lacrosse team with me."

"Oh. So is it a team party?"

"Nah, apparently it's only a few guys from the team, along with some of Fenrys's other friends. Plus a few of the cheerleaders."

Now Aelin knows what's up. "Let me guess: including Remelle?"

The tips of Rowan's ears turn pink. "Yes, including Remelle. I think this party could be the perfect opportunity for me to finally take the next step! Our talks in school have been going really great – thanks for all the tips by the way Ace – but I'm not sure she would be interested in being more than friends."

Aelin tries very hard not to let her face make a grimace, but she isn't entirely sure she's succeeding. Rowan doesn't seem to notice though, so apparently she's doing an okay-enough job. "So you're hoping to what – test the waters at this party?" She really wishes she was not having this conversation right now.

"Yes?" Rowan says, but it sounds more like a question. "I just… I like her, Ace. A lot. Like, I-hope-she'll-be-my-first-kiss levels."

Aelin thinks she needs to be sitting for this conversation, so she walks over to her vanity opposite the bed and sits on the white stool, facing Rowan on her bed. "That's amazing," she says weakly. 

Rowan raises an eyebrow. "What's up with you? You're acting kinda weird."

"Oh, nothing," her laugh comes out high and fake. "I just can't believe you got invited to a party before me." 

He seems to accept that and Aelin is relieved. How is she supposed to explain something she doesn't understand herself?

"Why don't you come with me then?" He says it suddenly, but she can already tell he loves the idea. "We'll go to our first high school party together and you can help me with Remelle."

"How am I supposed to help you kiss her? Do you want me to smash your heads together like two barbie dolls?" Yep, her voice is definitely shrill now. 

"Okay, maybe not for that then," Rowan backpedals. "But come on Ace, it'll be fun. And I don't want to go alone."

"I don't know, Rowan."

"Ple-ease?" He adds, drawing out the syllable into two and looking at her with what could only be described as puppy-dog eyes. He only uses those when he wants something really bad. 

Aelin sighs, knowing she can't say no to him now. "Fine," she relents. 

Rowan's answering cheer is deafening. 

The party is happening the following Saturday at some Lacrosse-players house. Aelin has never met the guy, but the neighborhood is not too far from her own so she's passed the house often. It's a nice, white, two-story building with a balcony that faces the driveway. There's a garden out of sight, judging by the chatter and music that can be heard. Aelin and Rowan walk up to the front door, the chilly January air making Aelin glad she chose to bring her winter jacket, even though it clashes with her outfit. There's a spring to Rowan's step she's never seen before. Aelin tries not to think about that too much. 

"So what do we do now? Do we knock?" Aelin doesn't know the proper protocol for parties. She's never been invited to one before, after all.

"No, I think we just go in?" Rowan says and tries the handle. It's unlocked and Aelin can see a few people crowding the hallway. She takes a deep breath and follows Rowan into the house.

There's a ton of people once they reach the living room. A few guys Aelin recognizes from the Lacrosse team are crowded on the light gray sectional, some of the cheerleaders from their grade sitting between them, and in one case on a guy's lap. She can also see a terrace that leads to the garden she guessed was there. Fairy lights are strung up around the terrace, shining brightly in the dark of the evening and some upperclassmen are dipping their feet into a pool that's placed in the middle of the garden. The steam rising from the water tells her it's heated. 

It's surprisingly unlike anything she imagined a high-school party to be like. The atmosphere is relaxed and people are just talking while some pop music is playing. Aelin would feel comfortable if she didn't feel so terribly out of place. She's not friends with anyone except for Rowan, she now notices.

"Do you want to drink something?" Rowan asks her, already waving to one of the guys on the sectional. Aelin recognizes him. It's Fenrys, the guy who invited Rowan.

"Sure. Some kind of soda or something. You know what I like."

"Okay, be right back," he tells her and leaves to find the kitchen. 

She takes a few steps into the room, unsure of where to go, when the girl next to Fenrys smiles at her. "You're Aelin, right?"

"Yeah."

"I'm Essar. And this grump here," she points to a guy to the other side of her, "is Lorcan, my boyfriend." The guy looks a bit older than them and gives Aelin a nod. 

"Oh, yeah, I know." Aelin says lamely. "We have math together?"

"Oh right," Essar slaps her forehead dramatically.  "You sit in the front, right? I always take the back row, so I'm probably more familiar with the back of your head." She laughs and Aelin can't help but laugh too. 

"I can turn around if you think that helps?" Aelin suggests.

"Oh no, don't worry. Here, sit down though," she points at a place opposite her on the floor. Someone put pillows there to make extra seats, so Aelin happily complies. 

She and Essar fall into an easy conversation when Rowan finally returns with two drinks in hand. She smiles gratefully at him before she realizes he's followed by none other than Remelle. 

The smile falls off her face when she sees them talking animatedly before Remelle throws her head back to laugh at something Rowan said. 

She's never seen Remelle this close and this unguarded. Usually she's surrounded by a gaggle of other cheerleaders. But even though Aelin doesn't know Remelle, she can tell the girl likes Rowan. It's obvious from her body language and the way she looks at him. Aelin's stomach turns. 

"Remelle! Nice of you to show up as well," Essar greets her. 

Right. How could Aelin forget they were friends?

"Well, it doesn't seem like I missed much," she teases, pointing at the party around them. 

Rowan hands Aelin the drink he brought and sits down next to her on the floor while Remelle talks. 

"Thanks," she mutters, though she's not sure he's listening. 

His eyes are still fixed on Remelle who now says, "How about we do something fun?"

"Like what?" Fenrys interjects.

"Like spin the bottle," she suggests, eyes on Rowan. 

Oh god. Is this what Aelin thinks it is?

"I'm in," Fenrys says, a grin spreading on his face that Aelin can't help but describe as mischievous. 

"Us too," Rowan says immediately, shooting Aelin a look. 

She can't believe he just agreed for her. But hey, at least he thought of her at all, right?

They round up everyone who wants to play, which is mostly people from their grade who aren't there with their significant others, along with one or two upperclassmen. 

She's sitting next to Rowan in the circle they formed on the carpet in the living room. The people who aren't playing are sitting on the sectional, watching their game and chatting.

The game starts and the first few rounds are a bit boring, Aelin thinks. Fenrys starts and his bottle lands on a cheerleader. Then the cheerleader's bottle lands on another cheerleader. Some of the guys whoop when they kiss and Aelin rolls her eyes. She's glad to see Essar do the same from the sectional, Lorcan next to her with an arm around her shoulder.

The cheerleader spins and it lands on one of the upperclassmen. He's attractive, with cropped chestnut hair and copper eyes. He and the cheerleader kiss and then he spins the bottle. It turns and turns until finally, it points straight at Aelin. 

She's never kissed anyone before and while she knew what this game entails, she hadn't really made the connection that she might have to kiss someone. Her throat goes dry while the guy gives her an encouraging smile. 

Oh god, can he see how nervous she suddenly is? Aelin feels like she might die. But then she squares her shoulders and decides to be brave. She leans forward and the guy meets her halfway. She closes the distance between their mouths. It's… okay, she guesses? She can feel the warm press of his lips against hers, can smell the shampoo he uses and it only lasts a heartbeat or two before they pull apart. 

When she settles back on her knees next to Rowan, his gaze is on her. She can't quite decipher the emotion on his face, so she whispers a quiet "What?" 

He just shakes his head and points at the bottle. Right, now it's her turn. Better get it over with.

Aelin gives the bottle a good strong spin and it turns even longer than it did before. It comes to a stop pointing slightly to the left of her – right at Rowan. She can feel her heart speed up. If she thought she was nervous for her first kiss, it's nothing compared to what she feels now. There's a tingle spreading from her stomach all the way to her fingertips.

She turns to Rowan, whose eyes are locked on the bottle as if he could move it with the power of his mind alone. "You know, we don't have to do this," she whispers, but there's a rushing sound in her ears so she might have spoken louder than she intended. 

"Hey, no fair! Rules are rules!" One of the lacrosse dudes shouts.

