#jerry schilling headcanons

[floralcyanide]

Jerry Schilling Dad Headcanons

as requested here!

>> eeeee this was so fun to do!! @austin-butlers-gf and I were talking about Jerry as a dad and we were like “yeah he’s a girl dad” so this is primarily based on Jerry and you having a daughter. Elvis, Steve, and Austin (maybe more idk yet) are coming soon 😎 also I can't believe I've posted so much this week tbh it's been a while since I've posted so much, I'm happy with everything I've put out!!

masterlist || add yourself to the taglist HERE!

ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴄᴏᴘʏ, ʀᴇᴘʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴇ, ᴏʀ ᴄʟᴀɪᴍ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜʀs ᴏɴ ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ, ᴀᴏ3, ᴡᴀᴛᴛᴘᴀᴅ, ᴏʀ ᴀɴʏ ᴡᴇʙsɪᴛᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴍɪssɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ᴜsᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋs ɪɴ ᴀɪ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀs ᴏʀ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀʀᴛɪғɪᴄɪᴀʟ ɪɴᴛᴇʟʟɪɢᴇɴᴄᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴀʏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴜsᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋs ᴛᴏ sᴇʟʟ ғᴏʀ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴏᴡɴ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛɪᴏɴ

❁ Jerry is such a girl dad, he gives off those vibes to me

❁ when it’s time to find out the gender of the baby, he cries when you’re told it’s a girl

❁ he is constantly talking to your belly whenever he possibly can

❁ Jerry throws the most spectacular baby shower and invites everyone. literally everyone. and even Elvis makes an appearance.

❁ when your daughter is ready to arrive, Jerry helps deliver her 

❁ Jerry is an emotional mess when your daughter is born, and you’ve never seen him so happy before, not even on your wedding day, but it comes pretty close.

❁ your daughter has Jerry’s eyes and nose, and it looks like he spit her out himself

❁ okay but he loves dressing her up in cute outfits. you swear he enjoys having a daughter more than you do.

❁ when your daughter becomes a toddler, he’s the most patient guy in the world

❁ surprisingly, your daughter grows into kindergarten age without any issues. she’s relatively tame and only says what she deems important, just like Jerry

❁ your daughter and Lisa-Marie are roughly the same age, so they spend a lot of time together growing up

❁ he totally lets them put makeup on him, mess with his hair, and for sure lets them paint his nails when Lisa-Marie comes over to stay the night

❁ when your daughter gets older and becomes a teenager, Jerry becomes even more protective 

❁ he knows his limits though, and knows when to back off and give her space

❁ when she brings a boy home for the first time, Jerry tries not to freak out or seem nervous, but he doesn’t want his little girl to grow up

❁ when your daughter goes off to college, Jerry is just as emotional as the day she was born

❁ when your daughter brings the guy she thinks she’s gonna marry home to meet the family, Jerry is hesitant to shake his hand at first

❁ Jerry doesn’t wanna accept the fact she’s a grown woman now and could possibly be having a family of her own soon

❁ please don’t get me started on grandpa Jerry because it’s a whole other world with his grandbabies 

❁ Jerry is just as emotional walking your daughter down the aisle as he was the day she was born

❁ he makes a big speech at the wedding, talking about fond memories and about how much he loves his little girl, who isn’t so little anymore

taglist: @cozacorner @onxlymnsn @anangelwhodidntfall @butlersluvbot @jolovesfandoms @austinbutler17 @slutforblueeyes @misspygmypie @mamaspresley @mirandastuckinthe80s @bobbykennedyfan @sodonebruh @lizzymizzy-blogg @defnotreadingfanfics12 @izzvoid @homebodybirkin2003 @thatonemoviefan @sarachacha @kittenlittle24 @alltheflowerstomav @tubble-wubble @kaycinema @annamarie16 @adoreyouusugar @apparently-sunshine-deactivated @amiets2 @mrs-butler @mesbouquins @ari-nicole @austin-butlers-gf @feral4austinbutler @inlovewithchrisevans @shynovelist @mommy-maia @karamelcoveredolicity @thtguyovrthere @starry-night-20 @coldonexx @hangmanswhorey @shelbysbitchh @mavericksicybabe @coco-bitch @bobthefishiesworld @emmymaehereeeeee @myguiltypleasures21 @rainydayz101 @finelineskies @cryingabtab @kaitaesupremacy  @specialk6802 @ash-omalley

[headfullofpresley]

Elvis Presley Masterlist

↠ this masterlist includes all my writing for elvis aaron presley. most of my writing is NOT suitable for minors, so if you’re under 18, please kindly move along. all of my stories are afab!reader, but other than that, my writing is for everyone - reader’s skin/hair/eye color or body types are never mentioned in my works unless stated beforehand.

do not copy, repost, modify or translate any of my writing, thank you! 

scroll down to the bottom of this post to read what topics i will not write about!

☁️ - fluff

♡ - smut

💀 - angst

🩸 - supernatural/gore

♫ - based on songs

Started: 9/22/22

Updated: 02/24/23

Series

↠ You And Me, Kid | 🩸 ♡ 💀 | Series, ongoing | Part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8, part 9, part 10, part 11, part 12, part 13, part 14

↳ Your wish is finally granted when the man you’ve been sleeping with gifts you immortality. This is all you ever wanted, but are you strong enough to fight the urges that come along with it? | ft. Jerry Schilling | inspired by The Vampire Diaries and The Originals | SLOW UPDATES!!

↠ Oceans Apart | 💀 ♡ ☁️ | Series, ongoing | Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6

↳ After three years of living in Memphis with your parents, you and your first serious boyfriend are forced to seperate ways. Will you and Elvis find your way back to each other? | European!reader, Colonel’s niece!reader

Mini series

↠ Good Rockin' Tonight | ♡ 💀 | Part 2, Part 3

↳ What started out as a night spend together with America's heartthrob turns into something much more difficult, but who said love was ever easy?

Headcanons

Dating 50s!Elvis

A Graceland Christmas Eve

New Year's Eve with Elvis

Elvis and Caroline

Witch!Elvis

One shots

↠ Puppet On A String | 💀 ♫ | One shot

↳ Being young and in love, you’ll do anything to keep the man you love in your life. Even if that means losing yourself along the way | Inspired by Taylor Swift’s Dear John

↠ Try It Out | ♡ | One shot

↳ You and Elvis are young lovers in the 1950′s, often having to sneak out of the house due to your parents not being fond of him. As any young couple, you two like to experiment; his pink Cadillac your favorite place to do so

↠ Strawberry Milkshake | ♡ | One shot

↳ You and Elvis are the it-couple of Hollywood these days and when you two get bored behind the gates of your Beverly Hills home, you go out to seek adventure in public | Actress!reader

↠ Little Sister | ♡ 💀 ☁️  ♫ | One shot

↳ Your older sister invites you to stay with her and her boyfriend in Hawaii during your summer break; the boyfriend that you’ve been crushing on ever since he was introduced to the family. Seems like you hadn’t been the only one carrying those feelings | club!singer Elvis | inspired by Elvis Presley’s Little Sister

↠ Good Boy | ♡ | One shot

↳  While on military leave, Elvis discovers a whole new side of himself with the help of a pretty little showgirl in Paris | sub!Elvis, soft dom!reader