Finally, Rowan's eyes lift to hers. There's another look on his face that Aelin has never seen. She doesn't really know what to do with that. Usually, she feels like she knows him better than she knows herself. There's nothing usual about this situation though. 

"No, it's fine," he just says. "He's right, rules are rules."

Rowan leans over slightly and so does she. Her breath catches and she closes her eyes. She feels the moment his lips meet hers, the soft but insistent press of his mouth against hers. She knows Rowan inside out, but still the smell of him this close is intoxicating. 

He pulls back after a second and it's all Aelin can do not to follow his mouth with hers. Rowan turns his face back toward the circle, toward the bottle and after another second, so does Aelin. 

As Rowan reaches for the bottle, there's only one thing playing in Aelin's mind. I just kissed my best friend. 

Then the bottle lands on Remelle and Aelin doesn't think anything anymore. She watches a shy but inviting smile spread on the other girl's face. She sees Rowan lean forward, the motion looking so eager and Remelle does the same. Aelin watches numbly as their lips meet. The kiss lasts longer than any of the others did, though it's still just a peck. It shouldn't be different than her kisses but Aelin can feel that it is. This is a kiss that is going to change her friendship with Rowan forever. It's ironic, she thinks, that this kiss is what will change things, when she and Rowan just kissed not five minutes ago. 

They pull apart and at the soft smile she sees on Remelle's face, a smile that is mirrored on Rowan's, Aelin feels faint. 

She waits another two turns, when she hopes no one will make the connection, and stands up.

"This was so fun guys," the cheer in her voice is entirely fake but no one knows her well enough to tell. Except for one person. "But my parents set me a curfew, so I have to leave." There's a few commiserative groans. "I know," she laughs. "But thanks for inviting me. See you guys around school!"

"See you," Essar says, a few others echoing the sentiment or simply waving. 

Aelin is almost impressed with herself at how composed she seems.

She turns toward the door and sees Rowan stand up to follow her. He catches up to her and says, "I didn't know you had a curfew."

"Yeah, I'm just tired, but I didn't want to look boring,'" she lies. She's never lied to Rowan. It makes her feel even stranger. 

"Oh, okay. Just give me a moment to say goodbye and then we can leave." He looks slightly disappointed by the prospect. 

"It's fine. Stay. I can make it back on my own." She doesn't know why she said that. She doesn't mean it. But maybe she hopes that tonight hasn't changed things after all. She hopes he'll walk her home as always, that everything will still be normal tomorrow.

"Really? That would be amazing. I'll see you tomorrow, okay? Be safe." Rowan hugs her and Aelin is sure she must have misheard him. There's no way he just did that. But as he turns his back to her and walks back toward the laughter, she realizes that he did. 

"Damn. What a dick." The guy she kissed is standing in a doorway on the right halfway between her and the living room. He probably had a perfect view of their exchange.

Aelin wants to defend Rowan. After all, who is this guy to call her best friend a dick? But she can't really argue his point right now. 

"I'm Chaol, by the way," the guy offers and Aelin realizes she's still looking towards the living room. 

"Aelin," she just says.

"Well Aelin, I was actually just leaving," Chaol tells her. "Can I walk you home instead?" There's a smile on his face that suits him very well. He really is attractive, Aelin thinks to herself. 

"That would be nice," she answers and Chaol opens the door for her.

---

thanks for reading!

let me know your thoughts/theories in the comments or reblogs! <3

--- 

tag list:

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#my writing #rowan whitethorn #modern au #rowan x aelin #throne of glass fanfiction #friends don't look at friends that way #rowaelin #rowaelin fanfic #throne of glass #sarah j maas

[leiawritesstories]

So Soon

Rowaelin Month, Day 2: Accidents Happen

Word count: 1,061

Warnings: none ;)

enjoy!!

@rowaelinscourt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hey.” Rowan accepted Aelin’s call, thankful for the Bluetooth connection in his car that allowed him to drive and talk to his wife at the same time. “What’s up, love?” 

“I…I don’t know what to do, Ro.” Aelin’s breathing was choppy, coming in hitches and gasps. It was the way she breathed when she was on the verge of an anxiety attack. 

“Fireheart, I’m right here,” he reassured her, keeping his voice as calm as possible. He flicked a quick glance at the GPS. “I’ll be home in eight minutes.” 

“Unless there’s traffic?” 

“I’m past the traffic now.” 

“Okay.” Her voice was small, quiet. “Don’t break any laws, Ro, but come home quickly.” In the background, a baby started crying–their eight-month-old daughter. Aelin exhaled deeply. “Lana needs me, love. I have to go.” 

“Okay.” Though she couldn’t see, he blew her a kiss. “I love you, Ae.” 

“Love you too,” she whispered. The call ended with a beep. 

Rowan blew out a sharp, worried breath and drove five miles per hour over the speed limit for the rest of the drive home. He pulled into the driveway of his and Aelin’s townhouse and rushed inside, barely remembering to grab his work bag and lock the car behind him. “Ae? Fireheart? I’m home!” 

“Dada’s home, Lana lovey!” Aelin’s coo floated out of the living room. Rowan set his bag down, kicked off his shoes, and hurried into the room, finding his wife curled up on the couch with their baby daughter in her arms. Lana squealed excitedly as Aelin lifted her up high enough to see Rowan come into the room, and she flailed her little arms, babbling. 

“Oh, I missed you, little love!” Rowan beamed and scooped Lana into his arms, swinging her up into the air. She screeched in delight and released a gale of baby laughter, the most musical little sound he’d ever heard. “How’s Mama?” 

“Stressed and way too tired,” Aelin admitted. She stood up and wrapped her arms around her husband’s waist, melting into his warmth. He tucked Lana securely against his side and curled his free arm around Aelin, bending his head to kiss her. 

“Do you want to tell me about it?” 

“Yeah.” There was that uncertainty in her voice. “Food’s ready, though. Will you get Lana into her high chair? I’ll get her food–” 

He cut her off with another kiss. “Sit down, Fireheart. Let me get dinner set up.” Lana wriggled in his hold, babbling baby nonsense. “How about you get our very hungry caterpillar all settled, and Dada will bring her dinner over?” A grin crinkled the corners of his eyes. “She’s certainly got her mother’s love for good food.” 

Aelin chuckled softly. “I should hope so.” She took her daughter into her arms. “It’ll be a sad, sad day when she has to eat cafeteria food.” She settled Lana into her high chair, clicked the tray into place, and fastened a big plastic bib around her neck. “Ready for dinner, lovey?” 

Lana squealed in confirmation and banged her little fists against the tray. 

Rowan laughed as he brought in her green plastic plate, filled with cut-up noodles, pureed carrots, and applesauce. “Here you go, little miss.” 

Aelin followed him back into the kitchen and leaned against the island, keeping an eye on Lana as she prepared to deliver the news that had rattled her so much. “Um…” 

“What is it, love?” Rowan came to stand in front of her, resting his hands gently on her waist, grounding her in his presence. “Are you sick? Are you hurt? Are you okay? Are you–” 

“I’m pregnant, Rowan.” The words poured out in a breathy rush. 

His jaw sagged in shock. “Aelin…”

She pulled three pregnancy tests from her sleeve, each of them definitely positive. “I’m terrified, Rowan,” she croaked. Tears glittered in her eyes. “Lana isn’t even nine months yet!” Her voice swooped up into a near-sob. 

“Fireheart,” he whispered, adoration blanketing his whole face, “it’s going to be okay.” One of his hands slipped down to her stomach, resting gently, protectively, over her skin. “Do you want this baby, my love?” 

“Of course I do.” Her hand joined his, their fingers interlacing. “I’m just…in shock, I guess. I wasn’t expecting baby number two so soon.” She cracked a half smile and lifted her eyes to meet his. “Though I probably should have been, since you can’t keep your hands off me.” 

“What can I say?” He winked cheekily. “I’ve been head over heels for you since the day we met, and becoming a mother has only made you more beautiful.” 