↠ Body and Soul | ♡ 💀 ☁️  ♫ | One shot

↳  When the demons inside of your head try to drag you down, Elvis is there to lift you back up | plus size!reader | inspired by Ariana Grande’s pov

↠ Love Bites | ♡ 🩸 | One shot

↳  You hated moving from the big city to the small pictersque town that is Mystic Falls, until two gorgeous men volunteer to make you feel right at home | ft. Damon Salvatore | vampire!Elvis

↠ Lavender Haze | ♡ ☁️ | One shot

↳  You had never been one to use dating apps, preferring to meet someone out in the real world but when your best friend signs you up for Tinder, your curiosity gets the best of you. You never expected that the first date you’d go on was going to last a little longer than just one night | modern!Elvis

↠ First Man | ☁️ ♫ | One shot

↳  One day, little girls will grow up but no matter how big they get, their father will always be the one who hung the moon and stars | Dad!Elvis, daughter!reader

↠ Ruin Me | ♡ | One shot

↳ You knew it was wrong. He was your father’s friend and fifteen years older, but you always got what you wanted and this time, you had your sights set on him

↠ To The Grave | 💀 | One shot

↳ Your brother doesn't like you dating around in general, but he has a particularly bad feeling about the guy from work who takes you to the Memphis fair | brother!Elvis

↠ Paper Rings | ☁️ ♡ | One shot

↳ Your boyfriend surprises you with tickets to a Taylor Swift show. And then some | modern!Elvis

↠ When Two Worlds Collide | 💀 ♡ | One shot

↳ In times of heartache and war, you never expected to fall in love. Especially not with a man that was supposed to be the enemy

↠ Take Me Home | ♡ 💀 | One shot

↳ After finding out the masked hero you've been crushing on is your best friend, you realise it was never Spiderman that you've been in love with | Spiderman!Elvis

↠ Always Here | 💀 ☁️ | One shot

↳ After doing Vogue's “Life in Looks” and reminiscing on your life with Elvis and Caroline, your late husband makes sure you and your daughter know he's still around

↠ Show Me Your Teeth |🩸♡ | One shot

↳ Leaving Hungary behind to start a new life, you find yourself in a world that you thought never existed. The least thing you expected was to fall in love with a creature that had the reputation to be loveless.

↠ Midnight Kiss | ☁️ | One shot

↳ What better way than to ring in the new year with a kiss from a stranger?

↠ We'll Be Alright |🩸☁️ | One shot

↳ You and Elvis were complete opposites and far from friends, but sometimes death brings people closer together.

↠ Fight For Us | 💀 | One shot

↳ After your husband breaks both your trust and heart, you can't see him as the person you had always known anymore and decide to put an end to your long lasting marriage.

↠ Pretty Girls | ♡ | ft. Ann-Margret

↳ Elvis is back in LA after spending his days off in Memphis and you and your girlfriend happily welcome him home.

Requests

↠ Late Night Lovin’ | ♡ | One shot

↳ You and Elvis are still in the early stages of your relationship, missing each other every second that is spend apart. When he has a show 800 miles away, he calls you the night before and the conversation quickly turns into a little more action rather than words

↠ Little Bird | ☁️ | One shot

↳ Your daughter is stressed on the morning of her first piano recital; all she needed was her father to show her she had nothing to worry about | dad!Elvis

↠ God Given | ☁️ 💀 | One shot

↳ You’ve been suffering from Postpartum anxiety after giving birth to your daughter; luckily, your husband is there to help you every step of the way | dad!Elvis

↠ Cold Without You | ☁️ ♡ | One shot

↳ Maybe waking up early on a Saturday isn’t so bad after all.

↠ Bubble Wrap | ☁️ | One shot

↳ When Elvis finds out you’re pregnant, he makes it his mission to baby-proof every piece of furniture in the house | 1950s!Elvis

↠ Saturdays at Graceland | ☁️ |  One shot

↳ While giving Elvis a haircut, your daughter is more than willing to assist the way she knows best | dad!Elvis

↠ Happy fuckin’ Birthday | ♡ | One shot | Part 2 (Final)

↳ Elvis is needy during his birthday dinner and wants your attention, not caring about anyone else in the room | sub!Elvis, 50s!Elvis

↠ Mommy's Kissing Santa Claus | ☁️ ♡ | One shot

↳ Caroline considers Santa to be her own personal superhero, but she isn't too happy about catching him kissing you. Because no matter what, her Daddy will always be number one | dad!Elvis

↠ More Than Friends | ☁️ ♡ | One shot

↳ You and Elvis have been best friends since birth. You have been each others' first for pretty much everything so you couldn't picture yourself losing your virginity to anyone else | 50s!Elvis

↠ Just Us Three | ♡ | One shot

↳ It wasn't the first time you played Truth or Dare while intoxicated with your two closest friends, but things had never gone this far | ft. Scotty Moore

↠ The Beauty and The Damned |🩸♡ | One shot

↳ After months of dating, your vampire boyfriend finally gives you what you want

Elvis Presley’s movie characters

Mike Edwards | It Happened At The World’s Fair

↠ Take Me To The Fair | ☁️ ♡ | One shot

↳  Sue-Lin Ling will do anything to get her babysitter and her new best friend she meets at Seattle’s World Fair together. Even if it means sleeping without her beloved red friend for one night.

Chadwick Gates | Blue Hawaii

↠ Under the Hawaiian Sun | ♡ 💀 ☁️ | Part two coming .. someday.

↳  You and Chadwick have been best friends ever since you could remember but after the two of you added some benefits to the relationship, neither of you have the guts to confess your true feelings.

Vince Everett | Jailhouse Rock

↠Sinful Memories | ♡ | One shot

↳ You and your boyfriend of two years decide to spice things up in the bedroom because it's raining and what else is there to do other than making a little intimate amateur video?

Headcanons

Joe Lightcloud | Stay Away, Joe

i am a pretty open minded person and i will write about most things, but here are some things i will not write about:

Gladys Presley’s death (it may get mentioned in a fic, but not written out in detail)

Elvis' death, unless it's supernatural or stated beforehand.

Heavy drug use (some of my fics may include recreational drug use, such as smoking weed and maybe the use of other softer drugs, but that’s about it)

Abortion and miscarriage (i am pro-choice, but seeing as most of my fics take place in the 50s/60s/70s... you catch my drift?)

Non consensual sex, etc.

little Elvis/age regression. no judgement here, it's just not my cup of tea!

my requests are always open, though it might take some time for me to finish them!

IF YOU MADE IT THIS FAR; thank you, my darlin’! i love and appreciate you more than you know. don’t be shy to comment on my stories or shoot me a message! i love reading all of your comments and talking to y’all!

© headfullofpresley

[whatstruthgottodowithit]

Trading One Heartbreak For Another

Fandom: Actor RPF, American Musician, Elvis Movie

Pairing: Elvis Presley x Female Reader

Characters: Elvis Presley, Female Reader, Lisa Marie Presley, Jerry Schilling, Vester Presley

Word Count: 3192 // Rating: Teen & Up

Summary:  But my darling is missing his Daddy, And he'll always have me to blame

Tags/ Warnings: My Writing, Halloween Challenge, Writing Challenge, Songfics, Divorce, Marriage, Established Relationship, Reader is Lisa Marie’s Mom, Can Be Priscilla if You Want, Kisses, Separation, Break Ups, Divorcing Parents, Broken Home, Horses, Uncle Jerry is so Cute, Graceland, Flashbacks, Heartbreak, Heartache, Angst, Trading One Heartbreak For Another // Pistol Annies

Notes:  This is part of my writing Challenge for Halloween 2022. All fics are based off of songs I love. The aim is to write one fic a day for 15 days straight. I’m doing a similar thing for Christmas but they will all be headcanons [requests welcome for that] Enjoy x  

15 DAYS OF SONGFICS FOR HALLOWEEN (OCT 15TH - OCT 31ST)

‘Go right through,’ Vester said into the intercom as the gates swung slowly open. I drove slowly forward. As I pulled up to the front of the house, amid the array of cars sitting outside, I could hear Lisa babbling in the back seat which made me happy and sad at the same time. I was happy she was so excited to be coming home but it gave me a twinge of guilt too. She was still so young and this was the first time in an age that she had been her happy chatty self.

I pulled over and climbed out, pulling her from the back seat so we could walk up to the front door which swung open the moment we were on the porch, revealing Jerry. I smiled at him and he returned it though I could see the sadness and pity in his eyes.

'Hey,’ he said, stepping aside so I could step in, my hand in Lisa’s. 'Uncle Jerry!’ she said, throwing herself at him. He chuckled and bent down so he could hug her. 'Hey kiddo,’ he chuckled as she wrapped her little arms around his neck. 'I’m staying here tonight with Daddy,’ she said with a big smile on her face. My heart panged again. 'I know,’ Jerry said with the same enthusiasm. 'Where is he?’ she asked looking around for him. 'I said ten,’ I said checking my watch. It was bang on. 'He’s upstairs,’ Jerry said, 'late night.’

My mouth fell into a tight line with annoyance. We had arranged for him to be here as soon as Lisa stepped through the door. I was going to leave her here for the night but there were a few things I needed to straighten out first. Jerry seemed to notice my annoyance and jumped out in front of it, always the bodyguard.

'He’ll be right down I’m sure,’ he said. 'I bet,’ I said bitterly, 'alone?’ 'Were you having a sleepover?’ Lisa asked excitedly, 'I am. Daddy and me are going to watch movies.’ 'I know your Daddy told me! I gotta say you got me mighty jealous,’ he chuckled, nudging her cheek with his knuckle. 'Well you can stay over too Uncle Jerry,’ she said rolling her eyes, 'ooh Mama. You and Jerry should sleep over too! We can all watch movies!’ 'Oh, um,’ I said nervously. I felt tears sting my eyes as Jerry looked up at me along with Lisa, except where a smile was on her face sympathy was plastered all over his. This had been the problem we’d been having. She didn’t get it. She was still too young. She didn’t understand why we lived somewhere else now. Or why her Daddy now lived in our old house all alone. She didn’t understand that we now had to arrange a day for her Daddy to see her when she used to be able to walk across the hall. Thankfully, before I had to answer a voice echoed out from behind us and Mary, our housekeeper, stood watching us.

'Miss Lisa that is never you!’ she smiled as Lisa ran to her with her arms open. 'Miss Mary!’ she giggled as the older woman picked her up and slung her on her hip as if it were nothing. 'I swear you were never that tall the last time I saw you!’ 'She grows an inch a day I swear,’ I smiled. 'Well how about we keep that up with some cookies? I was just going to bake some,’ she said looking at me, 'if that’s okay?’ 'Of course,’ I said. She nodded and led Lisa, who had broken into a babbling story, into the kitchen. As they disappeared I sighed and looked at Jerry and then upstairs. I thought about the last time I had been here.

'So that’s it? The end? Just like that?’ Elvis said. He was standing at the top of the stairs looking down at me. His face was crumpled in pain and I could tell he was trying not to cry. Tears glinted off of his lower lids threatening to spill over any moment. 'The end has been coming for a long time now you and I both know that,’ I said watching him from where I was standing midway down the stairs. 'So what? You’re just gonna take off? Split up our family? Take Lisa away from me?’ he asked. I was down at the bottom now and he was close behind following me. I whipped around at his words. 'Don’t,’ I said with a sneer, 'don’t you dare blame this on me! I am doing this for Lisa! She deserves two happy parents and right now neither of us are anywhere near that.’ 'Do you still love me?’ he asked. The anger was gone from his voice now, replaced by utter heartache. 'Elvis,’ I said, tears spilling over and down my face. 'Do you love me?’ he asked, pulling me to him. I daren’t look him in the eye. I knew if I did I would crumble. That he’d talk me around and we’d be doing this dance again in a few months or less. 'You know I do,’ I said wiping my face with the back of my hand, 'but it’s not enough.’ 'Isn’t it?’ he said, dropping to his knees and pulling me into him as he sobbed against my torso. I was streaming tears by now but I was biting my lip, trying to keep my sobs inside. Then, I bent down in front of him. He looked at me as I wiped his face silently, 'it should be. It was…for a long time it was enough. But I deserve better Elvis. You deserve better. Our little girl deserves better.’ 'You and Lisa are the most important thing in my life,’ he said. I wanted to laugh but not as much as I wanted to believe him.

This decision hadn’t come out of the blue. It had come after years of arguments, infidelity and unhappiness. It had come after I’d yet again been forced to hear him complain about how unfair his life was. After I had night after night alone whilst he was god knows where. Or worse, laying in bed beside him feeling just as alone.

'We’ll be back together one day,’ he said, 'you’ll see.’ 'I hope you’re right,’ I said with a sniffle, 'but today you gotta let me go.’

He nodded and I slipped out of his grasp, grabbed my bag and headed out the door.

'Want a drink?’ Jerry asked, pulling me from my thoughts. I nodded and the pair of us headed out to the back porch. Jerry called in the kitchen where Lisa was sitting on the counter talking Mary’s ear off as she started weighing out ingredients for cookies. I took myself outside and sat down, listening to the wind as it blew gently through the garden. He appeared a moment later, a rootbeer in each hand, and handed me my drink. I cracked it open and took a small sip as he sat down beside me. We sat in silence for a moment before he finally spoke.

'How are you doing?’ he asked, looking at me. I could feel his gaze burning into me but I refused to look up, worrying it would set me off crying. 'Good,’ I said weakly but when I did look up he raised an eyebrow, 'well, surviving.’ 'Yeah there’s been a lot of that around here at the minute,’ he said instinctively checking behind him to make sure he wasn’t heard. I nodded. When Elvis and I had talked it had mostly been about Lisa. Or small talk. I hadn’t dared ask but now the words were falling out of my mouth before I could stop them.