The tears Aelin had been holding back broke free of her control and slipped down her cheeks. She laughed through the tears and halfheartedly swatted her husband’s chest. “Damn hormones. You can’t say those things to a pregnant woman in her first trimester, Ro.” 

“I can, and I will.” He pulled her into his arms, letting her rest her head against his shoulder. “I know we weren’t exactly planning this, Ae, but…” He swallowed thickly, his throat bobbing. “I’m so godsdamn excited.” Kneeling, he brushed an impossibly soft kiss over her lower stomach. “Love you already, little one.” 

Sniffling, Aelin tangled her fingers in his hair and smiled down at him. “Is now a bad time to mention that I scheduled an–lovey, no!” Abruptly, she hurried over to the high chair, where Lana was busy smearing her applesauce in her hair. 

The baby girl’s irresistibly big green eyes went wide and innocent as her mother rushed over with a washcloth. She smacked her chubby little hands and her plastic spoon against the high chair, babbling away as if to say, “Look what I did, Mama!” 

“Looks like someone’s going to need a bath,” Rowan laughed, taking the washcloth from his wife and cleaning some of the mess out of Lana’s fine, blonde hair. “I’ll take care of her, Fireheart.” He kissed her, soft and slow. “You and baby need dinner.” 

Much later, after Lana was (finally) asleep in her crib, Aelin lay curled atop Rowan’s chest, his hand on her stomach and her ear against the rhythmic pulse of his heartbeat, and wondered how on earth she’d handle having two kids under 2. With him at her side, though, she knew she could, no matter the unexpected surprises that came their way.

~~~

A/N: the idea for this came from one of my favorite social media couples (Matt and Abby/ The Unplanned Podcast) :)

~~~

TAGS: please let me know if you'd like to be added/removed or if tags aren't working :)

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#my writing #rowaelin month #rowaelin month 2023 #rowaelin #aelin galathynius #rowan whitethorn #rowan x aelin #rowaelin fanfiction #rowaelin au #rowaelin fanfic #rowaelin modern au #throne of glass #throne of glass fanfic

[rowaelinsdaughter]

housewife!reader x modern!rowaelin

i couldn't contain myself and i wrote housewife reader but with rowaelin and modern au, inspired by @danikamariewrites feysands housewife reader fics. i love them so much 😭💌.

WARNINGS; none, allusions to s3x.

housewife!reader who has to wake up aelin almost every morning because if not she is late for work and in the end she stays sleeping in bed for a while longer because aelin has convinced her.

housewife!reader who makes a chocolate cake for aelin twice a week.

housewife!reader who has prepared some snacks that she knows rowan likes for after training.

housewife!reader who is living in her dream house because rowan and aelin wanted her to be comfortable and happy and to decorate it in her own way.

housewife!reader who has rowan's clothes in her closet because she knows he loves to see her in his clothes.

housewife!reader who shares a part of the closet with aelin and they have hidden the lingerie.

housewife!reader who has plants all over the house; in the bathroom, in the kitchen, in the bedrooms... and he even has a small garden because he knows that food with fresh products tastes better.

housewife!reader who prepares a relaxing bath for them because she knows they arrive tired after a whole morning of meetings.

housewife!reader who brings lunch to the company because she knows they haven't prepared it for her and so she can spend some time with them.

housewife!reader who sends photos showing the new lingerie outfit she bought knowing that they are in the middle of an important meeting.

housewife!reader who the next morning is going to have to put makeup on her neck so the marks don't show.

all rights reserved to ©rowaelinsdaughter. do not copy /steal my work. no translations allowed. do not copy my theme.

#sarah j maas #sjm books #fanfic #throne of glass #throne of glass imagine #throne of glass fanfiction #aelin galythinius #rowan whitethorn #aelin ashryver galathynius #queen aelin #aelin fireheart #aelin fanfic #aelin x f!reader #aelin x you #aelin x reader #rowan x you #rowan x reader #rowaelin x reader #rowaelin fanfiction #rowaelin fic #rowan fanfic #rowaelin #tog x you #tog fluff #tog x reader #tog

[renxzs]

Flight to Orynth x Rowaelin | AO3 | Masterlist

Summary: Aelin’s flight is delayed due to inclement weather. Thankfully she has a certain silver haired stranger to keep her company.

Word Count: 4.3k

CW: nsfw (18+ only), strangers in an airport, slight praise kink, modern au

Aelin: September 9th

Lysandra: ???

Aelin: Save the date. For my upcoming wedding to the hottest fucking male I’ve ever laid my eyes upon. 🥵

Lysandra: SEND PIC

Aelin: hahaha, uh no. 

Lysandra: Aelin!! pleeaasse

Aelin: I’m not snapping a photo of a stranger like a fucking creep.

Lysandra: May I remind you of our trip to Wendlyn last summer…

Aelin’s eyes narrowed imperceptibly with a snort. Her best friend loved to play dirty. 

Her gaze cut up across the sitting area to the unsuspecting male. His nose continued to be buried in a novel. Of course, he just had to be a reader, too. Gods help her.

Aelin: FINE

Lysandra: 😁😘

Her heart thudded wildly in her chest as her eyes were drawn back to the silver haired male still focused on his book. She wasn’t normally so easily rattled by a male, let alone one across a large room whom she hadn’t even spoken to.

It was just one silly picture.

Attempting to be inconspicuous, Aelin shifted the angle of her phone until the lens brought the subject of her attention into focus. He was truly a beautiful specimen… Gods, get a grip. Her thumb hit the shutter button and snapped a few back-to-back frames. 

Recrossing her legs, Aelin pulled up the most recent photo in her album app. A hint of a smile dusted her lips while she drank in the male. The photo didn’t do him justice, yet somehow was still unfairly flattering. And that quiet smirk tugging on his lips had faint flutters stirring low in her belly. 

Aelin’s teeth dragged over her bottom lip as she sent the photo off to Lys, who must have been poised and ready to pounce. Her response was near immediate. 

Lysandra: GODS FUCK, AELIN. 

Her teeth clamped down harder to stifle her laugh. 

Aelin: I know! 

Lysandra: THE MUSCLES.

Lysandra: THE FACE. 

Aelin: I know!!!!

Aelin: Lys, I’ve never wanted a stranger so bad. 🥵 it’s been way too long.. I’m dying over here. 

Lysandra: Go climb that male like a tree. NOW!

Aelin: 😂

Lysandra: I’m dead serious. You’re hot as fuck. It’d be a damn blessing for any male to—

Aelin slammed her phone face down onto her lap when a low voice practically purred, “If you need a close up, don’t be afraid to ask.” The lilt of his accent thrummed through her in all the best places.

She whipped to where the voice had come from, only to be brought up short with that gorgeous silver haired male now occupying the seat to her left. 

Proximity only enhanced his already attractive features—piercing emerald that banded his pupils, sharp lines and strong jaw, thick lashes that every male seemed to undeservingly have, plush soft pink lips that curved into a self-assured smirk.

Aelin’s eyes snagged on swirls of black ink peeking out just above his shirt collar. His sleeves were pushed up to the elbow, exposing powerful arms—the left one covered in more ink down to his wrist. Her fingers itched to uncover if his sleeve connected to the tattoo on his chest.

Gods, she could quite possibly die. Her pulse hammered in her ears and her palms felt clammy with the shock of being caught.

With a clearing of her throat, she shoved the embarrassment down and grabbed furiously at the threads of inner bravado she could typically summon so easily. 

Aelin leveled her gaze with his then quipped, “Can a female be blamed for admiring the male form?”

His smirk grew as his eyes flicked down her body before settling back on her face. “Certainly not.”

Her current travel attire consisted of her favorite pair of yoga pants that nicely accentuated her toned legs and ass, and a cropped hoodie that tastefully exposed a section of her midriff—practical and cozy, but also cute. Her new companion seemed to agree. 

The male relaxed back in his seat, slightly orienting his body towards her. He reached out a large bronze hand, “I’m Rowan.”

His grasp was warm and firm. “Aelin.”