'How is he?’ I asked, biting my lip. 'A wreck,’ Jerry said honestly. 'I was scared you were going to say that,’ I said sadly. He smiled weakly at me and shrugged, 'no point in lying.’ 'No,’ I said, 'I guess not.’ 'To be honest, we’ve not seen much of him,’ he said, 'he’s stayed put in his room. That first day we were worried he’d done something stupid-’ 'He hasn’t right?’ I asked nervously. 'No, no, nothing like that…I don’t think he would,’ he said, 'he just misses you.’ 'He’s not the only one,’ I sighed. Jerry said nothing but raised his eyebrow for me to continue, 'Lisa.’ 'Ah, how’s she doing?’ 'Not so good,’ I sighed, 'she doesn’t understand…I’ve tried explaining but-’ 'She’s a kid,’ he said. 'Yeah,’ I replied sadly. We fell quiet for a moment and he looked out into the garden and took a sip of his drink, fiddling with the label on it for a moment before he said, 'do you not think you guys could work it out?’ 'Jer,’ I sighed. 'I mean he loves you Y/N,’ he said, 'more than anyone else. I know that. You must know that.’ 'I do,’ I admitted. I was fiddling with my own bottle now trying to ignore the feeling in my chest that felt as though someone was squeezing my heart through my ribcage.

'I mean this…separation or whatever it doesn’t have to be forever right,’ he said. 'No it doesn’t,’ I said, 'and maybe one day we’ll be back like we were but right now…right now I just don’t see that happening.’ 'Maybe if you both-’ 'What stopped fighting? If he stopped sleeping around? If he stopped taking the pills? That’s a lot of ifs Jer,’ I sighed. 'Yeah, I suppose,’ he said, 'I just hate seeing the pair of you unhappy.’ 'I do too,’ I said, placing my hand on his. 'And Lisa…he misses her so much,’ he said with a sad smile. 'I know,’ I said, swallowing thickly, 'she misses him too. I don’t think she’s slept a night in her new room. She just lays in bed with me and cries until she tuckers herself out and falls asleep. Which makes me just want to cry. Or scream. Or get black-out drunk until I can’t feel any of it. But I know it’s the right thing to do. I know that us being together like we are now is no good and I know logically that one day she’ll understand but I just feel like right now she hates me. Like everyone hates me.’ 'She doesn’t hate you,’ Jerry said.

I dropped my gaze as I started to cry. He sat there for a moment, unsure of what to do and then he placed an arm around my shoulder. I couldn’t believe I’d said it. All the things I’d been lying in bed at night thinking about had finally come out of my mouth for the first time and if I were honest, it felt good.

I’d tried to keep myself together for Lisa. I’d tried to make our new home as cosy and welcoming as the old one. She and Elvis had spoken on the phone a couple of times, which to be honest was an improvement. He was trying. And maybe if he continued to try, if he proved that we were what he wanted, maybe we’d manage to figure it out. Though in the back of my mind I was careful to remind myself that he had the habit of doing what was easy rather than what was right.

'Sure feels like I’m the villain here,’ I admitted. 'You’re not the villain,’ a dark gravelly voice said from beside us. As Jerry slipped his arm from around me I looked to find Elvis standing on the porch, Lisa on his hip. Suddenly that heart-crushing feeling came back a little. He was wearing an understated look for him. Simple black pants and a black shirt. But I’d always loved him in all black. His hair was longer than it had been in a while, definitely due for a trim and though he looked a little washed out and tired I had to admit he still looked as handsome as the day we married. Lisa was nestled into the crook of his neck, her dress ruched her up around her thighs from where he was holding her. She looked the most content I’d seen her in weeks.

'Hey kiddo,’ Jerry said standing up, 'you wanna come and see the horses with me?’ 'I want Daddy to come,’ she whined. That had been her go-to mood for some time now. 'I’ll be there in a minute honey,’ he said, sweeping her blonde locks off of her face as he stroked her cheek gently, 'I just wanna speak to Mama for a minute.’

She pouted a little and then nodded allowing herself to be put down. She took Jerry’s hand in an instant and the two started walking out towards the field of horses on the edge of the garden. Elvis slid into the chair beside me watching me intently. I looked away, my face feeling hot as his blue eyes roved over every inch of it. I looked out towards Lisa who was giggling away at whatever she and Jerry were talking about.

'What do you wanna talk about?’ I asked. 'You look good,’ he said at the same time. We caught each other’s eye and after a beat, we both laughed. A genuine, real laugh, 'it sounds good to hear you laugh.’ 'Feels like it’s been forever,’ I admitted. 'I know,’ he said sadly, 'how have you been?’ 'Okay,’ I admitted he looked at me prompting me to continue, 'worried about Lisa… worried about you.’ 'How is she?’ he asked. 'Not so good,’ I said, 'she misses you…we both do.’ 'I miss you both too,’ he said with a sad smile, 'but I’ve been doing a lot of thinking…’

He trailed off looking out towards where Lisa was. Jerry was holding her up with one arm whilst the other clung to a bag of carrots that had always been stashed out by the fence. She was feeding them as they came up to her one by one, so fearless and brave. How I needed to be. I turned so I could watch him carefully, hanging onto every word he said. He turned and looked at me.

‘I know you were right,’ he said. ‘Elvis,’ I said sadly though I didn’t know why. I didn’t know if I wanted to hear whatever he was going to say. I was scared. Even as a kid Lisa was braver than me. ‘And however you want to play this that’s what we’ll do.’ ‘Thank you,’ I said placing my hand on his. ‘If you want a proper schedule for Lisa we can work something out. I mean if I tell the boys they can only arrange things around her they’ll do it. Or if you want to we can play it by ear. I know you’ve got your own stuff,’ he said nervously. I nodded, ‘I’m sure we’ll find the way we want it…might just need a bit of trial and error.’ ‘And I don’t want you to worry about money I mean if we’re going down the…legal route. I don’t want you to-’ ‘Rinse you for all you have?’ I said with a chuckle. Elvis laughed as I continued, ‘you know I’d never do that right?’ ‘I know, I know but you know whatever you need I’ll give you. You’ll always be taken care of. Both of you,’ he said. ‘I know,’ I said. ‘And,’ he said with a heavy sigh looking at me his piercing blue eyes searching my face, ‘and if you figure out what you want and, well, it’s not me I’ll not stand in the way of anything. I want you to be happy. Even if it means you and someone else.’ ‘Elvis,’ I said sadly. I hadn’t even considered it. Another relationship was the last thing on my mind. I had enough to worry about with Lisa and the separation. And if I was being honest with myself at this moment in time I couldn’t see myself with anyone. My leaving wasn’t because I didn’t love him anymore. If anything it was because I loved him more than anything and carrying on like this was destroying me.

‘Don’t,’ he said quietly, ‘don’t tell me it’ll never happen. I’m not stupid y’know. I mean I know you didn’t leave me for someone but I’m not naive enough to think that you might find someone who can give you what I can’t. And I’m not gonna lie. I don’t think I’ll ever be happy about it but I want what’s best for you. For Lisa.’ ‘That’s all I want too,’ I said. He nodded as he leaned in towards me. ‘But can I tell you one thing,’ he said, I nodded, ‘I will always love you. You’re it for me Y/N. And if it’s not meant to be… I just want you to know that.’

I nodded clasping my hand over his. He held it tightly as silent tears started spilling over down my face. He looked sad but he didn’t cry instead he looked away from me. Before I could allow myself to get any sadder Lisa came running full pelt towards us. She clambered up onto his knee as I quickly wiped my eyes, trying to hide that I had been crying. Jerry appeared on the porch seconds later looking a little winded at chasing her.

‘Daddy guess what!?’ she said excitedly. ‘Jerry lets you run riot,’ Elvis smirked looking at his friend. ‘Hey, she’s a quick little thing,’ he said, ‘I looked away for two seconds.’ ‘Sheba had a baby horse!’ she giggled, ‘Jerry said it’s in the barn and it’s bigger than me!’ ‘Perfect size for her to ride right EP?’ Jerry said as she smiled widely at him. ‘Can we go see it?’ she asked excitedly bouncing up and down with this new information. ‘Sure honey,’ he said sliding her off his knee so he could stand up. ‘Mama are you coming too?’ she asked and I nodded standing up. She ran ahead down towards the barn and Jerry took off after her before she got into trouble.

As I stood Elvis looked at me and then leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead. I didn’t move. I didn’t hold him in my arms. I just allowed him to kiss me, his large hands on either side of my face before he walked off following where Lisa was going. I took a moment to compose myself.

I wanted to hate him. It would’ve been easier to hate him. But I didn’t. It was because I loved him so much I had to do this. Except now the heartbreak of staying with him was now the heartbreak of being apart.

I don’t have to lay beside you feeling so alone But my baby is crying for his Daddy And asking when he’s coming home

I’m trading one heartbreak for another One kind of pain for a different kind of pain And I wonder if this is gonna hurt even more I’m finally alive but it’s killing who I’m living for

[whatstruthgottodowithit]

He’ll Have To Go

Fandom: RPF, American Actor, American Musician

Pairing: Elvis Presley x Female Reader

Characters: Elvis Presely, Female Reader, Original Male Character, Jerry Schilling

Word Count: 2555 // Rating: Mature

Summary: Should I hang up, or will you tell him he'll have to go?

Tags/ Warnings: My Writing, Halloween Challenge, Writing Challenge, Songfics, Toxic Relationship, Cheating, Heartache, Angst, Love, Established Relationship, Vegas Era, 70s Elvis, Phone Sex, ?Semi-Public Phone Sex, Masturbation, Readers Outfit Is Inspired By The Gorgeous Olivia [Because Search Engines Don’t Give Any Bangin Outfits cba], Song Fic, Vegas Hotels, Pictured Caesar’s Palace For The Hotel, Elvis Presley// He’ll Have to Go

Notes:  This is part of my writing Challenge for Halloween 2022. All fics are based off of songs I love. The aim is to write one fic a day for 15 days straight. I’m doing a similar thing for Christmas but they will all be headcanons [requests welcome for that] Enjoy x

15 DAYS OF SONGFICS FOR HALLOWEEN (OCT 15TH - OCT 31ST)

‘Excuse me are you miss Y/L/N?’ the waiter said as he appeared at our table. I felt the gaze of everyone at the table fall on me but I ignored them, instead looking at the young man who was waiting for my answer. ‘Yes that’s me,’ I said. ‘There’s a phone call for you in the lobby,’ he said. ‘Oh,’ I said turning to my friends, ‘I’ll be back in a minute.’

There was a chime of responses as I grabbed my purse and shimmied out of the booth so I could follow the boy through the large showroom and out through the doors to the lobby. He led me to a phone bank, pointing at one which had the receiver laying on the wooden shelf below.

‘Thank you,’ I said with a smile and he nodded before he walked across the room and through another set of double doors that led into the bar. I placed my purse on the wooden shelf and then picked up the receiver and put it to my ear, nervous as to who might have gone through the effort to get a hold of me.

‘Hello,’ I said. ‘Y/N?’ a dark sultry voice replied. Elvis. I sighed a little with relief. At least it wasn’t bad news. Though my relief was quickly replaced by irritation. ‘It’s me,’ I said rather curtly. ‘You sure are a hard girl to track down you know that?’ he said with a small laugh. I could picture the smirk on his face. ‘Well maybe that’s because I didn’t want to be found,’ I said. ‘Is that right?’ he asked. ‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘Well I was under the impression you’d be at my show tonight,’ he replied. ‘Oh, I was,’ I said the anger that had been festering inside me since early this evening returning full throttle, ‘I was there early enough to see some pretty young thing leaving your hotel suite.’ ‘Baby-‘ ‘Don't baby me, Elvis. What? What are you going to say? It’s not what it looks like? She’s just a friend? I’m crazy?’ I said tears stinging my eyes. Elvis sighed deeply.

‘I’m not gonna say any of that,’ he said. ‘You don’t need to. I’ve heard it all before remember?’ I sighed, ‘how did you find me anyway?’ ‘Red,’ he said, ‘I was worried when you didn’t show up…asked him to go out and look for ya.’

As I went to respond there was a clatter behind me and I turned around to find Ron, my date, barrelling through the double doors. He spotted me immediately and came toward me.

‘Are you nearly done Y/N?’ he asked, ‘the shows about to start any minute.’ ‘Who’s that?’ I heard Elvis murmur though the phone was far enough away from my ear it was barely audible. ‘I’ll be through in a minute,’ I said mustering a smile. ‘Well don’t be too long ya hear,’ he said, ‘you’re not gonna wanna miss this.’

And with that, he disappeared back through the double doors. I glanced around the large open room. The lobby was deserted apart from me and a coat check attendant who seemed to be so engrossed in the magazine they were reading they never even looked up as Ron entered and exited. As I placed the handset back to my ear I heard Elvis’ voice repeat his question though now there was a hard edge to it, ‘who was that?’ ‘A friend,’ I said simply. ‘What kind of friend?’ he said his voice laced with accusation. He was irked and I was enjoying it. ‘A new one,’ I said simply, ‘seeing that girl at your suite got me real shook up. So I decided to blow off some steam in the casino. Well you know me I’m awful at gamblin’ but Ron helped me out, his family owns one of the casinos on the strip so he knows what he’s doing. Even said he’d take me to the best show in town here at Caesars.’ ‘Is that right?’ he said. It seemed an innocent question but I knew he would be bubbling with jealousy. See that was the problem with him. He could have a different woman every night, parade them around and never expect any of them to get jealous of the other. But if he saw you with another man? All bets were off.

I didn’t know why I was goading him. Maybe I liked the way it hurt him to know that I could land on my feet without him. Maybe it was the way my heart beat a little quicker knowing he cared about me. Or that the idea of me with another man drove him wild.

‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘Well, that’s unfortunate,’ he said, amusement returning to his tone. He was baiting me. Begging me to yield to him. ‘Why’s that?’ I said, cursing inwardly at my lack of willpower. ‘Because I’m up in my suite,’ he said, ‘laying on my bed thinking about you. I missed you y’know. Out there on that stage. Every time those house lights came up I was looking for you.’ ‘Elvis,’ I sighed feeling my resolve crumble. ‘Now, I gotta be back on stage soon,’ he said, ‘but that doesn’t mean we can’t pretend we’re all alone right now.’ ‘I don’t know EP,’ I said scanning the room again. It was still deserted but the way my skin tingled made me sure that if anyone did come in they’d know exactly what I was doing. ‘Aw come on baby,’ he murmured, ‘put those sweet lips closer to the phone and we can pretend it’s just you and me.’ ‘And get kicked out of this lobby for lewd behaviour?’ I giggled. ‘Now I never said nuthin about being dirty did I, pretty girl?’ he chuckled, ‘but if you’re so inclined.’ ‘EP,’ I said as I twiddled the phone cord around my finger nervously. As I did the door burst open again and Ron appeared looking more frantic than before.