Rowan hummed appreciatively, his hand lingering against hers a moment longer. “Pretty.”

Heat rose to her neck and cheeks. Averting her gaze, Aelin’s eyes fell to the phone in her lap. This was all Lysandra’s fault. She just knew her best friend would be laughing herself silly if she were privy to Aelin’s current situation.

Aelin subtly shifted in her seat as well, to better see Rowan. She made a show of recrossing her legs, letting her right foot bob freely in the air. His gaze tracked the movement, leaving a trail of heat tingling up the length of her leg.

“So what brings you to this fine establishment on a stormy Tuesday evening?” Aelin asked airly with a wave of her hand to their general surroundings.

Rowan chuckled, laugh lines crinkling around pretty green eyes. “Your flight grounded due to the weather, too?”

She nodded her confirmation. “Orynth. You?” 

The corners of his lips upturned. “Same. Flying in from Doranelle after visiting on holiday.” She wondered idly who exactly he might’ve been visiting. Friends, family—a significant other? 

“I try to go home at least twice a year,” Rowan supplied, as if her thoughts were written across her face. “Though my cousins insist it’s not enough,” he chuckled. So family, then.

Aelin hummed. “So you work and live in Orynth then?”

“Yeah. I took a position back in the fall at UT.” She raised an eyebrow. Snagging a position at the University of Terrasen was an impressive feat. “I love it so far,” Rowan continued. “And Terrasen is a beautiful country.” 

She couldn’t help the fond smile that curved her lips. “It really is.” She gently nudged his calf with her foot and crooned, “What is it you teach, Professor?”

The change was subtle, but Aelin swore his pupils dilated ever so slightly. Interesting. Rowan snorted, “History.”

“Explains the novel,” she said, dipping her chin towards the worn war book tucked into a side pocket of his carryon bag.

“What can I say, it’s an area of interest.” 

Aelin’s smile broadened with mischief. “I could provide a few recommendations if you’re looking to add a bit of spice to your repertoire.”

Rowan’s head tipped back as he barked a laugh. “Oh, Aelin—I’m quite sure you could.” 

Her name wrapped in his voice was like whiskey, all smooth burning heat. Her belly swooped with the suggestion coloring his tone.

“And what is it that you do, outside of your personal interest in photography?” He gave her a cheeky grin. “Surely assassin is off the list. You’re about as subtle as a flying brick.” 

Aelin hit his arm playfully, refusing to allow her subsiding flush of embarrassment to rise to the surface of her skin again. “I work in publishing,” with a muttered bastard under her breath. To which Rowan heard perfectly, if his amused chuckle was any indication.

“Ahh, so you truly are equipped to hand out recommendations then,” he surmised.

Aelin leaned a bit into his space and hummed a confirmation, then added, “But the spicy recs are solely of personal interest.”

Her eyes tracked the bob of his throat as he swallowed thickly. She rested back into her seat again with a satisfied smirk.

Rowan’s gaze darted to the large screen mounted by their gate, skimming the information displayed. A moment later, his pine-green eyes were focused back on her. A quiet heat began to unfurl in the pit of her stomach as she held his stare.

His words were soft when he spoke. “Flight is still delayed for the foreseeable future. Let me buy you a drink.”

She pretended to mull over the pros and cons of sharing a drink with this virtual stranger—incredibly attractive virtual stranger. It wasn’t like she had anything else better to do to pass the time while stuck in this gods-forsaken airport. She couldn’t deny he would still likely be her first choice, regardless.

Rowan’s quiet confidence seemed to slightly waver with her prolonged silence, as if he were second guessing his offer and assessment of where they stood with one another on the flirting spectrum.

Aelin mercifully put a stop to his internal backtracking and offered her hand, accepting his invitation. The brilliant smile she received in response warmed through her as she allowed Rowan to pull her to her feet.

~

Aelin: I’m having drinks with him at the bar.. 🙈

Lysandra: OMG! I demand every single detail as soon as you land!!!

Lysandra: and BE SAFE. 

Aelin: I will, promise 😘

Aelin smiled softly to herself as she returned her phone to an inner pocket of her work bag. Rowan sidled up to their shared high-top table and placed a second glass of red in front of her. She murmured a thank you before taking a long sip.

Rowan gave a nod as he settled on the stool across from her, a whiskey neat cradled between his large hands. Large, tan hands that she wondered how would feel exploring her body…

Aelin tightly squeezed her thighs together to stave off the growing ache between her legs. But the teasing pressure only stoked the flames licking to life beneath her skin. The warm buzz of the wine also wasn’t helping matters, nor was her current 9 month stint of celibacy since her breakup with Chaol.

“So,” he drawled before taking a dreg from his whiskey glass. “Are you ever going to share why you were snapping pictures earlier?”

Aelin slumped in her stool with an abashed groan, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“That was not my finest moment.” She risked a peek at him; open, gentle amusement shone back. “I’m sorry for that by the way.” 

“I’m not.” Rowan said matter-of-fact. “It gave me the excuse I was desperate for to approach you.” 

Aelin’s heart stuttered. 

“I also hoped it meant that I’d maybe caught your eye, too,” he admitted softly. 

She sat frozen for a moment, stunned by his revelation. Then wordlessly emptied the last remnants of her wine glass before sliding off the stool. It took all of two steps before she found herself well in Rowan’s space. Crisp snow and pine mixed with spicy undertones of a cologne filled her lungs. The heat emanating from his body made her head spin.

Her fingertips brushed featherlight alongside the edge of his strong jaw, savoring the nip of his stubble. Gently, Aelin turned his face towards hers and leaned in close. Rowan met her halfway, his breath soft against her lips as they both hesitated for a moment, then closed the remaining space between them.

The kiss was gentle, exploratory. Rowan tasted like the whiskey he was drinking, and she wanted to drink every bit of him down. Aelin gripped his shirt to pull him closer. The heat of his skin burned through her when he cupped her face, thumb smoothing over her cheekbone. 

Rowan tilted her head back further for better access, tongue dancing across the seam of her lips. Aelin moaned softly, immediately opening her mouth to him. Rowan’s free hand had traveled to the swell of her hip and flexed tightly in response. Holding steady, keeping her close.

A pointed throat clearing cut through their reverie.

Her eyes cut over to the lonely looking patron two tables over who was going to great efforts to not stare at them. Her focus slid back to glinting pine-green eyes, and she clamped her lips shut to suppress the bubbling laugh—at this ridiculously crazy situation and the dazed look that overtook Rowan’s features. 

“There’s a single unit restroom down that corridor,” she murmured with a slight incline of her head in the direction behind him, eyes smoldering as they peered up through thick lashes. “Meet me there in 5?”

“Yes.” His vehemence crackled through her veins. 

The corner of Aelin’s mouth tugged upwards, and she extracted herself from his grasp. Wordlessly grabbing her work bag, she slipped past him in the direction of the restroom.  

Aelin’s heart pounded rapidly in her ears, blood roaring with anticipation as the door snicked close behind her. Shaky fingers hung her bag on a courtesy hook before she turned to face the mirror. 

Fiery blue eyes reflected back, bright and wild. Her cheeks, neck, and chest flushed with a healthy mix of arousal and adrenalin. She was really going to do this—fuck a stranger in an airport bathroom. Heat shot down her spine and pooled between her legs with the thought. 

Mind so addled with lust and need, it was difficult to find reason not to do it. Her body burned with want for Rowan—very well might die from it without proper release.

Aelin leaned her palms against the sink counter and loosed a jagged breath. Breathe.

A soft knock echoed in the small space and she belatedly realized she hadn’t locked the door. Relief flooded over her as silver tendrils came into view, followed by the rest of him. 

Anticipation twisted in her gut as Rowan clicked the deadbolt into place and turned to her. She swore the temperature of the room steadily rose when their eyes locked in the mirror. 

Rowan dropped his bag to the floor and sidled up behind Aelin, his body heat and scent enveloping her. She bit back a moan, leaning into him. 