‘Y/N, I was beginning to think you’d run off on me,’ he said coming towards me, ‘what’s taking so long?’ ‘Sorry Ron,’ I said, ‘I’ll be in in a minute.’ ‘Tell him he’ll have to go,’ I heard Elvis say through the receiver, that hard edge back in his voice. ‘Can’t it wait?’ Ron said, his hands coming to his hips as he looked at me imploringly. I should’ve hung up the phone. I should’ve hung up a long time before now. This man was nice. Kind. When I’d been all maudlin and angry playing blackjack in that casino he’d cheered me up and made me laugh. He invited me for dinner. He made me forget about Elvis. I should’ve followed him into that room.

‘I’m sorry,’ I said, ‘my friend needs me…girl stuff.’ ‘Well try not to be too long okay?’ he said with a sad smile. I nodded meekly and watched as he turned and disappeared back into the showroom. I sighed turning back to the phone.

‘I can’t believe you made me do that,’ I sighed though I knew it wasn’t entirely his fault. ‘You stayed cos you love me,’ he mumbled, ‘pay no mind about him darlin’. Tell me something.’ ‘What?’ I asked. ‘What are you wearing?’ he mused. ‘Elvis,’ I said, heat creeping up on my cheeks immediately. ‘C’mon,’ he purred, ‘it’s just you and me remember.’

I took another look around the room, making sure I was completely alone. ‘That pink dress I got the other day,’ I said. ‘The sparkly one?’ he asked. ‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘Bet you look divine,’ he mused breathily. ‘How about you, huh?’ I giggled, ‘you still in that ol sweaty jumpsuit?’ ‘Nah,’ he chuckled, ‘I showered after the show. I’ve just got a towel on now.’ ‘Is that right?’ I mused, ‘creating yourself a little tent?’ ‘Ain’t nothing about me lil honey,’ he purred making me squirm uncomfortably as heat pooled in my lower belly. ‘So,’ I smirked, ‘now you tell me something.’ ‘What’s that mama?’ ‘If I were there…what would we be doing?’ I mused. He cleared his throat and I could hear the sound of the mattress springs underneath him as he shifted his weight.

‘Well, for starters we’d get rid of that tight lil number you have on,’ he said throatily. ‘Yeah?’ I said. He mumbled an ‘mmhmm’ as he shifted again and I could hear the sound of fabric moving, ‘what about what’s underneath?’ ‘What’s that baby?’ ‘That red set you got me on your birthday,’ I said. ‘Fuck,’ he said, ‘you don’t know what you’re doing to me mama.’ ‘Well I hope it’s the same as what we did last Thursday,’ I said, ‘at that lil boutique on the strip.’ ‘Showed me what that pretty mouth of yours could do that day,’ he grunted and I could hear the sound of skin on skin, ‘this don’t feel as good as you do baby.’

I went to reply but there was a noise behind me that startled me and forced me to turn around. A couple came out of the showroom doors clearly mid-argument. They didn’t seem to notice me, too enamoured in the row to even spot me by the phone bank but my confidence ebbed a little.

‘What’s the matter darlin?’ he asked, ‘your friend ain't back is he?’ ‘No,’ I mumbled, ‘people.’ ‘Take no notice of ‘em,’ he said, ‘keep talking.’ ‘E,’ I whispered. ‘Come on baby,’ he said, ‘don’t leave me like this. I need you.’ ‘Tell me what you’d do,’ I said trying to keep the flow and ignore the couple who seemed to want to air their dirty laundry right here in the lobby.

‘You wanna know?’ he said throatily. ‘More than anything baby,’ I purred. ‘First of all,’ he said, ‘I’d rip that pretty lil set you have on right off.’ ‘That makes sense I mean there’s already a hole in this dress you know,’ I giggled, ‘you’re very impatient.’ ‘I know what I want,’ he said. ‘Then what?’ ‘I’d pin you to this bed,’ he said with a little pant, ‘kiss down that perfect body of yours and bury my head between your pretty little thighs.’ ‘Mmm,’ I mused, ‘that’s a dangerous game.’ ‘How’s that?’ he asked. ‘Well you know I can't resist running my fingers through your hair when you do that,’ I purred, ‘and everyone at that late show would know just what you’d been up to.’ ‘You’d love that, wouldn’t you? All them girls knowing that I’d just been fucked,’ he smirked into the phone. ‘Oh, I’d make sure they all knew,’ I said, ‘in fact, I’d make sure the whole of Las Vegas knew.’ ‘Yeah?’ he grunted. His breath was getting heavier now and as I heard the sound of the couple getting more distant I stopped caring. I was all about him now.

‘I bet those cool glass windows would feel real nice against my skin,’ I mused twirling the phone cord around my finger, ‘with you holding me still, pounding into me from behind.’ ‘Fuck baby,’ he grunted. ‘Would you cum in me, Elvis?’ I purred. I surprised myself. I was always so careful. Elvis was too, the sting of a paternity suit making him a little paranoid. But this wasn’t about babies. This was about marking his territory. This was about us.

‘I would,’ he said, ‘fill you up nice in front of the whole of Las Vegas.’ ‘The best show in town?’ I chuckled. ‘In the world baby,’ he grunted, ‘you want it? You want me to cum deep inside you baby?’ ‘More than anything,’ I whispered. ‘Fuck Y/N,’ he said but his voice gave way to loud rampant moans. He was panting hard and my own heart was hammering away in my chest I thought I may burst. As he came around he mumbled a little, ‘oh baby.’

‘You good EP?’ I asked unable to stop myself from smiling. ‘More than good mama,’ he chuckled, ‘you oughta see the mess you made.’ ‘Well you don’t have long to clean up baby,’ I said my eyes jumping to the clock on the wall. He was due on stage in ten minutes. ‘I know,’ he said, ‘and you’ve got your show to watch huh?’ ‘Maybe,’ I said biting my lip. ‘Maybe?’ he asked. I could hear the smile in his voice. I knew I shouldn’t. I knew I should hang up and go and watch the show with Ron as planned. But before I knew it the words were tumbling out my mouth, ‘maybe I’ll see if I can get into your late show instead.’ ‘Hmmm,’ he said, ‘that sounds like a good idea to me.’ ‘I mean it won’t be a patch on the lil show we just threw together but you never know it might be worth a watch,’ I giggled. ‘I think it might,’ he said, ‘though I don’t know how good it’ll be I’m sure I’ll be spending most of it looking for you in the crowd.’ ‘I better get a move on then. Wouldn’t want you to be distracted on my account.’ ‘I’ll get Jerry to come and get you. Meet him out front,’ he said, ‘bye darlin.’ ‘Bye,’ I said listening as the line went dead. With a small sigh, I placed it back on its holder and grabbed my purse turning to head back into the auditorium.

As my hand touched the door though I paused. Then, cowardly, I turned and headed down to the bar through the double doors opposite. This room was a bit busier than the last, a couple of patrons sitting at a couple of tables whilst waiters lingered near the bar ready to be summoned. I walked up to the boy I had met before who was talking to a pretty waitress. I tapped him on the shoulder and he turned.

‘Hey,’ I said, ‘do you remember me? The girl from the phone bank?’ ‘Yes Miss,’ he said, ‘how can I help?’ ‘You remember the guy I was sitting with?’ I asked, ‘in the back booth in the corner?’ ‘Yeah, you’re Mr Mallin’s guest, right?’ he said. ‘Yeah, could you do me a favour?’ I asked and he nodded, ‘would you let him know I’ve had to go?’ ‘And if he asks why?’ he said. I bit my lip nervously. I knew he wasn’t prying. I knew his question was a fair and simple one but it still made my stomach knot. But the truth was a hard pill to swallow and so the only thing I managed to get out was, ‘A friend needs me.’

He nodded but before he could say anything more I was headed towards the exit hoping Jerry would pull up before the waiter got word back to my date.

[whatstruthgottodowithit]

Better Man

Fandom: RPF, American Musician, Elvis, Elvis Movie 2022

Pairing: Elvis Presley x Female Reader

Characters: Elvis Presley, Female Reader, Rusty (Reader’s Dog), Jerry Schilling, Charlie Hodge, Austin!Elvis 

Word Count: 2747 // Rating: Teen & Up

Summary:  And I know why we had to say goodbye like the back of my hand, But I just miss you, and I just wish you were a better man

Tags/ Warnings: My Writing, Halloween Challenge, Writing Challenge, Songfics, Established Relationship, Elvis Movie, Elvis 2022, Breakups, Angst, Heartache, Cheating, Lying, Love, Kisses, Fighting, Toxic Relationship, Physical Altercation, Lisa-Marie Airplane, Elvis on Tour, Tours, Anger, Songfic, Lyrics, Crying, Grief, Lads when i tell u that this one broke me, Pls Cheer Yourself Up With Rusty The Dog, Better Man // Little Big Town

Notes:  This is part of my writing Challenge for Halloween 2022. All fics are based off of songs I love. The aim is to write one fic a day for 15 days straight. I’m doing a similar thing for Christmas but they will all be headcanons [requests welcome for that] Enjoy x  

15 DAYS OF SONGFICS FOR HALLOWEEN (OCT 15TH - OCT 31ST)

I couldn’t sleep. I lay in bed staring at the ceiling unable to switch off my mind. Memories swirled around inside my brain some hurtful, some happy, all a jumble of my life. I sat up rubbing my eyes. They burned now even though I had stopped crying long ago, running empty of tears. I climbed out of bed and walked through to the kitchen of my apartment though left the lights off not wanting to make my eyes hurt even further as I made myself a cup of tea. 

My dog, Rusty, danced around my feet excitedly, finally thinking I was out of my funk since I had been in my bedroom since the late afternoon, crying and refusing to leave. He was worried about me and though he didn’t know what was wrong he had stayed with me all day, cuddling into my side in an effort to help. 

I sighed and stroked behind his ears suddenly realising that I hadn’t fed him since breakfast, too distracted by my own problems. I grabbed a cup full of kibble from the bag and dropped it into his bowl watching as he dove in excitedly causing new wave of sadness hit me as I realised he hadn’t bothered me at all, putting his own needs behind my own. I must have really seemed just that big of a mess. 

I left him happily scoffing his food and made my way to the large window of my lounge which looked out over the city. I held the hot mug of tea in between my hands and took a sip. It stung my dry mouth but I didn’t really mind as it had been the first thing I’d drank in hours. I looked out at the view. The city was abuzz. Cars still weaved through the streets below. Alarms blared. Lights shone brightly in the inky black sky. It was the same as it had been 24 hours ago. 

Except it was different for me. Probably different for a lot of others too but I didn’t care about them. Not right now. 

‘You know you had to do it,’ a voice in the back of my mind said. I scoffed aloud. I had said that so many times before that it seemed like my mantra. 

It was right. 

Elvis and I had dated for a long time. I loved him with all of my heart. But we weren’t going to last. He didn’t know what he had when he had it so I had to get out. To save myself. 

The memory of the day I left flashed in my mind. 

I was sitting on the bed trying to summon the strength to get up off it. My bags were sitting at the bottom of the stairs waiting for me, begging me to come downstairs. But I was stuck on the spot. Elvis was sitting behind me, the silence between us deafening. 

‘Do you have to go?’ he asked after what felt like a year. His voice cracked, his throat sounding dry. I sighed. It had been a question I had been asking myself all day. Well, for longer than that.  ‘I can’t stay,’ I said. ‘But you want to,’ he countered standing up off the bed and coming around to kneel in front of me. He looked years older, looking up at me with wide eyes, tears brimming on the rim of them.  ‘I can’t,’ I said, my own tears spilling over.  ‘Why not?’ he said, ‘you love me right?’  ‘More than anything,’ I said sadly, my hand cupping his cheek gently.  ‘Isn’t that enough?’ he asked quietly.  ‘I wish it was,’ I sniffled. ‘You said,’ he said swallowing thickly, ‘you said that you love me more than anything-’ ‘I do!’ I said. ‘Then why can’t it be enough!? Why can’t we get over this,’ he said. ‘Because I love you enough to forgive you for everything that’s happened…but you don’t love me enough to change,’ I said honestly. Tears spilled over and rolled down his cheeks and I swiped my thumb across his cheek catching some of the dampness there. As he hung his head in shame it made my chest tighten a little.

‘Can you honestly say that you’ll never hurt me again? That some pretty girl won’t turn your head? That I’ll never have Jerry openly lie to me because he’s covering for you? That I’ll never have to force myself awake in the middle of the night just to check that you’re still breathing? That those damn pills ain’t taken you?’  ‘Y/N,’ he said sadly. ‘I’ve tried my best to keep this relationship afloat,’ I whispered, ‘can you honestly say the same?’ 

My heart felt like someone was squeezing it through my chest as I pulled away from the memory. That was one of the worst days of my life and yet I thought about it quite a bit. Mostly in the middle of the night like now. In the middle of the night when no one would know about it. Yet on those nights I didn’t just think of the bad stuff. The good often showed up too, like now, as another memory flashed through my brain. 

‘I really need to get up,’ I giggled. I was lying in bed. My head on Elvis’s shoulder as my fingers fiddled with the necklace he was wearing. His arms were wrapped around me, his lips pressed into my forehead though I could feel him smirk as he whispered, ‘now I don’t know about that.’ ‘Elvis,’ I said moving back so I could look at him, ‘I’ve got stuff to do.’ ‘Better than this?’ Elvis said capturing my chin in between his thumb and forefinger and leaning in to kiss me. It was soft and tender and full of love. It made my heart hammer in my chest. Then he was moving, rolling me over onto my back deepening the kiss as he rested on me gently.  ‘No,’ I whispered as he pulled back, ‘not at all but I gotta.’ ‘Stay with me,’ he said his blue eyes shining in the low light as he looked at me. I stroked his soft black hair gently.  ‘And why should I?’ I giggled.  ‘Because you love me,’ he said simply.  ‘Is that so?’ I said. He leaned and pressed a kiss to my lips.  ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘I’m right aren’t I?’ ‘More than anything,’ I said with a smile. Elvis leaned in and kissed me again, his hand stroking my face gently. I had a million things to do. Errands to run, clothes to pack for when we left tonight for a show, I had a hair appointment across town in 20 minutes. And yet, I didn’t want to move. I was happy here. 