He brushed thick golden tresses over to one shoulder, then pressed a kiss behind the shell of her ear, warm breath ticking. Aelin shivered. Rowan trailed open-mouthed kisses across her jaw and down her throat. Tipping her head to the side, she offered him more skin to claim.

“I’ve–I’ve never… done–” a sharp hiss turned moan interrupted her thoughts as teeth bit the sensitive flesh between her shoulder and neck before licking the hurt away.

“Never,” he rasped in agreement.

Rowan fingered the hem of her cropped sweatshirt before Aelin yanked it over her head without hesitation. His eyes grew impossibly darker, nostrils softly flaring at the sight of her pert rosy nipples through the sheer lace bralette.

Rowan snaked an arm across her chest, brushing a peaked nipple with his thumb and affectionately squeezing her breast. The other firmly held her hips against his, grinding against her backside.

“Never,” he repeated. “But you’re so fucking perfect, Aelin. I can’t help myself.”

Her name on his tongue was going to be her undoing. 

The incessant press of his stiff erection at the seam of her ass had her eyes nearly rolling in the back of her head. But it wasn’t enough. She wanted more, more, more. 

His arms tightened as she attempted to turn, holding her in place to face the mirror. 

“Rowan,” she ground out in frustration. 

Rowan tutted at her, wrapping his left hand around her throat to apply light pressure while the right wandered down the flat plane of her stomach. “Patience, sweetheart.” His fingers inched closer, barely dipping below the waistline of her pants, taunting.

The tension tightly coiling low in her gut was unbearable. Aelin gripped the wrist of his teasing hand, nails biting into tan skin. Her hips instinctively rolled, seeking his touch, but he didn’t budge. 

“Please,” she whimpered, and he nibbled at her earlobe in response. Gods, she was going to lose her ever-loving mind. “Rowan, please please touch me.”

His fingers tightened the slightest bit around her throat. Piercing green pinned her in place through the mirror’s reflection, his smile purely predatory. “Now how can I resist such pretty begging?”

Aelin swallowed thickly, eyes following the descent of his hand. 

Her nerve endings exploded when he finally, finally touched where she ached for him most. Utterly helpless to the groan that tore from her throat. 

Rowan’s fingers moved in tight lazy circles over the bundle of nerves. His other hand slid from her neck to the curve of her jaw, gently turning Aelin’s head to the side.

“Shhh,” he soothed against her lips. “I want nothing more–gods,” Rowan sputtered, fingers dipping to her center, coating them in her dripping arousal. “–than to hear you scream yourself hoarse on my fingers, on my cock.”

Aelin loosed a shuddering breath as said cock twitched against her ass. 

Rowan’s slick fingers slid back to her clit and her whole body tensed. He nipped at her bottom lip, “But I need you to keep quiet this time. Can you do that for me?”

She nodded, dazed.

“Good girl,” he crooned before kissing her deeply, thoroughly.

Aelin lost herself to the slide of his mouth against hers and the press of his touch at her sex. His hand dropped from her face to her breast, pinching one of her stiff nipples, sending a shock of pleasure through her. Then, without warning, Rowan pushed a finger into her heat, then added a second one. 

After a few pumps, he eased in a third digit. “You’re doing so well, sweetheart.” His voice was sinful. “Have to make sure you’re nice ‘n ready for me.”

He greedily swallowed down her moans. Pumping slowly in and out of her, her walls stretching to accommodate.

Their kiss broke on a gasp that stole the breath from her lungs as Rowan curled his fingers to rub that spot along her inner walls. Her body clenching around his thick digits and toes curling in her shoes.

Rowan chuckled lowly. “Ohh, right there?” She nodded mutely. 

He pressed a kiss to throat. “Use your words, Aelin.”

“Yes,” she groaned, hips undulating in time with his thrusts. “Gods, yes. Right there—nnh, fuck.” 

The blatant neediness in her voice should’ve been embarrassing, but she was half out of her mind to care.

Rowan rewarded her with the firm press of his thumb to her clit, his fingers continually pumping into her. “Such a good fucking girl for me."

Aelin’s body trembled with the building pressure, overwhelmed with the effect of his words and touches. Surely she would combust any second and the wildfire roaring beneath her skin would consume her whole.

Rowan sunk his teeth into her pulse point and her body arched, pleasure rocketing through her. The impossibly wound coil deep in her gut finally snapping. Aelin nearly sobbed from relief, sagging against the strong arm across her chest.

Rowan’s hand lazily coaxed the last remnants of pleasure from her as she finished riding the wave of her orgasm. Their heavy breaths and his fingers gently pushing through the slick between her thighs the only sounds filling the space.

Not until he ensured she was fully sated did he pull away from her heat, dragging his fingers up the center of her body to leave a glistening trail in their wake. Aelin swallowed thickly as he brought those fingers to his lips to lick them clean. Humming like she was the sweetest thing he’s had the pleasure of tasting.

Aelin turned on shaky legs and hastily dragged his face to hers, lips colliding in a soul searing kiss. Rowan lifted and sat her on the bathroom counter without severing contact. Large hands tangled in her hair, tipping her head back to open her up further. Aelin hummed against the brush of his tongue.

Hands tugged impatiently at his shirt as she mumbled “off” against his lips. Rowan chuckled but obliged nonetheless. 

Her bottom lip caught between her teeth as her eyes unabashedly devoured the muscled expanse of his heaving chest. The inked sleeve on his left arm indeed connected seamlessly to the whirling designs spanning across his left pec, licking up the base of his neck. She swallowed an appreciative groan.

“Gods, it’s unfair how fucking hot you are.” Aelin lightly scraped her nails over the ridges of his abdominal muscles.

“You’re one to talk.”

She smirked, but didn’t respond.

Her focus was instead drawn to the impressive bulge straining painfully against the zip of his jeans. Rowan grunted when she palmed him through the material. Then so slowly popped the button open and dragged the zipper down. Aelin worked the jeans and boxer briefs over his hips until his erection was freed and bobbing just below his navel.

Her eyes widened.

By the wryd, he was massive. No wonder he took such care in working her with his fingers first. 

The smug grin was wiped clean from his face when she wrapped a hand around him. His head fell against her shoulder, releasing a jagged breath as she methodically worked her hand up and down his length. 

Rowan mindlessly thrusted into her hand with soft groans. His full body shuddered when she squeezed the head of his cock and pressed her thumb to the weeping slit.

He bit out a curse, firmly gripping her wrist. “I’m not going to last if you keep that up.”

“Isn’t that the point?” She asked sweetly.

Rowan dragged his thumb across her lip. “You’re such a wicked thing.”

She hummed then wriggled her hips in silent command. Rowan didn’t need further elaboration, hooking his large hands in the band of her underwear and pants, slowly peeling them down her toned legs, also discarding her shoes in the process. At his gentle prod she spread her thighs, exposing herself fully to him.

The debauched groan that ripped deep from within his chest shot straight to her core. Pine-green eyes glazed as they settled on her glistening sex.

“Rowan,” she whispered. “Please.”

Her words snapped him into action. Gripping the base of his cock, he notched the swollen head against her entrance.

His body went rigid. “Fuck.”

“What? What’s wrong?” Trying to keep panic from edging in her voice. 

“I don’t have a condom.” Rowan looked physically pained, tone forlorn.  

Oh.

“Fuck, Aelin, I’m sorry.” He bowed to rest his forehead against hers. She tried very hard to block out the feel of him nudging against her folds with the movement. “I didn’t expect—hadn’t plann–”

Aelin silenced him with a kiss, slow and gentle. Her fingers delicately twined with the silvery strands at the nape of his neck.

“Fuck me, Rowan.” His cock twitched against her thigh. 

He traced his thumb across her collarbone. “Are you sure?” 

“I’m on birth control and I’m clean. Are you?”

“Yes,” he answered—to both questions. She nodded with understanding.

She stroked his length, then realigned him with her entrance. 

“Then fuck me.”

So he did, pushing into her with a powerful thrust. Rowan slotted his mouth over Aelin’s to muffle her cries. Her toes curled tightly at the backs of his thighs, struggling to find any space within her for breath. Rowan panted, giving her time to adjust. Strong muscles shaking with barely controlled restraint.