I smiled at that memory. It was nice to remember him like that. That was what it was like for the most part. Until everything started to unravel. Until he got more and more unhappy. He’d take it out on me. We’d argue. He’d push me away, usually pulling some other woman close for the time being until he was ready to face whatever was going on. Sometimes he wouldn’t even talk to me about it. He’d sit and stew about it and then hours or days later he’d come back to me like nothing had happened throwing me for a loop. I didn’t know if that was better or worse than the fighting. 

We pulled up at the small airport on the edge of town. Having flown in yesterday morning we were leaving again a mere 24 hours later. Another day another city. I was tired. Last night had been an epic show, the crowd electric and Elvis a God amongst men. I’d seen the same show every night for the past ten days and every night it was better. I loved seeing him on that stage. Electrifying. Tantalising. 

Though this morning was a completely different kettle of fish. After the show, I’d been shepherded back to the hotel, alone, which had left me not knowing if I were coming or going. If I weren’t allowed to stick around it meant Elvis was up to something or something was up with me. When I returned to the room I sat up waiting for him to come back but he never did. Eventually, around 4 am, he entered the room and slipped into the bed beside me but before I could turn around and say anything to him he was snoring tuckered out from the show, what he’d been doing afterwards or something Dr Nick had no doubt cooked up for him to get him to drop off as soon as his head hit the pillow. 

And when I woke up he was gone. I sighed and climbed out of bed getting myself ready for the day. I grabbed my cases and headed downstairs handing them to the man loading them all up into the convoy of cars we had. That was the first time I clapped on eyes on him properly since the show last night. He was talking to Charlie, laughing about something, but his smile disappeared as he saw me causing a shiver to run down my spine. So I was right, it was me. The problem was I didn’t know what I’d done wrong. He was often like this. When he got annoyed he’d go moody and silent. Whoever it was directed at would either get a tongue lashing pretty soon after or they’d have to figure out what they’d done wrong which wasn’t always an easy task. 

I decided to ignore it. He was mid-conversation anyway and it wouldn’t seem that odd if I didn’t interrupt them. Instead, I headed around to where the girls from the sweet inspirations were waiting for our ride. We chatted for a bit before we were led out to our vehicles and I was forced to leave the girls and get into the car with Elvis and the boys. He allowed me to sit next to him, he even threw his arm behind me on the seat but it never touched my shoulders.

As we pulled up to the jet people clambered to get out of the car, allowing Elvis to lead us up to the jet. He did so, waving to the fans on the other side of the lot screaming for his attention, begging for one last look or wave before he departed their town. The boys and I followed each of them taking a seat on the jet but I stayed standing watching as Elvis headed down to the back of it and into the bedroom. 

After a moment, I took a deep breath and headed down to the bedroom, sliding the door open. He looked up as I came in, his jaw set before he turned back to where he was taking his shoes off. I lingered by the door, folding my arms across my chest. He didn’t pay any attention to me and I could feel anger bubbling in my stomach, a feeling that was becoming all too familiar to me. 

‘So are you going to tell me what I did or do I have to guess?’  ‘What?’ he said looking up at me with venom.  ‘Are you going to tell me why you’re acting like some petulant child? I mean I’m in trouble, right?’ I questioned, ‘for what I don’t know but I’m sure I am.’ ‘You don’t know?’ he scoffed standing up. He came towards me, his jaw tight and a sneer on his face.  ‘Honestly?’ I said stepping towards him so we were toe to toe, ‘it could be anything with you these days.’ ‘So I just imagined you and that guy did I?’ he spat. I went to reply but my mind was blank. ‘What are you talking about!?’  ‘Don’t pretend like you don’t know,’ he scoffed pulling back, ‘he was all over you! In the dressing room before the show, can I get you this, do you want me to do this for ya!’ ‘That’s his job!’ I screeched. I was sure everyone would be able to hear us now but I didn’t care.  ‘Oh yeah?’ he shouted, ‘was it his job to stand at the side of stage with you? Press his hand on the small of your back as he led you about? Whisper in your ear and make you laugh? Was that also his job?’  ‘We were talking about you! He was a fan of you! He was being nice!’ I said, ‘am I not allowed to speak to a man now? Is that it? Only you? No one but the great Elvis Presley can speak to me! I bet if we played that rule in reverse we’d have a problem, right? If you weren’t allowed to speak to any lil thing in a tight sweater or some cheap piece of ass calling by your hotel room!’

I was screaming now. I hated his jealousy. It tore at me, like claws in my gut every time. How could he doubt me? I loved him so much. He rushed towards me and grabbed me by the face pushing me so I was back against the wood-panelled wall. My heart hammered in my chest. He looked like he wanted to scream at me. Yell obscenities. Instead, he was formulating the words he wanted to say but I got there quicker. 

‘I love you,’ I said with a small sad smile though his grip was starting to hurt my face. He pulled back, letting my face out of his grasp. I dropped my gaze trying to stop the tears that had formed in my eyes from falling before I continued quietly, ‘I love you more than anything on this earth and the fact you think I would ever, ever, do that to you hurts me more than you could ever know.’ ‘I just…’ he sighed, ‘I’m out there playing a show and I look out and there you are laughing and joking with some guy. There could be 40,000 in that crowd and I wouldn’t care…so long as you were watching.’

He sat down on the bed rubbing the bridge of his nose and I moved towards him, walking between his legs and tilting his chin up so he’d look at me. He looked tired, deep bags were underneath his eyes and he looked paler than normal. 

‘I love you so much,’ I said, ‘I just need you to trust that a little more.’ ‘I do,’ he whispered, ‘I want to…it’s just I see you with guys like him and-’ ‘And nothing. Out of all the time we’ve been together has anyone ever turned my head?’ I said. He shook his head, ‘and that’s never gonna change. I love you.’ ‘I know,’ he said quietly.  ‘Good,’ I whispered, pulling his head into my torso and wrapping my arms around him. He clung to me as I stroked his hair, ‘because acting like this…it isn’t good for either of us. It’ll break us from the outside in.’ ‘I know,’ he said sadly. 

It hadn’t broken us. I had. 

I stopped letting him take me for granted. I left him working through the pain by clinging to the pride that I had done all I could. I had tried my best. That if he wanted me, loved me like he always told me he did he would’ve tried harder. Been a better man. 

But right now I didn’t want a better Elvis. I wanted my Elvis. The imperfect Elvis. The one that caused me no end of heartache but also no end of joy. I placed my cup of tea down on the windowsill and wrapped my arms around myself. If I held myself tight enough I could still feel him on my skin. I longed for that tonight. 

I longed for him to hold me. 

Cuddle me like he used to. 

Make the tears I was crying disappear. 

But he wasn’t here. I moved to my couch and dropped down into it with a hefty sigh. Grabbing the remote I clicked the TV on listening as the early morning news came on. I hadn’t realised how long I had been up. 

‘Good Morning and welcome to your local breakfast news. The date is August 17th 1977 and here are your headlines…’

As I said. The world was different for a lot of people today.