After a moment, hips rolled against his in silent command. And Rowan obliged, pulling out to the tip before snapping into her heat again. Over and over.

Aelin’s head dropped back on a strangled moan as her nails dug into his flesh, seeking purchase anywhere.

“You take my cock so well, Aelin,” he bit out. “So fucking good for me.”

Rowan groaned as she clenched around him. Never in her life had she been so gods-damned aroused. She was going to come from his words alone, taking her apart piece by piece.

“Please, please, Rowan.”

His hand slipped between their sweaty bodies and drew pants from her pretty mouth that grew breathier and higher with each passing stroke. Until finally a wave of pleasure crested over her and she shattered around him.

Rowan nearly choked as her core contracted tightly around him. He buried a hand in her hair and brought her mouth to his in a rough kiss, the pace of his thrusts growing erratic. Then he was groaning loudly against her lips, finally meeting his release deep within her.

Aelin gently scraped her nails against his scalp and hummed into his mouth as his hips rocked slowly into hers, milking the last of their shared pleasure.

They stayed like that for long moments, Rowan still buried inside her and their lips exploring languidly. Separating only once a shiver ran through her body, the sweat gathered in the dip of her lower back cooling.

Rowan murmured against her skin through a smile, “Let's get you dressed.”

Aelin made a noise of protest as he pulled out of her, but allowed him to gently wipe her clean before helping her back into her clothes. Once fully dressed and steadied on her feet, Rowan tilted her chin with a tenderness that made her heart ache and gave her a lingering kiss.

“When we get back to Orynth, let me take you to dinner.”

With a little shrug, Aelin gave him a simpering smile. “It’s the very least you could do.” 

Rowan snorted, despite the bright grin splitting his face. Then shook his head with quiet amusement, “So wicked.”

~

Aelin finally settled into her seat on the plane. 

A smile seemed to permanently occupy her lips since she and Rowan slipped from the bathroom earlier. 

Rowan. Gods, what an unexpected surprise he turned out to be. 

Aelin slipped her phone from her pocket, preparing to switch it to Airplane Mode. Just as she swiped away the lock screen, a text notification scrolled across the top from her newest added contact. Biting her lip, Aelin tapped on the notification to open up the new iMessage thread.

Rowan: See you soon, sweetheart.

Warmth flooded her chest. Before she could type a response, her phone vibrated again with an additional incoming text and an image.

Rowan: ps. you can’t blame this poor male for admiring your exquisite form either. 😉

Aelin’s head jerked up to stare at the mop of silver hair seated several rows ahead of her, mouth agape for several seconds. Her lips twitched into a smirk, snorting in disbelief as her eyes fell back to the image on her phone. 

An image of her from hours ago, stretching out in her seat with a hand running through her hair. Frankly, it was a good candid putting the lines of her body on display in the best way.

The stewardess’ voice crackled through the overhead speaker, directing passengers to please secure their seatbelts, close their dropdown trays, and switch all electronics to airplane mode.

Aelin fired a quick response back before toggling on Airplane Mode: Sneaky bastard!

--

Masterlist

#rowaelin #rowaelin fanfic #rowaelin smut #aelin ashryver galathynius #rowan whitethorn #throne of glass fic #throne of glass

[highqueenofelfhame]

Can we get a part 2 of Coach??

ask and ye shall receive! it's not as good as part one, but like, i highly doubt i'll ever top that drabble tbh. i hope you enjoy!

It was a cool afternoon, fluffy white clouds backlit by a baby blue sky. Mid-September was one of Rowan’s favorite times of the year in Terrasen. Despite mild summers, nowhere near reaching the heat of Doranelle, some days were miserable to be outside. It was a problem considering how all of their kids were involved in various sports, and Arden got a little dramatic about his baseball games when the temperature reached the nineties. 

Today it was Evie’s turn to have the full support of her family. The tails of her french braids swished behind her as she ran down the field, a determined look on her face as she focused on the soccer ball with a predator’s precision. Pride swelled in Rowan’s chest, admiring the seven year old for having such determination with everything she did.

“Let’s go, Evie!” he shouted, causing a jolt on his chest. Rowan looked down at the six month old strapped to his front. As he adjusted the small hat on the top of Declan’s head, he couldn’t resist dropping several kisses to his chubby cheeks. Several coos and tiny giggles erupted from him. This time, Rowan’s heart swelled with pure love. 

“Hey, Coach!” someone shouted from the stands. Rowan braced his hands on his hips and turned his upper body toward the bleachers. His eyes immediately locked on his wife, golden hair falling over her shoulders in long curls. She was leaning forward with her hands on her knees and a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Looking good!”

Rowan snorted, cheeks heating slightly as he shook his head and turned his attention back to the game. This wasn’t unusual for Aelin. Every time she heard one of the other moms talking about Rowan, she joined in the fun. Her present outburst was likely for that very reason. 

Evalin was running down the field, the time clock ticking closer and closer to the end of the game. But she was no match for time, pushing herself as hard as she could while she kicked and chased the ball toward the goal. 

“Yes, baby! You got this!” he heard Aelin shout from the stands. Rowan shouted his own encouragements, a hand on Declan’s stomach for extra support while he jogged down the sidelines and closer to where Evalin made her final kick, sending the ball straight to the corner of the goal.

The crowd cheered and all of Evalin’s teammates bolted toward her on the field as the final buzzer sounded. The gaggle of girls jumped in circles, hugging his daughter and patting her on the back with congratulatory excitement. 

A hard smack on his ass had Rowan jolting in surprise, reaching behind him to grab his wife’s hand while she laughed brightly. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers, then reached around her to ruffle the silver hair of his second born. Arden grinned up at him, his smile gapped from the teeth he’d lost over the summer. 

“You look so good in these pants,” she whispered, patting her hand on his rear.

“You’re a menace.”

“It isn’t just me. People talk about your ass all the time. One of the dads got me started. I told him that he should see you with your shirt off.” Rowan couldn’t help but laugh as she let out a slow whistle, mirth still twinkling in her bright blue eyes.

“A menace,” he repeated, just as their daughter ran straight into her mother’s arms.

“You were amazing, my love.” Aelin dropped a kiss to the top of her head as Rowan lifted his hand for a high five. Evie jumped, smacking her hand against his enthusiastically. Her cheeks were flushed a bright pink and she was still a little out of breath, but pure joy and pride radiated from her very being. Declan’s arms and legs were going wild, reaching out in every direction while he babbled what Rowan liked to think was his way of letting his big sister know he was proud, too.

“Can I get snacks now? I’m starving,” Evie proclaimed, her hand going to her forehead as though she were feeling faint with hunger. She definitely got that from her mother. 

“Go for it.” With a wink, Aelin gestured toward the ice cooler her teammates were beginning to swarm around. Evalin skipped away with Arden hopping close behind her, reaching to try and tug on her braids. 

Aelin leaned into Rowan’s side, her head resting on his shoulder while she took Declan’s hat off and ran her fingers through his silky golden hair. She looked so wholly content and happy that Rowan ducked his head down to give her a sweet kiss on her lips. 

“I love you.”

“Yeah?” Her head tilted back and she wrapped her arm around his waist. Rowan grunted a confirmation, nodding his head before kissing her again. “I love you, too, Coach. And your ass, and your hands, and your mouth, and that thing you do with your–”

“There are little ears,” he teased, his hands resting on the sides of the infant’s head to block out the noise.

“I just can’t resist you in a polo and khakis.” His wife shrugged, dropping a kiss to his shoulder just as their other two monkeys rejoined them with juice boxes and popcorn in hand. Aelin sighed that her antics had to come to an end, swapping her dirty words for a smile as she slipped her hand into his. “Let’s go home.”

#writing #my writing #rowaelin #drabbles #fanfiction #rowaelin fanfic #rowaelin fanfiction #rowan x aelin #rowaelin fic #rowan whitethorn #aelin ashryver galathynius #aelin galathynius #tog #throne of glass #tog fic #tog fanfic #tog fanfiction #modern au #tog gen 2 #rowaelin babies #baby fic #fluff #pure fluff #nothing but fluff

[punkassbookjockey26]

exile - Rowaelin Month, Day 1

Buckle up, everyone. This one's a doozie. I'm sorry in advance.

Prompt: Songfic - based on the song "exile" by Taylor Swift

Rating: T, Warnings: some language, references to a toxic relationship

-----------------------------------------

It was past 9 pm by the time she showed up. He had been there with friends, nursing a beer that now ran warm and tasted stale. His little cadre greeted the newcomers warmly, if a bit delicately, knowing that the sight of her new friend would put him on edge. He didn’t try to hide that his muscles tensed, his whole frame rigid at the pitying glances cast his way. It was his choice to be here, and he knew full well what that meant. He downed the rest of the beer and signaled the bartender for another drink, this one much more potent. He would need it if he were to survive the night.

A loud laugh echoed over the conversation, and even to his ears, it sounded forced, like the joke wasn’t even that funny, but she laughed because it was what good friends did. Rowan didn’t turn to look at her, knowing full well that those damn turquoise eyes of hers would be darting between the lumbering brute beside her and towards him. He refused to give her that satisfaction when she was the one that left him broken.

Their relationship had always been volatile, both of them stubborn to a fault. She had been a fire that had grown out of control – beautiful to observe but deadly and unpredictable. And he had been like ice, so thick that even her flame couldn’t penetrate. Rowan had tried to figure her out, but they were both guarded and keeping secrets from the other. She had been carrying previous hurts but never shared any of it with him. And as much as he wanted to confide in her about his own, it felt impossible. There was too much damage, too many open wounds to really be capable of exposing himself like that.

So instead, they argued. They lashed out when pressed too hard, calling each other terrible and toxic things. Their friends wondered whether the relationship was even worth salvaging, but he had always believed so. She was unlike any other woman he had ever known, and despite the barbs they had thrown at each other and the nastiness and animosity that bubbled between them, he still wanted her. Desperately.

But she had left. She said nothing after their last fight when he told her that there was nothing else he could give her, nothing that he wanted to give her. That she was nothing but a problem for him, and he did not care. She looked at him like he had just struck her, eyes wide and mouth parted in surprise and hurt, and he wanted so much to take those words and put them back into his mouth, never to be known. But they were laid at her feet, broken like their relationship, broken like his soul,  and she just turned and walked away. It took her five whole minutes to pack up the few belongings she had left at his apartment and walk out the door, leaving him standing there holding the pieces of a relationship he didn’t know how to fix.

That had been weeks ago. He was unsure how many because he had barely ventured out of his apartment since that night. He knew he needed to apologize to her, but she just…left. He had tried calling and texting her, but was met with silence. So he let her go, knowing there was nothing he could do to stop her. Knowing that she was taking what little he had given her of his heart with her. Her perfume lingered in the apartment; that sweet floral and citrus scent permeated the clothing she stole and the pillows she used. It taunted him; he wanted to bottle that smell and save it for his lowest moments,  but that had vanished from his life all too soon as well.

He didn’t want to admit that some part of him was masochistically looking forward to tonight. He knew she would be coming; it was her cousin’s party, after all. He wanted to see her. Wanted to see if she had been just as miserable without him as he had been without her. He wanted to know if she regretted the decision that led them to this moment in time, if she regretted him, because then, maybe, he might be able to find some closure.

He hadn’t expected her to show up with someone new.

Glancing surreptitiously towards the group, he finally took his first real look at her in weeks. Her golden hair was tied high in a ponytail, the ends curled softly at the nape of her neck. Whether it was because of the drink in her hand or the warmth of the venue, her cheeks had a rosy flush.  Rowan’s eyes trailed down her long neck, following the line to her shoulder, her chest, her toned stomach, her legs, drinking in the portrait she was making just for him.

To anyone who didn’t know her, she appeared to be the epitome of engagement. She was leaning into a tall, brown-haired man with his arm slung around her shoulders, a gentle smile on her face. Every fiery quip she interjected into the conversation, he loved. But he could tell that it was all a ruse.

The smile on her face did not reach her eyes. Those beautiful eyes of hers had sparkled with mischief and love but now were flat and dull. Her shoulders were tense under that man’s arm, almost as if the contact were only allowed instead of wanted. Every laugh was forced, every flirtatious glance was cold and unfeeling. He knew that even though she was here physically with this interloper, her mind was elsewhere.

So when she disengaged and made her way towards the back exit, he knew that it was his moment to finally close whatever door remained open to her in his heart. He quickly downed the shot the bartender had placed before him and followed her into the brisk night.

His eyes adjusted to the dark alleyway, darting around, looking for a glimmer of gold under the streetlamps. He found her standing just at the edge of the alley, leaning up against the brick exterior of the building, her slender arms wrapped tightly around her torso. She didn’t even look up at him when he shuffled down the alleyway, even though he hadn’t tried to make his approach quiet, but he saw the telltale sign that she was readying for a fight.

“What do you want, Rowan?” Her venomous voice lanced out at him, digging right into his chest. He figured she would be upset, but he was unprepared for just how vicious she would be. Every word dripped with disdain, and he choked back the familiar feeling of anger. He just wanted to talk to her, dammit, not get into another screaming match in the middle of the alley. But when he opened his mouth, the speech he had prepared stalled on his tongue.

Instead, he asked. “Are you together?”

She turned to face him finally, a sardonic smile twisting her mouth. “Why? Would you fight him if I said yes? Would you go bloody up your knuckles on his face?”

He clenched his jaw. “It’s a yes or no question, Aelin.”

Her eyes narrowed at him. “It doesn’t matter if I am or not. I’m not your problem anymore.”

She spat the words back just as harshly as he had given them to her. He flinched and could have sworn he saw her soften before that hard exterior snapped back into place. Moments stretched thin between them as they locked eyes, his frozen green ones matched perfectly with the flames sparking to life in hers. It was proof enough that the man inside was just his understudy, only temporarily filling a spot that he had vacated. That she still felt so much for him.

After a beat, he said to her, “You didn’t even hear me out.”

A defeated chuckle escaped her lips. Just like her laughter inside, there was no warmth to it, no joy. It had the same hollowness to it when it clanged through his head. “What for, Rowan? I gave you so many signs that I was bowing out, and what you said that night sealed the deal.”

Indignation flared again. “What are you talking about? You never gave me any signs.”

She rolled her eyes, the petulance hitting something ugly inside of him. “There were so many signs, Rowan. You never once opened up to me, not even when I pushed. Instead, you doubled down, pushed me away, and threw my flaws and mistakes at me in the worst way possible. I gave you a hundred chances to change, but you never did.”

He tried to choke back the anger in his throat, but it was desperate to lash back out. “I can’t read your damn mind, Aelin! If you wanted something to change, you should have said something. You just left.”

“I tried to say something, Rowan!” She cried. “I tried so many times to reason with you. I wanted to know you, to trust you, to love you, more than anything. I tried to let you open up on your own terms. I tried to let you in, but you just shut down each and every time. So no, I did not leave you. You left me before I ever walked out of that door. You left me before you even gave us a single godsdamned chance.”

Her voice cracked, and he saw a tear glimmer in the moonlight as it slid down her face. He felt himself deflate at the sight of it, knowing it was because of him. If he were being truly honest with himself, that was all she ever seemed to do around him. The ugly truth he had tried to avoid roared to life, and he knew that for all their flaws and problems, the failure of this relationship landed squarely on his shoulders. He had fucked up immeasurably.

“I’ve seen this movie before, Rowan. I didn’t like the ending, so I changed it.”

He watched as she furiously swiped away the tear in the silence and glared at him, daring him to say anything. And when he didn’t, she turned and walked away from him, her heels clacking angrily on the concrete. At that moment, he knew there would be no salvaging their relationship. He put his heart in exile, and that was where it would remain.

-----------------------------------------

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#rowaelin #rowaelin month #rowaelin court #aelin galathynius #rowan whitethorn #aelin and rowan #aelin x rowan #modern au #songfic #throne of glass #throne of glass fanfiction #tog #fanfic #fanfiction #pabj26writing

[theladyofdeath]

Part 2 to drunk Rowan Christmas? :)

Part II to this prompt! A/N: Thank you for your request! I love a sweet, sloppy, drunk Rowan. I hope you enjoy! T/W: language

Rowan woke up the next morning and called Aelin. He recalled very little of it, considering his hangover was wicked, but he remembered that he called, remembered that he asked her out for Saturday night, remembered that she said yes.

Now Saturday was here, and he was stressed the fuck out.

A snowstorm had hit the city in full force. The roads were covered in a blanket of white. It wouldn't stop him. Nothing would stop him from picking up Aelin, from taking her on a date, but the roads were daunting. It wasn't his first winter in Orynth, he had spent plenty there, but he had rarely seen a storm this bad.

Even as the snow buried the earth, Rowan showered and got dressed in his finest suit. His finest suit consisted of a nice pair of slacks and a black jacket, worn with a black button down shirt. He always thought that black was a nice contrast to his hair, and he wore the darkness with dignity.

At a quarter to six, Rowan was getting into his car. Although he rarely drove through the city, he decided that a first date with Aelin was a good enough reason to get his car out of the parking garage.

The only obstacle was that the second he pulled out of the parking garage...he slid. The snow was so thick as it fell from the heavens that Rowan couldn't see more than a few feet in front of him. He had no idea if anyone was about to speed past him as he pulled onto the road.

And slid again.

It took about twenty minutes to make it a mile down the road, and Aelin lived halfway across town. At this rate, he'd get to her place at midnight. He'd even left half an hour earlier than he was going to, half an hour earlier than he should have, but it didn't matter. The weather was too bad.

And bad weather meant traffic.

A lot of fucking traffic.

Being the week before Christmas, most of the radio stations were playing Christmas music, and Rowan couldn't stand it. He was constantly flipping through the stations as he sat in his car, not moving, the heat on high and nothing to be seen outside of his windshield.

Another ten minutes passed and he was officially late.

Pulling out his phone, he found Aelin's number in his contacts and gave her a call. She picked up on the third ring.

"Hello?"

"I'm so sorry."

Her quiet laughter sounded on the other end of the line. "Ditching on me?"

"Not ditching," Rowan quickly corrected, "A little late. Just...stuck in the snow."

"Is it bad out there?" Aelin groaned. "I was hoping it hadn't gotten worse."

"It's not good," Rowan said, windshield wipers going wild. "I'm hoping to be there soon. I'm sorry it's taking so long."

"It's okay," Aelin promised. "As long as you get here eventually."

Rowan drove another two feet before stopping. "Eventually."

They hung up and Rowan turned the radio up to try and distract from his self misery. Every second he spent stuck in traffic reminded him how much he hated driving.

By the time he made it to Aelin's, an hour had passed and a few more inches had stuck to the ground. After a poor parallel parking job, he was working his way through the blizzard. He felt like he was holding his breath until he opened the door to the lobby of Aelin's apartment complex and the heat hit him.

The lobby was nearly empty and he rode the elevator up to the fifth floor alone. When he made it to 5G, he knocked on the door and waited.

Aelin's hectic footsteps approached and when she opened the door, she was in a stunning red dress and...barefoot.

"Sorry," she said, laughing as his eyes went down to her feet. "I wasn't sure when you'd be getting here and my heels were killing me."

"It's alright," Rowan said, suppressing his smile. "I'm sorry it took so long."

Aelin looked over her shoulder. "It's okay. I actually had an idea to run by you."

"Yeah?"

She nodded and stepped aside. "Come in, come in. Please."

When Rowan stepped inside, he was hit with the scent of lavender and vanilla. Aelin's apartment was tidy and sleek, but welcoming. She closed the door behind them and led him into the kitchen.

"Considering it took you over an hour to get here, the last thing I want to do is get you back in the car," Aelin said, rounding her island before facing him. "There's a pizza joint across the street. I thought we could order for pickup, come back here and eat, and watch a movie?"

Rowan looked down at his slacks and jacket, then over at Aelin's dress.

Aelin lifted a humored brow. "You don't like that idea?"

"No, that's a great idea," Rowan said, hurriedly. "I just...you look amazing. And I should've brought sweatpants."

Aelin laughed, and Rowan loved the sound of it. "It's okay to look fine as hell at home. We can still go out if you want."

"No," Rowan breathed. "I like your idea. It sounds great."

With a flip of her hair over her shoulder, Aelin turned to her refrigerator and snatched a take-out menu off the fridge. "Alright, Whitethorn. What do you like on your pizza? And yes, if you say pineapple, I will judge you."

Rowan didn't get pineapple. He did, however, get every meat known to man on his pizza. Aelin settled for a simple pepperoni, and twenty minutes later, Aelin had slipped her snowboots on with her dress and they were walking across the street to the pizza place. By the time they got back to the apartment, their pizza had gone from burning hot to warm enough. They dropped everything on her coffee table and sat on the couch.

Rowan had slipped his shoes and coat off by the door and, even though he wore some of his finest, he was comfortable.

"Can I get you something to drink?" Aelin asked, going to the kitchen and pulling out a chilled bottle of wine.

"You're sure you want me drinking after the other night?" Rowan teased.

Aelin chuckled, pulling out two glasses from her cabinet. "I think you're an adorable drunk."

Rowan snorted. "I feel like you're lying."

"Oh, I never lie."

Rowan watched intently as Aelin carried two filled glasses into the living room.

"I feel like that's a lie, too," Rowan noted as she handed him a glass.

Aelin just grinned.

Being with Aelin was easy. It had always been easy. She was his best friend - his best work friend, anyways. Then again, in adulthood, he supposed a work friend was just as good as an everyday non-work friend.

They ate and talked about anything and everything. He already knew most things about Aelin, seeing as she talked his ear off every day between the hours of nine and five, but they got into the deeper stuff the longer the night went on. Once they were finished eating and on their second glasses of wine, Rowan had heard all about her childhood and her parents that had left her far too soon. Rowan told her about the deaths of his own parents and how he had been on his own since seventeen, working his way up the ladder in their corporation - slowly but surely.

Rowan hadn’t even realized that at some point during their conversation, they had become so close that they sat with their legs touching, Rowan’s arm draped around her shoulder. He traced her arm, her warm skin just beneath the sleeve of her stunning dress. Her cheeks were tinged with pink, thanks to the wine, and her eyes bright as she looked up at him and said, “You surprise me.”

Rowan chuckled as he looked down at her. “How?”

She shrugged, and he found the gesture adorable. “You used to play the drums in a punk rock band but also read Emily Dickinson. You’re a living contradiction.”

Rowan’s lips quirked. “And that’s a bad thing?”

“No,” Aelin said, a hand sliding over his thigh. “Not at all.”

She stared at him, their eyes never breaking, and Rowan took that as a hint. Now was his chance.

He leaned down and kissed her. It was soft, tentative, but the second she responded, Rowan became undone. Aelin set her wine glass on the coffee table before wrapping her arms around his neck and finding his mouth, yet again.

Rowan dragged her on to his lap, needing to be as close to her as possible. She opened her legs, straddling him, as her tongue pushed its way between his lips.

He couldn’t help but groan quietly into her mouth as he kissed her again and again.

He had his boundaries. He wouldn’t sleep with her on a first date - even if he had known her for years. No, he’d save that for another time. Right now, this simplicity was enough.

Although he was pissed about the snow storm only hours before, he was sure as hell grateful for it now as he pulled Aelin down onto the couch and got lost in her kiss.

#rowaelin #aelin x rowan #fanfic #fanfiction #oneshot #Drabble #christmas fanfics #christmas prompts #tog #throne of glass fanfic #throne of glass series #throne of glass fanfiction #sjm fanfiction #modern au #part 2 #au #Rowan #Aelin #tara answers prompts #fluff